【一起听英语】皇家宝贝
王子和王妃的小王子，皇家小王子......
Rob 1: Ah, what a familiar sound - a baby crying! Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English,
I'm Rob…
Neil: ….and I’m Neil, hello. So Rob, is that the sound of the new royal baby?
Rob: No – it’s not the Duke 2 and Duchess of Cambridge’s new-born baby – although I’m
sure their little one is just as loud!
Neil: Yes – we know all about babies, don’t we Rob, because we are parents. We know all
about childbirth – well, almost as much as our wives – and all the advice people give
us about caring for our children.
Rob: We do – hold on, I’ll just calm this baby down (Baby stops crying) – that’s better. So,
I might have excellent parenting skills but how different are they to the ones William
and Kate will need? We’ll be discussing that soon and looking at some of the
language of having a baby. But first, how about a question, Neil?
Neil: Good idea.
Rob: How well do you know the British royal family? Do you know when Prince William –
the father of the new baby – was born? Was it on:
a) 21st May 1982
b) 21st June 1982
c) 21st October 1982
Neil: I don’t really remember but I’m going to go for b) 21st June 1982.
Rob: Ok - I’ll let you know the answer later on. But now let’s get back to 2013 and the
arrival 3 of the latest member of the royal family. Neil, when your baby was born, how
did you announce it – or tell people?
6 Minute English ©bbclearningenglish.com 2013
Page 2 of 4
Neil: With my first child I phoned and texted. With my second child only two years later it
was all about Facebook.
Rob: Indeed. Well, when my daughter was born in the maternity 5 unit at our local
hospital, I sent out texts messages to my friends and family. I know people also send
out cards or photos of the baby.
Neil: And then later some people have a baby shower – not a shower with water – but a
party where people give presents for the baby.
Rob: I’m sure the royal baby will get a lot of presents but when royal births are
announced, there is a lot of protocol 6 – or special, traditional ways of doing things.
Neil: Yes, when Prince Charles was born in 1948, the announcement was very formal.
Listen to the words that were used in this BBC 4 broadcast….
BBC Newsreader:
It has just been announced from Buckingham Palace that her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth,
Duchess of Edinburgh was safely delivered of a prince at 9.14pm and that her Royal Highness and
her son are both doing well. Listeners 7 will wish us to offer their royal congratulations 8 to Princess
Elizabeth and the Royal Family on this happy occasion 9.
Rob: So, the newsreader very formally gave the good news that Princess Elizabeth – now
Queen Elizabeth – was ‘safely delivered of a prince’.
Neil: Delivered – that sounds like delivering a letter – but here it means 10 ‘gave birth to a
baby’. The newsreader also said that people want to give their ‘royal
congratulations’.
Rob: Yes, and he described it as ‘a happy occasion’ – so a happy moment and something
to celebrate. But now, once it was officially announced, news about the latest royal
birth spread quickly around the world via 11 social media 12.
Neil: It is the 21st Century Rob - and I think this new baby will have a very different
upbringing – that’s the way parents look after the baby. Of course William and Kate
will have the benefit 13 of having a nanny – someone to help out with childcare and
doing the housework around the palace.
6 Minute English ©bbclearningenglish.com 2013
Page 3 of 4
Rob: Very nice. But it has been reported they want to become more involved in caring for
their baby than royal parents did in the past. They don’t want the nanny to be a
replacement 14 mother.
Neil: Well that’s good to hear and by showing modern parenting skills it may set an
example to other parents.
Rob: Of course the new baby is going to lead a very different life to our children. One
thing is for sure, ours won’t become king. But babies from all backgrounds need
feeding and changing. Not everything about having children is great eh Neil?
Neil: That’s true. I don’t think I’m going to miss those dirty nappies. So come on Rob, it’s
time you gave me the answer to the question.
Rob: Earlier I asked you if you knew when Prince William – the baby’s father – was born?
Neil: And I said 21st June 1982.
Rob: You are right. He was born in June 1982 – so would you say he is quite young to be
a father?
Neil: These days I suppose he is quite young, compared with me, yes – but those
sleepless 15 nights will make him feel older!
Rob: OK Neil, could you remind us of some of the vocabulary that we heard today.
Neil: little one
maternity unit
a baby shower
protocol
delivered
upbringing
nanny
nappies
Rob: Thanks Neil. OK that's it for this programme. Do join us again soon for more 6
Minute English.
Both: Bye
- Two men formed a plot to rob the bank.两人制定了抢劫那家银行的秘密计划。
- They were scheming to rob the bank.他们在密谋抢劫银行。
- His grandfather was a royal duke.他的祖父是王室公爵。
- The duke was the king's most trusted adviser.公爵是国王最信赖的顾问。
- She's impatient for her father's arrival.她急切地盼望着父亲的到来。
- The new arrival was none other than the President.刚到的不是别人，正是总统。
- She works for the BBC.她为英国广播公司工作。
- The BBC was founded in 1922.英国广播公司建于1922年。
- Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
- Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。
- We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
- The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。
- the demographics of radio listeners 电台听众统计数据
- The singer's high notes jarred on the ears of her listeners. 那位歌手的高音让听众们觉得刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I send you my warmest congratulations on your success. 我对你的成功致以最热烈的祝贺。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Please give her my congratulations when you see her. 见到她时请转达我的祝贺。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Her dress was too showy for such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，她的服装过分华丽了。
- Her tears were fought back on such an occasion.在这种场合下她忍住了眼泪。
- That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
- We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。
- The news reached me via my aunt.那消息是通过我婶婶转告我的。
- The ticket reads to Beijing via Shanghai.车票上写明经上海到北京。
- The local media reported rioting across the country.当地媒体报道了全国范围的骚乱。
- His latest movie is being hyped up by the media.他新近的电影正被媒体大肆炒作。
- The money is to be used for the benefit of the poor.这笔钱用来为穷人谋福利。
- He thought he would benefit from going to school.他认为上学对他有好处。
- We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
- They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。