英国大本钟谢绝外国游客参观

    近期欧洲频繁遭遇恐怖袭击威胁，出于安全方面的考虑，英国近日宣布禁止外国游客参观伦敦地标建筑大本钟，本国游客参观需向所属选区的国会议员提交书面申请。大本钟管理员表示，这项新规定旨在保障地标的安全，由于对外国游客进行安检的程序复杂且费用昂贵，所以决定不再向外国游客开放。本国游客的参观申请由当地议会审批并安排，大本钟每天将接待三批本国游客，每批16人，参观时长为75分钟。游客参观前先要到大本钟外的办公室接受安检，通过金属探测器，拍下面部照片，才能得到通行证。参观全程由持枪警员监察，由导游带领参观。
    Foreigners have been banned from visiting Big Ben over security fears.
    Tourists from abroad were until recently allowed to tour the legendary¹ London landmark². But due to mounting security problems they have now been banned.
    Clearance³ checks for foreigners which were to ensure that terrorists could not target the historic clock tower became too complex and costly⁴.
    British citizens are still allowed to visit Big Ben, but must apply by writing to their MP.
    Michael McCann, the Keeper of The Great Clock, said the policy had to change to maintain security at the iconic London monument.
    He said: 'We used to get a lot of foreign tourists but you have to be a British citizen now. It just got too complicated with the security checks, as you can imagine.
    'We don't do public tours but you can write to your MP with a reason for wanting to see it and they arrange a tour for you. We do a tour up to three times a day which sounds a lot but there are only 16 people on a tour.'
    Before taking the 75-minute tour, guests have to pass through strict security checks at Portcullis House.
    Under the supervision⁵ of armed police, each visitor passes through a metal detector⁶ and a wall-mounted camera takes a picture of their face before being issued with a photo security pass.
    They are guided around the famous tower of Parliament, learning the history of the tower, the bell and how the most accurate public clock in the world works.
    A spokesman for the House of Commons confirmed the ban on foreigners but said: 'The house does not comment in detail on security matters.'
    He added: 'The process involves people approaching their MP and some kind of security checks take place, based on their residency in the UK.'
    The UK Parliament website says: 'UK residents can arrange a tour through their local MP.
    However, please be advised that space is extremely limited and early booking, 3-6 months in advanced, is strongly recommended. Overseas visitors cannot currently visit the tower.'

1 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

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 clearance   

n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理

参考例句：

• There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
• The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。

4 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

5 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

6 detector   

n.发觉者，探测器

参考例句：

• The detector is housed in a streamlined cylindrical container.探测器安装在流线型圆柱形容器内。
• Please walk through the metal detector.请走过金属检测器。