BBC英国问答UK and US Personality Finn:This is Ask About Britain from BBC Learning English.I'm Finn,and with me today is Jean. Jean:在我们的《英国问答》节目中，我们为大家解答有关英国生活与文化的一些问题。 Finn:We certainly do,and today we have a question from Jen in Beijing about the differences in personality between British and American people. Insert It is said that British people compared to American people,they are more indifferent,like not looking straight into people's eyes or not delving into other people's private things-I want to ask whether it is true or not. Jean:Jen想问的就是，英国人在说话的时候是不是并不很直接，也很少太多涉及个人的话 题-因为她听说英国人比美国人要冷淡一些indifferent。Do you think so Finn? Finn:Well I think it's a good question Jean.But firstly -this word 'indifferent'might not be the best choice here.I think that Jen might have meant a word like 'reserved' Jean:有保留的、谨慎的reserved可能是Jen想表达的意思。一般来讲我们可以说谁是 indifferent to something或者indifferent about something,而不是不管对什么都是完全的冷淡 冷漠不关心。比如说I am indifferent to apples. Finn:Apples,really?Anyway let's get back to Jen's question.To get an idea we spoke to a few Americans in Britain,and also British people who lived in America.First we spoke to Ben. Insert What's important is to consider the geography in Britain or in America as to where people live. London is a big city like anything else,very similar to New York as far as the make up of the people.People have their own business,don't necessarily want to go out of their way to make acquaintance with someone.But I found the country pubs where I spent most of the first week since I'm on 2 holiday over here,I found that to be a really welcoming,open place,much less guarded. Jea:Ben他认为居住在伦敦或者纽约的人们一般来说都很忙-他们都有自己的事业，很 少下很大的功夫去结交新朋友。 Finn:He said they don't go out of their way to make new friends-that means they don't try too hard-but if you are in the country then people are much more friendly. Jean:Especially the country pubs!所以他认为英国和美国国内的城市与乡村的差异比这两 国之间的不同还要大。 Finn:That's right,so if you find Londoners just a little bit unfriendly,perhaps you could visit the country where people are more welcoming. Jean:更友好好客。 Finn:And less guarded. Jean:更少一点保守谨慎。 Finn:Right,now,we also spoke to Val.She's a British woman with an American father who lived in the States for many years.Did she think Americans were more open? Insert Probably there I'd find people superficially more open,like chatting to you on the streets and on public transport.And even things like your neighbours,my parents have lived here for 17 years and they don't really know their neighbours here,whereas there they might not have known them
BBC 英国问答 UK and US Personality Finn: This is Ask About Britain from BBC Learning English. I'm Finn, and with me today is Jean. Jean: 在我们的《英国问答》节目中，我们为大家解答有关英国生活与文化的一些问题。 Finn: We certainly do, and today we have a question from Jen in Beijing about the differences in personality between British and American people. Insert It is said that British people compared to American people, they are more indifferent, like not looking straight into people's eyes or not delving into other people's private things – I want to ask whether it is true or not. Jean: Jen 想问的就是，英国人在说话的时候是不是并不很直接，也很少太多涉及个人的话 题 – 因为她听说英国人比美国人要冷淡一些 indifferent。 Do you think so Finn? Finn: Well I think it's a good question Jean. But firstly – this word 'indifferent' might not be the best choice here. I think that Jen might have meant a word like 'reserved'. Jean: 有保留的、谨慎的 reserved 可能是 Jen 想表达的意思。一般来讲我们可以说谁是 indifferent to something 或者 indifferent about something, 而不是不管对什么都是完全的冷淡 冷漠不关心。