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City of Glass

 

玻璃建築，是大都會的標誌。不過，它的冰冷、僵硬、單調，近年卻令建築師再三反思：我們是否真的只能建設「玻璃之城」？Kevin 和 Jo 談起倫敦發生的一宗意外，不禁驚呼：玻璃建築，破壞力可以很驚人！

 

Perhaps more pressingly, there are ongoing concerns over how sustainable glass structures can ever be, given their propensity to trap heat in the summer and lose heat when it's cold.

 

pressingly 緊迫地

(adverb 副詞)

 

> pressing 緊迫的，迫切的 (adjective 形容詞)

 

  •  a pressing need for housing 對住房的迫切需求
  •  a pressing issue 迫切的問題

 

例子：The most pressing question is what do we do next?

最迫切的問題是，接下來我們要做甚麼？

 

propensity （尤指不良的）傾向，嗜好，癖好

(noun 名詞)

 

例子：She's inherited from her father a propensity to talk too much.

她從她父親那裡遺傳了話多的毛病。

 

例子：He's well-known for his natural propensity for dishonesty.

他天生不老實的毛病是出了名的。

 

Flat glass panels, which are easily replaced and seemingly ageless, are arguably less expressive than alternative materials. But glass buildings, when executed correctly, can present fascinating plays of shadow and light

 

ageless 青春永駐的，永不顯老的；永恆的

(adjective 形容詞)

 

例子：She is beautiful and, at 43, somehow ageless.

她雖然已經43歲了，但仍然很美，而且不知怎麼地，總也不顯老。

 

VS age (verb 動詞)

 

1. 衰老，使…顯得蒼老

例子：She's aged since the last time we met.  她顯得比我們上次見面時老了。

​

2. to develop in flavour or leave something to do this（使）發酵，（使）變陳

例子：The brandy is aged in oak for ten years. 這種白蘭地在橡木桶中陳釀了十年。

 

 

play(s) of sth 移動，活動；變幻；閃現

= movement

 

> the plays of light and shadow 光影變化

 

  • the play of moonlight across the water 水面上月光閃爍
  • the play of emotion on his face 他面部表情的變化

 

Despite their criticisms, neither architects are on a crusade against glass per se. Likewise, neither foresee the material falling completely out of favour anytime soon. But both advocate for a more restrained approach that sees glass used in conjunction with other materials, such as metal or granite.

 

on a crusade for / against sth （為理想或信念而奮鬥的）爭取/反對… 的運動

 

* crusade(s) 通常指 11, 12, 13, 17 世紀基督教十字軍東征

 

例子：They have long been involved in a crusade for racial equality.

他們長期以來一直致力於爭取種族平等的運動。

 

例子：a moral crusade against drugs 反毒品的正義運動

​

 

per se　自身，本身

(adverb 副詞) FORMAL

 

例子：Research shows that it is not divorce per se that harms children, but the continuing conflict between parents.

研究顯示，對孩子造成傷害的不是離婚本身，而是父母間持續的衝突。

 

(fall) out of favour 不受投資者歡迎

> investments, products, or services that are out of favour are no longer popular with investors or consumers:

 

例子：Shares in the out-of-favour telecommunications sector fell yesterday.

 

fall/remain/go out of favour

例子：While the markets' attention remains firmly focused on the yen, the euro has fallen out of favor.

 

be out of favour with sb/sth

例子：Airline stocks are currently out of favour with institutional investors because of the global economic slowdown.

 

restrained (adjective 形容詞)

 

1. 平靜的，克制的

例子：I was expecting him to be furious but he was very restrained.

​

2. 克制的 controlled:

 

例子：The country adopted a more restrained policy on mortgage lending.

例子：The tone of his poetry is restrained and unemotional.

 

Listening test – Architectural glass

 

Q1: What do we use to cut glass?  Ans: Diamond

 

Q2: What are the functional features of architectural glass? 

Ans: scratch-proof & chip-resistant

 

Glass lends sparkle to any interior. From a bathroom sink to a staircase, architectural glass is both functional and artistic. 

 

lend  

(verb 動詞)

 

1. 借

例子：It was most generous of you to lend me the money.

 

2. 為… 增添… (=add to)

> lends sparkle to any interior 為任何室內裝潢增添閃爍

 

例子：Vases of flowers all around the room lent the place a cheerful look.

 

A Song for You – “Castle of Glass” by Linkin Park

 

Take me down to the river bend

Take me down to the fighting end

Wash the poison from off my skin

Show me how to be whole again

 

be whole again 再次完整/ 不再破碎 (傷心)

 

WHOLE

 

1. 全部的；整個的；整體的

 

例子：I spent the whole day cleaning.  我整天都在打掃。

例子：This whole thing (= situation) is ridiculous.

 

2. 用於表示強調

 

例子：I have a whole pile of work to do this afternoon.

我今天下午有一大堆工作要做。

 

glow (noun 名詞)

 

1. 面部感覺（或顯得）溫暖健康


例子：Like all the staff at the health club she had the healthy glow of the young and fit.  和健康俱樂部的所有職員一樣，她帶著一種年輕健康的光芒。

 

2. 發光；發熱；光亮；灼熱

 

  • the glow of the fire 火光

 

3. 喜悅；滿足

 

例子：They felt a glow of pride as they watched their daughter collect the award.

看著女兒領獎，他們感到非常自豪。

 

例子：She felt a warm glow of satisfaction.  她感到心滿意足，如沐春風。

   
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