《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词3500》Unit55:游戏有什么好玩的?

　　Unit 55
What's In a Game?
Computer games are a $60 billion industry globally and playing games is a big part of many children's daily lives. Parents are often concerned about the violent content of some computer games. Games like Grand Theft Auto¹ and Resident Evil, both rated 18+, feature significant scenes of graphic² violence and are not supposed to be sold to children. Yet younger children are still getting access to these games. The parents are to blame for young kids playing 18+ games. Retailers³ simply advise them and say that game is an 18+. If a kid goes into a store and says, "Mum, can I get that game?" the parent often says yes.
The manufacturers could also do more to help by avoiding the bloody⁴ content but keeping the games action-packed for children. For example, Grand Theft Auto is senseless violence. There are people getting crushed and there's blood all over the place. So if there were games that were a bit less bloody but still action-packed, younger children would steer⁵ away from buying, or wanting to buy.
Young game players shared their experience of buying and playing computer games. Samir Pasha, 15 from London, was concerned about the violent content of PC games. "I think it's a bit too violent for young people. When people are coming at you to shoot, you stab them and all that and run over people."
Ryan McLaughlin, 15 from Derry, disagreed and felt young people could distinguish between and felt young people could distinguish between violent content in games and real life. "I think there's nothing really there to support an 18+ certification. This game, Evil Dead, of course there is a lot of mad violence, but it is only a game. And where isn't there violence these days?" Ryan also thought manufacturers could design more different types of games for the younger children to prevent them from pestering⁶ parents for more violent but exciting games.
The high cost of buying PC games was another major concern. Connor Donnelly 12, from Derry said, "I can hardly afford games. I got a game recently, a week ago, and I've been saving up since Christmas just to get enough money for it." Connor felt manufacturers were making excessive profit from selling PC games. "For the amount of money it costs to make a game, it's way too excessive, and I read something, and it was, like $1 to make one game and we're paying $40, so I think the price is too high."

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

3 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

6 pestering   

使烦恼，纠缠( pester的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He's always pestering me to help him with his homework. 他总是泡蘑菇要我帮他做作业。
• I'm telling you once and for all, if you don't stop pestering me you'll be sorry. 我这是最后一次警告你。如果你不停止纠缠我，你将来会后悔的。