英语小达人 448 Experiencing Scotland(2)

 Another attraction here is a legendary¹ monster: the Loch Ness Monster.  这里游人如织的另一个原因则是尼斯湖怪兽。

Is it real or imaginary, this monster, which has been nicknamed Nessie, has collected a good 3000 sightings over the last 50 years?  过去半个世纪，3000多人号称目睹了这头昵称“尼西”的怪兽，到底是真是假呢？

To fuel the debate about the monster, and perhaps also curiosity about the lake, a price of 500,000 pounds sterling² has been put on Nessie's head. 如今它头上有五十万英镑的悬赏，使得学术界的争论日益激烈，或许也会令游人对这个湖泊更加好奇吧。

The true flag of Scotland, tartan,  苏格兰格子呢是苏格兰真正的旗帜。

is recognisable from the brightly coloured plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various clans³.  色彩鲜艳的花格子图案过去是区分不同宗族的标志。

Over the last few decades this fabric⁴ has made a comeback  最近几十年里，格子呢在英国再度流行，

and is part of the daily life of this country. 如今已成为日常生活中的一部分。

The typical Scottish garment, the kilt, is de rigeur when the Scots play the Great Highland⁵ bagpipes⁶, especially when they march in parades. 按照礼节规范，演奏高地风笛——尤其是巡游的时候，人们必须穿着苏格兰传统褶裙。

Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings⁷.  高地风笛与舞蹈揭开了当地运动盛会——高地集会的序幕。

The games, which have strange rules,  运动会的比赛项目规则奇特，

involve a spirit that has more to do with brute⁸ force than with athletics⁹. 与其说是体育竞技，不如说是大力士的较量。

1 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

2 sterling   

adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
• Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

3 clans   

宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派

参考例句：

• There are many clans in European countries. 欧洲国家有很多党派。
• The women were the great power among the clans [gentes], as everywhere else. 妇女在克兰〈氏族〉里，乃至一般在任何地方，都有很大的势力。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

4 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

5 highland   

n.(pl.)高地，山地

参考例句：

• The highland game is part of Scotland's cultural heritage.苏格兰高地游戏是苏格兰文化遗产的一部分。
• The highland forests where few hunters venture have long been the bear's sanctuary.这片只有少数猎人涉险的高山森林，一直都是黑熊的避难所。

6 bagpipes   

n.风笛；风笛( bagpipe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Yes, and I'm also learning to play the bagpipes. 是的，我也想学习吹风笛。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Mr. Vinegar took the bagpipes and the piper led the cow away. 于是醋溜先生拿过了风笛，风笛手牵走了奶牛。 来自互联网

7 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

8 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

9 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。