英语听力精选进阶版 6368

If you're studying a foreign language, you'll know that learning vocabulary can often be a painstaking¹ process. After all, there are thousands upon thousands of words, expressions and idioms to learn.

But sometimes, new words appear that can confound even native speakers. Each year, a new set of neologisms is added to the dictionary, reflecting the changing tastes and habits of a nation.

Members of the public were invited to submit new words and phrases to the Collins online dictionary, around 80 of which were chosen to appear in the new edition. They range from slang² or colloquial³ terms, to words describing food, technology or scientific ideas.

For example, a young person might describe something as 'totes amazeballs'; a phrase which has evolved from "totally amazing" and has been popularized by characters in teenage reality programmes. If you're happy about a situation, perhaps you might be 'made up'; if not, you may end up telling someone to 'jog on,' or go away.

Some of the words added may be a little more familiar. 'Facebook' is one of the world’s biggest social media websites, so it’s not surprising that it has made it into the dictionary. Similarly, terms such as 'SMS' and 'Twitterer' reflect the ever-advancing technological⁴ age in which we live.

Maybe you know a 'bridezilla', a play on words to describe a woman whose behaviour in planning her wedding is intolerable. If you're health conscious, you might be filling your supermarket trolley⁵ with superfoods.

Sometimes, learning a language can be tough and, with new words being added all the time, don't panic if you find that you've forgotten the name of something. Now, you can safely call it an oojamaflip, instead.

Quiz 测验

What noun in the article means 'new words'?

Neologisms

How many new words were added to the Collins online dictionary?

Around 80

Is the following statement true, false or not given? "The phrase ‘totes amazeballs' refers to football."

False. 'Totes amazeballs' is a slang term which means "totally amazing".

If you are stressed when planning a wedding, what might you be called?

Bridezilla

Which two terms in the article refer to social media?

'Facebook' and 'Twitterer'

Glossary⁶ 词汇表

vocabulary 词汇

painstaking 艰苦的

expressions 表达

idioms 成语

native speakers 说母语的人

neologisms 新词

phrases 短语

slang 俚语

colloquial 通俗的，口语的

totes amazeballs (totally amazing) 完全太棒了

evolved 进化

made up （新词）满意，高兴

jog on （新词）走开

SMS 短信

bridezilla 难缠新娘

play on words 玩字面游戏

superfoods 超级食品

oojamaflip (something whose name you cannot remember) 记不清名称的物品/那个什么，什么来着？

1 painstaking   

adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的

参考例句：

• She is not very clever but she is painstaking.她并不很聪明，但肯下苦功夫。
• Through years of our painstaking efforts,we have at last achieved what we have today.大家经过多少年的努力，才取得今天的成绩。

2 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

3 colloquial   

adj.口语的，会话的

参考例句：

• It's hard to understand the colloquial idioms of a foreign language.外语里的口头习语很难懂。
• They have little acquaintance with colloquial English. 他们对英语会话几乎一窍不通。

4 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

5 trolley   

n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车

参考例句：

• The waiter had brought the sweet trolley.侍者已经推来了甜食推车。
• In a library,books are moved on a trolley.在图书馆，书籍是放在台车上搬动的。

6 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。