英语听力精选进阶版 6324
时间：2019-02-21 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
Recently a man proposed in front of 20,000 people at London's Olympic Stadium. Charity mascot 1 Wendell Raphael, 40, was shown on the big screen at a test event saying: "Bindi Bhambra, will you marry me?"
She was shown in tears nodding her head to say yes.
The video website YouTube offers an array of elaborate and often very public proposals. Popping the question used to be a private occasion set in a restaurant or a peaceful garden. In 2011, a marriage proposal which featured a hired choir 2 on a packed London train was viewed by millions online.
While that particular recipient 3 of the proposal might be delighted, not everybody likes to be put on the spot. "You would either be thrilled or mortified 4 by that," says celebrity 5 wedding planner Siobhan Craven-Robins.
The increased level of expectation that surrounds weddings these days has led to people feeling that their proposal also has to be out of the ordinary, she says.
Glenn Wilson, a consultant 6 psychologist, thinks public wedding proposals may sometimes be a ploy 7 on the part of men. The woman may feel rather constrained 8 in how she can respond.
"It's possible that some men think that this will pile pressure upon her and increase the likelihood of getting a positive response, that she must think that he really loves her if he goes to this extent of trouble and trickery."
"There is tremendous social and public pressure behind the woman to say 'yes'," says Wilson. "If she says 'no' so publicly it's difficult to revise that response later.
Jo Bryant, etiquette 9 advisor 10, says: "A public proposal that could be particularly loud, intrusive 11 or embarrassing for people to watch should be avoided."
One refusal cost a woman who said "no" dearly at a NBA basketball match in the US. She was booed by the crowd, while the distraught man was consoled by a giant cuddly 12 mascot.
Quiz 小测验
1. According to the article, what are the places where people used to propose marriage in a private way?
A restaurant or a peaceful garden.
2. What are the reactions wedding planner Siobhan Craven-Robins expects from out of the ordinary proposals?
That people feel either thrilled or mortified.
3. True, false or not given: People who are not in love with their partner don't say 'yes' to public proposals.
False. According to the article, they might feel they have no choice but accept the proposal.
4. In the article, where did the refused marriage proposal take place?
They were in the US, at a NBA basketball match.
5. Look at the article. Can you find the expression used when referring to putting pressure on people to make a decision?
Put on the spot.
Glossary 词汇表
to propose 求婚
to nod (her/his) head 点头同意
elaborate 夸张的，复杂的
a recipient 接收者
to put on the spot 让人为难，即刻作出决定
thrilled 使人兴奋
mortified 使人羞愧
expectation 期望
out of the ordinary 与众不同的
a ploy 一种策略
constrained 约束
to pile pressure upon (somebody) 给某人施加压力
the likelihood 可能性
a positive response 一个正面的答复
public pressure 公众压力
intrusive 侵扰
embarrassing 尴尬
refusal 拒绝
to be booed 被人嘘
distraught 心烦意乱的，沮丧的
to be consoled 受人安抚，安慰
- The football team's mascot is a goat.足球队的吉祥物是山羊。
- We had a panda as our mascot.我们把熊猫作为吉详物。
- The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
- The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。
- Please check that you have a valid email certificate for each recipient. 请检查是否对每个接收者都有有效的电子邮件证书。
- Colombia is the biggest U . S aid recipient in Latin America. 哥伦比亚是美国在拉丁美洲最大的援助对象。
- She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了，直羞得无地自容。
- The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
- He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。
- He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
- Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。
- I think this is just a government ploy to deceive the public.我认为这只是政府欺骗公众的手段。
- Christmas should be a time of excitement and wonder,not a cynical marketing ploy.圣诞节应该是兴奋和美妙的时刻，而不该是一种肆无忌惮的营销策略。
- The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
- I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。
- The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
- According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。
- They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
- The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。
- The cameras were not an intrusive presence.那些摄像机的存在并不令人反感。
- Staffs are courteous but never intrusive.员工谦恭有礼却从不让人感到唐突。