Language Point 1
Years ago, any open field, any vacant lot, any group of trees -- these were the places where children played. (Para.1)
Meaning: Quite a few years before now, children amused themselves at games in any area that was not closed in, not occupied for any particular purposes such as for building or parking cars on, or was only planted with trees.
Language Point 2
... any vacant lot ... (Para.1)
vacant: a.
1) not filled or occupied, empty
The hospital has no vacant beds. 那家医院已没有空床位了。
There are several vacant plots available for building on in the area. 那个地区还有好几块空地皮可以用来造房子。
In some cities there are more vacant buildings than can house homeless people. 在有些城市，空置的楼房比无家可归的人需要的住房还多。
2) (position or post) unfilled, not filled at present
Today there are thought to be about 100 full-time posts vacant. 据称今天大约有100个全日工作岗位空缺。
The post of chairman has been vacant for some time. 主席的职位已空缺一段时间了。
The top post in the company was still vacant. 公司的最高职位仍旧空着。
3) (of one’s look or expression) showing no interest or activity, suggesting that someone does not understand something or that he is not thinking about anything in particular
She has a vacant look on her face. 她的脸上是一片茫然的神色。
His mind seemed completely vacant. 他的脑子里似乎一片空白。
Language Point 3
... any vacant lot ... (Para.1)
lot: n. a small area or land that belongs to a person or company, esp. one for a particular purpose such as for building or parking cars on; used mainly in American English
There is a parking lot around the corner. 拐角处有一个停车场。
If oil or gold is discovered under your lot, you can sell the mineral rights. 如果在属于你的地皮下面发现石油或黄金，你可以出售开采权。
Language Point 4
... the places for their children to play in became rarer. (Para. 1)
rare: a.
1) not often happening or seen, etc.; not common
It’s rare to find these birds in England, but there is a small population of them in the northwest. 在英格兰很少发现这些鸟类，但在西北部有一小群。
It is rare for her to arrive late. 她极少迟到。
2) not common and as a result sometimes valuable
a book of rare value 珍本书
The museum is full of rare and precious treasures. 博物馆里到处是稀有珍宝。
Language Point 5
Children in the cities had few options, fewer choices of places to play. (Para.1)
option: n.
1) [C] thing that is or may be chosen; choice
Make a list of the various options. 把各种选择列一张表出来。
There weren’t many options open to him. 对他来说，没有多少选择的余地。
I am keeping my options open. I have not made a decision on either matter. 我保留选择的权利, 对于两者我还没有作出决定。
2) [U] power or freedom of choosing; choice
I have little option but to go. 我没有选择，只能走。
We have no option but to leave the meeting. 除了放弃这次会议, 我们没有别的选择。
Language Point 6
In cities, homes are built on top of one another -- in enormous apartment buildings. (Para. 2)
Meaning: Tall buildings that contain different sets of rooms on different floors are built in cities and these rooms are taken by people as their homes.
on top of:
1) over or above
Put this record on top of the others. 将这一份记录置于其他记录之上。
Put the letter on top of that pile of books, where it can be seen easily. 把这封信放在那堆书上面，这样容易被看到。
2) in addition to
Another 700 jobs are being cut this year, on top of the 2,000 that were lost last year. 除了去年削减的2,000个工作外, 今年将再减少700个岗位。
Language Point 7
The feeling of private space and ownership no longer exists in houses literally piled one on the other. (Para. 2)
Meaning: Because the flats where people live are built on different floors, that is, on top of one another, people don’t have the feeling of owning them personally as they used to have when living in separate houses.
Language Point 8
The feeling of private space ... (Para. 2)
private: a.
1) personal; one’s own; not shared with others
It’s wrong to enter others’ private rooms without their agreement. 未经允许而擅自进入他人的房间是不对的。
She never spoke about her past or her private life. 她从未谈起过她的过去或她的私生活。
All rooms have got private bath, shower and WC. 所有的房间都有独用的浴缸、淋浴和卫生间。
2) not to be told to others; secret
I’m not going to tell you about it; it’s private. 我不想告诉你这件事, 它是秘密的。
This letter is strictly private. 这封信是绝密的。
3) of, belonging to or run by an individual or a separate company rather than the state; not state-controlled
a private school 私立学校
Banks should be supporting small private businesses. 银行应该支持小型私营企业。
This word is often used in the phrase: “in private”, meaning “secretly, without other people being present, not in public”.
