2018年雅思聽力材料：圣誕節(jié)的傳說

　　History tells us that the origin of Santa Claus begins in the 4th century with Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (an area in present day Turkey). One of the legends tells about that he acquired a fortune when his parents died while he was still in his teens. By nature St.Nicholas was a generous and honest man, particularly devoted to children. He also cared deeply for the poor. He brought various gifts, money and other useful items to the houses of the poor. He did this at night, and in secrecy, so that no one knew, as he wanted no glory, he just wanted to help people. He became widely known for his generosity.

　　據(jù)史料記載，圣誕老人的原型是公元4世紀(jì)的圣尼古拉斯，他是米拉(位于今土耳其境內(nèi))的主教。有一種傳說認(rèn)為在他十多歲的時(shí)候父母雙亡，給他留下一大筆財(cái)產(chǎn)。圣尼古拉生來就是個(gè)慷慨正直的人，尤其喜愛孩子，還很關(guān)心窮苦人，給窮人家里送去各種禮物、錢以及其他有用的物品。他一般都是在夜里秘密地做這些事，這樣就沒人知道，因?yàn)樗�并不想獲得什么贊頌，只是想幫助別人。很快，他就因自己的慷慨而廣為人知。

　　There is one famous legend about Saint Nicholas. The story tells of Nicholas hearing one day of three beautiful sisters who lived in a miserable hut on the edge of Myra. The three sisters were very poor. They could barely earn enough to keep themselves and their old mother from starving to death. When Nicholas heard of their plight, he was very concerned. He decided to do something to help them.

　　有一個(gè)關(guān)于圣尼古拉斯的著名傳說，講的是有一天，尼古拉斯聽說在米拉鎮(zhèn)邊界上一所簡陋的小屋里住著美麗的三姐妹。她們非常窮，賺錢很少，幾乎難以保證自己和老母親不被餓死。尼古拉聽說了三姐妹的悲慘境況后非常擔(dān)憂，決定幫助她們。

　　One night, when everyone was asleep, Nicholas crept through the streets to the edge of town. Quietly, he tiptoed up to the hut where the three sisters lived. He climbed onto the roof and dropped three bags of gold through the hole in the roof where the smoke from the fire came out. Now it so happened that the three sisters has washed their stockings before they went to bed. The stockings has been hung by the fire to dry. When Nicholas dropped the gold through the smoke hole, each bag of gold fell into a stocking.