英语听力精选进阶版 9998

 

Initial results from Italy’s general elections suggest that there is no clear winner. From Rome, here is Gavin Hewitt.

 

意大利大选初步结果显示没有明确的获胜者。罗马，Gavin Hewitt报道。

 

After early results from the Italian election, the country appears to be heading for political deadlock¹. Whilst the center-left under Pier² Luigi Bersani seems to be heading for victory in the Lower House, Silvio Berlusconi and his allies are performing strongly in the Senate. It may get him influence but he won’t be returning to power. To complicate³ matters further, the protest movement led by the comedian⁴ Beppe Grillo is showing huge gains.

 

根 据意大利选举的早期结果，国家似乎即将陷入政治僵局。中左翼领导人博萨尼(Pier Luigi Bersani)将成为众议院领导人，贝鲁斯科尼(Silvio Berlusconi)及其联盟则在参议院占据优势。这将会增加他的影响力，但是不可能重掌政权。让形势更加复杂的是，由喜剧演员格里罗(Beppe Grillo)领导的抗议活动声势越来越浩大。

 

The French foreign minister Laurent Fabius has described images posted online of seven members of a French family kidnapped in Cameroon last week as shocking. The video which appeared on YouTube shows the family including four children surrounded by masked men who say they belong to the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram. Will Ross reports.

 

网络上公布了上周一个法国家庭的7名成员在喀麦隆被绑架的照片，法国外交部 长洛朗·法比尤斯(Laurent Fabius)称非常震惊。出现在YouTube上的视频显示，包括4名儿童在内的这个家庭被蒙面人包围，这些蒙面人宣称自己属于尼日利亚伊斯兰组织“博 科圣地”(Boko-Haram)。Will Ross报道。

 

In the three-and-a-half-minute video, one of the male hostages reads from a piece of paper and says the group that’s holding them is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, this is the official name for the Nigerian Islamist militant⁶ group popularly known as Boko Haram. The hostage says the group is calling for the release of its members detained in Cameroon and its women being held in Nigeria. The French news agency says a source closed to the kidnapped family has confirmed the video does show the seven French nationals taken hostage in Cameroon last Tuesday.

 

在这段三分半钟的视频中，一名男性人质照着一张纸宣读，说绑 架他们的是Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad，这是尼日利亚伊斯兰激进组织，众所周知的“博科圣地”(Boko-Haram)的官方名字。人质表示，该组织要求释放被拘留在喀麦隆 的组织成员和被拘留在尼日利亚的女性。法新社表示，与被绑架家庭相关的消息来源已经证实，视频确实显示，这7名法国公民于上周二在喀麦隆被绑架。

 

European Union agriculture ministers have called for more DNA⁵ testing of meat across Europe as yet another company was caught up in the selling of beef contaminated by horseflesh. Their announcement followed the recall by the Swedish retailer⁷ IKEA of its meatballs after tests showed traces of horsemeat in one batch⁸. From Brussels, Christian⁹ Fraser reports.

 

欧盟农业部长呼吁对整个欧洲范围的肉类进行更多DNA检测，因为又有一家公司被发现以马肉冒充牛肉。此前，检测显示一批次牛肉丸中含有马肉，瑞典零售商宜家召回全部牛肉丸。布鲁塞尔，Christian Fraser报道。

 

A great number of states are in favor of country or region labeling for process food. The commission agreed tonight to fasttrack by three months to report it was already preparing on the impact of such change. It will now be produced in the autumn. But they agree this is an issue of fraud. Any proved labeling while giving some confidence to the consumer won’t necessarily cure the problem. The common consensus¹⁰ is that tougher penalties are required. The chair of the meeting, the Irish agriculture minister Simon Coveney said it was widely accepted in the meeting that the newer technique of DNA testing of food should now be standard across Euro.

 

许 多国家支持国家或地区对加工食品提供标签。委员会今晚同意通过三个月的时间来适应这种改变带来的影响。相关措施将在秋季出台。但是他们赞同，这是欺诈行 为。任何经过证明的标签尽管可以给消费者带来一些信心，却不一定能够解决问题。各国达成共识，需要进行更加严厉的处罚。大会主席，爱尔兰农业部长西蒙·考 文尼(Simon Coveney)表示，更新的DNA食品检测技术应该欧元区范围成为标准。

 

The Syrian opposition¹¹ has said it will attend an international meeting in Rome later this week reversing an earlier decision to boycott¹² it. The leader of the Syrian National Coalition¹³ Mouaz al-Khatib said the change of heart came after the U.S. Secretary of State and the British foreign secretary promised specific help to ease the suffering of the Syrian people. Meanwhile, residents say there’s been a large explosion in the Syrian capital Damascus. The blast was followed by heavy gunfire in the eastern district of Al-Kaboun. It’s not clear what the target was.

