3Latchkey Children—Knock, Knock, Is Anybody Home [N].doc

Latchkey ChildrenKnock, Knock, Is Anybody Home? N 掛著鑰匙的小孩篤，篤，有人在家嗎？Latchkey children refers to children whose parents both work and who have to carry the latchkey with them and spend time alone in the house after school (掛著鑰匙的兒童). 掛著鑰匙的小孩篤，篤，有人在家嗎？In the United States the cost of living has been steadily rising for the past few decades. 在美國過去的幾十年中，生活開支一直在持續(xù)上升。Food prices, clothing costs, housing expenses, and tuition fees are constantly getting higher and higher. 食品價格、服裝開支、住房開支以及學費不斷增高。 Partly because of financial need, and partly because of career choices for personal fulfillment, mothers have been leaving the traditional role of full-time homemaker. 母親們已經(jīng)不再扮演專職家庭主婦的傳統(tǒng)角色，這在一定程度上是出于經(jīng)濟上的需要，一定程度上也是為了使自己有一種成就感。 Increasingly they have been taking salaried N jobs outside the home. 她們越來越多地在從事家庭以外的帶薪水的工作。2 Making such a significant role change affects the entire family, especially the children. 這樣重大的角色轉(zhuǎn)換影響著整個家庭，尤其是小孩。Some consequences are obvious. For example, dinnertime is at a later hour. 某些后果是顯而易見的，例如，晚飯時間推遲了。The emotional impact, on the other hand, can be more subtle. 然而，這種轉(zhuǎn)變對感情的影響更為微妙。 Mothers leave home in the morning, feeling guilty because they will not be home when their children return from school. 母親們早上帶著負疚感離開家，因為孩子放學回家時她們不能在家等候。They suppress their guilt since they believe that their work will benefit everyone in the long run. 她們壓抑著負疚心理，因為相信從長遠來看這份工作對大家都有利。 The income will enable the family to save for college tuition, take an extended vacation N, buy a new car, and so on. 她們的收入能夠使家庭積攢起孩子的大學學費、全家度一個更長的假期、買一輛新車，等等。3 The emotional impact on the children can be significant. 孩子們在感情上所受到的影響是很大的。It is quite common for children to feel hurt and resentful. 孩子們普遍感到受了傷害，有怨恨情緒。After all, they are alone several hours, and they feel that their mothers should be there for them. 畢竟有好幾個小時他們要獨自呆在家里，而他們覺得母親應(yīng)該“在那兒”等著他們。 They might need assistance with their homework or want to share N the days activities. 他們也許會需要母親幫他們完成家庭作業(yè)，或是想把一天里的活動說給母親聽 All too often, however, the mothers arrive home exhausted N and face the immediate task of preparing dinner. 然而十分常見的情況是：母親們回到家里時已經(jīng)疲憊不堪，又面臨著一個緊迫的任務(wù)做飯。Their priority is making the evening meal for the family, not engaging in relaxed conversation. 她們的首要任務(wù)是為全家人做晚飯，而不是放松地聊天。4 Latchkey children range in age from six to thirteen. 掛鑰匙的孩子們的年齡從6歲到13歲不等。 On a daily basis they return from school and unlock the door to their home with the key hanging around their necks. 每天他們放學回家，用掛在自己脖子上的鑰匙打開家門。They are now on their own, alone, in quiet, empty rooms. 然后就獨自呆在安安靜靜、空空蕩蕩的房間里。For some youngsters, it is a productive period of private time, while N for others it is a frightening, lonely void. 對于某些孩子來說，這是一段屬于他們自己的有所作為的時間，而對于另一些孩子來說則是令人恐懼的、孤獨的空虛。For reasons of safety, many parents forbid their children to go out to play or to have visitors at home. 為了安全的原因，許多父母不允許他們的孩子出去玩或是讓別的孩子來家玩。The youngsters, therefore, feel isolated. 因此這些孩子有一種被隔離的感覺。5 Latchkey children who were interviewed reported diverse reactions. 接受采訪的掛鑰匙的孩子們反應(yīng)不同。 Some latchkey children said that being on their own for a few hours each day fostered, or stimulated, a sense of independence and responsibility. 一些孩子說每天有幾個小時讓他們獨自呆在家里培養(yǎng)了或者說激發(fā)了他們的獨立意識和責任感。