英语听力精选进阶版 6436

Let me ask you a question: Have you got a car?

I own a small car: it's a Nissan Micra. I bought her seven years ago from a local car dealer¹ here in London. Although I have been the owner of a Toyota Corolla, a Nissan Sunny and a Honda Accord², this little Micra is most special. It felt like love at first sight - the moment I saw her, I knew I had to buy her.

She wasn't cheap, in fact, quite pricey at ￡1,200 for a car that was already 13 years old, but I have no regrets, she is a lovely reliable car and she has never let me down. I do not drive every day: I am a typical Sunday driver, which means I do most of my driving at the weekends. Over the last seven years I have only driven 9,500 miles, whereas³ many drivers in the UK do around 12,000 miles per year.

Time passes quickly and my car will soon be 20 years old. Does that mean it is becoming a 'classic car'?

Here in the UK there are many classic car enthusiasts⁴: these people own old cars and they spend many hours cleaning, polishing and renovating⁵ their beloved cars. A good friend of mine has a classic sports car but he has not driven it for many years - it spends most of the time in his garage. The car is a beautiful 1970 Lotus. It has been re-sprayed and now looks fantastic. He says it's a labour of love and he has promised to take me for a drive.

Really old cars, from the 1920s and earlier, are called vintage cars. They look very different to modern cars; the drivers sit very high up - and many of them do not have a roof. A lot of vintage car owners meet up for the traditional London to Brighton run. This is a 60-mile route from the centre of London down to the Brighton coast.

I saw some of the cars last year as they left London. Many of the drivers were wearing traditional clothing, reflecting a particular period of British history. Watching the cars go by was a wonderful spectacle⁶ and I'll join the onlookers⁷ again later this year. I hope it isn't raining, not just because I will get wet, but because many of the poor drivers have no protection.

Sadly, my little Micra isn't considered a classic yet. However, if I look after her well enough for long enough, maybe in another 30 years she will qualify⁸ as a classic item.

What cars do you like? I would be very interested to learn if anyone has a classic car and how much you love to cherish⁹ it. It's nice to own a new car but there is something very special about owning a classic car and keeping it going year after year.

Quiz 测验

1. How much did the writer pay for her 13-year-old Micra?

1,200 British pounds

2. True or false? The writer drives her car every day.

False. She is a Sunday driver.

3. How would you classify a car from 1928?

A vintage car.

4. True or false? The London to Brighton car run is 60 miles long.

True.

5. Do you think the writer's Micra qualifies¹⁰ for the London to Brighton run?

No, because it is not a classic car.

Glossary 词汇表

car dealer 汽车销售商

special 特殊的

love at first sight 一见钟情

pricey 价码过高的

reliable 可靠的

let somebody down 令人失望

polishing 擦亮，抛光

renovating 翻新

sports car 跑车

garage 车库

re-sprayed 重新喷了漆的

labour of love 甘愿做的事

vintage cars 老爷车

traditional 传统的

reflecting 反映

spectacle 壮观的景象

onlookers 旁观者

protection （防雨）保护措施

cherish 珍视

year after year 年复一年地

1 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

2 accord   

vt.给予（欢迎、称颂等） vi./n.符合，一致

参考例句：

• Most people are in accord with their desire for peace.在渴望和平这一点上，大多数人都是一致的。
• The hearts of our people accord with those of yours.我们两国人民心心相印。

3 whereas   

conj.而，却，反之

参考例句：

• They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子，而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。

4 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

5 renovating   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The increased production was largely attained by renovating old orchards and vineyards. 通过更新老果园和葡萄园，使生产大大增加。
• Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny. 为了整修那所房子，你得花很多钱。

6 spectacle   

n.（大规模）场面，壮观[pl.]眼镜

参考例句：

• She was fascinated at the spectacle of a rocket launching.她被发射火箭的壮观场面强烈地吸引住了。
• The opening ceremony was a fine spectacle.开幕式典礼是个壮观的场面。

7 onlookers   

n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash. 在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。
• The onlookers stood at a respectful distance. 旁观者站在一定的距离之外，以示尊敬。

8 qualify   

vt.取得资格，有资格，限定，描述；vi.取得资格，有资格

参考例句：

• I won't qualify until next year.我明年才具备资格。
• You must qualify yourself for the post.你必须使自己具备担任这一工作的资格。

9 cherish   

vt.抱有，怀有（希望等），爱护，抚育，珍爱

参考例句：

• I cherish for you the liveliest feeling of affection and gratitude.我对你怀有最强烈的爱和感激之情。
• We must cherish experience acquired at the cost of blood.我们必须珍惜用鲜血换来的经验。

10 qualifies   

（使）具有资格( qualify的第三人称单数 )； 有权； 达标； 使所说的话语气减弱（或更具体等）

参考例句：

• His training qualifies him as a teacher of English. 他受的培训使他有资格当一名英语教师。
• This certificate qualifies the products. 这份证书证明产品合格。