喜迎2020 英國大本鐘全新藍色鐘面亮相

英國著名地標倫敦大本鐘自2017年開始進行修復以來，只有在重要日子纔會敲響，而今，噴塗了全新藍色鐘面的大本鐘將會在新年到來的午夜時分響起鐘聲，迎接2020年的到來。

Big Ben will ring to mark the start of the New Year for the first time since its restored blue clock face was revealed from behind scaffolding.

自修復後從腳手架後露出藍色鐘面以來，英國大本鐘將首次敲響新年的鐘聲。

The landmark bell will sound at midnight on New Year’s Eve after scaffolding covering the tower’s North Dial was reMoved halfway through restoration work.

大本鐘的修復工程仍在進行之中，而北面鐘盤的腳手架已被拆除，這座英國的地標式建築將於元旦零點鳴響。

The 96-metre-tall Elizabeth Tower, which is one of the most notable buildings in the UK, has been covered in scaffolding for the last two years as the four clock dials are reglazed, ironwork is repainted and intricately carved stonework is cleaned and repaired.

這座96米高的伊麗莎白塔是英國最著名的建築之一，在過去的兩年裏，它被腳手架覆蓋着，四個鐘盤被重新裝飾，鐵藝被重新粉刷，雕刻複雜的石雕被清潔和修復。

Elizabeth Tower：伊麗莎白塔。2012年6月，英國宣佈把倫敦著名地標“大本鐘”的鐘樓改名爲“伊麗莎白塔”。

In March, sections of the scaffolding were removed to show the clock’s repainted blue face, in line with its original design.

今年3月，部分腳手架被拆除，以展示重新繪製的藍色鐘面，體現最初的設計。

The north clock face was originally painted Prussian blue in 1859 but was turned black due to pollution and weathering before being painted black in the 1980s.

北面的鐘盤最初在1859年被漆成普魯士藍，但由於污染和風化變成黑色。在20世紀80年代，鐘盤被漆成黑色。

weather [ˈweðə(r)]：vi.風化；受侵蝕；經受風雨

Since it was silenced in 2017 for restoration work, Big Ben has only sounded for some important events, such as Remembrance Day and the New Year.

自2017年大本鐘因修復工程而沉寂以來，它只在一些重要的活動上鳴響，如榮軍紀念日和新年。

It may also ring at the end of January for Brexit after Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the newly elected speaker of the House of Commons, said he was “not going to stand in the way” if MPs want to mark the exit date.

大本鐘也可能在明年1月底響起，以紀念英國脫歐。此前，新當選的英國下議院議長林賽•霍伊爾爵士表示，如果議員們想要紀念這一天，他“不會攔着”。

A group of more than 50 Tory MPs have backed an early day motion calling for the bell to chime at 11pm on 31 January.

50多名保守黨議員支持早前的一項動議，呼籲在2020年1月31日晚上11點敲響大本鐘。

chime[tʃaɪm]：vi.鳴響

Earlier this year, then-speaker John Bercow blocked a campaign for Big Ben to ring on 29 March, the UK’s original scheduled departure date from the EU.

今年早些時候，時任議長約翰·伯考阻止了大本鐘在3月29日響起的活動，這是英國原定的脫歐日期。

The bell will be tested on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday by “clock mechanics” and sound engineers ahead of the international BBC broadcast at midnight on the 31 December, parliament has said.

英國議會表示，在12月31日午夜英國廣播公司開始國際廣播之前，大本鐘將分別於週日、週一和週二接受鐘錶師和音響師的測試。

The restoration of the entire Elizabeth Tower, which will cost an estimated £61m and see the landmark repaired and redecorated, is due to be completed in 2021.

整個大本鐘的修復工作將於2021年完成，預計耗資6100萬英鎊（約合人民幣5.58億元），大本鐘將得以修繕和重新裝飾。

It will be followed by a £4bn restoration to the entire parliament building, which is thought to be a serious risk due to faulty electric, leaks and asbestos.

隨後，整個議會大廈將開始耗資40億英鎊的修復工程，由於電力故障、漏水和石棉問題，該大廈面臨很大風險。