VOA慢速英语--朝圣活动最危险的部分始于沙特阿拉伯

Riskiest¹ Part of Haj Begins in Saudi Arabia

More than two million Muslims from 165 countries gathered to throw stones at a large wall near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The event shows the believers’ rejection² of the devil. It is part of the yearly pilgrimage to Islam’s holy sites known as hajj.

But the number of pilgrims in the hajj can make the event risky³. In 2015, at least 800 people died when two large groups arrived at the road to the stoning site at the same time. The crush was the worst hajj-related disaster in at least 25 years.

Officials in Saudi Arabia have taken several steps to make sure the situation does not happen again. They have created a bridge to ease crowding, and they are using security forces and drones to keep order. Medical workers are also at the scene.

Pilgrimage and Saudi Arabia

Providing for the safety of pilgrims is important to the Saudi Arabian government. King Salman tweeted on Monday, “Our country’s greatest honor is to serve God’s guests.”

Pilgrimage is also critical to a Saudi plan to expand tourism and move the economy away from oil. Every year, religious visitors spend billions of dollars on hotels, transportation, fees and gifts.

One pilgrim from Jordan told a reporter that he was very pleased with this year’s event. Firas al-Khashani said, “The police assistance and the services were all extraordinary. Praise God, I am very happy and God willing our Lord will provide for us again.”

Almost 2.5 million pilgrims are attending the hajj this year. The five-day ritual is a religious duty that all Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lives, if they are physically⁴ able and can afford the trip.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

pilgrimage – n. a journey to a holy place

crush - n. a crowd of people who are pressed close together

drone - n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot

1 riskiest   

冒险的，危险的( risky的最高级 )

参考例句：

• With markets lately rising, the riskiest investments are finding takers. 他说，在周期高峰时，投资者会追逐风险最高的资产。
• The riskiest subprime securitieshave almost no takers. 风险最高的次级证券几乎没有人持有。

2 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

3 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。