第三周：星期三　Talking about Family 谈家庭

A：Do you think young people are given too much freedom nowadays, and that as a result they've lost respect for their parents and their elders?

B：I don't think so. My parents never interfered with my plans too much. They advised me but never forced me to do anything I didn't want to do. I think I respect them more for this.

A：Are you quite independent of them now?

B：Yes, since I left school and started my studies as a nurse. But I still stay with them a lot.

A：You seem very close to your parents.

B：I am. I know that many young people today say they have nothing in common with their parents but I'm rather lucky because I get along very well with mine. What about you?

A：I'm very fond of my family, but I don't always get along very well with them. They try to control me too much.

B：Maybe it's just because of a lack of communication.

A：你有没有觉得人们给现在的年轻人太多自由了，结果导致他们对父母和其他长辈不那么尊重了?

B：我不这样认为。我父母从不过多地干涉我自己的计划。他们给我提建议，但从不强迫我去做我不想做的事情。我因此更尊重他们了。

A：你现在独立生活了吗?

B：是的，自从我毕业开始学护理。但我和他们待在一起的时间还是很多的。

A：看起来你和你家人的关系非常亲密。

B：是的。我知道现在许多年轻人说自己和父母没有共同话题，但我很幸运因为我和父母相处得很好。你呢?

A：我很热爱自己的家庭，但有时候和他们处不来。他们处处想控制我。

B：可能是因为缺乏沟通吧。

A：Have your parents retired?

B：Yes, they have. But they both have found other jobs and are still working.

A：Are they worrying about the money?

B：Money is part of the reason. They also want to keephysically and mentally active.

A：My parents are always worried about their low income after retirement which will increase our burden.

B：Well, my parents keep in good health after retirement.

A：I hold the traditional ideas that we must take care of our parents.

B：I agree with you.

A：Will the security and welfares for the aged be improved in the near future?

B：I hope so.

A：I don't consider supporting seniors as only the government's duty.

B：Yes, we need to save for the rainy days, and make financial planning for ourselves.

A：你的父母退休了吗?

B：是的，已经退休了。但是他们又找了别的工作，现在还在上班呢。

A：他们是不是担心钱的问题?

B：钱只是一部分原因。他们还想利用工作锻炼身体，活跃思维。

A：我爸妈总担心退休后自己月收入少了会给我们儿女增加负担。

B：呃，我的父母退休后身体一直都保持得很好。

A：我的观念非常传统，觉得父母一定要由子女来赡养。

B：我的想法和你一样。

A：未来老年人的福利和保障会不会再提高一些呢?

B：希望如此。

A：我觉得养老不仅仅是政府的责任。

B：是的，我们也应该未雨绸缪，做好自己的财务规划。

A：My husband and I are only-children.

B：That'll be tough for you to take care of four parents when they are old.

A：Yes, I'm worrying about it.

B：You need a lot of extra time and energy then.

A：News says three out of ten Chinese will be seniors by the year 2050. I believe most of the burden has to be shouldered by their only-children.

B：That's true. But it just reminds me that it may be a nice business opportunity in the future to set up more care centers for elderly people.

A：Our neighborhood is in lack of a fully-equipped senior care center.

B：Recreation centers for seniors can help the elderly people get rid of loneliness after retirement.

A：We should make earlier investments for our old age in the future.

B：I have heard that the pension will be increased along with the average salary level.

A：我和丈夫都是独生子女。

B：双方父母老的时候，你们要照顾四个老人，一定很不容易。

A：是啊，我也为此感到忧虑呢。

B：到时候，你需要许多额外的时间和精力。

A：新闻说，到2050年为止，三成的中国人口都将是老年人。我想照顾他们的负担大部分会落在这些独生子女们的肩膀上。

B：说的没错。但是这也提醒了我，建立更多的养老中心也许在未来会是不错的赚钱机会。

A：我家附近缺少一个设施齐全的养老院。

B：有了老年人活动中心，可以帮助那些老年人摆脱退休之后的孤独寂寞。

A：我们也应该早点儿为以后上了岁数的日子进行投资。

B：我听说养老金发放金额会随着社会平均工资水平的提高而提高。

A：Ellen, how have things been?

B：Oh, much the same. My husband and I still seem to have rows all the time.

A：What do you quarrel about?

B：Oh, everything. For example, when he gets home, he expects me to run around and get his tea. He never does anything athome.

A：Really?

B：Yes! And yesterday, he even invited four of his friends to come round for a drink and didn't tell me before hand.

A：I see.

B：He's so untidy, and even worse than the kids. He always throws his clothes on the floor. After all, I'm not his servant. You see, that's the trouble.

A：Maybe you two should have a serious talk about that.

A：艾伦，近来好吗?

B：噢，跟以前差不多。我和我丈夫似乎一直在吵个不停。

A：你们吵什么?

B：哦，什么都要吵。比如他一到家，就要我跑来跑去地为他倒茶。他在家里什么都不做。

A：真的吗?

B：是的!还有昨天，他甚至都没有提前跟我说一声就请了四个朋友来喝酒。

A：我理解。

B：他那么不爱干净，甚至连小孩都不如。他总是把衣服扔在地板上。毕竟我不是他的仆人，你看，问题就在这里。

A：或许你们两个人应该认真地谈一谈了。

A：How many people are there in your family?

B：Four: my parents, my older brother and I.

A：What type of family do you like?

B：I like a small family, composed of parents and one child. In America, people call it a nuclear family.

A：Do you get on well with your family?

B：Yes, quite well.

A：How do you often spend weekends with your family?

B：We often go out or shopping.

A：Do your parents care about you?

B：Of course. They often talk to me like we are friends.

A：Do your parents like children?

B：Yes, they like my brother's two children very much.

A：Do they live together with your brother?

B：No, they have their own house.

A：你家有几口人?

B：四口：父母、哥哥和我。

A：你喜欢什么类型的家庭?

B：我喜欢由双亲及一个孩子组成的小家庭。在美国，人们称之为核心家庭。

A：你与家人相处得好吗?

B：是的，很和睦。

A：你通常是怎样与家人度周末的?

B：我们常去郊游或购物。

A：你父母关心你吗?

B：当然。他们经常像朋友一样和我聊天。

A：你父母喜欢孩子吗?

B：是的，他们非常喜欢我哥哥的两个孩子。

A：他们跟你哥哥住在一起吗?

B：不，他们有自己的房子。