英语听力精选进阶版 6279（在线收听）

Starting with the lines "General weather probable in the next two days," a short piece in The Times newspaper of London in 1861 started forecasting as we know it today.

It was put together by Robert FitzRoy, a captain in the Royal Navy and a pioneer in the field of meteorology, who led the department which later became the Met Office.

In the 150 years since then, the unreliable art has gone through many different styles, but one thing has remained constant: ridicule for weathermen when they get it wrong. Poor FitzRoy became the butt of jokes when his predictions were incorrect and his daily forecasts soon stopped.

However, by popular demand, they returned a few years later. The first BBC radio weather bulletin was in 1922 but it wasn't until 1949 that forecasts made it onto TV.

Unlike modern weather forecasts with high-tech graphics and chroma key technology, the presenter used just a map and a pencil to show what the weather would be doing tomorrow.

It goes without saying that weather forecasting is far more important than simply letting people know whether to take waterproofs and an umbrella out with them. Early-warning systems which predict extreme weather such as hurricanes and cyclones have saved countless lives.

Come rain or shine, weather forecasts will probably be here for at least another 150 years. After all, what would the British talk about without them?

Quiz 小测验

1. Was the first forecast put together by a sailor? 

Yes. It was put together by Robert FitzRoy, a captain in the Royal Navy.

2. Were the forecasts a success from the start? 

No. Poor FitzRoy became the butt of jokes when his predictions were incorrect and his daily forecasts soon stopped.

3. Did people want the forecasts to return after they finished? 

Yes. By popular demand they returned a few years later.

4. Was the first TV weather bulletin technologically advanced? 

No. the presenter used just a map and a pencil to show what the weather would be doing tomorrow.

5. What expression used in the article means 'whatever happens'? 

Come rain or shine.

Glossary 词汇表

forecasting 预报 

meteorology 气象学 

Met Office 气象局 

weathermen 气象预报员 

bulletin 简报 

high-tech graphics 高技术图像 

chroma key technology 色键技术 

waterproofs 防水的 

early-warning systems 早期预告系统 

hurricanes 飓风 

cyclones 旋风/飓风 

come rain or shine 不论下雨还是晴天