夏说英语新闻晨读 第250期:哈瓦那的一抹风情

 本期内容：
The authorities in the Cuban capital, Havana, say they are restoring a network of hotels where rooms are rented by the hour to lovers. State-run "posadas", or love motels, disappeared during Cuba's economic crisis in the 1990s when they became hurricane shelters. Private householders filled the gap in the market, but at exorbitant¹ prices. Private renters usually provide air-conditioning, a fridge and a comfortable bed and cost about $5 for three hours. But that is around a sixth of the average monthly Cuban salary and unaffordable for most people. State housing officials at the Provincial² Housing Company of Havana say the new network of five posadas will be highly lucrative³ and will help people struggling with Havana's overcrowded and scarce housing.

Restore: 恢复
Posadas: 情人旅馆
Hurricane: 飓风
Shelter: 避难所
Exorbitant: 过高的
Lucrative: 有利可图的
Overcrowded: 拥挤的
Scarce: 稀缺的

1 exorbitant   

adj.过分的；过度的

参考例句：

• More competition should help to drive down exorbitant phone charges.更多的竞争有助于降低目前畸高的电话收费。
• The price of food here is exorbitant. 这儿的食物价格太高。

2 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

3 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。