英语杂谈：74 China Opens World Expo in Shanghai

China celebrated¹ the opening of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai with an evening of fireworks and fanfare². Dubbed³ the "Economic Olympics," by Chinese officials, some 190 nations and 50 international organizations are participating in the multi-billion dollar event.

Similar to how 2008 Beijing Olympic Games put the Chinese capital in the international spotlight⁴, Shanghai's hosting of the World Expo has given the city of 20 some million people and China a chance to showcase its emergence⁵ as a global economic power.

Wu Jianzhong is an adviser⁶ to the World Expo. "Shanghai's hosting of the World Expo is not just about showcasing China's national power and image. More important than that, it is a chance for China to step up its interaction with the rest of the world," he said.

Many Shanghai residents, like this middle school student, agree. "I think that the World Expo is a great stage because it allows countries from around the globe to showcase their achievements and to interact with other countries," they said.

The 2010 World Expo includes more than 200 pavilions and exhibition sites. Many countries have gone to great lengths, spending huge sums
to boost their image in China. The Chinese government says it has spent more than $4 billion on the World Expo -- double what it spent on the Beijing Olympics.

Although interest in the World Expo has declined recently, many countries have made an extra effort to participate this year because China is the host.

The Belgium-European Union has a joint⁷ pavilion at the Expo. Jose Manuel Barroso, E.U. Commission President, said "It is the first time for the European Union to take part in a World Expo outside Union's territory. I took this decision because of the importance I attach to the strategic partnership⁸ between the European Union and China."

Several countries that normally are not known for their booming economies, but have good relations with China, are also participating -- including Iran, Zimbabwe, Burma and North Korea.

North Korea, whose economy is in tatters and is facing tough international sanctions is participating in the World Expo for the very first time.

More than 400,000 visitors had come to see the Expo's pavilions. Long lines stretch around the popular exhibits, with visitors forced to wait several hours to get a glimpse inside.

The first World Exposition or World's Fair was held in London in 1851. The event, or "Great Exhibition" as it was called, was the first to showcase manufactured products.

The theme for the Shanghai World Expo is "Better City, Better Life" and features major exhibitions that look at modern and future urban life, and consider issues such as sustainable development and the interaction between cities and the environment.

The Shanghai 2010 World Expo runs until the end of October.

 

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

3 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

5 emergence   

n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体

参考例句：

• The last decade saw the emergence of a dynamic economy.最近10年见证了经济增长的姿态。
• Language emerges and develops with the emergence and development of society.语言是随着社会的产生而产生，随着社会的发展而发展的。

6 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。