BBC初級口語:氣球男孩 The 'Balloon Boy'

Background: 前不久數百萬美國人的目光都被電視機裏播放的新聞吸引住了，一隻熱氣球失控被吹走了。人們都以爲這個熱氣球裏還載着一個小男孩。結果後來被發現小男孩原來一直都躲在家裏沒有任何危險。現在小男孩的父母將面臨刑事起訴。

【文本】

Millions of Americans were transfixed by the live TV coverage of a helium balloon shaped like a flying saucer, hurtling through the air in Colorado. The Heene family said their six-year-old son was trapped in the balloon.

But when it was discovered that the boy had been hiding at home and the family had a track record of appearing on reality TV, people became suspicious.

At one point the boy blurted out on television that they'd done it for a show. Now, after interviewing the family members individually, the police say it was a hoax, and the sheriff Ernie Hudson explained:

It was in fact a public relations setup. These people wanted to get some national attention and with the ultimate hope that they would end up with some form of a TV deal or a reality show deal so there's no doubt in our mind that this took place.

Sheriff Ernie Hudson

The police said the boy’s parents were in fact actors and they'd put on a very good show, fooling everyone.

The authorities have said their investigation is still ongoing and that other parties, including some elements of the media, may have had knowledge of the stunt.

The parents now face criminal charges, including conspiracy and filing a false police report. If eventually found guilty, they could get a large fine and several years in jail.

【口語突破】

transfixed
目不轉睛

live TV coverage
電視現場直播

helium balloon
熱氣球

flying saucer
外星船

hurtling
扔出去，拋出

track record
以往紀錄

reality TV
電視真人秀

blurted out
脫口而出

hoax
惡作劇

sheriff
（美國的）縣司法長官

public relations setup
故意安排的公關計劃

TV deal
電視臺合約

fooling
欺騙

ongoing
持續的

parties
其他參與人士

face
面臨

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