The Square Mile 一平方英里
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The script of this programme 本節(jié)目臺詞
John: Hi there from BBC Learning English. It's John here with another On the Town. With me is Oliver.
Oliver: Hi John.
John: Today we're in the City of London.
Oliver: Hang on John, aren't we always talking about the city of London?
The Bank of England is an iconic building in the City of London
John: Well, we often speak about London, but not the City of London.
Oliver: I don't understand.
John: Well, when we speak about London generally, we normally talk about the commercial areas, and the places where the museums are, the tourist areas and that is quite different from the City of London.
Oliver: So what is the City of London then?
John: It's where you’ll find all the main financial institutions of Britain, the big banks and the Stock Exchange.
Oliver: 在這里我們就是說在倫敦金融城，the City, 你可以找到所有的主要金融機(jī)構(gòu)，the financial institutions, 大銀行，the banks, 和證券交易所， the Stock Exchange.
John: It's also the oldest part of London, where you can see the ancient Roman remains of Londinium. That's the name given to the City of London in Roman times.
Oliver: 倫敦金融城地區(qū)是倫敦城區(qū)最古老的部分之一，在這里很多歷史遺存 remains, 可以追溯到古羅馬時代 Roman Times.
John: We asked our reporter Flora Winfield to take a look around the City of London for us.
Oliver: 她的介紹是從一個非常受歡迎的地方開始的，這個地方在金融城的街道的地底下，讓我們聽聽看她發(fā)現(xiàn)了什么。
I’m standing beneath the streets of the City of London, in the heart of Roman Londinium, in those days, 2,000 years ago to be exact, this was the amphitheatre where the Romans held their games. Now it lies underneath the medieval Guild Hall, centre of the government of the modern City of London, known as the Square Mile. The patterns of that medieval life are still clearly visible in the street plan of the modern city.
Flora Winfield , BBC Reporter
John: So Flora was reporting from beneath the streets of the City of London.
Oliver: Flora was underground, 地下。Flora 是在金融城的街道底下做的報道， beneath the streets.
John: Flora said that 2,000 years ago the place where she was standing was used as an amphitheatre.
Oliver: 圓形劇場 an amphitheatre. 這是古羅馬人舉行活動的地方，現(xiàn)在在這座建筑的上面是另外一座古建筑，中世紀(jì)的老市政廳，the medieval Guild Hall.
John: Now you heard Flora use a term there to describe the City of London.
Oliver: What was it?
John: The Square Mile.
Oliver: 沒錯兒，只是倫敦金融城的另外一個名字“一平方英里”。這個詞兒經(jīng)常用來描述在金融城里面的金融機(jī)構(gòu)。The Square Mile.
John: Yes, you're listening to BBC Learning English with me, John.
Oliver: And me, Oliver.
John: Today we're talking about the City of London. So, we've heard how the City is the financial area of London, it's also one of the oldest districts in the wider London area. It’s also a place where people live.
Oliver: But not many people.
John: Yes, you are right Oliver, but those who do live there like it very much. It's great in the evenings when all the city bankers have gone home and the residents have the whole place to themselves.
Oliver: 他們真有福氣。當(dāng)白天在這里工作的銀行家們 the City Bankers,下班回家后，這里的居民就可以享受只屬于他們的金融城了。
John: Here's Daniel Hodson, who has lived in the city for 40 years, to explain what living there is like. He also talks about how important he thinks the City of London is to the rest of Britain.
People like living in the City. It's a welcoming place. There’s a degree of flexibility. There’s a realisation that we have something very special, and wanting to continue it. And I think that in the year that we’re celebrating 20 years after Big Bang, which was the thing which really moved the city ahead, I think it’s extraordinary to look back and see how in many ways dominant, certainly in the European economy, the City of London is, and we are part of that fabric, and we are symbolic in the way its been able to change.
Daniel Hodson, City of London resident
John: So Daniel said people like living in the City, it's a welcoming place.
Oliver: What did Daniel say about the Big Bang?
John: Ah yes, he means the day in 1986 when the London Stock Exchange was de-regulated. Then it became much easier to buy and sell shares on the international money markets. Well, we hope you’ve enjoyed today’s programme, and if you are in London be sure to visit the City of London.
Oliver: 再見!
John: Bye!
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