英语听力精选进阶版 6403（在线收听）

Is it art or vandalism? Britain is divided by graffiti. Recently, a British judge was so impressed by one graffiti gang, called SMT, he said in court that they should be proud of their work.

He still sent them to prison though.

Under the law, graffiti is criminal damage, and the maximum sentence is ten years in prison, so the gang got off lightly. One member got nine months, one six months and one, who was under 18, got six months in a youth detention centre.

The prosecuting barrister said that they had caused ￡150,000 worth of damage to the railways. He said "It's not simply tagging with marker pens. The scale we are talking about is the entire carriage being daubed."

In contrast, the judge said the gang were talented artists, he didn't want to give them a custodial sentence, and would be as lenient as he could. After looking at photographs of their graffiti, he called it a portfolio to be proud of.

It's difficult to speak about graffiti, without making it clear whether you like it or hate it. The prosecuting barrister talked about vandalism and damage to property. He used the word 'daub', which means to apply colour without any skill or artistry.

Meanwhile the judge's words all show he sees their graffiti as art - a portfolio is a professional artist's collection of work, and the judge repeatedly used the word talent and talented.

Local councils in Britain spend a lot of money every year removing spray-painting, because many people complain it makes an area feel unsafe and run-down. However, research in 2008 showed that people were willing to tolerate some graffiti. They were more likely to report it as vandalism if they saw it as 'low quality' or offensive.

But the research also showed that even when graffiti was accepted and valued as community art, it was often sprayed over by another graffiti writer in time, and people then saw that as vandalism.

Quiz 测验

1. According to the article, do all British people feel the same about graffiti?

No. Some see it as art and some as criminal damage or vandalism.

2. What is the maximum sentence for graffiti?

10 years in prison.

3. Who described the gang's graffiti as daubing not art?

The prosecuting barrister.

4. Is the following statement true, false or not given? People are more likely to report graffiti if it is offensive.

This is true.

5. Which word, used in the article, means an artist's collection of work, used to show their talent?

Portfolio.

Glossary 词汇表

vandalism 破坏公物的行为

graffiti 涂鸦

judge 法官

gang （犯罪）团伙

sent them to prison 送他们入狱

criminal damage 刑事损害

maximum sentence 最高刑罚

got off lightly （被）从轻判决

got nine months 被判九个月的徒刑

youth detention centre 少年拘留所

prosecuting barrister 起诉律师

tagging 标注

carriage 车厢

daubed （随意）涂抹

custodial sentence 监禁刑罚

lenient 宽松的

portfolio 作品集

artistry 艺术技巧

local councils 地方（政府）理事会

spray-painting 喷漆

rundown 状况差的，衰退的

report 报告

offensive 冒犯无礼的