文化面面觀  皇家頭銜和稱謂 Royal styles and titles

思想火花  面對王室的沉默，媒體用大幅報道指摘其冷漠，民眾的情緒也愈加激烈……

考考你  乘熱打鐵

影片對白

Elizabeth: Prime Minister.

Tony: Good morning, Your Majesty. Sorry to disturb, but I was just wondering whether you'd seen any today's papers?

Elizabeth: We've managed to look at one or two, yes.

Tony: In which case, my next question would be whether you felt some kind of response might be necessary?

Elizabeth: No. I believe a few over-eager editors are doing their best to sell newspapers. That would be a mistake todance to their tune.

Tony: Under normal circumstances, I would agree, but... Well, my advisors have beentaking the temperatureamong people on the streets, and..., the information I'm getting is that the mood is quite delicate.

Elizabeth: So, what would you suggest, Prime Minister? Some kind of statement?

Tony: No, ma'am. I believe the moment for statements has passed. I would suggest flying the flagat half-mastabove Buckingham Palace... and coming down to London at the earliest opportunity. It would be a great comfort to your people and would help them with their grief.

Elizabeth: "Their grief"? If you imagine I'm going to drop everything and come down to London before Iattend tomy grandchildren, who've just lost their mother, then you're mistaken. I doubt there is anyone who knows the British people more than I do, Mr Blair, nor who has greater faith in their wisdom and judgment. And it is my belief that they will, at any moment, reject this... this mood, which is being stirred up by the pressin favour ofa period of restrained grief and sober, private mourning. That's the way we do things in this country - quietly, with dignity. It's what the rest of the world has always admired us for.

Tony: If that's your decision, ma'am, of course, the government will support it. Let's keep in touch.

Elizabeth: Yes, let's.

妙語佳句，活學活用

1. Dance to someone's tune

意思是"跟著某人亦步亦趨，跟著某人的指揮棒轉"，例如：There is no need to dance to the boss' tune when he's not correct.

2. Take the temperature

Temperature 在這里的意思可不是"溫度"，而是指"（友誼、人際關系）等的熱烈程度；激烈的情緒"，例如：
I was aware of a change in the temperature of our relationship.
我意識到我們友誼的熱烈程度起了變化。

He tried to cool the temperature by stating some obvious facts.
他試圖把一些明顯的事實講出來以平息人們的激烈情緒。

3. At half-mast

意為"Halfway up or down"，fly the flag at half-mast 就是"下半旗"的意思，用于對死去的人表示敬意。例如：The church bells tolled off and on all day and the flags were at half-mast.