小D提醒：滑鼠懸停在顏色不同的單詞上或劃選單詞即可獲得詳細釋義
Dialogues /monologues:
1、 About a block down from here.
2、 I went to the conference to register and to set up my exhibition stand.
3、 I set out our brochures ready for the official opening.
4、 Coal could be moved from Welsh mining villages right into the heart of London.
5、 Britain’s rail network is still second to none.
6、 That doesn’t necessarily follow.
7、 There will be taxies to cross down, but it will naturally be more economical to use bicycles and buses or to work.
Passage:
Washington, D.C. serves as the seat of government for the United States of American. Over the 200 years, Washington, D.C. has grown with the nation, and it now represents the very best of America. From its majestic monuments to its incomparable museums, from the Mall to the steps of the Capital, Washington offers visitors one-of-a-kind attractions.
The majestic capital building stands at the center of the city, allowing unobstructed views of the city’s most famous attractions. The immense open space of the Mall is marked off by the various museums of the Smithsonian Institution, the largest cluster of museums in the world. The national Air and Space Museum celebrates the nation’s achievements in flight and space exploration, from the Wright brother’s first biplane to the Apollo moon mission and beyond. Visitors also line up for the Natural History Museum to learn about the sciences and to view the famous Hope Diamond. The Smithsonian Institution also includes the world-famous galleries. Art lovers should also appreciate the nearby National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of American Art.
Looking past the Mall, the Washington Monument stands 505 feet above the city. It was the tallest man-made structure in America from its completion until the early 1900’s. Behind this monument are the reflecting pool and the trio of memorials dedicated to remembering President Lincoln and the wounded and killed of the Vietnam and Korean conflicts. New to the area of the tidal basin, and facing the Jefferson Memorial, a memorial to Franklin Roosevelt lies on the Potomac River which hosts millions of visitors each year.
The offices of the various government agencies take up most of the space of the city, and most offer free tours to the public. The White House also offers free tours to the public. Just outside of the city, the national zoo houses thousands of animals on 163 acres of park. Among its residents are two giant pandas given to the United States as gifts from the People’s Republic of China. Across the river in Arlington, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands amidst the dim, grave and majestic Arlington National Cemetery.
Washington has many other distractions from politics. Washington’s theatre life is thriving; it is second only to New York in number of theatre seats. The National Symphony and other musical companies play four schedules. As a temporary home to diplomats from around the world, Washington’s restaurant offerings are the finest and most diverse around.
The beauty and grandeur of the nation’s capital continue to captivate millions of American and foreign tourists who visit Washington, D.C. each year.
參考譯文:
華盛頓特區（又稱華盛頓哥倫比亞特區）是美利堅合眾國政府所在地。在過去的200多年中，華盛頓特區與美國一起成長，現在它是美國國家的象徵。從巨集偉的紀念牌到無與倫比的博物館，從首都廣場到國會大廈的臺階，它以自己的特徵吸引著遊客。
巨集偉的國會大廈聳立於市中心，人們能在此飽覽華盛頓特區著名的風景。首都廣場的碩大空間被世界上最大的博物館群——史密森博物館院的各種博物館劃分開來。國家航空航天博物館展示了美國在飛行和宇宙探索方面取得的成就，從萊特兄弟的第一架雙翼飛機到阿波羅號登月任務以及其他。遊客們還排長隊參觀自然歷史博物館，瞭解科學知識，欣賞著名的“希望之星”。史密森博物院還包括世界著名的藝術館。藝術愛好者們肯定會鍾情不遠處的國立肖像館和國立美國藝術博物館。
首都廣場過去，就是高505英尺的紀念碑。在二十世紀初以前，它曾是美國最高的`人造建築。紀念碑之後是映像池，和林肯紀念堂及為在越南及朝鮮戰爭中受傷和陣亡的將士建造的紀念碑。位於潮汐湖畔、與傑弗遜紀念堂正對的是新建的弗蘭克林.羅斯福紀念堂，它座落在波托馬克岸邊，每年吸引數百萬遊客。
各種政府機關的辦公用地佔了城市大部分空間，多數政府機關都向公眾提供免費參觀時段，包括白宮在內。城外不遠處的佔地163英畝的國家動物園裡容納了數千種動物。其中有兩隻是中華人民共和國作為禮物贈送給美國的大熊貓。海對岸的阿靈頓，無名烈士墓坐落在昏暗、莊嚴肅穆的阿靈頓國家公墓裡。
華盛頓特區除了政界機構以外還有許多其他娛樂場所。華盛頓的戲劇非常繁榮，劇院可容納座位數僅次於紐約。國家交響樂團和其它音樂團體全天候都有演出。作為來自世界各地的外交官們的臨時家園，華盛頓所提供的飯店檔次最高，而且種類繁多。
作為國家首都的華盛頓，其優美景色和巨集大建築將繼續吸引每年數百萬美國和外國遊客到此參觀瀏覽。
學識谷
