英语四级读美文【7】.docx

1、Unit 7 Culture and Art 文化艺术Text 1 RenaissanceRenaissance(文艺复兴) as a period in western civilization may be explained in different ways. But generally speaking, it refers to the period between the 14th and mid 17th century. The word “Renaissance” means revival, specifically in this period of history,

2、revival of interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture. Renaissance, therefore, in essence, was a historical period in which the European humanist(人文主义的) thinkers and scholars made attempts to get rid of conservatism(保守主义) in feudalist Europe and introduce new ideas that expressed in the interests o

3、f the rising bourgeoisie(资产阶级), to lift the restrictions in all areas placed by the Roman church authorities. During the period of Renaissance, old sciences revived and new sciences emerged, national languages and national cultures free from the absolute control of the Papal(罗马教皇的)authority in Rome

4、took shape and art and literature flourished as never before. The absolute authority of the Roman Catholic Church was shaken and people in Europe came to a new awareness which was to help shape what Europe is today. Renaissance started in Florence(佛罗伦萨)and Venice (威尼斯) with the flowering of painting

5、s, sculpture and architecture. From Italy the movement went to embrace the rest of Europe. In different countries, however, the movement occurred in different periods with different emphasis. Where the impact on Italy was most strongly felt in fine arts, in France it was literature and in England it

6、 was philosophy and drama.A absolute B ancient C civilization D essence E embrace F flourished G impact H revived I restrictions J shaken 文艺复兴 在西方文明史中，对文艺复兴时期有着各种各样的解释。但一般来讲，它是指介于 14 世纪和 17 世纪中期的那段时期。“复兴”这个词的意思是复苏，在这段历史时期特指对古希腊和古罗马文化的兴趣的复苏。因此，从本质上讲，文艺复兴是欧洲人文主义思想家和学者试图摆脱封建制欧洲的保守主义，介绍代表上升的资产阶级利益的新思想，并

7、解除罗马教廷在各个领域设置的禁锢的一个历史阶段。在文艺复兴时期，旧科学得以复兴，新学科不断涌现，摆脱罗马教廷绝对控制的民族语言和民族文化成形了，文学和艺术比以往任何时期都更加繁荣。罗马天主教会的绝对权威动摇了，欧洲人有了新的意识，这种新意识对形成今日的欧洲起到了很大作用。文艺复兴始于佛罗伦萨和威尼斯，绘画、雕塑和建筑的繁荣从意大利席卷到整个欧洲。不过，不同的国家复兴运动有不同的侧重点，出现的时期也不尽相同。意大利复兴运动的影响强烈地体现在美术方面，法国体现在文学方面，而英国则体现在哲学和戏剧方面。难 句 解 析1. Renaissance, therefore, in essence, was

8、 a historical period in which the European humanist thinkers and scholars made attempts to get rid of conservatism in feudalist Europe and introduce new ideas that expressed in the interests of the rising bourgeoisie, to lift the restrictions in all areas placed by the Roman church authorities.【分析】多

9、重复合句。in essence 作状语， which 引导定语从句修饰 a historical period, 定语从句中 to get rid of，省略 to 的 introduce.bourgeoisie 和 to lift.authorities 为不定式短语，作宾语 补足语，其中 that 引导定语从句修饰 new ideas，过去分词短语 placed.authorities 作后置定语，修饰 restrictions。2. During the period of Renaissance, old sciences revived and new sciences emerge

10、d, national languages and national cultures free from the absolute control of the Papal (罗马教皇的)authority in Rome took shape and art and literature flourished as never before.【分析】并列复合句。含有四个简单句，其中 free from. 为形容词作后置定语，修饰 national cultures。3. The absolute authority of the Roman Catholic Church was shak

11、en and people in Europe came to a new awareness which was to help shape what Europe is today.【分析】并列复合句。第一个分句为被动语态，第二个分句中 which 引导的定语从句修饰 a new awareness，shape 后为由 what 引导的宾语从句。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09 高频词汇civilization 8sIvIlaI9zeISFn 【搭配】primary civilization 原始文明【写作例句】Automobiles, as the product of mode

