图书在版编目()数据
这就是美国 = Welcome! This is America:
英文 /
（美）兰兹伯格（Landsberg, O.M.）著.
西安： 西安
交通大学出版社， 2010 （2013.9重印）
ISBN 978-7-5605-3642-2
Ⅰ.①这…Ⅱ.①兰…Ⅲ.①教育-概况-美国-英
文Ⅳ. ①G571.2
中国版本图书馆CIP数据核字
(2010)
第
143861号
陕版出图字： 25-2009-064号
Welcome!This is America ○c 2008 Olga
Mark Landsberg Edition in simplified
Chinese
characters
arranged
through
Anemann
Literary
Agency,
USA
(www.USALiveWorkExplore.com),
and
Big
Apple Tuttle-Mori Agency, Inc, China. All
Rights Reserved.
书名 这就是美国
著者（美） Olga Mark Landsberg
译者 吴春晓
责任编辑 黄科丰 刘格均
封面设计 贾臻臻
出版发行 西安交通大学出版社
地址 西安市兴庆南路10号(邮编： 710049)
电话（010）6260558862605019（发行部）
（029）82668315（总编室）
读者信箱 bj62605588@163.com
印刷 北京四季青印刷厂
字数480千
开本787mm×1092mm1/16
印张28.75
版次2013年9月第1版第5次印刷
书号ISBN 978-7-5605-3642-2/G·404
定价45.00元
版权所有 侵权必究
如有缺页、倒页、脱页等印装质量问题，请拨
打服务热线： 010-62605166
In search of your own America
探寻您自己的美国
Chapter 1 Culture and American society
第一章 美国社会与文化
Chapter 2 Know your rights!
第二章 了解您的权利
Chapter 3 The government and the
people
第三章 政府与人民
Chapter 4 National and ethnic holidays
第四章 全国性节日与民族节日
Chapter 5 Inviting others to the U.S.
第五章 邀请他人赴美访问须知
Chapter 6 Temporary visas and nonimmigrant status
第六章 临时签证与非移民身份
Chapter 7 What you absolutely need to
do before you leave
第七章 临行必做事宜
Chapter 8 Lodging and temporary
housing
第八章 投宿与寻找临时住处
Chapter 9 Public transportation, fares
and rules
第九章 公共交通及相关费用与法规
Chapter 10 Car rental
第十章 租车须知
Chapter 11 Tips for pedestrians
第十一章 行人须知
Chapter 12 Getting a bite to eat
第十二章 随便吃点
Chapter 13 Shopping
第十三章 购物指南
Chapter 14 Grocery stores and
alcoholic beverages
第十四章 便利店与酒水饮料
Chapter 15 Entertainment
第十五章 休闲娱乐
Chapter 16 Opening a bank account
第十六章 银行开户
Chapter 17 Keeping in touch (phones,
faxes and the Internet)
第十七章 保持联络（电话、传真与因特
网）
Chapter 18 Better safe than sorry
第十八章 有备无患
Chapter 19 Extending your stay and
changing your immigration status
第十九章 申请签证延期与改签
Chapter 20 The Infamous Green Cards
第二十章 蒙羞的绿卡
Chapter 21 Legal help
第二十一章 法律援助
Chapter 22 What to do first as a
recent immigrant
第二十二章 新移民必做事宜
Chapter 23 Getting your SSN
第二十三章 获取社安号
Chapter 24 Getting your driver's
license
第二十四章 考取驾照
Chapter 25 Looking for work
第二十五章 求职
Chapter 26 Renting an apartment
第二十六章 租房
Chapter 27 Setting up phone service at
home
第二十七章 申请宅电
Chapter 28 Basic everyday services and
how to use them
第二十八章 基本日常服务与有效利用
Chapter 29 Getting credit
第二十九章 申办信用卡
Chapter 30 Buying or leasing a car
第三十章 买车或租车
Chapter 31 Buying and selling real
estate
第三十一章 房产买卖
Chapter 32 Home improvements and
contractors
第三十二章 房屋修缮与承包商
Chapter 33 Investing
第三十三章 投资
Chapter 34 Starting and running a
business
第三十四章 企业类型与商业运作
Chapter 35 Paying your taxes
第三十五章 纳税
Chapter 36 The way we love
第三十六章 恋爱在美国
Chapter 37 Getting married
第三十七章 结婚
Chapter 38 Getting Divorced
第三十八章 离异
Chapter 39 Sex in America
第三十九章 性在美国
Chapter 40 Extramarital affairs
第四十章 婚外恋
Chapter 41 Hiring a babysitter or
nanny
第四十一章 雇用幼儿看护或育儿保姆
Chapter 42 Enrolling your child in a
preschool
第四十二章 子女的学前教育
Chapter 43 Enrolling your child in a
grade or high school
第四十三章 子女的基础教育或高中入学
Chapter 44 Getting a college or
professional degree
第四十四章 如何获取大学学位或专业文凭
Chapter 45 The American way of
speaking English
第四十五章 美式英语口语
Chapter 46 Ethnic neighborhoods and
assimilation
第四十六章 移民社区与同化
Chapter 47 Getting along with your
neighbors, friends and relatives
第四十七章 与邻里亲朋的相处之道
Chapter 48 Charities, donations and
membership
第四十八章 慈善、捐赠与会员申请
Chapter 49 Health care and insurance
第四十九章 医疗保健与医疗保险
Chapter 50 Other types of insurance
and picking the right policy
第五十章 其他险种与保单选择
Chapter 51 Government health care and
assistance programs
第五十一章 政府医疗与资助项目
Chapter 52 Assistance for the elderly
and the disabled
第五十二章 对老年人与残疾人的资助
Chapter 53 Protecting yourself from
domestic violence
第五十三章 家庭暴力与自我防护
Chapter 54 Criminal cases and your
rights if you're arrested
第五十四章 刑事案件与被捕时享有的权利
Chapter 55 Getting out on bail
第五十五章 取保候审
Chapter 56 Court decisions and appeals
第五十六章 法庭裁决与上诉
Chapter 57 When permanent residents
break the law
第五十七章 当永久居民违法时
Chapter 58 Taking trips
第五十八章 旅行
Chapter 59 Getting permission to leave
the country temporarily
第五十九章 如何获准短期出境
Chapter 60 Becoming a U.S. citizen
第六十章 如何成为美国公民
Chapter 61 Separated for life
第六十一章 永久的分离
Chapter 62 The American dream and
American disappointment
第六十二章 美国梦与美国失意
Epilogue
跋
Introduction：
序 言---
In search of your own America
探寻您自己的美国
People
around
the
world
have
completely different ideas and opinions
about America.Some for example
世界各地的人们对美国的见解大相径庭，比如
说，有些人：
·know only a little about the
country
·Know only about Hollywood films or
pop music
·Think they know enough to make up
their own minds about America
·Are fascinated by America
·Long to visit America
·Dream of getting an education or a
job here
·Want to move to the U.S.
·Come to the U.S. to make their
lives here
·Live in the States but dream of
leaving
·对这个国度知之甚少
·只知道好莱坞大片或流行音乐
·自以为知之甚多，足以形成自己对美国的
见解
·痴迷于这个国度
·期待赴美参观或访问
·梦想赴美接受教育或供职
·想移民美国
·想赴美谋生
·身在美国，却想着离开
All of these people live in various
countries,speak
various
languages,and
have
various
ethnic
and
cultural
traditions.But what do they have in
common?
这些人生活在不同的国家，说着不同的语言，
有着不同的民族文化传统。那么，他们有什么共同
之处呢？
They all want to know more about the
country that shapes so much of what goes
on in our world today.
那就是他们都希望进一步了解这个国家，因为
当今世界的很多模式都是在这里酝酿出炉的。
In hopes of learning more,every year
more than 31 million foreigners visit the
United States.Every year,more than three
hundred thousand students come to study
or spend a semester abroad at U.S.
colleges and universities.Every year,more
than a million people begin a new life in
America,coming to the country as legal or
illegal immigrants,refugees or asylum
seekers.Every year,more than half a
million
people
become
U.S.
citizens,either through naturalization or
birth on U.S. soil.And each and every one
of them,just like the explorers of
yesteryear,is constantly discovering his
or her own personal America.
为进一步了解这个国度，每年都有超过3100 万
的外国人来到美国。每年都会有30 多万名学生来
此求学或在美国的大学度过一个学期。每年都有上
百万人在美国开始新的生活，他们或为合法移民，
或为非法移民、难民，亦或是寻求庇护者。每年，
有超过50 万人通过入籍或者因在美国国土上降生
而成为美国公民。而每个人，同昔日的探险者一
样，都在不断探索和发现着属于自己的那个美国。
Why do so many people feel so strongly
about America?Why are so many people
intereted in this rather insular far away
country?why so many people dream of
living here?
何以会有那么多人对美国有如此强烈的感受？
何以会有那么多人对这个遥远的岛国产生兴趣、进
而梦想着来此生活呢？
This book tries to answer those
questions,as well as many others about a
nation that generation after generation
of immigrants has helped build.It gives a
detailed portrait of life in the United
States,including
本书试图解开这些谜团，并回答有关这个国家--一个由一代代的移民协助建设起来的国家---的
其他问题。本书将详尽描述美国生活的方方面面，
包括：
·Americans' values
·The traditions,customs and quirks
you'll encounter in the U.S.
·What to do in certain situations
·What it means to make it big in
America
·美国人的价值观
·美国的传统、习俗以及您在美国可能会遇
到的怪事
·某些场合的行为规范
·在美国获得成功意味着什么
Hopefully,it will also give you food
for
thought.You
may
find
yourself
thinking about
但愿此书还能给您提供一些精神食粮，通过阅
读本书，或许您会开始思考这样一些问题：
·Your native country
·Your personal values
·Your family and its future
·Your education
·Your career
·Your relationships with your
friends and relatives
·Whether you're cut out for life in
the States
·Whether you're willing to accept
temporary setbacks on the road to a
successful future
·关于您的祖国
·您本人的价值观
·您的家庭及其未来
·您的教育
·您的事业
·您和亲友的关系
·您是否天生适合在美国生活
·您是否愿意接受在通往成功之路上的暂时
性挫折
Whatever conclusions you come to about
yourself and America,you'll find valuable
information in every chapter to help you
reach your goals without spending a lot
of
time,energy
and
money
in
the
process.And even if you never set foot in
the U.S.,you'll see that this book is a
guide to surviving and succeeding in
modern society,no matter what country you
may find yourself in.
关于您自己和美国，无论您得出什么样的结
论，您都会在本书的各个章节中找到有价值的信
息，让您既省时，又省力、省钱地达到目标。即便
您从未涉足美国，也不管您现在身处何方，本书都
会就如何在现代社会中求得生存并获得成功为您提
供指导。
After reading this guide,you'll be
better equipped to make up your own mind
about America and the people who live in
this complicated but very gratifying
place.You will also discover,wherever you
may be,that your skills,desires and hard
work
will
eventually
lead
you
to
success.Ameica and its people are proof
of this.
读过本书以后，您会对美国有更加全面的认
识，也会更加了解那些居住在这个复杂却又令人愉
悦的国度里的人民。您还会发现，无论您身在何
处，您的技能、憧憬及努力付出终将带您走向成
功。关于这一点，美国和她的人民就是明证。
Chapter 1 Culture and American
society
第一章 美国社会与文化
Through the mass media, the entire
world watches Americans and has a chance
to observe
大众传媒让全世界看到了美国人，也让他们有
机会观察和了解美国的方方面面，比如：
·Americans' style of dress
·The inside of American homes and
public buildings
·American restaurants and their
food varieties
·How Americans act at home and in
public
·American business
·Americans' political orientations
·How some Americans treat
immigrants
·How Americans treat money, both
their own and someone else's
·美国人的衣着
·美国的民宅和公共建筑的内部装潢
·美国的饭店及多种多样的美食
·美国人在家和在外的言谈举止
·美国的商业运营
·美国人的政治取向
·一些美国人如何对待外来移民
·美国人的金钱观（包括对个人及他人的钱
财）
But you can't believe everything you
see on television or in the movies. So
what are we Americans really like?What
unites all of us,regardless of our race,
ethnicity or religion?
对电视或电影里的描述，您不可全信。那么，
美国人到底是什么样的呢？是什么力量把这些原本
属于不同民族、种族和信奉不同宗教的人凝聚在一
起的呢？
We are different. For example,many of
us
我们每个人各不相同，比如，我们中很多人：
·Are open-minded and curious
·Are uninhibited and fun-loving
·Like to make fun of ourselves and
tease others gently, without hurting
their feelings
·Like to express ourselves directly
while looking others straight in the
eye
·Take things literally at times
·Believe we are the exception to
the rule
·Are taught from an early age to be
self-reliant and responsible for our
actions
·Are taught our self-worth and
self-respect from a young age
·Have ancestors from other lands
and proudly announce that we are
German,Irish, Russian, Greek or...
·Have our own, invariably
optimistic, attitudes toward life
·Try to solve our problems on our
own
·Have one answer to the
question,“How are you?”and
that's“Fine, Thanks!”
·Prefer shallow relationships and
conversations about general topics that
end well...with everyone except our
very close friends
·Don't get involved in other
people's personal affairs
·Are proud of ourselves and our
country, which we believe is the best
in the world
·Are psychologically prepared to
conquer our weaknesses, diseases,
financial problems and difficulties
·Love to win in any form, be it the
championship game of our favorite team,
the lottery, scoring the best bargain
or hitting the jackpot at a casino
·Love things big and roomy, whether
it's a multi-acre ranch, the huge
bathroom off the master suite, giant
closets,massive malls or endless
freeways
·Are not sure anymore that we work
more than anyone else in the world
·Think that someone who doesn't
have a job is a bit strange or
suspicious
·Are tolerant of illegal and legal
immigrants. In each state this
situation is different.
·Love children and animals
·Spoil our children very much
·Don't necessarily see a family as
a life-long commitment
·Dream of having a happy marriage
·Believe in democracy and strive to
keep our society free
·Believe that everyone is equal
before the law
·思想开放，好奇心强
·无拘无束，风趣幽默
·喜欢自嘲，也喜欢打趣，但是不会伤及他
人的情感
·喜欢直视别人的眼睛，并直率地表达自己
的想法
·有时会直来直去
·相信我们自己就是例外
·从小受教要自立、并对自己的行为负责
·很小就受教要自我尊重并认识到自我的价
值
·有来自其他地方的祖先，并且会骄傲地宣
称，我们是德国人、爱尔兰人、俄罗斯人、希腊
人或……
·有自己独特的人生观，而乐观则是我们永
恒的人生态度
·总是试图自己解决问题
·对“你好吗？”这个问题只有一种回答，
那就是：“很好，谢谢！”
·除了非常亲近的朋友之外，更喜欢和人泛
泛地交往，也更喜欢与他们就肤浅、宽泛且易达
成一致的话题进行交谈
·不太愿意卷入别人的私生活
·为自己和自己的祖国感到骄傲和自豪，并
且相信美国是世界上最好的国家
·做好了心理准备去克服缺点、战胜疾病、
解决经济上或其他方面的困难
·什么都喜欢赢，无论是最钟爱球队的总决
赛还是博彩、讨价还价或是在游乐场打老虎机
·喜欢大而宽敞的地方，不论是占地很多亩
的农场、主卧旁的大浴室、大衣橱、大型超市，
还是一眼看不到头的高速公路
·不再确信自己是世界上最勤劳的人了
·总觉得没有工作的人有点怪，甚至可疑
·对合法和不合法的移民都能接受，但每个
州的情况有所不同
·爱孩子，爱动物
·非常溺爱孩子
·认为家庭不一定是终生的责任
·梦想拥有幸福的婚姻
·相信民主并且致力于维护社会的自由
·相信法律面前人人平等
So, we are different. At the same time
we respect each other's points of view
and ideas even if they are different from
our own. However, we are common in one
thing: we want and strive to have happy
lives.
这样看来，我们的确有点与众不同。同时，我
们尊重他人的观点和看法，即便他们的见解与我们
的不一样。然而，我们在一件事情上是相同的：那
就是我们都努力追求幸福的生活。
Chapter 2 Know your rights!
第二章 了解您的权利
You'll often hear Americans talk about
rights-knowing
them,
winning
them,defending them-in the media and in
everyday conversation. Much of U.S.
domestic and foreign policy aims to
establish and protect people's rights.
Many foreigners are surprised to discover
that average Americans who are notorious
for knowing little about the world around
them are very well informed about their
own rights. The constant debate at
various levels of society over expanding
or limiting citizens' rights is one of
the
driving
forces
behind
American
democracy. Children are introduced to
this debate early on, as preschool and
school teachers explain to them what
rights people have in the U.S. and how
they
are
protected.
Some
immigrant
parents find it confusing and disturbing
when their children tell them they are
violating their rights. However, as
members
of
a
rights-based
society,
parents have to respect the rights of
every person in the U.S., including those
of their own children.
在媒体上，在日常对话中，您都会经常听到美
国人谈论权利---了解权利、赢得权利和保护权
利。美国有很多内政外交政策都旨在确立并保障人
民的权利。很多外国人都会惊奇地发现，即便是大
家公认的对周围世界茫然无知的一般美国人，都会
对自己的权利了如指掌。在社会各个阶层进行的、
关于扩大或限制公民权利的讨论是美国民主背后的
驱动力之一。学前班或者小学的老师都会给孩子们
解释美国人享受什么样的权利以及他们是如何受到
保护的，所以孩子们很早就接触这样的讨论了。很
多移民来的父母听到孩子们说他们的权利被父母侵
犯时，都会感到困惑和不安。但在以民主权利为立
国之本的美国，父母必须尊重每个人的权利，其中
也包括他们自己的孩子。
The basic rights that all residents of
the U.S. have, regardless of their race,
nationality or religion, are set out in
the Bill of Rights, the first 10
amendments to the U.S. Constitution,
ratified in 1791:
对美国宪法的第一次修订包括十条修正案，这
些修正案被称为《权利法案》，该法案于1791年生
效，其中明确指出不论种族、民族或宗教，美国公
民均享受以下基本权利：
·The First Amendment guarantees
freedom of speech, press and conscience
and the right to peaceful assembly and
to petition the government
·The Second Amendment guarantees
the right to keep and bear arms as part
of a state militia
·The Third Amendment states that
soldiers cannot be quartered in
someone's home without the homeowner's
permission even in wartime, but only
according to the law
·The Fourth Amendment protects
people from unreasonable search and
seizure of their property without
probable cause and a search warrant
·The Fifth Amendment guarantees due
process, protects people from giving
testimony against themselves and
protects them being tried twice for the
same crime
·The Sixth Amendment guarantees the
right to a prompt trial by an impartial
jury in the district where a crime was
committed and guarantees access to a
defense lawyer and witnesses
·The Seventh Amendment guarantees
the right to a jury trial for all
matters exceeding $20 and protects
people from having a case retried,
except“according to the rules of the
common law”
·The Eighth Amendment prohibits
cruel and unusual punishments or
excessive bail and fines
·The Ninth Amendment states that
people have rights beyond those given
explicitly in the Constitution
·The Tenth Amendment states that
any powers not granted to the federal
government by the Constitution or
prohibited to the states will
automatically go to the states and the
people
·第一修正案保障公民享有言论、出版、信
仰及和平集会和请愿的自由。
·第二修正案保障作为州民兵的公民持有和
携带武器的权利。
·第三修正案规定，在和平时期，未经主人
许可，士兵不得驻扎于任何民房；在战争时期，
除法律规定以外亦不得进驻民房。
·第四修正案规定，在没有正当理由和搜查
令的情况下，人民及其财产不受无理搜查或扣押
的权利不得侵犯。
·第五修正案确保未经正当司法程序，公民
有不自证其罪的权利，并确保他们不因同一犯罪
行为而两次受审。
·第六修正案确保被告有权要求由犯罪行为
发生地组织公正的陪审团对自己的案件进行及时
的审判，并有权获得自己的辩护律师和证人。
·第七修正案确保争执价额超过20美元的案
件都能由陪审团进行审判，并且除依照习惯法规
则之外，不得对公民一案再审。
·第八修正案禁止施加残酷的和非常的刑
罚，禁止索要过多的保释金和过重的罚金。
·第九修正案规定，公民保有其他在宪法中
未作出明确规定的权利。
·第十修正案规定，宪法未赋予联邦政府的
权利以及未禁止各州行使的权利，自动由各州及
其人民保有。
In 1870, after the end of the Civil
War, which was sparked by a widespread
debate over slavery, the U.S. Congress
passed the 15th Amendment. It guarantees
voting rights for all citizens regardless
of
their
race,
color
or
previous
enslavement.
一场关于奴隶制度的广泛辩论引发了美国内
战，1870年内战结束后，美国议会通过了第十五条
修正案。该修正案保障美国公民不论种族、肤色、
或者先前是否为奴隶，均享有选举权。
In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave all
women the right to vote. Before this
amendment, women's voting rights varied
from state to state.
1920年通过的第十九条修正案规定，妇女享有
选举权。在此之前，妇女的选举权在各州的情况不
尽相同。
The 24th Amendment, ratified in 1964,
reinforces the right for all to vote
regardless of whether they can pay a poll
tax or other tax. Historically, taxes
were used in many parts of the United
States to prevent poorer voters from
casting their ballots.
1964年生效的第二十四条修正案重新强调，所
有公民都有选举权，而不论其能否缴纳人头税或者
其他税收。在历史上，美国的很多地区都是用税收
来限制贫穷的选民投票的。
In 1971, the 26th Amendment set the
voting age at 18 nation wide. Before
that,men could be drafted into the
military at 18, but were not allowed to
vote. The Vietnam War provoked widespread
criticism of this contradiction, which
led to the amendment.
1971年通过的第二十六条修正案则确定了18岁
为选举的法定年龄。在此之前，男性公民年满18岁
可以应征入伍，但没有选举权。越南战争使这个自
相矛盾的规定广受诟病，最后促成了该修正案的诞
生。
Another document dear to Americans'
hearts
is
the
Declaration
of
Independence,ratified
in
1776.
It
contains what may be the best summary of
America's faith in rights.It states
that“all men are created equal”and that
all have an equal right to“life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness”. You'll
often hear these phrases quoted by
Americans, and they inspire the residents
of the U.S. to this day.
另一个深得美国民心的文件是于1776年通过的
《独立宣言》，它是对美国权利信念的最好的总
结。它阐明“人人生而平等”，而且都享有“生命
权、自由权和追求幸福之权利”。您能经常听到美
国人引用这样的话语，而且它们至今仍能给美国人
民以启示。
On
the
U.S.
National
Archives'
website, you can read more and see copies
of
these
fascinating
documents
at
www.archives.gov/national-archivesexperience/charters/charters.html.You can
also see them in person if you visit the
U.S. National Archives in Washington,D.C.
as thousands of Americans do every year.
在美国国家档案馆的网站
www.archives.gov/national-archivesexperience/charters/charters.html, 您还可
以读到更多或者看到这些珍贵文件的复印件。您还
可以亲眼去华盛顿美国国家档案馆看一看，每年都
有成千上万的美国人这么做。
Chapter 3 The government and the
people
第三章 政府与人民
In the U.S., the government has the
right to govern because the people grant
it the power to do so. The founding
documents
of
the
U.S.
state
that
government
is“by
the
people,
for
thepeople,and
of
the
people”.Historically, the U.S.government
was founded on the following values:
在美国，政府有执政权，因为人民赋予了它这
样的权力。美国的立国文件阐明了美国“民治、民
享、民有”的政府理念。根据历史事实，美国政府
是在以下价值观的基础上缔造起来的：
·Freedom
·Opportunity
·Equality
·Justice
·自由
·机会
·平等
·正义
In accordance with the Constitution,
the U.S. government protects the rights
of every person regardless of race,
color, country of origin, culture or
faith. In return,citizens give their
loyalty to the government and do what
they can to contribute to American
society.If you plan on applying for U.S.
citizenship, you'll be asked to serve the
U.S. government loyally and share these
values.When taking your citizenship oath,
as a new American, you will swear to
根据美国宪法，美国政府保护每个人的权利，
不论其种族、肤色、原国籍、文化背景和信仰。反
过来，公民则应对政府忠诚，尽其所能回报美国社
会。如果您打算申请成为美国公民，那么您会被要
求为美国政府效忠，并分享其价值观。进行公民宣
誓时，作为一名美国新公民，要如此宣誓：
·Support and defend the country's
Constitution and laws from internal and
external enemies
·Be loyal to the U.S. government
·Be ready to carry arms to defend
the country
·Be ready, if necessary, to
participate in a militia
·Be ready, if necessary, to
participate in civil affairs
·支持和捍卫国家宪法、法律不受任何国内
外敌人的破坏
·对美国政府忠诚
·时刻准备为保卫祖国而拿起武器
·时刻准备着，必要时参加民兵组织
·时刻准备着，必要时参加民事活动
Americans get actively involved in
politics and various civic duties. Many
of them over the age of 18 occasionally
serve on a jury. They serve based on the
Seventh
Amendment
to
the
U.S.
Constitution:To make the right decision,
jury members are only supposed to pay
attention to the evidence and arguments
they hear at the trial. They shouldn't
have any prior knowledge of the case from
the media or be familiar with public
opinion about the case. They shouldn't
have any similar personal experience
either.
美国人积极参与政治活动和各种民事活动。很
多18岁以上的公民要偶尔作为陪审员履行陪审职
责。他们的这项职责是基于美国宪法第七修正案中
的规定：为作出正确裁决，陪审团成员只能依据呈
堂证供及在审判中听到的内容作出判断。他们不应
该预先通过媒体了解此案，或者熟悉公众对此案的
态度。他们也不应该有任何相似的个人经历。
Men between the ages of 18 and 26 must
serve their country in a very concrete
way.They
have
to
register
for
the
Selective Service, which means they can
be drafted in case of amajor war.
年龄在18到26岁之间的男性公民必须用一种很
具体的方式为国家服务。他们要进行义务兵役登
记，这意味着一旦有重大战事，他们就能应征入
伍。
☆ If you can't take up arms due to your
religious convictions or other reasons,inform
Selective Service officials when you register.
☆ 如果您因为宗教信仰或者其他原因不能使用武器，那
么在登记时要向负责征兵的官员说明情况。
Most
Americans
are
law-abiding
citizens who respect order and follow the
rules.They don't smoke in no smoking
areas, eat on public transportation if
it's forbidden or drink alcohol on the
street.Almost always, if Americans see
someone breaking the law, they will alert
the police. Americans learn from an early
age to call the authorities if they
notice something suspicious or alarming,
such as
多数美国人是守法公民，他们尊重秩序，遵守
规定。他们不在无烟区吸烟，不在禁止吃东西的公
共交通工具上吃东西，也不会当街饮酒。多数情况
下，如果美国人看到有人犯法，他们会报警。美国
人很小就学会一点，即看到可疑现象或紧急情况要
向当局汇报，比如：
·The smell of gas, smoke or
chemicals
·A sudden blackout
·An illegally parked car
·A child left without adult
supervision
·Improper recycling or thedisposal
of trash in a dangerous or illegal way
·A neighbor doing something
potentially related to drugs,
prostitution or other crimes
·Aggressive behavior toward
neighbors, children or pets
·闻到天然气、烟味或化学物品的味道
·突然停电
·非法泊车
·儿童没有成人监护
·垃圾回收处理不当，如以危险或非法的方
式丢弃垃圾
·邻居涉嫌私下从事毒品交易、嫖娼或者其
他犯罪行为
·对邻居、儿童或宠物有侵犯行为
☆ Many Americans will inform the police if
something seems suspicious, just for their own
peace of mind and personal safety.
☆ 注意到可疑行径时，就算出于让自己安心或为自己的
安全考虑，多数美国人也会选择报警。
In addition to keeping an eye out for
trouble,
many
Americans
actively
participate
in
neighborhood
or
professional associations.
除了警惕性高以外，多数美国人都积极地参与
邻里活动或者是专业团体。
☆ If you have a conflict with your neighbors
or colleagues, try to end the tension or fix the
problem as soon as possible.Otherwise, your
building manager or boss may find out about it
from someone else.
☆ 如果您和邻居或同事发生了冲突，最好尽快缓和紧张
关系或者想办法把问题解决了。否则，您的寓所经理或老板
会从别人那里获知此事。
The government provides a lot of
information
about
its
programs
and
activities to the public. If you write a
letter to a government agency, you will
receive a letter, phone call or email in
reply, even if it takes a while. Every
government agency will respond in some
way to a petition or question, regardless
of the immigration status of the person
who sent it. Many laws and court
precedents uphold citizens' rights to get
information from the government.
美国政府会就其举措和活动向公众发布大量信
息。如果您给一个政府机构写信，您会收到回信、
回电或者回复的电子邮件，即使有时候时间会有些
长。各个政府机构都会对上访或质疑作出回应，哪
怕上访者或质疑者是一名移民。很多法律和法院判
例都支持公民从政府获取信息的权利。
If you're interested in what's going
on in the U.S. Congress, you can go to
www.house.gov
or
www.senate.gov.
At
www.whitehouse.org, you can find detailed
information about the president and his
administration.
如果您对美国议会的运转感兴趣，您可以登录
www.house.gov
或www.senate.gov，而登录
www.whitehouse.org的话，您可以获得关于总统
及其行政部门的详细信息。
Chapter 4 National and ethnic
holidays
第四章 全国性节日与民族节日
Americans adore holidays. They love to
plan their celebrations carefully ahead
of time and make every effort to spend
every holiday they can with their nearest
and dearest. You can trace America's
unique history through its holidays, many
of which mark its founding, settlement
and expansion. Of all the festive dates
on American calendars, perhaps the most
well-loved of them all is Christmas and
the beginning of the New Year. Many
Americans spend their Christmas vacation
bidding a fond farewell to the old year
and
reminiscing
about
what
they
accomplished and experienced that year.
They celebrate the arrival of the next
year with similar zest. So, you may ask,
what new holidays await you on your
journey of discovery in America?
美国人爱过节。他们会提前认真地筹备庆祝活
动，并且每个节假日都会尽量和最亲、最近的人共
同度过。您可以通过美国的节日了解其独特的历
史，其中很多节日都与美国的建国、定居及扩张有
关。在美国日历上标出的所有节庆日中，最受欢迎
的节日大概就是圣诞节和新年了。多数美国人过圣
诞节时都会惜别过去的一年，并追忆那一年中取得
的成就和获得的经验，但也会同样满怀激情地迎接
新的一年。那么，也许您要问，在您的美国发现之
旅中会有什么样的节日静候着您呢？
New Year's Eve falls on the evening of
December 31 and is a special night in the
American year. Depending on their taste
and budget, Americans like to celebrate
New Year'sEve in all sorts of exotic and
not-so-exotic locales:
新年前夜。美国“新年前夜”是在每年12月的
31日，这是美国一年中一个特殊的夜晚。根据自己
的品位和预算，美国人喜欢到各种充满异域风情的
地方去过年，但有时也去一些不那么标新立异的地
方，如：
·Hawaii
·New York City on Times Square
·Las Vegas
·At home, with their nearest and
dearest
·In Southern California, where they
can watch the annual Rose Parade in
Pasadena in the morning or ride in the
Los Angeles-San Diego bike race
·夏威夷
·纽约时代广场
·拉斯维加斯
·在家和最亲近的人共度
·到南加利福尼亚州，可以在上午观看帕萨
迪纳一年一度的玫瑰花游行，也可以参加洛杉
矶-圣地亚哥自行车赛
Many
cities
have
festivals
and
carnivals downtown that are alcohol-free,
and offer wonderful concerts, kids'
activities, food and fireworks. You'll
find these events advertised in your
local
newspaper
in
December.
New
Year'sDay is the actual holiday.
很多城市都有自己的庆祝活动和嘉年华会。嘉
年华会一般在市中心举行，届时会有精彩的音乐
会、儿童游艺活动、美食品尝和焰火表演等，但禁
止饮酒。每到12月份，地方报纸就会纷纷给这些活
动打广告了。新年才是真正的节日。
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the third
Monday in January, honors the leader of
the Civil Rights Movement, a peaceful
movement in the 1950s and 1960s to end
racial segregation and discrimination.
This holiday is fairly new and is often
celebrated as a “day on”instead of
a“day off.”People go out and help
others in their community, and Martin
Luther
King's
famous
speeches
are
broadcast, recited and discussed around
the country.
马丁·路德·金纪念日。马丁·路德·金纪
念日在每年1月的第三个星期一，纪念这位民权
运动的领袖。民权运动是20世纪五六十年代为结
束种族隔离和歧视制度而发起的和平抗议运动。
这是一个比较“新”的节日，所以经常是“照常
上班”不放假。这一天，人们会出去帮助社区中
的其他人，广播里会播放马丁·路德·金的著名
演讲，全国上下还会开展背诵和讨论这一演讲的
活动。
Presidents' Day, the third Monday in
February, honors the country's first
presidents.
总统日。总统日也称“华盛顿纪念日”，在每
年2月的第三个星期一，用来纪念国家早期的总统
们。
Easter falls on a different Sunday in
spring each year, depending on church
calendars.
Though
it's
primarily
a
Christian holiday, many Americans of all
different backgrounds enjoy the holiday's
treats that celebrate spring: chocolate
rabbits,jellybeans and colorfully dyed
eggs. Easter is preceded by Good Friday,
when many churches hold special services.
复活节。复活节会在每年春天的某个星期日，
它是依照教历来定的。尽管最初这是个基督教的节
日，但在这一天，很多来自不同背景的美国人都喜
欢吃各种节日美食，如巧克力兔、果冻豆以及彩蛋
等，来庆祝春天的到来。复活节前是耶稣受难日，
届时很多教会都会举行特殊的礼拜。
Memorial Day is the last Monday in May
and honors Americans who have died in
war.
阵亡将士纪念日。阵亡将士纪念日在每年5月的
最后一个星期一，纪念所有在战争中阵亡的美国
人。
Independence Day, July 4, marks the
day in 1776 when the 13 New England
colonies
signed
the
Declaration
of
Independence in Philadelphia. Across the
country, people celebrate this day as the
official birthdate of the country with
concerts,
parades,
fireworks
and
barbeques.
独立日。独立日在每年的7月4日，纪念1776年
的7月4日13个新英格兰殖民地在费城签署《独立宣
言》。在美国，人们把独立日当作国庆日。这一
天，举国上下会举办各种音乐会，或进行游行、焰
火表演以及烧烤等活动。
Labor
Day,
the
first
Monday
in
September, honors the contribution of
America's working men and women and its
labor unions.
劳动节。劳动节在每年9月的第一个星期一，以
感谢在美国工作的男男女女及其工会对美国作出的
贡献。
Columbus Day is observed on the second
Monday in October in honor of Christopher
Columbus' landing in America in 1492.
