美国有线新闻 CNN 2015-04-08

 Hope you had a great weekend. I'm Carl Azuz and I'm pumped to welcome you to this special edition of CNN Student News.

 

April is Financial Literacy Month in the U.S. It's an event that aims to improve Americans; financial awareness¹, how they can better manage their money, how they can better plan for their financial future. We're taking an in-depth look at the country's young labor² force, its financial picture, its student loan debt, advice for when it comes time to look for a job in the online era. We've teamed up with CNNMoney to focus today's show on some of the financial challenges facing this newest generation of American workers.

 

A good place to start is to define it. We're talking about people born in the 1980s and 1990s. It's time to meet the millennials.

 

Hey, millennials, what makes you so special anyway?

 

Well, for starters, that generation is the biggest in American history. There are at least 80 million people aged³ 18 to 35. They're the most educated generation ever and they have the student loan debt to show for it. The average student loan balance for someone under 30 years old, more than $21,000.

 

I already have $46,000 in debt.

 

I have about $54,000.

 

I have $95,000 in student debt.

 

Scarred by the Great Recession, millennials have been reluctant to buy a house.

 

I don't think I plan to buy a home at any point.

 

It never occurred to me, that I would purchase a home.

 

I really believe in a sharing economy.

 

Thirty percent still living with their parents, but most millennials say they want to buy and some are starting to take the plunge⁴.

 

My goal for a down payment is $20,000. And I'm actually achieving that goal and I'm gonna get there quicker than I actually thought.

 

Living in mom and dad's basement means fewer millennials are tying the knot. Their parents probably got married in their early 20s. This generation, 30 is the new normal. And they're waiting to have kids, too.

 

I don't wanna bring a child into the world until, you know, you know that I can afford that.

 

Millennials are the first generation born online. They're tech savvy⁵, which makes them quick learners and smart shoppers. But they care about much more than just the bottom line, so companies have to adjust to make their products more sustainable, higher quality and customizable. That's what millennials want.

 

The ethics⁶ are very important to me. I'm looking for authenticity⁷. It's good to know that it will go to a good cause, if it goes to a good company. Ready or not, millennials are dramatically changing expectations and shaping the world.

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

5 savvy   

v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的

参考例句：

• She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。
• Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了？

6 ethics   

n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准

参考例句：

• The ethics of his profession don't permit him to do that.他的职业道德不允许他那样做。
• Personal ethics and professional ethics sometimes conflict.个人道德和职业道德有时会相互抵触。

7 authenticity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
• The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。