【美联英语】双语阅读：英语阅读—情人节你所不知的神秘习俗

第一篇：【美联英语】双语阅读：英语阅读—情人节你所不知的神秘习俗

两分钟做个小测试，看看你的英语水平

http://www.xiexiebang.com/test/kuaisu.aspx?tid=16-73675-0 美联英语提供：情人节你所不知的神秘习俗

1.There are many favorite songs of Valentine's Day.Here is one of them: 人们喜欢唱的情人节歌曲有很多。下面就是一首： Let me call you sweetheart, 让我叫你一声甜美的人吧，I'm in love with you.我已投入了你的情河，Let me hear you whisper, 请你悄悄给我说一声，That you love me, too.你也爱上了我。

Keep the lovelight shining, 让爱之光照着我，In your eyes so true.那是你眼中喷出的真挚情火，Let me call you sweetheart, 让我叫你一声甜美的人吧，I' m in love with you.我已投入了你的情河。

2.In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th.Hearts, keys andkeyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons.The decoration meant, “You unlock my heart!” 在威尔士，雕刻有花纹的木质羹匙被视为爱情的象征，并在2月14日作为礼物互相赠送。心、钥匙、锁孔等刻在羹匙上的装饰性图案倍受青睐。它代表着，“开启我的心！” 3.In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be.They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week.To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.在中世纪，青年男女从碗里抽出写有名字的纸条，看看他们的情人将会是谁。他们把名字写在衣袖上，并穿一个星期。现在，穿着袖子上带有心形图案的衣服意味着其他人容易懂得你的感情。

4.In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man.If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him.在一些国家，年轻的男子可以向青年女子赠送衣物作为礼物。如果女子收下了礼物，则意味着她愿意嫁给这位男子。

5.Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor.If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy.If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.一些人曾经相信，在情人节里，如果一个女子看到一只知更鸟在头上飞过，意味着她可能嫁

给一位水手；如果她看到一只麻雀，则她可能嫁给一个穷人，但却非常快乐；如果她看到一只金翅雀，则可能嫁给一位百万富翁。

6.A love seat is a wide chair.It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress.Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections,often in an S-shape.In this way, a couple could sit together--but not too closely!爱情座椅是一种宽大的椅子。它最初是为那些穿着肥大衣裙的女子设计的。后来的爱情座椅，或者叫做宫廷座椅，有两个部分，经常被做成“S”形。这样，夫妻就可以坐在一起--虽然不能太亲密！

7.Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off.You will marry the person whose name you were saying when thestem fell off.想着五、六个你可能嫁或者娶的男孩或女孩的名字。当你拧苹果把儿时，默念这些名字直到苹果把儿被扭断，这时，你念到的人就是你将要嫁或者娶的人。

8.Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed.Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind.Count the seeds that remain on the stem.That is the number of children you will have.摘一个已经结子的蒲公英。深呼吸，然后把种子吹向天空。数数留在蒲公英杆上的种子，那就是你将拥有的孩子的数量。

9.If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have.如果你把一个苹果切成两半，并数清苹果核里面子的数量，你就会知道你将会有多少个孩子。

两分钟做个小测试，看看你的英语水平

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第二篇：【美联英语】双语阅读：青春

小编给你一个美联英语官方免费试听课申请链接： http://m.meten.com/test/waijiao.aspx?tid=16-73675-0 美联英语提供：青春

Let's take steps to banish some of the most common negative thoughts many of us repeat to ourselves.Being in a negative space is harmful to our overall well-being, because what you dwell on can easily become self fulfilling if you don't change your mindset.让我们一起行动起来，消灭那些我们经常告诉自己的消极想法吧!如果你不改变想法，而是一味地沉浸在消极的念头中，那么，我们的整个身心就会受到影响，因为“噩梦”也会成真。

