VOA慢速英语:Scientists Search for the Lost City of Atlantis

短语讲解：

1. He said it was home to great leaders who had unusual powers. They had many ships and were very scientifically developed.

be home to是…的所在地，是…的家园，产地
例句：The jungle is home to a tiger and a lion. 
丛林是老虎和狮子的家。 

2. It is a narrow waterway that separates southern Spain from North Africa. Two years ago, an American-led team of researchers began searching for Atlantis in this general area.

search for 搜寻，搜索
例句：I have searched my mind for a reason, but can't find one.
我绞尽脑汁寻找理由, 但是没找到。

3. There are many people who think that the search for Atlantis is a waste of time.

a waste of time浪费时间
例句：I think making friends online is a waste of time
我认为网上交友是在浪费时间。

4. They say that Plato made up the story.

make up 编造
例句：Tom makes up stories to amuse his little brother.
汤姆编故事逗他的小弟弟。

5. Factories and their machines began to do much of the work that human beings had once done by hand.

by hand 用手的
例句：We received a typewritten letter with a note added by hand.
我们收到一封用打字机打出的信, 附有手写的一张字条。

6. Many people think that the Industrial Revolution was the first time people began to have a major effect on the earth’s ecology.

have an effect on 对…有影响，对…起作用，产生效果
例句：Foreign food and climates can have an effect on your health. 
异国的食品和气候可能会对你的健康产生影响。 

7. Trees and plants take in the gas carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

give off 释放，放出
例句：The flowers give off a heady scent at night.
这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

8. That, the scientists say, causes our planet to heat up.

heat up 变热
例句：The iron heats up under the sun.
铁在阳光照射下温度升高。

9. A laser will be used to break up large objects it finds. It will have a drill to cut open and examine the inside of rocks.

break up (使)破碎，分解
例句：The workers will break up the old cars for their parts.
工人要把那些旧车拆掉取零件。

10. It will be able to carry two times more weight than the older Saturn Five rocket.

be able to 能，会
例句：Most children are able to walk before they are able to talk.
多数孩子在会说话前就会走路。