Some of what we’re talking about might better be discussed in private. 有些我们正在谈论的内容最好私下讨论。
Language Point 9
... literally piled one on the other. (Para. 2)
literally: ad. exactly, in a way that follows exactly the original
When he said he never wanted to see you again, I’m sure he didn’t mean it literally. 当他说他再也不想见你时，我肯定他并不真的是那个意思。
Idioms usually cannot be translated literally in another language. 成语通常不能用另一种语言逐字翻译。
This weekend he did literally nothing at all. 这个周末他实在是什么都没有做。
The views here are literally breathtaking. 这里的景色确实美得令人吃惊。
Language Point 10
One clear finding from their studies ... (Para. 3)
finding: n.
1) something learned as the result of an official enquiry
The findings of the study group on child care are due to be published soon. 儿童看护研究小组的调查结果将很快发表。
This is one of the institute’s latest research findings which has been already patented. 这是研究所的最新研究成果之一, 已获专利。
2) a decision made by a judge or jury
The government hopes that the court will announce its findings before the end of the month. 政府希望法院在月底前公布裁决结果。
Language Point 11
…that people need green spaces for better mental health. (Para. 3)
Green is an adjective but sometimes we use “green” as a verb.
green: v. fill with growing plants, esp. so as to lessen the ugliness created by human activity on the Earth
Our cities need greening (or: to be greened). 我们的城市需要绿化。
the greening of cities 城市的绿化
Language Point 12
Children can play on paved playgrounds. (Para. 3)
pave: vt. cover (a surface) with flat stones or bricks or tar
One lane is closed while the workers are paving the road. 路上的一条车道在工人铺路期间关闭了。
The country boys thought the streets of London were paved with gold. 乡村青年以为伦敦遍地是黄金。
The phrase pave the way for (or: to) is often used as a metaphor, meaning prepare for or make possible.
This agreement paves the way for (or: to) a lasting peace in the region. 这项协议为本地区的持久和平铺平了道路。
Language Point 13
Without grass and trees and bushes and, yes, dirt and mud to get dirty in, children miss an important part of childhood. (Para. 3)
Meaning: If there were not the grass, trees or bushes where children could play and if children didn’t have the chance to become dirty because of playing with dirt and mud, they would fail to enjoy their childhood fully.
Language Point 14
The human soul, it seems, needs to stay close to its roots. (Para. 3)
Meaning: It appears to be true that humans need to live near nature, that is, green space is of great importance in building up people’s minds, characters, thoughts, spirits and feelings.
Language Point 15
However, tending window boxes isn’t the same as being an amateur gardener and growing peas, tomatoes and salad greens in a backyard garden. (Para. 4)
Meaning: Taking care of plants grown in window boxes is, however, not similar to working in a garden behind a house and planting peas, tomatoes and salad greens for enjoyment.
Language Point 16
... tending window boxes ... (Para. 4)
window box: a long narrow container full of earth outside a window in which plants can be grown
Language Point 17
... being an amateur gardener ... (Para. 4)
amateur:
1) a. taking part in an activity for pleasure, not as a job, or (of an activity) done for pleasure, not as a job
Lawton was an amateur singer until the age of 40, when he turned professional. 劳顿本是个业余歌手，直到40岁才成为专业歌手。
My sister is an amateur photographer. 我的妹妹是一个业余摄影师。
2) n. [C] a person who practices a sport or arts skill without receiving money for it
Although he’s only an amateur, he’s a first class player. 虽然他只是个业余爱好者, 可他却是个一流的选手。
The sports meeting is open to both amateurs and professionals. 这场运动会业余爱好者与专业选手都可以参加。
Jerry is an amateur who dances because he feels like it. 杰里是一位业余舞蹈演员, 他跳舞是因为他自己喜欢。
Language Point 18
... growing peas, tomatoes and salad greens in a backyard garden. (Para. 4)
salad greens: green leafy vegetables which can be served uncooked, cold and mixed together as part of a meal
Language Point 19
City planners -- the people who design neighborhoods -- have begun to work on a solution. (Para. 5)
work on: spend time and effort doing a task that needs to be done or trying to achieve sth.
While I was working on my letter, the telephone rang. 我正在写信的时候, 电话铃响了。
She is working on a new novel. 她正在写一部新小说。
They have been working on the bridge day and night for three months. 他们三个月来日夜施工造桥。
We can also say “work at” to mean the same.
