英语听力精选进阶版 6433

I feel a bit sad today because I'm homesick. I miss the delicious plates of pasta with a special sauce my mother used to make. She was a great cook! But I work abroad and I have to cope¹ with the occasional² feeling of nostalgia³.

The footballer Jesus Navas suffers badly. He is moving from Seville to Manchester City, but for years he could hardly leave his hometown. Anxiety attacks forced the player out of training camps. They say he has overcome his homesickness through counselling.

These days people often relocate to another country to study or to work. Many find it difficult to adapt, though. According to research by the University of Warwick Counselling Service, up to 70% of adults experience homesickness at some point in their lives. It can have similar symptoms to depression, says psychologist Dr Caroline Schuster.

Almost anything can trigger⁴ homesickness - a smell, a taste, even a colour reminds them of home. Mohammed Barakat sent us a message on Facebook about his longing⁵ for "the smell of rain and green" during the Sudanese rainy season. Mari Damian misses "the smell of Christmas cakes".

Homesickness is not something new. The ancient Greek poem Homer's Odyssey⁶ talked about it. But the modern term was created in the 17th Century to describe the feelings of Swiss mercenaries, who longed for their homeland while fighting elsewhere⁷ in Europe.

According to Dr Susan Matt, who wrote a book about the subject, people used to see it as a dangerous disease⁸.

Modern technology can limit the feeling of isolation⁹, allowing people to keep in touch with loved ones. Social psychologist Dr Gary Wood says Skype is a lifeline because it can allow grandparents a world away to watch their grandchildren grow up.

But people should not allow homesickness to stop them living in the present. I follow advice given by Dr Wood: I write down three new things that I've been grateful for every night, as well as three things I'm looking forward to every morning.

What about you: what do you miss when you are away from home and family?

Quiz 测验

1. What helped Jesus Navas to overcome homesickness?

Counselling.

2. Psychologist Dr Caroline Schuster compares homesickness symptoms to what?

To symptoms of depression.

3. Is the statement true or false? Homesickness is a problem of our times.

False. It was talked about in Homer's Odyssey.

4. What does Dr Wood advise us to do every morning?

Write three things we are looking forward to doing during the day.

5. Which are the two senses mentioned in the article?

Smell and taste.

Glossary 词汇表

homesick 思乡的，想家的

to cope 应对

nostalgia 乡愁，怀旧之情

hometown 家乡

an anxiety attack 焦虑发作

to overcome 克服

homesickness 思乡病

counselling （心理）咨询

to adapt 适应

a symptom 症状

a psychologist 心理学家

to trigger 引发

to long for 渴望

Homer's Odyssey 荷马史诗《奥德赛》

a mercenary 雇佣兵

the homeland 家园

isolation 孤立

to keep in touch 保持联系

a social psychologist 社会心理学家

a lifeline 生命线

a world away 遥远的地方

1 cope   

v.(with)竞争，对抗；对付，妥善处理

参考例句：

• He had a lot of work,but he was able to cope.他的活虽多，但还能应付得来。
• They have to cope with a mountain of problems.他们得应付成堆的问题。

2 occasional   

adj.偶尔的；偶然的；不经常的

参考例句：

• That sort of thing is quite occasional and not regular.那种事十分偶然，没有规律。
• We must figure in occasional expenses in the budget.我们必须在预算中把临时费用算计在内。

3 nostalgia   

n.怀乡病，留恋过去，怀旧

参考例句：

• He might be influenced by nostalgia for his happy youth.也许是对年轻时幸福时光的怀恋影响了他。
• I was filled with nostalgia by hearing my favourite old song.我听到这首喜爱的旧歌，心中充满了怀旧之情。

4 trigger   

n.触发器，板机，制滑机；v.触发（事件）

参考例句：

• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again.他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。
• He pulled the trigger but the gun didn't go off.他打了一枪，没有发火。

5 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

6 odyssey   

n.长途冒险旅行；一连串的冒险

参考例句：

• The march to Travnik was the final stretch of a 16-hour odyssey.去特拉夫尼克的这段路是长达16小时艰险旅行的最后一程。
• His odyssey of passion, friendship,love,and revenge was now finished.他的热情、友谊、爱情和复仇的漫长历程，到此结束了。

7 elsewhere   

adv.在别处，到别处

参考例句：

• Our favourite restaurant was full so we had to go elsewhere.我们最喜欢去的那家饭店客满了，因此不得不改去别处。
• I have half a mind to move elsewhere.我有点想搬到别处去。

8 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

9 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。