英语听力精选进阶版 14445

BBC Learning English 

Video Words in the News  

14 May 2014 

The active office

Transcript¹:

Not the gym, but the office.  

British researchers believe sedentary work can increase the risk of heart disease. 

They're trying to make people change their habits.  

Children are taking part in the experiment too. In this school, some pupils takelessons standing².  

Meetings might never be the same again. Next time you take a stand, why not do it standing up?

Vocabulary:

sedentary

sitting down most of the time; not doing much physical activity

heart disease

medical condition affecting the heart

habits

things people do regularly, often without much active thought

experiment

scientific test that is done in order to discover or confirm something

take a stand

express an firm opinion, often opposing the currently accepted view

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.

sedentary / heart disease / habits / experiment / take a stand

1. Living alone is linked to ________ that are bad for health. For example, eating poorly and having less motivation to be physically³ active can be a consequence of being physically isolated⁴.

2. "I get a sense of euphoria every time I stand up," she said. "When someone is sitting down the whole time not only does the spirit die but the body begins to die. We are not meant for a ________ life."

3. Though it is only a simple game, rock-paper-scissors is seen as a useful model for studying competitive behaviour in humans - in financial trading for example. A previous ________ found that players unconsciously mimic⁵ the actions of their opponents - a surprising result because advantage is usually gained by acting⁶ differently.

4. Many studies have sought to explain why there is a low incidence of________ in France, despite many of its inhabitants eating a high-fat diet. 

5. Union members have voted to ________ against the risks of wearing high heels in the workplace in favour of more "sensible shoes". Delegates at the TUC congress in Liverpool backed a motion requiring some employers to carry out risk assessments⁷ about workers' footwear.

Answers:

1. Living alone is linked to habits that are bad for health. For example, eating poorly and having less motivation to be physically active can be a consequence of being physically isolated.

2. "I get a sense of euphoria every time I stand up," she said. "When someone is sitting down the whole time not only does the spirit die but the body begins to die. We are not meant for a sedentary life."

3. Though it is only a simple game, rock-paper-scissors is seen as a useful model for studying competitive behaviour in humans - in financial trading for example. A previous experiment found that players unconsciously mimic the actions of their opponents - a surprising result because advantage is usually gained by acting differently.

4. Many studies have sought to explain why there is a low incidence of heart disease in France, despite many of its inhabitants eating a high-fat diet.

5. Union members have voted to take a stand against the risks of wearing high heels in the workplace in favour of more "sensible shoes". Delegates at the TUC congress in Liverpool backed a motion requiring some employers to 

carry out risk assessments about workers' footwear.

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 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

4 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

5 mimic   

v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人

参考例句：

• A parrot can mimic a person's voice.鹦鹉能学人的声音。
• He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another.他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 assessments   

n.评估( assessment的名词复数 )；评价；（应偿付金额的）估定；（为征税对财产所作的）估价

参考例句：

• He was shrewd in his personal assessments. 他总能对人作出精明的评价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Surveys show about two-thirds use such assessments, while half employ personality tests. 调查表明，约有三分之二的公司采用了这种测评；而一半的公司则采用工作人员个人品质测试。 来自百科语句