英语听力精选进阶版 7626

The fate of George Papandreou's crisis-stricken government will be decided¹ in the next few hours with a confidence debate underway in the Greek parliament. The Socialists² barely command a majority after defections from their own ranks following the prime minister's controversial proposal for a referendum on the latest bailout and austerity deal. Mark Lowen reports.

乔治·帕潘德里欧政府危机重重，命运如何，将于未来几小时内见分晓，因为希腊议会正展开一场信任辩论。总理提出就最新的救市和紧缩方案进行公投，引起争议纷纷，社会党内也出现脱党现象，自此该党很难得到多数人支持。Mark Lowen报道。

It now appears that what originally caused this week's political crisis in Greece has been scrapped³. The prime minister concocted⁴ the proposal for a referendum on the latest bailout package for the country. But now it's his finance minister who's officially killed the plan, indicating once again a rift⁵ at the very top of the Greek government. With the threat of a referendum removed, George Papandreou hopes he will secure the backing of his own MPs in the confidence vote on Friday night. But even if he scrapes through this test, speculation⁶ is mounting that he will soon call for a new government of national unity⁷ and may stand aside in the coming weeks, hoping for a dignified⁸ exit.

目前看来，最初引发希腊本周政治危机的问题已经消除了。总理策划对最新帮助本国的救市方案进行公投，他的财政部长正式拒绝了该计划，这就再次表明，希腊政府高层间存在意见分歧。目前对公投的威胁已经消除，乔治·帕潘德里欧希望在周五晚上的信任投票中，争取到本党议员的支持。不过，即使他能通过这些考验，人们还是愈加怀疑他会要求成立全民团结的新政府，并在未来几周内不管事，希望有尊严地辞职。

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy has closed the summit of G20 leaders in Cannes with a pledge to defend the euro. The leaders agreed to boost the resources of the International Monetary⁹ Fund, but there were no firm figures. The discussions focused on the financial and political crisis in Italy and Greece. James Robbins has the details.

在戛纳G20峰会闭幕式上，法国总统尼古拉·萨科齐誓言要捍卫欧元。各国领导人同意增加国际货币基金组织的资源，但没有确定具体的数字。讨论重点是意大利和希腊的金融与政治危机。James Robbins报道。

This summit did not ride to the rescue of the euro and the eurozone. In the midst of crises in Greece and Italy, President Obama barely concealed¹⁰ his exasperation¹¹ with European decision-making, saying he'd learnt a lot in the past two days about how laborious¹² it was. This summit also pushed Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi into accepting that the IMF should monitor his government's debt reduction programme to reduce the risk of financial catastrophe¹³ in one of the eurozone's largest economies. Italy insists it volunteered, but this amounts to a public audit¹⁴ every quarter by the IMF.

这次峰会并没有提出拯救欧元和欧元区的办法。尽管希腊和意大利身处危机中，总统奥巴马毫不掩饰他对欧洲决策的愤怒，声称在过去两年中，明白作出决策多么费劲。这次峰会使得意大利总理西尔维奥·贝卢斯科尼同意允许IMF监管本国政府的债务削减计划，减少意大利这个欧元区最大经济体之一陷入财政灾难的风险。意大利表示将自主削减债务，但这需要IMF每季度进行公开审计。

The Liberian opposition¹⁵ presidential candidate Winston Tubman has said he will boycott¹⁶ next week's run-off election against the incumbent¹⁷, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Thomas Fessy reports.

利比里亚反对派总统候选人温斯顿·塔布曼声称，他抵制下周与现任总统爱伦·约翰森·希尔丽夫进行决胜选举。Thomas Fessy报道。

Winston Tubman told the BBC the current conditions were not acceptable for him and left him with no choice but to pull out of the vote. Opposition parties accuse the electoral commission of siding with the ruling party during the counting process of the first round. The head of the electoral body resigned earlier this week. But this wasn't enough for Mr Tubman and his running mate George Weah. They accuse the incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of trying to bring back a one-party state system in Liberia.

温斯顿·塔布曼告诉BBC，他无法接受现状，别无选择，只得退出选举。反对派指责选举委员会，声称其在首轮点票中偏向执政党。本周早些时候，选举机构主席辞职，但这对塔布曼和他的竞选伙伴乔治·维阿来说还不够。他们指控现任总统爱伦·约翰森·希尔丽夫试图在利比里亚恢复一党制。

The head of Liberia's election commission has said that the run-off vote will go ahead as planned.

利比里亚选举委员会主席称，决胜选举将如期举行。

Israel says its navy has boarded two boats carrying pro-Palestinian activists¹⁸ trying to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Officials say the seizure¹⁹ of the vessels²⁰ took place peacefully.

以色列称，其海军登上两艘载有亲巴勒斯坦分子的船只，这些船只试图越过以色列在加沙地带的封锁。官方称和平缴获这些船只。

World News from the BBC

There's been more violence in Syria in spite of a promise by the government to withdraw its tanks. Opposition activists say armed forces killed at least 13 people in protests after Friday prayers. Earlier, the Syrian authorities said people should hand in their weapons in exchange for an amnesty. Meanwhile, an officer representing defectors from the Syrian army told the BBC that they would stop attacking government forces in line with an Arab League initiative earlier this week.

