英语听力—环球英语 1152 LMapping the World

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Rena Dam.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I’m Colin Lowther. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　For today’s Spotlight program you may want to be looking at a map of the world!

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“We were covered in dust. We were nearly breathless from the smell of gas. But finally I arrived in Xintang. I was three kilometres east of the confluence². As I was paying the driver, we started talking. When he learned³ of my goal, he offered to take me as far as he could to the confluence. It was just 400 metres away.”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　This quote⁴ comes from Targ Parsons. He shared this story on the website for the Degree Confluence Project. He is one person who is helping⁵ to make a special picture of the world. They are trying to take pictures of special points where the lines of longitude⁶ and latitude⁷ meet. These points are called degree confluence points. Today’s Spotlight is on the Degree Confluence Project.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　When you look at a map of the world, you may see many lines on it. These lines are imaginary⁸; they do not physically⁹ exist off of the map. The map shows that the lines circle the whole earth. The lines go up and down from the North Pole to the South Pole. They also go from East to West across the map. These lines intersect, or cross each other, many times. On the map, it looks like many different squares.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　These lines serve a very important purpose. They are used to show exact positions on the map. People can use these lines to know exactly where they are on the earth. This is especially important in places without landmarks¹⁰ - like in a boat on the ocean, or in the middle of a desert.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　There are two main lines on the map. They are the prime¹¹ meridian¹² and the equator¹³. The prime meridian separates¹⁴ the eastern and western hemispheres¹⁵ of the earth. It divides the east from the west. The equator separates the northern and southern hemispheres of the earth. It divides the north from the south.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And all of the other lines on a map follow either the prime meridian or the equator. The prime meridian and all the lines going north and south are called the lines of longitude. The equator and all the lines that go east and west are called the lines of latitude. The lines of longitude and latitude intersect or cross.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The point at which a line of longitude crosses a line of latitude is called a degree confluence point. Confluence means¹⁶ "a meeting place." Alex Jarrett has a special interest in degree confluence points. There are 64,442 of these points on the earth.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　When Alex was a young man he visited his first degree confluence point. He took a picture of it. He shared it on the internet. Then, other people began to share their pictures of degree confluence points. And, that is how Alex came up with his idea. Alex started the "Degree Confluence Project."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The goal of the project is to visit each of these special degree confluence points on land - and take a picture of it! It shows small pieces of what the whole world looks like. There are 16,146 points on land. The degree confluence points in the ocean are too hard to get to, so the project does not include those.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　No matter where you live there is a degree confluence point within 78 kilometres of you! Maybe you could help Alex to complete his project! Maybe you could take a picture of a point near you.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The Degree Confluence website shows all the pictures people have taken. People from all over the world have sent Alex pictures. So far there have been over eleven thousand successful visits to confluence points. And, people from 184 countries have been involved.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Confluence points are sometimes found in strange places. For example, one person found a point near a nuclear power plant. Other points are in large fields. Some are in deserts of sand. Some are in thick forests. Some of the pictures are very special and interesting. Others may not really look like anything at all! But Alex believes that when all the pictures are put together that we will see a very interesting look at the world.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　To be a part of the project you need a few things. You need a little time, a camera, a sense of adventure, and a special measuring tool called a global¹⁷ positioning system, or a GPS.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　A GPS measures a person’s exact position on earth. It uses satellites¹⁸ in the sky. The satellites send a signal¹⁹ to the GPS. The GPS then measures the signal in degrees. The latitude line gives the degree north or south of the equator. And the longitude line gives the degree to the east or west of the prime meridian. The latitude is usually given first.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　For example, I live in the state of Michigan in the United²⁰ States. Michigan has a total of 23 degree confluence points. The nearest degree confluence point to me is at 43 degrees north, 84 degrees west.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The Degree Confluence Project has some rules. They are listed on Alex’s website. Rule number one is that you must reach within one hundred metres of the degree confluence point. But reaching the exact point is desired. Doing this requires using a GPS tool.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Rule number two is that at least two pictures be taken from the point--one picture in two different directions. But taking four pictures of the north, south, east and west is even better.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Rule number three is that there needs to be a picture of the GPS. The picture should show the exact degree position of the GPS. This proves that you have found the exact position of the confluence point.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Rule number four is that you must share your story. Details about your visit to the degree confluence point should be included with your pictures.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Rule number five, all the information should be given to the Degree Confluence website. Alex wants everyone’s pictures to be together. That way he can combine all the pictures. And this will create a very special picture of the world.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The Degree Confluence Project shows the variety and beauty of the earth. It also shows that when people work together, they can create a very special picture of the world.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The writer of this program was Rebekah Schipper. The producer was Rena Dam. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes²¹ were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called ‘Mapping the World’.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 confluence   

