Located in northwestern Cambodia, Angkor Wat, the capital of the Ancient Khmer Empire was possibly founded around the 9th century AD by King Jayavarman II. However, the city reached its peak glory in the 12th century under Kings Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII.

The most beautiful and most famous monument in the city, Angkor Wat, lies about one kilometer south of the Royal Town of Angkor Thom.

The temple of Angkor Wat was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by King Suryavarman II, who reigned between 1131 and 1150 AD.

The temple was constructed over a period of 30 years, and illustrates some of the most beautiful examples of Khmer and Hindu art. Covering an area of about 81 hectares, the complex consists of five towers, which are presently shown on the Cambodian national flag.

These towers are believed to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, the home of gods and center of the Hindu Universe. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls, narrating stories from Hindu mythology.

With the decline of the Ancient Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat was turned into a Buddhist temple and was continuously maintained, which helped its preservation. In 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared the monument, and the whole city of Angkor, a World Heritage Site.

吴哥窟坐落在柬埔寨的西北部。它是阇耶跋摩二世在公元9世纪左右建立的古高棉帝国的王都，然而，在苏耶跋摩二世和 阇耶跋摩七世统治时期，即12世纪发展到了顶峰。

吴哥窟是这座城市里最美丽、最有名的建筑。它坐落在吴哥窟皇城南部约一公里的地方。

吴哥窟是苏耶跋摩二世为供奉印度之神毗湿奴而修建的寺庙，苏耶跋摩于公元1131年至1150年间在位统治。

建造吴哥窟历时30年，它体现了高棉与印度最辉煌的一些艺术成就。吴哥窟建筑群占地81公顷，共包括5座宝塔。如今从柬埔寨国旗上可以看到这5座宝塔。

这5座宝塔被认为是象征着须弥山的5个顶峰。须弥山是印度之神的所在地，也是印度教世界的中心。吴哥窟还拥有世界上最长的连续不断的浅浮雕，这些浅浮雕沿着外墙一路延伸，向人们讲述着印度神话中的故事。

随着古高棉帝国的衰落，吴哥窟逐渐成为佛教寺庙并一直延续下来，这使得它得以保存至今。1992年，联合国教科文组织世界遗产保护委员会将吴哥窟以及整座吴哥城列入世界遗产景点。

dedicate vt. 献出

complex n. 建筑群

Buddhist adj. 佛教的

illustrate vt. 体现

gallery n. 画廊

Shirley 去参加朋友Jane的生日聚会时送给Jane一份她从柬埔寨吴哥窟带回来的礼物，这使Jane对吴哥窟产生了兴趣。

J = Jane 简 = 简 S = Shirley 雪 = 雪莉

J: When did you visit Angkor Wat? I haven't heard of that.

S: Last month, I went there with my whole family.

J: Why did you choose there?

S: Because a depiction of Angkor Wat has been a part of the Cambodian national flag - the only building to appear on any national flag. It makes us feel curious to it.

J: So it is an important place for Cambodia.

S: Yes. The temple of Angkor Wat has become a symbol of Cambodia, and is a source of great pride for the country's people.

J: Are there many people to visit it?

S: Sure! Angkor Wat has become a major tourist destination. Attendance figures for the temple are not published, but in 2004 the country received just over a million international arrivals, of whom, according to the Ministry of Tourism, 57% planned to visit the temple.

J: If I have a chance, I'll go, too.

简：你什么时候去吴哥窟的？我都没听说啊。

雪：上个月，和我家人一起去的。

简：你们为什么选择去那儿呢？

雪：因为吴哥窟的形象已经成为柬埔寨国旗的一部分，它是唯一出现在国旗上的建筑，这让我们对它很好奇。

简：所以说它对柬埔寨来说，是一个重要的地方。

雪：是的。那里的庙宇已经成为柬埔寨的象征，也是柬埔寨人无比骄傲的源泉。

简：有很多人去那儿游览吗？

雪：当然！它已经成为一个主要的旅游胜地。虽然到那儿旅游的总人数没有被公布，但在2004年，这个国家共接待了一百多万国际游客，据旅游部门统计，其中57%的人都计划去吴哥窟。

简：如果有机会，我也会去的。

depiction n. 描述

attendance n. 出席

ministry n. （政府的）部

curious adj. 好奇的

figure n. 数字

假设你在餐馆吃饭时遇到一位以前认识的外国朋友，当他听说你去过柬埔寨吴哥窟时，就不断地问起你来。试着完成下面的对话。

1. 外国朋友：Is the building on the Cambodian national flag Angkor Wat?

你：____________________________________________________

2. 外国朋友：How important is Angkor Wat to Cambodia?

你：____________________________________________________

3. 外国朋友：How many people visit Angkor Wat when they visit Cambodia?

你：____________________________________________________

1. Yes. It's the only building to appear on any national flag.

2. The temple of Angkor Wat is a symbol of Cambodia as well as a source of great pride for the country's people.

3. About 57% of the total tourists plan to visit it when they come to Cambodia.

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