一起聽英語 156 安全防備
Jennifer: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm
Jennifer and with me today is Neil.
Neil: Hi Jennifer!
Jennifer: Today's story is about providing protection during the Olympic Games in
London. The UK government is going to place missile at six sites around the
capital. And it has been controversial.
Neil: Yes, people have very different opinions about the issue and they don't shy
away from expressing them and arguing. I'm not surprised. If I had some
powerful explosives sitting just a few metres above my head I wouldn't feel
safe at all.
Jennifer: Well, but the authorities might have a point when they say they are
concerned about threats to security in London. Since the London Underground
bombings in 2005, threat levels in the city have been high and the Olympics
will be watched by millions around the world.
Neil: Indeed, it is a high profile event.
Jennifer: Let's make the Olympic Movement the theme for our traditional quiz today
before we talk further about these weapons – the missiles. The question for
our listeners is: What inspired the creation of the Paralympic Games? Was it:
a) A tradition from Ancient Olympia,
b) The Crimean War
c) World War II
Neil: I know this one. The answer is…
Jennifer: No! Please don't Neil. I know you know this one and we have to give our
listeners a chance to guess. So this time, you keep quiet.
Neil: Not easy, I'm bursting to tell everybody as we have been getting loads of
information about these fascinating games here in Britain. But I'll be good to
keep the suspense going...
Jennifer: And meanwhile let's get back to our story about the missiles. Listen out for
who is particularly unhappy about the missiles. This is a report by the BBC
correspondent Rob Broomby.
6 Minute English © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
Page 2 of 4
bbclearningenglish.com
BBC correspondent Rob Broomby
The surface-to-air missiles would be placed at six sites around London including in a public
park and the most controversial – on top of a residential tower block. The intention is to
boost London's existing air defences and send a signal to the public, and would-be plotters,
that the Olympic sites will be protected. But the residents of the 117 apartments in one
affected block say it imposes what they called a 'high explosive missile salvo' on the roof,
which puts their lives at risk.
Neil: The people who live in a residential tower block.
Jennifer: Tall buildings full of apartments were one of the choices to place the weapons.
The authorities want to send a signal to the public that they will be protected!
Neil: The signal sent to me – the message – was not exactly of protection…
Jennifer: But the signal goes also to would-be plotters …
Neil: People who might be making terrorist plans like in 2005.
Jennifer: But the BBC reporter points out that the 117 residents feel a bit like you in
this case. They think that the missiles have been imposed on them and that
their presence on their roof could put their lives at risk.
Neil: It is a government decision and they feel they have no choice in the matter.
They feel that they can't say: no, thanks!
Jennifer: And they've got themselves a solicitor. Let's hear what he has to say about
this 'imposition'.
Resident's solicitor
''These tenants are not used to having soldiers coming in and out their front door, going up
and down their lifts, having soldiers with high velocity missiles on top of the roof. That really
does affect their private life, their family life and their home. That's a fundamental right and
they had a right to be consulted about that before such a move was taken.''
Neil: A person that is a professional specialised in defending people's rights says
that there is a fundamental right that hasn't been upheld.
Jennifer: A right that is basic, one that is part of the most immediate rights a person
can have.
Neil: The right to be consulted about a matter of such importance!
Jennifer: They wanted to be asked about that – to have had an opportunity to have
their opinion heard.
Neil: And will they be listened to now?
Jennifer: You'll have to listen to the BBC's correspondent Rob Broomby.
6 Minute English © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
Page 3 of 4
bbclearningenglish.com
BBC correspondent Rob Broomby
The Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the ground-to-air defence systems were just
one part of what he called a 'comprehensive, multi-layered air security plan' intended to
both reassure and deter. He said the deployment would go ahead despite objections from
what he called a ‘small number of activists'.
Jennifer: Oh, no, it doesn't look like it. The Defence Secretary said that the plan has
been devised to deter.
Neil: To prevent - or deter - the would-be plotters.
Jennifer: And will go ahead in spite of the complaints of what he calls activists.
Neil: He says the residents are people involved in causes rather than ones acting
just on a case-by-case basis.
Jennifer: Well I'm sure the controversy will not stop there. We are running out of time
but let's go back to our quiz. The question for you and our listeners is: What
inspired the creation of the Paralympic Games? Was it:
a) A tradition from Ancient Olympia,
b) The Crimean War
c) World War II
Neil: Let me tell them! Let me tell them! It is c) World War II!
Jennifer: It is indeed and it was created by Sir Ludwig Guttmann. He was brought to
Oxford as a refugee fleeing Nazi Germany and from there he was asked to run
the spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville, here in Britain, for injured soldiers
returning from World War II. He started the competition! And before we say
goodbye, let's remind you of some of the words we've heard today.
Neil: They were:
controversial
missiles
tower block
send a signal
would-be plotters
to impose
fundamental
consulted
to deter
activist
Jennifer: Do join us again for more 6 Minute English and for more help with any aspects
of your English language studies go to our website BBCLearningEnglish.com.
Bye for now!
Neil: Bye!
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