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北外英语中级听力-14

时间:2006-10-08 16:00:00

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  Here is a summary of the news.
No general election yet says the Prime Minister.
Five people die in an earthquake in central Italy.
And £1/4 million is stolen from a security van.
In a speech in the city of London last night, the Prime Minister announced that there will be no general election in the near future. Talk of a quick election was pure speculation1, she said. A general election would be held when it was in the best interests of the nation to do so.
In central Italy, several small towns and villages are still cut off by avalanches2 following the earthquake during the night which killed five people. It was central Italy's strongest earthquake for several years and hundreds of people have been made homeless. In Rome, as well as in Florence, Naples and Perugia, gas pipes were broken, windows shattered and electric cables thrown onto the streets.
Thieves got away with almost £1/4 million after a security van was ambushed3 in central London early this morning. The security van was rammed4 by a lorry as it was taking a short cut through a narrow street off Piccadilly. Three masked men then threatened the driver and his assistant with shotguns and forced one of them to unlock the van. The thieves made their escape in a car parked nearby. This car was later found abandoned in south London. The driver of the van and his assistant were badly shaken but not seriously hurt.
The flight recorder of the DC10 airliner5 which crashed in the Antarctic a fortnight ago has shown that the plane was flying normally just before impact. All two hundred and fifty-seven people on board the aircraft died when it hit the side of a volcano. The investigation6 into what happened is still going on.
Voting is taking place today in the Euro-Constituency of London SouthWest. This by election for the European Parliament is being held because of the death of the previous member, Mr. Harold Friend. At the last election Mr. Friend had a majority of 17,000 over his nearest opponent.
Talks on a formula for ending the strike at Independent Television get under way in London this afternoon. Looking forward to the meeting, the General Secretary of the Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied7 Technicians, Mr. Albert Tapper, said it was taking place on the basis of new proposals from the companies. He hoped it would lead to a basis for negotiations8 but he refused to speculate on the chances of success.
Fifteen people are to appear in court in Manchester today, following disturbances9 on a train bringing football supporters back from matches in London. Eye witnesses report that the trouble began when groups of rival supporters whose teams had both been playing London clubs began to insult each other. After fighting had broken out police boarded the train just outside Manchester and arrests were made. British Rail have announced that they are considering withdrawing all soccer specials operating from Manchester.
Interviewer: Tell me Mrs. Clark, how did you come to be a bearded lady?
Mrs. Clark: Well, it all began when I started growing a beard.
Interviewer: Mm ... and when was that exactly?
Mrs. Clark: Just after my fourth birthday, I believe.
Interviewer: Really? As early as that? Didn't you see a doctor?
Mrs. Clark: Oh, yes, my parents took me to dozens of specialists.
Interviewer: And what did they have to say?
Mrs. Clark: They just told me to shave.
Interviewer: That's all the advice they could give? So you started shaving?
Mrs. Clark: Well, I was too young to be allowed to use a razor, and electric razors weren't even thought of in those days, so my dad used to shave me once a week before going to church on Sundays.
Interviewer: And when did you stop shaving?
Mrs. Clark: Oh, that would have been when I was around fifteen. You see it was growing at an enormous rate, something like five inches a day, I mean you could almost see it growing, and it was so thick. I mean a razor or scissors were no use.
Interviewer: So you ... let it grow?
Mrs. Clark: Well, it was taking so much time trying to keep it down and I was just wasting my time fighting a losing battle. So I thought ... I'll just let it grow ... and that's when I came to work in the circus. I was spotted10 by a talent scout11.
Interviewer: Do you ... ever cut your beard now?
Mrs. Clark: Oh, yes every week I chop off a few feet. I have to cut it or I fall over it if I don't remember to wrap it around my waist.
Interviewer: (Laughs) What about the circus? How did you find it at first, being stared at all day?
Mrs. Clark: Well, I must admit it was a bit unnerving at first ... what with people gaping12 at you as though you were a goldfish in a bowl. I used to feel like saying. 'It's all right, dear, it's not that unusual, you know. It's only a bit of extra hair. It's not another head or something.' But you get used to the pointing and laughing in the end. Don't hardly notice it any more. Even the jokes don't upset me now. It's a bit boring in fact, after thirty years, just sitting here all day being stared at. But still there's always the breaks. and then the Ten-Foot Woman and the Midget from next door come in for a cup of tea and a chat, that passes the time nicely.
Interviewer: Would you say there were any advantages to having a fifteen-foot long beard?
Mrs. Clark: Well, my husband says it keeps his toes warm on cold nights.
Paul: Anyone want another Coke or something?
