大学英语自学教程 上册 un13

[00:00.00]Unit 13 text A
[00:04.60]Insurance
[00:06.07]保险
[00:07.55]An insurance agent called me this morning.
[00:09.98]今天早上一们保险代理人给我打电话,
[00:12.41]This particular agent wanted to discuss my automobile coverage,
[00:15.58]想和我讨论给我汽车承保的问题,
[00:18.76]but the next agent to call might be interested in my life insurance program
[00:22.39]而下一位打电话来的保险代理人
[00:26.02]my health insurance,or fire protection for my home and furniture.
[00:29.81]则对我的寿险,健康险,我的住宅和家具 的防火险感兴趣.
[00:33.59]The American consumer often feels constantly disturbed by insurance agents
[00:38.57]美国消费都时常感觉到不断受到保险代理人的打扰.
[00:43.55]Many agents selling many different policies
[00:46.52]很多推销各种不同保险的代理人
[00:49.50]call us by phone and sometimes even come to our doors.
[00:53.22]给我们打电话,有时甚至还直闯我们的家门.
[00:56.95]These insurance agents are always friendiy, well dressed,
[01:00.63]这些保险代理人通常都彬彬有礼,衣冠楚楚,
[01:04.31]and eager to be of help.
[01:06.59]一副乐于效劳的样子.
[01:08.86]Yet few Americans really enjoy visiting with these eager helpful men and women.
[01:13.55]然而没有几个美国人真正喜欢这些
[01:18.24]We are not happy when they call us;
[01:20.81]迫切要帮助我们的男男女女的拜访
[01:23.38]we are on guard when they visit our homes
[01:26.32]我们也怀有戒心.
[01:29.26]They are never really our friends;at best, they are a necessary evil.
[01:32.98]他们从来就不是我们真正的朋友,充其量也不过是我们不愿见到而又缺少不了的人.
[01:36.71]Three reasons why we are unwilling to discuss insurance can be suggested
[01:40.68]我们不愿意谈论保险,有三条理由.
[01:44.65]First of all, insurance is expensive.
[01:47.78]首先,保险太贵.
[01:50.92]A young father who purchases a fairly small life insurance policy
[01:54.44]一位年青的父亲买了一分数额挺小的保单,
[01:57.97]agrees to pay a sum of $200 every year for 40 years-a total of $ 8,000.
[02:04.04]同意40年内每年支付200美元共8000美元.
[02:10.12]Many college students pay $ 800 to $1,000 per year for car insurance.
[02:15.25]很多大学生每年花800美元到1000美元给汽车投保.
[02:20.38]In effect,they pay as much for the insurance as they do for the car itself
[02:24.61]事实上,他们买保险的钱和汽车的钱一样多.
[02:28.85]Health insurance that pays for modern medical miracles
[02:32.23]美国人为健康保险,
[02:35.61]often costs Americans as much as $2,000 every year.
[02:39.39]每年因采用现代医学的各种特效成果而支付的健康保险也多达2000美元.
[02:43.16]Adequate insurance is expensive;
[02:45.80]购买足够的保险昂贵,
[02:48.44]it is a major item for most families,
[02:51.47]是大部分家庭的一笔主要支出.
[02:54.50]Insuranee also reminds us that we live in an unsafe world
[02:58.91]保险还提醒我们是生活在一个不安全的世界里.
[03:03.33]We are human and we must face the possibilities of illness,injury
[03:07.96]我们是人,必须面对疾病,受伤,
[03:12.60]death, and financial loss.
[03:15.12]死亡和经济损失的种种可能性.
[03:17.64]Our rational minds recognize the many unfortunate events that can occur,
[03:21.67]理智使我们认识到很多不幸事件会发生,
[03:25.69]but in our hearts we hope that we might be spared.
[03:29.62]但在心里我们却希望能得以幸免.
[03:33.55]Serious injury or death is not a pleasant subjectto discuss or even consider.
[03:38.44]严重受伤或死亡并不是我们高兴谈论或甚至愿意考虑的问题.
[03:43.32]We are afraid; we would rather talk about football or the weather
[03:47.89]我们觉得害怕,因此更愿意谈谈足球,天气
[03:52.46]or what we had for lunch.
[03:54.95]或午饭吃了什么.
[03:57.43]Finally, insurance is a difficult, complex subject.
[04:01.36]最后,保险是一个困难,复杂的话题.
[04:05.29]No one understands it completely and only a few insurance professionals
[04:09.82]没有人完全明白它,只有少数的专业保险人员
[04:14.35]really feel comfortable in a discussion
[04:16.99]能真正游刃有余地谈论投保汽车,
[04:19.63]of automobile, life,and major medical coverages.
[04:22.71]人寿和主要的医疗险别.
[04:25.80]We feel inadequate and try to hide our ignorance by avoiding discussions of insurance.
[04:30.77]我们感到知之不足,所以想逃避谈论保险,以掩饰我们的无知.