Problems In The Run-Up To The 2016 Rio Olympics

Aug. 25, 2016 Vol. 232

by Jason Grenier, special correspondent

Problems in the Run-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics

The 2016 Summer Olympics are set to commence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a city renowned for fun and sun. Yet even as global excitement reaches a peak, the 2016 festivities have been overshadowed by a multitude of problems in the run-up to competition.

One major concern is pollution. Rio’s water is notoriously dirty and contaminated with human waste, industrial runoff, and floating garbage. Not only does the water have a foul odor; but it’s also full of micro-bacteria harmful to human health. Whenever athletes in water sports like sailing, rowing, and swimming come in contact with the water, they run the risk of getting sick. Getting water splashed on one’s skin can lead to rashes, itching, and infections. Ingesting water by swallowing it would be even worse, as the toxic microorganisms it contains could enter the body, causing stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and other diseases. Athletes have been advised to keep their mouths shut to avoid contracting water-borne diseases.

Security is another worry. A large percentage of Brazil’s population lives in poverty and there is a serious crime problem. Having grown desperate, some of the urban poor use illegal drugs and turn to crime to survive. Property crime, like break-and-enter and theft, remains a fact of life for Brazilians. Residents, Olympic athletes, and international tourists face a risk of becoming victims of violence. Making matters worse, local police claim they haven’t been paid their salaries for months and lack the manpower and firepower to guarantee safety during the games. Indeed, reports of armed robberies, assaults, and kidnappings have already emerged.

The third hiccup involves the facilities themselves. Conditions in the athletes’ village, the accommodations built to house the participants, have been described by some international teams as sub-standard. In fact, the Australian team flatly refused to move into their assigned quarters until their concerns about health and safety were addressed. Australian athletes and coaches pointed to shortcomings like exposed electrical wires and non-functioning plumbing.

With the opening ceremonies approaching, these problems will have to be overcome if the competition is to be a success.

Reading Comprehension

( ) 1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT one of the major problems in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics?

(A) security (B) drug use by athletes

( ) 2. According to the passage, to avoid becoming ill, athletes participating in water sports should do what?

(A) avoid the Olympic village altogether

(B) ask the local police for help

(D) keep their mouths closed

( ) 3. Which of the following is NOT a water sport that is mentioned in the passage?

(A) swimming (B) plumbing (C) rowing (D) sailing

( ) 4. It could be inferred from the passage that ______.

(A) the Australian team was not satisfied with the athletes’ village

(B) drug users can escape urban poverty by participating in the Olympics

(D) the risks to athletes and international tourists have been greatly exaggerated

( ) 5. Which of the following is true?

(A) Australian team members have been victims of violent crime in Rio.

(B) Australian team members have committed violent crimes in Rio.

(D) Australian team members have intentionally damaged their living quarters in the athletes’ village.

Vocabulary and Phrases

1. commence ? vi. 開始

Before the baseball game commenced, there had been a lot of people lining up outside the stadium.

2. renown ed ? adj. 有名望的

The restaurant is renowned for its special decoration and delicious food.

3. festivit y ? n. [C] (pl. –ties) 狂歡，慶祝活動

There was a series of festivities in celebration of the foundation of the country.

4. overshadow ? vt . 使掃興；使蒙上陰影

The peaceful village was overshadowed by the serious earthquake, which made all the houses collapse.

5. multitude ? n. [C] 多數，眾多

Sherry thought out a multitu de of solutions though the problem was difficult.

6. notoriously ? adv. 聲名狼藉地

The forest is notoriously dangerous, so few people have the courage to go inside.

7. contaminate ? vt. 污染

Many fish died because the river was contam inated with a lot of garbage.

8. foul [?] adj. 難聞的，糟糕的

Tim is so dirty that there is always a foul smell on his clothes.

9. odor ? n. [C] 氣味

Philip hasn’t cleaned his refrigerator for a long time, so there is a strange odor when he opens it.

