新标准大学英语阅读教程4长篇翻译 unit 5
(完整word版)新标准大学英语4课文翻译.doc
Unit 1 Active reading (1)大学毕业找工作的第一要义：别躺在沙发上做梦More than 650,000 students left university this summerand many have no idea about the way to get a job.How tough should a parent be to galvanize them in these financially fraught times?怎么今年夏天，超过 65 万的大学生毕业离校，其中有许多人根本不知道找工作。
在当今金融危机的背景下，做父母的该如何激励他们？In July,you looked on as your handsome21-year-old son,dressed in gown and mortarboard,proudly clutched his honours degree for his graduation photo.Those memories of forking out thousands of pounds a year so that he could eat well and go to the odd party,began to fade.Until now.七月，你看着 21 岁英俊的儿子穿上学士袍，戴上四方帽，骄傲地握着优等学士学位证书，拍毕业照。
这时，记忆中每年支付几千英镑，好让儿子吃好、能参加奇特聚会的印象开始消退。
总算熬到头了。
As the summer break comes to a close and students across the country prepare for the start of a new term,you find that your graduate son isstill spending days slumped in front of the television,broken only bytexting,Facebook and visits to the pub.This former scion of GenerationY has morphed overnight into a member of Generation Grunt.Will he everget a job?等到暑假快要结束，全国各地的学生正在为新学期做准备的时候，你发现大学毕业的儿子还歪躺在沙发上看电视。
新标准大学英语综合教程4(unit1-6)课后答案及课文翻译
Key to book4 unit1-6Unit 1Active reading (1)Looking for a job after university? First, get off the sofaReading and understandingDealing with unfamiliar words3 Match the words in the box with their definitions.1 to make progress by moving to the next stage in a series of actions or events (proceed)2 the process of changing from one situation, form or state to another (transition)3 not feeling involved with someone or something in a close or emotional way (detached)4 referring to something which will happen soon (upcoming)5 to be sitting still in a position that is not upright (slump)6 to return to a previous state or way of behaving (revert)7 to say what happened (recount)4 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 3.It isn‘t easy to make the (1) transition from a busy university student to an unemployed young adult (2) slumped on a bar stool or half watching a mindless television show, wondering if and how their career is going to (3) proceed. Many people who have experienced a long period of inactivity like this, when (4) recounting how they felt at the time, refer to the same strange psychological effect. As the days pass, they begin to feel (5) detached from any sense of pressure to go and look for a job, and tend to regard (6) upcoming interviews as if they were not very important. Typically, back at home after three or four years away, they (7) revert to old habits, start seeing old friends, and, in many cases, become dependent again on their parents.5 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. You may need to make other changes.1 I went to a mixed-ability secondary school just outside London. (comprehensive)2 I got stopped by a policeman who asked to see my driving licence. (cop)3 Have you seen this beautiful from the air view of Oxford? (aerial)4 Isabel tightly her bag as she walked down the corridor towards the office. (clutched)5 You should speak to Toby; he‘s an supporter of flexible working hours. (advocate)6 I hurt m y leg badly a couple of months ago, and it still hasn‘t got better completely. (healed)6 Answer the questions about the words.1 Is a dead-end job one with (a) exciting prospects, or (b) no future?2 Is a tricky problem (a) difficult, or (b) easy to solve?3 If an activity saps all your energy, do you feel (a) tired, or (b) more active than usual?4 Does a pushy person try to (a) persuade you to do something you don‘t want to, or (b) help you by listening to what you have to say?5 If you feel apathy, do you want to (a) change