grown children visit them only occasionally, but more often, they do not have any regular visitors. The truth is that this idea is an unfortunate myth — a fictitious (虚构的) story. In fact, family members provide over 80 percent of the care that elderly people need.
关爱老年人：事关全家人
在当今美国社会，谁在照顾老年人？很多人错误地以为，人们上了年纪后，家人便会把他们送到养老院去，由陌生人照顾，并在那里度过余生。他们成年的孩子偶尔会来看看他们，更多的时候，没有人会来定期看望他们。这种看法其实只是个令人遗憾的误解，与事实根本不符。事实是，老人们得到的关爱，超过百分之八十来自他们的家庭成员。close2RT Samuel H. Preston, a sociologist (社会学家) at the University of Pennsylvania, studied how the American family is changing. He reported that by the time the average American couple reaches 40 years of age, they have more parents than children. This statistic shows the change in life-styles and responsibilities of aging Americans. The average middle-aged couple can look forward to caring for elderly parents some time after their own children have grown up. Moreover, because people today live longer after an illness than people did years ago, family members must provide long-term care. These facts also mean that after caregivers provide for their elderly parents, who will eventually die, they will be old and may require care too. When they do, their spouses (配偶) will probably take care of them.
宾夕法尼亚大学的社会学家塞缪尔．H．普雷斯顿研究了美国家庭是怎样变化的。他报告说，一对普通的美国夫妇到40岁时，需要他们照顾的父母比需要他们照顾的孩子要多。这个数据显示了美国人变老后在生活方式和责任方面发生的变化。当他们的小孩成年后不久，普通中年夫妇就要预备照顾年迈的父母了。此外，由于当今人们战胜疾病的能力比以往增强了，寿命不断延长，因此家庭成员需要给予老人们长期的照顾。这些事实也意味着中年夫妇在照顾他们的父母颐养天年直至告别人世之后，他们自己也已渐渐老去，也需要他人的照顾了。当他们需要照顾时，他们的配偶也会照顾他们。close3RT Because Americans are living longer than ever, more psychologists and social workers have begun to study caregiving to improve care of the elderly. They have found that all caregivers share a common characteristic: All caregivers believe that they are the best for the job, for different reasons. One caregiver said that she had always been close to her mother. Another was the oldest child. Another was the youngest child. In other words, they all felt that they could do the job better than anyone else. Social workers interviewed caregivers to find out why they took on the responsibility of caring for an elderly, dependent relative. They discovered three basic reasons. Many caregivers believed that they had an obligation to help their relative. Some stated that helping others made them feel more useful. Others hoped that by helping someone now, they would deserve care when they became old and dependent.
由于美国人寿命越来越长，越来越多的心理学家和社会工作者开始研究如何给老年人更好的关心和照顾。他们发现所有照顾老人的人有一个共性：他们都认为自己是最适合这项工作的人，当然理由各有不同。有一个人说她和母亲关系亲密，另一个说他是长子，而另一个说自己是家中最小的孩子。换句话说，他们都认为自己可以比别人做得更好。社会工作者通过对看护人员的采访，弄清楚他们为什么要承担起照料老人或无依无靠亲戚的责任。他们找到三个基本理由：首先，很多护理人员认为他们有义务帮助他们的亲属。一些人认为，通过帮助别人，他们感觉自己更有用了。还有的人希望现在帮助别人，等到自己老了无依无靠时也能够得到别人的关爱。close4RT When people care for an elderly relative, they often do not use available community services, such as adult daycare centers. If the caregivers are adult children, they are more likely to use such services, especially because they often have jobs and other responsibilities. In contrast, a spouse, usually the wife, is much less likely to use support services or to put the dependent person in a nursing home. Social workers discovered that the reason for this difference was fear of poverty. An ill, elderly person may live for years, and medical care and nursing homes are very expensive. An elderly couple's savings can disappear very quickly. The surviving spouse, usually the wife, can be left in poverty. As a result, she often tries to take care of her husband herself for as long as she can.
