Social Mobility

 　　NB: This is not a word for word transcript¹

　　Rob: Hello, I'm Rob, and Yvonne has joined me for today's 6 Minute English. Hello,

　　Yvonne!

　　Yvonne: Hello, Rob.

　　Rob: Today, we're talking about social mobility² in the UK and a plan by the

　　government to try and improve it.

　　Yvonne: Social mobility is a big issue, and something that is very important.

　　Rob: Yes, and the coalition³ government in the UK is hoping its new strategy will

　　help make things better for everyone. Now, today I wanted to ask you,

　　according to government statistics what percentage of the UK population has

　　attended an independent or private school? Is it:

　　a) 7%

　　b) 12% or

　　c) 24%

　　Yvonne: I’m going to say 24%.

　　Rob: OK! Interesting. Well, as usual, I'll give you the answer at the end of today's "6

　　Minute English". So let's talk about social mobility. Would you like to explain

　　what this term really means, Yvonne?

　　Yvonne: Sure. Social mobility describes the extent an individual's status can change in

　　terms of their position in a social hierarchy⁴.

　　Rob: A social hierarchy. So this is about the class system. But how can we tell which

　　class a person belongs to?

　　Yvonne: Well, this is often defined by a person's material wealth, their occupation and

　　their education. So this is what the government's new strategy is hoping to

　　improve for everyone.

　　Rob: Yes, but it particularly aims to give more opportunities to poorer people from

　　the lower class, some of which live in poverty. Let's hear from the

　　government’s social mobility tsar, Alan Milburn. He spoke⁵ to the BBC about

　　the aim of improving social mobility.

　　Insert 1: Alan Milburn

　　What social mobility is in the end is about breaking the link between a person's class or

　　income being dependent on the class or income of their parents, and unfortunately our

　　country tends to have a stronger correlation⁶ between parental⁷ income and class, and

　　children's income and class, than comparable countries.

　　Rob: So Alan Milburn says in the UK there is a strong correlation – or link –

　　between the income and class of parents and the income and class of their

　　children.

　　Yvonne: Oh, so he’s suggesting that people who are poorer and in a lower class now are

　　in the same situation as their parents were?

　　Rob: Mm, that's right and this is worse than in other similar countries. That's why he

　　says we need to break this link.

　　Yvonne: To break the link. But Rob, how is the government hoping to do that?

　　Rob: Well, shall we hear from David Willetts? He’s the Universities and Science minister.

　　He can explain the government's new approach.

　　Insert 2: David Willetts

　　You've got a clear statement of how at each stage these kind of hinges, these moments in

　　peoples lives when they make crucial transitions - we want those transitions to be better

　　for everyone. We want for everyone to see much more clearly what their opportunities

　　are and how they can seize them.

　　Yvonne: So David Willetts is talking about improving the crucial transitions in

　　people's lives. What are those Rob?

　　Rob: Well, these crucial transitions are the important points in our lives where we

　　can make a decision that could have consequences later on. Things like which

　　school we go to, which university we choose, or which career we take.

　　Yvonne: Ah, these are important choices or key decisions. So the government wants to

　　make it easier for people to know what their opportunities are and how they

　　can access them.

　　Rob: Or what David Willetts said was, "how they can seize them" – or get them. The

　　ultimate vision for this strategy is to create a fairer society. But, of course, this

　　government plan is just a strategy - it's not a policy and there's no extra money.

　　Yvonne: Hmm. Well, maybe we should hear from Frances Cairncross who's an

　　economist⁸. She thinks it's not the government's responsibility to improve

　　social mobility.

　　Insert 3: Frances Cairncross

　　I approve of anything that increases the chances for young people of getting ahead, but a

　　lot of the things that improve those chances happen in the family, they don't happen at a

　　government level. They happen if you have parents who talk to you, if you have parents

　　who care whether you finish your homework. That's part of social mobility and it’s an

　　extremely important part.

　　Yvonne: That's Frances Cairncross, who says she approves of any initiative - or idea -

　　that helps young people, but many things that improve the chances of them

　　getting ahead come from home.

　　Rob: Yes. She believes that much of the responsibility comes from the parents. If

　　they talk to their children, take an interest in their homework, it can really help

　　them get ahead in life.

　　Yvonne: Mm. Well, maybe she has a point there, Rob! Now, Rob, it's time you gave me

　　the answer to your question.

　　Rob Ah yes. I asked you, according to government statistics, what percentage of the

　　UK population has attended an independent or private school? Was it 7%, 12%

　　or 24%?

　　Yvonne: And I said 24%, but I think I’m terribly wrong.

　　Rob: Ah, you can’t change your mind now! I’m afraid you are wrong. The answer

　　is actually just 7%. OK, Yvonne, please could you remind us of some of the

　　words that we used in today's programme.

　　Yvonne: social mobility

　　a strategy

　　social hierarchy

　　material wealth

　　opportunities

　　a correlation between

　　crucial transitions

　　consequences

　　to seize

　　responsibility

　　Rob: Thanks so much, Yvonne.

　　Yvonne: You’re welcome. And that's all for today, but do join us again for more "6

　　Minute English" soon.

　　Both: Goodbye!

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 hierarchy   

n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层

参考例句：

• There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
• She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 correlation   

n.相互关系，相关，关连

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
• A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

7 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

8 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。