英语听力精选进阶版 7276

法国影星杰拉德·德帕迪约说他将交回他的法国护照以抗议社会党领袖、现法国总统弗朗索瓦·奥朗德最新推出的税收政策。这位63岁的法国国宝级演员近日宣布他将移居邻国比利时的一个小镇。

He is prone¹ to more than just the occasional outburst but this time Gerard Depardieu is at the centre of an almighty² political storm. Last week, the actor announced he had quit Paris for a small town 800 yards from the French border; seemingly to dodge³ a 75% top rate of tax expected to come into force next year.

The Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said it was "shabby", and suggested he was shirking his patriotic⁴ responsibilities. "How pathetic is that?" writes the actor in today's Journal du Dimanche. "I am leaving because you believe success, creation, talent, anything different must be sanctioned."

The actor claims he has paid ￡120m ($194m) in taxes since beginning work as a printer at the age of 14. "And people more illustrious than me," he railed, "have gone into tax exile." Belgium is an attractive option for French people since it doesn't impose any additional taxes on wealth. And three months ago France's richest man Bernard Arnault applied⁵ for Belgian citizenship⁶. The government might question their loyalties⁷; but what sort of message is being sent to the outside investors⁸ France is hoping to attract, when some of the country's biggest names are heading for self-imposed exile?

Quiz 听力测验

True or False? Gerard Depardieu is moving to a small town in France.

False. Depardieu is moving to a small town in Belgium.

True or False? It is said that Depardieu has paid ￡120m ($194m) in taxes since the age of 14.

True.

Why does Depardieu want to leave France?

Because the taxes are too high.

When is the new tax policy expected to come into force?

Next year.

Glossary 词汇表

prone to 易于做某事（常指不好的事）

outburst （愤怒等感情的）爆发

almighty 极大的，严重的

come into force 开始生效

shabby 令人无法接受的

shirking 逃避（责任、义务）

sanctioned 实施制裁，停止

illustrious 著名的，杰出的、卓越的

railed （大声）责骂

self-imposed exile 自我放逐

1 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

2 almighty   

adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的

参考例句：

• Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.这些叛徒没有对上帝的全能力量表示怀疑。
• It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。

3 dodge   

v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计

参考例句：

• A dodge behind a tree kept her from being run over.她向树后一闪，才没被车从身上辗过。
• The dodge was coopered by the police.诡计被警察粉碎了。

4 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

5 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。

6 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

7 loyalties   

n.忠诚( loyalty的名词复数 )；忠心；忠于…感情；要忠于…的强烈感情

参考例句：

• an intricate network of loyalties and relationships 忠诚与义气构成的盘根错节的网络
• Rows with one's in-laws often create divided loyalties. 与姻亲之间的矛盾常常让人两面为难。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会