[A] It turns out today’s teenagers aren’t so scary after all.
事实证明,现在的青少年一点也不可怕。
Results of USA WEEKEND’s Teens&Parents survey reveal a generation of young people who get along well with their parents and approve of the way they’re being raised.
美国周末,关于青少年和父母的调查结果显示,当今的年轻人与父母相处融洽,并且赞成父母对其的抚养方式。
They think of their parents with affection and respect.
他们对自己的父母心怀爱戴和敬意。
They speak with Mom or Dad when they have a problem.
遇到问题时,他们会向妈妈和爸爸倾诉。
Most feel that their parents understand them.and they believe their family is the No.1 priority in their parents’lives.
大多数年轻人觉得父母理解自己,并且认为父母把家庭当作生活中的第一要务。
Many even think their parents are cool!Although more than a third have an object in their rooms they would like to keep secret from their parents.rarely is it anything more alarming than a diary or off-color(低俗的) book or CD.
甚至有很多年轻人认为自己的父母很酷,尽管超过1/3的年轻人在自己的房间里藏有,想要瞒着父母的东西,但很少会有比一本日记,一本低俗的书籍或者一张CD更令人担心的东西了。
[B] Such results may seem surprising against the background of shocking incidents that color the way the mass media portray the young.
一些令人震惊的事件影响了大众媒体对年轻人的描述方式,在此背景下这样的结果似乎令人诧异。
In October 2000,the same month the survey was taken,the Washington based Center for Media and Public Affairs wrote in its publication Media Monitor that,in a recent month of TV news coverage of American youth,just 2%of teens were shown at home,and just 1%were portrayed in a work setting.
2000年10月,即此项调查开展之时,总部位于
华盛顿媒体,与公众事务中心在其出版物,媒体监督员中写道,在近一个月内,关于美国青年的电视新闻报道中,仅有2%的青少年出现在家里,1%的青少年出现在工作环境中。
In contrast,the criminal justice system accounted for nearly one out of every lave visual backgrounds.
相反,刑事司法系统出现在报道画面中的比例接近1/5.
No wonder parents worry their own kids might spin out of control once they hit the turbulent waters of adolescence.
这样看来,父母担心自己的孩子一旦进入青春动荡期就会失去控制,也不足为奇。
[C] The overall facts ought to reassure us.
所有的事实理应消除我们的疑虑。
The survey shows us that today’s teens are affectionate.sensible and tar happier than the angry and tortured souls that have been painted for us by stereotypes.
这项调查表明,当今的青少年富有爱心,通情达理,且远比我们
刻板印象中所描述的暴躁和扭曲形象要快乐。
From other sources,we also know teenage crime,drug abuse and premarital sex are in general decline.
我们从其他途径,得知青少年犯罪吸毒和婚前性行为的现象也在普遍减少。
We of course,need to pay attention to youngsters who are filled with discontent and hostility,but we should not allow these extreme cases to distort our view of most young people.
当然我们需要关注那些充满不满和敌视情绪的年轻人,但我们不应该让这些极端的事件扭曲了我们对大多数年轻人的看法。
[D] My own research at the Stanford Center on Adolescence uses in.depth interviews with small samples of youngsters rather than large‘scale surveys.
我个人在斯坦福青少年中心的研究,采用了对小范围年轻人进行深度访谈的方式,而非大规模的调查。
Still,in my studies and others I have read,I find the same patterns as in USA WEEKEND’s survey.
然而我在自己的研究以及阅读过的其他研究中,都发现了与美国周末的调查相同的结果。
Today’s teenagers admire their parents and welcome parental guidance about important matters such as career choice—though certainly not Morn and Dad’s advice on matters of personal taste,such as music or fashion.
当今的青少年都敬佩自己的父母,并且愿意接受父母对于重要事项的指导,例如职业选择,但是肯定不包括父母对个人品位的建议,例如音乐或者时尚。
When we ask teens to choose a hero,they usually select an older family member rather than a remote public figure.
当我们要求青少年选择一位英雄时,他们通常选定的是一位家族长辈,而不是一个关系疏远的公众人物。
Most teens say they enjoy the company of both parents and friends.
大多数青少年都表示,他们享受父母和朋友的陪伴。
[E] Contrary to some stereotypes,most adolescents believe they must be tolerant of differences among individuals(though they do not always find this easy in the cliquish(拉帮结派的)environment of high school).
与某些传统看法相反,大多数青少年都认为他们必须容忍个体之间的差异(尽管他们发现在高中流行拉帮结派的环境中很难做到这一点)。
Many of them volunteer for community service with disadvantaged people.
很多青少年自愿在社区服务中帮助弱势群体。
One prevalent quality we have round in teens’statements about themselves,their friends and their families is a strikingly positive emotional tone.
从青少年关于他们自己,他们的朋友以及他们的家庭的描述中,我们发现一个普遍特性是一种非常积极的情感基调。
By and large,these are very nice kids,and as the band The Who used to sing,“The kids are alright.”
