VOA标准英语2010年-Dubai Opens World's Tallest Building A

Developers are not revealing the exact height of the Burj Dubai until its official debut¹.  But they say the $1.5 billion tower will reach 200 stories into the sky.

It will stretch 300 meters higher than Taiwan's Taipei 101, which currently holds the world record at 508 meters.

Dubai leaders hope the tapered² metal and glass skyscraper³ will help restore investors⁴' confidence in the emirate.

The state-owned conglomerate⁵ Dubai World sent stock markets tumbling in November after it announced it could not repay $60 billion in loans.  Neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi came to Dubai's rescue in December with a $10 billion aid package to help Dubai World repay some of its debt.

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 tapered   

adj. 锥形的，尖削的，楔形的，渐缩的，斜的 动词taper的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The tail tapered to a rounded tip. 尾部越来越细，最后成了个圆尖。
• The organization tapered off in about half a year. 那个组织大约半年内就逐渐消失了。

3 skyscraper   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• The skyscraper towers into the clouds.那幢摩天大楼高耸入云。
• The skyscraper was wrapped in fog.摩天楼为雾所笼罩。

4 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

5 conglomerate   

n.综合商社，多元化集团公司

参考例句：

• The firm has been taken over by an American conglomerate.该公司已被美国一企业集团接管。
• An American conglomerate holds a major share in the company.一家美国的大联合企业持有该公司的大部分股份。