英语听力精选进阶版 6286

Lights, camera, action! When we go to the cinema we sometimes experience scenes that reflect reality. But does the imagery affect our behaviour?

A new study has found that teenagers who see actors smoking on screen are more likely to take it up.

5,000 15 year olds in the UK were questioned and many said seeing blockbuster films that depict¹ smoking would encourage them to light up.

This research by Bristol University looked at the potential influence of some of the 360 top US box office films released between 2001 and 2005 that showed smoking, such as Spider-Man and The Matrix.

Now some experts are calling for a change in film certification so the under-18s are unable to see actors smoking on the silver screen.

Dr Andrea Waylen, who led the research, said "We saw a linear relationship between adolescent smoking and the number of films they had seen depicting² smoking."

In the UK, films with ratings U (universal) or PG (parental guidance) ban scenes showing drug misuse³ but not cigarette smoking.

But is seeing the lead puffing⁴ on a cigarette really glamorising smoking? If so, would the motion-picture industry have to re-think what goes in every scene from the start to the end credits?

Simon Clark, director of the smoker's group Forest, said: "We go to the cinema to escape from the nanny state… what next? Should government reclassify films that feature fat people as well in case they are bad role models?"

Quiz 小测验

1. Do some teenagers get influenced by seeing actors smoking in films? 

Yes. A new study has found that teenagers who see actors smoking on screen are more likely to take it up.

2. Is this statement true or false? Every film is given a certificate which says under-18s aren't allowed to watch it. 

False. The article said: "Some experts are calling for a change in film certification so the under-18s are unable to see actors smoking on the silver screen."

3. Is this statement true or false? Spider-Man and The Matrix were box office hits in the US. 

True. The article said: "This research by Bristol University looked at the potential influence of some of the 360 top US box office films released between 2001 and 2005 that showed smoking, such as Spider-Man and The Matrix."

4. Are films with the rating U or PG not allowed to show people smoking? 

No. In the UK, films with ratings U (universal) or PG (parental guidance) ban scenes showing drug misuse but not cigarette smoking.

5. Do blockbuster films begin with the credits? 

No. The article said: "Would the motion-picture industry have to re-think what goes in every scene from the start to the end credits?"

Glossary⁵ 词汇表

lights, camera, action! 灯光，镜头，开拍！

imagery 想象中的 

blockbuster 畅销大片 

depict 表现，刻画 

box office 票房 

film certification （针对观众年龄的）电影限制规定 

the silver screen 银幕 

ratings 评级 

PG (parental guidance) 家长指导级(不适合儿童观看的) 

the lead 领衔主演 

glamorising 潇洒的 

motion-picture 电影 

scene 场面 

the end credits 影片末尾的演员表 

reclassify 重新划定 

role models 榜样

1 depict   

vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述

参考例句：

• I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。
• Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

2 depicting   

描绘，描画( depict的现在分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
• The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。

3 misuse   

n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用

参考例句：

• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents.你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。
• He was sacked for computer misuse.他因滥用计算机而被解雇了。

4 puffing   

v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。