“More in Common” 组织开展的一项民意调查显示，许多职场人士仍认为所谓的 “口音偏见” 是一个问题。调查发现，在英国，每 10 人中就有一人在商务会议发言等重要职场场合中，会因自己的口音感到焦虑或不自在。

This polling suggests that 5% of people in Britain believe their accent has cost them a promotion, pay rise or senior role. Those from Birmingham were the most likely to feel this - the figure rose to 13% among people with a Brummie accent.

这项民调显示，5%的英国人认为，自己的口音曾导致他们错失晋升、加薪或担任高级职位的机会。来自伯明翰的受访者最有可能持这种看法，因为在有伯明翰地方口音的人群中，这一比例上升至了 13%。

More than 3,300 people in England, Scotland and Wales were questioned. People from the West Country were most likely to report being mocked or criticised by colleagues for the way they spoke, at 15%, closely followed by those with a Geordie or Mancunian accent.

这项调查访问了英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士的 3300 多名受访者。调查显示，来自英格兰西南部地区的受访者最有可能表示，自己曾因说话方式而遭到同事嘲笑或批评，这一比例为 15%；紧随其后的是有纽卡斯尔地区口音和曼彻斯特地区口音的受访者。

Softening an accent is a common occurrence, the study suggests, with 13% of Britons polled admitting to changing the way they spoke in order to sound more professional. This rose to 23% of those with an East London Cockney accent, and 20% of those with a Scottish accent.

研究显示，刻意淡化口音是一种较为普遍的现象。13%的英国受访者承认，为了让自己听起来更专业，他们曾有意改变自己的说话方式。在有伦敦东区考克尼口音的受访者中，这一比例升至 23%；在有苏格兰口音的受访者中，这一比例为 20%。

词汇表

polling 民意调查
promotion 晋升
Brummie 伯明翰的，与伯明翰有关的
West Country 英格兰西南部地区
mocked 嘲笑，取笑
Geordie 纽卡斯尔（Newcastle）及英格兰东北部泰恩赛德地区的
Mancunian 曼彻斯特的
softening 使...减弱
common occurrence 常见现象
admitting 承认

听力练习（答案见下页）

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. Is this article about discrimination based on where people come from, or how they speak?

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. One in 10 people in Britain believe that the way they speak has limited their career opportunities.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. People from Birmingham are most likely to feel that their accent leads to problems at work.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. People from Manchester were most likely to report people laughing at their accent.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. Students in the West Country felt their accents were criticised.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. East Londoners were the most likely to try to speak in a different way.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. The figure rose to ______________ people with a Brummie accent.

2. Softening an accent is a common occurrence, the study suggests, with 13% of Britons polled admitting to changing the way they ______________ to sound more professional.

答案

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. The article is about discrimination based on how people speak.

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. b. False. This polling suggests that 5% of people in Britain believe their accent has cost them a promotion, pay rise or senior role.

2. a. True. Those from Birmingham were the most likely to feel this – the figure rose to 13% among people with a Brummie accent.

3. b. False. People from the West Country were most likely to report being mocked or criticised by colleagues for the way they spoke, at 15%, closely followed by those with a Geordie or Mancunian accent.

4. c. Not given. The article talks about discrimination at work, rather than at university or college.

5. c. Not given. The article mentioned that East Londoners were more likely to try to speak in a different way, but did not mention if they were the most likely to do so.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. The figure rose to 13% among people with a Brummie accent.

2. Softening an accent is a common occurrence, the study suggests, with 13% of Britons polled admitting to changing the way they spoke in order to sound more professional.