Tourist Damages Old Fountain in Florence

A2

Tourist Damages Old Fountain in Florence

Introduction

A 28-year-old woman is in trouble with the law. She damaged a famous old fountain in Florence on April 18.

Main Body

The woman climbed the fountain. She climbed a horse statue. She did not want to touch the water. She wanted to touch the statue for a game before her wedding. Experts looked at the fountain. They found small breaks on the horse's feet and the stone wall. The woman used the wall to climb up. Now, the police are taking her to court. This fountain is very old. It was made in 1563. Other people damaged it in the past. In 1830, someone stole a statue. In 2005, someone broke the statue's hand.

Conclusion

The woman must go to court. The city wants to protect the old fountain.

Vocabulary Learning

climbed (v.)
went up / 攀爬
Example:She climbed the fountain.
court (n.)
legal tribunal / 法庭
Example:The police are taking her to court.
statue (n.)
sculpture / 雕像
Example:The statue was made of marble.
water (n.)
liquid for drinking / 水
Example:She did not want to touch the water.
woman (n.)
female adult / 女士
Example:The woman walked into the room.

Sentence Learning

She wanted to touch the statue for a game before her wedding.
Time Marker: The word 'before' shows that the action happened earlier than another event.時間標記: 'before' 表示動作發生在另一事件之前。
Now, the police are taking her to court.
Time Marker: 'Now' indicates the action is happening at the current moment.時間標記: 'Now' 表示此刻正在發生。
The woman used the wall to climb up.
Prepositional Phrase: 'to climb up' shows the purpose of using the wall.介詞片語: 'to climb up' 表示使用牆壁的目的。
In 1830, someone stole a statue.
Time Marker: 'In 1830' tells us when the event happened.時間標記: 'In 1830' 告訴我們事件發生的時間。
The fountain was made in 1563.
Prepositional Phrase: 'in 1563' tells the year the fountain was made.介詞片語: 'in 1563' 告訴我們建造的年份。
B2

Legal Action Following Damage to the Fountain of Neptune in Florence

Introduction

A 28-year-old female tourist is facing legal action after she allegedly damaged the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune in Florence's Piazza della Signoria on April 18.

Main Body

On Saturday, April 18, local police saw a woman climb over the railings and the basin of the Fountain of Neptune, which is also known as the 'Biancone'. According to police reports, the woman climbed up the leg of one of the horse statues to avoid touching the water. When authorities stopped her, the woman claimed that she wanted to touch the statue's genitals as part of a pre-wedding challenge. Following the incident, experts from the Palazzo Vecchio Workshop conducted a technical evaluation. They identified damage that was described as minor but significant. Specifically, the inspection revealed damage to the horses' hooves and a decorative band, which the woman likely used for balance while climbing. As a result, the tourist has been reported to the courts on charges of damaging an artistic monument. The Florence city government emphasized that the woman is presumed innocent until a final legal decision is made. This event is part of a longer history of damage and vandalism affecting the monument. Built between 1563 and 1565 to celebrate a new aqueduct, the marble structure has needed several repairs over the centuries. Records show that protective railings were installed in 1592 to stop people from using the water illegally. Furthermore, a statue was stolen in 1830, and artillery caused damage in 1848. More recently, in 2005, an act of vandalism caused the statue's hand to break off and damaged the surrounding pool.

Conclusion

The woman is currently under judicial review for the damage she caused, adding to the long history of threats to this 16th-century structure.

Vocabulary Learning

climb
climb / to go up or over something using one's hands and feet攀爬
Example:The tourist tried to climb over the railings.
damage
damage / harm or injury to something that reduces its value or usefulness損害
Example:The damage to the statue was minor but significant.
inspection
inspection / a detailed examination or review檢查
Example:The inspection revealed hidden damage to the statue.
judicial
judicial / relating to the administration of justice by courts司法的
Example:The woman is currently under judicial review for the damage she caused.
vandalism
vandalism / deliberate destruction or defacement of property破壞
Example:The act of vandalism caused the statue's hand to break off.

Sentence Learning

On Saturday, April 18, local police saw a woman climb over the railings and the basin of the Fountain of Neptune, which is also known as the 'Biancone'.
Relative Clause: This clause adds essential information about the fountain by specifying its alternative name.關係子句: 此子句為關於噴泉的補充資訊,說明它的別名。
The Florence city government emphasized that the woman is presumed innocent until a final legal decision is made.
Passive Voice: The verb 'is presumed' is in passive form, indicating that the status of innocence is attributed to the woman.被動語態: 動詞 'is presumed' 為被動語態,表示無罪的狀態屬於該女性。
Furthermore, a statue was stolen in 1830, and artillery caused damage in 1848.
Linking Word (Furthermore): 'Furthermore' introduces additional information that builds on the previous context.連接詞 (Furthermore): 'Furthermore' 用於引入額外資訊,補充前述內容。
Records show that protective railings were installed in 1592 to stop people from using the water illegally.
Infinitive of Purpose: 'to stop' expresses the purpose of installing the railings.目的不定詞: 'to stop' 表示安裝鐵欄杆的目的。
The woman claimed that she wanted to touch the statue's genitals as part of a pre-wedding challenge.
Reported Speech: 'claimed that' introduces a reported statement.報告語氣: 'claimed that' 引入報告性陳述。
C2

Judicial Proceedings Following Damage to the Fountain of Neptune in Florence

Introduction

A 28-year-old female tourist is facing legal action after allegedly causing structural damage to the 16th-century Fountain of Neptune in Florence's Piazza della Signoria on April 18.

