英語聽力小短文走遍全世界44: 美國人的家

英語聽力原文：

Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up their house and making it more "livable". They often try to create a eozy atmospehre so that when they're at home, they'll really feel "at home".

美國人喜歡讓家反映出他們個人的品味。許多喜歡自己動手做的人沉醉于修補他們的房子并讓它更“適于居住”。他們常試著營造一個溫暖而舒適的氣氛，這樣當他們待在家時，會真的感覺到“毫無拘束”。

Sofas and lounge chairs may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors, scented soaps, colorful wallpaper and decorative curtains adorn the "comfort room" in many homes.

沙發(fā)及安樂椅可能會被鋪上厚厚的墊子，并運用不同空間組合的擺設，讓坐著的人可以輕松地談話。甚至連浴室也破費心思：鋪有地毯的地板、香氣四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁紙及裝飾窗簾，如此就打扮出了許多家庭的“舒服之地”。

And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.

平均來說，美國人擁有的浴室比世界上其他的人都多。

Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven. People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable". For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.

蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室內設計師麗莎·瑪麗·德加德談到：“家是一個避難所。人們想要一個開放、輕松的感覺來讓他們的家變得很舒適。”因為這個原因，現在許多新房子都有大而開放的廚房以及拱形的屋頂。

Americans try to make the most of their space, too. The majority of homes have built-in closets and shelves, and people spare no pains to add dressers, filing cabinets and closet organizers to maximize their storage space. Although keeping the house neat is often a constant battle, Americans feel it's a battle worth fighting.

美國人也試著將空間做最佳的利用。大多數的家庭都有壁櫥以及架子，人們也不辭辛勞地添加櫥柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架來加大儲藏空間。雖然讓房子維持整潔像是一場永無止境的長期戰(zhàn)役，美國人覺得這是一個值得打下去的戰(zhàn)役。

People in America keep an eye on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s, the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks created a homey atmosphere reminscent of rural America several generations back .

美國人也會注意室內設計的最新時尚。20世紀80年代，“鄉(xiāng)村”風貌主導了家庭裝潢;擺滿舊式風格的小擺設的質樸家具及架子，創(chuàng)造出一種會令人想起幾世紀以前以農業(yè)為主的美國之家庭氣氛。

The 90s have brought in another longing for the past: the retro 50s and 60s look - plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.

90年代又帶入另一個懷舊情愫：回溯到50及60年代風貌——有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌腳的樸素、簡單的家具。

英語詞匯整理：

1. cozy adj.舒適的

eg: He lives in a cozy little room.

他住在一個舒適的小屋里。

短語：

cozy up to 奉承，取悅

play it cozy [美國俚語]小心行事

2. conducive adj. 有助的，有益的

eg: Regularity ought to be observed, as regularity is very conducive to health.

生活應遵守規(guī)律，因為規(guī)律對健康有益。

短語：

be conducive to 有助于......

conducive evidence 最終證據

3. scented adj. 有香味的，灑有香水的

eg: The white flowers are pleasantly scented.

那些白色的花芳香怡人。

短語：

scented tea 花茶，花果茶

scented soap 香皂

4. decorative adj. 裝飾的，裝飾性

eg: The curtains are for purely decorative purposes and do not open or close.

那些窗簾純粹用于裝飾目的，不能開合。

短語：

decorative design 裝飾設計

decorative lighting 裝飾照明;裝飾燈具

decorative art 裝飾藝術;裝飾性藝術飾品

decorative glass 裝飾玻璃;鑲嵌玻璃

5. interior adj. 內地的，國內的，內部的 n. 內部，內在

eg: The interior walls were painted green.

內墻被漆成了綠色。

短語：

interior design 室內設計;室內裝飾

interior decoration 室內裝飾;內部裝飾

interior wall 內墻

6. haven n. 港口，避難

eg: All the boats were in the haven at night.

夜里，所有的船只都停泊在港口。

短語：

safe haven 安全港

new haven 紐黑文市(美國康涅狄格州港市)

tax haven 避稅場所

7. vaulted adj. 有圓頂的，圓頂的，拱形的

eg: For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.

因為這個原因，現在許多新房子都有大而開放的廚房以及拱形的屋頂。

短語：

pole vault 撐竿跳，撐桿跳高

vaulted roof 拱形屋頂

8. closet n. 壁櫥，衣帽間，密室 adj. 隱藏的，不公開的 vt. 把......關在房間里

eg: I'll clear out that closet and then you can hang your clothes there.

我把那個小衣櫥清理出來,你可以把衣服掛在那里。

短語：

water closet 廁所;抽水馬桶

cloth closet 衣櫥

closet consultation 秘密磋商

9. constant adj. 不變的，經常的 n. 常數，恒量

eg: In our world nothing seems constant.

在我們這個世界上似乎沒有東西是永恒不變的。

短語：

constant temperature 恒溫;定溫;等溫

constant pressure 恒壓

constant speed 恒速;等速

10. dominate v. 支配，占優(yōu)勢，俯視

eg: She must dominate her passions.

她必須控制自己的情感。

短語：

dominate the market 欺行霸市

dominate over 控制

11. reminiscent adj. 懷舊的，引人聯想的 n. 回憶者， 回憶錄作者

eg: I don't know why I am in such a reminiscent mood.

不知為何我這般懷舊。

短語：

reminiscent of 令人回憶起;引起聯想

佳句采摘：

Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven.People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable".

蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室內設計師麗莎·瑪麗·德加德談到：“家是一個避難所。人們想要一個開放、輕松的感覺來讓他們的家變得很舒適。”