Lily的Scalers Talk第八轮新概念朗读持续力训练Da

L45-1:The power of the press

In democratic countries any efforts to restrict the freedom of the press are rightly condemned. However, this freedom can easily be abused. Stories about people often attract far more public attention than political events. Though we may enjoy reading about the lives of others, it is extremely doubtful whether we would equally enjoy reading about ourselves. Acting on the contention that facts are sacred, reporters can cause untold suffering to individuals by publishing details about their private lives. Newspapers exert such tremendous influence that they can not only bring about major changes to the lives of ordinary people but can even overthrow a government. The story of a poor family that acquired fame and fortune overnight, dramatically illustrates the power of the press. The family lived in Aberdeen, a small town of 23,000inhabitants in South Dakota. As the parents had five children, life was a perpetual struggle against poverty. They were expecting their sixth child and were faced with even more pressing economic problems. If they had only had one more child, the fact would have passed unnoticed. They would have continued to struggle against economic odds and would have lived in obscurity.

democratic /ˌdeməˈkrætɪk/ 民主的

restrict /rɪˈstrɪkt/  限制

condemn /kənˈdem/ 谴责

abuse  /əˈbjuːs/  滥用

doubtful /ˈdaʊtfl/ 可疑的;怀疑;拿不定主意;不确定;未必;难说;

contention /kənˈtenʃn/ 争吵;争执;争论;(尤指争论时的)看法，观点

sacred /ˈseɪkrɪd/ 上帝的;神的;神圣的;受尊重的

untold  /ˌʌnˈtoʊld/  数不尽的、无限的，难以形容的

individual /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl/ 个别的;单独的;人;与众不同的人;有个性的人

overthrow /ˌoʊvərˈθroʊ/  推翻;打倒;赶下台

acquire /əˈkwaɪər/ 通过努力、能力、行为表现)获得;购得;得到

fame /feɪm/ 名声;声誉;名气

illustrate /ˈɪləstreɪt/ 说明; (用示例、图画等)解释;表明…真实

perpetual /pərˈpetʃuəl/ 永久的

odds /ɑːdz/ 不利条件;掣肘的事情;逆境;

quintuplet /ˈkwɪntʊplət/ 五胞胎;五胞胎之一

obscurity /əbˈskjʊrəti/  默默无闻

这两天出游在外，文字作业没有做，只交了口语作业。书面的都是回来补的。