VOA慢速英语--社交媒体热议英国王室宝宝的性别和姓名

Talk About Royal Birth Popular on Social Media

This is What's Trending Today.

Babies have been a popular subject on social media in recent days.

People are writing a lot on Twitter and other social media platforms about the impending¹ birth of the first child of Britain’s Prince Harry² and Meghan Markel, the Duchess of Sussex.

She and her husband, married in 2018, have been keeping many details about the baby's birth secret. They say they do not know the baby's sex and have not told the public where the baby will be born.

The secrecy³ around the birth has been a hot issue on social media. Writer Tina Brown noted⁴ that she supports Meghan Markel's decision to keep details of the baby's birth private – a decision that breaks from what Britain’s royal family has done in the past.

"I think Meghan is totally entitled to do things differently," she wrote.

American broadcaster Kasie Hunt wrote that she supports the Duchess of Sussex. In a Tweet, she added that Meghan Markle's critics can "#getoffmylawn."

This is a term an older adult might use to chastise⁵ young people for doing something they are not supposed to do.

Many media organizations have released or published stories about where the baby will be in the royal succession line. The television program “Good Morning America” noted that the baby will be seventh in line for the throne.

The Evening Standard, a British publication, noted that the secrecy surrounding the birth has created a situation for some people to gamble. Specifically, they are making predictions about the sex and name of the baby, which bookmakers expect to be a girl.

Many believe that Grace, Diana, or Elizabeth will be the name if the baby is a girl.

If it is a boy, many suspect the name will be Albert, Arthur, or James.

And that is What's Trending Today.

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

impending – adj. happening or likely to happen soon

chastise – v. to criticize someone for doing something wrong

succession – n. the act or process of getting a title or right after the person who had that position or right before you has died or is no longer able or permitted to have it

throne – n. a ceremonial chair of a ruler

gamble – v. to play games of chance for money

specifically – adv. used to point out the exact identity, purpose, or use of something?

bookmaker – n. a person who decides how likely it is that an event will take place

1 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

2 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

3 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 chastise   

vt.责骂，严惩

参考例句：

• My father used to chastise my brothers with whips.父亲过去常以鞭打惩罚我的兄弟。
• Should I applaud my husband or chastise him?我是该称赞还是责罚我的丈夫呢？