《高级英语》课文逐句翻译（17）

Lesson Four The Tragedy(悲劇) of Old Age in America By Robert N. Butler Text

美国老年的悲剧

What is it like to be old in the United States ? 在美国，老年是个什么样子？

What will our own lives be like when we are old ? 当我们自己老了以后，生活会是什么样子？

Americans find it difficult to think about old age until they are propelled into the midst of it by their own aging and that of relatives and friends .

美国人感到在他们置身于自己的老年或亲朋好友的老年之中以前要考虑老年时的状况是很困难的。

Aging is the neglected stepchild of the human life cycle . 衰老过程是人类生命周期中被忽视的非亲生儿。

Though we have begun to examine the socially taboo(忌諱) subjects of dying and death , we have leaped over that that long period of time preceding death , we have leaped over that long period of time preceding death known as old age .

虽然我们已开始研究有关临终和死亡这个为社会所忌讳的题目，但是我们却跳过了死亡来临之前、称为老年的那一段漫长的

时间。

In truth , it is easier to manage the problem of death than the problem of living as an old person .

其实对待死亡的问题比对待老年时生活的问题要更容易 Death is a dramatic one-time crisis while old age is a day-by –day and year –by –year confrontation with (對抗)powerful external and internal forces , a bittersweet coming to terms with one’s own personality and one’s life .。

死亡是富有戏剧性的一次性危机，而老年则一天天一年年都在与强大的内外力量抗争，是一种苦乐参半的逐渐适应自己的个性和生活的过程

Those of us who are not old barricade(阻止) ourselves from discussions of old age by declaring the subject morbid , boring or in poor taste .

我们之中那些未老的人阻挠我们讨论老龄问题，宣称这一话题是病态的、枯燥的、粗俗的。

Optimism (樂觀)and euphemism(委婉) are other common devices .

其他常见的回避这个问题的方法有在谈论时用乐观的词语和委婉说法。

people will speak of looking forward to their “ retirement years “ .

The elderly are described respectfully as “ senior citizens “ , “ golden agers “ , “ our elders “ , and one hears of old people who are considered inspirations and examples of how to “ age well “(不顯老) or “ gracefully “ (老而莊重).

人们会说到期待“退休年龄”的到来，老人被尊称为“年长的公民”，“金龄人”，“我们的长者”，而且人们听说有的老人在怎样能“不显老”或“老而庄重”方面成为鼓舞力量和榜样。 There is the popularly accepted opinion that Social Security and pensions provide a comfortable and reliable flow of funds so the elderly have few financial worries .

还有一个人们普遍接受的看法，说社会福利和养老金源源不断地提供宽裕的可靠的收入，因此老人很少有经济上的担忧 Medicare has lulled(麻貔) the population into reassuring itself that the once terrible financial burdens of late-life illnesses are now eradicated .

对老人的国家医疗照顾制度诱使所有的人们放心地认为，晚年疾病造成的那一度可怕的经济负担已被连根消灭了。 Advertisements and travel folders show relaxed , happy , well-dressed older people enjoying recreation (消譴), travel and their grandchildren .

广告和折页旅行指南展示了轻松快乐、衣着考究的老人享受着娱乐、旅游和儿孙之乐

If they are no longer living in the old family home , they are pictured as delighted residents of retirement communities with names like Leisure World and Sun City , with lots of grass , clean air and fun .

。。假如他们不再住在原来的家里，他们就被描绘成退休老人社区的快活的居民，这些社区有着像悠闲世界、太阳城一类的名字，绿草如茵、空气清新、其乐无穷。

This is the American ideal of the “ golden years “ toward which millions of citizens are expectantly toiling through their workdays . 这就是千百万公民辛劳地度过他们的工作日时心中期待着要实现的那个美国“金色岁月”的理想。

But this is not the full story . A second theme runs through the popular view of old age .

但这并不是全部情况。在人们对老年的流行看法中还贯穿着另一个调子，

Our colloquialisms （口語）reveal(說明) a great deal : once you are old you are “ fading fast “很快枯荽 , “ over the hill “ 走下坡路, “ out to pasture “靠邊站 , “ down the drain “徒勞無功 , “ finished “ 完蛋了, “ out of date “過時了 , an “ old crock “老廢物, “ fogy “ 老古板, “ geezer “怪老頭兒 , or “ biddy “ 長舌婆.