英语听力精选进阶版 7886（在线收听）

Rob: Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Hello I am Rob, welcome to the Christmas special from BBC Learning English.

Helen: Hold on Rob. It's only November. Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? 这才几月份儿？ 圣诞节还没到呢？

Rob: Well, maybe you are not feeling festive yet, but look around the streets of London. It's looking Christmassy already.

Helen: 这倒也是。现在伦敦已经充满了圣诞节的气氛，商店里的橱窗都挂上了闪烁的小灯串，还有雪花装饰。

Rob: It seems that Christmas is starting earlier and earlier every year.

Helen: 商场可是早早的就把圣诞装饰摆出来了，可是对人们来说什么时候比较适合准备圣诞呢？

Not until, preferably first of December, but not till after bonfire night.

Probably around Halloween I'd say.

I think beginning of December.

Usually about the 2nd or 3rd of December.

I was thinking about Christmas in June, that early? Yeah, I love Christmas.

Rob: Do you know when Bonfire night and Halloween is?

Helen: Bonfire night, 这是英国的烟花节，在11月5号.

Rob: And Halloween that's on the 31st of October. That's two months before Christmas.

Helen: 很多人是在12月初开始准备过圣诞节的。

Rob: We did have one young man who loved Christmas SO much, he started thinking about Christmas back in June.

Helen: June 六月份，提前6个月准备，真的是很早。不过真的有商店在6月份就开设了圣诞专柜。

Rob: I have to say that's WAY too early for me. What about you? When do you start Christmas plan?

Helen: Not till the last minute to be honest. 我是属于那种临时抱佛脚的人，肯定等到最后一刻再准备。And you?

Rob: Usually about the start of December, then I start to feel a bit festive. We also asked people what's their best Christmas.

Helen: 人们记忆中最美好的圣诞节是怎样的呢？你知道说一个人 alive and kicking 是什么意思吗？

My best Christmas was probably when I was a child, when I really believed in father Christmas, because he's still alive and still kicking.

Helen: 这位女士说她记忆中最美好的圣诞节是她小的时候，那时她还相信圣诞老人的存在。Alive 活着， kicking 踢腿，这两个词加在一起就是一个固定短语，形容谁还活着，而且精神饱满。

I have been very lucky, I have never had a bad Christmas, they were all with family.

I just love every Christmas where I am with my family and friends really. So every Christmas is different and just as good.

Rob: A good Christmas is really about being with your family and friends.

Helen: 是的，圣诞节是家庭团聚的时刻。几乎所有人都说最美好的圣诞时光是和家人一起度过的。

My best Christmas I would say was, when I was a child I suppose. When you believe in the Christmas spirit. It's much more fun, and the family makes an effort.

Rob: Well, I believed in Santa when I was little too, and I hope my children will appreciate all the presents from Santa this year.

Helen: 那么人们记忆中有没有最差的圣诞节呢？

My worst Christmas was probably when my house was flooded. So we had to make do with that Christmas, but we still made it fun.

And my worst Christmas is when I had pneumonia, I was very ill, so that was my worst Christmas.

When you lose a member of the family, it's very hard to celebrate, however we tried to keep the spirit up in their memory.

The worst Christmas was probably when I had to go to work, and I was in Johannesburg for Christmas.

Rob: It seems that even when things go wrong during the festival period, people will try to keep up with the holiday spirit.

Helen: 我们听到了有人在圣诞节期间家被水淹了, her house was flooded. 还有人生病卧床不起，得了肺炎 pneumonia. Poor thing!

Rob: Another man lost a member of his family and that made it very hard for them to celebrate Christmas.

Helen: 如果你家人去世了，这是最令人伤感的事情。不过这位先生虽然经历了这样的打击，他们全家也尽力庆祝圣诞节，怀念他们的亲人。

Rob: So Helen, what's your most memorable Christmas then?

Helen: 我记忆中最突出的一个圣诞节是16岁那年，我一个人在家。早中晚餐都是水果蛋糕，然后看了3天3夜的电视，也没有人来管我。I had complete freedom.

Rob: Sounds good. Would you repeat it again?

Helen: Probably never again. This year I shall spend it with my family.

Rob: Well, that sounds good, but there's plenty to organise, so don't leave it too late this year.

Helen: I'll try to be organised. 谢谢收听，我们下次节目再见。

Rob: Bye.

Helen: Bye.