英语听力：自然百科 环球风情：埃及（二）

 Hi, I’m Patty Kim. We are taking off for Egypt, to one of the most extraordinary sights in the world.  The Pyramids at Giza just outside Cario built to honor the ancient Egyptian rulers. These iconic pyramids attract thousands of people every day. Now the crowds could be a little bit overwhelming, so here are a few tips to make your trip as hustle-free and as amazing as it ought to be.

 

For over 4000 years, the Pyramids at Giza have attracted visitors with their size, grandeur¹ and mystery. Many secrets about these magnificent structures remain, built to withstand eternity². They seem with no hurry to reveal them.

 

To the ancient Egyptians, the pyramids were both tombs and individual units within the vast temple network. They were holy sites tended by royal priests, built to safeguard the worldly remains³ of the Pharaohs from thieves. And transport them into the afterlife.

 

The largest, the Great Pyramid of Khufu today stands almost 450 feet tall. Thousands of workers labored⁴ to build the Pyramid for the Pharaoh Khufu who reigned⁵ about 25 B.C. Over 2 million stone blocks were used, each averaging about 2.5 tons. Despite that size, experts believe it took perhaps only 20 years to complete. The middle pyramid, the tomb of the Pharaoh Khafra, is guarded by the Great Sphinx which stands near the pyramid’s causeway. Carved out of a single block of limestone⁶, the 240 foot long statue combines the body of a lion and a head of a man most likely the face of the pharaoh Khafra himself.

The last of the three great pyramids is the tomb of the pharaoh Menkaura.

 

Many other tombs and temples are packed into this massive necropolis, which is still a working archeological dig. Here scientists continue to make new discoveries that add to our knowledge of ancient Egypt. Many tombs are open for the public to review, with hieroglyphs⁷ and carved relieves depicting⁸ ancient Egyptian life.

 

If you are willing to make steep climbs and navigate⁹ tight corners, you can even explore the passage ways of the great pyramid. Tickets to venturing site are limited to 300 people per day. So show up earlier if you want the grand tour.  Beside itself is just outside of Cario and easily accessible by taxi or bus. To avoid the crowds, arrive in the early morning or early evening. Staying late also has its advantages, find a good vantage point and you can watch the sun set over the pyramids. It’s the sight that’s been inspiring visitors for over 4000 years.

1 grandeur   

n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华

参考例句：

• The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。
• These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。

2 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 labored   

adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
• They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句

5 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 limestone   

n.石灰石

参考例句：

• Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
• Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。

7 hieroglyphs   

n.象形字（如古埃及等所用的）( hieroglyph的名词复数 )；秘密的或另有含意的书写符号

参考例句：

• Hieroglyphs are carved into the walls of the temple. 寺庙的墙壁上刻着象形文字。 来自辞典例句
• This paper discusses the fundamental distinctions between the hieroglyphs andforerunner of writing. 英汉象形文字的比较是建立在象形文字具体内涵的基础上。 来自互联网

8 depicting   

描绘，描画( depict的现在分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
• The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。

9 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。