英语听力精选进阶版 6426
时间：2019-02-21 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
Are you a good dancer? We all know it's awkward not to be aware of the latest cool moves, but 200 years ago this could have meant social disaster!
A fictional 1 ball from Jane Austin's 1813 novel "Pride and Prejudice" was recreated for a BBC programme. It showed the importance of dance for courtship.
At a time when physical contact was restricted and a chaperone was the order of the day in polite society, an invitation for a dance was one of the few opportunities for people to flirt 2 with potential partners.
Amanda Vickery, professor of modern history at Queen Mary, University of London, says: "The ability to dance was key to romantic success. Clumsiness was sexual suicide."
Women with a bad memory could buy a fan which had the music and dance steps listed on the back. Men were more exposed on the dance floor.
But gentlemen of the Regency period were helped by fashion. Tailored jackets and trousers held up by braces 3 forced them to walk upright and made them look elegant.
Ladies' dresses were handmade. The popular fabric 4 of the time was muslin and there were rumours 5 that women would have wet the fabric so that the outline of their figure could be seen beneath the dress.
Men and women would have arrived in their boots but these were a no-no on the dance floor. Everyone carried their dancing shoes, which looked like ballet shoes.
Hungry partygoers wouldn't be disappointed with the catering 6 at a 19th century ball. They would replenish 7 the energy lost from all that dancing with dishes like partridge pie and cheese ice cream.
The meal was an opportunity for the host to show his wealth and so was the lighting 8. Wax candles were very expensive 200 years ago. But they were really useful for a tired and sleepy host keen to see the last guest out. The size of the sticks determined 9 the party's duration: 4 hours or 6 hours. As soon as the flames died out, he could just shut the door behind him and go out like a light.
Quiz 测验
1. Why were balls important occasions for single people?
Because there they could dance and flirt with potential partners.
2. Why were men who didn't know the dance more exposed than women?
Because women could buy a fan with the dance steps listed on the back.
3. What was not a good thing to wear on the dance floor?
Boots.
4. How could people know how long the party would last?
By the size of the candles.
5. Which expression means something that shouldn't be done?
A no-no.
Glossary 词汇表
awkward 使人尴尬的
cool moves 潇洒（酷）舞步
courtship 追求（配偶）
chaperone （女）伴护，行为监护人
in polite society 上流社会
invitation 邀请
to flirt 打情骂俏，调情
clumsiness 笨拙
a fan 扇子
a dance step 舞步
the dance floor 舞池
Regency period 摄政时期
tailored 量体定做的
the braces 背带
muslin 平纹细布
rumour 谣言
the outline （形体的）轮廓
the figure 体型，身材
to be a no-no 是个禁忌
catering 餐饮服务
partridge pie 山鹑派
to go out like a light 一下子就睡着了
- The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
- The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。
- He used to flirt with every girl he met.过去他总是看到一个姑娘便跟她调情。
- He watched the stranger flirt with his girlfriend and got fighting mad.看着那个陌生人和他女朋友调情，他都要抓狂了。
- The table is shaky because the braces are loose. 这张桌子摇摇晃晃，因为支架全松了。
- You don't need braces if you're wearing a belt! 要系腰带，就用不着吊带了。
- The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
- I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
- The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
- Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。
- Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
- Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？
- I always replenish my food supply before it is depleted.我总是在我的食物吃完之前加以补充。
- We have to import an extra 4 million tons of wheat to replenish our reserves.我们不得不额外进口四百万吨小麦以补充我们的储备。
- The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
- The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。