the world, or (b) stay at home and do nothing?7 Answer the questions about the phrases.1 Is fork out (a) a formal, or (b) an informal way of saying to pay for something?2 If you are in the same boat as another person, are you (a) making the same journey together, or (b) in the same difficult or unpleasant situation?3 If you feel you have come full circle, do you (a) feel you are back where you started, or (b) feel a sense of satisfaction because you have completed something?4 If someone takes a soft line, do they deal with a person (a) in a kind and sympathetic way, or (b) in a lazy way without making a decision?5 If you strike the right note about something, are you expressing yourself (a) well, or (b) badly?6 If you do something by all means, do you (a) try your best to do it, or (b) not care about it?7 If you nudge someone back into the saddle, are you encouraging them to (a) take responsibility again, or (b) take it easy?8 If you talk through a problem with someone, do you (a) examine it carefully and sensitively, or (b) refer to it quickly and then change the subject?Active reading (2)If you ask meDealing with unfamiliar words4 Match the words in the box with their definitions.1 funny or entertaining (amusing)2 used for emphasizing that something good has happened, especially because of good luck (fortunately)3 an amount of money that a person, business or country borrows, usually from a bank (loan)4 to take an amount or number from a total (deduct)5 the most exciting, impressive, or interesting part of an event (highlight)6 to show that you understand someone‘s problems (sympathize)7 needing a lot of time, ability, and energy (demanding)5 Complete the conversation with the correct form of the words in Activity 4.A After three years at university, I‘m now quite heavily in debt.B I (1) sympathize with you, I know what it‘s like to have financial problems. But (2) fortunately I didn‘t need to take out a student (3) loan when I was at university, because I had a part-time job.A What did you do?B I worked in a restaurant at weekends.A That must have been very (4) demanding.B Yes, it was. I had to get the right balance between work and study. But the other people who worked there were good fun to be with, so it was quite (5) amusing too. The (6) highlight of the weekend was always Saturday night when we worked overtime.A But I don‘t expect you made a lot of money?B No, there wasn‘t much after they‘d (7) deducted tax and pension contributions. But it was enough to keep me going.6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box. You may need to make other changes.1 When I was at college I kept all my personal things in an old cupboard.2 A lot of people who leave university before getting a degree end up in good jobs.3 I think she‘ll get a good degree, but I wouldn‘t risk my money on the exact result.4 The money I spent at college was more than what I earned in my part-time job.5 The chances of my being offered a job after that interview must be quite remote.6 Our business has done very well since we changed our advertising.7 I think telling the truth and not cheating is always the best policy.Key:(1) belongings (2) dropouts (3) gamble (4) exceeded (5) odds(6) has thrived (7) honesty7 Answer the questions about the words and expressions.1 If something is not all it’s cracked up to be, is it (a) valid and interesting, or (b) just a little bit disappointing?2 If someone keeps banging on about something, are you likely to be (a) interested in, or (b) bored by what they say?3 If there is a lot of hassle in your life, are you likely to feel (a) stressed, or (b) relaxed?4 If something happens out of the