Avsnitt
-
Self-Esteem and Luxury Goods
According to a study, lowself-esteem is a big factor in whether a person will buy luxury goods that hemay not be able to afford.
For consumers trapped ininstitutionalized poverty or those living paycheck to paycheck, a luxury goodcan go a long way in increasing self-esteem or providing a sense of belonging.
A sense ofaccomplishment is yet another reason why some people buy luxury goods. Theywant to reward themselves for their hard work by treating themselves tosomething they typically can't afford.
institutionalized(adj) 体制化的
poverty (n) 贫穷
livepaycheck to paycheck 日子拮据、月光族
go along way 大有帮助、大有好处
-
The Irrational Consumer
It’s well known that people don’t behave rationally, and considering the enormous consumer debt Americans have, consumers clearly don’t always act in their best financial interests.
Luxury goods are a great example of how irrational we can be; a decent and sturdy handbag can be purchased for $50, yet people will still spend thousands to buy a brand name.
It's always been this way and consumers' desire to own the finer things in life will likely never change.
rational (adj) 理性的
enormous (adj) 巨大的
sturdy (adj) 结实的
brand name 品牌、名牌
-
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Taking on new challenges makes yo better on paper
Changing jobs at least once every four years can make your resume more attractive to employers for several reasons. For one, it says, ‘I’m willing to try new things and not get too comfortable.
But staying at the same job for a long while can make your resume look stagnant and give employers the impression that you lack drive and don’t enjoy learning new things.
Candidates who have not changed jobs in a decade or more run the risk of being considered stuck and afraid of change, and perhaps even‘wedded to the company.'
take on 承担、接受
stagnant （adj） 停滞不前的、无发展的
drive （n） 干劲、冲劲
run the riskof… 冒着。。。的风险
stuck（adj） 困住
bewedded to… 献身于。。。
-
Whystay?
In fact, staying for ten years or more on a job can be a positive thing, if you've gained seniority and leadership opportunities and have more say in the company.
It might say to potential employers that you're dependable and loyal.
A worker who constantly switches jobs or starts new ventures may have difficulty getting jobs in the future, because employers have to invest resources to train a worker, and that investment is lost if the worker leaves the company.
seniority (n) 资历、级别高
say (n) 发言权
venture (n) 冒险项目、公司
-
Kids Aren't So Great For Your Relationship
Many couples think that having kids will bring them closer, enhance their relationship and make it stronger, because they now get to bond over a little person that they created.
But the facts don't exactly back this line of thinking up. As Dr. Ellen Walker explained in Psychology Today, “Marital satisfaction rates actually plummet after the birth of the first child."
Accordingto a study, 70 percent of couples experience a“significant slump” in the quality of their relationship within the first three years of the birth of their first child.
This can be due to sleeplessness, unrealistic expectations, and the fact that clashing ideas about how to raise a child can sometimes drive a couple apart.
enhance(v) 提高、增进
over (prep) 由于
back…up 支持
marital (adj) 婚姻的
plummet(v) 暴跌
slump (n) 骤降
clashing (adj) 冲突的
apart (adv) 分开
-
To Carry on the Family Name and Values
There are plenty of people out there who want to carry on the family name and the family values.
Of course, this tends to apply to the father's family name, but the point is that many prospective parents want to continue the historic family lineage.
They find joy in knowing that their child will bear their last name and keep the family going. Again, this is all based around societal customs.
prospective(adj) 可能成为的
lineage (n) 家系、家族
bear (v) 持有、带有
-
Cost of Living
The higher cost of living is the first disadvantage that people typically think of when considering moving to a city.
Major cities always have a higher cost of living than the surrounding suburbs, and cities like San Francisco and New York routinely have the highest costs of living inthe U.S.
Normal living expenses such as rent and utilities tend to be higher in big cities and you may have additional living expenses you wouldn’t have in the suburbs such as parking permits and laundry.
Food, drinks, tobacco products, and gasoline are also more expensive in major cities.
routinely (adv) 毫不意外地
utility(n) 公共事业
permit (n) 许可证
laundry (n) 洗衣店、洗衣房
tobacco(n) 烟草
-
Public Transportation
The public transportation system in major cities is a good alternative to driving yourself and dealing with the traffic and parking situation.
Cities have trains or subways, buses, and plenty of taxis and ride sharing drivers so you can get where you need to go.
Many public transportation options such as the bus and train are very affordable and free you of the hassle of driving. It is possible to live without a car in most major cities.
alternative (n)可供选择的事物
free someone of… 使某人摆脱。。。
-
Coldness and unemployment
There is no doubt that machines are much better when it comes to working efficiency but they cannot replace the human connection that makes the team. Machines cannot develop a bond with humans.
With more and more machines being designed, there will be an abrupt increase in unemployment and job insecurity. Since machines are replacing human resources, the rate of people losing their jobs will increase. Needless to say, humans will be no longer a priority for companies.
make (v) …使…变得成功
bond (n) 情感纽带
abrupt (adj) 突然的、意外的
needless to say不必说
priority (n) 优先考虑
-
They Don’t Take Rest.
One of the top benefits of using artificial intelligence in the workplace is that machines and robots can perform lengthy and important tasks in a more effective manner.
Unlike humans, machines don’t need to rest or take a break. They don’t need to eat or sleep like us and never fall ill or take leaves.
