Every four years at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, an athlete acting as the torchbearer carries the Olympic torchto the venue. This torchwill be used to light the Olympic flame, which will burn continuouslyuntil the Games conclude several weeks later. This ritualact is part of a tradition with roots in the ancient past.
In many cultures, fire is a symbol of life and knowledge. For example, in the Greek myth of Prometheus, fire is a gift to humankind that allowed civilizationto grow and prosper. At the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, a ritual flame was lit at the temple of a goddess named Hestia, who represents the divinenature of fire. Similar to the modern Olympic flame, this fire continued burning throughout the Games.
Although lighting the Olympic flame dates back to the ancient Games, the modern ceremony introduced the symbolicfire in 1928 at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The tradition of the Olympic torchrelaywas conceived eight years later. That year, the torch was carried across Europe by over 3,000 runners to Berlin, Germany. Unfortunately, due to World War II, the Olympic Games were canceled for the following eight years.
However, since the 1948 Games in London, the torchrelay has remained a regular part of the Olympics. A torch lighting ceremony is held in the Greek town of Olympia several weeksahead of the Games. At the ceremony, a torch is kindled by using a mirror to reflectsunlight. This torch is then handed to the first torchbearer and passed on toconsecutivetorchbearers one by one. Though it is carried by a runner most of the time, the torch can be transportedin various ways such as by boat or plane. Its long journey ends at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
torch
[tɔrtʃ]
vt. （蓄意）縱火
n. 火把
The athlete carried the torch into the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony.
這名運動員在開幕典禮時帶著聖火進奧林匹克體育場。
Andrew has carried a torch for Doreen for many years, but she hasn’t seemed to notice.
安德魯單戀朵琳多年，但她似乎還沒注意到。
The burglars took what they wanted and then torched the building.
盜竊者拿走他們要的東西後就放火燒了那棟建築。
高中 Level 5
●
venue
[ˋvɛnju]
n. ( 舉辦) 場所，地點
The venue for Mike’s birthday party was a hotel with a swimming pool and an outdoor bar.
麥克生日派對的地點是在一間附有游泳池、室外吧檯的飯店。
高中 Level 5
●
continuously
[kənˋtɪnjʊəslɪ]
adv. 持續不斷地
=
endlessly
=
ceaselessly
Jack drove continuously for 4 hours without a break.
傑克已經連續開了 4 小時的車都沒有休息。
Jack drove for 4 consecutive hours without a break.
傑克已經連續開了 4 小時的車都沒有休息。
Jack drove 4 hours in a row without a break.
傑克已經連續開了 4 小時的車都沒有休息。
高中 Level 4
●
ritual
[ˋrɪtʃʊəl]
n. 儀式 ; 例行公事
a. 儀式的
The priest performed a ritual of blessing at the altar.
這位牧師在祭壇上進行祈福代禱的儀式。
Reading an English newspaper has become part of my morning ritual.
閱讀英文報紙已經成為我晨間例行公事的一部分。
As part of the ceremony, Joseph and the other men must perform a ritual dance.
作為典禮的一環，喬瑟夫和其他男子必須表演儀式舞。
Important events such as weddings and funerals are full of ritual activities.
諸如婚禮和喪禮等的重要活動有很多儀式性活動。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
civilization
[͵sɪv!əˋzeʃən]
n. 文明（不可數）
These books are about the history of Western civilization.
這些書談的是西方文明史。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
prosper
[ˋprɑspɚ]
vi. 繁榮，興隆
=
thrive
=
flourish
The store prospered under new management.
這家店在新的經營策略下生意興隆。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
divine
[dəˋvaɪn]
a. 神聖的，天堂般的
=
heavenly
Seeing my baby daughter for the first time gave me a divine feeling.
第一次看到我的女兒出生帶給我神聖的感覺。
To err is human, to forgive divine.
犯錯是人，寬恕是神。⸺諺語
高中 Level 4
●
symbolic
[sɪmˋbɑlɪk]
a. 象徵性的
The use of the color blue in the film is symbolic of the misery and depression of the main character.
這部電影中使用的藍色象徵主角的不幸與憂鬱。
The use of the color blue in the film symbolizes the misery and depression of the main character.
