英语听力精选进阶版 9996

 

The main Syrian opposition¹ group says it won’t attend meetings in Washington, Moscow and Rome in protests at what it describes as the international communities’ silence over recent missile strikes on Aleppo. Here is Jim Muir.

 

叙利亚主要反对派组织抗议称不会参加在华盛顿、莫斯科和罗马的会议，称国际社区对阿勒颇最近遭受的导弹袭击不闻不问。Jim Muir报道。

 

Opposition leaders are clearly worried that the coalition² risks being discredited³ and getting dangerously out of touch with realities on the ground if it gets drawn⁴ into a diplomatic process which would involve compromising with the regime which shows no signs of readiness to step down. They are also enraged⁵ by the increasing use by the regime of Russian-supplied Scud⁶ missiles which have been hitting rebel-held parts of Aleppo recently with devastating⁷ results. There’s even a suspicion that Russian technicians may be firing them. Hence their reluctance⁸ to treat the Russians as honest brokers⁹ in political settlement efforts.

 

反对派领袖担心，如果进入外交程序，则不免与当局达成一定妥协，而该政权目前尚无立即下台的迹象，因此这会使该联盟有丧失信誉的风险，且失去与现实社会的联系，这是很危险的。最近当局越发使用俄罗斯提供的飞毛腿导弹来袭击阿勒颇的叛军占领区，造成严重破坏，这令反对派领袖们非常愤怒。他们甚至怀疑有俄罗斯技术人员对其开火，因此他们不愿意视以政治方式解决问题的俄罗斯为诚实的中间人。

 

Iran has said it’s selected 16 potential sites to build nuclear power plants. The country’s Atomic Energy Association also announced the discovery of significant deposits of raw uranium, tripling known national reserves. Analysts¹⁰ say the announcements could complicate¹¹ talks about Iran’s controversial nuclear programme due to start in Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

 

伊朗称挑选了16个可用来建造核电厂的地点，该国原子能协会还宣称发现了大量原始铀矿，存量是以前的三倍。原定于周二在哈萨克斯坦进行伊朗有争议的核项目进行对话，而分析家称该声明将使对话更加复杂。

 

President Holland of France has said that French troops leading the fight against Islamist insurgents¹² in Mali are in the final phase of driving them from their mountain hideouts. From Paris, Hugh Schofield reports.

 

法国总统奥朗德称领导与马里伊斯兰叛军作战的法国军队已进入最后阶段，即将把叛军从山区老窝赶出。休·斯科菲尔德在巴黎报道。

 

President Hollande said that French troops were now engaged in the fighting in the Ifoghas Mountains near the Algerian border. It was here that large numbers of what he called the terrorists had taken refuge. “This really is the last phase” he said "because it’s here that a concentrated the forces over Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the group which is believed to be holding several French hostages." The president also paid homage¹³ to Chadian forces who were engaged in heavy fighting in the same area on Friday as result of which some 65 Islamists and 13 Chadian soldiers were killed.

 

奥朗德总统称法国军队目前在阿尔及利亚边境附近的伊弗哈斯山区作战，那里是一大批所谓的恐怖分子的藏身处。“这确实是最后阶段，这里正是伊斯兰马格里布的基地组织的聚集地，据悉正是该组织劫持了数名法国人质。”总统还向周五在该地进行激烈战斗的乍得军队致敬，这次战斗中65名伊斯兰和13名乍得士兵身亡。

 

Three pro-Kurdish MPs in Turkey have visited Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdish militant¹⁴ organization the PKK in his island jail. On their return, the MPs said Mr. Ocalan has signaled that captives held by the PKK could be released as part of a peace process. The PKK and the Turkish government are reportedly close to a deal under which Turkish-Kurds would end their insurgency¹⁵ in exchange for greater minority rights.

 

土耳其三名亲库尔德议员看望了被囚禁在小岛监狱中的库尔德军事组织PKK的领袖阿卜杜拉·奥贾兰。他们回来后称奥贾兰表示，作为和平进程的一部分，被PKK逮捕的俘虏可以获释。据悉PKK和土耳其政府已达成协议，根据协议，土耳其库尔德人将结束叛军，交换条件是少数民族的权利。

 

A German government minister has suggested that food products containing horsemeat but wrongly labeled as beef could still be eaten. The development minister Dirk Niebel said they could be distributed to the poor. He said it would be irresponsible to throw away palatable¹⁶ and safe food. Mr. Niebel was responding to a continuing scandal in Europe with tests in one country after another detecting horsemeat in products labeled as beef.

 

德国一位部长称，那些误为标为牛肉的含马肉食品仍可食用。发展部长尼贝尔说这些食品可以发放给穷人，他说扔掉美味的安全食品是不负责的。欧洲目前的马肉丑闻仍在继续，各个国家都检测出有被标为牛肉的马肉食品。

 

Gun rights activists¹⁷ in the United States are holding what they are calling a day of resistance to protest against President Obama’s planned gun reforms. The Sandy Hook School shooting last year which left twenty children and six teachers dead led to renewed calls for tougher restrictions¹⁸ on gun use.

 

美国枪支权利活动家举行一天抗议活动，抗议总统奥巴马计划中的枪支改革。去年桑迪霍克小学的枪击案导致20名儿童和6名教师身亡，并使得美国呼吁加强枪支使用限制的呼声再次响起。

 

World News from the BBC

As Pope Benedict prepares to step down, the Vatican has criticized what it called news reports aimed at influencing the cardinals¹⁹ who will choose his successor. The Vatican said while superpowers had tried to influence the selection in the past, today there was an attempt to apply the weight of public opinion. David Willey reports from Rome.

