From the UK to Rio: The Summer Olympics by British Council

英倫聚焦

From the UK to Rio: The Summer Olympics 從英國到巴西里約熱內盧：夏季奧運來了！撰文及考題設計／British Council 英協教育中心 Melissa Henry 中譯／劉文瑜（中央社編譯）

圖／歐新社

基督像不但是里約熱內盧的地標，也是世界最聞名的紀念雕塑之一，聳立於科科瓦多山頂，俯瞰整個城市。

he 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known

城市里約熱內盧登場。上屆奧運2012年由倫敦主

as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad and

辦，美國以46面金牌稱霸獎牌榜，中國大陸和英國

commonly known as Rio 2016, will be held in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro from the 5th to the 21st of

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Olympiad），又稱里約奧運，8月5日至21日將在巴西

以38面和29面分居第二和第三名。

August, 2016. The Olympics were previously held in

Most cities volunteer to host the Olympics

London in 2012, when the USA took home the most

because of the anticipated economic gains that the

gold medals (46), followed by China (38) and Great

Games are said to bring. The main industry that

Britain (29).

benefits from expected economic gains is the con-

2016 年夏季奧林匹克運動會，正式名稱為第

struction industry as cities are required to build

31屆夏季奧林匹克運動會（Games of the XXXI

massive facilities and improve infrastructures.

全球中央雜誌 2016.08

本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw

For Great Britain, some reports quoted £15 billion

或其他投資。儘管如此，里約奧運仍期盼帶來類

spending on the Games and boasted a £9.9 billion

似成果，隨著8月腳步愈來愈近，各界都把焦點放

trade and investment boost one year after, which

在里約熱內盧。

helped combat the global recession during that time.

有鑑於各界對其帶來的經濟效益抱持高度期

The theme for this year's Olympics is 'Live your

待，大多數城市自願舉辦奧運。由於主辦城市必須

Passion'. This fits well as Rio is a city known for

興築大量設施及改善基礎建設，建築業成了主要

its music festivities; such as Carnival, samba, and

受惠產業。以英國為例，若干報導指倫敦當時斥資

bossa nova; the natural beauties of its mountains

150億英鎊（約新台幣6,445億元）主辦奧運，後續

and beaches; and 'Christ the Redeemer', a 30-meter

帶動價值99億英鎊（約新台幣4,255億元）的貿易

statue of Jesus Christ at the peak of Corcovado

與投資增長，有助英國在那段時期對抗全球經濟

Mountain. The city has been busy transforming

衰退。

itself for the Olympics, with new infrastructures,

renovations, clean-up projects, and advanced tech-

Furthermore, in 2012, the Olympics employed

nologies for the Games itself, such as video reviews

thousands of workers, with reports reducing the

for volleyball, GPS for canoeing, and underwater

London unemployment rate by 1.2%. It is worth

digital lap counters for swimming.

to note, however, that the reports published were

今年奧運主題為「活出你的熱情」（Live your

commissioned by the government and it is almost

passion），非常符合這座城市的形象。里約熱內

impossible to know whether the gains are from the

盧是一個以嘉年華、森巴舞曲和巴薩諾瓦等音樂

Olympics or other investments. Nevertheless, Rio is

節，山脈海灘美景和以科科瓦多山（俗稱耶穌山）

hoping for a similar outcome, and as August comes

山頭上所聳立的30公尺高救世主基督像（Christ

nearer, all eyes are cast on Rio.

the Redeemer）為地標聞名的都市。里約熱內盧正

此外，2012年奧運僱用數以千計員工，據報使倫

忙著為奧運作準備，興建新的基礎建設和展開翻

敦失業率下降1.2%。然而，相關報告是由政府委託

新、清潔等作業，並設置了包括排球項目所需的影

製作，且幾乎不可能得知哪些成長是源自於奧運

片回顧、獨木舟的全球衛星定位系統（GPS）和游

巴西總統羅賽芙因面臨貪汙指控而於5 月中旬接受停職調查，將無緣今年里約奧運。

泳項目的水下數位折返計數器等先進科技設備。

5 Yet, Rio has been plagued by a number of issues. First, there was the Zika virus, which has caused a global concern over microcephaly and caused some competitors to drop out of the Olympics. Then, Brazil's president, Dilma Rouseff, was removed from office due to corruption allegations of breaking budget laws. More recently, scientists have found drug-resistant bacteria in the waters that border