12、rn civilization have been playing a vital part in the daily activities of human society.汽车是现代文明的产物，在人类的日常生活中扮演着重要的角色。同根civilize /9sIvIlaIz/ 【词根】 来自 civil(文明的) ize(化)【活用例句】The African countries hoped to civilize all primitive tribes.非洲国家希望把非洲所有的原始部落都变成文明社会。ancient* /9eInS5nt/ a. 古代的，远古的，古老的【谐音】 “安神的”

13、 那古老的旋律让人心安神【搭配】the ancient civilization 古代文明【引申】 同义primitive a. 原始的，远古的antique a. 古时的，古老的反义modern a. 近代的，现代的up-to-date a. 现代化的，最新的相关ancestor n. 祖先，祖宗【活用例句】In the ancient Olympics the winner got only a wreath of olive leaves (橄榄叶花环). 在古代奥运会上，胜利者只会得到一个橄榄叶花环。essence /9esns/ n. 本质，精华【联想】ess(exist 存在 )

14、ence(名词后缀) 存在才是实质【短语】in essence 本质上；of the essence 必不可少的，非常重要的【提示】各种护肤洗发用品的什么“精华素”、 “天然草本精化”、 “精华” 就是 essence。【引申】 同根essential a. 必不可少的；实质的；基本的 n. 要素，必需品【活用例句】The essence of his long speech was that we must all work harder.他那长篇大论的核心是我们大家必须更努力地工作。restriction /rI9strIkSFn/ n. 限制，限定【引申】 同根restrict vt.

15、限制，约束，限定 同义limitation n. 限制，局限【阅读例句】No government will adopt rigid restrictions on economic growth and personal freedom (limits on electricity usage, driving and travel) that might cut back global warming.没有任何政府会严格限制其国家经济的增长和个人自由(限制个人的电力使用量、开车和旅行)，虽然这可能会减缓全球变暖。08.6revive /rI9vaIv/ vt. 使复苏 vi. 恢复【词根】

16、re( 再) vive(live 活)再次活过来使复苏【引申】 同根vivid 鲜活的，活泼的 survive 幸存，活下来派生revival n. 苏醒 , 复活；再生效同义refresh v. 振作精神【活用例句】They revived her by throwing some water on her face.他们往她脸上泼了些水使她苏醒过来。absolute* /9bs5lu:t/ a. 完全的，绝对的【搭配】absolute ignorance 完全无知【引申】 派生absolutely ad. 完全地，绝对地 同义thorough a. 十分的，彻底的total a. 全部的，

17、整个的entire a. 全部的，整个的【活用例句】The police have absolute proof of his guilt.警方有他犯罪的确凿证据。flourish /9fl(f6)rIS/ vi. n. 繁荣，茂盛 vt. 挥动(以引起注意)【联想】flour(面粉) ish(使)使面粉增产，这样国家就能繁荣繁荣【搭配】flourishing business 兴隆的生意；flourish flags 挥舞旗帜【引申】 同根flourishing a. 繁茂的，繁荣的同义boom vi. 繁荣，迅速发展prosper vi. 兴旺，繁荣反义depress vt. 使不景气，削

18、弱【活用例句】They finished the season with a flourish, winning their last three matches. 他赢得了最后三场比赛，从而完美地结束了该赛季。shake* /SeIk/ n. 他使用数字的技能使我们大家很吃惊。confidence* /9k(e7)nfId5ns/ n. 信任；信心，自信【词根】con(加强) fid(相信) ence(名词后缀) 自信【搭配】in confidence 私下地，秘密地；take into sbs confidence 把某人作为知己；radiate confidence 显示出信心【写作例句

19、】When faced with troubles and difficulties in life, we should build up our hopes and confidence to fight a battle against them rather than surrender to them.当遇到问题和困难的时候，我们应该逐步建立起希望和信心同它们作斗争而不是向它们屈服。force* /fO:s/ n. pl. 军队；暴力；力气；影响力 vt. 强迫，迫使；用力推动【搭配】in force 有效，生效，在实施中；a peace-making force 维和部队【引申】

20、同根workforce n. 劳动力，工人总数【活用例句】Although many people view conflict as bad, conflict is sometimes useful in that it forces people to test the relative merits of their attitudes and behaviors. 虽然许多人认为冲突不好，但是冲突有时也有它的好处 它可以迫使人们去检验自己的态度和行为是否恰当。同根enforce /In9fO:s/ vt. 实施，执行；强迫，迫使【词根】en(表强调) force(强制)强迫【写作例句】

