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X世代和婴儿潮世代老人的独居问题(下)
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尽管越来越多的美国居民生活在较小的家庭中，但市场逐渐创造了越来越大的居住空间。
双语精读
Katy Mattingly, 52, an executive secretary, bought a house in Ypsilanti, Michigan, three years ago. It is small but offers plenty of space, with three bedrooms. The question for her, and many other single homeowners, is whether they can cash in when they get older.
52岁的执行秘书凯蒂·马丁利三年前在密歇根州伊普西兰蒂买了一套独栋房屋。房子不大，但空间充足，有三间卧室。对于她和其他许多单身房主来说，问题在于当他们变老时，房子是否可以变现。
Ms. Mattingly said she did not think she would ever be able to pay down the mortgage and build wealth. "It's implausible that I'll ever be able to retire," she said.
马丁利说，她认为自己永远无法偿还抵押贷款和积累财富。"退休对我来说并不现实。"她说。
Living solo in homes with three or more bedrooms sounds like a luxury but, experts said, it is a trend driven less by personal choice than by the nation's limited housing supply.
一个人住有三间或更多卧室的房子听起来很奢侈，但专家表示，这种趋势与其说是个人选择，不如说是由国家有限的住房供应促成的。
Because of zoning and construction limitations in many cities and towns, there is a nationwide shortage of homes below 1,400 square feet, which has driven up the cost of the smaller units that do exist, according to research from Freddie Mac.
根据房地美的研究，由于许多城镇的分区和建设限制，全国范围内1400平方英尺以下的住房短缺，从而推高了现有小户型单元房的价格。
Forty years ago, units of less than 1,400 square feet made up about 40 percent of all new home construction; today, just 7 percent of new builds are smaller homes, despite the fact that the number of single-person households has surged.
40年前，面积不到1400平方英尺的单元房占所有新建住宅的40%左右；如今，尽管一人家庭的数量激增，但新建住宅中只有7%是较小的住房。
This has made it more difficult for older Americans to downsize, as a large, aging house can often command less than what a single adult needs to establish a new, smaller home and pay for their living and health care expenses in retirement.
这使得美国老年人更难缩小住房面积，因为一所又大又老的房子的价值往往不足以让一个单身成年人建立更小的新家，并支付退休后的生活和医疗费用。
Even as more U.S. residents live in smaller households, the market has increasingly created larger living spaces.
尽管越来越多的美国居民生活在较小的家庭中，但市场逐渐创造了越来越大的居住空间。
People in this group often face the reality that "it's more expensive to get a smaller condo than the single family you're selling--and that presumes the condo exists, which may not be the case," said Jennifer Molinsky, director of the Housing an Aging Society Program at Harvard University.
这一群体经常面临这样的现实。"一套面积较小的公寓套房比你要出售的独栋住宅更贵----这是假设公寓套房存在的情况下，但实际可能并不存在。"哈佛大学老龄化社会住房项目主任詹妮弗·莫林斯基说。
And when they hold onto family-size houses well into retirement, there are fewer spacious homes placed on the market for young families, who in turn squeeze into smaller units or withstand long commutes in a search for affordable housing.
当他们退休后继续住在够整个家庭居住的大房子时，市场上提供给年轻家庭的宽敞房屋就会减少，继而年轻家庭会挤在较小的单元房中，或者忍受长时间的通勤，以寻找负担得起的住房。
"Both ends of the age distribution are getting squeezed," said Jenny Schuetz, an expert on housing and urban economics at the Brookings Institution. The constraints are especially severe for many older Black Americans, for whom the legacy of redlining and segregation has meant that homeownership has not generated as much wealth.
"年龄分布的两端都受到挤压。"布鲁金斯学会的住房和城市经济专家珍妮·舒茨说。对于许多年长的美国黑人来说，他们面临的限制尤其严重，红线和种族隔离的遗留问题意味着，拥有住房并没有产生相应多的财富。
The percentage of people living alone in large houses is highest in many low-income, historically Black neighborhoods. In those areas, many homes are owned by single, older women.
