走遍全世界44: 美国人的家

Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up their house and making it more "livable". They often try to create a eozy atmospehre so that when they're at home, they'll really feel "at home".

美国人喜欢让家反映出他们个人的品味。许多喜欢自己动手做的人沉醉于修补他们的房子并让它更“适于居住”。他们常试着营造一个温暖而舒适的气氛，这样当他们待在家时，会真的感觉到“毫无拘束”。

Sofas and lounge chairs may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive¹ to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors, scented² soaps, colorful wallpaper and decorative³ curtains adorn⁴ the "comfort room" in many homes.

沙发及安乐椅可能会被铺上厚厚的垫子，并运用不同空间组合的摆设，让坐着的人可以轻松地谈话。甚至连浴室也破费心思：铺有地毯的地板、香气四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁纸及装饰窗帘，如此就打扮出了许多家庭的“舒服之地”。

And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.

平均来说，美国人拥有的浴室比世界上其他的人都多。

Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven⁵. People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable". For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted⁷ ceilings.

蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室内设计师丽莎·玛丽·德加德谈到：“家是一个避难所。人们想要一个开放、轻松的感觉来让他们的家变得很舒适。”因为这个原因，现在许多新房子都有大而开放的厨房以及拱形的屋顶。

Americans try to make the most of their space, too. The majority of homes have built-in closets and shelves, and people spare no pains to add dressers, filing cabinets and closet organizers to maximize their storage space. Although keeping the house neat is often a constant battle, Americans feel it's a battle worth fighting.

美国人也试着将空间做最佳的利用。大多数的家庭都有壁橱以及架子，人们也不辞辛劳地添加橱柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架来加大储藏空间。虽然让房子维持整洁像是一场永无止境的长期战役，美国人觉得这是一个值得打下去的战役。

People in America keep an eye on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s, the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic⁸ furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks created a homey atmosphere reminscent of rural America several generations back .

美国人也会注意室内设计的最新时尚。20世纪80年代，“乡村”风貌主导了家庭装潢；摆满旧式风格的小摆设的质朴家具及架子，创造出一种会令人想起几世纪以前以农业为主的美国之家庭气氛。

The 90s have brought in another longing⁹ for the past: the retro 50s and 60s look - plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.

90年代又带入另一个怀旧情愫：回溯到50及60年代风貌——有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌脚的朴素、简单的家具。

英语词汇整理：

1. cozy¹⁰ adj.舒适的

eg: He lives in a cozy little room.
他住在一个舒适的小屋里。

短语：
cozy up to 奉承，取悦
play it cozy [美国俚语]小心行事

2. conducive adj. 有助的，有益的

eg: Regularity¹¹ ought to be observed, as regularity is very conducive to health.
生活应遵守规律，因为规律对健康有益。

短语：
be conducive to 有助于......
conducive evidence 最终证据

3. scented adj. 有香味的，洒有香水的

eg: The white flowers are pleasantly scented.
那些白色的花芳香怡人。

短语：
scented tea 花茶，花果茶
scented soap 香皂

4. decorative adj. 装饰的，装饰性

eg: The curtains are for purely¹² decorative purposes and do not open or close.
那些窗帘纯粹用于装饰目的，不能开合。

短语：
decorative design 装饰设计
decorative lighting¹³ 装饰照明；装饰灯具
decorative art 装饰艺术；装饰性艺术饰品
decorative glass 装饰玻璃；镶嵌玻璃

5. interior adj. 内地的，国内的，内部的 n. 内部，内在

eg: The interior walls were painted green.
内墙被漆成了绿色。

短语：
interior design 室内设计；室内装饰
interior decoration 室内装饰；内部装饰
interior wall 内墙

6. haven n. 港口，避难

eg: All the boats were in the haven at night.
夜里，所有的船只都停泊在港口。

短语：
safe haven 安全港
new haven 纽黑文市（美国康涅狄格州港市）
tax haven 避税场所

7. vaulted adj. 有圆顶的，圆顶的，拱形的

eg: For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.
因为这个原因，现在许多新房子都有大而开放的厨房以及拱形的屋顶。

短语：
pole vault⁶ 撑竿跳，撑杆跳高
vaulted roof 拱形屋顶

8. closet n. 壁橱，衣帽间，密室 adj. 隐藏的，不公开的 vt. 把......关在房间里

eg: I'll clear out that closet and then you can hang your clothes there.
我把那个小衣橱清理出来,你可以把衣服挂在那里。

短语：
water closet 厕所；抽水马桶
cloth closet 衣橱
closet consultation¹⁴ 秘密磋商

9. constant adj. 不变的，经常的 n. 常数，恒量

eg: In our world nothing seems constant.
在我们这个世界上似乎没有东西是永恒不变的。

短语：
constant temperature 恒温；定温；等温
constant pressure 恒压
constant speed 恒速；等速

10. dominate v. 支配，占优势，俯视

eg: She must dominate her passions.
她必须控制自己的情感。

短语：
dominate the market 欺行霸市
dominate over 控制

11. reminiscent adj. 怀旧的，引人联想的 n. 回忆者， 回忆录作者

eg: I don't know why I am in such a reminiscent mood.
不知为何我这般怀旧。

短语：
reminiscent of 令人回忆起；引起联想

佳句采摘：
Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven.People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable".
蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室内设计师丽莎·玛丽·德加德谈到：“家是一个避难所。人们想要一个开放、轻松的感觉来让他们的家变得很舒适。”

1 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

2 scented   

adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词)

参考例句：

• I let my lungs fill with the scented air. 我呼吸着芬芳的空气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The police dog scented about till he found the trail. 警犬嗅来嗅去，终于找到了踪迹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 decorative   

adj.装饰的，可作装饰的

参考例句：

• This ware is suitable for decorative purpose but unsuitable for utility.这种器皿中看不中用。
• The style is ornate and highly decorative.这种风格很华丽，而且装饰效果很好。

4 adorn   

vt.使美化，装饰

参考例句：

• She loved to adorn herself with finery.她喜欢穿戴华丽的服饰。
• His watercolour designs adorn a wide range of books.他的水彩设计使许多图书大为生色。

5 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

6 vault   

n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室

参考例句：

• The vault of this cathedral is very high.这座天主教堂的拱顶非常高。
• The old patrician was buried in the family vault.这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里。

7 vaulted   

adj.拱状的

参考例句：

• She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path. 她用手一撑跃过栅栏门沿着小路跑去。
• The formal living room has a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 正式的客厅有一个壁炉和拱形天花板。

8 rustic   

adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬

参考例句：

• It was nearly seven months of leisurely rustic living before Michael felt real boredom.这种悠闲的乡村生活过了差不多七个月之后,迈克尔开始感到烦闷。
• We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.我们希望新鲜的空气和乡村的氛围能帮他调整自己。

9 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

10 cozy   

adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的

参考例句：

• I like blankets because they are cozy.我喜欢毛毯，因为他们是舒适的。
• We spent a cozy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。

11 regularity   

n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐

参考例句：

• The idea is to maintain the regularity of the heartbeat.问题就是要维持心跳的规律性。
• He exercised with a regularity that amazed us.他锻炼的规律程度令我们非常惊讶。

12 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

13 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

14 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。