英语听力精选进阶版 6422（在线收听）

A new survey has confirmed that the number of regular drinkers of wine in France is in decline, and some traditionalists fear that the beverage seems to be losing its iconic role in France's cultural heritage.

In 1980, more than half of adults were consuming wine on a near-daily basis. Today, that figure has fallen to 17%. In 1965, the amount of wine consumed per head of population was 160 litres a year. In 2010, that had fallen to 57 litres.

According to the International Journal of Entrepreneurship, changes in French drinking habits are visible through successive generations. People in their 60s and 70s grew up seeing wine on the table at every meal. Those in their 40s and 50s see wine as an occasional indulgence. And members of the internet generation do not even start taking an interest in wine until their mid-20s. For them, wine is a product they need persuading is worth their money.

What worries people is the effect the change is having on the concept of French civilisation. They fear that time-honoured values, such as conviviality, tradition and appreciation of the good things in life, are on the way out.

Veteran observer of his nation's way of life, French writer Theodore Zeldin, thinks that a business-style culture has made inroads into France - the bane of all those who prefer to take the time to savour things.

"Companionship has been replaced by networking. Business means busy-ness, and in that way we are becoming like everywhere else," he says.

But Zeldin refuses to abandon hope. "The old French 'art of living' is still there. It's an ideal. It's a bit like the English gentleman. You don't often find an English gentleman, but the ideal is there and it informs society as a whole," he says.

And what survives is "the feeling you get in France that in human relations we need to do more than just conduct business. We have a duty to entertain, to converse. It's about taking your time. After all, that is one of the great things about wine. You can't swig it."

Quiz 测验

1. Which generation seems to be the least interested in wine?

The internet generation.

2. Which traditional values form part of French civilisation, according to the article?

Conviviality, tradition and appreciation of the good things in life.

3. Is this statement true or false? French people have a reputation for spending a long time chatting and drinking.

True.

4. Which expression means 'something that is on the verge of becoming unfashionable'?

On the way out.

5. Which verb means 'to drink something in large mouthfuls'?

To swig.

Glossary 词汇表

regular 经常的，定期的

in decline 正在减少

a traditionalist 一个因循守旧的人

iconic 标志性的

cultural heritage 文化遗产

drinking habit 饮酒习惯

generation 一代人

occasional 偶尔的

indulgence 放纵，嗜好

to take an interest 对某事产生兴趣

to persuade 使信服，劝说

civilisation 文明、文化

time-honoured values 由来已久的价值观

conviviality 高兴，欢宴

tradition 传统

on the way out 正在消失

to make inroads into (something) 侵袭某物

to savour 尽情享受，细细品尝

networking 社交

an ideal 理想，典范

to inform 渗透入，赋（特征或思想）于