古埃及法老圖坦卡蒙死亡之謎

四川蔣建平（特級教師）

古埃及法老圖坦卡蒙的死亡一直是一個謎。最近的一項科學研究聲稱，對于這個有著3,300多年歷史的謎團，他們找到了新的答案。

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難詞探意

1.complication/,k?mpl?'ke??n/n.并發癥

2.innocent/'?n?snt/adj.無辜的；清白的

3.mummy/'m?mi/n.木乃伊

4.fracture/'fr?kt??(r)/n.骨折；斷裂

What killed King Tut?Historians and scientists have long believed that ancient Egypt's most famous king was probably murdered.But a recent scientific study claims to have found a different answer to this more than 3,300-year-old mystery.A team of researchers now say that King Tut died ofcomplicationsfrom a broken leg.

Tut's full name was Tutankhamun.He was just 9 years old when he became the ruler of Egypt in 1333 BC.His treasure-filled tomb was discovered almost a century ago.It was filled with royal riches,including a solid-gold coffin,a gold mask,and piles of jewelry.Unfortunately,Tut died at the age of 19.Many experts have thought that Tut was killed by one of his advisers,named Ay,who wanted to be king.But thanks to a major modern science project,it seems Ay isinnocent.

Researchers set out to solve the mystery of King Tut's death by using the tools of science,including DNA tests and electronic scans of hismummy.Scientist Carsten Pusch carried out the tests on Tut for the new study.He thinks a broken leg led to the young king's death.More than 100 walking sticks were found in King Tut's tomb.This supports the team's findings.But how could a person die from a simple broken leg?

Pusch also found DNA evidence in Tut's body that shows he had malaria,a disease carried by mosquitoes.Malaria seriously weakens the immune system.

Pusch and his fellow researchers believe the malaria and the bone disease together caused the king'sfractureto become deadly.Finally,the young king was just too weak to recover.So effects of the disease combined with the bad luck of a broken bone—not a jealous adviser—are likely the real causes of King Tut's death.

Reading Check

1.What do most experts think of King Tut?

A.He was murdered by one of his advisers.

B.He was poisoned by one of his servants.

C.He was the youngest ruler in history.

D.He was the richest ruler in the history of Egypt.

2.What did the new study discover about the king?

A.He died of a simple cut in the leg.

B.He died directly of a disease called malaria.

C.He died of complications from a broken leg.

D.He was bitten to death by deadly mosquitoes.

3.How did researchers uncover the mystery of King Tut's death?

A.By testing King Tut's immune system.

B.By performing experiments on mosquitoes.

C.By studying the walking sticks found in the tomb.

D.By applying DNA tests and electronic scan technology.

Language Study

熟詞生義

Malaria seriouslyweakensthe immune system.瘧疾嚴重削弱了免疫系統。

weakenv.削弱；（使）減弱

e.g.The illness weakened his heart.疾病使他的心臟衰弱了。

Cultural Background

阿布辛貝神廟

阿布辛貝神廟是由古埃及法老拉美西斯二世建造的。廟高30米，寬36米，縱深60米，門前有4座石質拉美西斯巨型坐像，每尊高近20米，重1,200余噸。因修建阿斯旺大壩，聯合國教科文組織向世界各國發出拯救文化遺產的呼吁，51個國家做出了反應。1960年至1980年，專家們進行了40多次大規模的挽救古跡活動；24個國家的考古學者組成考察團進行實地勘察，經過測定方位和計算，22座廟宇被拆散后轉移到安全地帶并重建。