英语听力精选进阶版 6301

New Year is a time to peer into a crystal ball and tease out some of the stories that are likely to make the headlines in 2012.

Technology: The BBC's correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones says that one thing we can be sure of is that internet access will spread to the next billion users. And the most read stories are bound to be about the launch of the iPhone5 and the iPad3.

Science: The BBC News science team says that by the look of things the so-called 'God Particle' can't hide for much longer. The Large Hadron Collider re-starts in March and if experiments go well scientists could collect enough data to settle the question of whether it exists once and for all.

Business: The BBC's Economics expert Paul Mason explains that the Eurozone is still on tenterhooks¹. "Logic² dictates³ it can only end one way, with the markets forcing the European Central Bank to act as lender of last resort." Many economists⁴ forecast recession in Europe.

Arts and Sports: The BBC's Arts correspondent Will Gompertz is looking forward to the London Olympics. He predicts that Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (of Slumdog Millionaire fame) will run a great opening ceremony.

Whether all the above turns out to be true, we'll just have to wait and see… if we're still around to find out. 2012 is a good year for doom-mongers because the Mayan calendar will end on 21 December after 5,000 continuous years. However, new research into the Mayans suggests that this refers to the end of an era, and not the apocalypse. Phew! Happy New Year!

Quiz 小测验

1. What stories are likely to interest people most in the field of technology?

Stories about the launch of the iPhone5 and the iPad3.

2. What matter could be settled with the help of the Large Hadron Collider?

The existence of the so-called 'God Particle' (or the Higgs Boson).

3. Is this statement true, false or not given? Some countries are likely to be excluded from the Eurozone.

It's not given.

4. Look at the article. What expressions refer to the sense of vision?

To peer into a crystal ball, by the look of things, to look forward to, and to wait and see.

5. Look at the article. What word refers to the end of the world?

The apocalypse.

Glossary⁵ 词汇表

to peer into a crystal ball 窥探水晶球（预测未来）

to tease out 提取，摘选

one thing (we) can be sure of 有一件事可以确定

to be bound to be 肯定是...

by the look of things 从走势来看

once and for all 最后和彻底完成

on tenterhooks 惶恐不安

it can only end one way 只能以一种方式结束

forecast 预报

to look forward to 向往...

to predict 预测

to turn out 发生

to wait and see 拭目以待

doom-monger 末世论者

the end of an era 一个时代的结束

apocalypse 世界末日

1 tenterhooks   

n.坐立不安

参考例句：

• The students are on tenterhooks to hear the result of the examination.学生们烦躁不安地听考试结果。
• The mother was on tenterhooks until her little Laura came back.当小珞拉回来后，她母亲才放下心来。

2 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

3 dictates   

n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• Convention dictates that a minister should resign in such a situation. 依照常规部长在这种情况下应该辞职。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He always follows the dictates of common sense. 他总是按常识行事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。