英语听力精选进阶版 7121（在线收听）

Background：有史以来最大象棋对抗赛这周即将重新上演。加里·基莫维奇·卡斯帕罗夫将在西班牙巴伦西亚市对抗阿纳托里·卡尔波夫。25年前是这两位俄罗斯象棋大师首次对战争夺世界大师头衔，那场史诗般的比赛历时5个月之久。

The hair is greyer, the waistlines larger than when they first faced off in September 1984.

But like two heavyweight boxers coming out of retirement, the mere prospect of Kasparov versus Karpov has chess fans enthralled.

Exactly a quarter of a century ago the 21-year-old Gary Kasparov fought the reigning world champion, Anatoli Karpov, to a standstill in an epic series which, after five months and 48 games, was called off - without a clear winner.

The organisers said the contest had put the health of both players at risk. But in a rematch the following year, the young pretender triumphed, heralding a new era in world chess.

Now aged 46, Gary Kasparov has prepared for this rematch by training with one of today's teenage prodigies, while the 58-year-old Mr Karpov has ‘sparred’ with a computer and grandmasters, from a base on the Spanish coast.

The two giants of Soviet-era chess will turn back the clock in a series of 12 games played, this time, under strict time limits. The host city, Valencia, claims to be the birthplace of the modern game.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

waistlines 腰围 

faced off 对峙 

retirement 退休 

enthralled 迷惑 

reigning 在位的 

standstill 停顿 

called off 取消 

young pretender 年轻的挑战者 

triumphed 取得胜利 

heralding a new era 宣告一个新时代到来 

teenage prodigies 少年神童 

turn back the clock 让时光倒转、回复过去的情况 

strict time limits 严格的时间限制 

Soviet-era 苏联时代

Questions and Answers

1. When did the two grandmasters first face each other? 

They first played each other 25 years ago.

2. How long did their original match last? 

It continued for 5 months.

3. What was the result of their original game? 

That game had to be stopped because neither could gain a clear victory.

4. How will a stalemate be avoided this time? 

They will play games with clear time limits.