在许多低收入、长久以来为黑人居住的社区，独自居住在大房子里的人所占比例最高。在这些地区，许多房屋由单身的老年女性拥有。
词汇预习
increasingly [高考]
美[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli] | 英[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli]
adv. 逐渐地；越来越多地
despite [高考]
美[dɪˈspaɪt] | 英[dɪˈspaɪt]
prep. 尽管；不管 n. 憎恨；轻视
affordable [高考]
美[əˈfɔːrdəbl] | 英[əˈfɔːdəbl]
adj. 支付得起的；不太昂贵的
executive [高考]
美[ɪɡˈzekjətɪv] | 英[ɪɡˈzekjətɪv]
adj. 行政的；决策的；经营的；[计算机]执行指令 n. 行政主管；行政部门；决策者
distribution [高考]
美[ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃn] | 英[ˌdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃn]
n. 分发；分销，配送；（电影在各院线的）发行，上映；分配，分布
retirement [高考]
美[rɪˈtaɪərmənt] | 英[rɪˈtaɪəmənt]
n. 退休；隐匿处
luxury [高考]
美[ˈlʌkʃəri] | 英[ˈlʌkʃəri]
n. 奢侈品；奢侈；豪华
legacy [高考]
美[ˈleɡəsi] | 英[ˈleɡəsi]
n. 遗赠物；先人或过去遗留下来的东西 adj. [计算机]旧系统的
segregation [高考]
美[ˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeʃən] | 英[ˌsegrɪˈgeɪʃn]
n. 隔离；种族隔离；分离
withstand [高考]
美[wɪðˈstænd] | 英[wɪðˈstænd]
vt. 对抗；经得起；承受
trend [高考]
美[trend] | 英[trend]
n. 趋势；倾向；方位 vi. 倾向；转向
construction [高考]
美[kənˈstrʌkʃn] | 英[kənˈstrʌkʃn]
n. 建设；结构；建筑物；建造；构造；解释
Ms. [高考]
美[mɪz] | 英[mɪz]
n. 女士，小姐
cash [高考]
美[kæʃ] | 英[kæʃ]
n. 现金 vt. 付现款；兑现 adj. 现金的
percentage [高考]
美[pərˈsentɪdʒ] | 英[pəˈsentɪdʒ]
n. 百分比，百分率；部分，比例；利润分成，提成；[非正式]利益，好处
urban [高考]
美[ˈɜːrbən] | 英[ˈɜːbən]
adj. 城市的；都市的
command [高考]
美[kəˈmænd] | 英[kəˈmɑːnd]
v. 命令，下令；统率，指挥；博得，赢得；控制，掌管；居高临下，俯瞰；值（高价） n. 命令，指示；（计算机的）指令；控制，管辖；指挥权，控制权；兵团，军区；指挥部，司令部；掌握，精通 【名】 （Command）（美）科芒（人名）
severe [高考]
美[sɪˈvɪr] | 英[sɪˈvɪə(r)]
adj. 严厉的；严重的；剧烈的；严格的；严峻的
nationwide [高考]
美[ˌneɪʃnˈwaɪd] | 英[ˌneɪʃnˈwaɪd]
adj. 全国性的 adv. 在全国范围内
squeeze [高考]
美[skwiːz] | 英[skwiːz]
v. 挤压；塞进；压榨；设法腾出 n. 挤压；少量；拥挤；严控；财政困难
in turn [高考]
美[ɪn tɜːrn] | 英[ɪn tɜːn]
依次；轮流；反之；反过来
expert on [高考]
美 | 英
……方面的专家
living [高考]
美[ˈlɪvɪŋ] | 英[ˈlɪvɪŋ]
adj. 活着的；生动的 n. 生活；生计
limited [高考]
美[ˈlɪmɪtɪd] | 英[ˈlɪmɪtɪd]
adj. 有限的；被限制的
housing [高考]
美[ˈhaʊzɪŋ] | 英[ˈhaʊzɪŋ]
n. 房屋；外壳；外套；外罩；住宅；卡箍；遮盖物；(芯片的)封装
onto [高考]
美[ˈɑːntə , ˈɑːntu] | 英[ˈɒntə , ˈɒntu]
prep. 到 ... 上
solo [高考]
美[ˈsoʊloʊ] | 英[ˈsəʊləʊ]
n. 独奏；独唱 adj. 单独的 adv. 单独地 v. 单独表演；[空]放单飞(飞行员一个人开飞机,无教练陪同)
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
historically [四级]
美[hɪsˈtɔrɪklɪ] | 英[hɪ'stɒrɪklɪ]
adv. 历史上地
spacious [四级]
美[ˈspeɪʃəs] | 英[ˈspeɪʃəs]
adj. 宽敞的；广阔的
mortgage [四级]
美[ˈmɔːrɡɪdʒ] | 英[ˈmɔːɡɪdʒ]
n. 按揭；抵押；抵押贷款 vt. 抵押
live in [四级]
美[liv ɪn] | 英[liv in]
v. 住进
economics [四级]
美[ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪks , ˌekəˈnɑːmɪks] | 英[ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks , ˌekəˈnɒmɪks]
n. 经济学
cash in [六级]
美[kæʃ ɪn] | 英[kæʃ in]
兑现； 乘机获利
according [专四]
美[ə'kɔrdɪŋ] | 英[ə'kɔːdɪŋ]
adj. 相符的；相应的；一致的 v. 给予；符合，一致；正式协议（accord的现在分词）
less than [雅思]
美[les ðən] | 英[les ðən]
不到； 少于
downsize [雅思]
美[ˈdaʊnsaɪz] | 英[ˈdaʊnsaɪz]
v. 缩小规模；以较小尺寸设计或制造
重点讲解
Katy Mattingly, 52, an executive secretary, bought a house in Ypsilanti, Michigan, three years ago. It is small but offers plenty of space, with three bedrooms. The question for her, and many other single homeowners, is whether they can cash in when they get older.
