佔領與自由
After the First World War, the term "Baltic states" was used to refer to the countries by the Baltic Sea that had become independent from the Russian Empire.
一戰過後，「波羅的海三小國」被用來指坐落在波羅的海旁、脫離俄羅斯帝國獨立的國家。
term (n.) 名稱be used to 用來做某件事independent (adj.)獨立的；independence (n.)獨立；Declaration of Independence 獨立宣言
The three Baltic states are Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Finland was originally included, but it later became grouped with the Nordic countries.
這三個波羅的海國家分別是愛沙尼亞、拉脫維亞和立陶宛。芬蘭原本也在其中，但後來被歸類為北歐國家。
originally (adv.) 原本,起初Nordic (adj.)北歐的
The Baltic states have seen a range of different political influences throughout their existence.
波羅的海三小國各自受到不同的政治影響。
see (v.) 發生,經歷,見證a range of 一系列,各種的
Large portions of the Baltic states were under the control of the Russian Empire until Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania gained their independence in 1918, during the final stages of World War I.
波羅的海三小國大多數地區都由俄羅斯掌控，直至1918年一戰末期，愛沙尼亞、拉脫維亞和立陶宛才取得獨立。
portion (n.)部分gain (v.)取得；gain(achieve, win) independence 取得獨立
The three countries maintained their independence until the outbreak of World War II.
這三個國家在二戰前都還保持獨立。
outbreak (n.) 暴發；pandemic outbreak 疫情暴發
During World War II, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were taken over by the Soviet Union, followed by Nazi Germany, and again by the Soviet Union.
二戰期間，拉脫維亞、立陶宛和愛沙尼亞皆被蘇聯佔領，之後又落入納粹手中、然後再次被蘇聯掌控。
take over 接管,接手
Between 1989 to 1991, Soviet rule ended in the Baltic countries as the newly elected parliaments declared Soviet occupation illegal, and the three countries fully regained independence in August 1991.
在1989到1991年間，由於新選出的國會宣布蘇聯的佔領是不合法的，蘇聯對波羅的海三小國的統治因此畫下句點，三國也在1991年八月完全獨立。
rule (n.)統治parliament (n.)議會,國會illegal (adj.) 違法的,非法的regain (v.)重獲
Today, the three Baltic states are parliamentary democracies.
現在，三個波羅的海國家都實行議會民主制。
democracy (n.)民主,民主政體,民主國家
They are the only post-soviet states to be part of both the European Union and NATO.
前蘇聯國家中只有它們是同時加入了歐盟和北大西洋公約組織。
NATO=North Atlantic Treaty Organization 北大西洋公約組織