夏说英语新闻晨读 第400期:英女王将拍卖千万御用座驾

 本期内容：

A collection of rare Rolls-Royces, including vehicles used by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, is to be auctioned² off in the UK. The eight cars are expected to attract combined bids of up to $6.4 million (4.9 million pounds) when they go under the hammer next month. Among the most anticipated lots is a 1953 Rolls-Royce Phantom³ IV, used by the Queen on state occasions and kept by the British royal family for more than 40 years. The vehicle, which has a top estimate of $2.6 million (2 million pounds), is the same model as the one used by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on her wedding day in May.

collection: n. 收藏品
record collection: 唱片收藏
rare: adj. 稀有的；罕见的
few and far between: 稀少
auction¹ off: 拍卖
auction house: 拍卖行
attract: vt. 吸引；招引
go under the hammer: 被拍卖
anticipated: adj. 令人期待的（anticipate: vt. 预期）
state occasion: 国事活动
estimate: n. 估算；估价

1 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

2 auctioned   

v.拍卖( auction的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It was sad to see all grandmother's lovely things being auctioned off. 眼看着祖母那些可爱的东西全都被拍卖掉，心里真不好受。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。