blue, is it (a) unexpected, or (b) part of your plan?5 If you say you ended up in a particular job, do you suggest that (a) you have fulfilled your ambition, or (b) it happened almost by chance?6 Are the regulars in a pub (a) the customers who come very often, or (b) the food the pub offers most often?7 If something is dead easy, is it (a) very easy, or (b) not easy at all?8 If you treat someone to something, do you (a) buy something nice for them, or (b) behave badly to them?9 If you cheer a place up, do you (a) make the place look brighter, or (b) make the people in the place happier?Reading and interpreting8 Look at the sentences from the passage and identify the style features.1 Twelve years at school and three years at university, teachers banging on about opportunities in the big wide world beyond our sheltered life as students, and what do I find?This shows the informality of an incomplete sentence in the first part, the use of an informal expression (banging on) and a rhetorical question to the reader (What do I find?)2 Try as I might to stay cheerful, all I ever get is hassle, sometimes with people (especially boys, god, when will they grow up?) …This has the use of an informal word (hassle), an informal exclamation (god) and a question to the reader (When will they grow up?)3 Actually, I had my eye on the course at the London School of Economics (LSE).Here there is a discourse marker typical of speech (Actually) and an informal phrase (had my eye on).4 I kind of understand it, and not just because my degree is in economics.Here ―kind of‖ is a sort of discourse marker of informal speech (showing something is general, vague or not definite).5 I wanted something in finance and investments, because you know, maybe with a job like that, Icould use my degree.This has a discourse marker of informal speech (you know).6 ... it‘s true, he really did seem to have three hands.Again here is a discourse marker of informal speech (it‘s true).7 I talked to him about ... well, about pretty well everything …This has another discourse marker of informal speech (well) and an informal phrase (pretty well). Language in useword formation: compound nouns1 Write the compound nouns which mean:1 a degree which is awarded a first class (a first-class degree)2 work in a hospital (hospital work)3 a ticket for a plane journey (a plane ticket)4 a discount for students (a student discount)5 a pass which allows you to travel on buses (a bus pass)6 a room where an interview is held (an interview room)7 a period spent in training (a training period)word formation: noun phrases2 Write the noun phrases which mean:1 a career which is rewarding from the financial point of view (a financially rewarding career)2 legislation which has been introduced recently (recently introduced legislation)3 instructions which are more complex than usual (unusually complex instructions)4 an institution which is orientated towards academic (academically orientated work)5 work which makes physical demands on you (physically demanding work)6 information which has the potential to be important (potentially important information)7 candidates who have been selected after a careful procedure (carefully selected candidates)8 a coursebook in which everything has been planned beautifully (a beautifully planned textbook)try as … might3 Rewrite the sent ences using try as … might .1 I‘m trying to fill this last page, but I just can‘t think of anything.Try as I might to fill this last page, I just can‘t think of anything.2 I try to be friendly with Marta, but she doesn‘t seem to respond.Try as I might to be friendly with Marta, she doesn‘t seem to respond.3 I