口语进阶一般为更资深的英语学习者准备，包括对词汇的了解，对语态的理解等。下面请结合mp3以及下方的原文和翻译，开始今天的口语进阶练习吧！

原文及翻译

This sale, which is called the Louisiana Purchase, was very important for the United States. By controlling the Mississippi River, the Americans would be able to use it for transporting goods and people in this rapidly developing area. For many years, river boats were the main method of long-distance transportation for people living near the Mississippi.

这笔交易被称为路易斯安那购买案，对美国来说非常重要。通过控制密西西比河，美国人将能够用它来运输这个快速发展的地区的货物和人员。多年来，河船是密西西比河附近居民长途运输的主要方式。

Steam-powered boats with large paddle wheels that pushed the boat forward were very popular in the time before cars and airplanes. One of the famous cities along the Mississippi River is Saint Louis. This city is known as the gateway to the west. During the 19th century, Saint Louis was the last large town that people would pass through on their way to a new farmland farther west. 

在汽车和飞机出现之前，蒸汽动力船带有推动船前进的大明轮，非常受欢迎。密西西比河沿岸著名的城市之一是圣路易斯。这座城市被称为西部门户。在 19 世纪，圣路易斯是人们前往更西边的新农田途中经过的最后一座大城镇。

Today, Saint Louis is famous for the Gateway Arch, a tall Monument that welcomes people to the west. Saint Louis is also known as the city where the music known as the blues began.

今天，圣路易斯以大拱门而闻名，这是一座高大的纪念碑，欢迎人们来到西部。圣路易斯也被称为蓝调音乐的发源地。

以上就是本期的口语进阶练习，希望对您的口语水平有所帮助。您也可以访问网站主页，获取最新的英语学习资料，全方位提升英语能力。