【一起听英语】独自环海旅行

 现实与梦想的差距有多大，取决于你敢不敢去做吗？荷兰的一位女孩独自一人环海旅行，她实现了自己的梦想，那么你呢

Dima: Hi, welcome to this edition of 6 Minute English with me, Dima Kostenko

Kate: and me, Kate Colin. Hi.

Dima: In today's programme we're talking about dreams and aspirations¹ vs. reality;

also, when you're a teenager, just how much say should your parents have

about your risky² adventures? But first of all I would like to ask you a question

Kate.

Kate: Responds + brief chat about dreams/aspirations

Dima: Well we're not the only people in the world who have once dreamt of doing

something amazing, of course. Recently I've come across a story about a Dutch

girl who was about to surprise the world with a unique deed. Believe it or not

Kate, at the age of 13 Laura Dekker was planning to sail around the world

alone in a boat that's just over 8.5 metres long! This would make her the

youngest ever person to circumnavigate the globe solo.

Kate: Chips in with reaction

Dima: Reacts. The voyage was due to start earlier this month, however last month the

Dutch authorities made a decision which effectively put an end to Laura's

sailing aspirations - at least for now. They said such an adventure would not be

in her best interest at an age that's very important for her development. And

that's despite the fact that Laura's parents supported her intention. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

Page 2 of 4

Kate: In a moment we'll hear from our reporter in the Hague Geraldine Coughlan,

but before that, shall I take us through some of today's key vocabulary?

Dima: Great idea Kate.

Kate: OK. First of all, the word combination 'legal battle'. In the context of the story

this refers to the intention of social workers to strip Laura's parents, who

supported their daughter's plans, of their legal parental³ rights through a court's

decision. Next, another collocation, 'a raging debate', which means a very

intense, heated public discussion. And two verbs with similar meanings: 'to

spark' and 'to fuel'. Both of them can mean to be the cause of, or the reason for

something, to encourage something.

Dima: And just before we listen to Geraldine, here comes this week's question for you

Kate. You will hear Geraldine say in her report that some ambitious parents

encourage their children to become the youngest to accomplish an extremely

exhausting, or, as she puts it, gruelling feat⁴. Which phrase do you think she

uses to describe this? Is it

a) a rat race to become a 'superchild';

b) a mousetrap for child competitors, or

c) a three-legged race?

Kate: Guesses

Dima: We'll check your answer in a minute - see if you can catch it as you're listening

to our reporter. Also, listen out for the key words:

Kate: 'Legal battle', 'raging debate', 'spark' and 'fuel'. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

Page 3 of 4

Clip 1 0'19"

The legal battle has sparked a raging debate about the role that parents should play in their

children's risky adventures. Psychologists say the new rat race to become a 'superchild', or the

youngest to accomplish a gruelling feat, can be fuelled by ambitious parents.

Kate: Geraldine Coughlan says the legal battle around the decision by Laura and her

parents to allow her to sail solo around the globe has started a big public

discussion.

Dima: That's right - and did you hear the answer to this week's question? What phrase

does our reporter use to describe the competitive urge to become the youngest

to achieve something big?

Kate: She says that, according to psychologists, it's some overly ambitious parents

who are at least partly responsible for 'the new rat race to become a

'superchild'. Which means my earlier guess was right/wrong.

Dima: The next comment comes from Julie Thomas from the Children's Legal Centre

which promotes children's rights in the UK and worldwide. As you listen, try to

decide whether she agrees or disagrees with the authorities' decision not to

allow Laura to go sailing. And here's another collocation for today, to help you

find the answer:

Kate: 'Final arbiters⁵', meaning people who have the official, as well as moral right to

take a decision in a dispute.

Dima: OK? Let's listen:

 

Clip 2 0'13"

The difficulty is that as parents you can't always be the final arbiters in these things. You

know, society does have a role in protecting children and making sure that they do really

understand what they're doing. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

Page 4 of 4

Kate: Reacts + explains

Dima: Thanks for your explanation Kate. An unusual story, and you can find out more

about it by following the links from our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

Right, all we have time for today is a quick re-cap of some key vocabulary with

Kate.

Kate: OK, we had the phrase 'legal battle'; then, another collocation, 'a raging debate';

we also heard the verbs 'to spark' and 'to fuel'; there was the phrase 'the new rat

race to become a 'superchild'; and - 'final arbiters'.

Dima: Thanks for that Kate. Until next week.

Both: Goodbye! 

1 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

2 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

3 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

4 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

5 arbiters   

仲裁人，裁决者( arbiter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In the forensicfield, the final arbiters of quality are the courts. 在法医学领域，质量的最后仲裁者是法庭。
• They are, increasingly, arbiters of which types of borrowers get credit. 它们正越来越多地充当决定哪几种借款人可获得信贷的裁决人角色。