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The New Seven Wonders of the World 新世界七大奇观

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The new Seven Wonders of the World, voted on by millions of people worldwide, were announced on July 7^th. The contest was launched by Canadian explorer Bernard Weber. To be candidates, the monuments must have been man-made and completed before the year 2000.

全球数百万人票选的新世界七大奇观，已于7月7日宣布。此项竞逐由加拿大探险家勃纳．韦伯发起，票选对象必须是人造的纪念性建筑，且须于公元2000年前完工。

Among the winners is the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. This monument, with its distinctively Roman stone archways, was able to quickly seat 50,000 people due to the 80 ground entrances and carefully organized hallways. Inside, Roman spectators would watch gladiatorial matches, some of which were fought to the death.

票选胜出的有意大利的古罗马竞技场，这座拥有独特罗马石制拱门的历史性建物，由于有八十个入口及周密规划的通道，可迅速容纳五万人入座。罗马的观众可观赏战士决斗，而其中有些是殊死战。

Another wonder is the Taj Mahal in India. It was built in 1648 by Mogul ruler Shah Jahan as a magnificent tomb for his beloved wife. Its white-domed marble structure and hauntingly beautiful reflection in the pool symbolize grief and love. Legend has it that after the Shah was imprisoned by his son, he spent every day by his window gazing at the Taj Mahal.

另一个奇观是印度的泰姬玛哈陵，此墓为蒙兀儿皇帝沙贾汗于1648年为爱妻所建，其白色大理石圆顶结构，以及美得令人难忘的水中倒影，在在象征着悲伤及爱情。据说这位皇帝被儿子监禁后，每天都站在窗边凝望泰姬玛哈陵。

Across land and sea stands another wonder: the temple city of Chichen Itza in Mexico. Its stone temples, ball court, and observatory formed one of the greatest religious and economic centers of the once-thriving Mayan people.

还有一个奇观在陆地和海洋的另一端：墨西哥的神殿古城奇琴伊察，当地的石制神殿、球场及天文台，乃曾经盛极一时的马雅人的宗教及经济中心。

The United Nations criticized the election, saying it reflected “only the opinions of those with access to the Internet.” Regardless, many people, particularly those whose culture is connected to the new wonders, are pleased with the results.

联合国批评此项票选活动，认为它呈现的「只是网友的意见」。但尽管如此，许多人，尤其是文化与新奇观有关的人，则对结果感到满意。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

launch [lɔntʃ] v. 开办；发起

monument [ˋmɑnjəmənt] n. 历史遗迹，遗址

spectator [spɛkˋtetɚ] n.（比赛等的）观众

imprison [ɪmˋprɪzn] v. 监禁

regardless [rɪˋgɑrdlɪs] adv. 不管怎样; 无论如何

More Information

单词发音

vote on 对…进行表决  to make a decision about someone or something by ballot

contest [ˋkɑntɛst] n. 竞赛，比赛

Colosseum [͵kɑləˋsiəm] n. 古罗马圆形大竞技场

archway [ˋɑrtʃ͵we] n. 拱门

gladiatorial [͵glædɪəˋtorɪəl] adj. 斗剑者的; 角斗士的

Mogul [moˋgʌl] n. 蒙兀儿人（后裔）（尤指16世纪征服印度建立回教帝国的蒙古族人）

hauntingly [ˋhɔntɪŋlɪ] adv. 萦绕于心头地；难以忘怀地

gaze [gez] v. 凝视，注视[Q][（+at/on/upon/into）]

court [kort] n.（网球等的）场地

observatory [əbˋzɝvə͵torɪ] n. 天文台; 观象台

Mayan [ˋmɑjən] adj. 马雅族（人、语）的

Colosseum in Rome

Interior del Taj Mahal

Equinox at Chichen Itza