Step 1 单词都在文中标出了，大家发挥一下想象和推理能力，猜猜那些生词都是什么意思吧。阅读中非常需要这种猜测推理能力的哦。
An unknown goddess
Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean island of Kea. An American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini. The city at one time must have been prosperous, for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. Houses -- often three storeys high -- were built of stone. They had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls. The city was even equipped with a drainage system, for a great many clay pipes were found beneath the narrow streets.
The temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century l0 B.C. until Roman times. In the most sacred room of the temple, clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. Each of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted. The body of one statue was found among remains dating from the fifteenth century B'C. Its missing head happened to be among remains of the fifth century B.C. This head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved. It was very old and precious even then. When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to fin, that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. She stood three feet high and her hand rested on her hips. She was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground. Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity
不久之前，在爱琴海的基亚岛上，考古工作者有一项有趣的发现。一个美国考古队在阿伊亚•依里尼海角的一座古城里考察了一座庙宇。这座古城肯定一度很繁荣，因为它曾享有高度的文明，房子一般有3层楼高，用石块修建。里面房间很大，墙壁装饰华丽。城里甚至还敷设了排水系统，因为在狭窄的街道底下发现了许许多多陶土制作的排水管道。 考古工作者考察的这座庙宇从公元前l5世纪直至罗马时代一直是祭祀祈祷的场所。在庙中最神圣的一问殿堂里发现了l5尊陶制雕像的碎片。每一尊雕像代表一位女神，而且一度上过色。其中有一尊雕像，她的躯体是在公元前l5世纪的历史文物中发现的，而她那身首异处的脑袋却碰巧是在公元前5世纪的文物中找到的。 她的脑袋一定是在古希腊罗马时代就为人所发现，并受到了精心的保护。即使在当时，它也属历史悠久的珍奇之物。考古工作者把这些碎片重新拼装起来后，惊奇地发现那位女神原来是一位相貌十分摩登的女郎。她身高3英尺．双手叉腰，身穿一条拖地长裙，尽管上了年纪，但体态确实优美。不过，考古工作者至今未能确定这位女神的身份。
Step 2词汇的意思都在这里了哦。看看你都猜对了么？
goddess 女神
archaeologist 考古学家
Aegean 爱琴海的
explore 考察
promontory 海角
prosperous 繁荣的
civilization 文明
storey 楼层
drainage 排水
worship 崇拜
sacred 宗教的
fragment 碎片
remains 遗迹
classical 古文化的
reconstruct 修复
rest 倚放
hip 屁股
full-length 拖地长的
graceful 优雅的
identity 身份
Step 3 特别的单词总是要特别的待遇，下面的单词最好记住，有空多练习。）
1.explore 探索 to search for discovery; examine
形近词 explode 爆炸exploit 开发,利用,剥削 expedite 加速,迅速的 expedition探险
词组例句 explore outer space 太空勘探 explore ancient temple 考察古庙
explore every possibilities 系统地研究每一个可能性
The archaeologists are exploring the cave.
2.prosperous 繁荣的（修饰经济） successful or thriving, esp. financially
同/近义词 wealth 富有的 flourishing 兴旺的,繁茂的 thriving 兴隆的
booming 火的迅猛发展的 adequate 充足的
词组例句Our finance is prosperous.我们的经济是繁荣的。
a prosperous new business 一家成功的新公司 a prosperous family 富裕的一家
a prosperous moment to make a decision 做决定的有利时机
3.civilization 文明 常用词组：enjoys a high level of civilization 享有高度的文明
4.worship 崇拜（非理性的） admire; respect
同/近义词 admire 敬佩 adore 爱戴 respect尊敬
形近词 warship 军舰战船 例句 Who do you worship in the world?
5.sacred 宗教的，神圣的（可修释职业）
同/近义词 divine神 mystic神秘 blessed神佑 religions宗教的
solemn 庄严的，庄重的 holy神圣的，圣洁的
词组 sacred music圣乐 sacred promise神圣的诺言
6.classic adj.精典的,第一流 n.杰作,经典之作 形近词 classical古典的（未必精）
eg. classical music古典音乐 classical education人文科学教育
例句 This is the classic example of love at the first sight.
7.construct（抽象虚的）建设 build （house）/put up （a tent） 实体的建设
同/近义词 erect :(build high buildings) eg. erect monument 建造纪念碑
set up : set up a union establish: establish a school 侧重“建立”的意思
found: found a country
词组 construction of socialism社会主义建设 construct a sentence
8. rest … on 搭在…上 eg. Her eyes rest on the picture.
rest with +sb由某人决定 eg. This great decision rests with your mother.
9. hip n.[口]在服用兴奋剂,宗教信仰方面赶时髦的人;消息灵通人士; adj.通晓的，见闻广的
例句 Mary is a real hip. The guy isn’t a hip.那个家伙什么都不懂.
常用词组 Joined at the hip [口]交情极厚的 eg.This two are joined at the hip.
Shoot from the hip信口开河 eg. Sorry,I said that I shouldn’t have shot from the hip.
