英语听力精选进阶版 9659

Hi there, I'm Ricky from the BBC World News for Schools. It's Monday the 18th of July. 

Coming up: 

Britain's top policeman quits his job. 

We round up the weekend's footy highlights.

And Harry¹ Potter smashes box office records! 

First up, Britain's top policeman has quit his job. It's all to do with the scandal over journalists secretly listening to people's phone messages. Sir Paul Stevenson - who is the head of the London Metropolitan² police - was said to be too friendly with some of the reporters accused of hacking³ mobiles. Sir Paul says with the Olympics coming up it's important that he steps down now, rather than risk having to go closer to the games... 

CLIP: "Time is short before we face the enormous challenges of policing the Olympics. This not a time for on-going speculation⁴ about the security of position in the Commissioner⁵." 

It's not just the police that have been affected⁶ by the events of the last couple of weeks, Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron is also under pressure because of his close links to people caught up in the phone hacking scandal. 

Next up... 

CLIP: Choir⁷ singing...'Nelson Mandela...' 

Celebrations are taking place across South Africa today to mark the ninety-third birthday of the former president, Nelson Mandela. Children across the country will sing a special birthday song for Mandela - who is famous for leading the fight against a racist⁸ system of government called apartheid. People are being urged to do sixty-seven minutes of voluntary work to mark the sixty-seven years he spent struggling against apartheid. These kids had special birthday messages for the former leader... 

CLIP: "Happy Birthday Mandela." "Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela and have many more years to come with your family and eat lot of cake!" 

And for today's question we want to know what year Nelson Mandela became South Africa's leader? 

Footy round up now and what a result for Japan in the Women's World Cup. The national side became the first ever Asian team to take the prize, beating 2 time winners Germany. The other big footy story is that Manchester City has agreed to sell its captain Carlos Tevez to the Brazilian side, Corinthians. The Brazilians have paid around sixty-three million dollars for the player who has made no secret of his desire to move to South America to be closer to his family. SO good news for Tevez, but not such a great weekend for Brazil, they crashed out of the Copa America after Paraguay got the better of them on Sunday. But Venezuela will be celebrating after they reached the semi finals for the first time after beating Chile 2-1! 

Finally, we just have time to tell you that the new Harry Potter film has had the most successful opening weekend in US movie history. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two took more than a hundred and sixty eight million dollars at the box office. It beats the record held by Batman movie the Dark Knight⁹. 

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

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

3 hacking   

n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动

参考例句：

• The patient with emphysema is hacking all day. 这个肺气肿病人整天不断地干咳。
• We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle. 我们负责在丛林中开路。

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

6 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。

7 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

8 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

9 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。