实用英语口语：情景交际-纽约城漫步

 　　L:what do you mean?

　　J:I mean look at all these magnificent tall buildings around us.

　　L:yes, look over there. That's the Empire State Building. My book says it's 102 stories tall.

　　J:it's quite famous but don't you think it looks a bit old-fashioned?

　　L:you're right, but when it was built in 1930 it was a marvel¹ of technology and engineering.

　　J:what other important buildings are we going to see on Fifth Avenue?

　　L:quite a number. Actually every skyscraper² has a history. A few blocks ahead we'll see St.Patrick's Cathrdral and just across the street will be the world-renowed Rockefeller Center. It's a landmark³ in the history of architecture.

　　J:what's there after that?

　　L:well then, there's a Central Park. Facing the park on Fifth Avenue is probably some of the most expensive properties in the world.

　　J:what are all they for?

　　L:most of them are office buildings, huge department stores, and hotels but some are just private homes. New York is one of the financial centers of the worls so there are lots of very expensive places.

1 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

2 skyscraper   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• The skyscraper towers into the clouds.那幢摩天大楼高耸入云。
• The skyscraper was wrapped in fog.摩天楼为雾所笼罩。

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。