Unit 6 Sightseeing背景知识.docVIP

1. London The capital and largest city of the United Kingdom, on the Thames River in southeast England. Greater London consists of 32 boroughs surrounding the City of London, built on the site of a Roman outpost named Londinium. Its growth as an important trade center dates from 886, under the rule of Alfred the Great. During the Elizabethan period (1558-1603) London achieved new heights of wealth, power, and influence and has continued to dominate its countrys political, economic, and cultural life. The old city was devastated by the plague in 1665 and by the Great Fire of 1666; the modern city was damaged severely by bombs during World War II. Population, 6,851,400. 伦敦：英邦联合王国的首都和最大城市，位于英格兰东南部泰晤士河沿岸。大伦敦由环绕伦敦市的三十二个自治城市组成，它建在一个名为伦迪尼厄姆的罗马前哨站上。自886年开始发展成为一个重要的贸易中心，当时由阿尔弗雷德一世执政。在伊丽莎白统治时期（1558-1603年），伦敦在财富、权力和影响力上达到新的高峰，并一直主宰着本国的政治、经济和文化生活。老城遭1665年瘟疫和1666年大火后摧毁；新城在第二次世界大战中被炸弹严重毁坏。人口6,851,400 London is the capital of England and of Great Britain, the political center of the Commonwealth, and a major port, 65km. from the mouth of the River Thames. Administratively it consists of: ①the City of London (area 2.5sq.km., pop. 5,400), the original nucleus, retaining a medieval system of government of courts of aldermen and an elected lord mayor. ②Greater London, a metropolitan county (pop. 7,111,500), made up of 12 Inner London boroughs (area 303sq.km., pop.2,809,100) and 20 Outer London boroughs (area 570sq.km.,pop. 4,302,400 ) The City, on the north bank of the Thames, is one of the worlds leading banking and financial centers. It contains Guildhall (1411-23) and St Pauls Cathedral (1675-1710). The Port of London lies to the east and its docks extend for 25 miles along the Thames. The Tower of London (11th c.) lies just east of the City. The West End includes Westminster, the area of central government administration, St James Palace (1521-1533), several parks, and fine examples of domestic architecture (esp. 18th-19th centuries). Industries (esp. in the East End and the subur