Text A Expo 2010 Shanghai China
导 读
中国2010年上海世界博览会（Expo 2010），是第41届世界博览会，于2010年5月1日至10月31日期间，在中国上海市举行。此次世界博览会是由中国举办的首届世界博览会。上海世博会以“城市，让生活更美好”（Better City，Better Life）为主题，总投资达450亿人民币，创造了世界博览会史上最大规模纪录。同时超越7 000万的参观人数也创下了历届世博会之最。
Brief Introduction to World Expo 2010 Shanghai China
World Expositions are galleries of human inspirations and thoughts.Since 1851 when the Great Exhibition of Industries of All Nations was held in London,the World Expositions have attained increasing prominence as grand events for economic,scientific,technological and cultural exchanges,serving as an important platform for displaying historical experience,exchanging innovative ideas,demonstrating esprit de corps and looking to the future.
With a long civilization,China favours international exchange and loves world peace.China owes its successful bid for the World Exposition in 2010 to the international community’s support and confidence in its reform and opening-up.The Exposition was first registered World Exposition in a developing country,which gives expression to the expectations the world’s people place on China’s future development.
So what did Expo 2010 Shanghai China deliver to the world? There is no doubt the Chinese people presented to the world a successful,splendid and unforgettable exposition.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China was a great event to explore the full potential of urban life in the 21st century and a significant period in urban evolution.Fifty-five percent of the world population was expected to live in cities by the year 2010.The prospect of future urban life,a subject of global interest,concerns all nations,developed or less developed,and their people.Being the first World Exposition on the theme of city,Expo 2010 attracted governments and people from across the world,focusing on the theme “Better City,Better Life”.For its 184 days,participants displayed urban civilisation to the full extent,exchange their experiences of urban development,disseminate advanced notions on cities and explore new approaches to human habitat,lifestyle and working conditions in the new century.They learned how to create an eco-friendly society and maintain the sustainable development of human beings.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China centered on innovation and interaction.Innovation was the soul,while cultural interaction was an important mission of the World Expositions.In the new era,Expo 2010 Shanghai China contributed to human-centred development,scientific and technological innovation,cultural diversity and win-win cooperation for a better future,thus composing a melody with the key notes of highlighting innovation and interaction in the new century.
Expo 2010 Shanghai China was also a grand international gathering.On the one hand,we endeavored to attract about 200 nations and international organizations to take part in the exhibition as well as 70 million visitors from home and abroad,ensuring the widest possible participation in the history of the World Expositions.On the other hand,we put Expo 2010 Shanghai China in a global perspective and did our best to encourage the participation and gained the understanding and support of various countries and peoples,in order to turn Expo 2010 Shanghai China into a happy reunion of people from all over the world.
In addition,Expo 2010 Shanghai China offered a wonderful opportunity for cross-culture dialogues.Before the conclusion of the Exposition,a “Shanghai Declaration” will be issued.This declaration,hopefully a milestone in the history of the World Expositions,epitomized the insights to be offered by the participants and embodied people’s ideas for future cooperation and development and extensive common aspirations,thereby leaving a rich spiritual legacy of urban development to people throughout the world.
The Chinese Government went to great lengths to make Expo 2010 Shanghai China a special event that carries on traditions and opens a new vista into the future.Our motto is: “Keeping in mind the next 60 years’ development while preparing for the six months’ Exposition.” We counted on the continuing attention,support and participation of all the peace-loving countries.
Theme—Better City,Better Life
The city is a crystallisation of human civilisation.Just as the American social philosopher Lewis Mumford put it,“the city is a special structure which,fine and compact,has been designed to preserve the fruits of human civilization”.Many Western languages have derived their versions of the term “civilization” from the same Latin word “civitas”(meaning “city” ),and it is by no means a coincidence.By virtue of its embracing and regenerating nature,the city has played a significant role in the perfection of order in human society.
In 1800,only 2 percent of the global population lived in cities,but by 1950,the figure had risen to 29 percent,and by 2,000,almost half the world population had moved into cities.The United Nations estimated the urban population would account for 55 percent of the total human population by 2010.Despite all its glories,there is no denying that the city today,because of high-density living patterns,faces a series of challenges,such as spatial conflicts,cultural collisions,resource shortages and environment degeneration.Without effective controls,the unchecked expansion of cities will aggravate these problems and consequently erode the quality of urban life.
As the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements,issued at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) reaffirms,“Our cities must be places where human beings lead fulfilling lives in dignity,good health,safety,happiness and hope.” All the problems facing the city,including congestion,pollution,crime and conflict,are believed to have originated from the discords between man and nature,between man and woman,and between spiritual and material aspects of life.It is also maintained that such discords,if left unattended,will inevitably lead to the decline of the quality of life in cities and even the degeneration of human civilization.
It was in the face of such discords that Expo 2010 Shanghai China proposed the concept of a “City of Harmony” responding to the appeal for “Better City,Better Life”.
