特别广播英语第 282 课：Where Do Rainbows Come From? 彩虹来自何方-1

Throughout history, rainbows have been a source of mystery and legend. Rainbows are also important symbols in a number of cultures around the world. 有史以来，彩虹一直都是神话和传奇的源泉，在世界多种文化中，彩虹还是重要的象征。

In the Old Testament of the Bible, for example, God shows Noah a rainbow to let him know that the Flood is over and that he will never destroy the earth again with flooding. 举例来说，在《旧约》里，上帝通过彩虹让诺亚知道大洪水已经结束， 而且他再也不会用大洪水来毁灭地球。

An ancient Mayan book also tells of a rainbow signaling a new age after the destruction of the earth. 一部古老的马雅典籍也讲述彩虹标志着在地球毁灭后新世纪的来临。

In a myth from Germany, the rainbow is the palette that God used to paint the birds. 在德国一则神话故事里，彩虹是上帝用来为鸟儿上色的调色盘。

Some Native American groups believed that rainbows were made from wild flowers. 一些美国土著群体认为彩虹是由野花做成的。

In other traditions, the rainbow is the hem of a particular god's coat. 在其它传说里，彩虹是某一位神祗外衣的褶边。

In an ancient Japanese myth, the rainbow is a bridge from heaven to earth. 在古老的日本神话里，彩虹是连接天堂和人间的桥梁，

The first man and woman walked down this bridge to learn the ways of the world. 人类的第一个男人和女人一起从这座桥上走下来，学习人间世事。

Today, we know exactly how rainbows are made. 现在，我们已确切知道彩虹是怎样形成的。