英语听力精选进阶版 7261

无论是组织者还是运动员，都在为伦敦2012做最后一刻的准备。 对于许多参赛运动员来说，这将是他们运动生涯的顶峰。 有些是第一次参加奥运，而有些已经是有丰富经验的老将了。

Not everyone has the same profile as Usain Bolt, but there are other Olympic athletes here in London who have gained superstar status, albeit¹ within the confines of their own national boundaries. Take the Ukrainian fencer, Olga Kharlan, who caused a sensation in Beijing by almost single-handedly prising the team gold medal from the Chinese. She was just 18 then, and the former dancer and model is hoping for further success.

Another celebrity² in his homeland but at the opposite end of the age scale, is 71-year-old Hiroshi Hoketsu. The Japanese dressage rider is poised³ to become the second oldest Olympian of all time. Still fit and lean he puts his longevity⁴ down to an avoidance of oily food.

China topped the medals table four years ago and another strong performance is expected. Their star turn could come in the aquatic⁵ centre. Sun Yang is considered the finest distance swimmer in the world. Standing⁶ at an imposing⁷ two metres tall he might even eclipse the serial⁸ champion Michael Phelps.

Finally to track and field and Caster Semenya who will be making her Olympic debut⁹. The South African wasn't allowed to celebrate her 800 metres world title in 2009 as doubts over her gender¹⁰ emerged. She said that's now all behind her and if she wins a medal in London she will dedicate it to Nelson Mandela who helped her through those tough times.

Quiz 听力测试

What sport does Olga Kharlan do?

Fencing.

What kind of food does Japanese sportsman Hiroshi Hoketsu think is bad for his health?

He avoids oily food.

What medal does Sun Yang hope to win in this year’s Olympic games?

Swimming. Sun Yang is considered the finest distance swimmer in the world.

What country is Caster Semenya from?

South Africa.

Glossary 词汇表

superstar status 超级明星地位

fencer 击剑手

single-handedly 只靠一人的力量，单枪匹马

dressage rider 花式马术运动员

poised to 准备（做什么）

longevity 长寿

topped 达到最高点

eclipse 超越

track and field 田径运动

gender 性别

1 albeit   

conj.即使；纵使；虽然

参考例句：

• Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。
• Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

2 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

3 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

4 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

5 aquatic   

adj.水生的，水栖的

参考例句：

• Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.水上运动包括游泳和划船。
• We visited an aquatic city in Italy.我们在意大利访问过一个水上城市。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

8 serial   

n.连本影片，连本电视节目；adj.连续的

参考例句：

• A new serial is starting on television tonight.今晚电视开播一部新的电视连续剧。
• Can you account for the serial failures in our experiment?你能解释我们实验屡屡失败的原因吗？

9 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

10 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。