Harmony was a core proposition of ancient Chinese philosophy,which advocated harmony between people,between man and heaven,and between body and soul.It is also the ideal of some ancient Western philosophers.Over past centuries,human beings have never stopped their search for models of harmonious cities.A series of theories,propositions and models,from More’s Utopia to Ledoux’s Ideal City to Howard’s Garden City,all strive for balance and harmony in terms of space,order,and spiritual and material input and output.Since the 1980s,the concept of sustainable development has risen as a fundamental solution to environmental and development issues.Governments around the world,in their local versions of Agenda 21 (a Chinese Government programme designed to ensure sustainable development in the 21st century),have formulated development strategies that more or less centre on the proposition of “harmony”,especially that between the current and future generations.It can be clearly seen that the quest for the “City of Harmony” as run through the urban history of mankind,and has increasingly become a highlight in the blueprint of future cities.
The “City of Harmony” features harmonious co-existence of diverse cultures,harmonious economic development,harmonious living in the age of science and technology,harmonious functioning of communities,the cells of the city,and harmonious interactions between urban and rural areas.
Emblem
The emblem，depicting the image of three people—you，me，him/her holding hands together，symbolizes the big family of mankind.Inspired by the shape of the Chinese character “世” （meaning the world），the design conveys the organizer’s wish to host an Expo which is of global scale and which showcases the diversified urban cultures of the world.
Words & Expressions
1.gallery['ɡæləri] n.画廊；走廊；旁听席；地道
2.exhibition[，eksi'biʃən] n.展览；显示；展览会；展览品
3.prominence['prɔminəns] n.突出；突出物；显著；卓越
4.innovative['inəuveitiv] adj.革新的；创新的
5.bid[bid] n.出价；叫牌；努力争取
6.registered['redʒistəd] adj.注册的；记名的；登记过的
7.splendid['splendid] adj.辉煌的；灿烂的；极好的；杰出的
8.evolution[，iːvə'lu：ʃən，，ev-] n.演变；进化论；进展
9.prospect['prɔspekt] n.前途；预期；景色
10.disseminate[di'semineit] vt.宣传；传播；散布
vi.散布；广为传播
11.melody['melədi] n.旋律；歌曲；美妙的音乐
12.endeavour[in'devə] vt.试图或力图
n.尽力；竭力
vi.竭力；企图
13.reunion[，riː'juːnjən] n.重聚
14.declaration[，deklə'reiʃən] n.申报；宣布；公告
15.thereby[，ðεə'bai，'ðεəbai] adv.从而，因此；在那附近；在那方面
16.motto['mɔtəu] n.座右铭；格言；箴言
17.crystallisation[，kristəli'zeiʃən] n.结晶；结晶作用
18.aggravate['æɡrəveit] vt.加重；使恶化；激怒
19.congestion[kən'dʒestʃən] n.拥挤；拥塞；充血
Notes
Lewis Mumford （刘易斯·芒福德）：Lewis Mumford （October 19，1895—January 26，1990） was an American historian，sociologist，philosopher of science，and influential literary critic.Particularly noted for his study of cities and urban architecture，he had a broad career as a writer.Mumford was influenced by the work of Scottish theorist Sir Patrick Geddes.
Mumford was also a contemporary and friend of Frank Lloyd Wright,Clarence Stein,Frederic Osborn,Edmund N.Bacon,and Vannevar Bush.
Exercises
I.Fill in each of the following blanks with the most suitable word given below.Change the form if necessary.
waterfront exhibition prominence innovative bid
splendid evolution prospect melody endeavour
1.The work of John and his colleagues achieved special ________in 2001.
2.The fireworks looked very ________against the dark sky.
3.I sought shade and a cool drink at a ________cafe on a Greek island.
4.The ________of a fresh start is certainly alluring.
5.She told him she would ________to procure it for him.
6.Business schools thus need to scour the globe for role models,________ideas and the best students.
7.While ________is inventive,it is also conservative,making do with what is available.
8.The ________still rang in her ears.
9.He made a ________for middle class support.
10.Teachers of the Arts College are going to stage an ________.
II.Decide whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F) according to the passage.
1.The Great Exhibition of Industries of All Nations was held in London in 1851.( )
2.China owes its successful bid for the World Exposition in 2009 to the international community’s support for and confidence in its reform and opening-up.( )
3.The prospect of future urban life,a subject of global interest,concerns only developed nations and their people.( )
4.For its 184 days,participants will display urban civilisation to the full extent,exchange their experiences of urban development,disseminate advanced notions on cities and explore new approaches to human habitat,lifestyle and working conditions in the new century.( )
5.Our motto is: “Keeping in mind the next 60 years’ development while preparing for the six months’ Exposition.” ( )
III.Try to fill in each of the following blanks with suitable words.
1.Expo 2010 Shanghai China will be a great event to explore the full potential of ________in the 21st century and a significant period in urban evolution.
2.World Expositions are galleries of ________.
3.Being the first World Exposition on the theme of city,Exposition 2010 will attract governments and people from across the world,focusing on the theme “________”.
4.In 1800,only 2 percent of the global population lived in cities,but by 1950,the figure had risen to 29 percent,and by 2000,almost ________the world population had moved into cities.
5.It is in the face of such discord that Expo 2010 Shanghai China proposes the concept of a “________” responding to the appeal for “Better City,Better Life”.