London's Amazing Westminster Abbey 撰文及考題設計
英國文化協會教學團隊
H
ands down, one of the most fascinating and popular tourist attractions for visitors to London
is officially known as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster. This name, however, is quite a mouthful, and the building is better known by its nickname, "Westminster Abbey". Founded as a church in the 7th century, construction of the present day site began in 1245. A stunning example of gothic architecture, Westminster Abbey has hosted sixteen royal weddings, serves as the final resting place for over 3300 notable public figures, and houses the legendary Coronation Chair on which all monarchs have been crowned king or queen since 1308.
A Hefty Wedding Bill Not all royal weddings are held at Westminster Ab-
ity are buried in Westminster Abbey, the most visited
bey. In fact, Richard II's wedding in 1382 was the last
memorials are found in Poet's Corner. Writers, actors,
one until over 500 later when Princess Patricia of Con-
and many artists can be remembered here, including
naught wed Alexander Ramsay in 1919.
Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Alfred Tennyson,
One of the most expensive, however, even in consid-
and the great actor, Sir Laurence Olivier. The most
eration of actual dollar figures over time, was the mar-
ominous of all epitaphs (the writing on the tomb) is ar-
riage of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April
guably Shakespeare's. It reads (in part), "Blessed be the
29, 2011. With a price tag of over $34 million USD,
man that spares these stones, And curst be he that moves
no expense was spared. A $136,000 wedding ring and
my bones”, a warning of the "curse" that will follow any
over $800,000 just for flowers, made this one of the
who attempt, (and some have suggested it), to examine
most lavish celebrations in the Abbey's history.
the remains of one of the world's greatest writers!
Do Not Disturb!
Best Seat in the House
While many famous monarchs, politicians, and nobil-
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西敏寺是遊客到倫敦的必遊之地。（歐新社）
全球中央雜誌 2015.03
King Edward's Chair, better known as the "Coro-
本文由英國文化協會–全球最值得信賴的英語教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw
nation Chair", is the throne on which all sovereigns
英 倫 聚 焦
A Lasting Landmark
of England have sat (since 1308) at their moment of coronation. Returned to Scotland in 1996 (provided
Although Westminster Abbey suffered serious dam-
it may be used for future coronations), the Stone of
age from bombing during World War II, thanks to the
Scone is a 152 kg block of red sandstone that is fitted
Prime Minister Winston Churchill's insistence that
into the chair.
"the abbey be saved at all costs", the structure remains
It serves as a symbolic artifact during ceremonies,
to this day.
and is the topic of much mystery and superstition. Sur-
Rescue crews worked to place over 60,000 sandbags
prisingly, the chair has been the victim of some abuse
around the tombs, and the stained glass windows were
and neglect. In the 18th and 19th centuries, tourists
taped over or covered for protection. Today, over 30
and choir boys appear to have carved their initials and
million people enter the abbey each year, and no trip
other graffiti into the famous wooden chair.
to London would be complete without a visit.
沒到過西敏寺 別說你來過倫敦 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯）
庸置疑，對於遊客而言，倫敦最迷人與最熱門
無
勿擾長眠地
景點之一是「西敏市聖彼得牧師團教堂」，但
由於這個名稱既繞口又「落落長」，大家更為熟悉的 名稱是「西敏寺」。
雖然有許多知名君王、政治人物與貴族長眠在西 敏寺，然而最多遊客造訪的是「詩人之角」，民眾得
西敏寺大教堂建造於7世紀，於1245年重建成當代
以在這裡追憶許多作家、演員及藝術家，像是狄更
看到的規模。這棟令人瞠目結舌的哥德式建築，已
斯、喬叟、丁尼生以及偉大男演員勞倫斯．奧立佛。
舉行過16場王室婚禮，也是超過3,300位名人的長眠
最不吉利的墓誌銘堪稱出自莎士比亞筆下，其中一
地，裡面還有一張傳奇性的「加冕椅」，自1308年以
部分寫道：「讓我安息者將得到上帝祝福，遷我屍骨
來國王或王后的加冕儀式都是在這個寶座舉行。
