Chinese Elders' Habit on Saving and Spending
Thriftiness has always been a traditional Chinese virtue, especially among the elders. Recently a survey was conducted in X city among people over 60, on their disposal of incomes apart from daily expenses. Not surprisingly, 70% of the interviewees replied that they would deposit the money, while only about 20% and 10%, respectively, said they would spend it or use it for investment.
Why is the situation so? On the one hand, the senior citizens are accustomed to a simple way of life and sometimes don't know what to buy besides necessities. On the other hand, they like to save up for a rainy day, as illnesses often come with age. While putting the money in banks generates steady interests, with the interest rate rising, investment seems rather risky.
Personally, I think the elders should spend more. First, they can enjoy life better after years of hard work, as a reward. Second, it can also boost national economy. The senior citizens constitute a growing proportion of the population, so their contribution in total consumption is considerable. In this sense, a penny spent will actually be "a penny gained". (188 words)
結(jié)構(gòu)剖析
文章分為三段
第一段說明節(jié)儉是中國的傳統(tǒng)美德,同時對老年人的調(diào)查顯示老年人的花費很小。
第二段以提問開頭,為什么是這種情況。然后從兩個方面解釋了原因。
第三段是結(jié)尾部分,作者表達了自己的個人觀點。
中國老年人的儲蓄和消費習慣
節(jié)儉一直是中國人的傳統(tǒng)美德,尤其是在老年人當中。針對除了日?;ㄙM外收入的支配,我們最近對X市60歲以上的老年人做了一份調(diào)查。意料之中,70%的受訪者回答,他們會把錢存起來,而只有大約20%和10%的人,分別表示他們會花掉或用于投資。
為什么是這種情況呢?一方面,老年人習慣了簡單的生活方式,而且有時候不知道除了必需品還要買什么。另一方面,他們喜歡存錢以備不時之需,因為疾病通常會與年老相伴。而把錢存到銀行能產(chǎn)生穩(wěn)定的利息,隨著利息率的上調(diào),投資看起來就相當冒險了。
以我看來,我認為老年人應該多花點。首先,經(jīng)過多年的辛苦勞動,他們能享受更好的生活作為回報。其次,這同樣能促進國民經(jīng)濟的繁榮。老年人在中國人口中占的比例在增加,所以他們對總消費的貢獻是相當大的。從這個意義上來說,事實上一分錢的消費將會有"一分錢的收獲"。
thriftiness n. 節(jié)儉
virtue n. 美德,品德
conduct v. 實施;處理;經(jīng)營
deposit v. 存錢
in this sense 在這個意義上
senior citizens n. 老人
be accustomed to 習慣/適應......
rainy day 艱難時刻,以防萬一
boost v. 推動;幫助;促進
1. Recently a survey was conducted in X city among people over 60, on their disposal of incomes apart from daily expenses. 針對除了日?;ㄙM外收入的支配,我們最近對X市60歲以上的老年人做了一份調(diào)查。
2. The senior citizens constitute a growing proportion of the population, so their contribution in total consumption is considerable.
老年人在中國人口中占的比例在增加,所以他們對總消費的貢獻是相當大的。