Jack was working at his German. 杰克正学习德语。
Language Point 20
... but the land in cities is quite costly. (Para. 5)
costly: a.
1) costing much; expensive
It would be too costly to repair the car. 这辆汽车修理起来费用太高了。
Our holiday in Australia was very costly. 我们在澳大利亚度假开销很大。
Having professionally made curtains can be costly, so why not make your own? 专业定做的窗帘会很昂贵, 为什么不自己做呢？
2) gained or won at a great loss; someone’s action or mistake results in a serious disadvantage for them, the loss of a large amount of money or the loss of their name
This sort of scandal in international banking has been politically costly. 国际银行业的这种丑闻已在政治上付出了高昂的代价。
Language Point 21
Why not use these unused spaces for green areas? (Para. 5)
We use “why” with “not” in elliptical (省略式) questions to introduce a suggestion.
Why not give Clare a call? 为什么不给克莱尔打个电话?
Why not make one for yourself instead of buying one? 干吗不自己做, 而要去买呢?
“Why” and “not” can also be used in full questions to introduce suggestions.
Why don’t we talk it over again?我们干吗不就这件事再谈一下呢?
Why don’t you ask him yourself? 为什么你不自己去问他?
Language Point 22
Neighborhood groups have coordinated their efforts to clean up the trash or garbage. (Para. 5)
coordinate: v. organize the various people and things involved in an activity to work together, esp. to increase effectiveness
If we coordinate our efforts we should be able to solve the problem.如果我们同心协力, 就能解决这个问题。
We use a computer to coordinate our marketing campaign. 我们使用一台电脑来协调推销活动。
clean up: make a place clean by removing the dirt
The workers cleaned up before they left. 工人们把一切都收拾得整整齐齐之后才走。
This room needs cleaning up. 这个房间需要彻底打扫了。
Clean up this mess at once. 把这堆乱七八糟的东西马上清理掉。
Language Point 23
Soil from building projects in the city has been trucked by lorries into these areas. (Para. 5)
truck: vt. transport by truck (usually used in passive voice)
This use is mainly American English.
The liquor was sold legally and trucked out of the state. 酒可以合法销售，并可用卡车运出州外。
Language Point 24
... and strong walls have been erected to hold it there. (Para. 5)
erect: vt.
1) build, set up; establish
They plan to erect an office building there. 他们打算在那儿建造一幢办公大楼。
I don’t want to see a network like that erected. 我不希望看到那种网状系统被建立起来。
2) set straight up; put up
The pole was erected on a firm base. 这根杆子竖立在坚固的基座上。
They erected a television antenna on the roof. 他们在屋顶上架起了电视天线。
erect: a. standing on end
stand erect 直立
He’s very tall and erect for his 78 years. 他虽然已 78岁了, 但依然个头高挺, 腰杆笔直。
Language Point 25
... TPL has completed up to a thousand conservation projects in Canada and the United States. (Para. 6)
up to: as far as, as much as, as many as
Up to two thousand students can hold a party in this hall. 这个大厅可以容纳2,000学生举行聚会。
Everyone works, from the boy who sweeps the floor up to the President. 从扫地的服务生到总统人人都在工作。
Language Point 26
... conservation projects in Canada and the United States. (Para. 6)
conservation: n. [U] prevention of loss, waste, damage, destroying, etc.
natural forest conservation 自然森林保护
We should pay more attention to the conservation of wildlife. 我们必须更注意野生动物的保护。
Most people have come to accept the need for conservation. 大多数人已经开始认识到节约的必要性。
Conservation of water is of great importance in desert areas. 节约用水在沙漠地区是非常重要的。
As well as helping the environment, energy conservation reduces your fuel bills. 节省能源不但有利于环境，还能减少你的燃料支出。
Language Point 27
In Portland, Maine, the land along the old train tracks near the coast has become a green belt of trails between areas ... (Para. 7)
trail: n.
