英语听力精选进阶版 8171

Pro-Russian activists¹ in eastern Ukraine have decidedto go ahead with a referendum on self-determination on Sunday, ignoring a call fromPresident Putin to postpone² it. Steve Rosenbergreports from Moscow.

“His proposal yesterday to postpone the referendum in eastern Ukraine appeared anadmission that just wasn't practical to organize the plebiscite in the short time remaining, andthat the Kremlin may be prepared now to come to terms with Kiev. Most analysts³ had expectedthe pro-Russia separatists to heed⁴ the president's call, they haven't. But Vladimir Putin couldturn that to his advantage, citing it as a proof that Russia is not orchestrating events acrossthe border as the West has claimed.

Ukrainian government says the proposed vote is illegal and what it calls anti-terroristoperations in eastern Ukraine will continue. Ukrainian border agency says armed men in easternUkraine have attempted to seize control of a border post at Esvarino. The agency said about40 armed men arrived in minivans at a crossing point in the Lugansk region on Thursdayevening, surrounding the post and calling on Ukrainian guards to lay down their weapons. Astatement said the gunmen threw petrol bombs, but fled when the border guards opened fire.There has been no independent confirmation⁵ of the incident.

The American Secretary of State, John Kerry has announced that an American specialist teamis joining the hunt in Nigeria to locate and free more than 200 schoolgirls abducted⁶ by Islamistmilitants. Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has acknowledged that the greatest threatfacing his country is terrorism, but he insisted it could be neutralized⁷ with international help.Earlier, Mr. Kerry's predecessor⁸, Hillary Clinton joined growing criticism of the Nigerianauthorities, saying they had to perform better. The government of Nigeria needs to get seriousabout protecting all of its citizens, and insuring that every child has the right and opportunityto go to school in security and safety. That is a fundamental responsibility of anygovernment. And Nigerians should hold their leaders accountable.

The United States has for the first time imposed sanctions on a Russian bank active in Syria aspart of efforts to step up economic pressure on the Syrian government. The move wasannounced as Syrian opposition⁹ leaders are on a visit to Washington to meet senioradministration officials. Barbara Plett Usher¹⁰ reports.

This is the first time America has sanctioned a Russian bank for its dealings with Damascus. TheUS Treasury¹¹ Department said this build on existing efforts to choke off the Syriangovernment's access to the international financial system. New sanctions were also imposed ontwo Syrian state refineries¹² and six senior officials. The announcement was made shortlybefore the head of the Syrian opposition Ahmad Al-Jarba met the US Secretary of State, JohnKerry, he is on his first official visit to Washington during which he is also expected to seePresident Barack Obama.

BBC News.

The Syrian government has retaken control of the old city of Homs, once known as the capitalof the revolution after the evacuation of rebel troops. Hundreds of fighters and trappedcivilians boarded buses to be taken to a rebel-held town north of the city to join nearly 1,000people who left on Wednesday.

South Africa's governing ANC has won an emphatic¹³ victory in the country's general election,extending its 20 years in power. With most votes counted, the party has about 64%. Itsclosest rival, the Democratic Alliance has more than 22%, a marked improvement on itsprevious showing. Andrew Harding reports from Johannesburg.

This election has proved to be about consolidation¹⁴. The governing ANC has shaken offcorruption scandals and an economic slump¹⁵ to hold on to almost 2/3 of all votes. It's likely touse that impressive mandate¹⁶ to try to drive through its national development plan, rejectingnationalization and emphasizing investment and infrastructure¹⁷. The business friendly plan hasalarmed South Africa's powerful unions, some of which may soon break away to form their ownparty.

China has warned Vietnam to withdraw its ships from disputed waters after vessels¹⁸ from thetwo sides collided during a tense confrontation¹⁹. A Foreign Ministry²⁰ official in Beijing saidVietnam had deployed²¹ six vessels and accused it of intentionally²² ramming²³ them into Chineseships. The Chinese statement came after Vietnam itself accused China of amassing²⁴ some 80vessels, including warships²⁵ in disputed waters. United States has appealed for calm.

The Brazilian authorities say a worker has been killed in an electrical accident at one of the threefootball stadiums yet to be completed for the World Cup, which starts inJune. The 32-year-oldman, who suffered a heart attack after an electric shock, was installing a telecommunicationsnetwork at the stadium in Cuiaba. He is the eighth worker to die on World Cup building sites inBrazil.

1 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》

2 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

7 neutralized   

v.使失效( neutralize的过去式和过去分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化

参考例句：

• Acidity in soil can be neutralized by spreading lime on it. 土壤的酸性可以通过在它上面撒石灰来中和。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This strategy effectively neutralized what the Conservatives had hoped would be a vote-winner. 这一策略有效地冲淡了保守党希望在选举中获胜的心态。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

9 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。

10 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

11 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。

12 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

13 emphatic   

adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的

参考例句：

• Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决，不容有任何人怀疑。
• He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。

14 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

15 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

16 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

17 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

18 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》

19 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

20 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

21 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

22 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

23 ramming   

n.打结炉底v.夯实（土等）( ram的现在分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输

参考例句：

• They are ramming earth down. 他们在夯实泥土。 来自辞典例句
• Father keeps ramming it down my throat that I should become a doctor. 父亲一直逼我当医生。 来自辞典例句

24 amassing   

v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The study of taxonomy must necessarily involve the amassing of an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants. 分类学研究一定要积累广博的植物知识。 来自辞典例句
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

25 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。