听力音频
听力原文

There is something about water that makes it a good metaphor for life. That may be one reason why so many people find relief in swimming when life's seas get rough. (12)And it goes some way towards explaining why books about swimming, in which people tackle icy lakes, race in rivers and overcome oceans while reflecting on their lives, have recently become so popular. These books reflect a trend, particularly strong in Britain, where swimming in pools is declining, but more and more folks are opting for open water. "Wild swimming" seems to be especially popular among women. (13)Jenny Landreth recently published a guide to the best swimming spots in London. Her new book, Swell, interweaves her own story with a history of female pioneers who accomplished remarkable feats and paved the way for future generations.

Notions of modesty restricted women in the Victorian era, but they still swam. A "bathing machine" was rolled down to the seashore so women would not be seen in swimwear. (14)In 1892, The Gentlewoman's Book of Sport described a woman swimming in a heavy dress, boots, hat, gloves and carrying an umbrella. Eventually, swimming became freer. Mixed bathing was permitted on British beaches in 1901. Women won the right to swim in public pools, learned to swim properly, created appropriate swimwear and, in time, even competed against men. (15)The first woman to cross the English Channel was Gertrude Ederle in 1926. She beat the record by almost two hours and her father rewarded her with a red sports car.

未听先知

预览四道题各选项,由反复出现的 swimmers和 swimming可以初步推测,短文内容与游泳有关 再结合各选项中的 women swimmers、she和 womens right to swim in public pools等可以进一步推测,短文主 要是围绕女性游泳这一主题展开。

详解详析

12. What has become so popular recently?

D)。(详解)短文开头提到,水的一些特质使它成为生活的喻体。这也许就是为什么当生活的海洋变得波 涛汹涌时,许多人在游泳中感受到轻松的一个原因。它也在某种程度上解释了为什么有关游泳的书籍 最近变得越来越受欢迎。因此答案为D)。


13. What did Jenny Landreth do recently?

B)。(详解)短文中提到,詹妮·兰德雷思最近出版了一本向人们介绍了伦敦最好的游泳地点的指南。 此答案为B)。


14. What do we learn about women in the Victorian era?

D)。(详解)1802年, The Gentlewoman' s Book of Sport一书中描述了一名女性游泳时的形象:穿着厚重 的裙子、靴子,戴着帽子、手套,甚至还撑着一把伞。也就是说,维多利亚时代的女性在游泳时全身都裹 得严严实实。因此答案为D)。


15. What does the passage say about Gertrude Ederle?

C)。(详解)短文末尾提到,格特鲁德·艾德勒是第一位游泳横渡英吉利海峡的女性。因此答案为C)。