【一起听英语】流动人口

社会是流动的，人口是流动的，每个国家都会面临人口流动的问题，如何妥善安置与处理是关键....

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 mobility 1 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 coalition 2 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? 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

Page 2 of 6

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

terms of their position in a social hierarchy 3.

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 spoke 4 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 correlation 5 between parental 6 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? 

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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 

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economist 7. 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. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011

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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!