人教高中英语高二下UNIT20-4

 

THREATS TO OUR NATIONAL TREASURES

J: journalist                       X: Prof Xu

J: People have always had interest in the past. Professor Xu, what are the most important dangers to our archaeological treasures?

X: They get damaged or lost. It's a matter of education. People fail to take the right steps when something is found. Fortunately, the government has helped spreading the basic knowledge among the population, telling what is to be done when an archaeological find is made.

J: What does that knowledge consist of?

X: Well, when something is found, construction work must be stopped and the police should be told about the find. That is to make sure that no further damage will be done.

J: Does it still happen that people do not report things they find?

X: Yes, indeed. They doubt whether it is necessary to do so. It sometimes happens that a find is not very valuable. They are afraid that they would make scientists come for nothing.

J: Are there other reasons why people don't report their finds?

X: Oh yes. People are afraid that archaeologists may take a real interest in the site and spend many weeks or months digging around at it. That would result in farmers missing¹ the right opportunity to plant crops or construction work to be stopped for a long time. They don't realise that they should not weigh their own business interest against our national history.

J: If it is so important to dig things up and collect them, then why are archaeologists worried that other people dig up artefacts and give them to museums or add them to their own private archaeological collections?

X: Archaeology² is a professional discipline. Years of training and experience are needed. It is not just about finding³ things and digging them up. The field work must be done very carefully. Of every find there needs to be a written record, to which a photograph must be added. The records must also state exactly what was found, where it was found and when. The outdoor work is followed by work in the lab, cleaning, restoring⁴ and identifying each artefact. Finally, when all is done, an analysis must be written and published in a magazine or a book.

J: Are there any other dangers, natural disasters perhaps?

X: Unfortunately there are treasure hunters: people who search for valuable objects, especially jewellery and gold. They are the worst. History does not need to fear nature very much. What has been buried has often been buried well. It is often human digging that causes the loss of valuable materials. It may seem a contradiction⁵, but leaving things as they are would often be the best way of keeping things for the generations to come.

1 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

2 archaeology   

n.考古学

参考例句：

• She teaches archaeology at the university.她在大学里教考古学。
• He displayed interest in archaeology.他对考古学有兴趣。

3 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

4 restoring   

v.归还( restore的现在分词 )；交还；使恢复；修复

参考例句：

• Morris intended to foster an art restoring the dignity of the craftsman. 莫里斯的目的在于扶植一种能恢复手工艺工人威望的艺术。 来自辞典例句
• She was aware of Peter McDermott's calm, restoring voice once more. 她又一次注意到彼得·麦克德莫特的平静而使人宽慰的声音。 来自辞典例句

5 contradiction   

n.矛盾，不一致；否认，反驳

参考例句：

• Your attitude is in contradiction to your character.你的态度和你的性格相抵触。
• Your statements today are in contradiction with what you said yesterday.你今天的声明与你昨天所说的话相互矛盾。