1.I'm not good enough.我不够好。

This type of negative thought that can apply to many categories.Maybe you don't think you're a good enough mother or good at a sport.Even if you find yourself lacking in something, there's no need to keep repeating it to yourself.The human brain is an incredible thing.Be inspired by Dr.Jill Bolte Taylor, Harvard-trained neuroscientist who suffered a stroke that left her unable to walk, read, write, talk, or remember her previous life.Dr.Taylor took eight years to recover and has since then written a best-selling book about her experience and appeared on Oprah.Keep on working toward something, and watch the leaps and

bounds you'll make.这种消极想法有很多类型。比如你认为自己不是个称职的妈妈或不擅长运动。即使你真的发现了自己的弱点，也没必要对自己不断复述。人脑是神奇的。吉尔泰勒就是个激励的好典型，她是哈佛大学的神经系统学专家，中风后她就失去了行走、阅读、书写、交谈的能力了，甚至还失忆了。她花了八年的时间复原，用自己的经历写了畅销书，还上了奥普拉的节目。坚持做一件事，亲眼见证自己的变化。

2.No one cares about me.没人关心我。

To accurately say that your family and friends don't care about you would be a very rare situation.Maybe you're being too negative and overlooking the gestures of love they show you.They don't even have to be big gestures, but it's the little things they do for you that count.And people may be reacting to the energy you're putting out;perhaps you think they don't care about you so you don't make any effort in your relationships.Start showing people you care, so they can show you back in kind.And if you don't have good relationships with the people you know, what's stopping you from making new friends?

家人朋友都不关心你，这种情况其实不太常见。可能你过于消极的想法使你忽略了他们对你表达的爱。他们甚至并不需要为你做什么惊天动地的大事，正是一些小事才真正打动人心。或者你觉得没人关心你，所以无需再经营人际关系，但其实也许人们只有在感知到你的付出后，才会对你进行回报;关心别人，别人才会关心你。如果你和周围人的关系处理不好，为何不结交些新朋友?

3.I really dislike this person.我真的不喜欢这个人。

If you dislike a person in your work or personal life, focusing on her bad qualities is not going to make things better.You need to let go of your assumptions about her and know that she is human too, which means she makes mistakes.Either you move on and stop thinking and talking about her, or learn to approach her or think about her in a positive manner.Focus on her good qualities, and repeat them to yourself instead of honing in on the unpleasant things.如果工作或生活中有你讨厌的人，只关注她的缺点有害无益。你需要放下对她的所有成见，告诉自己她也是个人，也有犯错的时候。要么就不再谈论她和想着她，要么学着去接近她，或想想她好的一面。多想想她的优点，不要再专注于让你不开心的事情。

4.Why is she better off?

为什么她比我好?

Comparing yourself to someone else is never productive or positive.There's always going to be someone who is younger, prettier, smarter, or richer than you.If you keep coveting what someone else has, then this may cause you to be resentful of them, which will open a whole other negative can of worms.Remember, what they don't have is your whole package.Be appreciative of what you have, because if you want to play the comparison game, remember that there are people who are also worse off than you are.和别人比较永远不是有效率和积极的表现。总有比你年轻，漂亮，聪明，富有的人。如果你始终关注别人拥有什么，会带来你对他们的恨意，随即带来更多消极的想法。记住，你所拥有的也是他们所没有的。珍惜你所拥有的东西，如果真的想和别人比较，也别忘了总有

比你差的人。

5.I'll never reach my goal.我永远无法达到目标。

If you think you're not going to be able “get there,” think again.There are many people who are worse off and have overcome bigger obstacles than what you are facing.Take, for example, Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, an amputee who overcame his handicap to compete in the Olympics against his able-bodied peers.Everything is within your reach as long as you work hard and have a a positive attitude.如果你认为自己达不到，再想想。比你差的人比比皆是，他们遇到的困难也比你的更大。比如，奥运会短跑选手刀锋战士奥斯卡·皮斯托利斯，一个被截肢的运动员，战胜了自己的阻碍，在其他健壮的对手中脱颖而出赢得了奥运会的冠军。只要你努力付出，有着积极的信念，任何事都能够做到。

第三篇：美联英语：情人节 相关情景对话

美联英语提供：美联英语：情人节相关口语对话

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Michael: We have worked hard today Billy.Do you want to have some suds with me this evening?

Billy: I can't.I have a date tonight.Michael: You have a date!She must be blind!

Billy: At least I have a Valentine's Date.Michael: Valentine's Date? What's that?

