英语听力精选进阶版 7138

Background: 位于阿拉伯联合酋长国的世界第一高楼迪拜塔终于最近终于正式揭开神秘面纱。迪拜塔的建造时间历时六年之久，其间也正值迪拜受到全球金融危机的席卷。不过，在竣工典礼上，伴着大型烟花表演，镭射灯的照耀，歌声和舞步使全球各地观看典礼的人们不由自主地憧憬迪拜美好的明天！

The Burj Dubai punctures¹ the city's skyline with its telescopic steel spire², finishing more than 300 metres higher than its nearest rival, Taiwan's Taipei 101.

26,000 hand-cut glass panels create a soaring glimmer³ in the sunshine, while inside there are plush offices, luxurious⁴ apartments and soon, an Armani-branded hotel.

Burj Dubai's official opening is also designed as a celebration of Sheikh Mohammed bin⁵ Rashid Al Maktoum becoming ruler of Dubai four years ago.

It's his vision that's credited with inspiring the city's phenomenal growth.

Things may now have gone awry⁶, but people here still want to believe in that vision.

Officially there's not a hint of embarrassment⁷ that Burj Dubai's opening comes just a month after the debt announcement which sent world stock markets plummeting⁸, but business people here are worried.

The city has received a significant bailout from its oil-rich neighbour, Abu Dhabi and some people there are wondering whether today's extravagant⁹ display of Dubai's past boldness is entirely¹⁰ appropriate in the circumstances.

Glossary¹¹ 词汇表

punctures 刺穿 

telescopic steel spire 天线铁尖顶 

soaring glimmer 极亮的闪光 

plush 豪华的，高级的 

Armani-branded 阿玛尼品牌的 

vision 远见 

awry 出问题 

hint of embarrassment 有点儿尴尬之意 

debt announcement 债务公告 

plummeting 暴跌 

bailout 紧急援助（通常指财政方面） 

boldness 大胆

Questions and Answers

1. True or False? The Burj Dubai is 300 metres tall. 

False. It is 300 metres taller than the second highest building in the world.

2. What will the tower be used for? 

It will be used for offices, apartments and a hotel.

3. Why did stock markets begin to fall? 

Because of Dubai's debt announcement.

4. Which country helped Dubai financially? 

Its neighbour Abu Dhabi stepped in to help out.

1 punctures   

n.（尖物刺成的）小孔( puncture的名词复数 )；（尤指）轮胎穿孔；（尤指皮肤上被刺破的）扎孔；刺伤v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的第三人称单数 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气

参考例句：

• My car has had two punctures this week. 这个星期我的汽车轮胎被戳破两次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• SCULLY: Needle punctures, maybe. An animal bite. Electrocution of some kind. 针刺的，也许。动物的咬伤。某种电击。 来自互联网

2 spire   

n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点

参考例句：

• The church spire was struck by lightning.教堂的尖顶遭到了雷击。
• They could just make out the spire of the church in the distance.他们只能辨认出远处教堂的尖塔。

3 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。

4 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

5 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

6 awry   

adj.扭曲的，错的

参考例句：

• She was in a fury over a plan that had gone awry. 计划出了问题，她很愤怒。
• Something has gone awry in our plans.我们的计划出差错了。

7 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

8 plummeting   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Prices are rising, falling, going up, going down, shooting up, plummeting, etc. 物价在上涨、下跌、上升、下落、猛然上涨、骤然下跌等。 来自辞典例句
• The enemy plane went plummeting into the sea. 敌机直直掉进海里。 来自辞典例句

9 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

10 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

11 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。