VOA慢速英语--世界上10个地方正在崛起

AS IT IS 2016-02-29 The World's 10 Places 'On the Rise' 世界上10个地方正在崛起

Earlier this month, we introduced you the top American destinations ‘on the rise.’ The expression ‘on the rise’ means that something is becoming better or more popular.

This week, we take on the world.

The travel website TripAdvisor used traveler reviews to choose its top 10 World Destinations on the Rise. The list represents 10 cities that saw the biggest increase in positive traveler reviews in the past year.

1. Tulum, Mexico. The number-one pick? Tulum, Mexico. The seaside city is on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It is known for its beaches, warm, clear waters, and Mayan ruins. Tulum was one of the last cities built by the ancient Mayans, the pre-Columbian culture in Mesoamerica and Central America. Beyond the city’s beaches and Mayan sites, Tulum is also famous for diving and snorkeling. Adventurous² travelers can explore caves and underground rivers.

2. Cartagena, Columbia. The number-two destination on the rise also sits along the Caribbean coast. The Colombian city of Cartagena has a walled historic³ old town, beautiful colonial⁴ architecture, and famous beaches, like Bocagrande. Cartagena’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage⁵ Site. The city is a great place to try ceviche, a South American dish of marinated raw fish or seafood⁶. But, there is more than the historic town and nearby beaches. Tourists can also visit a nearby mud volcano. It is a 15-meter-tall mud bath that locals believe has healing properties.

3.  Porto, Portugal. The number three world destination on the rise is also seaside city. Porto, Portugal sits on Atlantic Coast. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Douro River flows by the city on its way to the sea. The Douro River Valley is known for its high-quality wine. Its most famous is port. Port wines are sweeter and higher in alcohol content than most wines. Above the Douro river is one of Porto’s most iconic sites. The Dom Luis bridge opened in 1886. A student of Gustave Eiffel -- of Eiffel Tower fame -- designed the bridge. The top level is for walkers; the lower level is for cars. The bridge provides beautiful views of the river and city.

4. Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The number four world pick was also America’s number one Destination on the Rise. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a gateway⁸ to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country’s most-visited national park. Gatlinburg offers excellent hiking and fishing. The 100-meter-tall Gatlinburg Space Needle provides views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains.

5. Moscow, Russia. Moscow, Russia is number five. Russia’s capital city of 10 million is the political, historical and economic center of the country. The famous Red Square is just the beginning of the city’s architectural wonders. The buildings that surround Red Square include Lenin’s Mausoleum, the colorful Saint⁹ Basil’s Cathedral, and the churches and palaces of the Kremlin. A ten-minute walk from Red Square is one of the world’s most famous theaters, the Bolshoi. Visitors can attend a Russian ballet or opera performance. The Bolshoi Ballet company has performed for hundreds of years.  It was established in 1776.

6. Brighton, England. Number six is Brighton, England. This English Channel beach town is less than an hour by train from London.  The railway between London and Brighton was completed in 1841. The city soon became a popular getaway spot. Brighton joined together with the neighboring town of Hove in 1997 to form one city: Brighton and Hove. It is England’s largest seaside resort town. Visitors enjoy the water, the entertainment on Brighton Pier¹⁰, and good weather.

7. New Delhi, India. The seventh world destination on the rise is New Delhi, India. British architects designed India’s huge capital in the 1930s. It is one of 11 areas of Delhi. New Delhi represents modern India. But, it also has a lot of historic sites. New Delhi’s Red Fort¹¹ was the center of India’s Mughal rule from the 1600s to the middle 1800s. Today, it houses many world-class museums. Nearby is Chandni Chowk, one of the city’s largest and oldest markets.

8. Banff, Canada. Number eight is Banff, Canada. Banff is surrounded by the towering Canadian Rocky Mountains. The resort town sits within Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park. Skiers come in the winter to take on the steep slopes of the Rockies. The town is south of the picturesque¹², mirror-like Lake Louise, a Banff National Park icon⁷. The area is home to wildlife like grizzly¹³ bears and elk¹⁴.

9. Lima, Peru. Ninth on the list is Lima, Peru. The Peruvian capital is a mix of energy and history. Visitors can explore ancient Incan ruins, study Spanish colonial architecture, or experience Lima’s nightlife. The Pacific Ocean is nearby, as are beachside restaurants and hotels. Although it is a coastal¹⁵ city, Lima is actually the world’s second driest capital city, after Cairo, Egypt.

10. Iguazu Falls, Brazil. The tenth and final world destination on the rise is Brazil’s Iguazu Falls. Iguazu Falls sits along the border of Brazil and Argentina. The park area is the country’s second-most visited destination. The park's most famous waterfall, Devil’s Throat, is actually 14 falls that come together. Along with huge waterfalls, the park is home to many different animals, including howler monkeys, butterflies, endangered jaguars¹⁶ and big anteaters.

Words in This Story

introduce - v. to present (something) for discussion or consideration

take on the world - (idiom). to accept as a challenge

review - n. an act of carefully looking at or examining the quality or condition of something or someone

positive - adj. showing or expressing support, approval, or agreement

snorkeling - v. swimming underwater while using a snorkel¹? (a special tube that makes it possible to breathe while you are swimming with your head underwater ?

adventurous - adj. not afraid to do new and dangerous or exciting things

marinated - adj. a style of meat or fish that is put in a sauce for a period of time to add flavor or to make it more tender

palace - n. the official home of a king, queen, president, etc.

mausoleum - n. a stone building with places for the dead bodies of several people or the body of an important person

towering - adj. very tall

steep - adj. almost straight up and down : rising or falling very sharply¹⁷

picturesque - adj.  very pretty or charming : like a painted picture

1 snorkel   

n.泳者所戴的通气管，潜水艇的吸、排气装置

参考例句：

• With a snorkel,however,a diver can stay under water for quite a long time.潜水员携带一根通气管就可以在水下呆很长时间。
• I did buy a mask and fins and a snorkel.我买了面镜、蛙鞋和一个呼吸管。

2 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

3 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

4 colonial   

adj.殖民地的，关于殖民的；n.殖民地，居民

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• The people of Africa have successfully fought against colonial rule.非洲人民成功地反抗了殖民统治。

5 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

6 seafood   

n.海产食品，海味，海鲜

参考例句：

• There's an excellent seafood restaurant near here.离这儿不远有家非常不错的海鲜馆。
• Shrimps are a popular type of seafood.小虾是比较普遍的一种海味。

7 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

8 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。

9 saint   

n.圣徒；基督教徒；vt.成为圣徒，把...视为圣徒

参考例句：

• He was made a saint.他被封为圣人。
• The saint had a lowly heart.圣人有谦诚之心。

10 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

11 fort   

n.要塞，堡垒，碉堡

参考例句：

• The fort can not be defended against an air attack.这座要塞遭到空袭时无法防御。
• No one can get into the fort without a pass.没有通行证，任何人不得进入要塞。

12 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

13 grizzly   

adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊

参考例句：

• This grizzly liked people.这只灰熊却喜欢人。
• Grizzly bears are not generally social creatures.一般说来，灰熊不是社交型动物。

14 elk   

n.麋鹿

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。
• The refuge contains the largest wintering population of elk in the world.这座庇护所有着世界上数量最大的冬季麋鹿群。

15 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

16 jaguars   

n.（中、南美洲的）美洲虎( jaguar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Jaguars are largely nocturnal creatures. 美洲虎基本上是夜行动物。 来自辞典例句
• Jaguars (Panthera onca) once ranged from southern South America to theUnited States. 美洲虎曾经分布在北美洲南部和美洲南部。 来自互联网

17 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。