英语听力—环球英语 1186 Racing Towards Respect
时间:2019-02-14 作者:英语课 分类:环球英语 Spotlight
英语课
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight 1. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Colin Lowther. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
1988, Seoul South Korea 2. Tanni Grey-Thompson sat in front of a large crowd. The crowd cheered for her and the other athletes sitting with her. The athletes had just won top awards in their sport, at the international Paralympic Games. For Tanni Grey-Thompson, it was her first award at this event. But she would go on to win many more awards like this one.
Voice 2
Today’s Spotlight is on Tanni Grey-Thompson. She cannot walk. She uses a wheelchair 3 to move around. But she has achieved amazing results in sport, and in life.
Voice 1
The Paralympic Games in Seoul was Tanni’s first international competition. The Paralympic Games are like the Olympic Games. Athletes come together from all over the world to compete against each other. The events include races, and many other sports like basketball and football. However, all the athletes are disabled. They have physical problems and limits. For example, they may be blind, or, like Tanni, they cannot walk.
Voice 2
Tanni competes in wheelchair races. She uses her hands to push the wheels of her wheelchair. She races against other wheelchair users 4. In 1988, she achieved the third best time in her distance, the 400 meter. Tanni’s desire was to win the top prize -- made of gold. She knew she must train even more to win a gold medal the next time.
Voice 1
Tanni was born in 1969, in Wales 5, Great Britain. She was born with the condition spina bifida. She was able to walk with help until the age of seven. But after that time, she could not use the lower 6 part of her body. She needed a wheelchair. Many modern wheelchairs 7 have engines. But at that time, Tanni could only move about by pushing the large wheels on either side of her. Tanni was strong and active. She loved sport. She tried wheelchair racing 8 at the age of 13, and she did not stop racing! In a video for the UK foreign office, Tanni said:
Voice 3
“Racing is amazing. It is speed. It is fear. In a road race you can be going down a hill at 80 kph. But you are only two feet from the ground. It is tiring. It is joy. It is so many different things all mixed up together. It is the most amazing feeling.”
Voice 2
After the Games in Seoul, Tanni trained hard every day. The next Paralympic Games was in Spain in 1992. There, she achieved four gold medals. Because of her health, she has had many medical treatments. This includes treatments to her back and spine 9. But she has always returned to racing. At later games she won seven more gold, and three silver medals. She also set two world records.
Voice 1
During this time, she was also competing in other racing events. She finished first in the London Marathon 10 six times. This 42 kilometre race goes through the streets of London. Most people run the race. But there is also an event for wheelchair racers. Even as a child, Tanni wanted to do this race. She told the BBC 11:
Voice 3
“I remember saying to my mother that I was going to do the London Marathon one day. It was my dream to be there on the starting line with everyone else. And if you have that kind of dream it gives you something to aim for. It is important to have something you can concentrate 12 on or have a plan to work towards. If you work hard you have a chance of making your dream come true.”
Voice 2
Her achievements in sport made Tanni famous in her home country. And she used these achievements to encourage other disabled people. She also worked to change the conditions of disabled people in Britain. She has helped to change many people’s opinions about disabled people.
Voice 1
When she was young, life was very difficult for disabled people in Britain. Most places had steps that she could not climb. Businesses and public buildings did not have to be available for disabled people. Tanni remembers:
Voice 3
“When I was young, I could not go out. Most places did not have toilets that I could use. Film theatres did not permit 13 disabled people to enter without adults. I remember now, and it is frightening. That was only 30 years ago!”
Voice 2
During the 1980s and 90s, many of these laws changed. They changed because of people like Tanni. Many disabled people worked with the government. They showed that disabled people can live full, normal lives - if society permits 14 it. Now, Great Britain has laws which demand that every public building must permit wheelchairs to enter. For this work and her success in sport, Tanni has received four separate 15 honours and awards from the government.
Voice 1
The final honour came in 2010 when Tanni became a baroness 16. This means 17 she can sit in the House of Lords 18 in the British Parliament 19. She helps to make the country’s laws.
Voice 2
Tanni Grey-Thompson has achieved many things. This is partly because of her parents. In a video for the UK foreign office, she said:
Voice 3
“They encouraged me to leave home and travel. They believed that the world would have to change. It was not me. There was nothing wrong with me being in a wheelchair. I did not begin by trying to change the world. I just tried to be the best athlete I could be.”
