世界最高教堂饱受醉鬼尿液摧残

 　　德国乌尔姆敏斯特大教堂是世界最高教堂，这座高耸入云的教堂有着200年的悠久历史，本该是重点保护对象，但是现在却成了深夜醉酒者的“公共厕所”。不光是这座教堂，该市的随地小便行为也是屡禁不止，连高额罚款也不起作用。

　　The world's tallest church tower is being destroyed by drunken revellers whose urine is eroding¹ the Gothic building.

　　世界最高的教堂塔楼都快被狂欢醉鬼们的尿给毁了，这座哥特式建筑正日夜遭受尿液的腐蚀。

　　The skyline of the German city of Ulm, which sits on the River Danube in Baden-Württemberg, is dominated by the impressive 162-meter-tall steeple of Ulm Minster.

　　德国乌尔姆敏斯特大教堂耸立在巴登-符腾堡州多瑙河边上，它高达162米，直插云天，映衬着乌尔姆市的天际线，令人叹为观止。

　　世界最高教堂饱受醉鬼尿液摧残

　　As well as drawing in the tourists who wish to take in the spectacular views of the Alps from the top, the tower has long attracted late-night revellers who relieve themselves at its base.

　　正如外地游人慕名而来，期盼登上塔顶，一览阿尔卑斯山的绝佳风光一样，长期以来，教堂吸引着深夜的醉酒狂欢者们对着塔楼基座撒尿。

　　Officials have said that as a consequence, the 200-year-old building is being eroded² by the salt and acids in the urine, Südwest Presse reports.

　　据《德国西南新闻报》报道，市政府官员们说，他们纵情的结果是，尿液中的盐分和酸性物质导致这座200年的教堂遭到侵蚀。

　　The problem of 'wildpinkler,' as it is known in Germany, has become so grave that earlier this year the city doubled fines to 100 euros for anyone caught urinating in public.

　　“随地小便”是德国的常见问题，如今正变得愈发严重，以至于今年早些时候市政府将罚款数额加倍，任何人只要被抓到在公共场所小便即被罚款100欧元。

　　'I've been keeping an eye on it for half a year now and, once again, it's coated with urine and vomit,' Michael Hilbert, the building's head of maintenance, told the newspaper. 'This is about preserving law and order.'

　　“半年前我就持续关注这一问题，如今塔底上沾满了尿液和呕吐物。”维修负责人迈克尔?希尔伯特告诉记者。

　　Hilbert said that with the festival season approaching and a wine festival and Christmas market due to take place in the Münsterplatz town square, organizers must provide public toilets.

　　希尔伯特说，节日快到了，葡萄酒节和圣诞集市将在市里的大教堂广场举行，组织者们必须提供公共厕所。

　　However, a city spokeswoman said that 'as long as there are people,' it will be difficult to curb³ the problem.

　　然而一名市政府女发言人说，只要是有人聚集的地方，这个问题就难以解决。

　　She told the paper that 'the city does very well' in its efforts to stop the practice, with increased police patrols and joint⁴ work with event organizers to tackle the issue.

　　她告诉记者，在阻止这种行为上“市政府相当尽力”，他们已增派巡逻警员，并与活动组织者开展联合行动来解决这个难题。

　　However, she admitted that the imposition of higher fines had not put a stop to the practice.

　　不过她也承认，强制征收更高额的罚款并没能制止撒尿行为。

1 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。

2 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。