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Finca Bellavista: More than a Leafy Suburb 美丽净土：绿野庄园

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课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

In most cities and towns, getting around involves fighting traffic or sitting on a crowded bus or train. But in Finca Bellavista, even the morning commute can be a thrill. Imagine watching the lush rainforest sail by 150 feet below you as you take a zip line to school or work. That was the dream of Matt and Erica Hogan when they founded Finca Bellavista, the world’s first treehouse town.

在大部分的城镇，想到处溜达就意味要对抗车阵，或得坐在拥挤的公交车或火车里。但在「绿野庄园」，即便是早上通勤也够刺激的了。试想你滑着吊索上课上班，并看着150呎下方的繁茂雨林从脚底呼啸而过。这是麦特．霍根和艾丽卡．霍根在创立「绿野庄园」时的梦想：世上第一个树屋城。

Back in 2006, Matt was on a surfing trip with his buddies in southern Costa Rica. Right from the start, he was drawn to the rural beauty and Zen-like calm of the place. Later, he and Erica planned to go to Costa Rica together. They dreamed of finding their own quiet piece of paradise either in the rainforest or near the beach to settle down.

2006年．麦特与朋友一同前往哥斯达黎加南方冲浪，从一开始，他就被当地的乡村美景与禅意般的静谧所吸引。之后，他和艾丽卡计划同赴哥斯达黎加，梦想在雨林或近海处，找寻属于他们安身立命的乐土。

On Erica’s 29th birthday, they found an enormous piece of land in the rainforest, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, and fell in love with it. The only problem was that it was far too big for them to afford. Then, one night, when they were trying to think of a way they could buy it, Erica came up with the idea of building a tree house. Maybe, she thought, other people would share their dream of living among the trees. Today, the ambitious development is starting to take shape. Erica and Matt are inviting others to join them to live a more environmentally sustainable and delightful lifestyle in the rainforest.

在艾丽卡29岁生日时，他们在雨林找到一处宽广的土地，距离太平洋仅仅几英哩而已。他们爱上了这块地，唯一的问题是这块地太大，他们负担不起。然后，有一天晚上当他们绞尽脑汁想办法买这块地时，艾丽卡灵光一现，想到建造一幢「树屋」。她想也许其他人也有环绕树群而居的梦想。现今，这雄心壮志的计划已逐渐成型。艾丽卡和麦特正邀请他人加入，一齐享受在雨林过着更加环保的愉悦生活。

Vocabulary

单词发音

finca ['fɪŋkɑ] n. 种植园，庄园，地产 A rural property, especially a large farm or ranch, in Spanish America.

commute [kəˋmjut] v.（购用月票或季票）通勤

thrill [θrɪl] n. 引起激动的事物

sustainable [səˋstenəb!] adj. 能长期保持的; 能长期维持的; 能持续的

delightful [dɪˋlaɪtfəl] adj. 令人愉快的，令人高兴的

Idiom

片语发音

get around 可以四处走动; 旅行 to travel from place to place

settle down 定居, 成家过安定的生活 to begin living a stable and orderly life

take shape 实现, 成形 to take on a distinctive form

课文朗读

课文讲解

Finca Bellavista – “bella vista” is Spanish for “beautiful view” – is actually named after Rio Bellavista, one of two white water rivers that flow through the property. Half a century ago, the area was entirely bare, as loggers had cut down all the trees. To date, the residents of Finca Bellavista have planted over 1,000 trees to take back the land.

Finca Bellaviista中的bella vista在西班牙文有「美景」之意。「绿野庄园」其实是依Rio Bellvista命名。这条河是流经此地的两条河之一。半世纪前，这地方还是一片不毛之地，因为伐树工人把树都砍光了。迄今，「绿野庄园」的居民已种植超过1,000颗的树，并恢复土地最初的面貌。

The idea of living in harmony with nature is central to the philosophy of Finca Bellavista. Electricity is provided by solar panels that capture the power of the sun’s rays. There are also plans for a hydroelectric facility to be built on one of the rivers. Each tree house is also equipped with a rainwater catch system to give people an eco-friendly source of water. Even the waste people create is put to good use. It is run through something called a biodigestor, and turned into fertilizer for the farm.

与自然和平共处是「绿野庄园」的中心思想。电力是由吸收太阳光的太阳能板所提供。另外，在其中一条河上安置水力发电的设备也被列入计划。每幢树屋都设有雨水集水系统，提供人类更环保的水源。即使是人类制造的废弃物亦被善加利用：靠着生化分解机将这些废料变成肥料，好供农地使用。

If you think living out in the jungle means giving up all creature comforts, you’re wrong. Even in this remote place, Matt and Erica have set up a satellite dish that gives residents a wireless Internet service. With Internet phone services like Skype. People here can get away from it all, but still keep in touch with friends and family. In addition, there are plans for a wellness center where people can take yoga or massage therapy classes. So, if you always dreamed of living like Robinson Crusoe, but still want to enjoy modern conveniences, maybe you should plan your own trip for Finca Bellavista.

如假使你认为住在丛林就代表放弃所有的物质享受，那就大错特错了。即便在此偏远地带，麦特和艾丽卡已经安装卫星天线，提供居民无线网络的服务。有了如Skype的网络电话服务，人们可以藉度假摆脱种种烦忧，却依旧和亲友保持联系。此外，兴建健康养身中心亦在计划之内，让民众可以上瑜珈课或按摩课。所以，倘若你向往鲁宾逊式的生活，但同时又想享受文明的方便性，或许你可以计划来一趟「绿野庄园」之旅。

－by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

bare [bɛr] adj. 光秃秃的

logger [ˋlɔgɚ] n. 樵夫，伐木工

hydroelectric [͵haɪdroɪˋlɛktrɪk]  adj. 水力电气的；水力发电的

biodigestor 生化分解机

fertilizer [ˋfɝtl͵aɪzɚ] n. 肥料

satellite [ˋsæt!͵aɪt] n. 人造卫星

wellness [ˋwɛlnɪs] n. 健康

convenience [kənˋvinjəns] n. 便利，方便

Idiom

片语发音

put to good use 从...中获益; 善用... employ to the best advantage

live out 过（某种生活）; 不住在工作场所 to live outside one's place of domestic employment

creature comforts 物质享受  material things or luxuries that help to provide for one's bodily comfort

get away from it all 【口】到异地度短假  to take a vacation; give oneself time alone; you go somewhere to escape from your usual daily routine

Reading Questions

1.    Which of these statements about Matt Hogan is NOT true?

(A)  He helped bring Internet access to Finca Bellavista.

(B)  He fell in love with the peacefulness of Costa Rica.

(C)  He went to Costa Rica more than once.

(D)  He planted more than 1,000 trees in Finca Bellavista.

2.    Why are Erica and Matt inviting others to join them in Finca Bellavista?

(A)  To spread the cost of buying the land.

(B)  To create a community of people to keep them company.

(C)  To give others the chance to save the planet.

(D)  To help with the construction of the treehouse village.

3.    Which of the following is probably MOST important to the residents of Finca Bellavista?

(A)  Fast food restaurants.

(B)  Convenience stores.

(C)  Recycling programs.

(D)  Sport stadiums.

4.    Which of these people might be happy to live permanently in Finca Bellavista?

(A)  A celebrity who needs to get out of the limelight for a little while.

(B)  A Ph.D. student who is writing a thesis on Central American tourism.

(C)  A recently retired single man with a passion for nature and outdoors.

(D)  A big city businessman who occasionally likes to go hiking.

Finca Bellavista - a treehouse community

Finca Bellavista

Answer