2017考研英语拓展阅读：沙特打造冰雪城

　　考研英语阅读能力提升需要不断地积累练习，通过阅读来积累词汇量，提升阅读速度和理解能力。暑期强化复习，阅读强度要加大，新东方在线继续分享一些有关政治、经济、文化、生活、体育、科技等方面的文章，大家要多多拓展。下面一篇文章是关于沙特打造冰雪城。

2017考研英语拓展阅读：沙特打造冰雪城

　　RIYADH—At a shopping mall in southern Riyadh, a woman shrouded in black robes and bulgy black coat throws snowballs at her young son, giggling underneath a face covering. The boy gleefully lobs snowy projectiles back in her direction.

　　利雅得报道——在利雅得南部的一家购物中心，一名穿着黑色长袍、裹着臃肿黑色外套的女士朝她的小儿子扔雪球，即使是用头巾蒙着脸也能看到她在咯咯地笑。小男孩很兴奋地用雪球“回敬”他妈妈。

　　Nearby, children in neon snow suits stand squealing under a spray of ice droplets. Others trudge up a snowy hill with parents, before cascading down ice slides in inflatable tubes.

　　不远处，穿着霓虹色滑雪服的孩子们站在冰珠喷雾下尖叫。还有一些孩子和父母一起爬过了很多座小雪山，然后滑下了充气结构的冰滑梯。

　　"It’s freezing," one little girl exclaims, teeth chattering, even as temperatures outside exceed 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).

　　“好冷啊!”一个小女孩喊道，她的牙齿止不住地打颤——虽然室外的温度已经超过了45摄氏度(合113华氏度)。

　　There is no music to drown out the drone of air conditioners inside the Snow City theme park in the Saudi Arabian capital, in keeping with the kingdom’s strict interpretation of Islam.

　　在沙特阿拉伯首都这座雪城主题公园内，因为严格的伊斯兰教法，这里除了空调的嗡嗡声，再没有其他的音乐声。

　　But in a country where rigid public morality codes keep most public spaces segregated by gender and discourage women’s sports as sinful, the new mixed-gender attraction is a rare opportunity for Saudis of all stripes to blow off steam.

　　但是，在一个公共场合因性别而隔离起来、女性运动被认为是有罪的国家里，这种新的男女混合的娱乐项目对形形色色压抑太久的沙特人来说是个难得的机会。

　　"It’s awesome that this is allowed for us," said Bedour, a bubbly 19-year-old, who kept her face covered but traded her black robes for a colorful snowsuit. "Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear abayas [loose-fitting, full-length robes] whenever they’re outside."

　　“太棒了，居然让我们玩。”比杜尔是一位19岁的美女，她的脸被面纱遮住，但是却把黑色长袍换成了五颜六色的滑雪服。“沙特阿拉伯女性出门的时候必须穿‘阿巴亚斯’(一种宽松、覆盖全身的长袍)。”

　　“In here, it’s different." Entertainment offerings and physical activities are severely limited in the Islamic kingdom, especially during the withering summer months, something reformers led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman are trying to change as part of a wide-ranging program to transform the Saudi economy and society.

　　“在这里，一切都不同了。”娱乐产品和体育活动在这个伊斯兰王国受到严重的限制，尤其是在炎炎夏季。副王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼领导的一些改革者正试图在发起一项广泛的计划来改造沙特经济和社会。

　　The Vision 2030 plan, announced in April, pledged new cultural venues, entertainment partnerships, tourist attractions and athletic clubs, hoping they will invigorate the private sector and inspire Saudis to lead healthier lifestyles. It wants culture and entertainment to absorb 6 percent of Saudi household spending by 2030, up from 2.9 percent now.

　　四月份公布的“展望2030”计划承诺提供新的文化场馆、娱乐场所、旅游景点和体育俱乐部，希望他们能够搞活私营部门，并在沙特引领健康的生活方式。该计划希望到2030年，文化娱乐支出能从沙特家庭支出的2.9%上升到6%。

　　Theme parks exist, but unlike Snow City are mostly subject to gender-based timings to prevent mixing of unrelated men and women. Many Saudis descend on nearby Gulf states, where water parks and indoor skiing have been available for years.

　　沙特确实有主题公园，但和“雪城”不同的是，大多数都按照性别隔离起来，以防止陌生男女相互接触。大批沙特人前往附近的海湾国家，在那里水上公园和室内滑雪场已经存在很多年了。

　　"We used to have to go to Dubai in order to play in the snow. Once this snow city started up, people started coming here... It’s attracting tourists. Thank God," said Nawal, 20.

　　“我们以前想滑雪得去迪拜。‘雪城’建立起来之后，人们就过来了……谢天谢地，这个地方很吸引人。”20岁的纳瓦尔说。

　　The Snow City is a private venture by Al-Othaim Leisure & Tourism Company, but it has the clear blessing of the government, which sent the governor of Riyadh province, Prince Faisal bin Bandar al-Saud, to inaugurate the facility.

　　“雪城”是阿尔-奥萨姆休闲和旅游公司旗下私人公司，但它在开业典礼上收到了利雅得省省长、费萨尔·本·班达尔·沙特亲王的祝福。

　　Some 1,500 people visit daily, said a manager. "People are having fun," he said. "So let’s do it, let’s try it."

　　一名经理称，每天有约1500人来游玩。“人们是来找乐子的。”他说，“那就让我们试着去做吧。”

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