哥伦布日。哥伦布日为每年10月的第二个星
期一，以纪念克里斯托弗·哥伦布于1492年登上
美洲大陆。
Veterans Day, November 11, is observed
in almost all states and honors veterans
who have fought in past wars.
老兵纪念日。老兵纪念日又称“退伍军人
节”，在每年的11月11日，几乎所有州都过这个节
日，以纪念所有曾经在战争中作战的退伍军人。
Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday
in November, marks the arrival of the
first permanent European settlers, the
pilgrims from England. On this day,
Americans give thanks for their land and
for the assistance of Native Americans
who helped the settlers work the American
soil and helped them get through the
first winter by sharing their food and
shelter. In most homes, you'll find
Americans getting together and eating a
baked turkey with cranberry sauce, mashed
potatoes, winter root vegetables like
sweet potatoes or yams, corn, and pumpkin
or other pies for desert. This menu
represents the traditional food that the
Pilgrims enjoyed with the local native
Americans during the celebration of their
first year.
感恩节。感恩节在每年11月的第四个星期四，
为纪念第一批欧洲移民---来自英国的清教徒---在
美洲开始永久性定居。这一天，美国人会感谢他们
脚下的土地，也会感谢美洲土著人曾经帮助那批移
民耕种土地，并和他们分享食物和住处，使得他们
得以度过第一个严冬。很多美国家庭会聚在一起吃
烤火鸡、红莓苔子果酱、土豆泥、冬季块茎类蔬菜
（如甜地瓜或甜山芋），还有玉米、南瓜饼或其他
甜点。这些东西都是感恩节的传统食品，是当初清
教徒和美洲土著人庆祝共同度过第一年时所享用的
传统美食。
Christmas,
December
25,
is
a
traditional Christian holiday celebrating
the birth of Jesus, though many of its
traditions - decorated trees, and holly
and mistletoe in the home - predate
Christianity. Christmas has become not
only America's favorite holiday, but also
the world's. Warm wishes, loads of gifts,
holiday meals and festive gatherings are
all associated with December 25 and the
weeks leading up to it.
圣诞节。圣诞节在每年的12月25日，是庆祝耶
稣诞生的传统基督教节日，尽管一些习俗在基督教
到来之前就已经存在了，比如装饰树、在家里点缀
冬青和槲寄生。圣诞节不仅仅是美国人最喜欢的节
日，也是世界各地人民喜欢的节日。在圣诞节及其
前几周，到处都充满了温馨的祝福、丰富的礼物、
节日大餐和庆祝聚会。
In
addition
to
these
national
holidays, when most people have an
official
day
off,
there
are
other
holidays that are considered working
days:
除了大多数人可以享受一天假期的全国性节日
以外，还有一些节日不放假，人们要照常上班。这
些节日包括：
·Lincoln'sBirthday (February 12)
·St. Valentine'sDay (February 14)
·St. Patrick'sDay (March 17), which
honors the patron saint of Ireland,
once the home of many of America's
immigrants
·April Fool'sDay (April 1)
·The Jewish holidays of Passover,
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah
·The Muslim month of Ramadan
·Mother'sDay (the second Sunday in
May)
·Flag Day (June 14) - on this day,
Americans display their flags, and
children are taught to place their
right hand over their heart and say the
Pledge of Allegiance“: I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the Republic
for which it stands, one nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.”
·Father'sDay (the third Sunday in
June)
·Halloween (October 31) - this
holiday is observed with carved jack-olanterns (hollowed out pumpkins),
frightening masks and costumes, and
sweets, all designed traditionally to
appease ghosts and evil spirits
·林肯诞辰日（2月12日）
·情人节（2月14日）
·圣帕特里克节（3月17日），纪念爱尔兰守
护神圣帕特里克，爱尔兰曾是很多美
国移民的故乡
·愚人节（4月1日）
·一些犹太节日，如逾越节、犹太新年、赎
罪日和光明节
·穆斯林的斋戒月
·母亲节（每年5月的第二个星期日）
·美国国旗纪念日（每年的6月14日）这一
天，美国人会展示自己的国旗，并且会教孩子们
把右手放到胸前进行效忠宣誓，他们会说：“我
宣誓忠诚于美利坚合众国国旗，忠诚于它所代表
的合众国，这个苍天之下不可分割的国家，在这
里，人人享有自由与正义。”
·父亲节（每年6月的第三个星期日）
·万圣节（每年的10月31日）这一天，人们
用传统的、各种能令鬼怪愉悦的东西来庆祝节
日，比如：掏空的南瓜灯、吓人的面具、服装以
及糖果。
Many ethnic and religious communities
have their own important holidays, such
as
Oktoberfest,
when
German-American
communities celebrate the harvest with
beer, music and traditional food.
很多民族和宗教团体有其各自的重要节日，如
德国慕尼黑的啤酒节，这一天，德裔美国人会喝啤
酒、听音乐并享用传统美食来庆祝丰收。
Americans often associate holidays
with sales. Shopping centers will buy
television ads promoting special deals
and offers around each major holiday.
Sometimes, you'll see banners in stores
announcing such odd events as“Super Sale
Only on Presidents' Day”. These kinds of
sales and discounts lure many Americans
to spend their day off chasing low prices
instead of playing with their children in
the park or spending time with their
friends.
提到节日，美国人常常联想到促销。各种购物
中心会购买电视广告时段，以推销各种特价商品，
类似促销几乎每个主要节日前后都有。有时，您会
看到商店里彩旗飘飘，上面发布着各种罕见的活
动，比如说“仅在总统日一天超级大减价”。这类
降价和打折销售会把许多美国人诱惑到商场去“度
假”，为了买便宜货，很多人不能陪孩子到公园
玩，也不能和朋友们聚会了。
Chapter 5 Inviting others to the
U.S.
第五章 邀请他人赴美访问须知
Not all travelers coming to the United
States need a temporary visa. Many
countries have agreements with the U.S.
allowing their citizens to come and stay
for up to three months as tourists.
Anyone who is not a citizen of one of
these countries will need
并非所有赴美游客都需要临时签证。许多国家
和美国达成过协议，允许他们的公民以游客身份赴
美，但居住期限不得超过三个月。非这些国家的公
民则需要准备以下材料：
·An invitation from the U.S.
·Documents proving that the visa
applicant plans to leave the U.S.
·赴美邀请函
·能够证明签证申请人计划离开美国的文件
☆ Remember that all visa applicants are seen
as potential immigrants by consular officials
and have to prove that they have no intention to
immigrate.
☆ 记住：所有领事馆官员都把签证申请者视为潜在移民
人员，因此申请者必须证明自己没有移民倾向。
The invitation should include the
following important information:
邀请函应包括以下重要信息：
·The legal status and age of the
person inviting the applicant (U.S.
Citizen or Green Card holder)
·The place of work and position of
this person
·The nature of the organization or
company that is inviting the applicant
·Proof that the invited person has
unique qualifications or skills (for
business visas)
·邀请函发出人（美国公民或绿卡持有人）
的合法地位及年龄
·邀请函发出人的工作地点与职位
·邀请函发出人所属组织或所在公司的性质
·（如申请商务签证）则需要受邀人提供特
殊资质或技能的证明材料
☆
The
precise
form
and
wording
of
the
invitation does not play a major role in the
process.
☆ 在这个过程中，邀请函格式准确或者措辞得当不会起
主要作用。
When heading for an interview at the
U.S. consulate, make sure to bring along
documents confirming that you will leave
the U.S. These documents include those
that show:
去美国领事馆面试时，请务必携带下列能证明
您会离开美国的文件，即表明以下情况的文件：
·Ownership of real estate or other
property
·Ownership of a car
·Investments in your country
·That you are married
·That you have children
·That you have elderly relatives or
parents with health conditions
·Your place of work and your salary
·拥有房产或其他资产
·拥有汽车
·在本国有投资
·已婚
·有子女
·年长亲属或者父母的健康状况证明
·工作地点和薪资状况
☆ Be honest if you have relatives or friends
in the U.S.
☆ 如果您在美国有亲戚或朋友，要如实说明。
There
have
been
instances
when
applicants have tried to conceal that
they had relatives in the U.S. in order
to get a temporary visa. However, a few
years
later,
when
they
applied
to
immigrate to the States and stay with
these
relatives,
their
request
was
denied, as they had previously given
false information.
曾有人为了获得临时签证而隐瞒在美国有亲属
的事实。然而，几年后当他们申请移民美国和亲戚
住在一起时却被拒签了，原因是他们先前提供了虚
假信息。
☆ If you have children who are U.S. citizens
but younger than 21, you still may not get a
temporary visa.
☆ 如果您的孩子已加入美国国籍，但年龄小于21岁，那
么您可能还是不能获得临时签证。
Usually,
the
consular
official
approves applications
通常，领事馆官员会批准以下申请：
·If the applicant is a close
relative of a U.S. citizen
·If the applicant is married and
his or her spouse and children are
staying behind
·If the applicant is over 60
·如果该申请人是美国公民的近亲
·申请人已婚，且其配偶和子女在国内
·申请人年龄在60岁以上
For everyone else, it is becoming more
and more difficult with each passing year
to get a U.S. visa.
对于其他人来说，申请美国签证是一年比一年
难了。
Chapter 6 Temporary visas and nonimmigrant status
第六章 临时签证与非移民身份
Every foreign national who does not
have the right to enter the United States
without a visa must obtain a particular
type of temporary visa at his or her
local U.S. consulate. This is no easy
feat. The number of visas issued has been
very limited since the Sept. 11, 2001
tragedy. Moreover, U.S. State Department
officials working in the consular service
have the power to make the final decision
over whether to issue you a visa. Most
frequently,
people
are
refused
a
temporary visa if consular officials
suspect they plan to immigrateto the
United States. According to U.S. law, all
visa applicants are seen as potential
immigrants until they prove the opposite.
任何不持签证就不能进入美国的他国人员必
须在当地的美国领事馆获取一种特殊的临时签
证。这并非易事。自从2001年的“9·11恐怖袭
击”事件后，每年获签的数量非常有限。而且，
美国国务院驻领事机构的官员有权对是否发放签
证作出最终裁定。通常，如果领事馆官员认为申
请人有移民倾向的话，就不会批准其申请。根据
美国法律，在未证明申请人没有移民倾向之前，
所有申请人均被视为潜在移民。
The visa process consists of the
following steps:
申请签证包括以下步骤：
·Submitting an application
·Paying the consular fee
·Submitting your fingerprints
·Having an interview with a
consular official
·Getting your visa or being denied
a visa
·提交申请
·付签证手续费
·提供指纹
·接受领事馆官员面试
·获得签证或被拒签
☆ In some countries, the visa process is
different. For example, you may need a police
report or another official report.
☆ 在某些国家，签证手续可能有所不同。比如，您可能
需要提交警方报告或者其他官方证明。
Here are some tips on how to convince
consular officials that you have no
intention of immigrating:
下面是一些如何向领事馆官员证明自己无移民
倾向的小窍门：
·Request a visa that is valid for a
particular period of time, one directly
related to the purpose of your visit.
·Answer questions honestly.
·Don't gush about how much you love
America, regardless of the context.
·Don't talk about how you'd love to
study or work in the U.S. unless you
are
applying for a work or student visa.
·Don't say anything about looking
for temporary work in the States.
·Don't tell the consular official
about plans that are not directly
related to the
main purpose of your trip.
·Don't try to hide the fact that
you have relatives who are permanent
residents or
citizens of the United States.
·申请有特别时效的签证，申请的时间与您
此行所需的时间一致。
·诚实地回答问题。
·无论什么情况，不要说太多您如何喜欢美
国之类的话。
·不要说您有多么想在美国工作或学习，除
非您申请的是工作签证或者留学
签证。
·绝对不要提您要到美国找临时工作。
·不要向领事馆官员说任何与您此行主要目
的不直接相关的计划。
·不要企图隐瞒您有获得了美国永久定居权
或者美国国籍的亲戚。
To back up your statements, it is a
very good idea to have documents that
show you do not intend to immigrate. You
may want to get
为支持您的陈述，最好同时出具下列文件以示
您并没有移民倾向。您也许应该有：
·An itinerary for your visit, such
as a conference program or a schedule
of business meetings
·Documents from where you've worked
for the last three years that show your
monthly salary
·Documents from your university or
college
·Bank statements that demonstrate
your financial standing
·Documents proving you own real
estateor a car
·A passport with visas to other
countries
·Documents confirming your marital
status
·访问行程，比如会议计划或者是商务会谈
计划
·由您过去三年所在工作单位出具的您每月
工资情况的证明文件
·您所在大学或者学院出具的相关文件
·银行出具的证明您财务状况的文件
·能证明您拥有房产或汽车的证明
·有其他国家签证的护照
·婚姻状况证明文件
☆ If your spouse or children aren't coming
with you, this can be to your advantage when
applying for a visa. Likewise, if you have a
common law spouse or live with someone, give the
consulate information about your partner.
☆ 如果您的配偶和子女不与您同行，那么这是您申请签
证的有利条件。同样，如果您有法定配偶或者同居伴侣，要
向领事馆官员说明您配偶或伴侣的情况。
After being allowed to immigrate in
order to reunite with his family (in this
case,with his mother), Fatima Aaza's
husband left for the United States with
their daughter,completely confident that
he would soon be able to invite his wife
to join them. However,every time Fatima
applied, consular officials refused to
give her a tourist visa. Fatima was not
able to see her husband and daughter for
seven years. Only after her husband
became a U.S. citizen was he able to do
the paper work and bring Fatima to the
U.S.
法蒂玛·阿扎的丈夫为了和母亲团聚而获准
移民美国。临走时，他自信满满，以为能很快邀
请妻子与他们团聚，于是带着女儿一起去了美
国。可是，每次法蒂玛申请临时签证，都会被拒
签。就这样，在七年时间里，法蒂玛一直无法与
丈夫和女儿相见。当她的丈夫成为美国公民后，
才得以填写必要的文书把她带到了美国。
Consular
officials
almost
always
refuse
to
give
tourist
visas
to
applicants with relatives who are already
in the U.S. but who are not citizens,
which is why some applicants try to hide
this fact. Unfortunately, people who play
this sort of game are likely to be
refused immigration visas in the future
for giving false information on previous
applications.
对于已经有亲属在美国，且该亲属尚未成为美
国公民的申请者，领事馆官员一般会拒绝发放签
证。也正因如此，才有很多人企图掩盖这一事实。
不幸的是，掩盖这一事实的人在日后提出移民申请
时，很可能会因为在之前的申请中提供了虚假信息
而遭到拒绝。
☆ If your relative - meaning your parent,
sibling or child over the age of 21 - is a U.S.
citizen, you are very likely to get your visa.
☆ 如果您的亲戚，即您的父母、兄弟姐妹或21 岁以上
的孩子是美国公民的话，那么您很有可能获签。
After consular officials are convinced
that you don't intend to immigrate, they
will issue you a visa appropriate to the
purpose of your trip. Every type of nonimmigrant or temporary visa is different,
but most of them limit your stay in the
U.S. to a certain time period and do not
give you the right to work or access
publicly funded health care,education or
social programs in the U.S.
领事馆官员在认定您没有移民倾向后，会给您
签发适合您此行目的的签证。每种非移民签证和临
时签证都不尽相同，但大都会限定您在美国逗留的
时间，而且不允许您在美国工作或享受公共资助的
医疗、教育及社会服务。
Chapter 7 What you absolutely need
to do before you leave
第七章 临行必做事宜
If you are headed to the U.S. on a
short business trip, vacation or family
visit, try to have a very clear idea of
why you're going. This will make it a lot
easier to find the right answers to very
important questions:
如果您是到美国进行短期商务访问、度假或走
亲访友，那么应该尽量对您此行的目的有个清晰的
认识。这样回答起一些重要的问题就会非常容易，
比如：
·How long do you plan to stay in
the U.S.?
·Who will be traveling with you?
·Do you plan on trying to find work
while in the U.S.?
·您计划在美国逗留多久？
·谁将与您一同前往？
·您在美国期间打算找份工作吗？
Some people come to America as shortterm visitors in hopes of marrying a U.S.
citizen and getting permanent resident
status through a marriage of convenience,
often called a fictive marriage. While
this may seem like an easy way to get a
Green Card,don't forget that
一些作为短期访客来美国的人希望能和美国公
民结婚，企图通过这种权宜婚姻获得在美永久居住
权，人们通常称之为“拟婚”。这似乎是获得绿卡
的一个捷径，不过不要忘了：
·This violates U.S. law.
·You are putting yourself at risk
and at the mercy of conmen.
·Your fictive spouse may keep
demanding more and more money from you.
·You will be completely dependent
on your fictive spouse.
·You may be pressured to have a
sexual relationship with your fictive
spouse,even though this was not part of
your original agreement.
·You could be directly blackmailed
by your fictive spouse.
·Your fictive spouse could easily
refuse to go with you to the couples'
interview that allows you to replace
your temporary Green Card with a
permanent one.
·这触犯了美国的法律。
·您是在自冒风险，而且您很可能成为骗子
的目标。
·您的拟婚配偶也许会不断向您勒索更多的
金钱。
·您可能会完全依靠您的拟婚配偶。
·即使性生活并不是原始协议的一部分，您
也可能迫于压力与其发生性关系。
·您的拟婚配偶可能会直接敲诈您。
·您的拟婚配偶可能会轻易地拒绝和您一同
参加针对夫妻的面试，这样您就无法将临时绿卡
换成永久绿卡。
☆ If you agree to a Green Card marriage, you
are in real danger of becoming a slave to the
whims of your fictive spouse.
☆ 如果您同意了绿卡婚姻，意味着您在冒险，因为您可
能成为被拟婚配偶随意差遣的“奴隶”。
But say you're not considering a shady
marriage. Say you just want to make a bit
of extra money at a temporary job while
staying in the U.S. on a tourist visa.
You should remember that
也许您可能并不想要这样不明不白的婚姻，而
只是想拿在美的旅游签证临时打打工赚点外快。那
么，您应该记住：
·Your tourist visa does not give
you the right to work
·Some foreign and American
employment agencies that promise to
help you get a work permit will simply
take advantage of you. All they really
want from you is cheap labor.
·Some employment agencies will even
take away foreigners' passports,
turning these unfortunate workers into
virtual slaves with no rights
·您的旅游签证不允许您在美国工作
·那些承诺帮您办理工作许可证的外国或者
美国的职业介绍所，实际上只是想占您的便宜，
他们只是想让您充当廉价劳动力
·一些职业介绍所甚至会把外国人的护照拿
走，把这些可怜的工人变成没有任何权利的“奴
隶”
☆ Hiring people who do not have an H-group
visa or the legal right to work in the U.S. is
against the law. This means that when you agree
to take a badly paid, illegal job, you're taking
part in a crime.
☆ 在美国，雇用没有H类签证(主要针对赴美短期工作或
受训人员发放的签证) 或没有合法务工权的人是违法的。也
就是说，当您同意从事收入低、又不合法的工作时，您就是
在违法。
So to start preparing for the trip,
first of all, you should find a place to
live in the U.S. If your American friends
or relatives have offered you their
homes, that's great. Otherwise, choose
the best place to stay from various
temporary housing options like hotels or
motels, which you can find out more about
in Chapter 8.
接下来，我们开始为出行作准备吧。首先，您
得在美国找到住的地方。如果您在美国的亲戚或朋
友已经给您提供了住处，那就太好了。不然的话，
您要从酒店或者汽车旅店等临时住所中挑选一个对
自己来说最适合的地方。关于住宿的话题，我们会
在第八章为您详细讲述。
If you need to transfer money to the
U.S., you may want to stop by your bank
and find out about its U.S. partner
banks. You should also ask for a list of
all the documents you'll need to open a
U.S. account and transfer funds to your
bank'sAmerican partner.
如果您需要往美国转账，那么您要到您的开户
银行了解其在美国的合作银行。您还需要向他们索
要一份文件清单，以便了解您在美国银行开户及往
美国转账时所要准备的相关文件。
☆ Before you leave for the pricey U.S., make
sure you have plenty of money to pay for
lodging, food, transportation and entertainment.
☆ 当您动身来什么都贵的美国之前，一定要带足现金用
以支付住宿、餐饮、交通以及娱乐等开销。
Another thing you'll need before
getting on the plane is health insurance.
As medical and dental insurance in the
United States are two entirely separate
things, you'll save yourself a lot of
trouble down the road if you buy two
separate policies - one general medical
and one dental - before you take off.
Bring along any medications or medical
devices you will need on a daily basis or
in emergencies and put together your own
personal first-aid kit with items like an
extra pair of glasses, a thermometer and
a blood pressure monitor.
上飞机之前您还需要买一份健康保险。在美
国，医疗保险和牙齿保险是两个完全不同的东西。
如果您起飞前买上两份保险，即一份普通的医疗保
险和一份牙齿保险的话，那么您将来会省去很多麻
烦。带上您每天都会用到的药物和医疗设备，或者
带点紧急情况下需要的物品以备不时之需，然后，
您可以把诸如备用眼镜、体温计、血压计之类的东
西也放进您的个人急救箱一并带上。
☆ Do not forget to make a list of emergency
phone numbers and keep it with you at all times.
Finding someone's number in an emergency can be
nerve wracking and expensive.
☆ 别忘了把紧急电话号码列个清单并一直随身带着。如
果到了危急关头再找，那会把人急疯，而且可能会代价不
菲。
If you do have a visa giving you
permission to work in the U.S., you'll
need to decide where to pay taxes: in the
States or at home. U.S. tax laws allow
some foreigners to pay income tax on U.S.
earnings in their home countries. Before
making the decision,though, you may talk
to a tax consultant who can tell you
如果您的签证允许您在美务工，那么您要决定
在哪儿纳税：在自己的国家还是在美国。美国税法
允许一些外国人在本国缴纳其在美国的个人所得
税。在决定之前，您可以征求一下税收顾问的意
见，他会告诉您：
·Where it is easier to pay taxes
·How much you need to pay and when
·What you can do to reduce your
taxes
·What their professional opinion
is, which will help you make the right
decision
·在哪儿缴税更方便
·什么时候缴税，要缴多少税
·如何降低缴税金额
·他们的专业意见，那会帮您作出正确的决
定
Now that you've gathered all the
information you'll need, it's time to
gather your belongings. But before you
pack your things and your gifts for
friends and relatives,make sure to get a
list of items that can't be brought into
the
United
States
from
the
U.S.
consulate. There's nothing worse than
getting to U.S. customs and discovering
that grandma's homemade sausage will have
to stay behind. You can find more
information about items you can't bring
into the United States at the website of
the U.S. FWS Law Enforcement agency at
www.fws.gov/le/Travelers/travelerIndex.htm
既然您已经收集了必要的资讯，现在该整理行
囊了。但在您打包赴美所需物品及给亲朋好友的礼
物之前，您还需要从美国领事馆索取一份被禁止带
往美国的物品清单。如果到了美国海关才发现得扔
下奶奶亲手做的香肠，那可是再糟不过的事了。关
于哪些物品不允许带往美国，您可以登录美国渔业
与野生动植物局(FWS)执法处的网站
www.fws.gov./le/TravelerIndex.htm查询。
Once you have the bare necessities
under control, you should figure out what
clothes to pack, and this can be a real
challenge. Americans have their own
unusual way of dressing. No matter how
varied
your
wardrobe,
your“strange
style”may attract the attention of those
around you. To avoid moments of style
shock, you should minimize your wardrobe
to
一旦整理好了最基本的生活必需品，您就该考
虑一下该带什么衣物了，这可能是真正棘手的问
题。美国人有自己随意的着装风格，所以不管您的
衣柜里有多少风格相异的服装，您都有可能因
为“风格怪异”而引起周围人的关注。要想避免穿
着雷人的衣服，您还是把您的衣服精简到：
·Clothes that you really and truly
like
·Clothes that can be worn in a
variety of situations and seasons
·那些您打心眼儿里喜欢的衣服
·那些可以在不同的季节和场合穿着的衣服
☆ Pay special attention to your shoes. You
should take along various kinds of comfortable
shoes that will serve you well in a variety of
occasions, whether you're hiking in the Rockies
or wandering through New York's museums. Good
shoes can be very expensive in the U.S.
☆ 要格外注意您的鞋子。要带上各种穿起来舒适且适合
各种场合的鞋子，比如去洛基山远足或是徜徉于纽约博物
馆。在美国，好鞋会非常贵。
One last thing to keep in mind about
clothing: If your clothes look different
from what everyone else is wearing, do
not worry. Walk tall. Show off your
personal style.Americans like it when
people do their own thing, especially
when it comes to fashion. If someone asks
you where you got what you're wearing,
proudly announce where you come from.
关于着装，您还要注意的是：如果您的衣服和
周围其他人的不一样，也不要慌。你要昂首挺胸，
彰显自己的个性。美国人喜欢个性独立，尤其是在
时尚方面。如果有人问您您的衣服是从哪儿买的，
那就骄傲地告诉他们您是从哪儿来的。
If you plan to stay in the United
States longer than six months by yourself
or with a family, you should think more
carefully about what exactly you will
need to bring with you. Always remember,
there are limits on the amount and the
total weight of checked and carry-on
baggage, and you'll be charged extra if
you exceed those limits.
如果您计划在美国待六个月以上的话，那么您
应该再仔细想想到底要带什么东西去，不管您是想
一个人去还是和家人一起去。而且始终要谨记：随
身携带的和托运的行李有重量限制，超重是要付费
的。
However, if you come to America as
long-term visitor, what you absolutely
should bring with you are documents that
may seem unimportant before you leave,
but
that
can
becrucial
in
certain
situations in the U.S. You should bring
但是，要是作为长期访客赴美的话，您务必要
带上的是那些在出发前看上去似乎不重要、但在美
国的某些场合可能会非常重要的文件。这包括：
·All diplomas, certificates, and
transcripts showing what courses you
have taken and any other papers
documenting your education
·Your work history or employment
documents
·Letters of recommendation from
your workplace describing your position
·Documentation of any divorces and
your current marriage, if applicable
·Your birth certificate
·Your vaccination record
·Your medical history, documenting
any serious illnesses or operations
·A list of any drug allergies
·An international driver's license
·Your health insurancepolicy, if
you have one
·所有的学历证明、证书、成绩单（标明您
选修过的课程），以及任何有关您所
受教育的证明文件
·工作经历及相关就业文件
·单位出具的描述您职位的推荐信
·离异或婚姻现状证明（如果适用的话）
·出生证明
·疫苗接种记录
·记录您重大疾病或手术的个人病史
·过敏药物清单
·国际驾驶执照
·医疗保险保单（如果有的话）
☆ Depending on the situation, you may be
asked to present notarized translations of
documents that are not in English, as well as
the original documents themselves.
☆ 根据具体情况，也许还会要求您把非英语写就的文件
翻译过来，并对翻译进行公证，然后将其原件也一并带上。
If
you
are
bringing
school-aged
children with you,make sure to have
如果您要带正在上学的孩子去美国的话，那么
一定要携带：
·Their school transcripts or grade
cards from the last 2 years, and
·Recommendations from their math
teachers and homeroom teachers, along
with notarized translations
·孩子近两年在学校的成绩单和级别卡，及
·孩子的数学老师和班主任老师的推荐信，
连同经过公证的翻译件
Now that you have some sensible shoes,
your
favorite
sweater,
your
gifts,documents
and
medications
all
packed, you do not need to worry about
bringing anything else. Whatever else you
might need you'll be able to buy in the
U.S. (see Chapter 13).
现在，您有了几双实用的鞋子，带上了您最喜
欢的毛衣，而且礼物、文件及药品也都带齐了，那
就不用再担心需要带什么其他东西了，因为其他的
东西在美国都能买到。（见第十三章）
After the stressful interview with the
consular officials, after you've gotten
your long-awaited visa and packed your
bags, you're ready to take the long
flight overseas to America. Once you
arrive at a U.S. airport, be patient.
Passport and customs checks can be long
and arduous. But if you hang in there and
keep your cool, it won't be too long
before you are headed out of the airport
with a white I-94 form stapled in your
passport. This form, by the way, allows
immigration officials to track visitors
who overstay their visas or remain in the
States illegally.
在与领事馆官员紧张的面试结束之后，当您终
于拿到了盼望已久的签证并收拾好了行囊，您就可
以准备登上飞往美国的航班了。一旦到了美国的机
场，请耐心等待，因为护照和海关检查通常既费时
又费事。但只要您冷静地等待，用不了多长时间，
您就以带着白色的美国出入境登记表（I-94
form）
(钉在您的护照上)出机场了。顺便提一
下，有了这张表，移民官员就能追踪到那些护照过
期或非法滞留在美国的人了。
Welcome! You're in America!
欢迎您的到来！您已经在美国了！
Chapter 8 Lodging and temporary
housing
第八章 投宿与寻找临时住处
If you don't have any relatives or
friends to meet you at the airport and
you don't have a hotel reservation, it's
time to start looking for a place to
stay.
如果您没有亲戚朋友来机场接您，也没预订好
酒店，那么该考虑找个落脚的地方了。
Hotels. Most hotels have websites
where you can find out what services,
rates, seasonal discounts and special
deals they offer. You can also see how
close the hotel is to major sights,
stations and airports.
酒店。多数酒店有自己的网站，在网站上您可
以查到具体酒店的服务类别、房间价格、季节性折
扣及特殊优惠等。您还可以了解酒店到主要景点、
车站和机场的距离。
☆ Many public libraries in the U.S. offer
free Internet access. Begin your search there.
☆ 美国很多公共图书馆均提供免费上网服务，您可以从
那里进行查询。
By comparing the prices hotels offer
with those offered by various travel
agencies, you can easily find the best
deal. And you can do this all online.
There are many reliable travel agent
sites that Americans use all the time,
such as Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, or
Travelocity.com. They buy up tickets and
rooms in bulk and then sell them at a
discount. You'll need a credit card,
though, to make a reservation with these
sites, and changing a reservation can bea
real hassle.
比较了酒店和各种旅行社提供的宾馆价格之
后，您可以很快找到最划算的住所，而这些均可以
在网上实现。美国人也经常使用一些信誉度高的旅
行社网站，如Orbitz.com，Expedia.com
和
Travelocity.com（这是三家美国在线旅游网）。
这些网站常常大量买入客票和房间，然后再打折销
售。不过，您得先用信用卡到这些网站进行预订，
而且要修改预订的话会非常麻烦。
☆ The most expensive part of bargain hunting
in the U.S. is the time it can take to find a
really good deal. But the savings can make it
worth your while.
☆ 在美国，要想找到最划算的服务，最大的代价就是时
间。不过，节约下来的钱会让你觉得时间没有白费。
Motels. If a hotel is beyond your
means, a motel is another option. The
main difference between hotels and motels
is that motels are often cheaper and
simpler,
and
they
offer
convenient
parking, usually right outside the door
of your room. Motels are often located in
suburbs or along major highways, not
right downtown like major hotels. Some,
but not all, motels have restaurants or
small kitchenettes, laundry facilities or
swimming pools for customer use. Even if
the motel doesn't offer these services,
there may be laundromats and restaurants
nearby. Call the motel and ask. You can
also book these online in the same way
you can book hotels online.
汽车旅馆。如果您觉得酒店太贵，那么汽车旅
馆是另外一个选择。酒店和汽车旅馆的主要区别就
是：汽车旅馆更便宜、更简单，而且停车方便，通
常停车位就在您房间的门外。汽车旅馆一般位于郊
区，或者在主要高速公路的边沿，不像大多数酒店
那样位于市中心。其中有些汽车旅馆会有饭店或者
小厨房、洗衣设备或者游泳池等供旅客使用。即使
汽车旅馆不提供这些服务，在它附近也一定有自助
洗衣店和饭店。您可以给汽车旅馆打电话问问，也
可以像预订酒店那样到网上预订汽车旅馆客房。
Bed and Breakfast Inns. Privately
owned bed and breakfast inns --often
called "B&B's" for short --are very
popular in the U.S., especially in
smaller towns located in historic areas.
Unlike big national hotel or motel
chains, bed and breakfast inns offer a
more family-style environment, often in
historic homes, old inns, or sometimes
even on working farms or ranches. As a
rule, the owners live in the same house
as their guests. Most B&B's have three to
five rooms, depending on their size and
floor plan. Along with a room and a
bathroom (which is sometimes shared),
B&B's
give
guests
a
home-cooked
breakfast, which can range from simple
eggs and toast to elaborate dishes made
with homegrown ingredients. To attract
guests, B&B owners go to great lengths to
make their place unique and to create a
comfortable and cozy atmosphere. But this
also means that their prices can vary
wildly.
家庭旅馆。私有的家庭旅馆除了提供住宿，还
提供早餐，人们一般将其简称为“B&B's”。在美
国，这样的旅店非常流行，尤其是在有历史古迹的
小镇里。和大的全国性酒店和连锁汽车旅店不同，
这些家庭旅店提供的环境更有家庭气息，它们通常
坐落在年代久远的古屋或者旧旅店中，有时甚至在
农舍或者农场上。一般来说，主人和客人同住在一
个房子里。多数家庭旅店根据房屋大小和格局的不
同，设有三到五个房间。家庭旅店除了提供房间和
浴室（通常是公用的），还会提供一顿自家烹饪的
早餐，这顿早餐可以简单到只是鸡蛋配土司，也可
以复杂到由自家果蔬禽肉做成的各式菜肴。为了招
揽顾客，店主人会尽最大努力营造出一个舒适、温
馨的环境。但这也意味着家庭旅馆的价格会差别很
大。
☆ Some bed and breakfast inns are basically
boutique
hotels
and
have
similar
prices,
sometimes more than $150 a night.
☆ 有一些家庭旅店实际上就是精品酒店，所以价格也和
酒店差不多，每晚住宿价格有时甚至超过150美元。
Other bed and breakfast inns call
themselves "guest houses".You can find
them listed in the phone book under
"guest house"or "accommodations". For
more
detailed
information
about
a
particular B&B, go to
其他家庭旅馆自称是“商旅酒店”。您可以在
电话簿里的“商旅酒店”或者“住处”索引项下找
到它们。如果想要查找某家专门的家庭旅馆的详细
资料，请到：
·TheB&B's own website
·Travel websites that book lodging
online
·The phone book
·该家庭旅馆的网站
·可以在线预订住所的旅游网站
·电话簿
Guest Houses. A guest house has a very
specific meaning in America and resembles
the communal apartments familiar to many
East Europeans. You can rent a room in a
guest house for a day, aweek, or even an
entire year. The longer the stay, the
cheaper the nightly rate for the room.
Usually, the kitchen and bathroom are
shared.
