VOA慢速英语:Social Scientists Rethink City Living

短语讲解：

1. This week on our program, we tell you why an economist has written a book in praise of cities.

in praise of赞扬…
例句：The teacher spoke in praise of the child for his honesty.
他很诚实, 老师表扬了他。

2. Cities are so fascinating because they play to mankind's greatest gift, which is our ability to learn from other people.

learn from向…学习; 从…获得〔吸取〕
例句：She learned everything from me.
她什么都是向我学的。

3. "What these new forces have done is they've increased the returns to new ideas, to being smart, because now if you got a new idea, you can manufacture it on the other side of the planet, you can take advantage of some new market opportunity in India, or Indonesia or Sub-Saharan Africa.

take advantage of利用
例句：He took advantage of the good weather to go for a walk.
他趁着天气好,出去散散步。

4. Mr. Glaeser says restaurants, supermarkets, theaters and museums all play a part in creating jobs.

play a part in与…有关,对…有影响
例句：Computers will play an important part in our life in the near future.
在不久的将来，计算机将在我们的生活中起着重要作用。

5. He says developing high-rise buildings, or "building up," is a way to avoid developing wider areas, or "building out."

build up (在某个地方)盖满了建筑物
例句：The area has been built up since I lived here.
自从我住到这里以来, 这个地区已盖满了房子。
build out增建
例句：Ten years later, the school built out two buildings.
10年后这个学校又增建了两栋建筑。

6. I think we should really focus on what urban living gives to us in the network of relationships, not so much an abstract number like density and 'Let's just make it absolutely as high as possible and let's have tall buildings.'

focus on集中于，对(某事或做某事)予以注意
例句：Many firms are focusing on increasing their markets overseas.
许多商行都专注于扩大国外市场。

7. Michael Mehaffy also points out that not everyone enjoys life in the big city.

point out指出
例句：He pointed out that there was little chance of success.
他指出很少有成功的机会。

8. The business is located in Fauquier County, Virginia, southwest of Washington.

be located in坐落于..., 位于...
例句：The building is located in a business center.
该大楼位于商业中心。

9. We're singing about peace, about coming together, about stopping the wars back in our native lands, and singing about being able to go back and being able to hold on to our languages and our families.

hold on坚持住，挺住
例句：He was determined to hold on this job whatever difficulties he might run into.
他下定决心, 不管碰到什么困难, 都要坚持做这工作。

10. Mr. Fullam says the chorus evolved into a girls' group when boys did not come to practice.

evolve into逐渐发展成
例句：The simple plan evolved into a complicated scheme.
这个简单的计划逐渐发展成了一项复杂的规划。
come to到达; 达成
例句：After much talk they came to an agreement.
经过多次商谈, 他们达成了协议。

11. Ms. Samara has begun to schedule performances outside of Maine. The first took place in August in Washington.

take place发生; 举行
例句：The evening party will take place on New Year's Eve.
晚会将在除夕那天举行。