2007年VOA标准英语-National Trust Seeks to Preserve Endangered His

By Deborah Block
Washington, D.C.
20 June 2007
 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation¹ in Washington, D.C. works to protect historic sites in the United States.  Each year the private group identifies America's most endangered places.  This year the list ranges from buildings to scenic² areas.   VOA's Deborah Block has more.  

The list consists of sites with historical importance

The list includes a 19th century waterfront in New York threatened for demolition³.  Another is an early American trading route in New Mexico where a nearby spacecraft launching site is planned. 

Some are beautiful places, like the Pinon Canyon⁴ in Colorado, or a famous road that spans the U.S. where unique hotels from the past century are being torn down.

Richard Moe is the president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "All kinds of historic places face threats that range from short-sited public policy, to demolition, to the ravages⁵ of time, weather and neglect.  These places are unique and they're irreplaceable and literally⁶ tell the story of America," he says.

During World War Two, thousands of Japanese-Americans were interned⁷ at relocation camps, including the Minidoka Center in Idaho.  Today, what little remains⁸ of that camp is in danger of disappearing. 

A sacred Native American structure, called a roundhouse, is also in jeopardy⁹.   The Kashia Pomo tribe in California use it for religious and cultural events.  Spokesman Reno Franklin says funding is needed to protect the structure.

"We have the oldest one in the United States sitting on our reservation,” explains Pomo. “And at this point, the roundhouse and the area around it -- an area that we are planning on designating as a Kashia historic district -- is threatened.  It's being threatened by looters.   It's being threatened by vandalism."

Also at risk is a 19th century house in Boston, once owned by a famous American architect.  And a 1925 racetrack in Florida may be gone soon if developers continue their plans to tear it down and build office space.

The preservation group says while some structures need to be saved, others should never be erected¹⁰.  Seven states in the eastern part of the country are trying to stop huge electric transmission lines that they say will scar their historic landscapes.

Christopher Miller¹¹ is president of the conservation group Piedmont Environmental Council in Virginia.

"The areas that are being targeted are the ones that are being preserved. Utilities are looking for places where there are fewer people and they tend to be attracted to areas that have been set aside in parks, battlefield areas and historic landmarks," Miller says.

By bringing attention to endangered historical sites, the National Trust for Historic Preservation says it has helped save half of them over the past 20 years.

1 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

2 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

3 demolition   

n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹

参考例句：

• The church has been threatened with demolition for years. 这座教堂多年来一直面临拆毀的威胁。
• The project required the total demolition of the old bridge. 该项目要求将老桥完全拆毁。

4 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

5 ravages   

劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹

参考例句：

• the ravages of war 战争造成的灾难
• It is hard for anyone to escape from the ravages of time. 任何人都很难逃避时间的摧残。

6 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

7 interned   

v.拘留，关押( intern的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was interned but,as he was in no way implicated in war crimes,was released. 他曾被拘留过，但因未曾涉嫌战争罪行而被释放了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These soldiers were interned in a neutral country until the war was over. 这些士兵被拘留在一个中立国，直到战争结束。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

10 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

11 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。