英语听力精选进阶版 6206

Could You Do Better? 你能做的更好吗？

There is no doubt that users of the bbcukchina website are among the most intelligent and educated people. So let's see if you know the answers to the following general knowledge questions:

In Greek mythology¹ what did Prometheus steal from the gods? Ursus Maritimus is the scientific name for which bear? Pierre is the capital of which American state?

How did you get on? If you answered the questions correctly then you did a lot better than a contestant² on a long-running BBC quiz show called Mastermind, who got the lowest score in the programme's 40-year history.

Software analyst³ Kajen Thuraaisingham scored a measly five points out of 29 over the two rounds of the show.

The format⁴ of the show sees contestants⁵ answer questions on a specialised subject of their choosing before tackling a round of general knowledge.

The pressure really comes to bear on the players as they occupy the iconic black leather chair positioned under a bright spotlight⁶.

After the show Mastermind's host John Humphrys commiserated⁷ with the unfortunate contestant.

"It's the 'black chair' syndrome," said Humphrys. "No matter how hard you prepare for a show, the mind can just go blank when you're in that chair and the lights are on you."

Mr Thuraaisingham was gracious in defeat, saying, "I tried my best but it wasn't my night."

As well as being tested on general knowledge, Mastermind contestants are sometimes quizzed on their mastery of the English language, and indeed the final question that Mr Thuraaisingham faced was a vocabulary test.

Can you do better than he did? Let's find out. What word can mean a joint⁸ of pork, to pawn⁹, or a German white wine?

Glossary¹⁰ 词汇表

general knowledge 常识 

mythology 神话 

scientific name 科学名称 

get on 进行 

contestant 参赛者 

quiz show 智力竞赛节目 

measly 少得可怜 

rounds 轮 

format 版本，格式 

specialised subject 长项题目 

tackling 解决，应付 

pressure... comes to bear 感到压力 

iconic 标志性的 

spotlight 聚光灯 

host 主持人 

commiserated 安慰，表示同情 

syndrome 综合症 

go blank 脑子里一片空白 

gracious in defeat 虽输犹荣 

pawn 典当，抵押

1 mythology   

n.神话，神话学，神话集

参考例句：

• In Greek mythology,Zeus was the ruler of Gods and men.在希腊神话中，宙斯是众神和人类的统治者。
• He is the hero of Greek mythology.他是希腊民间传说中的英雄。

2 contestant   

n.竞争者，参加竞赛者

参考例句：

• The company will furnish each contestant with a free ticket.公司将为每个参赛者免费提供一张票。
• The personal appearance and interview of the contestant is another count.参加比赛者的个人仪表和谈话也是一项。

3 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

4 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

5 contestants   

n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries. 这次比赛吸引了代表8个不同国家的500多名参赛者。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

7 commiserated   

v.怜悯，同情( commiserate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She commiserated with the losers on their defeat. 她对失败的一方表示同情。
• We commiserated with the losers. 我们对落败者表示同情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 pawn   

n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押

参考例句：

• He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
• It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。

10 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。