Growing Old
美国老年人
Happy birthday! Do birthdays really make people happy? Of course they do. Birthdays celebrate the day we were born. Moreover, that extra candle on the cake represents another year of growth and maturity-or so we hope. We all like to imagine that we're getting wiser and not just older. Most of us enjoy observing the miracle of growth in others, as well. For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud. For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process. But growing old? That's a different story.
生日快乐！生日真能使人快乐吗？这是当然的啊，庆生是庆祝我们来到世上的日子，除此之外，蛋糕上多加一支蜡烛也代表了另一年的成长与成熟--或者说至少我们希望能如此。我们都喜欢想象着自己能够越来越有智能，而不只是变老，我们大部份人也同时较喜欢观察别人成长的奇迹。例如：看到我们的孩子长大并学习新的事物使我们感到骄傲。而对美国人而言，就像大部份其它文化中的人们一样，长大是一个美好的历程，但是变老呢？那可就是另外一回事了。
Growing old is not exactly pleasant for people in youth-oriented American culture. Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old saying goes, "You're as young as you feel." Older people joke
在美国这个以年轻人为中心的社会中，老化对人们而言并不是一件愉快的事，大部份的美国人都希望自己看起来年轻、行动年轻、并且感觉年轻，如一句古老的名言说：「你感觉自己有多年轻，你就有多年轻。」老年人说自己的年龄时常开玩笑说自己是多少 years young，而不说多少 years old 。某些文化中的人视老年人为经验与智能的资源，可是美国人似乎比较喜欢年轻人，或者至少是「心里年轻」的人。
Many older Americans find the "golden years" to be anything but golden. Economically, "senior citizens" often struggle just to get by. Retirement-typically at age 65-brings a sharp decrease in personal income. Social Security benefits usually cannot make up the difference. Older people may suffer from poor nutrition, medical care and housing. Some even experience age discrimination. In 1987, American sociologist Pat Moore dressed up like an older person and wandered city streets. She was often treated rudely-even cheated and robbed. However, dressed as a young person, she received much more respect. Of course, not all elderly Americans have such negative experiences. But old age does present unique challenges.
许多美国的老年人觉得他们的「黄金年代」一点都不黄金。在经济上来说，老年人常是挣扎着勉强度日。退休--通常在六十五岁的时候--使个人收入骤减，而社会保障制度的福利并不能补足差额，老年人常遭遇营养、医疗照顾、和居住环境的问题。有些人甚至曾经碰到年龄歧视的问题，在一九八七年有一位美国的社会学家派特?摩尔装扮成老人在街上游荡，结果人们多半对她很粗鲁，甚至骗她或抢她的东西，可是当她穿著年轻时，人们就对她尊重多了。当然也不是所有的美国老人家都有这样糟糕的经验，不过年纪大确实会遭遇一些特别的挑战。
Ironically, the elderly population in
而很不幸偏偏美国老年人口又正在扩增中--很快速地扩增，为什么呢？因为现在的人越来越长命，婴孩的出生却减少，而当初在婴儿潮时出生现在是中年人的很快地就要进入老年阶段了，美国恐怕马上会成为一个皱纹「很流行」的国度。行销专家们已经开始注意这群人口持续增加中的消费者，而这群老年人现今甚至在政治上也相当有力，因为美国退休人员协会拥有超过三千万的会员，对华盛顿具相当的影响力。
A common stereotype of older Americans is that they are usually "put away" in nursing homes and forgotten
一般人对美国老人家的刻板印象是被「遣送到」养护院去，然后被人遗忘。然而事实上，只有百分之五的人住在此类机构中，超过半数的六十五或六十五岁以上老人，是与孩子同住或住在其中一个孩子的附近。绝大部份的老年人是自己住并自己照顾自己的，根据美国户口调查局的统计，他们百分之七十五拥有自己的房子，超过一百万名老年人住在退休者的社区中，这些社区为其居民提供饮食、娱乐、友谊、医疗照顾、以及安全的环境。
Despite the challenges they face, Americans in their "twilight years" generally refuse to give up on life. They find a variety of ways to keep themselves active. To help them stay in shape, they may join mall walkers clubs, fitness programs and even the "Senior Olympics." They can enjoy hours of entertainment at senior centers and adult amusement parks. Many enroll in continuing education programs to maintain their mental skills. For Americans, if you're going to grow old, you might as well do it gracefully.
纵然他们遭遇挑战，处在迟暮之年的美国老年人通常还是不愿意放弃他们的生活，他们寻求各种不同的方法使自己更有活力，为了保持强健的身体状况，他们参加购物中心的竞走俱乐部、健身课程、甚至奥林匹克老人运动会。他们可以在老人中心和成人公园里逍遥好几个小时，许多人报名参加延伸制教育以维续他们的心智技能。如果你是将要进入老年期的美国人，你也可以优雅地做做这些活动。
相关单词：aged
aged解释：adj.年老的，陈年的
aged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。
相关单词：retirement
retirement解释：n.退休，退职
retirement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。
相关单词：sociologist
sociologist解释：n.研究社会学的人，社会学家
sociologist例句：
His mother was a sociologist,researching socialism.他的母亲是个社会学家，研究社会主义。
Max Weber is a great and outstanding sociologist.马克斯·韦伯是一位伟大的、杰出的社会学家。
相关单词：middle-aged
middle-aged解释：adj.中年的
middle-aged例句：
I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。
相关单词：marketing
marketing解释：n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西
marketing例句：
They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
相关单词：retired
retired解释：adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
retired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。
相关单词：stereotype
stereotype解释：n.固定的形象，陈规，老套，旧框框
stereotype例句：
He's my stereotype of a schoolteacher.他是我心目中的典型教师。
There's always been a stereotype
相关单词：census
census解释：n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查
census例句：
A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。
相关单词：twilight
twilight解释：n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期
twilight例句：
Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。
相关单词：enroll
enroll解释：v.招收；登记；入学；参军；成为会员（英)enrol
enroll例句：
I should like to enroll all my children in the swimming class.我愿意让我的孩子们都参加游泳班。
They enroll him as a member of the club.他们吸收他为俱乐部会员。
相关单词：gracefully
gracefully解释：ad.大大方方地；优美地
gracefully例句：
She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
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