英语听力精选进阶版 6180

（单词翻译）

New Witch of Wookey Hole: Wookey 洞里的新巫婆

Do you ever fancy a career change?

Well if you can cast spells, fly on a broomstick and have a good cackle, then you might be interested in becoming a professional witch.

And if you become the Witch of Wookey Hole you could even earn a good salary.

Legend has it that the haunted caves of Wookey Hole in the south of England were home to a witch who laid a curse on the local villagers, until she was turned to stone by a monk¹.

These days the caves are a tourist attraction which bring in thousands of visitors a year. And they have just appointed a new witch.

On Tuesday, Carole Bonahan beat over 300 applicants² with pointy hats, capes³ and hooked noses to win the ￡50,000-a-year (around 500,000 RMB) post as Wookey Hole’s resident witch.

Carole, who will now be known by her witch’s name Carla Calamity⁴, will give up her job as an estate agent in order to become a full-time⁵ witch. Her main duty will be welcoming visitors to the caves.

Miss Calamity wears stilettos and describes herself as a “glamorous witch”. She said that her old job wasn’t perhaps as different to being a witch as you might imagine:

“I am going to be a great witch. All it takes is a little bit of magic and a little pizzazz. It’s a natural progression from my old job as an estate agent. I have been using my witching skills to sell houses for a long time.”

Handing over the broomstick was Jane Brenner who has been Wookey’s witch for the past six years. She said:

“We didn’t want anyone who would scare the children. We wanted a good witch to meet and greet people and to act as an ambassador for the attraction. This isn’t a cushy job.”

Indeed, Carla Calamity had to overcome a wide range of people from all walks of life in order to get the job. Teachers, a photographer, and even an accountant all threw their hats in the ring.

So next time you feel like introducing a little magic into your life, you might want to think about a career in witching.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

cast spells 用符咒镇住（某人或某物）

broomstick 扫把

cackle 邪恶的笑声

earn a good salary 挣一份好的年薪

legend has it 传说中讲 

laid a curse 诅咒 

tourist attraction 旅游景点

appointed 被任命

capes 披风，斗篷

hooked noses 鹰钩鼻 

calamity 大灾难

estate agent 房产销售员 

stilettos 细高跟鞋

glamorous 富有魅力的

pizzazz 活力

natural progression 自然发展

meet and greet 欢迎 

a cushy job 一个容易做的工作

all walks of life 各行各业

threw their hats in the ring （比喻）参加竞争