 

就在本尼迪克教皇即将辞职之际，梵蒂冈批评新闻报道试图影响负责选择继任者的红衣主教团。梵蒂冈称以前超级大国试图影响教皇的选任，如今它们试图利用公众舆论来影响这一过程。大卫·维利在罗马报道。

 

In past centuries, it was European kings and emperors who were accused of trying to influence papal elections, now it’s the media and particularly the Italian media. That’s the Vatican view, expressed in unusually forceful language. There is anger inside Pope Benedict’s domain²⁰ about what the official Vatican spokesman called slanderous²¹ reports and unverified news stories alleging²² corruption²³, intrigue²⁴ and even blackmail²⁵ inside the Roman Curia.

 

过去几个世纪中，据悉欧洲国王和皇帝们试图左右教皇的选举，如今是媒体尤其是意大利媒体试图来影响该程序。梵蒂冈正是这么看待这一现象的，并用强有力的语言表达这个看法，这是非同寻常的。梵蒂冈官方发言人称诽谤报道和未经证实的新闻故事称天主教教廷内部存在腐败、阴谋甚至敲诈，这令本尼迪克教皇非常愤怒。

 

The Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has changed the opening date of parliamentary elections just days after he announced it. A statement said the change was in response to Coptic Christians²⁷ who’d expressed concern that the original date coincided with their Easter holiday. Here is Sebastian Usher²⁸.

 

埃及总统穆罕默德·穆尔西几天前刚宣布了议会选举的开始日期，如今又改变日期。有声明称这是因为科普特基督徒担心最初的日子与复活节相冲突，Sebastian Usher报道。

 

President Morsi’s spokesman said the date was shifted from April 27th to April 22nd to ensure that everyone in Egypt can vote. Leaders of Coptic Christian²⁶ minority had warned that starting the election during their Easter holiday could reduce their participation²⁹. Many Copts feel increasing pressure within Islamist president and the Muslim Brotherhood³⁰ for dominant³¹ political power. The uncertainty³² over the election date has already been seen by the wider Egyptian opposition as a new political misstep by Mr. Morsi.

 

总统穆尔西的发言人称选举日期从4月27日改为22日，以确保每位埃及人都能参加投票。科普特基督教少数派领袖警告说，在复活节开始选举会减少参加投票的人数。由于伊斯兰总统和穆斯林兄弟组织是占主导的政治力量，许多科普特人感到压力日益加大。在埃及广大反对派看来，埃及广大反对派认为选举日的不确定是穆尔西最近犯的政治过失。

 

There are reports that an artwork by the renowned³³ graffiti artist Banksy due to be auctioned³⁴ in Miami has been withdrawn³⁵ from sale after an opening bid. It was removed from a shop wall in London last week and expected to fetch more than half a million dollars. Residents of the area from where the artwork was taken had been trying to block the sale saying it belonged to them. The local authority Haringey council is investigating how it was removed.

据悉，原定在迈阿密拍卖的著名涂鸦艺术家班克斯的作品在开标后停止销售，这部作品是上周被从伦敦一家店铺的墙上取下的，预料价值在50万美元以上。涂鸦原所在地区的居民试图阻止竞拍，称这幅作品属于他们自己。哈林盖区当局正在调查这幅作品是如何被取下的。

 

1 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。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 discredited   

不足信的，不名誉的

参考例句：

• The reactionary authorities are between two fires and have been discredited. 反动当局弄得进退维谷，不得人心。
• Her honour was discredited in the newspapers. 她的名声被报纸败坏了。

4 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

5 enraged   

使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤

参考例句：

• I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令，我极为恼火。
• The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。

6 scud   

n.疾行；v.疾行

参考例句：

• The helpers came in a scud.救援者飞奔而来。
• Rabbits scud across the turf.兔子飞快地穿过草地。

7 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

8 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

9 brokers   

n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• The firm in question was Alsbery & Co., whiskey brokers. 那家公司叫阿尔斯伯里公司，经销威士忌。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• From time to time a telephone would ring in the brokers' offices. 那两排经纪人房间里不时响着叮令的电话。 来自子夜部分

10 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。

11 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

12 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

13 homage   

n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬

参考例句：

• We pay homage to the genius of Shakespeare.我们对莎士比亚的天才表示敬仰。
• The soldiers swore to pay their homage to the Queen.士兵们宣誓效忠于女王陛下。

14 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

15 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

16 palatable   

adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的

参考例句：

• The truth is not always very palatable.事实真相并非尽如人意。
• This wine is palatable and not very expensive.这种酒味道不错，价钱也不算贵。

17 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》

18 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

19 cardinals   

红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数

参考例句：

• cardinals in scarlet robes 身披红袍的枢机主教
• A conclave of cardinals was held to elect the new Pope. 红衣主教团举行了秘密会议来选举新教皇。

20 domain   

n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围

参考例句：

• This information should be in the public domain.这一消息应该为公众所知。
• This question comes into the domain of philosophy.这一问题属于哲学范畴。

21 slanderous   

adj.诽谤的，中伤的

参考例句：

• A man of moral integrity does not fear any slanderous attack.人正不怕影子斜。
• No one believes your slanderous talk anyway!不管你怎么说，也没有人听信你这谗言！

22 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

23 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

24 intrigue   

vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋

参考例句：

• Court officials will intrigue against the royal family.法院官员将密谋反对皇室。
• The royal palace was filled with intrigue.皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。

25 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

26 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

27 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

28 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。

29 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

30 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

31 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

32 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

33 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

34 auctioned   

v.拍卖( auction的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It was sad to see all grandmother's lovely things being auctioned off. 眼看着祖母那些可爱的东西全都被拍卖掉，心里真不好受。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

35 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。