It is the one and only wonder which does not require a description by early historians and poets. It is the one and only wonder that does not need speculations concerning its appearance, size, and shape. It is the oldest, yet it is the only surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza.

It is at the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt.

Contrary to common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), not all three great pyramids, is on top of the list of Wonders. The monument was built by the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies.

The Great Pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20-year period. The site was first prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared over the years) was then used to smooth the surface. Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. This ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A second theory suggests that the blocks were placed using long levers with a short angled foot.

Today, the Great Pyramid is enclosed, together with the other pyramids and the Sphinx, in the touristic region of the Giza Plateau. Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the pyramid. The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid. It may also serve him as a means of transportation in his afterlife journey according to ancient Egyptian beliefs.

它是一个也是唯一一个无需借助于史学家和诗人的描述的奇迹，同时也是唯一一个无需我们推测它的外观、大小和形状的奇迹。它是七大奇迹中最古老的一个，也是唯一幸存下来的一个。它就是吉萨的大金字塔。

它位于吉萨城。吉萨城曾是孟菲斯城超度亡灵的地方，现在是埃及首都开罗的一部分。

同我们的想法恰恰相反，只有胡夫（奇阿普斯）的大金字塔，而并非所有三座大金字塔，排在七大奇迹之首。这座纪念物是由埃及第四王朝的法老胡夫在公园前2560年左右建造的，作为他死后的坟墓。

人们认为建造这座大金字塔花费了20多年的时间。首先筹建工地，然后运输和安置石块。接着用一个外部的模框（它已经随着时间的流逝渐渐消失了）来磨光（石块的）表面。尽管无人确知古埃及人是怎样把石块放到恰当的位置上的，但已提出了好几种推测。其中一种推测是建造一条笔直的或螺旋形的斜坡，随着建设进程的不断推进，斜坡不断升高。这个斜坡覆盖着泥和水，这样就缓解了移置石块的困难，石块被推到（或拉到）恰当的位置上。第二种推测则提出石块是由带有短弯脚的杠杆放上去的。

今天，大金字塔同其他金字塔以及狮身人面像一起耸立在吉萨高地的游览区内。放置着神秘的太阳船的博物馆也在这个区域内就。1954年这艘太阳船才在金字塔的南侧被发现。人们认为这艘船是胡夫被埋葬在金字塔离职前的最后一次地上旅行时用来运输他的尸体的船只。根据古埃及人的信仰，它可能也是胡夫死后旅程的交通工具。

description n. 描写， 描述

pyramind n. 金字塔

theory n. 理论

afterlife n. (迷信者所说的)死后生活

speculation n. 推测

pharaoh n. 法老

spiral adj. 螺旋形的

Shirley 刚刚从埃及做志愿服务回来。中午在办公室休息时，她同Jane 分享在埃及拍的金字塔的照片。

J = Jane 简 = 简 S = Shirley 雪 = 雪莉

J: How was the weather like in Egypt?

S: It was actually very hot there in this season.

J: But you look really good. I decide to go to Egypt next vacation. Do you have any recommendations?

S: Well, go to see the pyramids! You can't go to Egypt without visiting the pyramids. They are for sure the symbol of Egypt and one of the Seven Wonders in the world.

J: Thank you. I will definitely go. Just being curious, why were the pyramids constructed?

S: That's a very good question. I heard this story from the locals. The pyramids were built by Egyptians under the orders of the Egyptian leader, whose title was pharaoh. There was a sequence of pharaohs culminating around 2615 BC, with the Pharaoh Cheops who built the biggest thing, the Great Pyramid, also known as Khufu. The pharaohs may have set out to build magnificent tombs for themselves, but in the end they created monuments to human potential. There's a universal message in the pyramids. The pyramids belong to Egypt, but also belong to the world. That's why we can all identify the pyramids as an early monument of human greatness.

J: What grand monuments!

简：埃及的天气怎么样？

雪：这个季节埃及的天气特别热。

简：但你看起来棒极了。如果我休假去埃及的话，你有什么建议吗？

雪：哦，一定要去看看金字塔。去埃及，决不能不去看金字塔。金字塔绝对是埃及的象征和世界古代七大奇迹之一。

简：谢谢，我肯定会去的。我很好奇，为什么埃及人要建金字塔呢？

雪：这个问题问得好。我从当地人那里听到一个故事。金字塔是埃及人在他们的统治者法老的命令下建造的。在公元前2615年左右，几任法老相继统治埃及，奇阿普斯法老建造了有史以来最大的金字塔——大金字塔，也被称为胡夫金字塔。他们的初衷是为自己建造豪华的陵墓，而最终他们建造的却是昭示着人类潜能的纪念碑。金字塔蕴含着一种共同的信息，金字塔属于埃及，也属于全世界。因此我们完全可以把金字塔作为展示人类伟大文明的早期纪念碑。

简： 多么伟大的纪念碑啊！

recommendation n. 建议

culminate vi. 达到高潮

universal adj. 普遍的,通用的

sequence n. 序列，继起的事

potential n. 潜力，潜能

假设你送给外国朋友一些你从埃及带回来的金字塔明信片，他想让你简单地介绍一下金字塔。试着完成下面的对话。

1. 外国朋友： Why were the pyramids constructed?

你：_____________________________________________

2. 外国朋友： Are all the three great pyramids on top of the list of Wonders?

你：_____________________________________________

3. 外国朋友： How long has the Great Pyramid of Khufu been completed?

你：_____________________________________________

1. The pharaohs may have set out to build these magnificent tombs for themselves.

2. No, the Great Pyramid of Khufu is on the list.

3. The Great Pyramid is believed to have been built over a period of 20 years.

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