英语听力精选进阶版 6180
时间：2019-02-13 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
New Witch of Wookey Hole: Wookey 洞里的新巫婆
Do you ever fancy a career change?
Well if you can cast spells, fly on a broomstick and have a good cackle, then you might be interested in becoming a professional witch.
And if you become the Witch of Wookey Hole you could even earn a good salary.
Legend has it that the haunted caves of Wookey Hole in the south of England were home to a witch who laid a curse on the local villagers, until she was turned to stone by a monk 1.
These days the caves are a tourist attraction which bring in thousands of visitors a year. And they have just appointed a new witch.
On Tuesday, Carole Bonahan beat over 300 applicants 2 with pointy hats, capes 3 and hooked noses to win the ￡50,000-a-year (around 500,000 RMB) post as Wookey Hole’s resident witch.
Carole, who will now be known by her witch’s name Carla Calamity 4, will give up her job as an estate agent in order to become a full-time 5 witch. Her main duty will be welcoming visitors to the caves.
Miss Calamity wears stilettos and describes herself as a “glamorous witch”. She said that her old job wasn’t perhaps as different to being a witch as you might imagine:
“I am going to be a great witch. All it takes is a little bit of magic and a little pizzazz. It’s a natural progression from my old job as an estate agent. I have been using my witching skills to sell houses for a long time.”
Handing over the broomstick was Jane Brenner who has been Wookey’s witch for the past six years. She said:
“We didn’t want anyone who would scare the children. We wanted a good witch to meet and greet people and to act as an ambassador for the attraction. This isn’t a cushy job.”
Indeed, Carla Calamity had to overcome a wide range of people from all walks of life in order to get the job. Teachers, a photographer, and even an accountant all threw their hats in the ring.
So next time you feel like introducing a little magic into your life, you might want to think about a career in witching.
GLOSSARY 词汇表
cast spells 用符咒镇住（某人或某物）
broomstick 扫把
cackle 邪恶的笑声
earn a good salary 挣一份好的年薪
legend has it 传说中讲
laid a curse 诅咒
tourist attraction 旅游景点
appointed 被任命
capes 披风，斗篷
hooked noses 鹰钩鼻
calamity 大灾难
estate agent 房产销售员
stilettos 细高跟鞋
glamorous 富有魅力的
pizzazz 活力
natural progression 自然发展
meet and greet 欢迎
a cushy job 一个容易做的工作
all walks of life 各行各业
threw their hats in the ring （比喻）参加竞争
- The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
- Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。
- There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
- He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。
- It was cool and they were putting on their capes. 夜里阴冷，他们都穿上了披风。
- The pastor smiled to give son's two Capes five cents money. 牧师微笑着给了儿子二角五分钱。
- Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
- The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。