Unit 1 CULTURAL HERITAGE 文化遗产
Reading and thinking
FROM PROBLEMS TO SOLUTIONS
从问题重重到迎刃而解
Economic development is necessary if we want to improve society. There comes a time when the old must give way to the new, and it is not possible to preserve everything from our past as we move towards the future. Finding and keeping the right balance between progress and the protection of cultural sites can be a big challenge.
社会进步需要经济发展。新旧更替的时代已经到来,在走向未来的过程中,我们不可能将过去的一切都保存下来。在发展与文化遗址保护之间找到恰当的平衡点,并加以保持，这可能是一项巨大的挑战。
Big challenges, however, can sometimes lead to great solutions. In the 1950s, the Egyptian government wanted to build a new dam across the Nile in order to control floods, produce electricity, and supply water to more farmers in the area. But the proposal led to protests. Water from the dam would likely damage a number of temples and destroy cultural relics that were an important part of Egypt’s cultural heritage. After listening to the scientists who had studied the problem, and citizens who lived near the dam, the government turned to the United Nations for help in 1959.
然而，巨大的挑战有时候会带来伟大的解决方案。二十世纪五十年代,埃及政府打算在尼罗河上新建一座大坝,可以防洪、发电,并为该地区更多的农民供水。但是,该提案引发了抗议。因为大坝泄流可能会损坏许多寺庙,摧毁一批文物,而这些文物是埃及文化遗产的重要组成部分。埃及政府在听取了研究该问题的科学家以及大坝附近居民的意见后,于1959年向联合国寻求帮助。
A committee was established to limit damage to the Egyptian buildings and prevent the loss of cultural relics. The group asked for contributions from different departments and raised funds within the international community. Experts investigated the issue, conducted several tests, and then made a proposal for how the buildings could be saved. Finally, a document was signed, and the work began in 1960.
委员会成立了,旨在减少对那些建筑物的破坏,并防止文物损失。该委员会请求各个部门予以支持,并在国际范围内筹集资金。专家们经过调查研究,多次试验,提出了一个保住那些建筑的方案。最终,(埃及政府)签署了一份文件,于1960年开始动工。
The project brought together governments and environmentalists from around the world. Temples and other cultural sites were taken down piece by piece, and then moved and put back together again in a place where they were safe from the water. In 1961, German engineers moved the first temple. Over the next 20 years, thousands of engineers and workers rescued 22 temples and countless cultural relics. Fifty countries donated nearly $80 million to the project.
该项目集聚了来自世界各地的政府机构和环保人士。人们将寺庙和其他文化遗址逐块拆解，运至一个不受河水侵袭的安全地带,再按原样复原。1961年,德国工程师搬迁了第一座寺庙。在随后的二十年里,数千名工程师和工人拯救了22座寺庙和不计其数的文物。50个国家向
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该项目捐赠了近8千万美元。
When the project ended in 1980, it was considered a great success. Not only had the countries found a path to the future that did not run over the relics of the past, but they had also learnt that it was possible for countries to work together to build a better tomorrow. 1980年该项目完工时,被视为一个巨大的成功。这些国家不仅找到了一条不以牺牲古迹为代价的未来发展之路,而且明白了多个国家合作创造美好未来的可能性。
The spirit of the Aswan Dam project is still alive today. Perhaps the best example is shown by UNESCO, which runs a programme that prevents world cultural heritage sites around the world from disappearing. If a problem seems too difficult for a single nation, the global community can sometimes provide a solution. 阿斯旺大坝工程的精神今日尚存。能体现这种精神的最好的例子或许就是联合国教科文组织;该组织有一项计划,旨在防止全球各地世界文化遗产的消失。如果一个问题对某一个国家来说难度太大,那么国际社会有时可为其提供一个解决方案。
Reading for writing
PROMOTING CULTURE THROUGH DIGITAL IMAGES 通过数码图像推广文化
Lanzhou, 9 August 2017. A group of researchers and scientists from China and other countries are working together to help increase knowledge and appreciation of China’s ancient cultural heritage. They are recording and collecting digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop along the Silk Road throughout China’s ancient history. Nearly 500,000 high-quality digital photographs have been produced since the international project started in 1994.
(兰州,2017年8月9日)一支由中国及其他国家的研究人员和科学家组成的科研团队,正在通力合作,旨在加强人们对中国古代文化遗产方面的认识与鉴赏力。团队成员正在记录和收集莫高窟文物的数码图像;莫高窟在中国古代历史上是丝绸之路上的一个关键站点。1994年该国际项目启动以来,团队已经制作了近50万张高质量的数码照片。
The Mogao Caves have long been a meeting point for different cultures and are part of the history of many countries. Today, the caves are just as international as they were at the time when people travelled the Silk Road. Tourists from all over the world visit Dunhuang to see the caves, and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has even reproduced a copy of the caves and paintings for people to admire in America.
