牛頓的蘋果樹岌岌可危
Legend has it that an apple which fell from its branches was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton”s discovery of gravity.
大家都聽說過這個故事：一個從樹上落下的蘋果砸中了牛頓的頭，啟發(fā)他發(fā)現(xiàn)了萬有引力定律。
But now history”s most celebrated fruit tree is paying the price of fame.
這棵蘋果樹可謂是歷史上最出名的蘋果樹，但如今盛名 也讓它遭遇生存危機。
The thousands of visitors drawn to Sir Isaac”s childhood home each year could be damaging the roots. And in an effort to ensure it keeps flourishing， a willow barrier has been put around the tree.
每年，成千上萬的游客前往牛頓童年的家，觀看蘋果樹，這可能導(dǎo)致蘋果樹的根部受損。現(xiàn)在，為了保證它的健康成長，蘋果樹周圍已豎起了柳木圍欄。
It means visitors to the 17th century Woolsthorpe Manor， near Grantham， Lincolnshire， will no longer be able to sit under its branches as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when “the notion of gravitation came to mind”。 <a hReF=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNiform.html>家長推薦的蘇州吳中作文輔導(dǎo)班</a>
始于17世紀的伍爾斯索普莊園位于英國林肯郡格蘭瑟姆附近，柳木圍欄的設(shè)立意味著游客們無法與蘋果樹“親密接觸”，也不能像曾經(jīng)的牛頓1665年那樣坐在樹蔭下，正是那時牛頓發(fā)現(xiàn)了萬有引力。
The National Trust， which owns the small manor house where Newton was born in 1642， said the 2ft-high fence was designed to preserve the tree， not exclude visitors.
1642年牛頓出生在這個莊園，現(xiàn)在莊園歸英國國民信托組織所有，并由該組織負責(zé)管理和保護。該組織表示，0.6米高的圍欄是為了保護蘋果樹，不是為了趕走游客。
Official Ann Moynihan said there had been no damage so far but warned that there could soon be a problem.
國民信托組織官員安？莫伊尼漢說，盡管目前蘋果樹還未顯示出任何健康問題，但如果長期置之不理肯定會造成損傷。
“Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 per cent， to 33，000 a year in three years. The more people who visit， the more the soil will become compacted around the tree and over the roots.” <a hReF=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNiform.html>蘇州吳中作文輔導(dǎo)班</a>
她說：“3年中前來參觀的游客數(shù)量已增長了50%，達到每年3.3萬人，游客越多，蘋果樹周圍的泥土就變得越緊實，進而損害樹根?！?
She said the tree – which re-rooted itself in 1820 after being blown down in a storm and grew back in an “inverted S-shape” – was already difficult to get close to because of its shape.
莫伊尼漢表示，這棵蘋果樹曾在1820年被暴風(fēng)刮倒過，隨后重新生長起來，長成了倒“S”形，這種形狀本來已讓人難以靠近。
“People have always been free to walk around the apple orchard unescorted，” she added.
莫伊尼漢補充道：“人們過去總是不受拘束地在果園中行走?！?
“We just want to preserve the tree for another 400 years if we can.” She said visitors will still be able to take apples from the tree.
我們只是想保護這棵樹，盡可能地讓它能再生長400年?！彼f建立圍欄后，游客們依然可以摘到樹上的蘋果。 <a href=http://www.zequeka.cn/miniform.html>蘇州語文作文閱讀培訓(xùn)</a>
Visitor and history graduate Chris Gwyther， 37， said： “I suppose it is a pity that you can”t sit under the tree like Newton.
游客克里斯？格威瑟今年37歲，他是一名歷史系畢業(yè)生，他說：“游客們無法模仿牛頓坐在蘋果樹下，在我看來這是一種遺憾。
“But you can still see it and the tree is 400-years-old， it needs saving for the future.”
“但人們還是能看到這棵樹，它也需要被精心維護，以便未來的人們也能看到它?！?
The tree is of the rare Flower of Kent variety， a green cooking apple. It stands in the front garden of the property and is visible from what was Newton”s bedroom window.
這棵蘋果樹屬稀有品種，結(jié)出的果實是綠色的，可用于烹飪。它位于伍爾斯索普莊園前面的花園里，從牛頓臥室的窗戶里就能看到它。
Newton left no account confirming he had been inspired by a falling apple. The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727， the year Newton died at the age of 84.
牛頓自己從來就沒說過受蘋果落地啟發(fā)這件事，這個故事是在牛頓去世那年，1727年法國哲學(xué)家伏爾泰出版的一本書中第一次出現(xiàn)的。
《牛頓的蘋果樹岌岌可?！诽砑訒r間：2024-12-14；更新時間：2025-03-09
