英语听力精选进阶版 7320

据德国媒体报道，1500多幅出自毕加索、马蒂斯和夏卡尔之手的名画在慕尼黑的一所公寓里献身。据估计这批"失而复得"的画作价值约为13.5亿美元。

The collection of works the Nazis¹ stole from Jews was consigned² to a dealer³ to be sold before the war. But the paintings then vanished; presumed destroyed.

The works consist of what the Nazis deemed 'degenerate⁴ art', that is, modern art. It now transpires⁵ that two years ago the authorities discovered this amazing and priceless collection in darkened rooms at the home of a reclusive relative of the pre-war dealer.

It seems the relative had been selling paintings occasionally, when he needed money. One work by the German expressionist Max Beckmann was sold two years ago for more than three-quarters of a million Euros.

The authorities have kept quiet, partly because ownership would be disputed. A mountain of litigation is no doubt on the way.

Quiz 听力测验

1. True or false? People thought the art, stolen by the Nazis, had been destroyed.

True. They were presumed destroyed.

2. How much is this art collection worth?

It is priceless. The collection is impossible to put a value on.

3. When was this art collection discovered?

Two years ago.

4. Why have the authorities not mentioned this discovery before?

They were worried there would a dispute about who owns it.

Glossary 词汇表

consigned 托付给了某人

vanished 消失了

presumed （不肯定的）推测、认为

deemed 认为，相信

degenerate 堕落的

transpires （秘密）泄露、为人所知

priceless 无价的，极宝贵的

reclusive 隐居的、独居的

pre-war 战前的（此处指二战前的）

expressionist 表现主义艺术家

1 Nazis   

n.（德国的）纳粹党员( Nazi的名词复数 )；纳粹主义

参考例句：

• The Nazis worked them over with gun butts. 纳粹分子用枪托毒打他们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Nazis were responsible for the mass murder of Jews during World War Ⅱ. 纳粹必须为第二次世界大战中对犹太人的大屠杀负责。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 consigned   

v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃

参考例句：

• I consigned her letter to the waste basket. 我把她的信丢进了废纸篓。
• The father consigned the child to his sister's care. 那位父亲把孩子托付给他妹妹照看。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

4 degenerate   

v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者

参考例句：

• He didn't let riches and luxury make him degenerate.他不因财富和奢华而自甘堕落。
• Will too much freedom make them degenerate?太多的自由会令他们堕落吗？

5 transpires   

（事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的第三人称单数 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生

参考例句：

• Let's wait and see what transpires. 我们等着瞧会发生什么事吧。
• This new machine sometimes transpires a lot of hot vapor. 这部机器有时排出大量的热气。