英语听力精选进阶版 7549

Stock markets in Europe and the United States have fallen sharply with concern that the eurozone debt crisis could spread to Italy and Spain. The falls came despite interventions¹ by policymakers aimed at restoring calm. The markets in London, Paris and Frankfurt were all down by more than 3%. In the United States, the Dow has closed down 4%. Caroline Hepker reports from New York.

由于担忧欧元区债务危机会扩散至西班牙和意大利，欧洲和美国的股票市场大幅下跌。尽管试图重建平稳秩序的政策制定者采取了干预措施，股市仍然下跌。伦敦，巴黎和法兰克福的股价均下跌了超过3%、在美国，道琼斯工业指数收盘时下跌4%。Caroline Hepker在纽约报道。

Disastrous² was the way one trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange described the drop in US shares on Thursday. The reason for the stock market rout³ is a combination of fears over the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and growing concern about the US recovery. There has been a string of worrying economic data in America in recent days: economic growth slowed to a trickle⁴ this year; consumer spending fell in June, and both the manufacturing and the service sector⁵ are sluggish⁶.

纽约证券交易所一名交易者形容周四美国股价的下跌是灾难性的。股市下跌是由于对欧洲主权债务危机的担忧和对美国经济复苏的不断担忧的综合因素。近日出炉了美国一系列令人担忧的经济数据：经济增长速度进一步放缓；六月份消费者支出下降；制造业和服务业都非常萧条。

A court in France has approved an investigation⁷ into allegations that the new head of the International Monetary⁸ Fund, Christine Lagarde, abused her position when she was the French finance minister. The case centres on a $400m compensation payment to a businessman. From Paris, here's Christian⁹ Fraser.

有人指控IMF新任总裁拉加德在担任法国财长期间滥用职权，法国一家法庭已经批准进行调查。该案件集中在对一名商人高达4亿美元的赔偿方面。巴黎，Christian Fraser报道。

In 2008, just months into the job as the first female finance minister of France, Christine Lagarde used her powers to bring to an end a court battle that had run for years. Bernard Tapie, a wealthy businessman and controversial figure here in France, had accused the former state-owned bank Credit Lyonnais of mishandling the sale of his share in the sportswear manufacturer Adidas. Prosecutors¹⁰ allege¹¹ she went beyond her powers, complicit, they said, in the embezzlement¹² of public funds. Ms Lagarde has always denied any wrongdoing or any suggestion she profited personally.

2008年，刚刚成为法国首任女财长几个月，拉加德利用自己的权利终结了一宗持续了多年的法庭案件。富有的商人，法国有争议的人物Bernard Tapie指控前国有银行里昂信贷错误地抛售了他持有的运动服饰制造商阿迪达斯的股票。检控官指控她越权同谋挪用公众资金。拉加德一直否认自己做错事，否认为自己谋利。

Syrian activists¹³ say the city of Hama is suffering severe food and medical shortages after five days of being besieged¹⁴ by government forces. The activists say 30 people were killed on Wednesday when troops backed by tanks retook control of the city centre. Jim Muir reports from neighbouring Lebanon.

叙利亚活动积极分子表示，被政府军队围困五天之后，哈马市遭受着严重的食物和药品短缺。积极分子表示，周三，政府军队在坦克的掩护下重新控制了市中心，造成30人死亡。Jim Muir在邻国黎巴嫩报道。

Despite the army assault, Hama remains¹⁵ defiant¹⁶ with protests like this breaking out after nighttime prayers for the fasting month of Ramadan. In addition to water and electricity being cut off, the blackout on virtually all communication with Hama has meant that very little is known about the storming of the city by troops and tanks, and the number of casualties involved. In the meantime, residents speak of regime militia¹⁷ shooting at anything that moves in the streets, and they say they are having to bury their dead in gardens and public parks for fear of venturing to cemeteries¹⁸.

尽管军队发动进攻，哈马仍然在不断抵抗，例如在斋月节午夜祈祷后爆发的抗议活动。除了水电被切断以外，哈马市所有通讯设施的管制意味着完全不知道军队和坦克对该城市的袭击情况，以及造成的伤亡人数。与此同时，居民表示，政府义勇军向在街上移动的任何东西开枪。他们说，因为不敢去墓地，他们不得不将遇难的亲人埋在花园或公园。

The government of Libya says it now fully¹⁹ controls the western frontline town of Zlitan. On Wednesday, government troops announced a major offensive against rebels in the town, but foreign journalists who've been driven there by officials say there's no sign of the insurgents²⁰.