The
level
of
comfort
and
cleanliness varies from house to house
and has nothing to do with where the
house is located. It depends only on how
well the house is managed. You can find
guest houses everywhere from Harlem to
Beverly Hills, and in smaller cities and
little towns.
商旅酒店。在美国，商旅酒店有着特殊的意
义，相当于许多东欧人熟悉的公共公寓。在这里，
您可以租上一个房间，时间可以是一天、一个星
期，甚至是一年。您租住的时间越长，房租就越便
宜。通常，厨房和浴室是公用的。各个商旅酒店的
舒适度和干净程度不尽相同，这和它们所处的位置
无关，而主要取决于其管理的好坏。商旅酒店无处
不在，从美国东海岸的哈莱姆（纽约市黑人居住
区）到西海岸的比弗利山庄（加州西南部小城，好
莱坞明星集居地），再到各个小城市和小城镇，到
处都有它们的踪影。
☆ Compared to B&Bs, guest houses usually
have a greater number of guest rooms and better
rates for long-term guests.
☆ 和家庭旅馆相比，通常商旅酒店的客房更多，而且长
期居住的房租也更便宜。
Youth Hostels. Hostels were originally
designed for poor students who were
hitchhiking
across
the
country
and
counting every penny. Today, anyone can
stay in a hostel regardless of age or
income. You only have to follow the rules
of the hostel. Don't be surprised to see
men and women housed in separate, nofrills rooms that sleep six to ten on
bunk beds two to three bunks high. Some
hostels do offer couples hotel-style
rooms, however, if you'd like more
privacy.
青年旅馆。青年旅馆最先是为穷学生而建的，
因为他们总是搭便车到处旅行，但同时又要算计着
把每分钱掰成两半花。如今，不论年龄和收入，谁
都能住在青年旅馆，只要您遵守旅店规则就行。当
您看到男男女女分别住在简单的、能容纳6～10人
的房间里，而里面摆的都是两层或三层的架子床
时，千万不要感到惊讶。但是如果您更喜欢私密一
点的生活，有些青年旅馆也为夫妻或情侣提供像酒
店一样的标准间。
All
hostels
have
large
communal
kitchens with a stove, refrigerator,
microwave and dishes as well as a large
community room with a television, books,
board games and other entertainment.
所有青年旅馆都有宽敞的公用厨房，并配有烤
炉、冰箱、微波炉及盘盘碗碗，另外还会有公共大
厅，里面备有电视、书籍、棋盘类游戏及其他娱乐
设施。
Prices depend on the hostel's location
(whether it's in a city or small town,
downtown or in the suburbs), the time of
year, whether you booked ahead, and how
long you plan to stay. They can vary
widely. However, the price of a hostel is
always cheaper than even the cheapest
motel or hotel. For example, at the
height of the summer season, the rate for
one night at a hostel in Manhattan can
range from $28 to $34, while the average
price
at
a
hostel
near
Hollywood
Boulevard in Los Angeles is only $15 to
$17. Several sites, like hostels.com,
have searchable lists of hostels and an
online reservation service.
很多因素决定了青年旅馆的价格，如旅馆的位
置（在市区、城镇、城市商业区还是郊区）、淡旺
季、是否有预约以及计划居住多久等等，而且价格
可能千差万别。但不管怎样，青年旅馆的价格总是
比最便宜的汽车旅馆或酒店还要低。比如，在夏季
高峰期，位于曼哈顿的青年旅馆一晚的房费大约是
28～34美元，而位于洛杉矶好莱坞大街的青年旅馆
一晚的平均价格只有15～17美元。有若干网址，如
hostels.com, 可以搜索到青年旅馆的名录，并提
供在线预订服务。
☆ Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages
are not permitted at most hostels.
☆ 多数青年旅馆都不允许吸烟及饮用酒精饮品。
Campgrounds.
Campgrounds
dot
the
American landscape. They can be found in
national and state parks, and near
recreation areas and highways. Some are
operated by the national or state parks
departments while others are privately
owned. Almost all of them have toilets
and showers, electricity, laundry rooms
and water. Prices vary. Some campgrounds
are free; others can cost as much as $20
to $25 a night.If you decide to "rough
it" at a campground, make sure you can
reach the campground if you don't have a
car. You'll also have to bring all the
equipment and food you'll need with you.
Sites like campusa.com have listings of
commercial
campgrounds,and
www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm,
a site related to the National Forestry
Service, is a good place to find camp
sites in national parks.
露营地。美国到处都有露营地，在国家公园、
州公园、以及娱乐景区和高速公路的附近，到处都
可以找到它们。其中有些露营地是国家或者各州公
园管理处经营的，有些则是私有的。几乎所有的露
营地都通电、通水，还有卫生间、淋浴间和洗衣
房。露营地的价钱也是各不相同，有些地方是免费
的，有些可能住一晚就要20～25美元。如果您决定
到露营地“凑合”一下，但您又没有车，那您要先
确定自己能够到那儿。您还必须带上所有的装备和
食物。campusa.com网站有商业露营地的列表，与
美国国家林业服务相关的网站
www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm
提供了国家公园内露营地的大量信息。
☆ Every state parks department has its own
site with addresses and lists of camping
facilities.
☆ 各州的公园管理处都有自己的网址，上面会提供露营
地址和露营设施列表。
Staying in the immigrant community.
Many people fresh off the plane take a
different approach and look for lodging
with other people from their own country.
住在移民社区。许多刚下飞机的人，会采取不
同的方法解决住宿问题：他们选择和本国人住在一
起。
You never know what surprises await
you when you hit the road. All sorts of
things can happen. Maybe you will lose
your passport and can't register at a
hotel. Or you will lose your wallet and
can't pay for lodging.
当您开始上路，您永远不知道会有什么意想不
到的事情在前面等着您。什么事情都可能发生。也
许您会弄丢护照，无法在酒店登记入住；也许您会
弄丢钱包，没法付房费。
Whatever the disaster, try to stay
calm. In most major U.S. cities, you'll
find a restaurant or grocery with an
ethnic name familiar to you in the
phonebook. Rest assured that one of these
names will lead you to some ethnic cafe,
restaurant or store where people from the
same country as you will give you some
concrete
advice
about
how
to
find
lodging.
不管多倒霉，您都要保持冷静。在美国的大多
数主要城市，您总是能在电话簿里找到一些本民族
的饭店或是杂货店。请放心，在这些熟悉的名字
中，一定会有一个能带您找到一家本民族的咖啡
店、饭店或商店。在那里，与您来自同一个国家的
人们会给您一些具体的建议，帮助您寻找住处。
Ethnic stores may also have a local
newspaper with classified ads in your
language. Look for the classifieds under
rentals and roommates. Don't worry too
much about what the advertisers are
looking for in a tenant or roommate. Your
goal, after all, is just to find a place
to spend the night. Call every number you
can and explain your situation. Many of
your compatriots will be happy to help by
either
offering
free
lodging
or
recommending someone else who might put
you up for the night. Here are a couple
of examples:
民族特色店也许还会有当地的报纸，报纸上会
有用您的母语写成的分类广告。您可以在“出
租”和“找室友”的分类广告里寻找。看到广告中
对房客或室友的要求，请不要太担心，毕竟您的目
的只是找个地方过夜。尽量给每个号码打电话，解
释您的处境。您的很多同胞都会乐于帮助您，他们
或者给您提供免费的住宿，或者向您推荐其他能收
留您一晚的人。下面是一些例子：
When Sasha was 17, he decided to spend his
vacation in New York City. After his parents
bought him a roundtrip ticket from London, he
grabbed $300 he had earned at an after-school
job and took off for the States. At JFK Airport,
he collected all the free brochures and flyers
for tourists he could and then headed to
Brooklyn, where many Russian immigrants live. On
Brighton Beach Avenue, he bought a Russian-
language newspaper and a couple of phone cards.
Following the advice of the guy who sold them,
he headed to a particular supermarket where he
was told that he could eat well for just $3.
17岁的萨沙决定到纽约度假，于是他父母给他买了从伦
敦到纽约的往返机票，然后他就带着他课外打工赚到的300
美元动身来到了美国。在肯尼迪国际机场，他把发给旅客的
所有免费宣传册和宣传单都收集了起来，然后便动身去布鲁
克林，那里定居着很多俄罗斯裔美国人。在布莱顿海滩大
街，他买了份俄文报纸和几张电话卡，并听从了卖报人的建
议来到一家超市，卖报人告诉他，在那里他只要花上3美元
就可以吃得很好。
Immediately afterward, he began calling
advertisers in the paper who were offering
rooms. Many landlords told him "no"right away
because they wanted long-term renters. Others
wanted too much money. But in the end, a woman
named Liza agreed to help him and offered him a
room that had a mattress and not much else for
$70 a week. Sasha had solved his housing problem
on the very first day. He didn't have to use
Liza's kitchen, either, because the neighborhood
was full of good, inexpensive cafes, restaurants
and supermarkets.
随后，他给报纸上要出租房屋的人打电话。很多房东都
直接告诉他“不行”，因为他们要找长期租户，而有些人则
要价太高。不过最终，一个叫莉莎的女人答应帮助他，她以
每周70美元的低价租给他一间屋子，不过屋子里除了一个床
垫几乎是空空如也。萨沙在第一天就解决了住宿问题。他并
不需要用莉莎的厨房，因为附近有很多又好又便宜的咖啡
厅、饭店和超市，可以解决他的吃饭问题。
Ewa Kaminsky went to Chicago on business.
Though she had already reserved a room for a
certain price at a hotel, when she arrived, the
hotel demanded a higher price, which Ewa
couldn't afford. In shock, she sat in the hotel
lobby and tried to figure out what she should do
next.
艾娃·卡明斯基到芝加哥出差。尽管她已经和一家酒
店讲好了价钱，预订了房间，但当她到达以后，酒店却要
求涨价，而艾娃负担不起那个价格。震惊之余，她坐在酒
店的大堂里，思考下一步该怎么办。
She was hungry. In the local phonebook, Ewa
found a place with a Polish name and headed
there immediately. While waiting for her food,
Ewa chatted with the waitress and looked at a
few Polish-language newspapers. She spotted
several ads for real estate agents and decided
to call them right from the restaurant. After
she explained her situation, the agents asked
her to call back the next day and recommended
she spend the night at a nearby hostel.
她很饿。在当地的电话簿里，艾娃找到了一个有波兰名
字的地方，于是立刻就赶了过去。等待上菜的时候，她和服
务员聊了聊，还看了几份波兰语报纸。她注意到了几则房地
产中介的广告，就决定立刻给他们打电话。在她解释了自己
的处境后，中介们让她明天再打过去，并建议她先在附近的
青年旅馆住上一晚。
The next morning when she called back, one of
the agents told Ewa,"We feel for you, and one of
our employee's relatives is willing to put you
up."Ewa's problem was solved.
第二天一早，艾娃再次给房地产中介打电话。一个中介
告诉她说：“我们很同情您，我们有一位雇员的亲戚愿意给
您提供住处。”艾娃的问题就这样解决了。
People of all different nationalities
have had experiences like Sasha's or
Ewa's. It just goes to show you that, in
most cases, people from the same country
will try to help each other. And they may
be able to help you if you wind up
without a place to sleep.
各个国家的人都有过与萨沙或艾娃类似的经
历。写这些例子只是为了告诉您，多数情况下，来
自同一国家的人会愿意互相帮助。如果您几经辗转
还是没能找到住处的话，他们也许能帮您一把。
Roommates. In any local paper, you'll
find classified ads placed by people
searching for roommates. The ads will say
things like "Wanted: female roommate, no
children, quiet. $400."This means someone
is looking for a person of the same
gender to share an apartment and split
the rent. Finding a roommate can be a
good option for visitors staying longer
in the U.S.
室友。在任何一份当地报纸上，您都会发现分
类广告下有人找室友。这些广告通常会这样
写：“欲寻女性室友，无孩子，安静。400美
元。”这就意味着有人要找一个性别相同的人与其
同住一间公寓，两人共担房租。对于可能在美国长
住的人来说，找个室友是不错的选择。
Before you pay for a room, think about
whether it's really the best deal for
you.Consider all the options before you
start unpacking. Don't just follow the
crowd and go to a hotel. Don't be afraid
to make an unusual choice. You only
really need to care that you have a place
to sleep at night.
在交房费前再想想，这是不是您能找到的最划
算的房间。在打开行李前，想想您之前的所有选
择。不要随大流找个酒店。不要害怕作出不寻常的
选择。您只要关心晚上是不是有地方住就行了。
Remember, America is a country where
people have come up with unique ways to
get their hands on other people's money.
But your money is yours alone; only you
can decide how to spend it.
记住，在美国，有人会为了搞到别人的钱而出
尽奇招。不过，钱是您的，只有您才有权决定该怎
么花。
As a recent arrival in America, you
shouldn't expect your plans to work out
instantly. For this reason, it's better
to be careful with your money at first,
especially as foreigners and immigrants
areall subject to the same rule: You
often have to lose money in order to gain
a valuable personal experience in return.
But never fear. This bitter experience
will pay off later.
初到美国，您不要指望一切计划马上就能顺顺
利利地展开。因此，从一开始您在花钱时就要精打
细算，尤其是外国人或者移民更要如此，因为您常
常要先损失一些钱才能得到宝贵的人生经历。但千
万不要怕，这种心酸的经历终有一日会得到补偿。
Chapter 9 Public transportation,
fares and rules
第九章 公共交通及相关费用与法规
Public transportation in America is a
lot less extensive and convenient than it
is elsewhere in the world. Some large
cities
like
New
York
have
several
different types of above ground and
underground public transport, and you can
get around faster without a car. But
other cities have only a handful of bus
routes. In most places, the sooner you
get behind the wheel, the more mobile you
will be and the more interesting and
exciting your life in America will
become.As gas prices rise and rush-hour
traffic worsens, more and more Americans
are using public transportation. In
general, though, you're more likely to
see elderly people, disabled people,
students, school kids, lower-income folks
and
tourists
on
public
transport
depending
on
the
city.
Public
transportation is different in different
cities. However, almost everywhere in the
U.S., buses and commuter trains are
scheduled to reduce passengers' wait
times when they have to make transfers.
For this reason, if you plan ahead of
time and look at the schedules, you can
cut down the time you have to wait for a
bus or train.
比起世界的很多其他地方，美国的公交系统并
不是那么发达和便捷。在一些像纽约这样的大城
市，往往有好几种地上和地下交通，可以让您快捷
地出行，甚至比自己开车还方便。但其他城市就只
有为数不多的公交线路了。在大多数地方，您越早
买车，行动就越方便，您在美国的生活也会越丰富
和激动人心。由于油价在上涨，高峰期的交通状况
在日益恶化，越来越多的美国人选择乘坐公共交
通。不过，一般说来，您在城市的公共交通工具上
看到的更多的是老年人、残疾人、中小学生、低收
入阶层以及游客，不过各个城市的情况也不尽相
同。然而，几乎在美国各地，为了减少需要换乘的
乘客的候车时间，公交车和通勤火车都会按照时间
表来发车。因此，如果您计划提前一点到达，那么
就先看看时刻表，这样就能节省您等候汽车或火车
的时间了。
☆ You can get free information and schedules
from the information service of your local
public transportation provider. For information
about your area, try the American Public
Transportation
Association
website
at
www.apta.com/Pages/default.aspx.
☆ 您可以从当地的公共交通信息提供商那里获得免费的
信息和时刻表。如果您要查当地的信息，可以登录美国公共
运输协会网址www.apta.com/Pages/default.aspx。
City buses. The most common form of
public transportation in the United
States is the bus. Most buses offer
special lifts and seating for disabled
people and special racks on the front of
the bus for bicycles.
城市巴士。在美国，最常见的公共交通形式就
是巴士。大多数巴士都为残疾人随时停车，并为其
提供特殊座椅，在巴士的前面还装有特殊的自行车
架。
Bus fares vary depending on the time
of day and where you buy your ticket. For
example, in some cities, rides at night
cost less. In many cities, you can
purchase passes for multiple rides or for
a set time period. Buying a single ticket
as you get on the bus is often the most
expensive one-way fare.
巴士的车费会因购票时间和购票地点的不同而
不同。例如，在一些城市，夜间车票就会便宜些。
在很多城市，您还可以买通票，有些通票可以使用
多次，有些则可以在固定时间内使用。上车后再买
单张车票通常是单程票中最昂贵的。
☆ Bus drivers do not make change. Make sure
you have the correct change before you get on
the bus.
☆ 巴士司机并不找零，上车前要确定自己有零钱。如果
您需要正好的零钱，可以问问巴士站点或者上车的其他乘客
有没有。如果您就少几分钱，那可以求助。通常，人们很愿
意帮您一个忙给您一些零钱（但不要超过25美分）。
If you need correct change, ask other
passengers at the bus stop or on the bus.
If you are missing a few cents, ask for
help. Often, people are willing to give
you small change(i.e. no morethan $0.25)
to help you pay your fare.If you want to
avoid having to dig up the correct
change, you can get a bus token or ticket
before you board. Tokens or tickets can
be purchased at metro stations, bus
stations,
at
the
customer
service
counters of some supermarkets, and at
check cashing places or Western Union
agents. Sometimes, other passengers will
sell you a token. Many cities also
feature a special one-day pass that lets
you take unlimited rides on any form of
city transport. The cost per single ride
is far lower with these passes. Monthly
passes get you the lowest fares and
several categories of people qualify for
special discounted passes:
如果您不想把口袋翻个底朝天来找零钱的话，
那么您可以在上车前买代用币或者车票。代用币和
车票，比如地铁站、公交车站、一些超市的顾客服
务台，以及支票兑现处或西联代理处。有时，其他
乘客也可以把他们的代用币转给您。很多城市都有
专门的日票，您可以在一天内无限次地乘坐城市里
的各种交通工具。有这样的通票在手，每次乘坐的
平均费用会低得多。月票是最便宜的，以下几类人
能够获得特别优惠的月票：
·People over 65
·People with disabilities who can
document that they are unable to work
·School children with documents
from their school showing their age and
class
·College students with a student
ID·年龄在65岁以上的人
·身体残疾且有证件证明自己不能工作的人
·中小学生，需有学校开具的写有其年龄和
班级的证明
·有学生证的大学生
☆ Every city has different requirements for
student discounts, such as whether the student
must be enrolled full-time or when the discounts
apply. For example, in Los Angeles, a student
gets a discount for only one semester not for
entire year. He or she must reapply each
semester.
☆ 每个城市对学生折扣有不同的规定，比如是否一定要
是全日制学生，或者什么时候申请折扣等。例如，在洛杉
矶，学生每次只能申请一个学期的优惠，而非一次申请全年
的优惠，所以学生每个学期都要重新申请。
Regular
monthly
passes
can
be
purchased at large supermarkets, bus or
train stations, or Western Union offices.
You can apply for discount passes at your
local transportation company's customer
service center or headquarters.
普通月票。在大型超市、汽车站、火车站及西
联代理处都能买到普通月票，但如果要购买打折月
票的话，那就要到当地公交公司的客服中心或总部
去申请了。
Commuter trains. Commuter trains in
the
United
States
are
comfortable
electric trains without dining cars. They
are
most
commonly
found
in
major
industrial and economic centers and make
it easy to travel from major cities to
small towns and cities that are fewer
than 3 hours away.
通勤火车。美国的通勤火车是舒适的电车，不
过没有餐车。通常，在主要的工业和经济中心附近
都能见到通勤火车。乘坐通勤火车，可以很便捷地
从大城市去往小城市或小城镇，一般车程在3小时
以内。
Ticket prices vary according to the
distance between cities and the time of
day. Rush-hour trains running in the
morning and evening are generally more
expensive than off-peak trains during the
middle of the day or on weekends and
holidays. Your fare may also depend on
your age, whether you are traveling for
school or with a recreational group and
whether you buy a one-way or roundtrip
ticket. There are also daily and monthly
passes
available
for
most
commuter
trains.
通勤火车的票价依据城市之间距离的远近以及
乘坐时段的不同而有所不同。早晚高峰期的票价通
常比中午或者周末、节假日的票价要贵些。影响票
价的因素还有很多，比如：购票者的年龄、购票者
是去上学还是和一群人出去玩、是买单程票还是买
往返票等。另外，大多数通勤火车也有日票和月票
可供购买。
Many commuter train stations have free
parking where you can leave your car
while you are at work or running errands
in the city. Local buses scheduled to
coincide with train departures usually
stop right next to thestation building.
很多通勤火车站都有免费停车场，如果您在市
区内工作或到市区办事的话，您可以把车停在那
儿。当地的巴士时刻表通常会与列车出发时刻吻
合，而且巴士通常会停在车站大楼旁边。
Bikes.
Near
some
stores,
movie
theaters,
stations
and
government
buildings, you'll see bike racks. They're
there to accommodate all the bicycles
you'll notice on the streets and roads of
America's
cities
and
towns.
Though
Americans love their cars, a growing
number of them are riding bikes to work
or school. To encourage people to peddle
instead of driving, many cities have set
up special bike lanes or bike routes that
make it easier and safer for bikes and
cars to share the road.
自行车。在一些商店、电影院、车站及政府大
楼旁边，您还能看到很多自行车架，它们是用来停
放所有您在美国城镇的道路上能够看到的自行车
的。尽管美国人喜欢汽车，但现在越来越多的人选
择骑自行车上班、上学。为鼓励人们骑车而不是开
车，很多城市都已经设有专门的自行车道或者自行
车专用路线，以便自行车和汽车能更便捷、更安全
地各行其道。
☆ If
you're
on
a
bike,
you
are
just
as
responsible for what you do in traffic as people
driving cars. States and cities have laws and
ordinances governing bicycle use and safety.
Many require you to wear a helmet, for example.
If you'd like to ride but are concerned about
safety,
check
out
the
Federal
Highway
Administration's site on bike road safety at
www.fhwa.dot.gov/topics.htm.
☆ 如果您骑车，那么您要像开车的人一样对自己的行为
负责。州和市都有相应的法规和条例规范自行车的使用以确
保行车安全。比如，很多州和市都要求您骑车时戴头盔。如
果您想骑车并关心安全问题，那就请到联邦高速公路管理局
的网站www.fhwa.dot.gov/topics.htm查询自行车上路的
安全规定。
Taxis. Taxis are also know as cabs,
and taxi drivers have their own local
quirks in any country. In the United
States,
you
can
find
taxis
almost
anywhere in big cities, and taxi drivers
know just about everything: addresses and
routes,
local
sights
and
popular
restaurants, the best theater production
of the season, and of course the best way
to get $50 for what should be a $15 ride.
Taxi drivers have to have a license to
carry passengers within a particular city
or a region. Most work for companies that
are called cab companies or car services
or“limo services”. Other cab drivers
are free agents with their own cars.
出租车。出租车也叫计程车（cabs），每个国
家的出租车司机都有自己的特殊习惯。在美国的大
城市，出租车随处可见，而司机们几乎无所不知：
地址、路线、当地景点、受欢迎的饭店及时下最好
的戏剧，当然他们还知道如何把明明只有15块钱的
路程绕来绕去，绕成50块钱的路程。出租车司机需
要有执照才能载客，而且其经营范围通常限定在某
个城市或某个地区之内。他们中的大多数人供职于
计程车公司、轿车公司或者豪华轿车服务公司，而
其他出租车司机是个体户，开的车也是他们自己
的。
You can catch a cab almost anywhere:
您几乎可以在任何地方打到车：
·On the street in big cities
·At a hotel
·At the airport
·At the train or bus station
·在大城市的街道上
·在酒店
·在机场
·在火车站或汽车站
If you don't see a cab anywhere, you
can also order one by phone:
如果您在哪儿都打不到车，还可以打电话叫
车：
·From home and a public building
·Any payphone on the street
·从家里或者公共场所
·在路边的付费电话亭
In many places in the U.S., the only
way to catch a cab is to call and order
one. Many bars and restaurants will order
a cab for you, especially if it's late
and you're alone.
在美国的很多地方，只有打电话才能叫到计程
车。很多酒吧和饭店会为您叫车，尤其是很晚了而
您又是一个人的时候。
Depending on the weather, the time of
day and traffic, the waiting time for a
taxi usually ranges from 15 to 30
minutes. The best way to make sure you
won't have to wait is to arrange for a
taxi to pick up you for a particular time
several hours before hand.
由于天气、时段和交通情况等诸多因素，等出
租车的时间通常在15～30分钟。如果您不想等车，
那么最好的办法是事先叫好出租车，与司机约好在
特定的时间来接您。
☆ If you need a larger taxi, let the
dispatcher
know
when
you
call
how
many
passengers and how much luggage you have, so he
can select the right size of vehicle.
☆ 如果您需要辆大一些的出租车，那么您打电话叫车时
要让调度员知道您这边有多少个人和多少件行李，以便他为
您选择适合的车型。
Depending upon the city's regulations,
the cost of a taxi depends on the
distance
traveled,
the
number
of
passengers, the time of day, tolls, the
amount of time the trip takes, and other
important variables of the route. For
example, taxi drivers in Washington, D.C.
determine fares according to a zone
system. As you pay your fare, remember
that taxi drivers may be happy to take
your cash, but they rarely have correct
change.
根据各个城市的规定，出租车费要看行车路
程、旅客人数、交通时段、通行费、路上所花时
间，以及路程上的其他重要变量。例如，在首都华
盛顿，出租车司机们会根据区段系统决定车费额
度。当您付费时，切记：出租车司机会高高兴兴地
拿过您的钱，但他们往往很少有正好的零钱。
Intercity buses.
The
biggest
bus
company
in
the
United
States
is
Greyhound, which provides service to more
than 2,000 destinations. It is often the
only way to reach certain towns if you
don't have a car.
长途汽车。美国最大的巴士公司是灰狗汽车公
司，该公司提供去往2000多个目的地的客运服务。
如果您没有汽车又想去某些城市的话，那么通常坐
长途车是唯一的办法。
Greyhound offers
灰狗汽车公司提供：
·Roomy buses with a separate
baggage compartments
·Comfortable seats, air
conditioning and toilets at the rear of
the bus
·Rest stops about every 1.5 to 2
hours
·On-time arrivals and departures
·Ticket reservations by phone or
online (see contact info below)
·Special discounts for students and
other good deals
·Ameripass, a program that lets you
travel anywhere in the U.S. for a
certain period of time
·Route maps
·宽敞的大巴和单独的行李存放空间
·舒适的座椅、空调，在汽车尾部有厕所
·每一个半小时到两个小时就有长途客运休
息站
·准时到站，准时出发
·电话或在线订票业务（参见下面的联系信
息）
·学生特殊折扣及其他优惠
·美国通票。有了它，您可以在某个时间段
内到美国的任何地方旅游
·路线图
In major cities and towns, Greyhound's
bus terminals or stations are usually
close to local train and local bus stops.
These stations have
在主要城镇，灰狗的巴士终点站或车站通常与
当地的火车站或汽车站离得很近。这些车站里有：
·Ticket and information counters
·A waiting room
·Restrooms
·Sometimes a snack bar where you
can get a coffee or a bite to eat
·票务及咨询台
·候车室
·休息室
·有时还有快餐厅，您可以在那儿喝杯咖啡
或者随便吃点东西
☆ Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages
are prohibited on Greyhound buses and in
Greyhound terminals. ☆ 在灰狗的巴士上和终点站都不
允许吸烟或者饮用含酒精的饮品。
You can find out more by calling 1800-229-9424 or at www.greyhound.com.
您可以拨打1-800-229-9424或者登录
www.greyhound.com了解更多详情。
☆ Some regions also have other, smaller bus
companies with their own limited number of
routes.
Their
prices
are
comparable
to
Greyhound's.
☆ 一些地区也有其他的规模较小的巴士公司，但线路有
限，这些公司的票价和灰狗公司的票价大致相当。
Intercity trains. Just as one bus
company rules the road in the U.S., one
company
dominates
the
rails,
the
government-supported
Amtrak.
Amtrak
divides its rail lines into several
regions: Eastern Routes, Western Routes
and Midwestern Routes. A limited number
of trains cross into neighboring regions
or travel across all three.
城际火车。在美国，就像公路被一个巴士公司
所掌控一样，铁路也是由一个公司掌控的，这个公
司就是受美国政府支持的美国国铁。美国国铁把线
路分成了几大区域：东线、西线和中西线。其中有
一些线路会跨到邻近区域或者横跨三大区域，但数
量不多。
The main problem with Amtrak trains is
that they are frequently delayed at
departure, which means, of course, that
they can arrive at their destination
several hours late. Amtrak offers
美国国铁的主要问题是列车经常延时发车，当
然，这也意味着很多列车可能会比预计时间晚几个
小时到达终点。美国国铁提供：
·Discount tickets for certain
passengers
·Train passes for various lengths
of time that allow you to see the
country
·Inexpensive tickets in the Coach
section, which has upholstered seats
and a toilet in every car
·Various other, higher-class
tickets that often cost as much as a
plane ticket
·A dining car on every train
·A smoking car
·A freight car for baggage
·Porters available at every major
station
·为某些旅客提供的打折票
·时限长短不一的火车通票，方便您进行观
光
·便宜的普通车厢车票，而且每节车厢都有
软垫座椅和卫生间
·其他各种档次更高的车票，票价经常与飞
机票相当
·一节餐车（每列火车上都有）
·一节吸烟车厢
·一节行李车厢
·行李搬运工，每个主要车站都有
☆ On some trains, you will have an assigned
seat, but some trains have open seating, which
means you can sit wherever you want.
☆ 在一些列车上，您的座位是指定的；但在有些车上，
座位是开放的，也就是说您可以随便坐。
Amtrak's regular prices are far from
cheap. To get a better price, try to
美国国铁的价格并不便宜。要想买到便宜的车
票，您可以：
·Plan ahead, often as much as 30
days in advance
·Check all the special offers,
programs or sales for various travel
dates and particular routes
·Check to see whether you can get
any special discounts for student or
seniors
·Plan your trip so that you can
take advantage of lower fares
·Don't be late with a cheap ticket
in your hand. Rescheduling on a later
train sometimes costs as much as you
already have paid.
·提前计划，通常要提前30天
·查看不同出行日期以及特定路线的各种特
殊优惠、活动或者折扣
·看看您能不能得到学生折扣票或老年折扣
票
·计划好旅程，这样就能省点车费
·如果是便宜票，要注意不要迟到。因为改
签的费用有时会和您前期支付的费用
不相上下。
☆ If you cancel the trip with any reason,
usually you will get back about 90% of the
ticket price.
☆
如果您有任何理由要取消出行，那么您通常能拿回
90%的票款。
You can find out more about Amtrak by
calling
1-800-872-7245
or
at
www.amtrak.com.
要了解美国国铁的更多信息，请致电1-800872-7245或登录www.amtrak.com。
☆ At many train stations, it's a good idea
to keep a close eye on your things. They
can“walk away”in a matter of minutes.
☆ 在许多火车站，您最好要看管好随身物品，因为有可
能不超过几分钟，它们就会“不翼而飞”了。
Planes. There are so many different
airlines and offers out there that buying
a ticket can seem like an overwhelming
task. U.S. and foreign airlines are all
competing for your money, which is why
many Americans go for the best price and
service and don't always fly with the
same airline.
飞机。市场上有很多航空公司，也有很多不同
的报价，这使得买飞机票似乎成了一件很难的事
儿。而且美国的和外国的航空公司都在为赚到您的
钱而互相竞争，这就是为什么很多美国人每次都想
得到最实惠的票价和服务，而不是一直乘坐某家航
空公司的航班。
All airlines have sales and special
deals from time to time on various routes
to attract new customers. Smart travelers
follow these bargains and plan their
trips so that they can take advantage of
inexpensive tickets and certain service
perks, like more convenient schedules,
good food or seat preferences.
为招揽新顾客，所有的航空公司时不时就会在
不同的线路上给出促销价或是特殊优惠。聪明的旅
客知道找这些优惠，他们总是提前计划旅程，这样
他们就能享受到便宜的票价和某些增值服务了，比
如更方便的时间段、美食或者座位的优先选择权
等。
You can buy a plane ticket
买机票时，您可以：
·Directly from the airline
·From a travel agent
·From the airline's own website or
from discount sites like
www.Smartertravel.com. or
www.lowfares.com. that allow you to
compare the prices and schedules of
multiple airlines
·At the airport
·Compare various prices. They can
vary wildly for one and the same route
or destination.
·直接从航空公司购买
·到旅行社购买
·到航空公司的网站或折扣网站购买， 如
www.Smartertravel .com.或www.
lowfares.com，在这些网站您能比较不同航空
公司的价格和时刻表。
·在机场购买
·比较各种票价，因为同一路线或目的地的
机票价格可能会差别迥异。
Before buying a ticket,make sure to
ask
买票之前，您务必问一下：
·Whether it can be returned
·Whether you can get part or all of
your money back if you decide not to
fly
·Whether you can use a credit card,
as some travel agencies don't accept
credit cards
·Whether you can pay for the ticket
over the phone
·是否可以退票
·如果您决定不飞的话，是否可以部分或全
额退款
·是否可以用信用卡支付，因为一些旅行社
不接受信用卡支付
·是否可以通过电话付款
☆ There are limits on the amount and the
total weight of checked and carry-on baggage,
and you'll be charged extra if you exceed those
limits.
☆ 托运的行李在和随身携带的行李在数量和总重上是有
限制的，如果您所带的行李超出规定的话，是要额外付费
的。
Due to security measures, airlines
recommend that passengers arrive at the
airport for check-in at a certain time
before their flight is scheduled to take
off.
Every
company
has
its
own
recommendations about when you should
arrive at the airport but the general
rule is 1.5 hours before adomestic flight
and 2-3 hours before an international
flight.
由于要安检，航空公司建议旅客在飞机起飞前
提前一定时间到达机场办理登机手续。每个航空公
司要求旅客提前到达机场的时间不尽相同，但一般
的要求是国内航班提前一个半小时到达，国际航班
提前两到三个小时到达。
Before you check in
在办理登机手续前：
·Make sure your bags all have tags
with your name, address and contact
phone number on them, just in case they
go astray.
·If you have dietary restrictions
and meals will be served on your
flight, tell the airline a day or two
before you fly.
·确定每个行李上都贴上了标签，上面标有
您的姓名、地址和联系电话，以防丢失。
·如果您有饮食禁忌而您的航班又会提供餐
饮的话，那么您要提前一两天通知航空公司。
And remember, smoking is not allowed
on any domestic or international flights.
要记住，任何国内和国际航班都是不允许吸烟
的。
Most airports have short-and long-term
parking. When you drive into the shortterm parking lot, you're issued a small
ticket. You will need this ticket in
order to pay when you leave. If you lose
it, you'll get charged for the entire
day. Usually, short-term airport parking
is located right next to theterminal and
costs $5 or more an hour.
