全新版大学英语听说教程第二册 Unit02

2-2-A

1. The weather today: a fine day is in store nearly everywhere, with the best of the sunshine in southern and central areas of Britain. A pleasant day, then, with long sunny periods developing. Light winds. There will be light winds with a maximum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius¹, 64 degrees Fahrenheit².

Looking at the outlook³ for the next few days, it will become mostly cloudy with heavy showers moving in from the west.

2. A storm in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin Province, claimed four lives on Sunday. The storm lasted about three minutes from around 8 p.m. The winds reached speeds of over a hundred miles an hour, causing serious damage and a widespread power failure.

2-2-B

Did You Hear the Weather Forecast?

Alan: Oh, look at the sky, Michelle! It's starting to get cloudy.

Michelle: I see it. I hope it doesn't rain. I thought it was going to be a fine day today.

Alan: That's certainly what the department was hoping for when they chose today as the date for the annual picnic.

Michelle: You can't have a picnic without good weather. You need sunshine for all the eating and games and entertainment.

Alan: Yeah, sunshine -- but not too much! Do you remember last year?

Michelle: I sure do. It was so hot all we did was look for shade, look for ways to escape from the sun.

Alan: And no one wanted to participate in any of the planned activities. All we wanted was cold drinks. And then dozed⁴ off.

Michelle: If there had just been the tiniest breeze⁵ to cool us off...

Alan: But there wasn't. Just that burning sun, without a cloud in the sky, and the temperature just seemed to climb higher and higher.

Michelle Well, we don't have that problem this year, apparently⁶. Alan, did you hear the weather forecast? Is it supposed to rain?

Alan: I don't know. I didn't catch the weather report. But maybe if it rains, it will only be a short shower which cools things off a little. That might not be bad.

2-2-C

A Thunderstorm

Lili: Look, Betty, the sky has turned completely black!

Betty: Oh, wow. A big thunderstorm is coming. But I guess it won't last long.

Lili: Yeah, maybe for about twenty minutes or so it's going to seem like it's the end of the world. And then the sun will come out again.

Betty: I like storms like this. Summer is dramatic⁷. What do you think, Lili?

Lili: Yes, these storms do come quite suddenly in the summer. I often seem to get caught without an umbrella.

Betty: But it's not so terribly getting caught in the rain occasionally⁸ in the summer. Now if you got all wet during a cold, dreary⁹ winter day -- that really would be horrible.

Lili: True. Ah, it's starting to rain now. Here it comes. Yes, it's starting to pour.

Betty: Here comes the lightning and thunder too.

Lili: At least it's supposed to clear up later this afternoon, and to be fine this evening.

Betty: That's good, because I'm going to meet some friends tonight.

Lili: Well, most likely you will have a very pleasant evening, because this storm should take some of the humidity¹⁰ from the air.

Betty: Yes, I must admit that these Chinese summers are very humid.

Lili: More humid than in the US?

Betty: Well, I can't speak about the whole country. But as far as New York goes, I'd say that the weather here in Shanghai tends to be hotter and more humid.

Lili: But I think our winters are milder.

Betty: Yes, I'm sure they are. We probably also get more snow in New York than you do here.

1 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

2 Fahrenheit   

n./adj.华氏温度；华氏温度计(的)

参考例句：

• He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.他被问到水的沸点是华氏多少度。
• The thermometer reads 80 degrees Fahrenheit.寒暑表指出华氏80度。

3 outlook   

n.观点，见解；展望，前景

参考例句：

• The outlook for the economy is bright.经济前景光明。
• Her outlook gradually widens.她的眼光渐渐开阔了。

4 dozed   

v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He boozed till daylight and dozed into the afternoon. 他喝了个通霄，昏沉沉地一直睡到下午。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• I dozed off during the soporific music. 我听到这催人入睡的音乐，便不知不觉打起盹儿来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 breeze   

n.微风；轻而易举的事；vi.来去匆匆，急速走

参考例句：

• A little breeze is blowing in from the window.微风从窗户里吹进来。
• The clouds are pale and a light breeze is blowing.云淡风轻。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 dramatic   

adj.引人注目的；戏剧的；演戏的

参考例句：

• She plays a very dramatic woman with flashing eyes.她饰演一位双眼闪光的引人注目的妇人。
• His speech was dramatic.他的演说激动人心。

8 occasionally   

adv.偶然地；非经常地

参考例句：

• He went on talking,occasionally wiping at his face with a towel.他继续说着，偶尔用毛巾擦一下脸。
• I like playing football best,but occasionally I play table tennis,too.我最喜欢踢足球，偶尔也打打乒乓球。

9 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

10 humidity   

n.湿度，潮湿，湿气

参考例句：

• The house is not comfortable tonight ,because of the high humidity.由于湿度高，今晚屋子里不舒服。
• It's difficult to work because of the humidity.由于空气潮湿，工作很困难。