Main Body

On Saturday, April 18, local law enforcement observed a woman scale the perimeter railings and basin of the Fountain of Neptune, also referred to as the 'Biancone'. According to police reports, the individual ascended the leg of one of the central equine statues to avoid contact with the water. Upon intervention by authorities, the woman stated that her objective was to touch the statue's genitalia as part of a pre-wedding challenge. Subsequent technical evaluations conducted by the Palazzo Vecchio Workshop identified damage characterized as minor yet significant. Specifically, the inspection revealed impairments to the hooves of the horses and a frieze, the latter of which the individual likely utilized for stability during the ascent. Consequently, the tourist has been reported to judicial authorities on charges of defacing an architectural and artistic monument. The municipal government of Florence has noted that the individual maintains a presumption of innocence pending a final legal determination. This incident occurs within a broader historical context of degradation and vandalism affecting the monument. Constructed between 1563 and 1565 to commemorate a new aqueduct, the marble structure has required various interventions over centuries. Historical records indicate the installation of protective railings in 1592 to prevent unauthorized water usage, the theft of a statue in 1830, and damage caused by artillery in 1848. More recently, in 2005, an act of vandalism resulted in the detachment of the statue's hand and damage to the surrounding pool.

Conclusion

The individual remains under judicial review for the damage caused to the monument, which continues a long-term pattern of vulnerability for the 16th-century structure.

Vocabulary Learning

degradation (n.)
the process of becoming worse / the process of becoming worse陰化;惡化
Example:The fountain has suffered decades of degradation due to pollution.
intervention (n.)
the act of intervening / the act of intervening in a situation介入;干預
Example:The police's swift intervention prevented further damage to the monument.
perimeter (n.)
the outer boundary of an area / the outer boundary of an area周邊;邊界
Example:The tourist climbed the perimeter railings of the fountain.
presumption (n.)
a belief held without proof / an assumption made in the absence of evidence推定;假設
Example:The court accepted the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
vandalism (n.)
the deliberate destruction or damage of property / the deliberate destruction or damage of property破壞;故意破壞
Example:The act of vandalism left the statue's hand detached.

Sentence Learning

Subsequent technical evaluations conducted by the Palazzo Vecchio Workshop identified damage characterized as minor yet significant.
Reduced Relative Clause: In the sentence, the participial phrase "conducted by the Palazzo Vecchio Workshop" functions as a reduced relative clause modifying "technical evaluations", indicating that the evaluations were performed by that workshop.簡化關係子句:在此句中,短語 "conducted by the Palazzo Vecchio Workshop" 作為一個簡化關係子句,修飾 "technical evaluations",表明這些評估是由該工作坊進行的。
Specifically, the inspection revealed impairments to the hooves of the horses and a frieze, the latter of which the individual likely utilized for stability during the ascent.
Relative Clause with Preposition: The clause "the latter of which the individual likely utilized for stability during the ascent" uses the preposition 'of' before 'which', a construction that introduces a relative clause referring to 'a frieze'.帶介詞的關係子句:句中 "the latter of which the individual likely utilized for stability during the ascent" 使用帶有介詞 "of" 的關係子句,指代前文的 "a frieze"。
Consequently, the tourist has been reported to judicial authorities on charges of defacing an architectural and artistic monument.
Passive Voice: The verb phrase "has been reported" is in passive voice, indicating that the tourist is the recipient of the reporting action.被動語態:此句的動詞片語 "has been reported" 采用被動語態,表示旅客是報告行為的接受者。
The municipal government of Florence has noted that the individual maintains a presumption of innocence pending a final legal determination.
Noun Clause: The clause "that the individual maintains a presumption of innocence pending a final legal determination" functions as a noun clause complementing 'noted', providing the content of the note.名詞子句:句子中的 "that the individual maintains a presumption of innocence pending a final legal determination" 作為名詞子句,作為動詞 "noted" 的賓語,說明所提到的內容。
Constructed between 1563 and 1565 to commemorate a new aqueduct, the marble structure has required various interventions over centuries.
Participial Phrase: The introductory participial phrase "Constructed between 1563 and 1565 to commemorate a new aqueduct" modifies 'the marble structure', giving background information about its construction.分詞短語:句首的分詞短語 "Constructed between 1563 and 1565 to commemorate a new aqueduct" 修飾 "the marble structure",提供其建造背景。