比如说 I am indifferent to apples. Finn: Apples, really? Anyway let's get back to Jen's question. To get an idea we spoke to a few Americans in Britain, and also British people who lived in America. First we spoke to Ben. Insert What's important is to consider the geography in Britain or in America as to where people live. London is a big city like anything else, very similar to New York as far as the make up of the people. People have their own business, don’t necessarily want to go out of their way to make acquaintance with someone. But I found the country pubs where I spent most of the first week since I'm on 2 holiday over here, I found that to be a really welcoming, open place, much less guarded. Jean: Ben 他认为居住在伦敦或者纽约的人们一般来说都很忙 – 他们都有自己的事业，很 少下很大的功夫去结交新朋友。 Finn: He said they don't go out of their way to make new friends – that means they don't try too hard – but if you are in the country then people are much more friendly. Jean: Especially the country pubs! 所以他认为英国和美国国内的城市与乡村的差异比这两 国之间的不同还要大。 Finn: That's right, so if you find Londoners just a little bit unfriendly, perhaps you could visit the country where people are more welcoming. Jean: 更友好好客。 Finn: And less guarded. Jean: 更少一点保守谨慎。 Finn: Right, now, we also spoke to Val. She's a British woman with an American father who lived in the States for many years. Did she think Americans were more open? Insert Probably there I'd find people superficially more open, like chatting to you on the streets and on public transport. And even things like your neighbours, my parents have lived here for 17 years and they don't really know their neighbours here, whereas there they might not have known them
very well but you still say hi and still come around and say how are you doing even if it's a very superficial relationship. Jean:有趣的是，al觉得美国人更为open更开放一些，不过这有的时候是一种表面的开 放。 Finn:Yes-she uses the word superficial Jean:表面的-原来她觉得美国人在表面上是更友好一些。 Finn:This is Ask About Britain and today we're talking about differences between the American and the British personality.Next,we're going to hear from Jay who is an American who's lived in Britain for many years. Jean:他认为美国人比英国人更开朗outgoing,而且他也对他的这个说法做了一个解释， what does he think Finn? Finn:Now this is interesting-he thinks that British people are less outgoing because they live on a small island 3 Insert I think that Americans are probably more outgoing than Britons,but you have to remember Britain is of course a fairly small island and it's cut off from the rest of Europe,and I think that anything resembling a British culture,if we can call it that,is based in part around this island mentality. Finn:This is an interesting idea-he says Britain is cut off from the rest of Europe. Jean:It's cut off和欧洲其它地方隔绝。 Finn:And therefore this affects people's mentality -he says British people have an island mentality. Jean:An island mentality岛▣意识。Do you have an island mentality Finn'? Finn:Ooh,I don't know how to answer that!I hope not,but then I did grow up on a small island Jean. Jean:在我们今天的节目当中我们一起来探讨了一下美国人和英国人在性格上的不同-希 望大家也从中得到了有趣有益的一些学习。如果大家就英国的文化和生活有任何问题的话， 你可以给我们发邮件过来。我们的邮箱就是chinaelt@bbc.co.uk Finn:So,until next time,bye bye! Jean:Bye! Words and expressions indifferent冷漠的reserved谨慎的 to go out of your way去竭尽努力guarded保守谨慎的 superficial表面的outgoing开朗的 cut off隔绝island mentality岛国意识 What's your personality type Presenter:"Some people are always thinking of new ways of doing things.How true is that for you?" Man 1:"Fairly true.Yeah,I like to think of new ways of doing things.I like to use open source software on my computer.I don't like to stick to the sort of things which automatically come on a computer
