新西兰英语 814 Cardboard Cathedral Open

 　　The new cardboard¹ cathedral in Christchurch is now open. The builders handed the cathedral over to the Anglican church on Friday and gave the bishop² a cardboard key as a symbol. The bishop blessed the church so that it is now a religious building. Volunteers carried chairs into the cathedral and next weekend the first public church service will be held.

　　However, the first public concert will be held on Tuesday 6th Aug. A series of 10 concerts to celebrate the new cathedral will be held in the next two weeks. The first one will be a concert by the Christchurch City Choir³.

　　The cathedral is big enough for 700 people. The plan for this new cathedral was to use it for performances as well as for church services. The old cathedral in the Square was used for concerts and other activities like the festival of flowers.

　　The Anglican church plan to demolish⁴ the old cathedral in the Square and build a new one some time in the future. A group of people is trying to stop the demolition⁵. They say it is possible to repair the cathedral.

　　Listen to April 16th 2012 to hear more about building the cardboard cathedral.

　　Vocabulary

　　?handed over – gave the building into the care of the church, the church is now the legal owner

　　?symbol – a sign that represents the cardboard cathedral

　　?blessed – in a religious ceremony

　　?volunteers – helpers

　　?series – many, one after the other

　　?performances – dance, music, theatre etc

　　?demolish (v) demolition (n) – destroy it, break it

　　Grammar

　　Note: will be + verb (past participle) e.g. will be held

1 cardboard   

n.硬纸板，卡纸板

参考例句：

• She brought the shopping home in a cardboard box.她将买的东西放在纸箱里带回家。
• There is a sheet of stiff cardboard in the drawer.在那个抽屉里有块硬纸板。

2 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

3 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

4 demolish   

v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等)

参考例句：

• They're going to demolish that old building.他们将拆毁那座旧建筑物。
• He was helping to demolish an underground garage when part of the roof collapsed.他当时正在帮忙拆除一个地下汽车库，屋顶的一部份突然倒塌。

5 demolition   

n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹

参考例句：

• The church has been threatened with demolition for years. 这座教堂多年来一直面临拆毀的威胁。
• The project required the total demolition of the old bridge. 该项目要求将老桥完全拆毁。