英语听力文摘 English Digest 103、阿凡达主角饰演新邦德？

　　Sam Worthington, the lead actor in the worldwide hit Avatar, is being tipped as the next James Bond.
The bookies' favourite, born in the UK but raised in Australia, has recently achieved phenomenal success with the 3D sci-fi epic¹ Avatar which is the highest-grossing movie ever and recently became the fastest-selling Blu-ray and DVD of all time, in North America.
Speculation² over a Bond replacement³ started after it was revealed that the 23rd 007 movie had been put on hold indefinitely. Producers announced the suspension of the film due to the uncertain future of the movie studio MGM.
Bond producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli⁴ said, "Due to the continuing uncertainty⁵ surrounding the future development of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on Bond 23 indefinitely".
Previous hiatuses in production of the iconic movies have resulted in the lead actor being replaced. A six-year gap between the filming of the 1989 film License⁶ to Kill and the 1995 film GoldenEye saw Pierce Brosnan take over the role from Timothy Dalton.
The current James Bond, Daniel Craig, took over the role from Brosnan between the production of the 2002 movie Die Another Day and the 2006 film Casino Royale. Work on the new James Bond film started in 2008 and a release was expected in 2011 or 2012.
Despite the speculation of a replacement, Daniel Craig seems eager still to be involved in the film saying he has "every confidence" in the decision and is looking forward to production starting again.
The James Bond franchise⁷ is one of the longest-running in film history and Mark Batey of the Film Distributors' Association says they are "the backbone⁸ of British Cinema".
He added that not having the film in next year's release schedule "does raise eyebrows⁹" but he said he was "very optimistic Bond will be back".
being tipped as:被认为
bookies' favourite:赌注者的最爱
phenomenal success:非凡成就
epic:电影
highest-grossing:票房之冠
put on hold:延期
close a sale:出售
suspended development:暂停开发
hiatuses:中断
iconic:标志性的
lead actor:男主角
take over the role:接演
every confidence:百分百的把握
franchise:系列
Film Distributors' Association:电影发行商协会
backbone of British Cinema:英国电影的中梁脊柱
does raise eyebrows:肯定会使人惊讶

1 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

2 speculation   

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。

3 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

4 broccoli   

n.绿菜花，花椰菜

参考例句：

• She grew all the broccoli plants from seed.这些花椰菜都是她用种子培育出来的。
• They think broccoli is only green and cauliflower is only white.他们认为西兰花只有绿色的，而菜花都是白色的。

5 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

6 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

7 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

8 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

9 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。