BBC随身英语(MP3+中英字幕) :"世界小姐"选美大赛60年

For some it is a celebration of femininity and beauty. 对于一些人来说，这是为了庆祝女性的气质和美丽而举办的活动。

But feminist campaigners say that it is nothing other than the degradation of women, who are paraded like animals in a cattle market. 但，女权运动者表示，这其实是在歧视女性，她们就像摆在牲畜市场里的动物。

The Miss World beauty pageant is now 60 but remains controversial, as last weekend's show in London proved. "世界小姐"选美大赛创办已有60年之久却仍饱受争议，上周末伦敦的那场秀证明了这一点。

Inside the venue, about 110 contestants showed off their figures and boasted about their talents.  在场内，近110名参赛者在炫耀她们的身材，吹嘘着自己的才华。

Outside, dozens of feminist campaigners held placards with messages such as "Sexism is pretty ugly"  在场外，许多女权运动者手举标语牌（上面写着“性别歧视极其丑陋”等），

and shouted slogans against chauvinism and what they call the objectification of women. 高喊口号反对大男子主义，她们认为这是在把妇女当物品展示。

Feminists and beauty pageant organisers are old enemies.  女权主义者与选美大赛的组织者本就是宿敌。

The show was created in the 1950s to promote the Festival of Britain.  选美大赛创办于20世纪50年代，意在弘扬“英国节”。

By the 70s, Women's Lib demonstrators tried to disrupt the proceedings, alleging that the whole thing was an offence against women's equality. 到了70年代，参加妇女解放运动的示威者试图阻止选美大赛，她们宣称，该比赛侵犯了妇女的平等权。

But some contestants argue that it can actually empower women.  但，一些参赛者争论道，实际上，比赛授予了女性权利。

Laura Coleman, Miss England 2008, said it "gives girls confidence and opportunities they may not otherwise have." 2008年英格兰小姐劳拉·科尔曼表示，这场比赛“给予女性从未有过的自信和机会。”

For some, these opportunities are in Hollywood.  对于一些人来说，机会就是能上好莱坞。

About 12 beauty queens landed roles in James Bond movies and the Oscar-winning star Halle Berry finished sixth in 1986.  近12名选美冠军在詹姆斯·邦德系列电影中获得了角色，奥斯卡奖得主哈莉·贝瑞于1986年出演了第六部詹姆斯·邦德系列电影。

Organisers are keen to point out that the contestants are not airheads but often have degrees and speak several languages. 组织者想要指出的是，这些参赛者并不是白痴，她们中许多人有学历、会说好几种语言。

This year's winner is 21-year-old Venezuelan Ivian Sarcos, who in her childhood thought about becoming a nun.  今年的选美冠军是委内瑞拉21岁的萨尔科斯，她儿时原本打算成为一名修女。

Despite the protests the show is likely to continue, with plans to hold next year's Miss World in China. 尽管仍会有人反对选美大赛，但明年的"世界小姐"将在中国如期举行。

重点讲解：

1.femininity 女性 女性气质
例句：I wonder if there isn't a streak of femininityin him, a kind of sweetness.
我想知道他身上是否没有一丝女性气质，一种温柔。

2.degradation 堕落 恶化 衰退
例句：They were sickened by the scenes of misery and degradation they found.
他们对所看到的凄惨和堕落景象感到恶心。

3.empower 授权 使能够
例句：The army is now empowered to operate on a shoot-to-kill basis.
军队现在被授权依据“杀无赦”原则行动。

4.airhead 傻瓜 笨蛋
例句：I wouldn’t trust her. She's a real airhead.
我不会信任她的，她这人没头脑。

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