英语听力精选进阶版 7200

太平洋岛国萨摩亚希望能通过调整其所在时区而促进本国商业贸易。萨摩亚目前与其最重要交易伙伴之一澳大利亚之间相差21小时。此次调整时区预计从2011年底开始执行。以下是来自 Mike Wooldridge 的报道。

When Samoa put itself on the east side of the international dateline back in 1892, it was apparently¹ to do same-day business with Californian traders across the Pacific.

Now the main trading partners are nearby New Zealand and Australia and countries in East Asia.

But on Sunday when Samoans are in church, cities such as Sydney and Brisbane are already into Monday and the new working week.

And while Samoans are still doing business on Friday, Australians and New Zealanders have already begun their weekend.

There will be a price to pay: Samoa markets itself as the last place on earth to witness each day's sunset.

But to compensate², the prime minister has another proposition³ for those who enjoy travel curiosities.

By making a flight of less than an hour from the US territory of American Samoa, which isn't moving across the dateline, it will be possible to celebrate the same day twice - and on the same date, have two birthdays, two anniversaries or even two weddings.

Mike Wooldridge, BBC News

Glossary⁴ 词汇表

the international dateline 国际日期变更线 

same-day business 同日交易 

a trader 商人 

in church 去教堂礼拜 

into Monday 进入星期一 

a price to pay 付出代价 

to compensate 补偿，弥补 

a proposition 提议 

a travel curiosity 旅行的好奇心 

an anniversary 纪念日

Questions and Answers

1. True or false? If Samoa changes its time zone, US Samoa will also need to change. 

False. US Samoa will not have to change its time zone.

2. True or false? Samoa will be ahead of US Samoa if the planned time zone change takes place. 

True. Samoa will cross the international dateline, while US Samoa will remain in an earlier time zone.

3. At present, if people in Samoa are in church, what is happening in Sydney and Brisbane? 

People in Sydney and Brisbane are going to work. When it is Sunday in Samoa, it is Monday on the east coast of Australia.

4. How will people be able to celebrate the same date twice in Samoa? 

US Samoa is not planning to change its time zone. If people fly from Samoa to US Samoa, they will be able to finish the day in both countries.

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

3 proposition   

n.建议，命题，主张；vt.向...提议，向...调情

参考例句：

• The two teams prepared to debate the given proposition.两个队准备就所给定的命题展开辩论。
• It is clearly illogical to maintain such a proposition.坚持这种主张显然是没有道理的。

4 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。