BBC 6 Minute English | ARE MODELS TOO SKINNY? | English CC | Daily Liste...

source: Daily Listening    2016年9月13日
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Are models too skinny?
Should skinny – or very thin – models be stopped from working on the catwalk? Listen to Rob and Finn discussing how thin is too thin for catwalk models whilst explaining some related vocabulary.

0:05 Hi there, Finn.
0:06 I have to say you've got a lean and hungry look today!
0:09 Oh really?
0:10 I'll take that as a compliment, shall I?
0:12 Please do.
0:13 Do you want a doughnut?
0:15 Actually, yeah – can I have two?
0:18 So what are we talking about today, Rob?
0:22 We're talking about skinny – or very thin – models and whether there should be a law
0:27 banning them from working on the catwalk.
0:29 And a catwalk is the long runway that models walk down at fashion shows.
0:33 Well, no danger there for me there Rob – I think I like eating a little bit too much.
0:38 And there's no danger of you becoming a model anyway, Finn – because you're not good looking
0:42 enough, I'm afraid!
0:43 Oh really.
0:44 OK.
0:45 Thank you, Rob.
0:46 That's very nice of you.
0:47 I think it's time for today's quiz question, please.
0:49 OK – well, here goes.
0:50 Which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013?
0:55 Was it… a) Israel
0:56b ) Canada or c) the US
0:59 You know what?
1:00 I've got no idea.
1:01 So I'll take a guess and say a) Israel.
1:04 OK.
1:05 Well, we'll find out if that's the right answer later on.
1:09 So come on, Finn, what do you think?
1:10 Are the models we see on the catwalk and in the media too skinny?
1:14 Well, yeah, I think some models do look fantastic but others look painfully thin.
1:21 Now, themedia, by the way, refers to the different ways information is communicated to us, so,
1:27 for example, through TV, radio, magazines, and often the internet and newspapers.
1:33 OK.
1:34 Well let's listen to Jamie Gavin, founder and managing director of media agency inPress,
1:39 talking about a new French law being discussed, preventing the use of underweight models.
1:46 Can you spot a phrase that means a limit or an ending?
1:49 I think it's a BMI of 18 or less, that's hopefully going to be banned by the French Assembly
1:55 today.
1:56 This is what the US health organization states as being kind of clinically unhealthy.
2:01 So it's almost like a cut-off point.
2:03 Yes, be thin, yes be thinner than the general population, but once it starts getting to
2:08 unhealthy territory really that's time to start banning it.
2:11 And the French Assembly did pass this law a few days later.
2:15 Now, did you spot the phrase for a limit or an ending?
2:19 It's cut-off point.
2:21 So models that are too thin will be banned – or won't be allowed – to work.
2:26 And the cut-off point is a BMI of 18 or less.
2:31 Now BMI stands for body mass index.
2:35 And this is the ratio of a person's height to their weight.
2:39 Ratio means the relationship between two things, showing how big one thing is compared to another.
2:46 But what happens if you're just naturally really thin?
2:50 The authorities could be accused of discrimination against skinny people – or treating some
2:55 people less fairly than others.
2:57 That's right.
2:58 It's a good point.
2:59 And that's why the French authorities and those of some other countries are using BMI
3:04 as a way of deciding.
3:05 So, models with a BMI of 18 or less weigh too little when compared to how tall they
3:12 are.
3:13 And clinically unhealthy – what does that mean?
3:16 It means when you need medical treatment for a condition or illness.
3:20 Now anorexia is an illness where a person refuses to eat in order to lose weight.
3:25 But some models these days are so skinny they do look anorexic.
3:30 You're right.
3:31 Let's hear more from Jamie Gavin talking about protecting the health of models.
3:36 What phrase is used to mean 'the responsibility'?
3:40 The theatrical agents and the modelling agents that have got a responsibility to look after
3:45 their clients.
3:46 There's a huge amount of pressure on both the agent and on the models themselves and
3:49 really the buck lies with them to make sure these people are healthy and that they're
3:53 looking after their careers as well.
3:56 So the problem with the modelling industry is that the agents who employ the girls put
4:01 pressure on – or strongly persuade – them to lose weight.
4:05 And in this way they aren't taking care of their clients, they are actually putting them
4:10 at risk.
4:11 Now, why's that, Rob?
4:13 It's because many people in the fashion industry prefer very thin models so it's a case of supply
4:18 and demand.
4:19 The agents are simply supplying the fashion industry with the type of girls they want.
4:24 Right.
4:25 And what does the reporter mean when he says the buck lies with the agents?
4:31 When the buck lies – or stops – with someone it means it's his or her responsibility, not
4:36 someone else's.
4:37 And agents who employed underweight models can face fines of up to 75,000 euros, or even
4:44 prison sentences.
4:45 OK, shall we hear the answer to today's quiz question?
4:49 OK.
4:50 Well, I asked you which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013?
4:54 Was it… a) Israel b) Canada or c) the US?
4:58 I said a) Israel.
5:01 And you were right, Finn!
5:03 Well done.
5:04 Now, shall we listen to the words we learned today?
5:06 We heard: skinny
5:10 catwalk media
5:14 cut-off point banned
5:17 BMI (body mass index) ratio
5:25 discrimination clinically
5:31 anorexia put pressure on
5:37 supply and demand the buck stops with or the buck lies with