very well but you still say hi and still come around and say how are you doing, even if it’s a very superficial relationship. Jean: 有趣的是，Val 觉得美国人更为 open 更开放一些，不过这有的时候是一种表面的开 放。 Finn: Yes – she uses the word superficial. Jean: 表面的 – 原来她觉得美国人在表面上是更友好一些。 Finn: This is Ask About Britain and today we're talking about differences between the American and the British personality. Next, we're going to hear from Jay who is an American who's lived in Britain for many years. Jean: 他认为美国人比英国人更开朗 outgoing，而且他也对他的这个说法做了一个解释， what does he think Finn? Finn: Now this is interesting – he thinks that British people are less outgoing because they live on a small island. 3 Insert I think that Americans are probably more outgoing than Britons, but you have to remember Britain is of course a fairly small island and it's cut off from the rest of Europe, and I think that anything resembling a British culture, if we can call it that, is based in part around this island mentality. Finn: This is an interesting idea – he says Britain is cut off from the rest of Europe. Jean: It's cut off 和欧洲其它地方隔绝。 Finn: And therefore this affects people's mentality – he says British people have an island mentality. Jean: An island mentality 岛国意识。Do you have an island mentality Finn? Finn: Ooh, I don't know how to answer that! I hope not, but then I did grow up on a small island Jean. Jean: 在我们今天的节目当中我们一起来探讨了一下美国人和英国人在性格上的不同 – 希 望大家也从中得到了有趣有益的一些学习。如果大家就英国的文化和生活有任何问题的话， 你可以给我们发邮件过来。我们的邮箱就是 chinaelt@bbc.co.uk. Finn: So, until next time, bye bye! Jean: Bye! Words and expressions indifferent 冷漠的 reserved 谨慎的 to go out of your way 去竭尽努力 guarded 保守谨慎的 superficial 表面的 outgoing 开朗的 cut off 隔绝 island mentality 岛国意识 What’s your personality type Presenter: “Some people are always thinking of new ways of doing things. How true is that for you?” Man 1: “Fairly true. Yeah, I like to think of new ways of doing things. I like to use open source software on my computer. I don’t like to stick to the sort of things which automatically come on a computer
Presenter:"Do you think you are very conscientious?" Woman 1:"Yeah,I would say so.Certain like aspects of my social life I do at the last minute,I come always late and stuff but when it comes to like work I tend to be quite organised cos it's quite important." Presenter:"Some people feel anxious or upset more easily than others.Would you say you are easily upset or sensitive?" Man 2:"Not really no.I am quite straight with that,like I don't get upset very easily.I never cry when people die and I always feel guilty cos I feel like I should be feeling more but I don't.” Presenter:"Would you say you're easily upset or sensitive?" Woman 2:"Yes I would,definitely.Very sensitive.To me it's very important to be nice to other people to be polite and so I do tend to take it personally which is not always a good thing.” The Success Personality Is there a“success personality” some winning combination of qualities that leads almost inevitably to achievement? If so,exactly what is that secret success formula, and can anyone develop it? At the Gallop Organization we recently focused in depth on success, probing the attitudes of 1500 prominent people selected at random from Who's Who in America. Our research finds out a number of qualities that occur regularly among top achievers. Here is one of the most important, that is common sense. Common sense is the most prevailing quality possessed by our respondents. Seventy-nine percent award themselves a top score in this quality. And 61 percent say that common sense was very important in contributing to their success. To most,common sense means the ability to present sound, practical judgments on everyday affairs. To do this,one has to sweep aside extra ideas and get right to the core of what matters. A Texas oil and gas businessman puts it this way: "The key ability for success is simplifying. In conducting of meeting and dealing with industry, reducing a complex problem to the simplest term is highly important." Is common sense a quality a person is born with. or can you do something to increase it?
