在文化、科学和社会进步上取得过杰出的成就，它们永垂青史。

hail from 来自，在某地生长（是某地的人）。如：

Mr. Gardner hails from Mississippi. 加德纳先生来自密西西比州。

They hail from all parts of the country. 他们来自全国各地。

II. 文化背景知识

Beijing's hutongs

　　A unique feature of Beijing is its numerous hutongs which means small lanes. The life of ordinary people in these lanes contributes greatly to the charm of this ancient capital. Beijing's hutongs are not only an appellation for the lanes but also a kind of architecture. It is the living environment of ordinary Beijingers. It reflects the vicissitude of society. Most of the hutongs look almost the same as grey walls and bricks. Hutongs are a happy kind of place for children. There are often 4 to 10 families with an average of 20 people sharing the rooms of one courtyard complex named Siheyuan. So hutong life is a friendly and interpersonal communication. However, as a rule of social development, new things must take the place of the old ones. Hopefully, the original styled Beijing hutong will remain. 　

The word "hutong" originates from the word "hottog" which means "well" in Mongolian. Villagers dig out a well and inhabited there. Hutong means a lane or alley, in fact the passage formed by lines of siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents live. Be careful not to lose in it! It was recorded that in the Yuan a 36-meter-wide road was called a standard street, an 18-meter-wide one was a small street and a 9-meter-wide lane was named a hutong. In fact, Beijing's hutongs are inequable ranging from 40 centimeter to 10 meter in wide. The longest has more than 20 turns. Either in east-west or north-south, Beijing's hutongs varied as slant, half or "blind hutongs" cul-de-sacs. The gray-tiled houses and deep alleys crossing with each other in identical appearance like a maze, you will find it much fun to walk through but be care not to lost yourself.