21、Its necessary that law be laid down and enforced to cut out the bloody sections, and love and peace be made the central theme of TV programs.需要制定并强制实施删除电视节目中血腥镜头的法律条文，使爱与和平成为电视节目的主旋律。edit* /9edIt/ vt. 编辑，担任的编辑；剪辑【联想】做编辑(edit)工作要有信用(credit)【搭配】edit text 编辑文本【阅读例句】The practice that can help you past y

22、our learned bad habits of trying to edit as you write is what Elbow calls “free writing.” 实践可以帮助你改掉一边写作一边修改的坏习惯，这就是 Elbow 所说的“自由写作。 ”07.6popularize 9p?pjUl5raIz 【引申】 同根popular a. 受欢迎的，流行的popularity n. 普及，流行【活用例句】Scientific knowledge was further popularized and the spirit of science spread.科学知识进一步普及，

23、科学精神得到弘扬。下面我们学习文中标黑的常用词#09#09 常用词汇widespread /9waIdspred/ a. 分布(或散布)广的，普遍的【构词】wide(广泛的) spread(散布)分布广的【搭配】a widespread misunderstanding 普遍的误解【阅读例句】Since the worlds population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis.自从预测世界人口将在未来 5

24、0 年翻一番，许多专家认为我们正处在范围广泛的水资源危机的边缘。01.6effort* /9ef5t/ n. 努力，成就【联想】ef fort(城堡) 努力攻打城堡【搭配】make an effort to do sth 努力做某事【短语】beyond effort 力所不及；spare no efforts 不遗余力【引申】 近形effect n. 结果，效果，作用：go into effect 生效，实施； take effect 生效；have an effect on. 对有影响、有效果【听力例句】They saw the importance of collective effort

25、s.他们看到了集体努力的重要性。08.6authority* /O:9T(e7)rItI/ n. 权力，权威；权威人士； pl. 当局，官方【联想】author( 作家 ) ity 作家是写作领域的权威【搭配】an authority on international law 一个国际法权威【写作例句】In order to solve this problem effectively, the authorities have taken various measures.为了有效解决这个问题，政府已经采取了各种措施。近义privilege /9prIvIlIdZ/ n. 特权；特别恩典【词

26、根】priv(私有的 ) i leg(法律) e 限于一个人的法律 特权【搭配】exclusive privileges 独有的特权；grant sb the privilege of doing sth 赋予某人做某事的特权；withdraw ones privileges 取消特权【听力例句】Members of the city council and distinguished guests, it is my privilege to introduce to you today Mr. Robert Washington, chief of our citys police for

27、ce. 市议会的成员及尊贵的客人们，我今天很荣幸地向大家介绍本市警察机关的首脑罗伯特华盛顿先生。08.12previous* /9pri:vj5s/ a. 先前的，以前的【词根】pre(=before) vi(路) ous(的)以前走过的路以前的【搭配】previous to (= prior to) 在之前【引申】 同根previously ad. 过去，从前 同义earlier a. 早先的former a. 先前的preceding a. 在前的 反义following a. 后面的，下面的subsequent a. 后来的同缀共享 -ous delicious a. 美味的anxiou

28、s a. 焦急的enormous a. 庞大的 gracious a. 亲切的，高尚的tremendous a. 巨大的近形precious a. 珍贵的blank /bl(ce)k/ a. 空白的；茫然的 n. 空白(处)；空白表格【搭配】 a blank form for sb to fill in 让某人填写的空白表格；a blank look on ones face 某人一片空白【活用例句】I cant think where Ive left my umbrella；my minds a complete blank!我想不起来把伞丢在哪儿了, 一点印象都没有!belief* /b

29、I9li:f/ n. 信仰，信念；相信，信任【词根】来自 believe。类似的转化有： relieve relief；grieve grief；thieve thief【搭配】beyond belief 难以置信；have a firm belief that . 坚信；discard old beliefs 抛弃旧信念【听力例句】This belief guarantees that each person who takes part in the program also becomes a giver.这一理念确保参与计划的每个人都成为施赠者。06.6figure* /9fIg5r/

