英语听力：自然百科 佛罗伦萨艺术

 The workshops are hidden throughout the narrow streets of Oltrarno. Artisans ply¹ trades learned not in schools but through apprenticeships and years of experience. Silversmith Donato Zaccaro has been creating silver furnishings and tableware for over three decades. One of his prized objects is a sterling² silver vase. It's made from three discs. The discs are molded into three pieces like a puzzle. 

The precision is very important here because they have to be absolutely identical. So if one piece becomes slightly different than the other, then it has to be scrapped³.

Then Zaccaro's assistant solders⁴ the pieces together. 

The joint⁵ is invisible. 

Just a few blocks away, artisans prepare a marble-inlaid tabletop. Each piece has been hand cut, and fit within a larger piece. A coating has been applied⁶ to even out the many joints⁷, and then it's buffed to an even finish.

Marble inlay was perfected by Florentines around the end of the 16th century. Inlay artisans can be found around the world today, but it's Florentine work that's found in palaces across Europe, gifts over the centuries from grand dukes of the Medici family. 

In the same building, this man paints in what's known as scagliola imitation marble. The technique was perfected in Italy in the 17th century. It's most often painted on plaster. Originally intended as a cheap substitute for marble, it's now considered an art form in itself. And so it has gone all the way back to the Renaissance⁸. Sunup to sundown, everyday, there is art in the alleyways of Oltrarno.

 

Oltrarno：part of the historic center of Florence, Italy

Medici family: a rich and powerful Italian family of bankers who ruled Florence from the 15th to the 18th centuries, and spent much of their money on art and on  providing financial support to artists

1 ply   

v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲

参考例句：

• Taxis licensed to ply for hire at the railway station.许可计程车在火车站候客。
• Ferryboats ply across the English Channel.渡船定期往返于英吉利海峡。

2 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

3 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

4 solders   

n.焊料，焊锡( solder的名词复数 )v.（使）焊接，焊合( solder的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• We fused the pipes with solders. 我们用焊锡熔接管子。 来自辞典例句
• Solders ate a great number of potatoes during World War II. 第二次世界大战期间的士兵吃了很多的土豆。 来自互联网

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

7 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

8 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。