新概念英语第四册自学导读：第十六课现代城市(下)

16-6. This caused the construction of gigantic buildings where too large masses of human beings are crowded together.

【译文】这就促使建设高楼大厦，里面众多的人挤地一起。

【讲解】where too large masses of human beings are crowded together系定语从句，修饰gigantic buildings。
【单词和短语】

gigantic：巨大的，庞大的（extremely big），

例如：
make a gigantic concession 做出重大让步
make a gigantic mistake 铸成大错

16-7. Civilized men like such a way of living.

【译文】文明人喜欢这种生活方式。

16-8. While they enjoy the comfort and banal luxury of their dwelling, they do not realize that they are deprived of the necessities of life.

【译文】当他们享受着他们住宅的舒适和乏味的奢侈生活时，并未意识到他们被剥夺了生活所必需的东西。

【单词和短语】

banal：陈腐的，平庸的，乏味的（ordinary and not interesting, because of a lack of new or different ideas），

例如：
a banal remark 陈词滥调

There was nothing new in his banal lecture.
他的演讲平庸之极，没有一点新东西。

The restaurant serves banal food.
那家饭馆供应的饭菜全无特色。

banal的名词形式为banality。

necessity：必要的东西，必不可少的事物，必需品（something that you need to have in order to live），

例如：
Good maps are a necessity to travelers.
好的地图是出门旅行必不可少的。

Water is a necessity of life.
生命不可缺水。

What we did was a moral necessity.
我们做了在道义上非做不可的事。

16-9. The modern city consists of monstrous edifices and of dark, narrow streets full of petrol fumes，coal dust and toxic gases, torn by the noise of the taxicabs, lorries and buses, and thronged ceaselessly by great crowds.

【译文】畸形建筑群和阴暗狭窄的街道构成了现代城市。街上充满汽油味、煤灰和有毒气体，出租车、卡车和公共汽车的噪音刺耳，熙熙攘攘的人群挤来挤去。

【讲解】of monstrous edifices和of dark, narrow streets…great crowds都与consists搭配在一起使用。full of petrol fumes，coal dust and toxic gases作streets的定语。torn by the noise of the taxicabs, lorries and buses和thronged ceaselessly by great crowds都是过去分词短语，作定语修饰streets。

【单词和短语】

throng：在……聚集，使拥塞（people throng a place, they go there in large numbers），

例如：
They thronged the doorway. 他们都挤在门口。

16-10. Obviously, it has not been planned for the good of its inhabitants.

【译文】显然，现代城市并非按居民利益规划的。

【讲解】it指the modern city。

【单词和短语】

good：好处，用处，利益（a useful effect），

例如：
Milk does you (your health) good.
牛奶对你（你的健康）有好处。

It was for her own good. 这是为他自己好。

What is the good of his coming tomorrow?
他明天才来有什么用呢？

the good of the state 国家利益
the common good 公益