新标准大学英语综合教程4课文原文

('Lookingforajobafteruniversity?First,getoffthesofaMorethan650,000studentsleftuniversitythissummerandmanyhavenoideaaboutthewaytogetajob.Howtoughshouldaparentbetogalvanize通电，刺激theminthesefinanciallyfraught担心的，忧虑的times?1InJuly,youlookedonasyourhandsome21-year-oldson,dressedingownandmortarboard,proudlyclutchedhishonorsdegreeforhisgraduationphoto.Thosememoriesofforkingout不情愿掏出thousandsofpoundsayearsothathecouldeatwellandgototheoddpartybegantofade.Untilnow.2Asthesummerbreakcomestoacloseandstudentsacrossthecountryprepareforthestartofanewterm,youfindthatyourgraduatesonisstillspendinghisdaysslumped掉落infrontofthetelevision,brokenonlybytexting,Facebookandvisitstothepub.Thisformerscion幼芽ofGenerationYhasmorphed改变overnightintoamemberofGeneratingGrunt.Willheevergetajob?3.Thisisthescenario情节facingthousandsoffamilies.Morethan650,000studentsleftuniversitythissummerandmostinthesefinanciallytestingtimeshavenoideawhattodonext.Parentsrevertto回复nagging;Sonsanddaughtersbecomerebelswithoutacause,awarethattheyneedtogetajob,butnotsurehow.4.JackGoodwin,fromMiddlesex,graduatedwitha2:1inpoliticsfromNottinghamthissummer.Hewalkedintotheuniversitycareersserviceandstraightbackoutagain;therewasabigqueue.Helivedwithfiveotherboysallofwhomdidthesame.Therewasnopressuretofindajob,eventhoughmostofthegirlsheknewhadaclearerplan.5.“Iappliedforajobasapoliticalresearcher,butgotturneddown,”hesays.“theywerepaying￡18,000,doesn‟tbuyyoumuchmorethanatinofbeansafterrent,buttheywantedpeoplewithexperienceormaster‟sdegrees.ThenIappliedfortheCivilServicefaststream.Ipassedtheexam,butattheinterviewstheyaccusedmeofbeing„toodetached”andtalkinginlanguagethatwas„tootechnocratic‟,whichIdidn‟tthinkpossible,butobviouslyitis.”6.Sincethenhehasspentthesummer“hiding”.HecanrecountseveralepisodesofTrafficCopsandhasseenmoredaytimetelevisionthanishealthy.Hetalkstohisfriendsabouthisaimlessdaysandfindsthatmostareinthesameboat.Onehasbeenforcedouttostackshelvesbyhisparents.Fortherestitis9-to-5“chilling”beforeheadingtothepub.Sohowaboutworkingbehindthebar,topayforthosedrinks?“Idon‟twanttodobarwork.IwenttoacomprehensiveandIworkedmybacksideofftogotoagooduniversity,whereIworkedreallyhardtogetagooddegree,”hesays.“NowI‟mbackatthesamestageasthosefriendswhodidn‟tgotouniatall,whoarepullingpintsanddoingdead-endjobs.IfeelthatI‟vecomefullcircle.”7.JacquelingGoodwin,hismother,defendshim.Sheinsiststhathehastriedtogetajob,buthavingworkedfull-timesinceleavingschoolherself,sheandherhusbandfindittrickytoadvisehimonhowtoproceed.“Ihavealwayshadtowork,”shesays.“It‟sdifficultbecausewhenyouhaveadegree,itopensnewdoorsforyou,oryou‟dliketothinkthatitdoes.”8.Althoughsheistakingasoftlinewithhersonatthemoment,sheisclearthatafteranupcomingthree-weektriptoSouthAmerica,hisholidayfromworkwillhavetoend.Hemayevenhavetopayrentandcontributetothehouseholdbills.9.“They‟vegottogrowupatsomepoint.We‟vefinishedpayingforuniversity,soalittlebitofhelpbackisgood,”shesays.“TheSouthAmericatripisthecutoffpoint.Whenhecomesbackthere‟llbeChristmasworkifnothingelse.”10.GaelLindenfield,apsychotherapistandtheauthoroftheEmotionalHealingStrategy,saysthattheGoodwinparentshavestruckexactlytherightnote.Thetransitionfromuniversitytoajobistoughforparentsandchildren:Cruciallytheymustbalancebeingpositiveandunderstandingwithnotmakinglifetoocomfortablefortheiroffspring.11“themainjobfortheparentsistobetherebecauseiftheystartadvisingthemwhattodo,thatiswhentheconflictstarts.Ifyouhavecontacts,byallmeansusethose,”shesaid.“Butalotofparentsgettoosoft.Putlimitsonhowmuchmoneyyougivethem,askthemtopayrentorcontributetothecareofthehouseorthepets.Carryonlifeasnormalanddon‟tallowthemtoabuseyourbankaccountorsapyourreservesofemotionalenergy.”12payingforcareerconsultations,trainfarestointerviewsorbooksaregoodthings;beingtoopushyisnot.Butwhileparentsshouldbewaryofbecomingtoosoft,Lindenfieldadvisesthemtotread踩sympatheticallyafterajobsetbackforafewdaysorevenweeks–dependingonthescaleoftheknock.Afterthatthesonordaughterneedstobenudged推动firmlybackintothesaddle.13boysaremorelikelytogetstuckathome.Lingenfieldbelievesthatmenareoftenbetterathelpingtheirsons,nephews,orfriends‟sonsthanaremothersandsisters.Menhaveadifferentwayofhandlingsetbacksthanwomen,shesays,sotheyneedthemalepresencetotalkitthrough.14asforbarwork,sheisapassionateadvocate:it‟sagreatantidote解毒剂tograduateapathy冷漠.Itjustdependsonhowyouapproachit.Lindenfield,whofoundherfirstjobasanaerialphotographicassistantthroughbarwork,saysitisagreatnetworkingopportunityandcertainlymorelikelytogetyouajobthanlounginginfrontoftheTV.15“Thesamegoesforshelf-stacking.Youwillbespottedifyou‟regoodatit.Ifyou‟rebrightandcheerfulandarepolitetothecustomers,you‟llsoongetmovedon.Sothinkofitasanopportunity;peoplewhoaresuccessfulinthelongrunhaveoftengotshelf-stackingstories,”shesays.16yoursonordaughtermaynotwanttofollowHollywoodstarssuchasWhoopiGoldbergintoapplyingmake-uptocorpses尸体inamortuary太平间,orguardingnuclearpowerplantslikeBruceWills,butevenBradPitthadtostandoutsideElPolloLocorestaurantchaininagiantchickensuitatonetimeinhislife.Noneofthemappearsthepoorerfortheseexperiences.Danger!Booksmaychangeyourlife1LikeLewisCarroll\'sAlice,whofallsintoarabbitholeanddiscoversamysteriouswonderland,whenwepickupabookweareabouttoenteranewworld.Webecomeobserversoflifefromthepointofviewofapersonolderthanourselves,orthroughtheeyesofachild.Wemaytravelaroundtheglobetocountriesorcultureswewouldneverdreamofvisitinginreallife.We\'llhaveexperienceswhicharenew,sometimesdisconcerting,maybedeeplyattractive,possiblyunpleasantorpainful,butneverlessthanliberatingfromtherealworldwecomefrom.2TheEnglishpoetWilliamCowper(1731–1800)said"Variety\'stheveryspiceoflife,/thatgivesitallitsflavour"althoughheneglectedtosaywhereorhowwecouldfindit.Butweknowhewasright.Weknowweliveinaworldofvarietyanddifference.Weknowthatpeoplelivevariousdifferentlives,spendtheirtimeinvariousdifferentways,havedifferentjobs,believeindifferentthings,havedifferentopinions,differentcustoms,andspeakdifferentlanguages.Normally,wedon\'tknowtheextentofthesedifferences,yetsometimeswhensomethingunusualhappenstomakeusnotice,varietyanddifferenceappearmoreasathreatthananopportunity.3Readingbooksallowsustoenjoyandcelebratethisvarietyanddifferenceinsafety,andprovidesuswithanopportunitytogrow.Tointeractwithotherpeople\'slivesinthepeaceandquietofourhomesisaprivilegewhichonlyreadingfictioncanaffordus.Weevenunderstand,howeverfleetingly,thatwehavemoreincommonwithotherreadersofbooksinotherculturesthanwemightdowiththefirstpersonwemeetwhenwestepoutofourfrontdoors.Welearntolookbeyondourimmediatesurroundingstothehorizonandalandscapefarawayfromhome.4Ifweeverquestionthetruthofthepowerofreadingbooks,weshouldtakethetroubletogotoourlocallibraryorbookshop,oreven,ifwe\'refortunateenough,tothebooksonourshelvesathome.Weshouldwonderatthestrikingvistascreatedbythetitlesofnovelsrangingfromtheclassicstothemostrecent:TheGrapesofWrathbyJohnSteinbeck,TheFourthHandbyJohnIrving,CancerWardbyAleksandrSolzhenitsyn,ForWhomtheBellTollsbyErnestHemingway,OurManinHavanabyGrahamGreene,TheTimeTraveller\'sWifebyAudreyNiffeneggerorSalmonFishingintheYemenbyPaulTorday.Thenweshouldreflectontheotherliveswe\'llmeetoncewebegintoread.5Everybookwillhaveitsownlanguageanddialect,itsownvocabularyandgrammar.Wemaynotalwaysunderstandeverywordorsentence,butwhetherwe\'reenchantedorwhetherwefeelexcluded,ouremotionsareneverthelessstimulated.Otherpeopleandotherculturesarenotalwaysdistantbecauseofgeography.Inabookwemayconfrontpeoplewholiveinadifferentclimate,havedifferentreligiousbeliefs,orcomefromadifferentethnicgroup.Evenourneighboursdowntheroadmaybestrangerswhowecanonlymeetthroughbooks.6Assoonasweareabletolisten,booksaresupremelyinfluentialinthewaywelive.Fromthebedtimestoryreadbyaparenttotheirchildallthewaythroughtothesittingroomlinedwithbooksinouradulthomes,booksdefineourlives.TheEnglishwriterE.M.Forster(1879–1970)evenhintedatamoremysticalpowerwhichbookspossessoverus.Hewrote,"Isuggestthattheonlybooksthatinfluenceusarethoseforwhichweareready,andwhichhavegonealittlefurtherdownourparticularpaththanwehavegoneourselves."It\'sasiftherightbookcomestoseekusoutattherightmoment,andoffersitselftous—it\'snotuswhoseekoutthebook.7ThomasMerton(1915–1968),theAmericanmonk,priestandwriter,wasonceaskedaseriesofsevenquestionsbyajournalist:Namethelastthreebooksyouhaveread,thethreebooksyouarereadingnow,thebooksyouintendtoread,thebooksthathaveinfluencedyou,andwhy,abookthateveryoneshouldread,andwhy.Forthebookswhichhadinfluencedhim,hecitedpoeticworksofWilliamBlake,variousplaysbyancientGreekthinkersandwriters,andanumberofreligiouswritings.Whenaskedwhytheyhadinfluencedhim,hereplied,"Thesebooksandotherslikethemhavehelpedmetodiscovertherealmeaningofmylife,andhavemadeitpossibleformetogetoutoftheconfusionandmeaninglessnessofanexistencecompletelyimmersedintheneedsandpassivitiesfosteredbyacultureinwhichsalesareeverything."8Sohowwouldyouanswerthequestions?9In1947,CliftonFadimancoinedthetermhome-runbook.Whenabaseballplayerhitsahomerun,hehitstheballsohardandsofarhe\'sabletorunroundthefourbasesofthediamond,andscorepointsnotonlyforhimselfbutfortheotherrunnersalreadyonabase.It\'sthemostenjoyableandsatisfyingeventinabaseballgame.Likewise,ahome-runbookdescribesnotthechild\'sfirstreadingexperience,butthefirsttimetheyreadabookwhichinducessuchpleasureandsatisfactionthattheycan\'tputitdown.Forhundredsofmillionsofchildrenaroundtheworld,thebestknownexampleofahome-runbookwillbetheHarryPotterstories.10Asadults,we\'realwayslookingforourownhome-runbooks,notjustforthefirsttime,buttimeaftertimeagain.Whoeverhasreadanovelinonesittingwillalwaysrememberthepleasureandsatisfactionwhichawaitus,