Listen this way听力教程第三册-9

（单词翻译）

　　Listen this way听力教程第三册09
part i Getting ready
Are you ready for the trip to the museum in "The Big Apple"? I can hardly wait.
B: "The Big Apple"? What are you talking about?
A: "The Big Apple" is the nickname for New York City. You are going to New York with us, aren't you?
B: Yes, I'm going. I'm especially looking forward to seeing the Museum of Modern Art. There's a special show of 20th century American painters there. But, tell me, where did the nickname "The Big Apple" come from?
A: The jazz musicians of the 1920's are responsible for the name. When they played a concert in a city, they called that city an apple. Of course New York was the biggest city in the country and best place for a jazz concert. So the musicians called it "The Big Apple".
B: Amazing! New York is such a fascinating place and it even has an interesting nickname, one that it's had for more than 50 years.
For 94 years, Times Square has been the center of worldwide attention on New Year's Eve, beginning in 1904 when the owners of One Times Square began conducting rooftop celebrations to usher² in the New Year. Since 1907, the year of the first Ball Lowering celebration, this tradition — initiated³ by The New York Times — has maintained its purity. The Ball Lowering ritual has become the universal symbol of welcoming the New Year, attracting over 500 000 people to Times Square each year and more than 300 million television viewers worldwide. In 1996, 85% of the people in Times Square on New Year's Eve were from outside New York City, including 23% who were foreign visitors. And 35% of the audience were repeat revelers.
The New Year's Eve Ball, made of aluminum⁴ and weighing more than 500 pounds, is a full six feet in diameter. It is owned by and housed year-round in One Times Square, the building upon which the Ball is lowered. On New Year's Eve, it descends⁶ on a 77-foot flagpole at 11:59 p.m. and reaches its destination at exactly 12:00 midnight when the numerals of the New Year are lit.
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第一部分
1-4 FTFF
For 94 years, Times Square has been the center of worldwide attention on New Year's Eve, beginning in 1904 when the owners of One Times Square began conducting rooftop celebrations to usher in the New Year. Since 1907, the year of the first Ball Lowering celebration, this tradition — initiated by The New York Times — has maintained its purity. The Ball Lowering ritual has become the universal symbol of welcoming the New Year, attracting over 500 000 people to Times Square each year and more than 300 million television viewers worldwide. In 1996, 85% of the people in Times Square on New Year's Eve were from outside New York City, including 23% who were foreign visitors. And 35% of the audience were repeat revelers.
The New Year's Eve Ball, made of aluminum and weighing more than 500 pounds, is a full six feet in diameter. It is owned by and housed year — round in One Times Square, the building upon which the Ball is lowered. On New Year's Eve, it descends on a 77-foot flagpole at 11:59 p.m. and reaches its destination at exactly 12:00 midnight when the numerals of the New Year are lit.
第二部分
Event: testing the electric sphere
Purpose: making sure the ball takes exactly 60 seconds to descend⁵
Information about the ball: 227 kilograms, 2 meters
Time: the day before the New Year's Eve
Place: the roof of a skyscraper⁷, right in the middle of New York's Times Square
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1. Times Square is the heart of the city's entertainment district. There takes place the most renowned⁸ celebration of the count down for the New Year.
2. An estimated half million people will shout themselves hoarse⁹ greeting 1999.
3. Workmen test the electric sphere heralding¹⁰ the arrival of 1999.
4. Forty giant search lights that line Times Square are flicked¹¹ on and off testing a so-called "Cathedral of Light".
5. Sang Lan, the gymnast from China, is this year's specially¹ invited guest. She will assist New York's mayor to lower the ball. The New Yorkers have taken this sweet, happy, kind and cheerful girl into their hearts.
6. On the Eve of the year 2000, a more spectacular ball created by the Waterford Crystal Company of Ireland will make its debut¹².
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How the final hours are counting down for the year 1998? Perhaps the most renowned celebration of the United States takes place in New York city in Times Square, the heart of the city's entertainment district. Martin Bush reports on preparations for the count down that begins the New Year's celebration.
"Happy New Year!"