They felt loved and trusted, and this feeling encouraged them to be self-confident. 他們覺得受到了關(guān)愛與信任，而且這種感覺增強了他們的自信心。Latchkey girls, by observing how their mothers coped with the demands of a family and a job, learned the role model N of a working mother. （掛鑰匙的）女孩子們通過觀察母親們?nèi)绾螒?yīng)付家庭與工作中的難處而學習了職業(yè)母親的行為榜樣。Some children stated that they used their unsupervised free time to perfect their athletic skills, such as playing basketball. 有的孩子說，他們將這一自由自在無人監(jiān)管的時間用來提高自己的體育技能，如打籃球。Others read books or practiced a musical instrument. 還有一些孩子則看看書或練練樂器。These children looked upon their free time after school as an opportunity for personal development. 所有這些孩子都把他們放學后的這段自由時間看成是自我發(fā)展的機會。It led to positive, productive, and valuable experiences. 這段時間帶給了他們積極的、富于成果的寶貴經(jīng)歷。6 Conversely, many latchkey children expressed much bitterness, resentment, and anger for being made N to live in this fashion. 與此相反，也有許多掛鑰匙的孩子對于被迫以這種方式生活表現(xiàn)出不快、怨恨以及憤怒。 Many claimed that too much responsibility was placed on them at an early age; it was an overwhelming burden. 不少孩子聲稱他們在幼小的年齡被賦予太多的責任，這是一個令人難以承受的負擔。They were little people who really wanted to be protected, encouraged, and cared for through attention from their mothers. 他們還是小孩，需要母親的保護、鼓勵與關(guān)懷。 Coming home to an empty house was disappointing, lonely, and often frightening. 回到一個空蕩蕩的家令人失望孤獨，還經(jīng)常令人感到恐懼。They felt abandoned by their mothers. 他們有種被母親遺棄的感覺。After all, it seemed to them that most other children had normal families whose mothers were around, whereas their own mothers were never home. 畢竟，在他們看來，別的孩子大多數(shù)都有一個“正?！钡募?，母親總是“在他們周圍”，而自己的母親則總是不在家。 Many children turned on the television for the whole afternoon day after day, in order to diminish feelings of isolation; furthermore, the voices were comforting. 許多孩子整個下午讓電視機開著，天天如此，目的是為了減輕這種被隔離的感覺。還有，電視的聲音能給他們帶來一點安慰。 Frequently, they would doze off. 他們常常就這樣睡著了。7 Because of either economic necessity or strong determination for personal fulfillment, or both, the phenomenon of latchkey children is widespread in our society. 由于經(jīng)濟上的需要，或者出于要得到自我滿足感的堅強決心，或者兩者兼而有之，掛鑰匙的孩子這一現(xiàn)象在我們的社會中已變得很普遍。Whatever the reason N, it is a compelling N situation with which families must cope. 然而無論出于什么樣的原因，這已經(jīng)成為一個緊迫的、所有的家庭都必須應(yīng)付的局面。The question to ask is not whether or not mothers should work full-time. 做母親的應(yīng)不應(yīng)該從事全日制工作已不是要提出的問題。Given N the reality of the situation, the question to ask is: how can an optimum plan be worked out to deal effectively with the situation. 考慮到這種現(xiàn)象的現(xiàn)實狀況，要提出的應(yīng)是這樣一個問題：如何才能制定一個最佳方案來有效地應(yīng)對這種局面？8 It is advisable for all members of the family to express their feelings and concerns about the inevitable change candidly. These remarks should be discussed fully. 明智的做法是：對這種不可避免的變化，家庭的所有成員把自己的感受與擔心坦率地說出來，并予以充分的討論。Many factors must be taken into consideration: the childrens personality and maturity, the amount of time the children will be alone, the safety of the neighborhood, accessibility of help in case of an emergency. 要把許多因素都考慮到：孩子的個性與成熟程度，孩子獨自在家的時間的長短，居住區(qū)周圍是否安全，以及出現(xiàn)緊急情況時能否得到救助。Of N supreme importance is the quality of the relationship between parents and children. 首要的是親子關(guān)系的融洽度。 It is most important that the children be secure in the knowledge that they are loved. N要讓孩子們明白父母是愛他們的，這一點非常重要。 