Europe’s Shared Town 比荷飞地探秘
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2013年10月08日
- 最后更新于 2023年12月18日
- 发布于 2013年10月08日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：222
课文朗读
课文讲解
On the border of Belgium and the Netherlands lies a very unusual town. It’s part of the Belgian region of Baarle-Hertog. However, it’s also part of a Dutch region called Baarle-Nassau. You might think it’s a town with a line cutting through the middle, dividing the two sides, but it’s a lot more complicated than that.
在比利时及荷兰的国界上坐落一个非常不寻常的小镇，它是比利时的巴尔－赫尔托赫区中的一部分。然而，它也是荷兰的巴尔纳绍区的一部分。你可能会认为这座小镇是由一条线从中将其一分为二，但事实上远比这还要复杂。
The Belgian part of the town consists of 26 separate pieces of land, each surrounded by Dutch territory. Some of these pieces are very small, and some of them are only fields. However, inside some of the larger pieces are areas that belong to the Netherlands. The border runs through the town, and in many cases, right through houses and buildings. The different areas are marked with signs that read “B” or “NL” for “Belgium” and “the Netherlands.”
这座小镇的比利时部分由26片各自分开的土地所组成，每一片都被荷兰领土所围绕。其中某些领土非常小，有的甚至只是小空地。然而，在某些较大片的比利时领土中却有属于荷兰的区域。国界穿越这座小镇，且在许多情况下还正好穿越房子及大楼。这些不同的区域会以B或NL的标示以表比利时及荷兰。
This situation is the result of centuries of deals, land exchanges, and sales between the two regions. An agreement in 1843 finally established the border and left the people of Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau to make the best of their unique position.
这种情况是经过数世纪以来的交易、土地交换及两个区域之间的业务往来所形成的结果。1843年时，终于有一笔协议将国界建立，并使巴尔－赫尔托赫及巴尔纳绍的人们善用自己独一无二的地理位置。
单词发音
Vocabulary
border [ˋbɔrdɚ] n. 边境，国界
Many people from Mexico cross the border to live in the United States.
region [ˋridʒən] n. 地区
The northern region of Russia is a cold place with lots of snow.
consist of 由...组成
Pizza mainly consists of tomatoes, cheese, and bread.
territory [ˋtɛrə͵torɪ] n. 领土，版图
During the 1800s, many countries in Europe tried to expand their territories.
situation [͵sɪtʃʊˋeʃən] n. 处境; 情况
Heavy rain can cause a dangerous situation for people that live near a river.
establish [əˋstæblɪʃ] v. 建立
The city established a new law to help keep animals safe.
More Information
unusual [ʌnˋjuʒʊəl] adj. 不平常的；稀有的；奇特的
complicated [ˋkɑmplə͵ketɪd] adj. 复杂的；难懂的
agreement [əˋgrimənt] n. 协议，协议
make the best of 充分利用
课文朗读
课文讲解
In Baarle-Hertog /Baarle-Nassau, the country that a building belongs to depends on the position of its front door. However, the border actually runs through some doorways, so those buildings have two addresses, one for each country. This has led to some interesting situations when one business is on both sides of the border. Dutch restaurants used to close earlier, so customers would just change their tables to the Belgian side, and keep eating.
在巴尔－赫尔托赫及巴尔纳绍这个区域，一栋建筑物属于哪个国家是依其前门的地理位置而定。然而，国界其实穿越某些门口，所以那些建筑物有着两个地址－两个国家各一个。在某商家处于两国界上时，这会导致一些有趣的情形。荷兰的餐厅以前打烊的时间较早，所以顾客便会将自己的座位移到比利时那一边继续用餐。
The town has two mayors, two sets of laws, and two languages. Until 2002, there were even two types of money. In such a small space, keeping both communities happy hasn’t always been easy, so the two sides have learned to work together.
这座小镇有两个市长、两种法规以及两种语言，到2002年以前，甚至有两种货币。在这么小的一个地方，要保持两个社群满意并非总是容易的，所以双方学会了互助合作。
The town shares public services such as garbage collection and library services. The two fire-fighting teams, which used to race each other to fires, have now merged under one roof, and the two police departments share a single office. Thanks to this spirit of cooperation, the people of Baarle-Hertog /Baarle-Nassau can enjoy the best of both worlds.
这座小镇共同使用如收垃圾及图书馆等公共服务。两个过去曾比赛谁先到火灾现场的消防团队，如今合并在同一个屋檐下，而两个警察部门也共享一个办公室。幸亏有这样的合作精神，巴尔－赫尔托赫及巴尔纳绍的人民能够共享彼此最棒的一面。
－by Pat Woods
单词发音
Vocabulary
depend on 取决于,随…而定
How people choose to dress often depends on the current weather.
actually [ˋæktʃʊəlɪ] adv. 【口】实际上﹐其实
Moonlight is actually sunlight bouncing off the moon.
mayor [ˋmeɚ] n. 市长，镇长
The mayor promised to make the city a better place to live in.
public service 公众事业的；公益服务的
Free garbage collection is one of this country's most popular public services.
single [ˋsɪŋg!] adj. 单一的，单个的；个别的
Tyson knocked down his opponent with a single punch in a boxing match.
cooperation [ko͵ɑpəˋreʃən] n. 合作，协力
cooperate v. 合作; 协力
The school teacher showed her students how cooperation makes work easier.
More Information
doorway [ˋdor͵we] n. 出入口，门口
merge [mɝdʒ] v. 合并
the best of both worlds 两全其美; 两者之优点
Baarle-Nassau/Baarle-Hertog