英语听力精选进阶版 14275

BBC Learning English

10 July 2013

Thai police fight the fat

Transcript¹:

Thailand's police force is in a battle to beat the bulge². 

It might not be the most rigorous training but these officers are trying their hardest. 

The fitness programme in Bangkok includes a daily workout and healthy eating. 

They have an extra incentive³: a prize worth $160 is up for grabs for the officer who loses the most weight.

Vocabulary:

to beat the bulge

to lose weight (especially around the stomach area)

rigorous

thorough and strict

workout

a session of physical exercise

incentive

something to encourage someone to do something

up for grabs

available for anyone to win

Exercise:

Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from news reports. 

Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.

to beat the bulge / rigorous / workout / incentive / up for grabs

1.  In his younger days, close associates often complained of the president's schedule, which began with a ________ in the gym or a game of squash.

2.  A Subway operator, Strathclyde Partnership⁴ for Transport (SPT), is marking the anniversary with giveaways. One year's free Subway travel will be __________, along with free ticket offers for 115 other Subway users.

3.  The army, the police, local politicians and the insurgents⁵ are all believed to make significant money from the rampant⁶ smuggling⁷ of everything from drugs, to people, to diesel⁸ fuel, in this border region. There seems little _________ to risk bold initiatives that might end the fighting.

4.  ____________ is for some a full-time⁹ preoccupation. The quest to reach the desired size and shape can seem never-ending. There are all manner of diets, exercises creams and massages¹⁰ on offer to try to make the job easier.

5.  Recruits needed to pass a __________ six-week training course before they could wear the coveted¹¹ Green Beret.

Answers:

1.  In his younger days, close associates often complained of the president's schedule, which began with a workout in the gym or a game of squash.

2.  A Subway operator, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), is marking the anniversary with giveaways. One year's free Subway travel will be up for grabs, along with free ticket offers for 115 other Subway users.

3.  The army, the police, local politicians and the insurgents are all believed to make significant money from the rampant smuggling of everything from drugs, to people, to diesel fuel, in this border region. There seems little incentive to risk bold initiatives that might end the fighting. 

4.  Beating the bulge is for some a full-time preoccupation. The quest to reach the desired size and shape can seem never-ending. There are all manner of diets, exercises creams and massages on offer to try to make the job easier.

5.  Recruits needed to pass a rigorous six-week training course before they could wear the coveted Green Beret.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 bulge   

n.突出，膨胀，激增；vt.突出，膨胀

参考例句：

• The apple made a bulge in his pocket.苹果把他口袋塞得鼓了起来。
• What's that awkward bulge in your pocket?你口袋里那块鼓鼓囊囊的东西是什么？

3 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 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

6 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

7 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

8 diesel   

n.柴油发动机，内燃机

参考例句：

• We experimented with diesel engines to drive the pumps.我们试着用柴油机来带动水泵。
• My tractor operates on diesel oil.我的那台拖拉机用柴油开动。

9 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

10 massages   

按摩，推拿( massage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At present the doctor is giving him daily massages to help restore the function of his limbs. 目前医生每天在给他按摩，帮助他恢复腿臂的功能。
• His father massages his nose and chin. 他爸爸揉了揉鼻子和下巴。

11 coveted   

adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》