52岁的执行秘书凯蒂·马丁利三年前在密歇根州伊普西兰蒂买了一套独栋房屋。房子不大，但空间充足，有三间卧室。对于她和其他许多单身房主来说，问题在于当他们变老时，房子是否可以变现。
cash in 兑换现金
（英文释义：to exchange something that represents value for the money it is worth）
【例】You should regularly review your securities; it may be time to cash in and look for another opportunity.
你应该经常关注手中的证券，可能是时候换成现金，另寻机会了。
【拓展】cash in on sth 从某事中捞到好处
【例】The parade has become very commercialized as businesses have cashed in on the 'pink pound'.
这个游行已经变得很商业化了，因为各家企业都要从“粉红经济”中捞一笔钱。
pay down （分期或部分）支付，偿还
（英文释义：to reduce an amount of money that you owe by paying some of it）
【例】She plans to live with her mother while she pays down her student loan.
她打算和母亲住在一起，期间逐步还清学生贷款。
【拓展】pay off 最终付清，偿清
【例】We should be able to pay off the debt within two years.
我们应该可以在两年内还清债务。
implausible adj. 不合情理的；不像真实的
【例】The whole plot of the film is ridiculously implausible.
电影的整个故事情节荒谬至极，脱离现实。
【拓展】plausible adj.
1. （借口或解释）有道理的，可信的
【例】The only plausible explanation is that he forgot.
唯一合理的解释就是他忘掉了。
2. （人）花言巧语的
【例】a plausible liar 花言巧语的说谎高手
Ms. Mattingly said she did not think she would ever be able to pay down the mortgage and build wealth. "It's implausible that I'll ever be able to retire," she said.
马丁利说，她认为自己永远无法偿还抵押贷款和积累财富。"退休对我来说并不现实。"她说。
cash in 兑换现金
（英文释义：to exchange something that represents value for the money it is worth）
【例】You should regularly review your securities; it may be time to cash in and look for another opportunity.
你应该经常关注手中的证券，可能是时候换成现金，另寻机会了。
【拓展】cash in on sth 从某事中捞到好处
【例】The parade has become very commercialized as businesses have cashed in on the 'pink pound'.
这个游行已经变得很商业化了，因为各家企业都要从“粉红经济”中捞一笔钱。
pay down （分期或部分）支付，偿还
（英文释义：to reduce an amount of money that you owe by paying some of it）
【例】She plans to live with her mother while she pays down her student loan.
她打算和母亲住在一起，期间逐步还清学生贷款。
【拓展】pay off 最终付清，偿清
【例】We should be able to pay off the debt within two years.
我们应该可以在两年内还清债务。
implausible adj. 不合情理的；不像真实的
【例】The whole plot of the film is ridiculously implausible.
电影的整个故事情节荒谬至极，脱离现实。
【拓展】plausible adj.
1. （借口或解释）有道理的，可信的
【例】The only plausible explanation is that he forgot.
唯一合理的解释就是他忘掉了。
2. （人）花言巧语的
【例】a plausible liar 花言巧语的说谎高手
Living solo in homes with three or more bedrooms sounds like a luxury but, experts said, it is a trend driven less by personal choice than by the nation's limited housing supply.
