英语听力精选进阶版 6226

McDowell's Historic Win for Europe 麦克道尔取得历史性胜利

On Sunday night Graeme McDowell became the first European to win the US Open in 40 years.

The US Open is one of the four golf majors and is a highlight in the sporting calendar.

The 30-year-old from Northern Ireland beat off golf heavyweights Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Ernie Els to clinch¹ the prestigious² title. On the final day of the week-long competition, McDowell held off the challenge from France's Gregory Havret to win by one shot.

Graeme has been playing professionally since 2002 and said "It's an absolute dream come true, I've dreamed about this all my life."

It's hard to believe that two months ago Graeme was in danger of not qualifying for the competition, but a win at the Wales Open secured his place at the major.

Tiger Woods had previously³ won the competition three times and after a good third round Tiger looked in with a chance of a fourth win. But after five months away from the game under an intense media spotlight⁴, following a scandal in his private life, the A-list golfer could not muster⁵ up enough confidence to be triumphant⁶.

From winning the title, Graeme not only gains a tidy sum of money but also jumps from 37th to 13th in the golf world rankings.

However, despite earning a lucrative⁷ salary every year, Graeme is still firmly rooted in his home town of Portrush on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

He admits that professional golfers can lead very lavish⁸ lifestyles and that you can become "blasé" about it. However he says that is why his home town is very important to him and is what keeps him "grounded".

So where to celebrate his historic victory? Portrush of course!

Graeme says he will be joining his friends at home for a pint⁹ of the traditional Irish black beer, Guinness.

Glossary 词汇表

majors 重要赛事 

the sporting calendar 体育运动日程表 

heavyweights 重量级人物 

clinch 抓住、赢得 

prestigious 声望很高的 

held off the challenge 赢得挑战 

dream come true 梦想成真 

intense media spotlight 大量媒体聚光灯 

scandal 丑闻 

muster up 鼓起（勇气） 

to be triumphant 获胜 

tidy sum 一大笔奖金 

rankings 排名

lucrative 赚钱的，获利的 

firmly rooted 深深扎根于 

lavish lifestyles 奢侈的生活 

blasé 厌烦享乐的 

grounded 低调的 

historic victory 历史性的胜利 

Guinness 健力士啤酒 （爱尔兰特产）

1 clinch   

v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench

参考例句：

• Clinch the boards together.用钉子把木板钉牢在一起。
• We don't accept us dollars,please Swiss francs to clinch a deal business.我方不收美元，请最好用瑞士法郎来成交生意。

2 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 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。

5 muster   

v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册

参考例句：

• Go and muster all the men you can find.去集合所有你能找到的人。
• I had to muster my courage up to ask him that question.我必须鼓起勇气向他问那个问题。

6 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

7 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

8 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

9 pint   

n.品脱

参考例句：

• I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
• In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前，花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。