英语听力精选进阶版 14298

BBC Learning English

Video Words in the News 

9 October 2013

Wedding saviours¹

Transcript²:

The lush surroundings of Yosemite National Park.

Joy and Adam saved for a year to hold their wedding here.

But the US government shutdown forced national parks to close, leaving their dream in tatters.

Thankfully, their story inspired strangers to step in and donate not only a new venue³, but also catering⁴, flowers and the cake.

So, the happy couple tied the knot after all.

Vocabulary:

lush

having a lot of green plants and trees

shutdown

an occasion when a machine or organisation⁵ stops working

in tatters

badly damaged or completely spoiled

donate

give money or goods to help an organisation or person

tied the knot

got married

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.

lush / shutdown / in tatters / donate / tied the knot

1.  With the Afghan economy __________, hunting and trading in birds offers a welcome source of income for many struggling Afghans. 

2.  Even the children dream of a better day. When they were asked to paint happy scenes on the bare walls of their school trailers, they drew _________ green landscapes with story-book houses that looked like Switzerland.

3.  All around the world, more and more people are _________ their time to take part in online volunteering projects. What motivates them to help strangers without expectation of money or even thanks?

4.  Leaders have gathered for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Bali, Indonesia, with the notable exception of US president Barack Obama.

He cancelled his trip owing to the partial US government _________.

5.  American actress Scarlett Johansson is engaged.

The 28-year-old Avengers star is set to _________ with independent advertising⁶ agency owner Romain Dauriac.

Answers:

1.  With the Afghan economy in tatters, hunting and trading in birds offers a welcome source of income for many struggling Afghans.

Source: Bird hunters 'emptying Afghan skies'     

2.  Even the children dream of a better day. When they were asked to paint happy scenes on the bare walls of their school trailers, they drew lush green landscapes with story-book houses that looked like Switzerland.

Source: Life in Zaatari - Jordan's vast camp for Syrian refugees

3.  All around the world, more and more people are donating their time to take part in online volunteering projects. What motivates them to help strangers without expectation of money or even thanks?

Source: Digital do-gooders: Why do we help strangers online?

4.  Leaders have gathered for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Bali, Indonesia, with the notable exception of US president Barack Obama.

He cancelled his trip owing to the partial US government shutdown.

Source: Does Barack Obama's absence at Apec summit matter?    

5.  American actress Scarlett Johansson is engaged.

The 28-year-old Avengers star is set to tie the knot with independent advertising agency owner Romain Dauriac.

Source: Scarlett Johansson gets engaged to Romain Dauriac   

1 saviours   

n.救助者( saviour的名词复数 )；救星；救世主；耶稣基督

参考例句：

• No saviours are on the ballot. 选举没有救世主。 来自互联网

2 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。

3 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

4 catering   

n. 给养

参考例句：

• Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
• Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？

5 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

6 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。