The Statue of Liberty's status as a steadfast symbol of freedom has remained steady for quite some time now. As huge in physical stature as Lady Liberty is, her stem, or base, is almost has big as she. In the early part of the 20th century, captains at the steering wheels of ships steered many immigrants through the steep waters of New York Harbor past the stern faced, stiff structure. Upon glancing at the figure, many passengers felt stimulated about arriving in the new country. Many would stick their heads over the edge of the ship and stiffen in amazement at the size of the statue. Such a work of art acted as a stimulus for them to assimilate into the new culture.
自由女神像作為自由不可動搖的象征,它的地位到現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)穩(wěn)固地保持了一定時間。自由女神像體形龐大,她的基座,或稱基礎(chǔ),幾乎同樣高大。在二十世紀早期,掌舵的輪船船長們運載許多移民通過紐約港的深水域,從這座表情嚴峻、巍然屹立塑像旁邊經(jīng)過。一看到這尊雕像,許多乘客對來到這個新的國度就感到鼓舞。很多入會在船邊探出頭,對塑像規(guī)模之大驚嘆不已,竟然看得連自己的脖子都巍然不動了。這樣一件藝術(shù)作品成為他們?nèi)谌脒@種新文化的激勵因素。
Though we now think of Lady Liberty as having always been revered, at one time the statue had a stigma associated with it. Given to America by France on the 100th anniversary of the USA's victory in the Revolutionary War, it was supposed to immediately stand for the stellar achievements of the Founding Fathers. Instead, for the first few years of its stay in the U.S., the structure lay sterile inside a warehouse. Statistics at the time of its arrival in the U.S. show that people thought it would stifle the beauty of the growing New York skyline. This presented a sticky situation for the U.S. government. Though people seemed not to want it placed in New York Harbor, the country needed a poignant symbol so that the stimulation of national pride could occur for the Centennial celebration.
雖然我們現(xiàn)在覺得自由女神像一直受到尊崇,但它曾一度身帶污名。這座雕像是美國獨立戰(zhàn)爭勝利一百周年時法國所贈,被認為直接代表開國元勛的卓著功績。但是,初到美國的幾年,這座雕像競獨自待在倉庫里虛度青春。當時的資料顯示,人們認為它會破壞紐約不斷升高的空中輪廓美景。這給美國政府造成了尷尬的處境。盡管人們似乎不希望這座雕像放置在紐約港口,但美國還需要一個生動感人的象征,以便于為迎接百年紀念激發(fā)民族自尊心。
They finally placed it in the harbor and it eventually became the symbol it is today. These days, people visit Liberty Island, Ellis Island and Manhattan, enjoying steak dinners in nearby posh restaurants, then heading out to the local tourist traps to buy Statue of Liberty memorabilia as perse as stickpins and stationery.
他們最后還是把它安置在紐約港口,最終成為今天這樣的象征。現(xiàn)在,人們來到自由島,埃利斯島和曼哈頓,先在豪華的餐館享受牛排,然后出去到當?shù)貙G糜慰椭窀艿纳痰?,購買自由女神像紀念品,其品種之繁多豫領(lǐng)帶夾和文具一樣不勝枚舉。
n. 標題,題目,航向
動詞head的現(xiàn)在分詞
n. 地位,身份,情形,狀況
sterile['sterail]adj. 貧瘠的,無生氣的,無生育能力的,無結(jié)果的,無菌
pride[praid]n. 自豪,驕傲,引以自豪的東西,自尊心
vt
adj. 堅定的,毫不動搖的
steep[sti:p]adj. 陡峭的,險峻的,(價格)過高的
n.
n. 恥辱,污名 n. 柱頭
stifle['staifl]v. 使不能呼吸,窒息,抑制
stem[stem]n. 莖,干,柄,船首
vi. 起源于
harbor['hɑ:b?]
n. 海港,避難所
vt. 庇護,心懷,窩藏<