Swans Released Marking Spring in Germany
天鵝出來象徵春天降臨德國
Sunny Chao, David Lee
【新聞關鍵字】
1. gently: adv. 溫柔地，輕輕地
2. chase: v 追逐，追捕
3. canal: n. 運河，（動植物體內的）管、道
4. district: n. 區，行政區
5. representative: n. 代表
6. be responsible for: phr. 負責
7. release: v. 釋放，放鬆
STORY:
Spring arrived in Hamburg over the weekend. At the change of season, about 120 swans were gently chased along several canals until they reached the city’s Alster River.
新聞內容：
春天在上周末降臨德國漢堡市。在季節變換之際，約120隻天鵝沿著運河輕輕追逐著，游到了阿爾斯特河。
The swans spent the winter months on Muehlenteich pond in the Eppendorf district of Hamburg. City officials kept the pond from freezing over — just for the swans.
這些天鵝冬天都待在漢堡伊彭多夫區 (Eppendorf) 的穆蘭太許池塘 (Muehlenteich)過冬。漢堡市為了這些天鵝，特地讓池塘保持不結冰。
Swan representative Olaf Niess is responsible for caring for the birds. He watched them get all excited when they were released.
【新聞關鍵字】
8. go for it: phr.【俚】努力爭取;冒險嘗試;大膽一試
9. grant: v. 同意，授予
10. refresh: v. 使清新，恢復精神
11. council: n. 會議，地方議會
12. forbid: v. 禁止
13. insult: v. 侮辱
14. in charge of: phr. 主管，照料
天鵝代表奧拉夫‧尼斯負責照顧這些天鵝。他看到牠們被放出來時有多興奮。
[Olaf Niess, Swan Representative]:
“They all really went for it and just kept on swimming."
天鵝代表奧拉夫‧尼斯說: 「這些天鵝真的都很興奮，牠們一直向前游。」
Passers-by enjoyed the view from a local bridge as the swans were once again granted their freedom.
路人們從當地一座橋上觀賞這群天鵝重獲自由的喜悅。
[Helmut Monske]:
“It is always great to see, it is refreshing for the soul."
路人孟斯克說：「看天鵝游過運河真是好看，讓人覺得神清氣爽。」
Hamburg has been granting these graceful animals special privileges for decades.
漢堡謇已經特別保護這群優雅的動物幾十年了。
According to tradition, the city council put swans under special protection in 1664. Since then it has been forbidden to “ insult, hurt or kill" the birds. From 1818, a Hamburg city “swan representative" has been in charge of the animals.
漢堡市議會自1664年就延續著一項傳統，那就是把天鵝列為特別保護動物。人們不能" 侮辱、傷害、或殘殺" 天鵝。從1818年以來，漢堡市還設有" 天鵝代表" 負責照顧天鵝。
本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞 http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_europe/2009-04-06/342453561839.html
【每日一句】
I wasn’t aware of that.
我沒有意識到。
【今日諺語】
Praise is not pudding.
恭維話不能當飯吃
【看頭條，學英語】
1. Chinese tourist arrivals break 3,000 daily ceiling
中國觀光客入境打破每日3000人上限
2. DPP calls on defense chief to resign
民進黨呼籲國防部長辭職
3. PRC dissident detained on sensitive anniversary
中共異議份子因為敏感週年被拘捕
4. N Korea expels UN arms inspectors, shuts nuclear talks
北韓驅逐聯合國武器調查員 關閉核子談判
5. Mel Gibson’s wife files for divorce
梅爾吉勃遜的太太提出離婚
【頭條關鍵字】
1. daily ceiling: 每日上限
2. calls on: 呼籲
3. dissident: 異議份子
4. detain: v. 拘捕
5. file: v. 提出
6. divorce: n. 離婚
