燕山大学 刘立军 编写

u TRANSCRIPT

Almost one in four Americans say they do not plan to retire.

That is a finding of a survey released this week. The survey was a project of The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation provided money for the study.

Researchers questioned about 1,400 adults in the United States. Twenty-three percent of those questioned said they do not expect to stop working. Another 25% said they will continue working after they reach age 65.

Government records show that around 20% of people 65 and older were working or looking for a job in June.

For many Americans, money has a lot to do with the decision to keep working.

Anqi Chen is with the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College in Massachusetts.

"The average retirement age that we see in the data has gone up a little bit, but it hasn't gone up that much," Chen said. "So people have to live in retirement much longer, and they may not have enough assets to support themselves in retirement."

The survey also found that Americans have mixed ideas about how the aging U.S. workforce affects workers. Some 39% think people staying in the workforce longer is mostly good for American workers. But 29% of those questioned think it is bad. Around 30% say it makes no difference.

A somewhat higher share, 45%, said they think it has a good or positive effect on the U.S. economy.

Experts say sickness, workforce reductions and other issues often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they would like.

Larry Zarzecki once worked as a police officer in Maryland. He stopped working in his 40s after developing a tremor in his right hand. He also developed other mental and physical symptoms.

At age 47, tests showed he was suffering from Parkinson's disease. Now 57 and living in the city of Baltimore, Zarzecki says he has learned to make difficult choices "to help make ends meet."

"People like me, who are average, everyday working people, can have something catastrophic happen, and we lose everything because of medical bills," he added.

Zarzecki has since helped found a non-profit organization called Movement Disorder Education and Exercise. The group offers support and treatment programs to those with similar diseases. He has also contacted state and national lawmakers and asked them to control rising prescription drug prices.

Zarzecki receives pension money and health insurance through the state, but he spends more than $3,000 each year on medicines.

"I can't afford, nor will my insurance cover, the most modern medication there is for Parkinson's," he says.

I'm John Russell.

Adapted from: http://www.hxen.com/englishlistening/voaenglish/voaspecialenglish/2019-07-13/521091_2.html

u VOCABULARY

1. asset n. a thing of value, especially property, that a person or company owns, which can be used or sold to pay debts 资产；财产。例如：

l the net asset value of the company公司的资产净值

l Her assets include shares in the company and a house in France. 她的财产包括公司的股份和在法国的一座房子。

l asset sales/management资产销售 / 管理

l financial/capital assets金融 / 资本资产

2. tremor n. a slight shaking movement in a part of your body caused, for example, by cold or fear （由于寒冷或恐惧等引起的）颤抖，战栗，哆嗦。例如：There was a slight tremor in his voice.

他的声音略微有点儿颤抖。

3. make (both) ends meet: to earn just enough money to be able to buy the things you need 使收支相抵；勉强维持生计。例如：Many families struggle to make ends meet. 许多家庭只能勉强维持生计。

4. catastrophic adj. 灾难性的

5. pension n. an amount of money paid regularly by a government or company to sb. who is considered to be too old or too ill/sick to work 养老金；退休金；抚恤金。例如：

l to receive an old-age/a retirement pension领养老金 / 退休金

l a disability/widow's pension残疾 / 遗孀抚恤金

l a state pension国家抚恤金

l to live on a pension靠退休金生活

l to take out a personal/private pension获得个人 / 私人抚恤金

l a pension fund退休金基金

u QUESTIONS

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and check the true (ü) or false (û) statements.

q 1. Almost one in four Americans say they do plan to retire.

q 2. Researchers questioned about 1,400 adults in the United States.

q 3. Twenty-three percent of those questioned said they do not expect to stop working.

q 4. 25% said they will continue working after they reach age 65.

q 5. Research studies show that around 20% of people 65 and older were working or looking for a job in June.

q 6. Experts say sickness, workforce reductions and other issues often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they would like.

u KEY

Read the statements. Then listen to the news and check the true (ü) or false (û) statements.

ý 1. Almost one in four Americans say they do plan to retire. Almost one in four Americans say they do not plan to retire.

þ 2. Researchers questioned about 1,400 adults in the United States.

þ 3. Twenty-three percent of those questioned said they do not expect to stop working.

þ 4. 25% said they will continue working after they reach age 65.

ý 5. Research studies show that around 20% of people 65 and older were working or looking for a job in June. Government records show that around 20% of people 65 and older were working or looking for a job in June.

þ 6. Experts say sickness, workforce reductions and other issues often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they would like.