原文视听

Jiayuguan fortress was considered
嘉峪关的城堡被认为是
to be the last outpost of Chinese civilization
中国文明最后的前哨
Beyond this point, lays utter desolation
从这一点往更远处 坐落着绝对的荒漠
China's largest desert, the Taklamakan lies out here
中国最大的沙漠——塔克拉玛干 坐落于此
Its name has been translated as
它的名字被翻译成
you go in, and you never come out
有去无回
This is a place of intense heat
这是一个酷热的地方
abrasive wind blown sand
烈风吹舞着狂沙
Totally hostile to life
完全与生命作对
Yet, there wasn't a route through the desert
虽然有足够勇敢的人们为之冒生命危险
for those brave enough to risk their lives for it
但至今仍然没有穿过沙漠的明确路线
People were lured into the horrors of the deserts
人们为沙漠的恐惧所诱惑
because the Chinese had a secret so powerful
是因为中国有一个如此强大的
that it changed the course of history
以至于可以改变历史历程的秘密
The key to that secret lies in the distant past
那个秘密的答案埋藏在遥远的过去
Legend has it
传说
at around 5000 years ago
在五千年前
a princess was walking in her garden
一位公主在她的花园中漫步
when something unusual fell into her teacup
突然有样不寻常的东西掉进茶杯中
A magical thread was extracted
一种神奇的纤维从中抽了出来
and it became more prized than gold or jade
它比黄金或珠宝更加贵重
The thread, was silk
这种纤维 就是丝
Incredibly, such a beautiful substance and all the history behind it
这些渺小虫子孕育了无数
come from a humble little insect
美丽丝线和引人入胜的传奇故事
the silkworm
它就是蚕
Silk moths lay several hundred eggs
蚕蛾每次产下数百个卵
and the tiny caterpillars that emerge
而孵化后的小蚁蚕
eat nothing but mulberry leaves
只以桑叶为食

重点解释

妙语佳句:

原文:Jiayuguan fortress was considered to be the last outpost of Chinese civilization.

解析:consider to be:认为

What do you consider to be your strengths?

你认为你的优点是什么?

原文:The key to that secret lies in the distant past.

解析:lie:文中意思为“位于”,指国家、城镇、道路、湖海等所处的位置。除此还有“躺下，说谎，延伸”之意。

The village lies across the river.

村庄在河对岸。

He lied about his age to join the army.

他为了参军谎报了年龄。

If you feel unwell, go and lie down.

如果你感到不舒服，就去躺下。

原文:People were lured into the horrors of the deserts.

解析:lure into:诱骗 ... 进入(某处)或做(某事)

He was lured into surrender by the enemy.

他被敌人诱降了。

原文:when something unusual fell into her teacup，a magical thread was extracted.

解析:fall into:落入

I fell into the water with a splash.

我跌入水中，激起水花四溅。

考考你:

嘉峪关的城堡被认为是中国文明最后的前哨。

那个秘密的答案埋藏在遥远的过去。

上期答案:

Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives building it
This fortress marks the end of the Great Wall of China