托福听力荟萃 70

In today's class we'll be examining some nineteenth-century____that were used for buildinghouses. I think it's fair to say that these pattern books were the most important influence onthe design of North American houses during the nineteenth century. This was because mostpeople who wanted to build a house couldn't afford to hire an architect. Instead, they bought apattern book, picked out a plan, and took it to the builder. The difference in cost was______. In 1870, for example, hiring an architect would've cost about a hundred dollars. At the sametime, a pattern book written by an architect cost only five dollars. At that price, it's easy tosee why pattern books were so popular. Some are back_________again today, and of coursethey cost a lot more than they did a hundred years ago. But they're an_________resourcefor______, and also for people who_____old houses. I have a modern_______here that I'll bepassing around the room in a moment so that everyone can have a look.

 

 

【填空答案】

patternbook: 样书

substantial¹: adj. large enough in amount or number to be noticeable² or to have an important effect 大量的；重大的；有重要影响力的

inprint: printed in a book, newspaper etc 已印出来，已发表出来

invaluable³: adj. extremely useful 极有价值的

historian⁴: n. ［C］someone who studies or writes about history 历史学家，史学工作者

restore⁵: v. to repair an old building, piece of furniture, or painting etc so that it is in its original condition 修复（建筑物、家具、画作等）

reprint: v. an act of printing a book again because all the copies of it have been sold 再版，重印

【听力原文】

In today's class we'll be examining some nineteenth-century pattern books that were used for building houses. I think it's fair to say that these pattern books were the most important influence on the design of North American houses during the nineteenth century. This was because most people who wanted to build a house couldn't afford to hire an architect. Instead, they bought a pattern book, picked out a plan, and took it to the builder. The difference in cost was substantial. In 1870, for example, hiring an architect would've cost about a hundred dollars. At the same time, a pattern book written by an architect cost only five dollars. At that price, it's easy to see why pattern books were so popular. Some are back in print again today, and of course they cost a lot more than they did a hundred years ago. But they're an invaluable resource for historians⁶, and also for people who restore old houses. I have a modern reprint here that I'll be passing around the room in a moment so that everyone can have a look.

【参考译文】

今天这节课我们将研究一下19世纪用来建造房子的样书。我认为恰当地说，在19世纪，这些样书对美的房屋的设计产生了最重要的影响。这是因为大部分想建造房子的人都没有足够的钱来聘请设计师。取而代之的是，他们买样书，挑选出一个方案，把它告诉建造者。买样书和请设计师的费用的是有很大区别的。比如说，在1870年，聘请一个设计师要花大概100美元，同样的时间，一个设计师写的建筑样书却只要5美元。总这个价钱就很容易知道样书为什么会那么流行。现在很多样书已经被翻印了，当然他们现在比100年前贵了很多。但是他们对历史学家还有那些修复古建筑的人来说是极有价值的资源。我这儿有一本现代再版的样书，现在可以在教室里给同学们传阅，这样每个人都可以看一下。

1 substantial   

adj.大的，相当可观的，大体上的

参考例句：

• She is preparing a substantial meal against his return.她正在准备一顿丰盛的饭菜为他接风。
• The country bought a substantial number of weapons.这个国家购买了大量武器。

2 noticeable   

adj.显而易见的；值得注意的

参考例句：

• The effect of the medicine is not yet noticeable. 药的效果还不显。
• There's been a noticeable improvement in his handwriting.他的书法有了明显的进步。

3 invaluable   

adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的

参考例句：

• A computer would have been invaluable for this job.一台计算机对这个工作的作用会是无法估计的。
• This information was invaluable to him.这个消息对他来说是非常宝贵的。

4 historian   

n.历史学家，编史家

参考例句：

• As a historian,he was most typical of the times in which he lived.作为历史学家，他是他所处时代最有代表性的人物。
• He calls himself a historian,but his books are a mere journalism.他自称为历史学家，但是他的书都是些肤浅的通俗作品。

5 restore   

vt.把…恢复原状；归还，交还

参考例句：

• A good rest will restore you to health.好好休息一下可使你恢复健康。
• His recent success has helped to restore his faith in his own ability.他最近取得的成功使他恢复了对自己能力的信任。

6 historians   

n.历史学家，史学工作者( historian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Historians seem to have confused the chronology of these events. 历史学家好像把这些事件发生的年代顺序搞混了。
• Historians have concurred with each other in this view. 历史学家在这个观点上已取得一致意见。