Whistler, British Columbia is a skiing and snowboarding paradise. This resort1 town is surrounded by incredible snowy peaks2 in western Canada's Coast Mountain Range3. It is a huge playground for anyone with skiis or a snowboard. People come from Australia, Europe, and all over the world to enjoy its soft powder4. Located 120 kilometers north of Vancouver, the town of Whistler has a population of less than 10,000 permanent residents, but there are always a lot more people than that visiting.
英屬哥倫比亞省的惠斯勒是個滑雪及玩雪板的天堂。這個度假勝地位於加拿大西部的海岸山脈，四周都被覆滿皚皚白雪的壯麗山峰圍繞著。對於那些擁有滑雪板的人來說，這裡就像是個大型的遊樂場。澳洲、歐洲及世界各地的遊客都紛紛到此享受鬆軟的粉雪。惠斯勒城位於溫哥華北方一百二十公里處，定居在當地的人口少於一萬人，不過造訪此處的遊客卻總是遠多於這個數字。
Young people come and stay for weeks, months, years, or longer. When they are not working, they are hitting the perfect conditions on the slopes since Whistler gets an average annual snowfall5 of nearly 11 meters. Even non-skiers know about the town because many events at the 2010 Winter Olympics were staged in Whistler, which made for a beautiful backdrop6 to all the sporting events. In recent years, Whistler constructed a new gondola7 that runs between two of its biggest mountains. It is over four kilometers in length and the longest unsupported gondola in the world. For winter-lovers, this just adds to all of Whistler's magical attractions.
年輕人會來這裡待上好幾個星期、好幾個月、好幾年，甚至是更久的時間。當他們沒有在工作時，他們就會到擁有完美雪況的山坡上滑雪，因為惠斯勒平均的年降雪量高達將近十一公尺。2010年冬季奧運的眾多比賽項目就是在惠斯勒進行的，而當地也為所有的運動賽事提供一幅美麗的背景，因此就連不滑雪的人也對這座城鎮有所耳聞。近年來，惠斯勒興建了一座在當地兩大山脈間行駛的空中纜車。這座纜車總長超過四公里，而且是世上最長的無支撐纜車系統（編按：整座纜車跨越惠斯勒山和黑梳山，兩座山之間全程長達四點四公里，總共只有四座塔柱，其中最長的二、三號塔柱之間距離達三公里，是目前世界上最長的無支撐纜車系統）。對於喜愛冬天的遊客來說，這項設施更是為所有惠斯勒的迷人景點錦上添花呢。
@Building Your Vocabulary
1. surround vt. 環繞，圍繞
The island is surrounded by a coral reef that is home to many marine creatures.
一座有許多海洋生物棲生的珊瑚礁環繞著那個島嶼。
2. population n. 人口
The world's population has recently reached seven billion.
世界的總人口最近已來到了七十億。
3. permanent a. 長久的；永久的
Nancy intends to make Paris her permanent home because she adores the French lifestyle.
南西打算永久在巴黎定居，因為她喜歡法國的生活方式。
4. average a. 平均的
The average age of the company's employees is 30.
這間公司員工的平均年齡是三十歲。
5. stage vt. 舉辦（活動）；進行（演出）
The factory workers staged a strike in response to recent pay cuts.
那座工廠的員工群起罷工，對最近的減薪政策表達抗議。
6. construct vt. 建造，構築
A bridge was constructed to connect the two cities.
該處建了一座橋來連接那兩個城市。
The island is surrounded by a coral reef that is home to many marine creatures.
一座有許多海洋生物棲生的珊瑚礁環繞著那個島嶼。
2. population n. 人口
The world's population has recently reached seven billion.
世界的總人口最近已來到了七十億。
3. permanent a. 長久的；永久的
Nancy intends to make Paris her permanent home because she adores the French lifestyle.
南西打算永久在巴黎定居，因為她喜歡法國的生活方式。
4. average a. 平均的
The average age of the company's employees is 30.
這間公司員工的平均年齡是三十歲。
5. stage vt. 舉辦（活動）；進行（演出）
The factory workers staged a strike in response to recent pay cuts.
那座工廠的員工群起罷工，對最近的減薪政策表達抗議。
6. construct vt. 建造，構築
A bridge was constructed to connect the two cities.
該處建了一座橋來連接那兩個城市。
@Phrases for Leaarning
1. make for... 有利於……；使……可能
Regular exercise makes for a healthy body.
規律的運動有益於身體健康。
2. 數字 + 單位 + in length （長度、時間）有……長
The popular talk show is one hour in length.
那個大受歡迎的脫口秀節目長達一小時。
Regular exercise makes for a healthy body.
規律的運動有益於身體健康。
2. 數字 + 單位 + in length （長度、時間）有……長
The popular talk show is one hour in length.
那個大受歡迎的脫口秀節目長達一小時。
@Extra Words
1. resort n. 度假勝地（本文中作形容詞用）
2. peak n. 山頂，山峰
3. mountain range n. 山脈
4. powder n. 粉，粉末
5. snowfall n. 降雪（量）
6. backdrop n.（事物的）背景
7. gondola n.（纜車等的）車廂，吊艙
2. peak n. 山頂，山峰
3. mountain range n. 山脈
4. powder n. 粉，粉末
5. snowfall n. 降雪（量）
6. backdrop n.（事物的）背景
7. gondola n.（纜車等的）車廂，吊艙
@Tip In Use
...hitting the perfect conditions on the slopes...
（……到擁有完美雪況的山坡上滑雪……）
上述句子是基於"hit the slope"（滑雪）這個固定片語改寫而來。hit 可以作『到達（某地）；做（某事）』之意，與一些特定名詞並用而產生固定用法，以下便替各位列舉幾例：
hit town 到鎮上
hit the road 出發，動身
hit the books 唸書
hit the brakes 猛踩煞車
hit the sack/hay 上床睡覺
hit the shops/streets 去逛街
I'm packed up and ready to hit the road.
（我已經打包好，準備出發了。）
Dan can't go out tonight because he has got to hit the books.
（阿丹今晚不能出門，因為他得K書。）
（……到擁有完美雪況的山坡上滑雪……）
上述句子是基於"hit the slope"（滑雪）這個固定片語改寫而來。hit 可以作『到達（某地）；做（某事）』之意，與一些特定名詞並用而產生固定用法，以下便替各位列舉幾例：
hit town 到鎮上
hit the road 出發，動身
hit the books 唸書
hit the brakes 猛踩煞車
hit the sack/hay 上床睡覺
hit the shops/streets 去逛街
I'm packed up and ready to hit the road.
（我已經打包好，準備出發了。）
Dan can't go out tonight because he has got to hit the books.
（阿丹今晚不能出門，因為他得K書。）
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