英语听力精选进阶版 6336

Many Britons say we have a lot to thank HM Queen Elizabeth for.

This week certainly most of her subjects are thankful for a two-day holiday in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee¹. A weekend of feasting, pageantry and water on Sunday is followed by an evening of song, celebration and fire on Monday.

Sunday Lunch is a great British tradition and The Big Jubilee Lunch aimed to re-kindle a sense of community with people all over the UK sharing lunch with neighbours and friends in street parties or picnics to celebrate the Queen's 60-year reign³. At these lunches, people have been tucking into some Great British food - pies, roasts, fish and chips, cream teas... even jellied eels⁴.

Another highlight of the weekend festivities was The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant² with more than 1,000 boats – traditional and modern – escorting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh aboard a specially⁵ decorated Royal barge⁶. Red, white and blue – the colours of the Union Jack⁷ – adorned⁸ bridges and buildings with sounds of church bells and foghorns⁹ floating along the River.

Monday evening brings music and light to Buckingham Palace. A special pop concert featuring artists including Elton John, Paul McCartney and Ed Sheeran is followed by a spectacular firework display. No doubt it will all go off with a bang. Before the fireworks, more than 4,000 beacons¹¹ are to be lit in the UK and around the world. The Queen herself lights the UK's last beacon¹⁰ – the National Beacon – at about 22:30 BST. Whilst there are some who protest – surveys suggest around 20% of Britons feel the UK would be better off without a monarchy¹² – most people will see HM Queen Elizabeth as a beacon of hope in an uncertain world and will be raising a glass to the Diamond Queen.

Quiz 测验

What are most Britons thankful for this week?

A two-day holiday

What noisy phrase is used to describe an event that went well?

To go off with a bang

What phrase means to start eating with enjoyment¹³?

To tuck into something

True, false or not given: The Queen will light the first beacon at about 22:30BST?

False - she will light the last beacon

Which of these is a way of toasting someone?

To raise a glass to someone

Glossary 词汇表

to be thankful for 感激，感谢

feasting 盛宴

pageantry 壮观，盛会

to re-kindle 重新点燃

a street party 街头派对

a picnic 露天野餐

to tuck into 开怀大吃

a cream tea 英式奶茶和松饼

jellied eels 鳗鱼冻

festivities 庆祝活动

to escort 护送

the Royal barge 皇家游艇

adorned 装饰

spectacular 壮观的

to go off with a bang 极为成功，大受欢迎

a beacon 灯塔，烽火

a beacon of hope 希望的灯塔

to raise a glass 祝贺，庆祝

1 jubilee   

n.周年纪念；欢乐

参考例句：

• They had a big jubilee to celebrate the victory.他们举行盛大的周年纪念活动以祝贺胜利。
• Every Jubilee,to take the opposite case,has served a function.反过来说，历次君主巡幸，都曾起到某种作用。

2 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

3 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

4 eels   

abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system）

参考例句：

• Eels have been on the feed in the Lower Thames. 鳗鱼在泰晤士河下游寻食。
• She bought some eels for dinner. 她买回一些鳗鱼做晚餐。

5 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

6 barge   

n.平底载货船，驳船

参考例句：

• The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。
• Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。

7 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

8 adorned   

[计]被修饰的

参考例句：

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

9 foghorns   

n.（大雾时发出响亮而低沉的声音以警告其他船只的）雾角，雾喇叭( foghorn的名词复数 )

参考例句：

10 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。

11 beacons   

灯塔( beacon的名词复数 )； 烽火； 指路明灯； 无线电台或发射台

参考例句：

• A chain of beacons was lit across the region. 整个地区点起了一系列灯塔。
• Lighthouse and beacons flash at night. 晚上灯塔与信号台闪着光。

12 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

13 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。