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


























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12:01





















OK. We all know the cons of airport security:
the long lines, the inconvenience of taking off our belts and shoes, and the
embarrassment of strangers going through our luggage.
Is it really necessary?
Well, Spencer seems to think so.
Let's get back to the lesson with his next comment on line 17.
(Music).
Is Airport Security Really Necessary?
In many airports, friends can meet us in baggage claim.
That's just as good.
I still feel like all the security violates my rights.
Well, they have to keep everybody safe.
If there weren't bad people out there, we wouldn't have security.
I know. But I am not a bad person!
So only bad people should go through security?
You think you can tell a bad person just by looking at them.
The authorities need to treat everyone the same.
That's only fair.
Maybe.
But I still don't like it!
(Music).
All right. So we're back in our conversation between Connor and Spencer.
And we know that Connor he doesn't like airport security very much.
He thinks it's too strict, and it makes him feel like a criminal.
But Spencer says: Well, it's OK. It's keeping us safe. And it's very thorough.
That's right.
He says: All this scrutiny makes me feel bad.
But you know, Spencer thinks it's good because there's... they're being so
thorough that you can fly safe.
Now one of the last complaints they had was about meeting your friends at the
gate.
Yeah. Connor he misses the days when you could go and watch your family and
friends get off the plane and meet them at the gate,
that area where people get on and off of planes.
Now that was always fun.
You could always go... when I was a kid, I remembered going to the gate.
You get to greet them right as they come off.
It's super exciting.
But now you have to go through and you have to find your way through an airport.
And that can kind of be a problem if you've ever been there before.
And all you want to do is see your friends and family... so I can understand how
it's frustrating.
It's frustrating for Connor.
But Spencer says that in many airports, friends can meet their friends or family
getting off of the plane in baggage claim.
Now where is "baggage claim"?
What is that?
Well, we know what baggage is.
Baggage is the... what we carry when we travel.
So it's... it's all the cases with our clothes and all of our stuff in it.
And when you fly, you have to give them that.
And they put it underneath the airplane.
Then you need to get it back.
And you get that back at a baggage claim.
That's where you pick up your bags.
That's right.
So here he says, well, that's just as good as meeting them at the gate.
You can just go find them at baggage claim.
But you know, I think I'm still with you on this, Kaylah. I agree.
I miss getting off the plane and seeing my family's faces.
I think it's interesting that some airports you can meet at baggage claim, and
others you have to wait till the very end.
I know the Taipei Airport, you have to get all your bags and find all your
stuff, and then get out to meet your friends.
But at my home airport in Denver, we can... you just get off the train from the
airplane.
And you find your friends, and then go get your stuff.
Right. So I know... I think a lot of American airports do that.
So that way your friends and family can help you get all of your things.
But there are still some airports where you have to do it all by yourself.
Well, here Connor, I think he still has a few more complaints.
Yes. Connor not... doesn't just not like being able to see his friends.
He says: I still feel like all the security violates my rights.
Now this is a common complaint.
We're talking about the scrutiny and how thorough they are in these body
scanners.
Could that be violating your right?
All right.
Now the word "violate" means to act against something or maybe to break a law.
This is usually talking about a rule or a law.
Now this is talking about our rights, though.
So are our rights a law that can be broken?
Well, I think that's a good point.
Maybe it's a social law.
These are our rights.
These are what we should get.
And that's what we believe we deserve.
So if someone is violating our rights, that means that we feel like they're
breaking a law that we have set for ourselves.
Now the full-body scanners we talked about are definitely something people
complain about because they are checking beneath your clothing.
And so people are concerned about that.
Now they're not doing anything weird, they are doing it for safety reasons.
But you can see how that would make people feel like it violates a privacy
right.
Yeah, I think that's why I feel so strange about it.
I don't like people being able to see through my clothes.
That's weird.
It... it is a little strange when you say it that way, Ryan.
But it's not actually violating your right is what Spencer is saying.
Yeah. Now Spencer says: Yeah, that's right.
They have to keep everybody safe.
So maybe you might feel like they're violating your rights, but really you do
want to keep everyone safe.
If someone has something dangerous, you want to make sure that you find it.
He says: If there weren't bad people out there, we wouldn't have security.
So he's saying that if everyone was good and we could trust everybody, then we
wouldn't need the security.
But because we can't, security is important because you don't know who's out
there planning to do terrible things.
Yeah. There are some bad people out there.
And he's right, though.
If there weren't bad people, well, then no one would have to worry.
We could just walk right onto the plane and have a good day.
And Connor says: Yeah, I know. But, well, I'm not a bad person.
That's... that's true.
You know, I'm not a bad person.
When I fly, I still have to go through security.
I know I'm not going to cause any problems.
But that doesn't really answer the question of security.
Connor may be a nice guy, but we don't know that.
That's true.
I always think it's funny when they make old ladies, old grandmothers or little
babies go through airport security.
But they have to have everyone go through because you don't know who could be
dangerous.
And Spencer points that out, he says:
So only bad people should go through security?
You think you can tell a bad person just by looking at them?
Yeah. Now the authorities need to treat everyone the same way.
That's only fair.
That's right.
You know, we can't tell a bad person, so the authorities need to make sure that
everyone is treated the same.
Now "authorities" refer to the people that are in charge.
Yeah, people who are in control or in charge.
And sometimes it can be talking about experts, people who are very good at
something.
But here, we're talking about people who are in control of airport security.
That's right.
And we can't just say: Are you a bad person? OK, you need to go through.
We have to treat everyone the same.
Yeah. And Connor says: Well, maybe you're right. But I still don't like it!
Now most of us don't like airport security.
We all can agree with Connor on this point.
It's not fun, it takes too much time, and it's just a pain to go through.
It really is.
It's not fun for anybody, but it is still necessary.
At least we think so, and we'll find out a little bit more tomorrow with the
rest of this conversation.
For right now, let's take a look at this interview.
Even though it can be quite annoying, I believe that airport security is
necessary.
I actually lived in New York City during the 911 attacks in 2001.
So I understand that because of those terrible events, airport security needed
to be stricter and more thorough.
But I also believe that airport security can be a little bit more friendlier,
the process can be a little bit more thorough because still today,
I've seen on the news that some dangerous items and weapons can still get on
board onto the airplanes.
So even though it's necessary, it could be better and more friendlier.
I put a cushion mark on full-body scanners.
First of all, the machine has a nickname - naked scanners.
I think that gives us an idea of what it does to our body.
So using them would mean a violation of people's privacy.
In addition to that, scientists have already found out that the scanners can
cause people to have cancer.
And because of that, the European Union has already ordered a ban on using these
scanners in airports in all its member countries.
In fact, several U.S. airports have already considered not using the machines.
The bottom line is a safety measure like these scanners should make us safer.
And if it's not safe, what's the point of using them?
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And I'm sure you thoroughly understand all our Language Tips today.
Goodbye and take care.
Friends, log on to StudioClassroom.com and download this lesson's free Activity
Sheet.
Think of the sheet like language glue, helping all the words and concepts you've
learned today to stick in your brain longer.
While you're there, visit our English Corner and tell us about your most
difficult airport experience.
Did it have something to do with airport security?
Or did you lose your luggage?
We want to know.
Then join us tomorrow for day two of "Is Airport Security Really Necessary?"
Take care.
(Music).