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The Great Wall stretches off into the distance
长城一直延伸到远方
defining the southern limits of the vast Mongolian steppe
被看做是内蒙古大草原的南界
North of the Wall are huge areas of grassland
长城北面是广阔的草原
but one place on our journey is particularly significant
我们路途中有一个地方很重要
In the tall grass
高草丛中
a family of red foxes is raising its cubs
赤狐正在哺育幼狐
Today, they have this meadow pretty much to themselves
现在，它们享有这片草原
But it wasn't always the case
但事情并不总是这样的
Eight centuries ago
八百年前
this palce would've been teeming with people
这里应该有丰富的居民
Now these ruins in a field the short distance from Beijing
现在这些距离北京不远的废墟
are all that remains of the great city of Xanadu
都曾是中国上都
once the summer capital of China
大城市上都的遗迹
Within these walls
在这些残垣断壁之中
it is said that the leader of the Mongolians
据说蒙古首领
the mighty Kubla Khan welcomed Marco Polo to China
伟大的可汗忽必烈曾经欢迎马可波罗来到中国
Mongolian warriors established the greatest empire in history
蒙古骑士建立了历史上最大的帝国
stretching to the borders of Europe
一直延伸到欧洲的边界
Feared of this worrior tribe is the main reason
由于害怕这个骁勇善战的部落
the Han Chinese built the Great Wall
汉人修建了长城
The cornerstone of the Mongolian supremacy
蒙古人与马的亲密关系
was their relationship with horses
是其制霸的基石
This is what brought them such success in war
这是他们在战争中获胜的原因
The Mongolian riders travelled at night
蒙古骑兵在夜晚旅行
and rode with spare horses
由于不顾惜马匹
so they could move huge distances strike and then retreat quicker than their opponents
他们可以长距离涉敌并能比敌人更迅速地撤退

重点解释

妙语佳句:

原句:The Great Wall stretches off into the distance defining the southern limits of the vast Mongolian steppe.

解析:the limit of:...的限制

That fence is the limit of the schoolyard.

那堵围墙是校园的界限。

原句:In the tall grass a family of red foxes is raising its cubs.

解析:raise:饲养

raise在美式英语中有“饲养，抚养”的意思，如 raise cattle（饲养牲口）和raise children（抚养孩子）。相对应的英式英语则是breed cattle和rear children；

raise在美式英语中还有“增加”的意思，通常指工资等的上升，如a raise in/of salary。英式英语中习惯用rise或increase去替换该词；

I was raised by my aunt on a farm.

我是在农场由姨妈抚养大的。

Several companies gang up to raise prices.

几家大公司串通一气抬高物价。

原句:Eight centuries ago this palce would've been teeming with people.

解析:teem with:富于, 充满

The rivers here teem with fish .

这里的河流中有大量的鱼。

原句:It is said that the leader of the Mongolians,the mighty Kubla Khan welcomed Marco Polo to China.

解析:it is said that:有人说, 据说

It is said that the squall will come tomorrow.

据说暴风雪明天就要来了。

原句:This is what brought them such success in war.

解析:in war:战争中

Infantry still plays an important part in war.

步兵在战争中仍然起著重要的作用。

考考你:

长城一直延伸到远方被看做是内蒙古大草原的南界。

八百年前这里应该有丰富的居民。

上期答案:

The forests that lie south of the Black Dragon river are bound up in snow for more than half the year

But there is another reason for group living more ears to listen out for danger.