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. 6 奥德赛岁月使年轻人承受了巨大的压力，迫使他们快速往前冲。 作为他们父母唯一的继 承人和所有期望、希望和梦想的聚焦，有些年轻人以叛逆和桀骜不驯的行为和态度对待父 母。他们往往憎恨他们所感到的压力，并同他们的父母保持距离，甚至离家出走。他们的困惑源于很难让家长了解他们，也源于这段需要进行自我探索的、不确定的人生之旅。 为 了逃避困惑和不安，许多年轻人诉诸电脑游戏，iPod，iPhone 或 iPad，以帮助分散他们的 痛苦和压力。
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.
7 同样，他们的父母更是着急。虽然他们理解从学生到成年需要一个过渡阶段，但看到他 们已成年子女的过渡阶段的生活与他们的期望渐行渐远，过渡阶段延至五年，七年，甚至更 长时，他们感到生气。父母甚至不能清楚地觉察到他们孩子未来生活的方向，只能看着他 们，看着要做的事被拖延着。
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.
8 接下来会如何发展很难预测。新的准则还没有建立，一切似乎都被一个不确定的版本所 取代。两性之间地位和权力的平衡也有了转变。 取得学位的女性比男性更多。男性的工资 在过去的几十年里一直停滞不前，而女性的工资却出现激增。
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!
9 别的不说，这对择偶产生了不言而喻的影响。即使未婚，受过教育的妇女仍可以得到很 多她们想要的东西，如安全感，成就感，和认同感。不过，不论男女都更难找到合适的伴 侣来一同建立他们的生活。在讨论这一切时，有助于让大家知道，即使毕业生离开大学后 推迟了做很多事，调查结果显示，他们仍持有很传统的愿望。例如，当今的一代比以前的几 代对如何扮演好父母的角色有着更高的要求。
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.
10 这一新阶段在未来几年可能更明显。 世界各国都目睹了相似的趋势，人们推迟结婚，花 更多年的时间徘徊在接受高等教育和建立职业生涯及家庭之间。
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 résumé professional and up-to-date.
11 然而，毕业生不应误认为因情况已变得更困难，他们就可以放弃。 大批的人努力角逐相 对较少的机会，这会导致强大的竞争压力。 所以，从一开始你就要将个人简历写得很专业，并做到随时更新。
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 strong, be positive, and keep focused! Someday you will look back and wonder at the vast changes as you passed through the odyssey years.
12 要强化这一重要信息：顺利度过奥德赛岁月的将是那些不急于即刻实现目标的人——但 这些人知道他们必须保持实力、能力、信心去度过这段较长的岁月。 如果你的目标起步稍 晚了点，不要认为自己是个失败者！ 意志坚定，态度积极，并集中精力！ 有一天，你会回 头审视，并对奥德赛岁月给你带来的巨大改变感到惊叹。
Unit 4 Section A College sweethearts
1 I smile at my two lovely daughters and they seem so much more mature than we, their parents, when we were college sweethearts. Linda, who's 21, had a boyfriend in her freshman year she thought she would marry, but they're not together anymore. Melissa, who's 19, hasn't had a steady boyfriend yet. My daughters wonder when they will meet \heading for marriage from the outset. Perhaps, they're right but it didn't seem so at the time. In a way, love just happens when you least expect it. Who would have thought that Butch and I would end up getting married to each other? He became my boyfriend because of my shallow agenda: I wanted a cute boyfriend! 1 我微笑着看着我那两个可爱的女儿，她们似乎比她们的父母还是大学情侣那会儿更为成 熟。 琳达，21 岁，在大学一年级交过一个男友，她曾以为会跟那个男孩结婚，但他们已不 再来往了。 梅丽莎，19 岁，还没有一个固定的男友。 我的女儿不知何时才能遇到她们的那 个“唯一”，她们伟大的爱。 她们认为她们的父亲和我有着一段经典的、童话般的浪漫史，从 一开始就直奔婚姻的殿堂。 也许，她们是正确的，但在那时似乎并不是那么回事。 在某种 程度上，爱神恰恰在你最没准备时来临。 谁曾想到，布奇和我最终会结婚呢？ 他之所以成 为我男友，只是因为当时我那肤浅的打算：我要找一个可爱的男友！
2 We met through my college roommate at the university cafeteria. That fateful night, I was merely curious, but for him I think it was love at first sight. \said as he gazed at my face. He kept staring at me all night long. I really wasn't that interested for two reasons. First, he looked like he was a really wild boy, maybe even dangerous. Second, although he was very cute, he seemed a little weird. 2 我们通过我的大学室友介绍在大学食堂相识。 在那个命中注定的夜晚，我只是好奇，但 对他而言，我认为是一见钟情。 他凝视着我的脸，说：“你有一双美丽的眼睛。” 他整个晚 上一直盯着我。 我真的对他没那么感兴趣，其原因有二。 首先，他看起来就像是一个野小 子，甚至还有些危险。 其次，虽然他很可爱，却似乎有点怪异。
3 Riding on his bicycle, he'd ride past my dorm as if \surprised to see me. I liked the attention but was cautious about his wild, dynamic
personality. He had a charming way with words which would charm any girl. Fear came over me when I started to fall in love. His exciting \resist. What was it that attracted me? I always had an excellent reputation. My
concentration was solely on my studies to get superior grades. But for what? College is supposed to be a time of great learning and also some fun. I had nearly achieved a great education, and graduation was just one semester away. But I hadn't had any fun; my life was stale with no component of fun! I needed a boyfriend.Not just any boyfriend. He had to be cute. My goal that semester became: Be ambitious and grab the cutest boyfriend I can find.
