World's Tallest Tower 世界第一高樓迪拜塔
By Julia Wheeler, Gulf Correspondent
The Burj Dubai tower soars above the city's skyline
媒體英語會帶大家一起學習BBC撰稿人在報道世界大事時常用到的單詞和短語。
Background: 位于阿拉伯聯合酋長國的世界第一高樓迪拜塔終于最近終于正式揭開神秘面紗。迪拜塔的建造時間歷時六年之久，其間也正值迪拜受到全球金融危機的席卷。不過，在竣工典禮上，伴著大型煙花表演，鐳射燈的照耀，歌聲和舞步使全球各地觀看典禮的人們不由自主地憧憬迪拜美好的明天！
The Burj Dubai punctures the city's skyline with its telescopic steel spire, finishing more than 300 metres higher than its nearest rival, Taiwan's Taipei 101.
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26,000 hand-cut glass panels create a soaring glimmer in the sunshine, while inside there are plush offices, luxurious apartments and soon, an Armani-branded hotel.
Burj Dubai's official opening is also designed as a celebration of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum becoming ruler of Dubai four years ago.
It's his vision that's credited with inspiring the city's phenomenal growth.
Things may now have gone awry, but people here still want to believe in that vision.
Officially there's not a hint of embarrassment that Burj Dubai's opening comes just a month after the debt announcement which sent world stock markets plummeting, but business people here are worried.
The city has received a significant bailout from its oil-rich neighbour, Abu Dhabi and some people there are wondering whether today's extravagant display of Dubai's past boldness is entirely appropriate in the circumstances.
Glossary 詞匯表 (收聽發音, 請單擊英語單詞)
- punctures 刺穿
- telescopic steel spire天線鐵尖頂
- soaring glimmer極亮的閃光
- plush 豪華的，高級的
- Armani-branded阿瑪尼品牌的
- vision 遠見
- awry 出問題
- hint of embarrassment有點兒尷尬之意
- debt announcement 債務公告
- plummeting 暴跌
- bailout 緊急援助（通常指財政方面）
- boldness 大膽