30、 n. 数字；名人；计算；肖像 vi. 计算；出现；有道理【谐音】 “菲戈” (西班牙皇马著名球星 ) 人物【搭配】a girl with a slim figure 身材苗条的姑娘；figure expenses 计算支出【短语】figure out 想出，理解【完形例句】The listener must hear the sounds to figure out what the speaker means. 听者必须要听懂语音并明确说话者的意思。06.12Text 3 A Brief History of Time From the word going Stephen Hawkins

31、s A Brief History of Time was an easy success. Within ten years it was to be translated into 30 languages and sell 6 million copies worldwide. Why, nobody really knows. All kinds of theories have been put forward. Everybody felt they ought to know a bit about science, and this was their chance to bu

32、y (if not necessarily read) a good popular book on the subject by the best man in the business. It added intellectual belief to ones coffee table. It made a perfect Christmas；birthday；thank-you present for grandfathers；grandchildren ；nephews；uncles ；the apparently illiterate generation who only seem

33、ed to be interested in noise and computers. It was user-friendly (有益于使用者的)；it was ideal for prize-giving. There was a need for a new Einstein. Women gave it to men. Women read it (even if men didnt) . The theories abounded, and market researchers were weighed down with selling it. (They wanted to di

34、scover how to do the next one.)One thing everyone seemed to agree on. People bought the book, but they didnt actually read it. They were too busy, too tired, had better things to do, etc. But this just isnt true. Of all the millions of copies sold, a few at least have been read from cover to cover.

35、The impact on the (mainly young) people who made it to page 182 has been tremendous. Its no exaggeration to say that this book has created a new generation of scientists. Future Nobel prize winners will recall: “Then one day I read A Brief History of Time, and I knew what I wanted to do”. This is ho

36、w such a book changes the world. So what about the book itself? For a start, its very easy to read. And needless to say its well-informed. The concepts are of course difficult, and difficult to simplify without rendering them simplistic(过分简单化的). Hawking manages this. A sample of chapter headings ind

37、icates what its about: The Expanding Universe, Black Holes, The Origin and Future of the Universe, The Unification (统一, 合一) of Physics.A exaggeration B indicates C intellectual D manages E perfect F rendering G weighed H worldwide I well-informed时间简史 从一开始，霍金的时间简史就轻松的获得了成功。十年来，该书被翻译成 30 种语言，在世界范围内销售达

38、六百万册。原因是什么，无人真正知晓。各种说法都被提出过。每个人都觉得他们应该了解一些科学知识，而该书的出版给他们提供了机会来购买(虽然不见得都去看)该领域最了不起的人写的关于该学科的畅销书。人们的咖啡茶几上也增添了对才智的信仰。它是一个完美的圣诞、生日或答谢礼物，可以送给祖父、孙子、外甥、叔叔以及看来只对喧闹声和计算机感兴趣的显然会犯文法错误的这一代。它是使用者满意的书。它是理想的奖品。世界需要有新的爱因斯坦。女人把它送给男人。(即便男人不阅读) 女人阅读该书。说法非常之多，而市场研究者们承受着销售该书的压力。(他们想发现如何做下一个图书项目。)有一点似乎所有人都同意。人们买书，但他们实际上并

39、不阅读。他们太忙了，太累了，有着更好的事情要做，或者有一些其他的原因。但是对于该书这恰恰不是事实。在售出的所有几百万册书中，至少有一 些被从头到尾读完了。对读到第 182 页的人(主要是年轻人)的冲击是巨大的。毫不夸张地说：这本书创造了新一代的科学家。未来的诺贝 尔奖获得者将会回忆到：“然后有一天，我读了时间简史 ，于是我知道我想做什么了。 ”这就是该书如何改变世界的。那么该书本身到底怎样呢?首先，它很容易阅读。并且毋庸讳言它含有丰富的信息。书里的概念当然很深，如果不把它们以极其简单的方法表述出来，就很难使其简化。但霍金做到了。抽一些章节标题就能看出该书讲了写什么：宇宙膨胀、黑洞、宇宙的起源和

40、未来、物理学的统一。难 句 解 析1. It made a perfect Christmas；birthday；thank-you present for grandfathers；grandchildren；nephews；uncles；the apparently illiterate generation who only seemed to be interested in noise and computers.【分析】复合句。主要结构是 it made a perfect.present for., who 引导定语从句修饰 the apparently illiterate g

