英语四级听力练习集锦52

Passage 18 The Beatles

Even if the word “pop” disappears from the English vocabulary, the influence of pop will remain. Pop has become part of British — and American — history. There has always been a close cultural link, or tie, between Britain and English peaking America, not only in literature but also in the popular arts, especially music. Before the Second World War the American exported jazz and the blues¹. During the 1950s they exported rock and roll, and star singers like Elvis Presley were idolized by young Britons and Americans alike.

The people responsible for the pop revolution were four Liverpool boys who joined together in a group and called themselves the Beatles. Unlike the famous solo stars who had their songs written for them,

They played in small clubs in the back streets of the city. the Beatles wrote their own words and music.

They had a close personal relationship with their audience, and they expected them to join in and dance to the “beat” of the music. Audience participation² is an essential characteristic of pop culture. Some pop groups, in particular the Rolling Stones, did more than just entertainment.

They wrote words which were deliberately³ intended to shock. They represented the anger and bitterness of youth struggling for freedom against authority, and for this reason they were regarded by some people

as the personification of the “permissive society”. The Beatles, on the other hand, finally won the affection — and admiration⁴ —of people of all ages and social backgrounds. As they developed, their songs became more serious. They wrote not only of love, but of death and old age and poverty and daily life. They were respected by many intellectuals and by some serious musicians. Largely thanks to the Beatles, pop music has grown into an immense and profitable occupation.

1 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

2 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

3 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

4 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。