2014英语四级听力练习:慢速英语8.17(2)

　　Now, the Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.

　　Monkeys are very similar to us in many ways. Most have ten fingers and ten toes, and brains much like ours. We enjoy watching them because they often act like us. In fact, Charles Darwins theory of evolution says that monkeys and humans share a common ancestor.

　　Songwriter William Gilbert, in the musical Princess Ida, wrote:

　　Darwinian man, though well-behaved, at best is only a monkey shaved.

　　His words -- sung to Sir Arthur Sullivans music -- make listeners smile. Well, monkeys make us smile, too, because they are creatures full of playful tricks.

　　This is why many monkey expressions are about tricky people or playful acts. One of these expressions is monkeyshines, meaning tricks or foolish acts.

　　The meaning is clear if you have ever watched a group of monkeys playfully chasing each other: pulling tails, stealing food, doing tricks. So, when a teacher says to a group of students: Stop those monkeyshines right now! you know that the boys and girls are playing, instead of studying.

　　You might hear that same teacher warn a student not to monkey around with a valuable piece of equipment. You monkey around with something when you do not know what you are doing. You are touching or playing with something you should leave alone.

　　Also, you can monkey around when you feel like doing something, but have no firm idea of what to do. For example, you tell your friend you are going to spend the day monkeying around with your car. Weel, you do not have any job or goal in mind. It is just a way to pass the time.

　　Monkey business usually means secret, maybe illegal, activities. A news report may say there is monkey business involved in building the new airport, with some officials getting secret payments from builders.

　　You may make a monkey out of someone when you make that person look foolish. Some people make a monkey out of themselves by acting foolish or silly.

　　If one monkey has fun, imagine how much fun a barrel of monkeys can have. If your friend says he had more fun than a barrel of monkeys at your party, you know that he had a really good time.

　　Monkey suits are common names for clothes or uniforms soldiers wear.

　　In earlier years in many American cities, you would find men playing musical hand organs on the street. Dancing to the music would be the mans small monkey dressed in a tight-fitting, colorful jacket similar to a military uniform. So, people began to call a military uniform a monkey suit.

　　This Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Marilyn Rice Christiano. Maurice Joyce was the narrator. Im Shirley Griffith.

　　词汇讲解：

　　1. expression n.表现，表示

　　例句：This gives the correlation of force and its expression.

　　这就发展到力和力的表现。

　　2. equipment n.设备，装备

　　例句：Familiarize yourself with the new equipment before you attempt to use it.

　　在想使用新设备之前,你要先熟悉它。

　　3. illegal adj.不合法的，违法的

　　例句：Such an illegal act should not be treated lightly.

　　这样的违法行为不可等闲视之。

　　4. imagine vt.想，设想

　　例句：Nobody can imagine an end to numbers.

　　谁也想不出最终是个什么数。

　　5. uniform n.制服; 军服

　　例句：The staff at this hotel wear uniform clothing.

　　这家饭店的员工穿统一的制服。

　　短语讲解：

　　1. Monkeys are very similar to us in many ways.

　　be similar to 与相似; 类乎

　　例句：This condition could be similar to human depression.

　　这一状况类似于人类的低落情绪。

　　2. In fact, Charles Darwins theory of evolution says that monkeys and humans share a common ancestor.

　　in fact 实际上，其实

　　例句：In fact, it could help.

　　事实上，这可能有利无害。

　　3. Stop those monkeyshines right now! you know that the boys and girls are playing, instead of studying.

　　instead of 代替， 而不是

　　例句：Why do that instead of judging?

　　为什么不那样代替判断呢?

　　4. For example, you tell your friend you are going to spend the day monkeying around with your car.

　　for example 例如

　　例句：For example, it can easily remember such things as:

　　例如，它可以轻易地记住下面这些信息。