VOA慢速：美国84岁老妪获学士学位

Woman Reaches Lifelong Goal of College Degree at 84

燕山大学 刘立军 编写

u TRANSCRIPT

Many people, some even at a very young age, set the goal of graduating from college. One American woman in Texas waited a long time for her chance to reach that goal.

The woman is 84-year-old Janet Fein. Last week, she received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Fein has had a full life. She has raised five children and then had a career as a secretary until she retired at age 77. But even then, she was not ready to take it easy and rest during a well-earned retirement.

"I didn't have anything to do in retirement and I didn't think that playing bingo was up to my speed," Fein told the Associated Press. She said she decided to major in sociology because she felt it was "substantial."

Fein grew up in the Bronx area of New York City. She said that in high school, she just wanted to finish and get a job. After graduating early, at the age of 16, she went to work as a secretary at a dress manufacturer.

After getting married, she spent 18 years staying home with her children. She held several jobs throughout her life, including 20 years as a secretary at a Dallas hospital. That is the job she retired from in 2012. She also worked for 20 years on earning an associate degree, which she received in 1995.

But Fein told the AP she also wanted to earn a bachelor's degree "with all of my heart." Even with all of her life experiences, she said she enjoyed reading, writing papers and learning new things. "With each class I already knew a lot, but then I also learned a lot. And that made me happy."

Fein took part in a state program that lets people who are 65 and older take free classes at public universities in Texas. State officials say about 2,000 people used the program last year.

Estimates show that nationwide, people 65 and older make up less than one percent of U.S. college students. But health experts say continuing with education later in life is one way to keep fit.

Carmel Dyer is director of the UT Health Consortium on Aging at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She says that keeping active and giving yourself something to look forward to "is just a really positive move."

In Fein's case, she kept going to class even as her health conditions worsened. During her studies, it became necessary for her to use a walker to get around and she required oxygen. She also developed knee problems. So, Fein took online classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements.

Her college advisor was Sheila Rollerson. She told the AP that Fein never showed signs of giving up even with all of her difficulties. "She just kept plugging along," Rollerson said.

Tracy Glass, a 40-year-old student, became friends with Fein after they both took seats in the front of the class. "I sat right next to her and over the course of the semester, built a fast friendship with her," Glass said. She added that Fein's personal memories of world events - like the women's movement - improved a lot of the class discussions.

Carol Cirulli Lanham teaches sociology at the university. She agrees that Fein could make the classroom experience more meaningful for other students. "She would speak up a lot in class and I think that it just made for a more interesting class," she told the AP. "Because she literally remembered some of the times we were talking about."

Renee Brown is one of Fein's caregivers. She says Fein has also inspired her. At 53, she plans to begin nursing school to further her career. Brown said Fein told her, "Renee, you can do it. If I can do it you can do it, and you will feel so good about it."

I'm Bryan Lynn.

Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201812/574983.shtml

u VOCABULARY

1. bingo n. a game in which each player has a card with numbers on. Numbers are called out in no particular order and the first player whose numbers are all called out, or who has a line of numbers called out, wins a prize. 宾戈游戏（玩者均持有一张数字卡，第一个凑齐庄家喊出的全部或一组数字者胜出）。例如：

l to play bingo玩宾戈游戏

l a bingo hall宾戈游戏厅

2. substantial adj. large in amount, value or importance 大量的；价值巨大的；重大的。例如：

l substantial sums of money大笔大笔的钱

l a substantial change重大变化

l Substantial numbers of people support the reforms. 相当多的人支持这些改革措施。

l He ate a substantial breakfast. 他吃了一顿丰盛的早餐。

3. worsen v. to become or make sth. worse than it was before （使）变得更坏，变得更糟，恶化。例如：

l The political situation is steadily worsening. 政治局势在持续恶化。

l Her health has worsened considerably since we last saw her. 自从我们上次见到她以来，她的身体差多了。

4. caregiver n. (残疾人、病人或年幼者等的) 看护人，护理者 A caregiver is someone who is responsible for looking after another person, for example, a person who is disabled, ill, or very young. 例如：It is nearly always women who are the primary care givers. 从事初级保健护理工作的几乎都是女性。

u QUESTIONS

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

q 1. Fein received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Dallas at the age of 84.

q 2. Fein has raised six children in her life.

q 3. Fein decided to major in biology because she felt it was "substantial."

q 4. At the age of 16, Fein went to work as a secretary at a dress manufacturer.

q 5. After getting married, Fein spent 18 years staying home with her children.

q 6. Fein held several jobs throughout her life, including 18 years as a secretary at a Dallas hospital.

q 7. Fein received her associate degree in 1995, which she worked for 20 years.

q 8. According to health experts, continuing with education later in life is the best way to keep fit.

q 9. Fein took online classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements because of her knee problems.

q 10. Tracy Glass is a 40-year-old student.

q 11. Carol Cirulli Lanham teaches sociology at the university.

q 12. Renee Brown is one of Fein's classmates.

u KEY

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

þ 1. Fein received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Dallas at the age of 84.

ý 2. Fein has raised six children in her life. 正确表达：Fein has raised five children in her life.

ý 3. Fein decided to major in biology because she felt it was "substantial." 正确表达：Fein decided to major in sociology because she felt it was "substantial."

þ 4. At the age of 16, Fein went to work as a secretary at a dress manufacturer.

þ 5. After getting married, Fein spent 18 years staying home with her children.

ý 6. Fein held several jobs throughout her life, including 18 years as a secretary at a Dallas hospital. 正确表达：Fein held several jobs throughout her life, including 20 years as a secretary at a Dallas hospital.

þ 7. Fein received her associate degree in 1995, which she worked for 20 years.

ý 8. According to health experts, continuing with education later in life is the best way to keep fit.正确表达：According to health experts, continuing with education later in life is one way to keep fit.

þ 9. Fein took online classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements because of her knee problems.

þ 10. Tracy Glass is a 40-year-old student.

þ 11. Carol Cirulli Lanham teaches sociology at the university.

ý 12. Renee Brown is one of Fein's classmates. 正确表达：Renee Brown is one of Fein's caregivers.