Harry Potter Fans Flock to Theaters for Final Film

 　　Fans of the wildly popular Harry¹ Potter franchise² are flocking to movie theaters around the world to see the last of eight films based on the books by British author J.K. Rowling.

　　Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is poised³ to set records in ticket sales, taking in $43 million in 26 countries outside the United States on its opening day, Wednesday. The film debuted⁴ in the key U.S. and British markets early Friday.

　　Its release brings to a close the famous tale of the boy wizard Harry Potter and his friends Hermione and Ron. The final installment⁵ is based on the second half of the seventh and final book and chronicles Harry's last battle with Voldemort, the most evil wizard of the series.

　　It is the first movie of the Warner Brothers franchise to offer three-dimensional showings. The higher price for 3D could help boost overall sales figures.

　　The finale had its world premiere in London last week. Eight thousand people poured into Trafalgar Square to greet the stars of the series.

　　In an interview, the actor who plays Harry, Daniel Radcliffe, thanked fans for their support and encouraged them to take their curiosity into the world and do "extraordinary things with it."

　　Harry Potter creator Rowling is known as the first author in the world to be worth $1 billion.

　　Her series has captivated millions, even spawning⁶ an amusement park and real-life games of the fictional⁷ sport featured in the books, known as Quidditch.

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

3 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

4 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

5 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。

6 spawning   

产卵

参考例句：

• Encounter sites have a small chance of spawning a "Commander" NPC. 遭遇战地区有很小的几率遇到NPC指挥官。
• Instantly revives your Champion at your Spawning Pool, 9 minute cooldown. 立即在出生地复活你的英雄，冷却时间9分钟。

7 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。