英语听力精选进阶版 6357

After years of anticipation¹, the greatest show on earth has ended. The London 2012 Olympic Games have come and gone, and the city must begin to return to what life was like before the two weeks of intense sport.

Any Londoner could scarcely avoid the build-up to the games, which had gathered momentum² steadily³ since the announcement in 2005 that the capital would hold the prestigious⁴ title of host Olympic city.

Many people were sceptical before the games about whether the promises could be delivered, but as soon as the countdown clock reached zero, Londoners were treated to an awesome⁵ display of sporting prowess in some stunning⁶ venues⁷. The breathtaking Olympic park was the location for countless⁸ sports, including athletics⁹ and swimming, with visitors commenting on the beauty of the buildings’ designs as well as the excitement of the events.

BBC Learning English producer, Jennifer, visited the Olympic park to see the athletics: “It was really out-of-this-world. I was looking forward to seeing some of my sporting heroes, such as Usain Bolt, but the actual experience of the Olympics really surpassed my expectations. The crowds were incredibly supportive and the athletes were so sporting, even when they lost.”

The games have certainly turned up some unforgettable moments. Whether it was the spectacular opening ceremony, Usain Bolt’s world record-breaking consecutive¹⁰ wins, or Team GB picking up more gold medals than in any time in recent history, it’s been an amazing time to live in London.

Colourful bunting and flags have adorned¹¹ shops and streets, visitors have been kitted out in support of their favourite teams, and even the English weather was kind to the spectators, helping¹² to create a real, once-in-a-lifetime experience. London has been buzzing with talk of sport, celebration, achievement and success.

But, just as our passion for sport was reaching fever pitch, the time came for the closing ceremony; a celebration of a fortnight of sport and human achievement. Although the Olympic torch has been extinguished here and will be lit in Rio in 2016, hundreds of thousands of Londoners will still feel its glow for many years to come.

Quiz 测验

1. According to the article, as well as the sports, what impressed visitors at the Olympics?

The buildings in the Olympic park

2. What adjective means to have a fair and courteous¹³ attitude to winning or losing?

Sporting

3. What word describes something that will not happen again?

Once-in-a-lifetime

4. What expression is used to describe a high degree of excitement?

Fever pitch

5. What noun means places where events take place?

Venues

Glossary 词汇表

anticipation 期待期待

intense 紧张的，繁忙的

build-up (为)作准备

gathered momentum 集聚能量 不断兴起

sceptical （对…）表示怀疑的

promises could be delivered 能够兑现的承诺

awesome 令人吃惊的

stunning 使人大吃一惊的

breathtaking 惊人的

beauty 美

excitement 兴奋

out-of-this-world 出色的

looking forward 期盼，渴望

surpassed my expectations 超过了我的期待

unforgettable 难忘的

spectacular 精彩的

amazing 绝妙的，非常棒的

once-in-a-lifetime 一生仅有一次的，千载难逢

buzzing 高谈阔论，人声鼎沸

fever pitch 极度兴奋，狂热

celebrations 庆祝

1 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

2 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

3 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。

4 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

5 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

6 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

7 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

8 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

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 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

11 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。

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 courteous   

adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的

参考例句：

• Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一，但她总是很谦恭有礼。
• He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善，而且彬彬有礼。