人们在照顾年老的亲属时通常并不使用现有的诸如成人日间护理中心之类的社区服务。但是如果看护人是成年子女的话，他们会利用此类服务，因为往往他们自己要工作，同时还有一些其他事情要做。相比而言，如果是一个配偶照顾另一个配偶时（常常是妻子照顾丈夫），她更不会使用援助服务或者把丈夫送去养老院。社会工作者发现，这种差异是畏惧贫困的心理造成的。生病的老人也许还能活许多年，而医疗保健和养老院的费用是非常昂贵的。一对老年夫妇的积蓄很快就会耗尽，那么留下的配偶――通常是妻子――则会陷入贫困。因此，妻子总是亲力亲为，尽可能久地照顾自己的丈夫。close5RT Researchers have found that caring for the elderly can be a very positive experience. The elderly appreciated the care and attention they received. They were affectionate (充满深情的，亲切的)and cooperative (合作的；共同的). However, even when caregiving is satisfying, it is hard work. Social workers and experts on aging offer caregivers and potential caregivers help when arranging for the care of an elderly relative. One consideration is to ask parents what they want before they become sick or dependent. Perhaps they prefer going into a nursing home and can select one in advance. On the other hand, they may want to live with their adult children. Caregivers must also learn to be assertive (断然的；自信的) and ask for help from others. Brothers and sisters are often willing to help, but they do not know what to do.
调查还发现照顾老年人可以是一种确有助益的经历。老年人感激照顾并关心他们的人，因此心里充满了感情，并积极配合。不过，尽管照顾他人是一件让人满足的事，但这仍然是件非常艰难的工作。当看护人和有可能要照顾他人者在安排照顾年迈亲属事宜时，社会工作者和老年问题专家常会提供帮助。一种建议是让他们在父母生病需要照顾之前就询问父母的意见。或许他们宁愿去老人院，那就可以提前给自己选择一家。另一方面，也许他们想和已长大成人的孩子们住在一起。
看护人必须果断行事，需要帮助时则向他人开口。兄弟姐妹常常是乐于伸出援助之手的，只是他们也不知道该怎么做而已。close6RT We can expect to live longer lives than ever before in American history. Caring for the elderly and being taken care of can be a mutually satisfying experience for everyone involved.
现在我们可以比美国历史上任何时候的人都活得更长。照顾老年人和得到别人的关照对有关的每个人都是一种令人心满意足的经历。
A Sailor's Christmas Gift
William J. Lederer 1RT Last year at Christmas time my wife, three boys, and I were in France, on our way from Paris to Nice. For five wretched days everything had gone wrong. Our hotels were \traps\our rented car broke down; we were all restless and irritable in the crowded car. On Christmas Eve, when we checked into a shabby hotel in Nice, there was no Christmas spirit in our hearts.
Unit 5
水手的圣诞礼物 威廉·J·莱德勒
去年圣诞期间，我、妻子和三个儿子在法国，从巴黎前往尼斯。一连五天都很倒霉，没有一件事顺心。入住的旅馆尽是些“宰客的黑店”，租用的汽车也坏了，一家人挤在车上个个显得烦躁不安。圣诞节前夜，我们住进了尼斯一家邋遢的旅店，心里没有半点圣诞感觉。close2RT It was raining and cold when we went out to eat. We found a boring looking little joint carelessly decorated for the holiday. It smelled greasy. Only five tables in the restaurant were occupied. There were two German couples, two French families, and an American sailor, by himself. In the corner a piano player monotonously played Christmas music.
我们外出就餐时，天正下着雨，天气寒冷。我们找到了一家小餐馆，这小店看着很乏味，只是随便装饰了一下来应节。餐馆散发着一股油腻的味道。里面只有五张桌子坐了人：两对德国夫妇，两户法国家庭和一名独自用餐的美国水手。在餐厅的一个角落里，钢琴师在无精打采地弹奏着圣诞乐曲。close3RT I was too stubborn and too tired and miserable to leave. I looked around and noticed that the other customers were eating in stony silence. The only person who seemed happy was the American sailor. While eating, he was writing a letter, and a half-smile lighted his face.
我情绪低落，加之疲惫不堪，执意不愿离开这儿去找别的餐馆了。我环顾四周，只见顾客们都默默地在吃着饭，唯一一个显得开心的是那位美国水手。他一边吃着，一边写信，脸上闪耀着淡淡的微笑。close4RT My wife ordered our meal in French. The waiter brought us the wrong thing. I scolded my wife for being stupid. She began to cry. The boys defended her, and I felt even worse.
妻子用法语点了菜，服务员给我们端来的却是别的东西。我骂妻子愚蠢，她哭了起来。孩子们护着妈妈，我的情绪变得更加糟糕。close5RT Then, at the table with the French family on our left, the father slapped one of his children for some minor fault, and the boy began to cry. On our right, the German wife began scolding her husband.
