2010年考研经典短文背诵:第30期

范文：
　　
As can be seen from the picture, the department in a store which sells nutritive products for children is surrounded by crowds of parents, making the salespeople extremely busy. In contrast, the neighboring department that sells similar products for the elderly seems rather deserted by customers. Its saleswoman feels so bored that she can not resist falling asleep.
　　
The picture mirrors a common social phenomenon from a unique angle—people tend to care more for the next generation than the previous one. On the one hand, young couples dote on children, most of whom are the “only children”. Parents endeavor to prepare their kids for a bright future by raising them healthily.

On the other hand, young couples fail to spend time with their old parents, and some of them are even too mean to provide the old with at least a decent living environment.
　　
I think such a trend is quite abnormal and distressing. Filial duty used to be the most highly prized virtue among the Chinese for over two thousand years.

Busy as people are, the duty should not be easily shirked. Supplying our old parents with material and emotional supports is not only a repayment to them, but can also set a good example to educate the youth.
　　
译文：
　　
从图中我们可以看到，一家商店中的儿童营养品专柜前挤满了父母们，以至于售货员几乎要忙不过来了。而隔壁的老年营养品专柜看起来似乎已经被顾客们遗忘了。这个售货员甚至无聊得睡着了。
　　
这幅图从一个独特的视角反映了一个普遍的社会现象，即人们对于下一代的关心超过了上一代。一方面，年轻的夫妇们把大部分的注意力都放在他们的独生子女身上，让他们健康地成长并为他们创造美好的未来。另一方面，年轻夫妇们没能花时间和他们的老父母们在一起，有一些人甚至吝啬得不肯给父母提供像样的居住环境。
　　
我认为这是一个非常不正常和令人沮丧的现象。子女孝敬老人的义务一直是中国两千多年的历史中最为推崇的美德。现代人即使非常忙，但也不应该把这一义务抛之脑后。为父母们提供物质和精神上的关爱和支持不仅是对他们的回报，也为教育年轻一代树立了榜样。