英语听力精选进阶版 6071（在线收听）

One of the UK's top young female vocalists has cancelled a series of high-profile European concerts following a short stay in hospital after suffering "severe exhaustion".

Smokey-voiced jazz and soul singer Amy Winehouse has backed out of a number of dates, including two concerts supporting veteran UK rockers The Rolling Stones.

Fears are growing for the health of the 23-year-old singer who has cancelled a number of live performances already this summer citing "exhaustion", a word often used by publicists to mask more serious problems.

The pressures of fame may be taking their toll on Amy who has frequently appeared in newspapers and celebrity magazines clearly the worse for wear.

The award-winning jazz star has admitted to battling anorexia and bulimia in the past and has appeared to be drunk while participating in television shows.

Amy herself has cited perfectionism as one reason for some of her recent cancellations.

She said: "I know it's last-minute and a bit irresponsible. But I'm a perfectionist and would rather reschedule a show than do it half-heartedly."

Amy is not the UK's only new female star who is becoming as famous for her party lifestyle as her music.

Other young artists like Lily Allen and Joss Stone have also cancelled concerts and been portrayed behaving erratically in the media.

Lily however has a doctor's note to prove her illness – she posted the note on her blog along with an entry saying she was now "back in London eating my mum’s chicken soup".

GLOSSARY 词汇表

female vocalists 女歌唱家

severe exhaustion 筋疲力尽

smokey-voiced 嘶哑低沉的声音

backed out of 退出；谢绝

dates 日期

citing 措辞

publicists 新闻发布人士

mask 面具

pressures of fame 成名的压力

taking their toll 付出其代价 

the worse for wear 穿得破旧不堪，（喻）精疲力尽/醉醺醺的

anorexia 厌食症 

bulimia 贪食症

perfectionism 完美主义者 

last-minute 最后一刻

half-heartedly 半心半意地 

party lifestyle 派对生活方式

behaving erratically 怪僻/反常的表现 

doctor's note 医生证明

blog 博客