者將受亡靈詛咒。 」藉以警告，要是誰膽敢動到這 位全球最偉大作家之一的屍骨，「咒詛」將降臨在這
花費高昂的婚禮 並不是所有王室婚禮都在西敏寺舉行。事實上，理 查二世在1382年大婚後事隔超過500年、直到1919年， 才又在這裡舉行帕特麗霞公主和亞歷山大．雷姆瑟 （Alexander Ramsay）的婚禮。
人身上。
教堂中最好的座位 以稱為「加冕椅」較為人所知的愛德華王座，是 1308年以來英王加冕典禮的寶座。一塊重達152公
不過西敏寺史上斥資最高的婚禮之一是威廉王子
斤、稱做「斯昆石」的砂岩被安置在愛德華王座之
與凱特．密道頓於2011年4月29日的婚禮，這場婚禮重
下。斯昆石在1996年歸還蘇格蘭，但送還的條件是未
金砸下3,400萬美元（約新台幣10億6, 763萬元），不惜
來英國國王登基的時候，這塊石頭需被運回到西敏
耗費鉅資，13萬6,000美元的婚戒以及光是花朵布置就
寺大教堂的王座之下。
要價80萬美元，堪稱西敏寺史上最豪奢的婚禮之一。
加冕椅是儀式中最具象徵意義的工藝品代表，也
CNA NEWSWORLD
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是許多迷信與神話故事的主題。但令人驚訝的是，這
國首相邱吉爾堅持要「不計代價救回西敏寺」，因而
張椅子曾長期受糟蹋與忽略。在18與19世紀，遊客與
得以保全至今日。
合唱團男孩在這張木製椅子刻上名字縮寫與塗鴉。
整修人員致力於把超過6萬個沙包堆在墳墓周圍， 以及將彩繪玻璃貼上膠布或拿布覆蓋以妥善維護。
亙古的地標
時至今日，每年有超過3,000萬人參觀西敏寺，來到
雖然西敏寺在二戰期飽受戰火蹂躪，幸好當時英
倫敦一定要造訪西敏寺，才算不虛此行。
Key Words hands down – 毫無疑問 without any doubt; widely agreed upon
hefty bill – 重金 involving a large（hefty） amount of money
quite a mouthful – 很難表達 a word, name, or phrase that is very long or difficult to say
no expense was spared – 不計代價 the cost was not important; a lot of money was spent to make it extremely good
nickname – 綽號 a name that is different from the real name, but what most people use stunning – 非常賞心悅目的 very beautiful or pleasing gothic architecture – 哥德式建築 a popular style of building during the medieval period; many castles and churches were built in this tradition
c) topics of mystery and superstition d) Scottish sandstone carvings Questions 5-10
Read the passage and look at the following statements. Write YES if the statement is TRUE NO if the statement is NOT TRUE NOT GIVEN (NG) if there is no information about this in the passage
5. Since 1308, almost every king and queen has been crowned in Westminster Abbey. 6. After the marriage Princess Patricia of Connaught and Alexander Ramsay in 1919, a long period of time passed before the next royal wedding in Westminster Abbey. 7. The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was the most expensive of any wedding held in the UK. 8. William Shakespeare wanted to warn people after his death that anyone who tried to dig up his final resting place would experience bad things. 9. The Coronation Chair was damaged in World War II, but was saved thanks to Winston Churchill. 10. With over 30 million visitors each year, Westminster Abbey is the most popular tourist attractions in London. 1.C
2.A
3.C
4.A
5. F
6. T
7. NG
8. T
9. F
10. NG 全球中央雜誌 2015.03
coronation – 加冕 a ceremony in which a crown is placed on the head of a new king or queen
雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions
Questions 1-4: Choose the correct answer. 1. According to the article, the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster is usually called "Westminster Abbey" because a) the name changed in 1245 b) it started as a church and later became an abbey c) "Westminster Abbey" is easier to say and most people use this shortened name d) many famous people are buried here. 2. Shakespeare's tomb warns people not to disturb his remains because a) something bad could happen in the future b) so many famous artists are also buried there c) many people have tried to do so in the past d) Shakespeare is the greatest writer of all time 3. The Stone of Scone is a) a permanent feature of the Coronation Chair b) missing because it was stolen by tourists c) a symbolic object now used only during coronations d) an example of graffiti 4. One example of the graffiti carved into the chair includes a) letters of the names of tourists and choir boys b) the Stone of Scone
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ominous– 不祥預兆的 suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future
Answers
雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre
lavish – 豪奢 having a very rich and expensive quality