英语听力精选进阶版 13850

Mind the equality gap!

Summary

24 July 2012

Anyone who has visited London will be familiar with the tube map - the grid¹ of brightly coloured lines that show where the London Underground stations are. A university researcher has produced a tube map that shows the life expectancy² of the people living near each station - a graphic³ reminder⁴ of London's deep social inequalities.

Reporter:

Beth McLeod

Report

If you're hoping for a long and healthy life, the best place in London to live is here in Oxford⁵ Circus, where the life expectancy for children born now is 96 years. The area is slap bang in the middle of the city, and its residents tend to be very wealthy - living in imposing⁶ houses that are secluded⁷ from the hectic⁸ high street. So it's not surprising that it has come out top in a new map by Dr. James Cheshire of University College London that he created as a vivid display of disparities in wealth. 

"The tube map is a very popular thing for Londoners, all of us can relate to it as we travel around the city. Conventionally these sorts of demographic statistics are displayed as a map that shows general areas rather than giving someone something more tangible⁹ to think about."

If you travel 15 minutes or so on the underground - to Brixton station in South London - the life expectancy drops to 78 - a full 18 years less than in Oxford Circus. 

There is a well-established link between life expectancy and deprivation¹⁰, and Brixton is one of the poorer areas of London - it has a large immigrant population and was one of the scenes of last year's riots. 

With recent research showing that levels of inequality in the UK have returned to heights last experienced at the start of the Second World War, this map points out that one of the world's wealthiest cities really has to "mind the gap" in living standards.

1 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

2 expectancy   

n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额

参考例句：

• Japanese people have a very high life expectancy.日本人的平均寿命非常长。
• The atomosphere of tense expectancy sobered everyone.这种期望的紧张气氛使每个人变得严肃起来。

3 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

4 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

5 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

6 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

7 secluded   

adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时，喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑，有茅草房顶和宁静的花园，漂亮极了，简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 hectic   

adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的

参考例句：

• I spent a very hectic Sunday.我度过了一个忙乱的星期天。
• The two days we spent there were enjoyable but hectic.我们在那里度过的两天愉快但闹哄哄的。

9 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

10 deprivation   

n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困

参考例句：

• Many studies make it clear that sleep deprivation is dangerous.多实验都证实了睡眠被剥夺是危险的。
• Missing the holiday was a great deprivation.错过假日是极大的损失。