初级英语听力(新版) Lesson 21

 　　初级英语听力(新版) Lesson21

　　—Can I see Zulu on Sunday?

　　—I'm not sure.

　　—Do you like football?

　　—Yes, very much.

　　—Would you like to go to a match on the 18th of December?

　　—I'd like to see Coming Home at the Royal Theatre.

　　—What a good idea! Do you know what time it starts?

　　—I think it starts at 8 pm.

　　—Tomorrow is the third of December. It's my birthday and I'm going to the George and Dragon. Would you like to come?

　　—To celebrate your birthday? Of course I would. What group's playing?

　　—The Riverside Stompers, I think.

　　—I like organ music. Do you know where I can hear a recital¹?

　　—Try St. Mary's Church. I know they have a beautiful organ.

　　—I'd like to go to a recital on the 16th of December, but I'm working from ten to four. Do you know what time the recital begins?

　　—Sorry, I'm afraid I don't. Why don't you look at your "What's on"?

　　1st Student: Well, first of all, I'm intending to have a good holiday abroad, just traveling round Europe, and then when I get tired of traveling I'm going to—well, come back and start looking for a job. I haven't quite decided² yet what job, but I'm probably going to try and get a job in advertising³ of some kind.

　　2nd Student: Well, eventually I'm planning to open my own restaurant. Only I haven't got enough money to do that at the moment, of course, so I've decided to get a temporary job for a year or so, and I'm going to work really hard and try and save as much money as possible. Actually, I'm thinking of working as a waiter, or some job in a restaurant anyway ...

　　Male Voice: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Victoria Hall for our annual presentation of the Nurse of the Year Award. First I'd like to introduce Dame⁴ Alice Thornton. Dame Alice is now retired⁵ after more than forty years of dedicated⁶ service to the public and the nursing profession. Dame Alice Thornton.

　　Male Voice: Dame Alice, you were the first nurse of the year. That was thirty years ago. Would you now announce this year's winner?

　　Dame Alice: Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to introduce our nurse of the year, Miss Helen Taylor.

　　Dame Alice: Miss Taylor, you have been awarded this prize as a result of recommendations⁷ from your senior officers, your colleagues and the parents of the children you nurse. Here are some of the recommendations: 'efficient but patient', 'helpful and happy', 'strict but caring', 'human and interested'. These are the greatest recommendations any nurse could receive. I congratulate you!

　　Jerry: Could I speak to you for a few minutes, Mr. Sherwin?

　　Sherwin: I'm very busy at the moment. Can't it wait until tomorrow?

　　Jerry: Uh, ... well, it's rather urgent. And it won't take long.

　　Sherwin: Oh, all right, then. What is it?

　　Jerry: It's a personal matter. Uh, you see, my wife is ill and has to go into hospital.

　　Sherwin: Sorry to hear that. But why do you want to talk to me about it?

　　Jerry: Because ... because we have a baby and there's nobody to look after her while she's in hospital.

　　Sherwin: Who? Your wife?

　　Jerry: No, no. My daughter.

　　Sherwin: Oh, I see. But I still don't understand what all this has to do with me.

　　Jerry: But that's what I'm trying to explain. I'd like to stay at home for a few days.

　　Sherwin: But why?

　　Jerry: To look after my daughter, of course.

　　Sherwin: I thought you said she was going to hospital. They'll look after her there, won't they?

　　Jerry: No, no, no! It's my wife who's going to hospital! Not my daughter.

　　Sherwin: Really? I thought you said it was your daughter. You are not explaining this very well.

　　Here is an alternative dialogue between Jerry and Mr. Sherwin. Listen.

　　Jerry: Uh ... excuse me, Mr. Sherwin, but I was wondering if I could speak to you for a few minutes.

　　Sherwin: Well, I'm rather busy at the moment, Jerry. Is it urgent?

　　Jerry: Uh, yes, I ... I'm afraid it is. It's a personal matter.

　　Sherwin: Oh, well, then, we'd better discuss it now. Sit down.

