Unit-3-Social-Problems新编大学英语第二版第三册课文翻译

PAGEPAGE4Unit3SocialProblemsLatchkeyChildren—Knock,Knock,IsAnybodyHome?IntheUnitedStatesthecostoflivinghasbeensteadilyrisingforthepastfewdecades.Foodprices,clothingcosts,housingexpenses,andtuitionfeesareconstantlygettinghigherandhigher.Partlybecauseoffinancialneed,andpartlybecauseofcareerchoicesforpersonalfulfillment,mothershavebeenleavingthetraditionalroleoffull-timehomemaker.Increasinglytheyhavebeentakingsalariedjobsoutsidethehome.Makingsuchasignificantrolechangeaffectstheentirefamily,especiallythechildren.Someconsequencesareobvious.Forexample,dinnertimeisatalaterhour.Theemotionalimpact,ontheotherhand,canbemoresubtle.Mothersleavehomeinthemorning,feelingguiltybecausetheywillnotbehomewhentheirchildrenreturnfromschool.Theysuppresstheirguiltsincetheybelievethattheirworkwillbenefiteveryoneinthelongrun.Theincomewillenablethefamilytosaveforcollegetuition,takeanextendedvacation,buyanewcar,andsoon.Theemotionalimpactonthechildrencanbesignificant.Itisquitecommonforchildrentofeelhurtandresentful.Afterall,theyarealoneseveralhours,andtheyfeelthattheirmothersshould"bethere"forthem.Theymightneedassistancewiththeirhomeworkorwanttosharetheday'sactivities.Alltoooften,however,themothersarrivehomeexhaustedandfacetheimmediatetaskofpreparingdinner.Theirpriorityismakingtheeveningmealforthefamily,notengaginginrelaxedconversation.Latchkeychildrenrangeinagefromsixtothirteen.Onadailybasistheyreturnfromschoolandunlockthedoortotheirhomewiththekeyhangingaroundtheirnecks.Theyarenowontheirown,alone,inquiet,emptyrooms.Forsomeyoungsters,itisaproductiveperiodofprivatetime,whileforothersitisafrightening,lonelyvoid.Forreasonsofsafety,manyparentsforbidtheirchildrentogoouttoplayortohavevisitorsathome.Theyoungsters,therefore,feelisolated.Latchkeychildrenwhowereinterviewedreporteddiversereactions.Somelatchkeychildrensaidthatbeingontheirownforafewhourseachdayfostered,orstimulated,asenseofindependenceandresponsibility.Theyfeltlovedandtrusted,andthisfeelingencouragedthemtobeself-confident.Latchkeygirls,byobservinghowtheirmotherscopedwiththedemandsofafamilyandajob,learnedtherolemodelofaworkingmother.Somechildrenstatedthattheyusedtheirunsupervisedfreetimetoperfecttheirathleticskills,suchasplayingbasketball.Othersreadbooksorpracticedamusicalinstrument.Thesechildrenlookedupontheirfreetimeafterschoolasanopportunityforpersonaldevelopment.Itledtopositive,productive,andvaluableexperiences.Conversely,manylatchkeychildrenexpressedmuchbitterness,resentment,andangerforbeingmadetoliveinthisfashion.Manyclaimedthattoomuchresponsibilitywasplacedonthematanearlyage;itwasanoverwhelmingburden.Theywerelittlepeoplewhoreallywantedtobeprotected,encouraged,andcaredforthroughattentionfromtheirmothers.Cominghometoanemptyhousewasdisappointing,lonely,andoftenfrightening.Theyfeltabandonedbytheirmothers.Afterall,itseemedtothemthatmostotherchildrenhad"normal"familieswhosemotherswere"around,"whereastheirownmotherswereneverhome.Manychildrenturnedonthetelevisionforthewholeafternoondayafterday,inordertodiminishfeelingsofisolation;furthermore,thevoiceswerecomforting.Frequently,theywoulddozeoff.Becauseofeithereconomicnecessityorstrongdeterminationforpersonalfulfillment,orboth,thephenomenonoflatchkeychildreniswidespreadinoursociety.Whateverthereason,itisacompellingsituationwithwhichfamiliesmustcope.Thequestiontoaskisnotwhetherornotmothersshouldworkfull-time.Giventherealityofthesituation,thequestiontoaskis:howcananoptimumplanbeworkedouttodealeffectivelywiththesituation.Itisadvisableforallmembersofthefamilytoexpresstheirfeelingsandconcernsabouttheinevitablechangecandidly.Theseremarksshouldbediscussedfully.Manyfactorsmustbetakenintoconsideration:thechildren'spersonalityandmaturity,theamountoftimethechildrenwillbealone,thesafetyoftheneighborhood,accessibilityofhelpincaseofanemergency.Ofsupremeimportanceisthequalityoftherelationshipbetweenparentsandchildren.Itismostimportantthatthechildrenbesecureintheknowledgethattheyareloved.Feelinglovedprovidesinvaluableemotionalstrengthtocopesuccessfullywithalmostanydifficultythatarisesinlife.挂钥匙的孩子——笃、笃，家里有人吗？在过去的几十年中，美国的生活费用一直在持续增长。食品价格。服装费用、房子开销和学费都越来越高。母亲们纷纷放弃传统的全职家庭主妇的角色，这一部分是由于经济需要，一部分是想通过工作取得成就感。她们越来越多地从事家庭以外的有薪水的工作。如此重大的角色转换影响着整个家庭，尤其是孩子们。某些后果是非常明显的。例如，晚饭时间推迟了。而另一方面，这种转变对情感的影响就更微妙了。母亲们早上带着愧疚感离开家，因为孩子放学回来时她们会不在家。她们压抑着愧疚心理，因为她们相信她们的工作从长远来讲对大家有益。她们的收入将能够使家庭存下钱来供孩子上大学。度一次长假、买辆新车，等等。"Whataretheoddsofmygettingmugged?"heaskedhisfriendLenny."Howmuchareyouwillingtobet?"saidLenny,whowasacompulsivegambler."Ohcomeon,thisistooimportanttobeton!""Nothingistooimportanttobeton,"saidLenny,shocked.Thatwastheendoftheirfriendship."HowdoyouthinkIcanavoidgettingmugged?"MartinaskedhisfriendGrace.Gracehadnotbeenoutsideherapartmentinfiveyears,asasure-firewayofavoidingbeingmugged.Ithadfailed;someonehadbrokeninandmuggedher."I'venoidea,Martin,"shesaid."Mostoftheseguysareondrugsanyway,andtheyneedthemoneyfortheiraddiction."ThisgaveMartinanidea.Ifthemuggersonlyneededthemoneyfordrugs,whydidn'theofferthemdrugsinstead?Thenpossiblytheywouldbesogratefultheywouldn'tharmhim.Throughsomerichfriendsheknewheboughtsmallquantitiesofheroinandcocaine.Hehadnevertouchedthestuffhimself,sohehadtolabelthemcarefullytomakesurehedidn'tgetthemmixedup.OnedayhewaswalkinginapartofCentralParkheshouldn'thavebeenin(thepartwherethereisgrassandtrees)whenthreemenleaptoutathim.Onewasblack,onewasPuertoRicanandonewasCaucasian.Well,atleastmuggingisbeingintegratedhethought."Youwantdrugs?"hecried."I'vegotdrugs!Anythingyouwantyoucanhave.Justnameit.Butdon'ttouchme!"Thethreemenletgoofhimrespectfully."Wealmostmadeabigmistakethere,"saidoneofthem."Thisguy'sapusher.Hurthim,andwecouldhavetheMafiadownonus.Let'sseewhatyougot,mister."SomewhattohissurpriseMartinfoundhimselfdisplayinghiswarestohisclientele.Evenmoretohissurprise,hefoundhimselfacceptingmoneyforthedrugs,muchmorethanhe'dpaidforthem."Howcomeyouguyshaveallthismoney?"Hesaid."Whyareyououtmuggingifyouhavemoney?""Well,we'renotrealmuggers,"saidtheCaucasianembarrassed."We'reout-of-workactors.""Ithoughtout-of-workshowbizpeoplealwaysbecamewaitersorbarmen,"saidMartin."Right.Buttherearesomanyshowbizpeopleincateringnowthatyoucan'tgetworkaswaiters.Sowehadtogetworkasmuggers.WhenMartingothome,heboughtsomemoredrugsfromhisfriend.Prettysoonhesoldthemtosomemoremuggers.Prettysoonafterthathefoundhewasspendingmoreandmoretimepushingdrugs,andmakingmoreandmoremoneyatit.Beingafraidofmuggingshadturnedhimintoaprofessionaldrug-pusher.Onedayamanleaptoutathimandgrabbedhim."Youwantdrugs?"saidMartin."Igotdrugs."Iwantmoney,"saidafamiliarvoice."Lenny!"criedMartin."How'reyoudoing?""Badly,"saidLenny."Ilosteverythinggambling."HehitMartinovertheheadandtookhismoney,walletandallhiscreditcards,leavingthelittlepacketsofwhitepowderbehind.