Billy: Valentine's Day is famous around the world these days.I can't believe you don't know about it!

Michael: Is that where guys send chocolates and flowers to the girl they fancy?

Billy: That's right.And for this Valentine's Day, I finally found the courage to ask our receptionist out for dinner.Michael: You mean Sally?

Billy: Yep.We are going to a very romantic restaurant for dinner.Michael: Wow!She is beautiful.Can I come along on your date?

Billy: Do you know the expression, 'Two is company, but three is a crowd'?

迈克尔：今天我们工作很辛苦。今晚你想和我去喝点啤酒吗?

比利：我去不了。今晚我有个约会。

迈克尔：你有个约会!她肯定瞎了眼!

比利：至少我有个情人节约会。

迈克尔：情人节约会?那是什么?

比利：现在情人节世界闻名。我不相信你不知道它!

迈克尔：就是男人们给他们迷恋的女孩送巧克力和鲜花吗?

比利：没错。这个情人节我最终有勇气邀请我们的前台小姐去吃晚饭。

迈克尔：你是指萨利吗?

比利：是的。我们要去一个很浪漫的饭馆去吃晚饭。

迈克尔：哇!她很漂亮。我能去你的约会吗?

比利：你不知道有句俗语，“两个好，三个吵”?

New Words

1)Suds: slang for beer

啤酒：suds是啤酒的俚语

We went to the pub and drank suds until we couldn't stand up.我们去酒吧喝啤酒，喝得直到站不起来为止。

2)Blind: someone who cannot see

瞎的，盲的：看不见的人

I love to watch the specially trained dogs that some blind people have to guide them.我喜欢看那些受过专门训练的狗，盲人得领着它们走。

3)Fancy: if you think a person is attractive, you fancy them

迷恋：如果你觉得某人很迷人，你爱恋他们

My sister said that her best friend fancied me when I was younger.I wished I had known then!

我的姐姐说我较年轻的时候她最好的朋友迷恋我。我要是那个时候知道就好了!

4)Romantic: an emotional attraction for a heroic person, adventure, or activity

传奇式的，浪漫的：对英雄人物、冒险的经历或活动的情感吸引力，Sitting by an open fire sipping champagne is very romantic-especially if your wife or girlfriend is with you.坐在篝火旁呷香槟是很浪漫的-尤其是如果你的爱人或女友和你在一起。

Lesson

Valentine's day 情人节

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of Saint Valentine.But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday?

每年的二月，糖果、鲜花和礼物跨越国界以圣·瓦沦丁的名义在情人间相互传递着。可是这个神秘的圣徒是谁呢?而且，我们为什么庆祝这个节日?

The history of Valentine's Day--and its patron saint--is very mysterious.But we do know that February has long been a month of romance.Saint Valentine's Day, as we know it today, comes from both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.情人节的历史-以及它的守护神-非常神秘。不过我们确实知道二月成为浪漫之月已经很久了。正如我们今天所知道的，圣·瓦沦丁节起源于基督教和古罗马的传统。

So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young, single men--his crop of potential soldiers.那么，谁是圣·瓦沦丁?他又是怎么和这个古代习俗发生联系的呢?一种传说主张瓦沦丁是一个修士，三世纪期间在罗马传道。当君主克劳迪亚斯二世认定单身男子比那些有妻子和家庭的男子做士兵更好时，他传令年轻、单身男子-那些可能成为他的士兵的人-不能结婚。

Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.瓦沦丁意识到这项法令是不道义的，他挑战克劳迪亚斯并继续秘密地为年轻情人们举行婚礼。当瓦沦丁的行为被发觉了之后，克劳迪亚斯下令将他处死。其它的故事提出瓦沦丁被处死可能是因为他企图帮助基督徒逃离严酷的罗马监狱。在那里，他们经常遭到拷打和折磨。

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself.While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl--who may have been his jailor's daughter--who visited him during his confinement.Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.根据一种传说，瓦沦丁实际上自己发出了第一个“情人节”问候。有人相信瓦沦丁在监狱的时候和来探望他的一个年轻女孩相恋了，女孩可能是典狱长的女儿。临死前，据说他给她写了一封信，落款是“From your Valentine ”，这个表达方式今天还被使用。

