【明報專訊】US president Donald Trump vowed to build a wall along the boundaries between the US and Mexico. How much do you know about Mexico?
Sightseeing
Mexico is famous for its rich Mayan cultural heritage (馬雅文化遺產). Kukulkan Pyramid (卡斯蒂略金字塔) is in Yucatán State. It was built as a temple to serve the god Kukulkan. It is one of the grandest ancient buildings in Mayan culture with 91 steps on each of its sides. It was built over an underground river. For cultural preservation reasons, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has been restricting public access to the area.
◆Flag's tale
Mexico's flag has the coat of arms(紋章) at the centre. There is a golden eagle which perches on a cactus and devours a rattlesnake (響尾蛇). Legend has it that the Aztec people (阿茲特克人) were told they would stop roaming and live in a place where they would witness the eagle and the snake. The eagle now represents good and light while the snake refers to evil. The Mexican and Italian flags look alike, both containing green, white and red stripes. (picture 3)
◆World Cup titbit
Andrés Guardado (right) is the captain of the Mexico National team. He has played for his homeland in three world cups. This year's finals will be his last performance in world cup. During an interview, he said "it's my last chance to be part of a team that goes down in Mexican football history."
(Sources: Ming Pao, FIFA, The World Factbook, www.gob.mx)
“ Bill: Try to guess the meaning of "goes down"! ”
A. be defeated
B. be recorded
C. getting worse
D. falling
(Answers on next text)
■English highway﹕Legend/ Rumor/ Word has it (that)
It is used to indicate that what follows is just a belief or a story that is not certain.
e.g. Legend has it that Washington was punished by his father for cutting down a cherry tree.
■Glossary
perch (v) 棲息
devour (v) 吞食
roam (v) 流浪
witness (v) 目睹
[Smarties' Power English 第211期]
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