英语听力精选进阶版 16973

 

Business Matters: Shell's Brazil gamble in BG deal 9 April 15

Thu, 9 Apr 15

Shell's $70bn merger¹ with BG Group is one of the biggest deals of the year, but it could hit trouble over rights to key oil and gas fields in Brazil. Police in London reveal up to 70 safety deposit boxes were opened by thieves when they broke into a vault² in London's Hatton Garden jewellery quarter over the Easter weekend, stealing an estimated $300m worth of goods. So just how safe are safety deposit boxes? The University of Cape³ Town in South Africa removes a statue of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes from its campus after a month-long protest by students, who called it a symbol of institutional racism⁴. So we ask when, if ever, is it a good idea to get rid of statues of people who have gone out of favour? As the premier⁵ event in golf - the Masters at Augusta, Georgia - prepares to tee off, we ask why there won't be any Chinese players taking part and why China has such a fractious relationship with the game.

1 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

2 vault   

n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室

参考例句：

• The vault of this cathedral is very high.这座天主教堂的拱顶非常高。
• The old patrician was buried in the family vault.这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里。

3 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

4 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

5 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。