英语听力精选进阶版 9649

Hi there, I'm Leah from BBC World News for Schools. It's Friday the 1st of July. 

Coming up: 

?Canada gives a royal welcome to William and Kate, 

?The mystery around Venezuela's President is revealed 

?And China opens the world's longest sea bridge! 

But first thousands of cheering fans lined the streets to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - better known as Prince William and Kate - on their trip to Canada. They'll spend 9 days there on their first official overseas trip. They've got lots to pack in - celebrating Canada's national day, racing¹ dragon boats, opening a rodeo show and even taking part in a cooking class. William spoke² to a very excited crowd in the capital city Ottawa, talking in both English and French, the other language spoken there... 

CLIP³:"(In French) We begin today our first official tour together. We will be accompanied by the great family of Canadians. (In English) It will improve as we go on!" 

Canada's an important place for the royal pair - it's a Commonwealth⁴ country, and one day they'll become its King and Queen. 

To another royal couple now, and the place they live in might be tiny, but the celebrations are going to be huge. Prince Albert of Monaco marries a former Olympic swimmer this weekend. Monaco is a small state, just 2 kilometres square, on the south coast of France. It's famous for its rich residents⁵ and the Monaco Grand Prix. Crowds are gathered there too, to try and catch a glimpse⁶ of the Prince, and his bride, South African Charlene Wittstock... 

CLIP:'' They're a beautiful couple together. It's beautiful. They are great together, it's all a great pleasure to see." 

Staying in Europe, yesterday we asked you how many tennis Grand Slam⁷ singles titles has Swiss star Roger Federer won? 

And the answer is... 

A massive⁸ 16! 

Over to Venezuela in South America and the mystery around the country's President, Hugo Chavez. Three weeks ago he went to nearby Cuba for an operation, but didn't return. Many people were worried he was seriously ill. But he's now explained all. He'd been recovering after a second operation, this time to remove a cancerous tumour⁹. He's still having treatment though, and didn't say when he'd return to Venezuela. People there are hoping he'll be back by Tuesday, when the country celebrates 200 years of independence. 

To Australia now and people in Sydney are being offered money to move out to rural¹⁰ areas. It's to try and ease¹¹ over-crowding in the city, where almost a quarter of the population live. They'll get $7,500 if they choose to go. 

Finally China has opened the world's longest sea bridge. It's a whopping 42 km long - 4 km longer than the previous record holder¹², a bridge in America. But it wasn't cheap - its said to have cost over $1.5 billion and took four years to build. The bridge is open to drivers and is expected to carry more than 30,000 cars a day. 

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

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 clip   

n.夹子，别针，弹夹，片断；vt.夹住，修剪

参考例句：

• May I clip out the report on my performance?我能把报道我的文章剪下来吗？
• She fastened the papers together with a paper clip.她用曲别针把文件别在一起。

4 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

5 residents   

n.居民( resident的名词复数 )；（旅馆的）住宿者

参考例句：

• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。
• Local residents have reacted angrily to the news. 当地居民对这一消息表示愤怒。

6 glimpse   

vt.瞥见；n.一瞥，一看

参考例句：

• One glimpse at himself in the mirror was enough.让他照着镜子看自己一眼就够了。
• She catches a glimpse of a car in the distance.她一眼就瞥见了远处的汽车。

7 slam   

v.猛力地推、放或扔；砰地关上

参考例句：

• They were surprised by the slam of a car door.关汽车门时发出的声音使他们很吃惊。
• Why should you slam the window?你干吗要使劲关窗户呢？

8 massive   

adj.巨大的，大规模的，大量的，大范围的

参考例句：

• A massive sea search has failed to find any survivors.经过大规模的海上搜救仍未找到幸存者。
• He drank a massive amount of alcohol.他喝了大量的烈酒。

9 tumour   

n.(tumor)(肿)瘤，肿块

参考例句：

• The surgeons operated on her for a tumour.外科医生为她施行了肿瘤切除手术。
• The tumour constricts the nerves.肿瘤压迫神经。

10 rural   

adj.乡下的，田园的，乡村风味的

参考例句：

• He lived a rural life.他过着田园生活。
• We left the city for a rural home.我们离开城市，去农村安家。

11 ease   

n. 安乐,安逸,悠闲; v. 使...安乐,使...安心,减轻,放松

参考例句：

• His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
• You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。

12 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。