The Seven Wonders of the Modern World: The CN Tower 现代七大奇景之三──多伦多国家铁路塔
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2005年2月17日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2011年8月24日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：443
课文朗读
课文讲解
Canada is usually associated with natural wonders like the Rockies, Lake Louise, or Niagara Falls. But Toronto, Ontario, is home to the world’s most vertical engineering wonder. The CN Tower, the world’s tallest free-standing structure, exquisitely combines functionality and aesthetics.
加拿大总让人联想到像是洛杉矶山脉、刘易斯湖或尼加拉瀑布等天然奇景，但安大略省多伦多市却有着世界最有名的直立建筑奇景。国家铁路塔是全球最高的独立建筑，巧妙地结合实用价值与美感。
The CN Tower was built in 1976 by the Canadian National Railway (CN) to showcase Canadian industry and technology. Both a landmark and a tourist destination, the CN Tower was originally conceived for practical purposes. Post-World War IIeconomic expansion led to significant urban development in Toronto, which soon became thick with skyscrapers. These, in turn, blocked broadcast signals. The tower and its crowning antennae proved the ideal solution.
国家铁路塔是在1976年由加拿大国家铁路公司空见惯Canadian National Railway. CN）所建造，用来展现加拿大的工业与科技。同时兼具地标与旅游景点两大特色的国家铁路塔，最初建造的构想就是实用。第二次世界大战后的经济扩张，造成多伦多长足的城市发展，没多久就满是摩天大楼。但这却也阻碍了广播信号的传输。而国家铁路塔及塔上的天线证实成了最佳的解决之道。
The CN Tower stretches 553 meters above Toronto’s streets. It boasts the world’s highest observation desk – the Skypod – which was built around the tower’s base and lifted into place as one piece. A revolving restaurant allows tourists the chance to dine in the air with a 360-degree view. On clear days, the vista stretches all the way to Niagara Falls at the southwestern end of Lake Ontario.
国家铁路塔由多伦多街区耸立，上达553公尺。它以拥有世界最高的观景台──Skypod──而自豪，这座观景台是在塔的地基附近先建造完成后，再整个吊起来接合在塔上。还有一座旋转餐能让游客有机会在空中用餐，享受360度的视野。天气晴朗的时候甚至可以看到安大略湖西南端的尼加拉瀑布。
An unusual gesture for a nation generally lacking in ostentation, the CN Tower stands as a global icon for its elegant fusion of engineering, architecture, and practical urban design.
在这个少有虚华装饰的国家中，国家铁路塔以不寻常的姿态，优雅地结合了工程、建筑与实用的都市设计，成为全球的地标。
Vocabulary
单词发音
vertical [ˋvɝtɪk!] adj. 垂直的
free-standing [ˋfriˋstændɪŋ] adj. 自立的, 不需依靠支撑物的; 独立式的
exquisitely [ɛkˋskwɪzɪtlɪ] adv. 精致地 in a delicate manner
aesthetics [ɛsˋθɛtɪks] n.〔尤指艺术方面的〕（审）美学 a branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and the beautiful
landmark [ˋlænd͵mɑrk] n.（显而易见的）地标，陆标
conceive [kənˋsiv] v. 构想出，设想
antennae [ænˋtɛni] pl. n.【无】【美】天线 ( antenna [ænˋtɛnə] 單數n. )
ostentation [͵ɑstɛnˋteʃən] n. 虚饰；卖弄 the act or an instance of showing; an exhibition
Sentence of the Day
The CN Tower is engineering of the highest order.
国家铁路塔是建筑学的极致。
课文讲解
Jenny and Ryan, civil engineering students, are on an academic exchange in Toronto. During some free time, they’re enjoying a drink in the CN Tower’s revolving restaurant: 珍妮与莱恩是土木工程系的学生，目前在多伦多学术交换实习。趁着闲暇之余，两人正在国家铁路塔的旋转餐厅上喝一杯：
J: Wow, look at that view!
哇！你看这景色！
R: We’re three times higher than the Space Needle in Seattle.
我们现在的位置比西雅图的「太空针」还要高三倍。
J: Hats off to Canada for constructing this behemoth.
向盖了这座庞然大物的加拿大致敬！
R: Yeah, I’m just glad I don’t have vertigo. Did you know they managed to build this thing at the staggering rate of over five meters per day?
是啊！很高兴我没有眩晕症。你知道当初他们是以每天超过五公尺的惊人速度盖这座塔的吗？
J: Amazing. If you remember from last semester, towers need to be counterbalanced with underground weights. Apparently, the tower has two 10-ton counterweights attached to the mast to keep swaying to a minimum.
了不起！如果你还记得上学期的课，高塔必须在地底下埋设重物，才能抵消塔的重量，获得平衡。显然地，这座塔有两具10吨的重物绑在高塔主体下，才能让晃动程度减至最低。
R: Probably a good thing, or my Bloody Caesar would be spilling all over the table.
那也许是件好事，要不然我的「血腥西泽」就会洒得整桌都是。
J: Don’t worry. The tower is designed to withstand gusts of over 400 kph. I think your drink is quite safe up here.
别担心，这座塔的设计能抵挡超过每小时时速400公里的强风。我想你的饮料在这里相当安全。
R: You know, with transmission antennae on top of the world’s tallest structure, Torontonians are guaranteed crystal-clear reception.
你知道，有全世界最高的建筑作为传讯天线，多伦多人的电视收讯保证清晰。
J: What about Hogtown’s other attractions? Hey, how about checking out a Toronto Maple Leafs game and grabbing a Molson’s …. eh?
要不要瞧瞧多伦多其他的旅游景点呢？嘿！看场多伦多枫叶队的冰球赛，一边喝着Molson’s啤酒如何？【注】
R: It’s minus ten Celsius outside. I say we enjoy some of that clear TV reception in our heated room.
外面可是零下十度呢！我想我们还是在暖气房里观看收讯清晰的电视节目吧！
【注】枫叶队是多伦多的冰球队。Molson’s是著名的加拿大啤厂。”Hogtown”（猪城）则是多伦多的昵称。
－by Darshan Tyler
Vocabulary
单词发音
hat off (脱帽)致敬 to respect, admire, or congratulate
behemoth [bɪˋhiməθ] n.【文】庞然大物 something enormous in size or power
vertigo [ˋvɝtɪ͵go] n. 眩晕 the sensation of dizziness
staggering [ˋstægərɪŋ] adj. 令人吃惊[震惊]的; 令人难以置信的 causing great astonishment, amazement, or dismay; overwhelming
counterbalance [ˋkaʊntɚ͵bæləns] n. 平衡（力）；抵消（力）
mast [mæst] n. 桅杆，樯 a long upright pole
gust [gʌst] n. 一阵强风（或狂风）
Hogtown a historic nickname for Toronto, Ontario
I say 【英】【口】(用以引起话头或注意)我说, 听着 used preceding an utterance to call attention to it
Sentence of the Day
With its overpriced menu, the CN Tower restaurant is a tourist trap.
国家铁路塔的餐厅因其餐点定价过高而成了观光陷阱。
Reference
The skypod at the CN Tower, Toronto
CN Tower (HD)