英语听力精选进阶版 14297

BBC Learning English

Video Words in the News 

2 October 2013

Pink power

Transcript¹:

You might think standing² out in the wild would work against you.

But for flamingos⁴, it's the pinker and older birds who seem to be the key individuals in the flock. 

That's the conclusion reached by researchers in Britain. They are trying to understand the animals in order to help them thrive in captivity⁵. 

Four of the six remaining species of flamingo³ are threatened with extinction⁶.

Many of their wetland habitats are being affected⁷ by mining.

Vocabulary:

standing out

being obvious and noticeable

flock

group of birds, sheep or goats

thrive

be successful, healthy or happy

extinction

complete disappearance⁸ of a particular species of animal or plant

wetland

area of land which is often covered with water

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.

standing out / flock / thrive / extinction / wetland

1.  Scottish Natural Heritage said the hot weather had helped wild raspberries and brambles __________ across the country. The fruits have grown particularly well across Tayside, especially in the fertile Strathmore valley.

2.  Scientists say there is an urgent need for more research on both __________ and dryland areas in the Andes to get a better sense of what will affect water supplies in a warming world.

3.  What is it that makes a good boss __________ from his or her corporate⁹ colleagues and rivals? Key attributes for a successful chief executive would include the ability to lead others, to see in advance what needs doing and to be passionate¹⁰ about problem-solving. 

4.  "If humans contributed to the mass __________ of big animals 12,000 years ago, this suggests that humans started to affect the environment at global scales before the dawn of agriculture," Dr Wolf observed.

5.  A man who says he has been attacked by seagulls three times and forced to run off in panic has called for the birds' nests to be removed. Keith Lee said he had been repeatedly targeted by a __________ of the gulls¹¹ whilst walking on a cycle path in Hull¹².

Answers:

1.  Scottish Natural Heritage said the hot weather had helped wild raspberries and brambles thrive across the country. The fruits have grown particularly well across Tayside, especially in the fertile Strathmore valley.

Source: Scottish summer boosts wild berry crop

2.  Scientists say there is an urgent need for more research on both wetland and dryland areas in the Andes to get a better sense of what will affect water supplies in a warming world.

Source: Andean water 'sponges' being squeezed by changing climate

3.  What is it that makes a good boss stand out from his or her corporate colleagues and rivals? Key attributes for a successful chief executive would include the ability to lead others, to see in advance what needs doing and to be passionate about problem-solving.

Source: Chief executives who stand out from the corporate crowd

4.  "If humans contributed to the mass extinction of big animals 12,000 years ago, this suggests that humans started to affect the environment at global scales before the dawn of agriculture," Dr Wolf observed.

Source: Big animal extinction 'severed¹³ nutrient¹⁴ arteries¹⁵'

5.  A man who says he has been attacked by seagulls three times and forced to run off in panic has called for the birds' nests to be removed. Keith Lee said he had been repeatedly targeted by a flock of the gulls whilst walking on a cycle path in Hull.

Source: Hull gull attacks victim: 'Most frightening experience'

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 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 flamingo   

n.红鹳，火烈鸟

参考例句：

• This is the only species of flamingo in the region,easily recognized by its pink plumage.这是那个地区唯一一种火烈鸟，很容易凭粉红色的羽毛辨认出来。
• In my family,I am flamingo in the flock of pigeons.在家里，我就像一只被困在鸽笼里的火烈鸟。

4 flamingos   

n.红鹳，火烈鸟（羽毛粉红、长颈的大涉禽）( flamingo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Flamingos stand in a salt lake in Larnaca, Cyprus. 塞浦路斯的拉纳卡市一个盐湖中的火烈鸟。 来自互联网
• The research started researchers studied greater flamingos and in a bird sanctuary in southern Spain. 研究人员在西班牙南部的一个鸟类保护区对大型火烈鸟进行研究。 来自互联网

5 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

6 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

7 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。

8 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

9 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

10 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

11 gulls   

n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A flock of sea gulls are hovering over the deck. 一群海鸥在甲板上空飞翔。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The gulls which haunted the outlying rocks in a prodigious number. 数不清的海鸥在遥远的岩石上栖息。 来自辞典例句

12 hull   

n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳

参考例句：

• The outer surface of ship's hull is very hard.船体的外表面非常坚硬。
• The boat's hull has been staved in by the tremendous seas.小船壳让巨浪打穿了。

13 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 nutrient   

adj.营养的，滋养的；n.营养物，营养品

参考例句：

• Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
• The roots transmit moisture and nutrient to the trunk and branches.根将水分和养料输送到干和枝。

15 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》