曼哈顿抢劫犯的计谋马丁在纽约住了四十年，从没被抢过。这并没有让他很放心，相反，这令他很害怕。在他看来，他是曼哈顿下一个最有可能被抢的人。“我被抢的可能性有多大？”他问他的朋友列尼。“你想赌多少钱？”列尼说，那是个非常爱赌的人。“得了吧，这么重要的事情，也能打赌！”“没有什么事重要到不能赌的，”列尼吃惊地说道。这成为他们友谊的结束。“你觉得我怎么样可以不被抢呢？”马丁问他的朋友格蕾丝。格蕾丝曾经五年没有出公寓门，以为这就肯定不会被抢了。不过也失败了，有人入室抢劫。“我不知道，马丁，”她说，“不过这帮家伙大多吸毒，他们需要钱满足毒瘾。”这让马丁有了一个主意，如果那些抢劫的人只是需要钱来买毒品，那何不提供毒品给他们呢？通过一些有钱的朋友，他买了一点儿海洛因和可卡因。他自己从没碰过这些东西，因此，他不得不很小心地给它们贴上标签，以确定自己不会搞混。一天，他正在中央公园走着，他不该走到有草有树的那片地方的，三个人跳到他面前。一个黑人，一个波多黎各人和一个白人。哦，她想，至少在抢劫方面已经民族融合了。“你们是要毒品吗？”他喊道，“我有！想要什么都行。告诉我就行。但是别碰我！”三个人很敬重地放开了他。“我们差点犯了大错，”其中一个说道，“这家伙是毒贩子。伤了他，我们就会惹上黑手党了。让我们看看你的货吧，先生。”马丁惊人地发现自己在向客户展示商品。令他更吃惊的是，他发现自己在收他们的钱，比他买来时多得多的钱。“你们怎么会有这么多钱？”他问，“既然有钱，为什么还要打劫呢？”“恩，其实我们不是真正的抢劫犯，”高加索人有点不自然，“我们是失业的演员。”“我以为演艺圈事业的人都会去做服务员或者酒吧招待员。”马丁说道。“是的。但是现在艺人在餐饮业的人太多了，找不到服务员的工作了。因此，我们只好抢劫了。”马丁回到家后，从朋友那里买了更多的毒品。不久就卖给了更多的劫匪。不久之后，他便发现自己贩毒的时间越来越多了，钱也越赚越多了。害怕被劫使他成为了一名职业的毒品贩子。又有一个人跳到他面前，突然抓住他。“你要毒品吗？”马丁说道，“我有。”“我要钱。”一个熟悉的声音说道。“列尼！”马丁叫道，“你现在怎么样啦？”“很糟，”列尼说，“我赌博输光了。”他击中了马丁的头，拿走了他的钱、皮夹和信用卡，只留下了一小包一小包的白粉。ThiefHeiswaitingattheairlineticketcounterwhenhefirstnoticestheyoungwoman.Shehasglossyblackhairpulledtightlyintoaknotatthebackofherhead—themanimaginesitloosenedandfallingtothesmallofherback—andcarriesovertheshoulderofherleathercoataheavyblackpurse.Shewearsblackbootsofsoftleather.Hestrugglestoseeherface—sheisaheadofhiminline—butitisnotuntilshehasboughtherticketandturnstowalkawaythatherealizesherbeauty,whichispaleanddark-eyedandfull-mouthed,andwhichquickenshisheartbeat.Sheseemsawarethatheisstaringatherandlowershergazeabruptly.Theairlineclerkinterrupts.Themangivesuplookingatthewoman—hethinksshemaybeabouttwenty-five—andbuysaround-trip,coachclasstickettoaneasterncity.Hisflightleavesinanhour.Tokilltime,themanstepsintooneoftheairportcocktailbarsandordersaScotchandwater.Whilehesipsithewatchestheflowoftravelersthroughtheterminal—includingaremarkablenumber,hethinks,ofunmarriedprettywomendressedinfashionmagazineclothes—untilhecatchessightoftheblack-hairedgirlintheleathercoat.SheisstandingnearaTravelersAidcounter,deepinconversationwithasecondgirl,ablondeinaclothcoattrimmedwithgrayfur.Hewantssomehowtoattractthebrunette'sattention,toinvitehertohaveadrinkwithhimbeforeherownflightleavesforwhereversheistraveling,buteventhoughhebelievesforamomentsheislookinghiswayhecannotcatchhereyefromoutoftheshadowsofthebar.Inanotherinstantthetwowomenseparate;neitheroftheirdirectionsistowardhim.HeordersasecondScotchandwater.Whennextheseesher,heisbuyingamagazinetoreadduringtheflightandhebecomesawarethatsomeoneispushinghim.Atfirstheisstartledthatanyonewouldbesocloseastotouchhim,butwhenheseeswhoitishemustersasmile."Busyplace,"hesays.Shelooksupathim—Issheblushing?