VOA慢速英语2019 巴黎圣母院火灾全球实时传播考验社交媒体

Notre Dame¹ Fire Seen Live Worldwide Tests Social Media

France has promised a worldwide effort to rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the famous Christian² church damaged by fire this week.

法国承诺集全球之力重建巴黎圣母院，这座著名的基督教教堂本周受到了火灾的破坏。

Many people have been sharing pictures of themselves and their families visiting Notre-Dame. For many, the building combines their personal memories with a long-established cultural heritage.

很多人都在分享自己或家人参观巴黎圣母院的照片。对很多人来说，这座建筑将他们的个人记忆与历史悠久的文化遗产结合在一起。

Live images of the fire were broadcast and shared as firefighters struggled to contain the flames that destroyed the building's tall spire³ and its wooden roof.

这场火灾的实时图像被广泛传播和分享，当时消防队员们正在努力控制烧毁了高耸的尖顶和木制屋顶的熊熊大火。

The fire happened at a time when some social media companies are testing methods for fighting back against false information. But in the case of YouTube, its methods did not help stop false information from spreading. YouTube's algorithm detected the images of the burning cathedral and sent users links about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Links included Wikipedia and Encyclopedia⁴ Britannica entries about the 9/11 attack.

这场火灾发生之际，一些社交媒体公司正在测试反击虚假信息的办法。但是就YouTube而言，该网站的办法无助于阻止虚假信息的传播。YouTube的算法检测到了大教堂燃烧的图像，给用户发送了关于2001年9月11日世贸中心恐怖袭击的链接。这些链接包括维基百科和大英百科全书关于911袭击的条目。

Observers say the incident demonstrates some of the problems with automatic systems that are meant to correct misleading information.

观察人士表示，该事件表明旨在纠正误导性信息的自动系统存在一些问题。

Worldwide calls to rebuild

全球呼吁重建

French president Emmanuel Macron sent a message on Twitter expressing sadness at the loss, "I am sad tonight to see this part of us burn."

法国总统马克龙在推特上发布了一条信息，对这一损失表示悲伤。他写道：“我很难过今晚看到巴黎圣母院着火了。”

He and many French leaders stressed the importance of the cathedral to France's common culture.

他和很多法国领导人强调了大教堂对法国共同文化的重要性。

U.S. President Donald Trump⁵ tweeted that he offered sympathy to the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis and offered U.S. experts to help rebuild it.

美国总统川普在推特上表示，他向天主会教皇弗朗西斯表示了慰问，并提供了美国专家帮助重建。

Notre-Dame de Paris is among the most famous Catholic churches in the world and is the seat of Catholic leadership of Paris. It is estimated that 13 million people visit the building every year.

巴黎圣母院是全球最著名的天主教堂之一，也是巴黎天主教领袖的所在地。据估计每年有1300万人参观该建筑。

The Paris public prosecutor⁶ is investigating the cause of the fire, which is suspected to be linked to extensive renovation⁷ work.

巴黎检察官正在调查火灾原因，火灾原因怀疑是跟大规模整修工程有关。

On Wednesday, France announced it would invite architects from around the world to propose designs to replace the spire that was destroyed in the fire. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said a competition would decide whether the cathedral should have a new design or be rebuilt as it was.

法国周三宣布将会邀请世界各地的建筑师提出设计，来取代火灾中被烧毁的尖顶。法国总理菲利普表示，将会通过角逐来决定大教堂是否采用新设计还是原样重建。

Words in This Story

heritage –n. the traditions, achievements and beliefs that are part of the history of a group or nation

algorithm –n. a set of steps that are followed to solve a mathematical problem or complete a computer process

fact-check –v. to find out if a claim or statement is true or correct

architect –n. a person who designs buildings

spire –n. a tall, narrow, pointed structure on the top of a building

1 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 spire   

n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点

参考例句：

• The church spire was struck by lightning.教堂的尖顶遭到了雷击。
• They could just make out the spire of the church in the distance.他们只能辨认出远处教堂的尖塔。

4 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

7 renovation   

n.革新，整修

参考例句：

• The cinema will reopen next week after the renovation.电影院修缮后，将于下星期开业。
• The building has undergone major renovation.这座大楼已进行大整修。