英语听力精选进阶版 7093

Background: 英国最受推崇的由两组大学代表队抢答电视知识竞赛节目University Challenge 因陷入丑闻而引起轰动。原来跻身于决赛中的优胜队被发现有违规之嫌，因为其中的一名决赛者根本不是大学生。

It's one of Britain's longest-running TV quiz shows, where the best and brightest 尖子/精英 from universities all over the country, compete to show off their knowledge on a myriad¹ 多种多样的/综合 of topics.

University Challenge first went to air 演播 nearly fifty years ago, and over the decades it's been a showcase 展示 for students facing quick-fire questions 猝不及防的 on literature, physics, geography and philosophy, and everything in between.

This year's final was one of the most keenly watched with students from Corpus Christi College at Oxford² University, taking on 较量 a team from Manchester University.

All eyes were on Corpus Christi's captain, Gail Trimble, who had been dubbed³ 被称为 "the greatest contestant⁴ ever", as she almost single-handedly 单枪匹马的 won their place in the final, earning two-thirds of her team's points.

But in what turned out to be a tightly-fought match 激烈的竞赛, other team members, including chemist Sam Kay, scored some vital points.

At the gong 授奖仪式上, Corpus Christi were victorious⁵ 充满胜利的喜悦 but the trophy⁶ 奖杯 wasn't theirs for long.

It emerged that by the time of the final Sam Kay was no longer a student; he had graduated （已经）毕业 and started work as an accountant, but hadn't realised he couldn't compete.

On Monday the BBC announced the team was being disqualified 取消比赛资格, and the trophy handed to Manchester, who paid tribute 称赞 to their opponents, saying they were sad to have won in such circumstances.

But the dramatic highs and lows 起起落落 of Corpus Christi's game, seem certain to make them one of the most memorable⁷ teams not to have won University Challenge.

GLOSSARY⁸ 词汇表

best and brightest 尖子/精英

myriad 多种多样的/综合

went to air 演播

showcase 展示

quick-fire questions 猝不及防的

taking on 较量

dubbed 被称为

single-handedly 单枪匹马的

tightly-fought match 激烈的竞赛

gong 授奖仪式上

victorious 充满胜利的喜悦

trophy 奖杯

graduated（已经）毕业

disqualified 取消比赛资格

paid tribute 称赞

highs and lows 起起落落

Questions and Answers

1. What is University Challenge?

It's a long-running quiz show on British television.

2. Which university was the winning team from?

They were from Corpus Christi College, Oxford University.

3. Why were they disqualified?

Because one member of the team had already left university and started a job.

4. What happened to the winners' trophy?

It was given to the team from Manchester University who came second in the competition.

1 myriad   

adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量

参考例句：

• They offered no solution for all our myriad problems.对于我们数不清的问题他们束手无策。
• I had three weeks to make a myriad of arrangements.我花了三个星期做大量准备工作。

2 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

3 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 contestant   

n.竞争者，参加竞赛者

参考例句：

• The company will furnish each contestant with a free ticket.公司将为每个参赛者免费提供一张票。
• The personal appearance and interview of the contestant is another count.参加比赛者的个人仪表和谈话也是一项。

5 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

6 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

7 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

8 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。