英语听力精选进阶版 14211

（单词翻译）

Welcome home, gnomes¹

Summary

20 May 2013

This year will be the first time in its 100-year history that the Chelsea Flower Show is allowing gnomes to be shown. But why this year? And why was there a ban in the first place?

Reporter:

Steve Evans

Report

People either love them or hate them – garden gnomes, those little figurines of men with their pointy, red hats and white beards, with a pipe or a fishing rod, that are used to decorate gardens in some countries. Some people have called the ban on them at the prestigious² Chelsea flower show 'snobbery³' – or worse still, gnomo-phobia. The organisers, the Royal Horticultural Society, defend themselves by saying the ban on what they describe as "brightly-coloured, mythical⁴ creatures" is in force so as not to distract from the flowers on show. But this year the ban is being lifted. So do people support the move?

(People giving their opinions:)

I don't mind garden gnomes. I think they bring a bit of colour. They bring a bit of amusement. And, you know, there's a place for them in the right type of garden.

I think they're very nice and I'm from Denmark and I think there's a tradition in Denmark. We always have them in our gardens.

I'm all for equality and equal opportunity for everybody including gnomes.

The moratorium⁵ is to allow in a group of more than 100 celebrity⁶ gnomes, or rather, gnomes decorated by celebrities⁷ such as Sir Elton John and Dolly Parton. They will be auctioned⁸ to raise money for a charity that helps children get involved in gardening.