长期以来,莫高窟一直是多元文化的交汇点,反映着不同国家的历史文化。今天,这些洞窟的国际地位可与当年人们在丝绸之路上跋涉的时候相提并论。来自世界各地的游客纷纷造访敦煌、欣赏洞窟;位于洛杉矶的盖蒂博物馆甚至复制了这些洞窟和壁画的照片,供人们在美国欣赏。
By sharing so many digital photos over the Internet, the group hopes to promote even wider interest around the world in China’s ancient history, culture, and traditions. They also hope to further educate people about the importance of safeguarding historic and cultural relics for future generations to understand and appreciate. As one researcher who is working on the project explains, “Appreciating one’s own cultural heritage is very important for understanding oneself. Appreciating the cultural heritage of other countries is very important for international communication and understanding.”
这些科学家和研究者在网络上分享了大量(有关莫高窟的)电子照片,希望在世界范围内使人
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们对中国古代历史和文化习俗产生更广泛的兴趣。团队还希望进一步教育大众认识保护历史和文化遗产以供后代了解和欣赏的重要性。正如一位从事该项目的研究人员所解释的:“欣赏本国文化遗产,有助于了解我们自己;欣赏他国文化遗产,有助于增进国际交流和理解。”
Unit 2 WILD PROTECTION 野生动物保护
Reading and thinking
A DAY IN THE CLOUDS 在云间度过的一天
The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp. To our left, snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch. On the plain in front of us, we can just make out a herd of graceful animals. This is why we’re here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.
由于空气稀薄，在离开营地的短途徒步旅行中，我们不得不多次休息。在我们的左边，白雪皑皑的山脉消失在似乎触手可及的云层中。放眼平原，我们隐约看到一群体形优美的动物。这就是我们来这里的原因--观察藏羚羊。
Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Qinghai. Watching them move slowly across the green grass. I’m struck by their beauty. I’m also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being hunted, illegally, for their valuable fur.
藏羚羊生活在西藏、新疆和青海的平原上。看着它们缓缓穿过绿色的草，。我被它们的美丽所震撼，也想起了它们所处的险境。因其珍贵的羊毛，它们正遭受非法猎杀。
My guide is Zhaxi, a village from Changtang. He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, the land is sacred and protecting the wildlife is a way of life. “We’re not trying to save the animals,” he says. “Actually, we’re trying to save ourselves.” 我的向导是羌塘的一位村民扎西。他在羌塘国家级自然保护区工作。该保护区是西藏西北地区动植物的庇护所。对于扎西来说，这片土地是神圣的，保护野生动植物是一种生活方式。 “我们不是在拯救动物。” 他说到，“事实上，我们是在拯救自己。”
The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope. The population dropped by more than 50 percent. Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built. 对于藏羚羊来说，上个世纪80年代和90年代是一个悲惨的时代。藏羚羊的数量减少了50％以上。猎人为了赚钱而射杀羚羊。随着新公路和铁路的修建，它们的栖息地也不断缩小。 In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains. 为了使这个物种免于灭绝，中国政府将其置于国家保护之下。扎西和其他志愿者昼夜守卫着羚羊，保护它们免受攻击。新增的一些桥梁和涵洞，便于藏羚羊自由穿行，防止他们撞上汽车和火车。
The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015, the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list. The government, however, does not intend to stop the protection programmes, since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.
这些措施效果明显。藏羚羊的数量已经恢复。2015年6月，藏羚羊从濒危物种名单中被剔
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除。然而，政府并没有打算停止这些保护项目，因为对藏羚羊的威胁依然存在。
In the evening, I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars. I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me. Much is being done to protect wildlife, but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.
夜晚时分，我喝着茶，仰望星空。我想起了藏羚羊以及扎西对我说的那番话。为了保护野生动物，我们已经做了很多工作，但是如果我们真想拯救地球，就必须改变我们的生活方式。只有学会与大自然和睦共处，我们才不会成为野生动植物和地球的威胁。
Reading for writing
Give Ugly a Chance! 给难看的动物一个机会！
When it comes to wildlife protection, all species—the good, the bad, and the ugly—should be treated equally. Pandas, dolphins, and other cute wildlife are important, but we must pay attention to less cute animals, too. The world needs all kinds—without variety, our planet cannot survive. So if you want the future to be beautiful, you have to give ugly a chance. 谈到野生动物保护，所有物种——好的、坏的、丑的——都应得到平等对待。熊猫、海豚和其他可爱的野生动物固然很重要，但我们也必须关注那些不那么可爱的动物。世界需要万物——没有多样性，我们的地球就无法生存。所以如果你想让未来变得美丽，你必须给难看的动物一个机会。
Don’t Make Paper with My Home! 不要用我的家来造纸！
Billions of trees are being cut down every year to make paper for humans. Every tree that is cut down is a part of the habitat of animals such as these koalas. In this way a lot of animal homes are being destroyed! Is it right to make animals homeless so that humans can have more paper?