　　Jerry: Thank you. Uh ... you see, it's about my wife. She ... uh ... well ... she ...

　　Sherwin: Yes, go on, Jerry. I'm listening.

　　Jerry: She's ill and has to go to hospital tomorrow. But we have a young baby, you know.

　　Sherwin: Yes, I know that, Jerry. You must be rather worried. Is it anything serious? Your wife's illness, I mean?

　　Jerry: The doctors say it's just a minor⁸ operation. But it has to be done as soon as possible. And ... well ... the problem is my daughter. The baby. That's the problem.

　　Sherwin: In what way, Jerry? I'm not quite sure if I understand.

　　Jerry: Well, as I said, my wife'll be in hospital for several days, so there's nobody to look after her.

　　Sherwin: You mean, nobody to look after your daughter, is that it?

　　Jerry: Yes, exactly. Both our parents live rather far away, and ...and that's why I'd like to have a few days off. From tomorrow.

　　Sherwin: I see. I think I understand now. You need a few days off to look after your daughter while your wife is in hospital.

　　Jerry: Yes, yes. That's it. I'm not explaining this very well.

　　Sherwin: No, no. On the contrary. I just want to be sure I understand completely. That's all.

　　Jerry: Will ... will that be all right?

　　Sherwin: Yes, I'm sure it will, Jerry. All I want to do now is make sure that there's someone to cover for you while you're away. Uh ... how long did you say you'll need?

　　Jerry: Just a few days. She ... my wife, I mean ... should be out of hospital by next Thursday, so I can be back on Friday.

　　Sherwin: Well, perhaps you'd better stay at home on Friday, as well. Just to give your wife a few extra days to rest after the operation.

　　Jerry: That's very kind of you, Mr. Sherwin.

　　Sherwin: Don't mention it.

　　Landlady⁹: 447 4716.

　　Student: Hello. Is that Mrs. Davies?

　　Landlady: Speaking.

　　Student: Good afternoon. My name's Stephen Brent. I was given your address by the student accommodation agency. I understand you have a room to let.

　　Landlady: Yes, that's right. I've just got one room still vacant. It's an attic¹⁰ room, on the second floor. It's rather small, but I'm sure you'll find it's very comfortable.

　　Student: I see. And how much do you charge for it?

　　Landlady: The rent's twenty-five pounds a week. That includes electricity, but not gas.

　　Student: Has the room got central heating?

　　Landlady: No, it's got a gas fire which keeps the room very warm.

　　Student: I see ... And what about furniture? It is furnished, isn't it?

　　Landlady: Oh yes ... Er ... There's a divan¹¹ bed in the corner with a new mattress¹² on it. Er ... Let me see ... There's a small wardrobe, an armchair, a coffee table, a bookshelf ...

　　Student: Is there a desk?

　　Landlady: Yes, there's one under the window. It's got plenty of drawers and there's a lamp on it.

　　Student: Oh good ... Is there a washbasin in the room?

　　Landlady: No, I'm afraid there isn't a washbasin. But there's a bathroom just across the corridor, and that's got a washbasin and a shower as well as a bath. You share the bathroom with the people in the other rooms. The toilet is separate, but unfortunately it's on the floor below.

　　Student: Oh, that's all right. ... What about cooking? Can I cook my own meals?

　　Landlady: Well, there's a little kitchenette next to your room. It hasn't got a proper cooker in it, but there's a gas ring and an electric kettle by the sink. I find my students prefer to eat at the university.

　　Student: I see. And is the room fairly quiet?

　　Landlady: Oh yes. It's at the back of the house. It looks onto the garden and it faces south, so it's bright and sunny, too. It's very attractive, really. And it's just under the roof, so it's got a low, sloping ceiling. Would you like to come and see it? I'll be in for the rest of the day.

　　Student: Yes, I'm very interested. It sounds like the kind of room I'm looking for. Can you tell me how to get there?

　　Landlady: Oh, it's very easy. The house is only five minutes' walk from Finchley Road tube station. Turn right outside the station, and then it's the third street on the left. You can't miss it. It's got the number on the gate. It's exactly opposite the cemetery¹³.

