BBC 6分钟英语 模特们太瘦了吗？

From BBC, learning English. Hello, and welcome to Six Minute English.

I'm Rob, and I'm thin. Hello, rob.

Hi, there, finn. I have to say, you've got a lean and hungry look today.

Really, I'll take that as a compliment, shall I?

Yeah, please. Do. Do you want to donut?

Uh,

actually, yeah. Or can I have two?

So, hmm, hmm. What are we talking about today?

Rob we're talking about skinny or very thin models, and whether there should be a law banning them from working on the catwalk, and a catwalk is the long runway that models walk down at fashion shows.

Well, no danger from me, thereof I think I like eating a little bit too much.

And there's no danger if you becoming a model anyway.

Fin because you're not good looking enough, I'm afraid.

Oh, really. Okay. Thank you, rob, that's very nice.

I think it's time for today's quiz.

Question, please. Okay, well, here goes.

Which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013?

Was it A Israel, B Canada or C the US?

You know what? I've got no idea, so I'll take a guess and say, A Israel.

OK, well, we'll find out if that's the right answer later on.

OK, so come on, fin, what you think are the models we see on the catwalk and in the media too skinny?

Well, yeah, I think some models do look fantastic, but others look painfully thin.

Now, the media, by the way, refers to the different ways information is communicated to us, so, e.g.

through TV, radio, magazines, and often the Internet and newspapers.

OK. Well, lets listen to Jamie Gavin, founder a manging director of Media Agency in Press, talking about a new French law being discussed preventing the use of underweight models.

Can you spot a phrase that means a limit or an ending?

I think it's a BMI of 18 or less than that, is hopefully going to be banned by the French Assembly today.

This is what the U-S UM Health Organization states is being kind of clinically unhealthy.

So it's almost like a cutoff point.

Yes, be thin, yes, be thinner than the general population.

But once it starts getting to one healthy territory, really, that's time to start banning it.

And the French Assembly did pass this law a few days later.

Now, did you spot the phrase for a limit or an ending?

It's cut off point, so models that a too thin will be banned or won't be allowed to work, and the cut off point is a BMI of 18 or less.

The BMI stands for Body Mass Index, and this is the ratio of a person's height to their weight.

And ratio means the relationship between two things, showing how big one thing is compared to another.

But what happens if you're just naturally really thin?

The authorities could be accused of discrimination against skinny people or treating some people less fairly than others.

That's right. It's a good point, and that's why the French authorities and those of some other countries are using BMI as a way of deciding so models with a BMI of 18 or less, way too little when compared to how tall they are, and clinically unhealthy.

Well, what does that mean? Well, it means you need medical treatment for a condition or illness.

Now, anorexia is an illness where a person refuses to eat in order to lose weight.

But some models these days are so skinny they do look anorexic.

You're right. Let's hear more from Jamie Gavin, talking about protecting the health of models.

Now, what phrases used to mean the responsibility the theatrical agents and the model in agents that got responsibility to look after their clients.

There's a huge amount of pressure on both the agent and on the models themselves.

And really the book lies with them and making sure that these people are healthy and they're looking after their careers as well.

So the problem with the modeling industry is that the agents who employ the girls put pressure on or strongly persuade them to lose weight, and in this way, they aren't taking care of their clients.

They're actually putting them at risk.

Now, why is that rob it's because many people in the fashion industry prefer very thin models.

So it's a case of supply and demand.

The agents are simply supplying the fashion industry with the type of girls they want.

Hmm, right. And what does the reporter mean when he says, the buck lies with the agents?

When the buck lies or stops with someone, it means it's his or her responsibility, not someone else's.

An agent who employed underweight models can face fines of up to €75000 or even prison sentences.

Hmm, OK. Shall we hear the answer to today's quiz question?

OK. Well, I asked you which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013?

Was it a Israel, be Canada, or see the US?

I said a Israel, and you are right from Well done.

Okay. Ok now, shall we listen to the words we learn today?

We heard Skinny catwalk media cut off point

band BMI, that's body mass Index, ratio discrimination.

Clinically, anorexia put pressure on supply and demand.

And the buck stops with or the buck lies with.

Thank you. Well, that brings us to the end of today's six minute English.

We hope you had a healthy interest in today's program.

Please join it again soon. Donut.

Go on it. Bye, bye.

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