英语听力精选进阶版 14511

BBC Learning English

Video Words in the News

6 August 2014

Corner shop or art gallery?

Transcript¹:

An old-fashioned corner shop in London… Look closely at the stock, though, and

you'll realise things are not quite what they seem.

Everything is made of felt – even this packet of frozen chips.

But the owner, Lucy Sparrow, isn't trying to stitch you up. She's an artist.

It took her seven months to create the 4,000 items on display.

Everything's for sale but one thing the shopkeeper's not cutting is the prices.

Vocabulary:

stock

all the things for sale in a shop

felt

type of soft fabric², usually made from wool

frozen

stored at a temperature below zero degrees Celsius³

to stitch you up

to deceive or trick you

shopkeeper

owner of a shop

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.

stock / felt / frozen / to stitch you up / shopkeeper

1. "Frustrated⁴, furious and helpless": this is how Ghulam Sakhi, a __________ in the western province of Herat, sums up his feelings.

"The market is empty," he says, standing⁵ amid bales of multi-coloured fabric in his shop.

2. A toy shop staffed by the same family for six generations is to close for the last time after more than 100 years. Simpsons Toy Shop in Stowmarket, Suffolk, was due to shut on Christmas Eve but has continued to trade to clear its remaining __________.

3. "I've worked in a very aggressive environment where people will __________ to further their own careers," he said.

4. "It's true scientifically that you do start to lose [some] nutrients⁶ as soon as the product is picked, but I don't think it's such a massive loss that you're not still getting those nutrients. It's still an incredibly healthy product to eat regardless of whether it's fresh or __________," says Barker.

5. Textile artist Martine Farrant was approached by trail co-ordinator Rosie Sandler to create the installation. The inspiration came from Top Gear presenter⁷ James May's plasticine garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

"The idea was that the entire garden would be made out of textiles, so fabric, __________, knitting, crochet⁸, whatever," said Martine.

Answers:

1. "Frustrated, furious and helpless": this is how Ghulam Sakhi, a shopkeeper in the western province of Herat, sums up his feelings.

"The market is empty," he says, standing amid bales of multi-coloured fabric in his shop.

2. A toy shop staffed by the same family for six generations is to close for the last time after more than 100 years. Simpsons Toy Shop in Stowmarket, Suffolk, was due to shut on Christmas Eve but has continued to trade to clear its remaining stock.

3. "I've worked in a very aggressive environment where people will stitch you up to further their own careers," he said.

4. "It's true scientifically that you do start to lose [some] nutrients as soon as the product is picked, but I don't think it's such a massive loss that you're not still getting those nutrients. It's still an incredibly healthy product to eat regardless of whether it's fresh or frozen," says Barker.

5. Textile artist Martine Farrant was approached by trail co-ordinator Rosie Sandler to create the installation. The inspiration came from Top Gear presenter James May's plasticine garden at the Chelsea Flower Show.

"The idea was that the entire garden would be made out of textiles, so fabric, felt, knitting, crochet, whatever," said Martine.

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 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

3 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

4 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

8 crochet   

n.钩针织物；v.用钩针编制

参考例句：

• That's a black crochet waistcoat.那是一件用钩针编织的黑色马甲。
• She offered to teach me to crochet rugs.她提出要教我钩织小地毯。