golden compass p23

Lord Asriel put a new slide【幻灯片】in the lantern frame. It showed the same scene【siːn,场景】. As with the previous【ˈpriːviəs,先前的】pair of pictures, many of the features visible by ordinary light were much dimmer【ˈdɪmə,更模糊朦胧的】 in this one, and so were the curtains of radiance【ˈreɪdiəns,光辉】 in the sky. But in the middle of the Aurora【ɔː'rɔːrə,极光】, high above the bleak landscape【ˈlændskeɪp,风景】, Lyra could see something solid【ˈsɒlɪd,可靠的】. She pressed her face to the crack【kræk,缝隙)】to see more clearly, and she could see the Scholars near the screen leaning【ˈliːnɪŋ,前俯(或后仰),倚靠】 forward too. As she gazed【ɡeɪzd,凝视;注视;盯着】, her wonder【好奇心】 grew, because there in the sky was the unmistakable【ˌʌnmɪˈsteɪkəbl,不会弄错的;确定无疑的;清楚明白的】 outline【ˈaʊtlaɪn,轮廓线】 of a city: towers【ˈtaʊəz,塔】, domes【dəʊmz,穹顶;穹状建筑物】, walls...Buildings and streets, suspended【səˈspendɪd,悬挂】 in the air! She nearly gasped【ɡɑːspt,倒抽气】 with wonder. The Cassington Scholar said, “That looks like...a city.” “Exactly so,” said Lord Asriel. “A city in another world, no doubt?” said the Dean【diːn,院长】, with contempt【kənˈtempt,蔑视;轻蔑;鄙视】 in his voice. Lord Asriel ignored【ɪɡˈnɔːd,忽视;不理会】him. There was a stir【stɜː(r),轰动;骚动;骚乱】 of excitement among some of the Scholars, as if, having written treatises【ˈtritəsəz,论文著作】 on the existence of the unicorn【ˈjuːnɪkɔːn,独角兽】 without ever having seen one, they'd been presented with a living example newly captured.“Is this the Barnard-Stokes business?” said the Palmerian Professor. “It is, isn't it?” “That's what I want to find out,” said Lord Asriel. He stood to one side of the illuminated 【ɪˈluːmɪneɪtɪd,被照亮的】 screen. Lyra could see his dark eyes searching among the Scholars as they peered 【pɪəd,仔细看;端详】 up at the slide of the Aurora, and the green glow 【ɡləʊ,微弱稳定的光;暗淡的光】 of his demon's eyes beside him. All the venerable 【ˈvenərəbl,尊贵的】 heads were craning 【ˈkreɪnɪŋ,为看得更清楚而探着身子;伸长脖子】 forward,their spectacles 【ˈspɛktəklz,眼镜】 glinting 【ˈɡlɪntɪŋ,闪光;闪亮】; only the Masterand the Librarian leaned back in their chairs, with their heads close together. The Chaplain was saying, “You said you were searching for news of the Grumman expedition 【ˌekspəˈdɪʃn,探险】, Lord Asriel. Was Dr. Grumman investigating 【ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪtɪŋ,调查】 this phenomenon 【fəˈnɒmɪnən,现象】 too?” “I believe he was,and I believe he had a good deal of information about it.But he won't be able to tell us what it was, because he's dead.” “No!” said the Chaplain. “I'm afraid so, and I have the proof 【pruːf,证据】 here.”