VOA慢速英语:American History: Life in the 1950s

短语讲解：

1. Most of these new houses were located in suburbs, the areas outside cities.

most of 绝大多数
例句：Most of the Asians live on rice. 
大多数亚洲人以大米为主食。 

2. More space meant children had room to lay out electric train sets.

lay out 安排;筹划
例句：He showed us how to lay out a printed page. 
他告诉我们怎样设计版面。 

3. In a lot of American homes, playing with electric trains was an activity that brought the whole family together.

a lot of 许多
例句：I got a lot of mail from Japan. 
我收到许多来自日本的信件。 

4. Also popular was the poodle cut -- not for dogs, but for women who wanted to look stylish.

but for 要不是
例句：But for your help, we would have lost the game.
要不是你们的帮助,我们会输掉这场比赛的。

5. I woke up this morning, you know, and the sun was shining.

wake up (使)醒来,起床
例句：I used to wake up early and get up at 6:30. 
我通常醒得早，六点半钟起床。 

6. That meant that owners of TV sets could still watch programs broadcast in color, in black and white, instead of having to buy a new set.

instead of 代替，而不是...
例句：Would you prefer that I come on Monday instead of on Tuesday? 
你是喜欢让我星期一来而不是星期二来吗?