VOA慢速英语2014 寻宝者在肯尼亚中部寻找隐藏的宝藏
时间：2018-12-11 作者：英语课 分类：2014年VOA慢速英语(十)月
As It Is - Seeking 'Hidden Treasure' in Central Kenya 寻宝者在肯尼亚中部寻找隐藏的宝藏
Is there buried treasure in a cave in central Kenya? Reports of such have created great excitement in the village of Maraigushu. Some villagers even dream of becoming rich. Others see it as a dangerous hoax 1.
It is not clear how the rumorstarted. But the story goes that white settlers hid valuable metals in a cave near the village many years ago. Reports say the hidden treasures are worth millions of dollars. Treasure hunters reportedly are searching for gold, mercury and other precious metals.
A local man, Edward Maina, says the rumors 3 have brought hundreds of treasure hunters into town to dig in the cave.
“It’s not long ago that people came and they went to excavate 4 the cave, and we don’t know them. We heard them saying that in the 1800s a white man left treasures inside the cave and closed it off.”
Residents say treasure seekers first entered the cave nearly two months ago. Police detained them and local officials closed the cave entrance. However, excavators later broke in again.
No gold or mercury has been found. However, the cave does hold another important resource: water.
Many local people depend on that natural spring water. Officials worry that digging could affect, or even contaminate, the water supply.
Gaka Mwaniki is a local official.
“There’s nothing. We’ve seen ourselves there’s nothing in those caves, they are excavating 5 for the first time, it’s natural. It’s the water table that they’re interfering 6 with.”
Politicians from the nearby town of Naivasha are accusing one another of supporting the treasure hunt. There are also reports that unemployed 7 young people are being pressured to dig in dangerous conditions.
Local resident James Mbugua Njenga wants the government to take control of the situation.
“If at all there’s treasure inside there, let the government come and excavate and preserve the water table.”
Maybe the cave does hold metal riches. Maybe the reports are just a hoax. But the mystery of the cave and the hunt for treasure continues.
I’m Marsha James.
Words in this Story
hoax- n.an act that is meant to trick or deceive people
rumor 2 – n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true
excavator – n. a person who digs up things that have been buried for a long time
contaminate – v. to make something dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it
- They were the victims of a cruel hoax.他们是一个残忍恶作剧的受害者。
- They hoax him out of his money.他们骗去他的钱。
- The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
- The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。
- Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- They plan to excavate a large hole.他们计划挖个大洞。
- A new Danish expedition is again excavating the site in annual summer digs.一支新的丹麦探险队又在那个遗址上进行一年一度的夏季挖掘。
- A bulldozer was employed for excavating the foundations of the building. 推土机用来给楼房挖地基。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- A new Danish expedition is again excavating the site in annual summer digs. 一支新的丹麦探险队又在那个遗址上进行一年一度的夏季挖掘。 来自辞典例句
- There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
- The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。