They only need to be recharged or refueled by an energy source to reach their full potential. Ultimately, this enables the companies to boost their productivity by working 24 hours.
lengthy (adj)漫长的
take leaves 休假
refuel (v) 加油、续燃料
reach fullpotential 达到最大潜能
-
Expectations
Parents have expectations of their children with everything from grades in school and how they dress to college and career choices later on.
Parental disappointment creates conflict and problems in the relationship between them and their teenagers.
It often comes across as anger, giving teenagers the feeling of rejection from the people who were once the most important figures in their lives.
parental (adj)父母的
come across 给人以。。。的印象
rejection (n) 拒绝
-
Family Conflict
When parents argue, teenagers may feel that they were somehow the cause, which can lead to alienation if the parents allow their words and actions to escalate out of control.
Teens may feel that their parents don't love each other anymore, leaving the teenagers to wonder how it will affect them.
Although arguing can be a healthy way of airing differences and working through problems, mean-spirited fighting with harsh words can leave a lasting negative impression on everyone in the family, including the teenagers.
alienation (n) 疏远
escalate (v) 恶化、升级
air (v) 使公开、宣扬
work through… 解决
mean-spirited (adj) 心胸狭窄的、小心眼的
-
Psychology as a profession
The goal of psychology is not just to study human thinking and behavior, but to put that knowledge into practice, to help people, communities, and society in general to solve day-to-day problems and improve quality of life.
Psychology is therefore also a profession,devoted to helping people and the community find solutions to real life problems such as improving mental health and wellbeing, learning, performance,relationships, and societal cohesiveness.
day-to-day (adj)日常的
bedevoted to… 致力于。。。
wellbeing (n) 康乐
societal (adj)社会的
cohesiveness (n) 凝聚力
-
Psychology as a science
As a science, psychology is the study of the human mind and its wide-ranging functions and influences.
Psychological research advances our understanding of human emotion, personality, intelligence, memory, perception, cognition, attention,and motivation, as well as the biological processes that drive these human functions and behaviors.
In essence, psychology studies individuals and groups to better understand how people, communities and societies function and ways to help them thrive.
wide-ranging (adj) 覆盖面广的
advance (v) 促进、推动
perception (n) 感知
cognition (n) 认知
In essence 本质上
thrive (v) 蓬勃发展
-
Making new friends. There are lots of shared activities for pet owners, ranging from communal walks to charitable events and other organizations that cater to animals and protecting the environment. It can be hard to meet new people, but pets are great icebreakers.
Taking care of something. Sure, you need your pet. Your pet needs you,too. The need to be useful and of value doesn't magically disappear when your career ends or your kids grow up and build their own independent lives. It isvery satisfying to take care of another living creature.
communal (adj)共享的、共有的
cater to 满足…的需求、迎合
icebreaker (n)打破僵局的事物
-
Companionship. Loneliness can become an unwelcome companion as we age and can lead to depression as well as physical problems. Dogs mold their schedule and personality to you. They are never unavailable or off duty. Smaller dogs, in particular, can easily travel.
Having a routine. The routine of caring for a pet can bring structure and purpose to daily life. Maybe you don't always want to get out of bed, but your pet wants you to. Isn't that a good thing?
companionship (n) 伙伴关系
mold (v) 使适合
off duty 不当值
routine (n) 常规
structure (n) 周密安排、体系
-
Stress Relief
Many kids find stress relief on the field. When people exercise or play sports, the brain releases chemicals that improve their moods. If your child is feeling pressure in the classroom, sports may be the answer.
Sports are also fun. Playing on a team with friends is a fun way to take a break from the pressure kids feel in school.
But trying to fit sports practice and competition into an already packed schedule can have the opposite effect, creating more stress for your child, and not leaving enough time for creative play, family time and homework.
Chemical (n) 化学物质
fit (v) 将…放进…
packed (adj) 拥挤的
-
Sportsmanship
If your child plays a team sport, he will quickly learn the art of sportsmanship, sharing credit and sharing responsibility.
Being part of ateam helps a child learn to think about doing what is best for the group as opposed to focusing only on himself.
Children on teams discover the positive feelings associated with cheering others on and feeling proud of teammates' accomplishments, as well as their own.
sportsmanship(n) 体育精神
credit (n) 功劳、赞美
be associated with… 与。。。相关
cheer…on为。。。加油
-
Public libraries are at a turning point.
The way we access and consume information has changed dramatically in the 21st century, and this presents major challenges and opportunities for public library systems across the world.
The advent of new technologies has changed some of our reading habits. But our need for shared, community-centered spaces to find information and connect with others is unlikely to change any time soon.
To survive in the digital age and stay relevant, public libraries need to be brave and innovative. They must embrace both the physical and virtual.
consume (v) 消化（信息）
advent (n) 出现、到来
digital age 数字时代
relevant (adj) 有价值、有意义的
embrace(v) 欣然接受
virtual (adj) 虚拟的
-
What is a library?
Libraries have always been at the heart of the communities they serve. They are accessible and safe spaces, providing access to huge resources of information and knowledge.
There are an estimated 315,000 public libraries in the world, 73 per cent of them in developing and transitioning countries.
The public library transcends national and cultural boundaries -- no matter where you are in the world, they are an essential part of creating and maintaining an educated and literate population.
at the heart of… 核心
transitioning (adj) 转型的
transcend (v) 超出
boundary (n) 界限
literate (adj) 有读写能力的
- Visa fler
