VOA慢速英语2020 千禧一代经济分化严重

You can find a lot in popular culture about the generation of young people called millennials.

流行文化中有很多关于新一代年轻人（millennial¹）的内容，他们就是千禧一代。

Millennials are often described in movies and television shows as feeling entitled². They act as if they have a right to the good things in life. Many millennials also are identified as jobless and more likely than other young people to be living with one or both parents.

电影和电视秀将他们刻画成了天之骄子的样子。他们在剧中的表现就像他们有权利获得生活中所有美好的事物一样。很多千禧一代也被贴上了无业游民的标签，他们比其他年轻人似乎更有可能跟父母住在一起。

The youngest members of this generation are in their middle 20s, while the oldest are nearly 40 years old. They lived through the Great Recession³ of 2007 to 2009. Many are weighed down with debt from student loans and have a hard time finding a good job in their field of study.

这代年轻人中年纪最小的应该是20多岁，最大的应该将近40岁了。他们都经历过2007-2009年间的大萧条。很多人债务缠身，还有助学贷款没还清。此外，也找不到专业对口的好工作。

Some were strong candidates for such jobs, but instead accepted a lower-paying position. Today, those decisions and experiences continue to affect millions of millennials.

其中有一些年轻人是好工作的有力竞争者，但却最终接受了低薪的工作。如今，这样的决定和经历还在持续影响着数百万千禧一代。

However, some young adults within the millennial age group have been able to succeed and done very well. There is a name for these young men and women: "mega-llennials."

不过，这一代年轻人中也有人得以成功并做得风生水起。这些年轻人有一个名字：超级千禧一代。

Jason Dorsey is president and researcher at the Center for Generational Kinetics, a group based in Texas. He told VOA mega-llenials kept working and tried pulling themselves forward in the work force during hard economic times.

詹森是世代动力学中心的主席和研究员，该组织位于德克萨斯州。詹森在接受VOA采访时表示，超级千禧一代会持续共走，努力在经济不景气的时候驱动自己向前进。

Dorsey added that mega-llenials are now further ahead compared to the rest of their generation "because they were still out there, producing...doing what they could do to make it happen."

詹森补充表示，超级千禧一代跟其他同辈人相比远远超前，“因为他们从不懈怠，会一直竭尽全力让目标成为可能。”

There is a big difference between the mega-llennials and what have been called "me-llennials." Me-llennials are members of the generation that have still struggled professionally and are still working on finding their place in life.

超级千禧一代和千禧一代之间有一个巨大的区别：后者在职场上还在苦苦挣扎，还在寻找自己在生活中的位置。

"What we think is fascinating is that the group of people that are most offended at work by millennials acting⁴ entitled are actually other millennials who do not feel entitled," Dorsey said. "They think the rest of the generation is giving them a bad reputation."

我们觉得很有趣的是：最让将有资格获得优质生活的千禧一代感到不舒服的是那些不这样想千禧一代，詹森如是说道。他们觉得自己的同辈人给自己招了黑。

A 2019 opinion survey seems to suggest that may be the case. The survey was a project of the Business Insider website and Morning Consult, a privately-held technology and media company. It found that many millennials think they are doing better than others in their generation.

2019年的一份民调显示似乎确实是这样。这次民调是商业内幕网和民间咨询公司的一个项目，这是一家集技术与媒体于一身的私企。这次民调发现，很多千禧一代都觉得自己比同辈人做得好。

It showed that 46 percent of the millennials asked think they are somewhat or much better off financially than other members of their generation. Only 36 percent thought they are somewhat or much worse off.

About 37 percent said not very good or not good at all when asked how they feel about their finances⁵. Experts say this shows that the reality for millennials may not be quite as bad as what they are often told.

So why do some millennials do well while other people in their age group did not?

"What we found is they were more resilient oftentimes in their career," Dorsey noted⁶. "They also managed to keep working and building their networks and did whatever they could to keep pushing themselves forward."

Dorsey added that millennials are likely to place themselves into one group or the other. He said that while mega-llennials and me-llennials share many experiences, the two groups are not likely to see themselves in each other.

Words in This Story

entitled – adj. having a right to certain benefits or privileges

fascinating – adj. extremely interesting or charming

network – n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connected and that work with each other

reputation – n. recognition⁷ by other people of some characteristic or ability

resilient – adj. able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

1 millennial   

一千年的，千福年的

参考例句：

• Both Russia and America looked to the future to fulfill their millennial expectations. 俄国和美国都把实现他们黄金时代的希望寄托于未来。
• The millennial generation is celebrating the global commons every day, apparently unmindful of Hardin's warning. 千禧一代显然对哈丁的警告不以为然，每天都在颂扬全球“公地”。

2 entitled   

有资格的

参考例句：

• You will be entitled to your pension when you reach 65. 你到65岁就有资格享受养老金。
• He entitled us to enter his office at any time. 他授权给我们可以随时进入他的办公室。

3 recession   

n.（工商业的）衷退（期），萧条（期）

参考例句：

• Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
• A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 finances   

n.(pl.)财源，资产

参考例句：

• I need a professional to sort out my finances. 我需要专业人士为我管理财务。
• The company's finances are looking a bIt'shaky. 这个公司的财政情况看来有点不稳定。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 recognition   

n.承认，认可，认出，认识

参考例句：

• The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
• A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意，表示认识对方。