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1. “Please pass the turkey and dressing.” What does this simplerequest make you think about? If you are an American, you think aboutThanksgiving. A turkey dinnersymbolizes Thanksgiving forAmericans. What does ThanksgivingremindAmericansof? Their families.Thanksgiving is a family time. On this holiday, families gather to gobble upthe gobbler and stuffthemselves with stuffing. Family membersenjoywatchingparadesand football games on TV and justbeingtogether. What does “family” mean to Americans?
1、“请将火鸡与配料（dressing）递给我。”这个简单的请求令你想起什么？如果你是美国人，你会想到感恩节（Thanksgiving）。对美国人而言，火鸡大餐象征(symbolizes)感恩节。感恩节提醒了美国人哪些事情呢(remind of 提醒；使回想起)？他们的家人。感恩节是家人团聚的时间，在这个节日，家人聚在一起对着火鸡以及鸡腹中的调味材料大快朵颐（gobble up 狼吞虎咽）（gobbler 雄火鸡；and stuff 诸如此类，以及；stuffing 填料）；家人一起享受看游行、看足球比赛的电视转播以及同聚的时光（enjoy 后跟动名词作宾语）。到底家庭对于美国人的意义是什么？
2. The traditional American family is a “nuclear family.” Anuclear family refers toa husband and wife and their children. TheaverageAmerican family today has twoor three children (and maybea fewpets).In some cultures, people liveclosetotheir extended family. Several generations may evenlive together. In America,onlyin a few casesdoesmorethan one householdliveunderone roof.
2、传统的美国家庭被称为“核心家庭”。核心家庭包含了先生、太太和他们的孩子（refer to 指的是）。今日美国的一般家庭有二个或三个小孩（或者再加上几只宠物）。在一些文化里，大家庭（extended family）住在一起，甚至好几代的人同住。在美国，只有极少的情况下才会有超过一个家庭(more than one household)同住一个屋檐下。(only 引导的倒装句，助动词does置于主语more than onehousehold的前面)
3. American valuesreceivea warm welcomein the home.Many homes are runlike a democracy. Each familymember canhave a say. Asense ofequalityoftenexistsinAmerican homes. Instead offearing Momand Dad, children maythink ofthemas good friends.Husbands and wives often sharehouseholdchores. In many cases, a child can enjoy privacyin his or her own bedroom.Froman early age，children gain responsibilityin handlingmoney. They may receivea weeklyallowanceor even workpart-timejobs. Often parentsgivechildren freedomto make their owndecisions. Preschoolers choosewhatclothes to wearorwhich toys to buy. Young adults generallymake their own choices aboutwhatcareer to pursueandwhom to marry.
3、在家中，美式价值观很受欢迎(a warm welcome 热烈欢迎)。许多家庭用民主政治般的方式（like a democracy）来治理(本句使用了被动语态；run-run-runvi. 经营；运转)，家中每个人都有发言权利(have a say)，公平观念广泛存在于美国的家庭当中。孩子们不是畏惧父母，而更可能是视父母为好朋友。夫妇经常彼此共同分担家务(household chores；chore n. 家务杂事)。许多家庭的孩子在自己的卧室内享有隐私权（privacy）。孩子们在很小的时候便有理财的责任（responsibility in handling money），他们可能每个礼拜收到零用钱（allowance n. 零用钱）或是出去打工。父母常会给孩子们自己做决定（to make their own decisions不定式作定语）的自由，学龄前的孩子（preschoolers）可以自己选择穿什么衣服或买什么玩具，青年人则可自由选择职业及结婚的对象(career n. 事业；pursue vt. 追求；to pursue; tomarry是不定式作定语)。
4. Families in America,likethose in every culture,facemanyproblems. Social pressuresare breakingapartmore and more American homes.Over half of U.S. marriagesnowend in divorce.More than onein four Americanchildrenare growing upinsingle-parent homes.As a result,many people believe the American family is in trouble.
4、像其它文化一样，美国的家庭也面对许多问题。在社会的压力下，愈来愈多的美国家庭解体（本句为现在进行时态; break apart 使…分裂开）。现在，超过半数以上的婚姻（marriages）在美国以离婚结束(end indivorce; end in 以…告终；divorce n. 离婚)； 每四个小孩中（in four American children）就有超过一位(more than one)是在单亲家庭中长大的，结果是(as a result)使许多人相信美国家庭有麻烦了(be in trouble遇到麻烦；处于困境中)。
5.Even so，there is stillreason for hope.Many organizationsare working hardto strengthen families.Americans almostunanimouslybelievethatthe family is one of the mostimportant parts of life. The vast majority also feelthatthe traditional two-parent family is best for children. Theyrealizethatproblems in family lifein recent yearshave brought aboutseriousconsequences. As a result, more and more people are making their family a priority. Many women arequittingtheir jobsto stay home with theirchildren. Families are going on vacations and outings together.Husbands and wives are makingaconcentrated effortto keep their marriages solid.
5、即使如此(even so)，还是有希望。许多机构正努力帮助巩固家庭(to strengthen families不定式作目的状语)。几乎所有的美国人都(unanimously adv.全体一致地)相信家庭是生命中最重要的一部份。绝大多数人(the vast majority)也认为传统双亲式的家庭对小孩子是最好的。他们明白近年来(有in recent years出现的句子要用现在完成时态)家庭生活的问题已带来（bring about 引起；导致；带来）了许多严重的结果(consequences)。所以，愈来愈多的人将家庭视为第一优先（priority）。许多妇女辞去工作在家陪孩子((quit vt.放弃；停止；to stay homewith their children不定式作目的状语))。全家人一起度假(go on vacation去度假)或出去玩，丈夫与妻子一起集中心力使婚稳固（to keep their marriages solid 不定式作目的状语）。
6. The United Nations has declared 1994 the “International Year ofthe Family.”Not justin America，butall over the world，people recognizethe importance of strong families. How doyou strengthen the family bond? Do special things for each other. Talk to eachother. Play together. Spend time together. Oh, andone more thing:bethankful foreach other.Ifyouhave a family，every dayshould beThanksgiving.
6、联合国已宣布（declare vt.）一九九四年为国际家庭年。不止是在美国，全世界的人都明白一个稳固的家庭的重要性。你如何坚固你的家庭呢?为彼此做些特别的事情，一起聊天，一起玩，花时间在一起。喔！还有一件事情（onemore thing）：对彼此怀着感恩之心（be thankful for对…感激）。如果你有家庭，每天都应是感恩节(shouldbe 应该是)。
