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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
It's a well-known and often quoted fact that consumer spending drives the US economy.
众所周知，消费支出驱动着美国经济的发展，这句话也经常被引用。
But it's also led to what could be called the Stuff Paradox1.
但消费支出也导致了所谓的“物质悖论”。
A large number of Americans have so much clutter2 they don't know what to do with it.
许多美国人身边都有一堆杂物，却无从下手。
While many others don't have anything at all.
同时，也有很多人一无所有。
So what happens to all that stuff that people don't want and how can it help those most in need.
那么，人们不想要的物品都去哪儿了？这些物品能够帮助到穷人吗？
We get bedding and towels. Ok.
这是床上用品和毛巾。好的。
You can fill up as much space as you have.
你有多少空间，就能塞满多少东西。
And you often do.
这是实际情况。
And so then you have to start actually making decisions.
但现在你要开始做决定了。
And there is, you know, the rule of them that if you haven't worn it or in a year's time you don't absolutely love it, then let it go.
整理东西有一个原则，那就是如果你没穿过这件衣服，或在接下来的一年时间里也不一定会喜欢它，那就别留着了。
But then there's other things your special items and your memorabilia and furniture, and things like that you don't wanna let go of.
但是，有些东西你是舍不得丢弃的，比如说特别的物件、有纪念意义的东西以及家具。
A recent survey says fifty-four percent of Americans feel overwhelmed by clutter and seventy-eight percent have no idea what do to with it.
最新调查显示，54%的美国人被生活中的杂物困扰，78%的美国人对此束手无策。
Many need help to get rid of it, going online for support,
许多人需要上网寻求帮助或聘请专业人士来处理这些杂物，
hiring professionals or as Carrie is doing asking a charity to give her castoffs a new lease of life.
或者像嘉莉一样让慈善机构给这些杂物赋予新的生命。
One of the pieces that will be donating is our family dining room table and eight chairs and then the sideboard in addition to the queen size bed.
我们要捐出去的东西是家庭餐桌，八把椅子，一个餐柜和一张双人床。
Well, this table is beautiful. I mean, this one will last but about ten minutes in our showroom.
哦，这桌子太漂亮了，在我们的陈列室摆上十分钟就会被人要走的。
People will want this right away. So thank you.
所以，谢谢你。
It's gorgeous. The chairs are beautiful, as well.
这桌子太赞了，椅子也很好看。
Wonderful.
很好。
And as for the bed, I mean, it's harder to get a good bed than it is to get food or clothing.
至于床，我觉得，相比食物和衣服来说，得到一张好床更难。
Mark Bergel is the founder3 and chief executive of A Wider Circle, which furnishes four thousand homes for impoverished4 families every year.
马克·柏格尔是“A Wider Circle”公司的创始人兼首席执行官。这家公司每年为4000个贫困家庭添置家具。
Families come to us with an average income of about 12,000 dollars a year and an average family size of four.
来找我们的家庭年平均收入大约为1.2万美元，平均家庭人数为四人。
Many people live without beds, without dressers, without tables and chairs.
很多人没有床，没有梳妆台，没有桌椅。
Meanwhile, there are a whole host of people who have excess beds and tables and chairs and sheets and towels.
而同时，也有一大批人拥有多余的床、桌椅、床单和毛巾。
So we go to the people who have more than they need.
所以我们找到这些拥有闲置物品的人。
We collect their items. We bring them here and set them up and distribute them to people who have less than they need.
把这些物品收集起来，带回去陈列并分配给需要的人们。
The nation's capital has one of the widest wealth gaps in the nation.
美国的首都是贫富差距最大的地方。
The top five percent of households earn an average of almost half a million dollars a year.
最富裕的前5%的家庭年平均收入达50万美元，
While, the poorest five percent make less than ten thousand.
最贫穷的5%的家庭年平局收入不足一万美元。
April Johnson has just moved into a new home and hopes A Wider Circle will help her furnish it.
艾普丽·约翰逊刚搬入新家，希望“A Wider Circle”可以帮助她装修。
The last house I lived in, my landlord sold his property, so me and my children have been homeless for the past six months.
我上一次租的房子被房东卖掉了，所以我和孩子们已经半年无家可归了。
And you've got five children, haven't you?
你又五个孩子，是吗？
Yes, Ma'm.
是的，女士。
收听单词发音 |
1
paradox
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| n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物) | |
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2
clutter
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| n.零乱，杂乱；vt.弄乱，把…弄得杂乱 | |
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3
Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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4
impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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