新闻听力练习：Eclipse of the Century听力原文及背景知识

Posted 2021-05-01 东油英语

BACKGROUND  INFORMATION背景知识

A solar eclipse (as seen from the planet Earth) is a type of eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and when the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun.

total solar eclipses are rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on the Earth's surface traced by the Moon's shadow or umbra.

An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. However, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses were attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omens. 

A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of its astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes.

Since looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage or blindness, special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques are used when viewing a solar eclipse. 

NEWS SCRIPT 听力原文

What is the term for the complete shadow that`s cast when the sun`s light is blocked during a solar eclipse?Umber棕土, umbrella雨伞, umbra本影，暗影, or umbo盾中心的浮雕?

That shadow is called the umbra and millions of Americans will be in it next Monday.

AZUZ: It`s being called the "Eclipse of the Century" for the U.S. because it`s been 99 years since a total solar eclipse crossed the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans.

CNN.com/eclipse has a lot of fascinating facts about this celestial天的，天空的event, and CNN 10 will be featuring reports on it all week, ahead of the August 21st eclipse.

We`re starting with the basics. What exactly is a total solar eclipse?

REPORTER: The sun, the center of our solar system and the life force of planet Earth. 

Since the dawn of recorded time, it rises in the east and sets in the west. But every 18 months or so, the dance of planets, moons and stars creates this incredible moment -- a solar eclipse.

In space, the sun, the earth and the moon orbit in predictable patterns. The moon around the earth, the earth around the sun, even the sun around the galaxy.

During a solar eclipse however, the moon moves between the earth and the sun, blocking the sunlight and casting shadows unto earth. 

An eclipse can be partial or total depending on how these celestial bodies align使成一线. But total eclipse （日、月） 食happens when the moon completely covers the sun.

In this awe-inspiring moment, only the sun`s outer edge can be seen, revealing a halo-like （日月等的） 晕corona日冕，日华. And day suddenly turns to night for just a few minutes.

KEY WORDS重点词汇

1. celestial天的，天空的

2. align使成一线

3. eclipse （日、月） 食

4. halo（日月等的） 晕

5. corona日冕，日华

WORD BANK词汇拓展

日食类型：

日全食 total eclipse;

日环食 annular eclipse;

日偏食 partial eclipse

月食类型：

月食 lunar eclipse;

月偏食 partial lunar eclipse;

半影月食 penumbral eclipse ;

月全食 total lunar eclipse;