VOA慢速英语--苏丹希望金字塔能带来游客和金钱

Sudan Hopes Pyramids Will Bring Visitors, Money

Tania Monteiro and her husband were almost alone as they visited Sudan's pyramids, ancient structures little known to the world.

"People are really, really nice, always very welcoming," Monteiro said. She was on a visit to Meroe, a city on the east side of the Nile River about 200 kilometers to the northeast of the capital Khartoum.

Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt, but they are smaller. Only about 700,000 people visited them in 2018 compared to the 10 million who visited Egypt's famous pyramids.

Sudan remains¹ a difficult place for tourists to visit. Problems have included conflicts and crises² under the former leader, Omar al-Bashir. The process of getting a visa is not easy. And, the lack of roads and hotels outside of Khartoum have made Sudan an unlikely³ place to go.

Bashir, however, lost power in April. The new government is easing⁴ visa rules to bring in visitors to places such as the Royal Pyramids of Meroe.

The Nubian Kush dynasty that ruled in the area 2,500 years ago buried members of their royal family in the pyramids.

Near Meroe's pyramids sit several temples with ancient drawings of animals and the ancient city of Naga. There are more pyramids to the north at Jebel Barka.

The new government has already started easing the visa system. They have removed the requirement for a permit to travel outside of Khartoum, said Graham Abdel-Qadir. He is the undersecretary of the ministry⁵ of information, culture and tourism.

The number of visitors is expected be higher than 900,000 next year and might reach up to 1.2 million in 2021, he said.

Sudan needs income from tourism after many years of isolation⁶ and hyperinflation.

Qatar has given $135 million in aid, and Germany has provided⁷ tourism training for the Sudanese at Meroe. There is a visitor's center that explains the history of Sudan and the pyramids. There are also walking trails.

For the first time, visitors can enter the pyramids. They also may soon be able to visit the rooms where the dead are buried. Several other pyramids will be restored⁸ after years of not being cared for.

Sudanese tourists also are coming.

"We had three buses (of Sudanese) yesterday," said Mahmoud Suleiman, who is in charge of the area.

Words in This Story

pyramid – n. a very large structure built especially in ancient Egypt that has a square base and four triangular⁹ sides which form a point at the top

dynasty – n. a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long period of time

temple – n. a building for worship¹⁰

isolation – n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others

hyperinflation – n. extremely rapid increase in the price of goods and services

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 crises   

n. 危机；危险期

参考例句：

• Economic crises recur periodically. 经济危机周期性地发生。
• Great crises often call forth gifted leaders. 危急存亡之际常能产生天才的领袖。

3 unlikely   

adj.未必的，多半不可能的；不大可能发生的

参考例句：

• It was very unlikely that he would do that.他不见得会做那种事。
• It is unlikely that she will come. 她不大可能来了。

4 easing   

松开，放松

参考例句：

• Eucalyptus oil is good for easing muscular aches and pains. 桉树油可以很好地缓解肌肉的疼痛。
• Everywhere at about the same time the work was easing off. 几乎在同一时候，到处工作都搞完了。 来自英汉文学

5 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

6 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

7 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

8 restored   

v.归还( restore的过去式和过去分词 )；交还；使恢复；修复

参考例句：

• The stolen goods were all restored to their owners. 被偷窃的东西都归还给原主了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mary was restored to health after a period of medical treatment. 经过一段时间治疗，玛丽康复了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 triangular   

adj.三角（形）的，三者间的

参考例句：

• It's more or less triangular plot of land.这块地略成三角形。
• One particular triangular relationship became the model of Simone's first novel.一段特殊的三角关系成了西蒙娜第一本小说的原型。

10 worship   

n.崇拜，礼拜；v.崇拜，敬仰；做礼拜

参考例句：

• The Greeks used to worship several gods.过去，希腊人崇奉好几种神。
• Blind worship must be ended.盲目崇拜必须停止。