英语听力精选进阶版 7069

Steve McClaren’s job looks a little safer after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Israel in an important qualifying match 资格赛 for the Euro 2008 tournament.

The England manager Steve McClaren and the England squad¹ had faced growing pressure to deliver a result 拿出结果来 after a series of disappointing performances, but goals from Owen, Wright-Phillips and Richards kept England on course to qualify.

Coach McClaren said before the match that "the big games are when we have to deliver" and his team did just that with an emphatic² 强有力的 win over a lacklustre 缺乏生气的 Israel, who rarely looked dangerous.

The England coach was forced to recall 召回 a number of older players to the national squad as many of his first-choices 首选 were out through injury and suspension 停赛.

Emile Heskey returned to the England side for the first time since Euro 2004.

Heskey himself admitted his recall came "as a bit of a surprise".

But the gamble paid off 回报 as Heskey’s partnership³ up front with Michael Owen proved too much for the Israeli defence.

England’s performance earned praise from many pundits⁴ 评论人士 and commentators⁵.

Former England captain Alan Shearer⁶ said "[England] were full of confidence in the second half and it was simply a matter of how many they were going to get", meaning it was certain England would win by a number of goals.

The win has boosted the team’s confidence before Wednesday’s second qualifying match against Russia.

However England midfielder Steven Gerrard warned players and fans not to "get carried away", meaning they shouldn’t become over-confident or unrealistic in their expectations.

Russia will be a much tougher test 更艰巨的考验 than Israel, and the Russian coach, Gus Hiddink, has already been accused of playing mind games 玩心理战术.

England assistant manager Terry Venables said: "Hiddink has had plenty to say for himself, claiming England lack passion, are scared to play and won't qualify.

"But you also hear him moaning 抱怨 about having to play his third-choice goalkeeper.

"When you have coached at the level both he and I have, you know all the tricks and the mind games. I'm not buying it 才不信呢, I'm shutting my ears."

1 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

2 emphatic   

adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的

参考例句：

• Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决，不容有任何人怀疑。
• He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 pundits   

n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
• That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网

5 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 shearer   

n.剪羊毛的人；剪切机

参考例句：

• A bad shearer never had a good sickle. 拙匠无利器。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Eventually, Shearer lost faith, dropping him to the bench. 最终，希勒不再信任他，把他换下场。 来自互联网