英语听力精选进阶版 6172

A Duty of Care 对参赛选手的关心的义务

Susan Boyle is the latest member of the British public to be catapulted into the limelight on the back of a reality TV show. And it is her unstable¹ and emotional state after the TV show’s finale which has sparked a national debate on just how well these manufactured stars are looked after.

It is true that many of these budding stars are extroverts² but there is growing concern over the shy, the introverted and the young. Producers of TV shows such as Big Brother, X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent are facing a barrage³ of questions about just how well they exercise their duty of care.

So what could this mean for the future? Will contestants⁴ be offered media training and psychologists to help them deal with the trappings of fame? And for how long should producers hold contestants’ hands?

There have been reports in the media that these shows might make the application process a little more rigorous, weeding out any problem contestants from the start. Linda Papadopoulos, who has worked as a psychiatrist⁵ on Big Brother, does not appear to think this is necessary. She says:

"I don't think certain people shouldn't be allowed to take part in these shows, but different people need different kinds of support - there can't be the same cookie cutter treatment."

Where the success of these shows lies on easy to roll out formats⁶, it will be interesting to see if producers are able to offer such a bespoke⁷ level of support.

The debate rages on and it has cast a shadow not only over TV producers but also over the British news media. One well-known TV critic noted⁸ that: "the British news media probably have as much responsibility for pressure on the contestants as the show itself."

Even given her current situation, it is unlikely the media will back away from Susan Boyle. For the moment though, she is being cared for in a top London clinic and receiving support and warm wishes from her millions of fans.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

catapulted 照射

limelight 聚光灯

reality TV show 电视真人秀

unstable and emotional state 不稳定和情绪化状态

national debate 全国民众争论

manufactured stars 制作的明星

extroverts 性格外向的人

introverted 性格内向的人

a barrage 接二连三的

duty of care 关心（他人）的义务

media training （面对）媒体培训

psychologists 心理学家

trappings of fame 用来形容名声对一个人的负面影响

rigorous 严格的

weeding out 淘汰

cookie cutter treatment 一刀切

roll out 排除

bespoke 定做的

rages on （非正式用语）火爆进行中

cast a shadow 笼罩一层阴影

1 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

2 extroverts   

性格外向的人( extrovert的名词复数 )； 活跃、愉快、爱交际的人

参考例句：

• In the second half, the students were criticized. Extroverts were unfazed. 在后半部分，举不动时学生要受批评，外向性格的学生表现出不满。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 大脑与疾病
• Extroverts prefer lively conversation to brooding on the meaning of life. 性格外向的人喜欢高谈阔论，而不愿思索人生的意义。

3 barrage   

n.火力网，弹幕

参考例句：

• The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
• The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。

4 contestants   

n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries. 这次比赛吸引了代表8个不同国家的500多名参赛者。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 psychiatrist   

n.精神病专家；精神病医师

参考例句：

• He went to a psychiatrist about his compulsive gambling.他去看精神科医生治疗不能自拔的赌瘾。
• The psychiatrist corrected him gently.精神病医师彬彬有礼地纠正他。

6 formats   

n.（出版物的）版式( format的名词复数 )；[电视]电视节目的总安排（或计划）

参考例句：

• They are producing books in all kinds of different formats. 他们出版各种不同开本的书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A true GUI includes standard formats for representing text and graphics. 真正的图形用户界面包括表示文字和图形的标准格式。 来自互联网

7 bespoke   

adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求

参考例句：

• His style of dressing bespoke great self-confidence. 他的衣着风格显得十分自信。
• The haberdasher presented a cap, saying,"Here is the cap your worship bespoke." 帽匠拿出一顶帽子来说：“这就是老爷您定做的那顶。” 来自辞典例句

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。