节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-05-21
难易度:Medium
关键字:scrutiny, thorough, violate, authority, full-body scanner, baggage claim
Hi, everybody.
Welcome to Studio Classroom Worldwide.
My name is Steve.
Thanks for joining us today.
OK.
This month's VIEWPOINTS topic is about airport security - that sometimes
degrading but always tedious process that we have to go through when we fly.
In this lesson, we're not asking if anybody likes going through airport
security.
I think we all know the answer to that, right?
It's a resounding No.
What we are asking is: Is airport security really necessary?
To find out, let's open to page 42, meet our new friends Connor and Spencer, and
see what they have to say about airport security.
(Music).
Is Airport Security Really Necessary?
Airport security is a part of travel these days.
Whew! We're finally through airport security.
Such scrutiny!
I felt like a criminal!
Security is really necessary these days.
I'm glad we have it.
It makes me feel safe flying.
But we're not safe.
That's why they keep adding new things to the security process.
Did you see those full-body scanners?
They make the security check really thorough, so it's OK with me.
It's not OK with me!
Airport security is way too strict now.
No one but passengers can go to the gates.
So?
So, I miss the days when my parents or friends could just meet me right when I
got off the plane.
(Music).
Hello, friends.
Thank you so much for joining us here in the studio.
My name is Kaylah.
And my name is Ryan.
And we are looking at our VIEWPOINTS article for the month where we're talking
about security in airports.
That's right.
Now if you have the chance to fly, the opportunity to fly anywhere, we all know
that you have to go through security first.
And it's... it's just awful.
Yeah. You have to go through it when you're flying at the airport.
And that's what we're going to be talking about.
But you know, Kaylah, there is still security used in many different parts of
transportation,
whether you're going on a bus, or especially if you're traveling to a different
country.
That's right. We know security is what keeps us safe.
So when we're talking about airport security,
that's talking about the people and the organization that is making sure that
you're following all the rules for flying,
and making sure that the airlines stay safe and protected from any kind of
attack.
OK. So we know that airport security is a part of travel, but is it really
necessary?
That's what we want to look at in this conversation.
Airport security is a part of travel these days.
It used to be that the security was very small.
You didn't have to go through a lot of the trouble with airlines.
Ryan, I remember as a kid, when my grandparents would come visit,
we could actually go meet them at their airplane, like be standing right there
where they got off.
And we can see in movies from the past that that's how it used to be.
But unfortunately, that's not how it is now.
Yeah, it's gotten much and much worse, especially in the United States.
But it's gotten worse all around the world.
And we'll see how exactly it's gotten worse in this conversation between Connor
and Spencer.
So it looks like they've just gone through security.
And Connor starts our conversation with: Whew!
"Whew!" Now that's just a sound you would make.
He says: Yes, whew! We're finally through airport security.
That's right.
And he goes: Such... Such scrutiny! I felt like a criminal there!
Now Ryan, what is "scrutiny"?
OK. "Scrutiny" is when you look very closely at something to get more
information from it, usually it's when you're looking for something wrong.
That's right.
Now if you're a teacher and you're reading your student's paper, you read it
with scrutiny.
You're looking very carefully to make sure there are no mistakes.
So when you go through security, they are scrutinizing you so that they can make
sure that you're doing everything wrong.
Although it does kind of make you feel like a criminal.
Right. And "scrutinize" is the verb form of the noun scrutiny.
And so Connor thinks there's a lot of scrutiny in airport security.
But what does Spencer say?
Spencer says: Security is really necessary these days. I'm glad we have it.
OK. So he actually... he thinks it's good because you can find those criminals,
you can find people who are willing to do bad things on an airplane.
So Spencer says: Actually, I like airport security. It keeps me safe.
He says, "It makes me feel safe while I'm flying." And I know a lot of people do
have a fear of flying for many different reasons.
So if security helps you feel safe with other people on your airplane, that at
least comforts you, you know, when you can have control over that.
Yeah. I know many people are worried about flying already.
You know, many people don't understand maybe how airplanes actually work even.
And so you know, they're afraid, and it's... it's not good to be even more
afraid of other people that could be dangerous.
Yes. But Connor doesn't actually agree with Spencer here.
He says: But we are not safe. That's why they keep adding new things to the
security process.
All right. Now the process is the way something works.
So they're adding more and more things to the way security works at airports.
And so he thinks: Well, we're not safe.
Why do you think we need airport security at all?
He said: Did you see those full-body scanners?
Now a "full-body scanner" is a machine that creates a picture of the body and
shows you what is on without having to take clothes off.
So it's to keep you private but to also check and make sure you're not carrying
any weapons.
Yeah. It's looking for weapons and kind of takes a picture kind of through your
clothes, which is a little weird for me, but... and a lot of people think that
too.
It's a little strange.
But it helps you find different weapons, so it is useful.
That's right. It's to protect, just not to invade.
Spencer says: They make the security check really thorough, so it's OK with me.
OK. Now the security check is when you go through security, and it is very
thorough as most of us know if we have traveled.
What does the word "thorough" mean?
"Thorough" means it is detailed and it is done very carefully.
So they're very careful, they're checking for all the small pieces.
So it's OK that they're doing it because it makes you feel safe.
They're not going to miss any of the small pieces.
Yeah. So Spencer says it's OK because we're safe.
It's very thorough. They will find out what's wrong if something is wrong.
But Connor says: It's not OK with me.
He says airport security is way too strict now. No one but passengers can go to
the gates.
And that's true, just like Kaylah said earlier.
Now only people flying on planes, only the passengers are able to go to the
gates.
Now what is a gate?
And a gate is where the airplane comes to the airport.
So it's where the plane meets the building and where you enter the building
straight off the airplane.
And you did use to get to go there.
But now only passengers, only people flying, are allowed in.
That is a little bit strict.
The word "strict" means when rules are a little bit too um, too much.
They're very difficult to follow, so.
You know, you used to be able to go see your family and friends when they got
off the plane.
But now you can't do that.
Well, Spencer is confused. He says: So why is that a problem?
And Conner says: So, I miss the days when my parents or friends could just meet
me right when I got off the plane.
Now those... that is fun when they get to come right to the gate.
You don't have to worry about finding them.
But you know, security needs to be there.
Connor is not convinced.
You know, I'm kind of with him on that.
I miss those days too.
I loved seeing my mother's face when I got off the plane.
But now I have to go back through security again.
That's right.
Well, that is our... end of our section for now.
But first, we want to visit the Chat Room.
We're going to come back and continue our conversation.
(Music).
Yuck!
What's wrong, Bryan?
This coffee is way too sweet.
Why did you put so much sugar in it?
I didn't!
It's the new girl they just hired at the Jungle Cafe.
Somebody ought to show her how to make a proper cup of coffee.
Well, I'm sorry to hear that.
Hey, Bryan, you just said your coffee was way too sweet.
Why did you say "way"?
Isn't too sweet already over sweet?
Yeah, I guess you're right, Ken.
But you'll hear a lot of people use "way" this way for emphasis.
So you were stressing that your coffee was beyond too sweet.
That's right.
In this usage, "way" means extreme, beyond normal or usual.
You could use "much too" or "far too" instead of "way too." And it would all
mean the same.
So it's just an emphasis for "too"?
Yes, an informal one, I might add.
And young people these days often say something is "way cool" to emphasize how
totally cool something is.
Well, I think it's way cool that I have you as my English teacher.
Thanks, Ken.
But you should keep in mind that "way cool" is slang; and I wouldn't use it in a
formal setting.
Got it.