英语听力精选进阶版 6179（在线收听）

Asia is Plunged into Darkness: 亚洲陷入黑暗

Across Asia many people have just witnessed the natural wonder that is a total solar eclipse.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth align in such a way that our view of the Sun is totally obscured by the Moon.

This week's total eclipse could be seen in eastern India before slowly moving across Burma, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Japan, and the Pacific Ocean.

Yesterday, when it reached eastern China, people flocked into the streets to witness the astronomical wonder.

As daylight disappeared and the sky quickly darkened, those watching were left far from disappointed. Cities such as Shanghai were plunged into darkness during what is thought to be the longest total eclipse of the 21st century. It lasted 6 minutes and 39 seconds.

Total solar eclipses of such a long duration are very rare events, they happen but once in a lifetime. Shao Zhenyi, an astronomer at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory in China explained:

"We'll have to wait a few hundred years for another opportunity to observe a solar eclipse that lasts this long, so it's a very special opportunity."

But while millions celebrate this phenomenon, it should be remembered that total eclipses have not always been such treasured events.

Many cultures traditionally believed that a total eclipse was a bad omen or a supernatural event. Some believed that evil gods were eating the Sun. Others believed that the eclipse signified oncoming disasters.

Nowadays it appears that these fears and superstitions are long forgotten. As daylight once again flooded Asian cities such as Shanghai, whoops and cheers could be heard among the gathered crowds.

Reflecting on what had just happened, one Shanghai resident described the eclipse as "eerie", whilst another said "It's like magic, the day turns into night in such a short period of time. I have no idea where I am right now. It feels like a different world."

GLOSSARY 词汇表

natural wonder 自然奇观

total solar eclipse 日全食

obscured 遮盖，遮掩

flocked 涌入

astronomical 天文的

far from disappointed 没有觉得失望

plunged into darkness 陷入黑暗

rare 罕见的

but once in a lifetime 一生一次，形容千载难逢的机会

astronomer 天文学家

observatory 天文台

phenomenon 现象，奇迹

bad omen 凶兆

supernatural 超自然的

evil 邪恶的

oncoming 即将来临的

fears and superstitions 恐惧和迷信

(daylight) flooded 日光照亮了

whoops and cheers 起哄和欢呼声

eerie 怪诞的，奇异的