英语听力精选进阶版 7214

Background: 沃利斯-辛普森，这位曾让英国国王爱德华八世为她放弃了大英帝国王位的女人，可能还爱着她的前夫，恩斯特-辛普森。在多封沃利斯写给恩斯特的、没有被曝光过的书信中，沃利斯透露了当年她自己的孤独感，和自己对于这场婚姻的不确定性。

The popular image is that of a rather cold, scheming woman who wormed her way into the affections of Britain's future king. But previously¹ unseen letters suggest that Wallis Simpson was an insecure woman who felt trapped by her relationship with Edward. The letters have been uncovered by Anne Sebba. She says they show that Wallis Simpson might still have been in love with her second husband Ernest Simpson.

Additional extracts reveal the extent of Mrs Simpson's continued love for her former husband, even writing to him while on her honeymoon² with Edward. Anne Sebba says that as an American, Mrs Simpson loved the access to the highest levels of English society, to be showered with expensive jewellery, to be the mistress of the future king. But she expected the eventual³ fate of most mistresses, which is to be dumped.

But he didn't dump her, causing the biggest constitutional crisis for centuries. Despite the widespread criticism of his relationship with the American divorcee, Edward VIII renounced⁴ his throne in December 1936. Edward and Mrs Simpson married in June 1937 following her divorce from Ernest.

Glossary⁶ 词汇表

scheming 惯耍阴谋的;诡计多端的 

to worm (her) way into (something) 慢慢钻进了（什么地方） 

insecure 没有安全感 

to feel trapped 被困住了 

to uncover 被发现了 

to be showered with 被大量给予（某物） 

to be dumped 被抛弃了 

a constitutional crisis 宪法危机 

widespread criticism 多方的批评 

to renounce⁵ 声明放弃

Questions:

1. What does public opinion think of Wallis Simpson? 

That she was a cold and scheming woman who seduced⁷ Edward VIII.

2. How did she expect her relationship with the king to end? 

She expected him to dump her as it happens to most royal mistresses.

3. When did she write to her former husband Ernest? 

When she was on her honeymoon with Edward.

4. True or false? Edward was Wallis Simpson’s second husband.

False. Edward was her third husband. According to the report, her second husband was Ernest.

1 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

2 honeymoon   

n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月

参考例句：

• While on honeymoon in Bali,she learned to scuba dive.她在巴厘岛度蜜月时学会了带水肺潜水。
• The happy pair are leaving for their honeymoon.这幸福的一对就要去度蜜月了。

3 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

4 renounced   

v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃

参考例句：

• We have renounced the use of force to settle our disputes. 我们已再次宣布放弃使用武力来解决争端。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Andrew renounced his claim to the property. 安德鲁放弃了财产的所有权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

6 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。

7 seduced   

诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷

参考例句：

• The promise of huge profits seduced him into parting with his money. 高额利润的许诺诱使他把钱出了手。
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。