高中-英语选修8课文逐句翻译(人教版).docVIP

- -- 1.选修八Unit1 CALIFORNIA加利福尼亚California is the third largest state in the USA but has the largest population. 加州是美国第三大洲, 而且是人口最多的州。 It also has the distinction of being the most multicultural state in the USA, having attracted people from all over the world. 加州与众不同之处在于它也是美国最具多元文化的一个州。它吸引了来自世界各地的人们。 The customs and languages of the immigrants live on in their new home. 这些移民的风俗习惯以及语言在他们的新家都得以延续。 This diversity of culture is not surprising when you know the history of California.当你了解了加利福尼亚的历史，你就不会对其文化的多样性感到惊奇了。NATIVE AMERCANS美洲土著人Exactly when the first people arrived in what we now know as California, no one really knows. 最早一批人具体是什么时候来到我们现在了解的加利福尼亚地区的, 谁也说不清楚。 However, it is likely that Native Americans were living in California at least fifteen thousand years ago. 然而，可能至少在一15,000年以前美洲土著人就住在加利福尼亚了。Scientists believe that these settlers crossed the Bering Strait in the Arctic to America by means of a land bridge which existed in prehistoric times. 科学家们认为这些迁居者通过一条史前时期曾经存在的大陆桥穿越北极地区的白令海峡到达美洲。 In the 16th century, after the arrival of the Europeans, the native people suffered greatly. 欧洲人在16世纪到来这里之后，土著人遭受了极大的苦难。 Thousands were killed or forced into slavery. 成千上万人被杀或被迫成为奴隶。In addition, many died from the diseases brought by the Europeans. 另外, 欧洲人带来的疾病，使许多人染病而死。 However, some survived these terrible times, and today there are more Native Americans living in California than in any other state. 不过，还是有一些人经历了这些恐怖时期而活下来了。今天住在加利福尼亚的美洲土著人比任何其他州的都要多。 THE SPANISH西班牙人In the 18th century California was ruled by Spain. 在18世纪的时候，加利福尼亚是被西班牙统治的。 Spanish soldiers first arrived in South America in the early 16th century, when they fought against the native people and took their land. 西班牙士兵最早是在16世纪初期来到南美洲的，他们同土著人打仗，夺去了他们的土地。Two centuries later, the Spanish had settled in most parts of South America and along the northwest coast of what we now call the United States. 两个世纪以后, 西班牙人在南美洲大部分地区定居下来，而且还在我们现在称之为美国的西北沿海地区住下来。Of the first Spanish to go to California, the majority were religious