英语听力精选进阶版 6801

Rob¹: It's great that you've come with me during our lunch break to do some shopping. I need to buy a suit to go to a wedding and I have to look smart.

Helen: 你需要买一套西装去参加婚礼，我们午饭休息的时候我能帮你参谋参谋，怎么样？大家都说我特会买衣服。Rob, 我觉得那个橱窗里展示的那件灰色西装上衣看上去挺适合你的。

Rob: Wow! It looks very smart indeed. It will make me look great!

Helen: Exactly! 你穿上一定非常帅！Let's go into the shop, 你一定要穿上试试！

Salesman: The colour suits you, Sir! I will see if I can find a smaller size so that it fits you perfectly².

Helen: You see, Rob... 售货员也认为这件衣服穿在你身上简直就没治了。不过我同意他说的尺码，如果再小一号儿就更合体了。Everybody will think you are a powerful³ man.

Rob: Wait Helen, this suit is not for me. I'm reading this label⁴; it costs an arm and a leg!

Helen: An arm and a leg!? 这也太可怕了 Rob. 你说你得付出一只胳膊和一条大腿才能拿到这件衣服？Rob 这可是21世纪，不是中世纪哟 not the Middle Ages! 售货员看上去也相当文明，he sounded like a nice man!

Rob: Don't worry, Helen. I will keep my limbs⁵. In English, when we say something costs an arm and a leg we mean that it is very expensive!

Helen: So 在我们形容什么东西的价格太昂贵时，就可以说 cost an arm and a leg, 太贵了买不起。That's a relief.

Rob: Let's hear some examples while I go back to my old clothes.

"I'd like to travel all over Europe, but the air fare might cost me an arm and a leg."

"You have to pay a lot of money to give your children a good education nowadays! A place in a top university costs an arm and a leg."

Rob: So, how do you use the expression an arm and a leg?

Helen: 当你想表示什么东西非常非常昂贵，你就可以说 it costs an arm and a leg.

Rob: Now, let's leave this expensive suit here and get out of the shop before the posh-sounding salesman comes back.

Helen: 咱们赶快走吧，要不然那个说话高雅的售货员马上就回来了，他肯定会瞧不起我们的。我看那边的那条围巾非得要我 pay a nail⁶ and an elbow. 那件红色连衣裙还不得 cost a foot and a knee... 啊, 再看这个包包! 肯定要 cost an ear and a hand...

Rob: What are you talking about, Helen!? We only say "an arm and a leg"! Quick, let's get out of here!

Helen: OK, OK! Bye.

Rob: Bye.

1 rob   

v.抢劫；vi.抢劫，盗窃；vt.非法剥夺，使丧失，抢劫

参考例句：

• Two men formed a plot to rob the bank.两人制定了抢劫那家银行的秘密计划。
• They were scheming to rob the bank.他们在密谋抢劫银行。

2 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

3 powerful   

adj.有力的，有权力的，强大的

参考例句：

• The UN began to get more and more powerful.联合国开始变得越来越强大了。
• Such are the most powerful voices of our times!这些就是我们时代的最有力的声音！

4 label   

n.卷标，标签，标记；称号，绰号；v.贴标签于，把…称为

参考例句：

• The label is on the inner side of the box.标签贴在盒子内侧。
• He has been given the label of "playboy".他被起了个“花花公子”的绰号。

5 limbs   

肢( limb的名词复数 )； 大树枝； 肢体

参考例句：

• For a while, she lost the use of her limbs. 好一会儿她四肢都动弹不得。
• The prisoner's limbs flailed violently because of the pain. 那囚犯因为疼痛，四肢剧烈地抖动着。

6 nail   

n.钉子，指甲；vt.用钉钉牢，使固定，使集中于，揭露

参考例句：

• He drove a nail into the wall.他把钉子钉在墙上。
• In order to hang the picture,he had to hammer a nail.为了挂那幅画，他必须钉枚钉子。