新视野第大学英语读写教程2(第三版)unit5课文原文(共2页).doc

精选优质文档-倾情为你奉上Spend or save The student's dilemma1 Do you feel as confused and manipulated as I do with this question, "Should I spendor should I save?" I think that the messages we get from our environment seemto defy common sense and contradict each other. The government tells us to spendor we'll never get out of the recession. At the same time, they tell us that unless wesave more, our country is in grave danger. Banks offer higher interest rates so weincrease savings. Then the same banks send us credit card offers so we can spendmore.2 Here's another familiar example: If we don't pay our credit card bill on time, we getdemanding, nasty emails from the credit card company saying something like: "Yourfailure to pay is unacceptable. Pay immediately or you'll be in trouble!" Then, as soonas we pay, we get a follow-up email in a charming tone telling us how valuable acustomer we are and encouraging us to resume spending.Which depiction is correct:a failing consumer in trouble or a valued customer? The gap between these twomessages is enormous.3 The paradox is that every day we get two sets of messages at odds with eachother. One is the "permissive" perspective, "Buy, spend, get it now. You needthis!" The other we could call an "upright" message, which urges us, "Work hard andsave. Suspend your desires. Avoid luxuries. Control your appetite for more than youtruly need." This message comes to us from many sources: from school, from parents,even from political figures referring to "traditional values". Hard work, family loyalty,and the capacity to postpone desires are core American values that have made ourcountry great.4 But the opposite message, advertising's permissive message, isinescapable. Though sometimes disguised, the messages are everywhere we look:on TV, in movies on printed media and road signs, in stores, and on busses, trainsand subways. Advertisementsinvade our daily lives. We are constantly surrounded bythe message to spend, spend, spend. Someone recently said, "The only time you canescape advertising is when you're in your bed asleep!"5 It's been calculated that by the age of 18, the average American will have seen600,000 ads; by the age of 40, the total is almost one million. Each advertisement isdoing its utmost to influence our diverse buying decisions, from thebreakfast cereal we eat to whichcruise line we will use for our vacation. There isno shortage of ideas and things to buy! Now, of course, we don't remember exactlywhat the products were, but the essential message is cemented into ourconsciousness, "It's good to satisfy your desires. You should have what you want.You deserve the best. So, you should buy it now!" A famous advertisement said itperfectly, "I love me. I'm a good friend to myself. I do what makes me feel good.I derive pleasure from nice things and feel nourished by them. I used to put things off.Not anymore. Today I'll buy new ski equipment, look at new compact cars, and buythat camera I've always wanted. I live my dreams today, not tomorrow."专心-专注-专业6 What happens as we take in these contradictory but explicit messages? What arethe psychological and social consequences of this campaign to control our spendinghabits? On one hand, we want more things because we want to satisfy our materialappetite. Most of us derive pleasure from treating ourselves. On the other hand, a littlevoice inside us echoes those upright messages: "Watch out, takestock of your life,don't let your attention get scattered. Postpone your desires. Don't fall into debt.Wait! Retain control over your own life. It will make you stronger."7 Anyway, many of the skills you need as a successful student can be applied to yourfinances. Consider your financial well-being as a key ingredient of your universityeducation as money worries are extremely stressful and distracting. They can makeyou feel terrible and hinder your ability to focus on your prime objective: successfullycompleting your education.8 How can you be a smart and educated consumer? Many schools, communityorganizations, and even some banks offer financial literacyclasses. Consider consulting with your school's financial aid office or seek input fromyour parents or other respected adults in setting up a budget. An additional option isfinding a partner to help you stay on track and find pleasure in the administration ofyour own financial affairs. Most importantly, if you find yourself getting into financialtrouble, don't let your ego get in your way; urgently get help with tackling yourproblem before it spins out of control and lands you in legal troubles.9 All this will help you become an educated consumer and saver. As you learn tobalance spending and saving, you will become the captain of your own ship, steeringyour life in a successful and productive direction through the choppy waters.