英语听力精选进阶版 13208

Secrets of Shakespeare's last home

Report

Rolling back centuries of speculation¹ and digging deep into the private life of Stratford's favourite son. The soil, untouched for 400 years, and it's hoped - the key to understanding more about William Shakespeare's final days. By the time he moved to New Place, Shakespeare was already a household name. But little is known about how he spent the six years he lived here and that's what this latest dig is aiming to change. 

Kevin Colls, University of Birmingham:

"I think we can learn little bits on what he was eating, what he was drinking, so his lifestyle. We can learn a little about his hobbies in terms of what he was doing with his time, but the great mystery has to be where he actually lived. Did he live in the grand house along the front of the street or did he live in the very secluded² cottage as documentary³ evidence suggests, hidden away from view to get on with his work?"

Previous digs all found evidence of Shakespeare's high-status household, including smoking pipes and pottery⁴. The first almost 150 years ago, was recorded in extraordinary detail but stopped short at the foundations. 

It's hoped excavating⁵ deeper than ever before, will reveal even more about William Shakespeare's habits and shed new light on what inspired some of the most famous words ever written.

Mark Worthington, BBC News

1 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

2 secluded   

adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时，喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑，有茅草房顶和宁静的花园，漂亮极了，简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 documentary   

adj.文献的；n.纪录片

参考例句：

• This case lacked documentary proof.本案缺少书面证据。
• I watched a documentary on the Civil War.我看了一部关于内战的纪录片。

4 pottery   

n.陶器，陶器场

参考例句：

• My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
• The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。

5 excavating   

v.挖掘( excavate的现在分词 )；开凿；挖出；发掘

参考例句：

• A bulldozer was employed for excavating the foundations of the building. 推土机用来给楼房挖地基。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A new Danish expedition is again excavating the site in annual summer digs. 一支新的丹麦探险队又在那个遗址上进行一年一度的夏季挖掘。 来自辞典例句