VOA慢速：全球深切缅怀篮球巨星科比
燕山大学 刘立军 编写
【TRANSCRIPT】
Basketball fans around the world are mourning the death of American superstar Kobe Bryant.
Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in California, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people. He was 41 years old.
Bryant was an 18-time All-Star player. He won five NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals. He was widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The helicopter carrying Bryant and the others crashed into a hilly area in foggy conditions outside Los Angeles. Bryant lived south of Los Angeles and often used helicopters to travel around the area to save time and avoid Southern California traffic.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. It took place about 32 kilometers from Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy, a basketball training center in Newbury Park, California. Bryant was on his way to attend a youth basketball competition on Sunday with his daughter. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, had four daughters.
When he retired from the NBA in 2016, Bryant was the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points. He is widely expected to be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year.
The basketball world and the Los Angeles community reacted to Bryant's death with an outpouring of sadness, disbelief and support.
In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Bryant was one of the greatest stars in the game. But he added, he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.
On Twitter, U.S. President Donald Trump noted the terrible news. He called Bryant one of the truly great basketball players of all time who was just getting started in life.
【VOCABULARY】
1. outpouring n. a large amount of sth produced in a short time 涌现；喷涌。例如：a remarkable outpouring of new ideas新思想的大量涌现
2. commissioner n. (in the US) an official chosen by a sports association to control it （美国体育协会的）总干事，主管人。例如：the baseball commissioner棒球协会总干事
【QUESTIONS】
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
(Q1) How many people were killed in the helicopter crash?
(A) 3.
(B) 5.
(C) 7.
(D) 9.
(Q2) How many NBA championships did Bryant win?
(A) 2.
(B) 3.
(C) 5.
(D) 7.
(Q3) Why did Bryant often use helicopters to travel around Southern California?
(A) To enjoy the helicopters.
(B) To save time and avoid the traffic.
(C) To save time.
(D) To avoid the traffic.
(Q4) What was Bryant going to do with his daughter?
(A) To attend a youth basketball competition.
(B) To attend an adult basketball competition.
(C) To attend a youth baseball competition.
(D) To attend an adult baseball competition.
(Q5) Who called Bryant one of the truly great basketball players of all time who was just getting started in life?
(A) Donald Trump.
(B) Adam Silver.
(C) The basketball world.
(D) The Los Angeles community.
【KEY】
(Q1) D。推断题。命题出处：Basketball fans around the world are mourning the death of American superstar Kobe Bryant. Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in California, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people. He was 41 years old.
(Q2) C。细节题。命题出处：Bryant was an 18-time All-Star player. He won five NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals.
(Q3) B。细节题。命题出处：The helicopter carrying Bryant and the others crashed into a hilly area in foggy conditions outside Los Angeles. Bryant lived south of Los Angeles and often used helicopters to travel around the area to save time and avoid Southern California traffic.
(Q4) A。细节题。命题出处：The cause of the crash is under investigation. It took place about 32 kilometers from Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy, a basketball training center in Newbury Park, California. Bryant was on his way to attend a youth basketball competition on Sunday with his daughter. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, had four daughters.
(Q5) A。细节题。命题出处：On Twitter, U.S. President Donald Trump noted the terrible news. He called Bryant one of the truly great basketball players of all time who was just getting started in life.