英语听力：自然百科 消失的西藏王朝古格(7)

But not all caves were created equal.

但并非所有洞窟都生而平等。

The base of the city complex is where the poor, foot soldiers, farmers and their families lived.

下层洞窟住着穷困的步兵及农人。

These labours worked at fields, constructed public works and served the rich.

这些劳力在野外工作建造公共工程及为富人提供服务。

They were the foundation of Khri-bkra-shis-grangs-pa-lde's kingdom.

他们是赤扎西扎巴德王朝的基础。

Out here in the extreme harsh climate, a cave made quite a comfortable home.

在极度严厉的气候中洞窟成为舒适的住所。

The clay walls provided insulation¹ from both a searing heat of summer and a freezing cold of winter.

在洞窟内冬天温暖夏天凉爽。

Climbing up the mountain also means climbing up the social ladder.

顺着土山往上爬渐渐步向较高的社会阶层。

Living in caves half way up, were merchants, the middle class and monks².

住在土山中间地带的是商人,中产阶级及僧侣。

Further up, the mountain becomes more fortress³ like, protecting those of higher status.

更往上走，山变得更像要塞，保护社会阶级更高的人。

At the very top, lived king Khri-bkra-shis-grangs-pa-lde, his family, the ministers and their retainers.

最顶端住着赤扎西扎巴德国王，大臣及仆人。

All the royal power was located on the summit of the Tsaparang formation, and it's really like being in a penthouse.

皇室宫殿位于札布让堡垒的顶端，形式真的很像一间阁楼。

I mean you have un-obstructive views, 360 degrees, you can see the rest of the kingdom, the rest of the people below you.

你拥有广阔的视野四周的景物尽收眼底，你能看到王国的其它部分和住在下层洞穴的人民。

It really gave you a sense of being in command and I'm literally⁴ on top of the world.

真的会给你一种掌控感，还有，照字面上说，就是身处世界之巅。

1 insulation   

n.隔离；绝缘；隔热

参考例句：

• Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。
• It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

2 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fortress   

n.堡垒，防御工事

参考例句：

• They made an attempt on a fortress.他们试图夺取这一要塞。
• The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔车攀登上了要塞的城墙。

4 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。