大学英语初级听力文本Unit.doc

Lesson 22Class in Britain and AmericaChristine: Harry, as an American, have you noticed any strong class distinctions in English society since youve been here? Harry: Strong class distinctions? Yes, they havent changed at all—thats what—thats what amuses me—in fifteen years or fourteen years—that the stratification is exactly the same as it was when I first came. Its extraordinary that it pervades everything. Anna: What is class distinction? Because I dont know whether its what job they do or ... Harry: Its peoples accents. In Pygmalion, you know, it goes back to, as soon as you open your mouth in England youre immediately you know placed. Anna: Do you mean that there arent different accents in America? Harry: Not—of course there are different accents—but theyre not as—theyre not nearly as clearly defined. Anna: But I mean, dont—doesnt a certain strata of American society use perhaps more slang than another one? More correct? Harry: Not the way they do in England. In England they seem to really stick together. I mean I went the other week for the first time in my life to a point-to-point and I couldnt believe what I found. There I was in the middle of Lincolnshire and we went through muddy fields and suddenly we came upon this parking lot with nine thousand Range Rovers in it and everyone going Oh, hello darling. How are you? you know and it was hilarious I mean and they were all you know this meeting of the clan and that certainly doesnt happen in America and all those people spoke the same way. Barrie: But that—yes, I live in the middle of the country in the south and I must say when I moved there I noticed—I mean of course Id been aware of class before that but I had no idea that the lines between them were so rigid. I lived on an estate of a very big and successful farm until recently, and so the farm of course was run by the landed gentry who all went hunting and to point-to-point and all the rest of it. I lived next door to the groom who was—who despised them because they did all this and he had to just get the horses ready, um but at the same time he was terribly fond of them and they of him and there was all this sort of paternalistic attitude to the country workers that still goes on. I was staggered and nobody knew where to put me because I was living in a tied cottage that was tied to the farm, um but because I didnt work with any of them they were all uneasy with me. Most peculiar. Christine: But I think you raise a very good point there Barrie because youre in fact talking about yourself not fitting into either of these two extremes and Id like to ask Harry again how many classes he can see very clearly defined. Barrie: In England? Christine: In England, yes. Harry: Well, I guess, three off the top of my head. I mean not counting immigrants and foreigners. Yes, I mean theres the middle class is the most snobbish of all it seems to me. You know, theyre the most aware of the whole system really because theyre upwardly mobile usually you know they hope to be, and theyre the ones—I mean the upper class are what I find extraordinary—they seem to be totally uninhibited for the most part. I think its extraordinary. I mean Im not passing any moral judgements on them but it still exists ... John: Because theyve got the confidence ... Anna: ... and the money ... Barrie: ... confidence and the money ... John: Well no, I dont think moneys much to do with it actually. Anna: How can you change it? I mean how would you change it? Harry: Im not saying it should be changed ... Anna: No, no, no, no. I dont—I mean people do say that it should be changed. Politicians say that we should have total equality which I dont believe you can ever have in anything. Harry: Well there should be equality of opportunity. I mean at least its a nice ideal to have, isnt it? Task 1: Autobiography: Seminole Girl (I)Public school was hard compared to what Id had before, day school on the reservation and a year at Sequoyah Government School. I almost flunked eighth grade at the public school, and it was a miracle that I passed. I just didnt know a lot of things, mathematics and stuff. I survived it somehow. I dont know how, but I did. The man who was head of the department of education at the Agency was the only person outside of my family who helped me and encouraged me to get an education. He understood and really helped me with many things I didnt know about. For a long time the white public school for the Big Cypress area would not let Indian children attend. A boy and I were the first Big Cypress Indians to graduate from that school. He is now in the armed forces. After I graduated from high school, I went to business college, because in high school I didnt take courses that would prepare me for the university. I realized that there was nothing for me to do. I had no training. All I could 。