3 他骑着自行车经过我的宿舍，装作与我“偶遇”，看到我时还假装惊讶。 我喜欢被重视的感 觉，但对他的野性和充满活力的个性却小心谨慎。 他很会说话，这会迷倒任何女孩。 当我 开始爱上他时，恐惧向我袭来。 他那令人激动的“坏小子形象”简直太诱人了。 究竟是什么 吸引了我？ 我，一直口碑极好。 为了获得优异的成绩，我的注意力只专注在自己的学习 上。 但又怎么样呢？大学应该是学习的好时间，可也应该有一些乐趣。 我已几乎达成了伟 大的教育目标，离毕业只有一学期之遥了。 但我却还没有享受过任何乐趣，我的生活乏味， 没有一点新鲜感！ 我需要一个男朋友，当然不是任何男朋友。 他必须很可爱。 于是我那个 学期的目标就成为：雄心勃勃，抓住一个我能找到的最可爱的男友。
4 I worried what he'd think of me. True, we lived in a time when a dramatic shift in sexual attitudes was taking place, but I was a traditional girl who wasn't ready for the new ways that seemed common on campus. Butch looked superb! I was not immune to his
personality, but I was scared. The night when he announced to the world that I was his girlfriend, I went along with him. And then I suddenly thought: \
girlfriend? How did that happen?\going to marry you one day and I will be a lawyer. You will see.\ 4 我担心他会怎么看我。 不错，我们生活在一个性观念正在发生戏剧性转变的时代，但我 是一个传统的女孩，对在校园里似乎常见的新方式还没有心理准备。 布奇看上去很出色！ 我 对他的个性毫无免疫力，但我对此很害怕。 那天晚上当他向大家宣布我是他女友时，我是 同意的。 但我随后突然清醒：“噢，我的天哪！我是他女友吗？这是怎么回事？” 紧接着， 他在我耳边低声地甜言蜜语：“有一天我要娶你，我会成为一名律师。你会看到这一天的。” 5 I was laughing inside and said to myself, \good future. He's my boyfriend because I hate my boring student life. I just want to have fun.\
5 我笑着对自己说： “我绝不会嫁给这个家伙。他是一个没有前途的叛逆者。他是我男朋友， 只因为我恨枯燥的学生生活。我只想得到乐趣而已。”
6 Sure enough, the following month, I found out he had failed all his courses. Consequently, he was going to be expelled from the university. To my disgust, he seemed resigned to his fate. I knew there was hope, so I led him to the college secretary for reconsideration.
6 果然，一个月后，我发现他所有的课程都不及格。 因而，他将被大学除名。 令我厌恶的是，他似乎屈从了自己的命运。 我知道还有希望，所以我让他去学院的秘书那儿进行复议。 7 \College of Law,\was granted reconsideration. And, once we became steadies, he coordinated his studies and social life, passing all of his classes. He eventually studied law. 7 我告诉他：“你要先从宾夕法尼亚大学拿到政治学学士学位，然后进入法律学院。”我以他 的名义递交了呈请书，结果被批准了。 校方同意复议布奇的情况。 我们的男女朋友关系一 经确定，他就协调了他的学习和社交生活，结果各门课都通过了。 他最终学了法律。
8 Despite Butch's somewhat wild character, at his core, he is always a perfect gentleman and deserves a lot of credit for that. True, he'd sometimes take the liberty of displaying his love by planting a kiss on my lips right in front of my astonished friends who watched and disapproved. But the truth is we had a pure and responsible relationship for seven full years. Sitting by the palm trees, hand in hand, we would listen to romantic songs, watch the sunset, and weave dreams of being together with children of our own, forever.
8 尽管布奇的性格有点野，但他在骨子里却是一个完美的绅士，这值得高度赞扬。的确， 他有时会在我朋友面前亲吻我的嘴，擅自表达他的爱。我的朋友看到了很惊讶，也很不以为 然。 但事实上，我们在整整七年的恋爱关系中一直是纯洁和负责的。我们坐在棕榈树下，手牵着手，听着浪漫的歌曲，观赏着日落，编织着和我们自己的孩子在一起的美梦，一直到 永远。 9 Two years passed in a blur. One day, Butch took me by surprise as he knelt down and proposed marriage holding a dozen red roses! Filled with deep emotion, I confessed my love for him, \\college yet!\ 9 两年糊里糊涂地过去了。 一天，布奇出其不意地手捧着一打红玫瑰跪下向我求婚。 我心 中充满了深情，也坦诚了对他的爱：“太太太太太浪漫了！！” 可我随即从幻想中惊醒。 我 大喊出来：“天哪。不！我们现在结婚还太早了。我们甚至还没有大学毕业呢！” 我真的很喜 欢他，但我对我们感情修成正果的机率却持悲观态度。 10 We married five years later. 10 五年后，我们结了婚。
11 Our faithful journey of love and learning took us down rocky roads of hardship and on smooth easy-going highways. It is a long, romantic, sometimes crazy, love story that sums up a 29-year long honeymoon together as a couple who are still madly in love with each other. Our love commenced with a casual attraction but bloomed into a mature love and rich life.
