英语听力精选进阶版 17050

 

WBR: FedEx to buy rival TNT Express

Tue, 7 Apr 15

US parcels delivery firm FedEx is to buy its Dutch rival TNT Express for nearly $5bn as it hopes to expand its European operations. The BBC's Theo Leggett tells us about the deal. Radio France broadcasts radio silence as the station is hit by its longest strike in a decade. Hugh Schofield has more from Paris. Don McLean's original manuscript of American Pie has been sold for $1.2m at auction¹. Peter Ellis is a currency trader and ardent² collector of rock memorabilia and tells us about its attraction. Listeners of a classical music radio station have voted 12 pieces of music from video game soundtracks into their list of top 300 tunes³. We hear from James Hannigan, a composer who wrote the music for the Harry⁴ Potter and Lord of the Rings video games. Plus we hear from Lebanon, where the country's capital Beirut is experiencing an unexpected property boom. The BBC's Anna Holligan went to find out how and why Beirut's housing sector⁵ is enjoying success against the odds⁶.

1 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

2 ardent   

adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的

参考例句：

• He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
• Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。

3 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？