英国伦敦的标志性建筑物——大本钟，即将经历四年的系统维修。此次维修旨在保护建筑的安全以及为了子孙后代们可以更好的享受这个著名的计时器。维修期间，大本钟将保持静音，无声地继续为人们服务。
VOA慢速：London's Big Ben to Go Silent for Four Years
伦敦大本钟静音四年
燕山大学 刘立军 宋崴 编写
◆TRANSCRIPT
This is What's Trending Today.
That is the sound of Big Ben.
People from London like to call the ringing of Big Ben “bongs.” They mark the start of a new hour.
Big Ben is the name of the large bell inside the clock tower above Britain's Houses of Parliament. The tower is part of the Palace of Westminster. There are other smaller bells, too.
The structure that houses Big Ben is one of the most famous sights in the country. It is called the Elizabeth Tower.
Big Ben started making its bongs 158 years ago. But beginning on August 21, it will go silent for four years. The bell will ring for the last time at 12 noon.
The bell will be disconnected from the clock as crews launch a major repair project in the tower.
The clock, however, will continue to tell the time, silently.
The only time people in London will hear the bells will be on Remembrance Sunday, which falls on November 12th this year, and New Year's Eve.
Some people are making plans to be in London for the final bongs before the four-year silence.
The renovation project will cost about $40 million, said Steve Jaggs. He is known as “The Keeper of the Great Clock.”
Jaggs said the goal is to keep the building safe and the famous timepiece working for future generations to enjoy.
The clock faces and many of the clock's moving parts will be taken apart and cleaned. Rust will be removed and an elevator will be built for workers to use.
The last time the bell stopped ringing for repairs was in 2007. It was also silent for the funerals of former Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
There was reaction to the silencing of Big Ben on social media.
Joana reacted to the news on Twitter. She proposed that there be “one minute of silence for the lost bongs of Big Ben.”
And that's What's Trending Today.
I'm Dan Friedell.
Adapted from 伦敦大本钟静音四年
◆VOCABULARY
1.renovate v. to repair and paint an old building, a piece of furniture, etc. so that it is in good condition again 修复；翻新；重新粉刷
2.propose v. (formal) to suggest a plan, an idea, etc. for people to think about and decide on 提议；建议。例如：(British English also) She proposed that the book should be banned. 她提议查禁这本书。
○The government proposed changes to the voting system. 政府建议修改表决制度。
○What would you propose? 你想提什么建议？
○She proposed that the book be banned. 她提议查禁这本书。
○It was proposed that the president be elected for a period of two years. 有人提议选出的主席任期为两年。
○He proposed changing the name of the company. 他建议更改公司的名称。
○It was proposed to pay the money from public funds. 有人提议用公款支付这笔钱。
◆QUESTIONS
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and check (√) the true or (×) false statements.
1. Big Ben is the name of the large bell outside the clock tower above Britain's Houses of Parliament.
2. The structure that houses Big Ben is one of the most famous sights in the country, which is called the Elizabeth Tower.
3. Big Ben started making its bongs 159 years ago. But beginning on August 21, it will go silent for four years.
4. The bell will be disconnected from the clock as crews launch a major repair project in the tower.
5. The clock will stop to tell the time silently.
6. Some people are making plans to be in London for the final bongs before the four-year silence.
7. According to Steve Jaggs, the renovation project will cost about $40 million.
8. Jaggs said the goal is to keep the building safe and the famous timepiece working for future generations to enjoy.
9. The clock faces and many of the clock's moving parts will be taken apart and cleaned. Rust will be removed and two elevators will be built for workers to use.
10. The last time the bell stopped ringing for repairs was in 2007.
11. There was reaction to the silencing of Big Ben on social media.
◆KEY
×1. Big Ben is the name of the large bell outside the clock tower above Britain's Houses of Parliament. (outside修改为inside)
√2. The structure that houses Big Ben is one of the most famous sights in the country, which is called the Elizabeth Tower.
×3. Big Ben started making its bongs 159 years ago. But beginning on August 21, it will go silent for four years. (159修改为158)
√4. The bell will be disconnected from the clock as crews launch a major repair project in the tower.
×5. The clock will stop to tell the time silently. (stop修改为continue)
√6. Some people are making plans to be in London for the final bongs before the four-year silence.
√7. According to Steve Jaggs, the renovation project will cost about $40 million.
√8. Jaggs said the goal is to keep the building safe and the famous timepiece working for future generations to enjoy.
×9. The clock faces and many of the clock's moving parts will be taken apart and cleaned. Rust will be removed and two elevators will be built for workers to use. (two elevators修改为an elevator)
√10. The last time the bell stopped ringing for repairs was in 2007.
√11. There was reaction to the silencing of Big Ben on social media.