andeagerly,insistently,sometimesevendesperatelyseekstoreproducethemarvelloussensationagain.Wecannotwithstandthehungertovisitanotherworld,tomeetdifferentpeople,toliveotherlivesandtoreflectonourselves.11Danger!Booksmaychangeyourlife.Suchisthepowerofreading.Unit3Fiftyyearsoffashion1Nohistoryoffashionintheyears1960to2010canoverlookorunderestimatetwoconstantfactors:theubiquitousjeansandtheriseandfallofhemlinesforwomen\'sskirtsanddresses.2Denim,thematerialwhichjeansaremadeof,wasknowninFranceinthelate16thcentury,butitwasLeviStrausswhosawthatminersintheCaliforniangoldrushinthemid-19thcenturyneededstrongtrousers,whichhereinforcedwithmetalrivets.BluedenimjeansremainedpopularintheUSasworkclothesuntilthe1950s,butthenbecameassociatedwithyouth,newideas,rebellionandindividuality.WhenLeviStrauss&CobegantoexportbluejeanstoEuropeandAsiainthelate1950s,theywereboughtandwornwithhugeenthusiasmbyyoungpeopleandrecognizedasasymboloftheyoung,informalAmericanwayoflife.3Hemlineshaveamorepeculiarsignificanceduringthisperiod.Ithasoftenbeennotedthatthereisaprecisecorrelation,withonlyafewexceptions,betweenthelengthofwomen\'sskirtsandtheeconomy.Asthestockmarketrises,sodohemlines,andwhenitfalls,sodothey.Exactlywhywomenshouldwanttoexposemoreorlessoftheirlegsduringperiodsofeconomicboomandbustremainsamystery.Butthegeneraltrendisinescapable.Whenevertheeconomicoutlookisunsettled,bothmenandwomentendtowearmoreconservativeclothes.4Perhapsthemostimportantdevelopmentinfashioninthe1960swastheminiskirt,inventedbytheBritishdesignerMaryQuant.BecauseQuantworkedintheheartofSwingingLondon,theminiskirtdevelopedintoamajorinternationalfashion.ItwasgivengreaterrespectabilitywhenthegreatFrenchdesigner,Courrèges,developeditintoanitemofhighfashion.Butitwouldnothaveachievedsuchinternationalcurrencywithoutthedevelopmentoftights,insteadofstockings,becausetheriseinhemlinesmeantthestockingtopswouldbevisible.5Thehippiemovementofthemid-1960sandearly1970sinfluencedthedesignofjeans,withthetrouserlegdevelopingaflared"bell-bottom"style.Bythemid-1970s,astheeconomydeteriorated,hemlinesdroppedtomidi(mid-calflength)andmaxi(anklelength),whilejeanswerenolongerexclusivelyblue.6Jeansremainedfashionableduringtheperiodofpunk,usuallywornripped,oftenwithchainsandstuddedbelts.Thelooklastedforseveralyears,althoughbecamemoreandmorerestrictedtosmallgroupsofinner-cityyoungpeople,andhadlittleinfluenceonotheragegroups.7Asabacklashtotheanarchyofpunk,theNewRomanticswasafashionmovementwhichoccurredmainlyinBritishnightclubs.Itwasglamorousandcourageous,andfeaturedlavishfrilledshirts.Jeansweredefinitelynotacceptable.8Themid-1980ssawtheriseofanumberofdifferentstyles.Powerdressingwascharacterizedbysmartsuitsand,forthenewly-empoweredwomen,shoulderpadsandknee-lengthskirts.Notsurprisingly,theeconomywasunstable,andpeopletooklessrisksinwhattheywore.Formen,theMiamiVicestyle,namedafterthetelevisionseries,madeuseofsmartT-shirtsunderdesignerjackets,anddesignerstubble—threeorfourdaysofbeardgrowth.Butasalways,denimremainedpopularwiththeyoung.Inparticular,heavymetalmusicfansworebleachedandrippedjeansanddenimjackets.9Graduallyhemlinesstartedtoriseagain...untiltheworldstockmarketcrashin1987.Sothelate1980sintheUSsawtheriseofthemoreconservativestylecalledPreppystyle,withclassicclothesbyRalphLaurenandBrooksBrothersformen,button-downshirts,chinosandloafers,withasweatertiedlooselyaroundtheneck.Theyalsoworejeans,buteitherbrand-neworcleanandsmartlypressed—notatallwhatLeviStraussoriginallyintended.10Astheworldeconomiesimprovedagaininthe1990s,fashionforyoungpeoplebecamemoredaring.BootsandConverseorNiketrainersremainedpopular,butthepredominantcoloursbecameolivegreenandoatmeal.Hairwaswornlong,orcutspikyshortanddyedblue,greenorred.Hoodies,baseballcapsandbaggyjeans,whichwereoftenwornlowbelowthebuttocks,werecommononthestreets.11TheninJanuary2000theNewYorktechnologystockmarketcollapsed.Asusual,sodidhemlines,whichweredescribedbyonecommentatoras"theprimandproperlookisin.Skirtsshouldbebelowtheknee."Butmerelyoneyearlater,thestockmarketbegantorecover,andthemicrominiskirtreturned.Hemlineswerehigherthantheyhadbeenformanyyears.12Duringthisperiod,itwasunusualtowearformalclothesunlessyouwereatwork.Designerjeansgainedhugepopularity.Theseweremadeofthetraditionaldenim,perhapswithsomelycraadded,butcutandmarketedunderwell-knownbrandssuchasArmani,HugoBossandMoschino,whountilrecentlyhadonlyconcernedthemselveswiththesmartestfashionlines.SkinnyjeansalsobecamepopularinBritainandmostofEurope.Skirtlengthisuncertain,rangingfrommicroto"sensible"—knee-lengthorjustbelow.13Sometimesthehemlineindicator,asit\'scalled,canevenprecedeandpredictachangeinthemoodofthestockmarketlongbeforeitactuallyhappens.InSeptember2007,attheNewYorkfashionshows,whichweredisplayingtheirstylesforspring2008,thetrendwasformuchlongerdressesandskirts,manytomid-calforevendowntotheankles.Somepeoplefeltthisshowedthatthehemlineindicatorwasnolongerreliable,andthatdesignersnolongerdictatedwhatpeoplewouldwear.DuringtheLondonandNewYorkfashionshowsinSeptember2008,hemlinescontinuedtodrop.Butsureenough,inthefallof2008,thestockmarketindexesfelldramaticallywhenthebankingcrisishittheUS,Europeandthentherestoftheworld.Hemlineswerenolongerfollowingthestockmarket—theywereshowingthewayandindicatingfutureeconomictrends.14Duringthewholeperiod,fashionstyleshaverangedwidely,andhaveusuallybeensparkedoffbyadesiretoidentifypeopleasbelongingtoaparticularsub-culture.Buttheconstantfactorsoverthisperiodaredenimandhemlinesandthegreatestinfluenceshavebeena19th-centuryCalifornianclothesmanufacturerandayoungdesignerintheSwingingLondonofthe1960s.Unit4Thecreditcardtrap1Ihaveaconfession.Severalyearsago,Iwasstandinginaqueuetocollectsometheatreticketsformyfamily,andmyfriendwasdoingthesameforhers.Igotmine,andpaidforthembycreditcard,feelingcontentedbytheconvenienceofthiscash-freetransaction.Itwasthenherturntopay.Thewholeoperationpassedassmoothlyasmine,butmydelightsoonturnedtoabjectshame.Mycreditcardwasafairlypathetic,status-freedarkblue,whereasherswasaveryexclusivegoldone.2Howdidshedothis?Howcouldthisbe?IknewIearnedmorethanher,mycarwasnewer,andmyhousewassmarter.Howdidshegettoappearmoreflashthanme?3Now,Ihadajobwhichwasassteadyasanyjobwasinthosedays–that\'stosay,notvery,butyouknow,nocomplaints.Ihadamortgageonmyhouse,butthenwhodidn\'t?Ipaidoffallmycreditdebtattheendofthemonth,soalthoughtechnically,Iwasindebttothecreditcardcompany,itwasonlyforamatterofafewweeks.SoIassumedIhadagoodcreditrating.4Callmesuperficial,andI\'mnotproudofmyself,butthereandthen,Iwassuddenlyjealousofmyfriend.IdecidedInolongerwantedabluecard.Iwantedagoldone.Agoldcardwassuddenlyindispensable,itwouldmakemefeelgoodwithmyself,anddesirabletoothers.5SoIappliedforthemostdistinctive,shinygoldencardthecompanyoffered.6Iwasturneddown.7WhenIhadrecoveredfromtheshock,whichtookseveralseconds,Iaskedwhy.ItappearsthatbecauseIpaymycreditcardbillbothontimeandinfull,I\'mnotthekindofpersonthattheywanttohavetheirgoldcreditcard.Theytargetpeoplewhoarepronetoimpulse-buying,andpotentiallybadcreditrisks,temptedtospendmorethantheyhave,andliabletofallbehindwithrepayments.Thentheycanchargethemmoreinterest,andearnmoremoney.That\'sthewaytheydobusiness.8Sodoesthisexplainwhythecreditcardcompaniesareluringimpoverishedstudentswithunrealisticinterestrates,likemykids?9Threeweeksago,No.2daughtercamehomefromuniversityfortheweekend.She\'sinhersecondtermofherfirstyear.Shehasastudentloanof£3,000,likemostofherfriends,andasmallallowancefromherpoormother(ha!)fortransport,books,livingexpenses.Shewearsclothesfromthelocalcharityshops,andrarelygoesout.Shehuggedme(neverusuallydoesthat)andthensaid,"Mum,Ineedtotalktoyou."10"Whatisit,darling?Tellmeeverything."11"I\'veappliedforacreditcard,andIneedsomeonetoactasaguaranteeforme.IsitOKifIputdownyourname?Thankssomuch,Mum,mustdash!Bye."12AfterI\'dhauledherbackintothehouse,ittranspiredthatherbankhadwrittentoherofferingacreditcardatalowinterestforatrialthree-monthperiod,subjecttosuitability...andsoon.Herbank!Itrustedthem!TheyknowevenbetterthanIdohowbrokesheis.13Here’saseriousquestion.Whydotheycallthemcreditcardswhenitwouldbemoreaccuratetocallthemdebtcards?14Here\'sanevenmoreseriousstory.Anotherfriend\'sdaughter,Kelly,wasstudyingmodernlanguagesatuniversity,andspentayearoverseas.Atsomepointintheyear,therewasachangeofprocedure,andKelly\'sbankfailedtoallowhertoaccessherfundsinhercurrentaccount,becausetherequestwasfromoutsidetheUK.Naturally,therewasalengthycorrespondencewhileshetriedtosortthisout,sothedelayinbeingabletoaccessherfundsmeantthatshewentintothered,andherdebtsbegantorisemorethan£200abovetheagreedlimitonheroverdraftof£1,500.15WhenKellygotbackhome,thebankchargedher£100forgoingoverthelimit,andinsistedshepaid£30amonthtobringthebalancebacktobelowherlimit.Theyomittedtotellherthatshewasn\'tactuallypayingoffthedebt,butonlytheexorbitantinterestontheoverspendoftheoverdraft.16SoKellyhadtoturntohercreditcardwhichshehadusedsensiblyandsparinglyuntilthatpoint.Becauseshewasastudent,andbecauseshedidn\'tuseitmuch,naturallyhercreditlimitwaslow.17Andnotsurprisingly,shecouldn’tpayoffeventheminimumpaymentonhercreditcardbill.Sotherewerenotonlybankchargesowing,butalsocreditcarddebtsandinterest.Andofcourse,shewasrecordedasbeingabadcreditrisk.18Thingsthenwentfrombadtoworse.Afewmonthsintoherfinalyear,thebanknotifiedherthatitwasgoingtoreduceheroverdraftfrom£1,500to£1,000.Theytoldhertoapplyforastudentloantocovertherest.Butwhentheloancompanydidacreditcheck,theydiscoveredthecarddebt.19Guesswhat?Shedidn\'tgettheloan.20Thiswasadelightfulkidwhohadgreatrestraintwithherspendingandwaseconomicalaboutherlifestyle.Shedidn\'tgoonspendingspreesbuyingnewshoes,andshedidn\'tusehercreditcardasif(unlikeme)itwasafashionitem.Sheusedittobuyfood,tosurvive.21Andwhathappened?Shehadtodropoutofuniversity22IwishtherewasahappyendingtoKelly\'sstory,althoughmaybetherewillbe.Forthemoment,she\'sworkinginthelocalsupermarket,andit\'sprobablethatshe\'llhaveanothergoatuniversitywhenshehaspaidoffherdebts.23Sothisiswhatthebanksdo.Theysettrapswhichappealtoourvanityandgreedandsometimestoourbasicneedforsurvival.Andthenwhenwefallintothetraptheyshout"Gotyou!Didn\'tyourealizeitwasatrap?"24Andherewearetoday,caughtinthecreditcrunch,withworldeconomiesinfreefall,allbecausethewickedbankerssetustrapswhichwefellinto,attractinguswithendlesspublicityforloansofmoneywhicheventheydidn\'thave!Itnowappearstheywereborrowingontheirownflashygoldcreditcardstoo.25SoIhaveasolutiontothecreditcardtrap,andIwantallofyoutolistentomeverycarefully.26Iwantyoutolayoutallofyourcreditcardsinaline,takealargepairofscissorsandcutthemintosmallpieces.Thenputtheminanenvelopeandsendthemtoyourbank,withalettersaying(moreorless)“Itrustedyouandyoudeceivedme.You\'vegotthewholeworldintothisridiculouscreditcardtrap,andifInowcutyourcardsinhalf,andtakeawayyourpotentialtotemptmoneyawayfromhonestpeoplelikeme,maybeitwillbeyourturntolearnwhatit\'sliketorunoutofcash."27Asforme,Idon\'twantanymorecreditcards,nomorestatussymbols,nomorebadfeelingsaboutwishingIcouldshowhowsuperiorIamtoothers.I\'mnotgoingtoyearnanymoreforwhatIcannotaffordorcannothave.SexDifferencesinEnglishGossipRules1Contrarytopopularbelief,researchershavefoundthatmengossipjustasmuchaswomen.InoneEnglishstudy,bothsexesdevotedthesameamountofconversationtime(about65percent)tosocialtopicssuchaspersonalrelationships;inanother,thedifferencewasfoundtobequitesmall,withgossipaccountingfor55percentofmaleconversationtimeand67percentoffemaletime.Assportandleisurehavebeenshowntooccupyabout10percentofconversationtime,discussionoffootballcouldwellaccountforthedifference.2Menwerecertainlyfoundtobenomorelikelythanwomentodiscuss"important"or"highbrow"subjectssuchaspolitics,work,artandculturalmatters–except(andthiswasastrikingdifference)whenwomenwerepresent.Ontheirown,mengossip,withnomorethanfivepercentofconversationtimedevotedtonon-socialsubjectssuchasworkorpolitics.Itisonlyinmixed-sexgroups,wheretherearewomentoimpress,thattheproportionofmaleconversationtimedevotedtothesemore"highbrow"subjectsincreasesdramatically,tobetween15and20percent.3Infact,recentresearchhasrevealedonlyonesignificantdifference,intermsofcontent,betweenmaleandfemalegossip:Menspendmuchmoretimetalkingaboutthemselves.Ofthetotaltimedevotedtoconversationaboutsocialrelationships,menspendtwothirdstalkingabouttheirownrelationships,whilewomenonlytalkaboutthemselvesonethirdofthetime.4Despitethesefindings,themythisstillwidelybelieved,particularlyamongmales,thatmenspendtheirconversations"solvingtheworld\'sproblems",whilethewomenfolkgossipinthekitchen.Inmyfocusgroupsandinterviews,mostEnglishmalesinitiallyclaimedthattheydidnotgossip,whilemostofthefemalereadilyadmittedthattheydid.Onfurtherquestioning,however,thedifferenceturnedouttobemoreamatterofsemanticsthanpractice:Whatthewomenwerehappytocall"gossip",themendefinedas"exchanginginformation".5Clearly,thereisastigmaattachedtogossipamongEnglishmales,anunwrittenruletotheeffectthat,evenifwhatoneisdoingisgossiping,itshouldbecalledsomethingelse.Perhapsevenmoreimportant:Itshouldsoundlikesomethingelse.Inmygossipresearch,Ifoundthatthemaindifferencebetweenmaleandfemalegossipisthatfemalegossipactuallysoundslikegossip.Thereseemtobethreeprincipalfactorsinvolved:thetonerule,thedetailruleandthefeedbackrule.Thetonerule6TheEnglishwomenIinterviewedallagreedthataparticulartoneofvoicewasconsideredappropriateforgossip.Thegossip-toneshouldbehighandquick,orsometimesastagewhisper,butalwayshighlyanimated."Gossip\'sgottostartwithsomethinglike[Quick,high-pitched,excitedtone]\'Oooh–Guesswhat?Guesswhat?\'"explainedonewoman,"or\'Hey,listen,listen[quick,urgentstagewhisper]–youknowwhatIheard?\'"Anothertoldme:"Youhavetomakeitsoundsurprisingorscandalous,evenwhenitisn\'treally.You\'llgo,\'Well,don\'ttellanyone,but…\'evenwhenit\'snotreallythatbigofasecret."7Manyofthewomencomplainedthatmenfailedtoadoptthecorrecttoneofvoice,recountingitemsofgossipinthesameflat,unemotionalmannerasanyotherpieceofinformation,suchthat,asonewomansniffed,"Youcan\'teventellit\'sgossip."Which,ofcourse,isexactlytheimpressionthemaleswishtogiveThedetailrule8Femalesalsostressedtheimportanceofdetailinthetellingofgossip,andagainbemoanedtheshortcomingsofmalesinthismatter,claimingthatmen"neverknowthedetails"."Menjustdon\'tdothehe-said-she-saidthing,"oneinformanttoldme,"andit\'snogoodunlessyouactuallyknowwhatpeoplesaid."Anothersaid:"Womentendtospeculatemore…They\'lltalkaboutwhysomeonedidsomething,giveahistorytothesituation."Forwomen,thisdetailedspeculationaboutpossiblemotivesandcauses,requiringanexhaustiverakingover"history",isacrucialelementofgossip,asisdetailedspeculationaboutpossibleoutcomes.Englishmalesfindallthisdetailboring,irrelevantand,ofcourse,unmanly.Thefeedbackrule9AmongEnglishwomen,itisunderstoodthattobea"goodgossip"requiresmorethanalivelytoneandattentiontodetail:Youalsoneedagoodaudience,bywhichtheymeanappreciativelistenerswhogiveplentyofappropriatefeedback.Thefeedbackruleoffemalegossiprequiresthatlistenersbeatleastasanimatedandenthusiasticasspeakers.Thereasoningseemstobethatthisisonlypolite;thespeakerhasgonetothetroubleofmakingtheinformationsoundsurprisingandscandalous,sotheleastonecandoistoreciprocatebysoundingsuitablyshocked.Englishmen,accordingtomyfemaleinformant,justdon\'tseemtohavegraspedthisrule.Theydonotunderstandthat"Youaresupposedtosay\'NO!Really?\'and\'OhmyGOD!\'"10Myfemaleinformantsagreed,however,thatamanwhodidrespondintheapprovedfemalemannerwouldsoundinappropriatelygirly,orevendisturbinglyeffeminate.EventhegaymalesIinterviewedfeltthatthe"NO!Really?"kindofresponsewouldberegardedasdecidedly"camp".TheunwrittenrulesofEnglishgossipetiquettedoallowmentoexpressshockorsurprisewhentheyhearaparticularlyjuicybitofgossip,butitisunderstoodthatasuitableexpletiveconveyssuchsurpriseinamoreacceptablymasculinefashion.WinstonChurchill1Inthesummerof1940,Britainstoodaloneonthebrinkofinvasion.Atthatcrucialtime,oneman,WinstonChurchill,definedwhatitmeanttobeBritish.Weliketothinkofourselvesastolerantandlong-sufferingpeople.ButChurchill,throughhisleadershipandhisexample,remindedusthatifallweholddear–ourdemocracy,ourfreedom–isthreatened,wewillshowcourageanddeterminationlikenoothernation.2"Ihavenothingtoofferbutblood,toil,tearsandsweat.Youaskwhatisourpolicy?Icansayitistowagewarbysea,landandair,withallourmightandwithallourstrengththatGodcangiveus;towagewaragainstamonstroustyranny,neversurpassedinthedark,lamentablecatalogueofhumancrime.Youaskwhatisouraim?Icananswerinoneword:Itisvictory,victoryatallcosts,victoryinspiteofallterror,victoryhoweverlongandhardtheroadmaybe."3ThiswasthemomentwhenBritainhadtobeatitsgreatest.AndinChurchillwefoundthegreatestofBritons.4WinstonChurchillwasbornin1874intooneofBritain\'sgrandestfamilies.TheChurchillshadbeenfightingforkingandcountryforgenerations.YoungWinstonalwaysbelievedhe\'ddothesame.Butself-beliefwassomethinghemaintaineddespiteratherthanbecauseofhisfamily.HisfatherLordRandolphChurchill(1849–1895),andhismother,Jennie(1854–1921),werebothcoldanddistantpeople.WinstonwaspackedofftoHarrow.Hewasn\'tgood-lookingorclever;hewassickly,withalispandastammer.Hewasboundtobebullied–andhewas.Farfromgivingsupport,Winston\'sfatherpredictedhischildwould"degenerateintoashabby,unhappyandfutileexistence".5Heleftschooland,afterthreeattempts,gotintothemilitaryacademyatSandhurst.AfterSandhursthewentlookingformilitaryaction–whereveritwas.Hepaidforhimselfbydoublingupasawarcorrespondent.HeusedhisdispatchestopromotehimselfasaherooftheBoerWar,andreturnedtoEnglandin1900renownedandallsettobecomeanMP.6HewaselectedasToryMPforOldhaminthesameyear.ThenheswappedtotheLiberals,thenback.HewasneverreallyaPartyanimal.HecaredaboutBritain.Hisvisionwasofaplacewithbetterlivingstandardsforordinarypeople,butwithafierceregardforlawandorder.Thoughhewasn\'taviciousman,Churchill\'sattitudetosuffragettes,tradeunionistsoranyonewhochallengedthesystemwasbrutal.Hisweaponoffirstresortwasthearmy.7Butthenhe\'dalwayswantedtobeageneral.ThisambitiondatedbacktothedayswhenhespenthisschoolholidaysplayingwithtoysoldiersinthecorridorsofBlenheimPalace,belowthetapestriesofhisheroicancestors.Hemusthavebeendelightedwhen,in1911,hewasmadeFirstLordoftheAdmiralty–andevenmoresowhentheFirstWorldWarofferedhimtheopportunitytoplanamajormilitaryoffensiveatGallipoli,in1915.8Gallipoliwasadisaster,costingWinstonhisjobandnearlyhissanity.Thiswastheonsetofhisfirstmajorboutofdepression,acursehecalledhis"blackdog".Thankfullyhenowhadawife,Clementine,tohelphimthroughit.Shewas11yearsyoungerthanhim,beautiful,cleverandunswervinglyloyal.Shekepthimtogether,buthegothimselfoutofit,intrueChurchillianfashion.Tomakeamendsforhismistake,hetookhimselfofftothetrenchesofFrancetofight.HemustbeoneofthefewsoldierstohavewrittenhomefromtheFirstWorldWarthathehad"foundhappinessandcontentsuchasIhavenotknownformonths".Hewasamanmadeforwar.9BythetimeChurchillreturnedtoEngland,he\'dalreadyachievedmanygreatthings.He\'dbeenasuccessfuljournalist,he\'dfoughtforhiscountryandhe\'dheldhighoffice,ashewastodoagaininthe1920sasChancelloroftheExchequer.Butby1930,Labourwasinpowerandhewasonthebackbenches,anobodyandahas-been.Helargelysatoutthe1930sathiscountryretreatChartwell.10InSeptember1938,PrimeMinisterNevilleChamberlain(1869–1940)famouslybrandishedanagreementhe\'dsignedwithAdolfHitler(1889–1945)anddeclaredhe\'dsecuredpeaceinourtime.Youcouldalmosthearthesighsofrelief