Hilversum is a medium-sized city between the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Gooi area of North Holland, the Netherlands. Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is actually in a hilly area with the soil mostly consisting of sand. Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, it still attracts travelers to come over to cycle and walk through the surrounding forests. They visit it for a relaxing day off from the urban madness. For Dutch people, Hilversum is all about textile (纺织) and media industries, and modern architecture.
In history, Hilversum was largely an agricultural area. Daily life was marked by farming, sheep raising and wool production. A railway link to Amsterdam in 1874 attracted rich traders from Amsterdam to Hilversum. They built themselves large villas (别墅) in the wooded surroundings of the town. One of the families moving in was the Brenninkmeijers, currently the wealthiest family of the Netherlands. They moved in after big success in the textile industry and aided a substantial textile industry in Hilversum. But the textile boom lasted only several decades. The last factory closed in the 1960s.
The change to a media economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestellen Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory in Hilversum. Most radio stations settled in the large villas in the leafy areas of the town. Television gave another push to the local economy. Hilversum became the media capital of the Netherlands, and Dutch television stars moved into the leafy neighborhoods surrounding the town.
In the early 1900s, modern architects W. M. Dudok and J. Duiker placed hundreds of remarkable buildings in Hilversum. These modern architectural masterpieces (杰作) are so many that Hilversum almost feels like an open air museum. Dudok alone shaped most of 20th century Hilversum and approximately 75 buildings still bear his unique characteristics. His masterpiece, Hilversum Town Hall, was built in 1928-1931. It has wide international fame and is included in many architecture textbooks. The building has a remarkable shape and looks like a combination of “blocks”. Actually, one may start his journey of modern architecture by walking or biking the W. M. Dudok Architectural Route in Hilversum.
1. Hilversum is different from most of the Netherlands in that ______.
A. it has a large population
B. it is cut off from big cities
C. it has many beautiful gardens
D. it is in a hilly area with sandy soil
2. What was the greatest contribution of the Brenninkmeijers to Hilversum?
A. Building a railway link to Amsterdam.
B. Helping its textile industry to develop.
C. Constructing large villas for the poor.
D. Assisting its agricultural industry.
3. The beginning of the media industry in Hilversum was marked by the establishment of ______.
A. a radio factory
B. the medial capital
C. a radio station
D. a TV station
4. What is known about W. M. Dudok’s Hilversum Town Hall?
A. It consists of approximately 75 buildings.
B. It looks like an open air museum in the city.
C. It is a classic example in architecture textbooks.
D. It has shaped most of 20th century Hilversum.
medium-sized adj . 中型的;中等大小的
Netherlands n . 荷兰
hilly adj . 多丘陵的;多小山的;多坡的;峭峻的
cycle v . 骑自行车
substantial adj . 大量的;结实的;重大的
boom n . 繁荣
settle v . 定居;安放
leafy adj . 多叶的,叶茂的,多树木的
open air 户外,露天
approximately adv . 近似地,大约
remarkable adj . 引人注目的;卓越的,非凡的
combination n . 组合,结合;联合体
1. Hilversum is a medium-sized city between the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Gooi area of North Holland, the Netherlands.
本句结构并不复杂,为主系表结构,表语city后面的修饰语较多,但意思比较清晰。
(参考译文) 希尔弗瑟姆是位于阿姆斯特丹和乌德勒支两个大城市之间的中型城市,地处荷兰北部的库伊地区。
2. The change to a media economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestellen Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory in Hilversum.
本句中的to a media economy是后置定语,修饰change;when引导了一个同位语从句,补充修饰1920。
(参考译文) 向媒体经济的转变始于1920年,这一年,NSF在希尔弗瑟姆建立了一个广播电台工厂。