英语听力精选进阶版 7964

This week’s question was sent to us by Jojo from Guangdong saying she had seen sentences with the phrases ‘six foot six’ and ‘five four’ in them. They were wondering what this meant and if it was a way to talk about height.

Jojo guessed correctly that this is a way to talk about height in the UK.

There are different measuring systems that exist in the UK. One is called the metric¹ system, which is the official system to use in public life such as in shops and on official forms. This uses metres, centimetres, kilometres, kilograms, litres.

However, an older more traditional system is called the imperial² system. It's a way of measuring things mainly related³ to nature or body parts so you could have a good idea of how long or deep things were by comparing them to distances on your body, or things you use in everyday life.

This system is still used unofficially by lots of people in the UK (and in other countries too). And even in public life for example, beer is still sold in pints⁴ (which is around half a litre) and road signs in Britain and cars still use miles rather than kilometres.

The way people talk about height in the UK is another example of this. The old imperial system had measurements⁵ of feet and inches.

1 inch = 2.5cm

1 foot = 12 inches (which is around 30.5cm)

Note that when using the word foot for measurements, the plural⁶ is feet and foot (unlike the body part foot, whose plural is always feet).

So if you ask someone how tall they are they might say: six foot, or six feet (1.83 metres). They might say they are six foot six, or six feet six (1.98 metres). This is a short way of saying six feet and six inches. An even shorter form you might hear is six six.

We hope that has helped you Jojo. Thank you for your question.

Glossary 词汇

guessed correctly 猜对了

measuring systems 度量系统

the metric system 公制计数法

in public life 日常公众生活

official forms 正式表格

metres 米 （复数形式）

centimetres 厘米（复数形式）

kilometres 千米，公里（复数形式）

kilograms 公斤（复数形式）

litres 公升（复数形式）

the imperial system 英制的度量衡制

related to 和…有关联

distances 距离（复数形式）

unofficially 非正式的

road signs 路标（复数形式）

miles 英里（复数形式）

1 metric   

adj.公制的，米制的，十进制的；n.度量标准，公制，米制，十进制

参考例句：

• In the metric system,measurements are made in metres and liters.在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。
• The metric system is fit to all of the world. 公制适用于全世界。

2 imperial   

adj.帝王的，至尊的；n.特等品

参考例句：

• They made an objection to the imperial system with resolution.他们坚决反对帝制。
• The Prince Imperial passed away last night.皇太子昨晚去世了。

3 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

4 pints   

n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒

参考例句：

• I drew off three pints of beer from the barrel. 我从酒桶里抽出三品脱啤酒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Two pints today, please. 今天请来两品脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 measurements   

n.量度( measurement的名词复数 )；测量；衡量；（量得的）尺寸

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first. 第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In the metric system, measurements are made in metres and liters. 在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 plural   

n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的

参考例句：

• Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
• Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。