英语听力精选进阶版 6294

Larry the cat is still top dog at Number 10 Downing Street.

The British Prime Minister's cat was brought in earlier this year after a large rat was seen running around.

But he has lately become tangled¹ up in controversy². On Monday it emerged that a mouse had appeared at a Prime Ministerial dinner.

Then on Tuesday Larry was photographed sleeping on the job, as he took a nap during the arrival of ministers for their weekly cabinet meeting.

Has Larry become just another government fat cat? David Cameron's spokesman dismissed rumours³ that the tabby's predatory drive isn't as strong as it was believed – even though it has emerged that the PM had to throw a fork at a mouse during a recent dinner with ministers.

Larry isn't the first 'First Pet' to be dogged by controversy. George W Bush's dog Barney's pet hate seemed to be journalists. Being on a leash⁴ didn't prevent him from biting a reporter's finger.

But then, that's exactly the kind of loyalty⁵ a premier⁶ needs. Pets are steadfast⁷, companionable and of course never let the cat out of the bag.

Indeed, in the dog eat dog world of politics, it must sometimes feel like a dog is not just man's best friend, but his only one.

In 1997, while Bill Clinton was himself in the doghouse for his affair with the White House intern⁸ Monica Lewinsky, he was photographed constantly in the company of his Labrador, Buddy⁹. As the saying goes: "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog".

Quiz 小测验

1. Why was Larry criticised? 

Because he didn't catch a mouse that was seen at a ministerial dinner and he has also been photographed sleeping during the day.

2. Is this statement true, false or not given? Larry is the PM's black cat. 

False. He is a striped cat - a tabby.

3. Is this statement true, false or not given? Animals are convenient companions for politicians because they can't reveal state secrets. 

True. As they don't speak they can't let the cat out of the bag.

4. Look at the article. What animal idiom refers to someone who is paid too much? 

Fat cat.

5. Look at the article. What animal idiom can be used when someone is in trouble with somebody? 

To be in the doghouse.

Glossary 词汇表

top dog 首领，头号人物 

to be tangled up 陷入某种纠纷 

to sleep on the job 怠工，打盹 

a fat cat 肥猫，指薪水过高的人 

to dismiss rumours 否认谣言 

a tabby （虎斑）猫 

predatory drive 寻食的本能/动力 

the First Pet 相当于第一夫人的位置 

to be dogged by something 受到某事的负面影响 

a pet hate 特别讨厌的东西或人 

to be on a leash 拴在链条/绳索上 

to bite 咬 

steadfast 立场坚定的，不变的 

companionable 友善的 

to let the cat out of the bag 不小心吐露了秘密 

dog eat dog 狗咬狗，无情竞争 

man's best friend 人类最忠实地朋友 

to be in the doghouse 被打入冷宫

1 tangled   

adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Your hair's so tangled that I can't comb it. 你的头发太乱了，我梳不动。
• A movement caught his eye in the tangled undergrowth. 乱灌木丛里的晃动引起了他的注意。

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 rumours   

n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传

参考例句：

• The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
• Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。

4 leash   

n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住

参考例句：

• I reached for the leash,but the dog got in between.我伸手去拿系狗绳，但被狗挡住了路。
• The dog strains at the leash,eager to be off.狗拼命地扯拉皮带，想挣脱开去。

5 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

6 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

7 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

8 intern   

v.拘禁，软禁；n.实习生

参考例句：

• I worked as an intern in that firm last summer.去年夏天我在那家商行实习。
• The intern bandaged the cut as the nurse looked on.这位实习生在护士的照看下给病人包扎伤口。

9 buddy   

n.（美口）密友，伙伴

参考例句：

• Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气，老兄。有什么麻烦吗？
• Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了，你这家伙！