新西兰英语 557 Shipping Containers

 　　Shipping¹ containers are large metal boxes used for shipping goods across the sea. However, Christchurch has found many other uses for shipping containers after the earthquakes. Some are placed against the cliffs to stop falling rocks in an earthquake. Some are placed against buildings to stop bricks and stone from falling. They are piled three or four high against the Catholic cathedral where some of the walls have gone.

　　Many shipping containers are used for storage. If a whole house is badly damaged, the furniture can sometimes be stored in a container on the lawn. The family has to stay in a motel or with friends while builders repair the house.

　　In the central city, containers are used for shelter for workers who are busy demolishing² or repairing buildings. They need a warm place where they can have lunch. When the fire station was damaged, fire officers slept in shipping containers.

　　Some shops, cafes and pubs which were demolished³ are now in shipping containers in many parts of the city. The outdoor shopping mall in the CBD with brightly coloured shipping containers is a great success. Listen to October 30th 2011 to hear more about this.

　　One company has brought in 1,000 containers to the city but more are needed. There is a waiting list.

　　Grammar

　　There are many passives here: are placed, are piled, are used, is/ was damaged, were demolished, are needed. Can you make them active? Here is the first one to get you started: “Demolition workers placed containers against the walls.” Can you see why passive is better here?

　　Present perfect: has found, have gone, has brought in.

　　Present perfect shows an action which began in the past but continues today.

　　Parts of speech

　　to store (v), storage (n)

　　demolish (v), demolition (n)

1 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

2 demolishing   

v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings. 这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。 来自《用法词典》
• Conventional demolishing work would have caused considerable interruptions in traffic. 如果采用一般的拆除方法就要引起交通的严重中断。 来自辞典例句

3 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。