Reading, reading.

Looking for the amber room, looking for the amber room

Frederick William I, King of Prussia, never imagined that his greatest gift to the Russian people would have such an amazing history. This gift is the Amber Room. It is called the Amber Room because several tons of amber were used to build this room. The selected amber has a beautiful yellow-brown color like honey. The design of this room was a peculiar style that was popular at that time. This is also a treasure decorated with gold and jewels, which took the best artists in this country about ten years to make. Frederick William I, king of Prussia, never thought that this gift he gave to the Russian people would have such an amazing history. This gift is the Amber Room. It has this name because several tons of amber were used to build this house. The amber chosen is bright, yellowish brown, like honey. The design of Amber Room adopted the unique architectural style popular at that time. It is also a treasure decorated with gold, silver and jewels. It took a group of the best artists in the country about ten years to finish it.

In fact, this room is not used as a gift. It was designed for the palace of Frederick I. However, Frederick William I, the next Prussian king to whom the Amber Room belongs, decided not to keep it. He gave it to Peter the Great on 17 16. In return, the czar gave him a team of his best soldiers. So the amber hall is part of the czar's winter palace in St. Petersburg. This room is about four meters long and is a small living room for important guests. In fact, this amber room was not built as a gift. It was designed for the palace of Frederick I. However, the next Prussian king Frederick William I, the owner of this amber room, decided not to have it. 17 16, he gave the amber room to Peter the Great. In return, the czar gave him a team of the best soldiers. In this way, the Amber Room became a part of the Tsar's Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. This amber room is about four meters long and is used as a small reception room for important guests.

Later, Catherine II moved the Amber Room to a palace outside St. Petersburg, where she spent the summer. She told her artist to add more details to it. 1770 room was completed in the way she wanted. Nearly 600 candles lit up the room, and the mirror shone like gold. Sadly, although the Amber Room is considered as one of the wonders of the world, it is now gone. Later, Catherine II sent someone to move the Amber Room to her summer palace outside St. Petersburg. She asked her craftsmen to add more elaborate decorations to the original design. 1770, this amber room was completed according to her requirements. Nearly 600 candles lit up the room, and the mirror inside was as shiny as the portrait gold. Sadly, although the Amber Room is considered to be one of the wonders in the world, it has now disappeared.

194 1 September, Nazi troops were near St. Petersburg. This is a period when the two countries are at war. Before the Nazis arrived in the Summer Palace, the Russians moved some furniture and small works of art from the Amber Room. However, some Nazis stole the room secretly. In less than two days,100,000 coins were put into 27 Wooden boxes. There is no doubt that these boxes were then loaded on the train to Konigsberg, then a German city on the Baltic Sea. After that, what happened in the Amber Room remains a mystery. 194 1 September, Nazi Germans approached St. Petersburg. This was during the war between the two countries. Before the Nazis arrived in the Summer Palace, the Russians could only remove some furniture and small works of art from the Amber Room. But the Amber Room itself was stolen by some Nazis. In less than two days, 65438+ ten thousand parts were packed into 27 wooden cases. There is no doubt that these boxes were later loaded on the train and transported to Konigsberg, when Germany was a city on the Baltic Sea. Since then, the location of the Amber Room has become a mystery.

Recently, Russians and Germans built a new amber room in the Summer Palace. By studying the old photos of the old amber room, they made the new amber room look the same as the old one. In 2003, when the people of St. Petersburg celebrated their city's 300th birthday, it was ready. Recently, Russians and Germans built a new amber room in the Summer Palace. By studying the original photos of the amber room, the amber room they built looks very similar to the old one. In 2003, people in St. Petersburg used it to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the city.

Unit 2 Translation of Olympic Games Text

An interview

Pausanias, a Greek writer about 2000 years ago, embarked on a magical journey on March 6, 2007 to learn about the modern Olympic Games. He is now interviewing Li Yan, a volunteer of the 2008 Olympic Games.

