Adult children（在线收听） |
| A 20 year old man in Italy has taken his father to court for money so that he can continue to live at home with his mother and study for a new career. But at 20, are we too old to expect our parents to be responsible for us? 意大利一个20岁的年轻人起诉自己的父亲，向父亲索要钱财，这样他就可以和母亲呆在家里同时研究自己的新事业。但是20岁了。我们还能期盼父母为我们负责吗？ Adult children （成年子女） Yvonne: Hello, this is '6 minute English' - I'm Yvonne Archer… Callum: And I'm Callum Robertson. Yvonne: Hi Callum - and thanks for joining me! In today's programme, we've got an interesting case from Italy and it makes us think about the question of – well, when as an adult, should you stop depending on your parents -financially? Callum: Hmmm… Yvonne:But let me ask you this: when did you stop depending on your parents? Callum: Well I suppose, financially, it would be when I got my first job and gradually became less financially dependent. So I suppose, when I was about 19 -20 when I could make my own way. Yvonne:Well we're going to hear more about that topic, obviously, but first, the big question. Are you ready Callum? Callum: Oh – yes, another one of your tricky questions. Yvonne: Yes, but you usually get them right; let's see how you do. A 12 year old boy in the United States was the first to divorce his parents – but when did that happen? Was it in a) 1992 b) 1998 –or c) 2001? Callum: Oh – now I remember this – I remember this, but, I can't remember when it was. I'm going to plump for（投票选出） 1998. Yvonne:Good choice, but as usual we'll have to wait until the end of the programme to find out. Now today's report – we're going back to that question about adults who are still financially dependent on their parents. As we listen to the report, we'll come across the term 'expenses incurred'. Callum, can you explain that for us please? Callum: If you 'incur expenses' – you do something which costs money. So for example, going to work usually incurs（招致，蒙受，遭遇） travel expenses – so that's the price of your bus fare, your petrol or your train ticket. Yvonne:And what about the words 'pursue（追捕，追求）' and 'aspirations'? Callum: Well, if you 'pursue an aspiration' – you follow a dream to do something. So for example, if you pursue an aspiration to be an English teacher – then you work hard, you study and you train to become an English teacher. Yvonne:Lovely. In today's report from the BBC's Emma Wallis, we hear about a court case – a legal case. A man was taken to the highest court in Italy because he didn't want to 'pay maintenance（生活费用）' – to give money to support his twenty year old son, David. As we listen, try to find out who wins the court case; is it David or his father? EMMA WALLIS The court ruled that David, who still lives with his mother, should carry on receiving three-hundred euros a month from his separated father, as well as half of any extra expenses he incurred. The reason; Italian law believes that 'children' have the right, even as adults, to pursue their dreams and aspirations. Yvonne:Callum, who won the court case – was it David or his father? Callum: Well it was David who won the court case. The court ruled – or the court ordered his father to continue paying David money so that he can pursue his dream. Yvonne:And the ruling came from the highest court in Italy, so David's father will just have to pay up! Now David is twenty years old. Is he too old to live with his mum and get money from his dad as well? What do you think Callum? Callum: I think it's difficult – different countries have different cultures. So, ummm – the court has ruled and I don't have a better opinion than the court. Yvonne:Now in the next part of Emma Wallis' report, we'll hear about David's dreams and aspirations are. But first, a little help with the language we'll come across: Callum, what does 'to quit a job' mean? Callum: Oh, if you leave your job you 'quit' your job. You don't want to do it any more – you quit. Yvonne:And what about 'to set a precedent（先例，前例）'? Callum: Oh, that's a legal term – 'to set a precedent'. It's when a law is given for the first time and from then on, in future cases, it can be referred to. They can say, well this happened in this case, so we can use that same law in this case. Yvonne:Okay – here's Emma Wallis again… EMMA WALLIS David's mother said that David had quit his job to enrol on a course, training to become a hairdresser. Until he's able to maintain himself economically, David's father, according to the court, which has set a precedent for all future cases, will have to keep David in the manner to which he's become accustomed.（习惯了的） Yvonne: So David's left his job to learn how to become a hairdresser. And while he's training, he wants money from his father so that he won't have to change the way he's always lived. And the phrase we heard there was? Callum: The money is needed 'to keep David in the manner to which he's become accustomed' – to continue with the way of life he's now used to. Yvonne:Right and so David's a lucky man really, isn't he? But do you think that we're always children in the eyes of our parents? Callum: Oh yes, absolutely. I don't think it matters. However old you are, you are still your parents' child. Yes, absolutely. Yvonne:Now Callum – today's big question was: a 12 year old boy in the United States was the first to divorce his parents – but when did that happen? And you said… Callum: 1998? Yvonne: Ah – you're right… no, you're wrong. It was 1992 - Callum: Ah – that long ago? Yvonne: It was. And it was a young boy who actually terminated（终止） his mother's rights to him so she couldn't visit with him – she didn't have any legal rights over him any more. And that was way back in 1992. Callum: Oh, what a sad case. Yvonne: Quite sad indeed. But that's all we've got time for today! (本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑) |
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