【一起听英语】英国的政党

英国的政党制度是什么样子的？

Yvonne: You're listening to 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer¹ and Stephen has

kindly² joined me for today's programme. Hello Stephen!

Stephen: Hi Yvonne!

 

Yvonne: This year, there's a special British bank holiday so that people can watch and

celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. But it's

worth noting that some people are making it clear that they won't be

celebrating at all.

Stephen: Well, I suppose at this time, it's easy to forget that not everyone supports royals.

Yvonne: That's true. Some think that a hereditary³ monarchy⁴ – a system where people

are born into royalty⁵ – is inconsistent with the idea of a democracy.

Stephen: Some people believe that those two systems don't work well together. But antimonarchism

isn't new, is it?

Yvonne: No, it's not. In fact, King Charles the first was executed - or put to death - in

1649 after a bloody⁶ civil war. So, I've a rather gruesome question for you

today, Stephen. Are you ready?

Stephen: Oh, my knees are knocking! 

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Yvonne: Why were British royals put to death by beheading rather than hanging?

a) It was faster, because gallows⁷ – a special wooden structure - wasn't needed.

b) It was less brutal⁸ to the prisoner as they died more quickly.

c) More executioners preferred to use the axe⁹.

Stephen: I think it's probably a, because it was faster and they just wanted to get the

execution over and done.

Yvonne: Right - as usual, we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on in today’s

"6 Minute English". So, roughly how many people in Britain are monarchists –

people who support the monarchy? Let's hear from the BBC's Gabriel

Gatehouse:

Insert 1: Gabriel Gatehouse, BBC News

Opinion polls suggest that support for the monarchy hovers¹⁰ around the 70, 75% mark

and has done for quite some time now. But that doesn't mean that a quarter of all

Britons want to get rid of the Queen as head of state. In fact, real die-hard republicans

are pretty difficult to come by.

Yvonne: So support for the monarchy hovers around, or is usually, between 70 and 75%.

But as we heard, that doesn't mean that the remaining 25% - a quarter of all

Britons - want to get rid of the Queen. In fact, we heard that die-hard

republicans are not easy to find, or to come by. Stephen, what does Gabriel

Gatehouse mean by 'die-hard republicans'?

 

Stephen: Well, republicans believe that a country should be lead by someone who has

been elected by its citizens, rather than by someone who was born into the

position. And 'die-hard' republicans are very firm or very unlikely to change

their views. 

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Yvonne: Thanks, Stephen. Well, the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse did manage to find a

group of people who we could describe as 'die-hard republicans'. They belong

to a British anti-monarchy campaign group called Republic, which thinks that

scrapping¹² the monarchy would make politicians more accountable.

Stephen: They think it would make politicians more answerable to the people who put

them in power.

Insert 2: Graham Smith, Republic

By 2025, we want the monarchy gone or going. And it can be done, it can be achieved.

And there are plenty of examples in history. If you go back in time and you ask people,

let's say ten years ago, how long before America has a black president? Most people

would have said 20, 30, 40 years. It happened in eight.

Yvonne: Graham Smith from Republic compares the possibility of scrapping the British

monarchy with how Americans saw the possibility of having a black president

10 years ago.

Stephen: Yes, he says that happened much more quickly than they thought it would – in

just eight years. So he uses that example to say it's possible that Britain could

scrap¹¹ the monarchy by 2025.

 

Yvonne: Well, for many, the monarchy is a big part of Britain's identity. Even

Americans, who are generally proud to live in a republic, seem to enjoy the

British monarchy, especially things like royal weddings!

Stephen: That's true, but is support for the royals consistent with their views on liberty? 

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Yvonne: That’s a good question. And here's what historian, Professor Justin Champion,

says on that:

Insert 3: Professor Justin Champion, historian

The remarkable¹³ thing is that with all of its problems to do with race and class, liberty

means something in America. Liberty is the thing around which their national identity is

built. Ours is built around castles and queens and kings when really, it ought to be built

about being a free-born English man.

Yvonne: Professor Champion thinks it's remarkable - extraordinary - that with all their

problems around race and class, liberty - or freedom - still mean something in

America. He says that's what their national identity is built around.

Stephen: But Britain's national identity, he says, is built around castles and queens and

kings - the monarchy!

Yvonne: Well, the debate has been going on for centuries and I’m sure it will continue.

So in the meantime, Stephen, what's the answer to today's gruesome question?

Why were British royals put to death by beheading rather than hanging?

Stephen: And I think I said, because it was the quickest way.

Yvonne: It's actually because it was less cruel to behead people. Hanging was saved for

the commoners.

Stephen: Well, I guess I'm going to have to read up more of my history again.

Yvonne: Yes. And that's all for "6 Minute English".

Both: Goodbye! 

1 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

2 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

3 hereditary   

adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的

参考例句：

• The Queen of England is a hereditary ruler.英国女王是世袭的统治者。
• In men,hair loss is hereditary.男性脱发属于遗传。

4 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

5 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

6 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

7 gallows   

n.绞刑架，绞台

参考例句：

• The murderer was sent to the gallows for his crimes.谋杀犯由于罪大恶极被处以绞刑。
• Now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows.现在我将在绞刑架上赎我一切的罪过。

8 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

9 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

10 hovers   

鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovers in the sky. 一只老鹰在天空盘旋。
• A hen hovers her chicks. 一只母鸡在孵小鸡。

11 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

12 scrapping   

刮，切除坯体余泥

参考例句：

• He was always scrapping at school. 他在学校总打架。
• These two dogs are always scrapping. 这两条狗总是打架。

13 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。