n.汇合，聚集

参考例句：

• They built the city at the confluence of two rivers.他们建造了城市的汇合两条河流。
• The whole DV movements actually was a confluence of several trends.整个当时的DV运动，实际上是几股潮流的同谋。

3 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

4 quote   

n.引用语，语录；vt.引述，举证，报价；vi.引用

参考例句：

• I can quote what he said.我可以引用他的话。
• This is the best price I can quote you.这是我给你开出的最有利的价钱了。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 longitude   

n.经线，经度

参考例句：

• The city is at longitude 21°east.这个城市位于东经21度。
• He noted the latitude and longitude,then made a mark on the admiralty chart.他记下纬度和经度，然后在航海图上做了个标记。

7 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。

8 imaginary   

adj.想象中的，假想的，虚构的，幻想的；虚数的

参考例句：

• All the characters in this book are imaginary.此书中的所有人物都是虚构的。
• The boy's fears were only imaginary.这小孩的恐惧只是一种想象。

9 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

10 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

11 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

12 meridian   

adj.子午线的；全盛期的

参考例句：

• All places on the same meridian have the same longitude.在同一子午线上的地方都有相同的经度。
• He is now at the meridian of his intellectual power.他现在正值智力全盛期。

13 equator   

n.赤道，（平分球形物体的面的）圆

参考例句：

• Singapore is near the equator.新加坡位于赤道附近。
• The United States is north of the equator.美国位于赤道以北。

14 separates   

n.可搭配穿着的女服v.分开( separate的第三人称单数 )；（使）分离；区分；隔开

参考例句：

• A chasm separates my generation from my parents'. 分歧使我这一代人不同于我父母那一代。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Bering StraIt'separates Asia and America. 白令海峡隔开了亚洲和美洲。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 hemispheres   

n.半球( hemisphere的名词复数 )；地球的半球

参考例句：

• The human brain is divided vertically down the middle into two hemispheres. 人脑从中央垂直地分为两半球。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The equator divides the earth into two hemispheres. 赤道把地球划分成为两个半球。 来自辞典例句

16 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

17 global   

adj.全球的；球形的；世界的

参考例句：

• A global environmental meeting is going to be held here.一个全球环境会议将在这里举行。
• The report takes a global view of the company's problems.这份报告对公司的问题作了综合性的论述。

18 satellites   

n.卫星( satellite的名词复数 )；人造卫星；卫星国；附庸国

参考例句：

• Many countries have sent up man-made satellites to circle the earth. 许多国家已经发射人造卫星围绕地球运转。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 signal   

n.信号，暗号

参考例句：

• This is a signal failure.这是明显的失败。
• A train must not pass a signal that is at danger.火车切不可越过危险信号。

20 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

21 quotes   

v.引用，援引( quote的第三人称单数 )；报价；引述；为（股票、黄金或外汇）报价

参考例句：

• He quotes a few verses from Tennyson in his paper. 他在论文中引用了英国诗人丁尼生的几行诗句。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He quotes (from) the Bible to support his beliefs. 他引用圣经来支持自己的信念。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》