课文阅读
An unknown goddess 无名女神
goddess n. a female god 女神
Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean Island of Kea. 不久之前，在爱琴海的基亚岛上，考古工作者有一项有趣的发现。
archaeologist n. a person who studies archaeology 考古学家
archaeology n. the study of the cultures of the past, and of periods of history by examining the parts of the buildings and objects found in the ground 考古学 [U]
archaeological adj. connected with the study of cultures of the past and of periods of history by examining the parts of buildings and objects found in the ground. 考古学的
An American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini. 一个美国考古队在阿伊亚·依里尼海角的一座古城里考察了一座庙宇。
promontory n. a long narrow area of high land that goes out into the sea 岬，岬角（深入海中的狭长高地）
The city at one time must have been prosperous, for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. 这座古城肯定一度很繁荣，因为它曾享有高度的文明。
at one time * at a period of time in the past 曾经；一度
prosperous adj. rich and successful 繁荣的；成功的；兴旺的
prosperous countries 繁荣的国家
Houses – often three storeys high – were built of stone. 房子一般有 3 层楼高，用石块修建。
storey n. a level of building; a floor 楼层
the upper / lower storey of the house 房子的上面 / 下面一层
They had large rooms and beautifully decorated walls. 里面房间很大，墙壁装饰华丽。
The city was even equipped with a drainage system, for a great many clay pipes beneath the narrow streets. 城里甚至还铺设了排水系统，因为在狭窄的街道底下发现了许许多多陶土制作的排水管道。
drainage n. the process by which water or liquid waste is drained from an area 排水；放水 [U]
a drainage system 排水系统
clay n. a type of heavy, sticky earth that becomes hard when it is baked and is used to make things such as pots and BRICKS 黏土；陶土 [U]
pipe n. a tube through which liquids and gases can flow 管子；管道 [C,U]
water pipes 水管
The temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century B.C. until Roman times. 考古工作者考察的这座庙宇从公元前 15 世纪直至罗马时代一直是祭祀祈祷的场所。
worship n. the practice of showing respect for God or a god, by saying prayers, singing with others, etc.; a ceremony for this （对上帝或神的）崇拜，敬仰，礼拜 [U]
ancestor worship 对祖先的崇拜
Roman times 罗马时代
In the most sacred room, clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. 在庙中最神圣的一间殿堂里发现了 15 尊陶制雕像的碎片。
secred adj. connected with God or a god; considered to be holy 上帝的；神的；神圣的
sacred music 圣乐
fragment n. a small part of sth that has broken off or comes from sth larger 碎片；零块
~ (of sth): Police found fragments of glass near the scene. 警方在现场附近发现了玻璃碎片。
in ~s: The shattered vase lay in fragments on the floor. 打碎的花瓶在地上成了一堆碎片。
Each of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted. 每一尊雕像代表一位女神，而且一度上过色。
The body of one statue was found among remains dating from the fifteenth century B.C. 其中有一尊雕像，她的躯体是在公元前 15 世纪的历史文物中发现的。
Its missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century B.C. 而她那身首异处的脑袋却碰巧是在公元前 5 世纪的文物中找到的。
happen v. to do or be sth by chance 碰巧；恰好 [T]
~ to be / do sth: She happened to be out when we called. 我们打电话时她刚巧不在。
it ~s that …: It happened that she was out when we called. 我们打电话时她刚巧不在家。
This head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved. 她的脑袋一定是在古希腊罗马时代就为人所发现，并受到了精心的保护。
Classical times 古希腊罗马时代
It was very old and precious even then. 即使在当时，它也属历史悠久的珍奇之物。
When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. 考古工作者把这些碎片重新拼装起来后，惊奇地发现那位女神原来是一位相貌十分摩登的女郎。
reconstruct v. to build or make sth again that has been damaged or that no longer exists 修复；重建；重造
~ sth (from sth): They have tried to reconstruct the settlement as it would have been in Iron Age times. 他们已经试着按铁器时代的样子重建这个小村落。
She stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hips. 她身高 3 英尺，双手叉腰。
stand v. (not used in the progressive tenses) to be a particular height （不用于进行时）高度为，高达 [I]
+ n.: The tower stands 30 meters high. 塔高 30 米。
rest v. to support sth by putting it on or against sth; to be supported in this way （被）支撑；（使）倚靠，托 [T,I]
~ sth + adv. / prep.: He rested his chin in his hands. 他双手托着下巴。
+ adv. / prep. Their bikes were resting against the wall. 他们的自行车靠在墙上。
hip n. the area that at either side of the body between the top of the leg and the middle part of the bofy; the JOINT at the top of the leg that connects it with the top part of the body 臀部；髋
She stood with her hands on her hips. 她双手叉腰站着。
She was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground. 身穿一条拖地长裙。
full-length adj. (of clothing) reaching a person’s ankles （衣服）长及脚踝的
a full-length skirt 拖地长裙
Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity. 尽管上了年纪，但体态确实优美。不过，考古工作者至今未能确定这位女神的身份。
课文理解
- The interesting discovery made by the archaeologists was _____.