—andanoddgrimacecrosseshermouthandvanishes.Shemovesawayfromhimandjoinsthecrowdsintheterminal.Themanisatthecounterwithhismagazine,butwhenhereachesintohisbackpocketforhiswalletthepocketisempty.WherecouldIhavelostit?Hethinks.Hismindbeginsenumeratingthecreditcards,thecurrency,themembershipandidentificationcards;hisstomachchurnswithsomethingverylikefear.Thegirlwhowassoneartome,hethinks—andallatonceheunderstandsthatshehaspickedhispocket.8Whatishetodo?Hestillhashisticket,safelytuckedinsidehiscoat—hereachesintothejackettofeeltheenvelope,tomakesure.Hecantaketheflight,callsomeonetopickhimupathisdestination—sincehecannotevenaffordbusfare—conducthisbusinessandflyhome.Butinthemeantimehewillhavetodosomethingaboutthelostcreditcards—callhome,havehiswifegetthenumbersoutofthetopdeskdrawer,phonethecardcompanies—sodifficultaprocess,thewholethingsuffocating.Whatshallhedo?First:Findapoliceman,tellwhathashappened,describetheyoungwoman;damnher,hethinks,forseemingtobeattentivetohim,toletherselfstandsoclosetohim,toblushprettilywhenhespoke—andallthetimeshewantedonlytostealfromhim.Andherblushwasnotshynessbuttheanxietyofbeingcaught;thatwasmostdisturbingofall.Damneddeceitfulcreatures.Hewillsparethepolicemanthedetails—justtellwhatshehasdone,whatisinthewallet.Hegritshisteeth.Hewillprobablyneverseehiswalletagain.HeistryingtodecideifheshouldsavetimebytalkingtoaguardneartheX-raymachineswhenheisappalled—andextremelyhappy—toseetheblack-hairedgirl.Sheisseatedagainstafrontwindowoftheterminal,taxisandprivatecarsmovingslowlybeyondherinthegatheringdarknesssheseemsinterestedinabook.Aseatbesideherisempty,andthemanoccupiesit."I'vebeenlookingforyou,"hesaid.Sheglancesathimwithnosortofrecognition."Idon'tknowyou,"shesays."Sureyoudo."Shesighsandputsthebookaside."Isthisallyoucharactersthinkabout—pickingupgirlslikewewerestrayanimals?WhatdoyouthinkIam?""Youliftedmywallet,"hesays.Heispleasedtohavesaid"lifted,"thinkingitsoundsmoreworldlythanstoleortookorevenrippedoff."Ibegyourpardon?"thegirlsays."Iknowyoudid—atthemagazinecounter.Ifyou'lljustgiveitback,wecanforgetthewholething.Ifyoudon't,thenI'llhandyouovertothepolice."Shestudieshim,herfaceserious,"Allright,"shesays.Shepullstheblackbagontoherlap,reachesintoitanddrawsoutawallet.Hetakesitfromher."Waitaminute,"hesays."Thisisn'tmine."Thegirlruns;herunsafterher.Itislikeasceneinamovie—bystandersscattering,thegirlzigzaggingtoavoidcollisions,thesoundofhisownbreathingremindinghimhowoldheis—untilhehearsawoman'svoicebehindhim:"Stop,thief!Stopthatman!"Aheadofhimthebrunettedisappearsaroundacornerandinthesamemomentayoungmaninamarineuniformputsoutafoottotriphimup.Hefallshard,bangingkneeandelbowonthetileflooroftheterminal,butmanagestohangontothewalletwhichisnothis.Thewalletisawoman's,fatwithmoneyandcreditcardsfromdifferentstores,anditbelongstotheblondeinthefur-trimmedcoat—theblondehehasearlierseeninconversationwiththecriminalbrunette.She,too,isbreathless,asisthepolicemanwithher."That'shim,"theblondegirlsays."Heliftedmywallet."小偷他第一次注意到那位年轻女子是在机场售票处排队买票的时候。她闪亮的黑发在脑后紧紧地盘了个髻——男士想象着头发散下来一定可以垂到她的腰部——她身穿皮衣，肩上挎着一个沉甸甸的黑包包。她脚上穿着黑色的软皮靴。他很想看清楚她的脸（可她排在他正前边），直到他买了票，转身离开时，他才完全看到了她的美丽，白皙的皮肤、黑黑的眼睛、饱满的嘴唇，令他心跳加快。她似乎意识到他正盯着她，连忙垂下了目光。售票员打断了他。男士没再盯着那个女子，买了一张到一个东部城市的往返经济舱票——他想她可能有二十五岁。他乘坐的班级将在一小时后