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is unclear, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most

popular saints in England and France.尽管瓦沦丁传说背后的真实性不确定，但是故事的确强调了他是一个有同情心的、英雄式的，以及最重要的是他是一个浪漫的人物。到中世纪的时候，瓦沦丁成为英格兰和法国最受欢迎的圣徒之一也就不奇怪了。

But in Japan, Saint Valentine's Day is slightly different: The only ones doing the giving are females, and they usually send a gift of chocolates to their love interests.但是在日本，圣·瓦沦丁节有点不同：送礼物的只是女孩，而且她们通常根据恋人的喜好送巧克力做礼物。

This unique custom seems to have its roots in a campaign that a Japanese chocolate manufacturer started in 1958, promoting St.Valentine's Day as “the day women confess their love to a man with a gift of chocolate.” The manufacturer sold heart-shaped chocolates at a department store in Tokyo.Only five were sold that first year, but this “Valentine Sale” became more and more popular with each passing year, and the custom of females sending chocolates to males on Saint Valentine's Day gradually took root.这个独特的习俗似乎源于一家日本巧克力生产商于1958年将圣·瓦沦丁节宣传为“女人用巧克力做为礼物向她所爱的人表白爱意的日子。”的推广活动。生产商在东京的一家百货商店卖心型巧克力。第一年只卖出了五块，不过这个“情人节销售”逐年变得越来越受欢迎，而且在圣·瓦沦丁节女性给男性送巧克力的习俗也慢慢生根。

Today, chocolates are frequently given to members of one's own family.Gift giving on Saint Valentine's Day has also become quite common among school friends and colleagues at work.现在，人们经常给自己的家人送巧克力。同学和同事之间在圣·瓦沦丁节送礼物也变得相当普遍。

What's more, in Japan Saint Valentine's Day is followed up a month later by “White Day,” on March 14.This is the day when the men who received chocolates from women on Saint Valentine's Day give gifts like candy in return.This is also a custom unique to Japan, introduced and promoted by a Japanese confectionery company.But, perhaps because its history is still short, White Day is not yet as popular as St.Valentine's Day.此外，在日本圣·瓦沦丁节一个月之后的3月14日随之而来的是“白色情人节”。这是圣·瓦沦丁节时从女士那里收到巧克力的男士回赠如糖果等礼物的日子。这也是日本的一个独特习俗，由日本的糖果公司发起并推广。不过，也许是由于它的历史还短的缘故，白色情人节还不如圣·瓦沦丁节那么普遍。

Dialogue

Jeff: Those roses are beautiful Joan.Joan: I know.Smell them.Don't they smell wonderful?

Jeff: They do.Which romantic sent you those?

Joan: The only man that I need.Jeff: Who's that?

Joan: My husband of course.Jeff: I wonder if he knows how lucky he is to be married to you.Joan: I think so!I tell him at least five times a week what a lucky guy he is.Jeff: I hope I can be as lucky in love as you are.Joan: It has nothing to do with luck Jeff!You need to be sensitive, patient and considerate.Jeff: That sounds like too much hard work.I think I will stay single!

杰夫：那些玫瑰很漂亮，琼。

琼：我知道，闻一闻，它们不是很好闻吗?

杰夫：没错，哪一个浪漫的人送给你的?

琼：我需要的、唯一的那个男人。

杰夫：那是谁?

琼：当然是我丈夫了。

杰夫：我在想他是否知道他娶了你有多么幸运?

琼：我想是的!每周我至少告诉他五次他是一个多么幸运的人。

杰夫：我希望我能像你那么幸运，在爱河里畅游。

琼：这和运气没有关系，杰夫!你得敏感、周到、有耐心。

杰夫：那听起来太难了。我想我会保持独身!美联英语：www.xiexiebang.com

第四篇：【美联英语】双语阅读：目标和梦想

小编给你一个美联英语官方免费试听课申请链接： http://m.meten.com/test/waijiao.aspx?tid=16-73675-0 美联英语提供：目标和梦想

Are you waiting for your dreams to come true and change your life?

I am sorry to tell you that dreams don't come true.你是否还在等待实现梦想来改变你的生活?