一个人住有三间或更多卧室的房子听起来很奢侈，但专家表示，这种趋势与其说是个人选择，不如说是由国家有限的住房供应促成的。
less...than 不是……而是；与其说是……不如说是
【例】I was less angry than surprised.
我不怎么生气，更多的倒是惊讶。
【拓展】与less相关的词组：
1. less than 完全不
【例】The receptionist was less than helpful.
那接待员一点忙也帮不上。
2. nothing less than 不折不扣的
【例】The victory was nothing less than a miracle.
这场胜利是个不折不扣的奇迹。
zone n. & v.
1. 作名词：（有某特色或作用的）地区，地带
【例】a war/pedestrian/no-parking zone 交战区/步行区/禁止停车区
【辨析】area 地区；场地；领域 region （地理）区域；行政区
2. 作动词：将……划作特殊区域；指定……为某项用途的区域
【例】The land is zoned for agriculture.
这块地划作农用。
【拓展】zoning n. 分区；划区
Because of zoning and construction limitations in many cities and towns, there is a nationwide shortage of homes below 1,400 square feet, which has driven up the cost of the smaller units that do exist, according to research from Freddie Mac.
根据房地美的研究，由于许多城镇的分区和建设限制，全国范围内1400平方英尺以下的住房短缺，从而推高了现有小户型单元房的价格。
less...than 不是……而是；与其说是……不如说是
【例】I was less angry than surprised.
我不怎么生气，更多的倒是惊讶。
【拓展】与less相关的词组：
1. less than 完全不
【例】The receptionist was less than helpful.
那接待员一点忙也帮不上。
2. nothing less than 不折不扣的
【例】The victory was nothing less than a miracle.
这场胜利是个不折不扣的奇迹。
zone n. & v.
1. 作名词：（有某特色或作用的）地区，地带
【例】a war/pedestrian/no-parking zone 交战区/步行区/禁止停车区
【辨析】area 地区；场地；领域 region （地理）区域；行政区
2. 作动词：将……划作特殊区域；指定……为某项用途的区域
【例】The land is zoned for agriculture.
这块地划作农用。
【拓展】zoning n. 分区；划区
Forty years ago, units of less than 1,400 square feet made up about 40 percent of all new home construction; today, just 7 percent of new builds are smaller homes, despite the fact that the number of single-person households has surged.
40年前，面积不到1400平方英尺的单元房占所有新建住宅的40%左右；如今，尽管一人家庭的数量激增，但新建住宅中只有7%是较小的住房。
surge v. & n.
1. 作动词
（1）涌动；汹涌
【例】The floods surged over the valley.
洪水奔腾着涌过山谷。
（2）情感涌动；强烈地感受到
【例】Anger surged within him.
他怒火中烧。
（3）急剧上升；飞涨；激增
【例】Share prices surged.
股价猛涨。
【近义词】soar, spike, rocket, shoot up v. 急剧上涨
2. 作名词：奔涌（的事物）；强烈感情的突发；（数量的）急剧上升
【例】the surge of dense smoke/of panic/in demand 浓烟滚滚/一阵惊慌/需求激增
command v.
1. 命令
【例】He commanded his men to retreat.
他命令手下撤退。
2. 指挥，统率（军队）
【例】The troops were commanded by General Haig.
这些部队由黑格将军统率。
3. 值得；博得；应得
【例】In 1973, the dollar commanded four Deutschemarks.
1973年时1美元值4德国马克。
As a top lawyer, he can expect to command a six-figure salary.
作为首屈一指的律师，他可望拿到六位数的薪资。
This has made it more difficult for older Americans to downsize, as a large, aging house can often command less than what a single adult needs to establish a new, smaller home and pay for their living and health care expenses in retirement.
这使得美国老年人更难缩小住房面积，因为一所又大又老的房子的价值往往不足以让一个单身成年人建立更小的新家，并支付退休后的生活和医疗费用。
surge v. & n.
1. 作动词
（1）涌动；汹涌
【例】The floods surged over the valley.
洪水奔腾着涌过山谷。
（2）情感涌动；强烈地感受到
【例】Anger surged within him.
他怒火中烧。
（3）急剧上升；飞涨；激增
【例】Share prices surged.
股价猛涨。
【近义词】soar, spike, rocket, shoot up v. 急剧上涨
2. 作名词：奔涌（的事物）；强烈感情的突发；（数量的）急剧上升
【例】the surge of dense smoke/of panic/in demand 浓烟滚滚/一阵惊慌/需求激增
command v.
