英语听力精选进阶版 6278

Londoners are under starter's orders as the city gets ready for the Olympic Games, which will begin one year today.

To mark the start of the 366-day countdown (2012 is a leap year), special events are planned for today.

The design of the Olympic medals will be unveiled tonight in a live ceremony from Trafalgar Square.

Over at the brand new Aquatics¹ Centre, Britain's star diver Tom Daley is going to perform an official launch dive into the Olympic pool.

With this building, the organisers have attempted to give London a landmark² to rival Beijing's Water Cube from 2008. It was designed by the prestigious³ architect Zaha Hadid and has a wave-like roof that is 160 metres long.

Today's special events are designed to arouse interest in the Olympics around the world and to encourage British fans too.

Many failed to get Olympic tickets in the recent sales process. According to a new survey for the BBC, 53% of Londoners think the process was "not fair".

But the same survey found support is growing for London 2012. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 73% said they backed the Games - up from 69% in 2006.

Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said: "We are under budget and ahead of time and as a nation we have a reputation of really getting behind these big events."

Quiz 小测验

1. Why is the countdown 366 days' long, not 365 days? 

Because 2012 is a leap year, so there are 29 days in February next year.

2. Have UK ticket sales been controversial? 

Yes - 53% of Londoners think it was unfair.

3. Is this statement true, false or not given? According to a new survey, most Londoners support the Olympics. 

True. 73% back the Olympics, according to the survey.

4. Look at the article. Can you see a phrase meaning 'to be ready to start something'? 

To be under starter's orders.

5. Look at the article. Can you see a synonym⁴ for the verb 'to back something'? 

To get behind something. You can also say 'to support something'.

Glossary 词汇表

to be under starter's orders （体育成语）做好了开始的准备 

to mark something 标志什么 

countdown 倒计时 

a leap year 闰年 

to be unveiled 即将揭晓 

a landmark 一个标志性建筑 

prestigious 享有声望的 

to back something 支持某件事 

under budget 在预算之内 

to get behind something 支持、撑腰

1 aquatics   

n.水生植物，水生动物( aquatic的名词复数 )；水上运动

参考例句：

• Pasturage breed aquatics basically has pig, ox, sheep and fowl. 畜牧养殖主要有猪、牛、羊和家禽。 来自互联网
• So in English they are National Stadium and National Aquatics Center. 这两处场馆的正式名字叫做”国家体育场”和”国家游泳中心“。 来自互联网

2 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

3 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。

4 synonym   

n.同义词，换喻词

参考例句：

• Zhuge Liang is a synonym for wisdom in folklore.诸葛亮在民间传说中成了智慧的代名词。
• The term 'industrial democracy' is often used as a synonym for worker participation. “工业民主”这个词常被用作“工人参与”的同义词。