 

叙利亚反对派表示，他们将参 加本周晚些时候在罗马举行的国际会议，推翻了早些时候抵制该会议的决定。叙利亚全国联盟主席穆瓦兹·哈提卜(Mouaz al-Khatib)表示，他们改变决定是由于美国国务卿和英国外交大臣承诺缓解叙利亚民众的苦难。同时，居民表示，叙利亚首都大马士革发生大规模爆炸。 此前，东部地区Al-Kaboun发生了激烈枪战。目前还不清楚袭击的具体目标。

 

At least 15 people have been killed in fighting between Christian and Muslim youth in Nigeria’s eastern Taraba state. The violence began after a quarrel during a football match in the town of Wukari which spread to neighbouring villages.

 

尼日利亚东部城市塔拉巴州基督徒和穆斯林年轻人之间发生冲突，造成至少15人死亡。暴力起因于武卡里一场足球比赛期间的争吵，随后蔓延至相邻村庄。

 

The most senior Roman Catholic cleric in Britain has resigned after allegations that he behaved inappropriately towards priests three decades ago. Cardinal¹⁴ Keith O’Brien said his resignation as the head of the Church in Scotland was immediate¹⁵. At the weekend, he said he would contest the allegations. James Robbins reports.

 

英国最高级罗马天主教神职人员辞职，他此前被指控三十年前对其他牧师有“不当行为”。红衣主教基思·奥布里安(Keith O'Brien)表示，他辞去苏格兰教区首牧的决定立即生效。周末，他表示，他将对指控进行辩驳。James Robbins报道。

 

These accusations¹⁶ of improper¹⁷ behavior bring the taint¹⁸ of scandal to the very heart of Catholic Church. Other cardinals¹⁹ have largely been accused of cover-up rather than direct personal involvement. The Vatican has been working particularly hard in these last days of Benedict’s pontificate to blame enemies of the Church accusing them of sensationalizing scandal to disrupt the coming election of his successor. But this blow has come from inside the Church itself.

 

不当行为的指控给天主教堂的核心蒙上了丑闻的耻辱。其他大部分红衣主教被指控隐瞒基思·奥布里安的罪行，而不是直接参与。教皇退位连日来，梵蒂冈一直努力谴责教堂的敌人，指控他们试图散播丑闻，破坏即将到来的教皇继任者选举。但是，这次的打击来自教堂内部。

 

An Italian prosecutor²⁰ has formally requested that the captain of cruise ship Costa Concordia which sank off the coast of Tuscan should face manslaughter charges. Thirty-two people died when the ship carrying more than 4,000 people ran aground on the Island of Giglio and partially²¹ sank. Prosecutors²² also want the captain Francesco Schettino to face charges of causing a shipwreck²³ and abandoning his ship.

 

意 大利检察官正式提出要求，在托斯卡纳岛海岸沉没的科斯塔·康科迪亚游轮船长应面临过失杀人指控。这艘搭载了4,000多人的游轮在吉格里奥岛触礁，部分沉 没，造成32人死亡。检控官还表示，船长斯凯蒂诺(Francesco Schettino)还应面临导致船只失事和弃船指控。

 

The President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto has passed into law sweeping²⁴ reforms of the country’s education system. For the first time, Mexico will have an independent body to oversee²⁵ teaching and the curriculum and teachers and schools will now be assessed.

 

墨西哥裴纳尼托(Enrique Pena Nieto)批准了对全国教育体系进行大规模改革的法律。墨西哥将首次拥有监管教育体系的独立机构，课程，教师和学校都将接受评估。

 

Finally almost half a million people have voted to name one of Pluto’s newly discovered moons Vulcan in a tribute to the classic sci-fi series Star Trek²⁶. Vulcan was the fictional²⁷ home planet of Mr. Spock who was second in command on the USS enterprise.

 

最后，接近50万人投票，将冥王星新发现的卫星命名为“火神”，纪念经典科幻小说系列《星际迷航》。“火神”是军舰副指挥Spock虚构的家园。

 

1 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

2 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

3 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。

4 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

5 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

6 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。

7 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

8 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。

9 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。

10 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

11 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。

12 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

13 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。

14 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

15 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

16 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

17 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

18 taint   

n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染

参考例句：

• Everything possible should be done to free them from the economic taint.应尽可能把他们从经济的腐蚀中解脱出来。
• Moral taint has spread among young people.道德的败坏在年轻人之间蔓延。

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 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

21 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

22 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

23 shipwreck   

n.船舶失事，海难

参考例句：

• He walked away from the shipwreck.他船难中平安地脱险了。
• The shipwreck was a harrowing experience.那次船难是一个惨痛的经历。

24 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

25 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

26 trek   

vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行

参考例句：

• We often go pony-trek in the summer.夏季我们经常骑马旅行。
• It took us the whole day to trek across the rocky terrain.我们花了一整天的时间艰难地穿过那片遍布岩石的地带。

27 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。