继而，坐在我们左侧餐桌上的那位法国父亲因为一点小事打了其中一个孩子一记耳光，小男孩大哭起来。我们的右边，那个德国妇女开始喋喋不休地数落她的丈夫。close6RT All of us were interrupted by an unpleasant blast of cold air. Through the front door came an old French flower woman. She wore a dripping, ragged overcoat, and dragged herself in on wet, rundown shoes. Carrying her basket of flowers, she went from one table to another.
一阵令人不快的寒风吹了进来。从前门进来一个卖花的法国老太太。她穿着一件湿淋淋的破旧大衣，穿一双水淋淋的旧鞋拖着腿进来。她提着花篮，沿桌叫卖。close7RT \
\买花吗，先生？只要一个法郎哩。\
谁也没有买。close9RT Wearily she sat down at a table between the sailor and us. To the waiter she said, \bowl of soup. I haven't sold a flower all afternoon.\piano player she said hoarsely, \
她疲惫不堪，在水手和我们之间的那张餐桌旁边坐了下来，对服务员说：\请来碗汤吧。一下午连一朵花也没卖掉。\接着，她用嘶哑的声音对钢琴师说，\你能想象吗，约瑟夫，圣诞节前夜就喝点汤？\He pointed to his empty \coat, he walked over to the flower woman's table.
钢琴师指了指身旁的那只空空如也的\小费盘\。年轻的海员已吃完，起身准备离开。他穿上外套，走到卖花老太太的桌前。close11RT \smiling and picking out two flowers. \
他笑着说了声\圣诞快乐！\，一边挑出两朵小小的花，\多少钱？\francs, monsieur.\
\两个法郎，先生。\letter he had written, then handed the woman a twenty-franc note.
他把其中的一朵花压平，放进已经写好的信里，然后将一张20法郎面额的钞票递给了老妇。close14RT \the waiter.\
\我没有零钱找您，先生。\她说，\我去跟服务员换一点来。\said the sailor, leaning over and kissing the ancient cheek. \is my Christmas present to you.\
\不用了，夫人。\说着，水手俯身吻了吻那张老迈的脸，\这是我送给您的圣诞礼物。\front of him. \your beautiful daughter?\a Merry Christmas, and departed.
他直起身，朝我们的餐桌走来，那另一朵鲜花举在他的胸前。\先生，\他对我说，\我可以将这花作为礼物送给您漂亮的女儿吗？\说着，他迅速地将那朵花塞到我妻子的手中，道了声\圣诞快乐\，就离去了。close17RT Everyone had stopped eating. Everyone had been watching the sailor. Everyone was silent. A few seconds later, Christmas exploded throughout the restaurant like a bomb. The old flower woman jumped up, waving the twenty-franc note. Hobbling to the middle of the floor she did a lively folk dance and shouted to the piano player, \And you shall have half, so you can have a feast, too.\
人们都停止吃饭，大家都看到了那位水手的一举一动，整个餐厅鸦雀无声。几秒钟后，圣诞的欢乐激情像炸弹似的爆炸开来。卖花老妇腾身站起，挥动着她手中的那张20法郎的钞票。她蹒跚着走到餐厅的中央，欢快地踏起了舞步，冲着钢琴师嚷道：\约瑟夫，我收到圣诞礼物了！我也让你分享一半，让你也能吃上一顿丰盛的圣诞晚餐。\Wenceslaus,\
钢琴师急速地弹起了\好国王瓦茨拉夫\舞曲，魔力十足的双手敲击着琴键，头和着乐曲的旋律频频点动。close19RT My wife waved her flower in time to the music. She was radiant and appeared twenty years younger. The tears had left her eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up in laughter. She began to sing, and our three sons joined her, bellowing the song with uninhibited enthusiasm.
妻子也随着音乐的节奏挥动着那朵鲜花。她容光焕发，仿佛一下子年轻了20岁。泪水不见了，嘴角上绽出笑容。她启动歌喉，放声歌唱，我们的三个儿子随声和了起来，纵情高歌。close20RT \shouted the Germans. They jumped on their chairs and began singing the words in German. The waiter embraced the flower woman. Waving their arms, they sang in French. The Frenchman who had slapped the boy beat rhythm with his fork against a bottle. The lad climbed on his lap, singing merrily too.
\好！好！\德国人高声喝彩。他们跳到椅子上，并用德语唱起这支歌。服务员上前拥抱着卖花的老太太，两人挥舞手臂，用法语唱了起来。那个打了儿子一巴掌的法国男子用餐叉敲击着酒瓶打起了拍子，那男孩爬上他爸爸的膝头，用童稚的高音歌唱起来。close21RT The Germans ordered wine for everyone. They delivered it