1) [C] path, esp. through country
a trail through the forest 穿过森林的崎岖小路
Keep to the trail; if you leave it, you’ll get lost. 沿着这条小路走；假如偏离它，你就会迷路的。
This is a large land of forests with hiking and walking trails. 这是一大片林区, 里面有可供徒步旅行和散步的小道。
2) [C] mark or sign in the form of a long line left by sth. or sb. passing by
The hunters followed the tiger’s trail. 猎人们跟踪追捕老虎。
Finally, we lost the trail. 我们最后失去了线索。
Everywhere in the house was a sticky trail of orange juice. 屋子里到处都是粘乎乎的橘子汁的痕迹。
trail: v. follow someone or something secretly, often by finding the marks or signs that they have left
I trailed her to a shop in Oxford Street. 我跟踪她到牛津街的一家商店。
Language Point 28
... between areas characterized by housing developments and those characterized by downtown businesses. (Para. 7)
characterize: vt.
1) be common to ...
Bright colors characterize his early paintings. 明亮的色彩是他早期绘画的特点。
The election campaign has been characterized by violence.暴力是这场竞选运动的特点。
2) describe … by stating its main qualities
In her novel, she characterizes the whole year as a period of changes. 她在她的小说中把这一年描绘成一个充满变革的时期。
They characterized him as not a brave person. 他们把他描绘成一个胆小鬼。
Language Point 29
... areas characterized by housing developments ... (Para. 7)
housing development: “Housing development” is used in American English, which is the same as “housing estate” in British English.
In American English, a “housing development” especially refers to a private one.
In British English, a “housing estate” is a large number of houses or flats built close together at the same time by one owner and let or sold.
“Housing project” in American English is a publicly funded and controlled housing area for low-income families.
Language Point 30
Other cities have comparable projects. (Para. 8)
comparable: a.
1) similar, that can be compared, equal in nature
A comparable car would cost much less out of the country. 一辆类似的汽车在国外要便宜多了。
This approach is implemented to ensure that people doing comparable jobs receive comparable rates of pay. 实施这个制度是要保证实现同工同酬。
2) meriting being compared
In this sense, the adjective is often used with the preposition “with” or “to”.
The profits of these two companies are not comparable with each other. 这两个公司的利润相互之间没有可比性。
His poems are by no means comparable to Shelley’s. 他写的诗无法与雪莱相比。
Language Point 31
... a long strip of land ... (Para. 8)
strip: n. [C] a long narrow area of land or water; a long narrow piece of something such as paper, cloth, or food
a strip of paper 一张纸片
There is a strip of vegetable garden behind the house. 屋后有一块狭长的菜园。
He tore the cloth into strips. 他把布撕成长条。
We lost thousands of soldiers in the war and all we got was this narrow strip of land in return. 我们在战争中失去了数千名士兵，可得到的却只是一块狭窄的土地。
strip: vi. take off one’s clothes
The doctor asked the patient to strip. 医生让病人脱去衣服。
Suddenly he stripped and ran into the sea. 他突然脱光衣服跳入海中。
strip: vt.
1) take off (clothes, parts, etc.) from somebody or something
The paint will be difficult to strip off. 这层漆面很难除去。
The wind stripped the tree of all its leaves. 风把树上的叶子都吹光了。
She asked us to strip the sheets off the bed and bring them downstairs when we leave. 她叫我们离开时把床上的床单取下，送到楼下去。
2) take away (money, honors, etc.) from somebody
When the runner was found to have taken drugs, he was stripped of his gold medal. 一旦获得金牌的运动员被发现服用了违禁药物，他的金牌立即被没收。
Human rights have been stripped away. 人权已被剥夺。
Language Point 32
... the San Francisco Peaks, ... (Para. 8)
peak: n.
1) a mountain; the top of a mountain
We climb the peak to reach the summit. 我们爬上山, 朝着顶峰进发。
The mountain peaks are covered with snow all the year. 山顶终年积雪。
2) the highest point, level, etc., of a changing amount, development, etc.
His career is at its peak now. 他的事业现正处于颠峰时期。
The roads are full of traffic at peak hour. 在高峰时刻路上满是车辆。
peak: v. reach the highest level or value of sth.
High school enrollments will peak this year. 今年中学入学人数将达到高峰。
Language Point 33
... public gardens and private garden plots. (Para. 9)
plot: n.
1) a small piece of land, esp. one that has been measured or marked out for special purpose, such as building houses or growing vegetables
I thought that I’d buy myself a small plot of land and build a house on it. 我想为自己买一小块地造幢房子。
2) the series of events which make up the story of a film, novel, or play
How does the plot run? 情节如何发展？
Language Point 34
The costly result is a growing greenness in the cities ... (Para. 9)
Meaning: The result which people have paid so much to achieve is a growing greenness in the cities...