英语畅谈中国文化50主题 21

　　21 Neighborhood Relationship
A: Neighbors seem to be an important part of community relationship in China.
B: I can give you example to illustrate¹ this importance. For instance, if a couple had a noisy fight and the neighbors heard it, they would come over to calm them down. Or, if both the husband and the wife are working, they will give their house key to the old woman next door so she can help look after the children after school. The “bound feet security guards” was a very popular expression in the last century. It refers to the retired² people, usually old woman, who would walk around their neighborhood to ensure its security.
A: I wonder how these special community relations are developed.
B: In a traditional, agricultural society there was almost no population mobility³. People lived in one place for generations with no interaction with the outside world. Everyone knew everyone else, and this led to a lot of mutual⁴ understanding and interdependence. Whenever someone needed any help, the first solution was to ask the neighbors. This is where the expression, “a neighbor is more dependable than a distant relative” came from.
A: I see. I know that such an intimate community relationship was still very popular as recently as the 1990s.
B: There is an old joke that goes like this: A newly-wed couple lived together with four other families in a big courtyard. One morning, they slept in until midday. Their neighbors thought something might have gone wrong and knocked on the door to check it out. You can imagine how embarrassed the young couple was.
A: Exactly! Now that people live in high-rise apartment buildings, will this relationship be affected⁵?
B: Yes. The closeness that was typical in a traditional courtyard is gone. People live behind closed doors and often do not even know the next-door neighbor. The older people, in particular, have problems adapting to this change. This is why you always see groups of old people socializing in public green areas. They miss the intimate community of their private life, they also appreciate a friendly neighborhood.
A: What can they do to address this issue?
B: Some neighborhoods a LAN network, as in the case with a neighborhood in suburban⁶ Beijng, they share information with each other. In another place, residents produced at TV drama of their everyday life.
This may be one reason why Chinese people are happier and feel more secure.

1 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

4 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。