【一起听英语】何时离开家

当我们成年的时候，都会经历离开家而独自在外面闯荡，个中滋味，自己体会....

Rob: Hello I’m Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m joined today by Finn. Hi Finn.

Finn: Hi Rob.

Rob: Today we’re talking about a subject that many of us have experienced¹ – it's

living at home, particularly when we're grown up and in our twenties. Finn,

what age were you when you left home?

Finn: I was 18 and I'd just finished school, I was really, really excited to see the

world! So I left home quite young.

Rob: Well, I left home at the age of 18 too, to go to university, and I never looked

back!

Finn: Of course, not everyone leaves home when they're that young and we'll be

discussing the reasons why – and discovering why more young people in the

UK are staying at the 'hotel of mum and dad'.

Rob: Yes, we'll explain some related² vocabulary too but first I have a question for

you Finn. According to the UK's Office for National Statistics³, in 2013, what

percentage of 20 to 34 year-olds were living at home with their parents? Was

it:

a) 16%

b) 26%

c) 36%

Finn: I'll say 36%.

6 Minute English ©British Broadcasting Corporation⁴ 2014

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Rob: I'll tell you the answer later. Back to our discussion⁶ about living at home.

Residing⁷ with – or living with – your parents is not that unusual in some

countries. Economic conditions, culture, or family tradition means that some

young people stay at home until they get hitched⁸ – or get married.

Finn: Even then, it may be too expensive to rent or buy a house and the married

couple continue to live at one of their parents' homes. But living conditions

can be a bit cramped⁹.

Rob: But in the UK, it has been more common to leave home at a fairly young age

and get your own place to live – maybe sharing it with other people – like a

flatshare.

Finn: Many people may have to move to another city to take up a job – to get a job

– or they may be going to university. But all this comes at a price – there are

bills to pay, there's food to buy, plus the cost of accommodation.

Rob: That's why there has been an increase in young people living with their

parents for longer. The recent economic downturn is the biggest factor. It's

harder for them to get on the property ladder – to buy a house. But what's

it like to be 27 and still living under the same roof as mum?

Finn: Luke Sibson knows. He's 27 and still lives with his mum. What does he say is

the biggest difficulty?

Luke Sibson:

I had set plans to own a house, and a car and have a family by the time I'm 30. I'm now 27

and I'm not any closer to achieving that. There's something very difficult about being a 27-

year-old man living at home with your mum. There's something very difficult about being an

adult living in an environment where you're still a child. It limits me socially; sometimes I

feel it limits me professionally.

Finn: Oh dear, he had big plans for what he wanted by the time he was 30. But he's

still at home and finds it difficult being an adult in an environment – or a

place where you live – where you're a child.

Rob: So he feels like a child because he's being looked after and doesn't have much

independence. This limits him in what he can do socially. I suppose he can't

bring lots of friends home or leave the house in a mess! 

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Finn: He thinks it also limits him professionally – so it can affect his career. I have

to admit, living at home now would drive me mad.

Rob: Well not everyone has a choice and some might feel the benefits – the good

things – are greater than the bad things. Alberto Baragan is 29 and lives near

Madrid in Spain, a country where unemployment amongst¹⁰ the young is high.

He says home living is not all bad. Can you hear what his reasons are?

Alberto Baragan:

Basically¹¹ I don't have to wash my clothes, I don't have to make my bed, I don't have to buy

anything for me, 'cos my mum does all these things for me. You don't have to worry about

paying taxes, or paying electricity, any bills; you are living basically for free.

Finn: He says you are 'living for free' – that is quite a big incentive¹². There's

nothing to buy, no bed to make, no washing to do. You need quite a generous

and kind and generous mother or father to live like that!

Rob: Indeed. The type of parents you have may influence your decision to stay at

home too! Alberto also mentioned there were no taxes or bills to pay, which

is great if you're not earning any money.

Finn: Yes and this is of course the reality for many young people in Spain. But if you

have no choice about living at home, hopefully you at least have a good

relationship with your parents. This means accepting their virtues¹³ – their

good points – and their faults.

Rob: Yes, after all, it is their home!

Finn: Spoken like a true parent Rob!

Rob: Behave Finn, and let's see if you answered today's question correctly. I asked

you according to the UK's Office for National Statistics, in 2013, what

percentage of 20 to 34 year-olds were living at home with their parents? Was

it:

a) 16%

b) 26%

6 Minute English ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2014

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c) 36%

Finn: I said 36%.

Rob: You're wrong. The answer is 26%. That's 3.3 million adults. That's an

increase of about 25% since 1996. Well that's it for this programme. Please

join us again soon for 6 Minute English from BBC Learning⁵ English.

Both: Bye.

1 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

2 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

3 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

4 corporation   

n.公司，企业&n.社团，团体

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation. 这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• The inflation did the corporation up. 通货膨胀使这个公司破产了。

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

6 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

7 residing   

居住( reside的现在分词 )； 定居； 驻扎； 属于

参考例句：

• We same are residing inside the city quite a few years. 我们在同一个城市里居住了好几年。
• My friends now residing in America is willing to be me voucher during my stay there. 我在美国期间，居住在那里的朋友愿意为我提供担保。 来自出国英语口语25天快训

8 hitched   

（免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上

参考例句：

• They hitched a ride in a truck. 他们搭乘了一辆路过的货车。
• We hitched a ride in a truck yesterday. 我们昨天顺便搭乘了一辆卡车。

9 cramped   

a.狭窄的

参考例句：

• The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
• working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作

10 amongst   

prep.在…之中，在...之间(=among)

参考例句：

• He was sitting amongst a group of children,telling them a story.他正坐在一群孩子中间讲故事。
• You must settle the matter amongst yourselves.你们必须彼此商量，自行解决这些问题。

11 basically   

adv.基本上，从根本上说

参考例句：

• His heart is basically sound.他的心脏基本上健康。
• Basically I agree with your plan.我基本上同意你的计划。

12 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

13 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。