很多机场都有临时停车场和长期停车场。当车
开进临时停车场时，工作人员会给你出具一张小
票。离开时，您需要凭这张小票付费。如果您把小
票弄丢了，那么就要付全天的停车费。一般来说，
临时停车场紧挨着飞机航站楼，每小时的停车费要
五美元或五美元以上。
Long-term parking lots - sometimes
called satellite parking - are less
expensive but farther away from the
airport. Passengers who park there can
take free buses or shuttles to the
terminal.
Once
you're
inside
the
terminal, you may need help with your
bags. Airports usually have baggage carts
for passengers to use, but unfortunately
they are rarely free.
长期停车场有时也称为“卫星停车场”，其停
车费用相对便宜，但是离机场很远。选择在这里停
车的旅客可以乘坐免费巴士或者区间往返车去往机
场航站楼。到航站楼以后，您也许搬不动行李。机
场通常有供旅客使用的行李车，但遗憾的是，行李
车很少有免费的。
If
you're
changing
planes
domestically, you can kick back and
relax. Your bags will automatically be
transferred from one plane to another.
There's no need to be nervous about
finding your next flight when you change
planes, either. Airline employees are
usually more than happy to help you get
to your next flight, and there are
monitors all over American airports to
help you find your gate.
如果您要在国内转机，那您就能轻松一下了。
不仅您的行李会自动转机，而且您在转机时也不需
要担心找不到下一个航班。通常，机场工作人员会
非常愿意帮您找到您的下一个航班。另外，美国所
有的机场都有巡视员，他们可以帮您找到登机口。
☆ If you check in but for some reason miss
your flight, airline employees will do their
best to get you on the next flight to your
destination.
☆ 如果您已经办理了登机手续，但是因某种原因误了航
班，那么航空公司的工作人员会尽量帮您登上下一个飞往同
一目的地的航班。
Kelly and her friend were traveling from
Boston via New York on their way back to Berlin.
They got to the Boston airport in plenty of time
and were among the first people to check in for
their flight. After checking their luggage, they
discovered they had around two hours to kill.
Time flew by as they sat talking in an airport
restaurant. Suddenly, Kelly glanced at her watch
and realized that their flight was taking off
right at that moment. They ran to their gate,
only to learn that the plane with their bags on
it was already in the air. Kelly began to panic
and to wonder whether she or her bags would ever
reach Berlin. An airline representative looked
at Kelly's ticket and told her that it couldn't
be refunded and immediately started to call
around to other airlines. In just a few minutes,
Kelly had a boarding pass for a flight with a
different airline that was taking off for New
York in 15 minutes. But she was still worried
about her bags. She was told that her luggage
would be waiting for her in Berlin.
凯莉和她的朋友从波士顿回柏林时经纽约转机。他们到
达波士顿机场时，时间还很充裕，而且他们是最早一批办理
登机手续的旅客。在托运了行礼之后，她们发现还有两个小
时左右的时间可以消磨，于是他们就坐在机场的一个饭店里
聊天，时间过得飞快。突然，凯莉看了看表，意识到这时她
们的航班刚好要起飞了。她们跑到登机口，结果却被告知她
们的行李已经和飞机一起起飞了。凯莉有些惊慌失措，担心
自己和已随航班飞走的行李能不能最终到柏林。一个航班公
司代理人看了看凯莉的机票，告诉她不能退款，然后他马上
给其他航空公司打电话。几分钟后，她们每个人都取得了一
个登机牌，是另一个航空公司的航班，15分钟后飞往纽约。
但凯莉还是很担心自己的行李。但她被告知，她的行李会在
柏林等她。
Perhaps the only way to understand just how
well airline employees do their jobs in the
United States is to end up in same kind of jam
as Kelly. She made her on-time flight from New
York to Berlin and was pleasantly surprised when
she claimed her bags at Berlin's Tegel Airport.
也许想体会美国航空公司工作人员的服务态度到底有多
好，唯一的方法就是像凯莉那样遇上一次麻烦。她在纽约准
时赶上了飞往柏林的航班，抵达柏林时，她惊喜的发现可以
从泰格尔机场领回自己的行李。
If you're a student traveling in the
States, student travel agencies like STA
Travel(www.statravel.com)
or
Student
Universe
(www.studentuniverse.com)
are
your best bet for finding a good deal.
These agencies can help you plan your
entire trip at special student rates. You
can find them online and at many U.S.
college campuses.
如果您是在美旅游的学生，像STA这样的学生青
年旅行社（www.statravel.com）或者国际学生旅
游网(www.studentuniverse.com) 是您寻找最划
算旅游路线的最佳选择。这些公司会给学生特殊的
优惠，并帮您计划全部行程。您可以在网上或者很
多美国大学校园里找到它们。
Hitchhiking
and
sharing
rides.
Americans have a long tradition of
hitchhiking,
and
writers
like
Jack
Kerouac
have
shared
this
colorful
tradition
with
the
rest
of
the
world.Though many Americans no longer
pick up hitchhikers, you can still travel
this way today if you aren't in a big
hurry. Just stand with a sign announcing
your destination by the side of a major
highway headed in the direction you need.
After an hour or two, chances are you'll
be on your way. If hanging out by the
highway is not your idea of a good time,
you can also try asking drivers at a rest
area or truck stop for a ride.
搭便车和拼车旅行。美国人素有搭便车旅行
的传统，像杰克·凯鲁亚克这样的作家就与大家
分享了这一丰富多彩的传统。尽管现在很多美国
人已经不再搭载搭便车的人，但是如果您的行程
不是很匆忙的话，您还是可以这样来旅行。您只
需站在通往您目的地方向的主干道边上，然后举
块牌子并在上面写上目的地的名称就好了。一两
个小时后，说不定你就能上路了。如果您觉得在
路边等车不舒服，那么您也可以到休息区或者到
卡车停靠站去问问司机们愿不愿意载您一程。
☆ Though hitchhiking can be an adventure, it
also can be quite dangerous. You may easily
disappear and never be heard from again. Women
and anyone traveling alone are particularly
vulnerable to crime. Along some highways,
particularly
ones
that
run
near
prisons,
hitchhiking is prohibited, so watch out.
☆ 尽管搭便车旅行充满刺激，但有时候也相当危险。您
可能会很轻易地就失踪了，然后从此杳无音信。妇女或任何
独自旅行的游客特别容易成为犯罪分子的攻击目标。在一些
公路上，尤其是一些靠近监狱的路段，搭便车旅行是被禁止
的，所以您要当心。
If hitchhiking seems too risky, you
can still take a great American road trip
by sharing a ride. The best place to
start looking for a shared ride is at
local colleges and universities, which
often
have
a
ride
board
in
an
administrative building or dining hall.
People looking for rides or offering a
seat in their car post messages on these
boards with the route, dates, the number
of passengers and bags the driver can
fit, and a contact phone number or email.
Sharing a ride is far less expensive than
other forms of transportation and a lot
more fun. However, you still have to be
very careful, especially if you are a
young woman.
如果您觉得搭便车旅行风险太大，那么您还可
以跟人拼车，来次绝妙的美国公路之旅。想寻找车
友最好是去当地的学院和大学，一般在那里的行政
楼或食堂里会有一个搭车广告栏。那些想搭车或者
想找车友的人会把行程的路线和日期、乘客人数、
可运载的行李数、联系电话和邮箱等信息在布告上
一一注明。跟人拼车比其他任何出行方式都要便
宜，而且也更有意思。不过，您还是要很小心，如
果您恰巧是位年轻的女士的话，那就更要多个心眼
了。
What should you do if you have an
emergency
or
problem
on
public
transportation? For example, what if you
suddenly realize you don't have enough
money to pay your fare? Or what if you
notice you've bought the wrong ticket? If
you wind up in this situation, the last
thing you want to do is to try to fool
the driver or conductor. Explain the
situation to them honestly and ask for
help or for permission to ride.
如果在乘坐公共交通时发生紧急情况了怎么办
呢？比方说，要是您突然意识到您带的钱不够付车
费？或者您发现自己买错了车票？要是您真的遇到
了这样的情况，那么您千万不要企图欺骗司机或者
售票员。您要如实地向他们说明情况，请求帮助，
或请求他们允许您搭乘。
☆ Go to the driver or conductor before they
come to you. If they approach you first, your
explanations will useless. You will have already
broken the rules by trying to ride without the
correct ticket.
☆ 主动去找司机和售票员，而不要等着他们来找你。如
果是他们先来找你的，那么您的任何解释都会是无效的。因
为只要您企图带着错票乘车就已经违反有关规定了。
If you suddenly feel ill while riding
the bus or train - say you feel a sharp
pain in your stomach or chest - tell the
other passengers immediately. They'll
talk to the driver or conductor who will
call an ambulance and get you emergency
medical help.
如果您在乘坐巴士或火车时，突然病了---比方
说您感到胃部或者胸部剧烈疼痛---那么要立刻告
诉其他乘客。乘客会跟司机或售票员说，然后他们
会叫来救护车给您进行紧急医疗救助。
☆ The people around you will be eager to
help in an emergency. Don't be afraid to ask for
help.
☆ 在紧急情况下，您周围的人都会非常愿意帮忙的。不
用担心，只管求助即可。
Chapter 10 Car rental
第十章 租车须知
Car rental in the United States is
extremely common, and renting a car is a
breeze if:
在美国，租车是极其常见的事。如果您具备以
下条件的话，那么租车会变得轻而易举：
·You are over 25
·You have a photo ID proving your
age and home address
·You have a valid driver's
license(American or international)
·You have a valid credit card. The
person paying for the rental can be
different than the person renting the
car.
·年龄在25岁以上
·持有带照片的身份证，能证明您的年龄和
家庭住址
·持有有效驾照（美国驾照或者国际通用驾
照）
·拥有有效信用卡，付租金的人可以和租车
的不是同一个人
Several major rental chains, as well
as many smaller local companies, offer
cars for rent and can be found in the
yellow pages under “rent a car”and
online. Though companies claim to offer
big savings and discounts, watch out. The
final price of most rentals does not vary
much. That said, however, it's good to
know that rentals at airports tend to be
the most expensive. If you want a better
deal, head into the city nearest the
airport and rent your car there. You can
reserve a rental car ahead of time and
find out exactly what it will cost you by
calling the company.
若干较大的租车连锁店及很多当地小公司都有
汽车租赁业务，您可以通过网络或者在电话黄页
的“租车”栏中查找具体信息。尽管所有公司都宣
称会帮您省很多钱，会给您折扣，但您要当心，因
为多数租赁业务最终的租金都大同小异。话虽如
此，但是一般说来机场附近的租车业务是最贵的。
如果您要找个便宜些的地方租车，可以到离机场最
近的城市去租。您可以提前预租，在电话里就把具
体价格问清楚。
☆ Renting a car is usually cheaper on
weekdays than on weekends and holidays. Save the
trip to Monument Valley or California wine
country for a Tuesday, and you'll get a better
deal.
☆ 在工作日租车一般要比在周末或节假日租车便宜。如
果您能把去纪念碑山谷公园或加州葡萄酒乡的旅游计划定到
周二的话，那么您就可能租到更便宜的车。
Here are some other factors that
influence rental rates:
下面是影响租车费的其他因素：
·How long you'll be renting the car
·How many miles you can drive the
car according to your rental contract
·Fees for exceeding this mileage
limit and not filling the gas tank when
you return the car
·Any deposit required by your
rental contract
·Charges for breaking off the
rental contract early
·Whether you will return the rental
car to the same location or leave it in
another city
·租车时长
·根据租赁合同您可以驾驶的里程
·超出约定里程或还车时油箱未加满油时需
要支付的额外费用
·租赁合同规定要支付的定金
·提前终止租赁合同的违约金
·您是想把车开回到租出地还是想在异地还
车
☆ The longer you rent a car, the lower the
daily rate.
☆ 租车时间越长，日租金越低。
You don't need to worry too much about
the quality of a rental car. Rental
companies keep their vehicles in good
shape. If your car does break down, call
the rental company. They will get you a
replacement immediately and free of
charge.
您不必过于担心所租车辆的性能，因为租车公
司会把他们的车保养得很好。如果您的车真的抛锚
了，那就给租赁公司打电话，他们会立刻免费给您
换一辆车的。
☆ While you don't need to ask about the
car's condition, you should ask about its gas
mileage, as gas is not included in the rental
rate.
☆ 尽管您不需要过问车的性能，但您要了解车的每公里
油耗，因为租金是不包括油钱的。
Your rental car will generally come
with a full tank of gas, but sooner or
later, you'll have to head to a gas
station and“fill 'er up”. Gas at most
American gas stations comes in several
varieties, such as Regular, Plus and
Super. All of them will work in your
rental car, so go ahead and get what's
cheapest. Gas is sold by the gallon (3.8
liters). You must return your car with a
full tank of gas. If you don't, you will
pay a lot extra.
租来的车一般是加满油的，但是您早晚要把车
开到加油站，然后给它加满油。汽油在美国分成好
几种类型，比如普通汽油、次优汽油和优等汽油。
所有的汽油都适用于您所租的汽车，那么就只管加
最便宜的吧。汽油是以加仑论价的（1加仑=3.8
升）。还车时，您必须加满油，否则要额外付很多
钱。
Gas stations are owned by large chains
and by amyriad of small individual
owners.
The
quality
is
the
same
everywhere, and prices are affected by a
number of other factors.For example, in
the business districts of large cities,
in wealthy neighborhoods, or right next
to highways, gas prices tend to be higher
than in small towns or in residential
neighborhoods. If you find yourself
looking at the prices every time you pass
a station, you're not alone. Hunting for
low gas prices is a favorite pastime in
the States, even among the wealthy. Many
well-off Americans are more than willing
to drive their fancy sports cars an extra
mile or two in search of less-expensive
gas.
美国有几大连锁加油站，还有无数的私人加油
站。油的质量在哪里都一样，而油价则受到很多其
他因素的影响。比如，位于大城市商业区、富裕的
社区或者高速路边上的加油站的油价要比小城市或
居民区的油价高些。很多美国人都有一个习惯，那
就是每次经过加油站时都要看看价格牌。在美国，
寻找低价油是很多人的一大消遣，哪怕是富人。很
多富裕的美国人都乐于把他们的豪华跑车多开一两
英里，去寻找低价油。
There are two kinds of gas stations:
加油站有两种：
·Self-service stations, where you
pump the gas yourself and pay the
cashier
·Full-service stations, where a
station attendant pumps your gas and
takes yourpayment(and often cleans your
windshield) without you having to leave
your car
·自助加油站。在那里，顾客需要自己加
油、付款
·全方位服务加油站。在那里您可以足不出
车，加油站的工作人员会给您加满油并过来收钱
（还经常会帮您擦擦挡风玻璃）
☆ The prices at full-service stations
include the cost of the additional service and
are usually 10% to 20% higher. Some states, such
as New Jersey and Oregon, only allow fullservice stations, so you won't find any selfserve stations in those states.
☆ 由于包含了额外的服务项目，全方位服务加油站的油
价通常要比自助加油站的油价高出10%～20%。有些州，比如
新泽西或俄勒冈，只允许有全方位服务加油站。所以，在那
里，您找不到自助加油站。
Here are a few tips for exploring
America in a rental car:
开租来的车去探索美国大陆时，需要注意几
点：
·Before you leave, take a good look
at a map. Maps are widely available,
and you'll find them on sale at
supermarkets, gas stations and
bookstores. The big green road signs
hanging over America's highways won't
necessarily save you from driving a lot
of extra miles after a wrong turn.
·动身前仔细查看地图。地图到处都能买
到，在超市、加油站以及书店都有打折的地图。
一旦转错弯道，即使去看头顶高悬的绿色路标也
不一定能让你少走冤枉路。
☆ Several web sites, such as Yahoo! Maps
(maps.yahoo.com),Google Maps (maps.google.com)
or Mapquest (www.mapquest.com), give detailed
directions, route maps and estimated travel
times.
Just
enter
the
address
of
your
destination, and the site will give you driving
directions.
☆ 一些地图网，比如雅虎地图（maps.yahoo.com）、
谷歌地图(maps.google.com)
或地图查询网
(www.mapquest.com) 都会提供详细的、标示着方向、路线
以及预计行车时间的信息。只要输入目的地的地址，网站就
能给您提供驾驶导航。
·It's good to have an adult in the
front seat to help the driver navigate
by reading signs and maps.
·Ask for a car with a transmission
you feel comfortable with, either
automatic or manual, which is often
called a stick or stick-shift
transmission in the U.S. Bear in mind,
though, that automatics are more common
at rental places.
·Never drive after drinking
alcohol. Drunk driving laws in the
States are very tough. You can avoid
serious problems with the police,
including jail time, by taking a taxi,
walking or drinking at home.
·最好副驾驶座位上有个人帮驾驶员导航，
读读路标和查查地图什么的。
·要一辆变速器用起来舒服的车，自动和手
动的都可以。在美国，变速器通常被称为
stick（自动变速）和stick-shift（手动变
速）。不过请记得，在美国的租车店里一般都是
自动挡的车。
·千万不要酒后驾车，因为美国的酒后驾车
法规非常严格。要是您喝了酒，那最好还是乘坐
出租车或者步行，要不就在家喝酒，这样您就能
避免碰到警察而遇到大麻烦，甚至是牢狱之灾
了。
☆ Some drivers wind up in jail for weeks
after drinking what they thought was a tiny
amount.
☆ 一些司机要忍受长达几个星期的拘留，尽管他们都觉
得自己不过只喝了一点点。
·Keep to the speed limit. Speeding,
or driving faster than the speed limit,
could lead to unpleasant run-ins with
the highway patrol and big fines
·不要超速驾驶。高速或者超速驾驶会让
您“不幸”遭遇高速公路巡警，然后被罚一大笔
钱。
☆ Some drivers even report people driving
over the speed limit to the police.
☆ 有些司机还会把有人超速驾驶的情况报告给巡警。
·Make sure to buckle your seatbelt.
It's the law in the U.S. and could also
lead to fines
·If you hear a siren and spot a
police car, ambulance or fire truck
behind you, pull to the side of the
road or slow down. Blocking their way
is against the law.
·If you see a yellow school bus
with blinking lights in your lane or in
the opposite lane on the undivided
highway or street, stop immediately and
wait until its lights go out and the
bus moves. Breaking this rule could
lead to problems with the police. If
you'r ein a hurry, turn around and find
a different route.
·Watch out when turning right on a
red light. This isn't always legal.
·一定要系好安全带。这是美国的法律规定
的，如果不系也会被罚款。
·如果您听到警笛声，看到后面有警车、救
护车或者救火车，那就要把车停靠到路边或者减
速行驶。阻挡这些车辆的行驶也是违法的。
·在没有画线的高速公路或者街道上，如果
您看到黄色的校车闪着灯，不论校车是在您的车
道上还是在反向车道上，您都要立刻停车，只有
等到校车车灯不再闪烁并且车辆启动以后，您才
可以继续上路。违反这一条也可能在警察那里遇
到麻烦。如果您有急事，您可以掉头走其他路
线。
·红灯时右转要小心，因为有时这也是违法
的。
☆ Pedestr ians always have the right-of-way.
Allow them to cross, even if you have a green
light.
☆ 行人在路上永远有优先权。即使是绿灯，也要让他们
先行。
·Don't park your car when you see
a“no parking”sign. You'll get a
ticket (which means you will have to
pay a fine) or come back to find that
your car has disappeared, meaning that
it has been towed and impounded in an
expensive police lot. Parking officers
in big cities like New York are
particularly quick to tow away
illegally parked cars.
·Don't park next to fire hydrants.
·Don't park your car facing
traffic.
·If you park next to a parking
meter, put coins into it as soon as you
leave your car, or you could wind up
with a parking ticket.
·Take advantage of long-term
parking lots and the free parking
offered by restaurants, shopping
centers and cultural centers. Valet
parking is often available in cities.
Someone will park your car for you
either for a set fee or a tip.
·如看到“禁止停车”的标志，就一定不要
停车。一旦在“禁止停车”的区域违规停车，您
就有可能接到罚单（也就是说您会被罚），也可
能等您回来时发现车子已经不见了，这意味着您
的车子已经被拖走并且被扣押在昂贵的警察停车
场了。像纽约这样的大城市，那里的停车交警对
于非法停靠车辆的拖车动作非常之快。
·不要在消防栓旁边停车。
·不要面对车流方向停车。
·如果您把车停靠在了自动停车计时器旁
边，那么停车后要马上投币，不然您可能又要收
到罚单了。
·要利用长期停车场或者饭店、商场以及文
化中心提供的免费停车场。城市中通常都有代客
泊车服务。支付一定的泊车费或者小费，就会有
人代您泊车。
☆ Pay any ticket by the deadline on the
ticket to avoid future problems. Or, if you'd
like to protest the ticket, call or visit the
local traffic court.
☆
收到罚单后，务必要在罚单上的缴费截止日期前缴
费，以避免日后的麻烦。如果对罚单有异议，可以打电话或
者亲自到当地的交通法庭申辩。
Chapter 11 Tips for pedestrians
第十一章 行人须知
There's nothing better than exploring
one of America's dynamic cities, historic
towns or stunning nature preserves on
foot. Not only will you get a unique
perspective, you'll get a chance to walk
off some of those American-sized meals
described in Chapter 12. And you won't be
alone: You'll see plenty of Americans
walking, jogging or hiking,too.
在美国，若想体验城市的动感，品味古城的厚
重，感受自然美景的震撼，步行是再好不过的选择
了。您不仅能有机会获得独特的视角，也能有机
会“走掉”十二章中提到的“美国型号”的一日三
餐。而且您也绝不会感到孤单：您会见到很多美国
人也在路上步行、慢跑或者徒步旅行什么的。
But while you're enjoying the sights
around you, don't forget about safety.
The second you walk out of a building,
you are part of traffic. Here are some
tips for a safe stroll down America's
streets and sidewalks:
但在您欣赏周边美景的同时千万要注意安全，
因为当您迈出某栋大楼的那一刻，就已经置身于交
通的洪流中了。若想安全地行走在美国的街道和人
行道上，就要注意以下事项：
·Always cross at crosswalks. Many
busy intersections have signals that
flash “Walk”or show a white walking
figure when it's safe to cross, and
say“Don't Walk”or show a red hand
when you should stay on the sidewalk.
·When crossing a major street or
highway, be particularly careful. Once
you've started to cross, don't stop.
Extend your hand toward cars that are
slowing down and keep moving. After
you've crossed, thank the driver who
stopped for you with a wave. Be polite:
They yielded to you, after all.
·When crossing the street with
children or someone disabled, don't run
and don't hurry. Drivers will let you
cross.
·If you have to stop in the middle
of the street while crossing, don't
panic. Drivers will wait until you get
across.
·Remember that if your actions lead
to a traffic accident, you are
guaranteed to face serious problems
later.
·过马路要走人行横道。在很多交通流量大
的路口都会有交通指示牌，当适合行人安全通过
时，就会闪烁“Walk（走）”的字样或者是一个
行走的人的白色图像；如果行人应该在人行道上
等候，那么就会有“Don't Walk（禁行）”的
字样或者是一只手的红色标志。
·通过主干道或者高速路时，要格外小心。
一旦开始过马路，就不要停下来。边走边向减速
行驶过来的车辆伸手示意。通过后，要向为您停
下来的司机挥手致谢。要有礼貌，毕竟是他们礼
让了您。
·如果带着孩子或残疾人过马路，那么不要
跑也不要慌，司机们会让你们先走。
·如果在马路中间您一定要停下来的话，那
也不要慌，司机们会一直等到您过去为止。
·记住，如果您的行为造成了交通事故，那
日后您一定会有麻烦。
☆ Look twice each direction before crossing
a busy street or intersection, just to be sure
it's safe. There are a growing number of
speeders - people driving far too fast - on the
road. To make matters worse, many drivers,
including teenagers, manage to smoke, eat a
hamburger and talk on their cell phones all at
the same time, which means they are not paying
attention to their driving.
☆ 通过车流量大的街道和十字路口时，要向各个方向都
看两遍，以确保安全。路上超速驾驶的人越来越多了，他们
都把车开得飞快。更糟糕的是，很多司机，其中包括少年司
机，总是边开车边抽烟或边吃汉堡包、边打手机，几乎什么
都同时做！就是说，他们开车时，注意力根本不在车上。
Chapter 12 Getting a bite to eat
第十二章 随便吃点
Why do many foreigners who spend a
couple of months in the United States
tend to gain weight?Why are Americans
some of the fattest people on the planet?
为什么很多外国人来美国住上一段时间就会变
胖？为什么美国人是世界上最胖的人群之一？
After you spend a few days eating in
the U.S., you'll understand why many
Americans are over weight:
您在美国吃上几天后就能明白，为什么美国超
重的人那么多了：
·Portions are enormous
·饭菜量大
At restaurants, the four members of
the Ginsburg family always order two main
dishes and ask the waitress to divide
them onto four plates.
在饭店，金斯伯格一家四口总是只点两道主
菜，然后让服务员把它们分成四份上。
·Snack bars, cafe and fast food
restaurants are less-expensive
·To keep prices low, companies buy
cheap and often low-quality ingredients
·小吃店、咖啡屋及快餐店的价格便宜
·为维持低价，很多公司购买便宜的、品质
低劣的原材料
☆ Low-quality snack food is appropriately
called junk food in the States.
☆ 品质低劣的小吃在美国被恰当地形容为“ 垃圾食
品”。
·Many Americans don't have time to
cook at home
·Some Americans can't cook
·Some Americans don't know how to
plan their meals
·很多美国人没有时间在家做饭
·一些美国人不会做饭
·一些美国人不知道怎么安排自己的饮食
Many people go out to eat at some
restaurant on a whim or spontaneously
decide to have food delivered to their
home or office.
很多美国人会心血来潮地去饭店吃饭，或者临
时决定叫外卖到家里或者办公室。
·Some low-income Americans get
monthly food stamps, which can only be
used to buy food and have to be used by
a certain date. Unfortunately, the
monetary amounts are low and the
recipients often find that buying
healthy food like fruits and vegetables
is a lot more expensive than junk food.
·Private business interests are
respected, even when they hurt
Americans' health
·一些低收入的美国人每个月都会有政府发
放给他们的食品券，这些券只能用来购买食品，
而且都有一定的有效期。可惜这些券的面值较
低，持券人一般会觉得买垃圾食品要比买健康食
品（如蔬菜、水果）便宜得多
·私有企业的利益在美国很受尊重，哪怕他
们侵害了美国人的健康
If the government were to set limits
on junk food, it would be a blow to all
the
producers,
farmers
and
other
businesses involved with the snack food
industry.
如果政府对垃圾食品进行限制，那会打击到所
有的生产商、农民及其他与快餐业有业务联系的企
业。
Nonetheless,
in
states
like
California, there is growing pressure to
limit children's access to junk food, at
least at school. For everybody else,
though,
it's
consumers-and
not
the
government-who are responsible for the
food they eat. However, food producers
and sellers are required to label their
products with nutrition information. This
information can help you make the right
choices about food you consume. If you
are
eating
out,
try
to
choose
a
restaurant with the balance of nutrition
and price that is right for you.
尽管如此，在诸如加利福尼亚等州，政府面对
的压力越来越大，因为公众要求减少儿童垃圾食品
的摄入量，至少这一点在学校要进行控制。而对于
成人来说，吃什么完全是消费者个人的责任，而不
是政府的责任。不过，食品生产商和销售商要按规
定在食品上贴上标签，标示出产品的营养配比。这
个标识可以帮助您在消费时作出正确的选择。如果
您外出就餐，要尽量选择对您来说营养又均衡价位
又适中的餐厅。
There are hundreds of different kinds
of places where you can eat in America,
but
they
fall
into
a
few
simple
categories.
美国有几百种不同的可供您外出就餐的地方，
它们可以简单地分成几类：
High-scale
restaurants
feature
tablecloths, fine china and well-trained
servers;
a
formal
atmosphere
and
requirements
that
customers
dress
appropriately (some restaurants will not
let men in without a suit and tie); and
entrees that often cost $20 or more.
高档餐厅。以桌布、精美的瓷器和训练有素的
服务员为特点；环境正式，同时也要求客人穿着较
为正式的服装（一些餐厅要求男士穿西装、打领
带）；主菜的价格一般都在20美元以上。
☆ Compared to high-scale restaurants, family
restaurants feature good service and a full menu
but a more casual atmosphere and lower prices.
☆ 和高档餐厅相比，家庭餐馆以服务优质、菜品齐全、
气氛更随意和价格更低廉而著称。
Cafe, coffee shops and diners are a
lot more casual and affordable. They
offer regular specials or entrees, a
selection of coffees and teas, and all
sorts of pastries and cakes. They are
good places to read the paper or meet a
friend for a chat.
咖啡厅。咖啡厅及小餐馆的环境会随意得多，
而且价格也较便宜。它们会定期推出特色菜或主
菜，还有各种咖啡、茶以及各式点心、蛋糕可供选
择。这里是看报纸或聊天会友的好去处。
Cafeterias are self-serve restaurants.
You move along a long line of offerings
and pick what you'd like. Then you pay
the cashier at the end. Cafeterias are
common
at
museums,
galleries,
universities and in shopping centers.
自助餐厅。菜品自选。在自助餐厅，各种食品
会排成一长排，您可以边走边选择自己喜欢吃的
菜，而钱是到最后才付的。自助餐厅在博物馆、画
廊、大学以及购物中心都很常见。
Dinner theaters serve dinner while you
watch a play or show. Both food and
entertainment are included in the price.
剧场餐厅。剧场餐厅，您可以边观看话剧或者
演出边吃饭。最后结算的费用既包含餐饮费用又包
含看表演的费用。
Dinner cruises are found in popular
tourist spots with rivers or harbors. You
can have a nice meal and enjoy the view
from the water. The price of dinner is
included in the overall price for the
cruise.
游艇餐厅。一般来说，在有河或有港口的热门
景区，您会找到游艇餐厅。您在游艇餐厅享受美食
的同时还可以在水上欣赏沿途风景。通常，餐费已
经包含在船费里面了。
Bars and pubs are popular among young
people over 21. If you get a meal at a
bar or pub, you'll often see groups of
friends meeting, having a beer and some
food, and rooting for their favorite team
during games, which they can watch on the
bar's television.
酒吧和酒馆。21岁以上的年轻人一般最喜欢去
酒吧和酒馆。如果您到酒吧或酒馆就餐，那么您就
会经常遇到一群群的年轻人在那儿聚会，他们吃东
西、喝啤酒、在酒吧里看球赛，为自己最喜欢的球
队助威。
Delicatessens or delis don't always
have
tables,
but
they
do
serve
sandwiches, salads and soups for take out
and area good option for a quick bite in
cities like New York.
熟食店。通常这样的店里没有桌子，但会出售
各种可外带的食品，如三明治、沙拉及汤品等。在
像纽约这样的大城市，如果想随便吃点，这些小店
会是很好的选择。
Snack bars generally offer sandwiches,
snacks like chips or pretzels, and soft
drinks.
小吃店。小吃店通常会出售三明治、薯条、椒
盐脆饼和软饮料。
Fast food restaurants have limited
menus and can be anything from a small
family burger stand to part of a huge
chain. The food you order is whipped up
from
ready-made,
highly
processed
ingredients.Make sure to tell the cashier
whether you plan to eat at the restaurant
( “for here”) or take your food with
you ( “to go”) so they'll pack your
order correctly.
快餐店。快餐店菜品有限，而且规模也各不相
同，既可以小到只是一个家庭汉堡的小摊位，也可
以大到是一个大型连锁店的分店。您在那里点的东
西都是用经过精加工的现成的食料快速做出来的。
点菜时，一定要和收银员说清楚是在店里吃
（forhere），还是要带走（to
go），以便他们
给您正确打包。
Food by weight is offered at many
supermarkets,
where
you
can
buy
appetizers, soups, entrees and deserts by
the pound(453 grams). Drinks are priced
separately.
The
quality
at
many
supermarkets is good and prices are
reasonable.
称重食品。很多超市都会按重量出售食品，您
可以在那里按磅（1磅=453克）购买开胃小菜、汤
品、主菜以及甜点。不过，饮料是分开算的。许多
超市的饭菜质量都不错，而且价钱也很公道。
In the course of a day, restaurants
and cafe's traditionally serve
一天中，饭店和咖啡厅通常会提供：
·Breakfast(6-10 a.m.): cold
cereals, toast, eggs, sausages or ham,
pancakes, fruit or fruit juice, tea,
and coffee
·Lunch (11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.): soup,
sandwiches, salads and special lunch
menus
·Dinner (4-9 p.m.): salads, pastas,
meat dishes, fish, chicken, vegetables
and deserts. Some restaurants
have“early bird”specials for early
evening diners.
·Brunch, a combination of breakfast
and lunch on weekend mornings and
holidays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Brunch
is often served as an all-you-can-eat
buffet.
·早餐(上午6～10点)：冷麦片粥、吐司、
鸡蛋、香肠或火腿、烤薄饼、水果或果汁、茶水
及咖啡
·午餐（上午11：30～下午3：00）：汤、
三明治、沙拉及特色午餐菜品
·晚餐（下午4～9时）：沙拉、意大利面、
肉菜、鱼肉、鸡肉、蔬菜及甜点。有些饭店还为
提早吃晚餐的人提供特别菜品。
·早午餐：是指早餐和午餐一起吃，供应时
间通常在周末上午或者是节假日的上午10点到下
午3点之间。早午餐通常是随你吃到撑的自助
餐。
☆ The times given above are approximate and
may vary from place to place.
☆ 上面给出的是大概时间，具体时间在不同地区可能会
有差别。
Many American restaurants
很多美国饭店：
·Display their menus by the
entrance so you can see their dishes
and prices before you walk in the door.
(If the menu is not displayed, you can
ask the host or hostess to show you one
in the lobby or entrance before you
decide to take a table.)
·List their prices without tax
·Have mostly ethnic dishes on the
menu at ethnic restaurants
·Have special sections for smokers
if smoking is allowed. It isn't allowed
in many restaurants nowadays.
·Offer water (with or without ice)
free of charge
·Pack your food in a take-out
container (a paper bagor plastic box)
so you can take home what you couldn't
eat. Sometimes, this is called a“doggy
bag”.
·Allow you to pay with cash, check
or credit card
·Expect you to leave a tip for your
server (around 15% of your bill), but
not if the service was bad, slow or
rude.(Check whether the tip is already
calculated onto the bill. This is
generally done for large groups.)
