VOA标准英语2013--Protesters Block Dismantling Part of Berlin Wall

 

Protesters Block Dismantling¹ Part of Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was once of the starkest² reminders³ of the Cold War. It was put up by communist East Germany in 1961, to stop its citizens from fleeing to West Berlin. But today, the wall that once snaked around the whole German capital is almost entirely⁴ gone.

Except for at the East Side Gallery. Today, the one-mile-long stretch of the wall contains murals by artists from around the world.

But on Friday, construction workers began removing a 22-meter chunk⁵ of the wall, the first step in a project that aims to build a luxury apartment tower on the site.

And that has caused a stir -- 200 people turned out to protest, and three were arrested.

Kani Alvi is an artist whose mural appears on the wall. He says the wall is too historically significant to tamper⁶ with.

"This is the longest remaining stretch of the wall. If we take it apart, we won't have proof to show future generations how extensive the wall was, and how it divided the people," he said. "And this is a message that we must continue teaching. Without the wall, future generations won't believe how it really was."

The mayor of Berlin declined to comment for this story. But Volker Thoms, a spokesman for the builder, Living Bauhaus, told VOA that his company intends to reconstruct the pieces of the wall elsewhere on its property. He also noted⁷ something that even local papers and some Berliners have pointed⁸ out -- that this valuable land had been sitting disused for years.

The wall is technically⁹ a protected historical site. But last week, the city gave the go ahead to remove part of the wall. Tourists were surprised at the news, including some students from the New York area.

"We actually just heard of plans today, and I was a little surprised to hear that actually," said Ali Bergstein.

"I was really shocked, we found out this morning when we were planning to come here, and we think it's kind of terrible," Abby Seelig said. "It's such a monumental part of history. And for them to move it, tear it down to build something modern is just horrible."

Berliners shared their reaction.

I think it's dreadful, at a place like this, which is so historic [a] place - they're changing the whole character of the city," said Philip Winter. "I think they should keep it as a park for the people, not for the few rich people who can afford to be here.

The protesters vow¹⁰ to continue their fight in court to protect a piece of Cold War history. 

1 dismantling   

（枪支）分解

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。
• The dismantling of a nuclear reprocessing plant caused a leak of radioactivity yesterday. 昨天拆除核后处理工厂引起了放射物泄漏。

2 starkest   

（指区别）明显的( stark的最高级 )； 完全的； 了无修饰的； 僵硬的

参考例句：

• Among the starkest-and the most worrying-have been measures of world trade. 而最典型也是最让人担心的是世界贸易的方式。
• Climate change and the depleted ozone layer are among the starkest examples. 气候变化和臭氧层耗减就是其中最明显的例子。

3 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 chunk   

n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量）

参考例句：

• They had to be careful of floating chunks of ice.他们必须当心大块浮冰。
• The company owns a chunk of farmland near Gatwick Airport.该公司拥有盖特威克机场周边的大片农田。

6 tamper   

v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• Do not tamper with other's business.不要干预别人的事。
• They had strict orders not to tamper with the customs of the minorities.他们得到命令严禁干涉少数民族的风俗习惯。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

10 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。