听力原文

Eddard Stark rode through the towering bronze doors of the Red Keep sore, tired, hungry, and irritable.
艾德·史塔克浑身酸痛，又累又饿，
He was still ahorse, dreaming of a long hot soak, a roast fowl,
心情恶劣地骑马穿过红堡高耸的青铜大门。
and a featherbed, when the king's steward told him that Grand Maester Pycelle had convened an urgent meeting of the small council.
御前总管前来通知他派席尔大学士召开紧急的御前会议，希望新任首相方便的话能大驾光临时，他人还在马背上，心里只想好好泡个热水澡，
The honor of the Hand's presence was requested as soon as it was convenient.
来只烤鸡或烤鸭，然后在羽毛床上睡个觉。
It will be convenient on the morrow, Ned snapped as he dismounted.
方便的话，改成明天。奈德下马时没好气地说。
The steward bowed very low. I shall give the councillors your regrets, my lord.
总管恭敬地一躬到底。首相大人，那我就转告重臣们，您不便出席。
No, damn it, Ned said. It would not do to offend the council before he had even begun.
算了，该死的。奈德道。还没上任便先把朝廷重臣给全得罪光那怎么成。
I will see them. Pray give me a few moments to change into something more presentable.
我这就去见他们。但请先给我几分钟，容我换上比较正式的服装。
Yes, my lord, the steward said. We have given you Lord Arryn's former chambers in the Tower of the Hand, if it please you.
是的，大人。总管说，我们已经把艾林大人以前在首相塔的房间都给您准备好了，如您愿意，
I shall have your things taken there.
我这就差人把您的东西给送过去。
My thanks, Ned said as he ripped off his riding gloves and tucked them into his belt.
有劳了。奈德边说边扯下骑马戴的手套，塞进腰带。
The rest of his household was coming through the gate behind him. Ned saw Vayon Poole, his own steward, and called out.
身后，他的家人和臣属正陆续进入大门。奈德看到管家维扬·普尔，便叫住他，
It seems the council has urgent need of me. See that my daughters find their bedchambers, and tell Jory to keep them there.
看来宫里好像有急事找我。好好安顿我女儿，告诉乔里叫她们待在房里。不准艾莉亚到处乱跑。
Arya is not to go exploring. Poole bowed. Ned turned back to the royal steward.
普尔欠身。奈德转身对御前总管说：

背景介绍:

《权力的游戏》是一部中世纪史诗奇幻题材的电视连续剧。该剧以美国作家乔治·R·R·马丁的奇幻巨作《冰与火之歌》七部曲为基础改编创作，由大卫·贝尼奥夫和丹尼尔·威斯编剧、HBO电视网推出。乔治·雷蒙德·理查德·马丁是欧美奇幻小说大师。马丁的作品主要以人物为关注点，描写细腻丰富，突破了幻想文学界固有的创作模式，多次引领阅读潮流。由于马丁的辉煌成就，他被誉为美国的托尔金和新世纪的海明威。从1989年开始，马丁淡出文学界，转而投身演艺界发展，1996年他才重返文坛而开始奇幻文学的创作，处女作便是《权力的游戏》，即为《冰与火之歌》的首部曲。《权力的游戏》甫出便拿下了British Fantasy Society、 世界奇幻奖和星云奖年度最佳幻想作品提名，在非官方的不记名奇幻作品投票中，《冰与火之歌》俨然已经可以和《魔戒》平起平坐，作者网站的访问量也是和斯蒂芬·金、J.K.罗琳等不相上下，其受欢迎的程度可见一斑。乔治马丁被时代杂志评选为2011年影响世界的一百人之一。

妙语连珠

1.as soon as 一…就…

We chose the house for our home as soon as we saw it.
我们一看见这所房子，就把它选作我们的家了。

I phoned him so that he shall come as soon as possible.
我给他打了个电话，让他能尽可能快地到来。

2.change into 变成；把…变成

Experts have warned for months that the H5N1 strain of bird flu could change into a form that spreads easily between people, a development that would spark a pandemic.
数月以来，专家们一直在警告说H5N1禽流感毒株可能突变成一种易于在人与人之间传播的类型，这可能导致人类流感大流行。

There is concern that the virus-if given enough opportunities-will change into a form that is highly infectious for humans and spreads easily from person to person, but this has yet to occur.
令人担忧的是，如果有足够的机会，该病毒将转变成对人类具有高度传染性并很容易在人际传播的形式，但尚未发生这样的事情。