总的来说这些都是好孩子,正如谁人乐队曾唱的那样,孩子们都很好。
[F] How much is today’s sprat of harmony a change from our more turbulent past?
当今的这种和谐精神,有多少是源自我们更加动荡的过去的改变?
A mere generation ago,parent-child relations were described as“the generation gap”.
仅仅在一代人之前,父母和孩子之间的关系还被描述成
代沟。
Yet even then reports of widespread youth rebellion were overdone:Most kids in the‘60s and‘70s shared their parents’basic values.
然而,即使在那个时期,对于普遍青春期叛逆的报道也言过其实。六七十年代的大部分孩子都和父母具有相同的基本价值观。
Still.it is true that American families are growing closer at the dawn of this new millennium(千年).
而且在新千年来临之际,美国家庭成员间的关系也在逐渐变得更近。
Perhaps there is less to fight about,with the country in a period of tranquility and the dangers of drug abuse and other unwholesome behavior well known.
由于国家处于和平时期,吸毒和其他不健康的行为的危害已广为人知,或许可以引发斗争的东西变得更少了。
Perhaps in the face of impersonal and intimidating globalization,a young person's family feels more like a friendly haven than an oppressive trap.
在面临缺乏人情味且令人生畏的全球化冲击时,家庭对于年轻人而言,或许更像是友好的避风港,而非压抑的牢笼。
And perhaps parents are acting more like parents than in the recent past
与不久前相比,现在的父母也许更有父母的样子了。
within just the past five years.I have noticed parents returning to a belief that teenagers need the guidance of elders rather than the liberal.“anything goes” mode of child—rearing that became popular in the second half of the 20th century.
仅仅在过去的5年内,我们就注意到父母重拾了一个观念,青少年们需要长辈的指导,而不需要流行于20世纪下半叶“怎样都行”的,放任自由型抚养方式。
[G] But missing from all these data is the sense that today’s young care very much about their country,about the broader civic and political environment,or about the future of their society.
但所有的这些数据都不能体现一件事,即当代的年轻人非常关心他们的祖国,关心更广阔的城市和政治环境以及所处社会的未来。
They seem to be turning inward—generally in a pro。social manner,certainly with positive benefits for intimate relationships. but too often at the expense of a connection with the present and future world beyond,including the society they will
one day inherit.
他们似乎正向内聚焦,以一种亲社会的方式,当然,这样有利于亲密的
人际关系,但通常是以牺牲与现实或者与遥远的
未来世界(包括他们某天将会接管的社会)的联系为代价。
[H] Recently,we examined more than 400 essays on the“laws of life”that teens from two communities had written as part of an educational program initiated by the John Templeton Foundation in Radnor,Pa.In those essays,and in follow—up Interviews with a few of the teenagers,we found lots of insight.positive feeling and inspirational thinking.But we also found little interest in civic life beyond the tight circles of their family and immediate friends.
[I] For example,only one boy said he would like to be president when he grows up.When I was in high school,dozens in my class alone would have answered differently.In fact,other recent studies have found there has never been a time in American history when so small a proportion of young people have sought or accepted leadership roles In local civic organizations.It is also troubling that voting rates among our youngest eligible voters-18-to 24-year-olds are way down:Little more than one in four now go to the polls,even in national elections,compared with almost twice that many when 18-year-olds were first given the vote.
[J] In our interviews,many students viewed politics with suspicion and distaste.“Most politicians are kind of crooked(不诚买的),”one student declared.Another,discussing national politics.said.“I feel 1ike one person can’t do that much,and I get the impression most people don’t think a group of people can do that much.”Asked what they would like to change in the world,the students mentioned only personal concerns such as slowing down the pace of life,gaining good friends,becoming more spiritual, becoming either more materially successful or less materially oriented(depending on the student’s values),and being more respectful of the Earth,animals and other people.One boy said,“I’d rather be concentrating on artistic efforts than saving the world or something.”
[K] It is fine and healthy for teens to cultivate their personal interests,and it is good news when young people enjoy harmonious relations with their family and friends.But there is also a place in a young life for noble purposes that include a dedication to the broader society,a love of country and an aspiration to make their own leadership contributions.
[L]In the past,the young have eagerly participated in national service and civic affairs,often with lots of energy and idealism.If this is not happening today,we should ask why.Our society needs the full participation of its younger citizens if it is to continue to thrive.We know the promise is there—this is a well.grounded,talented,warm-hearted group of youngsters.We have everything to gain by encouraging them to explore the world beyond their immediate experience and to prepare themselves for their tum at shaping that world.
36.Not many young people eligible for voting are interested in local or national elections these days.
37.Parents are concerned that their children may get involved in criminal offences once they reach their teens.
38.Even during the turbulent years of last century,youth rebellion was often exaggerated in the media.
39.Teenagers of today often tum to their parents for advice on such important matters as career choice.
40.The incidence of teenage crime and misbehavior is decreasing nowadays.
41 Young people should have lofty ideals in life and strive to be leaders.
42.Some young people like to keep something to themselves and don’t want their parents to know about it.
43.It is beneficial to encourage young people to explore the broader world and get ready to make it a better place.
