VOA的慢速英语听力文摘:Mystery at The Ice Castle Inn
VOA慢速英语听力是公认的比较适合大部分英语学习者的`英语听力材料。下面是一篇VOA的慢速英语听力文摘,供大家练习。
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.
On this program we explain how to use common words and expressions in American English. Today, we are going to celebrate the coming of winter with expressions related to cold and ice. And we will do that with a story … a mystery story.
This is part one of a three-part series.
Our story begins on a distant mountain-top. It is the dead of winter. Outside the wind is howling.
Snow mixed with freezing rain has made the roads unsafe for travel. Even walking outside is dangerous. So, the four characters of our story are stuck indoors at The Ice Castle Inn. Like the name suggests, the inn is an old castle that is now a vacation spot for bird-watchers.
These four people are strangers. The only thing they have in common is a shared interest in snow birds. But for now, they all have put their bird watching plans on ice. That is to say, they must postpone their plans until the winter storm passes.
What they don’t know is the violent storm outside is just the tip of the iceberg. In other words, more danger exists, but they cannot see it.
Let’s meet the characters
But now, let’s get in out of the cold. As we enter the Ice Castle Inn we meet our group of travelers. They are all having a hot drink as they gather by the fireplace.
The Teacher
First there is the teacher, Madeline. She is in her late 20s and teaches skiing and cold weather survival skills at a private school for girls.
Her neat, dark hair frames her round, healthy face. Her appearance is plain but she is in great physical shape. She is a quiet woman. When she speaks, her voice is low and uncertain.
You may think she is shy. But think again.
Underneath her shy exterior, she is calm, cool and collected. If she stares at you with her clear green eyes, you can sense her powerful, extreme calm. Her ability to control her reactions makes people feel afraid: it sends shivers down their spines.
The Athlete
Then there is the athlete, Vincent. He is in his early 30s. Handsome and active, he talks to anyone and everyone. He has an easy manner and people like him instantly. He’s the type of man who could sell ice to an Eskimo, meaning he could talk you into anything.
At first, he seems to be a very cool, easy-going sportsman. But talk to him more and you realize that something is missing: namely, feelings. Those who know him best say he has ice water running through his veins. Nothing seems to upset or emotionally move him.
The Actress
Next is the actress, Sylvia. She is in her mid-40s and is extremely attractive. With her ice-blue eyes, pale white skin and fine clothing, she doesn’t seem like the outdoorsy, bird-watching type.
Her personality runs hot and cold -- friendly one minute, unfriendly the next. You never know what to expect. The one thing that is constant about her is the gold locket she wears around her long, thin neck. She never takes it off and often holds it tightly to her chest.
The Major
Finally, there is Major Jack, an ex-military man. His age is hard to guess -- perhaps 50-something? He has a strong jaw and thick black hair. The lines on his face make him look older but even more handsome.
Some men are just lucky that way. He seems like most military men; strong and silent. William Shakespeare might even call him a cold fish -- unfeeling and unfriendly. But at the same time every day, as the sun goes down, he stares out the window into the storm with great sadness in his eyes. It is at these times, he seems like a man left out in the cold, ignored and alone.
That is our small group of traveling bird-watchers. As the days pass, the snow only falls harder on The Ice Castle Inn. The land line phones no longer work. Neither do cell phones. No rescue vehicles have come to clear the roads.
They are truly snowed in.
With each passing day, they each become more and more suspicious of each other. They all wonder the same thing – why are the others really here?
Answers will have to wait.
I’m Anna Matteo.
Join us next week for part 2 of The Mystery at The Ice Castle Inn.
Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.
-
英语听力的方法技巧7篇
英语听力的方法技巧1几乎所有人都遇到过这个难题。刚开始都要经过翻译的环节,熟能生巧,听的时间长了,就会直接理解了。我从必须翻译才听得懂,到即听即懂,用的主要方法是精听。每次只听一到两句话,反复听,直到直接理解。听英语一定要求单词很熟,不要总是停下来想单词;另...
-
英语听说议评课活动主持词范文
尊敬的各位领导、各位来宾,亲爱的同学们:大家上午好!首先自我介绍一下。我叫xxx,负责学校的继续教育和英语教学指导工作。今天是我校教学开放日。今天有很多兄弟学校的领导、教师、同行来到我校,为我们捧场、与我们共同研究英语教学工作同时也希望在活动期间各位来...
-
提高英语听力的材料
引导语:英语中所强调的听、说、读、写中,听是首位,这充分体现了听力对于英语能力提升的重要性。英语中的听,是获得英语信息以及英语语感的最为基本的.途径,是促使提升英语应用能力的基本前提。下面小编整理了一些提高英语听力的材料:(一)YouthYouthisnotatimeoflife;...
-
2017小升初英语听力的提分技巧
第一步:听前(pre-listening)——阅读题干,预估题意如果自己对题目了如指掌,答题时就会从容不迫,有的放矢,不会因来不及读题而错过答题。因此,同学们应尽量利用“拿到试卷”到“播放听力录音”这段时间迅速预读题目(包括题干和选项),对可能设计的内容做出粗略的猜测和...
相关文章
- 初中英语写作范文:My Happy Times During Winter Vacation
- 六年级英语上册Unit2 New York is in the east of America说课稿
- 英语阅读:African Union Leaders Talk Mali, Chinese Investmen
- 英语阅读:VIT declines to acquire Ang Mo Kio property
- The relationship between theory and practice大学英语作文
- My View on the Campus Star Contest英语四级作文范文
- A letter to my English teache英语作文
- A Letter to Univsity Pesident about the Canteen Service on C
- Passage Eighteen (Strictly Ban smoking)英语阅读理解
- Is a Test of Spoken English Necessary英语四级作文