英语听力精选进阶版 13317

Britain to ask UN for Olympic Truce¹

17 October 2011

As the host of the next Olympics, Britain will introduce in the United Nations a resolution calling for warring parties around the world to observe a truce during the Games. That's an ancient tradition established in the 9th century BC and revived in recent decades although one that remains² largely symbolic³.

Reporter:

Barbara Plett

Rehearsal⁴ for Lighting⁵ Ceremony of the Olympic Flame in Olympia,Greece 

Will wars stop for the Olympics?

Report

The Olympic Truce gave those participating in the ancient Greek games safe passage, and a peaceful environment in which to compete.

The tradition was revived in the early 1990s through UN resolutions. In practice this has had limited impact: you may recall that the Georgia war erupted on the eve of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Nevertheless British diplomats⁶ want at least a show of world peace. They're trying to get all UN member states to co-sponsor their resolution.

They've been soliciting⁷ support by fax and email from countries that don't have a UN mission, and on the spot from some ambassadors at diplomatic parties.

But they're still short two signatures: Syria and Iran.

As for peace during the Games, it seems unlikely that war in Afghanistan will stop. And when it comes to Libya, diplomats say they hope that conflict will have ended by the time the Olympics begin.

Barbara Plett, BBC News

1 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

4 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

5 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

6 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 soliciting   

v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求

参考例句：

• A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》