Lily的Scalers Talk第八轮新概念朗读持续力训练Da

L41-3: Illusions of Pastoral peace

For them this is a major operation which involves considerable planning. As the play draws to its close, they wonder whether they will ever catch that last train home. The city dweller never experiences anxieties of this sort. The latest exhibitions, films, or plays are only a short bus ride away. Shopping, too, is always a pleasure. There is so much variety that you never have to make do with second best. Country people run wild when they go shopping in the city and stagger home loaded with as many of the exotic items as they can carry. Nor is the city without its moments of beauty. There is something comforting about the warm glow shed by advertisements on cold wet winter nights. Few things could be more impressive than the peace that descends on deserted city streets at weekends when the thousands that travel to work every day are tucked away in their homes in the country. It has always been a mystery to me why city dwellers, who appreciate all these things, obstinately pretend that they would prefer to live in the country.

major operation  重大行动;

draw to a close  结束、告终

dweller /ˈdwelər/ 居民、 居住者

stagger /ˈstæɡər/  摇晃、蹒跚

a short bus ride away  公交车几站路

variety /vəˈraɪəti/ 品种、不同种类，多种式样;

make do with  凑合着用

second best 退而求其次的、二等品

run wild 疯狂发展;肆意妄为;（事物）疯狂发展;

exotic /ɪɡˈzɑːtɪk/ 外来的，舶来品，外来物

glow /ɡloʊ/ 发光、 白炽光

descend /dɪˈsend/  下落、降临、来临

tuck /tʌk/ 缩进、隐藏     tuck away 把…隐藏;把…隐匿

desert /dɪˈzɜːrt/ 不毛的;沙漠的;无人的

obstinately  /ˈɑbstənətli/  固执的、顽固的

这篇课文虽然长，但是分了三天来学习消化，我觉得刚刚好。