很遗憾，那样梦想是不能成真的。

Rather, it is your goals that can forever change your life.You need to set goals in order turn your dreams into reality.但是，你的目标却能永远的改变你的生活

如果要想梦想成真，你就需要给自己订立目标

Don't Confuse Dreams and Goals

Dreams are easy.They are free, too.不要将你的梦想和目标拒之门外

梦想简单易得

However, dreams by themselves are just that… dreams.然而，梦想本身也就是梦想

They are imaginary.And they don't produce tangible results.它们是被想象出来的，它们也不会形成有形的产物。

You need to turn your dreams into action.You need goals to make the visions

of your dreams real.你要做的就是将你的梦想变为行动。你需要设立目标，将你的梦想变得触手可及。

“Dreams can inspire you, but goals can change your life.”

梦想能够激励你，但是目标才能改变你的生活

Goals are all about action.Goals turn dreams into reality.目标与一系列的行动相关。目标能让梦想成真。

Goals change you and can change your life.目标可以改变你，改变你的生活。

Don't confuse your dreams with goals.不要将你有了目标的梦想拒之门外。

Dreams occupy your mind.Goals take over your reality.梦想充实你的内心世界，目标占据着你的现实生活。

What will it take to turn your dreams into goals?

怎样才能把你的梦想转化成你的目标?

Here are 10 Big Differences Between Goals and Dreams:

这里有梦想和目标的10个不同点

Goals are something you are acting on.目标是你正在做的某些事。

Dreams are something you are just thinking about.Goals require action.Dreams can happen without lifting a finger, even while you are asleep.梦想是你内心正在思考的某些东西。目标需要行动。睡觉的时候可以产生梦想，甚至不动一根手指也一样可以办到。

Goals have deadlines.Dreams are just, well, dreams.目标是有期限的，而梦想只是梦想。

Goals must have a deadline.They have a time limit.Dreams can go on forever.In fact, many people maintain dreams their entire lives without ever reaching them.目标肯定有一个有效期，它们是有时间限制的。但是梦想却能永远存在。事实上，许多人都有一个一生都没能实现的梦想。

Dreams are free.Goals have a cost.梦想不需要你支付任何东西，而目标是需要付出代价的。

While you can daydream for free, goals don't come without a price.Time, money, effort and sweat.How will you pay for your goals?

做白日梦不需要有付出，但是目标却不可能没有付出。时间，金钱，精力，汗水。为了达成你的目标，你打算付出些什么呢?

Goals produce results.Dreams don't.目标是可以产生一定的结果的，但梦想不会。

Want to change your life? Your job? Your status in life? Goals can do that.A good friend of mine made six-figures on the ebook he published.He did that.Had it stayed as a dream, his life would have been as it always was.想要你的生活，工作，社会地位有些改变吗?目标可以帮你做到。我的一个好朋友出版的电子书数量超过了六位数，他确实做到了。如果他一直让梦想只是梦想的话，他的生活还是跟以往一样，没有任何改变。

Dreams are imaginary.Goals are based in reality.梦想是想象的产物，而目标确实存在于现实生活中。

You may dream of being Superman, but that is probably not going to happen.Goals are about what you can actually accomplish.They are grounded in the reality of our world.Goals should be big, but not supernatural.你的梦想可能是做一个超人，但很可能它不能成真。目标与你实际完成的事有关，它们存在于我们的现实生活中。目标可以很大，但绝不是超自然。

Goals have a finish line.Dreams never have to end.目标有一个终点，但梦想却可以是没有边际的。

Dreams can go on forever.They don't have to have an ending point.Goals must have a specific outcome.梦想可以一直存在，他不需要有终结点。但目标肯定会有一个特定的结果。

Dreams can inspire you.Goals can change your life.梦想可以一直激励你，而目标才能改变你的生活。

Dreams can bring you motivation.They can inspire you.But, goals can change your life forever.梦想能给你带来激情，它能一直鼓励你，但是目标才能一直改变你的生活。

Goals must have focus.Dreams don't.我们必须专注目标，梦想可以不用。

Dreams can be drifting, ever-changing thoughts.Goals must be laser-focused.They must be specific and they must be always on your mind.梦想是可以随着思想的变化而变化的，但是目标必须要有焦点。它们是具体的，印在你脑海里的。

