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<BR>Romantics hoping to impress their loved one with more than a bunch of
hastily-purchased flowers or a battered box of chocolates were offered an
upmarket but costly alternative.

As February 14 and Saint Valentine's Day approach, one British firm reckons
it has concocted a magical night aimed at winning the heart of the object of
passion: it certainly should given the price tag.

But if the scheme does not pay off, the starry-eyed lover could be paying off
the bill for a very long time, looking rather a stupid Cupid in the process.

This gold-plated procession down Lovers' Lane comes with a 100,000-pound
(145,800-euro, 178,800-dollar) price tag.

The riverside Oxo Tower restaurant in London has devised a lavish, whirlwind
evening of emporium shopping, spas, champagne, restaurants, makeovers, a top
chef, a private ballroom and a band and a private flight to Paris where the
couple can spend a passionate night, if not too exhausted.

So far, several romantics are mulling over buying the golden ticket on
February 14, betting on their partners being hungry.

"We've already had dozens of calls from interested people," said Susannah
Galsworthy, a spokeswoman for the restaurant, which will be given over to the
cheery couple.

Following a dinner of rare and luxurious victuals, the couple will be
presented with a limited edition bottle of vodka, containing two heart-shaped
rubies and loose diamonds, to be poured carefully.

Once in Paris, the cooing couple get two nights in the city of love and a
trip round the Louvre museum before a private jet back to Britain where a
chauffeur awaits.

Nobody has yet come up with the cash, though three weeks remain.<BR><BR><BR>

(Agencies)</TD>

<TD class=c14 vAlign=top width="39%">
<p>

浪漫的情侣们若想要打动爱人，又不满足于随意购束鲜花或弄盒压扁了的巧克力送给对方，现在有一种高档但昂贵的方案可供选择。

2月14日的"情人节"即将到来。英国一家公司认为它所设计的"魅力之夜"可以帮助追求者赢得爱人欢心：想想骇人的报价，它的方案当然应该奏效。

但是，一旦这个方案失败，这个异想天开的求爱者可能需要很长一段时间才能付清债务，让他看上去更像一个傻瓜丘比特。

可谓用黄金铺成的"爱情之旅"标价10万英镑（相当于14.58万欧元，或17.88万美元）。

伦敦泰晤士河畔的牛津塔酒店为情侣们设计了一个"情人节"之夜。服务项目奢侈豪华，令人眼花缭乱：有商场购物、温泉沐浴、品饮香槟、高档餐厅，顶级厨艺，也可做美容，还有个人舞会和乐队演出，如果情侣们精力充沛，还可以乘专机飞往巴黎享受激情之夜。
<p>

目前，一些浪漫主义者正在打算购买这张情人节的"黄金"门票，他们认定自己的爱人渴望拥有这样的浪漫之夜。

酒店的女发言人苏珊娜??高尔斯沃西说："我们已接到几十个问询电话。"同时，这家酒店已做好准备，届时为情侣们提供各种快乐服务。

情侣们在享用完极尽奢华的晚宴之后，酒店还会奉上一瓶限量版伏特加，并将小心翼翼地为他们倒进酒杯。酒瓶里边有两颗心型红宝石和散装钻石，。

若愿意去巴黎，情侣可在"爱情之城"度过两个柔情之夜，同时，他们还可以到卢浮宫去参观，然后再乘坐私人飞机回英国。到了英国，会有司机专候接机。

离情人节还有三个星期，但目前还没有看到交付现金的顾客。<BR>??

