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Leipzig: The City of Heroes 莱比锡：一页辉煌史

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Leipzig is an old, picturesque city. In the 12thcentury, merchants started to set up trade fairs here, peddling wares such as wine, herring, pepper and cloth. Gradually, it became a central hub for European trade.

莱比锡是一个风景如画般的古城市。在12世纪，商人开始在此地建立市集，兜售酒类，鲱鱼，胡椒和布料之类的物品。渐渐地莱比锡成为欧洲的贸易中心。

With the famous motto “Open to All,” St. Nicolas Church, the oldest church in Leipzig, was founded in 1175. Originally built in the Romanesque style, it was enlarged and extended during the 16thcentury, with additions in a Gothic style. This created superb visual effects that made a person feel proportionally very small. From 1723 to 1750, Johann Sebastian Bach served as master of the choir in the church. Bach’s majestic music and legendary career added to Leipzig’s fame. Thanks to this great composer, Leipzig took on the name “the city of music.”

莱比锡最古老的圣尼古拉教堂，建于1175年，有句著名格言：「开放给所有人」。教堂一开始是以罗马式的建筑风格所创建，16世纪时，教堂被扩大增建，并加入哥德式建筑风格。这两种建筑风格所创造出的宏伟视觉效果，使人变得相对渺小。自1723年至1750年，约翰．塞巴斯坦．巴哈担任教堂唱诗班的指挥和管风琴手。巴哈庄严的音乐和传奇事业更让莱比锡的声名大噪。由于这名伟大的作曲家，莱比锡获得「音乐城」的称号。

It was at St. Nicholas Church that the Peaceful Revolution was launched. Started in 1989, it was one of the most important movements in German history. Peacefully, the citizens of Leipzig protested the oppressive communist East German government, sparking a miraculous revolution that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and also earned the title “the city of heroes” in honor of its triumphant protesters.

「和平革命」就是在圣尼古拉教堂发动的。「和平革命」始于1989年，为德国历史上最重要的运动之一。莱比锡市民和平地抗议行高压政治的东德共党政府，引发一场奇迹似的革命，导致柏林围墙倒塌和德国统一。因此，莱比锡也赢得「英雄城」的称号，向胜利的抗议者致敬。

Vocabulary

单词发音

picturesque [͵pɪktʃəˋrɛsk]  adj. 图画般的，美丽的 striking or interesting in an unusual way; irregularly or quaintly attractive

motto [ˋmɑto] n. 座右铭；格言 a brief statement used to express a principle, goal, or ideal

superb [sʊˋpɝb] adj. 一流的 of unusually high quality; excellent

oppressive [əˋprɛsɪv] adj. 专制的 cruel, harsh, or tyrannical

miraculous [mɪˋrækjələs] adj. 奇迹般的  of, like, or caused by a miracle; marvelous

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单词发音

peddle [ˋpɛd!] v. 兜售 to go from place to place selling (goods, esp small articles)

herring [ˋhɛrɪŋ] n. 鲱鱼

hub [hʌb] n.〔地域﹑系统的〕中心﹐枢纽 a center of activity or interest; a focal point

Romanesque [͵romənˋɛsk] adj. 罗马式的

Gothic [ˋgɑθɪk] adj.【建】哥德式的

proportionally [prəˋporʃənəlɪ] adv. 比例上

choir [kwaɪr] n.（教堂的）唱诗班  an organized company of singers, especially one performing church music or singing in a church

communist [ˋkɑmjʊ͵nɪst] adj. 共产主义的

spark [spɑrk] v. 发动；点燃

课文讲解

The legendary University of Leipzig was founded in 1409. Soon after, the city became an innovative center for publishing as well as law. One of the fathers of quantum mechanics, Werner Heisenberg, served as the chair of the theoretical physics department. He won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1932, and the theories that he dreamed up in Leipzig dramatically changed how scientists perceive the world today.

知名的莱比锡大学建于1409年。在这之后，莱比锡很快地变成出版业和法律的创新中心。量子力学之父，沃纳．海森堡，曾担任理论物理学系的主任。他在1932年获得诺贝尔物理奖。而他在莱比锡所构想出的理论，大幅地改变今日科学家认知世界的方式。

In addition to science, artistic activities flourish in Leipzig. The Gewandhaus in Leipzig contains a concert hall of heavenly beauty. On the ceiling of its foyer, there is a painting by Leipzig artist Sighard Gille. It’s the largest ceiling painting in Europe. Inscribed on the organ inside the concert hall is the motto: “True Pleasure is Serious Business.” There is also an opera house in the city, which is home to the dazzling Leipzig Ballet. The troupe stages everything from classical pieces such as The Marriage of Figaro to its own original, modern performances.

