资源描述：
《unit 3 social problems新编大学英语第二版第三册课文翻译》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在教育资源-天天文库。
1、Unit3SocialProblemsLatchkeyChildren—Knock,Knock,IsAnybodyHome?IntheUnitedStatesthecostoflivinghasbeensteadilyrisingforthepastfewdecades.Foodprices,clothingcosts,housingexpenses,andtuitionfeesareconstantlygettinghigherandhigher.Partlybecauseoffinancialneed,andpartlybecauseofcare
2、erchoicesforpersonalfulfillment,mothershavebeenleavingthetraditionalroleoffull-timehomemaker.Increasinglytheyhavebeentakingsalariedjobsoutsidethehome.Makingsuchasignificantrolechangeaffectstheentirefamily,especiallythechildren.Someconsequencesareobvious.Forexample,dinnertimeisa
3、talaterhour.Theemotionalimpact,ontheotherhand,canbemoresubtle.Mothersleavehomeinthemorning,feelingguiltybecausetheywillnotbehomewhentheirchildrenreturnfromschool.Theysuppresstheirguiltsincetheybelievethattheirworkwillbenefiteveryoneinthelongrun.Theincomewillenablethefamilytosav
4、eforcollegetuition,takeanextendedvacation,buyanewcar,andsoon.Theemotionalimpactonthechildrencanbesignificant.Itisquitecommonforchildrentofeelhurtandresentful.Afterall,theyarealoneseveralhours,andtheyfeelthattheirmothersshould"bethere"forthem.Theymightneedassistancewiththeirhome
5、workorwanttosharetheday'sactivities.Alltoooften,however,themothersarrivehomeexhaustedandfacetheimmediatetaskofpreparingdinner.Theirpriorityismakingtheeveningmealforthefamily,notengaginginrelaxedconversation.Latchkeychildrenrangeinagefromsixtothirteen.Onadailybasistheyreturnfrom
6、schoolandunlockthedoortotheirhomewiththekeyhangingaroundtheirnecks.Theyarenowontheirown,alone,inquiet,emptyrooms.Forsomeyoungsters,itisaproductiveperiodofprivatetime,whileforothersitisafrightening,lonelyvoid.Forreasonsofsafety,manyparentsforbidtheirchildrentogoouttoplayortohave
7、visitorsathome.Theyoungsters,therefore,feelisolated.Latchkeychildrenwhowereinterviewedreporteddiversereactions.Somelatchkeychildrensaidthatbeingontheirownforafewhourseachdayfostered,orstimulated,asenseofindependenceandresponsibility.Theyfeltlovedandtrusted,andthisfeelingencoura
8、gedthemtobeself-confident.Latchkeygirls,byobservinghow