The time: midnight New Year's Eve. The place: the roof of a skyscraper, right in the middle of New York's Times Square. A brightly lit 227 kilogram, 2 meter ball slowly descends a 24 meter pole. When the ball reaches the bottom of the pole, the year 1999 will be here. And an estimated half million people, one quarter of them visitors from outside the United States will shout themselves hoarse greeting it. But before all that happens, a day before the Eve of the New Year, workmen test the electric sphere heralding its arrival. They must make sure it takes exactly 60 seconds to descend.
"Here you go. Ready? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Happy New Year!"
Tested earlier were a newly expanded fireworks display, 500 bursts of mixed colors released and synchronized¹³ with other special effects. Forty giant search lights that line Times Square are flicked on and off testing a so-called "Cathedral of Light". New York's mayor Rudolph Giuliani will throw the switch that lowers the ball on New Year's Eve. This year the mayor will be assisted by a young Chinese athlete New Yorkers have taken to their hearts.
"Our specially-invited guest this year is Sang Lan, the wonderful gymnast from China, who is staying here in New York, recovering from her injury in the Goodwill¹⁴ Game last summer. She is a wonderful 17-year-old girl, who is sweet, happy, kind, cheerful. She is the most wonderful thing."
This will be the last time the current ball will be used to greet the New Year. Next year a new considerably¹⁵ more spectacular New Year's Eve ball created by the Waterford Crystal Company of Ireland will make its debut.
第3部分
Outline
I. How to find a pub
A. a large sign hanging over the street or placed on a pole outside
B. something special about the name
C. words on the doors
II. Services and opening times
A. the basic service — sale of alcoholic¹⁶ drinks
B. opening times
1. weekdays: 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
2. Sundays: 12 noon - 2 p.m.; 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
C. food and accommodation
D. symbols for things available
Questions
1. Why do some visitors think that they have never been inside a pub?
That is because they seldom find the word “pub” in the name of a pub. Very often many pubs have names linked to royalty¹⁷, sports, popular heroes or great occasions.
2. What is the first thing to look for if you want to visit a pub?
The first thing to look for is a large sign either hanging over the street or placed on a pole outside the building.
3. What is the difference between “Saloon Bar” and “Public Bar”?
“Saloon Bar” is more comfortably furnished.
4. Does “Free House” mean “free food and drink”? If not, what does it mean?
That means the pub doesn't buy its drinks from one particular brewery¹⁸ only. It isn't tied to a brewery.
Picture one: coaches welcomed by appointment
Picture two: bar food — lunchtimes only
Picture three: pub accommodation
Picture four: facilities for the disabled
Picture five: a pub of historic interest
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There are visitors who come to England and leave thinking they have never been inside a pub. They don't realize that the words "pub" or "public house" are rarely included in the title of the place. So how do you know whether a building is a pub and what does a pub offer the visitor?
The first thing to look for is a large sign either hanging over the street or placed on a pole outside the building. This sign may have a name like The Kings Arms, The Black Rabbit or The Duke of Kendal or an appropriate picture. Many pubs have names linked to royalty, popular heroes, sports or great occasions. There is a pub called The Concorde after the new airliner²⁰.
On the doors of a pub you may see the words "Saloon Bar" or "Public Bar". The "Saloon Bar" is more comfortably furnished. Occasionally the words "Free House" can be seen beside the name of the pub. This doesn't mean they serve free food and drink; it refers to the fact that the pub doesn't buy its drinks from one particular brewery only. It isn't a "tied house" — tied to a brewery.
The services a pub offers vary around the country. The basic service is the sale of alcoholic drinks at certain times of the day. Opening times, as these periods are often called, are usually from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays. On Sundays the opening times are 12 noon until 2 p.m. and 7 - 10:30 p.m. although these times can vary slightly according to the region. Pubs can also offer food and accommodation. To help visitors, an experimental system of symbols has been tried out in Southern England and East Anglia. These symbols indicate just what is available from a particular pub.
The picture with a bed in it tells you that the pub provides accommodation. Do you find the picture with a person on the wheelchair? That means it has facilities for the disabled. Next try to find the picture with a very cozy²¹ village house. This is a pub of historic interest. How about that picture with a coach? You may already have guessed the meaning out: coaches welcomed by appointment. Could you figure out the meaning of the last one? Why does it have the word "Lunch" below the word "Bar"? Well, that means bar food is only served at lunchtimes.
