The annual conference of geologists will be held in Chicago this year．
◇ gathering一般指非正式的集会，常用于群众性的活动（像联欢会等）。如：
A public gathering was held in Zhongshan Park on May Day．
◇ party指社交性或娱乐性的集会。如：
Mary and I were invited to Jane’s birthday party the other day．
Mr．Brown gave a dinner party last Thursday．
◆ merely; only; just
◇ 这三个词作副词表示 “仅、只”可以换用，并且都放在它们所修饰的成分之前，merely的用法较正式。 如：
Instead of answering，she merely／only／just smiled．她没有作答，只是微笑而已。
She’s come here just／only／merely to see you．   她来这里只是为了看你。
◇ 作形容词时, only表示“仅有的”；mere表示“仅仅的、单单的”；just意为“公正的”。如：
a just man 光明正大的人
They were the only people who had the keys． 只有他们有钥匙。
Mere words won’t help．     光说（不做）无济于事。