2017雅思考试听力全面训练试题（3）

　　For instance, how many of you play a brass instrument, like a trumpet or a trombone?

　　举个例子来说，你们中玩铜管乐器的人多不多，比如喇叭或者长号?

　　Well, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, if your trombone was made of pure copper or pure zinc, it wouldn’t sound nearly as beautiful as a brass trombone.

　　铜管乐器是铜和锌的合金，如果你的长号是用纯铜或者纯锌制作的，它演奏起来就不如铜锌合金的听起来美妙。

　　Another alloy, a combination of copper and nickel, resists corrosion.

　　另一种合金是铜镍合金，抗腐蚀性很强。

　　It does not rust, even with prolonged exposure to water.

　　即使长时间浸在水中，它也不会生锈。

　　But what about the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor?

　　但是纽约港的自由女神像呢?

　　It’s made of pure copper, but it turned green, isn’t that a sign of corrosion?

　　它是由纯铜制作的，但是却变成了绿色，那不是腐蚀的迹象吗?

　　Indirectly. If copper’s exposed to damp air, its color changes from reddish orange to reddish brown.

　　间接地。如果铜暴露在湿润的空气中，它的颜色会从红褐色变成红棕色。

　　But in time, a green film, called a patina, forms and the patina actually serves to halt any further corrosion.

　　但是后来会形成一层叫做铜绿的绿色薄膜，铜绿实际上起着阻止进一步腐蚀的作用。

　　It is one reason that ship hulls are made of copper-nickel alloys, these alloys are also hard for the barnacles to stick to.

　　船体用通镍合金制作的原因之一就是这个，甲壳动物还很难粘附在这些合金上。

　　If these little shellfish adhere to the hull of a ship, it produces drag, slowing the vessel down.

　　如果这些小型甲壳动物粘在了船体上，就会产生拖力，减慢船速。

　　Copper’s also a key material used in solar heating units and in water desalination plants, which will play increasingly important roles in society.

　　铜还是太阳能加热装置和水体淡化工厂使用的一种关键材料，它在社会中的作用将越来越重要。

　　Bottom line: if you are a copper miner, you won’t lose any sleep should the penny get...if you’ll excuse the expression, pinched out of existence.

　　概括来说：如果你是铜矿工人，万一便士被......请原谅我的用语，被斩杀了，你也不会担心得睡不着觉。