英语听力精选进阶版 6376

Many people in Britain have been moaning about price rises, low interest rates for savings¹; and it's not unusual to see couples kissing in the streets of London. What's happened to the famous British stiff upper lip?

The image of a nation resolute² and stoic³ in the face of adversity still stands around the world, but it's questioned by the Brits themselves from time to time.

The TV documentary Stiff Upper Lip: An Emotional History of Britain, shown recently by the BBC, has been providing the latest opportunity for reflection. It says the emotional reserve that is part of the national identity is actually a far cry from the exuberant⁴ attitude of some 500 years ago.

Foreigners in the 16th century couldn't believe how touchy-feely the English could be. "Wherever you move there is nothing but kisses", wrote the Dutch philosopher Erasmus.

The journalist Ian Hislop, who presents the programme, says his countrymen have the French to thank for their current composure. The British ruling classes got worried when they saw the political passion brought about by the French Revolution.

In the 18th century, it was polite to express some degree of emotion in public. A quiet tear when watching a play was acceptable, as sensitivity was seen as a sign of refinement⁶. But the concept didn't last.

The upper lip stiffened⁷ during Queen Victoria's reign⁵ when unflappable soldiers and explorers became role models for the nation. The Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, destroyed his beloved violin in his youth as a character-building move.

According to Hislop, in the far-flung corners of the empire, the colonisers cultivated an illusion of superiority by appearing to be aloof⁸ and unshakeably self-confident.

Suffering? Discomfort⁹? The Brits make no fuss; and some expressed pride when Queen Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, took part in the boat parade on her Diamond Jubilee¹⁰ earlier this year. The elderly couple endured cold and rain showing that the spirit of the stiff upper lip lives on.

Quiz 测验

1. According to the article, what have the British been unhappy about?

They've been moaning about price rises, low interest rates for savings.

2. Look at the article. When were the British seen as too emotional?

In the 16th century.

3. Is the following statement true, false or not given? The Duke of Wellington stopped playing his musical instrument because he wanted to be less emotional.

True. The military commander that defeated Napoleon destroyed his beloved violin as a character-building move.

4. What expressions are used in the article to refer to people who express emotions openly?

Exuberant, touchy-feely.

5. What expression is used to refer to a place geographically¹¹ distant?

Far-flung.

Glossary 词汇表

to moan 抱怨，唠叨

stiff upper lip 严肃，严峻

resolute 坚决的

stoic 坚韧的，冷静的

adversity 逆境

to question 质疑

to reflect 反映，思考

motional reserve 情感储备

national identity 国家特征

a far cry 完全不同

exuberant 旺盛的

touchy-feely 感情外露的

composure 镇静

the ruling class 统治阶级

sensitivity 敏感度

refinement 细化

unflappable 镇定地

role model 模范榜样

character-building 品格培养

far-flung 遥远的

aloof 冷漠的

self-confident 自信的

to make no fuss 没有大惊小怪

1 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

2 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

3 stoic   

n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者

参考例句：

• A stoic person responds to hardship with imperturbation.坚忍克己之人经受苦难仍能泰然自若。
• On Rajiv's death a stoic journey began for Mrs Gandhi,supported by her husband's friends.拉吉夫死后，索尼亚在丈夫友人的支持下开始了一段坚忍的历程。

4 exuberant   

adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的

参考例句：

• Hothouse plants do not possess exuberant vitality.在温室里培养出来的东西，不会有强大的生命力。
• All those mother trees in the garden are exuberant.果园里的那些母树都长得十分茂盛。

5 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。

6 refinement   

n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼

参考例句：

• Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
• Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。

7 stiffened   

加强的

参考例句：

• He leaned towards her and she stiffened at this invasion of her personal space. 他向她俯过身去，这种侵犯她个人空间的举动让她绷紧了身子。
• She stiffened with fear. 她吓呆了。

8 aloof   

adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的

参考例句：

• Never stand aloof from the masses.千万不可脱离群众。
• On the evening the girl kept herself timidly aloof from the crowd.这小女孩在晚会上一直胆怯地远离人群。

9 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

10 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。

11 geographically   

adv.地理学上，在地理上，地理方面

参考例句：

• Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe. 从地理位置上讲，英国处于欧洲边缘。 来自辞典例句
• All these events, however geographically remote, urgently affected Western financial centers. 所有这些事件，无论发生在地理上如何遥远的地方，都对西方金融中心产生紧迫的影响。 来自名作英译部分