英语听力：自然百科 环球风情：非洲中西部

 We’re heading now to west and central Africa, well this region probably didn't get as much exposure as the rest of Africa, but for the intrepid¹ traveler, that's just one of its many charms. You see, less tourists means more chances for you to meet local people and experience traditional ways of life. With epic² festivals, booming cities and nature parks you can really call your own, this is one trip, you’ll definitely, never forget.

 

If you are looking for a variety and an original travel experience, and you've come to the right place: west and central Africa, comprised of over 20 countries and an array of landscapes to suit whatever you loop, from lazy beaches to overland adventures from jungle to desert.

 

The Sahara Desert stretches across Mauritania, Morley, Niger and Chad. Before transitioning into a belt of dry grasslands³ called the Sahel. And into savanna⁴ and tropical forests stretching from Senegal in the west to the heart of Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 

Despite its many attractions, the region is for travelers with serious skill. The tourist infrastructure⁵ here is not always as developed as in other parts of Africa, and political conflicts can bring a leisurely⁶ travel to a sudden halt.

 

Consult the US State Department website for traveler warnings before visiting the region and plan your adventures accordingly.

 

The lush rainforest of the Republican of Congo offers a wondrous⁷ setting for wildlife lovers. Some of the best opportunities for seeing animals are Odzala National Park, here a patchwork⁸ of wide clearings called bais dot the landscape.

 

There are abundant vegetation and mineral deposits attract a menagerie of animals including forest elephants, sitatunga, wild hogs⁹ and rare lowland gorillas¹⁰, to name just a few. 

 

 

Working together, park officials and a variety of governmental and non-governmental organizations have developed a tourist infrastructure for this special place in the hopes that dollars raised will aid wildlife conservation here and across the region.

 

For more wildlife watching, head west to the coast of Gabon to the Loango Park. Members of the local communities within the park act as eco guides, scientists and wardens¹¹ and with good reason. At its mangroves and shores, it's not just people who come to the beach. Here forest elephants wander across the sand, hippos surf the ocean and whales come to mate off Gabon's shores.

 

While there are loads of chances to see wildlife in this part of Africa, it's the region's cultural heritage that truly sets it apart from the rest of the continent. In many places, modern life is still influenced by age-old traditions.

 

Southern Mali is Dogon country. At its center is a stretch of broad plateaus and stunning¹² cliffs known as the Bandiagara. The cliffs shelter the villages of the Dogon. An intensely spiritual people, the Dogon are also famous for their artistry. They create elaborate masks and dances for their religious festivals. One festival called the Dama is particularly important. It marks the passage of life until death, and establishes the connection between this world and the next.

 

In Ghana, ceremony is both old and new intermingled. Funerals especially are anything but a drab affair. Coffins¹³ come in fantastic designs. As a procession makes its way, mourners pay tribute to the deceased life and ask for blessings¹⁴ as the deceased joins other honored ancestors.

 

In Togo and Benin, the traditional religion Voodoon, or as it's more commonly known in America, Voodoo, is an integral part of the community spiritual health.

 

One tradition is the Epe Ekpe festival held every September in the coastal¹⁵ town of Glidji, Togo. Followers¹⁶ purify themselves for the upcoming year, give thanks and ask for divine blessings. On this day, the festival priest receives a lucky sign. This year will be a fortunate one for Voodoo followers and travelers, lucky enough to witness their rocky celebrations.

 

To genuinely experience the region's rich cultures, this is the sort of place where you'll put down your guidebook and hit the road. New adventures can await you literally¹⁷ right around the corner.     

 

1 intrepid   

adj.无畏的，刚毅的

参考例句：

• He is not really satisfied with his intrepid action.他没有真正满意他的无畏行动。
• John's intrepid personality made him a good choice for team leader.约翰勇敢的个性适合作领导工作。

2 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

3 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 savanna   

n.大草原

参考例句：

• The savanna is also the home of meat-eaters--the lion,leopard,and hyena who feed on the grasseaters.大草原也是食肉动物的家乡--狮子、豹、鬣狗--它们都是以草食动物维持生命的。
• They sped upon velvet wheels across an exhilarant savanna.他们的马车轻捷地穿过一片令人赏心悦目的大草原。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 leisurely   

adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的

参考例句：

• We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着，看遍所有的橱窗。
• He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐，高兴的开车去工作。

7 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

8 patchwork   

n.混杂物；拼缝物

参考例句：

• That proposal is nothing else other than a patchwork.那个建议只是一个大杂烩而已。
• She patched new cloth to the old coat,so It'seemed mere patchwork. 她把新布初到那件旧上衣上，所以那件衣服看上去就象拼凑起来的东西。

9 hogs   

n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人

参考例句：

• 'sounds like -- like hogs grunting. “像——像是猪发出的声音。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• I hate the way he hogs down his food. 我讨厌他那副狼吞虎咽的吃相。 来自辞典例句

10 gorillas   

n.大猩猩( gorilla的名词复数 )；暴徒，打手

参考例句：

• the similitude between humans and gorillas 人类和大猩猩的相像
• Each family of gorillas is led by a great silverbacked patriarch. 每个大星星家族都由一个魁梧的、长着银色被毛的族长带领着。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 wardens   

n.看守人( warden的名词复数 )；管理员；监察员；监察官

参考例句：

• Air raid wardens in tin hats self-importantly stalked the streets. 空袭民防队员戴着钢盔神气活现地走在街上昂首阔步。 来自辞典例句
• The game wardens tranquillized the rhinoceros with a drugged dart. 猎物保护区管理员用麻醉射器让犀牛静了下来。 来自辞典例句

12 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

13 coffins   

n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 )；使某人早亡[死，完蛋，垮台等]之物

参考例句：

• The shop was close and hot, and the atmosphere seemed tainted with the smell of coffins. 店堂里相当闷热，空气仿佛被棺木的味儿污染了。 来自辞典例句
• Donate some coffins to the temple, equal to the number of deaths. 到寺庙里，捐赠棺材盒给这些死者吧。 来自电影对白

14 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

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 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

17 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。