In 1865, a Frenchman put forward the idea of building a statue to celebrate both the end of slavery after the Civil War and the 100th anniversary of American independence. This international project saw French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi bring the figure to life, while American architect Richard Morris Hunt began designing the base ahead of Lady Liberty’s arrival.
Lady Liberty’s journey across the Atlantic Ocean was no small feat. The statue was disassembled into 350 individual pieces and packed into 214 crates. It was also carefully labeled for a smooth and accurate reassembly. New York Harbor witnessed the arrival of Lady Liberty on June 17, 1885, marking the beginning of her significant presence in the US.
Despite arriving in 1885, Lady Liberty remained incomplete, awaiting her permanent base. In 1886, with the foundation in place, the final stage of Lady Liberty’s assembly began. The delicate process of attaching the copper sheets to a steel frame took four months to complete. With her torch held high, Lady Liberty serves as a timeless reminder of the lasting values that unite nations and inspire individuals.
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片： AdobeStock
紐約港矗立著一座由銅與鋼所造的巨大之物──自由女神像，其正式名稱為「自由照耀世界」，但綽號為「自由女士」。自1885年被運送至美國，它一直是自由和民主的代表性象徵。這座雕像是法國送給美國的禮物，是兩國友誼的象徵，傳遞著關於自由的強烈訊息。
1865年，一位法國人提出建造一座雕像的想法，以慶祝美國內戰後奴隸制度結束以及美國獨立一百週年。在這個跨國計畫中，法國雕塑家弗雷德里克．奧古斯特．巴托爾迪將雕像變得栩栩如生，而美國建築師理察．莫里斯．亨特在自由女神像到來之前開始設計底座。
自由女神像橫跨大西洋的旅程絕非易事。這座雕像被拆解成三百五十塊，裝進兩百一十四個裝貨箱裡。它也經過仔細標記，以便順利、準確地重新組裝。1885年6月17日，紐約港見證了自由女神的抵達，這標誌著它在美國重要地位的開始。
Photo: AdobeStock 照片： AdobeStock
儘管自由女神於1885年抵達，但它還不完整，等待著它的永久底座。1886年，隨著底座就緒，拼組自由女神像的最後階段開始了。將銅片固定在鋼框上的精細過程花了四個月的時間才完成。自由女神高舉火炬，發揮了永久提醒著人們團結各國、激勵個人之永恆價值的作用。
What Did You Learn?
1. Which two countries worked together on Lady Liberty?
2. What did the gifting of the Statue of Liberty celebrate?
參考答案
1. France and the US.
2. The end of slavery (after the Civil War) and the 100th anniversary of American independence.
Word in Use
1. harbor n. 港口
The busy harbor was filled with fishing boats and cargo
vessels.
那個熙熙攘攘的港口充滿著漁船和貨船。
2. gigantic a. 巨大的
The whale is a gigantic marine mammal.
鯨魚是一種巨大的海生哺乳動物。
3. nickname vt. 替……取綽號
Michael Jordan, nicknamed “Air Jordan,” dominated
basketball courts in the 1990s.
麥可．喬丹（綽號是「飛人喬丹」）主宰了1990年代的籃球場。
4. democracy n. 民主
Democracy allows citizens to influence policy through
voting.
民主讓公民得以透過投票影響政策。
5. anniversary n. 週年紀念
The company marked its 50th anniversary with a grand
event.
該公司舉辦了盛大的活動來慶祝五十週年。
Practical Phrases
1. put forward... / put... forward
提議……
The team put forward several suggestions for improving efficiency.
該團隊提出好幾項提升效率的建議。
2. bring... to life 讓……變得栩栩如生
The author’s vivid descriptions brought the fictional world to life in the reader’s imagination.
那位作家生動的描述讓虛幻的世界在讀者的想像中變得栩栩如生。
3. in place 就緒，就定位
With all the ingredients in place, Candice began baking the cake.
所有食材都準備就緒，坎蒂絲開始烤蛋糕。
4. attach A to B
將A固定在∕附在∕繫在B上
Dennis attached the shelf to the wall with screws.
丹尼斯用螺絲將架子固定在牆上。
5. serve as... 有……的作用∕效果
Deborah’s dedication to her work serves as an inspiration to others.
黛博拉對工作的投入對其他人起了激勵的效果。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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