6 Cliffhanger ：Rock Climbing as Sport and Art 攀岩者 ：攀岩是运动亦是艺术

仔细听

An estimated nine million people rock climb in the United States.Millions more take part in the activity around the world.Some do it just for personal satisfaction.Others compete.Rock climbing can be dangerous.But there are many methods and protective devices that can increase a climber's safety.

据估计，美国有900万攀岩运动者，全世界有数百万人参与这项运动。有些人攀岩为了个人满足，有些人则为了竞赛。攀岩运动可能会有危险，但是有多种方法和保护装置来保障攀岩者的安全。

听力破解：开篇第一句要认真听，因为是整篇新闻的一个总结概括性的句子。播音员重读了短语rock climb，可知这段新闻主要是谈论攀岩运动的相关话题。

词汇宝典：estimated的意思是“估计的”，overestimated就是“估计过高的”，underestimated则指“低估的”；同时，其动词及名词形式是estimate，意为“估计”，rough estimate“粗略的估计”。

仔细听

Climbing takes strength，control and good balance.Climbers have to pull themselves straight up the face of very high rocks or walls.So they have to be strong enough to carry their own weight.And climbers sometimes have to hold on to rocks by only their fingers or toes.

攀岩运动需要力量、控制和良好的平衡。攀岩者必须让自己竖直悬挂在极高的岩石或墙面上，所以他们必须足够强壮、能够承受自己的体重。攀岩者有时候只能靠手指或脚趾去抓住岩石。

听力破解：要注意，像straight，weight这类的单词，最后一个音节[t]经常被吞音，听的时候要仔细，不然容易听成stray，way之类的，就会影响对新闻内容的理解。

仔细听

There are several kinds of rock climbing.Traditional rock climbing is done outside.Climbers wear ropes and attach devices to the rocks as they climb many hundreds of meters up.They also connect their ropes to the devices.If a climber slips，a rope can stop him from falling.

攀岩运动分为许多种类。传统攀岩是一项户外活动。攀岩者通过携带绳索、攀岩装备能够攀登数百米。他们也会把绳索和攀岩装备相连接，一旦攀岩者失足，绳索可以防止他坠落。

词汇宝典：device的意思是“装置，器件”，如第一段中的protective devices，意为“保护装置”，electronic devices的意思是“电子器件”；其动词形式是devise，意为“设计，发明”，devise services“策划服务”。

仔细听

Sport climbing is similar.However，in those cases the protective devices are permanently placed in the rock.There is also indoor climbing.Rock walls made of wood or concrete have places for the climber's hands and feet.

竞技攀岩与传统攀岩类似，但是在竞技攀岩中，防护装置永久地固定在了岩石里。也有室内攀岩。攀岩的墙壁由木材或混凝土制造，上面有可供攀岩者攀缘的突起。

词汇宝典：concrete在新闻中的意思是“混凝土”，concrete也可以做形容词，意为“具体的”，同时concrete也有动词词性，意为“使凝固”，in the concrete“实际上”，reinforced concrete“钢筋混凝土”。

仔细听

Ice climbing is exactly as it sounds.People climb glaciers or frozen waterfalls instead of rocks.They use special equipment for the ice.

冰山攀岩就像听起来一样刺激。人们攀登的不是岩石，而是冰川或者冻结的瀑布。人们需要使用特殊的攀冰装备。

听力破解：special equipment连读为[′speʃ（ə）li′kwipm（ə）nt]，需注意分辨。

And then there is bouldering—climbing rocks between three and seven meters high.It is a quicker and more intense kind of climbing.Many climbers like bouldering because they can use less equipment.Climbers often need only special shoes and chalk.All climbers use chalk to keep their hands dry.

最后是抱石运动——攀登3至7米高的石头。这是一种更快速、更剧烈的攀岩运动。许多攀岩者喜爱抱石运动，因为需要的装备很少。攀岩者通常只需要特殊的鞋子和滑石粉。所有的攀岩者都需用使用滑石粉保持手部干燥。

听力破解：注意all[ɔ：l]与or[ɔ：]的读音区别，大家经常会混淆这两个读音，从而导致对句子意思的理解错误。

学着说一说

1.hold on to抓住；坚持

▶hold on to的常用意思是“紧紧抓住，坚持”，如：

hold on to me抓紧我

▶hold还可以用stay或stand替换，都表示“坚持”的意思，如：

The climber held on to the rope，and slipped down the cliff slowly.

攀岩者紧紧抓住绳索，慢慢向悬崖下滑去。

2.attach to连接

▶attach to常用意思是“连接”，attach sth.to sth.指“把某物和某物连在一起”，如：

You can attach an aerial to the radio.你可以给收音机装上天线。

3.stop...from doing阻止……做

▶stop sb.from doing sth.表示“阻止某人做某事”，如：

I can't stop him from stealing.我无法阻止他偷窃。