Behaving badly

BBC Learning EnglishWeekenderBehaving badlyJackie: Hello, welcome to Weekender! Today we'll look anissue which is getting a lotof attention in the British media at the moment.
　　It's something which the media and government call 'anti-social behaviour'. Anti-social behaviour is rather acomplicated way of saying 'people causing trouble'...
　　fighting, being noisy, making a mess in the streets,damaging buildings…all these kinds of things form part ofwhat's called 'anti-social behaviour'.
　　There has recently been a rather disappointing report,which says that Britain is seen across Europe as thecountry with the worst problem with anti-social behaviour.
　　Our Europe correspondent¹ Tim Franks has been looking at theresearch. As you listen to him, try to answer thisquestion. What do peoplethink is the main cause of anti-social behaviour inBritain?
　　Tim FranksThree quarters of those questioned said that Britain had aproblem with anti-social behaviour. France follows closebehind - perhaps a result of the riots² there. In contrast,the cause in Britain is seen, in large part, as alcohol.
　　Jackie: Well, according to the report, alcohol is the maincause of antisocial behaviour in Britain. France is seen asthe country with the second biggest problem ofanti-social behaviour. The report says people might thinkthis because of the recent riots. Rioting³ is when a largecrowd of people get together and behave violently, oftenbecause they are angry about something.
　　So how to people in Britain feel about all this? We'reabout to hear from Elena, who lives in London. A few wordsto listen out for:
　　Gangs of teenagers – groups of young people who staytogether and sometimes cause troubleTo feel intimidated⁴ – to feel scared or nervousTo be rowdy – is to be loud and badly behavedLet's listen to Elena. Is she worried about anti-socialbehaviour?
　　ElenaMy name is Elena and I life in North West London. I thinkin certain areas there are problems with anti-socialbehaviour…noisy neighbours and gangs of mainly teenagershanging around with nothing much to do, especially in theevenings and late at night and I feel a little bitintimidated when I have to walk past them. I think some ofthe problems are when just as the pubs are closing and alot of people come out it's a bit rowdy.
　　Jackie: Did you get the answer? Well Elena is a bit worriedabout people being rowdy, including gangs of teenagers, whomake her feel intimidated.
　　Why do gangs of teenagers hang around causing troublethough? Here are the theories of a couple of residents inthe town of Rochdale. Don't worry if you can't understandeverything. We'll hear their views again afterwards.
　　ResidentsDiscipline has gone out the window. There's nothing forthem to do, nowhere for them to go or anything.
　　Jackie: The first resident says 'discipline has gone outthe window'. Discipline is about controlling behaviour andobeying rules. It can be both a verb and a noun. Listen toit used in these phrases.
　　Voice: Parents don't know who to discipline their childrenany more.
　　The level of discipline in that school is awful. The kidsare really badly behaved.
　　Jackie: So the resident we heard earlier said disciplinehas 'gone out the window', which is a way of saying it hasdisappeared. Another resident said the problem withteenagers is 'there's nothing for them to do, nowhere forthem to go'. Listen again.
　　ResidentsThere's nothing for them to do, nowhere for them to go oranything.
　　Jackie: So how can the problems be solved? In a momentwe'll here the views of some politicians. First, somephrases that will come up:
　　CCTV – is short for 'closed circuit television' - videocameras filming what goes on in an area.
　　A bobby – is a slang⁵ word for policeman. We'll hear thephrase 'bobbies on the beat', which means policemen who areout in communities.
　　And we'll hear the term 'Asbo'. This is quite a new word.
　　It's short for'antisocial behaviour order', which is meant to stop badbehaviour. If a troublemaker⁶ gets an Asbo, he or she mightbe banned from going to a particular place and could end upin prison if they don't respect the rule. 'Asbo' only cameinto English dictionaries in the last year or so, but it'sa word you're quite likely to come across in the Britishmedia today.
　　So let’s listen to local politicians talking about howthey think anti-social behaviour can be reduced. What dothey think?
　　PoliticiansGet CCTV and of course, most of all, more police. Morebobbies on the beat. Asbos are partof the answer, but there not the whole answer. I thinkthere's got to be more respect.
　　Jackie: Well, CCTV, more bobbies on the beat and Asbos areall possible solutions, according to those politicians. Andmore respect. People should think about the needs of othersmore.

1 correspondent   

n.记者，通信者；adj.符合的，一致的，相当的

参考例句：

• He volunteered as a correspondent for the war.他自愿担任作报道这次战争的记者。
• The result was correspondent with my wishes.结果与我的愿望是一致的。

2 riots   

n. 暴乱, 骚乱, 暴动 vi. 骚乱, 闹事

参考例句：

• the instigators of the riots 煽动骚乱的人
• The riots are a clear manifestation of the people's discontent. 骚乱清楚地表明了人们的不满情绪。

3 rioting   

暴乱，骚乱

参考例句：

• There were ugly scenes in the streets last night as rioting continued. 昨晚暴乱持续之际，街上险象环生。
• They are rioting in the streets. 他们在街上闹事。

4 intimidated   

v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的

参考例句：

• We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯。
• The thief intimidated the boy into not telling the police. 这个贼恫吓那男孩使他不敢向警察报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

6 troublemaker   

n.惹是生非者，闹事者，捣乱者

参考例句：

• I would hate you to think me a troublemaker.我不愿你认为我是个搬弄是非的人。
• Li Yang has always been a troublemaker.李阳总是制造麻烦。