Presenter: “Do you think you are very conscientious?” Woman 1: “Yeah, I would say so. Certain like aspects of my social life I do at the last minute, I come always late and stuff but when it comes to like work I tend to be quite organised cos it’s quite important.” Presenter: “Some people feel anxious or upset more easily than others. Would you say you are easily upset or sensitive?” Man 2: “Not really no. I am quite straight with that, like I don’t get upset very easily. I never cry when people die and I always feel guilty cos I feel like I should be feeling more but I don’t.” Presenter: “Would you say you’re easily upset or sensitive?” Woman 2: “Yes I would, definitely. Very sensitive. To me it’s very important to be nice to other people to be polite and so I do tend to take it personally which is not always a good thing.” The Success Personality Is there a “success personality” — some winning combination of qualities that leads almost inevitably to achievement? If so, exactly what is that secret success formula, and can anyone develop it? At the Gallop Organization we recently focused in depth on success, probing the attitudes of 1500 prominent people selected at random from Who’s Who in America. Our research finds out a number of qualities that occur regularly among top achievers. Here is one of the most important, that is common sense. Common sense is the most prevailing quality possessed by our respondents. Seventy-nine percent award themselves a top score in this quality. And 61 percent say that common sense was very important in contributing to their success. To most, common sense means the ability to present sound, practical judgments on everyday affairs. To do this, one has to sweep aside extra ideas and get right to the core of what matters. A Texas oil and gas businessman puts it this way: “The key ability for success is simplifying. In conducting of meeting and dealing with industry， reducing a complex problem to the simplest term is highly important.” Is common sense a quality a person is born with, or can you do something to increase it?
The oil man's answer is that common sense can definitely be developed. He attributes his to learning how to debate in school. Another way to increase your store of common sense is to observe it in others. learning from their一and your own一mistakes.. Besides common sense, there are many other factors that influence success: knowing your field,self-reliance,intelligence, the ability to get things done,leadership,creativity, relationships with others,and of course,luck. But common sense stands out. If you develop these qualities,you'll succeed. And you might even find yourself listed in Who's Who someday. She she hangs out every day near by the beach havin'a harnican fallin'asleep she looks so sexy when she's walking the sand nobody ever put a ring on her hand swim to the oceanshore fish in the sea she is the story the story is she she sings to the moon and the stars in the sky shining from high above you shouldn't ask why she is the one that you never forget she is the heaven-sent angel you met oh,she must be the reason why god made a girl she is so pretty all over the world she puts the rhythm,the beat in the drum she comes in the morning and the evening she's gone every little hour every second you live trust in eternity that's what she gives she looks like marilyn,walks like suzanne she talks like monica and marianne she wins in everything that she might do and she will respect you forever just you she is the one that you never forget she is the heaven-sent angel you met oh,she must be the reason why god made a girl she is so pretty all over the world she is so pretty all over the world she is so pretty she is like you and me like them like we she is in you and me
The oil man’s answer is that common sense can definitely be developed. He attributes his to learning how to debate in school. Another way to increase your store of common sense is to observe it in others, learning from their — and your own — mistakes. Besides common sense, there are many other factors that influence success: knowing your field, self-reliance, intelligence, the ability to get things done, leadership, creativity, relationships with others, and of course, luck. But common sense stands out. If you develop these qualities, you’ll succeed. And you might even find yourself listed in Who’s Who someday. She she hangs out every day near by the beach havin' a harnican fallin' asleep she looks so sexy when she's walking the sand nobody ever put a ring on her hand swim to the oceanshore fish in the sea she is the story the story is she she sings to the moon and the stars in the sky shining from high above you shouldn't ask why she is the one that you never forget she is the heaven-sent angel you met oh, she must be the reason why god made a girl she is so pretty all over the world she puts the rhythm, the beat in the drum she comes in the morning and the evening she's gone every little hour every second you live trust in eternity that's what she gives she looks like marilyn, walks like suzanne she talks like monica and marianne she wins in everything that she might do and she will respect you forever just you she is the one that you never forget she is the heaven-sent angel you met oh, she must be the reason why god made a girl she is so pretty all over the world she is so pretty all over the world she is so pretty she is like you and me like them like we she is in you and me
(she is the one)she is the one (that you never forget)that you never forget she is the heaven-sent angel you met she's the reason (oh she must be the reason)why god made a girl she is so pretty all over the world (oh...) na na nanana
(she is the one) she is the one (that you never forget) that you never forget she is the heaven-sent angel you met she's the reason (oh she must be the reason) why god made a girl she is so pretty all over the world (oh...) na na na na na