英语听力精选进阶版 6367

For over 7,000 years, Asians have been brewing¹ beer. But it's only in the past few years that Asia has overtaken Europe and America to become the world's biggest beer-drinking continent.

With an increasingly young and upwardly mobile population, there are signs of a real thirst for ale in Asia. An ice-cold beer is the perfect accompaniment to a few post-work snacks in a bar, and is a very popular way to unwind.

Asia is not renowned² for making beer, but more and more of it is being drunk. In 2011, Asians downed 67bn litres of beer; a sign of increasing prosperity on the continent. With alcohol consumption in Asia forecast to grow by 4.8% each year until 2016, brewers have every reason to raise a glass in celebration.

So what's behind this newfound taste for beer? Asia's young and growing population play a big part, but it also stems from the increase in prosperity in a lot of Asian countries in recent years, as people drink beer when times are good. Some experts believe the fizz factor in beer makes people happy and encourages them to drink more, much like with many soft drinks.

One trend is for the exotic and interesting tastes of premium³ lagers. Young people are no longer drinking weak lagers, but quenching⁴ their thirsts with wheat beers, fruit beers, pilsners and pale ales, all with a higher alcohol content. Microbreweries are popping up all over the place, offering consumers the chance to taste something unique and unusual.

The increased popularity of beer also has some drawbacks. Binge drinking, hangovers and alcoholism are on the rise throughout Asia; a real headache for health authorities. However, despite health concerns, the trend of eating, drinking and being merry continues, so drinks manufacturers should be able to toast their successes well into the future.

Quiz 测验

1. What phrase in the article means 'acquiring wealth or a higher status'?

Upwardly mobile

2. How much beer was consumed in Asia in 2011?

67 billion litres

3. Is the following statement true, false or not given? Many people like drinking beer because of the bubbles it contains.

True. Experts believe the "fizz factor" of the bubbles makes people happy.

4. What word is used to describe small companies that produce exotic beers?

Microbreweries

5. Which two phrases in the article refer to holding up a drink in celebration?

'Raise a glass' and 'toast their successes'.

Glossary 词汇表

brewing 酿造（酒）

upwardly-mobile 向上爬，寻求改善社会地位的

thirst 渴望

unwind 放松

drunk 喝醉了

downed 一口喝下去

litres 公升

raise a glass 举杯庆祝

taste 口味

fizz 汽泡

soft drinks 软（不含酒精的）饮料

premium 酒精含量标高的

quenching their thirsts 解渴

alcohol content 酒精度

microbreweries 小啤酒厂

binge drinking 酗酒

hangovers 酒醉后的不良反应

alcoholism 酗酒

headache 头疼

toast their successes 举杯庆祝

1 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

2 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

3 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。

4 quenching   

淬火，熄

参考例句：

• She had, of course, no faculty for quenching memory in dissipation. 她当然也没有以放荡纵欲来冲淡记忆的能耐。
• This loss, termed quenching, may arise in two ways. 此种损失称为淬火，呈两个方面。