- (a) that the city had once been prosperous
- (b) that the temple had been used as a place of worship
- (c) they found the fifteen statues had been painted
- (d) that they were not the first to have found the head of the goddess
(d). 这位女神的头已经在古代就被人发现过，也就是说，这批考古学家们并不是第一个发现女神的头的人。
- The city ‘enjoyed a high level of civilization’. This is confirmed by _____.
- (a) some of the houses were built only one storey high
- (b) a great number of fragments were found in the temple
- (c) the city had been built on clay
- (d) advanced techniques had been employed in building and decorating
(d). 在那时的城市中已经有了由许许多多的管道组成的排水系统，可以看出当时排水的技术非常先进。
- In seeking to establish the identity of the reconstructed statue, the archaeologists _____.
- (a) tried to determine which goddess it represented
- (b) pieced together the fragments they found
- (c) discovered that it was more modern that any of the other statues
- (d) wondered whether it belonged to the fifth or the fifteenth century
(a). 考古学家们在重建雕像之后，尝试着猜测雕像代表是哪位女神。
in seeking to 为了
piece v. * to put all the separate parts of sth together to make a complete whole 拼凑；拼合
to piece together a jigsaw 拼合拼图
语法
- The city had once known _____.
- (a) a prosperity
- (b) the prosperous
- (c) the prosperity
- (d) prosperity
(d).
prosperity n. the state of being successful, especially in making money 兴旺；繁荣；成功；昌盛 [U]
Our future prosperity depends on economic growth. 我们未来的繁荣昌盛依赖经济的发展
- The temple _____ used as a place of worship since Roman times.
- (a) was
- (b) has not been
- (c) bad been
- (d) was not
(b).
- They found _____ that the goddess turned out to be …
- (a) surprisingly
- (b) with surprise
- (c) to their surprise
- (d) a surprise
(c).
- _____ being very old, she was very graceful.
- (a) Although
- (b) In spite of
- (c) Even
- (d) Even though
(b).
- So far, the archaeologists _____ to discover her identity.
- (a) have been impossible
- (b) have not been able
- (c) cannot have been
- (d) could not
(b).
词汇
- In the most _____ room of the temple …
- (a) holy
- (b) religious
- (c) frightening
- (d) colorful
(a).
holy adj. connected with God or a particular religion 与神（或宗教）有关的；神圣的 [usually before n.]
holy books 神圣典籍
religious adj. connected with religion or with a particular religion 宗教信仰的；宗教的 [only before n.]
religious beliefs 宗教信仰
- The head was carefully preserved. It was _____.
- (a) well done
- (b) conserved
- (c) maintained
- (d) in good condition
(d).
- The goddess _____ to be a very modern-looking woman.
- (a) appeared
- (b) proved
- (c) resolved
- (d) changed
(b).
- But, _____ the archaeologists have been unable …
- (a) beforehand
- (b) until now
- (c) for a long time
- (d) at this distance
(b).
beforehand adv. earlier; before sth else happens or is done 预先；事先
two weeks beforehand 提前两星期
I wish we’d known about it beforehand. 要是我们预先知道这事就好了。
at / from a distance * from a place or time that is not near; from far away 离一段距离；从远处；遥远地；久远地
She had love him at a distance for years. 她曾经暗恋他好多年。