try hard to get to sleep, but I can‘t help thinking about my family.Try as I might to get to sleep, I can‘t help thinking about my family.4 He just doesn‘t seem to get the promotion he deserves, even though he keeps trying.Try as he might, he just doesn‘t seem to get the promotion he deserves. / Try as he might to get the promotion he deserves, he just doesn‘t seem to get it.5 I keep trying to remember her name, but my mind is a blank.Try as I might to remember her name, my mind is a blank.given that …4 Rewrite the sentences using given that …1 Since I know several languages, I thought I would look for work abroad.Given that I know several languages, I thought I would look for work abroad.2 Xiao Li has the best qualifications, so she should get the job.Given that Xiao Li has the best qualifications, she should get the job.3 Since we‘re all here, I think it would be a good idea to get down to some work.Given that we‘re all here, I think it would be a good idea to get down to some work.4 Since it‘s rather late, I think we should leave this last task until tomorrow.Given that it‘s rather late, I think we should leave this last task until tomorrow.clauses introduced by than5 Rewrite the sentences using clauses introduced by than .1 She‘s experienced at giving advice. I‘m more experienced.She‘s less experienced at giving advice than I am. / I‘m more experienced at giving advice than she is.2 You eat too much chocolate. It isn‘t good fo r you.You eat too much chocolate than is good for you.3 She worked very hard. Most part-timers don‘t work so hard.She worked harder than most part-timers do.4 You have arrived late too many times. That isn‘t acceptable.You have arrived late more times than is acceptable.5 I don‘t think you should have given so much personal information. It isn‘t wise.I think you have given more personal information than is wise.collocations6 Read the explanations of the words. Answer the questions.1 highlight A highlight is the most exciting, impressive, or interesting part of an event.(a) What would you like to be the highlight of your career?I would like the highlight of my student career to be to receive a national award for the best student research project.(b) How can you highlight an important sentence in a text?You can underline it in pencil or pen or you can use coloured pens or highlighters.(c) What are the edited highlights of a football match?The highlights are when someone scores a goal or prevents one from being scored.2 loan A loan is an amount of money someone borrows from someone else.(a) Have you ever taken out a loan?No, I haven‘t. But my parents have taken out several loans to buy kitchen equipment.(b) What is the best way to pay off a loan?It is best to pay a loan off quickly, although you will still have to pay some interest.(c) If you have a library book on loan, what do you have to do with it?You have to return it before the date it is due, otherwise you may have to pay a fine.3 thrive To thrive means to be very successful, happy or healthy.(a) What sort of business thrives best in your part of the country?In my part of the country, light industries and electronics companies thrive.