英语听力精选进阶版 7689

There's been another onslaught by the Syrian army on the city of Homs with hundreds of shells and mortars² fired into populated areas. Paul Wood, a BBC correspondent who's in Homs, says residents are calling it the worst bombardment since the uprising began almost a year ago. He sent us this report.

Mortars and artillery³ shells fell steadily⁴ . Each blast echoed around the narrow streets. People said it was the worst attack this part of Homs had seen since the start of the uprising. But casualties were relatively⁵ light as everyone knew to stay off the streets. Syrian state television denied there had been any bombardment . There is no doubt, however, from what we have seen and heard that hundreds of shells and mortar¹ bombs have been fired at this place during the day.

The two main Palestinian factions⁶ Fatah and Hamas have agreed that the Fatah leader President Mahmoud Abbas will head an interim⁷ government to organise⁸ elections in the West Bank and Gaza. Fatah has controlled the West Bank while Hamas has run Gaza since they fell out in 2007. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that President Abbas would be abandoning the way of peace if he implemented⁹ the deal. Israel sees Hamas as a terrorist organisation¹⁰.

巴勒斯坦两大宗派法塔赫和哈马斯一致同意，由法塔赫领导人总统阿巴斯领导临时政府，并组织西岸和加沙地区的选举。自从两派2007年失和以来，法塔赫控制西岸，哈马斯控制加沙。伊斯兰总理内塔尼亚胡称，如果阿巴斯总统实施该协议，那他就放弃了和平路线。以色列视哈马斯为恐怖组织。

A British court has granted bail¹¹ to a radical¹² Muslim cleric alleged¹³ to have been a leading al-Qaeda figure in Europe. Last month, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Abu Qatada should not be deported¹⁴ to Jordan because of the risk that evidence obtained through torture would be used against him. Here's Rob Broomby.

英国法院准予保释一名穆斯林极端牧师，据悉此人曾是基地组织在欧洲的首领。上月，欧洲人权法院判定，不应将阿布·卡塔达驱逐至约旦，法院担心以拷打获得的证据会对他不利。Rob Broomby报道。

It is the latest episode in a saga¹⁵ of cat and mouse. The Islamist cleric Abu Qatada was first arrested in 2002 and held until 2005 when detentions¹⁷ without charge were overturned. He was monitored and re-arrested within months, pending¹⁸ deportation¹⁹, but that process has been slow. Now he's to be freed again in a matter of days. The Home Office disagreed with the decision saying that Abu Qatada was a dangerous man who posed a real threat to security and that he should remain in detention¹⁶.

这可是猫和老鼠故事的最新一集。2002年伊斯兰牧师阿布·卡塔达被捕，直到2005年因没有遭起诉而获释。而几个月后，他再次被监视并逮捕，等待被驱逐，但这个过程很缓慢。如今，几天后他将重获自由。英国内政部不同意该决定，称阿布·卡塔达是个危险人物，他会威胁安全，应继续拘留。

Brazil has awarded contracts worth billions of dollars to upgrade three of its main airports. The concessions²⁰ were awarded to major Brazilian companies in association with foreign contractors²¹ in an auction²² in Sao Paulo. Here's Paulo Cabral.

巴西以数十亿美元的价格拍卖三大主要机场以实现机场的更新改进，获得特许权的是一些与外国承包商有关联的巴西大公司，这次拍卖在圣保罗进行的。Paulo Cabral报道。

Public sector²³ trade unions protested on the streets of central Sao Paulo against the auction that privatised important airports after decades of state control. In addition to the payments to the government, the new operators have committed to investments in excess of $1bn to revamp and expand the airports in time for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

公共企业商会在圣保罗中心举行抗议反对拍卖，因为这将使国家控制几十年的重要机场私有化。新运行商除了付给政府资金外，还承诺增加10亿美元的投资，用于翻新并扩建机场，迎接2014年世界杯和2016年奥运会。

World News from the BBC

President Obama has signed an executive order tightening²⁴ sanctions on Iranian assets under US control. The Treasury²⁵ department said the new sanctions would affect the assets held in the US of all Iranian ministries²⁶ and state-owned companies and institutions, including the central bank that deals with Iran's vital oil revenues. The US has spearheaded efforts to try to force Iran to stop its nuclear programme.