每年,数十亿棵树木遭到砍伐,用于人类造纸。每棵被砍伐的树木都是诸如考拉等动物栖息地的一部分。砍树造纸推毁了众多动物的家园!为了让人类有更多的纸张,就让动物无家可归,这样做对吗?
Unit 3 THE INTERNET 互联网
Reading and thinking
STRONGER TOGETHER:
HOW WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE INTERNET 团结起来力量大:
互联网如何改变了我们
Much has been written about the wonders of the World Wide Web. There are countless articles telling us how the Internet has made our lives more convenient. We no longer have to wait in line or carry cash around when we go shopping. We can get the most updated information from large databases. We can download software, documents, and images whenever we need them. But the Internet has done much more for people than simply make
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life more convenient. People’s lives have been changed by online communities and social networks.
关于万维网奇妙之处的著述浩如烟海。讲述互联网如何使我们的生活变得更加方便的文章数不胜数。购物的时候,我们不再需要排队等候,也不需要随身携带现金。我们可以从大型数据库中获得最新的信息。在任何需要的时候,我们可以下载软件、文档和图片。然而,互联网为人们做的事情还很多,并不仅仅是让生活变得更加方便而已。在线社区和社交网络已改变了人们的生活。
Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and stuck at home with only her computer to keep her company. After a while, she discovered that surfing the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group where she could talk about her problems and get support and advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its ability to remove the distance that usually exists between people.
英国伯明翰的一位英语教师简·夏曼尼突然身患重病,被迫辞去工作。50岁时,她发觉自己失业了,困在家里,只有电脑相伴。过了一阵子,她发现上网可以帮助她减轻孤独和无聊。她可以听音乐,看电影,玩游戏,探索世界。她还加入了一个在线群组;在群里,她可以谈论自己的问题,获得其他人的支持和建议。她意识到互联网的最大好处之一就是能够消除通常存在于人和人之间的距离感。
She was so inspired by the people she met online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59-year-old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of himself, his daughter has time to study at university. A 61-year-old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together with two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her company has become quite successful.
她受到网友的启发,决定成立一个俱乐部来教年长一些的人们学习使用电脑和互联网。如今,她与朋友们一起组织各种活动,并为(俱乐部)私人教师的工资筹集资金。许多人得到了俱乐部的帮助。一位59岁的男子学会了如何在网上申请工作,而且找到了一份不错的工作。由于他有事情可做,并能够照顾好自己,他的女儿就有时间上大学了。一位61岁的独居妇女与两位朋友一起创办了一家小型网络公司。她不再感到孤独,而且她的公司也相当成功。
Jan has started taking online classes to learn more about how to use the Internet to make society better. She believes that it is highly important to bridge the digital divide and make sure that everyone has access to the Internet and knows how to use new technology. Her next goal is to start a charity website to raise money for children in poor countries.
简开始参加网络课程,更多地学习如何利用互联网让社会变得更加美好。她认为,消除数字鸿沟、确保每个人都能使用互联网并且知晓如何运用新技术,是非常重要的。她的下一个目标是创建一个慈善网站,为贫穷国家的儿童募捐。
Jan’s life has been greatly improved by the Internet. “When you go through tough times, you meet others who are facing similar challenges,” Jan says. “Thinking about other people’s situations inspired me to offer help.”
简的生活因互联网而得到了极大的改善。“当你身处逆境时,你会遇到面临相似挑战的人。”
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简说道,“想到别人的处境,我就会受到激励,伸出援助之手。”
Reading for writing
Today I thought I’d blog about a question that has been asked many times—how do you stay safe online and avoid bad experiences on the Internet? I’m not an expert, but many years as a blogger have taught me a thing or two.
