Lesson16-2 The modern city 现代城市
The shape and dimensions of the skyscrapers depend entirely on the necessity of obtaining the maximum income per square foot of ground, and of offering to the tenants offices and apartments that please them. This caused the construction of gigantic buildings where too large masses of human beings are crowded together. Civilized men like such a way of living. While they enjoy the comfort and banal luxury of their dwelling, they do not realize that they are deprived of the necessities of life.The modern city consists of monstrous edifices and of dark, narrow streets full of petrol fumes and toxic gases, torn by the noise of the taxi-cabs, lorries and buses, and thronged ceaselessly by great crowds. Obviously, it has not been planned for the good of its inhabitants.
dimension /daɪˈmenʃn/ 直径, 尺寸;方面;范围
skyscraper /ˈskaɪskreɪpər/ 摩天大楼
entirely /ɪnˈtaɪərli/ 完全;完整地;
necessity /nəˈsesəti/ n. 需要;必要
tenant /ˈtenənt/ 租户;房客;`
gigantic /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/ 巨大的;庞大的
civilized /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/ 文明的;
banal /bəˈnɑːl/ 平庸的;平淡乏味的
luxury /ˈlʌkʃəri/ 奢侈品;奢华;奢侈;
dwelling /ˈdwelɪŋ/ 住宅;住所;住处;公寓
deprive /dɪˈpraɪv/ 剥夺;使丧失;
monstrous /ˈmɑːnstrəs/ 畸形的, 丑陋的;丑恶的;骇人的;道德败坏的
edifice /ˈedɪfɪs/ 大厦;宏伟建筑
toxic /ˈtɑːksɪk/ 有毒的
throng /θrɔːŋ/ 群集,拥挤;
ceaseless /ˈsiːsləs/ 不断的;(好像)无休止的;
inhabitant /ɪnˈhæbɪtənt/ 居民;