英语PK台 第260期:荷兰人谈北京四合院

 　　Track one

　　The courtyard of a siheyuan within the former Imperial¹ City

　　We discovered this house together but the idea came from my husband

　　He was really fond of the siheyuan

　　During the SARS period we biked through the whole city hutong area

　　We decided² we have to have such a house in the future

　　That time was really perfect time for us to bike through the whole city

　　Everything was closed down and nobody was walking in the street

　　We were living in an apartment – I am from Holland where everybody lives on the ground floor

　　Living in an apartment especially in China – I was not happy with that

　　I decided it was good to live in Beijing – especially the weather

　　In wintertime – clear skies, blue skies – so I was very happy here

　　I wanted to live in Beijing but I didn't want to live in an apartment

　　When we discovered the hutongs – this is the way of life – the way the houses are built I like

　　You must be surrounded here by a lot of history

　　Since we have moved here we have been told all kinds of stories, historical stories about the famous people

　　We are quite close to the canal, the Jade⁴ River where at one time the boats came all the way from Hangzhou

　　Where we are living, it is next to the main street – Beiheyan Dajie

　　In old time it was the canal running through this main street

　　Unfortunately it was filled with earth in 1960

　　Questions

　　1.Which part of historic³ Beijing is the courtyard in? The Imperial City

　　2.What was happening in Beijing when they first saw the courtyard? SARS

　　3.How did they travel at that time? By bike

　　4.Where did Tom not like to live? In an apartment

　　5.What was near the courtyard in historic times? A canal, the Jade River

　　Track two

　　The Imperial City is inside the old city walls

　　It is smaller but it is where the people lived who were connected to the court, to the emperor

　　All the people who worked there, who provided⁵ food or clothing or had a job in the Palace were living here

　　Our house is located within a temple, Zhonggu Temple just behind our house – demolished⁶ in the 1960's

　　There are lots of temples and old historic buildings in the neighbourhood

　　One that has been beautifully restored⁷, the Temple Hotel

　　That is quite a fashionable place – in ancient times called Songzhu temple

　　That was the biggest lama temple close to the Forbidden City, ordered to be built by the emperor

　　You have a connection with the ground, the earth directly and a piece of sky above

　　It is definitely⁸ more close to nature

　　We have a weasel – we have a big tree in the yard and a weasel

　　It comes down to bite a neighbour's rabbit or small mice

　　We went to the archive bureau⁹ of Beijing to check out the first owner of this house

　　He was in charge of all the lanterns – to lit all the lanterns of the Forbidden City

　　Just like 'Raise the Red Lantern'

　　Questions

　　1.Where is the Imperial City? Within the city walls

　　2.Who were the people who lived in the Imperial City? Those with jobs in the Forbidden City

　　3.What used to exist where the house is? A former temple

　　4.What animal lives on the tree in their courtyard? A weasel

　　5.What was the job of the first house owner? Responsible for the lanterns in the Forbidden City

1 imperial   

adj.帝王的，至尊的；n.特等品

参考例句：

• They made an objection to the imperial system with resolution.他们坚决反对帝制。
• The Prince Imperial passed away last night.皇太子昨晚去世了。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

4 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

5 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

6 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

7 restored   

v.归还( restore的过去式和过去分词 )；交还；使恢复；修复

参考例句：

• The stolen goods were all restored to their owners. 被偷窃的东西都归还给原主了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mary was restored to health after a period of medical treatment. 经过一段时间治疗，玛丽康复了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

9 bureau   

n.提供或收集消息的机构；局，司，处；署

参考例句：

• The weather bureau makes daily reports on weather conditions.气象局每天报告天气状况。
• The Tourist Bureau arranged everything for our journey to Rome.旅游局已为我们去罗马旅行准备了一切。