10. ra sh ? n. [C] 紅疹，痱子

Being allergic to the medicine, Alice had rashes on her face that made her feel itchy.

11. infection ? n. [C] 感染，傳染病

Hannah got an ear infection because she didn’t clean her ears out after swimming.

12. toxic ? adj. 有毒的

The guide told us not to eat or touch the toxic plant, which may cause death.

13. diarrhea ? n . [U] 腹瀉

Peter had diarrhea because he drank the overdue milk in the morning.

14. contract ? vt. 感染

Sam contracted the flu so he couldn’t go to work and had to stay at home for a week.

15. desperate ? adj. 絕望的

Kelly felt helpless and desperate after she lost not only her job but also her family.

16. assault ? n. [C] 猛烈的攻擊，突擊

Strongly disapproving of this policy, the writer made a serious assault on the huge cuts the government had made in military budget.

17. accommodation s ? n. [C] (usu. pl.) 住宿設施

Ben is finding accommodations because he will go on a trip to Japan next month.

18. participant ? n. [C] 參加者

The participants of this world-famous music festival are from different countries around the world.

19. plumbing ? n. [U] (建築物內的)配管(系統)

The plumbing of this house is so old that the tap water becomes yellow.

Words for Recognition

1. 2016 Rio Olympics ? 里約奧運

全名「第三十一屆夏季奧林匹克運動會」或「2016年里約熱內盧奧運會」。（英文全名為the Games of the XXXI Olympiad或the 2016 Summer Olympics）於2016年8月5日開幕，8月21日閉幕。

2. Rio de Janeiro ? 里約熱內盧

位於巴西東南部，是巴西第二大城市，僅次於聖保羅。

3. Brazil ? 巴西

全名巴西聯邦共和國，是南美洲最大的國家，首都位於巴西利亞，官方語言為葡萄牙語。

4. runoff ? n. [U] 地表流水

5. i ngest ? vt. 攝取

6. microorganism ? n. [C] 微生物

7. -borne ? 被…帶運

8. hiccup ? n. [C] 小問題

9. flatly ? adv. 斷然地

Translation

奧運開幕在即，里約問題叢生

2016年夏季奧運即將在以熱情及陽光聞名的巴西里約熱內盧開幕。雖然全球情緒沸騰，這個夏季盛會前夕卻被許多問題蒙上一層陰影。

首先是污染問題。里約的水質是出了名的髒，因其深受人為垃圾、工業廢料和漂浮垃圾污染。這裡的水不但散發惡臭，還充滿會危害人體健康的細菌。參加如帆船、划船、游泳這些會接觸到水的運動員，都需冒著生病的危險。水濺到皮膚上可能會引起紅疹、發癢和感染；而將水喝下肚則會更嚴重，水中有毒的微生物會因此進到體內，引發胃痛、腹瀉等疾病。有專家建議運動員比賽時不要張開嘴巴，以免得到水媒疾病。

另一個令人擔憂的是安全問題。巴西有很多貧窮人口，還有嚴重的犯罪問題。有些住在城市的窮人因為覺得人生無望，而使用非法藥物並以此維生。財產犯罪像是破門竊盜和扒手仍是不可避免的現況，巴西居民、奧運選手與來自世界各地的旅客都面臨著暴力的威脅。更糟的是，當地警察聲稱已經好幾個月沒有薪水，且比賽期間缺乏人力和火力去保障人身安全。的確，巴西已經出現武裝搶劫、襲擊和綁架等的報導。

第三個問題則是基礎設施。參賽者們住的選手村被一些國家認為是不合格的。澳洲國家隊在他們的健康及安全問題解決前，都堅持拒絕入住選手村。澳洲選手及教練指出幾個缺點，像是電線外漏，還有配管故障等問題。

開幕典禮在即，如果這次奧運要成功，必須先克服種種問題。

閱讀測驗解答：1. B 2. D 3. B 4. A 5. C