Английский язык. 11 класс (О. В. Афанасьева и др.)



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150
Unit Three
1. Chichen Itza. Recently voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of 
the World, the ruins of Chichen Itza lie about midway between Cancun 
and Merida, so that the journey from each city takes around two or 
three hours via the toll highway. Chichen Itza is the most visited site 
in the Yucatan. It has been widely studied, and excavated and restored 
more than any of the other Mayan cities. Yet its history is still clouded 
in mystery and there are many contradicting theories and legends. It is 
clear that a large Mayan community thrived here between around 700 
AD and 900 AD, and built most of the structures in the southern area. 
The main buildings in the central area include the Pyramid of Kukulkán, 
the Temple of the Warriors and the Great Ball Court.
The Pyramid of Kukulkán towering above the other buildings at 79 
feet (24 m) high has a structured feel about it. Two of its sides have 
been completely restored, the other two were left to show the condition 
before work commenced. Each side had originally 91 steps, adding the 
platform at the top as a final step, there are 365 in total, one for every 
day of the year. Further evidence that this building was linked to the 
Mayan interests of astronomy and the calendar is demonstrated at the 
spring and autumn equinox. On these days the shadow of the sun playing 
on the stairs causes the illusion of a snake processing down the pyramid 
in the direction of the cenote. (A cenote is a sinkhole in the limestone bed, 
accessing an underwater river. These cenotes were very important to the 
Mayans as their main source of water and had great religious significance.) 
Naturally, it’s an impressive sight, and there are usually thousands of 
people on the site at these times. It’s quite a climb to the top, but once 
you’re there you’ll have a terrific view of the rest of the ruins.


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