(b) Which sort of plants thrive in a hot climate?In a hot climate you can see tropical fruit and vegetables thrive and also tropical plants and trees. (c) Why do you think some couples thrive on conflict?It is difficult to understand why some couples thrive on conflict. Maybe each one wants to compete with the other or maybe they enjoy ―kissing and making up‖ after the conflict.7 Translate the paragraphs into Chinese.If you ask me, real life is not all it‘s cracked up to be. Twelve years at school and three years at university, teachers banging on about opportunities in the big wide world beyond our sheltered life as students, and what do I find?Try as I might to stay cheerful, all I ever get is hassle, sometimes with people (especially boys, god, when will they grow up?), but mostly with money. I t‘s just so expensive out here! Everyone wants a slice off you. The Inland Revenue wants to deduct income tax, the bank manager wants repayments on my student loan, the landlord wants the rent, gas, water, electricity and my mobile bills keep coming in, an d all that‘s before I‘ve had anything to eat. And then some bright spark calls me out of the blue, asking if I‘m interested in buying a pension. At this rate, I won‘t even last till the end of the year, let alone till I‘m 60.（☞翻译时可以根据上下文增译，即增加原文暗含了但没有直接表达出来的意思。
大学英语新标准4原文翻译
大学英语新标准4原文翻译大学英语新标准4原文翻译。
Unit 1。
Part I。
Text A。
The Dangers of Overwork。
现代社会，人们的工作压力越来越大，许多人都陷入了过度劳累的状态。
然而，过度劳累对健康的危害是巨大的。
首先，长时间的工作会导致身体疲劳，影响身体各个系统的正常运转。
其次，过度劳累还会增加患疾病的风险，比如心脏病、高血压等。
此外，长期过度劳累还会影响人的心理健康，导致焦虑、抑郁等问题。
因此，我们应该重视自己的健康，合理安排工作和休息时间，避免过度劳累。
Part II。
Text B。
The Importance of Sleep。
睡眠对于人的健康至关重要。
充足的睡眠可以帮助人们恢复体力，保持身体健康。
睡眠不足会导致身体疲劳，影响工作和学习效率。
此外，睡眠不足还会影响人的心理健康，导致情绪不稳定、注意力不集中等问题。
因此，我们应该重视睡眠，保持良好的作息习惯，保证每天充足的睡眠时间。
Unit 2。
Part I。
Text A。
The Benefits of Exercise。
适当的运动对于身体健康有很多好处。
首先，运动可以帮助人们保持身体健康，增强体质。
其次，运动还可以帮助人们减轻压力，缓解焦虑和抑郁情绪。
此外，运动还可以帮助人们保持良好的体型，提高自信心。
因此，我们应该每天保持适当的运动量，让运动成为生活的一部分。
Part II。
Text B。
The Importance of a Balanced Diet。
饮食对于人的健康同样至关重要。
均衡的饮食可以帮助人们摄取各种营养物质，保持身体健康。
过度饮食会导致肥胖，增加患疾病的风险。
此外，不良的饮食习惯还会导致营养不良，影响身体健康。
因此，我们应该保持均衡的饮食，多吃蔬菜水果，少吃油腻食物和高糖食品。
Unit 3。
Part I。
Text A。
The Importance of Time Management。
时间管理对于大学生来说至关重要。
新标准大学英语综合教程4课后翻译及课文翻译
Unit 11. If you ask me, real life is not all it’s cracked up to be. Twelve years at school and three years at university, teachers banging on about opportunities in the big wide world beyond our sheltered life as students, and what do I find?Try as I might to stay cheerful, all I ever get is hassle, sometimes with people (especially boys, god, when will they grow up?), but mostly with money. It’s just so expensive out here! Everyone wants a slice off you. The Inland Revenue wants to deduct income tax, the bank manager wants repayments on my student loan,the landlord wants the rent, gas, water, electricity and my mobile bills keep coming in, and all that’s before I’ve had anything to eat. And then some bright spark calls me out of the blue, asking if I’m interested in buying a pension. And this rate, I won’t even last till the end of the year, let alone till I’m 60.依我看，现实生活并没有人们想象的那么美好。
新标准大学英语综合教程4第二版unit1-6课文翻译及课后翻译
英语翻译Unit one Nine to fivepassage1 大学毕业找工作的第一要义：别躺在沙发上做梦今年夏天，超过65 万的大学生毕业离校，其中有许多人根本不知道怎么找工作。
在当今金融危机的背景下，做父母的该如何激励他们？1 七月，你看着英俊的21岁的儿子穿上学士袍，戴上四方帽，骄傲地握着大学荣誉学位证书，拍毕业照。
这时，记忆中每年支付几千英镑，好让儿子吃好、并能偶尔参加聚会的记忆开始消退。
但现在，你又不得不再考虑钱的问题。
2 等到暑假快要结束，全国各地的学生正在为新学期做准备的时候，你却发现大学毕业的儿子还歪躺在沙发上看电视。
除此之外，他只是偶尔发发短信，浏览社交网站Facebook，或者去酒吧喝酒。
这位属于“千禧一代”的年轻人一夜之间变成了“抱怨一代”的成员。
他能找到工作吗？3 这就是成千上万家庭所面临的状况：今年夏天，超过65万的大学生毕业，在当今金融危机的背景下，他们中的大多数人不知道自己下一步该做什么。
父母只会唠叨，而儿女们则毫无缘由地变成了叛逆者。
他们知道自己该找份工作，但却不知道如何去找。
4 来自米德尔塞克斯郡的杰克·古德温今年夏天从诺丁汉大学政治学系毕业，获得二级一等荣誉学士学位。
他走进大学就业服务中心，但又径直走了出来，因为他看见很多人在那里排长队。
跟他一起住的另外5个男孩子也都跟他一样，进去又出来了。
找工作的压力不大，虽然他所认识的大多数女生都有更明确的计划。
5 他说：“我申请政治学研究工作，但被拒绝了。
他们给的年薪是1.8万镑，交完房租后所剩无几，也就够买一罐豆子，可他们还要有工作经历或硕士学位的人。
然后我又申请参加快速晋升人才培养计划，并通过了笔试。
但在面试时，他们说我‘太冷漠’了，谈吐‘太像专家政治论者’。
我觉得自己不可能那样，但我显然就是那样的。
”6 打那以后，他整个夏天都在“隐身”。
他能够轻松地复述出电视剧《交通警察》中的若干片段。
他白天看电视的时间太长，已经到了影响健康的地步。
新标准大学英语综合教程4第二版unit1-6课文翻译及课后翻译
英语翻译Unit one Nine to fivepassage1 大学毕业找工作的第一要义：别躺在沙发上做梦今年夏天，超过65 万的大学生毕业离校，其中有许多人根本不知道怎么找工作。
在当今金融危机的背景下，做父母的该如何激励他们？1 七月，你看着英俊的21岁的儿子穿上学士袍，戴上四方帽，骄傲地握着大学荣誉学位证书，拍毕业照。
