英语听力精选进阶版 9596

Coming up 

?radiation testing in Japan's playgrounds. 

?And the biggest sailing race in the world. 

First up -- it looks like the violence in the African country of Ivory Coast that we reported on yesterday -- could be coming to an end. A ceasefire's been announced after five days of very intense fighting in the capital. It's been a traumatic week for the ordinary people living there. Charities say they're seeing a lot of children badly affected¹. Laurent de Villier is working for Save the Children there, trying to help the kids with their ordeal: 

CLIP Many of them have been largely exposed to violence and severely² affected. They've heard gunshots and explosions, not just one day, two days but days and nights continuiously, some of them even eye witness lootings,killings and they were constantly asking themselves when and where the next bullet would fall. I couldreally read on their face that the memories are still alive. 

Next in Yemen -- another Middle Eastern country where people are protesting. There've been big anti government demonstrations³ trying to get rid of the President after thirty two years. Now America -- which in the past has been one of the president's allies -- is starting to hint it might be better all round if he steps down. 

There are new concerns now in Japan about the impact of the damaged nuclear plant. BBC Newsround's Ricki Boleto told us all about it: 

It's three weeks since the earthquake and tsunami⁴ off japan damaged the nuclear plant so badly it started leaking radiation. A big safe zone was set up around it to try to protect people. But now officials say they're going to start testing playgrounds at one and a half thousand school and nurseries outside the zone to measure radiation levels. They say children shouldn't be at risk but they need to make sure. 

England footballer Wayne Rooney's got to decide today whether to appeal against his two game ban. It was imposed for swearing at a television camera. The deadline's six o'clock -- so if you're listening on Wednesday you might know already! 

A 100 year old sea turtle living off the coast of Vietnam has been caught -- so it can get medical treatment. Vietnamese people see it as a national treasure -- there are only four of the giant turtles left in the world and this one's been seen with open sores on its body. Sadly vets⁵ think the injuries were caused by fishermens' hooks, pollution and rubbish. 

Now -- it's one of the toughest competitions on the planet. The Barcelona Race challenges men and women to sail around the world non-stop! Record breaking Brit Dee Cafarri is taking part with a mate -- they've been aboard for three months and with only twelve miles to go she's in sixth place. She told us on a satellite phone how she's getting on!: 

CLIP: I'm in the middle of the Atlantic on my way home and I'm twelve hundred miles from Gibraltar. Today is day ninety four, so we left new year's eve, before the parties and ninetyfour days at sea, it's a really long time, especially just in the company of each other. We've got on really well and we've probably got between ten and twelve days to to the finish line. 

And today's question is -- who's the youngest person to sail solo around the world??? Yesterday we asked you -- which countries share a border with India? Well there are five: Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. 

OK, that's all from the World News for Schools team. We're back tomorrow.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

4 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

5 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网