英语听力文摘 English Digest 194、limelight的起源

　　Where Does The Term'Limelight'Originate
You're in the limelight now on this moment of science.
If someone loves being in the limelight, that means they enjoy being the center of attention. We use the word now to mean social prominence¹, but have you ever wondered what limelight actually is, or how it came to be synonymous with fame?
Where Did The Word Come From?

　　Originally a limelight was a bright, incandescent² lamp invented by the Englishman Thomas Drummond in 1816. At that time, the British government was trying to survey Ireland. To do this, surveyors used tall Irish mountains as reference points. Their problem was that the weather was often bad, making it impossible to see the mountain tops directly.
However, when Drummond lit his newly invented limelights on the tops of these mountains, surveyors could see them from over fifty miles away.
Burned Limestone³
The “lime” in limelight refers to burned limestone, not the fruit. Burned limestone gives off great quantities of brilliant, white light when heated. To make a limelight, a small piece of lime is heated by burning a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gasses. The white light from the glowing lime is then focused with a lens or a mirror.
Theaters And Limelight
Although it started its life as a surveying tool, it was its use in theater that made limelight famous. At that time, theaters were commonly lit by dangerous gas lights.
These were jets of burning gas, like the flame on a gas stove. Gas lights were dim, so it often took hundreds of them to light a scene on the stage, causing a great fire risk.
Limelight is much brighter than gas light, and its pure whiteness made it ideal for simulating sunlight and moonlight.
Front And Center
Its widespread use in nineteenth century theater is where the associations with fame came from. To be in the limelight was to be front and center, on the brightest part of the stage.

1 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

2 incandescent   

adj.遇热发光的， 白炽的，感情强烈的

参考例句：

• The incandescent lamp we use in daily life was invented by Edison.我们日常生活中用的白炽灯，是爱迪生发明的。
• The incandescent quality of his words illuminated the courage of his countrymen.他炽热的语言点燃了他本国同胞的勇气。

3 limestone   

n.石灰石

参考例句：

• Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
• Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。