英语听力：自然百科 环球风情：秘鲁

 Hello, I am Patty Kim. Get ready to explore Peru, home to stunning¹ beaches, majestic² mountains and of course, one of the most unforgettable places on earth, the great ruins of Machu Picchu, where the Mighty³ Inca once ruled.

 

Roughly twice the size of Texas, Peru curves along the western coast of South America. The rugged⁴ Andes divide the country into three sections: the Amazon rain forest in the eastern half, the mountain highlands in the middle and a thin strip of bustling⁵ coastline in the west.

 

A great way to start your trip from Lima, Peru's capital, is by making your way to Cusco, itself a capital city from the days of the Inca emperors. Exploring Cusco in its markets will give you a chance to learn about Peru's history, and get used to walk in high altitudes.  At eleven thousand feet, the thin air makes any hike a toddler, but the practice will come in handy, Cusco is the most popular entrance point for a four-day hike along the Inca trail, threading through forests and mountains en route to the majestic Inca mountain retreat, Machu Picchu.

 

   If hiking isn't your thing or if you are on a tight schedule, a trainer bus can get you there in about four hours. Either way, the approach is incredible. The destination, spectacular. Experts believe Machu Picchu was most likely built as a summer retreat for Inca royalty⁶. Over two hundred buildings spread over five square miles. Temples, palaces and guard posts, the stone work is exacting⁷. The blocks fit snugly⁸ together without using molder. One stone in particular, the intihuatana or the hitching⁹ post of the sun, was designed by Inca priests as part of the ritual to ensure the return of the sun after the winter solstice. Long after the Inca Empire’s reign¹⁰, this crown jewel of ancient architecture stands as a fascinating testimony¹¹ to these people and their beliefs.

 

And the Inca wasn't the only civilization to leave their mark on Peru. Further west near the town of Nazca, hundreds of mysterious and gigantic lines over a thousand years old are edged into the dry plains. You can recognize the images only from the air: birds, spiders and other animals. Their true purpose is still a mystery, but many experts believe the Nazca lines played a religious and a practical role in finding water.

 

On the other side of the Andes, water is hardly a problem. In Peru's lush rainforests lie the headwaters of the Amazon. Nature reserves here protect rare species and indigenous¹² tribes. This is a nature lover's paradise. If you are looking for ways to get outdoors and watch wild life, whether along the rivers or up in the canopy¹³, this is the place to be. You can take a thrilling walk above the canopy, suspended a hundred feet above the ground. You get a bird's eye view of life on the tree tops. And you don't have to travel too far off the beaten paths.

 

A few travel tips as you plan you trips. The most popular time to go to Peru is during its dry season between June and August. During the rest of the year, you will have the added advantage of running into fewer tourists, but remember rain and thick clouds can obscure those mountain views. Altitude sickness can put a damper on your vacation, so plan it safe and give yourself a few extra days to adjust to the high elevations¹⁴. With these few tips in mind, you are sure to get the most out of your travels and experience the best of both worlds, Peru's ancient heart and its magnificent natural beauty.

 

1 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

2 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

3 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

4 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

5 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。

6 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

7 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。

8 snugly   

adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地

参考例句：

• Jamie was snugly wrapped in a white woolen scarf. 杰米围着一条白色羊毛围巾舒适而暖和。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The farmyard was snugly sheltered with buildings on three sides. 这个农家院三面都有楼房，遮得很严实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 hitching   

搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上

参考例句：

• The farmer yoked the oxen before hitching them to the wagon. 农夫在将牛套上大车之前先给它们套上轭。
• I saw an old man hitching along on his stick. 我看见一位老人拄着手杖蹒跚而行。

10 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

11 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

12 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

13 canopy   

n.天篷，遮篷

参考例句：

• The trees formed a leafy canopy above their heads.树木在他们头顶上空形成了一个枝叶茂盛的遮篷。
• They lay down under a canopy of stars.他们躺在繁星点点的天幕下。

14 elevations   

（水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升

参考例句：

• Weight of the crust changes as elevations are eroded and materials are deposited elsewhere. 当高地受到侵蚀，物质沉积到别的地方时，地壳的重量就改变。
• All deck elevations are on the top of structural beams. 所有甲板标高线均指结构梁顶线。