上一集 绘本阅读 词汇表 单词卡片 下一集 登录
单词 含义 例句
skyscraper 摩天大楼，超高层大楼 But it looks puny next to the tallest human-made structures today: skyscrapers.
structure 建筑物 For nearly four thousand years, the Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest human-made structure on earth.
impressive 给人深刻印象的，感人的 At 147 meters tall, the pyramid has impressive height.
height 1. 身高，高度，(2. 顶点，高峰，3. (常用复数)高处，高地) At 147 meters tall, the pyramid has impressive height.
puny 弱小的，微不足道的 But it looks puny next to the tallest human-made structures today: skyscrapers.
steel 钢铁 Every day in cities around the world, millions of people go to work in towers made of steel and glass.
construction 建造，建设 These modern structures demonstrate the best in construction technology and engineering skills.
technology 科学技术，科技 These modern structures demonstrate the best in construction technology and engineering skills.
engineering 工程学，工程 These modern structures demonstrate the best in construction technology and engineering skills.
function 1. 运行，起作用，(2. 功能，作用) Modern cities surely could not function without them.
rapidly 很快地，迅速地 Many cities were rapidly growing, and space in downtown areas was in high demand.
demand 1. 需要，需求，(2. 要求，强迫，3. 查问，质问 ) Many cities were rapidly growing, and space in downtown areas was in high demand.
nowhere 无处，任何地方都不 There was nowhere to build but up, so smaller buildings were demolished and replaced by taller buildings.
but 除...以外 There was nowhere to build but up, so smaller buildings were demolished and replaced by taller buildings.
demolish 摧毀，拆毀(建筑物等) There was nowhere to build but up, so smaller buildings were demolished and replaced by taller buildings.
replace 1. 替代，取代，(2. 更换) There was nowhere to build but up, so smaller buildings were demolished and replaced by taller buildings.
limit 1. 限定，限制，(2. 界限，限度，极限) But the heights of these tall buildings were limited by the materials and technologies of their time.
material 1. 材料，物质，(2. 织物，料子，3. 物质的，世俗的) But the heights of these tall buildings were limited by the materials and technologies of their time.
rarely 很少，难得 Before skyscrapers, tall structures were rarely built for people to live or work in.
freight 货物，货物的运送 Elevators at the time were meant for freight, not people.
snap 1. 突然折断，断掉，(2. 厉声说，谩骂，3. 使劈啪作响) If the cable that held the elevator snapped, the elevator would fall, killing those inside.
mechanical 机械的，用机械的 Otis' new safety elevator had mechanical locks that automatically held the elevator firmly in place if the cable snapped.
automatically 自动地 Otis' new safety elevator had mechanical locks that automatically held the elevator firmly in place if the cable snapped.
pump 1. 抽水机，泵，(2. (上下)抽动) While Elisha Otis was improving the elevator, other inventors were hard at work improving water pumps.
suburb 市郊，近郊 As cities expanded and their suburbs grew, more powerful pumps were needed to provide water to distant areas.
distant (距离)远的 As cities expanded and their suburbs grew, more powerful pumps were needed to provide water to distant areas.
horizontal 水平的，横向的 Eventually pumps were invented that could supply water across greater horizontal distances.
vertically 垂直地，直立地 They were also powerful enough to pump water vertically to greater heights.
essential 最重要的，必需的 These pumps were essential for skyscrapers, which needed efficient plumbing.
efficient 效率高的，有效果的 These pumps were essential for skyscrapers, which needed efficient plumbing.
plumbing (大楼的)水管设施 These pumps were essential for skyscrapers, which needed efficient plumbing.
factor (某种现象的)因素，要素 Another factor that limited a building's height at the time were building materials.
layer (表面的)膜，(堆叠的)层 When stone or brick layers are piled too high, their combined weight will crush the bottom layers.
crush 1. 压碎，碾碎，(2. (精神或希望)崩溃) When stone or brick layers are piled too high, their combined weight will crush the bottom layers.
beam 1. (建筑的)梁，横梁，(2. 光线，光束，3. 堆满笑容，眉开眼笑) With steel beams, buildings could be built around a metal frame instead of stone walls.
frame 1. (家具、建筑等的)框架，构架，(2.(用木、金属等做成的)框，相框) With steel beams, buildings could be built around a metal frame instead of stone walls.
manufacturer 制造商 Finally in the 1850s, manufacturers developed a process for mass-producing steel.
process (进行)过程 Finally in the 1850s, manufacturers developed a process for mass-producing steel.
mass-produce (利用机器)大量生产 Finally in the 1850s, manufacturers developed a process for mass-producing steel.
architect 建筑师，设计师 But architects and engineers hadn't solved every design problem.
engineer 工程师，技师 But architects and engineers hadn't solved every design problem.
unforeseen 未预见到的，预料之外的 The design and construction of new buildings brought unforeseen challenges.
challenge 1. 难题，任务，(2. 挑战(名词)，3.挑战(动词)，竞争) The design and construction of new buildings brought unforeseen challenges.
core 1. (地球的)岩心，(2. (水果的)果核, 果心) Designers eventually built a strong central core of steel around the main elevator shaft of a building.
shaft (电梯的)升降机井 Designers eventually built a strong central core of steel around the main elevator shaft of a building.
prevent 防止，预防 This prevented the building from shaking.
rigid 1. 坚硬的，坚固的，不易弯曲的，(2. 严格的，死板的) The core also made the skyscraper stable and more rigid.
tempered (用火)锻炼 The invention of tempered glass, or safety glass, solved this problem.
tempered glass 强化玻璃 The invention of tempered glass, or safety glass, solved this problem.
shatter 粉碎，破碎，砸碎 Safety glass was stronger than ordinary glass, and when it broke, it shattered into small pieces with rounded edges.
continually 不停地 The city's skyline was continually being changed by the race to build the tallest skyscraper.
addition 1. 增加的人或物，(2. 加，增加) However, the surprise addition of a tall spire to the Chrysler Building increased the building's height to 319 meters.
spire 尖塔，尖顶 However, the surprise addition of a tall spire to the Chrysler Building increased the building's height to 319 meters.
distinction 名誉，荣誉 The Bank of Manhattan Building had only held the distinction for a month.
record 1. 比赛记录，最佳成绩，(2. 记录，3. 录音) But the Chrysler Building's record was not undisputed.
undisputed 毫无争议的，无异议的 But the Chrysler Building's record was not undisputed.
unoccupied 1. 没人住的，空着的，(2. 没有主人的) The spire and many of the Chrysler Building's top floors were unoccupied.
occupied 被使用，被人用于居住 But the Bank of Manhattan Building's highest occupied floors were higher than those in the Chrysler Building.
pointless 无意义的，无益的 By 1931 the arguments on both sides became pointless when the Empire State Building was completed.
undeniably 不可否认地，无法辩驳的 At 443 meters tall, it was undeniably the tallest building in the world.
Egyptian 1. 埃及的，(2. 埃及人) Thanks to advances in materials and technology, today's skyscrapers stand many times higher than the giant Egyptian pyramids.
reshape 重新塑造，改造 Future human-made structures will likely reshape the urban landscape—just as the first skyscrapers did over a hundred years ago.
urban 城市的 Future human-made structures will likely reshape the urban landscape—just as the first skyscrapers did over a hundred years ago.