利比亚政府表示，他们现在已经全面控制了西部前线利坦。周三，政府军队宣布对该城镇的叛军发动重大进攻，但是被官员们运送到那里的外国记者报道称，他们没有看到反叛分子的踪迹。

You're listening to the World News from the BBC.

The Israeli government has given final approval for more than 900 new homes in occupied East Jerusalem. The move to build houses for Jewish families in the settlement of Har Homa has been criticised by peace groups as cynical²¹. They say it'll cut off the Palestinian town of Bethlehem from Arab areas of East Jerusalem, but the government says it'll help address Israel's housing shortage.

以色列政府最终批准在被占领的东耶路撒冷建设900多座新房屋。在哈尔霍马(Har Homa)为犹太人建设房屋的举动被和平组织批评为愤世嫉俗的。他们说，此举将会使巴勒斯坦城镇伯利恒从东耶路撒冷的阿拉伯区域切断，但是政府称此举将帮助解决以色列的房屋短缺问题。

The United Nations says it'll take at least 25 years to clear up pollution from oil operations in the Ogoniland region of Nigeria. A report by the UN Environment Programme said oil spills had contaminated land, sea and air to such an extent that it seriously threatened public health in some areas. A spokesman for the UNEP, Nick Nuttall, told the BBC about the scale of the problem.

联合国表示，清理尼日利亚奥戈尼兰地区石油泄漏造成的污染需要至少25年的时间。联合国环境规划署表示，石油泄漏严重污染了土地，海洋和空气，在某些地区甚至威胁到公众健康。环境规划署发言人Nick Nuttall向BBC讲述了问题的严重性。

"The United Nations Environment Programme over 14 months has toured the length and breadth of Ogoniland to assess the oil pollution. It is serious. It has gone much further and much deeper into the land than previously²² had been supposed. It's going to take at least 25 years to restore the health of Ogoniland back to pre-oil days."

“联合国环境规划署在14个月的时间内走访了整个奥戈尼兰，评估石油污染的严重性。事态非常严重。石油渗入的范围比此前认为的更深，更远。至少需要25年的时间才可能使奥戈尼兰的环境恢复到石油污染以前的水平。”

Riot police in the Chilean capital Santiago have used tear gas and water cannon²³ to break up protests by students. More than 100 people were detained as they tried to march to the city centre. Chile has endured weeks of protests by students and teachers demanding education reforms. They've called for fundamental reform and increased investment in the public education system. President Sebastian Pinera has offered extra funding.

智利首都圣地亚哥防暴警察使用催泪瓦斯和水弹驱散学生的抗议活动。100多名学生在试图前往市中心时被拘留。几周以来，智利学生和教师一直举行抗议活动，要求教育改革。他们呼吁对公共教育体系进行根本性的变革，增加在教育领域的投资。皮涅拉总统已经承诺增加教育基金。

Scientists have found what they believe may be the first evidence of flowing water on Mars. Nasa researchers say images taken by one of their spacecraft show clusters of dark lines on some slopes of the planet. These markings disappear in the winter. The scientists say their best explanation for this is the flow of salty water, possibly underground, although they say the findings don't provide direct evidence of water on Mars.

科学家发现了火星上有流动水的证据。美国航天局研究人员表示，其中一艘航天探测器拍摄的图片显示火星的一些斜坡上聚集着很多黑色线条，而这些线条在冬季就会消失。科学家表示，最好的解释就是这可能是地下的盐水的流动。然而他们表示，该发现并不能提供火星上有水存在的直接证据。

1 interventions   

n.介入，干涉，干预( intervention的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Economic analysis of government interventions deserves detailed discussion. 政府对经济的干预应该给予充分的论述。 来自辞典例句
• The judge's frequent interventions made a mockery of justice. 法官的屡屡干预是对正义的践踏。 来自互联网

2 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

3 rout   

n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮

参考例句：

• The enemy was put to rout all along the line.敌人已全线崩溃。
• The people's army put all to rout wherever they went.人民军队所向披靡。

4 trickle   

vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散

参考例句：

• The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。
• The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

9 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

10 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

11 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

12 embezzlement   

n.盗用，贪污

参考例句：

• He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
• The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。

13 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。

15 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

16 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

17 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

18 cemeteries   

n.（非教堂的）墓地，公墓( cemetery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It's morbid to dwell on cemeteries and such like. 不厌其烦地谈论墓地以及诸如此类的事是一种病态。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In other districts the proximity of cemeteries seemed to aggravate the disease. 在其它地区里，邻近墓地的地方，时疫大概都要严重些。 来自辞典例句

19 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

20 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

21 cynical   

adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的

参考例句：

• The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大，他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
• He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。

22 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。

23 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。