1. 命令
【例】He commanded his men to retreat.
他命令手下撤退。
2. 指挥，统率（军队）
【例】The troops were commanded by General Haig.
这些部队由黑格将军统率。
3. 值得；博得；应得
【例】In 1973, the dollar commanded four Deutschemarks.
1973年时1美元值4德国马克。
As a top lawyer, he can expect to command a six-figure salary.
作为首屈一指的律师，他可望拿到六位数的薪资。
Even as more U.S. residents live in smaller households, the market has increasingly created larger living spaces.
尽管越来越多的美国居民生活在较小的家庭中，但市场逐渐创造了越来越大的居住空间。
presume v. 假设；假定
【例】Let's presume that he has told the truth.
我们姑且假定他说了真话。
【近义词】assume v. 假定；假设
withstand v. 承受；经受住
【例】to withstand the test of time 经受住时间的考验
People in this group often face the reality that "it's more expensive to get a smaller condo than the single family you're selling--and that presumes the condo exists, which may not be the case," said Jennifer Molinsky, director of the Housing an Aging Society Program at Harvard University.
这一群体经常面临这样的现实。"一套面积较小的公寓套房比你要出售的独栋住宅更贵----这是假设公寓套房存在的情况下，但实际可能并不存在。"哈佛大学老龄化社会住房项目主任詹妮弗·莫林斯基说。
presume v. 假设；假定
【例】Let's presume that he has told the truth.
我们姑且假定他说了真话。
【近义词】assume v. 假定；假设
withstand v. 承受；经受住
【例】to withstand the test of time 经受住时间的考验
And when they hold onto family-size houses well into retirement, there are fewer spacious homes placed on the market for young families, who in turn squeeze into smaller units or withstand long commutes in a search for affordable housing.
当他们退休后继续住在够整个家庭居住的大房子时，市场上提供给年轻家庭的宽敞房屋就会减少，继而年轻家庭会挤在较小的单元房中，或者忍受长时间的通勤，以寻找负担得起的住房。
presume v. 假设；假定
【例】Let's presume that he has told the truth.
我们姑且假定他说了真话。
【近义词】assume v. 假定；假设
withstand v. 承受；经受住
【例】to withstand the test of time 经受住时间的考验
"Both ends of the age distribution are getting squeezed," said Jenny Schuetz, an expert on housing and urban economics at the Brookings Institution. The constraints are especially severe for many older Black Americans, for whom the legacy of redlining and segregation has meant that homeownership has not generated as much wealth.
"年龄分布的两端都受到挤压。"布鲁金斯学会的住房和城市经济专家珍妮·舒茨说。对于许多年长的美国黑人来说，他们面临的限制尤其严重，红线和种族隔离的遗留问题意味着，拥有住房并没有产生相应多的财富。
constraint n. 限制；约束
【例】constraints of time/money/space 时间/资金/空间的限制
【辨析】restriction 限制性的法规 restraint 克制；制约因素
limitation 限制性的规定或事实 limit 限度；限量；限额
The percentage of people living alone in large houses is highest in many low-income, historically Black neighborhoods. In those areas, many homes are owned by single, older women.
在许多低收入、长久以来为黑人居住的社区，独自居住在大房子里的人所占比例最高。在这些地区，许多房屋由单身的老年女性拥有。
constraint n. 限制；约束
【例】constraints of time/money/space 时间/资金/空间的限制
【辨析】restriction 限制性的法规 restraint 克制；制约因素
limitation 限制性的规定或事实 limit 限度；限量；限额
课后练习
What is Katy Mattingly’s problem?
A. There is nobody to care for her as she ages.
B. Her house cannot serve as a financial resource.
C. The mortgage interest keeps rising every year.
D. Her salary is not sufficient to cover her expenses.
Which of the following is true about America’s housing market?
A. Smaller homes are scarce and more expensive.
B. The average price of houses exceeds the average income.
C. The cost of new home construction has surged.
D. The housing market is catering to smaller households.
The result of America’s housing market is that ____.
A. older Americans can’t pay for their expenses
B. older Americans can’t afford smaller homes
C. young families enjoy large living spaces
D. young families have the advantage of low prices
According to the text, older Black Americans ____.
A. leave less legacy to their offspring
B. are discriminated in the housing market
C. possess homes of much less value
D. are more likely to suffer from isolation