常春藤生活英语【88】Stonehenge Decoded

Throughout history, some mysteries about our world have been solved, while others have not. One of the greatest mysteries of all time is Stonehenge1 in England. This very old structure2 was built with huge stones that stand upright3. Some are even placed on top of each other. How were they moved? What were they used for? There has never been a clear answer. But now, Stonehenge Decoded4 on the National Geographic² Channel will provide some possible answers to the mystery.

Mike Parker Pearson and a team of researchers know Stonehenge served as a burial5 place because cremated6 bodies were found there. But who were these people and why were they buried in such a special place? The answers may lie in a nearby settlement7 that is about 4,500 years old. In the middle of the settlement, researchers discover a wooden structure which is almost exactly the same as Stonehenge. It seems the people who built Stonehenge lived here. But why did they need the wooden structure? Tune⁴ in to NGC to see how amazing these two structures are.

从古至今，世上有些神秘事件已经被解开，有些则不然。英格兰的巨石阵可说是有史以来最大的谜团之一。这个相当古老的结构是由竖立起来的巨大石头建造而成。当中有些石头甚至是相互堆栈起来的。它们是如何被搬动？其用途又是为何？问题的答案始终不明。而如今，国家地理频道的《千古疑云巨石阵》将会为巨石阵之谜提供一些可能的解答。

由于在巨石阵中发现了火化的遗体，麦克?帕克?皮尔森以及一群研究团队因而得知巨石阵过去是作为丧葬之用。不过坟冢里的这些人是谁，他们又为何会被埋葬在这个如此特殊的地方？答案或许就存在于巨石阵附近一座约有四千五百年历史的聚落里。在聚落的中央，研究人员发现了一座和巨石阵几乎一模一样的木头结构。建造巨石阵的人们似乎就居住于此。但他们又为何需要这个木造建筑呢？敬请收看国家地理频道，由您亲自来瞧瞧这两座建筑是多么的令人叹为观止。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. solve　vt. 解开（问题）；解答（难题）
This problem can't be solved in a short time.
这个问题在短期内无法解决。
2. exactly　adv. 精确地，确切地
This car is exactly like Matt's.
这台车的款式和麦特的一模一样。

Phrases for Learning

1. the + 最高级形容词 + 名词 + of all time　　有史以来最……
Titanic⁵ is one of the best movies of all time.
铁达尼号》是史上最棒的电影之一。
2. serve as...　　作……用
Grandpa's umbrella also serves as a cane⁶.
爷爷的雨伞也会拿来当拐杖用。
3. lie in...　　在于∕存在于……
A child's future lies in a good education.
孩童的未来在于良好的教育。
4. tune in to...　　收看∕收听……（电视，广播等）
Albert tuned⁷ in to a classical music station while driving to work.
艾伯特开车去上班时收听古典乐的电台。

参考字词

1. Stonehenge　n.（英格兰的）巨石阵
2. structure　n. 结构物，建筑物
3. upright　adv. 直立地，竖直地
4. decode¹　vt. 译（码），解（码）
5. burial　n. 埋葬（本文中作形容词用）
6. cremate³　vt. 火化（本文以过去分词作形容词用）
7. settlement　n. 聚落

Tips In Use

...which is almost exactly the same as Stonehenge.
（……和巨石阵几乎一模一样……）
same 作形容词时，其前一定要有定冠词 the。可用来修饰 the same 的副词通常有 almost, nearly, exactly, much 及 about 等，但不可用 very 修饰。
almost/nearly the same 几乎相同
exactly the same 完全相同
much the same 颇为相同
about the same 大致相同
This new drink tastes much the same as orange juice.
（这种新饮料喝起来跟柳橙汁颇为相似。）

1 decode   

vt.译（码），解（码）

参考例句：

• All he had to do was decode it and pass it over.他需要做的就是将它破译然后转给他人。
• The secret documents were intercepted and decoded.机密文件遭截获并被破译。

2 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 cremate   

v.火葬，烧成灰

参考例句：

• She wants Chris to be cremated.她想把克里斯的尸体火化。
• Laowang explains: "Combustion is cremate, degenerating is inhumation. "老王解释道：“燃烧就是火葬，腐朽就是土葬。”

4 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

5 titanic   

adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的

参考例句：

• We have been making titanic effort to achieve our purpose.我们一直在作极大的努力，以达到我们的目的。
• The island was created by titanic powers and they are still at work today.台湾岛是由一个至今仍然在运作的巨大力量塑造出来的。

6 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

7 tuned   

adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• The resort is tuned in to the tastes of young and old alike. 这个度假胜地适合各种口味，老少皆宜。
• The instruments should be tuned up before each performance. 每次演出开始前都应将乐器调好音。 来自《简明英汉词典》