從古到今，世界上出現過很多種度量方法。英裡是其中的一個度量單位。不過奇怪的一點是，一般的度量單位是以整數進位的，英裡卻不同。一英裡等於5280英尺，而非5000英尺或是6000英尺。原來，這是英國度量單位與羅馬度量單位妥協的結果。 欲知詳情如何，且看下文分解。Themeasurementknown as a mile is a vestige of the Roman Empires ruleoverBritain. At this time, the Romans had a measurement known asmillepasuum (ME-lay PA-soo-em), or a thousand paces. A pacecomprisedfive, possibly sandal shod, Roman feet. Using a simplemathematicalcalculation, we arrive at 5,000 feet per mile.Thedemise of theRoman Empire center the Britons in a quandary. They nowhad a mile,consisting of 5,000 feet, and their own agriculturalmeasurement,the furlong, used to measure the farmers fields forthe purpose ofproperty deeds, etc. Instead of using the Roman footin calculatingthe measure of a furlong, they used the distance ahorse could pulla plow, in a linear fashion, before the nag neededa nap. Theyagreed that this measurement consisted 660 feet.Nowcame thedilemma. The British wished to marry the furlong to themile, but,as they wanted a mile to comprise eight furlongs,totaling 5,280feet, instead of the Roman 5,000 feet per mile, theyhad no choicebut to select one of the two. Not surprisingly, theychose theirmeasurement over the Roman measurement because, asproperty deeds atthe time were measured in furlongs, or 660 feet,a change to theRoman measurement would short the farmer orlandowner. vestige : 痕跡 demise : 讓位，告終 quandary : 窘境 furlong : 浪，英國長度單位 nag : 老馬 nap : 小睡（實習編輯：顧萍） |