l视听说期末

Passage 1

the Dead Sea死海a saltwater lake on the border between Israel and Jordan

reputed有名气的respected and known to be good

lure吸引，引诱to attract

Israel 以色列Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean

Israeli 以色列的；以色列人

Ein Gedi Spa （公司名）

the status quo 现状the present situation

alarming 惊人的feel afraid or anxious

Friends of the Earth

Palestinian巴勒斯坦的of or relating to the area of Palestine and its inhabitants

Jordan约旦（阿拉伯北部的王国）an Arab kingdom in southwestern Asia on the Red Sea Jordanian 约旦的；约旦人

environmentalist环保人士；研究环境问题的专家a person who is concerned with protecting and preserving the natural environment

Praised far and wide for the reputed healing powers of its minerals and waters, the Dead Sea has been luring visitors for thousands of years. But these days tourists see a very different lake from the one that others would have witnessed a few decades ago. The sea sits in the lowest place on earth, and for years the water level was 1280 feet below sea level. However, in the last 40 years it's dropped more than 80 feet. Today, the Dead Sea continues to drop at the rate of about 1 meter per year. This dramatic shortage is particularly evident at Israel's Ein Gedi Spa on the southern shores of the Dead Sea.

The beach was here and now far away. You can see it's more than one kilometer from here. In 30 years, the beach disappears.

The need to change the status quo and find a solution to the Dead Sea's alarming shrinking has been a concern for years for Friends of the Earth Middle East, a non-governmental organization that brings together Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian environmentalists.

Passage 2

fluffy soft 松软的

adoption keeping sb. as his own child 领养

abused ill-treated 被虐待的Faith felt sad when she saw the abused puppy in the street. veterinarian/ ☪♦☜❒✋⏹☪☜❒✋☜⏹/ (abbr. vet) someone whose job is to treat the sick animals 兽医

respectable of acceptable social position; decent and proper in appearance and behavior 体面的; 有一定社会地位的; 值得尊敬的

cemetery/ ♦☪❍☜♦☜❒✋ / area of land, not a churchyard, used for burying the dead 公墓；墓地

unwanted unwelcome 不受欢迎的

pest insect or animal that destroys plants, food, etc.害虫；有害的小动物companionship[U] relationship between friends or companion 友谊；朋友或伴侣关系

parenthood[U] (state of ) being a parent 作父母的身份；亲职

Beneath the fluffy luxuries, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America. These provide care and adoption services for homeless and abused animals. Veterinarians can give animals an incredible level of medical care—for an incredible price. To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance for their pets. And when it’s time to say good-bye, owners can bury their pets in a respectable pet cemetery.

The average American enjoys having pets around, and for good reason. Researchers have discovered that interacting with animals lowers a person’s blood pressure. Dogs can offer protection from burglars and unwelcome visitors. Cats can help rid the home of unwanted pests. Little creatures of all shapes and sizes can provide companionship and love. In many cases, having a pet prepares a young couple for the responsibilities of parenthood. Pets even encourages social relationships. They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide a good topic of conversation.

Passage3

have a ball 玩得开心enjoy oneself greatly

sidelines界线lines that border a playing field

take center court占最重要的地位to become the most important thing

flock成群结队而行move as a crowd or in a group

scuba diving / ♦✞♌☜ /带呼吸器的潜水

revel（in）狂喜to enjoy

ice rink溜冰场area covered with smooth ice and used for ice skating

Hockey曲棍球

racketball / raquets墙网球

buff/ ♌✈♐ /对某事特别有研究或熟悉的人one who knows a lot about a subject

toiletry / ♦✋●✋♦❒✋ /个人的清洁用品；化妆用品articles used in personal grooming and taking care of one's body

For many Americans, sports does not just occupy the sidelines. It takes center court.

Besides “the big three” sports, Americans play a variety of other sports. In warm weather, people enjoy water sports. Lovers of surfing, sailing and scuba diving flock to the ocean. Swimmers and water skiers also revel in the west stuff. Fishermen try their luck in ponds, lakes and rivers. In winter, sportsmen delight in freezing fun. From the first snowfall, skiers hit the slopes. Frozen ponds and ice rink s become playgrounds for skating and hockey. People play indoor sports whatever the weather. Racketball, weightlifting and bowling are year-round activities.

For many people in the U.S., sports is not just for fun. It’s almost a religion. Thousands of sports fans buy expensive tickets to watch their favorite teams and athletes play in person. Other fans watch the games at home, glued to their TV sets. The most devoted sports buff s never miss a game. Many a wife becomes a “sports widow” during her husband’s favorite season. America’s devotion to athletics has created a new class of wealthy people: professional athletes. Sports stars often receive million-dollar salaries. Some even make big money appearing in