10.graceful 优雅的（修饰长相体态）
同/近义词 elegant优雅的(修饰举止behavior) gentle温柔的 naive 可爱的
11.identity 身份 establish identity 验证身份
Language points
1, An American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city on the promontory of Ayia Irini． *which引导定语从句，修饰限定temple
在这个句子中，which = that; stand = lie\ be situated (vt.) \be located (vt.), 因此进行词语替换后，本句可改成： An American team explored a temple which/ that is located / situated in…
An American team explored a temple which/that lie in…
*stand v. 表示高高坐落于，矗立于 She stands 1.75m. 她一米七五。
A great tree stands on the mount. 山上有个大树。（我们也可以用there be句型来表达中文意思，但是请大家体会下两者的差异。there be陈述客观事实：那里有什么，而例句则突出树，并且很高，感情色彩一下就不一样了。）
2，The city at one time must have been prosperous，for it enjoyed a high level of civilization．
* for引导原因状语从句，对主句进行附加说明，译作“因为”
对比： because引导原因状语从句，重点突出原因。for引导的原因状语从句，突出了主句。
这点细微的差别，请大家在写作时注意。
e.g. I do it because I like it. 我做这件事因为我喜欢。
The day broke for the birds were singing. 破晓了，因为鸟儿在唱歌。
*at one time:表达曾经，一度；是过去时态的标志 *must have been 对过去事实肯定的推测
* enjoyed a high level of civilization. 享有高度文明
很好用的句子，请大家在写作,翻译和口语中尤其注意。
4，They had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls．* with…作为所有物、属性或特点具有：e.g. a young man with broad shoulders 一个宽肩膀的青年 an old lady with black hair * beautifully decorated 过去分词做定语
e.g. a beautifully dressed lady衣着漂亮的女士 a deserted car park 废弃的停车场
a white painted door 被粉刷成白色的门
区别： 过去分词做定语，被修饰词与修饰词之间是：被动关系
现在分词做定语，被修饰词与修饰词之间为；逻辑主动关系
a boy climbing the tree / the students reading in the room
5, The city was even equipped with a drainage system，for a great many clay pipes were found beneath the narrow streets．
* be equipped with 配备，装备 *beneath the narrow streets
对比：beneath\under\below
(1) prep.beneath = under 正下方He is standing under / beneath the umbrella.
(2) under 还有“在进行中” 的意思
e.g. under control 控制之中； under discussion 讨论之中； under repairs 修理之中
(3) below:在下方，强调斜下方e.g. She is sitting below the window.
6, The temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from the fifteenth century B.C. until Roman times.
*be used as / be used to be 把…用作为
e.g. The box was used as a desk in the small village school.
The wooden box was used as a bookcase. The wooden box is used to contain books.
7, Each of these represented a goddess and had, at one time, been painted.
* represent vt. 代表 e.g. I represent all the classmates.
8The body of one statue was found among remains dating from the fifteenth century B.C.
* dating 现在分词，修饰 remains e.g. the customs dating from 1990
*date from 追溯到，从… 开始 date from＝date back to
e.g. The castle dates from/dates back to the 14th century.
9，Its missing head happened to be among remains of…
happen to 强调事情偶然发生 I happen to have driven that kind of car. 我恰好开过这种车。
He happened to find the ticket in his pocket. 他恰巧在口袋里找到那张票。
句式：It happens that…… e.g. It happnes that I met her on my way to work
I happened to meet her on my way to work
happen on 巧遇，偶然发现,偶遇 e.g. I happend on this old picture in the drawer.
Guess, who I happend on while I was in London last month?
10, When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that
the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman.
* reconstruct: put together, piece together, restore 修复，重组
*amazd: 对比：surprised; astonished; amazed; astounded 感到惊讶的，语气递增
surprised;--astonished: much surprised;--amazed: very much surprised;--astounded 非常惊讶，* turn out 表明结果
(1) turn out ( to be) + n./adj. 结果是... Our party turned out (to be) a success.
（2）It turned out that………… 原来是(表示结果) it 作形式主语
e.g. It turned out that the diamond had been in the bank all the time.
(3) as it turns out 人们后来发现 e.g. As it turns out, there was not need to worry.
As it turns out, the report was mistaken. 人们后来发现,这篇报告被弄错了。
11, She stood three feet high and her hands rested on th hips.
* rest on = depend on, lean on
e.g. His hand rested lightly on my shoulder. 他的手轻轻搭在我的肩上。
12, Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far,the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.
* despite / in spite of +n. /动名词 * so far, up to now 都是完成时的标志, 到目前为止
e.g. Up to now, the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.
* discover her identity: find out her identity
Exercises:
1, The city ‘enjoyed a high level of civilization’. This is confirmed by the fact that .
a. some of the houses were built only one storey high
b. a great number of fragments were found in the temple c. the city had been built on clay
d. advanced techniques had been employed in building and decorating
2, But, the archaeologists have been unable…
a. beforehand b. until now c. for a long time d. at this distance
3, being very old, she was very graceful.
a. Although b. In spite of c. Even d. Even though
4, 那座大楼位于拐角处。 5, 这一传统是从他祖父年轻时开始的。
6，车上配有空调设备。 7，这个古城肯定一度很繁华，因为它曾享有很高的文明。
8，当警察看到了照片之后，惊奇地发现那只大猫原来是只美洲狮。
9, She stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hip. She was wearing a full-length skirt which swept the ground. Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far,the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.
Key to the exercises1. key: d This is confirmed by the fact that引导同位语从句，补充说明fact 的内容。be employed in:被应用在…方面
本题考察大家理解能力，选项在文中都有体现，但是哪一个更加完整呢？
2，key: b so far =>until now, up till now beforehand: (adv.) 事先 = in advanceat this distance (of / in time) 时隔已久 Eg: I can hardly remember him at this distance of time.
3，key: b despite = in spite of (可以和名词、代词、动名词搭配)
4，The building stands at the corner.
5, The tradition dated from the time when his grandfather was young.
6，The car was equipped with air conditioner.
7. The ancient city at one time must have been prosperous，for it enjoyed a high level of civilization.
8， When the policemen saw the picture, they were amazed to find that the large cat turned out to be a puma. 9，略
