英语小达人 406:Spotlight on Copenhagen

 　　Spotlight¹ on Copenhagen

　　童话之都——歌本哈根

　　Are you too old for fairy tales? If you think so, Copenhagen is sure to change your mind.

　　你是否已经老得不想听童话了？如果你是这么认为的话，哥本哈根一定能够改变你的想法。

　　See the city first from the water. In the harbor sits Denmark's best-known landmark²: the Little Mermaid³. Remember her? She left the world of the Sea People in search of a human soul in one of Hans Christian⁴ Andersen's beloved fantasies. From the harbor you can get a feel for the attractive "city of green spires⁵." At twilight⁶ or in cloudy weather, the copper-covered spires of old castles and churches lend the city a dream-like atmosphere. You'll think you've stepped into a watercolor painting.

　　要看这座城市，先从水看起。丹麦最有名的标志性建筑——小小美人鱼就坐落在港口处。记得她吗？在安徒生的一个童话里，她离开了海底世界，想变成一个真正的人。安徒生的许多幻想故事都很受欢迎哩。从这个港口你可以领略到这座迷人的“绿色塔尖之城”的魅力。黎明时分或天气阴霾的时候，旧堡垒和教堂的镀铜塔尖给这个城市蒙上了梦一般的气氛。你会以为自己步入了一幅水彩画中。

　　Copenhagen is a city on a human scale. You don't have to hurry to walk the city's center in less than an hour. Exploring it will take much longer. But that's easy. Copenhagen was the first city to declare a street for pedestrians⁷ only. The city has less traffic noise and pollution than any other European capital.

　　哥本哈根是一个很人性化的城市。你不需要在一小时内匆匆地将市中心走完。考察这个城市要花上更长的时间。但那也是件很轻松的事。哥本哈根是第一个划出步行街的城市。比起欧洲其他国家的首都，这个城市的交通噪音和污染少了许多。

　　Stroll away from the harbor along the riverbanks, you'll see the modest Amalienborg Palace first. Completed in the mid-18th century, it still houses the royal family. The Danish Royal Guard is on duty. Churches and castles are almost all that remain of the original city. Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in 1445.

　　自港口沿着河岸漫步，最先映入眼帘的是风格朴实的阿玛利安堡皇宫。阿玛利安堡皇宫于18世纪中期完工，皇室家族至今居住于此。皇家卫队仍在这里执行任务。教堂与古堡大概是古城遗留下来的惟一的东西。哥本哈根于1445年成为丹麦的首都。

　　To see them having fun, and to have some fun yourself, cross Andersens Boulevard and enter Tivoli Gardens. You won't be alone. More than five million people a year come here. They come to dance, dine, take in outdoor and indoor concerts, see ballets and laugh at the comedy. One tip: Bring a lot of money. About 20 restaurants are among the city's most expensive. Even without money, you can still enjoy the proud old trees, the colored night lights and the beautiful gardens. You might feel as if you are in a fairy tale.

　　要看丹麦人嬉乐，要想自己找到乐趣，你可以走过安徒生大道，进入提弗利花园，在这儿你是不会寂寞的。每年有超过500万的人来此旅游。他们来这里跳舞、就餐、欣赏户外和室內音乐会，看芭蕾舞表演，观看喜剧开怀大笑。给你一个建议：多带钱。20家左右的餐厅是本城里最昂贵的。即使没有钱，你仍可以欣赏那些傲人的老树、五光十色的彩灯，以及美丽的花园。你可能会以为自己置身于童话故事当中呢。

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

3 mermaid   

n.美人鱼

参考例句：

• How popular would that girl be with the only mermaid mom!和人鱼妈妈在一起，那个女孩会有多受欢迎！
• The little mermaid wasn't happy because she didn't want to wait.小美人鱼不太高兴，因为她等不及了。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 spires   

n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her masts leveled with the spires of churches. 船的桅杆和教堂的塔尖一样高。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• White church spires lift above green valleys. 教堂的白色尖顶耸立在绿色山谷中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

7 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》