【看新闻学英语】预估旅游兴旺 因玛雅倒数至2012年将近

【新唐人2011年10月4日讯】【看新闻学英语】

Travel Boom Predicted as Mayan Countdown to 2012 Draws Near
预估旅游兴旺，因玛雅倒数至2012年将近

By David Lee, Jesse Chen

【新闻关键字】

1. boom: n. [bum]景气
2. stream: n. [strim] 涌入
3. amass: v. [əˋmæs]累积
4. equinox: n. [ˋikwə͵nɑks]昼夜平分时
5. bank on: ph. 指望
6. serpent: n. [ˋsɝpənt]蛇
7. descend: v.[dɪˋsɛnd]下降
8. talk up: ph. 大声说出
9. boost: v. [bust]提高、增加
10. apocalyptic: adj. [ə͵pɑkəˋlɪptɪk]启示的、天启的
11. prophecy: n. [ˋprɑfəsɪ]预言
12. run out: ph.到期、期满

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.
周五，群拥而入的国际游客聚集在墨西哥奇琴伊察金字塔，为了经验它著名的秋分点。墨西哥旅游官员指望旅游景气兴旺，因为玛雅“世界末日”倒数计时的脚步将近。

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.
根据古老的玛雅文化，昼夜平分点象征年度收成的开始，提供他们画象的圆型日历的计算点。正是这个时间，太阳发出光芒通过七娃神殿，制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.
今年古老的庆祝活动更受瞩目，因为古代玛雅历法预测世界将于2012年12月21日结束。

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传活动中，忙于大谈有广泛支持的玛雅信仰，要在世界末日前刺激该国的旅游业。

[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."
观光客艾瑞克说：
“我不知道这是否是神话可以吸引游客，当然玛雅日历是圆形的似乎很有趣，好像世界不会结束，它必须重新开始。”

However, Mexican locals of Mayan heritage are unmoved by the apocalyptic prophecies.
然而，玛雅古迹所在的墨西哥当地人，对世界末日的预言并不为所动。

[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."
当地工匠Reyes May说：
“我认为这人们享受2012的好点子。第一次公布世界末日是在2000年，接着是2006年，现在是2012年。在现实中，没有一个世界是不会结束的。”

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.
传统上，玛雅人使用早在5千年前就开始的历法，12月21日到期。然而，审判团仍然不知历法结束后会发什么什么事，一些历史学家则说，结束将带来一个新周期的开始。

本则影音新闻出处：新唐人电视台英语新闻
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_northamerica/2011-09-24/travel-boom-predicted-as-mayan-countdown-to-2012-draws-near.html

Some historians saying the end will bring in the start of a new cycle.
一些历史学家说，结束将带来一个新周期的开始。