P: My name is Pausanias. I live in what you call ancient Greece, and I wrote about the Olympic Games a long time ago. I came to your time to learn about the modern Olympic Games, because I know that the 2004 Olympic Games will be held in my motherland. May I ask you some questions about the modern Olympic Games?

L: oh, my god Did you really come from a long time ago? But of course you can ask any questions you like. What would you like to know？

P: How often do you hold sports meetings?

Once every four years. There are two main games-Winter Olympics and Summer Olympics, which are held regularly every four years. The Winter Olympics is usually held two years before the Summer Olympics. Only athletes who meet the agreed standards of their events can be accepted as contestants. They may come from anywhere in the world.

P: Winter sports meeting? How do runners enjoy the race in winter? What about the horses?

Oh, no! There are no running races or riding races. Instead, there are competitions that require ice and snow, such as skiing and skating. That's why they are called the Winter Olympics. There are races in the Summer Olympics, as well as swimming, sailing and all team events.

I see. Earlier you said that athletes were invited from all over the world. You mean the Greek world? Our Greek cities used to compete with each other for the honor of winning. Other countries can't join, nor can slaves and women!

L: Now, as long as the athletes are good enough, any country can participate. There are more than 250 kinds of sports, each with its own standards. Women are not only allowed, but also play a very important role in gymnastics, track and field, team sports and sports competitions.

P: just a moment, please All these events, all these countries, even women participate! Where do all the athletes live?

L: Every Olympic Games has a special Olympic Village for them to live in, a main reception building, several competition venues and a gymnasium.

P: That sounds expensive. Does anyone want to host the Olympic Games?

In fact, every country wants this opportunity. Being selected is a great responsibility and a great honor. The competition between countries bidding for the Olympic Games is as fierce as the competition to win Olympic medals. The 2008 Olympic Games will be held in China. Do you know that?/You know what?

Oh, yes You must be very proud.

Li: Of course. After that, the 20 12 Olympic Games will be held in London. They have already begun to make plans for this. A new athletes village and all the stadiums will be built in the east of London. Of course, new medals will be designed …

P: You mean medals? So even the olive wreath has been changed! Oh, dear! Do you also compete for the bonus?

No, we didn't. This is still to run faster, jump higher and throw farther. You know, that's the Olympic motto ―― swifter, higher and stronger. ‖

Well, that's good news. How interesting! Thank you very much for your time.

first segment

interview

Pausanias was a Greek writer before 2000. On March 8, 2007, he made a magical trip and asked about the contemporary Olympic Games. Now he is interviewing Li Yan, a volunteer of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Palmer: My name is Pausanias. I live in what you call "ancient Greece", and I wrote about the Olympic Games a long time ago. Now I come to your time and want to know about the contemporary Olympic Games, because I know that the 2004 Olympic Games was held in my motherland. May I ask you some questions about the modern Olympic Games?

Li: Oh, my God! Do you really come from that long time? Sure, you can ask any questions. What do you want to know?

Palmer: How often do you hold the Olympic Games?

Li: Every four years. There are mainly two kinds of sports meetings-Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics. These two sports meetings are held every four years. The Winter Olympics is always held two years before the Summer Olympics. Only athletes who meet the unified standards of their respective events will be accepted to participate in the Olympic Games. Players can come from anywhere in the world.

Palmer: Winter Olympics? How do winter athletes enjoy the competition? How is horse racing possible?

Li: Oh, no! The Winter Olympics does not include running and riding. But some events need ice and snow, such as skating and skiing, so it is called the Winter Olympics. There are running, swimming, boating and some team events in the summer sports meeting.

Palmer: I see. Before you said that the invited athletes came from all over the world, did you mean the Greek world? Our Greek cities used to compete with each other for fame. Other countries can't participate, nor can slaves and women!

Li: Now any country can participate, as long as their athletes are good enough. There are more than 250 sports, each with its own standards.

