英语听力精选进阶版 6329

What's the most challenging thing you have ever achieved?

This week Claire Lomas, a 32-year-old British woman, achieved the remarkable¹ feat² of finishing the London Marathon. What made this achievement all the more amazing is that Claire is paralysed from the chest down.

Since suffering a spinal³ injury after falling from a horse, Claire has been unable to walk. But her determination to complete the route of the marathon has been seen as hugely courageous⁴, and one that has helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Claire is able to walk with the assistance of a robotic walking suit, which supports the weight of her body and allows her to balance whilst standing⁵. The suit also enables the user to walk small distances, but Claire's perseverance⁶ saw her complete the entire physically⁷ gruelling 26-mile journey.

For sixteen days, Claire woke each morning and doggedly⁸ continued her course around London, one mile at a time. With the help of an assistant to support her, she steadily⁹ and progressively walked the exact route of the other 36,000 marathon runners.

Her accomplishment¹⁰ was greeted by hundreds of cheering supporters who watched her final, brave steps across the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace.

Her tenacity¹¹ and plucky¹² attitude has raised speculation¹³ about what challenge Claire may tackle next. Some people have even suggested she could take a shot at swimming the English Channel.

Quiz 小测验

1. How did Claire suffer her spinal injury?

She fell from a horse.

2. Claire has lots of determination. Can you find a word in the text which means 'to have determination'?

Tenacity

3. Is this statement true, false or not given? Claire took twenty days to complete the route of the London Marathon.

False. Claire took sixteen days to complete the route of the London Marathon.

4. Can you find an adjective which describes the 26-mile journey?

Gruelling

5. If Claire takes a shot at swimming the English Channel, does that mean she will shoot at it with a gun?

No, it means she will attempt to swim the English Channel.

Glossary 词汇表

challenging 挑战

feat 壮举

achievement 成就

paralysed 瘫痪

determination 决心

courageous 有勇气的

perseverance 毅力

gruelling 艰苦的

doggedly 顽强地

steadily 稳步的

accomplishment 成就

brave 勇敢

tenacity 韧性

plucky 大胆的

tackle 解决

take a shot at 尝试

1 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

2 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

3 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

4 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

7 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

8 doggedly   

adv.顽强地，固执地

参考例句：

• He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
• He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。

9 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

10 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

11 tenacity   

n.坚韧

参考例句：

• Tenacity is the bridge to success.坚韧是通向成功的桥。
• The athletes displayed great tenacity throughout the contest.运动员在比赛中表现出坚韧的斗志。

12 plucky   

adj.勇敢的

参考例句：

• The plucky schoolgirl amazed doctors by hanging on to life for nearly two months.这名勇敢的女生坚持不放弃生命近两个月的精神令医生感到震惊。
• This story featured a plucky heroine.这个故事描述了一个勇敢的女英雄。

13 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。