英语听力精选进阶版 6400

Do you know the open-air art gallery in London's Blackall Street? Not many Londoners know it either, but Henri does and he is willing to show it to you.

Henri used to sleep rough until he met a charity that helps homeless people get back on their feet by becoming tour guides.

Rather than show traditional London sights, 'Unseen Tours' take people off the beaten track. Henri has been teaching tourists about the history and architecture of Shoreditch, where he slept on public benches for three years.

When he felt isolated¹, contact with the volunteer network 'The Sock Mob²' gave Henri hope. "Not everyone just looked down on me," he said.

The tours aren't the only initiative³ to help those who have suffered a reversal of fortune to stand tall again.

An innovative⁴ college for homeless people in London, the first of its kind in the country, is attracting hundreds of students. The Recovery College, set up by St Mungo's charity, is providing courses designed to improve technical skills and life skills.

According to Andy Williams, who helps to organise⁵ the college, the most popular courses have proved to be about raising self-confidence and developing self-esteem.

Steve, now in his 50s, told BBC reporter Sean Coughlan how much of a difference it makes to "have a bit of confidence". He had dyslexia and drifted out of school when he was 12. Because Steve's problem was not recognised at the time he was "seen as an illiterate⁶", and suffered with depression and alcohol abuse.

He says the status of 'student' is itself important for people who are used to being treated as outcasts.

Some charities aim not only to empower the homeless but also to make them popular. The Homeless World Cup started ten years ago. Today the tournament draws teams from 48 countries made up of players - men and women - who are, or have been, living in the streets. It gives them a chance to become heroes on the pitch.

Quiz 测验

1. What kind of places does Henri take tourists to visit?

Places people don't usually go to; off the beaten track.

2. What sort of skills do homeless people develop at the Recovery College?

Technical skills and life skills.

3. Is the following true, false or not given in the article? Steve is illiterate.

False. Steve has dyslexia, so people mistakenly thought that he was illiterate.

4. What expression is used to indicate that someone's life has taken a turn for the worse?

A reversal of fortune.

5. Which words indicate that someone has been excluded from society?

Isolated and outcast.

Glossary 词汇表

to sleep rough 露宿（街头）

homeless 无家可归的

to get back on (their) feet 重新振作起来

a tour guide 一名导游

off the beaten track 人迹罕见、偏僻的背街小巷

isolated 孤立无援的

a volunteer 一名志愿者

to look down on (someone) 瞧不起、歧视（某人）

a reversal of fortune 运势逆转

to stand tall 重建信心

technical skills 技术技能

life skills 生活技能

self-confidence 自信心

self-esteem 自尊

dyslexia 阅读障碍

to drift out （由于外因）慢慢地离开、脱离

depression 抑郁症

alcohol abuse 酗酒

an outcast 无家可归的人，被遗弃的人

to empower 帮助，给予某人做某事的能力

1 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

2 mob   

n.暴民，民众，暴徒；v.大举包围，乱挤，围攻

参考例句：

• The king was burned in effigy by the angry mob.国王的模拟像被愤怒的民众烧掉以泄心中的愤恨。
• An angry mob is attacking the palace.愤怒的暴徒在攻击王宫。

3 initiative   

n.主动性，首创精神，主动权（的行动），倡议

参考例句：

• He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
• His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。

4 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

5 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

6 illiterate   

adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲

参考例句：

• There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
• I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。