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The Magic of Multicultural Cape Town 开普敦多元文化的魅力

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Cape Town is South Africa’s most cosmopolitan city. It’s where the cultures of the East, the West, and sub-Saharan Africa meet – a multicultural destination for the discerning international traveler.

开普敦是南非最国际化的城市，东方、西洋和撒哈拉沙漠以南的非洲文化在此会聚──是鉴赏力高的国际旅人体验多元文化的目的地。

Cape Town’s first people, notably the Khoisan tribes, remain well-represented in the city. Greenmarket Square, a downtown market, is a must-see for its dance performances set to the tribal rhythms of throbbing drums and shrieking whistles. The market is also a crossroads for wares from across Africa, with stalls selling an amazing collection of masks, jewelry, textiles, and pottery.

开普敦的原住民主要属科伊桑人，在开普敦的人口不算少。绿市广场是位于闹区的市集，它的舞蹈表演和着咚咚鼓声与尖锐口哨音所产生的部落风格节奏，是不容错过的好戏。这地方也是非洲各地产品的集散地，许多摊子贩卖种类繁多的各式面具、珠宝、纺织品和陶器。

Of course, Cape Town abounds with European influence. The Dutch, who colonized the area in 1652 as a maritime supply post, and the Victorian-era English, who seized Cape Town in 1806, both left abound examples of their charming architecture. Likewise, French Huguenots, escaping religious persecution in Catholic France, left their mark by introducing viticulture. To miss a taste of the Cape’s fine wines is practically criminal.

当然，开普敦受到欧洲文化的影响随处可见。荷兰1652年时在此处殖民，把它当做海运的一处补给站，英国在1806年维多利亚时期占领开普敦，两国迷人的建筑风格在开普敦随处可见。同样地法国胡格诺派新教徒为了躲避法国天主教的迫害，逃至此地并引进葡萄栽培法，带来其文化上的影响。如果造访开普敦却与美酒失之交臂，简直是不可原谅。

When Malay people followed the Dutch East India Company trade routes west to Cape Town in the 1600s, the city experienced a delightful culinary revolution. They brought with them spicy satay and curry dishes that are guaranteed to send you running for the nearest cup of African corn beer.

1600年代马来人随着荷属东印度公司的路线西行抵达开普敦，开普敦于是在食物烹调上起了令人愉悦的革命性变化。马来人带来了辣味沙嗲烤肉和咖哩口味的食物，保证让人马上想要尝一杯非洲啤酒。

Cape Town truly has something for everyone.

开普敦绝对能让每位到访的游客尽兴。

Vocabulary

单词发音

cosmopolitan [͵kɑzməˋpɑlətn] adj. 国际性的

Saharan [səˋhɛrən] adj. 撒哈拉沙漠的

discerning [dɪˋzɝnɪŋ] adj. 有识别力的；眼光敏锐的

represent [͵rɛprɪˋzɛnt] v. 代表；体现；作为…的代表

must-see [ˈmʌstˈsi] n.（指影片等）必须看的东西

throb [θrɑb] adj. 有节奏地震动

shriek [ʃrik] v. 尖叫；喊叫；发出尖声

crossroad [ˋkrɔs͵rod] n. 活动中心

ware [wɛr] n.〔一般不在商店内出售的〕商品﹐货物

abound [əˋbaʊnd] v. 充满[（+with）]

maritime [ˋmærə͵taɪm] adj. 海的；海事的；航海的

post [post] n. 岗位；哨所；站

Huguenot [ˋhjugə͵nɑt] n. 胡格诺教徒

persecution [͵pɝsɪˋkjuʃən] n. 迫害；困扰

viticulture [ˋvɪtɪ͵kʌltʃɚ] n. 葡萄的栽培；葡萄栽培术

criminal [ˋkrɪmən!] adj. 罪过的; 严重错误的

satay [ˋsɑrte] n. 沙嗲烤肉

Sentence of the Day

A visit to Cape Town is sure to spice up your life.

去开普敦观光一定会让你的生活更有趣味。

spice up  增添情趣，增添趣味

课文讲解

Crowning Cape Town’s abundant charms is the unique Table Mountain. The gargantuan Table Mountain – 1,000 meters above Cape Town – has an almost godlike presence. Below Table mountain’s strangely flattened peak, reached by cable car. Its slopes harbor one of the richest selections of flora in the world. In fact, Table Mountain hosts a greater variety of plant species than the entire island of Britain! Unsurprisingly, many a myth has been born at the foot of the mountain.

开普敦最引人入胜的地方是它独一无二的桌山。庞大的桌山──比开普敦高出一千公尺──几乎似神般地矗立着。缆车可抵达桌山平得出奇的山顶，山顶下方斜坡有全世界种类最丰富的植物群之一。事实上桌山所蕴育的植物种类之多，甚至超过整个英伦岛，所以从它山脚处产生许许多多的神话传说也就不足为奇了。

At the beginning of time, native legends tell us, four benevolent giants were defeated by the evil sea dragon, Nganyamba, in a fierce battle. Though the giants were vanquished, in their final moments the Creator turned them each into a mountain to watch over a corner of the Earth. The Watcher of the South became Table Mountain.

根据当地土著的传说，在混沌之初，四位善良的巨人在一场激烈战役中，被邪恶的海龙南洋巴打败。虽然巨人被击败，但在激战最后关头，造物主把他们每一个人都变成了山，分别看守地球的四隅。桌山就是南方守护神。

The Dutch tell a more whimsical tale about Table Mountain. Legend has it that a pirate named Van Hunks was once challenged to a pipe-smoking competition there by Lucifer, the Devil himself. Realizing that he had met his match, the Devil fled back to the netherworld, dragging Van Hunks down with him. To this day, the story of Van Hunks’s pipe is told whenever a puff of cloud billows over Table Mountain.

荷兰版的传说更加异想天开。传说这样说道，恶魔卢西佛亲自下战帖给一位名叫范宏克斯的海盗，比赛抽烟斗。卢西佛意识到自己棋逢敌手，于是逃回地狱，也把范宏克斯强拉下去。直到如今，只要桌山云雾缭绕之际，范宏克斯抽烟斗的故事就会被一再地传述。

－by Charles Thompson

Vocabulary

单词发音

crown [kraʊn] v. 居... 之顶(首)

gargantuan [gɑrˋgæntʃʊən] adj. 庞大的，巨大的

godlike [ˋgɑd͵laɪk] adj. 如神的﹐具有神之质量的

harbor [ˋhɑrbɚ] v. 居住；生存

flora [ˋflorə] n. 植物群（尤指某一地区或某一时期的植物群）

many a 许多

benevolent [bəˋnɛvələnt] adj. 仁慈的，有爱心的

vanquish [ˋvæŋkwɪʃ] v. 征服，击败

watch over 照看; 监视

whimsical [ˋhwɪmzɪk!] adj. 古怪的; 异想天开的

netherworld [ˋnɛðɚwɚld] n. 阴曹地府

billow [ˋbɪlo] n. 腾起的一大团（烟、尘等）

Sentence of the Day

Van Hunks was caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea.

范宏克斯进退两难。

between the Devil and the deep blue sea 进退维谷; 左右为难

Cape Town, South Africa 2013 HD