经济学人:零工经济:随时摇滚(2)

 Rockers themselves are also taking out insurance against the most common ailments¹ that could stop them from carrying on working. 摇滚歌手自己也会为一些会妨碍他们工作的常见疾病投保。

Aside from overdosing, typical career-ending injuries used to include electrocution (all that electrical equipment) ,  除了服药过量，常见的终结职业生涯的伤病常包括触电（一切电力设备），

but now are more likely to be osteoporosis and loss of hearing. 但是现在更多是骨质疏松或是耳朵失聪。

The Rolling Stones' lead guitarist, Keith Richards, who is 73, has insured his hands for $1.6m. 滚石乐队中，73岁的吉他手领队基斯·理查德，就为他的双手投保160万美元。

Underwriters are ready to accept their clients' lifestyle and work hazards, arguing that where there is risk, there is reward—if the price is right. 保险商会做好准备，去接收投保人的生活方式和工作风险，因为保险商认为，有风险，就有回报―只要价格合适。

“It's a badly misunderstood market, and one 70-year-old rocker is not like the other; there's plenty of scope for savvy² underwriting,” says one of them. 其中一个保险商说，“这是个不为人所理解的市场，因为70岁的摇滚歌手不同于其他人；但对熟通保险业的人来说，在这个市场，却有足够的发挥空间”。

And the insurers do take precautions. 承保人会做好预防措施。

Exclusions⁴ for pre-existing conditions, especially those related to alcohol abuse or failing livers, are common. 对既存问题的排除十分普遍，尤其是那些与酗酒、肝脏衰竭相关的既存问题。

Rockers of advanced years are also good for busting⁵ stereotypes⁶ about older workers. 年长的摇滚歌手也有益于打破那些对于年长工作者的传统认知。

Their energy levels may be lower, but they often pace themselves more and look after themselves better than in their younger days; not so much sex and drugs, more tea and yoga. 也许他们的体能有所下降，但是相较于年轻时候，他们会更频繁地调整自己的生活节奏，会更好地照顾自己，现在他们热衷的不再是性欲和磕药，而是茶和瑜伽。

Sometimes such moderation is imposed by their insurers. 有时他们的承保人也会要求他们如此克制。

The Stones “14 on Fire” tour contract is said to have contained exclusion³ clauses for a variety of dangerous pursuits. 据说，由于滚石乐队的巡回演唱会“14 on fire ”有很多危险性的娱乐活动，所以其合同就内附除外条款。

Besides, says the underwriter, by the age of 70 some of the riskier⁷ rockers have already been weeded out by the Grim Reaper⁸. 此外，保险商还说，到70岁时，一些风险更大的摇滚歌手已经被死神所淘汰。

 

1 ailments   

疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
• He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。

2 savvy   

v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的

参考例句：

• She was a pretty savvy woman.她是个见过世面的漂亮女人。
• Where's your savvy?你的常识到哪里去了？

3 exclusion   

n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行

参考例句：

• Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
• He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。

4 exclusions   

n.不包括的项目：如接受服务项目是由投保以前已患有的疾病或伤害引致的，保险公司有权拒绝支付。；拒绝( exclusion的名词复数 )；排除；被排斥在外的人（或事物）；排外主义

参考例句：

• This is a trifle compared with the important exclusions. 比之其它重要的排除，这只是一件小事。 来自辞典例句
• For detailed exclusions, please refer to each policy's terms and conditions. 具体的免赔责任请详见条款。 来自互联网

5 busting   

打破，打碎( bust的现在分词 )； 突击搜查（或搜捕）； （使）降级，降低军阶

参考例句：

• Jim and his wife were busting up again yesterday. 吉姆和他的妻子昨天又吵架了。
• He figured she was busting his chops, but it was all true. 他以为她在捉弄他，其实完全是真的。

6 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 riskier   

冒险的，危险的( risky的比较级 )

参考例句：

• Now they are starting to demand higher returns on riskier assets. 而今他们开始在风险更高的资产上要求更高的回报。
• The problem with that: RIM's business is getting riskier every quarter. 不过问题也随之而来：RIM面临的业务风险正逐季增大。

8 reaper   

n.收割者，收割机

参考例句：

• The painting is organized about a young reaper enjoying his noonday rest.这幅画的画面设计成一个年轻的割禾人在午间休息。
• A rabbit got caught in the blades of the reaper.一只兔子被卷到收割机的刀刃中去了。