"If there is any attack against a demonstration²² or a neighbourhood, or any other type of civilian²³ life being attacked by the Syrian army, we will never stand by and do nothing. But if the regime withdraws its mercenaries and its army from inside the cities, then we will fully²¹ stop all our activities, so our job will just be to retaliate²⁴ against any breach²⁵ of the Arab League agreement."

The jury in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor has begun considering its verdict. Prosecutors²⁶ say Doctor Conrad Murray gave the singer an overdose of a powerful sedative²⁷, propofol, and then abandoned him, leading to his death two years ago. Doctor Murray denies the charge of involuntary manslaughter. He faces up to four years in jail if convicted.

审判迈克尔·杰克逊医生的陪审团已经开始对裁决下定论了，检察官说，莫里医生给这位歌手注射了过量高强度的镇定剂丙泊酚，然后置之不管，导致他两年前死亡。莫里医生否认犯有过失杀人罪，如果罪名成立，他将面临四年监禁。

Police in Spain say they've dismantled²⁸ a drug ring which smuggled²⁹ cocaine³⁰ disguised as designer shoes into the country. The officers said they had detained a Colombian couple who molded cocaine into the shape of women's shoes which they dubbed³¹ Manolos after the Spanish shoe designer Manolo Blahnik. The cocaine shoes were worth almost $70,000 a pair.

西班牙警方称粉碎一毒品团伙，他们将走私的可可因伪装成名牌鞋子运到本国。官方称已拘留一对哥伦比亚夫妇，他们将可可因铸造成女鞋的样子，以西班牙鞋子设计师莫罗·伯拉尼克的名字给鞋子取名“莫罗斯”。这些可可因鞋子每双价值约7万美元。

Six men who've been locked up in total isolation³² for over 500 days to simulate a mission to Mars have emerged smiling from their capsule in the Russian capital Moscow. The Russian, European and Chinese crew have been living inside steel tubes in a warehouse³³ meant to mirror the confinement³⁴ and stress that a real voyage to Mars would entail³⁵.

在俄罗斯首都莫斯科，被完全隔离500天模拟登火星计划的六名男子微笑着走出密封舱。来自俄罗斯、欧洲和中国的工作人员在一间仓库的金属管里生活，模拟真实登陆火星时所受的限制和压力。

1 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。

2 socialists   

社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The socialists saw themselves as true heirs of the Enlightenment. 社会主义者认为自己是启蒙运动的真正继承者。
• The Socialists junked dogma when they came to office in 1982. 社会党人1982年上台执政后，就把其政治信条弃之不顾。

3 scrapped   

废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架

参考例句：

• This machine is so old that it will soon have to be scrapped. 这架机器太旧，快报废了。
• It had been thought that passport controls would be scrapped. 人们曾认为会放开护照管制。

4 concocted   

v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造

参考例句：

• The soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish. 这种汤是用多达十几种不同的鱼熬制而成的。
• Between them they concocted a letter. 他们共同策划写了一封信。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 rift   

n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入

参考例句：

• He was anxious to mend the rift between the two men.他急于弥合这两个人之间的裂痕。
• The sun appeared through a rift in the clouds.太阳从云层间隙中冒出来。

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

7 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

8 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

9 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。

10 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

11 exasperation   

n.愤慨

参考例句：

• He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
• She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。

12 laborious   

adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅

参考例句：

• They had the laborious task of cutting down the huge tree.他们接受了伐大树的艰苦工作。
• Ants and bees are laborious insects.蚂蚁与蜜蜂是勤劳的昆虫。

13 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

14 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

15 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

16 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

17 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

18 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》

19 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。

20 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

21 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。

22 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

23 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

24 retaliate   

v.报复，反击

参考例句：

• He sought every opportunity to retaliate against his enemy.他找机会向他的敌人反击。
• It is strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.严禁对质量检验人员进行打击报复。

25 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

26 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。

27 sedative   

adj.使安静的，使镇静的；n. 镇静剂，能使安静的东西

参考例句：

• After taking a sedative she was able to get to sleep.服用了镇静剂后，她能够入睡了。
• Amber bath oil has a sedative effect.琥珀沐浴油有镇静安神效用。

28 dismantled   

拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消

参考例句：

• The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。
• The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。

29 smuggled   

水货

参考例句：

• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Those smuggled goods have been detained by the port office. 那些走私货物被港务局扣押了。 来自互联网

30 cocaine   

n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）

参考例句：

• That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
• Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。

31 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

32 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

33 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

34 confinement   

n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限

参考例句：

• He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
• The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。

35 entail   

vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要

参考例句：

• Such a decision would entail a huge political risk.这样的决定势必带来巨大的政治风险。
• This job would entail your learning how to use a computer.这工作将需要你学会怎样用计算机。