时间:2019-02-08 作者:英语课 分类:听播客学英语


英语课

   In the podcast today, we will talk about “fact” and “fiction”. A “fact” is something which is true; something which I, or someone else, can prove to be true. For instance, it is a fact that the earth is round.


  And “fiction” is the opposite of fact. It means something which is invented, something which is made up something which comes from the imagination. In a bookshop, you will find a section called “fiction”. This is where you can buy novels, books of short stories and so on. Another section of the bookshop will be called “non-fiction”. This is where you can buy biographies, and books about cooking or gardening, books to help you play golf better, and books about learning English.
  Now lets go to Edinbugh, the capital city of Scotland. Edinburgh is an old and beautiful city, full of fascinating places to visit. One of these is a church called Greyfriars Kirk. “Kirk” is a Scottish word for “church”. The church is built on land which was once a Franciscan monastery 1. The Franciscan monks 2 wore grey clothing, hence the name “Greyfriars”. Greyfriars Kirk played an important part in the history of Scotland in the 17th century, and was a centre for Protestant opposition 3 to the king. However, the reason that thousands of people visit Greyfriars Kirk every year has nothing to do with 17th century history. No, the visitors come to see a little statue of a dog, called Greyfriars Bobby.
  Bobby belonged to a man called John Gray (or “auld 4 Jock” as he was commonly known.) Auld Jock was a night watchman, and Bobby went with him everywhere. Then, in 1858 Auld Jock died of tuberculosis 5. He was buried in the churchyard of Greyfriars Kirk. For the next 14 years, Bobby sat beside his master’s grave waiting for him to return, until at last in 1872 Bobby himself died. Soon after that, a wealthy lady paid for a statue to commemorate 6 the dog, and tourists have come to visit the place ever since. There have been books and a film about Greyfriars Bobby, and in Edinburgh you can buy all sorts of Greyfriars Bobby souvenirs. Bobby is indeed one of the most famous dogs in the world.
  What do you think about this story? Perhaps you find the story of Greyfriars Bobby very moving. Perhaps there are tears running down your cheeks as you think of the poor little dog waiting for his master who never returned. Or perhaps you are thinking, “What a stupid dog! Why didn’t he go away and chase cats or chew bones or do other things that make a dog happy?”
  Or perhaps you are wondering, “Is the story of Greyfriars Bobby true? Is it fact or fiction?” Unfortunately for the tourist industry of Edinburgh, there are reasons to think that it may be fiction. Jan Bondeson of Cardiff University has recently published a book about Greyfriars Bobby. Jan thinks that Bobby was a stray dog and that the man who looked after the graveyard 7 invented the story about Bobby sitting beside his master’s grave. People in 19th century Britain were often rather sentimental 8, and a stories like Greyfriars Bobby appealed to them. The man who looked after the churchyard used to tell the story to visitors, and the visitors would put their hands in their pockets and pull out a few coins to give to him. The owner of a nearby restaurant and other local businessmen helped to spread the story, in order to encourage more visitors to come. When the original “Bobby” died (probably in 1867), they even found another dog to take his place. In other words, Mr Bondeson thinks that the story of Greyfriars Bobby was a publicity 9 stunt 10 by the Edinburgh tourist industry.
  So, fact or fiction? I cannot possibly say what I think. Scottish history is full of romantic stories. Wealthy American tourists who imagine that they have Scottish ancestors believe these stories – all of them. The Scottish tourist industry depends on them. It is one of the unwritten laws of our country that English people like me are not allowed to say that a Scottish story, no matter how implausible, is not true. So, if you want to believe that Greyfriars Bobby sat for 14 years beside his master’s grave, you can believe it. I am not going to stop you.

n.修道院,僧院,寺院
  • They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
  • She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 )
  • The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
  • He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》
n.反对,敌对
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
adj.老的,旧的
  • Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?怎能忘记旧日朋友,心中能不怀念?
  • The party ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Sync.宴会以《友谊地久天长》的歌声而告终。
n.结核病,肺结核
  • People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
  • Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。
vt.纪念,庆祝
  • This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
  • We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。
n.坟场
  • All the town was drifting toward the graveyard.全镇的人都象流水似地向那坟场涌过去。
  • Living next to a graveyard would give me the creeps.居住在墓地旁边会使我毛骨悚然。
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的
  • She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人,她相信姻缘命中注定。
  • We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
n.众所周知,闻名;宣传,广告
  • The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
  • He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事,只当它是一种宣传手法。
n.惊人表演,绝技,特技;vt.阻碍...发育,妨碍...生长
  • Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
  • Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。
标签: 英语播客
学英语单词
3-methylchromone
accriminated
acetonyl acetone
acid detergent fiber
acoustic effects mixer
activity meter
Adam
adder's tongue fern
aegisthus spinulosus
Alahanpanjang
ammaccapane
animal toxins
anticonservative
antiequivalent
Antistaphyoloysin
aquaemanalia
aquatic fungi
area health authority
armature contact spring
auto spectrum
Bals
be crook on
ben-gay
big moneys
blow upon
board width
borrowing limit
Chalmettians
closing time of a make contact
coil paper
compressed pattern storage
compressive strength after immersion
constrainingly
corynespora sesamum (sacc) goto
coulombically
court of appeal
crew systems
crystal growth by sintering
cutter arm
dove-tailing
eh-ph equation
enzyme engineering
expert in
fill one's shoes
fnn
Fricke's bandage
Fundamental Laws
gated pattern
genus Aetobatus
get ... to do
glossogobius celebius
Godunov
hairy round the heel
hardware reliability
i.a.c.s.
Jamberoo
linear sensor
lined shoe
low pressure steam line
mattison
messi
microdyne scrubber
multiple damper
neighboring note
neurology department
normal velocity
nostoc commune
overwasted
Peissen
pick - up truck
plasmal
pole edge
pressure-temperature saturating curve P-T
pure nitrogen liquefier
rag cutter
reverse slow motion
round the corner
rumbustiousness
sack piler
screw driver with iron handle
shock dynamics
Sinp'o-si
spatial pattem
spectatorially
sperm-banks
spill-over
surprise witness
tiltoramas
toyson
Trosna
unhinderably
unlevied
up-draw process
vagina mucosa intertubercularis
varisymbol
warping knitting machine
wash one's hands in invisible soap
went on at
whisk broom
wightmen
windhausen
zirconium alloy