James Bond

 　　NB: This is not a word for word transcript¹

　　Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.

　　Rob: And I'm Rob.

　　Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! I have to say Rob, you’re looking very smart and

　　sophisticated in your dinner jacket and bow tie.

　　Rob: Oh, thanks, Alice. I’m trying to get in to character as James Bond because

　　that's who we're talking about today.

　　Alice: Ah, James Bond, probably one of the most famous fictional² spies.

　　Rob: Yes, British agent 007 was the smooth spy and hero of the novels by Ian

　　Fleming.

　　Alice: Well, even though Ian Fleming died in 1964, a new Bond book has just been

　　published. But before I tell you more about it, Rob, here’s our question today.

　　Do you know the title of the first-ever James Bond story that Ian Fleming

　　wrote? Was it:

　　a) Diamonds Are Forever

　　b) From Russia With Love

　　c) Casino Royale

　　Rob: Hmm… they all sound like old titles, but I’ll have a guess at Casino Royale.

　　Alice: OK, well, as usual, I'll tell you the correct answer at the end of the programme.

　　Now let's talk about this new James Bond novel. It's called 'Carte Blanche'.

　　Rob: 'Carte Blanche'. This is the first story about James Bond that's not written by

　　Ian Fleming.

　　Alice: That's right. It has been written by American author, Jeffery Deaver. He

　　normally writes crime novels, but of course he’s a big fan of Ian Fleming and

　　started reading his books when he was eight years old.

　　Rob: Wow! That's quite young to be reading something that’s more suitable for

　　adults!

　　Alice: It is. Let's hear what he has to say about his parents encouraging him to read.

　　Insert 1:

　　Well, my parents had an odd rule in the household: my sister and I could read any book

　　we could get our hands on - books were good. There were some movies that we were not

　　allowed to see, so I picked up the James Bond books and was captivated with them. So

　　Fleming was always part of my life as a reader and when I started writing, which was

　　only a few years later, I modelled my books after his writing.

　　Alice: That was Jeffrey Deaver who said he was captivated by the James Bond

　　books.

　　Rob: Captivated, so he was hooked on reading about him, especially as he wasn't

　　allowed to watch any films – or movies.

　　Alice: And when he started writing he modelled - copied the style of - the books on

　　the writing of Ian Fleming.

　　Rob: So it seems like he’s a good choice for someone to write the next Bond book.

　　And it must have been a huge honour for him.

　　Alice: A huge honour. He got the news by text message but, as he says, he didn't take

　　long to say yes.

　　Insert 2:

　　I remember I was driving down the motorway³ and my phone buzzed with a text message.

　　And of course I pulled over and I looked at it, and I debated 7, 8 seconds and answered

　　that yes I would. The thrill was unsurpassed - I just can’t describe it.

　　Rob: So he got a text message when he was driving. He pulled over and debated it

　　with himself for 7 or 8 seconds. So he discussed it with himself!

　　Alice: Yeah, and then he said yes! He said the thrill – the excitement – was

　　unsurpassed; it couldn't be any better!

　　Rob: I'm sure. But Alice, I know the world of James Bond is constantly being

　　reinvented and updated, so how different is this new book from the old ones?

　　Alice: Well, as you know, one of the best things about the Bond stories are the

　　gadgets⁵. And as this is the first book to be set in the 21st Century there are some

　　very up-to-date ones, including an app to help eavesdrop⁶ on people.

　　Rob: An app – or application – used on a smart phone. That sounds great. Anything

　　else?

　　Alice: Yes. There is a gadget⁴ for iris⁷ recognition. It can check who you are by

　　looking at your eyes!

　　Insert 3:

　　Spies have always been on the cutting edge of technology and Bond is always outthinking

　　the bad guys - he has to have his gadgets. The trick of if you have to give a

　　message to an agent on the street, and yet you know you’re being listened to or observed

　　- you tie your shoelaces in a slightly different pattern and that will convey the message. I

　　love little things like that.

　　Alice: So Jeffrey says that Bond is always out-thinking the bad guys.

　　Rob: So he means he’s trying to think beyond what the villains⁸ are thinking?

　　Alice: I think so! That's why he said spies are always on the cutting edge of

　　technology. They need them to catch the bad guys.

　　Rob: Well, there aren't many Bond villians I would like to meet anyway, but they are

　　very good to watch in the Bond films.

　　Alice: They are, and of course the Bond film franchise⁹ is hugely successful. I wonder

　　if this new book, Carte Blanche, will ever become a film? Anyway Rob, let's

　　see if you got the correct answer to the question I gave you earlier.

　　Rob: Ah, yes. You asked me what was Ian Fleming's first-ever James Bond book.

　　And I said Casino Royale.

　　Alice: And you were right.

　　Rob: Ah!

　　Alice: Casino Royale, first published in 1953. Well done! And before we go, let’s hear

　　some of the words and phrases that we’ve used in today’s programme.

　　Rob: sophisticated

　　fictional

　　novels

　　captivated

　　modelled

　　debated

　　unsurpassed

　　eavesdrop

　　iris recognition

　　out-thinking

　　cutting edge

　　franchise

　　Alice: Thanks, Rob. Well, we hope you’ve had fun with us today on 6 Minute English

　　- and that you’ll join us again next time.

　　Both: Bye.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

3 motorway   

n.高速公路，快车道

参考例句：

• Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.我们的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。
• A maniac driver sped 35 miles along the wrong side of a motorway at 110 mph.一个疯狂的司机以每小时110英里的速度在高速公路上逆行飙车35英里。

4 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。

5 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

6 eavesdrop   

v.偷听，倾听

参考例句：

• He ensconced himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.他藏在壁橱里，以便偷听。
• It is not polite to eavesdrop on the conversation of other people.偷听他人说话是很不礼貌的。

7 iris   

n.虹膜，彩虹

参考例句：

• The opening of the iris is called the pupil.虹膜的开口处叫做瞳孔。
• This incredible human eye,complete with retina and iris,can be found in the Maldives.又是在马尔代夫，有这样一只难以置信的眼睛，连视网膜和虹膜都刻画齐全了。

8 villains   

n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼

参考例句：

• The impression of villains was inescapable. 留下恶棍的印象是不可避免的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some villains robbed the widow of the savings. 有几个歹徒将寡妇的积蓄劫走了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。