文字稿

尼泊爾正在考慮對攀登珠穆朗瑪峰者的年齡加以限制，禁止那些它認為年齡過小或過老的人攀登世界最高峰。該國因為沒有管理好這一巨額產業而受到批評。以下是 Joanna Jolly 發來的報道：

Ever since Mount Everest opened to commercial expeditions in the 1990s, climbers have sought to establish world records on the mountain.

The youngest person to reach the summit was a 13-year-old from the United States. The oldest climber was 80.

But now Nepal says it wants to limit climbers to between the ages of 18 and 75 in order to better manage the mountain, which has suffered from overcrowding. It’s also considering banning anyone with disabilities.

The Nepalese government makes millions of dollars a year from the Everest climbing industry, but recently it’s come under criticism for poor management.

In 2014 the mountain was closed after 16 sherpas died in an accident. And this year the climbing season was also called off after a massive earthquake triggered an avalanche that killed 18 people.

詞匯表

commercial expeditions  商業探險
sought  尋求
summit  巔峰
overcrowding  過渡擁擠
sherpas  夏爾巴向導
called off  取消了
triggered  引發
avalanche  雪崩

測驗
請聽報道并回答下列問題。

1. When did Nepal start allowing groups of paying climbers onto Everest?

2. Who will be allowed to climb Everest if they start using the new restrictions?

3. True or false? The Nepalese government is concerned about the declining number of visitors to Everest.

4. What caused the avalanche that killed 18 people?

答案

1. When did Nepal start allowing groups of paying climbers onto Everest?
It opened to commercial expeditions in the 1990s.

2. Who will be allowed to climb Everest if they start using the new restrictions?
Climbers aged between 18 and 75, with no disabilities.

3. True or false? The Nepalese government is concerned about the declining number of visitors to Everest.
False. The report says Everest suffers from overcrowding and the government is trying to manage the mountain better.

4. What caused the avalanche that killed 18 people?
A massive earthquake.