英语听力精选进阶版 6293

For some it is a celebration of femininity and beauty.

But feminist¹ campaigners say that it is nothing other than the degradation² of women, who are paraded like animals in a cattle market.

The Miss World beauty pageant³ is now 60 but remains⁴ controversial, as last weekend's show in London proved.

Inside the venue⁵, about 110 contestants⁶ showed off their figures and boasted about their talents. Outside, dozens of feminist campaigners held placards with messages such as "Sexism is pretty ugly" and shouted slogans against chauvinism and what they call the objectification of women.

Feminists⁷ and beauty pageant organisers are old enemies. The show was created in the 1950s to promote the Festival of Britain. By the 70s, Women's Lib demonstrators tried to disrupt the proceedings⁸, alleging⁹ that the whole thing was an offence against women's equality.

But some contestants argue that it can actually empower women. Laura Coleman, Miss England 2008, said it "gives girls confidence and opportunities they may not otherwise have."

For some, these opportunities are in Hollywood. About 12 beauty queens landed roles in James Bond movies and the Oscar-winning star Halle Berry finished sixth in 1986. Organisers are keen to point out that the contestants are not airheads but often have degrees and speak several languages.

This year's winner is 21-year-old Venezuelan Ivian Sarcos, who in her childhood thought about becoming a nun¹⁰. Despite the protests the show is likely to continue, with plans to hold next year's Miss World in China.

Quiz 小测验

1. What do feminists compare beauty pageants¹¹ to? 

A cattle market.

2. How old is the Miss World beauty pageant? 

Sixty.

3. How can the contest be positive for women, according to an ex-participant? 

It can give contestants confidence and opportunities, according to Miss England 2008 Laura Coleman.

4. What expression in the article is an impolite phrase for a stupid person? 

An airhead.

5. Is this statement true, false or not given? The winner of this years' contest was a nun. 

False. Ivian Sarcos, from Venezuela, thought about being a nun in her childhood but did not follow this career.

Glossary 词汇表

femininity 女性化，女人气质 

feminist campaigner 女权运动人士 

degradation 降低，贬低 

to be paraded 列队展示 

cattle market 牲畜市场 

beauty pageant 选美活动 

to show off (something) 炫耀 

figure 体形 

to boast about (something) 自吹自擂 

placard 标语牌 

sexism 性别歧视 

slogan 口号 

chauvinism 大男子主义 

objectification of women 把妇女当物品展示 

Women's Lib 妇女解放 

to disrupt something 干扰某事 

women's equality 妇女平等 

empower 让人有能力去做什么 

beauty queen 选美大赛皇后 

airhead 傻瓜，没头脑的人

1 feminist   

adj.主张男女平等的，女权主义的

参考例句：

• She followed the feminist movement.她支持女权运动。
• From then on,feminist studies on literature boomed.从那时起，男女平等受教育的现象开始迅速兴起。

2 degradation   

n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变

参考例句：

• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
• Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。

3 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 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。

6 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》

7 feminists   

n.男女平等主义者，女权扩张论者( feminist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Only 16 percent of young women in a 1990 survey considered themselves feminists. 在1990年的一项调查中，只有16%的年轻女性认为自己是女权主义者。 来自辞典例句
• The organization had many enemies, most notably among feminists. 这个组织有许多敌人，特别是在男女平等主义者中。 来自辞典例句

8 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

9 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

10 nun   

n.修女，尼姑

参考例句：

• I can't believe that the famous singer has become a nun.我无法相信那个著名的歌星已做了修女。
• She shaved her head and became a nun.她削发为尼。

11 pageants   

n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会

参考例句：

• It is young people who favor holding Beauty pageants. 赞成举办选美的是年轻人。 来自互联网
• Others say that there's a fine line between the pageants and sexual exploitation. 其他人说，选美和性剥削之间只有非常细微的界线。 来自互联网