最新15篇文章贯通英语四级词汇MP3(含lrc字幕)Unit4-Part3

[00:00.00]The “complex” was ready
[00:02.84]for occupancy in 1927,
[00:04.59]but additions continued until 1947.
[00:07.87]Eventually it comprised the main house
[00:13.78]and three cottages,
[00:15.09]all of which are furnished
[00:16.95]with a variety of valuable antiques.
[00:18.92] Even the lavatories were specially equipped.
[00:23.96]William’s favorite room was said
[00:26.69]to be the library with its
[00:28.77]collections of more than 5 000 books,
[00:31.28]ancient Greek vases, and
[00:33.69]an antique Spanish ceiling suspended
[00:36.98] by cables so it will
[00:38.83]sway in the event of
[00:40.36]an earthquake (all the
[00:42.56]antique furnishings and treasures
[00:44.96]are anchored as a precaution
[00:46.38]as this is an earthquake country).
[00:48.35]In the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s,
[00:53.71] William lived parttime
[00:55.24]at the estate with
[00:56.66]his mistress,Marion Davies.
[00:58.74]They entertained to an excessive extent.
[01:03.99]To be invited to the castle
[01:05.97] was a privilege.
[01:07.60]Movie stars, politicians, businessmen, and even
[01:12.42]royalty were frequent guests.
[01:14.61]Many of these guests, including
[01:18.33]a British lord, Sir Charles KingsfordSmith,
[01:21.61]Amelia Earhart, and Charles Lindbergh,
[01:24.90] flew to the ranch, landing
[01:26.97]on the private airstrip.
[01:28.28]Life on the “hill” was never dull.
[01:33.21] The visitors stayed
[01:35.61]in the main house or the cottages,
[01:37.37]depending on their prominence
[01:39.11]or their intimacy
[01:40.65] with the family and
[01:41.85]were free to roamthe grounds,
[01:43.71] go riding on their choice
[01:46.12]of horses from the stable,
[01:47.98]swim in the pools, or
[01:49.29] play golf on the private course
[01:51.26]on the property.
[01:52.68]Company was expected, however,
[01:55.85] to meet in the main drawing room
[01:58.37]at 7∶30 p.m. sharp, principally
[02:01.76] to amuse their host.
[02:04.83] Dinner was a formal affair
[02:06.57]beginning at 9∶00 p.m.
[02:08.54]This meal was held
[02:10.95]in the immense dining room,
[02:12.38]the walls of which are
[02:14.02]lined with priceless panels
[02:15.88]from ancient European cathedrals.
[02:19.60] Following dinner, movies were
[02:21.71]shown in the private theater,
[02:23.35]starting at 11∶00 p.m..
[02:25.10]There were, however, three rules guests
[02:29.36] had to follow:
[02:31.23]do not get drunk;
[02:33.52]do not swear or tell offcolor jokes;
[02:36.26]sleep in separate bedrooms
[02:38.88]if an unmarried couple.
[02:41.18]Food was not allowed in the rooms.
[02:45.23] If you wanted to eat,
[02:47.96]you could visit the kitchen...
[02:49.49]if you could find it.