“在海外生活英语不好又怎么样？跟中国人聊天不就好了？“别那么乐观，也许一不小心就被别人牵着走了。比如说前几天朋友圈刷爆屏的那条“中国富豪强拆墨村百年豪宅”。从新闻图片和排版上看，非常像本地报纸 The Australian内容，大爆土豪强拆内幕，引得大众“一片哗然”。抱着治病救人的态度，我们就从和大家分享一些时事文章开始吧。有事没事读读报，不忽悠，目标就是培养大家的阅读兴趣。
题目：Extravagent mansion worth $20m abruptly demolished in Toorak
分析
Extravagent adj. showing a lack of restraint in spending money or resources. (无节制的使用金钱和资源)
题目里的单词都认识了，我们来直译一下：
不差钱的、别墅、价值2000万、突然、被拆（被动）、在Toorak
用中文思维整理一下把题目变成以下：
Toorak区（地点提前）的一栋（自动添加量词）价值2000万的奢华别墅突然被拆
A historic house is being demolished in St Georges Road, Toorak. Picture: Mark StewartSource: News Corp Australia
第一段
A HISTORIC Toorak mansion worth about $20 million is being torn down, despite the local council’s efforts to obtain heritage protection for it.
题目分析
Despite句式，中文理解要倒过来
尽管Toorak市政厅尝试为这幢具有历史价值的豪宅申请遗址保护，但是它还是遭到拆除。
单词
Sacrilege n. 逆天
is the violation or injurious treatment of a sacred object or person. It can come in the form of irreverence to sacred persons, places, and things.
Manicured a. 修剪整齐的
为什么学生们不爱阅读原文文章呢？主要原因是句子太长、词汇不认识，简而言之就是读！不！懂！
如果我们不看全文，只看划线关键词呢？
段落理解
the demolition is sacrilege
这个拆除是逆天的
the home and its manicured gardens will be replaced by units and apartments
房子和精心打理的花园将被盖成独栋别墅和公寓
Demolition started this morning
今天早上开始拆
The property was last sold to XXX 2013
这座豪宅上次转手是于2013年被卖给了（天朝的）土豪
Fairfax Media reported XXX
Fairfax 传媒在那时对时间做了报道
This $20 million mansion in Toorak as it used to look.
The home pictured when listed for sale.
段落理解
Mr Wang applied for a permit to knock down the mansion in Deceber 2013
土豪老王在2013年12月申请过拆倒宅子的申请
The council initially refused to grant consent and instead approached to introduce permanent heritage protection for the home and 18neighbouring properties.
一开始，市政厅回绝了拆宅申请，相反，他们开始尝试为这个宅子和18临街的房子申请永久遗址保护。
Heritage consultant Nigel Lewis investigated the precinct
遗迹保护顾问Nigel Lewis调查了这个区域
determining the area was of “regional and state historic and architectural significance”.
把这个区域定为国家和地区的历史性、建筑性瑰宝！
But the council’s request was refused in May 2014
但是，市政厅的要求在2014年5月就被驳回啦
“the building was not of sufficient architectural significance to warrant ministerial intervention”
（理由是）“此宅还没有重要到需要部长干预的程度”
the council had been disappointed
市政厅对此决定很失望
Heritage Victoria and the then-planning minister Mr Guy would not protect the property
（因为）维州利亚遗产局和Matthrew Guy部长不肯保护它们。
“Council works hard to ensure that the heritage of Stonnington is protected,”
市政厅为了保护Stonnington 遗迹操碎了心
locals had also been angered by the decision
当地居民为此也很愤怒！（政府不作为不就是土澳的基本国策么？）
事件总结
土豪 木有违法，只是审美和价值追求不同
民众 担心市容市貌和居住环境打折，也是可以理解
Council 为了保护古迹可谓操碎了心
Minister们 为啥要做出这样的决定捏~小编也不得而知啦
（PS：这么阅读是不是就没有那么心塞啦~）
A bulldozer demolishes part of the house. Picture: Mark Stewart
下面这一段主要是表达民众不满，不去细细分析。重点已经标出，留给各位小主儿们自己做作业吧。
“It’s sacrilege. You can’t imagine why people want to spoil something so good,” Mr Young said.
“We had protested, of course, about not only this house but others that we felt were part of the streetscape of Toorak.
“From a lawful point of view, ... it’s (the owner’s) place to do with it as they wish. But it’s not what 99.9 per cent of residents had wished for.”
Mr Young, a resident of nearby Orrong Rd, said residents feared what type of building would go up in the mansion’s place.
“We’re worried about all the properties as they come on sale — they are large block areas, so they can be used for multi-residence developments（老外也很实际，估计是害怕影响周围地价和自己生活质量吧）.”
Mr Young said residents had suspected the home would be demolished, as it had been vacant for some time and the property’s “magnificent” gardens had not been cared for.
Passer-by John told 3AW this morning that he was strolling past the house when he saw it being pulled down.
“It’s not every day you see a property worth $20 million getting a bulldozer taken to it（感慨一下，我就是感慨一下）,” he said.
John said the house had not been “cared for like St Georges Rd is usually cared for”.
“It was one of the original beautiful homes along the street,” he said.
“One of the stately homes.”
Mr Wang and Ms Bao bought 16 St Georges Rd from the director of building company LU Simon, Peter Devitt, and his wife Jo. The couple had purchased the property for $4.4 million in 1997.
Ms Bao also owns the exclusive Heritage Golf and Country Club in Chirnside Park, which she took control of late last year in a separation agreement with Mr Wang.
Members have reportedly been upset with the state of the club since the change over, due to a spate of sackings and a decline in service, cleanliness and management standards.
The St Georges Rd home was described as “a rare and beautiful piece of Australian real estate” when it was last on the market.
“Set on one sprawling acre, this historic villa represents art nouveau styling at its finest,” the house description read.
“Off the grand entrance hall are four enormous living areas — a sitting room, library, lounge and extravagant formal dining — all finished with intricate plasterwork and marble detailing.“Behind the Gaggenau kitchen is the conservatory and four elegant bedrooms.”The City of Stonnington has been contacted for comment.
（点击链接查看原文：http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/extravagant-mansion-worth-20m-abruptly-demolished-in-toorak/story-e6frg6n6-1227576936958）
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