英语时文阅读

英语时文阅读（一）2013.9.12

Your Royal Message 向威廉王子和凯特发信祝福

bbcukchina is offering you the chance to send your congratulations to Wills and Kate.

From this week, is giving you the opportunity to send your best wishes to the couple. You can write in Chinese, but why not put your goodwill message in the language the couple speak?

What message do you want to send to the couple?

To get some ideas, let's look at how people reacted to the news of the engagement.

读了这些引语之后，你可以下载右边的练习题练习使用这些常用的祝福语并获得一些写祝福语的提示。Michael Middleton

Kate's father

"They make a lovely couple, they're great fun to be with and we've had a lot of laughs together. We wish them every happiness for the future."

Prince Charles

William's father

"We're obviously thrilled. They've been practising for long enough."

David Cameron

Prime Minister

"I'm sure that the whole country will want to pass their very best wishes to the happy couple and wish them an incredibly long and happy life together."

Ed Miliband

Leader of the Opposition

"I'm delighted for Prince William and Kate Middleton. They are a lovely couple... and I wish them all the happiness in the world, I'm sure they'll be very happy together."

Private Danny Elvestad

A soldier in Afghanistan

"He's been with Kate for a long time. I'm just over the moon for him, thrilled."

Glossary 词汇表

the big day婚礼日

to send one's best wishes给予良好的祝愿

a goodwill message亲善祝福

they make a lovely couple他们是可爱的一对

to have a lot of laughs with someone在一起很开心

to wish someone every happiness祝愿某人永远幸福

the happy couple 幸福的一对

to be over the moon 兴奋无比

Rastamouse 一只引起争议的老鼠

In the UK a tiny animal has kicked off a big debate.

'Rastamouse' is a much talked-about new animated BBC children's show. The star of the programme is a cute Rastafarian mouse who, together with his reggae band, solves crimes.

The show has caused a stir with viewers of all ages. Its humour has won it many devoted adult followers and it has been praised for its educational value.

Rastamouse likes skateboarding and loves music.

But it is the way Rastamouse and his band – Da Easy Crew – speak that has put the cat among the pigeons. The characters talk in a Caribbean English patois. For example, Rastamouse's motto is "makin' a bad ting (thing) good". The characters greet each other by saying "Wagwan!" (What's going on?).

For many, it's part of the show's appeal. But some parents have complained that it is encouraging the use of slang amongst their children. Other viewers feel that the mice are stereotyped or condescending versions of Rastafarians. Around 190 complaints have been submitted to the BBC.

The show's creators – one of whom is himself a Rastafarian – insist that no offence was intended and the BBC has defended the show for its "compelling stories, great music and positive messages".

The backlash hasn't halted Rastamouse's progress. He has already released a single – Ice Popp – and an album is also planned.

Glossary 词汇表

to kick off a big debate引发了一场大辩论

much talked-about 议论纷纷的

Rastafarian信奉拉斯特法里教的

to cause a stir引起争议

devoted followers忠实的追随者

•to put the cat among the pigeons惹事生非

•patois方言/土语

•stereotyped老套的

•compelling有说服力的

•backlash 反弹