英语听力精选进阶版 6724

William: Hello and welcome to Authentic¹ Real English, I'm William Kremer.

Li: And I'm Yang Li.

William: Let me play you something, Li.

British national anthem².

Li: Ah, God Save the Queen; 英国国歌。William 沉浸在深深的爱国情绪里了？

William: Ah, but wait...

USA National anthem.

Li: Eh? The Star Spangled Banner 这不是美国国歌吗？But this is the BBC, William! British Broadcasting Corporation!

William: Yeah, I know Li. But a very special visitor is coming to Britain today.

Li: 啊，对了，美国总统奥巴马今天开始他对英国的为期三天的访问。William, 我真心地想问你一个问题，你觉得英国人到底喜欢不喜欢美国人呢？

William: Well, that is a very difficult question to answer in ninety seconds Li. But it's fair to say that our two countries have a lot in common. Not only do we share the same language but economically and politically Britain and the USA have a close connection. And this connection is often called the special relationship.

Li: The special relationship. 是专门用来形容英美两国政治关系的短语 the special relationship 英美关系。

William: Here are a few examples of this phrase being used which I found on the BBC website:

Examples

Britain's former Foreign Secretary, Jack³ Straw, talks to Katty Kay about recent remarks in which he described the 'special relationship' between America and Britain as a fiction that should be dropped.

Isabel Hilton and guests discuss the past, present and future of what people on this side of the Atlantic like to call 'the special relationship' between Britain and America. But is it really that special?

Files newly released by the Wikileaks website highlight what is described as the UK's 'paranoia⁴' about its so-called special relationship with the US.

Li: It sounds like people are starting to question how special the special relationship is!

William: That might be true... and you can see that this is an issue that is easier to talk about because there is a special phrase for it.

Li: So does the UK have a special relationship with other countries too?

William: Yes, of course. And occasionally you might read about 'a special relationship with Australia' or 'a special relationship with India' for example, but the phrase 'the special relationship' by itself generally refers to the USA and Britain.

Li: I see, the special relationship, not a special relationship. Well, actually, we have a special relationship, don't we William?

William: Yes, we do, Li! And do you think our special relationship is like the special relationship?

Li: 这要看具体情况了... 要看我扮演的是美国还是英国?!

William: Hmm. Well, that is an interesting question but also quite a strange one! So let's end today's programme there. Bye bye!

Li: 我能扮演美国吗？真的，我能开我的凯迪拉克车带你去兜风，怎么样?

1 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

2 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 paranoia   

n.妄想狂，偏执狂；多疑症

参考例句：

• Her passion for cleanliness borders on paranoia.她的洁癖近乎偏执。
• The push for reform is also motivated by political paranoia.竞选的改革运动也受到政治偏执狂症的推动。