VOA标准英语2008年-Olympic Swimmers Like Beijing's Water Cube

Good venues² are crucial to hosting a successful Olympic games. In recent years, host cities have provided a seemingly unlimited³ palate for architects and planners to create unusual and inspiring structures. Several of Beijing's venues are now instantly recognizable. As VOA's Jim Stevenson reports from the Chinese capital, the National Aquatics⁵ Center - or Water Cube - is the focus of attention during the first week of the Olympics.
　
Fish-eye view of start of the women's 400-meter medley⁶ of Beijing Olympic Games at Water Cube aquatic⁴ center in Beijing, 09 Aug 2008

Just a few days into the Beijing Games, elite⁷ swimmers like Australian Lisbeth Trickett, who won the women's 100-meter butterfly gold medal on Monday, are quick to praise the Water Cube.

"I think it is a great pool," said Trickett.

The swimming venue¹ is centrally located on the Olympic Green with other iconic structures like the National Stadium, known as the Birds Nest.

From the outside, visitors are struck by both the size of the massive square building, and it's unique exterior⁸ surface. The concept was developed in Australia and was based on the natural formation of soap bubbles to give the venue a random⁹, organic appearance.

The individual bubbles are formed by constantly inflating¹⁰ sections of plastic film, which appear blue by day. At night, the Water Cube is illuminated¹¹ from within using a variety of colors which can be changed across the entire building, or within individual bubbles.

But the interior is equally, if not more impressive. The centerpiece is the Olympic pool, with a dramatic cluster of diving platforms at one end that tower above an adjacent pool.

The depth and width of the main pool creates an ideal environment for speed. The early competition has already yielded numerous national, Olympic and world records.
　
Brendan Hansen exits pool after 200 meter Breaststroke event, 03 Jul 2008

Shortly after climbing out of the water Monday, American veteran Brendan Hansen was very pleased.

"It is just a true testament¹² to how well Beijing has done allowing the athletes to perform at their peak. And that is awesome¹³. That is what you want at an Olympics. And they have done an amazing job as a host," said Hansen.

Lisbeth Trickett says the aquatics center reminds her of the facility used in her Australian homeland during the 2000 Olympics.

"Obviously we are seeing some very fast times. And we have seen a number of world records. So obviously it is a fantastic setup. As an Australian, it feels a lot like our Sydney Olympic Park. I really enjoy racing¹⁴ there. I have raced quite well there. So obviously having the same feeling about the pool [in Beijing] makes it easier. I think we are going to see a lot more fast racing to come," said Trickett.

The Water Cube uses advanced technologies, including state-of-the-art solar energy to heat the pools and the interior area. All backwash water is conserved¹⁵ by being filtered and returned to the swimming pools, helping¹⁶ to make the building environmentally friendly.

 

1 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

2 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

3 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

4 aquatic   

adj.水生的，水栖的

参考例句：

• Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.水上运动包括游泳和划船。
• We visited an aquatic city in Italy.我们在意大利访问过一个水上城市。

5 aquatics   

n.水生植物，水生动物( aquatic的名词复数 )；水上运动

参考例句：

• Pasturage breed aquatics basically has pig, ox, sheep and fowl. 畜牧养殖主要有猪、牛、羊和家禽。 来自互联网
• So in English they are National Stadium and National Aquatics Center. 这两处场馆的正式名字叫做”国家体育场”和”国家游泳中心“。 来自互联网

6 medley   

n.混合

参考例句：

• Today's sports meeting doesn't seem to include medley relay swimming.现在的运动会好象还没有混合接力泳这个比赛项目。
• China won the Men's 200 metres Individual Medley.中国赢得了男子200米个人混合泳比赛。

7 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

8 exterior   

adj.外部的，外在的；表面的

参考例句：

• The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。
• We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

9 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

10 inflating   

v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的现在分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨

参考例句：

• I felt myself inflating slowly with rage, like a tyre. 我感到自己体内的怒气正慢慢膨胀，像一只轮胎那样。 来自互联网
• Many are already overheating, with prices rising and asset bubbles inflating. 随着物价日益上涨、资产泡沫膨胀，很多新兴国家经济已经过热。 来自互联网

11 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

12 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。

13 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

14 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

15 conserved   

v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He conserved his energy for the game. 他为比赛而养精蓄锐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Under these conditions, the total mechanical energy remains constant, or is conserved. 在这种条件下，总机械能保持不变或机械能保存。 来自辞典例句

16 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。