夏至日的巨石陣

山東 孫啟祿

1The summer solstice is Stonehenge's big day.Thousands of people flock to the huge monument to watch the sunset on June 20 and the sunrise the next day in an event that mixes festivity with spirituality.

2If you are lucky enough to visit London in the summer, specifically in the third week of June,you should not miss the summer solstice celebration held at the nearby monument of Stonehenge.Between the 20th and 21st of that month, when the length of the day is the longest of the year, a large number of the British and visitors from other countries gather on a day that can only be described as magical.

3On that day, Stonehenge takes on a different dimension that combines festivity with an attempt to recall ancient ceremonies.Visitors can access the complex (建筑群) free of charge and will be able to walk among the stones, something not allowed during the rest of the year.

4The summer solstice (between June 20 and 21), occurs at the peak of the day and is perhaps the best time to visit Stonehenge.The other,the winter solstice (December 21-22),marks just the opposite event.These days have always had a special significance, as they mark the changing of the seasons, which is important for ancient agricultural cultures.For this reason,ceremonies and festivals are held in many parts of the world.

5One of the many theories about the origin of Stonehenge relates it precisely to these celebrations.Although the purpose for which it was built has not yet been discovered,what is known with certainty is that during the summer solstice the sun rises to the left of the Heel Stone and crosses right through the central axis(軸)of the rock complex.

6The first reaction of anyone arriving from London at Stonehenge on Midsummer's Day is likely to be one of awe (敬畏).The complex and its surroundings are filled with an atmosphere that perfectly combines festivity and mysticism (神秘).During the night, visitors can enjoy the music performed by those present,as well as dances of all kinds.

Reading Check

1.Why do thousands of people crowd around Stonehenge?

A.To see the famous Stonehenge.

B.To figure out how Stonehenge was built.

C.To take part in the summer solstice celebration.

D.To watch the sunrise and the sunset on June 20.

2.What does the fourth paragraph mainly tell us?

A.The exact time of the summer solstice.

B.The best time to pay a visit to Stonehenge.

C.The reason for the ceremonies and festivals.

D.The significance of the summer and winter solstices.

3.What can we infer about the construction of Stonehenge from the text?

A.It might be built for ancient ceremonies.

B.It might be built to celebrate the harvest.

C.It must have been related to astronomy.

D.It must have been built between the two solstices.

?語篇解碼

本文是一篇說明文。每年夏至時，巨石陣都會迎來來自世界各地的游客。人們整夜聚集在英格蘭威爾特郡的古遺址——巨石陣——觀看6月20日的日落和第二天的日出，這是一項將節日與精神融為一體的活動。

?語言學習

Ⅰ.語料薈萃

語篇單詞重要短語monument n.紀念碑 lucky adj.幸運的specifically adv.確切地說；特意 celebration n.慶典length n.長度 describe vt.描述dimension n.范圍；程度 gather v.聚集ancient adj.古代的 ceremony n.儀式opposite adj.相反的；相對的 significance n.重要性discover vt.發現 origin n.起源reaction n.反應 atmosphere n.氛圍_____________________________________________________________________________________perform_vt.表演the summer solstice 夏至 thousands of 成千上萬的mix...with 把……和……混合 a number of 許多be described as 被描述為……take on 呈現combine...with 把……和……相結合 free of charge 免費_____________with an attempt to 試圖_______________________________________________________be_filled_with_充滿……

Ⅱ.語句分析

Between the 20th and 21st of that month, when the length of the day is the longest of the year,a large number of the British and visitors from other countries gather on a day that can only be described as magical.在那個月20 日至21 日，白晝時間在這個時候達到最長，很多英國人和來自其他國家的游客在這一天聚集在一起。這一天只能用神奇來形容。

【點石成金】本句是一個復合句。a large number of the British and visitors from other countries gather...是主句，Between...of that month 是介詞短語作時間狀語，when the length...the year是非限制性定語從句，that can...as magical是限制性定語從句。

?語言運用

Ⅰ.例句仿寫

在一年前除了廢墟什么都沒有的地方出現了許多高樓。(a number of)

____________________where there was nothing a year ago but ruins.

Ⅱ.寫作實踐

假定你是李華，你對巨石陣的夏至日慶典非常感興趣，請你給家在倫敦的朋友John寫一封郵件，請他詳細介紹一下慶典。要點如下：

1.表明寫信的目的；

2.你希望了解的內容；

3.表達謝意。

注意：

1.詞數80左右；

2.可以適當增加細節，以使行文連貫。

Dear John,

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Yours,

Li Hua