赖世雄高级美国英语 lesson 22

　　Lesson 22，

　　Boston： Hearth¹ of American Culture

　　波士顿：美国文化重镇

　　When people think of “American culture and values”， they are unconsciously referring to a set of principles， a world view， and a lifestyle which can best be found in Boston， capital of the state of Massachusetts and the major city in all of New England， those six relatively² small states tucked away in the northeastern corner of the US. Although Boston is perhaps the seventh or eighth largest city in the US， no other city in America can compare with the influence which Boston has had on teh development of government， education， medicine， and the arts.

　　This influence is due in no small part to Boston's central role in the building of a new nation. Many people think that the Unites States was established in 1776； however， that was the year of the Declaration of Independence， a revolutionary document claiming self-rule from its mother country， England. Actual independence——the formation of a government with an acting³ president （George Washington）——did not begin until 1789. Boston was nearly middle-aged⁴ then， as it had had its beginnings a century and a half earlier， in 1630. It maintained its position as the colonies' pre-eminent center for politics， education， and commerce until the mid-18th century， when both New York and Philadelphia （the young nation's first and second capitals， respectively） overtook Boston in size.

　　Boston was settled by religious immigrants from the Church or England. It was with these early settlers that the first outlines of an American culture began： a strict adherence⁵ to religious dicta， diligence in work， educational aspirations⁶， and a conservative lifestyle. Because Boston is closer to Europe than any other city in the US， it was the point of entry to the colonies until the 19th century， when New York became the new magnet for the “poor， tired， and huddled⁷ masses” who were to become the backbone⁸ of the new American economy. Boston remained， however， an important commercial center until the 20th century.

　　Today Boston caters⁹ to finance and banking¹⁰， education， and medicine， with some of the top international mutual¹¹ fund and insurance companies， world-renowned educational institutes， and state-of-the-art medical centers and schools. The city has also managed to preserve much of its earlier identity as the home of the American Revolution； thus， tourism is an important sector¹² in the economy of Boston as well. Like San Francisco or New Orleans， Boston has a reputation for being a pleasant city to admire while walking around it.

　　What can one do in Boston？ Important historic sites， well-preserved examples of architecture from the 17-20th centuries， and spacious¹³ parks invite the tourist or resident to “smell the roses” while in Boston. Its unhurried but sophisticated citizens boast not only high incomes but also high levels of education. Music flourishes here： the Boston Symphony Orchestra， the New England Conservatory¹⁴ of Music， and the Boston Pops Orchestra offer first-class musical entertainment in both public and private venues¹⁵. The Museum of Fine Arts is a major world gallery. Scince Park， situated¹⁶ midway between Boston and its major satellite city， Cambridge， offers the Museum of Science. Had enough of “high-brow culture”？ Boston affords its citizens and visitors many first-class restaurants and shopping dockside in Faneuil Hall. Historic walking tours are a must for the tourist， especially Boston Commons， a city park， and Beacon¹⁷ Hill， with its roads still paved with the original stones from the 17th century. Admirers of university campuses steeped in tradition should see Harvard， the nation's oldest university （1636）， as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology， Emerson College， Boston College， and Boston University， all in the metropolitan¹⁸ area.

　　In short， no matter one's interest is， any visitor is sure to enjoy his stay in Boston， hearth of American culture and still a leader in education， medicine， and music.

 

1 hearth   

n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面

参考例句：

• She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来，在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
• She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里，打开电灯。

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

4 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

5 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。

6 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

7 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

8 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

9 caters   

提供饮食及服务( cater的第三人称单数 )； 满足需要，适合

参考例句：

• That shop caters exclusively to the weaker sex. 那家商店专供妇女需要的商品。
• The boutique caters for a rather select clientele. 这家精品店为特定的顾客群服务。

10 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

11 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

12 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

13 spacious   

adj.广阔的，宽敞的

参考例句：

• Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。
• The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

14 conservatory   

n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的

参考例句：

• At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里，他学会了怎样谱曲。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

15 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

16 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

17 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。

18 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。