　　Frankly¹⁴, I've been delighted. As you know, I decided to give it up ten years ago. I put them all in the attic—all fifty or sixty of them—to gather dust, and forgot about them. Then I just happened to meet him one day in a bar, entirely¹⁵ by chance, and we got talking about this and that, and, well—to cut a long story short—he went to have a look at them, and this is the result. It's for two weeks. And it's devoted¹⁶ entirely to my work. Doing very well, too, as you can see from the little tickets on about half of them. You know, now that they're hanging on the wall like this, with all the clever lighting¹⁷, and glossy¹⁸ catalogue, and the smart people, they really don't seem anything to do with me. It's a bit like seeing old friends in new circumstances where they fit and you don't. Now, you see her? She's already bought three. Heard her saying one day she's 'dying to meet the man'. Afraid she'd be very disappointed if she did. Interesting, though, some of the things you overhear¹⁹. Some know something about it. Others know nothing and admit it. Others know nothing and don't. By the way, I heard someone say the other day that the 'Portrait of a Woman' reminded her of you, you know. So you see, you're not only very famous, but—as I keep on telling you—you haven't changed a bit.

　　Ours is a very expensive perfume. When people see it or hear the name we want them to think of luxury. There are many ways to do this. You show a woman in a fur coat, in a silk evening dress, maybe covered in diamonds. You can show an expensive car, an expensive restaurant, or a man in a tuxedo²⁰. We decided to do something different. We show a beautiful woman, simply but elegantly²¹ dressed, beside a series of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, and it works. Because she is wearing the perfume, and because she is next to expensive and beautiful paintings, our perfume must be beautiful and expensive too. It does work.

1 recital   

n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会

参考例句：

• She is going to give a piano recital.她即将举行钢琴独奏会。
• I had their total attention during the thirty-five minutes that my recital took.在我叙述的35分钟内，他们完全被我吸引了。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

4 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

7 recommendations   

n.推荐( recommendation的名词复数 )；推荐信；正式建议；提议

参考例句：

• The board completely disregarded my recommendations. 董事会完全无视我的建议。
• Recommendations from two previous clients helped to establish her credibility. 两位以前的客户的推荐有助于确立她的诚信度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

9 landlady   

n.女房东，女地主

参考例句：

• I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
• The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。

10 attic   

n.顶楼，屋顶室

参考例句：

• Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
• What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？

11 divan   

n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集

参考例句：

• Lord Henry stretched himself out on the divan and laughed.亨利勋爵伸手摊脚地躺在沙发椅上，笑着。
• She noticed that Muffat was sitting resignedly on a narrow divan-bed.她看见莫法正垂头丧气地坐在一张不宽的坐床上。

12 mattress   

n.床垫，床褥

参考例句：

• The straw mattress needs to be aired.草垫子该晾一晾了。
• The new mattress I bought sags in the middle.我买的新床垫中间陷了下去。

13 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

14 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

15 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

16 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

17 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

18 glossy   

adj.平滑的；有光泽的

参考例句：

• I like these glossy spots.我喜欢这些闪闪发光的花点。
• She had glossy black hair.她长着乌黑发亮的头发。

19 overhear   

vt.无意中听到，偷听到

参考例句：

• I happened to overhear what he said.我碰巧听到他说的话。
• They stepped aside so that their child could not overhear their conversation.他们走到一边去，不让孩子听见他们的谈话。

20 tuxedo   

n.礼服，无尾礼服

参考例句：

• Well,you have your own tuxedo.噢，你有自己的燕尾服。
• Have I told you how amazing you look in this tuxedo?我告诉过你穿这件燕尾服看起来很棒吗？

21 elegantly   

adv.优美地，雅致地，高雅地

参考例句：

• She turned on her elegantly shod heel. 她突然转身，迈开穿着雅致的皮鞋的双脚离去了。
• Susan always dresses very elegantly. 苏珊总是穿得很雅致。 来自《简明英汉词典》