今天,我想写篇博客谈谈一个多次被问到的问题——如何才能安全上网,避免在互联网上遇到不愉快呢?我并非专家,但身为博主多年,我已学会了一两招。
First of all, there’s the golden rule of the Internet: If you see or read something that makes you feel uncomfortable, leave the site immediately. Don’t post comments or click on anything. Second, protect your privacy. Don’t give out your address or phone number. Someone might use the information to steal your identity. Identity theft is a common and serious problem. Third, be polite. Being online is no excuse for being rude, and you don’t want to become a target for a troll or cyberbully. A troll is a person who posts comments or questions in order to stir up trouble online. Trolls often use several false names so that they can stay on a site. A cyberbully uses the Internet to be mean to others. Like a troll, a cyberbully will also write something mean but it is usually directed at particular people. He or she may also post embarrassing photos and information about those people. However, the more polite you are, the less likely it is you will be attacked.
首先,互联网的黄金法则是:如果你的所见所读让你反感,立即退出该网站。不要发表评论,也不要点击任何东西。其次,保护你的隐私。不要透露你的地址或电话号码。有人可能会利用这些信息来窃取你的身份。身份盗窃是一个普遍而严重的问题。最后,要有礼貌。上网不是行为粗鲁的借口,而且你也不想成为网络挑事者或网络恶霸的目标。网络挑事者就是在网上张贴评论或问题以挑起事端的人。为了长期待在一个网站上,网络挑事者经常使用多个假名。网络恶霸使用互联网来欺负别人。与网络挑事者一样,网络恶霸也会写一些恶意的东西,但通常是针对特定的人。网络恶霸也可能在网上发一些照片和信息,让这些人感到尴尬。然而,你越有礼貌,你被攻击的可能性就越小。
Have you had any bad experiences online, or do you have some good advice for staying safe? Post your comments below!
你在网上有过不愉快的经历吗?或是你有什么安全上网的好建议?请在下面发表你的评论！ Boy579
Last year, we were having problems in our chat room. Mean comments were being posted by someone we didn’t know. I think he or she was only trying to make trouble. 男孩57
去年,我们聊天室出了一些问题。有个我们不认识的人发了一些恶意的评论。我觉得这家伙是想捣乱。 Amy
A girl at my school had a very bad experience online. A photo of her had been posted online and she was being made fun of. It seemed like a joke at first, but the girl was very upset. 艾米
我们学校的一个女生在网上有过不愉快经历。她的一张照片被传到网上,被人嘲弄。刚开始虽然像是在开玩笑,但是这个女生十分不快。
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Unit 4 HISTORY AND TRADITIONS 历史与传统
Reading and thinking
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別的话,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,邻国威尔土并入英格兰王国。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”或“英国”。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（称为“英国国旗”）。然而,它们之间仍有诸多区別。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
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English language.
英国历史源远流长、別有趣味,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。之后是盎格鲁一撒克逊人,于公元五世纪到达英国。他们引入了英语的雏形,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。
Reading for writing
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 IsIe” 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,
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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。
Unit 4 MUSIC 音乐
Reading and thinking
THE VIRTUAL CHOIR 虚拟合唱团
Imagine having the opportunity to sing together with hundreds of other people while you are at home alone. You can do this in a virtual choir. Virtual choir members record themselves while they perform alone on video. These videos are uploaded onto the Internet, and then they are put together into one video that you can see online—a virtual choir. Anyone can take part in a virtual choir from anywhere—all you need is a video camera and an Internet connection. You do not even need a studio. A virtual choir helps connect ordinary people together. Many people do not have close friends or contacts who have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance to join a local choir. A virtual choir enables them to add their voices to those of other individuals and become part of the global community. It has proved to be a positive influence on the lives of many people. As one virtual choir member said, “Music helps me to ... forget my problems. With music, I become someone else.”
想象一下,独自在家时,你可以和几百个人一道引吭高歌。虚拟合唱团能够让你的想象成为现实。虚拟合唱团的成员们把各自的歌唱视频录制下来,上传到互联网上,然后这些视频被合并成一个你可以在线观看的视频一一虚拟大合唱。任何人,无论身在何地,都可以参加虚拟合唱团。你只需要一部摄像机,并且能够上网,你连工作室都不需要。虚拟合唱团将普通人联系起来。许多人没有亲密的朋友,也没有志趣相投的私交,还有很多人没有机会参加本地的合唱团。虚拟合唱团让他们能够与其他人一起欢歌,成为全球社区的一部分。事实证明,虚拟合唱团对许多人的生活产生了积极的影响。一位虚拟合唱团成员说道:“音乐帮助我…忘记自己的问题。音乐,让我脱胎换骨。”
The virtual choir was the idea of award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre. Born in the USA on 2 January 1970, Whitacre began studying music at the University of Nevada in 1988. He fell in love with Mozart’s classical music when he sang for the university choir. Moved by this music, he said, “It was like seeing color for the first time.” He graduated from university in 1995, and then received a master’s degree in musical composition from the Juilliard School in New York in 1997. Over the next 10 years, Whitacre’s original compositions began to become quite popular among choirs and singers. This led to the creation of the virtual choir.
