【新唐人2011年10月4日訊】【看新聞學英語】
Travel Boom Predicted as Mayan Countdown to 2012 Draws Near
預估旅遊興旺，因瑪雅倒數至2012年將近
By David Lee, Jesse Chen
【新聞關鍵字】
1. boom: n. [bum]景氣
2. stream: n. [strim] 湧入
3. amass: v. [əˋmæs]累積
4. equinox: n. [ˋikwə͵nɑks]晝夜平分時
5. bank on: ph. 指望
6. serpent: n. [ˋsɝpənt]蛇
7. descend: v.[dɪˋsɛnd]下降
8. talk up: ph. 大聲說出
9. boost: v. [bust]提高、增加
10. apocalyptic: adj. [ə͵pɑkəˋlɪptɪk]啓示的、天啓的
11. prophecy: n. [ˋprɑfəsɪ]預言
12. run out: ph.到期、期滿
As streams of international visitors amassed on Mexico’s legendary Chichen Itza pyramid on Friday for its famed autumn equinox, tourist officials in the country are banking on a travel boom as the countdown to the Mayan “end of the world" gains pace.
週五，群擁而入的國際遊客聚集在墨西哥奇琴伊察金字塔，為了經驗它著名的秋分點。墨西哥旅遊官員指望旅遊景氣興旺，因為瑪雅「世界末日」倒數計時的腳步將近。
According to ancient Mayan culture, the equinox marked the symbolic start of the annual harvest and provided a measuring point for their iconic circular calendar. It is the exact time and day when the sun sends its beams through the two windows of the Temple of the Seven Dolls and produces an illusion of a serpent descending down the main pyramid.
根據古老的瑪雅文化，晝夜平分點象徵年度收成的開始，提供他們畫象的圓型日曆的計算點。正是這個時間，太陽發出光芒通過七娃神殿，製造出羽蛇在主要金字塔滑行下降的幻象。
This year the ancient celebration is more notable because the ancient Mayan calendar predicted the world would end on December 21, 2012.
今年古老的慶祝活動更受矚目，因為古代瑪雅曆法預測世界將於2012年12月21日結束。
Mexico’s government has been busy talking up the widely-held Mayan belief in their latest drive to boost the country’s travel sector ahead of its “end."
墨西哥政府在最近宣傳活動中，忙於大談有廣泛支持的瑪雅信仰，要在世界末日前刺激該國的旅遊業。
[Erick, Tourist]:
“I don’t know if it’s a myth to attract tourists, it certainly seems interesting that the Mayan calendar is circular, so it seems like the world can’t end, it has to start all over again."
觀光客艾瑞克說：
「我不知道這是否是神話可以吸引遊客，當然瑪雅日曆是圓形的似乎很有趣，好像世界不會結束，它必須重新開始。」
However, Mexican locals of Mayan heritage are unmoved by the apocalyptic prophecies.
然而，瑪雅古蹟所在的墨西哥當地人，對世界末日的預言並不為所動。
[Reyes May, Local Artisan]:
“I think it’s an idea for people to enjoy 2012. The end of the world was first announced in 2000 and then it was 2006 and now in 2012. In reality, no the world will not end."
當地工匠Reyes May說：
「我認為這人們享受2012的好點子。第一次公佈世界末日是在2000年，接著是2006年，現在是2012年。在現實中，沒有一個世界是不會結束的。」
The Mayans have traditionally used a calendar that began over 5,000 years ago which runs out on December 21. However, the jury is still out on what happens at the calendar’s end, with some historians saying the end will bring in the start of a new cycle.
傳統上，瑪雅人使用早在5千年前就開始的曆法，12月21日到期。然而，審判團仍然不知曆法結束後會發什麼什麼事，一些歷史學家則說，結束將帶來一個新週期的開始。
本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_northamerica/2011-09-24/travel-boom-predicted-as-mayan-countdown-to-2012-draws-near.html
本專欄由前衛英語李德良老師主編 www.davidlee.url.tw
【佳句精選】
Mexico’s government has been busy talking up the widely-held Mayan belief in their latest drive to boost the country’s travel sector ahead of its “end."
墨西哥政府在最近宣傳活動中，忙於大談有廣泛支持的瑪雅信仰，要在世界末日前刺激該國的旅遊業。
【每日一句】
Some historians saying the end will bring in the start of a new cycle.
一些歷史學家說，結束將帶來一個新週期的開始。