生活英语情景主题:要不要和父母住在一起？？

N: do you think chinese families have changed much in the last 50 years?
S: I think families everywhere have changed a lot in the last 5 decades¹.
N: what do you think is the biggest change?
S: well, in the past, three or four generations would li8ve together under the same roof. Nowadays, living in the same city as one’s relatives in becoming rare².
N: that’ true. You know, some husbands and wives don’t even live in the same city any more.
S: would you ever consider having your parents live with you when they get older?
N: I guess I’m a bit old-fashioned³. I’d rather have my parents live with me than live in a retirement⁴ room.
S: that’s very respectable⁵, but I could never live with my parents. I usually only see them at our christmas celebration—and that’s enough!
N: how about your other siblings⁶? Do they spend a lot of time with your parents?
S: two of my sisters still live at home, even they have already graduated from university and have jobs. They enjoy spending their free time with my parents. I guess in that respect, I’m the back sheep of the family.
N: I see. Do your parents ever ask you to come home to visit them more often?
S: they’re always asking me to come home, but I think our relationship is better if we keep a distance from each other. Whenever we see each other, all we do is fight.
N: well, you know what they say. You can choose your friends, but not your family.
对于最近这50年来中国家庭模式的变化你有什么看法？
我觉得世界各地的家庭这些年来都有很大的变化。
那你觉得变化最大的是哪个方面？
嗯，过去常常是三代或者四代同堂。而如今，亲戚们能住在一个城市的情况都很少见了。
没错，要知道，现在有些夫妻都不一定能住在同一个城市里。
你有没有想过你父母年纪大了以后你会陪他们一起住？
我觉得自己还是抱着老观念。希望父母能和我住在一起而不是去养老院。
你能这么想真是很不错。但是我绝不会和我父母住在一起。我通常是和他么一起过圣诞节---这就足够了。
你那其他的兄弟姐妹呢？他们会花很多时间陪你父母吗？
我的两个妹妹尽管已经大学毕业，而且工作也不错，但她们还是住在家里。她们很乐于把闲暇的时间都用来陪父母。我想从这方面看，我是家里的异类。
哦，我明白了，那你父母要求过你多回家看看他们吗？
他们总想让我常回家看看。但是我觉得我们之间还是保持一点距离比较好。因为我们只要一见面总会争执不休。
哦，你知道那句老话吧，你可以挑朋友，但家庭可是没得选。 

We had our big family get-together⁷ on christmas eva.
我们全家人欢聚在一起庆祝圣诞节。

Someone isn’t grown up until age 26, probably with financial independence.
也许等到26岁能实现经济独立，这个人才算真正地长大。

I have to work hard because I need to support the whole family.
为了维持一家人的生机，我必须努力工作。

Do you get along with your in-laws?
你和你的姻亲相处的好吗？

 

1 decades   

十年，十年间( decade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The middle decades of the 19th century marked a watershed in Russia's history. 19世纪中叶标志着俄国历史的转折点。
• The Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty attended to state affairs for several decades. 清朝慈禧太后垂帘听政几十年。

2 rare   

adj.稀罕的，罕有的，珍贵的，稀薄的，半熟的，非常的；adv.非常

参考例句：

• It is rare to see a man over 160 years old.很少见到一个人能活到160岁。
• The zoo has a lot of rare animals in it.这个动物园有许多珍奇的动物。

3 old-fashioned   

adj.旧式的，保守的，挑剔的

参考例句：

• Why do you still dress in an old-fashioned mode?你为什么还穿款式陈旧的衣服？
• Here is an old-fashioned pump for drawing water from a well.这里有一个旧式水泵可从井里抽水。

4 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

5 respectable   

n.品格高尚的人；adj.值得尊重的，人格高尚的，不少的

参考例句：

• She seems respectable enough.她看上去挺体面的。
• His savings were just enough to pay for a respectable funeral.他的存款刚好够办一个体面的葬礼。

6 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分

7 get-together   

n.(使)聚集；(使)集合

参考例句：

• Well,Miss Huang,we are planning to have a casual get-together.嗯，黄小姐，我们打算大家小聚一番。
• Will you help me prepare for the get- together of the old classmates?你能否帮我为这次老同学聚会做好准备工作？