VOA常速英语2019--阿根廷古老图书馆 魅力与日俱增

Here in the Argentine capital, the El Ateneo bookstore is housed in what used to be a magnificent theatre. The theatre opened in 1919, and featured a wide variety of artistic¹ performances from plays to tango dancers. Later it became a movie theater. This is a classical style theater that was culturally significant.

阿根廷首都有一家雅典人书店，它位于以前一家宏大的电影院。这家电影院于1919年开业，其艺术表演领域广阔多样，从戏剧到探戈舞，不一而足。后来，这里就成了一家电影院。这是一家古典风格的电影院，具有重要的文化意义。

The man who built it, a pioneer in Argentina’s music recording² and film in history, was known for providing various forms of cultural expression, such as theater, cinema, radio and music. In the 1990s, the building was destined³ for the wrecking⁴ ball. But the owner of the El Ateneo bookstore chain saved the theater through extensive renovation⁵, turning it into one of the world’s most spectacular bookstores. One of the things I thought about doing in Argentina with my husband was to visit the bookstore. We are both lovers of literature and we know that this is a temple for those who are passionate⁶ about the written word. The environment here is an inspiration. The bookstore gives a nod to its theatrical⁷ past with the stage and curtains still in place, and its beautiful ceiling frescoes⁸ fully⁹ restored.

这座剧院的建造者是阿根廷历史上音乐录音和影视领域的先驱，世人都知他提供了多种文化表达形式，比如戏剧、电影、广播和音乐。上世纪90年代，这座建筑本来是要拆毁的。但其所有者保住了这家剧院，方式是进行大规模翻新，将其变成了世界上最让人叹为观止的书店之一。一想到来跟丈夫来阿根廷，我就想到了来逛这家书店。我们两个都喜欢文学，我们也知道，对热衷于文字的人来说，这里就是殿堂。这里的环境可以给人以灵感。这家书店为了向过往的剧场历史致敬，所以依然保留着曾经的舞台和幕布，漂亮的天花板壁画也做了翻新。

The old theater boxes provide a private space for people to read. Huge numbers of visitors from around the world come to the impressive bookstore each year. We read about this library on the internet, how it was formerly¹⁰ a theater, and it’s converted to the library and our guy was telling us is the best library in the world. So I love books. In every city that we visit, we try to go to a bookstore. So we thought this is a perfect place to come to. There is plenty to read in the 21,000 square meter space, a paradise for bookworms.

陈旧的剧院包厢可以提供私密的空间，供大家阅读。每年都有大批来自世界各地的游客来这家书店，并为之所震撼。我们在网上了解到了这家书店，知道它曾经是一家剧院，后来又是如何变成书店的。有人跟我说这是世界上最好的书店。我本人喜欢读书。不管去哪座城市，我们都要去书店逛逛。所以我们觉得这家书店是一个绝好的去处。这里有汗牛充栋的书籍，占地面积达2.1万平方米，这里是书虫们的天堂。

1 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

2 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

3 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

4 wrecking   

破坏

参考例句：

• He teed off on his son for wrecking the car. 他严厉训斥他儿子毁坏了汽车。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Instead of wrecking the valley, the waters are put to use making electricity. 现在河水不但不在流域内肆疟，反而被人们用来生产电力。 来自辞典例句

5 renovation   

n.革新，整修

参考例句：

• The cinema will reopen next week after the renovation.电影院修缮后，将于下星期开业。
• The building has undergone major renovation.这座大楼已进行大整修。

6 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

7 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

8 frescoes   

n.壁画( fresco的名词复数 )；温壁画技法，湿壁画

参考例句：

• The Dunhuang frescoes are gems of ancient Chinese art. 敦煌壁画是我国古代艺术中的瑰宝。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The frescoes in these churches are magnificent. 这些教堂里的壁画富丽堂皇。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

10 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。