Lesson Four Lesson Four

The Tragedy of The Tragedy of

Old Age Old Age

in Americain America

By Robert N. BulterBy Robert N. Bulter

Language StudyLanguage Study propelpropel: v. to move, drive, or push sth. forward

e.g. His addiction to drugs propelledpropelled him towards a life of crime.

AgingAging is the neglected stepchildneglected stepchild of the

human life cycle.human life cycle.

the human life cyclethe human life cycle: the turning of the wheel of life from cradle to grave [birth, aging, death]

Here the author uses the word “stepchildstepchild” to emphasize the old age as the ignored periodthe ignored period

in lifein life that no one cares much more aboutno one cares much more about 衰老是人类生命周期当中被忽视的一段时间。

taboo subjecttaboo subject: 禁忌话题 LeapLeap: v. [in the text] to move quickly or

abruptly from one condition or subject to

another

However, notice that “leapleap” can be

replaced by “jump”, but it emphasizes it emphasizes

the movement upward or forwardthe movement upward or forward.

confrontationconfrontation [withwith/betweenbetween]: n. a

situation in which there is a lot of angry

disagreement

externalexternal and internalinternal forces: socialsocial

economiceconomic forces and psychologicalpsychological forces

bittersweetbittersweet: adj. [Feelings, memories or

experiences] happy and sad at the same

time

come to terms withcome to terms with: to accept unpleasant

situation or event and no longer feel upset

or angry about it 达成协议 , 妥协 , 让步 翻译：死亡是突然的、一次性的危机，而老年是一天天、

一年年与强大的外在社会经济力量和内在心理因素抗争的过程，是逐渐适应自己的性格和生活既苦又甜的过程。

morbidmorbid: adj. having a strong and unhealthy

interest in unpleasant subjects, especially

death

devicedevice: n. a special way of doing

something that makes it easier to do

flowflow [+ofof]: n. [in the text] a continuous

supply or movement of sth. from one place

to another

lulllull v. to make sb. feel safe and confident so

that they are completely surprised when you

attack or cheat them; coaxcoax

RecreationRecreation: the activity that you do for

pleasure or amusement

entertainmententertainment: things such as shows,

films, television, performances etc that

amuse or interest people

expectantexpectant: adj. hopeful that sth. good or

exciting is going to happen

toiltoil: v. 1. to work very hard for a long time

run throughrun through: [in the text] be present in

many parts of sth. or continue through it, for

example in an artist’s work or in a society

fadefade: to become weakerweaker physically, especially

so that you become very ill or die

fading fastfading fast: 快速 / 迅速衰老 over the hillover the hill: no longer youngno longer young, and

therefore

no longer attractive or good at doing things

上年岁的 , 走下坡路的 (putput sth./sb.) out to pastureout to pasture: [in the text][in the text]

informalinformal to make someone leave their job

because you think they are too old to do it

properly

down the draindown the drain: informal wasted or having no

result 每况愈下 finishedfinished: 完蛋了的 out of dateout of date: 老古董 old crockold crock: (BrE.) slang an old person, an old car

老废物 fogyfogy: n. 老古板 [ 守旧者 , 赶不上时代的人 ]

geezergeezer:n. < 俚 > 古怪 ( 或怪癖的 ) 老头 biddybiddy: n. 长舌妇

be in your primebe in your prime/be in the prime of lifebe in the prime of life: to be

at the time in your life when you are strongest

and most active

Discrepancy Discrepancy [+inin/betweenbetween]: n. [C. N.] a

differencedifference between two amounts, details,

reports etc that ought to be the same

wishful thinkingwishful thinking: n. [U] the false belief that

something will happen just because you want it to

如意算盘 , 痴心妄想 starkstark: adj. complete, total; “unpleasantly clear unpleasantly clear

and impossible to avoidand impossible to avoid”

contingentcontingent [+onon/uponupon] : adj. dependent

on sth. that is uncertain or that will happen

in the future

interconnectinterconnect: vt. & vi. to connect each

other & to be connected with each other

interrelateinterrelate: v. to place in or come into

mutual relationship

inherentinherent: adj. existing as an essential

constituent or characteristic; intrinsicintrinsic.

sublimesublime: adj. excellent in a way that

makes you feel extremely happy

imminenceimminence: the quality or condition of being about to occur very soon, occurrenceoccurrence

conserveconserve: vt. to use as little water, energy etc as possible so that it is not wasted.

resourceresource: n. formalformal ability in dealing with practical problems

For many elderly Americans old age is For many elderly Americans old age is

a tragedy, a period of quiet despair, a tragedy, a period of quiet despair,

deprivation, desolation and muted deprivation, desolation and muted

rage.rage. (translate it into Chinese)

对于许多美国老年人来说 , 老年是个悲剧 , 是各方面被剥夺、凄凉孤寂、沉默绝望、无言愤怒的时期。

existentialexistential: [only before noun] connected with the existence of humans

excruciatingexcruciating: adj. 1. extremely painfulextremely painful, so that you are unable to move to do something; 2. extremely unpleasantextremely unpleasant, because it is boring, embarrassing, or sad

inhospitableinhospitable: adj. cool and unfriendly multitudes ofmultitudes of: a very great number of subsistencesubsistence: n. the act or state of livelihood

subsistence-level stylessubsistence-level styles: such modes of such modes of living that you are allowed to survive living that you are allowed to survive onlyonly

subsistsubsist [+onon]: to stay alive on only small amounts of food or money

soarsoar: v. to increase quickly to a high level

Health care costs continued to soar.

pay offpay off: to give sb. all the money you owe

them

wipewipe sb./sth. outout: to destroydestroy or removeremove, or

get rid ofget rid of sth. Completely

catastrophecatastrophe: n. 1. a great, often sudden

calamitycalamity; 2. complete failure; a fiascofiasco

essentialessential: n. [C usually plural] sth. that is

important because it is necessary for life or for

doing sth.

turn out well for sb.turn out well for sb.: to happen in a good

way or to have a good result, especially

one that you did not expect

toughtough: adj. 1. able to live through difficult

or severe conditions

2. very determined [resolute] or strict

was tough onwas tough on (=treat someone very

strictly)

it’s time to get tough with get tough with drunk drivers.

[=punish or deal with someone in a

determined and strict with way]

arbitraryarbitrary: adj. decided or arranged without

any reason or plan, often unfairly,

happening by chance

penalizepenalize: vt. to treat someone unfairly or

make them have a disadvantage

of varying degreeof varying degree: 不同程度的 treatabletreatable: adj. a treatable illness or injury

can be helped with drugs or an operation

Means testMeans test: a kind of inquiry into a

person’s financial and property situation

when he needs money from the state 家庭经济情况调查

untreatableuntreatable: that can not be treated 无法治疗的

incurableincurable: that can’t be cured 无法治愈的 eliteelite: n. a group of people who have a lot of

power and influence because they have

money, knowledge, or special skills

elite corpselite corps/collegecollege : a group of people

that contains the best, most educated etc

people of a larger group

dumpdump: v. to get rid of sb. or sth. that you do

not want

Funnel Funnel [+throughthrough/intointo]: v. to pass or be

passed through a narrow opening, especially

to pass a large amount of something

through it

fraudulentfraudulent: adj. engaging in fraud;

deceitful

quackquack: n. informal someone who pretends

to have medical knowledge or skill