44.Many teenagers now offer to render service to the needy.
45.Interviews with students find many of them are only concerned about personal matters.
——摘自2016年6月英语六级真题第三套
参考答案:
36 [I]【译文】如今很多符合资格的年轻选民对地方选举或者全国大选不感兴趣。
【定位解析】根据 eligible for voting 和 national elections 查找到 I 段最后一句,该句提到最年轻的(18 至 24 岁)合格选民的投票率非常低。即使是全国大选,他们之中也只有稍多于四分之一的人会去投票。题目的 young people eligible for voting 对应原文中的 youngest eligible voters,而 national elections 则为文中原词复现,故本题答案为 I 段。
37[B]【译文】父母担心自己的孩子在步入青少年时期后会卷入刑事犯罪中。
【定位解析】根据 concerned, criminal offences 以及 reach their teens,可查找到 B 段最后两句。这两句提到在跟年轻人有关的电视新闻画面中,有 20%与刑事案件有关,父母总是担心自己的小孩到了青春叛逆期会变得难以管控,题目是该处原文的同义表达。本题中的 criminal offences 对应原文的 criminal justice system, concern 对应原文的 worry,而 once they reach their teens 则是 once they hit the turbulent waters of adolescence 的同义转述,故本题答案为 B 段。
38 [F]【译文】即使在上世纪动荡不安的年代里,年轻人的反叛也经常被媒体描述得太夸张。
【定位解析】根据 youth rebellion 和 exaggerated 可查找到 F 段第 3 句。该句提到,即使在当时,所谓的“大规模的年轻人叛逆”也被媒体报道夸大了。本题的 exaggerated 是原文 overdone 的同义表达(overdo 意为“对……过于夸张”),youth rebellion 则为原词复现,所以 F 段为正确答案。
39[D]【译文】现在的青少年经常在一些重要的事情上,比如说选择职业时,征求父母的建议。
【定位解析】根据题目中的 turn to their parents for advice 和 career choice 可查找到 D 段第 3 句。该句提到,现在的青少年很钦佩他们的父母,也很乐于在一些重大的事情上,比如在选择职业时,接受父母的引导。题目是该处原文的同义表述,turn to their parents for advice 对应原文的 welcome parental guidance,而 career choice 为原词复现,故本题答案为 D 段。
40 [C]【译文】青少年犯罪和品行不端的现象正在减少。
【定位解析】根据题目中的 teenage crime 和 decreasing 查找到 C 段第 3 句。该句提到,犯罪、药物滥用和婚前性行为这些现象在青少年群体中普遍都有所减少。本题中的 decreasing 是原文 in general decline 的同义转述,misbehavior 是对原文 drug abuse and premarital sex 的概括,而 teenage crime 为原词复现,题目正是对该句原文的同义表述,所以 C 段为正确答案。
41[K]【译文】年轻人要有崇高的理想,要力争成为领导者。
【定位解析】根据 lofty ideals 和 leaders,查找到 K 段第 2 句。该句指出,年轻人也应当要有一些崇高的目标,包括愿意为这个更广大的社会做出贡献、热爱国家、心怀成为未来领导者的远大抱负。题目中的 lofty ideals 是原文 noble purposes 的同义转述,strive to be leaders 对应文中的 make their own leadership contributions,故 K 段为正确答案。
42 [A]【译文】有些年轻人会把某些东西藏起来不让父母发现。
【定位解析】根据 keep some to themselves 查找到 A 段末句。该句指出,虽然有超过三分之一的青少年会在房间里藏一些不想让父母发现的东西,但也不过就是些低俗的刊物或者 CD 罢了。题目中的 keep some to themselves 是对原文 keep secret from their parents 的同义转述,故选 A 段。
43 [L]【译文】鼓励年轻人探索更广阔的世界并为将世界变得更美好而做好准备,这是有益的。
【定位解析】根据题目中的 encourage、explore、world 可查找到 L 段的最后一句。该句指出,鼓励年轻人探索超越直接经验的世界,让他们为改变世界而做好准备,我们会有无穷的收获。题目中的 It is beneficial 是对文中 We have everything to gain 的同义转述,explore the broader world 和原文中的 explore the world beyond their immediate experience 对应,make it a better world 即原文中的 shaping that world,故正确答案为 L 段。
44 [E]【译文】现在很多青少年都会为需要帮助的人提供服务。
【定位解析】根据 service 和 the needy 查找到 E 段第 2 句。该句指出,很多青少年都会自愿参加帮助弱势群体的社区服务。题目中的 the needy 是原文 disadvantaged people 的同义替换,故答案为 E 段。
45[J]【译文】采访发现,学生基本都只关注自己的事。
【定位解析】根据题目中的 Interviews 和 personal matters 查找到 J 段第 4 句。J 段讲到被采访的学生的反馈,当被问及想有什么改变时,学生们都只提到了跟自身有关的事,即只关注自己的事。题目正是对此处的同义概括,personal matters 是原文 personal concerns 的同义表达,故正确答案为 J 段。