英语听力精选进阶版 13204

New claim that Macedonians invented cement

Report

The discoveries were made in a royal complex adjacent to this humble¹ mound², which is Greece's equivalent of the pyramids.

Recent analysis of buildings here has shown that the Macedonians created cement three centuries before the Romans, who were previously³ credited with the invention. 

At a time when Greece is teetering on the brink⁴ of bankruptcy⁵, this discovery is extremely fortuitous. The Greeks are hoping that tourists will flock to see a building that is second-only in significance to the Parthenon in Athens. 

These are exciting times in Vergina, because Dr. Kottaridi is planning soon to open one of the sealed tombs, in the hope of discovering more treasure belonging to the dynasty of Alexander the Great. 

Malcolm Brabant, BBC News, Greece

1 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

2 mound   

n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫

参考例句：

• The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them.勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。
• The mound can be used as our screen.这个土丘可做我们的掩蔽物。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

5 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。