英语听力精选进阶版 6203

A British Obsession¹ 英国人迷恋的话题

British people are famous for always talking about the weather, but the weather also affects the way we speak and the phrases we use.

As more winter weather batters² the UK, this week’s Take Away demonstrates how the British obsession with weather has influenced our language.

The return of snowstorms to the UK proves that when it comes to bad weather it never rains but it pours.

The police have warned that unnecessary road travel is not recommended but some motorists have thrown caution to the wind and made their journeys anyway, claiming that it’s all a storm in teacup.

Those whose cars are stuck in the snow may consider themselves to be twisting in the wind.

There are problems too for local councils who are running out of sand and grit³ for the roads, having not saved enough supplies for a rainy day.

However it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good and breakdown⁴ services will be seeing an increase in business at this time of year.

And every cloud has a silver lining⁵ for plumbers⁶ too as the cold weather brings burst and frozen pipes in homes and businesses.

What has become apparent from the cold snap is that seasonal⁷ weather forecasting is not a precise science.

The UK Meteorological Officepredicted that this winter would be mild and warm so the bad weather came like a bolt from the blue, defying predictions.

It’s no wonder then that many people are feeling under the weather with flus and colds an ever-present danger, especially for the very old and very young.

The best thing to do then is to wrap up warm, stay at home and weather the storm and hopefully in a few weeks everything will be as right as rain.

Glossary 词汇表

batters （恶劣天气）困扰 

influenced 影响 

it never rains but it pours 祸不单行 

thrown caution to the wind 冒险 

a storm in teacup 大惊小怪 

twisting in the wind 孤立无援 

grit 砂砾 

rainy day 艰难的时刻/困境 

ill wind that blows nobody any good 有祸也有福/有人愁有人喜 

breakdown services （汽车）救援服务 

every cloud has a silver lining （每一块乌云后面都有银色的一面） 困难中必有希望 

plumbers 管工 

burst 爆开/裂开 

cold snap 寒流 

seasonal weather forecasting 季节天气预告 

Meteorological Office predicted 气象局预测 

bolt from the blue 突如其来的 

under the weather 身体不舒服 

weather the storm 度过危机 

as right as rain 万事顺利

1 obsession   

n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感)

参考例句：

• I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
• She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。

2 batters   

n.面糊（煎料）( batter的名词复数 )；面糊（用于做糕饼）；（ 棒球） 正在击球的球员；击球员v.连续猛击( batter的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The pitcher has beaned as many as three batters in this game. 在这？热？投手投球竟打中了三个击手的头。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• A storm batters the ship. 一场风暴袭击了这条船。 来自辞典例句

3 grit   

n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关

参考例句：

• The soldiers showed that they had plenty of grit. 士兵们表现得很有勇气。
• I've got some grit in my shoe.我的鞋子里弄进了一些砂子。

4 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

5 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

6 plumbers   

n.管子工，水暖工( plumber的名词复数 )；[美][口]（防止泄密的）堵漏人员

参考例句：

• Plumbers charge by the hour for their work. 水管工人的工作是以小时收费的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Plumbers, carpenters, and other workmen finished the new house quickly. 管道工、木工及其他工匠很快完成了这幢新房子。 来自辞典例句

7 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。