内容提要：自由钟是美国自由精神的象征，参与了美国早期历史上最重要的几个事件。
In 1751, the colony侨居地 of Pennsylvania ordered a bell for its new State House in Philadelphia. It was made in England. It arrived in America in 1752. The first time it was rung, it cracked破裂. The bell was melted down溶化 and a new one was made. The second bell did not sound right. It was melted down again. The third bell would become the Liberty Belt. It was hung in the bell tower of the State House (later called Independence Hall) in 1753.
The bell was rung many times during the next 20 years. It rang for all kinds of special events. The greatest special event was on July 8, 1776. The bell rang to call all the people together for the first public reading of the Declaration宣言of Independence，which had been signed on July 4th.
After the war for independence ended, the Liberty Bell continued to ring for special occasions. Over the years, it suffered minor cracks. It is not known for sure when the big, zig-zag锯齿形的 crack happened. The most popular belief is that it happened when the bell was rung in 1835 when Chief Justice John Marshall died.
From then on, the bell has been silent. It is an important symbol of the nation"s freedom. Millions of visitors have gone to Philadelphia to see the bell. It is 12 feet around at the bottom and 5 feet tall. It weighs 2,080 pounds. In I976, the bell was removed from the bell tower and placed in a low pavilion6 near Independence Hall. That was done so people could get a closer look at it.
本文内容选自上海外语教育出版社引进出版的《听读美国小故事》第7册（7月）。如需购买，可到当当、亚马逊、京东等网上书城去看看。
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