英语听力精选进阶版 6315

This week, wealthy wine connoisseurs¹ will have the chance to get the vintage of their dreams... providing they don't lose their bottle at the last moment.

The auctioneer Sotheby's will be selling three collections of the finest wines in London. The wines come from exclusive vineyards in well-known areas such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne³.

Because of their quality and rarity, each collection is expected to fetch a high price. But the price isn't just determined⁴ by the quality of the grape; the age of the wine can also make it a high-end product.

The most expensive bottle of white wine not bought at an auction² was sold last July for ￡75,000 (752,000 yuan). This premium⁵ wine had reached the ripe old age of 200 - proof that the best things come to those who wait.

But the most expensive standard-sized bottle of wine ever - a Chateau⁶ Lafite 1869 - went for ￡151,000 (1.5 million yuan). That was truly a wine to be sipped⁸, not quaffed¹⁰!

For some members of the super-rich, the real joy of opening a top wine like that doesn't come from the bouquet¹¹, the complex flavours or that lingering finish - but from seeing the impressed look on your rivals' faces.

But other owners wouldn't dream of uncorking their liquid assets - they are kept, treasured in wine cellars and occasionally shown off like works of art, but when their value increases they sell them on.

But then, most of us simply can't afford to splash out on fine wines. It's irritating... but what's the best remedy for dealing¹² with those sour grapes? A cheap bottle of plonk from the supermarket, of course!

Quiz 测验

Is this statement true, false or not given? The wine being sold at Sotheby's comes from London.

False: The wines come from exclusive vineyards in well-known areas such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.

What do we call people who are experts on wine?

Wine connoisseurs.

What English slang word relates to cheap wine you can buy at the supermarket?

Plonk.

Which expression in the article refers to someone losing their nerve when they are bidding for something in an auction?

The expression 'to lose your bottle' means to lose your nerve or to lose courage when a stressful situation occurs.

Find two verbs that describe drinking wine.

To sip⁷, which means to drink small amounts, and to quaff⁹, which means to drink larger amounts quickly.

Glossary 词汇表

a connoisseur (酒)鉴赏家

vintage 佳酿

to lose one's bottle 精神紧张

vineyard 葡萄园

bordeaux 产自法国波尔多地区的葡萄酒

burgundy 勃艮第(法国东南部地方的地名，该地盛产红葡萄酒)

premium 高价

ripe old age 年久的（陈酿）

the best things come to those who wait 有耐心就能等到好东西

chateau 法国城堡

to sip 小口地喝

to quaff 大口大口地喝

bouquet 酒香

a lingering finish 回味

uncorking 开酒瓶

liquid assets 流动资产

wine cellars 酒窖

to splash out on 大笔花钱

sour grapes 吃不到葡萄就说葡萄酸

plonk （俚语）便宜酒

1 connoisseurs   

n.鉴赏家，鉴定家，行家( connoisseur的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Let us go, before we offend the connoisseurs. 咱们走吧，免得我们惹恼了收藏家。 来自辞典例句
• The connoisseurs often associate it with a blackcurrant flavor. 葡萄酒鉴赏家们通常会将它跟黑醋栗口味联系起来。 来自互联网

2 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

3 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

6 chateau   

n.城堡，别墅

参考例句：

• The house was modelled on a French chateau.这房子是模仿一座法国大别墅建造的。
• The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn.那府第便径自腾起大火燃烧下去。

7 sip   

v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量

参考例句：

• She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
• Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

8 sipped   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sipped his coffee pleasurably. 他怡然地品味着咖啡。
• I sipped the hot chocolate she had made. 我小口喝着她调制的巧克力热饮。 来自辞典例句

9 quaff   

v.一饮而尽；痛饮

参考例句：

• We quaffed wine last night.我们昨晚畅饮了一次酒。
• He's quaffed many a glass of champagne in his time.他年轻时曾经开怀畅饮过不少香槟美酒。

10 quaffed   

v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽

参考例句：

• He's quaffed many a glass of champagne in his time. 他年轻时曾经开怀畅饮过不少香槟美酒。 来自辞典例句
• He quaffed the swelling rapture of life from the foaming goblet of the infinite. 他从那穹苍的起泡的杯中，痛饮充满生命的狂喜。 来自辞典例句

11 bouquet   

n.花束，酒香

参考例句：

• This wine has a rich bouquet.这种葡萄酒有浓郁的香气。
• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。

12 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。