常春藤解析英语【7】Venice and the Venice Carnival威尼（在线收听）

by Christine Newton

The historic city of Venice stretches across a shallow saltwater lagoon in northeast Italy. The city was once a major sea power and an important center for politics and trade. It has since faded from glory and declined in influence, but the "Queen of the Adriatic" remains rich in beauty, art, and tourism.

Built on a string of islands alongside the Adriatic Sea, Venice is famous for its canals, which serve as roads. The only transportation in the old city center has been by boat or on foot for centuries. Traditional Venetian boats still ferry tourists through the narrow canals, though nowadays most Venetians travel by motorized waterbus. Arched footbridges traverse the canals, adding to the picturesque charm of this fairytale city. Venice is Europe's largest car-free area and a World Heritage Site.

While its unique infrastructure is enough to make it a historic gem, Venice also boasts a rich cultural history. During the Renaissance, Venice was one of the most important musical centers in Europe. Countless books, plays, musical compositions, and works of art have been inspired by Venice. Presently, the city draws more than seven million tourists per year.

Sadly, the future of Venice is threatened. Since the 20th century, when wells began to draw water from the ground to support local industry, Venice has been sinking. In many old houses, lower level staircases are now flooded and former ground floors have become uninhabitable. Nevertheless, Venetian life goes on and the city continues to charm its many visitors.

单字小铺

1. carnival n. 嘉年华会

2. lagoon n. 礁湖

3. fade vi. 逐渐消失

4. decline n. 下降，减低

5. canal n. 运河

6. transportation n. 交通工具

7. ferry vt. 以渡轮运送 & n. 渡船

8. motorized a. 装有发动机的，机动的

9. arched a. 拱形的

10. picturesque a. 风景如画的

11. infrastructure n. 基础建设

12. Renaissance n. 文艺复兴

13. composition n.（音乐、美术等）作品

14. presently adv. 现今

15. staircase n. 楼梯

16. uninhabitable a. 不适于居住的

17. nevertheless adv. 尽管如此

词组小铺

1. a string of...　　一连串的……

2. on foot　　步行

精解字词词组

1.stretch vi. 延伸 & vt. 伸展

例： The iceberg stretches for a few hundred kilometers.
（这座冰山绵延数百公里。）
例： You should stretch your legs and arms every half an hour.
（你应该每半个小时伸展一下手脚。）

2.serve as...　　充当……，作为……之用
= act as...
= function as...
例： Your umbrella can serve as a cane if you feel weak.
（觉得虚弱的时候，你的伞可以充当拐杖。）

3.traverse vt. 横跨，穿越
例： The caravan slowly traversed the desert.
（骆驼商队缓缓地穿越沙漠。）

4.add to...　　增添……
例： The explanation seemed only to add to his confusion.
（这解释似乎让他更加困惑。）

5.boast vt. 以拥有……而自豪 & vi. 夸耀，自夸
boast of/about...　　夸耀∕自夸……
= brag of/about...
例： What hotel boasts the finest view of the city?
（哪家旅馆拥有全市最好的景观呢？）
例： Al always boasts about how he became a millionaire at the age of fifteen.
（艾尔总是吹嘘他如何在十五岁时就成为百万富翁。）

6.be inspired by...　受到……启发；由……得到灵感
例： The painter's greatest works of art were inspired by dreams.
（那位画家最伟大的艺术作品是从梦中得到灵感。）

7.flood vt. 淹没；涌进 & n. 水灾
be flooded with...　　大量涌进……
例： The company was flooded with complaint letters.
（大量的抱怨信函涌进这家公司。）

中文翻译

历史古城威尼斯横跨意大利东北部浅海的咸水湖。这座城市一度是海上强权和重要的政治与贸易中心。虽然风光不再、影响力下滑，但是这『亚得里亚海之后』在美景、艺术与观光方面依旧耀眼夺目。
　　
威尼斯建筑在亚得里亚海沿岸一连串的岛屿上，以其作为道路的运河闻名于世。几世纪以来，在旧市中心唯一的交通工具就是搭船和步行。虽然现今大多数威尼斯人搭乘电动水上巴士往返，传统的威尼斯小船依然在狭窄的运河中接送观光客。拱形的陆桥横跨运河之上，为这座童话般的城市增添如画般的魅力。威尼斯是欧洲最大的无车区，也是世界遗产保护区。
　　
虽然独特的基础建设已足以让威尼斯成为历史珍宝，她还以丰富的文化史睥睨全球。文艺复兴期间，威尼斯是欧洲重要的音乐中心之一。威尼斯启发了无数的书籍、戏剧、音乐作品与艺术品的创作。现在，这城市每年吸引七百万观光客来访。
　　
可惜的是，威尼斯的未来正受到威胁。从20世纪自地底抽取井水以支持当地工业开始，威尼斯就开始下沉。很多老房子的低楼层楼梯都已经淹水，以前的一楼现在都无法居住。不过，威尼斯的生活方式将继续存在，也继续让众多观光客惊艳。