初阶家庭|第25集：你会为了家人放弃学业吗？

音频一：

Joe’s mother and father both have full-time jobs and Joe works part-time at a restaurant to help the family finances. Several weeks ago, Joe’s mother began feeling sharp chest pains. When she went to a doctor, he told her that she would need a heart surgery and would have to give up her job.

音频二：

This would enlarge medical expenses and lose almost half the family income. Joe’s father wants him to drop out of school and go to work full-time to help the family. He doesn’t know what to do.

音频三：

He speaks to his girlfriend Maria who urges him to remain in school since withdrawing now would place his entire future in danger. He also speaks to his cousin Carol, who tells him that his first duty is to help his family get through the difficult times.

重点词汇：

1, finances /ˋfaɪnæns/ n. 【复数】〔机构或个人的〕财务情况

company’s finances 公司财务

personal finances 个人财务

2, sharp /ʃɑrp/ adj. 剧烈的；锋利的；急剧的

sharp pain 剧痛

sharp knife 锋利的刀

sharp fall 急剧下降

3, chest pain 胸痛

4, heart surgery 心脏外科手术

5, enlarge /ɪnˋlɑrdʒ/ v. (使)增大，扩大

6, drop out of school 退学

7, urge /ɜːdʒ/ v. 竭力主张；强烈要求；敦促

8, withdraw /wɪðˋdrɔ/ v. （使）退出〔活动、组织等〕

9, place /pleɪs/ v. 使处于〔某种境地〕

同义替换：put

跟读训练：

一、

Joe’s mother and father both have full-time jobs,

乔的母亲和父亲都有全职工作，

and Joe works part-time at a restaurant to help the family finances.

乔在一家餐馆做兼职，以帮助家庭财务。

Several weeks ago, Joe’s mother began feeling sharp chest pains.

几个星期前，乔的母亲开始感到剧烈的胸痛。

When she went to a doctor, he told her that she would need a heart surgery and would have to give up her job.

当她去看医生的时候，医生告诉她，她需要做心脏手术，而且必须放弃她的工作。

二、

This would enlarge medical expenses and lose almost half the family income.

这将增大医疗费用，使家庭收入减少近一半。

Joe’s father wants him to drop out of school

乔的父亲想让他退学

and go to work full-time to help the family.

做全职工作来帮助这个家庭。

He doesn’t know what to do.

他不知道该怎么办。

三、

He speaks to his girlfriend Maria who urges him to remain in school

他告诉女友玛利亚，玛利亚强烈他要求留在学校。

since withdrawing now would place his entire future in danger.

因为现在退学，会使他的未来一片渺茫。

He also speaks to his cousin Carol, who tells him that his first duty is to help his family get through the difficult times.

他还跟他的表姐卡罗尔聊，卡罗尔告诉他，他的首要任务是帮助他的家人度过艰难时期。

背景拓展：

一项最新调查发现，美国80%的大学生正在做兼职或全职工作，每周平均工作近20个小时，以支付日渐高涨的大学费用。校内打工是相对容易获得机会的。常见职位有这些：

1）健身房助理 Gym assistant on campus

这份兼职需要如期完成多项工作的能力，特别是涉及到场地预订、名册登记、活动宣传、满意度调查，以及辅助校队训练和体育赛事。

2）宿监 Resident Assistant（简称RA)

RA要主持楼层会议、整顿纪律，不时还要调停纠纷。

3）校园导游 campus tour guide

这份工作需要口齿伶俐，对学校各方面有充分了解，也有热情分享大学生活体验

4）教学助理 teaching assistant/实验室助理 laboratory assistant

这份兼职需要课业成绩突出，能帮助老师批改作业，进行课程辅导，或参与学校的实验教学和实验研究。