Experiencing Scotland

　　Scotland is a unique and austere1 place, laden2 with history, where you can find aristocraticpalaces and castles, as well as the traditional parade in national costumes. It has some of themost beautiful cities in Europe, a living testimony of a proud and splendid past.

　　In order to see the true soul of Scotland today, what forged the character of this splendidregion, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampia Mountains.Beautiful andunspoiled, it was difficult to farm. The Scots subdued the environment with simple spadesand strong arms.

　　The history of this ancient struggle, and its people's ancient love affair with the hard land, isenclosed within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typicalrural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here .

　　From coastal Aberdeen in towards the interior of the Grampian Mountains there runs the CastleTrail, a road that touches on many fortresses, which are witness of continual revolts againstthe dominion of neighboring England in Scottish history.

　　Perhaps the most uplifting moment for Scottish autonomy is the one experienced inside thisancient abbey of Arbroath, where, in 1320; the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, atthe instigation of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up3 bythe great popular hero William Wallace, to whom cinema has dedicated the wonderful film"Brave Heart", the winner of five Oscars.

　　Glamis Castle is often remembered for being the residence of King Macbeth and QueenElizabethⅡin her childhood. Among the most assiduous guests here are the inevitableghosts, created by ancient popular beliefs.

　　The true flag of Scotland is tartan, its brightly colored plaid patterns which are used todistinguish the various clans. Over the last few decades this fabric has made a comeback andis part of the daily life of this country.

　　練習題：

　　Ⅰ. True or False:

　　1. Southern regions best represent the true soul of Scotland.

　　2. Glamis Castle is often remembered for being residence of King Macbeth and QueenElizabeth.

　　3. The fortresses along the Castle Trail witness the struggle against England.

　　4. Northern part is futile and easy to farm.

　　Ⅱ. Questions:

　　1. What is the true flag of Scotland? When did it begin to take on again?

　　2. Describe the environment of the northern regions of Scotland with the words in the articleor the words of your own.

　　Ⅰ. 1. F 2. T 3 . T 4 . F

　　Ⅱ. 1. Tartan is the true flag of Scotland. Over the last few decades it began to take on again.

　　2. beautiful / unspoiled / ( natural) / ( wild)

　　親歷蘇格蘭

　　蘇格蘭是一個獨特的地方, 簡約而不失歷史厚重感。豪門望族的府邸和城堡, 以及穿著民族服裝的傳統(tǒng)儀仗隊隨處可見。蘇格蘭的一些城市是歐洲最美麗的, 生動再現(xiàn)了它驕人而又輝煌的過去。

　　今天, 為了理解蘇格蘭的精髓, 尋找形成這片神奇土地特征的根源, 我們就得去北部,去格蘭扁群山。那里景色宜人, 保持著自然本色, 但不適宜耕種。蘇格蘭人硬是憑著簡陋的工具和強壯的臂膀征服了環(huán)境。

　　人們艱苦勞作的歷史和自古以來對這片土地的眷戀, 都記錄在安格斯民俗博物館里。從館里陳列的日常手工器具中, 你能感受到獨特的舊時鄉(xiāng)村氛圍。

　　古堡之路從沿海的阿伯丁一直延伸到格蘭扁山區(qū)的深處。沿途的許多要塞見證了蘇格蘭不斷反抗近鄰英格蘭統(tǒng)治的歷史。

　　蘇格蘭爭取自治的過程中, 最振奮人心的時刻莫過于1320 年在古老的阿布羅修道院里的那次經歷。在羅伯特· 布魯士的鼓動下, 人們慶祝獨立宣言的發(fā)表。布魯士成功實現(xiàn)了偉大英雄威廉· 華萊士制定的自治計劃。華萊士的事跡被拍成了精彩的電影《勇敢的心》, 該片榮獲五項奧斯卡獎。

　　格拉母斯城堡聞名遐邇, 因為國王麥克白和幼年時的伊麗莎白二世女王曾經在這里居 住過。這里最頻繁光臨的客人要屬那些揮之不去的幽靈, 但它們多半是根據(jù)古代民間傳說杜撰出來的。

　　蘇格蘭的標志是格子呢。其色彩鮮明的圖案曾經是區(qū)別不同宗族的標志。過去的幾 十年里, 格子呢再度興起, 成了這個國家日常生活的一部分。

　　1. austere adj. ( 指建筑物或地方) 簡樸的, 簡陋的, 如: The room was furnished in austere style.( 這間房子的家具陳設很簡單樸素) 。

　　2. laden adj. 裝滿的, 滿載的, 如: trees laden with apples ( 果實滿載的蘋果樹) ; a lorry laden withsupplies ( 滿載供應品的卡車) 。

　　3. draw up ( 指車輛等) 停下來, 如: The taxi drew up outside the stop. ( 計程車停在車站外面。) ; 還可表示“ 草擬或寫出( 名單、合同) ”, 如: draw a contract up ( 擬訂合同) 。