除了科学之外，艺术活动在莱比锡也蓬勃发展。莱比锡的「布商大厦」内有一座美轮美奂的音乐厅。在大厅的天花板上是莱比锡艺术家杰哈．吉拉四格画作。这幅画为欧洲最大的天花板画作。刻在音乐厅的风琴上的格言：「真正的喜乐是严肃之事」。市区也有座歌剧院，是令人赞叹的莱比锡芭蕾舞团的家。该舞团把各种类型的剧本搬上舞台，从古典剧《费加洛婚礼》到自己创作的现代舞剧。

During the summer, many of Leipzig’s streets suddenly bloom with outdoor café and beer gardens. The latter are known for their German beer-drinking songs. The 3.5-km-long promenade that surrounds the old city is the perfect place to stroll on a warm summer evening and contemplate this fascinating city. Leipzig is a thriving city where trade, music, and heroes brush elbows on a daily basis.

在夏天，莱比锡许多街道突然充满了户外咖啡厅和啤酒屋。啤酒屋以其喧闹的德式即席饮酒歌闻名。环绕该古城3.5公里长的徒步区，最适合在温暖夏天傍晚漫步，还有细细品味这迷人城市。莱比锡是一个繁荣的城市，每天你都能接触到贸易、音乐、还有大家心目中的英雄。

−by Murray Walker and Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

innovative [ˋɪno͵vetɪv] adj. 创新的

theoretical [͵θiəˋrɛtɪk!] adj. 理论的 of, relating to, or based on theory

perceive [pɚˋsiv] v. 感知; 理解 to become aware of directly through any of the senses, especially sight or hearing

flourish [ˋflɝɪʃ]  v. 繁荣 to grow well or luxuriantly; thrive

dazzling [`dæz!ɪŋ] adj. 令人赞叹（或迷惑）的  extremely clever, attractive, or impressive; brilliant; amazing

stroll [strol] v. 散步

contemplate [ˋkɑntɛm͵plet] vi. 深思熟虑 to consider carefully and at length; meditate on or ponder

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单词发音

quantum [ˋkwɑntəm] n.【物】量子

heavenly [ˋhɛvənlɪ] adv. 极其，无比

foyer [ˋfɔɪɚ] / [ˈfɔɪeɪ] n.（旅馆等的）门厅 a lobby or anteroom, as of a theater or hotel

inscribe [ɪnˋskraɪb] v. 刻；雕 to write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface

troupe [trup] n.（演员等的）一团 a company or group, especially of touring actors, singers, or dancers

bloom [blum] v. 大量出现 to appear or expand suddenly

promenade [ˋprɑmə͵nɑd] n. 散步场所；海滨人行道 a public place for a leisurely walk, especially one taken in a public place as a social activity

thriving [`ɵraɪvɪŋ] adj. 欣欣向荣的﹐ 兴旺发达的

Idiom

dream up 想象出 to invent; concoct

brush elbows 擦过; 轻触 rub elbows; to mix or socialize closely

on a daily basis  每天（指一起共事）every day

Reading Questions

1.  Which of the following is NOT characteristic of Leipzig?

A.  It has been a center of commerce since the 1100s.

B.  It has been home to influential and legendary musical figures.

C.  Its fame came partly from Johann Sebastian Bach.

D.  Its citizens did not wish to be unified with the West.

2.  What was unique about the revolution that was staged in Leipzig in 1989?

A.  It was nonviolent, yet still effective.

B.  It was marred by violence and many people were killed

C.  It was sanctioned by the oppressive East German government.

D.  It led to the construction of the Berlin Wall.

3.  How did Werner Heisenberg affect other scientists?

A.  His scientific ideas had no influence on their perception of the world.

B.  His theories had a great impact on their perception of the world.

C.  His ideas set the world of physics back several years.

D.  His false claims gave quantum mechanics a negative image.

4.  Based on the article, what can we infer about the city of Leipzig?

A.  That it is rich in culture but weak in terms of academics.

B.  That it is known for its scientific community but lamented for its arts scene.

C.  That it has embraced the pursuit of both science and the arts.

D.  That its citizens are only interested in boisterous beer-drinking songs.

mar [mɑr] v. 毁损；损伤

infer [ɪnˋfɝ] v. 推断，推论

lament [ləˋmɛnt] v. 哀悼，悲痛

boisterous [ˋbɔɪstərəs] adj. 喧闹的；爱闹的；狂欢的

Leipzig video

Answer