英语听力精选进阶版 6123

A Look at the 1908 and 1948 Olympics 回顾1908 和1948 年奥林匹克运动会

In May building work began on the massive Olympic Park in east London, the site of the 2012 Games.

As well as being the venue¹ for many events during the games, the park will feature shops, restaurants and accommodation for over 17,000 athletes and officials.

The budget of the 2012 games is currently ￡9.35bn (127.2bn RMB), but this could still rise.

London's previous Olympic organisers had to make do with less time and fewer resources.

Rome was scheduled to host the 1908 Olympics, but the eruption² of Vesuvius in 1906 forced the Italian government to divert its resources towards the stricken city of Naples.

London rose to the challenge of putting on the games at short notice. The White City Stadium was built in ten months at a cost of ￡60,000 (820,000 RMB). The infield of the stadium featured a swimming pool and stages for wrestling and gymnastics.

London was next scheduled to host the 1944 Games but war postponed³ this event until 1948. Shortages of food, resources and capital meant this was always going to be a spartan⁴ Olympics. A temporary running track was laid at Wembley Stadium for the athletics⁵. Britain was unable to build an Olympic village, but put the visiting athletes up in schools and army barracks, while some British athletes simply lived at home.

These games have gone down in history as the ‘Ration⁶ Book Olympics’. It was the era of food rationing⁷ in Britain, and some athletes brought food from their countries to share with their competitors.

The Argentineans brought 100 tons of meat and Iceland offered frozen mutton. The US flew enriched white flour daily from Los Angeles.

At a time when the public were being urged to be careful in their consumption of food, this magnanimity was not welcomed by everyone. Dr Magnus Pyke at the Ministry⁸ of Food described America as having a "disregard for geography and expense".

Food security is once again a matter of public concern but it is very unlikely that competitors will be asked for their ration books in the 2012 Olympic Park.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

make do with 将就，凑合

resources 资源

eruption of Vesuvius 维苏威火山爆发

divert 转移

stricken 受灾的

rose to the challenge 接受挑战（应付某种复杂局面）

putting on 举办

at short notice 临时（即刻）

infield （体育场）内场

spartan 简朴的

put the visiting athletes up 招待参赛运动员

barracks 兵营

gone down in history 史上留名

ration book （定量）配给票证簿

competitors 竞争对手

enriched white flour 强化面粉

consumption 消费

magnanimity 大方

disregard 忽视

Food security （确保）粮食供给

1 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

2 eruption   

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

• The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。
• The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

3 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

4 spartan   

adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人

参考例句：

• Their spartan lifestyle prohibits a fridge or a phone.他们不使用冰箱和电话，过着简朴的生活。
• The rooms were spartan and undecorated.房间没有装饰，极为简陋。

5 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。

6 ration   

n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应

参考例句：

• The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
• We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。

7 rationing   

n.定量供应

参考例句：

• Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
• Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。