新视野三版 读写 B2 U3 Text A

Journey through the odyssey years

1 Most of us know about the phases of life which we label to parallel different age groups and life stages: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old

age. We think of infancy before childhood and middle age before old age, with each unique phase bringing its own peculiar set of challenges. These

challenges can be overcome by acquainting ourselves with them, such as the child's need to learn, the adult's need to find the right career and build a family, and the senior's need for support and good health care. 2 Interestingly, ideas about the stages of life are changing.

3 In previous times, people didn't have a solid idea of childhood as being separate from adulthood. A hundred years ago, no one thought of

adolescence. Until recently it was understood as a norm that their induction to adulthood was completed as soon as they graduated from college. They would now find a sensible job which would lead to a career. Then during this career they would start a family, ideal y before they turned 30.

4 Today we have an equivalent need to recognize a new phase of life that comes after high school graduation, continues through college, and then leads to starting a family and having a career, the so-cal ed odyssey years. Recent trends show radical changes as young people are fol owing a

different agenda. They take breaks from school, live with friends and often

return to living with their parents. Similarly, they fall in and out of love, quit one job and try another or even shift to a new career. So, we need to recognize this new stage, the odyssey years, which many now consider to be an unavoidable stage in reaching adulthood.

5 People who were born prior to the 60s or 70s in the last century tended to frame their concept of adulthood based upon achieving certain

accomplishments: moving away from home, becoming financial y independent, finding the right spouse and starting a family. But that emphasis on stability did not remain static. Today, young people are unlikely to do the same. During the odyssey years, a high proportion of young people are delaying marriage, child bearing, and even employment.

6 The odyssey years can saddle young people with enormous pressure to

move forward quickly. As the sole heir and focus of their parents' expectations, hopes and dreams, some react with rebellious and prideful attitudes and

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behavior toward their parents. They often resent the pressure they're feeling and keep a distance from their parents or even run away from home. Their confusion comes from the difficulties to make parents understand them and the fluid journey of discovery they need in this phase of their lives. To get away from this confusion and upset, many young people resort to computer games, iPods, iPhones, or iPads, to help distract them from their pain and stress. 7 Likewise, their parents are feeling more anxious. They may

make allowances for a transition phase from student life to adult life, but they get upset when they see the transition of their grown children's lives moving away from their expectations and stretching five years to seven years, and beyond. The parents don't even detect a clear sense of direction in their

children's lives. They look at them and see the things that are being delayed. 8 It's hard to predict what's next. New guidelines haven't been established yet, and everything seems to give way to a less permanent version of

itself. There's been a shift in the status and balance of power between the genders, too. More women are getting degrees than men. Male wages have remained stable over the past decades, while female wages have boomed. 9 Apart from anything else, this has had an implicit effect on

courtship. Educated women can get many of the things they want, such as security, accomplishment, and identity without marriage. However, both genders are having a harder time finding suitable mates to build their lives with. Considering all of this, it's beneficial to know that even though graduates are delaying many things after college, surveys show they still hold highly traditional aspirations. For example, this contemporary generation rates parenthood even more highly than previous generations did!

10 This new phase will likely grow more pronounced in the coming

years. Nations around the world have witnessed similar trends toward delaying marriage and spending more years than ever shifting between higher education and settling down with a career and family.

11 Nevertheless, graduates shouldn't be deceived into thinking they can back off simply because things have become more difficult. A large number of people chasing relatively fewer opportunities can create strong competitive pressure. So, from the outset, keep your resume professional and up-to-date. 12 To reinforce this essential message, success moving through the odyssey years will come to those who don't expect to achieve their goals right away but know that they must have the strength, capacity and confidence to endure over the long term. If you're a little late with your goals, don't feel like a failure! Stay

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strong, be positive, and keep focused! Someday you will look back and wonder at the vast changes as you passed through the odyssey years.

Language Points:

1 Most of us know about the phases of life which we label to parallel different age groups and life stages: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. (Para. 1)

Meaning: Most of us know about the different life stages that we describe according to different age groups: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

2 We think of infancy before childhood and middle age before old age, with each unique phase bringing its own peculiar set of challenges. (Para. 1)

Meaning: We sequence the life stages of infancy, childhood, middle age and old age according to their natural order, with each particular life stage facing its own featured challenges.

Sentence structure note:

“with＋名词/代词＋现在分词”作独立主格结构

“with＋名词/代词＋现在分词”构成独立主格结构，主要用作状语，可以表示伴随、方式、原因、时间等。

with 之后的名词和其后的现在分词构成主谓关系，其中现在分词表示主动或正在进行的动作。例如：

*She sat down at the table, with each dish emitting a delicious smell . 她在餐桌旁坐了下来，

每道菜都散发出扑鼻的香味。（状语表示伴随）

*The girl sat there quite silent with her eyes fixing on the wall. 女孩坐在那里一言不发，目 不转睛地盯着墙壁。（状语表示方式）

*With our food running out, we had to walk to a vil age for help. 由于我们的食物即将吃完，

我们不得不步行到一个村子寻求帮助。（状语表示原因） *With summer coming, it is becoming hotter and hotter. 随着夏季来临，天气变得越来越热。（状语表示时间） Usage note: peculiar, characteristic, unusual

peculiar, characteristic 和 unusual 都可用作形容词，都含有表示“有特点的；有特色的”等意思，但有细微差别。

*1 从词义上说，peculiar 着重“独特性”，强调“与众不同的”特征；characteristic常强调所指性质的典型性,也可以表示这些性质使某一事物区别于其他的事物；unusual 强调“少见的”，与通常的情况“截然不同的”或“未曾

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