(单词翻译:单击)
中英文本
Parents in the U.K. face being punished if their children are continually late for school. Britain's Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced he will crack down on what he terms "problem parents". He said too many families fail to "face up to their responsibilities" by ensuring their children get to school on time, and are "ready to learn and show respect for their teacher". Parents are already slapped with a 60 ($100) fine if their child is repeatedly late for school. However, 20,000 of these penalties were unpaid last year, prompting Mr Gove to announce a tougher penalty system. There will also be fines for parents who withdraw their children during term time to take them on cheaper family vacations.
如果孩子经常上学迟到，英国的父母就会受到惩罚。英国教育大臣迈克尔戈夫宣布，他将打击“问题父母”。他说，太多家庭没能履行自己的职责来确保他们的孩子按时上学，也没有让自己的孩子懂得尊敬他们的老师。如果孩子多次迟到，那么孩子的父母将被罚款60(100美元)。然而,去年有20,000例这样的处罚没有得到支付，这促使戈夫先生宣布一项更严厉的惩罚制度。如果家长在孩子学习期间让孩子旷课，而带孩子去参加比较廉价的家庭度假，家长也会被处以罚款。
Mr Gove said his plans were all part of raising standards in education, creating a bigger incentive for parents to ensure their children get to school, and tackling the problem of "habitual truancy". Gove also hit back at his critics, accusing them of adhering to policies that set pupils up to fail and of promoting "a diet of dumbed-down courses". He said opposition politicians shied away "from anything which might require grit". Gove warned their policies would send children to school "without daring to think they might be intellectually curious and capable of greatness, denying them access to anything stretching or ambitious, and setting expectations so low you can never be surprised by someone's potential".
戈夫先生说,他的计划都是为了提高教学标准，更大程度上激励家长保证孩子去上课，解决“习惯性旷课”的问题。戈夫也回击对他的批评者,指责他们坚持那些让学生失败的政策，并且鼓励那些“低能课程”的行为。他说,反对派政客对那些任何需要勇气的方面避而不谈。戈夫警告称，他们的政策只是把孩子送到学校，而并没有大胆设想孩子们可能很好学，并且能力很强。家长不认为孩子们有雄心壮志，对于孩子的期望太低，以至于家长永远不会对孩子的潜能感到吃惊。
译文属可可英语原创，未经允许，不得转载。
重点讲解
1.late for 迟到；来不及…
Today of all days when I'm late for what could have turned out to be my first job.
我就知道会发生这样的事——在决定我能否得到第一份工作的关键日子里，我却迟到了。
2.crack down on镇压；制裁
And behind the veil of secrecy there appears to be more hustle to crack down on wayward, smaller exporters.
而且在神秘面纱背后，似乎有更急速的活动打击任性的、规模较小的出口商。
3.face up to勇敢地面对
If they are dependent on your energy of kindness and support to feel good, how will they ever face up to their own lack of kindness and support towards themselves?
如果他们依赖于你的仁慈和支持力量以感到好转，那么他们何时才能面对他们自己对于自己的仁慈和支持的缺乏？
4. respect for尊重…；对…的尊敬
The man jammed out his cigarette to show his respect for the lady.
那个男人拈灭了香烟以显示他对该女士的尊敬。
5.adhere to 坚持；粘附；拥护，追随
But this means they cannot always adhere to the strict codes of practice dictated in UN headquarters.
但是这就意味着它们无法总是坚持联合国总部规定的严格的实践规章。
听力试题
1.What is Michael Gove's position in the U.K. government?
a) Education Secretary
b) Minister for Schools
c) Secretary for Student Success
d) Leader of Youth Development
2.What did Mr Gove say many families failed to do?
a) stay together
b) pass exams
c) face up to responsibilities
d) homework
3.What did Mr Gove say children should show teachers?
a) their good side
b) their homework
c) ambition
d) respect
4.How many fines were unpaid last year?
a) 12,000
b) 20,000
c) 22,000
d) 2,000
5.What could parents do during term time to get a fine?
a) take their children on holiday
b) not go to school
c) help with exams
d) do their child's homework
6.What does Mr Gove hope to raise?
a) awareness
b) nice children
c) money
d) education standards
7.What habitual problem does Mr Gove hope to tackle?
a) urgency
b) flippancy
c) truancy
d) leniency
8.Who did Mr Gove accuse of setting students up to fail?
a) Britain's leader
b) opposition politicians
c) school heads
d) the system
9.What did Mr Gove say some politicians shied away from?
a) accepting poor grades
b) responsibility
c) anything students need grit for
d) photographers
10.What did Mr Gove think was set too low by some policies?
a) exam pass marks
b) expectations
c) language level
d) the height of students' desks
听力答案
1.a
2.c
3.d
4.b
5.a
6.d
7.c
8.b
9.c
10.b