奥巴马总统签署一项行政命令，要求加强对伊朗在美国的资产的制裁。财政部称，新的制裁措施将影响到伊朗各部和国有公司和机构在美国的资产，其中包括处理伊朗重要的石油收入的央行资产。美国抢在前面，设法强迫伊朗停止核项目。

The Italian government has taken emergency measures to conserve²⁷ gas supplies as bitterly cold weather grips the country. At least 24 people have died in the harsh conditions, and gas consumption has reached an all-time high. From Rome, Alan Johnston.

意大利政府采取紧急措施储藏天然气，以应对袭击本国的严寒天气。至少24人在寒冷中死亡，天然气消耗量也达到高峰。Alan Johnston在罗马报道。

Like so much of Europe, Italy has been enduring intense cold and heavy snowfall for days now. At the same time, Italy has received less gas imports from Russia than it wanted, so an emergency plan has now been activated²⁸. Some power stations will switch from gas to oil fuel, and some industrial customers will have their gas supplies cut. The aim is to protect domestic users from shortages.

跟欧洲大多数国家一样，几天来，意大利也在遭受酷寒和大雪的煎熬。而同时，意大利从俄罗斯进口的天然气，也比希望得到的要少，因此就采取紧急措施。一些发电厂将用石油燃料来代替天然气，一些工业用户的天然气供应也会减少。这一切都是为了保障本国用户的需求。

Pope Benedict has called for a profound renewal²⁹ at every level of the Catholic Church to help prevent child abuse. He said healing for victims must be of paramount³⁰ concern. The Pope's comments came in a statement to the first-ever Vatican conference on child abuse attended by Catholic leaders from over 100 countries. Some victim support groups have criticised the conference, calling it a PR stunt³¹.

教皇本尼迪克特呼吁从各层面深化天主教堂，帮助预防虐童事件的发生。他说最应该关注的是治愈受害者，教皇是在梵蒂冈首次虐童会议上发表此番言论的，这次大会有来自100多个国家的天主教领导人参加。一些受害者支持组织批评这次会议，称这不过是公关的噱头。

A gas explosion in the Pakistani city of Lahore has destroyed a three-storey factory, killing³² at least 10 women and three children. Rescuers fear many more may be trapped in the rubble³³ of the factory which made veterinary medicines. Officials say more than 60 workers were meant to be working in the building. Narrow streets have impeded³⁴ the use of heavy lifting equipment.

巴基斯坦拉合尔市发生煤气爆炸，毁掉一座三层楼的工厂，至少10名妇女和3名儿童丧生。救援者担心，还有更多人被困在这家制兽药的工厂的瓦砾中。官方称，原本有60多名工人想住这楼里。由于街道狭窄，无法使用举重设备。

1 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

2 mortars   

n.迫击炮( mortar的名词复数 )；砂浆；房产；研钵

参考例句：

• They could not move their heavy mortars over the swampy ground. 他们无法把重型迫击炮移过那片沼泽地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Where the hell are his mortars? 他有迫击炮吗？ 来自教父部分

3 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

4 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

7 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

8 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

9 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

10 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

11 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

12 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

13 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

14 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

16 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

17 detentions   

拘留( detention的名词复数 )； 扣押； 监禁； 放学后留校

参考例句：

• Teachers may assign detention tasks as they wish and some detentions have been actually dangerous. 老师可能随心所欲指派关禁闭的形式，有些禁闭事实上很危险。
• Intimidation, beatings and administrative detentions are often enough to prevent them from trying again. 恐吓，拷打和行政拘留足以阻止请愿者二次进京的脚步。

18 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

19 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

20 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

21 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

23 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。

24 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

25 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

26 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

27 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

28 activated   

adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

29 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

30 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

31 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

32 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

33 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

34 impeded   

阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Work on the building was impeded by severe weather. 楼房的施工因天气恶劣而停了下来。
• He was impeded in his work. 他的工作受阻。