英语听力：自然百科 探秘玛雅金字塔

 While Europe lingered in the Dark Ages, the splendor¹ of the Maya world was reaching its zenith. Their temples soared hundreds of feet into the heavens. They developed a system of hieroglyphic² writing. Works of art and sculpture displayed the Maya's intricate sense of style. And here in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, they built the great city of Chichen Itza.

The city takes part of its name from the large wells that were its only permanent source of water. Spanish records report that live victims were thrown into the sacred well as a sacrifice to the rain god Chaac, who lived in its depth. The Maya also built this circular building believed to be an observatory³. By carefully watching the stars, the Maya developed a 365-day calendar and could even predict solar eclipses.

Chichen Itza was also influenced by other cultures. Around the year 1,000, experts believe this famous Mayan city was invaded by foreigners, among them, possibly the Toltec of central Mexico and the Itza people. It was the Itza who built the city's most famous building, a pyramid the Spanish called "El Castillo," or the castle. This 79-foot pyramid has a total of 365 steps, the same number as the days in a solar year.

And it guards another secret, testament⁴ to the Maya's skill at math and astronomy. Twice a year, on the day of the spring and autumn equinoxes, a shadow falls on El Castillo in the shape of a serpent. As the sun sets, the snake appears to wriggle⁵ down the steps of the pyramid until it finally joins the serpent's head at the base of the staircase.

Chichen Itza's Ball Court is the largest known ancient ball court in the Americas. Here, players would strive to hit a 12-pound rubber ball through the scoring rings set high on the parallel walls. At the end of this deadly serious game, the losers would be sacrificed.

A bustling⁶ trading center past the year 1,000, Chichen Itza endured long after other Mayan cities have been abandoned. But eventually, it likely fell victim to the same forces that felled other Mayan cities, a combination of prolonged droughts, exhausted⁷ soils and a top-heavy class of royals, whose costly⁸ wars and lavish⁹ rituals overtaxed the Maya people.

Sometime in the 1,400s, the people of Chichen Itza abandoned their city to the jungle. But today, its imposing¹⁰ ruins still stand amid the rainforest, an impressive and enduring monument to the proud Maya civilization that built it.

1 splendor   

n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌

参考例句：

• Never in his life had he gazed on such splendor.他生平从没有见过如此辉煌壮丽的场面。
• All the splendor in the world is not worth a good friend.人世间所有的荣华富贵不如一个好朋友。

2 hieroglyphic   

n.象形文字

参考例句：

• For centuries hieroglyphic word pictures painted on Egyptian ruins were a mystery.几世纪以来，刻划在埃及废墟中的象形文字一直是个谜。
• Dongba is an ancient hieroglyphic language.东巴文是中国一种古老的象形文字。

3 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

4 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

5 wriggle   

v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒

参考例句：

• I've got an appointment I can't wriggle out of.我有个推脱不掉的约会。
• Children wriggle themselves when they are bored.小孩子感到厌烦时就会扭动他们的身体。

6 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

7 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

8 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

9 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

10 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。