英国语文第二册 第51期:金属

　　LESSON 51 Metals 第五十一课 金属
　　Metals are seldom found in a pure state. 金属很少以纯物质状态被发现，
　　They are generally found mixed with earth, stones, or other metals, from which they are separated by washing, crushing, or burning. 而大多是与土、石头或其他金属一起的混合状态被发现，通过洗涤、碾压或者燃烧从这些物质中分离出金属。
　　Gold is yellow and bright, heavy and soft. It is found chiefly in Africa and in North America. 黄金呈明亮的黄色，密度大且柔软。它主要是在非洲和北美洲被发掘。
　　The districts where gold is found are called "gold diggings." 发现黄金的地区被称为“黄金矿区”。
　　It is usually obtained in the form of small grains called "gold dust," but sometimes also in that of lumps called "nuggets." 它通常以被称为“金粉”的小谷粒的形式获得，但有时也可以以“金块”的块状形式获取。
　　Gold is also found mixed with sand in the beds of rivers. 另外，黄金也可以与沙子混合存在于河床中。
　　Gold is the most precious of all metals. 黄金是众多金属中最珍贵的一种。
　　It is chiefly made into coins and ornaments 1. 它主要用于铸造硬币与装饰物：
　　Sovereigns, half-sovereigns, brooches, bracelets 2, rings, watches, and chains are made of gold. 一榜的金币、半磅金币、胸针、手镯、戒指、手表和黄金制的锁链等。
　　Silver is white and shining. It is heavy, but not so heavy as gold. Silver is found chiefly in America. 银是光亮的白色。它密度大，但比黄金小些。银主要在美洲被发现。
　　Silver is a precious metal, next in value to gold. 银也是贵金属，其价值仅次于黄金。
　　It is made into coins, ornaments, and many useful articles. 它被用于制作硬币、装饰品和应用于许多有用的条款中。
　　Half-crowns, florins, shillings, sixpences, and threepenny pieces are made of silver. 二先令六便士、弗罗林（一种货币）、先令、六便士以及三便士都是由银做的。
　　There are also silver brooches, watches, and chains; silver knives and forks; silver spoons, cups, and boxes. 当然也有银制的胸针、手表和锁链，银质的刀、叉、勺、杯子和盒子、
　　Lead is of a bluish-gray colour. It is the softest of all metals. 铅是浅蓝灰色的，是所有金属中最柔软的。
　　It is found in various parts of the British Isles 3, as well as in other parts of the world. 在不列颠群岛的许多地区及世界的其他地方都能找见它。
　　Lead is one of the common metals. Being very soft, it is easily made to assume any shape. 铅是最常见的金属之一。由于它很软，所以很容易被塑造成各种形状。
　　It is sometimes used to cover the roofs of houses and churches; it is also made into water pipes and cisterns 4. 有时铅被用于覆盖房子和教堂的屋顶，它也能被用于制造水管与蓄水池。
　　Iron is of a dark gray colour. It is hard and brittle 5. Great Britain produces it in large quantities. 铁是深灰色的。它的属性很硬并且易碎。英国生产了大量的钢铁。
　　Iron is the most useful metal known. It is required in nearly every trade. 钢铁是人们熟知的最有用途的金属，近乎每笔交易都涉及它。
　　Ships, houses, churches, engines, and carriages of all kinds, require more or less iron. 船、房子、教堂、发动机以及所有的运输都或多或少的需要使用到铁。
　　With gold and silver we make our coins, pay our accounts, and adorn 6 our persons. 我们用黄金和银铸币、付款和装饰自己，
　　With iron we make our tools, defend our country, and supply a thousand wants. 我们用钢铁制造工具，保卫自己的国家并满足千千万万的需求。