英语听力精选进阶版 13812

China's Olympics boast

Summary

29 June 2012

A month before the start of the London Olympics, the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua has published an editorial¹ predicting that China will top the medals table - once again beating the US. In what reads like a strategy paper for the country's Olympics success, it lays out its medal predictions for various sports.

Reporter:

Martin Patience

Report

Detailed² it is but modest it certainly isn't. The editorial sets out in precise terms where China can expect to win gold medals. In gymnastics the haul³ could be nine, weight lifting offers up the opportunity for another five, and there could be medals won on the track. All told, China believes it can win 37 gold medals - enough to top the table. 

What's perhaps surprising about this editorial is that it's been published in the first place. But in a country known for setting targets, it serves as a public warning to Chinese athletes not to disappoint. 

Glory goes not only to the individual winner but the country as a whole. And Chinese fans can be unforgiving if their athletes fail to meet expectations or in this case, specific targets. As for the host nation, Britain, well, there's some good news. China's state-run news agency predicts it could finish third.

1 editorial   

adj.编者的，社论的；n.（报刊的）社论，重要评论

参考例句：

• For a full hour they argued over the wording of the editorial.他们为社论的措辞争论了一个小时。
• We now bring you the full text of the Renmin Ribao editorial.现在全文广播《人民日报》社论。

2 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

3 haul   

vt./n.（用力）拖，拉，（用车等）拖运，运送

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• The rope stood up under the strain of the haul.这绳子经受不住紧拉。