每日对话围绕一家人在美国50个州的旅行见闻展开。请来跟随他们一起体验地方风情和历史。这个对话系列适于中级或中级以上英语水平的学生使用。

今天这一家人将参观哈佛大学（Harvard University），并准备随后驾车前往马萨诸塞州（Massachusetts）的其他历史景点。

Claudine: I can’t believe I’m standing in the middle of Harvard Yard. This is the oldest part of the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S.

Sam: Harvard University is definitely recognized around the world.

Paul: Yes, but did you know that the university was established not too many years afterPlymouth Colony was founded?

Sam: And that was the colony founded by the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower, right?

Gina: That’s right. And it’s not too far from here, so we’ll drive there next. There’s a lot of history to soak up in Massachusetts.

Claudine: Well, let me soak up all I can about Harvard first.

让我们复习一些词语：

Harvard Yard ：哈佛园。这片环抱在校园中的绿地是如今哈佛大学最早的园址。

An institution of higher learning ：高等教育机构，高等学府，大学

在这个对话中, recognized 的含义是名声为众人所知。

Establish ：建立/成立（机构等）

Plymouth Colony ：普利茅斯殖民地（1620年至1691年）。这是由在新大陆登陆的英国移民建立的最早殖民地，位于今天的马萨诸塞州。 The New World (新大陆) 往往用来指（尤其在当时）整个美洲大陆。

To found ：奠基创建（城市或国家等）。例如：Plymouth Colony was founded in 1620.（普利茅斯殖民地建于1620年。）

The Pilgrims ：这里是专有名词，指最早从欧洲乘船漂洋过海来到美洲大陆的英国新教徒移民。他们建立的殖民地后来成为今天的马萨诸塞州。

The Mayflower ：“五月花号“，这是1620年英国清教徒移民来美洲时乘坐的船的船名。

To soak up ：尽情吸收/浸透，可以指用大量时间体验某事或在短时间内吸收大量信息。

Everyday conversations: Home of Harvard University (and a lot more!) [audio]

This series of Everyday Conversations is about a family traveling to each of the 50 states in the U.S. Join the family members as they learn about local pastimes and history. These conversations are for intermediate-level English-language learners or higher.

The family visits Harvard University and then plans their drive to another historical area ofMassachusetts.

Claudine: I can’t believe I’m standing in the middle of Harvard Yard. This is the oldest part of the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S.

Sam: Harvard University is definitely recognized around the world.

Paul: Yes, but did you know that the university was established not too many years afterPlymouth Colony was founded?

Sam: And that was the colony founded by the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower, right?

Gina: That’s right. And it’s not too far from here, so we’ll drive there next. There’s a lot of history to soak up in Massachusetts.

Claudine: Well, let me soak up all I can about Harvard first.

Now let’s review the vocabulary.

Harvard Yard is a large grassy area enclosed by fences on the Harvard University campus. It is the oldest part of the campus.

An institution of higher learning is a college or university.

In the context of the conversation, recognized means to be known.

Establish means to create or start an organization that is meant to last a long time.

Plymouth Colony was an area in Massachusetts that was formed by people (later calledPilgrims) who came to the New World from England. It existed from 1620 to 1691. The New World is used to talk about North America, Central America and South America, especially in the past.

To found means to be the first to start building and living in a town (or country). Plymouth Colony was founded in 1620.

The Pilgrims were the people who traveled by boat from England to America and started a colony in what became Massachusetts.

The Mayflower is the name of the ship on which a group of people traveled from England to America in 1620.

To soak up means to spend time experiencing something; to learn a lot of information in a short amount of time.