·会把菜谱摆在门口，这样您在进门前就能
了解各种菜品及其价格。（如果门口没有菜谱，
您可以在大堂或入口处向老板或老板娘要一份，
然后再决定是否进去消费。）
·饭店的菜价是不含税的
·在民族风味餐厅主要供应这个民族的菜品
·如果允许吸烟，会有专门的吸烟区。不
过，现在很多饭店都不允许吸烟了
·提供免费的水（可自行选择是否加冰）
·会为您打包食物（用纸袋或塑料盒），这
样您就可以把吃不完的东西带回家了有时，打包
袋也被称为“狗狗袋”
·允许您用现金、支票或者信用卡付账
·会期望您给服务员一些小费（通常是消费
金额的15%左右）。但如果服务质量不好，或者
服务员动作缓慢、态度无礼，您可以不用付小
费。（检查一下小费是不是已经包含在账单里
了，通常，团体用餐时小费是会先算进去的。）
☆ American servers are generally paid low
wages and make most of their income through
tips.
☆ 通常，美国服务员薪水很低，他们主要的收入来源就
是小费。
You can find a long, detailed list of
restaurants in the phonebook of any
American city, sorted by the type of food
and sometimes with a rough outline of
their menus.
在美国任何一个城市的电话簿里，都会有一份
长长的、详尽的饭店名录，它们一般是按照食物种
类来划分的，有时候还会附上一个大致的菜单。
☆ Don't try to find a restaurant after
working hours in the business districts of major
cities like New York, Los Angeles or Miami. When
the offices there close, so do the restaurants.
A better bet for evening entertainment in large
American cities is the theater or historic
district, where you can find lots of popular
local cafe's and restaurants and get a taste of
the city's nightlife as well.
☆ 像在纽约、洛杉矶及迈阿密这样的大城市，过了下班
时间就不要再找饭店了。因为一般公司下班，饭店也就打烊
了。在美国大城市，傍晚时分最好的休闲去处是剧院或者老
街区，您可以在那儿找到很多人气很旺的咖啡屋、饭店，还
可以好好品味一下这个城市的夜生活。
Chapter 13 Shopping
第十三章 购物指南
When not watching TV, Americans can
often be found shopping. They consider a
weekend well spent if they got some
particularly good deal or found the
perfect pair of boots or jeans. When an
American invites you to go for a walk,
she probably means strolling around a
mall or shopping district. Shopping
around or window shopping - leisurely
wandering from one store to another
without buying something - is central to
the
American
shopping
experience.
Americans have no problem asking a sales
person about an item and then leaving the
store without making a purchase.
美国人如果不看电视，就经常去逛街。如果他
们能在周末淘到一些很好的便宜货，或者找到一双
完美的靴子、一条一直想找的牛仔裤，那他们就会
觉得没有虚度时光。如果有美国女孩邀您去散步，
她很可能是想同您一起去逛商场或商业街。四处逛
逛、到处看看是美国人典型的消费体验，他们可以
惬意地流连于各个店铺之间而不买任何东西。对于
美国人而言，先问问售货员商品的价钱然后两手空
空地离开是很稀松平常的事。
The size and selection of stores in
the United States can really knock you
off your feet. Their prices, sales and
discounts will wow you, and the quality
they
offer
will,
too.However,
just
because something is more expensive does
not mean it is better quality.Stores will
charge as much as people are willing to
pay and that is sometimes far more than
an item is really worth. There is also no
direct connection between a store's
prices and its location whether it is
right downtown or out in the suburbs.
However, most Americans think that large
suburban shopping centers, big discount
department stores or outlet malls, where
stores sell leftover or overstocked
goods, have the best prices.Unless you
live very near one, these places can only
be reached by car.
美国那些大大小小的商店以及其中可供选择的
商品足以让您瞠目结舌。而商品的价格、促销、折
扣、质量也都会让您惊呼连连。但一般来说，价格
贵并不表示质量好。商家会根据消费者所能承受的
价钱来标价，所以有时候商品的售价会远远超出其
自身的实际价值。商品的价格跟商店所处的位置也
没有任何直接的联系，无论它是位于市中心，还是
位于郊区。大部分的美国人认为，那些在郊区的大
型购物中心、大型折扣百货商店以及名品折扣商场
（出售卖剩的或积压的商品），才是价钱最便宜的
地方。除非您住得离那些店很近，否则只有开车才
能到。
☆ Shopping tours for tourists do not always
make economic sense, so think carefully before
you sign up for one. When you add up the extra
cost of travel and the cost of potential returns
if you decide you don't want an item - as well
as the likelihood that the store won't have
exactly what you want in stock - the cost of
whatever you buy is pretty much identical to
what you would pay in the city.
☆ 一般购物旅行团对游客来说并不划算，所以在您决定
签字入团之前，一定要考虑清楚。如果把各种额外开支加起
来，比如旅行的费用，当您不想要某件商品时潜在的退货成
本，以及商店没有您所需商品的可能性等，那么您花的钱就
和在城里购物差不多了。
So, with all this in mind, hold on to
your wallet, slip on some comfy shoes and
hit the stores!
记清这些情况，捂紧您的钱包，穿上舒服的鞋
子向商场进发吧！
The most common types of shopping
opportunities in an average American city
are malls, department stores, specialty
stores and small family-run shops.
在美国的大多数城市，最为普遍的购物场所就
是大型购物中心、百货商店、专卖店以及一些小的
私营商店。
Malls have dozens or hundreds of
stores under one roof. These include
大型购物中心。大型购物中心里面有几十甚至
上百家店面，其中会包括：
·Several large department stores
·Smaller chain boutiques selling
everything from lingerie to candy to
shoes
·Specialty stores dealing in
electronics, books, sporting equipment,
toys, furs or jewelry
·Food courts, where a large number
of tables are surrounded by several
small fast food restaurants
·Snack bars and cafeterias
·几家大型百货商店
·小一点的连锁精品店，卖的东西五花八
门，从女式内衣到糖果、鞋子一应俱全
·各类专卖店，分别经营电子产品、图书、
体育器材、玩具、皮革或珠宝首饰
·美食广场， 一般中间会有很多供食客就餐
的桌子，而四周是若干小的快餐店。
·小吃店和咖啡厅
☆ Malls can be great places for tourists as
you can find a large number of different
products at different prices, all in the same
place.
☆ 对游客而言，大型购物中心是个好去处。在那里，您
在同一个地方就能找到不同价位的各种商品。
Department Stores can also be found
outside of malls, often in the downtown
areas of larger cities. They carry a wide
variety of items
百货商店。大型购物中心外面也会有百货商
店，它们通常位于大城市的市中心，所卖商品也是
种类繁多。
·For men and women
·For children and teens
·For the home, and
·For traveling and recreation
·男士专区和女士专区
·儿童专区和青少年专区
·居家用品专区
·旅行用品专区及休闲娱乐专区
Every department store has its own
pricing policy targeting consumers who
use credit cards of the same store.
即使在同一家百货商店，不同商家针对信用卡
消费者都会有其专门的价格策略。
☆ Many stores sell items at a 10% discount
that were returned by other customers. Also,
floor models of items such as furniture or
electronics are often sold at a discount.
☆ 许多商店会把顾客退回来的商品以九折的价格出售。
同样，在各楼层作样品的家具或电器等商品一般也会打折出
售。
Specialty Stores offer shoppers a
selection of specialized goods and an
endless string of offers, promotions,
sales
and
discounts,
as
well
as
additional services. For example, several
large
office
supply
chains
supply
corporate
clients
at
a
special
discount.Electronics chains, which sell
computers and appliances, often attract
customers with special price cuts. If you
come to buy something after a sale is
over and you remember the discounted
price, you can often buy the item at that
lower price.
专卖店。专卖店会向顾客提供一系列的专门商
品以及大量的优惠，其中包括各种促销商品、减价
商品、打折商品以及各种增值服务。比如，几家大
型的办公用品连锁公司会向企业客户提供特殊折
扣，而出售电脑和家用电器的电器连锁店经常会通
过降价来招揽顾客。如果您在促销结束之后才来买
东西，但您还记得商品打折时的价格，那么，通常
您也可以以折扣价把它收入囊中。
Small shops in tourist areas and
historic neighborhoods carry a surprising
selection of goods. Their display windows
will be filled with a wide assortment of
various items like laptops, printers,
video cameras, cell phones, lighters,
watches and T-shirts.Sometimes you can
bargain with the owners, but the final
price won't always be cheaper than at a
large department or specialty store.
Furthermore,
smaller
shops
are
not
responsible for an item's quality, and
returning
something
can
be
amajor
headache.
小店。位于旅游区和老街区的小店经常会出售
一些让人惊喜不断的商品。这些商店的橱窗里总是
满满地陈列着各种各样的商品，像手提电脑、打印
机、摄像机、手机、打火机、手表和T恤等。有时
您也可以和店主砍砍价，但最终的价格不会比大型
百货商店或专卖店的售价便宜。除此之外，小店通
常不会为商品的质量负责，所以退货会是一件很让
人头疼的事。
☆ While you're shopping, don't forget to
check out racks marked “Sale”or “Clearance”.
That's where you'll find the biggest discounts.
Depending on the type of store and its prices,
you can often find incredible bargains on sales
racks. Stores want to get rid of the last
remaining item of a certain kind or clear their
racks for the next season. For example, you can
find summer styles sold at significant discounts
in July and August and inexpensive winter
clothing in December and January, especially
right after Christmas.
☆ 购物的时候，一定别忘记看一下标有“促销”或“甩
卖”的货架，您会在那里发现折扣最低的商品。根据商店的
类型及其商品的价格，您经常会在货架上发现让人难以置信
的便宜货。商店往往会处理掉上一季没卖完的一些商品，或
是为了下一季的新产品腾出一些货架。比如，七八月份时，
夏装会大打折扣，而十二月和一月的冬装也不贵，尤其是在
圣诞节刚刚结束之后。
Nearly most clothing stores and all
department stores have fitting rooms,
where you can try on the merchandise.
However, it's not always possible to try
out or try on everything at the store
when lines are long and salespeople are
not to be found. But don't be afraid to
go ahead and buy that sweater that
catches your eye. Every store gives
customers a certain period of time to
return something if they have a receipt.
Depending on the store's return policy,
customers will receive credit at the
store or will be refunded the same way
they paid:
绝大多数服装店和百货商店都有试衣间，您可
以在那里试穿喜欢的衣服。但是，当商店里的顾客
多到排起长队，而售货员忙得不见踪影时，就没办
法一件件试穿了。如果真的试不了也不用担心，可
直接买下那件吸引您眼球的毛衣。因为每家商店都
会有一段可供顾客退货的时间，只要保留好购物小
票就行了。根据不同的退货规定，顾客或是直接从
商店拿回退款，或是以购买货物时的付款方式得到
退款。顾客购物一般有以下几种退款方式：
·Refund to their credit card
·Cash
·A check from the store
·信用卡退款
·现金退款
·支票退款
If you've lost your receipt, the store
may still give you a credit in the form
of a gift card good for other purchases
at the store.
就算您丢了购物小票，商店也可能会用赠送消
费卡的形式给您退款，您可以凭卡在店里购买其他
商品。
Some stores don't allow returns - or
worse, they have a return policy but
don't play by the rules. If a salesperson
at a store refuses to take an item back,
call 411 and find out the number of the
local Department of Consumer Affairs.
This organization will give you detailed,
free advice about what to do.
有些商店不允许退货，更糟的是，有些商店根
本不执行所谓的退款规定。如果有哪家商店的售货
员拒绝退货，请拨打411，查询当地消费者事务局
的电话号码，他们会免费为您提供详细的建议，告
诉您该怎样做。
Some stores don't allow you to return
certain items, and they'll warn you of
this when you make your purchase. Items
such as sandals, swimsuits or lingerie
are usually not returnable. Other stores
will not accept returns on merchandise
that has been opened such as CDs.
有些商店不允许退还某些特定的商品，一般在
您购买时他们就会提醒您。像凉鞋、泳衣、内衣等
一般都是不能退的。还有一些商店则规定已经开封
的商品不能退，比如CD。
Many stores try to attract customers
by sending them rebate checks. A rebate
is the money that the producer gives back
to purchasers after they've already
bought a product. To receive a rebate,
you need to fill out the rebate form
carefully. Once you get the rebate check
from the producer, make sure the amount
on the check matches what you saw on the
form. If the check and form amounts don't
match, you should complain to both the
manufacturer and the store where you
bought the product.
为招揽顾客，很多商店会给顾客寄贴现支票。
所谓贴现就是顾客在购买一件商品之后，生产商再
向其返还部分货款。为了得到返还款，您得仔细填
写返还款表格。一旦您从生产商那儿收到贴现支
票，务必确认一下支票上的金额是否与您在表格上
看到的金额一致。如果两者的金额不符，您可以同
时向购买商品的商店及生产商投诉。
☆ It can take a while to get a rebate check,
which means that if you're in the U.S. on a
short visit, you may not be able to take
advantage of a rebate offer.
☆ 要拿到贴现支票得等上一段时间，这就意味着如果您
只是在美国作短期访问的话，那您可能将无法享受返还优
惠。
Once, Khalid bought some electronics and got
a rebate form for $350. A few months later, he
received a check for only $250. He had to wait 7
months for the remaining $100, as it was hard
for the company to correct its own mistake.
一次，卡里德买了些家电并填了一张350美元的返还款表
格。但几个月之后，他只收到了一张250美元的支票。后来
他又等了七个月才收到了剩下的100美元，原因是公司要更
正自己的错误是一件很麻烦的事。
Some stores allow you to special order
various products. If you order an item
from a store, you'll usually need to pay
up to 50% ahead of time, and the rest
after you receive your order and find the
item to your liking.
有些商店可以为顾客特别订购各种各样的产
品。如果您在一家店订购了一个东西，那通常您得
先付50%的货款，剩下的金额则在您收到货品并感
到满意之后再付清。
☆ To avoid problems, never pay 100% upfront
when placing an expensive order.
☆ 为避免麻烦，在订购贵重物品时，千万不要提前把全
款付清。
Laura was looking for some new kitchen
cabinets at a kitchen store. The store owner
offered her some lovely Italian cabinets that
another customer had sent back, for 50% off.The
only condition was that she had to pay the
entire price upfront, which is rarely done in
the U.S. However, the thought of getting nice
cabinets in a matter of days for half the price
made Laura decide to go ahead.
劳拉曾经光顾过一家厨房用品店，当时她想买新橱柜。
店主给她看了几个可爱的意大利橱柜，是其他顾客退回来
的，打五折。唯一的条件是她必须预付全款，这在美国是很
少见的。尽管如此，想到只是因为别人用过几天就能以半价
买到很好的橱柜，劳拉便决定答应商家的要求。
Unfortunately, the cabinets were delivered
only after four months. Every single part of the
order had something wrong with it: One cabinet
had chips and cracks, and the others had
scratches and holes. It turned out the cabinets
were used.
不幸的是，橱柜四个月之后才被送到劳拉家里，而且橱
柜的每个部件都出现了问题：有个柜子起了皮、裂了缝，其
他几个也出现了刮痕和小洞。这表示橱柜已经被人用过了。
The company reacted to Laura's complaints
about the quality by saying, “You got cheap
cabinets. What else do you want?”For a year and
a half, Laura tried to exchange the cabinets or
get her money back. The owner who had sold her
the damaged cabinets refused to listen. Any
attempts to take the store to court proved
pointless, as lawyer's fees would cost Laura
more than the damages she was trying to get from
the store.
公司是这样回应劳拉的投诉的：“您买到了那么便宜的
橱柜，还想怎么样？”一年半以后，劳拉想更换橱柜或者把
钱退回来，但是卖给她破橱柜的店主根本不理睬她。任何想
要把这家店送上法庭的尝试也都毫无意义，因为律师费要比
她想从商店获得的赔偿金高很多。
Laura was forced to get rid of the cabinets
and buy new ones at another store. In her desire
for a bargain, Laura wound up wasting lots of
time and money.
劳拉迫不得已扔掉了那个橱柜，然后在别的店买了套新
的。为了买便宜货，劳拉最终花了更多的冤枉钱，也浪费了
不少时间。
☆ When placing an order, set a deadline
after which the seller will be forced to pay a
penalty for every day he is late or when he will
be obliged to return all of your down payment.
☆ 下订单时，要给商家设定一个送货的最后期限并与其
约定好，如果送货不及时的话，就需要按日支付罚金，或者
全额退还订金。
In
recent
years,
more
and
more
Americans have done at least some of
their
shopping
by
ordering
from
catalogues.
If
you
decide
to
buy
something by phone, over the Internet or
from a home shopping program, remember
that you have the right to have the
product delivered and return the product
for a full refund, minus the cost of
shipping.
近年来，越来越多的美国人开始从产品目录上
订购一些商品。当您决定通过电话、网络或电视购
物节目购买一些物品时，记住，您有权要求送货上
门或全额退款（退款可扣除运费）。
If you have any problems or questions
about a particular retailer or company,
you can find the number for your local
consumer information center, from which
you
can
get
free
advice,
in
the
phonebook. In California, for instance,
call 1-800-952-5210.
如果您对某个零售商或公司抱有质疑或不满，
您可以从电话簿中查到当地消费者信息中心的电
话，通过打电话获得免费的建议。比如，在加州，
您就可以拨打1-800-952-5210。
Chapter 14 Grocery stores and
alcoholic beverages
第十四章 便利店与酒水饮料
At some point, you may get tired of
eating out. Or perhaps you're longing to
cook something that reminds you of home.
That means it's time to explore another
side of American food and head for the
grocery store.
有时候，您可能会对外出就餐感到厌烦，或者
您想亲自下厨做点家乡菜。如果是这样的话，您就
应该去便利店挖掘一下美国其他食品的潜力了。
Like everything in the U.S., grocery
stores come in various shapes and sizes.
They can be divided into three different
groups, according to their selection and
the quality of the goods and services
they offer:
像其他方面一样，美国的便利店也是形制不
同，规模各异。根据各商店不同的商品类别及其商
品和服务的质量，便利店可以分为三种：
·Expensive
·Mid-priced
·Inexpensive
·高档便利店
·中档便利店
·低档便利店
Expensive stores offer specialty and
organic foods, which are grown and
prepared without hormones or synthetic
fertilizers.
This
makes
them
significantly
more
expensive.
These
stores sell high-quality foods, natural
vitamins, and hair and body care products
based on natural and organic ingredients.
Some of these stores are part of large
national chains, while others are small
family-owned
or
cooperative
businesses.While
the
quality
is
outstanding at these markets, they will
take a big bite out of your budget.
高档便利店。高档便利店会供应那些在种植培
育时没用激素及合成肥料的特产和有机食品。当
然，高档便利店里的食品价格也是贵得多。此外，
高档便利店还出售优质食品、天然维生素以及用天
然有机原料制成的美发、护肤产品。其中有些商店
是全国连锁的，而其他则是小型的夫妻店或者合营
商店。通常这些商店都是以质取胜，常常令顾客在
此大掏腰包。
Mid-priced stores are usually part of
regional or national chains that have
their own store brands and packaging.
They also adjust their prices based on
the market and their competitors' offers.
These stores attract customers by
中档便利店。中档便利店一般属于地域性的或
全国性的连锁店，有独立的品牌和包装。通常，中
档便利店会根据市场行情及竞争对手的定价适时调
整自身产品的价格。他们会通过以下手段招揽消费
者：
·Sending out circulars or flyers by
mail or in the newspaper
·Printing coupons for certain
competitive items in the local papers
·Offering discount cards and credit
cards for regular customers
·通过邮件或者随报纸发送传单
·针对某些竞争激烈的产品在当地报纸上印
刷优惠券
·为老顾客提供打折卡或赊购卡
Even if you aren't a “regular”,
you'll
find
that
prices
are
more
reasonable at stores like this.
即便您不是老主顾，您也会发现这里的价格相
当实惠。
☆ If you see a price listed as“2 for
$1”or“4 for $1”, you don't necessarily have to
buy that particular quantity of the item. You
can just buy one and pay $0.50 or $0.25,
respectively.
☆ 如果看到标价“一元两个”或“一元四个”的商品，
您其实不用一次买那么多，完全可以只花0.5元或者0.25元
购买一件单品。
In any supermarket, you can buy
在任何一家超市，您都可以买到：
·Meats, fish, poultry and eggs
·Milk and dairy products
·Vegetables and fruits
·Bread, baked goods and pastries
·Packaged and can goods
·Frozen meals
·Baby food and diapers
·Various household items like
dishes, towels, tablecloths and
napkins, detergents and cleansers,
cosmetics, personal care products, pet
food, flowers and small gifts
·肉类、鱼类、禽类和蛋类
·奶品和乳制品
·蔬菜和水果
·面包、烘焙食品和糕点
·袋装食品和罐装食品
·速冻食品
·婴儿食品和尿布
·各种居家用品，比如盘子、毛巾、桌布、
餐巾、洗涤剂、清洁剂、化妆品、个人护理产
品、宠物食品、鲜花以及小礼品等
☆ The availability of ethnic and health
foods depends on the location and clientele of
the store.
☆ 一个商店的地理位置及其顾客群决定了在那里是否会
出售民族风味食品和保健食品。
In many supermarkets, you'll find ATMs
(bank machines), photo developing, coffee
stands and pharmacies.
在许多超市，您都能找到自动柜员机、相片冲
洗店、咖啡售卖点和药店。
Inexpensive stores are either small
ethnic stores such as those catering to
Latinos,
Asians,
Jews,
or
other
minorities offering mostly ethnic goods
or large wholesale chains where food is
sold in bulk and you need to have a
membership card to make purchases.
低档便利店。低档便利店既有那些能满足拉丁
美洲人、亚洲人、犹太人或者其他少数民族顾客需
求的小型民族用品商店，也有大型批发连锁店，在
那里食品是批量出售的，而且必须持会员卡才能消
费。
Big wholesale markets make economic
sense
for
small
shopkeepers,
for
restaurant and cafe owners, for big
companies buying products for their own
use, and for consumers who want to do all
their week's shopping at one go. Buying
in bulk may not be the best option for
tourists or folks living alone. It's hard
to know what to do with five gallons of
pickles or 100 hamburger buns, even if
they are dirt cheap.
大型批发市场对有些消费者来说是个省钱的好
去处，比如小店老板、饭店或咖啡厅老板，需要采
购自用物品的大公司以及那些想把一周的东西一次
性买齐的消费者。但对于旅客或者独居的人来说，
大宗购物可不是什么最佳选择。就算5加仑泡菜或
100个汉堡包真的非常便宜，但对这些人来说，因
为量太大很难吃完。
Among smaller groceries, specialized
ethnic stores are particularly popular,
such as Russian butchers or bakeries,
Chinese fish markets, Armenian and Latino
fruit stands, or Cuban bakeries.
在更小的便利店中，民族商品专卖店非常受欢
迎，像俄罗斯肉店或面包店、中国鱼市、亚美尼亚
和拉美的水果摊、古巴的面包房等。
☆ Most small groceries will only allow you
to charge purchases over $10.
☆ 大多数小店都会要求您的最低消费不少于10 美元。
At an American grocery, every item is
generally labeled with the product's
weight; the price per pound (LB), ounce
(OZ), quart (QT) or gallon (GAL); and the
total price.Many states require such
labeling. You don't always need to double
check something's weight or your change
because most stores have no interest in
deceiving you. They really value your
business and want you to come back.
Mistakes do happen from time to time,
however. If you see something that
doesn't add up on your receipt, double
check it and ask the cashier for an
explanation.
在美国便利店里，通常每件商品都会写明重
量，每英镑（LB）、每盎司（OZ）、每夸脱（QT）
或者每加仑（GAL）的单价以及总价。很多州都要
求商品贴上这样的标签。您没有必要反复核查商品
的重量或找回来的零钱，因为大多商店不会有意欺
骗您。他们很重视您的这单生意, 并且希望您能成
为他们的回头客，不过话虽如此，小差错也会时有
发生。如果您发现收据单计算有误，那么请先核查
一遍，然后再跟收银员讨个说法。
Federal regulations require every food
product to be labeled with nutrition
facts.These will tell you the amount of
联邦条例规定，每件可食用产品都要标明其包
含的营养成分，具体项目如下：
·Calories per serving size
·Cholesterol
·Fat, including saturated fat
·Sodium
·Total carbohydrates
·Dietary fiber
·Sugar
·Protein
·Calories as a percentage of daily
value, using a 2000-calorie per day
diet as the basis for the calculation
·每份的卡路里含量
·胆固醇含量
·脂肪含量，包括饱和脂肪含量
·钠含量
·碳水化合物总量
·膳食纤维含量
·糖含量
·蛋白质含量
·以每天摄入2000卡路里为基准，计算每日
所需卡路里的百分比
☆ It's helpful to take a close look at a
product's nutrition facts.
☆ 仔细看看商品的营养成分是很有帮助的，很多美国人
就这么做。因为他们知道摄入过量的胆固醇和饱和脂肪容易
导致心脏病，而摄取过量的钠会引发高血压，而这正是美国
人的两大健康隐患。
Many Americans do so because they are
aware that large amounts of cholesterol
and saturated fats can lead to heart
disease and that too much sodium can lead
to high blood pressure, two major health
problems in the U.S.
因为很多美国人做饭时会很重视备餐意见，所
以一些食品包装袋上会印有食谱。有些美国人喜欢
烹饪，但有很多美国人觉得自己没时间做饭；还有
一些人在工作一天之后已经疲惫不堪了，根本不想
在厨房里花费精力和时间。这就是为什么美国人那
么喜欢方便食品和速冻食品的原因，这些食品在全
美的各个便利店都能找到。
Some food packaging features recipes
because
many
Americans
appreciate
preparation suggestions when they cook.
Some Americans love to cook, but many
don't think they have time. Others feel
exhausted after a day's work and have no
desire to spend hours in the kitchen.
That's why they love the convenience and
frozen foods you'll see all over American
grocery stores.If you buy something and
notice it's spoiled, take it back. All
grocery stores will accept a product for
return that is spoiled or damaged even if
its expiration date has not passed.
如果您发现购买的食品变质了，那就把它送回
去。即使东西还没过保质期，所有的便利店也都会
接受变质或破损商品的退货要求。
When
buying
products
that
are
perishable - products that spoil easily check the expiration date. It will be
usually be listed after“Best by,”“Sell
by,”or“Use by”on the package. These
products include
在选购易变质的商品时要注意检查保质期，通
常包装上都会标注“在……之前使用品质最
好”、“在……之前销售”或“在……之前使
用”。这些产品包括：
·Dairy products and milk
·Fresh and refrigerated meat and
meat products
·Fish and seafood
·Freshly squeezed juices
·Eggs
·Prepared and ready-to-eat foods
like salads, soups, meat or fish
dishes, poultry dishes and baked goods
·乳制品和牛奶
·冷鲜肉以及肉制品
·鱼类和海鲜
·鲜榨果汁
·蛋类
·现成的食品，如沙拉、汤品、做好的肉、
鱼、家禽以及烘焙食品等
Every grocery store's schedule is
posted on its front doors. Many large
supermarkets are open from 6 a.m. to 11
p.m., often closing slightly earlier on
weekends and holidays, and some are open
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The
majority of smaller groceries tend to
open at 8 or 9 a.m. and close at 8 or 9
p.m. on weekdays, and close at 3 p.m. on
weekends and holidays.
每家便利店都会把营业时间贴在前门上。许多
大型超市的营业时间一般是从早上6点到晚上11
点，若逢周末和节假日打烊时间还会稍微早一些，
但是有些商店会周一到周日全天24小时营业。对于
小一点的便利店来说，大多数从早上8、9点钟营业
至晚上8、9点钟，若碰上周末或节假日则在下午3
点打烊。
☆ When grocery shopping, take your time and
look at the store's selection and specials.
While coupons may tempt you to buy something
cheaply, they are not always the best way to
save money.
☆ 逛便利店的时候，不要着急，可以看看商家推出的精
选品和特价商品。虽然优惠券能让你便宜地买到一些东西，
但这不总是最省钱的方法。
As you wander through the aisles of
your local supermarket, remember that it
may not be the cheapest lunch option.
Sometimes,
it's
cheaper
and
more
convenient to eat at a small cafe than to
get a sandwich from a nearby, but not
necessarily inexpensive, supermarket.
当您徘徊于本地超市的过道里时，请记住：那
里的午餐也许并不是最便宜的。有时，在小咖啡店
里吃顿午餐会比在附近超市买一个三明治更便宜、
更方便，因为超市里的东西并不一定就便宜。
When shopping for alcoholic beverages,
remember
that
Americans
have
a
complicated relationship with alcohol.
Though many Americans enjoy beer, wine or
liquor,
others
believe
alcohol
is
dangerous or immoral and should be
controlled. Alcohol was even prohibited
for a brief period in the early 20th
century,
during
what
was
called
Prohibition.
选购酒精类饮料时，要记住美国人和酒的关系
很复杂。尽管有很多美国人喜欢喝啤酒、葡萄酒或
者烈酒，但也有人深信酒精是祸害，饮酒是不道德
的，应该被禁止。20世纪，酒精甚至被禁止过很短
的一段时间，人们将这段时期称为“禁酒期”。
Today, the sale of alcoholic beverages
is still strictly regulated. Sellers must
pay the price when they break the law.
The first few times a store violates the
law, it has to pay large fines. After
that the store will lose its liquor
license.
时至今日，酒精类饮料的销售仍然受到严格的
限制，经销商一旦触犯法律，就要付出相应的代
价。如果商家是头几次犯法，他们只要支付大额罚
金就好了。如果屡教不改，那连酒品营业执照也会
被吊销。
Here are the basic laws governing
alcohol sales:
下列是美国酒品销售的基本管理法：
·Alcoholic beverages can be sold
only to people over the age of 21
·The purchaser must show a photo ID
that proves his or her age
·Alcoholic beverages must be
packaged and carried in a paper bag
·You cannot drink alcoholic
beverages in the store
·Some states do not allow alcohol
to be sold on Sundays or after a
certain hour in the evening
·只有21岁以上的人才能购买酒精类饮料
·购买者必须出示带有照片的身份证以证明
其年龄
·酒精饮品必须用纸袋包装和携带
·顾客不能在商店里饮用酒精类饮料
·一些地区禁止在周日或者晚上某个时间之
后出售酒精类饮料
☆ Don't try to convince a sales person at a
store to sell you alcohol if you are under 21.
You'll be wasting your time. Also, never
purchase alcohol for a minor.
☆ 如果您未满21岁，不要企图说服商店的售货员把酒卖
给您，因为这是在浪费时间。除此之外，千万不要给未成年
人买酒喝。
Tanvir was in college and worked evenings at
a liquor store in Tarzana, California, not far
from Los Angeles. Once, around midnight, two
young men came into the store and after chatting
a bit with a cashier bought a couple of beers
and some peanuts. But when the police stopped
the boys and checked their IDs, they discovered
that one of them was under 21. The storeowner
was fined $5,000. A fine of this size can be
quite a financial blow to a liquor store, and
this ensures that employees do not break the
law.
坦维尔是一名大学生，晚上会在加州他桑纳的一家酒品
商店工作，那里离洛杉矶不远。有一次，午夜时分店里来了
两个年轻人，他们和收银员闲聊了一会儿，之后买了两瓶啤
酒和一些花生米。但当警察拦下他们检查身份证时，却发现
其中一个男孩未满21岁，于是店主被罚了5000美元。这样的
重罚对酒品经营店来说会是一次沉重的经济打击，但这也确
保了员工不会轻易触犯法律。
Alcohol can be sold only by licensed
grocery stores, where the selection can
vary depending on the state and the
store, or at specialized liquor stores,
where the selection can be staggering in
its proportions. There is something for
everyone in your average well-stocked
American liquor store, regardless of
nationality or taste: the best wines and
beers, and any number of liqueurs and
cognacs, champagne and vodka. Domestic
beers are usually less expensive than
imported beers, and it is considerably
less expensive to buy a six-pack or a
case of beer than to buy it by the
bottle.
便利店只有持酒品经营许可证才能卖酒，那里
的货品会根据地区和商店的不同而不同；而在酒品
专卖店，那里的酒类产品会令人目不暇接。在存货
充足的美国酒品商店里，不论顾客源自哪国，喜欢
哪种口味，每个人都能买到适合自己的酒品：上等
葡萄酒和啤酒、利口酒、白兰地、香槟或是伏特
加。通常来说，国产啤酒比进口啤酒便宜，买六瓶
装的或整箱的啤酒比买单瓶要划算得多。
Drinking alcohol on the street or in a
public place is prohibited in the U.S. To
avoid run-ins with the law and large
fines, people often keep their drinks
hidden in the brown paper bags they got
from the liquor store. Someone who is
drinking out of a paper bag will be left
alone by the police in most cities, as
long as he isn't visibly drunk or causing
trouble. However, never drive with an
open container of alcohol, even if a
passenger is carrying it in the back
seat.
在美国的大街上或者其他公共场所喝酒是违法
的。为避免犯法并遭遇高额罚款，人们常常把从酒
品商店买来的酒藏在棕色纸袋里。在大多数城市，
那些偷偷从纸袋里喝酒的人只要不是明显喝多了或
者闹事的话，警察一般都会睁一只眼，闭一只眼。
但是，开车时永远不要在车里放一瓶已经开启的
酒，就算有人在后座拿着也不行。
So, if you follow the rules, you'll be
able to crack open that beer or sip that
nice Merlot in peace and quiet. Anyone
would drink to that!
所以，只要您遵守这些规则，您就能安心地啪
的一声打开啤酒或者细品可口的梅格葡萄酒了。所
有人都会为了这一幸福时刻而干杯！
Chapter 15 Entertainment
第十五章 休闲娱乐
Americans just want to have fun ,
which is why the entertainment industry
in the U . S. is booming. Every month
brings a new crop of shows, films,
theater performances or exhibits to
American audiences. You can find loads of
information about fun things to do in
local
newspapers,
which
devote
significant
space
to
entertainment
listings, calendars and reviews.
美国的娱乐业之所以繁荣，是因为美国人喜欢
娱乐的缘故。每个月，美国观众都能看到一些新的
演出，包括电影、戏剧表演或展览。当地报纸会大
篇幅刊载海量的娱乐资讯，其中包括娱乐节目单、
上映时间表及相关评论。
Television
is
one
of
Americans'
favorite pastimes. More than 98% of
American families have TVs, and they're
likely to spend several hours a day
watching
their
favorite
program.Most
families have cable TV as well as the
publicly available broadcast channels.
Cable has hundreds of channels, some in
different languages. If you want to know
what's on, check out the TV listings in
the newspaper.
