Unit-3-Social-Problems新编大学英语第二版第三册课文翻译.doc

Unit-3-Social-Problems新编大学英语第二版第三册课文翻译

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Unit3SocialProblems

LatchkeyChildren—Knock,Knock,IsAnybodyHome?

IntheUnitedStatesthecostoflivinghasbeensteadilyrisingforthepastfewdecades.Foodprices,clothingcosts,housingexpenses,andtuitionfeesareconstantlygettinghigherandhigher.Partlybecauseoffinancialneed,andpartlybecauseofcareerchoicesforpersonalfulfillment,mothershavebeenleavingthetraditionalroleoffull-timehomemaker.Increasinglytheyhavebeentakingsalariedjobsoutsidethehome.

Makingsuchasignificantrolechangeaffectstheentirefamily,especiallythechildren.Someconsequencesareobvious.Forexample,dinnertimeisatalaterhour.Theemotionalimpact,ontheotherhand,

eveningmealforthefamily,notengaginginrelaxedconversation.

Latchkeychildrenrangeinagefromsixtothirteen.Onadailybasistheyreturnfromschoolandunlockthedoortotheirhomewiththekeyhangingaroundtheirnecks.Theyarenowontheirown,alone,inquiet,emptyrooms.Forsomeyoungsters,itisaproductiveperiodofprivatetime,whileforothersitisafrightening,lonelyvoid.Forreasonsofsafety,manyparentsforbidtheirchildrentogoouttoplayortohavevisitorsathome.Theyoungsters,therefore,feelisolated.

Latchkeychildrenwhowereinterviewedreporteddiversereactions.Somelatchkeychildrensaidthatbeingontheirownforafewhourseachdayfostered,orstimulated,asenseofindependenceandresponsibility.Theyfeltlovedandtrusted,andthisfeelingencouragedthemtobeself-confident.Latchkeygirls,byobservinghowtheirmotherscopedwiththedemandsofafamilyandajob,learnedtherolemodelofaworkingmother.Somechildrenstatedthattheyusedtheirunsupervisedfreetimetoperfecttheirathleticskills,suchasplayingbasketball.Othersreadbooksorpracticedamusicalinstrument.Thesechildrenlookedupontheirfreetimeafterschoolasan