Feeling loved provides invaluable emotional strength to cope successfully with almost any difficulty that arises in life. 孩子們感到有人愛護他們，這會賦予他們一種不可估量的情感力量，去成功地應(yīng)付生活中出現(xiàn)的種種困難。From The Independent Reader ( 760 words) 在美國過去的幾十年中，生活開支一直在持續(xù)上升。食品價格、服裝開支、住房開支以及學費不斷增高。母親們已經(jīng)不再扮演專職家庭主婦的傳統(tǒng)角色，這在一定程度上是出于經(jīng)濟上的需要，一定程度上也是為了使自己有一種成就感。她們越來越多地在從事家庭以外的帶薪水的工作。這樣重大的角色轉(zhuǎn)換影響著整個家庭，尤其是小孩。某些后果是顯而易見的，例如，晚飯時間推遲了。然而，這種轉(zhuǎn)變對感情的影響更為微妙。母親們早上帶著負疚感離開家，因為孩子放學回家時她們不能在家等候。她們壓抑著負疚心理，因為相信從長遠來看這份工作對大家都有利。她們的收入能夠使家庭積攢起孩子的大學學費、全家度一個更長的假期、買一輛新車，等等。孩子們在感情上所受到的影響是很大的。孩子們普遍感到受了傷害，有怨恨情緒。畢竟有好幾個小時他們要獨自呆在家里，而他們覺得母親應(yīng)該“在那兒”等著他們。他們也許會需要母親幫他們完成家庭作業(yè)，或是想把一天里的活動說給母親聽。然而十分常見的情況是：母親們回到家里時已經(jīng)疲憊不堪，又面臨著一個緊迫的任務(wù)做飯。她們的首要任務(wù)是為全家人做晚飯，而不是放松地聊天。掛鑰匙的孩子們的年齡從6歲到13歲不等。每天他們放學回家，用掛在自己脖子上的鑰匙打開家門。然后就獨自呆在安安靜靜、空空蕩蕩的房間里。對于某些孩子來說，這是一段屬于他們自己的有所作為的時間，而對于另一些孩子來說則是令人恐懼的、孤獨的空虛。為了安全的原因，許多父母不允許他們的孩子出去玩或是讓別的孩子來家玩。因此這些孩子有一種被隔離的感覺。接受采訪的掛鑰匙的孩子們反應(yīng)不同。一些孩子說每天有幾個小時讓他們獨自呆在家里培養(yǎng)了或者說激發(fā)了他們的獨立意識和責任感。他們覺得受到了關(guān)愛與信任，而且這種感覺增強了他們的自信心。（掛鑰匙的）女孩子們通過觀察母親們?nèi)绾螒?yīng)付家庭與工作中的難處而學習了職業(yè)母親的行為榜樣。有的孩子說，他們將這一自由自在無人監(jiān)管的時間用來提高自己的體育技能，如打籃球。還有一些孩子則看看書或練練樂器。所有這些孩子都把他們放學后的這段自由時間看成是自我發(fā)展的機會。這段時間帶給了他們積極的、富于成果的寶貴經(jīng)歷。與此相反，也有許多掛鑰匙的孩子對于被迫以這種方式生活表現(xiàn)出不快、怨恨以及憤怒。不少孩子聲稱他們在幼小的年齡被賦予太多的責任，這是一個令人難以承受的負擔。他們還是小孩，需要母親的保護、鼓勵與關(guān)懷?；氐揭粋€空蕩蕩的家令人失望孤獨，還經(jīng)常令人感到恐懼。他們有種被母親遺棄的感覺。畢竟，在他們看來，別的孩子大多數(shù)都有一個“正?！钡募?，母親總是“在他們周圍”，而自己的母親則總是不在家。許多孩子整個下午讓電視機開著，天天如此，目的是為了減輕這種被隔離的感覺。還有，電視的聲音能給他們帶來一點安慰。他們常常就這樣睡著了。由于經(jīng)濟上的需要，或者出于要得到自我滿足感的堅強決心，或者兩者兼而有之，掛鑰匙的孩子這一現(xiàn)象在我們的社會中已變得很普遍。然而無論出于什么樣的原因，這已經(jīng)成為一個緊迫的、所有的家庭都必須應(yīng)付的局面。做母親的應(yīng)不應(yīng)該從事全日制工作已不是要提出的問題?？紤]到這種現(xiàn)象的現(xiàn)實狀況，要提出的應(yīng)是這樣一個問題：如何才能制定一個最佳方案來有效地應(yīng)對這種局面？明智的做法是：對這種不可避免的變化，家庭的所有成員把自己的感受與擔心坦率地說出來，并予以充分的討論。要把許多因素都考慮到：孩子的個性與成熟程度，孩子獨自在家的時間的長短，居住區(qū)周圍是否安全，以及出現(xiàn)緊急情況時能否得到救助。首要的是親子關(guān)系的融洽度。要讓孩子們明白父母是愛他們的，這一點非常重要。孩子們感到有人愛護他們，這會賦予他們一種不可估量的情感力量，去成功地應(yīng)付生活中出現(xiàn)的種種困難。這里“salaried”是形容詞，指“付給薪水的”?！皊alaried jobs”意思是拿薪水的工作。An extended vacation means a longer vacation.Here the verb share means tell someone about an idea, secret, problem, experience, etc. (向別人訴說想法、秘密、問題、經(jīng)歷等).e.g. I) Its always better to share ones worries.II) Would you like to share your feelings with the group? “exhausted”是過去分詞作形容詞用，表示伴隨狀況。類似的結(jié)構(gòu)有：e.g. I) He came home very much depressed.II) She sat at the window sewing.III) He is lying at home sick. The word while is used here to emphasize the difference between two situations, activities, etc.e.g. I) The first two services are free, while the third costs $35.00.II) In 1961 just over 2 persons divorced per 1,000, while in 1981 it was 12. A role model refers to a person whose behavior as certain role is imitated by others(偶像，行為榜樣).“make”在用作“force someone to do something”這一意思時，主動語態(tài)為“make someone do something”，但在被動語態(tài)中則應(yīng)該為“be made to do something”。e.g. She is made to look much older in the photo than she really is.同樣的用法也適合其他動詞，如在“see+賓語+不定式作賓語補足語”結(jié)構(gòu)中：主動語態(tài)：We saw him go into the pub with two other guys the other night.被動語態(tài)：He was seen to go into the pub with two other guys the other night. Whatever in this sentence means no matter what. The whole sentence means: No matter what the reason is, it is a situation all families must cope with. compel: v. (compe