.ButnotfromWinston.He\'dpredicted–longbeforeanyoneelse–whatGermannationalismwasleadingto.Bythetimehewasprovedright,andwarhadbeendeclared,KingGeorgeVI(1895–1952)knewthat"therewasonlyonepersonIcouldsendfortoformaGovernmentwhohadtheconfidenceofthecountry.AndthatwasWinston".Whenthecallcame,Churchillwas65-year-old.Ithadbeenalongwait,butdestinyhadarrived.11Peopletalkof1066,oftheArmada,ofTrafalgar.But1940wasthemostimportantyearinBritishhistory.ItwastheyearofDunkirk,theBattleofBritain,theBlitz.ItwastheyearwheneverysingleBriton,civilianaswellassoldier,foundthemselvesatwar.Thecauseappearedhopeless,yetWinston,revivingtheVsignforvictoryfromthefieldsofAgincourt500yearsbefore,tolduswecouldwin.12Churchillwasaninstinctive,daring,ofteninfuriatingwarleader.Hewasrudeandunpleasanttohisstaff,whostruggledtokeepupwithhislimitlesscapacityforhardworkandhardliquor.Buthewasalsoaninspiration.WhenvictorywasfinallydeclaredinEuropeon8May1945,itwasquicklyfollowedbyageneralelection.Thebillboardssaid"CheerChurchill,VoteLabour",andthat\'swhatpeopledid.Thatwastheirony.TheverydemocracythatChurchillwaspreparedtolaydownhislifetodefendwasthesamedemocracythatknewthedifferencebetweentheneedsofpeaceandtheneedsofwar.13WhenChurchilldiedin1965,thenewrock-and-rollBritainstoodstill.IfBritain–itseccentricity,itsstrengthofcharacter,itsbig-heartedness–hadtobesummedupinoneperson,itwashim.Hehadgone,but,thankstohim,Britainlivedon.Andwhatcouldbegreaterthanthat?美好的回忆Goldenmemories虽然这个房子已经换了许多户人家了，但直到现在我还记得那些筑墙、盖屋顶的工人。当时马路对过那座庄园大宅的主人需要建一个小屋给他的园丁住。他在这片连绵不断的巨大的丘陵果园中找到了一片空地，并派工人到本地的采石场运来金黄色的石头。工人们花了三个月的时间在园子里建起了这两座农家小屋。Icanstillrememberthemenwhobuiltthewalls,andraisedtheroof,eventhoughitwasmanyfamiliesago.Themasterfromthemanorhouseoverthewayneededalodgeforhisgroundsmantolive,andfoundaclearinginthehugeorchardwhichranupanddownthehills.Hesentworkmantobringthegoldenstonefromthelocalquarryandtheyspentthreemonthsbuildingtwocottagesinthepark.我只从侧面看到过我旁边的那座房子，我从来没有见过它的正面。但是我知道，尽管我们在结构和外观上是一模一样的，我们的朝向正好相反，这真是不可思议。我的前门朝东，隔壁房子的前门是朝西的。我的卧室在房子的后部，在隔壁那所房子里，这个位置的楼下是厨房。我的厨房在房子的前部，在隔壁的那个房子里，这个位置的楼上是卧室。我觉得我比我的邻居更幸运，因为每天早上，我这边的石头会享受到阳光的照耀。Ionlyseemyneighborfromtheside.I\'veneverseenhimfaceon,butIdoknowthatstrangely,althoughwe\'reidentical,we\'retheexactoppositeofeachother,withmyfrontdoorfacingeastandmyneighbour\'sfacingwest,mybedroominthebackoverhiskitchen,mykitchenunderhisbedroominthefront.IthinkI\'mtheluckyonebecauseeachmorning,thestonegleamsinthesunlight.园丁精心地照料庄园周围的果园和花园，所以到了秋天，树上总是果实累累，结满了苹果和梨。当白天越来越短的时候，四周的土地上全是一片忙碌的景象，帮工们采摘水果，把摘下的水果送到庄园或是沿着那条路运到镇上的市场去卖。Thegroundsmantendedtheorchardsandthegardensaroundthemanorhouse,sothetreesinautumnwerealwaysheavywithapplesandpears,andasthedaysgrewshorterthelandaroundwasbusywithhelperscollectingthefruittotaketothemanorhouse,ortomarketintowndowntheway.除了秋天，其他时候这里非常安静。园丁好像很孤独，直到后来有一天，他带了一名年轻女子回家。房子里很快充满了欢声笑语和饭菜的香味。园丁外出干活的时候，他的妻子会照看我周围的花园，种玫瑰、水仙和郁金香，还有夏季植物和菊花。从早春的鲜花到深秋的深黄色的叶子，花园里真是五彩缤纷。能照看这样一对夫妇，我感觉很幸福。Apartfromtheautumn,itwasquiethere,andthegroundsmanseemedlonelyuntiloneday,hebroughtayoungwomanhome.Iwassoonfilledwiththesoundsofconversationandlaughter,andthesmellofcooking.Whilethegroundsmanwasatwork,thewomanlookedafterthegardenaroundme,plantingroses,daffodilsandtulips,summerplantsandchrysanthemums.Therewasariotofcolors,fromblossominearlyspringtothedarkgoldencolorsoflateautumn.Itfeltgoodtolookafterthehappycouple.没过多久，又有孩子要照看了。头一个孩子是女孩，她常常高兴得咯咯笑，睡得也很沉。后来又添了一个男孩，他哭起来嗓门很大，让我们大家都不得安宁。但是他们都很快乐，也很听话。他们会静静地在屋里或花园里一起玩耍。渐渐地，他们长大了，也长高了。最让我感到愉快的一个记忆是：在一个温暖的夏日，我看到男孩高高地坐在一棵苹果树的枝干上，读着他最喜爱的那本书。Soontherewerechildrentolookaftertoo,firstagirl,whogurgledhappilyandsleptdeeply,andthenaboywithpowerfullungs,whokeptusallawake.Butbothwerehappyandgoodchildren.Theyplayedquietlytogetherinsideorinthegarden,andgraduallygrewolderandtaller.Oneofmyhappiestmemoriesisofonewarmsummer\'sday.Highupinthebranchesofoneoftheappletreesrestedtheboy,readinghisfavouritebook.我的窗户是我的眼睛，能看到绿树和田野。窗外的风景被低矮的丘陵围绕着，仿佛一切都栖息在它的怀抱里。远处是尖塔林立的城市，平日里静悄悄的，只有在特定的日子里，才会响起钟声。在那些特定日子里，园丁和他的家人会穿上漂亮的衣服外出，几个小时之后才回来。Mywindowsaremyeyes,andtheylookontotreesandfields,withlowhillssurroundingthewholesceneasifeverythingnestledintheirarms.Inthedistanceisacityofspires,silentexceptondayswhenthebellssound.Onthesedays,thegroundsmanandhisfamilyusedtodresssmartlyandleavethehouseforseveralhours.孩子们渐渐长大了。先是女儿不见了，回来的时候挽着一个年轻人。儿子也离开了家。有一天，我看到邮递员拿着一摞信来到门口，递给园丁和他的妻子一封电报。他们读完电报妻子大叫一声，晕倒在地。在这之后的一段日子里，他们常常坐在我的门廊下相拥而泣。Thechildrengrewup,andthedaughterdisappeared,onlytoreturnwithayoungmanonherarm.Thesonalsoleft,andoneday,Isawthepostmanarrivewithabundleofletters,andgivethegroundsmanandhiswifeatelegram.Whentheyreadit,shecriedoutandfainted.Forsometimeafterthis,theysatonmyporchholdingeachotherandweeping.过了一年又一年，园丁夫妇的年纪越来越大了，突然有一天这房子人去楼空。我们是从小一起生活的，可是我连跟他们说再见的机会都没有。Astheyearspassedby,thecouplegrewolder,andsuddenlythehousewasempty.Wehadgrownuptogether,butIdidn\'thaveachancetosaygoodbye.