VOA慢速英语:Words and Their Stories: Money, Part 3

Most people enjoy working for several reasons. Their job might be fun, or they like their employer and the other people at work. Most people I know, however, work for the money. I do not know anyone who is loaded, or extremely rich. Most of my friends work to earn enough money to live. They have to make ends meet. They have to earn enough money to pay for the things they need. Some even live from hand to mouth. They only have enough money for the most important things.
大多数人热爱他们的工作不外乎以下几个原因。不是他们认为自己的工作很有趣，就是他们对老板很满意，亦或是同事非常友好。但是我所认识的大多数人仅仅为挣钱而工作。我不认识什么有钱人或是大富翁，大多数的朋友都是为生计而奔波。他们通常需要量入为出，努力去赚足够的钱来购买生活必需品。有些人的收入甚至只能勉强糊口，维持生活的基本开销。

They struggle to earn enough money to bring home the bacon. It can be difficult to earn enough money for a family to survive. Sometimes, poor people even get caught short. They do not have enough money to pay for what they need.
他们尽力赚钱来养家糊口，然而要挣足够的钱来维持一家的生计并不容易。有时，穷人甚至会青黄不接，他们没有足够的钱来支付生活所需。

Or they have to spend or lay out more money than they want for something. When this happens, poor people have to tighten their belts and live on less money than usual. I hate when I have to live on less money. It takes me longer to get back on my feet, or return to good financial health.
有时某些的东西的花费会超出他们的预期。当这种情况发生时，穷人们就必须勒紧裤腰带，过比平时更拮据的生活。我可不喜欢过这样的生活。因为我将要花更长的时间来脱离这种困境，或者说是恢复我的财政状况。

However, other people are on the gravy train. They get paid more money than their job is worth. These people make a bundle. They really rake in the cash. In fact, they make so much money that they can live high off the hog. They own the best of everything and live in great ease. Sometimes they pay an arm and a leg for something.
然而有些人却做着不劳而获的美差，他们的薪酬和工作价值不成正比。他们轻而易举就赚了大钱，事实上这些钱也足够让他们过上奢华的生活。他们拥有最好的东西，生活无忧无虑。有时候，他们花很多钱买某样东西。

Because money is no object to wealthy people, they will pay high prices for whatever they want. Sometimes, they even pay through the nose. They pay too much for things.
因为钱对于富人来说不是问题，所以为了得到想要的东西，他们往往愿意付很高价格。有时甚至甘心被敲竹杠，支付过多的钱。

I am not rich. I did not make a killing in the stock market when my stocks increased in value. Yet, I am not poor either. When I go out with friends, I do not want to shell out or pay a lot of money. Often, my friends and I will chip in or pay jointly for a fun night out. When we go to restaurants the meal is Dutch treat. Each person pays his or her own share.
因为钱对于富人来说不是问题，所以为了得到想要的东西，他们往往愿意付很高价格。有时甚至甘心被敲竹杠，支付过多的钱。

Once, the owner of a restaurant gave us a dinner on the house. We did not have to pay for our meals. However, I admit that we had to grease someone’s palm. We had to pay money to the employee who led us to our table. The money was for a special request. Yes, it was a buy off. The employee put us at the top of the list for a table instead of making us wait like everyone else. We had a great time that night and the meal did not set me back at all.?I did not have to pay anything.
有一次，一家餐厅的老板请我们去那里吃晚饭。虽然不需要为晚餐付钱，我们还是需要贿赂一下某人--我们得塞给领我们上桌的服务生一些钱，从而得到一些特殊服务。好吧，我承认这钱是用来疏通关系的。这样，我们便得到了最先上桌的机会，而不是像别的顾客一样慢慢等待。那天晚上很尽兴，晚饭一点都没让我失望。这可算是一顿“霸王餐”啊。

Because of that experience, I will always remember that nice things still happen in a world that is driven by money. But, that is just my two cents worth. It is just my opinion.
有了这段经历，我觉得在金钱驱使下的世界里还是有好事发生的。当然，这只是在下拙见。

(MUSIC)