Acting ladylike

 　　Acting¹ ladylike

　　LAST week, the new French first lady, former supermodel Carla Bruni, caused a sensation during French President Nicolas Sarkozy's first state visit to Britain. Of all the leading women in the world, Bruni perhaps best captures the way the role of a lady has changed.

　　She has had an interesting past. She posed naked for pictures and had an affair with the Rolling Stone's lead singer Mick Jagger. Traditionally, such behavior would be viewed as most unladylike, yet now it seems perfectly² acceptable, and somehow even adds to Bruni's charm.

　　It is a far cry from Victorian times, when a lady was expected to have manners, airs and graces that were part of a code of etiquette³. These social rules acted as a clear marker between the upper and lower classes.

　　While class divides have become less prominent in Britain and this code is now largely defunct⁴, it has influenced the definition of what it means to be a lady today.

　　The Webster's dictionary defines a lady as "a woman who is polite, refined and well-mannered". In the eyes of the British press, Bruni appears to have passed this test. The Daily Mail newspaper commented she "would have won the star prize at her old Swiss finishing school for the expert curtsey she performed [for the Queen]".

　　Yet a modern lady must fulfill⁵ other roles too. An article in the Guardian⁶ newspaper said: "The Italian-born heiress may have had her wild moments but she has this French first lady business sewn up. It was no surprise that she was comfortable in front of the cameras – when you've been one of the world's top 20 supermodels, that's to be expected."

　　Apparently⁷, the ability to pose naturally for pictures is another quality a lady now needs. This additional skill, and the other qualities for which Bruni has been praised, is an indication of the power of the modern media. It is now just as important for a lady to woo the press, as it is the person sitting next to you at the dinner table.

　　Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher⁸ once said: "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." Bruni certainly no longer needs to tell people she is a lady, the British press have already done that job for her.

　　Becoming an all-around lady

　　Britain's Prince Charles kisses the hand of Carla Bruni. Old-fashioned etiquette still rules in the world of ladies and gentlemen. So don't be surprised if, someday, a handsome gentleman takes your hand and warmly plants a kiss on it. Express your appreciation⁹ and flash him a pleasant smile.

　　Bruni attends a state banquet in London. To be a lady today, one mustn't be camera shy. Everything from a lady's smile to her dress and body language should invite the attention of the photographers.

　　Ever since the Victorian period, ladies have carried classy leather bags and purses. They usually avoid being seen with the large, loud bags in vogue¹⁰ today. Ladies' bags are often matched with leather gloves.

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　　listing 名单，编目

　　catalogue 目录

　　tab 标签

　　category 类别

　　copyrighted 受版权保护的

　　multimedia¹¹ 多媒体

　　access 访问、使用的权力

　　Bonus

　　Expressions

　　sew up

　　顺利完成，解决，确保成功

　　The businessman had the deal all sewn up before his partner arrived.

　　这个商人在合伙人到来之前就顺利完成了交易。

　　a far cry from

　　与……截然不同，差别很大

　　This treatment is a far cry from the one we received before.

　　这种待遇和我们从前所受的待遇有天壤之别。

　　Distinguish

　　lady

　　Used in polite reference

　　"Show the lady to a seat."

　　"Ladies and gentlemen."

　　Any titled woman, like a countess.

　　lady of the night, a prostitute

　　madam

　　Women with a designation of rank or office: Madam Chairman

　　The female head of a prostitution group

　　"Little madam" is a term used to refer to children with bad manners.

　　miss

　　An unmarried woman or girl, followed with the surname: Miss Liu

　　To form a title for a usually young unmarried female who is representative of a place or an activity: Miss America

　　Used without a name as a conventional term of address to a young woman:

　　"Miss, what can I do for you?"

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

3 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

4 defunct   

adj.死亡的；已倒闭的

参考例句：

• The scheme for building an airport seems to be completely defunct now.建造新机场的计划看来整个完蛋了。
• This schema object is defunct.No modifications are allowed until it is made active again.此架构对象不起作用。在重新激活之前，不能进行任何改动。

5 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

6 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

7 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

8 thatcher   

n.茅屋匠

参考例句：

• Tom Sawyer was in the skiff that bore Judge Thatcher. 汤姆 - 索亚和撒切尔法官同乘一条小艇。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
• Mrs. Thatcher was almost crazed; and Aunt Polly, also. 撒切尔夫人几乎神经失常，还有波莉姨妈也是。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

9 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

10 Vogue   

n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的

参考例句：

• Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。
• Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。

11 multimedia   

adj.多种手段的，多媒体的；n.多媒体

参考例句：

• Multimedia is the combination of computer and video technology.多媒体是计算机和视频技术的结合。
• Adam raised the issue of multimedia applications and much useful discussion ensued.亚当提出了多媒体应用的问题，从而引发了许多有益的讨论。