James: I think we're all drinking Paul ... thanks just the same.
Darley: I was thinking ... What would you youngsters do without the youth centre? You'd be pretty lost, wouldn't you?
Paul: Huh! It's all right I suppose. But I'm telling you ... we don't need no bloody13 youth club to find something to do. Me ... well ... I only come when there's a dance on. Them berks what come all the time ... well ... they need their heads examined. If I want to drink ... well there's the pub, isn't there.
Mrs. Brent: But how old are you Paul? Sixteen? You can't drink in pubs-it's illegal.
Paul: No barman's ever turned me out yet. Anyway ... thanks for the drink. What about a dance, Denise?
Denise: I don't mind.
Paul: Come on then.
Finchley: Er ... Would you care to dance, Mrs. Brent?
Mrs. Brent: Thank you ... but no. The music isn't of my generation. You know ... the generation gap. When I was young I'd never have dared speak as Paul just did. Especially with a clergyman present.
James: What sort of world do you think we live in Mrs. Brent? It's part of my job to know people ... and especially young people ... as they are.
Mrs. Brent: Please don't misunderstand me. I only thought it offensive. If my own son ...
James: Oh, I'm used to it. In a sense I feel it's a kind of compliment that ...
Darley: Compliment?
James: Don't get me wrong. Paul feels free to express himself with me just as he would with his friends. He accepts me as a kind of friend.
Finchley: And really the so-called generation gap is a myth you know. Teenagers aren't really so different. As a teacher I find them quite traditional in their attitudes.
Darley: But look at the way they dress ... and their hair!
James: You haven't got the point I think. Those things are quite superficial. I agree with Mr. Finchley ... Basically their attitudes are very similar to those of my generation.
Darley: So you approve of the kind of language we heard from Paul just now ...
James: Now I didn't say that. Anyway the concepts of 'approval' and 'disapproval14' tend to over simplify matters. Every generation creates its ... its own special language ... just as it creates its own styles in clothes and music.
Mrs. Brent: It's just that ... er ... the styles and habits of today's teenagers are so ... well basically ... so unacceptable.
Finchley: You mean unacceptable to you.
Mrs. Brent: No ... I mean unacceptable to the rest of society.
Darley: When you come to think of it ... I mean I'm always on at my boy about his clothes ...
James: So you find them unacceptable too.
Darley: No ... just let me finish. I was about to say that in fact his clothes are very practical ... very simple.
Finchley: Anyway ... the generation gap is non-existent. I mean ... the idea of teenagers ... of a teenage generation that ... which has rejected the values of its parents for a sort of mixture of violence and lethargy ... well ... it's totally unrealistic.
Mrs. Brent: I do wish you had a teenage son or daughter of your own, Mr. Finchley.
Finchley: But I have more contact with them ...
Mrs. Brent: I'm not implying that you have no understanding of their problems.
Finchley: My contact with them ... as a teacher of English ... is close. You see we have regular discussions ... and they very often carry on after school and here at the youth centre. You'd find them interesting. You could come and sit in sometime if you like.
Darley: That'd be interesting.
Mrs. Brent: I'd be too embarrassed to say anything.
Finchley: I don't mean there's any need for you to take part in the discussion. Just listen. And you'd realize I think just how traditional their attitudes are.
James: For example?
Finchley: For example ... you probably wouldn't think so but the majority have ... a firm belief in marriage ... and in the family.
Darley: Those are things I've never talked about with my boy.
Finchley: And one very clear ... very notable thing is that they're always looking for opportunities to help others ...
Mrs. Brent: Well, Tony doesn't help much in the house ...
Finchley: ... to help others that is who really need help. Not just helping15 with the washing-up, Mrs. Brent. Anyway ... another point that's come out of the discussions is that nearly all of them-about 90 per cent I should say-get on well with their parents.
Mrs. Brent: Oh but I ...
Finchley: Most disagreements seem to be over hair and general appearance.
James: And we've called those superficial.
Finchley: Exactly.
Darley: I like the idea of sitting in on a discussion. I'll take you up on that.
Finchley: Fine. And Mrs Brent. As you would find it embarrassing ...
Mrs. Brent: Well I ... I didn't really mean embarrassing. It's just that ... you know ...
Finchley: There's a book you ought to read ... published by The National Children's Bureau. It's called Britain's Sixteen-Year-Olds. I'll lend you my copy.
Mrs. Brent: That's very kind of you. Look, I'd better be going. From the way my son's dancing he'll be at it all night.
Darley: Have you got a car, Mrs. Brent?
Mrs. Brent: No. There's a bus.