这时，记忆中每年支付几千英镑，好让儿子吃好、并能偶尔参加聚会的记忆开始消退。
但现在，你又不得不再考虑钱的问题。
2 等到暑假快要结束，全国各地的学生正在为新学期做准备的时候，你却发现大学毕业的儿子还歪躺在沙发上看电视。
除此之外，他只是偶尔发发短信，浏览社交网站Facebook，或者去酒吧喝酒。
这位属于“千禧一代”的年轻人一夜之间变成了“抱怨一代”的成员。
他能找到工作吗？3 这就是成千上万家庭所面临的状况：今年夏天，超过65万的大学生毕业，在当今金融危机的背景下，他们中的大多数人不知道自己下一步该做什么。
父母只会唠叨，而儿女们则毫无缘由地变成了叛逆者。
他们知道自己该找份工作，但却不知道如何去找。
4 来自米德尔塞克斯郡的杰克·古德温今年夏天从诺丁汉大学政治学系毕业，获得二级一等荣誉学士学位。
他走进大学就业服务中心，但又径直走了出来，因为他看见很多人在那里排长队。
跟他一起住的另外5个男孩子也都跟他一样，进去又出来了。
找工作的压力不大，虽然他所认识的大多数女生都有更明确的计划。
5 他说：“我申请政治学研究工作，但被拒绝了。
他们给的年薪是1.8万镑，交完房租后所剩无几，也就够买一罐豆子，可他们还要有工作经历或硕士学位的人。
然后我又申请参加快速晋升人才培养计划，并通过了笔试。
但在面试时，他们说我‘太冷漠’了，谈吐‘太像专家政治论者’。
我觉得自己不可能那样，但我显然就是那样的。
”6 打那以后，他整个夏天都在“隐身”。
他能够轻松地复述出电视剧《交通警察》中的若干片段。
他白天看电视的时间太长，已经到了影响健康的地步。
全新版大学英语（第二版）综合教程四Unit5AFriendinNeed参考译文
全新版大学英语(第二版)综合教程_第四册_Uni t 5 Never Judgeby Appearances——A Friend in NeedA Friend in Need（by Somerset Maugha m）For thirty yearsnow I have been studyi ng my fellow men. I do not know very much aboutthem. I shrugmy should ers when people tell me that theirfirstimpres sions of a person are always right. I thinkthey must have smallinsigh t or greatvanity. For my own part I find that the longer I know people the more they puzzle me.我阅人至今已经有三十年之久。
我不大了解他们。
人家对我说他们对一个人的初次印象一准不会错的时候，我耸耸肩。
我认为他们必然眼力颇浅，或者自负过高。
就我来说，我发现自己认得越久的人，他们越使我迷惑不解。
//我最老的朋友们，恰恰是我可以说一点也不了解的人。
Thesereflec tions have occurr ed to me becaus e I read in this mornin g's paperthat Edward Hyde Burton had died at Kobe. He was a mercha nt and he had been in busine ss in Japanfor many years. I knew him very little, but he intere stedme becaus e once he gave me a greatsurpri se. Unless I had heardthe storyfrom his own lips, I should neverhave believ ed that he was capabl e of such an action. It was more startl ing becaus e both in appear anceand manner he sugges ted a very defini te type. Here if ever was a man all of a piece. He was a tiny little fellow, not much more than five feet four in height, and very slende r, with whitehair, a red face much wrinkl ed, and blue eyes. I suppos e he was aboutsixtywhen I knew him. He was always neatly and quietl y dresse d in accord ancewith his age and statio n.我产生这些想法是因为看到今天早晨报纸上登载爱德华·海德·勃吞在神户逝世的消息。
新标准大学英语综合教程4教师用书unit5课文翻译
新标准大学英语综合教程4教师用书unit5课文翻译Unit5Translation of the passagesActive reading (1)英国人说闲话规则的性别差异与普遍的看法相反，研究人员发现：男人和女人一样爱说闲话。
英国的一项研究发现：两个性别的人对诸如人际关系这类的社会话题所花的时间一样多，大约是65%；另一项研究则表明：两性差异很小，男人谈话时有55% 的时间在说闲话，女人说闲话的时间是67%。
由于体育和休闲大约占10% 的说话时间，所以很可能是谈论足球的时间导致了这种性别的差异。
男人谈论政治、职业、艺术及文化事务等‚重要‛或‚高雅‛话题的可能性并不比女人高，除非女人在场（这就形成了强烈的对比）。
女人不在场的时候，男人也说闲话，他们谈论职业和政治等社会问题的时间不会超过5%。
男女都在场时，为了引起女人的注意，男人谈论‚高雅‛话题的时间会大大增加，达到15% 至20%。
事实上，最近的研究表明，男性和女性说闲话在内容上只存在一个重要的差别：男人会花更多的时间谈论自己。
在谈论社会关系的总时间中，男人用了三分之二的时间来谈论自己的关系，而女人谈论自己的时间则只占三分之一。
即便如此，那个关于男人讨论‚解决世界上问题‛而女人只是躲在厨房里闲言碎语的神话仍然大行其道，尤其是在男人堆里。
在我所调查的人群及面谈中，大多数英国男性刚开始时都声称他们不说闲话，而大多数女性都坦承自己说闲话。
在接下来的提问中，我发现两者的差别只在于语义层面而非实践层面：女性通常称为‚说闲话‛的活动在男性那里被定义为‚信息交流‛。
显然，在英国男性眼里说闲话是一件可耻的事情，这条不成文的规则已经深入人心，因此就算一个人真的在说闲话，他也会把它说成是另一回事。
更重要的是，它必须听起来像是在说别的事。
在研究中我发现男女说闲话的主要区别在于女人说闲话听起来更像闲言碎语。
这涉及到三个主要因素——音调规则、细节规则和反馈规则。
语调规则我面谈过的英国女人都认为只有某种特别的语调适合于说闲话。
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Unit 5 不要孩子
在雅典市中心繁华的柯诺那基广场的时尚的初音岛咖啡店里,三十多岁或四十出头的希腊语专业人员沉浸在冰卡布奇诺咖啡里,过奢侈的生活. 他们最喜欢谈论的话题是,当然,关系：男子不愿承诺,女性的独立,何时有孩子,或者说,逐渐是否有他们所有. “随着时间的推移,我有一个孩子的机会越来越小,37岁的行政助理美联社新闻社说.“但我不会只是因为要一个孩子而嫁给任何人.”她热爱她的工作,并从她那些紧密团结、志同道合的朋友那里得到她的社会支持,对于希腊年轻人来说,这些朋友渐渐充当了家人的角色.“如果在45岁,我仍然膝下无子,我会考虑要一个自己的孩子,”她说.但这并不意味着她个人成就取决于它.
在几十年前,Petropoulou和她的朋友们可能已经被认为是,嗯,奇怪的. 希腊被称为欧洲最传统的社会,在那里东正教的对于结婚和繁衍的严格戒律当道..强大的社会和宗教禁忌的标记是像不能怀孕的老处女一样的妇女无子,和对中年男子性偏好单一的怀疑. 渐渐地,在一代人期间,由于诸多因素,包括女性接受更好的教育和就业选择以及希腊融入欧盟的主流文化,那种严格的社会限制基本上已经消失了.结果是：结婚率低于欧盟的平均水平,并在每名妇女生育平均为1.3,是世界上最低的生育率. 这样的年轻希腊人,如果时间恰当拥有孩子是不错的.但他们肯定不是必不可少的.
