Quite a while用于口语中，指"许久、相当长一段时间"(=a long time)。例如：I haven't seen Rebecca in quite a while, but she hadn't changed much. (我和丽贝卡许久未见，但她却没什么变化。)

 

Die down是"逐渐消失，变弱，渐渐停止的意思"。例如：As the applause died down, a child came on stage with an armload of roses for the singer. (掌声渐弱，一个孩子走上舞台给那位歌手献上了一捧玫瑰。)

 

[口语天天练之神秘秦陵]

 

1974年，兵马俑的出土轰动世界，每年都有大批国内外游客慕名而来。与此相反，"秦俑之父"秦始皇的陵墓仍是个不解之谜。那幽深的地宫更是谜团重重，地宫形制及内部结构至今尚不清楚，千百年来引发了不少文人墨客的猜测与遐想：

 

1. Qin's tomb itself remains¹ unexcavated, though court historian Sima Qian's writings suggest even greater treasures may still be inside. It said the tomb was filled with models of palaces, pavilions and offices as well as fine vessels², precious stones and rarities.

虽然宫廷史官司马迁的记载显示，秦始皇陵墓中藏有更大宝藏，但其陵墓至今未被挖掘。据说陵墓里有宫殿、楼阁、官府和精致船只，宝石和稀世珍宝。

 

2. An account indicates the tomb contains replicas³ of the area's rivers and streams made with mercury flowing to the sea through hills and mountains of bronze. Precious stones such as pearls are said to represent the sun, moon, and other stars.

据记载，陵墓中有用水银制成的河川，流经铜质的山峦汇入海洋。据称，夜明珠等罕见宝石被用作代表日月星辰。

 

3. Tests on the tomb mound⁴ have revealed unusually high concentrations of mercury, lending credence⁵ to at least some of the historical account.

对陵墓土地的测试显示，其水银浓度异常高，证明至少某些史料记载具有一定真实性。

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