Voice 1
Tanni retired 20 from sport in 2007. She is married, and has one child. But her work continues. In 2012, the Paralympic Games are in London. Tanni believes that they may help the cause of disabled people. Many people will be watching, both in London and on television and the internet around the world. Tanni hopes that as people watch the disabled athletes, many people’s opinions will change. Britain has made many changes to its laws. But many more changes are necessary there, and in many other countries, to make disabled people equal in society. Tanni’s life shows that this is possible!
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Alan Harris. The producer was Nick Mangeolles. The voices you heard were from the United 21 Kingdom and the United States. All quotes 22 were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called ‘Racing Towards Respect’.
Voice 1
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
- This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
- The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
n.朝鲜(亚洲)
- Korea lies to the east of China.韩国位于中国东面。
- Korea and China are separated by only the Yalu River.朝鲜和中国只隔一条鸭绿江。
n.(病人等用的)轮椅
- He used a wheelchair for the rest of his life.他的后半生依靠轮椅生活。
- He collapsed the wheelchair and put it on the boat.他将轮椅折叠起来放在船上。
用户,使用者( user的名词复数 )
- The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
- Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。
n.威尔士(在大不列颠岛西南部)
- The company are opening up a new factory in Wales.公司将在威尔士开一家新工厂。
- She teaches English at the University of Wales.她在威尔士大学教英语。
adj.较低的;地位较低的,低等的;低年级的;下游的;vt.放下,降下,放低;减低
- Society is divided into upper,middle and lower classes.社会分为上层、中层和下层阶级。
- This price is his minimum;he refuses to lower it any further.这个价格是他开的最低价,他拒绝再作任何降价。
轮椅( wheelchair的名词复数 )
- The building has been specially designed to provide easy access for people in wheelchairs. 这幢房子特地设计得便于坐轮椅的残疾人进出。
- Men in wheelchairs reeled around the room, shouting and singing. 坐轮椅的男子们大喊大唱,绕着房间回旋移动。
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的
- I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
- The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊
- He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
- His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。
n.长距离赛跑;需要耐力的比赛;(M-)马拉松
- I'm hoping to be in the marathon next year.我希望明年能参加马拉松赛。
- The meeting was a bit of a marathon.这次会议有点马拉松赛的味道。
abbr.(=British Broadcasting Corporation)英国广播公司
- She works for the BBC.她为英国广播公司工作。
- The BBC was founded in 1922.英国广播公司建于1922年。
vt.集中;聚集;浓缩;vi.集中;全神贯注
- You should concentrate on the road when you're driving.开车时注意力应集中在路上。
- Concentrate your mind on study,Don't look around.专心学习,别东张西望的。
n.许可证,许可,执照;vt.允许,容许;vi.容许
- The doctor will not permit mother up until her leg is better.在母亲的腿好些之前,医生不允许她起床。
- The soldiers had orders to permit no stranger through.士兵们接到命令不许任何陌生人通过。
许可( permit的名词复数 ); 许可证; 执照
- The building permits are granted by the City Building Department. 建筑许可证由城建局签发。
- This task permits (of) no delay. 这项任务不允许有任何耽搁。
n.分开,抽印本;adj.分开的,各自的,单独的;v.分开,隔开,分居
- Are they joined together or separate?它们是合在一起还是分开的?
- Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering.洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。
n.男爵夫人,女男爵
- I'm sure the Baroness will be able to make things fine for you.我相信男爵夫人能够把家里的事替你安排妥当的。
- The baroness,who had signed,returned the pen to the notary.男爵夫人这时已签过字,把笔交回给律师。
n.方法,手段,折中点,物质财富
- That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
- We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。
n.主( lord的名词复数 );领主;上帝;(英国用以称呼法官、主教或某些男性贵族成员,表示尊敬)大人
- The powerful lords were guilty of grinding the villagers under their heels. 那些大领主的罪过是以权势欺压村民。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The President elevated him to the House of Lords. 总统提拔他为上院议员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
n.议会,国会
- She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
- The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
- The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
- Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
adj.和谐的;团结的;联合的,统一的
- The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
- The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。