英语听力精选进阶版 6412

It's 80 years since the Loch Ness monster was spotted¹ for the first time. Mrs Aldie Mackay, a local hotel manageress, might have thought that her eyes had deceived her when she reported seeing a "whale-like fish" in the waters of the Scottish lake.

Or was it a fabrication? Dr Charles Paxton, a researcher from St Andrew's University, noted² that many of the 1,000 eye-witness accounts of the elusive³ ''monster'' he's been analysing come from hotel proprietors⁴. This raises suspicion of a conspiracy⁵ to boost tourism.

Mrs Mackay's is widely regarded as the first ''modern sighting'' of the monster in the lake. And it’s opened the floodgates.

Police inspectors⁶, lorry drivers, clergymen and fishermen were among the people who claimed to have seen the monster. It became so famous that it got a nickname: Nessie.

Tourists and 'Nessie hunters' flocked to the area. There were traffic jams around the lake. Certainly, there was much to be gained from the legend. According to Visit Scotland, Nessie tourism brings in more than ￡1m to the area per year.

Marine⁷ biologist Adrian Shine, who interviewed Mrs Mackay years later, believes she was sincere. But there are plenty of people who have made a living from Nessie, including Mr Shine himself. He now runs the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition out of Mrs Mackay's old hotel.

Dr Paxton says, analysing the eye-witness accounts may tell us more about ourselves than whether or not the monster exists. He is due to publish the results of his study later this year.

As a scientist, he casts a sceptical eye on all the evidence linked to Nessie. Highly respected British surgeon, Colonel Robert Wilson, claimed he photographed the beast in 1934. It was later revealed to be a toy submarine with a sea-serpent head.

Dr Paxton says: "I suppose it is possible that people have an agenda. But I believe the vast majority of people are reporting the truth. They believe they have seen something strange.''

Some say you see what you expect. If this is true, in the land famous for whisky and Nessie, the beast will live long and prosper⁸.

Quiz 测验

1. Whose sighting of Nessie was the first in modern times?

Hotel manageress Aldie Mackay's.

2. Was the first person who claims to have seen a monster telling the truth?

Aldie Mackay said what she believed to be the truth, according to an interviewer.

3. Is the statement true or false? A picture of the monster taken in 1934 proves its existence.

False. What appeared to be a monster was actually a toy.

4. Which expression means earning money?

To make a living.

5. Which expression can you use to say that you are seeing something that is extraordinary and improbable?

My eyes deceive me!

Glossary 词汇表

to spot 发现

(her) eyes deceive (her) （她的）眼睛欺骗了（她）

a fabrication 捏造，编造

to note 特别指出

an eye-witness account 一个目击证人的描述

elusive 难以描述的

to raise suspicion （使人）产生怀疑

a conspiracy 阴谋

to be widely regarded as 被公认为

a sighting （对不寻常事情的）目睹

to open the floodgates 打开闸门

to claim 声称

to flock to 蜂拥而至

a legend 一个传说、传奇

to make a living from 以…谋生

sceptical 怀疑的

evidence 证据

a toy 一个玩具

to have an agenda 有预谋

1 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

4 proprietors   

n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These little proprietors of businesses are lords indeed on their own ground. 这些小业主们，在他们自己的行当中，就是真正的至高无上的统治者。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Many proprietors try to furnish their hotels with antiques. 许多经营者都想用古董装饰他们的酒店。 来自辞典例句

5 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

6 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

8 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。