英语听力精选进阶版 6282

A leading classical music composer's got so fed up with mobile phones going off during performances that he wants offenders¹ to be fined and ejected from the venue².

Sir Peter Maxwell Davis's call for a zero-tolerance policy has sparked a debate about when and where it's appropriate to use mobiles. But would a ban work?

It's been described as one of the great artistic³ blights⁴ of our time: the ringing mobile phone in the middle of a particularly quiet and moving piece of music, or just as the lead actor in your favourite play is about to deliver his lines… To be, or not to… BEEP!

For some it's a nuisance; for others an act of vandalism. Sir Peter, who is the Master of the Queen's Music, has called it artistic terrorism.

After at least three mobiles interrupted a concert he was attending, he said he'd write to mobile networks to find out how a penalty system could be introduced. Any money raised by the clampdown would go to a musicians' charity.

But it's not just the ring tones which get up Sir Peter's nose. He also finds people texting and checking their emails distracting and discourteous⁵.

Many agree with his hard-line approach. But others argue that too many stringent⁶ rules will put people off going to concerts. Musician and journalist Samara Ginsberg reckons audiences are self-policing anyway. She thinks they let miscreants⁷ know very clearly their mobile use is unacceptable. If they do it again they understand ''they'll be strung up,'' she said.

Quiz 小测验

1. Does Sir Peter Maxwell Davis think people who use mobiles at concerts should be removed from the venue? 

Yes, he wants offenders to be fined and ejected from the venue.

2. What crime does Sir Peter compare using a mobile in a concert to?

Terrorism. Sir Peter, who is the Master of the Queen's Music, has called it an act of musical terrorism.

3. Does Sir Peter want to get rich from fining people? 

No. Any money raised would go to a musicians' charity.

4. Is Sir Peter's approach moderate? 

No. Many agree with his hard-line approach.

5. Does everyone agree there's a need to create strict rules? 

No. Samara Ginsberg reckons audiences are self-policing.

Glossary 词汇表

offenders 触犯 (法律和规章的) 的人 

fined 被罚款 

ejected 被勒令离开 

a zero-tolerance policy 零容忍，决不容忍政策 

blights 恶习，祸害 

a nuisance 讨厌的人，事情 

an act of vandalism 一种恶意破坏行为 

terrorism 恐怖主义 

a penalty system 一种惩罚制度 

clampdown 镇压 

get up (someone’s) nose 触怒某人 

distracting 分散（注意力） 

discourteous 不礼貌的，不敬的 

hard-line 强硬的 

stringent 严厉的 

self-policing 自我管制 

miscreants 恶劣分子 

strung up 被处以绞刑

1 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

2 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

3 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

4 blights   

使凋萎( blight的第三人称单数 )； 使颓丧； 损害； 妨害

参考例句：

• The crops suffered from frequent blights. 农作物经常遭受病虫害。
• New England was accustomed to didacticism in its literature, and unmitigated didacticism blights the novel. 新英格兰习惯于在文学里说教，可是一味说教，小说就要完蛋。

5 discourteous   

adj.不恭的，不敬的

参考例句：

• I was offended by his discourteous reply.他无礼的回答使我很生气。
• It was discourteous of you to arrive late.你迟到了，真没礼貌。

6 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

7 miscreants   

n.恶棍，歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I ordered the miscreants to let me out. 我命令这些土匪放我出去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Local people demanded that the District Magistrate apprehend the miscreants. 当地人要求地方法官逮捕那些歹徒。 来自辞典例句