Goals require hard work.Dreams just require your imagination.目标需要我们努力工作，而梦想只需要你的想象。

Dreaming is easy.做梦都挺容易的。

Almost everyone has a dream.But, fewer people have goals.几乎人人都有梦想。但是极少人有目标。

Goals are hard and they require hard work.(See #3)

完成目标是艰难的，同时也需要我们为此而努力地工作。

Dreams stretch your imagination.Goals stretch you.梦想可以拓宽你的想象力，而目标是拓展你自己。

Dreaming leads to bigger dreams.They stretch the limits of your imagination.But, goals stretch you.They increase your skills, your abilities, and change you forever.做梦可以产生更大的梦想。它可以拓宽你的想象力，而目标则是拓展你自己。它可以增加你的技巧，提高你的能力，永远的改变你。

Goals Do Come True 完成目标

Dreams can inspire you, but goals can change your life.梦想可以鼓励你，而目标则能永远的改变你。

Sometimes it only takes one step to change a dream into a goal.有时，只需一步，梦想就能变为目标。

Yet, it can take years to take that goal to the finish line.也有可能，需要好多年才能完成这个目标。

Always dream big, but make sure your goals are just as big.梦想很大，但请记住你的目标也一样。

Because dreams don't come true… but goals do.因为梦想不能成真，但目标可以。

第五篇：【美联英语】双语阅读：玛格丽特

小编给你一个美联英语官方免费试听课申请链接： http://m.meten.com/test/waijiao.aspx?tid=16-73675-0 美联英语提供：玛格丽特•撒切尔

Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest-serving and only woman prime minister, has died aged 87 after suffering a stroke, prompting a flood of tributes from across the globe.玛格丽特?撒切尔(Margaret Thatcher)因中风去世，享年87岁，在世界各地引发了一阵哀悼浪潮。撒切尔是英国任职最长的首相，也是唯一的女首相。

Leaders lined up to pay their respects to the former prime minister, who revolutionised the UK economy during an 11-year tenure, as she rolled back the state and put in place some of the country’s most radical and controversial reforms.各国领导人纷纷向这位英国前首相表达敬意。在其长达11年的任期中，撒切尔领导了英国经济的革命，缩减了政府职能，并实施了该国最为激进、最有争议的一些改革。

David Cameron, UK prime minister, described the former Conservative prime minister as the “greatest peacetime prime minister”.英国现首相戴维?卡梅伦(David Cameron)把这位前保守党首相称为“英国和平时期最伟大的首相”。

“[She] took a country that was on its knees and made Britain stand tall again.We can’t deny that Lady Thatcher divided opinion.For many of us, she was and is

an inspiration.For others she was a force to be defined against.卡梅伦表示：“(她)临危受命，让英国重新站起来，再度屹立。不可否认，人们对她的评价各异。在我们许多人看来，她过去和现在都是一位鼓舞人心的人物。在其他人看来，她是一种特色鲜明的力量。

“But if there is one thing that cuts through all of this – one thing that runs through everything she did – it was her lion-hearted love for this country,” he said.“但如果说有一个中心贯穿着她的一生——在她所做的每一件事中都体现出来，那就是她对这个国家的无比热爱。”

President Barack Obama said: “The world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend.”

美国总统巴拉克?奥巴马(Barack Obama)表示：“世界失去了一位积极倡导自由的领袖，美国失去了一位真正的朋友。”

The prime minister’s office announced that parliament would be recalled for a special session on Wednesday to pay tribute to Thatcher.Her funeral will be held at the end of next week at St Paul’s Cathedral.英国首相办公室宣布，周三议会将召开一次特别会议，向撒切尔致哀。她的葬礼将于下周末在伦敦圣保罗大教堂(St Paul's Cathedral)举行。

She will have a “full ceremonial funeral” with military honours as was afforded to the Queen Mother and Lady Diana.The British flag flew at half mast over Parliament to honour Thatcher as all UK political parties suspended campaigning for the local elections on May 2.撒切尔将享有带有军事礼仪的“礼仪葬礼”，礼遇同王太后和戴安娜一样。英国国会降半旗向撒切尔致哀，各政党暂停针对5月2日地方选举的竞选活动。