11 我们忠实的爱和学习之旅带我们走过艰难崎岖的岩石路，走上平坦易行的公路。 它是一 个永久、浪漫，有时又疯狂的爱情故事。它诠释了一对仍在疯狂地爱着对方的夫妇如何一起 度过了 29 年之久的蜜月。 我们的爱从漫不经心的互相吸引开始，但最终却发展出成熟的爱 情和富足的生活。
Unit 5 Section A Spend or save — The student's dilemma
花钱还是存钱，学生进退维谷
1 Do you feel as confused and manipulated as I do with this question, \should I save?\
common sense and contradict each other. The government tells us to spend or we'll never get out of the recession. At the same time, they tell us that unless we save more, our
country is in grave danger. Banks offer higher interest rates so we increase savings. Then the same banks send us credit card offers so we can spend more.
1 你是不是跟我一样对“我应该花钱还是存钱”这个问题感到困惑，且有被操纵的感觉？ 我觉 得我们从生活的环境里所获得的信息似乎是有违常识、互相矛盾的。 政府告诉我们要花钱， 否则我们将永远走不出衰退；与此同时，他们又告诉我们，除非我们节省更多的钱，否则我 们的国家会处于严重危险之中。 银行提供较高的利率以增加储蓄。 然后，同样是这些银行 又提供信用卡让我们可以花更多的钱。
2 Here's another familiar example: If we don't pay our credit card bill on time, we get
demanding, nasty emails from the credit card company saying something like: \to pay is unacceptable. Pay immediately or you'll be in trouble!\we get a follow-up email in a charming tone telling us how valuable a customer we are and encouraging us to resume spending.Which depiction is correct: a failing consumer in trouble or a valued customer? The gap between these two messages is enormous. 2 这里还有一个大家熟悉的例子：如果我们不按时支付信用卡账单，我们会收到从信用卡 公司发来的类似这样的令人讨厌的催缴账单的电子邮件：不还款是不可接受的。请立即缴付， 否则后果自负！ 之后，一旦还款，我们就会收到一封跟进的电子邮件，语气和蔼可亲，说 我们是多么宝贵的客户，并鼓励我们继续花钱。 到底哪一个描述是正确的？有麻烦的失败 消费者还是宝贵的客户？ 这两者之间可是天壤之别！
3 The paradox is that every day we get two sets of messages at odds with each other. One is the \call an \Avoid luxuries. Control your appetite for more than you truly need.%us from many sources: from school, from parents, even from political figures referring to \American values that have made our country great.
3 自相矛盾的情况还有，我们每天都收到彼此相左的两种信息。 一种从“纵容”的角度，让我 们“买东西，花钱，现在就得到它。你需要这个！” 另外一种，我们可称之为“正直”的信息， 它力劝我们：“努力工作，把钱存起来。控制你的欲望，不要买奢侈品，不要垂涎那些你并 不真正需要的东西。” 这类信息来源甚多，有学校方面的，有家长方面的，甚至还来自提及 传统价值观的政治人物。 艰苦创业，忠于家庭、能推迟欲望是美国价值观的核心，它使我 们的国家变得强大。
4 But the opposite message, advertising's permissive message, is inescapable. Though sometimes disguised, the messages are everywhere we look: on TV, in movies on printed media and road signs, in stores, and on busses, trains and subways. Advertisementsinvade our daily lives. We are constantly surrounded by the message to spend, spend, spend. Someone recently said, \bed asleep!\ 4 但相反的信息，即那些纵容人们不断花钱的广告，无所不在。 虽然此类信息有时经过了 乔装打扮，但仍随处可见，电视、电影、印刷媒介和路牌、商店，及公共汽车、火车和地铁 上，比比皆是。 广告侵入了我们的日常生活。 我们时时被包围在花钱，花钱，花钱的信息 中。最近有人说：“唯一可以逃脱广告的时候是当在床上睡着时！”
5 It's been calculated that by the age of 18, the average American will have seen 600,000 ads; by the age of 40, the total is almost one million. Each advertisement is doing its utmost to influence our diverse buying decisions, from the breakfast cereal we eat to whichcruise line we will use for our vacation. There is no shortage of ideas and things to buy! Now, of course, we don't remember exactly what the products were, but the essential message is cemented into our consciousness, \you want. You deserve the best. So, you should buy it — now!\said it perfectly, \derive pleasure from nice things and feel nourished by them. I used to put things off. Not anymore. Today I'll buy new ski equipment, look at new compact cars, and buy that camera I've always wanted. I live my dreams today, not tomorrow.\