第4部分
Yankee
More than 200 years ago
(colonial period) Colonists²² in the northeast part of America
After Independence War All Americans
During both World Wars American soldiers
There is little confirmation²³ of the story that the song “Yankee Doodle”was written by a British army doctor. However, it is true that “Yankee Doodle” was first sung by the British to make the colonial people of North America look foolish. Later the song became popular among the colonists themselves. Many knew some of the words.
During the early days of the War for Independence in the 1770s, British soldiers marching out the city of Boston stepped in time to the music of “Yankee Doodle”. Those same soldiers were defeated by colonial troops singing the same song. Since then, “Yankee Doodle” has been a song that represents the United States.
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Our question this week asks about the song "Yankee Doodle". To explain, we must go back more than 200 years. The American colonies had not yet won independence from England. The British used the word "Yankee" to describe colonists in the northeast part of America. That area was known as New England. After the War for Independence, the British used the word to mean all Americans. And during both World Wars American soldiers were known as Yankees or just Yanks.
That was the song "Yankee Doodle". History experts do not know exactly when it was written. Some research shows the date may have been during the 1750's. Many stories say a British army doctor wrote the song when England was fighting the French and the Indians in North America. There is little confirmation of these stories. We do know, however, that "Yankee Doodle" was sung by the British to make the colonial people of North America look foolish. And we know the song became popular among the colonists themselves. Many knew at least some of the words.
The British continued to use the song to make Yankees look foolish until the early days of the War for Independence in the 1770's. Stories say, British soldiers marching out of the city of Boston stepped in time to the music of "Yankee Doodle". Those same soldiers were defeated by colonial troops at the town of Concord¹⁹ singing the same song. Since then, "Yankee Doodle" has been a song that represents the United States.
第5部分
1. What's the most important point of Christmas in Poland?
It's Christmas Eve supper.
2. How many traditional dishes are there on the Christmas table?
There are 12 traditional dishes on the table.
3. What do people do before everybody sits down to eat the supper?
They just break wafers with each other, wishing each other good luck.
4. Where do the children go when the supper is over?
The children go to the other room, where the big Christmas tree stands. Under the tree there are some Christmas presents.
5. When do people go to church?
They go to church at midnight.
Listen to the passage. Choose the correct answers.
(c)1. The custom in the Spanish region of Catalunya is to ____.
a. build castles b. dance in the air c. build human castles
(a)2. There are about ____ members of _____ clubs.
a. 10 000/58 b. 1 000/48 c. 100 000/68
(b)3. The first _____-level castle was raised in _____.
a. 8/1753 b. 9/1852 c 10/1752
(b)4. The record of a ten-level tower was established in ____, 1998.
a. December b. November c. September
(c)5. The sport has been booming since _____.
a. it was awarded a prize
b. it established an international record
c. it began to be televised several years ago
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People tend to spend Christmas with your closest relatives, and the most important point of Christmas is Christmas Eve supper. And the whole family just gathers around the table, and there are twelve traditional dishes on the table, and you are supposed to taste them all, because if you don't try any of them you may face some misfortune in the following year. Well, before everybody sits down to eat the supper, we just break wafers with each other, wishing each other good luck. When the supper is over the children go to the other room, where the big Christmas tree stands, and they find some Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. And after the supper, the whole family just sit around the table singing Christmas carols, and waiting for midnight, when they go to church.
Building castles in the air has been a custom in the Spanish region of Catalunya for 200 years — human castles. There are now about 10 000 members of 58 clubs, and the sport has been booming since it began to be televised several years ago. The idea is to raise a human tower as high as possible in a town square, then dismount it without it collapsing²⁴. Back in 1852 the first nine-level castle was raised. Many clubs have equaled that record, but none had managed a 10 until Nov.15, 1998, when a club from the town Vilafranca did the impossible. The top person — usually a small boy or girl — raised one arm to show the tower was complete. Then it collapsed²⁵. A week later, this group in Terrassa raised and lowered a tower of 10 levels. Castles require strength, agility²⁶, patience and as many as 700 people, most of them in the base or ready to catch those who fall.