《中英對照讀新聞》The ruler of Dubai helps villagers buy chapel in Cornwall－杜拜統治者義助村民買下（英國）康瓦爾的小教堂

◎魏國金

The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has helped a small Cornish village buy its Methodist chapel. Residents of Godolphin Cross near Helston emailed him in a desperate attempt to raise funds. The village shares a name with the world famous Godolphin stables, founded by the sheikh, Cornwall Live reports. Richard Mckie from the Godolphin Cross Community Association said： "We are extremely appreciative."

杜拜統治者穆罕默德親王幫助康瓦爾一座小村莊，買下它的衛理公會教堂。鄰近赫爾斯頓的歌德芬十架村的居民，為募款放手一搏，寫電子郵件給他。這個村莊與親王創立的世界知名歌德芬馬場同名。歌德芬十架社區協會的麥基說：「我們極為感謝。」

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The group needed £90,000 to buy the chapel that they intend to convert into a community centre, and had raised £25,000 towards it. It’s not known how much was contributed by the sheikh, but Mr. Mckie said "it has pushed us across the line".

該組織需要9萬英鎊才能買下這間計畫轉為社區中心的小教堂，現已募得2萬5000英鎊。親王捐款多少不得而知，但麥基說，「它讓我們跨過門檻」。

One villager, Valerie Wallace, had the idea as a last ditch attempt, with the group having failed to raise sufficient funds. "We thought nothing of it and then we began to get phone calls from Dubai," Mr. Mckie said. "We thought we were being hoaxed but it was no hoax."

在該組織無法募得足夠資金之際，一名村民瓦勒斯提出這個點子，作為最後一搏。「我們沒把它當一回事，但接著我們開始接到來自杜拜的電話」，麥基說。「我們以為我們被詐騙，但這不是詐騙。」

The sheikh, who has been invited to visit the village, was unavailable for comment. The group now needs to raise a further £350,000 to restore the hall.

親王已獲邀拜訪該村，目前無法取得他的說法。該組織現在必須進一步募款35萬英鎊，以修復該會堂。

《新聞辭典》

last ditch：孤注一擲的、最後防線的。例句：It was a last-ditch effort.（這是最後的努力。）

think nothing of： 輕看、不當一回事。例句：He thought nothing of running a marathon.（他不把跑馬拉松當一回事。）

hoax：欺騙、騙局。例句：Even the experts were hoaxed.（甚至專家也受騙上當。）