Darley: Then please let me give you a lift.
Mrs. Brent: I wouldn't want to take you out of your way.
Darley: Not at all. Anyway ... we have to take an example from the youngsters, don't we? Helping those in need I mean ... Well ... we'll say good night ...
Voices: Good night.
1. How was trade conducted, then, without money to pay for goods? The answer is by bartering17. Bartering is the process by which trade takes place through the exchange of goods. Money is not used as payment. Instead, one good is traded for another good.
2. As trade became more common as a result of people's interdependence upon one another, it was necessary to develop or invent a more convenient method of payment. Consequently, a new form of exchange medium, money, was introduced into society.
3. Of course, the evolution from a total barter16 society to one that was totally monetized did not occur overnight. In fact, today there are still societies that are not monetized, although they account for an insignificant18 amount of world trade. In the interim19 between a barter world and a monetized world, both systems operated together.
4. As I stated earlier, money has a specific value, but due to certain conditions, the money-or currency, as money is referred to-of some countries is more valuable than that of other countries.
5. It is difficult to give examples of barter deals because in most cases the terms of the contract are not disclosed. In some cases, we don't hear about barter transactions simply because they work so well. If one company has arranged a profitable exchange, it will be very quiet about it so that its competitors will not come in and try to make a better deal.
6. It is unlikely that the world will revert20 to a totally barter-oriented existence, but until the economic disorder21 that is present in today's world is remedied, bartering will probably become increasingly important as an exchange medium.


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1 speculation 9vGwe     
n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机
参考例句:
  • Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
  • There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
2 avalanches dcaa2523f9e3746ae5c2ed93b8321b7e     
n.雪崩( avalanche的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The greatest dangers of pyroclastic avalanches are probably heat and suffocation. 火成碎屑崩落的最大危害可能是炽热和窒息作用。 来自辞典例句
  • Avalanches poured down on the tracks and rails were spread. 雪崩压满了轨道,铁轨被弄得四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
3 ambushed d4df1f5c72f934ee4bc7a6c77b5887ec     
v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 );埋伏着
参考例句:
  • The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The military vehicles were ambushed. 军车遭到伏击。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 rammed 99b2b7e6fc02f63b92d2b50ea750a532     
v.夯实(土等)( ram的过去式和过去分词 );猛撞;猛压;反复灌输
参考例句:
  • Two passengers were injured when their taxi was rammed from behind by a bus. 公共汽车从后面撞来,出租车上的两位乘客受了伤。
  • I rammed down the earth around the newly-planted tree. 我将新栽的树周围的土捣硬。 来自《简明英汉词典》
5 airliner Azxz9v     
n.客机,班机
参考例句:
  • The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
  • The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。
6 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
7 allied iLtys     
adj.协约国的;同盟国的
参考例句:
  • Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
  • Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。
8 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过
参考例句:
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
9 disturbances a0726bd74d4516cd6fbe05e362bc74af     
n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 );打扰;困扰;障碍
参考例句:
  • The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
  • Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。
10 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
11 scout oDGzi     
n.童子军,侦察员;v.侦察,搜索
参考例句:
  • He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵,受了重伤。
  • The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。
12 gaping gaping     
adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大
参考例句:
  • Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。
  • The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 bloody kWHza     
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染
参考例句:
  • He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
  • He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。
14 disapproval VuTx4     
n.反对,不赞成
参考例句:
  • The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
  • They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。
15 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
16 barter bu2zJ     
n.物物交换,以货易货,实物交易
参考例句:
  • Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上,鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
  • They have arranged food imports on a barter basis.他们以易货贸易的方式安排食品进口。
17 bartering 3fff2715ce56641ff7589f77e406ee4c     
v.作物物交换,以货换货( barter的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Parliament would be touchy about bartering British soil for ships. 用英国国土换取舰只,议会感到为难。 来自辞典例句
  • In former times trade was based on bartering--goods were exchanged for other goods. 以前,贸易是以易货(即货物交换)的方式进行的。 来自辞典例句
18 insignificant k6Mx1     
adj.无关紧要的,可忽略的,无意义的
参考例句:
  • In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季,这种作用是不明显的。
  • This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。
19 interim z5wxB     
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间
参考例句:
  • The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
  • It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。
20 revert OBwzV     
v.恢复,复归,回到
参考例句:
  • Let us revert to the earlier part of the chapter.让我们回到本章的前面部分。
  • Shall we revert to the matter we talked about yesterday?我们接着昨天谈过的问题谈,好吗?
21 disorder Et1x4     
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调
参考例句:
  • When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后,他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
  • It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

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