电视。电视是美国人最喜欢的休闲方式之一。
百分之九十八以上的美国家庭都有电视机，而他们
每天可能都会花上好几个小时来观看喜爱的节目。
大多数的家庭都有有线电视频道和公共广播频道，
其中有线电视有上百个频道，这些频道中有一些节
目是用其他语言播放的。如果您想了解电视上在演
什么，可以在报纸上查查电视节目信息。
You'll notice a mix of symbols and
letters beside the show descriptions in
your TV guide. They are part of a rating
system
that
gives
viewers
more
information about films and shows and who
should watch them.Stars indicate the
show's quality-and you'll see a similar
rating system for movies:
在报纸上的电视导栏中，除了节目预告外，您
还会看到符号和字母的组合。这些字符组合是分级
体系的一部分，可以为观众提供影视节目的更多信
息，并指出节目适宜观看的人群。星的数量表示节
目质量---影片分级体系也与之类似：
* = bad
** = not bad
***= good
**** = excellent
*=差
**=一般
***=良好
****=优秀
The year a film was produced is often
given in parentheses, for example(1984).
一部电影的出品通常会用括号进行标注，如
（1984）。
Letters in all capitals tell you the
recommended audience:
大写字母表示建议观众群：
·G, TVG= for a general audience
(for kids and adults)
·PG, TVPG = parental discretion or
supervision recommended (You should
watch the show with your child.)
·PG-13, TV14 = Parents are advised
that the film or show contains material
that might be in appropriate for
children under 13 or 14
·R, TVMA = Children under the age
of 17 should not watch without a parent
·V = contains violence
·S= contains sexual situations
·L = contains strong language
·D = contains adult dialogue
·TVY = appropriate for children of
all ages
·TVY7 = for children above the age
of 7
·TVY7FV = for children over 7.
These shows contain violence.
·CC = Close captioned, which means
the show has subtitles for the hearing
impaired
·G，TVG = 适合一般观众（包括儿童和成
人）
·PG，TVPG = 建议在父母的引导和监护下
观看（应该陪您的孩子一同观看）
·PG-13，TV14 = 建议家长不要让年龄未满
13或14岁的孩子观看
·R，TVMA = 17岁以下的孩子应该在家长的
陪同下观看
·V = 内含暴力内容
·S = 内含色情内容
·L = 内含粗话
·D = 内含成人对话内容
·TVY = 适合所有年龄段的儿童观看
·TVY7 = 适合七岁以上的儿童观看
·TVY7FV = 适合七岁以上的儿童观看，节
目中有暴力内容
·CC = 有文字说明，表示为听力差的人提
供了字幕
In addition to TV, Americans also
enjoy watching videos or DVDs with family
and friends. Videos and DVDs can be
bought at special stores or bookstores,
rented from video rental stores, or
borrowed from the public library or a
friend. The film's genre, rating and
audience
recommendation
are
usually
printed on the outside of the box. To
rent a movie, you'll need to apply for a
membership card at the rental store and
sometimes pay a small membership fee of
$1 to $20. It's a good idea to return
films on time, as stores charge late fees
for every day after the due date. Almost
every rental place has a box or slot
where customers can conveniently leave
videos or DVD they're returning when the
store is closed.
除电视外，美国人还喜欢和亲朋好友一起观看
录像或DVD。录像带和DVD可以到专卖店或书店去
买，也可以到录像出租店去租，还可以到公共图书
馆或朋友那里去借。电影的类型、级别、以及推荐
观众群通常会印在包装盒上。租借影片时，您需要
先到出租店申请会员卡，有时候还需要交纳1~20美
元的会员费。租借影片后最好及时归还，如果在规
定日期没有归还影片的话，商店会按日收取滞纳
金。几乎每个出租店都设有一个投片盒或投片口，
当商店打烊时方便顾客归还录像带或DVD。
Nowadays, online DVDs rental services
like
Netflix
become
more
and
more
popular. They typically offer:
现在，在线DVD租借服务变得越来越受欢迎，像
奈飞（Netflix）公司。这类公司主要提供：
·Over 60, 000 titles
·Free delivery
·No late fees
·Different plans with different
prices
·六万个以上的片目
·免费送货上门
·延迟归还无需交滞纳金
·价格各异的各类销售方案
☆ Before buying a video, remember that it's
usually far cheaper to rent than to buy.
☆ 在买录像带之前，要记住租带子通常比买带子要便宜
得多。
Radio stations in the U.S. are on the
AM or FM band. Stations play all sorts of
different kinds of music, and some have
informational programs like talk shows,
where listeners call in and discuss hot
issues with a host.
无线电台。美国的无线电台有调幅（AM）和调
频（FM）两种。电台会播放各种各样的音乐，也会
有一些信息类节目，例如脱口秀，在节目进行过程
中，通常听众可以往演播室打电话进来与主持人讨
论热点话题。
☆ If you're looking for a good source of
news on the radio, try National Public Radio
(www.npr.org). NPR stations are non-profit,
publicly supported stations with excellent news
coverage of both U.S. and international events.
NPR station do tend to carry a liberal bias,
however.
☆ 如果您想通过广播寻找好的信息资源，可以试试美国
国家公共广播（www.npr.org）。美国国家公共广播是非盈
利性的公共电台，其优秀的新闻报道覆盖美国国内或国际的
重大事件。不过，它确实有点倾向于自由派。
Movie theaters or cinemas are usually
found in large complexes with several
comfortable theaters showing different
films.Many Americans like to go out for a
movie now and then, just for a change of
pace. If you don't like the film you've
bought a ticket for, try to ask the
manager or some other staff member if you
can move to another theater and see a
different film. You can also usually get
a pass to return another day.Ticket
prices vary according to the time of day,
the day of the week, the location of the
theater and the quality of its screens.
Daytime matinees or early evening “rush
hour” shows are usually the least
expensive. For popular films, you may
want to purchase a ticket a few days in
advance at the theater or online. Note
that online tickets generally cost a
dollar or two more.
影剧院或电影院。影剧院或电影院通常位于综
合大楼，由多个舒适的放映厅构成，每个厅会放映
不同的电影。许多美国人喜欢不时地出去看一场电
影，目的只是为了改变一下生活节奏。如果您买了
电影票，却又不喜欢那部电影的话，可以问问影院
经理或其他工作人员，看看能否把你换到另一个厅
看其他电影。他们也可能会给您一张入门凭证，让
您改天再来看。电影票价会因时段、星期几、影院
地点、银屏质量等不同而不同。一般来说，日场、
午后场或傍晚交通高峰时段的票价是最便宜的。如
果是热门电影，您恐怕要提前几天到电影院或网上
买票。需要注意的是，在网上订票一般会多花一两
美元。
Local newspapers list films and show
times, or you can call a cinema near you
and listen to a recorded message telling
you what's playing. Also check the
theater's website.
当地报纸会刊登电影名录及放映时间表，或者
您也可以给最近的影院打电话，通过听影院的语音
信息了解正在上演的片目，或者也可以到影院网站
确认相关信息。
Theaters, concerts halls and sports
arenas are found in practically every
city in the U.S.If you are in a major
city,
you'll
probably
hear
of
a
particular theater that attracts viewers
from all over the country. Tickets for
popular performances or sporting events
often sell out during the first weeks of
the season. While sports of all kinds are
very popular in the U.S., Americans are
particularly
crazy
about
football,
baseball and basketball. In Los Angeles,
for example, when the Lakers (the local
professional
basketball
team)
are
playing, hard-core fans will decorate
their cars and trucks with big signs
reading“Go Lakers!”Some fans never miss
a home game of their local team, and this
means that tourists have only a slim
chance of getting an inexpensive ticket
on the day of the game. But it never
hurts to try. Look at websites like
www.stubhub.com,
where
people
sell
tickets they can't use.
剧院、音乐厅和体育场。美国各个城市都有剧
院、音乐厅和体育场。如果您住在大城市，您或许
听说过，有的剧院会吸引来自全国各地的观众。热
门的表演或体育赛事的门票经常会在当季的前几周
就销售一空。在美国，所有的体育运动都很受欢
迎，不过，美国人最喜欢的是橄榄球、棒球和篮
球。例如，在洛杉矶，当湖人队（当地的职业篮球
队）比赛时，忠实的球迷会用大招牌写上“湖人加
油”来装饰他们的汽车或卡车。一些球迷从来不会
错过本地球队的主场赛，这意味着游客基本没有机
会买到比赛当天的便宜票。不过，试一试也不会有
什么损失，浏览一下像www.stubhub.com 这样的
网站，那里有人会转让他们用不了的票。
Regardless of where you live in the
States or in the world, you can buy a
ticket
for
nearly
any
performance,
sporting event, concert or show in the
U.S. via the Internet if you do it early
enough. Just go to the web site of
Ticketmaster
(www.ticketmaster.com)
to
see a calendar of events across America.
You can reserve as many as six tickets
for an event and have them mailed
anywhere in the world.
不管您住在美国的哪个州或是在世界的哪个角
落，只要您行动得足够早，您就可以通过网络买到
美国任何一场演出、体育赛事、音乐会或表演的门
票。去特玛捷票务网站
（www.ticketmaster.com）看一看吧，那里有美
国各类娱乐活动的时间表。每个活动您最多可以预
订六张票，而且，订票可以邮寄到世界的任何一个
地方。
☆ Ticketmaster only accepts credit cards and
does charge a processing fee, which will add to
the total cost of your tickets.
☆ 特玛捷网只接受信用卡支付，而且要收取一定的手续
费，手续费会被计入消费总额中。
If you're trying to have fun on a
budget, you can sometimes purchase cheap
tickets for concerts, plays, shows and
sporting events or get them at a big
discount. Try ordering them ahead of time
or buying them at the box office after
the event has already started.
如果您厉行节约但又想玩，那您有时候可以买
音乐会、戏剧、演出或体育赛事的廉价门票，或者
买折扣较大的打折票。建议您提前订票或者等到节
目开始后再去售票处买票。
Americans like to manage their free
time, just like they love to manage
everything else in their lives. They've
learned to plan their education and
career, marriage and divorce, the birth
or adoption of their children, buying and
selling property, their vacations and
trips, and, of course, their weekends.
And they've got a point: It makes a lot
of sense to plan ahead and pay for what
you want in advance. There's only so much
you can spend, and you can't buy
everything,
especially
at
the
last
minute. You can also relax, knowing that
fun-not long, frustrating ticket lines-is
on the way.
美国人喜欢管理自己的空闲时间，就像他们喜
欢管理生命中的其他事情一样。他们已经学会了计
划自己的学业和事业、结婚与离婚、生子或领养、
房地产的买与卖、假期和旅行，当然，还有他们的
周末。并且他们得出一个道理：买东西要提前计
划，想好了要买的以后则要提前付款，这样才比较
靠谱。因为您只能花那么些钱，同时，您总不能什
么都等到最后一刻才去买吧。而且买了票以后，您
就可以放松地等待了，知道开心的日子不远了，总
比难受地排长队买票好过吧！
Two months before Madonna's tour, the L.A.
papers announced when tickets would go on sale.
That morning, around a hundred people were
standing in line in front of Ticketmaster's
offices. The first eager fans had gotten there
four hours before the box office opened. Box
office and Internet sales kicked off at 10 a.m.
Needless to say, in less than 40 minutes, the
concert was sold out, and those who were out of
luck went home empty handed.When asked how often
tickets sold at such a surprising rate, a
Ticketmaster employee replied that it depends on
the popularity of the performer and the size of
the event.
早在麦当娜巡回演出开始前的两个月，洛杉矶的报纸就
公布了门票销售时间。那天早晨，大约有一百人在特玛捷票
务的售票室前排队，其中排在第一个的热情的粉丝在售票室
开门前四小时就在那里等候了。传统售票室和网上售票点同
时于上午10点开始销售。不用说，在不到40分钟的时间里，
门票就销售一空，而运气差的人就只能空手而归了。如果您
要问这么惊人的门票销售速度多久会出现一次，那么特玛捷
票务的工作人员会回答您说，这取决于演员的受欢迎程度和
活动的规模大小。
Because events do sell out, many
Americans, when they get the program for
the upcoming theater or sports season in
the spring, try to get tickets as quickly
as possible.Some theaters, arenas and
concert halls offer season tickets or
series tickets at a significant discount.
因为门票真会售罄，所以许多美国人只要一拿
到即将上演的剧场节目单或者春季体育赛事的赛程
表，他们就会尽快把票买好。一些剧院、体育场和
音乐厅还会以较大的折扣推出季票或套票。
☆ Not every event is like a Madonna concert,
of course. If you get in line for the box office
two to three hours before an event starts, you
will more than likely to be able to buy a
ticket.
☆ 当然，并不是每次活动都会像麦当娜的演唱会那样火
爆。一般情况下，只要您在活动开始前的两至三个小时内去
售票室排队，都能买到票。
Museums, parks, monuments and art
galleries in the U.S. offer informative,
engaging
and
moving
exhibits
and
displays. So as you leaf through the
paper, you may want to pick out the
events
and
places
that
are
most
interesting to you.
博物馆、公园、纪念馆和艺术品陈列馆。美国
的博物馆、公园、纪念馆和艺术品陈列馆还会推出
各种展览和表演，这些活动通常都很动人，很有吸
引力，而且看了还可以让人长见识。因此，当您翻
阅报纸时，您可能想好好挑一挑，挑一些您最感兴
趣的活动和地点。
☆ Many museums have days (usually a weekday)
when they offer free admission. Others, such as
the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, have
a suggested donation policy instead of a set
admission fee. This means that if you don't have
money, you can still get into the museum.
☆
许多博物馆均设有免费参观日（经常是一个工作
日）。还有一些博物馆，例如纽约大都会艺术博物馆，则用
建议性的捐赠制度代替了固定的入场费，这意味着，就算您
没有钱，您仍然能够进去参观。
Clubs of all kinds are also very
popular among Americans. If you are a big
fan of a certain sports team or love the
work of a particular artist, you can meet
other people who share your enthusiasm at
a fan club. If you're an avid reader, you
can discuss the latest novels with other
members of a book club, often sponsored
by a bookstore or by a public library.
Recently, young American women have
rediscovered
knitting,
and
you'll
sometimes see a group of gals with
needles, knitting away at a cafe or
bookstore. If you love jazz, rock or
blues, try visiting a local music club.
You'll
be
surprised
how
good
the
performers are and how friendly the
atmosphere is at many clubs, where you
can dance the night away. By the way, if
you are interested to know about health
and sport clubs, see Chapter 28.
俱乐部。在美国，各式各样的俱乐部同样很受
欢迎。如果您是某个体育队的忠实粉丝，或者喜欢
某个艺术家的作品，那么您可以在一个粉丝俱乐部
遇到与自己志同道合的人。如果您喜欢阅读，那么
您可以与书友俱乐部的其他成员讨论最新的小说，
书友俱乐部通常是某个书店或公共图书馆资助的。
最近，年轻的美国女士又重新迷上了编织，所以您
有时会在咖啡厅或书店里看到一群正在用针线编织
的女士。如果您喜欢爵士乐、摇滚或蓝调，那可以
去当地的音乐俱乐部看看。在许多俱乐部，您会惊
奇地发现那里的表演有多棒，那里的气氛有多友
好，只要您愿意还可以在那儿跳上一晚的舞。另
外，如果您对健康和体育俱乐部感兴趣，那可以看
看第二十八章。
Classes and courses. If you have the
time and want to take a course or class,
you'll probably achieve the stated goal
of the class, thanks to the quality and
professional level of most offerings in
the U.S. Americans love to take short
classes or workshops - some of which last
only a day or a weekend - to learn how to
make an fancy holiday dish or craft
project, to improve their social or
acting skills, or to pick up a few new
dance steps.Many stores that sell things
like cooking products or dance attire
will also offer short classes, which even
tourists can take and enjoy. For longer
courses, you can find out more about
local educational institutions at your
local library. Your local community
collegeis a good place to look first.
报班和修课。如果您有时间并且想报个班学习
学习，鉴于美国各教育机构所提供的课程有着较高
的质量和专业水准，大部分情况下您可以达到班级
既定的教学目标。美国人喜欢参加只占一天或一个
周末的短训班或研习会，在那儿他们可以学做假日
大餐或者手工艺品，也可以学习提高自己的社交技
能或演技，或者还可以学一些新的舞步。许多出售
烹饪产品或舞会装束的店家也会自己组织短期培训
班，这些课程甚至连游客也能参与并享受其乐趣。
至于长期班，您可以到当地图书馆查找有关当地教
育机构的更多信息。当地的社区学院往往是首选。
Public libraries in the U.S. are free
and are a great source of entertainment.
Along
with
books,
libraries
have
magazines and newspapers in various
languages, encyclopedias, dictionaries,
reference
books,
audio
and
video
cassettes, DVDs, CDs and textbooks. You
can also get free Internet access and use
web resources. Some libraries offer
courses on how to use the Internet, as
well
as
English
courses
and
other
programs for both adults and children.
公共图书馆。美国的公共图书馆都是免费开放
的，且拥有大量的娱乐资源。除了图书之外，图书
馆还有多语种的杂志和报纸，以及百科全书、词
典、参考书、录音带、录像带、DVD、CD和教科书
等等。您还可以在那儿免费上网，免费使用网络资
源。一些图书馆还为成人和孩子提供有关如何使用
网络的课程，以及英语课程和其他课程。
To get access to these resources,
you'll need a library card. You can get
one by showing the librarian a photo ID
and an envelope or bill addressed to you
that was sent by mail, as proof that you
live in the area. As a rule, a city has
one
big
catalogue
for
all
library
materials. Once they find a certain book
or tape you want, librarians can request
it for you and have it delivered to the
library branch nearest you.
您若想要利用这些资源，那就需要办一张借书
证。办证时，您需要向图书管理员出示一下带照片
的身份证、一个邮寄给您的信封或账单，以证明您
就住在那个地区。按常理，每个城市都有一本厚厚
的涵盖所有图书馆资料的目录。一旦图书管理员在
上面找到了您想要的某本书或某盘磁带，他们就可
以帮您申请把它寄到离您最近的图书馆分馆。
Every library has its own limits on
how many items you can borrow and for how
long. For example, Los Angeles libraries
will allow you to borrow items for three
weeks that are worth a maximum of $500,
and three cassettes for 7 days if they
are instructional, otherwise for two
days. Some other cities, however, are
more flexible. Ask your librarian.
每个图书馆都对可借览品种的数量和时间有自
己的限制。举个例子，洛杉矶的图书馆规定：总价
等于或少于500美元的东西最长可以借三个星期，
三盒教育类磁带可以借七天，而一般的卡带只能借
两天。而在其他城市可能更灵活，具体情况要咨询
那里的图书管理员。
☆ Even if you don't have a library card, you
can still read books, magazines and newspapers
in the library building, and use the Internet
(usually for around an hour at a time).
☆
即使您没有借书证，您仍然可以在图书馆里阅览图
书、杂志和报纸，也可以使用电脑（通常每次一个小时左
右）。
Some big cities also have foreign
language libraries. You can ask for the
address at your library branch.
一些大城市还有外文图书馆，您可在分馆询问
其具体地址。
Newspapers,
magazines
and
other
periodicals are sold all over most
American cities: at stations, airports,
kiosks, and in news stands and coinoperated vending machines on the corner.
There are national, local, religious,
ethnic and specialized newspapers and
magazines, and while most are printed in
English, many use the language of the
various immigrant communities in the U.S.
报纸、杂志和其他刊物。几乎在美国所有城市
的车站、飞机场、报亭、报摊及街角的自动售货机
里，您都可以买到报纸、杂志和其他一些刊物。它
们有全国性的，也有宗教性的，民族性的和专业性
的，其中大多是用英文印制而成的，但在美国各种
各样的移民社区里，也有许多是用移民们自己的语
言印制而成的。
Newspapers and magazines can be a fast
and easy way to learn something about the
area around you. When you get to a new
city, head for a bookstore and buy or
just peruse the papers and tourist guides
that describe popular local sights, the
streets, stores and restaurants that are
favorites among tourists and locals.
阅读报纸和杂志能让您迅速便捷地了解周边地
区的情况。当您初到一个城市，建议您先去书店买
一些报纸和游客指南，一般在上面会介绍广受旅客
和当地人欢迎的当地热门景点、街巷、店铺以及饭
店等，如果不想买的话，直接去书店看也行。
☆ People watching, when you sit back and
watch the crowds go by, is a favorite form of
entertainment in the U.S. - and it's 100% free!
So watch the people around you. And don't worry
if someone you don't know starts up a casual
conversation with you.That's completely normal
in many parts of the U.S., especially in small
towns. With their incredible diversity and their
many stories to tell, getting to know the people
of America is the true heart of any American
travel experience.
☆ 在美国，舒舒服服地坐着观察来来往往的人也是一个
广受欢迎的娱乐形式---而且它百分之百免费！所以，请观
察周围的人吧！要是有陌生人和您随意地攀谈起来，也不要
担心，因为这在美国许多地区都是很正常的，尤其是在小城
镇。通过他们各异的风格和他们所讲述的故事，您可以慢慢
了解美国的人民，而这恰恰也是任何美国之旅的核心所在。
Chapter 16 Opening a bank account
第十六章 银行开户
“Money makes the world go round”, as
some Americans are fond of saying, and
you'll need to take enough with you to
enjoy your stay in America. But carrying
a wad of cash around isn't very practical
or safe. That's why many tourists heading
to the United States send money via wire
transfer to relatives or friends ahead of
time, so that they can use the money once
they get here.
就像一些美国人喜欢说的，“金钱让世界运转
起来”，如果您想好好享受您的美国之行，就必须
带上足够的钱。但是，如果您带着大量现金走来走
去的话，既不切合实际，也不安全。所以，很多赴
美游客会提前把钱电汇到美国的亲戚或朋友那里，
这样一来，一旦他们到了美国，就可以用这笔钱
了。
☆ Before sending money, check the service
fees at several banks and their exchange rates,
preferably in the morning when the European
markets are trading. Compare banks' fees to the
Western
Union,
which
specializes
in
international money transfers around the world.
☆ 在汇款之前，先查一查各家银行的服务费和汇率，查
询时间最好在上午，因为那时欧洲的金融市场正在交易。同
时，还要把各银行的服务费与西联汇票的服务费比较一下，
因为西联汇票是专门在世界各地从事国际货币汇兑业务的，
会更专业一些。
To transfer money through a bank,
you'll need
要通过银行汇兑现金，您需要：
·The name and address of the local
bank you are sending money from
·The name and address of the U.S.
bank where you are transferring money
·The routing numbers of both banks
·Your account number
·The account number and name on the
account at the U.S. bank
·Your ID
·存款银行的名称和地址
·汇款所到的美国银行的名称和地址
·两个银行的路由号码
·您的银行账号
·您在美国银行的账户名称和账号
·您的身份证
Depending on what country you are
sending it from, your money should be
credited to the U.S. account within 10
days.
依据您所在国家的不同，您的钱汇到美国账户
上所需的时间也不同，但一般在10天之内。
Credit cards can also help reduce the
amount of cash you carry with you. It's a
good idea to make sure your credit card
won't expire while you're on your trip.
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are
accepted nearly everywhere in the U.S.,
and many businesses also take DinersClub
and several other kinds of cards.
信用卡也能让您少带些现金，但您最好要确信
信用卡不会在旅行途中过期。维萨卡（Visa）、万
事达卡（Mastercard）和美国运通卡（American
Express）基本上在美国各个地方都能使用，另
外，许多商家还可以刷大来卡（Diners Club）及
其他种类的卡。
Traveler's checks are yet another
option. Though they're becoming less and
less popular, you can still cash them at
any bank and use them at many businesses.
另一种选择是旅行支票。虽然旅行支票已经不
像以前那样流行了，但您仍然可以在任何一家银行
把它们兑成现金，并且在许多商店中使用。
Once again, having $60 or $100 in your
pocket is a lot less of a headache than
carrying around big stacks of cash. To
keep the rest of your money safe, put
what you bring with you or what you win
at that Las Vegas casino in your hotel
safe or in the bank, especially if you
have more than $10,000.
再次重申，随身携带大笔现金会给您带来很多
麻烦，相反，如果口袋里只放60或100美元，那您
就会轻松很多。除了手头的一些零花钱以外，建议
您最好把剩下的钱或者您从赌城拉斯维加斯赢来的
钱放在旅馆的保险柜里或者存入银行，尤其是当总
额超过一万美元时。
American banks can be roughly divided
into the following categories:
美国的银行大致可以分为以下几种：
·Banks with branches nation wide
·Banks with branches in a single
state
·Banks with branches in a single
city
·Banks with a single location
·全国各地都设有分行的银行
·只在一个州内设有分行的银行
·只在一个城市设有分行的银行
·只在一个地点办公的银行
Before choosing a bank, figure out
first what you want to do at your bank:
在选择银行之前，首先要弄清楚您要到银行办
理什么业务：
·Keep your money in a checking
account
·Get loans or lines of credit
·Make investments
·把钱存入银行的支票账户
·申请银行贷款或信用额度
·投资
☆ If your bank in your country has a
correspondent relationship with a bank in the
U.S., this will make future bank transfers a lot
simpler.
☆ 如果您的汇出行与美国的某家银行有代理关系，那么
您将来在两个银行之间的汇款会更简单快捷。
Once you understand what you need,
compare what services various banks offer
and how much they charge to
一旦您清楚了自身的需求，您就可以比较各个
银行所提供的不同的服务及不同的收费标准：
·Maintain your accounts and process
transactions
·Lend
·Plan investments
·账户的管理费和交易的手续费
·贷款利率
·投资咨询费
☆ Don't forget to ask for a list of fees for
late payments and withdrawing money from a longterm account, such as a certificate of deposit
(or CD), early.
☆ 如果涉及延迟还款或者从长期账户，比如定期存单中
提前支取资金，千万别忘了要向银行索要一份相关费用的清
单。
Many people in America have the same problem:
They never have enough time, or so they think.
They're always in a hurry. But because they are
always in a rush, they never bother to get to
the bottom of their problems and end up making
spur-of-the-moment decisions. Or they make
strategic errors and wind up paying a lot of
extra fees for their accounts and credit cards.
Before signing an agreement with a bank, many
people don't bother to ask for a day to think it
over. But for your own financial benefit, you
shouldn't be afraid to be different. Take your
time. Work with several different banks. Open
and close accounts according to your best
financial interests. Find the least expensive
account for each of your needs.
在美国，许多人都有同一个问题，即他们的时间从来不
够用，或者他们觉得时间不够用。他们总是行色匆匆，但就
是因为他们一直很忙，所以他们从来不会费力去仔细思考自
己的问题，也正因为如此，他们经常做一些盲目的临时决
定。有时，他们还会犯一些战略性错误，并且最终为他们的
账户和信用卡付一大笔额外的费用。在与银行签订协议之
前，很多人不愿花上一天时间仔细考虑考虑。不过为了您的
经济利益。建议您不要害怕标新立异，而要慢慢来。您可以
与几家银行合作，并且依据经济利益最优化的原则开户或销
户，争取花最少的钱满足自己的需要。
Don't be afraid to ask questions when
choosing a bank. If you don't know special
banking terms in English, write down your
questions ahead of time and ask the bank
associate to write down his answers clearly and
legibly. At home, you'll have more time to
process the information.
在选择银行时，不要害怕问问题。如果您不懂
如何用英语表达一些特殊的银行术语，那就提前写
下您的问题，然后让银行相关人员把答案清楚地写
下来。回家后，您会有足够的时间去整理这些信
息。
You don't need to worry about your
bank closing suddenly and leaving you
without a dime. Deposits of up to
$100,000 are insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Before signing up for a bank account,
make sure that your bank participates in
FDIC. If you aren't sure, call 1-877ASKFDIC
(1-877-275-3342)
or
go
to
www.fdic.gov.
您也没必要担心您的银行会突然关门大吉，然
后连一分钱都不给您就逃之夭夭。联邦储蓄保险公
司（FDIC）为10万美元以下的存款都保了险。当您
在美国开设银行账户时，要确保该银行参保了FDIC
的保险。如果您不确定，可以拨打电话1-877ASKFDIC（1-877-275-3342）或者登录
www.fdic.gov进行查询。
☆ If you have more than $100,000 and don't
want to lose sleep over your deposits, put your
money in several accounts of $100,000 at various
banks.
☆ 如果您的现金多于10万美元，又不想因为这些钱每天
晚上睡不着觉，那您可以把钱分成若干个10万美元，然后把
它们分别存入不同的银行。
To open a U.S. bank account, you'll
need
在美国的银行开立账户，您需要：
·Two proofs of ID with photos, such
as a U.S. or international driver's
license, international student card or
your passport
·Proof that you are in the U.S.
legally, such as a tourist or student
visa
·Proof of your residence in the
U.S., such as an envelope that was
delivered to you at your address by the
U.S. Postal Service
·Your phone number and your
mother's maiden name, which banks use
as a security question when you call to
ask questions about your account
·A social security number (SSN)
from the Social Security Administration
·两份附带照片的身份证明，比如美国或者
国际驾照，国际学生卡或者护照
·能证明您是通过合法途径来到美国的凭
证，比如旅游签证或者学生签证
·能证明您在美国居住的凭证，比如一个通
过美国邮政服务公司寄到您住处的给您本人的信
封
·您的电话号码和您母亲的本姓，因为当您
打电话咨询账户的情况时，银行会以此作为安全
问题的答案
·从美国社会保障署得到一个社会安全号
（SSN）
☆ Banks will not accept hotels or motels as
addresses for an account.
☆ 开设银行账户时，银行不会接受以旅馆或者汽车旅馆
为地址的证明凭证。
In the past, foreign tourists who
entered the United States could apply for
a card with an SSN if they presented
their passport and I-94 and filled out an
SS-5 form. These cards stated that they
were“Not
Valid
for
Employment.”But
after September 11, 2001, Social Security
cards were no longer issued to tourists.
The Social Security Administration will,
however, issue a special number on a
case-by-case basis to tourists who want
to open bank accounts. You can find out
more by calling 1-800-772-1213 or at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
过去，外国游客到美国后，只要出示护照、I94 （美国出入境登记表），并且填写SS-5（社安
号申请表格），就可以申请到一张社会安全卡和一
个社会安全号。这些卡上会标明“就业无效”的字
样。但从2001年9月11日之后，社安卡不再向游客
发放。不过，美国社会保障署会根据实际情况向那
些想在美国开立银行账户的游客发放一个特别号
码。欲知详细内容，可拨打电话1-800-772-1213
或登录www.socialsecurity.gov。
When you open an account, the bank
associate will ask you to make a minimum
deposit ranging from $1 to $1,000,
depending on the kind of account you
choose and the bank's policies. If you
open a checking account of any kind, he
will also give you a temporary checkbook
and take an order for checks with your
name and address printed on them.
在您开设银行账户时，银行工作人员会依据您
选择的账户类型和相关的银行政策，要求您在账户
存上1~1000美元不等的最低存款额。无论您开办哪
一种支票账户，相关人员都会发给您一本临时支票
簿，并且还会帮您订购一本印有您的姓名和地址的
支票簿。
You should receive your checks in the
mail in 10 to 20 days, and sometimes
sooner.If you haven't gotten anything
after three weeks, call your bank.
一般来说，您可以在10到20天内收到邮寄过来
的支票短簿，有时可能会更快一些。如果过了三个
星期您还没有收到支票簿的话，那么，您就应该给
银行打个电话问一问。
Let's take a look at a typical U.S.
check.
让我们来看一下美国典型支票是什么样的。
Every
check
has
the
following
information:
每张支票都有以下信息：
·The 3-or 4-digit check number,
which helps you keep track of the
checks you write
·The routing number of the bank and
your account number, which the bank
uses for internal accounting purposes
·Your name, address and phone
number
·A line that begins with“PAY TO
THE ORDER OF,”where you write the full
name of the person or company that will
receive the check
·A line where you write the date of
the check
·A small box where you write the
amount of the check in numbers (i.e.
$20.30)
·A line that begins
with“DOLLARS,”where you spell out the
amount of the check (i.e.“twenty
dollars and 30/100s”)
·由3~4位阿拉伯数字组成的支票号，通过支
票号可以帮您追踪签发出去的支票
·银行的路由号码及您的银行账号，银行会
利用它们进行内部财务核算
·您的姓名、地址和电话号码
·在支票接收人填写处会有“付款至（PAY
TO THE ORDER OF）”的字样，您需要在这栏中
填上接收支票的个人或公司的全名
·支票签发日期填写处
·用阿拉伯数字填写支票金额的小方框(例如
$20.30)
·以“美元（DOLLARS）”开头的一栏，您
需要拼写出支票金额的英文
（如“twentydollars and 30/100s”）
☆ Write out the words in order to avoid any
one tampering with your check by changing the
amount. You should draw a wavy line to fill up
extra space so that no one can change the
amount.
☆
以字母形式拼写是为了避免有人篡改支票金额。另
外，您还应该在多余的空白处划上波浪线，这样一来，就没
人能篡改金额了。
·A line that begins
with“FOR,”where you can write the
purpose of the check (i.e.“October
phone bill”), although this is for
your personal use and is not required
·A line, sometimes beginning
with“IVP,”where you sign your name
·以“用途（FOR）”为开头的字样，您需在
此处填写支票用途(例如，10月份电话费账单)，
就算是出于私人用途而未要求必填，您仍然需要
写出
·还有一栏有时是以“出票人（IVP）”开头
的，那是您签字的地方
When you get your checkbook, double
check that your name, address and phone
number areprinted correctly. If you
notice
a
mistake,
tell
your
bank
immediately.
当您拿到支票簿，您一定要反复核查上面的名
字、地址和电话号码是否书写正确。一旦发现错
误，应立即告知银行。
Now you're ready to write some checks.
It's easy, but when writing a check, be
sure to fill out each line correctly.
Here are some hints to help you:
现在，您可以开支票了。开支票虽然很简单，
但还是要强调一下：开票时，务必保证每一栏信息
都填写正确。下面是给您的一些建议：
·If you write your name
or“CASH”on the PAY TO THE ORDER OF
line, you can get cash from a bank
teller.
·Be careful with periods (decimal
points) and commas when writing the
amount of a check. In the U.S.,
$12,060.04 means 12060 dollars and 4
cents.
·You have to sign a check for it to
be valid.
·如果您在“付款至（PAY TO THE ORDER
OF）”一栏中填写您的名字或“现金
（CASH）”字样，银行出纳会支付给您现金。
·当您往支票上填写数字时，一定要注意句
号（小数点）和逗号。在美国，12，060 .04相
当于12060美元零4美分。
·要想支票有效，您必须署名。
If you make a mistake while writing a
check, don't worry. Just write a new one
and write“VOID”in big letters across
the one with the mistake. Don't forget to
record each check you write in the front
part of your checkbook, which is called
the check register.You can also use your
checkbook to make a deposit - to put
money into your account - by filling out
the deposit slips (also called deposit
tickets) you'll find at the back of the
book.