CNA NEWSWORLD

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英倫聚焦

里約熱內盧正忙著為奧運興建基礎建設、先進科技設備，在水上運動的場館（圖）中，就替游泳項目架設了水下數位折返計數器。

the bay where athletes will be competing, which

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were already at a high pollution level. Lastly, the

R io's mayor, Eduardo Paes, has asked the

police have now publicized that they will be unable

world to not compare Rio with 'developed world

to protect the tourists and athletes, which does

standards', but to compare Rio to Rio, so that

not comfort visitors as Rio already has a known

people can focus on the positive outcomes instead

reputation for the murder capital of the world. As

of the negativit y that has stor med over R io.

a response to these concerns, a federal bailout has

Although he has set a difficult task for most to

been granted to help with the debts and expenses.

do, it is safe to say that most people are looking

然而，里約奧運依舊面臨重重考驗。首先是導

forward to a month of inspiring competition and

致新生兒出現小頭畸形症的茲卡病毒引發全球

hoping that Rio will benefit from the Olympics

憂慮，若干選手因此宣布退出奧運；總統羅賽芙

both short and long-term.

（Dilma Rouseff）因違反預算法而面臨貪汙指控

里約熱內盧市長派西（Eduardo Paes）希望全球

遭到停職；科學家最近更在即將舉行奧運賽事的

不要用「已開發國家標準」來衡量這座城市，而是

海域，發現具有抗藥性的超級細菌，這些海域已

讓里約跟自己比較，人們便能將焦點放在正面的

達高度汙染的程度。最後，就連警方也公開表示，

結果，而非聚焦在圍繞里約的一連串負面新聞。儘

他們保護不了觀光客和選手，里約熱內盧背負著

管他為多數人設下這道艱難的任務，可以肯定的

全球「謀殺之都」的惡名，並不適合遊客前往。對

是，大多數人正在期待這場為期一個月的運動盛

於上述阻礙，聯邦政府則以斥資紓困，協助償付債

事，也希望無論是短期或長期，里約熱內盧都能

務和開支，作為因應之道。

受惠於主辦這場奧運。

全球中央雜誌 2016.08

本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw

Key Words Olympiad 國際奧林匹克運動會 – an international contest every 4 years in a particular sport

的音樂 – a style of Brazilian music coming from samba

infrastructure 基礎建設– the basic structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise

plagued by 使受災禍 – cause continual trouble

recession（經濟）衰退 – a period of temporary economic decline

federal bailout 聯邦紓困 – the government giving financial support to a company or country that is in serious financial difficulty

commissioned by 委任 – authorize the production of something cast on 投射（目光） – set on

microcephaly 畸形小頭 – abnormal smallness of head caused by incomplete brain development

stormed over 大動盪 – a sudden occurrence of bad situations

bossa nova 巴薩諾瓦，森巴舞曲與摩登爵士混合

雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions

雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below. List of Headings A Will Rio be Ready? B All about Rio C Local, not Global Judgments D About the Olympics E An Economic Lift

1. Paragraph 1 2. Paragraph 2 3. Paragraph 3 4. Paragraph 4 5. Paragraph 5

Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer? Choose: YES NO NOT GIVEN

if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

6. The UK gained more money so far than spent on the 2012 Olympics. 7. The city of Rio has had a number of improvements to prepare for the 2016 Olympics. 8. Rio' s mayor is asking for visitors to not judge Rio against international criteria. 9. One should always look into the background of a report before believing everything that is written in it. 10. The 2016 Olympics will be able to bring Brazil out of their current economic woes. Answers:1. D CNA NEWSWORLD

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2. E

3. B

4. A

5. C

6.NG

7. Yes

8. No

9. Yes

10. NG