英语听力精选进阶版 6363

The game is up for the 2012 Olympics and the Paralympic Games now take the stage. But what are the differences between the two?

Firstly, the Olympic rings are not used in the Paralympics, which are instead represented by the red, blue and green agitos and by the motto 'Spirit in motion'.

Did you know that the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee are separate entities¹? The two Games have only been held together since 1988 - previously² they'd been hosted in completely different locations.

Paralympic athletes undergo a vigorous classification process which depends on variations of disability. For instance, swimming has 14 classes: S1-S10 cover physical impairment, S11-S13 are for athletes with visual impairments and S14 is for those with an intellectual disability.

The Paralympic versions of some sports are completely different to their Olympic counterparts. Blind football, for instance, is a whole new ball game: the ball used is less bouncy and contains ball bearings so that it makes a noise when it moves.

And what is the role of a 'tapper'? Tappers alert blind swimmers that the end of the pool is close by tapping the swimmer on the head with a long pole that has a ball on the end. This ensures the swimmer can swim confidently without being afraid of a crash at the end of the pool. Blind and partially³ sighted runners, on the other hand, can be assisted by a guide who is attached to them with a rope. The guide must be careful not to cross the finishing line before the athletes, as this crime is punishable by disqualification.

Lastly, the list of banned substances is the same for Olympic athletes and Paralympians. If an athlete needs additional medication, they must apply for an exemption⁴. The director of operations at UK Anti-Doping, Nicole Sapstead, says: "Obviously there are athletes with spinal⁵ injuries and they need pain relief. But mostly it is the same as the Olympics - things like asthma⁶ and diabetes⁷."

Now that you're ahead of the game as far as Paralympic facts are concerned, enjoy the action!

Quiz 测验

What is the motto of the Paralympic Games?

Spirit in motion.

True, false or not given? The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games have always been held in the same place.

False. They have been held in different cities. Since 1988 they've been hosted in the same location.

How is the ball used in blind football different to a regular ball?

It's less bouncy and it contains ball bearings to make it audible.

Find a word in the article that means 'forbidden'.

Banned.

Which expression means 'in a position of advantage'?

To be ahead of the game.

Glossary 词汇表

the game is up 结束了，完结了

to take the stage 上场，亮相

agitos 残奥会旗帜或会徽专用语

a motto 座右铭

a disability 残疾，障碍

a duty 一项责任

a physical impairment 肢体缺陷

a visual impairment 视觉障碍

an intellectual disability 智力障碍

a whole new ball game 完全彻底不同的事物

ball bearings 滚珠轴承

a tapper 轻敲者（提醒视力受限运动员即将到达终点）

a disqualification 取消参赛资格

banned substances 违禁药物

a spinal injury 脊椎损伤

pain relief 止痛方式

ahead of the game 处于领先或有利的位置

1 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

4 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

5 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

6 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

7 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。