英语听力精选进阶版 6301（在线收听）

New Year is a time to peer into a crystal ball and tease out some of the stories that are likely to make the headlines in 2012.

Technology: The BBC's correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones says that one thing we can be sure of is that internet access will spread to the next billion users. And the most read stories are bound to be about the launch of the iPhone5 and the iPad3.

Science: The BBC News science team says that by the look of things the so-called 'God Particle' can't hide for much longer. The Large Hadron Collider re-starts in March and if experiments go well scientists could collect enough data to settle the question of whether it exists once and for all.

Business: The BBC's Economics expert Paul Mason explains that the Eurozone is still on tenterhooks. "Logic dictates it can only end one way, with the markets forcing the European Central Bank to act as lender of last resort." Many economists forecast recession in Europe.

Arts and Sports: The BBC's Arts correspondent Will Gompertz is looking forward to the London Olympics. He predicts that Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle (of Slumdog Millionaire fame) will run a great opening ceremony.

Whether all the above turns out to be true, we'll just have to wait and see… if we're still around to find out. 2012 is a good year for doom-mongers because the Mayan calendar will end on 21 December after 5,000 continuous years. However, new research into the Mayans suggests that this refers to the end of an era, and not the apocalypse. Phew! Happy New Year!

Quiz 小测验

1. What stories are likely to interest people most in the field of technology?

Stories about the launch of the iPhone5 and the iPad3.

2. What matter could be settled with the help of the Large Hadron Collider?

The existence of the so-called 'God Particle' (or the Higgs Boson).

3. Is this statement true, false or not given? Some countries are likely to be excluded from the Eurozone.

It's not given.

4. Look at the article. What expressions refer to the sense of vision?

To peer into a crystal ball, by the look of things, to look forward to, and to wait and see.

5. Look at the article. What word refers to the end of the world?

The apocalypse.

Glossary 词汇表

to peer into a crystal ball 窥探水晶球（预测未来）

to tease out 提取，摘选

one thing (we) can be sure of 有一件事可以确定

to be bound to be 肯定是...

by the look of things 从走势来看

once and for all 最后和彻底完成

on tenterhooks 惶恐不安

it can only end one way 只能以一种方式结束

forecast 预报

to look forward to 向往...

to predict 预测

to turn out 发生

to wait and see 拭目以待

doom-monger 末世论者

the end of an era 一个时代的结束

apocalypse 世界末日