哭泣的男人

 　　Neil: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English with me, Neil, and a very sad looking Finn.

　　Finn: Hi Neil.

　　Neil: Oh dear, what’s wrong Finn?

　　Finn: It’s just this beautiful piece of classical music always makes me cry.

　　Neil: Ah… I see! Finn is a man who cries. That is interesting because this programme is all about men who cry.

　　Finn: Well, I don't cry all the time, Neil!

　　Neil: We can talk more about your crying later, but first it’s our quiz question. And, of course, it’s about crying. Finn, take this tissue¹ and dry your eyes and answer this…

　　Finn: Thank you. I’ll try my best.

　　Neil: An organisation² of eye scientists, called the German Society of Ophthalmology, did some research about male crying habits. I want to know how often men cry every year. Is it:

　　a) Between one and five times.

　　b) Between six and 17 times.

　　c) Between 18 and 25 times.

　　Finn: I think it’s b): six and 17 times.

　　Neil: OK, we will find out at the end of the programme. But back to your classical music now Finn. Do you often cry when you hear a piece of music you love?

　　Finn: Well, not always. It depends on a few different things. And if the music reminds me of something, I can become emotional³.

　　Neil: You can say someone is ‘emotional’ if they are showing strong feelings. Well, Finn, you are not the only man who has cried in public recently. David Beckham cried at the end of the final football match of his career. And George Osborne, who is the British finance⁴ minister, was recently seen on TV crying. He was at the funeral of the former British prime⁵ minister, Margaret Thatcher⁶.

　　Finn: A funeral is the ceremony people go to when someone has died. But why do you sound surprised? It’s normal to cry - especially at a funeral.

　　Neil: But, is it normal for men to cry? People thought it was so strange for the finance minister George Osborne to cry in public that they asked him why he did it. Listen to his answer. He uses that word we talked about - ‘emotional’. Listen for it.

　　British finance minister, George Osborne:

　　I guess I welled up a bit because I thought it was a very emotional and moving occasion⁷ and at times overwhelming⁸.

　　Neil: So, he cried because it was an emotional occasion. He used another two words to describe the funeral. Now let’s listen again. Can you hear what they are?

　　British finance minister, George Osborne:

　　I guess I welled up a bit because I thought it was a very emotional and moving occasion and at times overwhelming.

　　Neil: What did he say, Finn?

　　Finn: He said it was moving. If something is moving, it means that it makes you feel sad.

　　Neil: Just like that piece of music that makes you cry, Finn.

　　Finn: OK, Neil. That piece of music is very moving for me.

　　Neil: He also said that the ceremony was overwhelming. When something is overwhelming it makes you feel so emotional, you can’t cope⁹! You have to cry.

　　Finn: Come on, Neil. It’s time for me to ask you some questions. Don't you ever well up - meaning your eyes fill with tears? You must have had a moving or overwhelming experience.

　　Neil: Of course I have. I welled up when I got married and I cried like a baby when my children were born - but that was because I was so happy.

　　Finn: Ah, so are you saying that it’s OK to cry from happiness?

　　Neil: Maybe that’s true. Lots of men cried during the London Olympics in 2012. Perhaps it’s becoming more normal, but it still seems that if you are a man and you cry in public, it will be talked about in the media as if it is strange or wrong. But, enough about me…

　　Finn: I can see you are trying to avoid talking about this subject, Neil. Does it make you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed?

　　Neil: Not at all. I am a modern man. But just let me turn this on again and see what happens.

　　Finn: Ah, that’s not fair, Neil.

　　Neil: He’s going to start again. Yes, I can see tears - he’s welling up. Here’s the answer to our quiz question. How often do men cry every year?

　　Finn: I said between b) six and 17 times.

　　Neil: And you are right. Join us again for 6 Minute English.

1 tissue   

n.组织；薄纱，薄纸，手巾纸

参考例句：

• As we age we lose muscle tissue.肌肉组织会随着我们日趋衰老而萎缩。
• Athletes have hardly any fatty tissue.运动员几乎没有什么脂肪组织。

2 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

3 emotional   

adj.令人动情的；易动感情的；感情(上)的

参考例句：

• Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
• This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。

4 finance   

n.财务管理，财政，金融，财源，资金

参考例句：

• She is an expert in finance.她是一名财政专家。
• A finance house made a bid to buy up the entire company.一家信贷公司出价买下了整个公司。

5 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

6 thatcher   

n.茅屋匠

参考例句：

• Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. 汤姆 - 索亚和撒切尔法官同乘一条小艇。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. 撒切尔夫人几乎神经失常，还有波莉姨妈也是。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

7 occasion   

n.场合，时机，机会，诱因，理由；vt.惹起，引起

参考例句：

• Her dress was too showy for such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，她的服装过分华丽了。
• Her tears were fought back on such an occasion.在这种场合下她忍住了眼泪。

8 overwhelming   

adj.势不可挡的，压倒的，无法抵抗的

参考例句：

• The flood was overwhelming and the city was soon drowned.洪水来势凶猛，很快这个城市就被淹没了。
• The act was adopted by an overwhelming majority.该法案以压倒多数通过。

9 cope   

v.(with)竞争，对抗；对付，妥善处理

参考例句：

• He had a lot of work,but he was able to cope.他的活虽多，但还能应付得来。
• They have to cope with a mountain of problems.他们得应付成堆的问题。