【一起听英语】何时离开家
当我们成年的时候，都会经历离开家而独自在外面闯荡，个中滋味，自己体会....
Rob: Hello I’m Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m joined today by Finn. Hi Finn.
Finn: Hi Rob.
Rob: Today we’re talking about a subject that many of us have experienced 1 – it's
living at home, particularly when we're grown up and in our twenties. Finn,
what age were you when you left home?
Finn: I was 18 and I'd just finished school, I was really, really excited to see the
world! So I left home quite young.
Rob: Well, I left home at the age of 18 too, to go to university, and I never looked
back!
Finn: Of course, not everyone leaves home when they're that young and we'll be
discussing the reasons why – and discovering why more young people in the
UK are staying at the 'hotel of mum and dad'.
Rob: Yes, we'll explain some related 2 vocabulary too but first I have a question for
you Finn. According to the UK's Office for National Statistics 3, in 2013, what
percentage of 20 to 34 year-olds were living at home with their parents? Was
it:
a) 16%
b) 26%
c) 36%
Finn: I'll say 36%.
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Rob: I'll tell you the answer later. Back to our discussion 6 about living at home.
Residing 7 with – or living with – your parents is not that unusual in some
countries. Economic conditions, culture, or family tradition means that some
young people stay at home until they get hitched 8 – or get married.
Finn: Even then, it may be too expensive to rent or buy a house and the married
couple continue to live at one of their parents' homes. But living conditions
Rob: But in the UK, it has been more common to leave home at a fairly young age
and get your own place to live – maybe sharing it with other people – like a
flatshare.
Finn: Many people may have to move to another city to take up a job – to get a job
– or they may be going to university. But all this comes at a price – there are
bills to pay, there's food to buy, plus the cost of accommodation.
Rob: That's why there has been an increase in young people living with their
parents for longer. The recent economic downturn is the biggest factor. It's
harder for them to get on the property ladder – to buy a house. But what's
it like to be 27 and still living under the same roof as mum?
Finn: Luke Sibson knows. He's 27 and still lives with his mum. What does he say is
the biggest difficulty?
Luke Sibson:
I had set plans to own a house, and a car and have a family by the time I'm 30. I'm now 27
and I'm not any closer to achieving that. There's something very difficult about being a 27-
year-old man living at home with your mum. There's something very difficult about being an
adult living in an environment where you're still a child. It limits me socially; sometimes I
feel it limits me professionally.
Finn: Oh dear, he had big plans for what he wanted by the time he was 30. But he's
still at home and finds it difficult being an adult in an environment – or a
place where you live – where you're a child.
Rob: So he feels like a child because he's being looked after and doesn't have much
independence. This limits him in what he can do socially. I suppose he can't
bring lots of friends home or leave the house in a mess!
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Finn: He thinks it also limits him professionally – so it can affect his career. I have
to admit, living at home now would drive me mad.
Rob: Well not everyone has a choice and some might feel the benefits – the good
things – are greater than the bad things. Alberto Baragan is 29 and lives near
Madrid in Spain, a country where unemployment amongst 10 the young is high.
He says home living is not all bad. Can you hear what his reasons are?
Alberto Baragan:
Basically 11 I don't have to wash my clothes, I don't have to make my bed, I don't have to buy
anything for me, 'cos my mum does all these things for me. You don't have to worry about
paying taxes, or paying electricity, any bills; you are living basically for free.
Finn: He says you are 'living for free' – that is quite a big incentive 12. There's
nothing to buy, no bed to make, no washing to do. You need quite a generous
and kind and generous mother or father to live like that!
Rob: Indeed. The type of parents you have may influence your decision to stay at
home too! Alberto also mentioned there were no taxes or bills to pay, which
is great if you're not earning any money.
Finn: Yes and this is of course the reality for many young people in Spain. But if you
have no choice about living at home, hopefully you at least have a good
relationship with your parents. This means accepting their virtues 13 – their
good points – and their faults.
Rob: Yes, after all, it is their home!
Finn: Spoken like a true parent Rob!
Rob: Behave Finn, and let's see if you answered today's question correctly. I asked
you according to the UK's Office for National Statistics, in 2013, what
percentage of 20 to 34 year-olds were living at home with their parents? Was
it:
a) 16%
b) 26%
6 Minute English ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
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c) 36%
Finn: I said 36%.
Rob: You're wrong. The answer is 26%. That's 3.3 million adults. That's an
increase of about 25% since 1996. Well that's it for this programme. Please
join us again soon for 6 Minute English from BBC Learning 5 English.
Both: Bye.
- Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
- Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。
- I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
- We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
- We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
- Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。
- The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation. 这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
- The inflation did the corporation up. 通货膨胀使这个公司破产了。
- When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
- Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
- It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
- After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。
- We same are residing inside the city quite a few years. 我们在同一个城市里居住了好几年。
- My friends now residing in America is willing to be me voucher during my stay there. 我在美国期间，居住在那里的朋友愿意为我提供担保。 来自出国英语口语25天快训
- They hitched a ride in a truck. 他们搭乘了一辆路过的货车。
- We hitched a ride in a truck yesterday. 我们昨天顺便搭乘了一辆卡车。
- The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
- working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作
- He was sitting amongst a group of children,telling them a story.他正坐在一群孩子中间讲故事。
- You must settle the matter amongst yourselves.你们必须彼此商量，自行解决这些问题。
- His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
- Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。
- Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
- He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。