新奇事件簿 英学生为生存想奇招

University students in the U.K. are having such a hard time making ends meet that they are resorting to desperate measures. Many have turned to gambling¹, taking out high-interest loans and even selling their body to cover their living costs. The financial website Save the Student (StS) questioned 1,900 students about their finances. It discovered that the average student received $750 a month from the government in the form of a student loan. However, average living expenses amounted to $1,170 a month. This leaves a monthly shortfall of $420. Students have made up the difference in a variety of ways, some of which would cause parents a considerable amount of concern.

英国大学学生由于入不敷出想出了这些惨不忍睹的招数。许多学生开始赌博，借高利贷，甚至通过自己身体来贴补自己的生活开支。财经网站“为学生省钱”就他们的经济问题对1900名学生进行了询问。结果发现学生每月会从政府那里得到750美金的学生贷款。但是，学生每月的平均生活开支是1170美金。每月差额为420美金。学生必须通过各种方式来补足，许多方法引起了父母的极大担心。

The StS poll found that 71 per cent of students relied on parents for extra income, while 65 per cent had a part-time job. Around 46 per cent turned to banks for an overdraft². Seven per cent of the students who took part in the survey said that they had "sold their body" to earn additional cash. Others reported taking part in medical trials for money. Twelve per cent of students said that they had tried gambling to supplement their income, while three per cent took out loans with extortionate interest rates. One student said: "It's frustrating³ when you're already paying off multiple credit cards at 19." Save the Student said the government loans were "out of touch with individual circumstances and student needs".

“为学生省钱”的民意调查发现就额外收入而言，有71%的学生会依赖父母，有65%的学生会做兼职。有大约46%的学生选择银行透支。参加调查的学生中有7%称他们通过“身体”来挣钱。有些学生通过医学实验挣钱。有12%的学生称通过赌博来挣钱，有3%学生放高利贷。一名学生称：“19岁付清全部信用卡是一件不容易的事情。”“为学生省钱”称政府贷款与学生的个人情况和需求不相符。

1 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

2 overdraft   

n.透支，透支额

参考例句：

• Her bank warned that unless she repaid the overdraft she could face legal action.银行警告她如果不偿还透支钱款，她将面临诉讼。
• An overdraft results when a note discounted at a bank is not met when due.银行贴现的支票到期而未能支付就成为透支。

3 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》