英语听力精选进阶版 7235

Background: 对大多数人来说，一生中至少会收到一封拒绝信，可能是申请工作或者是报考大学。牛津大学作为英国的顶级院校每年会寄出无数封拒绝信，不过这一次，牛津大学却被一个申请者给拒绝了，此事现已成为人们茶余饭后的笑料。

Nineteen-year old Elly Nowell from Winchester in the south of England applied¹ to the Oxford² college of Magdalen to read law, but when she was invited for interview she decided³ she didn't like what she saw.

Elly, who is finishing her A-levels, told the BBC that Oxford resembled the British Monarchy⁴ in that it was what she called ridiculous and elitist, but unlike the Royal Family, was rarely mocked. Her actions may well change that. Following her interview at Magdalen College, Elly wrote a rejection⁵ letter to the University using the kind of language that officials employ when they're trying to let somebody down gently.

Elly admits that her letter of rejection to the University was not entirely⁶ serious, but it has raised some important points. Oxford and Cambridge universities are often accused of elitism⁷ and of having entrance procedures that favour students from private schools.

Yet Oxford says it's changing and that last year more than half of its academic offers went to pupils from state schools. As for Elly, she now hopes to gain a place at University College London. The admissions staff there may well be watching the mailbox very closely.

Glossary⁸ 词汇表

A-levels 英国中学高级水平考试

to resemble (something) 效仿什么

ridiculous 荒谬的

elitist 过于提倡精英主义

to be mocked 被嘲弄

a rejection letter 拒绝信

to employ 采用

to let somebody down 让某人失望，回绝某人

procedure 程序

a state school 公立学校

Questions:

1: What did Elly Nowell compare Oxford University to?

To the British Monarchy.

2: What kind of language did Elly use in her letter to Oxford University?

The same kind of language that staff at Oxford University use when they want to inform a student that he was rejected without causing offence or distress⁹.

3: True or false? Oxford and Cambridge universities are often accused of having rules that favour students from state schools.

False. Both universities are often accused of having entrance procedures that favour students from private schools.

4: What words are used to refer to university officials that receive application forms from students?

Admissions staff.

1 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

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 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

5 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 elitism   

n.精英论，优秀人士统治

参考例句：

• Many people believe that private education encourages elitism.许多人认为私立教育助长精英主义。
• We must avoid cultural elitism.我们必须避免文化精英主义。

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。

9 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。