Is Rome's Colosseum falling apart?

Last updated at 15:03 GMT, Friday, 30 December 2011

The Italian government is investigating reports that pieces of rock have fallen off the Colosseum in Rome. Witnesses reported seeing the fallen masonry on Christmas Day. It has raised concerns about the maintenance of the monument.

Reporter
Kathy Harcombe

Report:

The emblem of the Roman Empire where gladiators once fought wild beasts and each other to entertain spectators. Built almost 2000 years ago, the Colosseum is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.

Now though there are fears that this mighty monument may be crumbling. Italian environmentalists have frequently raised the alarm about the precarious state of the Colosseum.

They claim that exhaust fumes and the vibrations from vehicles and a nearby subway are damaging the monument. But the Colosseum authorities say there is no cause for panic.

But there is sufficient fear over the state of the building to warrant a US$ 33 million restoration project due to begin in March.

Vocabulary

1.     The emblem/embləm/:  Biểu tượng

a picture of logo that represents a country

2.     Wild beasts:  Động vật hoang dã

untamed animals, usually big and four-legged

3.     Spectators / spɛkteɪtər , spɛkˈteɪtər/:  Khán giả

people who watch an event

4.     Mighty monument:  Tượng đài vĩ đại

Imposing building with a strong historical significance

Mighty/ maɪti/ (adj)

Monument /mɔnjumənt/ (n): Đài kỷ niệm/bia kỷ niệm, kiến trúc lớn

5.     Crumbling (n) /krʌmbliη/: Đổ nát

falling into pieces

6.     Environmentalists in,vaiərən'mentəlist/ (n):  Nhà bảo vệ môi trường

people who are very interested in the environment and try to protect it from being damaged

7.     Precarious state / /prɪˈkɛəriəs steit/ Nhà nước bấp bênh, không vững chắc

not stable or secure

8.     Exhaust fumes: Khí thải

gases expelled by an active vehicle engine

9.     Vibrations: Rung động

periodic motions or shakes

10.   Restoration project /restə'reiʃn/: Dự án phục hồi

building works to make a building resemble its original condition

Source: BBC Learning English 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/12/111230_witn_colosseum.shtml