若您在填写支票时不慎出错，请不要担心，只
要重新开一张正确的即可，然后在错误支票上大大
地写上“VOID（无效）”就可以了。千万不要忘记
在您支票簿的前半部分标注上您开出的每一张支
票，这叫支票登记。您也可以用支票存款---即把
您的现金存入账户---您只需填写支票簿后面的存
款单(deposit slips或deposit tickets)就可以
了。
☆ It's a good idea to record all your checks
as soon as you write them. Otherwise, it can be
hard to remember exactly what you spent or
deposited.
☆ 您最好在每次签发支票的时候记录一下具体金额，否
则，您很难记清楚您到底花了多少钱或者存了多少钱。
Having a checkbook makes paying your
bills a lot easier. All you need to do is
write a check and mail it or give it to
the person or company you need to pay.
And you may receive checks from other
people someday. Banks are very exacting
when they process checks. If a person or
business doesn't have the money in their
account to cover a check they have
written
to
you
this
is
called
“bouncing”a check - your bank will
inform you. U.S. law is tough on people
who write bad checks. Usually, you will
know whether a check has bounced within 7
to 10 days. If someone has written you a
bad check and doesn't get you the money
within a few days, you should contact
your local small claims court. Of course,
you must also take care not to write a
check to someone unless you're certain
you have the funds in your account to
cover it.
如果您有支票簿，您在付账时就会省去很多麻
烦，因为您只需要写张支票然后邮寄给或者直接给
您需要支付的公司或个人就可以了。某天，您也有
可能收到其他人汇来的支票。银行在处理支票方面
是很严格的。如果某人或某个企业在银行的存款数
额少于他们签发给您的支票金额，银行会以账面余
额不足为由拒付支票，并通知您。美国法律会对写
空头支票的人采取严厉的措施。通常，您会在7~10
天内得知支票是否遭到拒付。如果某人给您签发了
空头支票并且在好几天内都没让您拿到钱的话，您
就应该联系当地的小额诉讼法庭了。当然，您还得
注意，在开支票时，务必要确定自己的账户有充足
的余额。
☆ Courts view writing bad checks on a
regular basis as fraud, which is punishable with
jail time.
☆
一般来说，法庭会将开立空头支票的行为视为欺诈
罪，而这个罪名足以让人入狱。
When you open your account, you can
also order a card that will allow you to
get money from a bank machine, often
called an ATM (automated teller machine)
in the U.S. Along with withdrawing cash,
you can also check your balance and your
transaction history over the last few
days. Every ATM has a deposit slot and
envelopes you can use to deposit checks
or cash - but not coins - into your
account.
在美国，当您开立账户时，您还可以申请到一
张卡，以便您从ATM（自动柜员机）上取款。除取
款之外，您还可以查询账户余额和最近几天的交易
记录。每个ATM机上都有一个存款插槽，您可以通
过存款插槽向您的账户存储支票或者现金（硬币除
外）。
☆ Some ATMs offer menus in other languages
besides English.
☆ 一些ATM机还提供除英语之外的多语种菜单。
When you open an account, your bank
will offer you a debit card. Though it
looks just like a credit card, when you
use it to make purchases, the funds are
taken directly from your bank account.
Debit card purchases will show up on your
monthly bank statement, along with all
your other transactions.
当您在银行开户时，银行还会给您一张借记
卡。虽然它看起来和普通的信用卡没什么两样，但
当您用它购物时，现金是直接从您银行账户里划掉
的。您每月的借记卡消费记录会和其他交易记录一
起出现在您每月的银行对账单上。
☆ Keep your receipt when you buy something
with your debit card. You'll need to record the
purchase in your checkbook, just like a
check.You can get cash from any bank machine
using your debit card, just like an ATM card.
Machines belonging to your bank will allow you
to get money free of charge, while other banks'
machines may charge you a small fee for the
transaction, usually a dollar or two.
☆ 当您用借记卡购物后，一定要记得保存收据，因为您
会需要像作支票签发记录一样在账本上记录消费明细。您可
以用借记卡从任何银行柜员机上提取现金，就像用ATM卡一
样。如果您在借记卡所属的银行提款机上取钱，交易将是免
费的，但如果在其他银行的提款机上提取现金的话，则会扣
除一定的手续费，一般为1~2美元。
☆ To keep your ATM or debit card secure,
you'll be asked to choose a 4-digit PIN
(Personal
Identification
Number).
Keep
it
secret, and don't write it on your card or
anywhere in your wallet.
☆ 为确保您的ATM卡或借记卡的安全，您需要选择一个
四位数字的密码（PIN）（个人身份识别码）。密码一定要
保密，不要把它写在您的卡上或者是钱包的任何地方。
Every month, you'll get a statement
from your bank. It will list your balance
and all your transactions: whom you have
written checks to, what deposits you have
made, and when you have used your bank
card. You'll also see a date by every
transaction. You may want to consider
managing your bank account through online
banking, which is becoming more and more
popular because
您每个月都会收到银行的对账单。对账单上会
列出您的余额以及您所有的交易明细：您向哪些人
签发了支票，您存了多少钱，您什么时候用过银行
卡。并且在每次交易后面都标注了明确的时间。随
着网上银行越来越普及，您或许想通过网上银行管
理自己的账户，因为：
·It works 24 hours 7 days a week
·You can make transactions from any
place
·The system confirms your
transactions faster than an ATM, and
·You can manage all of your
accounts including IRAs, CDs and even
your investments at the sametime.
·它一周7天、一天24小时全天候开放
·您可以在任何地点进行交易
·系统确认交易的速度比用ATM更快捷
·您可以同时管理所有的账户，包括
IRAs（个人退休金账户）、CDs（大额可转让定
期存单），甚至您的投资业务
☆ If the bank makes any changes related to
your account, it will inform you by mail.
☆ 如果银行对您的账户作出任何调整或改变，都会通过
邮件通知您。
Once you get a bank account in the
U.S., you've truly arrived. It's the
beginning of your credit history - the
record of all your major financial
transactions and how you dealt with them.
Credit histories are very valuable and
important. People pay close attention to
them and try to prevent any negative
changes to their credit at all costs.Many
Americans' standard of living depends
entirely on credit, and to get credit,
you need a good credit history ( For more
about getting credit, see Chapter 29).
只有当您在美国的银行开户成功以后，您才算
真正到了美国，而您的信用记录也由此开始了，它
会记录您主要的金融交易以及您具体的交易形式。
信用记录不但非常有价值，而且非常重要。人们都
十分关注自己的信用记录，并且会竭尽全力规避任
何不良的信用记录。因为很多美国人的生活水平完
全依赖于贷款，而要获得贷款，就需要有良好的信
用记录。（欲知更多有关获得贷款的信息，请见第
二十九章）
Chapter 17 Keeping in touch (phones,
faxes and the Internet)
第十七章 保持联络（电话、传真与因特
网）
Phone calls. Life in the U.S. is next
to impossible without a phone. The
American phone system is striking in its
accessibility, quality and variety of
services. You get quality service no
matter where you are calling from,
whether you are in a remote Alaskan
village or a rundown parking lot in the
middle of the Arizona desert.
打电话。在美国，没有电话几乎就没有办法生
活。美国的电话系统在可及性、质量和服务的多样
性方面都是惊人的。不管您在什么地方打电话，比
如一个遥远的阿拉斯加州小村庄，或者一个位于阿
里索纳沙漠中部的破败的停车场，您都可以享受到
高质量的服务。
Because Americans adore convenience,
you can do almost anything by phone in
the U.S., such as
由于美国人崇尚方便，所以您几乎可以通过电
话在美国做任何事情，比如：
·Buy or sell nearly anything
·Pay your bills
·Manage your investments
·Set up, change and cancel
appointments
·Find relatives, friends or
partners you've lost touch with
·Find out public information
·Get adviceon filling out tax forms
·Hide from everyone
·买卖几乎所有东西
·支付账单
·管理投资
·安排、更改或取消约会
·寻找失去联系的亲人、朋友或搭档
·查找公共信息
·咨询如何填写税务表格
·躲避所有人
But phone service costs money in the
U.S. Like everything else on the American
market, the rates charged for phone
service depends on how much a company
wants to sell it for and how savvy the
customer is. Phone companies provide
services to long-term customers based on
contracts that give customers individual
phone numbers (For more about residential
phone service, see Chapter 27). Companies
also sell pre-paid calling cards that can
be used from any telephone. And you can
make a call from just about anywhere:
hotels, stores, restaurants, bus stations
or the payphone on the corner.
但是，电话服务在美国是收费的。和美国市场
上的所有其他东西一样，电话服务费的多少取决于
公司的价格预期以及消费者的精明程度。电话公司
会先与长期客户签订合同，然后为其提供服务，合
同签订后消费者会得到一个专门的电话号码（想要
了解更多有关居民电话服务的信息，请参阅第二十
七章）。电话公司也会销售预付电话卡，这种卡可
以在任何电话机上使用。不管您在哪里，您都可以
打电话，比如：旅馆、商店、饭店、汽车站，或者
某个角落的公用电话旁。
of
☆ Phone calls are not included in the price
most hotel rooms. Hotels often charge an
outrageous fee even for local phone calls made
from your room, so ask before you dial.
☆ 大多数旅馆的房间费用是不包括电话费的。即使您只
在房间内打个本地电话，宾馆也会收取让您咋舌的费用，所
以在打电话之前务必要询问清楚。
The cheapest phone cards are sold at
small
convenience
stores
or
delicatessens.You'll
often
find
them
hanging on a display rack behind the
cashier. If you don't know which is the
cheapest card for calls to your country
or relatives, just pick one at random.Any
phone
card's
rates
will
still
be
significantly cheaper than direct calls
from a payphone or hotel. The phone card
companies will sometimes slash prices on
calls to certain places for certain
periods
of
time
to
promote
their
products, while raising rates for other
destinations. For this reason, don't be
surprised when rates jump.
在小的便利店或熟食店，您可以买到最便宜的
电话卡。通常，这些电话卡会挂在收银员身后的展
示架上。如果您不确定用哪种电话卡给家乡或亲人
打电话最便宜，那就随便拿一张吧。因为比起直接
打付费电话或从旅馆打电话，任何一张电话卡都会
便宜很多。电话卡公司为了促销产品，有时会在特
定的地点和特定的时间段大幅降低话费，而与此同
时，又会在其他一些地方提高话费。所以，当话费
上涨时请不要惊讶。
☆ After you buy a card, it's a good idea to
call the company and find out exactly how much
they charge for the calls you want to make.
Remember that rates for a country and for a
specific city within that country can differ.
☆ 买完电话卡以后，最好联系一下电话公司，然后问清
楚他们对您想要打的电话的收费标准到底是多少。记住，往
某个国家和往该国某个具体城市打电话的收费标准可能会不
同。
In addition to be sold in stores,
phone cards are sold through dealers who
advertise in local papers. Dealers offer
rates of $0.01 to $0.20 per minute for
calls
in
the
U.S.
and
Canada.
International rates range from $0.01 to
$0.30 per minute. Some companies charge a
connection fee for every call, while
others don't. To find out more about
rates for calls to various locations, all
you need to do is call the customer
service number on the back of the
phonecard.
电话卡除了会在商店销售，还会通过在本地报
纸上刊登广告的经销商进行销售。经销商提供的价
格是：在美国和加拿大范围内打电话是每分钟0.01
至0.2美元不等，而打国际长途电话则是每分钟
0.01至0.3美元不等。一些公司会对每个拨打的电
话都收取接线费，而另一些公司则不会收取接线
费。若想了解更多往不同地方打电话的收费标准，
您只需拨打电话卡背面的客服电话即可。
☆ When buying a card, take note of which
states the card can be used in. Most cards only
work in a certain state or area.
☆ 买电话卡时要注意电话卡的使用范围，因为大多数电
话卡只能在特定的州或者区域内使用。
Now you can pay for your call, but how
do you place it? You'll notice that every
phone number in the U.S. consists of a 3digit area code and a 7-digit number. For
example, if you see the number 714-5551212, you know that the area code is 714
and the actual number is 555-1212.
现在您可以打电话了，但是怎么打呢？您会发
现，美国的电话都是由三位区号加七位电话号码组
成的。例如：当您看到714-555-1212这个号码
时，您会知道714是区号，而555-1212才是真正的
电话号码。
Calls are local if they are made to
numbers within the same area code. In
most cities, you don't have to dial the
area code to place a local call. So if
you need to call the 714 number above and
you are also in the 714 area, all you
need to do is dial 555-1212.
本地电话。打给区号相同的电话称为本地电
话。在大多数城市，打本地电话没有必要拨区号。
所以，如果您位于区号是714的区域且要给上文提
到的714-555-1212这个号码打电话时，您只需拨
打555-1212就可以了。
Calls to other area codes - whether in
the same city or to other cities in the
U.S., Canada and the Caribbean - are long
distance calls. To make a long-distance
call, first dial 1, then the area code
and number. For example, if you want to
call Glendale, California(area code 818)
from Los Angeles(area code 323), you lift
the receiver and dial 1-818 followed by
the 7-digit phone number.
打往其他区号的电话。不管您要打电话的地方
与您在同一个城市，还是在美国、加拿大或加勒比
地区的其他城市，都算长途电话。打长途电话时，
需要先拨1，然后拨区号和电话号码。例如，如果
您要从洛杉矶（区号是323）打往加利福尼亚的格
伦代尔（区号是818），那您拿起话筒后，需先拨
1-818，然后再拨后7位电话号码。
Sometimes, though, it's not that
simple. Many cities have special area
codes for cell phones that require you to
dial 1 even though the call is local. To
make matters even more confusing, some
cities now require you to dial an area
code even when making local calls. For
instance, in New York City, you have to
dial 1 and then the area code- 212, for
example-even when you are calling from a
212 number. In Portland, Oregon, you have
to dial the area code, but not 1, to make
a local call. If you are having trouble,
don't be afraid to ask someone how to
place the call you'd like to make.
然而，有些时候要打个电话并没这么简单。在
许多城市，用手机打电话要用特殊的区号，而且就
算打的是本地电话也要先拨1。现在情况更复杂
了，因为一些城市要求在拨打本地电话时也加区
号。比如，在纽约，即使您所用座机的区号是
212，您打电话时也必须先拨1，然后再加区号
212。在波特兰和俄勒冈，拨打本地电话要拨区
号，但不需要拨1。如果您遇到什么麻烦，不要害
怕，问问别人怎么打您要打的电话就可以了。
International calls are calls to any
other country in the world except Canada
and
the
Caribbean.
To
place
an
international call, first dial 011, then
the country code (which you can find
listed in many phonebooks), followed by
the city code and number. For example, to
call Moscow, you would dial 011-7(Russia)
-495(Moscow) and then the number. To call
Erlangen, Germany, you would dial 011-49
(Germany)-9131 (Erlangen) and thenumber.
国际长途就是指打往除加拿大和加勒比地区之
外的其他国家的电话。打国际长途时，要先拨
011，然后拨打国家代码（很多电话簿里都列有国
家代码），接着拨打城市区号和电话号码。比如打
往莫斯科时，需先拨011-7（俄罗斯代
码）-495（莫斯科区号），然后拨电话号码；而要
打往德国的埃朗根时，则要拨011-49(德国代
码)-9131（埃朗根区号），然后再拨电话号码。
☆ Don't forget about time differences and
the different time zones in the United States
when calling. Otherwise, you might end up waking
your loved ones at 3 a.m. for a chat.
☆
在美国打电话时，不要忘了时差和时区的差异。否
则，您可能会仅仅为了闲聊而在凌晨3点吵醒您所爱的人。
Extensions. Many American companies
and organizations have internal phone
systems that connect one phone number to
many internal phone lines. To connect to
a particular internal line, you have to
wait until the automated system asks for
an extension and enter that number.
Extensions are given after the main phone
number, for example: 714-555-1212 ext.
304 or 714-555-1212 x 304.
电话分机。许多美国的公司和组织机构都有内
线电话系统，使一个电话号码能和多条内部电话线
路相连。当您想要与某个特定的内部线路取得连线
时，必须等到系统自动提示拨分机号码时才能拨
号。电话的分机号码在主机号码的后面，例如，
714-555-1212转304。
Phone books and directory assistance.
In public places such as libraries,
restaurants and hotels, you can ask to
look at a local telephone directory or
phonebook.
In
addition
to
general
information, you will find
电话簿和查号台。在像图书馆、餐厅和旅馆这
样的公共场合，您可以要求查看本地电话指南或电
话簿，除了普遍的信息以外，您还能查到：
·The whitepages, which list the
numbers of private individuals or
families
·The yellow pages, which give the
numbers and addresses of businesses and
organizations
·The blue pages, which list numbers
for city agencies, and state and
federal government agencies' branches
in the area
·白页，上面列出了私人或家庭的电话号码
·黄页，上面列出了商业机构和组织机构的
地址和电话号码
·蓝页，上面列出了所在区域的市政机关，
以及州和联邦政府派出机构的电话号码
If you need information, help with a
call, or someone's phone number, here are
some useful numbers to know:
如果您打电话的时候需要一些帮助，或者需要
查某人的电话号码，那么可使用以下号码：
0 - This will connect you to an
operator for operator-assisted calls. The
operator will be able to answer general
questions, connect you to a particular
phone number, help you make a collect
call (when the person you're calling pays
the charges), or can interrupt a call at
a busy number and connect you with that
number in case of an emergency.
0---这个号码可以帮您连线接线员或需要由接
线员接转的电话。接线员能够回答比较常见的问
题，能够帮您接通特殊的号码，还能帮您拨打由对
方付费的电话（您拨打的电话由对方付话费），万
一有紧急情况还能让您和占线的电话通话。
01 or 00 - This will get you an
operator
who
can
assist
you
with
international calls by answering general
questions and giving you country and area
codes, as well as helping you transfer
incoming calls for an additional charge.
01或00---这个号码可以帮您连线接线员，而接
线员可以回答您提出的关于国际长途的一般性问
题，还可以给您提供国家代码和区号。如果额外付
费的话，还可以帮您转接打进来的电话。
211 - Free directory assistance for
social services such as food stamps,
housing, drug rehabilitation and English
as a second language (ESL) courses.
211---在社会服务方面为您提供免费的查号服
务，如食品券、住房、针对吸毒者的康复训练以及
非母语英语课程等。
411 - Free directory assistance where
you can find the phone number of any
company by name or location. But watch
out! In some states, you can only use 411
a certain number of times a month before
you have to pay for the service. So it
might be a good idea to ask before using
411 from a friend or relative's phone.
411---在您知道公司的名称或地址的前提下，
为您提供免费的查号服务。不过，需要注意的是，
在某些州，411这个电话每月可免费使用的次数是
有限制的，超过规定次数就得付费。所以，在用亲
朋好友的电话拨打411之前最好先征得他们的同
意。
1 - area code-555-1212 - Directory
assistance for phone numbers in a certain
area code by name or address.
1-区号-555-1212---在特定的区域内，可根据
名字或地址提供查号服务。
911 - Emergency services, police, fire
and ambulance. This call can be made from
any phone free of charge. If you dial
911, the dispatcher will usually be able
to determine your address automatically,
even if you do not know where you are.
This is for emergencies only.
911---紧急服务、治安、火灾以及急救电话。
用任何电话拨打此电话都是免费的。拨完911之
后，调度程序通常能自动确定您所在的位置，即便
您不知道自己在哪里也没关系。911仅用于紧急情
况。
800, 877 or 888 - These area codes
mean you are making a toll-free call,
paid for by the person or company you are
calling. Dial 1-800 (or 877 or 888) and
the 7-digit number. 1-800-555-1212 is
directory
assistance
for
toll-free
numbers.
800，877或888---这些区号意味着您拨打的是
免费电话，话费会由接听电话的人或公司支付。拨
打1-800（877或888），然后拨7位电话号码。1800-555-1212是专门查询免费电话号码的电话。
☆ 900 and 9xx numbers (except 911) are not
toll-free and will charge you lots of money. The
goal of the person at the other end of the line
- someone offering phone sex, for example - is
to keep you on the line as long as possible
because you are paying for every expensive
minute.
☆ 900和9xx（除了911） 不是免费电话，而且通常会
收很多钱。这种电话每分钟的话费都很贵，而电话另一端的
人，比如那些提供电话性爱服务的人，其目的往往是尽可能
地拉长与您通话的时间。
The 809 area code isn't toll-free,
either. It's the area code for locations
in the Caribbean. Calls to 809 numbers
are also very expensive.
以809这个区号开头的电话也不是免费电话，而
是某些加勒比地区的区号，给这些地方打电话的费
用同样也很高。
Finally,
every
state
has
local
services you can call to get weather,
traffic and tourist information. They are
listed at the beginning of the phonebook.
最后，每个州都有当地的服务电话，为人们提
供有关天气、交通及旅游的资讯，这些电话号码一
般会列在电话簿的开头。
Phone numbers with letters. Many phone
numbers are given as a string of letters
to make them easier to remember. They're
just as easy to dial because every phone
has letters printed below the numbers on
its buttons. So, if you see a phone
number like 1-800-COMMUTE, you simply
need to dial the corresponding numbers,
1-800-266-6883.
带有字母的电话号码。为了便于人们记忆，许
多电话号码都会被写成一串字母。因为所有电话机
上的按钮都是数字在上字母在下，所以通过字母来
记电话号码或拨打电话的话会比较容易。当您看到
像1-800-COMMUTE 这样的电话号码，只要拨打相
应的数字1-800-266-6883就可以了。
Answering machines and voicemail. Most
people and companies have answering
machines or voicemail. Listen to the
greeting all the way through and then
leave a message after the tone or beep.
电话应答机和语音信箱。大多数美国人和美国
公司都拥有电话应答机和语音信箱。使用时，要把
问候语从头到尾听完，然后在语音提示或“嘟”的
一声后留言。
☆ Go ahead and leave a message, even if you
didn't understand everything that was said in
the greeting. Make sure to say your name and
phone number slowly and clearly so that the
person can return your call.
☆ 即使您听不懂问候语的意思，您也可以接着留言。留
言时一定要清晰而缓慢地说出自己的名字和电话号码，以便
对方给您回电话。
Cell phones. Cell phones have become
increasingly popular in the U.S., and you
can get a cell phone from a variety of
providers and pay for service in a
variety of convenient ways. Cellular
companies offer their customers various
plans and additional services.People who
use their cell phones a lot often compare
plans and change providers when they find
lower rates.
手机。现在，手机在美国越来越普及了。您可
以从各种各样的供应商那里买到手机，而且付费方
式也多种多样，且很方便。手机公司会为消费者提
供各种消费套餐及附加服务。使用手机比较频繁的
人会比较各公司的套餐，一旦找到价位更低的手机
服务时，他们就会更换供应商。
However, as they hunt for the best
deal, many people forget that ending your
cell phone contract before it's up which is called early termination - will
cost you. In California, for instance,
you'll have to pay your provider a $150
early termination fee for ending your
contract early.
然而，在手机合同到期之前终止合同算是提前
解约，当人们在找最划算的手机套餐及服务时，许
多人会忘了一点，那就是提前解约是要赔偿相关费
用的。比如，在加利福尼亚，如果您提前解约的
话，就得付150美元的提前解约费给原供应商。
☆ As a rule, cell phone companies will only
offer the best rates to customers who are
signing up for a year or more.
☆ 通常，手机公司只会给签了一年或一年以上的客户提
供最大的优惠。
If you don't want to sign a long-term
contract, consider the prepaid option.
Prepaid
cell
phone
service
usually
involves
如果您不想签长期合约，可考虑一下预付费的
方式。预付费手机一般会涉及：
·A short connection period. Before
this period ends, you will have to buy
a new prepaid card. (To avoid having
your cell phone disconnected, buy a new
card, even if you still have money on
your old one. This amount will be added
to your new card and you can useit in
the future.)
·A prepaid card for a certain
amount.With this plan you can use your
phone for the amount of the card.
·Higher per-minute rates
·No free minutes on weekends or
evenings, a common offer with long-term
contracts
·较短的通话时长。在可通话时长用光之
前，您必须购买一张新电话卡（即使旧卡里还有
话费，您也最好买一张新电话卡，以免手机用到
一半时欠费停机。旧卡里的话费余额可以转到新
卡里，以后可以接着使用）。
·每张预付费电话卡都有一定的额度，您可
根据卡内金额来使用手机。
·平均每分钟的话费更高。
·长期合约客户通常会在周末或晚上享受免
费拨号服务，而预付费手机用户享受不到此项优
惠。
No matter what kind of cellular
service you choose-long-term or prepaidyou can charge your cell phone battery
free of charge and practically anywhere:
at libraries, stores, stations,cafe's and
restaurants,drug
stores,movie
theaters,and gymsor sportsclubs.
不管您选择哪种手机服务，长期的或预付费
的，您都几乎可以在任何地方免费给手机电池充
电，比如图书馆、商店、车站、咖啡店、餐馆、药
房、电影院、体育馆或者健身俱乐部。
☆ Some areas in big cities with tall
buildings or high hills have bad reception or no
reception at all. The easiest way to fix this
problem is to walk around until you get a
signal.
☆ 在有些高楼林立的大城市或者被群山环抱的地区，手
机信号不太好甚至根本没有信号。遇到这种情况，最好的办
法就是四处走动走动，直到手机上显示有了信号为止。
Faxes. If you don't have a fax of your
own, you can send and receive faxes at
many supermarkets, post offices and at
print or copy shops that specialize in
computer and printing services, such as
Kinko's.
传真。如果您自己没有传真机，那可以去超
市、邮局，以及专门提供电脑和打印服务的打印或
复印店里收发传真，比如金考快印（世界上最大的
文印服务提供商之一）。
The Internet. It is incredibly easy to
get online in the U.S. The simplest way,
of course, is to connect from your home
phone. However, if you are using a dialup modem, don't forget that your phone
line is busy when you are online. For
those who need to spend more time on the
Internet, the best option may be DSL,
cable or wireless, depending on your area
and budget.
网络。在美国，上网极其方便。当然，最简单
的方法就是通过家里的电话连网。不过，如果您用
的是拨号式的调制解调器，那就别忘了上网的时候
电话是占线的。对于经常需要上网的人来说，最好
选用宽带，至于具体是要用有线还是无线，那得看
您所处的地区以及您的预算。
If you are not ready to sign a
contract with an Internet provider for
home service, there are many public
places where you can get online. If you
have a laptop with you and wireless
capability, a growing number of cafe's,
airports and hotels offer free wireless
access.
Just
look
for
the“FreeWiFi”signs to start surfing the web.
如果您还不想和网络供应商签署家庭网络服务
合约，那么还有许多公共场合可以供您上网。比如
越来越多的咖啡店、飞机场和旅馆都有免费的无线
网络，前提是您要有一台可无线上网的笔记本电
脑。使用时，只要找到“Free Wi-Fi ”（免费的
无线网络）的标志，您就可以开始在网上冲浪了。
For
those
traveling
without
a
computer, most public libraries have
plenty of computers available and let you
get online free. There are also Internet
cafe and coffee shops with computers that
charge by the hour in most major American
cities. It can be a lot harder to find an
Internet cafe in the States, though, than
it is in many other countries.
对于旅行时不带电脑的人们，大多数公共图书
馆都有大量可供免费上网的电脑。美国的许多大城
市都有网吧咖啡馆和配有电脑的咖啡厅，那里一般
按小时收费。但比起在许多其他国家，要想在美国
找到一个网吧咖啡馆，可能会难得多。
☆ U.S. government sites usually end in .gov,
non-profit organizations' sites end in .org, and
educational institutions' sites end in .edu.
☆ 通常来说，美国政府的网址以“.gov”结尾，非营利
性组织的网址以“.org”结尾，教育机构的网址
以“.edu”结尾。
Chapter 18 Better safe than sorry
第十八章 有备无患
Tourists traveling to the U.S. go
through a lot of difficult moments as
they apply for visas and get ready to
travel. When they finally get through
this tough time, they may want to think
only good thoughts about what lies ahead
in America. But difficulties can also
arise once they arrive. That's why it's a
good idea to plan ahead and follow the
old saying,“Better safe than sorry.”
去美国旅游的旅客在申请签证和准备行程的过
程中会遇到很多困难。当他们最终熬过了这段艰难
时期之后，他们也许会片面地认为以后在美国的日
子都会是美好的。但一旦到达之后，问题又再次出
现了。因此，您最好事先拟好一份计划，并且牢记
一句古话，“有备无患，未雨绸缪”。
To avoid problems while in the U.S.,
here's what you need to do before leaving
home:
为了避免到美国后出问题，您在出国之前应该
做好如下准备：
·Buy health and dental insurance
valid in the U.S.
·Put name tags on all your bags
·Take a combination of cash,
travelers checks and credit cards with
you
·Reserve a room where you can stay
temporarily before you leave
·Buy tickets to concerts, sporting
events or shows you'd like to see
·Leave behind any food products or
other items you are not permitted to
bring into the United States
·买一份在美国有效的人身保险和牙齿保险
·在您所有的箱包上都贴上姓名标签
·要带齐现金、旅行支票和信用卡
·在出发之前先预订一个可供您暂住的房间
·买好您想看的音乐会、体育赛事或者演出
的门票
·不要携带所有不允许带到美国的食物或其
他物品
After you arrive in the U.S., here are
some good ways to avoid unnecessary
problems:
到美国之后，下列方法可以让您避免一些不必
要的麻烦：
·Keep a close eye on your
belongings. There are plenty of
pickpockets and thieves around.
·Don't leave valuables, money or
important documents in your hotel or
motel room. Leave them in the hotel
safe or at the hotel reception desk, if
possible.
·Don't carry large sums of money or
valuable documents around with you.
Take photocopies of documents and use
them instead.
·Don't open your handbag or purse
in order to give money to beggars. If
you want to give something, keep some
extra change or a dollar bill in your
pocket.
·Don't believe strangers who say
that they just need money for a bus
fare or to tow their car. These are
very common schemes to trick you out of
your money.
·Don't take walks alone at night.
·Don't visit neighborhoods that are
considered unsafe unless you have a
good reason to do so. Trust what locals
tell you about a certain area.
·Don't try to resist muggers. Give
them whatever they demand.
·Use only marked and licensed taxis
at night.
·Don't get into the vehicle of
someone you don't know well.
·Use ATMs at night only in an
emergency.
·Look at a map before you leave and
figure out the best and safest route.
·Jot down the addresses you need
and keep them with you.
·Walk confidently, like you know
what you're doing.
·Don't be embarrassed if you don't
speak English well or at all.
·Smile if someone greets you or
meets your eyes. This is the norm in
the U.S.
·Don't invite people you don't know
well to your hotel room or apartment.
·Meet new friends and acquaintances
in public places.
·Keep your door locked, even if you
are going out to get the mail or take
out the trash.
·Call 911 if you feel ill or injure
yourself.
·Call 911 if you are attacked or
mugged.
·Call 911 in case of a fire.
·Call 911 in case of an accident or
emergency, or if you hear calls for
help or screams.
·Don't resist the police or get in
their way.
·看管好随身携带的物品，您周围有很多扒
手和小偷。
·不要把贵重物品、现金或重要文件留在宾
馆或汽车旅馆的房间。如果可以的话，请把它们
存放到酒店的保险柜或者前台。
·不要随身携带大笔现金或贵重文件，您可
以用复印件来替代正本文件。
·不要为了施舍乞丐而打开您的手提袋或者
钱包。如果您一定要给，那就在您的衣兜里放上
一些多余的零钱或一美元纸币吧。
·别相信那些陌生人说他们只需要点钱买公
共汽车票或付拖车费，因为这些都是他们骗钱的
惯用伎俩。
·不要在晚上独自在外散步。
·除非有很好的理由，否则不要去拜访那些
被认为不安全的邻居。相信当地人给您的忠告。
·在遇到有人行凶抢劫时，不要反抗，他们
要什么就给他们什么。
·在夜间，只乘坐有标志的或有牌照的出租
车。
·不要搭乘您不是很熟悉的人的车。
·不是紧急情况，不要在夜间使用自动柜员
机。
·出门前要看好地图，要找到最好、最安全
的路线。
·简单地记下您需要的地址并随身带好。
·走路时要信心十足，就像您知道自己在做
什么一样。
·即使英语说得不好或者根本不会说，也不
要感到尴尬。
·如果有人跟您打招呼或者与您对视，请微
笑回应。在美国，大家基本都这么做。
·不要邀请不熟悉的人到您宾馆的房间或者
公寓。
·新朋友或者点头之交要选择在公共场所碰
面。
·要时刻把门锁好，即便您只是出去取一下
邮件或倒一下垃圾。
·当您身体不适或受伤时，请拨打911。
·当您受袭或遭劫时，请拨打911。
·万一遇到火灾，请拨打911。
·万一遇到事故、紧急状况，或听到有人呼
救或尖叫时，请拨打911。
·不要抵抗或妨碍警察执法。
☆ If you get into legal trouble and can't
pay for a translator or lawyer, the state will
provide one for you free of charge.
☆ 如果您遇到法律上的麻烦并且没钱请翻译或律师时，
政府会为您免费提供这样的人员。
·Don't make any statements to the
police without a lawyer present because
this information could be used against
you in the future.
·在没有律师在场时，请不要对警方作任何
陈述，以免您说的话会在将来成为对您不利的呈
堂证供。
You should NOT call 911 if you need to
当您有以下需要时不应该拨打911：
·Get directions
·Tell the authorities about a
situation that isn't an emergency
·Talk to the police about a matter
that isn't urgent or life threatening
·找路线时
·有并不是很紧急的情况要向当局述说时
·遇到不是很紧急或并不危及生命的情况，
需要报警时
☆ Your travel agent or the people who
invited you to the United States are always
ready to answer any of your questions.You also
can find a lot of useful information and phone
numbers from a local phone book which you can
find at every public place such as libraries,
restaurants, gas stations or supermarkets.
☆ 通常，您的旅行社或者邀请您去美国的人会一直愿意
回答您的所有问题。不过，您也可以从当地的电话簿中获得
很多有用的信息和电话号码，这种电话簿在每个公共场所都
能找到，如图书馆、餐厅、加油站或超市等。
If you follow these tips, you'll have
a trouble-free vacation filled with
exciting adventures - the good kind, that
is. And you'll come away from your trip
filled with positive and unforgettable
impressions of the United States and its
amazing people.
