英语听力精选进阶版 6180

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

1 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

2 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

3 capes   

碎谷； 斗篷( cape的名词复数 )； 披肩； 海角； 岬

参考例句：

• It was cool and they were putting on their capes. 夜里阴冷，他们都穿上了披风。
• The pastor smiled to give son's two Capes five cents money. 牧师微笑着给了儿子二角五分钱。

4 calamity   

n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件

参考例句：

• Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
• The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。

5 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。