<p>

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<TD class=e12b><FONT color=#ff9900>Vocabulary:</FONT></TD></TR>

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<p>

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<p>

<TD class=e12>
<p>

emporium：a large
retail store or place of business（大百货店，商业中心），句中翻译时把它处理为副词，用以形容人们在商贸中心购物时的行为状态
<p>
<p>

upmarket：appealing to or designed for high-income consumers;
upscale（为高消费阶层服务的，高档的）

pay off：to succeed or to make it（成功），注意下句pay off的另一用法

pay off the bill：to clear a debt（偿清债款）

starry-eyed：having a naively enthusiastic, overoptimistic, or romantic view;
unrealistic（过分狂热的、过分乐观或浪漫的；不实际的）

makeover：an overall beauty treatment that involves a person's hair style and
cosmetics and clothing, which intends to change or improve a person's
appearance（美容，全面改变个人形象，包括做发型、化妆，以及衣饰）

mull over：ponder, think over（考虑）

vodka：an alcoholic liquor（伏特加酒）

loose diamonds： diamonds that are not in earrings or necklaces<BR></TD></TR></TABLE>

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<TD class=l15e><FONT>
Romantics hoping to impress their loved one with more than a bunch of hastily-purchased flowers or a battered box of chocolates were offered an upmarket but costly alternative.
　　As February 14 and Saint Valentine's Day approach, one British firm reckons it has concocted a magical night aimed at winning the heart of the object of passion: it certainly should given the price tag.
　　But if the scheme does not pay off, the starry-eyed lover could be paying off the bill for a very long time, looking rather a stupid Cupid in the process.
　　This gold-plated procession down Lovers' Lane comes with a 100,000-pound (145,800-euro, 178,800-dollar) price tag.
　　The riverside Oxo Tower restaurant in London has devised a lavish, whirlwind evening of emporium shopping, spas, champagne, restaurants, makeovers, a top chef, a private ballroom and a band and a private flight to Paris where the couple can spend a passionate night, if not too exhausted.
　　So far, several romantics are mulling over buying the golden ticket on February 14, betting on their partners being hungry.
　　"We've already had dozens of calls from interested people," said Susannah Galsworthy, a spokeswoman for the restaurant, which will be given over to the cheery couple.
　　Following a dinner of rare and luxurious victuals, the couple will be presented with a limited edition bottle of vodka, containing two heart-shaped rubies and loose diamonds, to be poured carefully.
　　Once in Paris, the cooing couple get two nights in the city of love and a trip round the Louvre museum before a private jet back to Britain where a chauffeur awaits. </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD class=c07 align=middle height=40><B>情侣们一掷千金打动爱人 只为浪漫情人节？<B></B></B></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD class=l15><FONT>
　　浪漫的情侣们若想要打动爱人，又不满足于随意购束鲜花或弄盒压扁了的巧克力送给对方，现在有一种高档但昂贵的方案可供选择。
　　2月14日的“情人节”即将到来。英国一家公司认为它所设计的“魅力之夜”可以帮助追求者赢得爱人欢心：想想骇人的报价，它的方案当然应该奏效。
　　但是，一旦这个方案失败，这个异想天开的求爱者可能需要很长一段时间才能付清债务，让他看上去更像一个傻瓜丘比特。
　　可谓用黄金铺成的“爱情之旅”标价10万英镑(相当于14.58万欧元，或17.88万美元)。
　　伦敦泰晤士河畔的牛津塔酒店为情侣们设计了一个“情人节”之夜。服务项目奢侈豪华，令人眼花缭乱：有商场购物、温泉沐浴、品饮香槟、高档餐厅，顶级厨艺，也可做美容，还有个人舞会和乐队演出，如果情侣们精力充沛，还可以乘专机飞往巴黎享受激情之夜。
　　目前，一些浪漫主义者正在打算购买这张情人节的“黄金”门票，他们认定自己的爱人渴望拥有这样的浪漫之夜。
　　酒店的女发言人苏珊娜-高尔斯沃西说："我们已接到几十个问询电话。"同时，这家酒店已做好准备，届时为情侣们提供各种快乐服务。
　　情侣们在享用完极尽奢华的晚宴之后，酒店还会奉上一瓶限量版伏特加，并将小心翼翼地为他们倒进酒杯。酒瓶里边有两颗心型红宝石和散装钻石，。
　　若愿意去巴黎，情侣可在“爱情之城”度过两个柔情之夜，同时，他们还可以到卢浮宫去参观，然后再乘坐私人飞机回英国。到了英国，会有司机专候接机。</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>