英语听力精选进阶版 6095

Famous Fictional¹ Bear Reaches His Half Century 家喻户晓的帕丁顿熊50岁了

Paddington Bear, one of Britain's favourite children's fictional characters, is celebrating his 50th birthday this year. From his humble² origins as a homeless immigrant at a London railway station, Paddington has gone on to sell over 30 million books in 30 different languages.

According to the first story, the bear was discovered at Paddington Station sitting on a battered³ suitcase bearing the label "Wanted on Voyage". There was a note attached to his coat which said "Please look after this bear". It transpires⁴ that Paddington Bear had been sent from the South American country of Peru by his aunt.

A family called the Browns were at the station to meet their daughter when they noticed Paddington. They decided⁵ to take him in. Because he didn't know how old he was, he decided to give himself two birthdays a year!

Paddington wears a distinctive⁶ outfit⁷: a blue duffle coat and a shapeless hat; sometimes he's shown wearing Wellington boots, though this was a later addition to his attire⁸. He also has a very special diet which consists mainly of marmalade sandwiches and cocoa.

Paddington Bear was the brainchild of Michael Bond, who came up with the character after seeing a teddy bear alone in a shop near Paddington Station. He felt sorry for it and bought the toy for his wife for Christmas and set about writing the first book. Many more stories followed as well as a TV series and a film, which is now in the pipeline⁹.

Although he is just a children's character, Paddington Bear has recently attracted controversy¹⁰. He appeared in advertisements eating sandwiches containing not marmalade but Marmite, a British sandwich spread made from yeast¹¹ extract. Purists argue that Paddington would never eat anything other than marmalade sandwiches.

However, all arguments will be forgotten as fans get together to wish Paddington Bear a happy 50th birthday.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

humble origins 微贱的出身

homeless immigrant 无家可归的移民

battered 破旧不堪的

bearing 带有

voyage 航行，旅程

transpires 原来是这样 （被泄漏的秘密）名

take him in 照顾某人

distinctive outfit 独特的装扮

duffle coat 带帽子的夹克

shapeless 没有形状的

Wellington boots 雨靴

attire 打扮

marmalade 用橘子做成的果酱

cocoa 可可

brainchild 智慧产儿，某人的构想，发明

came up with 想出来

teddy bear 玩具熊

in the pipeline 正在制作中

yeast extract 酵母精

purists 纯化论者

1 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 battered   

adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损

参考例句：

• He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
• The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。

4 transpires   

（事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的第三人称单数 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生

参考例句：

• Let's wait and see what transpires. 我们等着瞧会发生什么事吧。
• This new machine sometimes transpires a lot of hot vapor. 这部机器有时排出大量的热气。

5 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。

6 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

7 outfit   

n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装

参考例句：

• Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
• His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

8 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

9 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

10 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

11 yeast   

n.酵母；酵母片；泡沫；v.发酵；起泡沫

参考例句：

• Yeast can be used in making beer and bread.酵母可用于酿啤酒和发面包。
• The yeast began to work.酵母开始发酵。