英国著名地标伦敦大本钟自2017年开始进行修复以来，只有在重要日子才会敲响，而今，喷涂了全新蓝色钟面的大本钟将会在新年到来的午夜时分响起钟声，迎接2020年的到来。

British Union Jack flag flies in front of the clock face of Big Ben in London, Britain August 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Big Ben will ring to mark the start of the New Year for the first time since its restored blue clock face was revealed from behind scaffolding.

自修复后从脚手架后露出蓝色钟面以来，英国大本钟将首次敲响新年的钟声。

The landmark bell will sound at midnight on New Year’s Eve after scaffolding covering the tower’s North Dial was removed halfway through restoration work.

大本钟的修复工程仍在进行之中，而北面钟盘的脚手架已被拆除，这座英国的地标式建筑将于元旦零点鸣响。

The 96-metre-tall Elizabeth Tower, which is one of the most notable buildings in the UK, has been covered in scaffolding for the last two years as the four clock dials are reglazed, ironwork is repainted and intricately carved stonework is cleaned and repaired.

这座96米高的伊丽莎白塔是英国最著名的建筑之一，在过去的两年里，它被脚手架覆盖着，四个钟盘被重新装饰，铁艺被重新粉刷，雕刻复杂的石雕被清洁和修复。

Elizabeth Tower：伊丽莎白塔。2012年6月，英国宣布把伦敦著名地标“大本钟”的钟楼改名为“伊丽莎白塔”。

Big Ben and Westminster Bridge in London. [Photo/IC]

In March, sections of the scaffolding were removed to show the clock’s repainted blue face, in line with its original design.

今年3月，部分脚手架被拆除，以展示重新绘制的蓝色钟面，体现最初的设计。

The north clock face was originally painted Prussian blue in 1859 but was turned black due to pollution and weathering before being painted black in the 1980s.

北面的钟盘最初在1859年被漆成普鲁士蓝，但由于污染和风化变成黑色。在20世纪80年代，钟盘被漆成黑色。

weather [ˈweðə(r)]：vi.风化；受侵蚀；经受风雨

Illuminated Big Ben at dusk in London, UK. [Photo/VCG]

Since it was silenced in 2017 for restoration work, Big Ben has only sounded for some important events, such as Remembrance Day and the New Year.

自2017年大本钟因修复工程而沉寂以来，它只在一些重要的活动上鸣响，如荣军纪念日和新年。

It may also ring at the end of January for Brexit after Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the newly elected speaker of the House of Commons, said he was “not going to stand in the way” if MPs want to mark the exit date.

大本钟也可能在明年1月底响起，以纪念英国脱欧。此前，新当选的英国下议院议长林赛•霍伊尔爵士表示，如果议员们想要纪念这一天，他“不会拦着”。

A group of more than 50 Tory MPs have backed an early day motion calling for the bell to chime at 11pm on 31 January.

50多名保守党议员支持早前的一项动议，呼吁在2020年1月31日晚上11点敲响大本钟。

chime[tʃaɪm]：vi.鸣响

Earlier this year, then-speaker John Bercow blocked a campaign for Big Ben to ring on 29 March, the UK’s original scheduled departure date from the EU.

今年早些时候，时任议长约翰·伯考阻止了大本钟在3月29日响起的活动，这是英国原定的脱欧日期。

The bell will be tested on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday by “clock mechanics” and sound engineers ahead of the international BBC broadcast at midnight on the 31 December, parliament has said.

英国议会表示，在12月31日午夜英国广播公司开始国际广播之前，大本钟将分别于周日、周一和周二接受钟表师和音响师的测试。

The restoration of the entire Elizabeth Tower, which will cost an estimated £61m and see the landmark repaired and redecorated, is due to be completed in 2021.

整个大本钟的修复工作将于2021年完成，预计耗资6100万英镑（约合人民币5.58亿元），大本钟将得以修缮和重新装饰。

It will be followed by a £4bn restoration to the entire parliament building, which is thought to be a serious risk due to faulty electric, leaks and asbestos.

随后，整个议会大厦将开始耗资40亿英镑的修复工程，由于电力故障、漏水和石棉问题，该大厦面临很大风险。