倫敦最具歷史價值地標

中譯／陳怡君

無庸置疑，全英格蘭最知名的寓所之一當屬唐寧街10號。簡稱為「10號」的這間寓所是英國行政總部，原是第一財政大臣（首席財政大臣）官邸，因首相也兼任這個職務而居住於此。前首相柴契爾夫人就稱唐寧街10號為「全國歷史資產中最珍貴的珠寶」，而這座倫敦地標也歷經許多重大改變。

唐寧街10號位於西敏市，內有約100個房間（遠低於白金漢宮的775個房間），其內包括三樓的私人住所與地下室有個廚房。唐寧街10號原由三棟房子組成，是1732年英王喬治二世（George II）送給華普爾爵士（Sir Robert Walpole）的賞賜。

早期很少首相住過這裡，也曾有數次幾乎被拆除。到了20世紀中葉，這間寓所（再度）解體。由於當局擔心牆壁可能會裂開，幾乎沒有人可以獲准上二樓。英國政府耗資300多萬英鎊後，才將唐寧街10號回復到原本榮景。

在某些房間，牆壁剝落了40層油漆，200年來被掩蓋的細節重見天日。一開始眾人以為是黑色的外磚也展露原本的黃色，原來是因外磚歷經兩個世紀的汙染而變成黑色，後來也就一直被漆成黑色。

唐寧街10號是英國戒備最森嚴的建築之一，建築唯一出入口的正門沒有鑰匙。許多人在想，為什麼這道門的黑色外觀光亮如新。1991年發生愛爾蘭共和軍（IRA）對唐寧街發射迫擊炮攻擊後，原本堅固的橡樹門被換成防爆鋼門。儘管寓所有配置保全與高科技設備，首相布萊爾上任的頭五年，就掉了37部電腦、四支手機、各類辦公室設備以及一輛腳踏車。

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宅邸內許多房間有價值不菲的藝術品與古董裝飾品，而這些擺飾往往會根據時任首相的品味更換。其中有間廳房的畫作特別多，而該廳房的名字也會根據首相選擇漆上的顏色而更名，像是柴契爾夫人就把「藍廳」改成「綠廳」，目前這間房間的名字為「赤土廳」。

一座無價的老爺鐘在這些收藏中屹立不搖，但首相邱吉爾在任時，因為嫌這座老爺鐘太吵，就下令把它靜音。

來到唐寧街10號作客的貴賓，可能會很驚喜地見到宅邸內最受歡迎的住戶－－「首相府首席捕鼠官」賴瑞。賴瑞原本是隻流浪貓，納入決選名單後被欽點這個「官職」來處理首相府內的老鼠問題。身為可能是全英國最知名的小貓，賴瑞可自由進出首相府和花園。

儘管唐寧街10號需要時常翻修和維護，這座宅邸已和首相職位幾乎畫上等號。唐寧街10號隸屬的市區，過去擁有許多酒吧、甚至舉辦過鬥雞比賽，如今這座宅邸是英國政府的象徵，接待無數外國政要與名人。（完）

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撰文及考題設計／英國文化協會教學團隊

Joel Finnestad Without a doubt, one of the most famous residences in all of England is No. 10 Downing Street.
It is colloquially known as "Number 10", and is the home and headquarters of the Executive Arm of the British Government. Originally the residence for the First Lord of the Treasury, it is now where the prime minister , who also holds this post, resides. Described by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as "one of the most precious jewels in the national heritage", "Number 10" has been through some major changes.
Located in the City of Westminster, the building has approximately one hundred rooms（far less than the 775 rooms in Buckingham Palace）, including a private residence on the third floor, and a kitchen in the basement. It was originally made up of three houses, and was offered to Sir Robert Walpole by George II in 1732.
Few early prime ministers lived there, and it was close to being razed several times! In the mid-twentieth century, it was falling apart（again）, and few people were allowed on the second floor for fear the walls would collapse. At a cost of over three million pounds, renovations restored Number 10 to its former glory. In some rooms, fourty coats of paint were stripped from the walls, revealing details unseen for two hundred years. The exterior bricks, thought to be black in colour, were discovered to be yellow. Two centuries of pollution turned them black, and they have since been repainted black.
Number 10 is one of the most highly guarded buildings in the nation. There are no keys to the front door, which is the only way in or out of the building. Many wonder why the door's black exterior is so shiny. After the IRA mortar attack in 1991, the original solid oak door was replaced with a blast proof steel door.
Despite security guards and high-tech equipment, thirty-seven computers, four mobile phones, various office equipment and a bicycle were stolen in the first five years of Prime Minister Tony Blair's term of office!Priceless artwork and antiques adorn the many rooms at 10 Downing Street, and change depending on the taste of the current Prime Minister. One room in particular houses many paintings, and the name of the room changes based on the colour the prime minister chooses to paint it. Margaret Thatcher changed it from the Blue Room to the Green Room, and it is now known as the Terracotta Room.
A priceless grandfather clock is a permanent feature in the collection, but during his term of office, Sir Winston Churchill had it silenced because its ringing annoyed him so much.Visitors to Number 10 might be surprised to meet one of its most popular inhabitants, Larry, "Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office". Larry is stray cat that was shortlisted and eventually appointed to his official post to help deal with a rat problem. Probably the most famous feline in England, Larry roams freely throughout the building and has free access to the garden.Despite its constant need for repair and upkeep, 10 Downing Street has become ubiquitous with the post of Prime Minister. Once a part of town with many pubs and even an area that hosted cock fighting, it is now a symbol of the British government, and host to countless foreign leaders and dignitaries.

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Key Words：無庸置疑 without a doubt - agreed by many to be true用白話來說colloquially known as - informally known as, usually in speech rather in formal writing夷平razed - completely destroyed翻新renovations - repairs made to a building回到過去榮景restored to its former glory - taken back to its original state; repaired to how it used to be迫擊砲攻擊mortar attack - a mortar is a weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as （mortar）高科技的high-tech - advanced technology裝飾adorn - make more beautiful or attractive赤陶；赤土terracotta - red and brown, earth colours 流浪貓stray cat - a street cat; a cat with no home

Choose TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN for the following statements:1. Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher thought that 10 Downing Street is an important building for the history of England. T2. The bricks of 10 Downing Street are now black again because of the amount of pollution in the air. F3. The original front door was replaced because repairs were needed at the time and much of the building was in danger of falling apart. F4. Many priceless works of art can be found at 10 Downing Street, more than in any government owned building in Great Britain. NG5. Larry the cat was chosen only after careful consideration of other cats. T

Answers：1.T 2.F 3.F 4.NG 5.T

Choose the correct answer（multiple choice）：1. Many people refer to 10 Downing Street as simply "Number 10" becausea) this is the original name it was givenb) it used to be three houses and is now converted into onec) this is the informal name people have come to use2. The original door was replaced becausea) it needed repairb) there were no keys to open itc) the building was attacked3. The entire building was in danger of being razed at one time, meaninga) it would have been torn downb) it would have been fixed upc) it would suffer a bomb attack4. Priceless artwork changes all the time based ona) the cost of purchasing itb) the taste of the current prime ministerc) the colour of a certain room5. Larry the cat was brought to the house primarily becausea) it was a stray and had no other homeb) the home had a pest problemc) the prime minister needed a pet

Answers： 1.c 2.c 3.a 4.b 5.b

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