【英语听和读】女王的生日

Jackie: Hello, I'm Jackie Dalton. This month there's a special birthday in the UK.

The Queen, Elizabeth II, is 80 on April 21st. In this programme, we're going to

find out more about the Queen and practise listening comprehension. We'll also

look at some language we use when talking about royalty¹ - that is to say, kings

and queens and members of their family – royalty.

First we'll hear from our royal correspondent Peter Hunt. He's going to tell us

about Elizabeth's childhood. These are some of the words that he'll use.

Idyllic² - which means happy and peaceful, with no problems - idyllic.

The throne – the throne is the special chair which Kings and Queens sit on, but

it also means the position of power held by a Queen or King.

As you listen to Peter, try to answer this question. In her childhood, was

Elizabeth excited that she was going to become Queen, or not?

Peter

She had an idyllic childhood. With an uncle destined³ to inherit the throne, it wasn't thought, in

the early years, she would ever become Queen.

Jackie: The answer is 'no'. The Queen was not excited, because no-one ever expected

that she would become Queen. This was because her uncle was 'destined to 

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inherit the throne' – at the time, people thought he would takeover and rule the

country.

So what did the Queen do in her childhood? Listen to her cousin, Margaret

Rhodes:

Margaret

Well when they were very small, it was mostly playing at being horses. We were circus

horses, or riding ponies⁴, or anything you like, but it involved a lot of neighing and cantering

and galloping⁵.

Jackie: The answer is as a child, the Queen love to play at 'horses' - she liked

pretending to be a horse. That was the start of a lifelong passion for horses –

she still loves horses now.

But it wasn't fun and games forever. In 1936, Elizabeth's uncle abdicated⁷ as

King. He 'abdicated', which means he resigned because he didn't want to be

King any more. Elizabeth's father then became King which meant she was heir

to the throne. 'Heir to the throne' – which means she would become Queen if

her father died or abdicated.

How did this affect her? Listen to her friend Sonia Berry.

 

Sonia Berry

Obviously, she was heir to the throne then. And so things became more formal, we called her

'Princess', we curtseyed to her. She grew up a lot she became, well, more serious.

Jackie: When Elizabeth knew she would probably become Queen, things became more

serious. Other people had to curtsey to her. Curtseying is something women 

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have to do as a sign of respect for royalty. It involves bending the knees with

one foot in front of the other.

Well, in 1952, Elizabeth did indeed become Queen, after father fell ill and died.

The Coronation – the official ceremony where she was crowned took place

when she was just 25.

Coronation

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Jackie: So, after more than 50 years on the throne, has Elizabeth been a good Queen?

Let's hear the opinion of one expert. Graham Turner is a journalist and royal

author. What does he think?

Graham Turner

She's been a very remarkable⁸ Queen. She's really been an icon⁹ of steadiness and good

behaviour.

Jackie: Graham says she's been a 'remarkable' Queen, which means a very good Queen

indeed.

But being a Queen is very hard work. And, as she grows older, will it all

become too much? Will Elizabeth II decide to abdicate⁶? What does Margaret

Rhodes think? Listen to find out.

Margaret Rhodes

I'm perfectly¹⁰ certain she will never retire, as such, because it's not like a normal job. And to

the Queen, the vows¹¹ that she made on Coronation Day are something so deep and so special

that she wouldn't consider not continuing to fulfil those vows until she dies. 

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Jackie: Margaret is certain the Queen would never abdicate. Margaret thinks the

promises, or 'vows' which Elizabeth made on Coronation Day to serve her

country are so important to the Queen that she would never resign.

And, at 80 years, Elizabeth II is still in very good health. So if Margaret is

correct, Elizabeth may well be ruling over us for many years to come. 

1 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。

2 idyllic   

adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的

参考例句：

• These scenes had an idyllic air.这种情景多少有点田园气氛。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

3 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

4 ponies   

矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑

参考例句：

• They drove the ponies into a corral. 他们把矮种马赶进了畜栏。
• She has a mania for ponies. 她特别喜欢小马。

5 galloping   

adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The horse started galloping the moment I gave it a good dig. 我猛戳了马一下，它就奔驰起来了。
• Japan is galloping ahead in the race to develop new technology. 日本在发展新技术的竞争中进展迅速，日新月异。

6 abdicate   

v.让位，辞职，放弃

参考例句：

• The reason I wnat to abdicate is to try something different.我辞职是因为我想尝试些不一样的东西。
• Yuan Shikai forced emperor to abdicate and hand over power to him.袁世凯逼迫皇帝逊位，把政权交给了他。

7 abdicated   

放弃（职责、权力等）( abdicate的过去式和过去分词 )； 退位，逊位

参考例句：

• He abdicated in favour of his son. 他把王位让给了儿子。
• King Edward Ⅷ abdicated in 1936 to marry a commoner. 国王爱德华八世于1936年退位与一个平民结婚。

8 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。

9 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

10 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

11 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。