Women are not only allowed to participate in competitions, but also play a very important role in gymnastics, track and field and team competitions. "

Palmer: Please wait a moment! All these projects, all these countries, and even women participated! Where do these contestants live?

Li: Every Olympic Games has a special Olympic Village for athletes to live in, as well as a main reception building, several competition venues and an indoor gymnasium.

Palmer: That sounds like a lot of money. Will anyone want to host the Olympic Games?

Li: Actually, every country wants to seize this opportunity. Being selected not only bears great responsibility, but also enjoys great honor. The competition between countries for the right to host the Olympic Games is as fierce as the competition for Olympic medals. Do you know that the 2008 Olympic Games will be held in China?

Palmer: Yes, I've heard of it! You must be very proud.

Li: Of course. Then the 20 12 Olympic Games will be held in London. They have started planning now. A new Olympic village and all sports fields will be built in east London. Of course, new medals will be designed.

Palmer: Did you just say medals? Even the olive wreath has been changed! Oh, my god, are you competing for the bonus, too?

Li: No, it isn't. Its purpose is to run faster, jump higher and throw farther. You know, the slogan of the Olympic Games is "Faster, Higher and Stronger".

Palmer: That's good news. How interesting! Thank you very much for your time.

The story of Atlanta

Atlanta is a Greek princess. She is very beautiful and runs faster than any man in Greece. But she is not allowed to run in the Olympic Games and win honor for herself. She was so angry that she told her father that she wouldn't marry anyone who ran faster than her. Her father said she had to get married, so Atlanta made a deal with him. She said to him, "This is my rule. When a man says he wants to marry me, I will race with him. If he can't run as fast as me, he will be killed. No one will be pardoned. "

Many kings and princes want to marry Atlanta, but when they hear the rules, they know it's hopeless. So many of them went home sadly, but others stayed to continue the game. A man named Hippomenes was surprised when he heard about the rules of Atlantis. "Why are these people so stupid?" He thought. "Why do they let themselves be killed because they can't run as fast as this princess?" However, when she saw Atlanta running out of the house, Hippomenes changed her mind. "I will marry Atlanta-or die!" He said.

The race has started. Although this man runs fast, Atlanta runs faster. Hippomenes watched and thought, "How can I run as fast as Atlanta?" He went to the Greek god of love for help. She promised to help him and gave him three golden apples. She said, "When Atlanta runs by, throw an apple in front of her. When she stops to pick it up, you can run past her and win the race. "

Hippomenes went to see the king with an apple. He said, "I want to marry Atlanta." The king was sad to see another person die, but Hippomenes said, "I want to marry her-or die!" " So the game began.

Section c

The story of Atlanta

Atlanta is a Greek princess. She is beautiful and runs faster than any man in Greece. But she is not allowed to compete in the Olympic Games to win her honor. She was so angry that she told her father that she would not marry any man who could not outrun her. Her father said she had to get married, so Atlanta reached an agreement with her father. She said to him, "These are my conditions. When someone says he wants to marry me, I will race with him. If he doesn't run as fast as me, I'll kill him. No one can ask for mercy. "

Many kings and princes wanted to marry Atlanta, but when they heard her offer, they knew there was no hope. So many people went home glumly, but some people stayed to take part in the competition. A man named Hippomenes was very surprised when he heard about the situation in Atlanta. He thought, "How can these people be so stupid? Why can't they outrun the princess and let others kill themselves? " However, when Hippomenes saw Atlanta running out of the house,

He changed his mind. He said, "I want to marry Atlanta, or I will die."

The game has already started. Although those people run fast, Atlanta runs fast. Hippomenes thought, "How can I run as fast as Atlanta?" He turned to the Greek goddess of love for help. She promised to help him and gave him three golden apples. She said, "When Atlanta ran past you, you threw an apple in front of her. When she stops to pick apples, you can keep running and winning. " Hippomenes took the apple to the king. He said:

"I want to marry Atlanta." The king was sad because he would see another person die, but Hippomenes said, "I want to marry her, or I will die." So the game began.