41、eneration。2. Of all the millions of copies sold, a few at least have been read from cover to cover.【分析】简单句。of 短语中 sold 为过去分词 , 作后置定语修饰 copies, cover 为封面的意思, from cover to cover 意思是“从头至尾” 的意思。3. The impact on the (mainly young) people who made it to page182 has been tremendous.【分析】复合句。who 引导定语从句修饰 pe

42、ople, 将主谓语分开。impact on 为固定搭配, 表示“对的影响”。下面我们学习文中标红的高频词#09#09 高频词汇worldwide /8w(ae):ld9waId/ a. 世界范围的【构词】world(世界) wide(广泛的)世界范围的【活用例句】This move made headlines worldwide last year. 这一举动在去年成为全球性的头条新闻。intellectual /8IntI9lektjU5l,-tSU-/ a. 有智力的，显示智力的 n. 知识分子【词根】intel(中间 ) lect(选择) ual(的)能从中选择的 善于思维的【搭配】

43、the intellectual faculties 智力，智能【引申】 同根intelligence n. 智力 intelligent a. 聪明的【活用例句】Chess is a highly intellectual game.象棋是需用高度智力的运动项目。perfect /9p(ae):fIkt/ adj. 完美的，全然的，理想的 v. 使完美，使完善，使熟练【联想】这种香水 (perfume) 的香味太完美 (perfect) 了【搭配】perfect acting 炉火纯青的演技；a perfect society 理想的社会【活用例句】The fifth generation

44、computers, with artificial intelligence, are being developed and perfected now.具有人工智能的第五代电脑正在开发与完善中。weigh* /weI/ vi. 称得重量 vt. 称，称的重量；认真考虑，权衡【搭配】weigh the stone in ones hand 用手掂石头的重量【短语】weigh up 衡量，认真考虑某事；weigh down 负担，受压，重于【活用例句】A ball of lead will weigh down an equal bulk of feathers. 一个铅球要比同样大小的羽毛

45、团重。exaggeration /Ig8zdZ59reISFn/ n. 夸张，夸大；夸张的手法；夸张的言语【搭配】Its no exaggeration to say 毫不夸张地说，再怎么夸大也不为过【引申】 同根exaggerate v. 夸大，夸张【活用例句】Allowing for slight exaggeration, thats the essence of our problem.除去有一点夸张外，这就是我们的问题的实质。well-informed a. 消息灵通的；熟悉的；博识的，见闻广博的【引申】 反义ill-informed a. 消息不灵通的，闭塞的【写作例句】When

46、seeking jobs, applicants should be well-informed of the situations in the job market.在找工作时，应聘者应熟悉职业市场的情况。render* /9rend5(r)/ vt. 使得，致使；给予，提供；翻译【联想】给予(render) 后自然成为出借人(lender)【搭配】render it impossible to do 使得做某事不可能；render sb unable to do sth 使某人不能做某事；render the poet into English 把这首诗翻译成英语【引申】 同义cause

47、 vt. 引起；使遭受，给带来make vt. 使得，迫使【活用例句】The blow to his head was strong enough to render him unconscious. 他头上的那一击太重了，使得他昏迷过去。manage* /9mnIdZ/ vt. 设法；管理，控制 vi. 处理，设法对付【联想】man(男人) age(年纪)那个时代的男人不好对付对付，管理【搭配】manage to avoid an accident 设法避免事故；manage to reach there in time 奋力按时到达那里【引申】 同义handle vt. 处理，对付【阅读例

48、句】The key to a successful online job search is learning to manage the risks. 网上求职成功的关键在于学会应付风险。07.6 indicate* /9IndIkeIt/ vt. 标示，指出；表明，示意【词根】in dic(say 说) ate 说出 指示CS【引申】 同根indication n. 指示，表示；象征，迹象同义demonstrate vt. 显示，表露hint v. 暗示imply vt. 暗示reveal vt. 展现，显示show vt. 表明；显示【活用例句】If you are jealous of others competence, it just indicates your incompetence. 妒忌别人的才能，也许正好说明自己的无能。下面我们学习文中标黑的常用词#09#09 常用词汇business* /9bIznIs/