必修二册第四单元阅读讲解

必修二册第四单元第40页阅读讲解

WHAT'S IN A NAME?
名为何物?

The United Kingdom, Great Britain, Britain, England----many people are confused by what these different names mean. So what is the difference between them, if any? Getting to know a little bit about British history will help you solve this puzzle.
联合王国、大不列颠、英国、英格兰—这些不同的名称是何意思,许多人感到困惑。那么, 如果这些名称有区别的话,区别何在?稍微了解一下英国历史,就可以帮助你解开这个谜题。

In the 16th century, the nearby country of Wales was joined to the Kingdom of England. Later, in the 18th century, the country Scotland was joined to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. In the 19th century. the Kingdom of Ireland was added to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, in the 20th century, the southern part of Ireland broke away from the UK, which resulted in the full name we have today: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Most people just use the shortened name: "the United Kingdom" or "the UK". People from the UK are called "British", which means the UK is also often referred to as Britain or Great Britain.
十六世纪时,邻国威尔士并入英格兰王国。随后,苏格兰在十八世纪也加入进来,从而诞生了大不列颠王国。十九世纪时,爱尔兰王国加入,组成了大不列颠及爱尔兰联合王国。最后,在二十世纪时,爱尔兰南部脱离了联合王国,形成了今天的英国全称:大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国。大多数人只是使用简称:“联合王国”。联合王国的人被称为“英国人”,这意味着联合王国也经常被称为英国或大不列颠。

The four countries that belong to the United Kingdom work together in some areas. They use the same flag, known as the Union Jack, as well as share the same currency and military defence. However, they also have some differences. For example, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all have different education systems and legal systems. They also have their own traditions, like their own national days and national dishes. And they even have their own football teams for competitions like the World Cup!
同属于联合王国的这四个国家在某些领域紧密合作。像拥有同样的货币和国防一样,他们也使用同一面国旗。然而,它们之间仍有诸多区别。例如,英格兰、威尔士、苏格兰及北爱尔兰实行不同的教育和法律制度。它们也有各自的传统,比如有自己的国庆节和本国菜肴。它们甚至拥有自己的足球队,出征诸如“世界杯”之类的赛事!

The United Kingdom has a long and interesting history to explore, which can help you understand much more about the country and its traditions. Almost everywhere you go in the UK, you will be surrounded by evidence of four different groups of people who took over at different times throughout history. The first group, the Romans, came in the first century. Some of their great achievements included building towns and roads. Next, the Anglo-Saxons arrived in the fifth century. They introduced the beginnings of the English language, and changed the way people built houses. The Vikings came in the eighth century, left behind lots of new vocabulary, and also the names of many locations across the UK. The last group were the Normans. They conquered England after the well-known Battle of Hastings in the 11th century. They had castles built all around England, and made changes to the legal system. The Normans were French, so many French words slowly entered into the English language.
英国历史源远流长、别有趣味,等待你去探索,帮助你更加深入地了解这一国家及其传统。英国历史上有四个不同民族在不同历史时期执掌这个国家。无论你身处英国何方,这些民族的遗迹都随处可见。第一族群是古罗马人,于公元一世纪进入英国。罗马人的伟大成就在于他们建立了城镇、修建了道路。之后是盎格鲁撒克逊人,于公元五世纪到达英国。他们引人了英语的维形,并改变了人们建造房屋的方式。维京人于公元八世纪到来,留下了诸多新的词汇,并给英国境内的许多地方命名。最后一个是诺曼人。十一世纪著名的黑斯廷斯战役之后,诺曼人征服了英格兰,四处修建城堡,并改革了法律制度。诺曼人即为法国人,许多法语单词因此慢慢进入了英语。

There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit much more enjoyable. The capital city London is a great place to start, as it is an ancient port city that has a history dating all the way back to Roman times. There are countless historic sites to explore, and lots of museums with ancient relics from all over the UK. The UK is a fascinating mix of history and modern culture, with both new and old traditions. If you keep your eyes open. you will be surprised to find that you can see both its past and its present.
英国的历史文化引人入胜,可学之处比比皆是。学习这个国家的历史,你的英国之旅将更为愉快。以首都伦敦为第一站,是个不错的选择。伦敦是一个古老的港口城市,其历史可以追溯到罗马时代。市内可供游览的历史遗址数不胜数,还有许多博物馆陈列着来自英国各地的文物。在英国,历史与现代文化交融,新旧传统并存,引人入胜。用心去观察,英国的过去与现在都将展示在你面前,令你叹为观止。

必修二册第四单元第44页阅读讲解

BEAUTIFUL IRELAND AND ITS TRADITIONS
美丽的爱尔兰及其传统

Ireland's beautiful countryside has always had a great influence on its people and traditions. The country has a long history of producing great writers and poets. Its beautiful countryside excites and inspires all, offering something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the"Emerald Isle"and its many green counties is a true feast for the eyes, with its rolling green hills dotted with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the seabirds make up the music of the coast. On a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day with their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising that Ireland has developed strong traditions that include music, dancing, and dining. To have a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious traditional Irish Beef Stew. If you're lucky, you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce yourself to a friendly face, you are more than likely to experience local culture and customs first-hand.
一直以来,爱尔兰的美丽乡村对当地的人民和传统产生着深远的影响。爱尔兰有着孕育伟大作家和诗人的悠久传统。美丽的乡村给人以激情和灵感,满足各种感官享受。“绿宝石(爱尔兰)岛”风光宁静秀美,郡县草木葱茏,青山连绵起伏,牛羊点缀其中,堪称一场名副其实的视觉盛宴。海边波浪咆哮,海鸟鸣叫,奏响了海岸交响乐。山里宁静的早晨,感受阳光洒落在你身上, 呼吸着鲜花的芬芳,而鸟儿则用清晨的歌声迎接新的一天的到来。这般美景,自然造就了爱尔兰独特的民间传统,如音乐、舞蹈及菜肴等。要想体验这一切,可以去一家乡村酒吧,喝一杯葡萄酒或本地的啤酒,放松身心。更为美妙的是,可品尝美味的爱尔兰传统炖牛肉。运气好的话,你还可以欣赏到传统的音乐和舞蹈。向友善的当地人做个自我介绍,你定能亲身体验当地的文化和习俗。