在希腊,和世界上大部分地区,在激增的人口数下,有孩子们不再是一
个想当然的事情. “在许多社会里从未有过无子女的女性和男性是合法的现象.”,研究在伦敦经济学院研究此现象的凯瑟琳哈基姆说.在像瑞士和新加坡、加拿大和韩国这类迥异国度中发生了急剧的社会变迁,年轻人把生育推迟到30好几,甚至到40多岁或更大的年龄,以此来延续他们不受子女拖累的成年期.
根本没有孩子的群体越来越大.在德国西部,在受过大学教育的妇女中终身无子女已经达到30％,这个数据也在低等阶层的男性中迅速上升.在英国,无子女的妇女人数在20年增加了一倍.在日本一个出生率令人沮丧的地区,每1.25妇女代表,30岁的妇女仍然膝下无子的记录从1985年的24％增加到56％. “她们做母亲与否决定着日本的未来.”日本国立人口研究所的美穗说.
无子女的趋势也催生了新的文化.在英国,有一个渐渐庞大的图书市场,如“Child-Free and Loving It,”,记者Nicki Defago说,她写这本书是为了“让妇女了解她们对于孩子的抵触感是完全正常的.”N新的无子女支持团体如雨后春笋般涌现,从Vancouver-based No Kidding到英国的Childfree Association.在日本,这种推迟生育或不生育的趋势导致了一系列产品的问世,如床上用品供应商Kameo生产的“男友臂枕”,并为空前的养宠物热推波助澜. 利用在日本年轻人中间地位日益提高的
这些“baby-substitutes ”,本田现在正在设计让狗的板条箱取代儿童座椅的汽车,甚至创造了一个放置哈巴狗的地方.
在澳大利亚,房地产开发商和代理商都集中在了增长最快的无子女家庭类型.这些无子女人士有着逐渐增强的购买力,操控着昂贵地区的房
地产如曼哈顿和伦敦市中心的房地产价格;最近英国的一项研究表明,如果有孩子的邻居搬来,房价将降低5%.酒店也为无子女人士提供餐饮服务,意大利的La Veduta国家度假承诺,“你的托斯卡纳度假不会被儿童的呼声破坏.”在罗马,许多餐馆明确表示在某些情况下儿童不欢迎,比如有些“俱乐部”明确规定其成员必须是18岁以上.
无子女群体最新的趋势不遵循历史模式.在几个世纪以来的西欧,对于四分之一的女性保持无子女是寻常的,比今天任何国家的比率都要高.（事实上,人口学家说,这是家庭幸福的20世纪50年代和60年代,无视历史的常态）,但是,人们在过去未生育通常是贫困或者社会动荡使然,或者是战争年代缺少男人的缘故；最多也只有3%的夫妻没有生育能力.今天对于要孩子与否是好多复杂因素相结合的结果,包括关系,职业机会,生活方式和经济组合等.
.新型的正常的无子女群体影响着社会各阶层,而不仅仅是刚刚定型的城市懒虫或DINKs（双收入无孩子）. 凯蒂霍夫曼,柏林西部的Friesack 村37岁的发型师说：“当我是一个小女孩时,我知道内心深处我不想要孩子.”生长在共产主义东德,压力来自于结婚和18岁怀孕,这符合国家下达的水平..随着柏林墙倒塌,她将能够自由选择她的生活. 她的丈夫,一个39岁的消防队员,拉斯说,他也早已对孩子漠不关心“在车站带孩子的家伙告诉我们这些无子女人士,我们应该履行我们的责任,以致德国不会灭亡,”他说. “但如果我看到今天的失业,我会说一点点[人口]萎缩不能损害什么.”
无子女家庭早已在北美和西欧的大城市变的常见,他们正在快速获得
比较传统的农村社会的接受.仅仅在几十年以前,像意大利,希腊和西班牙等南欧国家是人丁兴旺、宗族紧密团结的代名词,那些不合这种模式的人会遭到社会的摒弃.现在,这三个国家一道成为欧洲出生率最低的国家.今天接近四分之一的40岁意大利妇女仍然希望没有孩子.。