英语听力精选进阶版 6355

Every athlete dreams of that moment: standing¹ on the highest podium, having a gold medal hung around their neck and watching with pride, as their country's flag is raised and the national anthem² is played.

International sports stars are used to being under the spotlight³, but nowadays their vocal⁴ performance can be subject to as much scrutiny⁵ as their athletic⁶ ability.

For many people, the national anthem is an important tradition, symbolizing⁷ a country's history and uniting a nation in glory. Singing the anthem is often considered an essential part of sporting etiquette⁸ and respect. Failing to sing along can lead to questions in the media: is an athlete making a political statement, or are they simply embarrassed by singing in public?

UK Athletics⁹ head coach Charles van Commenee insisted that athletes would learn the words to the national anthem before the London 2012 games in order to head off any potential criticism of "plastic Brits" - athletes with dual¹⁰ nationality who switched allegiance to represent Team GB at the Olympics.

However, not all competitors feel quite so patriotic¹¹. The Team GB football squad¹² came under fire when Welsh footballers Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy stood in silence as their team mates sang "God Save the Queen".

Although it is not clear whether the players were actively¹³ boycotting¹⁴ the anthem or simply felt awkward singing in front of the cameras, they were criticised by many in the media for not showing respect for their nation. Those with republican views argue that they can still represent their country without having to sing the pro-monarchy song.

But any British gold-medal athletes who sit on the fence over the issue now have an added incentive¹⁵ to project their voices loudly: British newspaper columnist¹⁶ Piers¹⁷ Morgan feels so passionate¹⁸ about the UK anthem that he has pledged to donate ￡1000 to a children’s hospital for every British athlete who sings during their gold medal ceremony.

Winning a gold medal can transform an athlete from a relative unknown to national hero, but it seems that failing to sing the national anthem - however bad their singing ability - could cause more embarrassment¹⁹ than staying silent.

Quiz 测验

1. According to the article, what are 'plastic Brits'?

Athletes with dual nationality who choose to represent Great Britain.

2. What adjective means to be a supporter of your country?

Patriotic

3. What word describes someone who is anti-monarchist?

Republican

4. What expression is used to describe people who don't have a fixed²⁰ opinion on something?

Sitting on the fence

5. What noun means 'awkwardness' or 'shame'?

Embarrassment

Glossary 词汇表

pride 自豪

national anthem 国歌

under the spotlight 成为众人的注目焦点

performance 表现

tradition 传统

uniting 团结

glory 光荣，荣耀

etiquette 礼节

political statement 政治声明

embarrassed 尴尬的

allegiance 效忠，拥护

dual nationality 双重国籍

patriotic 爱国的

boycotting 抵制

republican 共和（国）的

represent their country 代表他们的国家

pro-monarchy 支持君主立宪（制）

passionate （充满）热情的

ceremony 仪式

national hero 名族英雄

1 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。

2 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

3 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

4 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

5 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

6 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

7 symbolizing   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This symbol later evolved into a common hieroglyphic symbolizing victory. 这幕场景后来逐渐演化为象征胜利的普通象形文字。 来自时文部分
• Mooncakes reunion, is symbolizing the Mid-Autumn festival will feed. 月饼象征着团圆，是中秋佳节必食之品。 来自互联网

8 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

9 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。

10 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

11 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

12 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

13 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

14 boycotting   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They're boycotting the shop because the people there are on strike. 他们抵制那家商店，因为那里的店员在罢工。
• The main opposition parties are boycotting the elections. 主要反对党都抵制此次选举。

15 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

16 columnist   

n.专栏作家

参考例句：

• The host was interviewing a local columnist.节目主持人正在同一位当地的专栏作家交谈。
• She's a columnist for USA Today.她是《今日美国报》的专栏作家。

17 piers   

n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩

参考例句：

• Most road bridges have piers rising out of the vally. 很多公路桥的桥墩是从河谷里建造起来的。 来自辞典例句
• At these piers coasters and landing-craft would be able to discharge at all states of tide. 沿岸航行的海船和登陆艇，不论潮汐如何涨落，都能在这种码头上卸载。 来自辞典例句

18 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

19 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

20 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。