Thatcher, who transformed Britain with her free-market revolution, had been in poor health since suffering minor strokes in 2002.自从2002年患上中风以来，撒切尔的健康状况一直很差。她曾以自己的自由市场革命改变了英国的面貌。

Statesmen past and present shared their memories of the woman dubbed the “Iron Lady”.Tony Blair, the second longest-serving postwar prime minister, called her “a towering political figure”.“Very few leaders get to change not only the political landscape of their country but of the world.Margaret was such a leader.Her global impact was vast.”

已卸任和在任的政治家们共同悼念有“铁娘子”绰号的撒切尔。英国战后任期第二长的首相托尼布莱尔(Tony Blair)称撒切尔为“一位伟大的政治人物。”“不但改变本国政治版图、还改变世界政治版图的领袖人物非常少，撒切尔就是其中的一位。她在全球播下了深远的影响。”

George W.Bush, former US president, described her as a “great ally” who “strengthened the special relationship”.美国前总统小布什(George W.Bush)称撒切尔为一位“强化了美英特殊关系的伟大盟友”。

Thatcher had a particularly close relationship with Ronald Reagan, the former US president.撒切尔与美国前总统罗纳德?里根(Ronald Reagan)之间保持了一种极为密切的关系。

With Reagan, she helped bring about the end of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall.The British prime minister saw herself as the perfect intermediary between the two countries, having struck up constructive relationships with both Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet president, and a man with whom she told Reagan “we can do business”.她和里根一道促成了苏联的解体和柏林墙的倒塌。这位英国前首相把自己视为美苏两国间的完美中间人，与里根和苏联总统米哈伊尔?戈尔巴乔夫(Mikhail Gorbachev)都建立了富有建设意义的关系。她告诉里根，戈尔巴乔夫是一个“我们能和他打交道”的人。

Mr Gorbachev said Thatcher helped end the Cold War: “Thatcher was a politician whose word carried great weight,” he said in a statement on his website.“Our first meeting in 1984 marked the beginning of a relationship that was at times difficult, not always smooth, but was treated seriously and responsibly by both sides.”

戈尔巴乔夫在自己网站上发布的声明中表示，撒切尔帮助结束了冷战：“撒切尔是一位一言九鼎的政治家。我们在1984年第一次会面，随后便开启了一段时而棘手、并非一帆风顺但双方都认真负责予以对待的关系。”

Lech Walesa, Poland’s former president and anti-communist freedom figure, said Thatcher was key in hastening the fall of the Iron Curtain: “She was a great person.She did a great deal for the world, along with Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II and Solidarity, she contributed to the demise of communism in Poland and central Europe.”

波兰前总统、反对共产主义的自由派人士列赫?瓦文萨(Lech Walesa)表示，撒切尔在加

速“铁幕”(Iron Curtain)倒塌的过程中发挥了关键的作用：“她是一位伟人。她为世界做出了巨大的贡献，她与罗纳德?里根、教皇约翰?保罗二世(Pope John Paul II)和波兰团结工会(Solidarity)一起，推动了波兰与中欧共产主义政权的终结。”

Her other great success abroad was in the Falklands War against Argentina, which invaded the islands in 1982.Thatcher defied resistance in her own cabinet to send a 25,000-strong task force to the tiny archipelago, which troops eventually recaptured after two months.撒切尔在海外的其他巨大胜利，还包括1982年的英阿福克兰群岛战争(Falklands war，又称马岛战争)。她不顾自己内阁的反对，向面积微小的福克兰群岛派出了2.5万人的特遣部队，最终于两个月后夺回了该群岛。

Her legacy was just as long-lasting at home.A succession of prime ministers, Labour and Conservative alike, have felt unable or unwilling to depart from the blueprint she established of a state serviced by privatised utilities and free of the stranglehold of organised unions.撒切尔在国内留下的遗产同样意义深远。历任首相，无论出自工党还是保守党，都感到不能或不愿背离她为英国设定的蓝图——公用事业私有化，企业不受有组织工会的钳制。