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World marks 400th Anniversary of Galileo’s Telescope 伽利略天文望远镜发明400周年纪念

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World marks 400th Anniversary of Galileo’s Telescope  伽利略天文望远镜发明400周年纪念

Exactly four centuries ago this year, a Venetian professor named Galileo altered the course of world history when he turned a telescope toward the heavens, ushering in a new age of astronomy. To celebrate this important event in the development of modern science, the United Nations designated 2009 the “International Year of Astronomy.” Throughout the year, special activities have been held around the world to mark this anniversary and promote astronomy. In the fall of 1609, Galileo Galilei invented a telescope that was able to observe the moon and nearby planets in greater detail. Using his telescope, Galileo discovered that Earth revolved around the sun, overturning the Earth-centered theory of the day. At the time, his finding wasn’t appreciated, however, and Galileo spent the last years of his life under house arrest. Four hundred years later, we accept his observations as scientific truth, and modern-day descendants of Galileo’s first telescope allow us to peer into the very depths of the universe.

整整400年前，一位名为伽利略的威尼斯教授将望远镜朝向天空，从此改变了世界历史，也开启了天文学的新纪元。为了庆祝这桩现代科学发展中的重要纪事，联合国将2009年定为「全球天文年」。在这一整年间，全球各地都举办了许多特别活动以纪念此周年，同时也推广天文学。1609年秋天，伽利略发明了可以更仔细观测月球及邻近行星的望远镜。用这部望远镜，伽利略发现地球其实绕着太阳运转，推翻了当时的地球中心说理论。不过当时他的发现并未受到赏识，不仅如此，伽利略甚至在软禁中度过晚年。400年之后，我们接受了伽利略的观察发现，将其视为科学真理，而由伽利略制造的第一部望远镜所衍生的现代改良型望远镜，让我们得以窥探宇宙的奥秘。

Respected South Korean Ex-President Dies Aged 85  南韩前总统辞世，典型在夙昔

While he was alive, former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring North and South Korea closer together. Since his passing at the age of 85 in August, the much-loved political leader may have once again helped to initiate a new period of friendlier diplomatic relations. President from 1998 to 2003, Kim was famous for formulating the “Sunshine Policy.” This political doctrine emphasizing peaceful cooperation and economical encouragement led to improved ties and the first-ever meeting of leaders of the two Koreas in 2000. In the South Korean capital, Seoul, a top delegation from the North was among approximately 20,000 mourners gathered for Kim’s funeral. The delegation later met South Korea’s current president, Lee Myung-bak, marking the first high-level official exchange in some time. Analysts anticipate that the North’s gesture of respect may be a turning point after months of worsening relations between the two countries.

南韩前总统金大中在世时，致力拉近南北韩的关系，还因此获颁诺贝尔和平奖。他于今年八月辞世，享寿85岁，而从那时起，这位备受爱戴的政治领袖可能又再次帮助了两韩开启一段友好的外交关系。金大中于1998年到2003年间任职总统，以制订「阳光政策」闻名于世。这项政治理论强调和平合作，也鼓励经济交流，使得南北韩关系改善，2000年时更促成了两韩元首史上的第一次会晤。在南韩首都首尔，约有两万名吊唁者前往参加金大中的葬礼，其中包括北韩派来的高层特使团。代表团之后与南韩现任总统李明博会面，这是长时间以来，两韩高层官员的第一次交流。基于过去数月两国关系不断恶化，分析家预测北韩方面所表示的敬意，可能会是两国关系的转折点。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

alter [ˋɔltɚ] v. 改变

usher in 领进; 引进

designate [ˋdɛzɪg͵net] v. 把……定名为，称呼; 委任，指派

promote [prəˋmot] v. 发扬; 【美】宣传，推销

revolve [rɪˋvɑlv] around 旋转; 以...为中心

overturn [͵ovɚˋtɝn] v. 颠覆；推翻

descendant [dɪˋsɛndənt] n. 子孙，后裔

award [əˋwɔrd] v. 授予，给予

initiate [ɪˋnɪʃɪɪt] v. 开始；创始；开始实施

doctrine [ˋdɑktrɪn] n. 主义，信条

capital [ˋkæpət!] n. 首都；首府

delegation [͵dɛləˋgeʃən] n. 代表团

approximately [əˋprɑksəmɪtlɪ] adv. 大概；近乎

analyst [ˋæn!ɪst] n. 分析师

worsening [ˋwɝsnɪŋ] adj. 恶化的

More Information

单词发音

Galileo [͵gæləˋlio] n. 伽利略（1564-1642，意大利的天文学家）

Venetian [vəˋniʃən] adj. 威尼斯（人）的

telescope [ˋtɛlə͵skop] n.（单筒）望远镜

the heavens 天空

astronomy [əsˋtrɑnəmɪ] n. 天文学

Earth-centered theory 地球中心论

passing [ˋpæsɪŋ] n.【婉】去世

diplomatic [͵dɪpləˋmætɪk] adj. 外交的

formulate [ˋfɔrmjə͵let] v. 规划（制度等）；想出（计划等）

mourner [ˋmornɚ] n. 悲伤者；哀悼者；送葬者

exchange [ɪksˋtʃendʒ] n. 交流

gesture [ˋdʒɛstʃɚ] n. 姿态，表示

turning point 转折点，转折点  the point at which a very significant change occurs; a decisive moment