這部電影中使用的藍色象徵主角的不幸與憂鬱。
高中 Level 5
●
relay
[rɪˋle]
n. . 接力賽（= a relay race）& [ rI`le ] / `rile ]
vt. 轉達（= pass on）；轉播
John is quite nervous because he’s running the last
leg of the relay race tomorrow.
約翰很緊張，因為他明天要跑接力賽的最後一棒。
I was told the news first and relayed it to my friends
by phone.
我首先被告知這個消息，接著就用電話轉告我朋友。
Satellites will be used to relay footage of the celebrity
wedding to every corner of the globe.
會用衛星將這名人婚禮的影片片段轉播到全球各個角落。
高中 Level 6
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reflect
[rɪˋflɛkt]
vt. 反射；反應
vi. 思考（與介詞 on 並用）
The mirror reflects sunlight.
鏡子會反射陽光。
The polls have reflected that welfare is the top issue with voters.
這些民調反應出福利制度才是選民關注的首要議題。
We took a moment to reflect on what we were about to do.
我們花了片刻時間思考我們要怎麼做。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
consecutive
[kənˋsɛkjʊtɪv]
a. 連續 (不斷) 的
=
successive
=
in a row
The euro has appreciated in value for two consecutive weeks.
歐元已經連續升值了兩個星期。
The euro has appreciated in value for two successive weeks.
歐元已經連續升值了兩個星期。
The euro has appreciated in value for two weeks in a row.
歐元已經連續升值了兩個星期。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
transport
[trænsˋpɔrt]
vt. 運送，運輸
In the past, people used trains to transport coal.
過去人們利用火車運送煤炭。
To save money, we’ll have to transport these goods to Spain by ship.
為了省錢，我們必須以海運將這些貨物運往西班牙。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
Extra Words
●
ceremony
[ˋsɛrə͵monɪ]
n. 典禮
The principal awarded five outstanding students
during the ceremony.
校長在典禮上頒獎給 5 位優秀學生。
Don’t stand on ceremony; please make yourself at home.
不要拘束，自己來別客氣。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
●
torchbearer
[ˋtɔrtʃ͵bɛrɚ]
n. 火炬手
●
myth
[mɪθ]
n. 神話；迷思，錯誤的想法
=
legend
Contrary to the general myth, pigs are actually animals that love to be clean. 與一般傳統想法不同的是，豬其實是愛乾淨的動物。
The story in the magazine is just a myth. There’s not a single grain of truth in it.
雜誌裡的這則報導不過是無稽之談。毫無事實根據。
多益藍色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
conceive
[kənˋsiv]
vt. & vi. 構思，設想；懷孕
=
imagine
John conceived a plan that we all supported.
我們都支持約翰所構思的計畫。
An underwater wedding? Really, who would conceive of such a thing?
水中婚禮？說真的，誰會想到這種主意？
A woman usually gives birth ten months after conceiving a child.
女性通常懷胎十月才生下孩子。
高中 Level 5
●
kindle
[ˋkɪnd!]
vt. . 點燃；激起（興趣等）
At the campground, we kindled a fire and sat in a
circle, chatting about nothing in particular.
我們在營區燃起了火圍成一圈坐下，漫無邊際地閒聊。
His grandfather’s stories of life in the navy kindled
John’s lifelong interest in sailing.
約翰的爺爺在海軍生活的故事，激發了約翰一生對航海的興 趣。
高中 Level 6
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an opening ceremony
開幕典禮
Practical Phrases
●
be similar to sth
和⋯⋯相似
Your taste in clothes is similar to mine.
你的穿著品味和我很相似。
●
ahead of
在……的前面
There’s a truckahead ofus. Be careful when driving.
我們前面有一輛卡車。開車時要小心。
●
pass on sth to sb
將某物傳給某人
It is important to pass on traditions and cultural values to younger generations. 將傳統和文化價值觀傳承給較年輕的世代是很重要的。
●
one by one
一個接一個地
At 6 p.m. every day, the streetlights in this park will light up one by one.
每天晚上六點，這座公園的街燈會一個接一個亮起來。