一户新的人家住了进来，是一个聪明的男人和他的妻子，还有两个孩子。他每天一大早就拎着公文包出去上班，晚上才回来。孩子们白天上学，放学后经常带朋友回家到花园里玩、爬树、踢足球。差不多就在这个时候，我窗外的景色开始发生变化了，这儿不再只有我和我旁边的房子了，对面有人在盖新房子。新房子是砖砌的，比我们高、比我们窄。我觉得和我的漂亮石头相比，它们看起来比较粗糙。越来越多的人来这附近居住，街道上人们熙来攘往，似乎没有人会在家里呆上太长的时间。Anewfamilyarrived,asmartmanandhiswife,withtwochildren.Heleftuseverymorningcarryinghisbriefcase,andreturnedhomeatnight.Thechildrenspenttheirdaysatschool,andoftenbroughttheirfriendsbacktoplayinthegarden,climbingtreesandkickingfootballs.Aroundthistime,theviewfrommywindowsbegantochange.MyneighborandIwerenolongertheonlyhomesaround,becauseoppositetherewerenewhousesbeingbuilt.Theyweremadeofbricksandlookedtallerandthinnerthanwewere.Ithoughttheylookedrathercoarseagainstmyhandsomestone.Andmanymorepeoplecametolivearoundhereaswell,thestreetsbecamequitebusywithpeoplewalkingupanddownontheirwaysomewhere.Itseemedasifnoonespentmuchtimeathomeanymore.年复一年，又有新的家庭住进来。两个中年妇女在我这儿住了几年，我很喜欢她们，因为她们精心照料我的房间和花园。处处干净整洁，她们把房间布置得如同我当初刚建成的时候的样子。她们还给房间通了电——我以前不知道电灯有这么亮，也没意识到我的房间以前是多么幽暗。后来，她们觉得外面的洗手间不能满足她们的需要了，我就只好放弃一个卧室，这样她们就可以在室内装一个浴缸和马桶。前门边的那个老井也被改造了，改造后水就可以通过地下管道直接通进屋内。她们又逐渐安装了各种各样的电器，比如炉具和洗衣机。我们都很暖和、干净。虽然房子和以前不太一样了，但是总体感觉还是不错的。Astheyearspassed,therewerenewfamilieswhocametostay.Twomiddle-agedwomenspentseveralyearshere,andIlikedthembecauseofthecaretheyshowedtomyroomsandmygarden.Everythingwasverycleanandtidy;itwasasiftheyhadfurnishedthehouseinthesamestyleaswhenIwasfirstbuilt.Theyalsoinstalledelectricity—Ihadn\'trealizedhowbrightthelightscouldbeorhowgloomymyroomsmusthaveappeared.Butthentheydecidedthattheoutsidebathroomwasnolongersuitablefortheirneeds,andIhadtoabandononeofthebedroomssotheycouldfitabathtubandlavatoryindoors.Theoldwellbythefrontgatewaschangedsothatwaterwasbroughtdirectlythroughundergroundpipesintothehouse.Andgraduallytheyinstalledallsortsofappliances,suchasacookerandwashingmachine.Butwewereallwarmandclean,andalthoughitwasdifferent,itwasn\'tunpleasant.不久，周围建起了更多的房子，越来越多的人住了进来。送牛奶的驾着马车来送奶，收破烂的坐在车上喊话，问我们有没有不要的旧衣服和金属废品，对这些我已经习以为常了。不过后来，一种不需要马拉的车开始从门前开过。一开始差不多是每隔一个小时能听到一阵金属声从门前响过。但是过了几年，马路上变得越来越热闹，很快就有了好几条公交线路，很多小汽车在十字路口排队等绿灯。Soonmorehouseswerebuiltandmorepeoplecametolive.Igotusedtothehorse-drawndeliveriesmadebythemilkman,ortherag-and-bonemancallingfromhiscartforoldclothandmetalthingswenolongerneeded.Butthenhorselesscarriagesstartedtopassthefrontofthehouse.Atfirstitwasnomorethanametallicnoisegoingpasteveryhourorso,butovertheyears,theroadbecamebusier,andsoontherewerelinesofbusesandcarswaitingatthecrossroads.在家里，我又开始照看另一个家庭。这家的男主人和女主人早上分别在不同的时间离开家步行下山或去等公共汽车。他们的孩子放学回来之后，自己用钥匙开门进屋，然后看上几个小时的电视，直到他们的父母回来。他们养了一只宠物狗，它整天坐在外面，时不时地狂吠、嚎叫，还在我的花园里刨坑挖土，说实话，我很讨厌它这么干。AthomeIhadanotherfamilytolookafter.Atdifferenttimesinthemorning,boththemanandthewomanleftmeandwalkeddownthehillorwaitedforthebus.Whentheirchildrencamehome,theyletthemselvesinwiththeirkey,andwatchedtelevisionforhoursuntiltheparentsreturned.Theyhadapetdogwhosatoutsideallday,barkingandhowling,ordiggingupmygarden,whichIhavetoadmitIresented.我喜欢住在我这儿的最后一个人，约瑟夫。他在家里干活，组装家具。所以我整天都能看到他，我们相依为伴。他已经上了年纪，腿脚不太灵便，走路非常慢，要用双手扶着桌椅什么的才不会摔倒，有时候还要停下来喘口气。Ilikedthelastpersonwholivedwithme.Josephworkedathomeassemblingfurniture,soIsawhimallday,andwekepteachothercompany.Hewasn\'tayoungman,andhadtroublemovingaround,walkingveryslowly,usinghishandstosteadyhimself,sometimesstoppingtocatchhisbreath.当然，我也不是以前那个样子了。我的地板开始嘎吱作响，整个晚上屋子里都会有奇怪的声音，好像闹鬼一样。每一个在我这里住过的人都留下了痕迹：墙上的记号，刻在楼梯扶栏上的姓名的首字母，关不紧的门。当然，这些都是我美好的回忆，但是我看上去已经有点破败了，我自己也感觉到了。Ofcourse,I\'mnotthehomeIusedtobeeither.Myfloorboardscreak,andghostsmakestrangenoisesthroughoutthenight.Therearesignsofeveryonewhohaslivedwithme,marksonthewalls,carvedinitialsonthebanisters,doorswhichdon\'tcloseproperly.Theyaremygoldenmemories,ofcourse,butinfact,Ilookandfeelmyage.约瑟夫已经有一阵子没在这儿住了，屋子里静悄悄的。花园里到处是腐烂的苹果和枯叶。今年没有人来摘苹果、清理树叶。前门已经从铰链上脱落了，有人在房子侧面的石墙上喷涂了几个字。虽然我很不情愿，但我不得不承认房子里面甚至积满了污垢，有的地方都长霉了。甚至附近的街区也已经和以前完全不一样了，一到晚上到处是嘈杂的音乐和喊叫声说实话，街上喧闹的车流已经让人无法忍受了。Josephhasn\'tbeenhereforawhile,andit\'sveryquiet.Thegardenisfullofdecayingapplesanddeadleaves.Noonehascollectedthemthisyear.Thefrontgatehasfallenoffitshinges,andsomeonehassprayedsomewordsonthestoneworkatthesideofthehouse.I\'mafraidtoadmitthatthere\'sevendirtandmouldinsidethehouse.Eventheneighbourhoodisn\'twhatitusedtobe,fullofloudmusicandshoutinglateatnights,andfranklythetrafficisimpossibletolivewith.今天，外面突然出现一阵骚动。一辆卡车在房子前面停了下来，从车上下来一群工人，每人都拿着口袋和其他器械。也许他们是来和我一起住的。但是从拐角传来一阵巨大的发动机的轰鸣声，声音离我越来越近。实际上，这声音听起来挺吓人的。一个装了铁球和铁链一类的东西的起重机从路的拐弯处开了过来。我真希望这个东西不要靠近我。Suddenlytoday,thereissomeexcitement.Atthefrontofthehouse,alorrystopsandagangofworkmengetout,allcarryingbagsandotherdevices.Perhapsthey\'recomingtolivewithme.Butaroundthecorner,Icanhearaveryloudenginenoisecomingcloser,andactually,it\'squitefrightening.Roundthebendcomesalargecranewithakindofballandchain.Idohopeitwillgoaway.',)