英语听力精选进阶版 19572

Pie in the sky 难以实现的美梦

Li: I'm so happy you invited me to come to the woods to do some bird-watching with you, Finn.

Finn: I'm glad you came along, Li. It's a very British hobby. We love nature and the different species¹ of birds. That one, for example, is a swallow.

Li: Oh. Pass me the binoculars² please.

Finn: Can you see how beautiful it is?

Li: Oh, I can see it clearly. It's tiny. It must be a young one. It's good that the mayor has promised to preserve these woods, Finn. 

Finn: I wish they would stop building shopping centres everywhere. But preserving all these areas is pie in the sky, Li. 

Li: Pie in the sky? Where? These binoculars are good but I can't see any pie! 

Finn: No, there is no actual pie up there, Li. In English, we use the expression 'pie in the sky' to talk about something good that we would like to happen but which is unlikely to. 

Li: 听上去呀，英语里的 pie in the sky 很类似汉语里的天上的馅儿饼，指那些虚幻的美景，那些难以实现的梦想。So you think the idea of preserving these woods is good but they might end up building a shopping centre here? 

Finn: Exactly. Unfortunately, I think these businesses are too powerful. 

Li: Let's not lose hope, Finn.

Finn: Well, 'pie in the sky' is the expression in this edition of Authentic³ Real English. Now let's hear some examples of how it's used.

When my bank manager says the stock market is sure to recover by the end of the year, that's clearly pie in the sky.

Mary's plans to live a life of luxury are just pie in the sky. She doesn't have much money.

Li: Well, I must admit that the idea of pie has made me hungry. 

Finn: Yeah, I'm hungry too. Let's go back to town and find a place where they serve tasty pies. 

Li: Yes! I love cherry pie! Bye bye little birdies! 

Finn: Yum yum! Bye.

1 species   

n.物种，种群

参考例句：

• Are we the only thinking species in the whole of creation?我们是万物中惟一有思想的物种吗？
• This species of bird now exists only in Africa.这种鸟现在只存在于非洲。

2 binoculars   

n.双筒望远镜

参考例句：

• He watched the play through his binoculars.他用双筒望远镜看戏。
• If I had binoculars,I could see that comet clearly.如果我有望远镜，我就可以清楚地看见那颗彗星。

3 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。