”虚拟合唱团是获奖作曲家兼指挥埃里克・惠塔克的创意。惠塔克于1970年1月2日生于美国,1988年进入内华达大学学习音乐。在大学合唱团期间,他痴迷于莫扎特的古典音乐。他被这段音乐打动了,他说:“那种(兴奋的)感觉就如同是第一次看见色彩一样。”他1995年大学毕业,随后于1997年获纽约茱莉亚音乐学院音乐创作硕士学位。在接下来的十年间,惠塔克的原创作品深受合唱团和歌手的欢迎,这促使他创建了虚拟合唱团。
In 2009, Whitacre received a video of a girl who was singing one of his works. Inspired, he asked his fans to make videos, which he then joined together into one performance. His first
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virtual choir, “Lux Aurumque”, had 185 singers from 12 different countries. It has received millions of views on the Internet. Since then, the virtual choir has become a worldwide phenomenon. Whitacre’s next effort was the Virtual Youth Choir for UNICEF, which was first seen on stage on 23 July 2014 in the UK. Altogether, 2,292 young people from 80 countries joined in to sing Whitacre’s song “What If”.
2009年,惠塔克收到了一个女孩的视频,视频是女孩演唱他创作的一部作品。受此启发,惠塔克邀请粉丝们录制视频,然后他将这些视频拼接成一场演出。他创办的首个虚拟合唱团“金色之光”,拥有来自12个不同国家的185名歌手。该合唱团在互联网上的点击量已超过百万次。自此,虛拟合唱团风靡全球。惠塔克的第二个壮举是打造联合国儿童基金会“虚拟青年合唱团”,该团于2014年7月23日在英国首次登台演出,总共有来自80个国家的2,292名青年参与演唱惠塔克的歌曲《假如》。
The virtual choir is a wonderful way for people around the world to sing with one voice and thus make the world a better place.
虛拟合唱团提供了一种美妙的方式,让世界各地的人们能够同声歌唱，世界因此变得更加美好。
Reading for writing
Good morning, my name is Sarah Williams. It’s an honour to be here and to share with you the story of how music has had an impact on my life.
上午好!我叫莎拉·威廉姆斯。非常荣幸来到这里与大家分享音乐是如何影响了我的人生的。 Have you ever faced a time when things looked dark and you had no hope at all? Two years ago, I was told I had a serious disease which was difficult to cure. My body ached all the time and thus I thought I didn’t have much longer to live. I was very afraid and I felt so alone and discouraged. Then one day, I had to go through a two-hour medical treatment. The doctor wanted me to relax, so he had me listen to some music, and one of the songs was “Happy”. The song made me feel so much better that from then on I began to listen to music all the time. John A. Logan said, “Music is the medicine of the mind.” And it’s true. Music helped me recover.
你是否曾经历过黯淡无光、万念俱灰的一段时光?两年前,我被告知得了一种很难治愈的严重疾病,全身一直疼痛,觉得自己活不了多久了。我非常害怕,感到十分孤独、沮丧。后来有一天,我需要去做两个小时的治疗。医生想要我放松,就让我听一些音乐,其中一首歌是《快乐》。听着这首歌,我感觉好多了，从此之后,我开始一直听音乐。约翰·A·洛根曾说过:“音乐是心灵的良药。”的确如此,音乐助我康复。
Music gave me happiness. When I listened to music, it made my spirits fly like a kite in the wind. Music gave me strength and brought me relief. It was the rock I leant on to become strong and to get through those hard times. Moreover, music gave me hope and a sense of satisfaction. It became my best friend. It spoke words of encouragement to the deepest part of my being.
音乐给我带来了快乐。当我听音乐的时候,音乐让我的心情放飞,像风中的风筝。音乐给予我力量,也让我得到解脱。音乐是岩石,让我倚靠,变得坚强,度过那些艰难的日子。不仅如此,音乐还给予我希望和满足感。音乐成了我最好的朋友,它(音乐)使我的内心深受鼓舞。
Of course, I hope none of you have to go through the same kind of suffering that I did. At the same time, we all go through various periods when we feel sad or alone. During those times, music can help you in the same way that it helped me. I hope all of you will somehow
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begin to treasure music and make it a part of your life.
当然,我希望你们不要经历和我一样的痛苦。同时,我们都会经历悲伤或孤独的时光。在那时,音乐可以帮助你,就像它曾经帮助我一样。我希望大家都能以某种方式开始珍惜音乐,让音乐成为你生活的一部分。 Thank you! 谢谢！
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