随着城市化的发展，很多小城镇出现了人口外流，导致很多房子被废弃。在意大利，有些小镇以极低的价格卖房子甚至白送房子，希望吸引很多人来居住，从而再现昔日的活力。
The Italian town that offers free houses
by Silvia Marchetti
Over the past few years, numerous towns in Italy have resorted to selling homes for just over a dollar in a bid to revitalize（使恢复生机） their dwindling（缩小的） communities. Now, the Sicilian town of Cammarata has gone one step further – offering homes for absolutely nothing.
numerous /ˈnjuːmərəs/ adj. 许多的
resort /rɪˈzɔːt/ to 诉诸于
bid /bɪd/ n. 尝试、努力
community /kəˈmjuːnəti/ n. 社区
Sicilian /sɪˈsɪlɪən/ adj. 西西里的（西西里是地中海中的岛屿）
Cammarata is part of an elite group of authentic Italian villages fighting against decline and to preserve traditions. Positioned in Sicily's wild south eastern area, it was once a "lively, vibrant（生机勃勃的） place," says mayor Vincenzo Giambrone. But the historic town has lost a large number of residents over the years, and many of its homes lie abandoned today.
elite /ɪˈliːt/ adj. 精英的
authentic /ɔːˈθentɪk/ adj. 真实的、地道的
Italian /ɪˈtæljən/ adj. 意大利的
decline /dɪˈklaɪn/ n. 衰落
preserve /prɪˈzɜːv/ v. 保护、保存
tradition /trəˈdɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 传统
position /pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/ v. 放置
Sicily /ˈsɪsɪli/ n. 西西里岛
lively /ˈlaɪvli/ adj. 充满活力的
mayor /meə(r)/ n. 镇长
resident /ˈrezɪd(ə)nt/ n. 居民
lie /laɪ/ v. 处于某种状态
abandon /əˈbændən/ v. 抛弃
Understandably, there are a few conditions to Cammarata's "free" homes scheme. Buyers must commit to renovating the property within three years of the purchase and pay a 5,000 euro deposit, which will be returned once the work is complete. They will also need to present a clear refurbishment（翻新） proposal for the property in question.
understandably /ˌʌndəˈstændəbli/ adv. 可以理解地
condition /kənˈdɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 条件
scheme /skiːm/ n. 计划、方案
commit /kəˈmɪt/ v. 承诺
renovate /ˈrenəveɪt/ v. 修缮、修复
property /ˈprɒpəti/ n. 房产
purchase /ˈpɜːtʃəs/ n./v. 购买
euro /ˈjʊərəʊ/ n. 欧元
deposit /dɪˈpɒzɪt/ n. 押金、保证金
present /prɪˈzent/ v. 提交、提供
proposal /prəˈpəʊz(ə)l/ n. 提议、提案
something in question 在谈论的某事物
While all potential buyers who meet the criteria will be considered, young couples with children will receive priority – couples who move there and go on to have a baby even receive a 1,000 euro bonus. New owners can transform the multi-story buildings into a private house, B&B, hotel, shops or even a restaurant.
potential /pəˈtenʃ(ə)l/ adj. 潜在的
meet /miːt/ v. 满足
criterion /kraɪˈtɪəriən/ n. 标准（criteria /kraɪˈtɪəriə/ 是复数）
priority /praɪˈɒrəti/ n. 优先考虑
bonus /ˈbəʊnəs/ n. 奖金
transform /trænsˈfɔːm/ v. 彻底改变
multi- 前缀，表示多个
story /ˈstɔːri/ n. 楼层
B&B = bed and breakfast 是一种经济型旅馆
Set at an elevation（海拔高度） of around 1,000 meters, the town is renowned for its sleepy villages and slow pace of life. "It's a unique location," says Enzo Li Gregni, head of the tourist board for Cammarata. "Cammarata is known as 'the town with 1,000 balconies to the East,' as each window here basks in the sunset and you can enjoy spectacular views of Mount Etna."
set /set/ v. 使位于、使处于
renowned /rɪˈnaʊnd/ adj. 闻名遐迩的
sleepy /ˈsliːpi/ adj. 宁静的
pace /peɪs/ n. 步调、节奏
unique /juːˈniːk/ adj. 独一无二的
board /bɔːd/ n. 理事会、委员会
balcony /ˈbælkəni/ n. 阳台
bask /bɑːsk/ v. 沐浴在（阳光下）
sunset /ˈsʌnset/ n. 日落
spectacular /spekˈtækjulə(r)/ adj. 壮丽的
Mount Etna 是西西里岛的最高山峰
The town is filled with reddish stone dwellings（住宅） with panoramic（全景的） balconies and bright walls, along with a few lavish aristocratic（贵族的） palazzos（宫殿般的豪宅）. Its many green fields are dotted with grazing（吃草的） sheep and former agate（玛瑙） stone and salt mines, while its surrounding fertile hills were once used to breed and train horses competing in the Olympic Games.
reddish /ˈredɪʃ/ adj. 发红的、偏红色的
along with 伴随、加上
lavish /ˈlævɪʃ/ adj. 奢华的
dot /dɒt/ v. 散落、散布
mine /maɪn/ n. 矿
surrounding /səˈraʊndɪŋ/ adj. 周边的
fertile /ˈfɜːtaɪl/ adj. 肥沃的
breed /briːd/ v. 繁殖
Brazilian-Italian Jose Augusto Manetta Ramos, a businessman based in the UK, is among those who've been tempted by the prospect of owning a home here.
Brazilian /brəˈzɪljən/ n. 巴西人
Italian /ɪˈtæljən/ n. 意大利人
base /beɪs/ v. 以…为基地
tempt /tempt/ v. 引诱、诱惑
prospect /ˈprɒspekt/ n. 前景、可能性
"I've visited other villages selling one euro houses in central Italy but I want a warmer place," he says. "Cammarata is stunning, the green landscape, the sea and mountains are both nearby just like the Valley of the Temples and other great spots. It's a perfect retreat."
stunning /ˈstʌnɪŋ/ adj. 极其吸引人的
Valley of the Temples 是西西里岛的名胜古迹
spot /spɒt/ n. 地点
retreat /rɪˈtriːt/ n. 隐居地
If Ramos does opt to purchase one of the properties, he aims to spend weekends or even months at a time in Cammarata.
opt /ɒpt/ v. 选择
at a time 每次、一次
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