如果您按照上述提示去做，您就会拥有一个没
有麻烦、充满刺激和冒险的假期---就是那种一切
都如您所愿的旅程。并且您会满怀着对美国和美国
人民正面的、难以忘怀的印象结束旅行。
Chapter 19 Extending your stay and
changing your immigration status
第十九章 申请签证延期与改签
America can be a pretty exciting
place. What if you want to stay longer?
You maybe ableto, but you'll need to act
beforeyour visa expires.
美国是个会让人心潮澎湃的地方。要是您想在
美国再多待一段时间，该怎么办呢？也许您自己会
有办法，但您一定要在签证到期之前就采取行动。
When you arrived in the United States
on
your
non-immigrant
visa,
you
receivedan I-94 card from an immigration
official, which shows how long you are
permitted to stay in the U.S. (see
Chapter 6). If you want or need to extend
your stay, you should submit an I -539
Form (Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant
Status)
to
immigration
authorities before your I-94 expires. On
the form, give the latest date you would
like to be in the U.S. After submitting
your application, you have certain rights
and
obligations
according
to
U.S.
immigration law:
当您通过非移民签证到达美国时，移民官员会
给您一张I-94卡，这张卡上会注明您可以在美国停
留的时间（见第六章）。如果您希望或者需要延长
在美国的逗留时间，那么您应该在I-94卡到期前就
向移民局提交一份I-539表格（延期/改签申请
表）。在这张表上，要写出您想在美国停留的最迟
日期。提交完申请表后，您就拥有了美国移民法所
规定的某些权利和义务：
·You have the right to remain in
the U.S. after your I-94 expires while
your application is being considered.
This includes all hearings at various
levels and any appeals.
·You will receivea responseby mail.
·You must leave theU.S. immediately
if your application is rejected.
·You must leave the U.S. by the
date stated on your application if you
do not receivean answer from the
immigration service.
·如果您的I-94卡已到期而申请表还没批下
来，那么您也有权继续待在美国。申请过程会包
含各级听证会以及各类申诉。
·您会通过邮件收到答复。
·一旦您的申请未获批准，您必须立刻离开
美国。
·如果移民局没给您任何回复，您必须在申
请表上填写的日期之前离开美国。
☆ Foreigners who are in the U.S. for not
more than six months after their I-94s have
expired lose the right to apply for another visa
or for a Green Card for a three-year period
beginning the day they leave the United States.
Foreigners in the States for more than six
months after their I-94 expires lose this right
for ten years. The only exceptions are for
people who have applied for asylum or who have
married a U.S. citizen.
☆ 对于I-94卡到期后仍滞留在美国的外国人，滞留时间
不满6个月者，从离开美国之日起三年内不能再申请美国签
证或绿卡；滞留时间超过六个月者，将在10年内不再享有上
述权利。唯有那些已申请政治避难或已同美国公民结婚的人
例外。
If you have applied for asylum, you
have the right, starting from themoment
your case is received by the immigration
authorities, to remain in the U.S.
legally for the entire time your case is
being considered by the U.S. government.
This includes all hearings at various
levels and any appeals.
如果您已申请了政治避难，那么从移民局受理
您申请的那一刻起，直到美国政府作出决定，您都
有权以合法身份居留在美国。申请受理期间会有各
级听证会及各类上诉。
If
you've
gotten
married
to
an
American citizen, congratulations! Having
started this new chapter of your life,
you have the right - no matter how long
you've been in the U.S. without the
proper legal status - to apply to the
USCIS for a temporary and then a
permanent Green Card.
如果您已经与美国公民结婚，那么恭喜您！因
为您已经开始了新的人生篇章，不管您在美国已经
非法生活了多久，您都有权利向美国移民局
（USCIS）先申请一张临时绿卡，接着再申请永久
性的绿卡。
☆ There's one condition to this exception.
You have to have crossed the U.S. border
legally. And remember that you do not have to
leave the country while you're waiting for the
government to make a decision about your
temporary Green Card.
☆ 要想获得这项特殊待遇，有一个条件：您必须是通过
合法的方式来到美国。同时请记住，在等待政府对您的暂时
绿卡申请作出处理之前，您不要离开美国。
In addition to extending your stay,
you can also apply for a change in your
immigration statuswhile your I-94 is
still valid.
除了申请签证延期之外，您还可以在I-94卡有
效期内申请改签。
It's easy to be fooled by the
seemingly
simple
and
happy-go-lucky
lifestyle of many Americans into thinking
that life in the U.S. is all fun and
games.
But
most
Americans
believe
religiously in hard work. People usually
work long hours five or six days a week
and sometimes have more than one job.
Americans rarely take a day off and have
extremely short vacations, usually only
seven to twenty days a year. Often
Americans use their vacation time to
extend holidays or weekends. Competition
in the labor market can be fierce. Jobs
that pay a living wage, enough to support
a family comfortably, are rare. To make
matters
worse,
some
employers
hire
undocumented workers or export jobs
overseas in order to keep wages low.
Millions of Americans are afraid that
they may lose their jobs and their
income, and this makes them to work
extremely hard.
我们很容易被许多美国人那看起来简单且无忧无虑的生
活方式所误导，进而认为在美国的生活无非就是寻欢作乐。
但是大多数美国人对努力工作深信不疑。他们通常每周会加
班加点地工作上五六天，而且有时还不止做一份工作。美国
人很少会在上班期间请假，而且他们的假期极短，通常一年
也就只有7到20天的假期。他们还经常把假期进行分割，然
后用来延长法定节假日或周末。劳动力市场的竞争有时可能
会非常激烈。想找一份工资水平能够让一家人舒舒服服生活
的工作是难上加难。更糟的是，一些雇主为了少发点薪水往
往会雇佣无证工人或向海外输出工作机会。数百万的美国人
担心他们会丢了工作然后没有收入，因此他们便拼命地工
作。
Because life in the U.S. is not as
easy as it seems, you may want to think
seriously about whether you really want
to change your immigration status. Ask
yourself these questions:
由于在美国的生活并不像看起来那么容易，您
或许需要认真考虑一下是否真要改签。问问自己下
面这些问题吧：
·How much do you really want to
stay in theU.S.?
·How realistic are your goals?
·Are these goals worth the intense
study, constant hard work and
sacrifices you will have to endure if
you decide to leave your homeland,
family and friends for several years?
·Do you have the strength and will
to withstand the intense competition to
obtain a good job?
·您到底有多想留在美国？
·您的目标是否切合实际？
·如果您想留在美国，您需要离开祖国、家
人和朋友好几年，您还要被迫拼命地学习，并且
一直拼命地工作。您觉得您的这些目标值得您作
出这么大的牺牲吗？
·为争取一份好工作，通常要经过一番激烈
的竞争，对此您有足够的力量和意志去面对和承
受吗？
☆Changing your immigration status is always
a
drawn-out
and
psychologically
stressful
process.
☆改签的过程一贯是拖沓冗长、令人压抑的。
Basically, therearethreeways peoplecan
immigrate legally to theU.S.:
基本上，想合法地移民到美国有三种方式：
·Through their status as refugees
or asylees
·Through their employment
·Through their relatives
·通过难民或政治难民的身份
·通过就业
·通过亲戚关系
Foreign citizens are granted refugee
or asylee statuswhen they can prove they
have
been
persecuted
by
their
homegovernment for
如果外国公民可以证明他们被本国政府迫害，
他们便可以获准拥有难民或政治难民的身份。被迫
害的原因可以有以下几种：
·Their political opinions
·Their religion
·Their race
·Their ethnicity or their status as
a national minority
·Their membership in a social group
or public organization whose activities
are being repressed by their government
·他们的政治主张
·他们的宗教信仰
·他们的种族
·他们是本国的少数民族人士
·他们是某社团或公共组织的成员，而该社
团或组织所从事的活动正受到本国政府的镇压
Unfortunately,
state
discrimination
alone is not enough to gain you refugee
status in the U.S. While it's terrible
that you have been denied a job unjustly,
say, or fired without cause, that's still
not grounds enough to gain asylum in
America.
但遗憾的是，仅受到国家对您的不公平待遇还
不足以使您在美国获得难民身份。比如您被无理地
排除在一份工作之外或被无缘无故炒了鱿鱼，虽然
这已够糟糕了，但这仍然不足以让您获得政治难民
的身份。
So when does theU.S. grant people
asylum?It does so only when you can prove
that you are being persecuted by your
government and that you are in direct,
personal danger, for example
那么，在什么情况下美国当局才会批准给予政
治避难呢？答案是：只有在您能证明自己正在遭到
本国政府的迫害，并处于直接的人身危险的情况下
才行，比如：
·You were jailed illegally on
trumped-up charges.
·You were a victim of violence on
the part of your government, violence
that threatened to destroy your health
and possibly end your life.
·您被以莫须有的罪名非法监禁
·您是本国政府所采取的暴力行为的受害
者，而该暴力行为会危及您的身体健康，甚至可
能会威胁到您的生命
☆ If a policeman hits you with a truncheon,
he potentially could have killed you.
☆ 警察要是用警棍打您的话，他很可能会将您致死。
The U.S. defines the government as any
official at any level of the government
system, even people such as
美国把政府定义为在政府体系中处于任何一个
级别的任何一位官员，甚至包括以下人员：
·Police officers
·Postal employees
·Officialsworking for social
ministries or welfareagencies
·Directors of
stateenterpriseswhereyou areemployed
·警察
·邮政人员
·社会部门或福利机构的官员
·您所在国有企业的管理者
What if you were kidnapped by the mob
and subjected to torture? Unfortunately,
you would not be able to ask for refugee
status because you were the victim of a
criminal incident. However, if you asked
repeatedly for help from the local police
or procurator's office and they refused
to do anything or demanded bribes, the
incident becomes political and possible
grounds for requesting asylum.
要是您被犯罪团伙绑架并遭受到酷刑呢？很遗憾，您也
不能因此要求获得难民身份，因为您只是犯罪事件的受害
者。可是，如果您再三向当地警方或检察部门求助，而他们
却拒绝帮忙或者索要贿赂的话，这起事件就会成为您请求政
治避难的合理的政治理由。
☆ According to U.S. law, a government is
required to protect its citizens, and every
official
or
officer
is
a
government
representative.
☆ 依照美国法律，政府有责任保护其公民，而且每位官
员都是政府的代表。
Many people don't realize that they
have the right to apply for refugee
status. Let's say, for instance, that
someone was unjustly detained by the
police and then beaten in jail. Later,
this person goes to the police to
register an official complaint and is
told that he will rot in jail if he
doesn't stop his social activism. These
facts could easily form the basis for an
asylum case, as the person's rights were
clearly
violated
by
government
representatives.
很多人都没有认识到其实他们有权利申请难民身份。例
如，某人被警方非法拘留，然后在监狱里遭到毒打。之后，
这个人到警察局正是提起申诉，但却被告诫如果他再不停止
社会激进活动的话，就会“烂”在监狱里。这些事实很容易
就构成了一起政治避难案例的基础，因为很显然政府代表侵
犯了这个人的权利。
Here are some activities that are
considered political activism:
下列活动被视为政治上的激进行动：
·Strikes at state-owned
companieswhen, for example, wages go
unpaid
·Demonstrations protesting a
government's economic or political
policies, such as limiting retirement
benefits or cutting statepensions
·国企中的罢工事件，比如说因滞发工资引
起的罢工
·因反对政府的政治经济政策而进行的示威
活动，如为了反对限制退休补助金或削减国家养
老金而进行的示威游行等
This kind of protest may seem like a
normal part of economic debate. But if
the
government
uses
force
against
peaceful protestors and strikers such as
beating or arresting them, it becomes a
case of political persecution.
这类抗议活动可能看起来就像是经济争论中很
正常的一个环节，但是如果政府采取诸如殴打或逮
捕等暴力手段来镇压和平的抗议者或罢工者的话，
就构成了一起政治迫害事件。
Freedom of religion is protected by
U.S. law and supported by American
society. However, some countries allow
citizens to practice only the religion
condoned by the state. They refuse to
provide land or space for religious
gatherings. They prohibit believers from
opening their own churches, mosques or
temples.
This
kind
of
religious
repression on thepart of a government can
serve as thebasis for asylum.
宗教信仰自由在美国不仅受到法律的保护，而
且受到社会的支持。可是，一些国家只允许公民奉
行政府允许的宗教信仰。而且他们拒绝为宗教集会
提供空间，并禁止信徒开办自己的教堂、清真寺或
寺庙。政府进行的这种宗教压制就可以作为到美国
政治避难的依据。
In addition to limiting religious
freedoms, governmentsmay also persecute
people because of their ethnic or racial
backgrounds.
Historically,
government
persecution based on ethnicity occurs in
countries where many different ethnic
groups live side by side.
除了限制宗教信仰自由以外，政府还会因为人
们的民族或种族背景而迫害他们。从历史上讲，因
民族背景不同而引发的政府迫害一般发生在多民族
国家。
Finally, it's no secret that many
governments put undue pressure on certain
social
movements,
organizations
and
social groups. Members of these movements
or groups may face persecution at the
workplace or even in their homes. People
who are often victims of government
persecution include
最后，众所周知，许多政府都会对某些社会运
动、组织和社团等过度施压，而这些运动或团体的
成员很可能会在工作地点甚至是在家中遭到迫害。
经常遭到政府迫害的人群包括：
·Gays
·Lesbians
·Union members
·Human rights activists
·Environmental activists
·Activists calling for the
releaseof political prisoners
·Opposition party members
·男同性恋者
·女同性恋者
·工会成员
·人权活动人士
·环保主义倡导者
·呼吁释放政治犯的活动人士
·反对党成员
Themoment your government responds to
your legal demands with violence, you may
be able to seek asylum. To do so, you
will need to document your charges of
government persecution - not just mere
discrimination
with
evidence.
Of
course, the procurator, prosecutor or
local police chief will not be helpful in
your quest to document their illegal
actions and abuses. For this reason, you
will have to gather secondary evidence
that you were persecuted, such as
当您向政府提出合法的要求，而政府却以暴力
相对时，您就可以申请政治避难了。具体申请时，
您需要提交相关证据以证明政府对您进行了迫害，
注意是政治迫害而不只是歧视。当然，当您请求用
文件证明检察官、公诉人或地方警察局局长知法犯
法、滥用职权时，他们是不会为您提供任何帮助
的。因此，您必须要搜集能证明您遭受迫害的间接
证据，比如：
·Reports or complaints submitted to
the police, courts or procurator's
office
·Medical records from the hospital
that treated you for wounds or injuries
you received due to policeviolenceor
abuse
·Photographs proving your
participation in strikes or protests
·Photographs documenting
intimidating vandalism, such as
swastikas carved in your front door or
a burned-out car
·Membership documents showing that
you were a member in a certain
organization or party
·向警察局、法庭或检察院提交的报告或投
诉
·医院对您的伤口或损伤的治疗记录，且这
些伤害系警察的暴力行为或虐待所致
·能证明您参加过罢工或抗议活动的照片
·恐吓性破坏行为的照片，比如您家的前门
被刻上纳粹党党徽或者您的汽车被焚等等
·能证明您曾是某组织或某政党成员的会员
文件
☆ If someone living in the U.S. witnessed to
the events you plan to describe to immigration
officers, ask that person for help. Testimony
given in person by an eyewitness is a
significant piece of evidence in the U.S.
☆ 如果某位美国居民曾经目睹过您准备向移民官员描述
的事件，那么您可以请这个人帮忙。在美国，由目击证人亲
自给出的证词是极其重要的证据。
If you decide to request asylum from
the U.S. government and already entered
the States, you'll need to submit a
petition in writing within one year of
crossing the U.S. border, regardless of
how long your non-immigrant visa is valid
or
whether
you
crossed
the
border
legally. If you crossed the border
illegally, you need to prove that you
were in a neighboring country not far
from theU.S. border no later than a year
from the date of your USCISinterview. You
can do this by showing the immigration
officer tickets, hotel bills or other
documents.
如果您决定要向美国政府申请政治避难而且您
已经在美国境内了，那么不管您的非移民签证还有
多长时间才到期，或者您是否通过合法途径入境美
国，您都需要在进入美国后一年内提交一份书面请
愿书。如果您是非法入境的，那您就需要从接受美
国移民局（USCIS）面试那天起一年之内证明：您
当时就在离美国边境不远的某个邻国。为此，您可
以向移民官员出示您的车票、旅馆账单或其他文
件。
If you submit your petition after a
year has passed, you will need to explain
to the USCIS official why you couldn't
submit it earlier. There are several
substantial reasons you might have been
delayed, such as
如果您在到了美国一年以后才提交请愿书，那
么您就需要向美国移民局（USCIS）的官员解释为
什么不早点提交请愿书的原因。一般来说，可以有
下列几个重大的原因：
·Physical illness
·Mental illness, such as
depression, which was confirmed by a
U.S. psychologist or psychiatrist
·You did not plan to ask for asylum
earlier because you were married to
U.S. citizen, but that marriage later
ended in divorce.
·You had a long-term visa, such as
a student visa, and political changes
have swept across your home country.
For example, fellow members of a
particular organization have been
arrested, or you have received notice
in your home country from the police
that they have a warrant out for your
arrest as a deserter.
·身体疾病
·精神疾病，例如已由某位美国的心理学家
或精神科医生确诊的抑郁症
·您在先前并没打算寻求政治避难，因为您
之前已与一位美国公民结婚，但是后来这场婚姻
以离婚而告终
·您之前有一张长期签证，比如学生签证，
并且您的祖国正在经历政治变革。比如，与您同
属于某一组织的成员已经被捕，或者您已经被国
内警方盯上了，而且他们已经发出了对您的逮捕
令
☆ Once you've entered the U.S. on a
nonimmigrant visa, you can ask for asylum
immediately. You are not required by law to tell
the consular official who interviews you in your
home country that you plan to request asylum
once in the States.
☆ 一旦您凭非移民签证进入美国，您就可以立即申请政
治避难。根据法律，您可以不必告诉在本国面试您的领事馆
官员：您到美国后想立即申请政治避难。
And
don't
forget
there
are
two
different terms in U.S. immigration law
related to asylum and refugee status. If
you are granted asylum while you are
already in the U.S., you'll be an
“asylee”. If you are granted this
status abroad, you will be a“refugee”.
You'll notice, however, that in everyday
English,“refugee”is
used
morefrequently.
另外，别忘了，美国移民法中对政治难民和难
民身份用的是两个不同的术语。如果您是在美国获
准政治避难的，那您就是“政治难民”；但如果您
是在国外获准政治避难的，那您就是“难民”。不
过，您也会注意到，在日常英语中，“难民”这个
词更常用。
But say you are not under any
political pressure back home. You just
want a great education. If you decide to
go to school in the U.S., you'll need to
change your visitor's B1/B2 status for a
student F1 visa by filling out Forms I-20
(Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status) and I-539
(Application
To
Extend/Change
Nonimmigrant Status) and sending them to the
nearest
regional
office
of
the
immigration service.
但如果您在国内并没有遭到任何政治压迫，而
只是想接受更好的教育的话，应该怎么办呢？如果
您决定到美国上学，那您需要把B1/B2签证改为F1
的学生签证，为此您得填写I-20表格［非移民（F1）学生资格证］和I-539表格（延期/改签申请
表），然后寄到离您最近的移民机构办事处。
☆ It's not a very good idea to leave the
U.S. while you are enrolled at a college or
university once you change your status. Just
because you have student status in the U.S., it
does not mean that an overseas U.S. consulate
will issue you a student visa.
☆ 如果您已在某学院或某大学注册，却想等签证一换成
学生身份就离开美国，这可不太好。因为海外的美国领事馆
未必会因您在美国拥有学生身份，就给您发放学生签证。
If you'd liketo work or conduct
business in theStates, you'll need to
fill out Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) and include a letter
stating why you are applying for a change
of status, aswell as other documentation
supporting your reasons.
如果您想在美国找份工作或者做点生意，那您
就需要填写I-129表格（非移民签证持有人务工许
可申请表），另外还要写一封信陈述一下您要申请
改签的原因，当然还包括其他能支持您申请理由的
证明文件。
If you've come to America on a tourist
visa and found work through an employment
agency, here'swhat you need to do to
protect yourself:
如果您是凭旅游签证来的美国，但又通过职业
介绍所找到了工作，那么您需要做到以下几点来保
护自己：
·Never give your passport to your
employer or theemployment agency.
·Ask for documents from your
employer allowing you to apply for a
work permit.
·Don't rely on promises from your
employer or the agency that they will
take care of the USCIS paperwork some
time in the future. This could lead to
you losing your legal immigration
status in theU.S.
·If the employer or agency refuses
to give you the necessary documents,
this means they arehiring you
illegally.
·千万不要把您的护照给雇主或职业介绍
所。
·向雇主索要能使您申请工作许可证的文
件。
·若您的雇主或代理机构承诺日后会帮您填
写美国移民局的各种书面材料，请不要相信他
们，因为这会导致您失去合法移民美国的资格。
·如果您的雇主或代理机构拒绝给您提供必
要的文件，那就意味着他们是在非法雇用您。
☆ If you do end up giving your passport to
an employer or agency, you may wind up working
as a virtual slave for years.
☆ 如果您已经把护照交给雇主或职介所，那么就意味着
您会成为一个长年为别人打工的“奴隶”。
If you ask for a change of status
shortly after arriving in theU.S.(within
two months or less), the immigration
service may decide that you planned to do
so from the start. They will accuseyou of
giving
falseinformation
to
consular
officials about your purpose in coming to
the country. The only exception to this
strict rule is if you are asking for
asylum, as above.
如果您刚到美国就立即（两个月或两个月内）
申请改签，移民局可能会认为这是您事先计划好
的，那他们将会指控您向领事馆官员提供了来美的
虚假信息。除非您像前面提到的那样，申请政治避
难。
☆ You are responsible for proving to
immigration
officials
that
unforeseen
circumstances have forced you to request a
change of status.
☆ 您有责任向移民官员证明，您要申请改签完全是因为
发生了一些意外情况。
Regardless of your reason for changing
status and no matter what your American
friends and relatives argue, it's a
really good idea to hire a lawyer or to
get advice from a specialized consulting
company.
An
immigration
lawyer
or
consultant
will
help
you
avoid
problemswith
your
application
and
thereview process.
不管您为何要改签，也不管您在美国的亲朋好
友为您做什么辩解，对您来说，聘请一位律师或者
向专业的咨询公司咨询都不失为明智之举。移民律
师或咨询师会帮您解答有关申请及面试的问题。
Naturally, talking to an immigration
lawyer sounds reasonable in theory.
However, in practice, it can be difficult
sometimes for foreigners working with
American lawyers to explain what they
need.
Moreover,
all
the
legal
information, which often can be hard to
understand even in translation, and all
the confusing legal terminology can
sometimesmake it difficult to make the
right choice. This is why it's often a
good idea to talk to someone at a
consulting company who can help you
understand what's what and find theright
way to solve your immigration problem.
从理论上来说，找个美国移民律师谈谈，这主
意听起来不错。但实际上，对于外国人来说，要向
美国律师解释清楚他们到底需要什么帮助有时候是
一件很费劲的事。况且，所有法律方面的信息即使
在翻译以后也很令人费解，另外再加上那些令人困
惑的法律术语，您想作出正确的选择有时候非常困
难。这就是为什么说咨询相关的咨询公司是个不错
的办法了，因为他们可以帮您搞清楚状况，并且帮
您找到正确的办法以解决移民问题。
☆ Not all American lawyers will have a clear
idea of the political situation in your country.
For example, some of them may see only the
criminal and not the political aspect of your
mistreatment by the mafia. They may not
understand
that
organized
crime
in
many
countries is closely allied to government power.
☆ 并不是所有的美国律师都对您本国的政治状况了如指
掌。比如，有些律师也许只能从犯罪方面而非政治方面去理
解犯罪团伙对您的虐待行为。因为他们可能不会明白，其实
在很多国家，有组织的犯罪经常是会与政府势力勾结在一起
的。
As every person and situation is
different, choosing the right lawyer can
play a major role in the success of your
application. For this reason, you should
try to avoid picking thewrong lawyer by
鉴于每个人及其境况都不一样，能不能选对律
师将在很大程度上决定您的申请能否成功。因此，
为避免找错律师，您要尽量：
·Studying reference books on the
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Service (USCIS, formerly called the
Immigration and Naturalization Service
or INS) at your local library
·Looking for books on immigration
issues in your nativelanguage at the
library
·Searching for information onlineat
your local library
·Reading handbooks and guides to
immigration issues at a local
bookstore, many of which have caf佴s
and armchairs where you can sit
comfortably and read a book without
having to buy one
·Visiting stores that sell goods
from your home country. They will also
sell books and magazines in your
language, where you will likely find a
lot of information about immigration
and changing your immigration status.
·到当地图书馆查阅有关美国公民和移民服
务方面的参考书。（美国移民局，曾被称为移民
入籍局或缩写为INS）
·到图书馆查阅用您的母语写成的关于移民
事项的书籍
·到当地图书馆上网搜索相关信息
·到当地书店阅读有关移民问题的指导手
册，很多书店都设有咖啡屋，摆有扶手椅，您可
以舒舒服服地坐在那里看书，而不需要把它们买
下来
·去逛那些出售您本国商品的商店。一般那
里也会出售用您的母语写的图书和杂志，从中您
很可能会找到许多有关移民及改签的信息
Hereare a few helpful phonenumbers and
websites to get you started:
您还可以通过下面这些有用的电话号码和网址
查询：
·www.uscis.gov or call 1-800-3755283(1-800-767-1833 for the hearing
impaired) - the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Service
·www.aila.org or call 1-202-2162400 - the American Immigration Lawyers
Association
·www.us-immigration.com theAmerican Immigration Center
·www.usaia.org - theImmigration
Association
·登录www.uscis.gov或者拨打1-800-3755283（1-800-767-1833为听力有障碍的人员服
务）---美国公民及移民服务局
·登录www.aila.org或者拨打1-202-2162400---美国移民律师协会
·登录www.us-immigration.com---美国移
民中心
·登录www.usaia.org---美国移民协会
Because the first appointment with a
lawyer is almost always free, make a
couple
appointmentswith
different
immigration lawyers and seewhom you
likeand who seems themost helpful. Based
on this information, you should be able
to pick the person right for you.
因为与律师的首次会面基本上都是免费的，所
以您可以多约见几个不同的移民律师，从而确定您
喜欢哪位律师以及哪位律师看起来对您会最有帮
助。在这个基础上，您才能选出正确的律师人选。
☆ When you meet, make sure to ask lawyers
about their licenses and when they expire, as
well as what services they offer, how long
certain
procedureswill
take,
and
howmuch
theywill charge.
☆ 与律师见面时，您一定要问清楚他们是否拥有律师执
照以及他们的执照什么时候到期，除此之外，还要问清楚他
们能提供什么样的帮助，某些手续需要多长时间，以及他们
的收费标准等等。
When signing an agreement with a
lawyer, you should discuss how you'll pay
for his services. Usually, lawyers prefer
to get an advance of 30%to 50%of the
agreed
fees,
and
therest
is
paid
beforethelast stageof thework.
当您和律师签合同时，务必要讨论一下您打算
如何支付他们的服务费。通常，律师喜欢当事人提
前预付双方所达成费用的30%到50%，其余费用则在
结案前付清。
☆ In practically every contract you'll see,
the advance will not be returned if the contract
is terminated.
☆ 实际上，您看到的每份合同中都会规定：如果合同中
止，预付款不予返还。
When she returned to Europe from the
U.S. in 1997, Tanya brought a whole stack
of American newspapers home with her. A
few months later, she needed some advice
from a lawyer familiar with the legal
situation in the U.S.
1997年，塔尼娅从美国回欧洲的时候，带了一大叠美国
的报纸。几个月后，她需要从一位熟悉美国法律的律师那得
到一些建议。
Because she didn't know how to find
someone specializing in American law in
Russia, Tanya decided to call a lawyer
from California whose article she had
read in one of the papers she'd brought
home
from
America.
After
a
free
consultation
that
helped
solve
her
initial problem, Tanya kept the lawyer's
number, just in case.
因为塔尼娅不知道如何才能在俄罗斯找到专攻美国法律
的律师，所以她决定给一个远在加利福尼亚的律师打电话，
在她从美国带回来的一份报纸上她读到过他的文章，在进行
了一次免费咨询之后，她最初的几个问题得到了解决。为了
以防万一，塔尼娅把这位律师的电话号码存了起来。
Six years later, she was glad she did.
Tanya found herself waiting to meet with
the very helpful lawyer she'd found in
the newspaper back in 1997. She has since
turned to the lawyer several times over
the years for help over the phone.
六年以后，塔尼娅高兴地发现她当年的电话号码留对
了，因为她一直等着和这位律师见面，这位她在1997年报纸
上发现的律师给了她很多帮助。几年来，她曾经屡次通过电
话向这位律师寻求帮助。
Some people choose not to hire a
lawyer because they think they can put
together all the necessary USCISpaperwork
and forms by themselves. Experience shows
that all too often, they are wrong.
However,
if
you
do
decide
to
do
everything yourself, you can order any
immigration-related form from the USCIS
by calling 1-800-870-3676.
一些人选择不雇用律师，因为他们觉得靠自己
就能把美国移民局所需的文件和表格全部搞定。但
经验不止一次地证明：他们的想法是错误的。不
过，如果您真的决定要自己亲自去处理的话，您可
以拨打1-800-870-3676，让美国移民局把您要的
全部的移民文件都发给您。
Keep in mind that the USCISwill not
send you a list of the documents you need
to prove that you need to change your
immigration status or extend your stay in
the U.S. Instead, you need to request
thespecific forms you desire.
请牢记：美国移民局不会给您列出一张清单，
然后告诉您怎么证明您需要改签或需要延长在美国
的逗留时间。相反，您应该告诉他们您需要的具体
的表格。
Immigration officials examine every
application on a case-by-case basis and
ask applicants to submit many extremely
important documents. For this reason,
correspondence with the USCIS can take
months and your case may not be opened or
considered if certain necessary documents
are missing. Unfortunately, you will have
to leavethe country if this happens.
移民局的官员会具体情况具体分析，仔细审查
每一个申请，然后要求申请者提交许多非常重要的
文件。因此，与美国移民局的通信可能要持续好几
个月。如果缺少必要的文件，您的申请可能会一直
都无人问津。不幸的是，如果这种事情真的发生
了，您将不得不离开这个国家。
☆ Remember that the immigration service, as
well as other government agencies, has a huge
workload and has to process a large amount of
paperwork. Officials prefer documents that are
sent in promptly and filled out properly.
☆ 请记住：移民局和其他政府机构一样，工作量是很大
的，他们需要处理成堆的文件。官员会比较愿意处理那些提
交及时且填写恰当的文件。
Immigration lawyers have a lot of
experience
working
with
government
agencies. For a reasonablefee, they'll
work
scrupulously
and
try
to
anticipatewhat
documentswill
makea
difference in your application.
移民律师往往具有与政府机构打交道的丰富经
验。如果酬金合理的话，他们会一丝不苟地为您工
作，并且还会为您参谋什么样的文件在申请过程中
具有举足轻重的作用。
If you can't afford a lawyer, you can
get help from
如果您请不起律师的话，您可以从这里获得帮
助：
·An organization recognized by
theBoard of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
·An accredited representative of a
BIA-recognized organization. You can
find a list of representatives and
organizations that are officially
recognized by theBIA at
www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/intdec/lib_inde
·A legal firm or lawyer who offers
free, or“pro bono,”immigration
services. You can find a list of such
firms at
www.usdoj.gov/eoir/probono/states.htm.
·A legal firm that participates in
programs offering free legal services
for immigration issues. You can get a
list of these firms from your local
USCIS office.
·一个得到移民上诉委员会（BIA）认可的机
构
·一个得到移民上诉委员会认可的机构的授
权代表，您可以从
www.justice.gov/eoir/vll/intdec/lib_inde
这一链接获得被移民上诉委员会认可的官方机构
及其代理的信息
·一些合法的公司或律师个人会提供免费的
或者公益性的移民咨询服务，您可以从
www.usdoj.gov/eoir/probono/states.htm这
一链接得到此类公司的信息
·有些合法的公司会参与一些活动，而在活
动中他们会为公众提供免费的移民咨询服务，您
可以从当地的移民服务点获得这些公司的名单。
These lawyers and organizations will
either help you free of charge or for a
very small fee.
这些律师和组织要么会免费地帮助您，要么只
会向您收取很少的费用。
It can take from one to several months
for officials to review an application to
extend your visa. Requests to change
immigration
status
take
considerably
longer and can drag on for months and
sometimes years. There have even been
cases
when
someonehaswaited
for
a
decision from theimmigration servicefor
morethan a decade.
若申请签证延期，审核可能会花上一个月到几
个月的时间。若申请改签则会耗费更长的时间，有
时能拖几个月甚至是几年。过去还曾经有过这样的
例子：有个人足足等了十多年，才等到了移民局的
决定。
In recent years, one of themost common
ways to change your immigration status
has been to marry a U.S. citizen. This is
seen
as
particularly
suspect
by
immigration authorities because there
aremany ways to arrangea fakemarriage, as
you learned back in Chapter 7. Each
application
related
to
marriage
is
examined carefully by the USCIS. Even
though waiting for a change in your
status is frustrating, do your best to be
patient
and
understanding
of
the
authorities'thoroughness
if
you
have
found true love in America.
近年来，与美国人结婚已成为改变自己国籍的
一种最为常见的方式。通常，移民局认为这种方法
特别值得怀疑，因为正如前面在第七章中所言，现
在有很多方式可以形成虚拟婚姻。所以，每一个关
系到婚姻的申请都要接受美国移民局的严格审查。
即使您确实在美国找到了真爱，等待改签也依然是
一件令人沮丧的事情，建议您最好耐心等待并且对
移民局在工作上的一丝不苟予以理解。
If you weren't scared by the possible
consequences you saw in Part II and still
think a fakemarriage is the answer to
your immigration problems, think again.
Here are just a few reasons and risks
related to Green Card marriages:
如果您没有被在本书第二部分中讲到的假婚姻
可能导致的后果吓倒，并且仍然认为假结婚是解决
移民问题的方法，那么请三思。这里列出了一些请
您慎重的理由以及绿卡婚姻会带来的风险：
·They violateU.S. law.
·You areputting yourself at risk
and at themercy of conmen.
·Your fictive spousemay keep
demandingmoreand moremoney from you.
·You will be completely dependent
on your fictivespouse.
·You may be pressured to have a
sexual relationship with your fictive
spouse even though it was not part of
your original agreement.
·You could be directly blackmailed
by your fictivespouse.
·Your fictive spouse can easily
refuse to go with you to the
couples'interview that allows you to
replace your temporary Green Card with
a permanent one.
·这触犯了美国的法律。
·您是在自冒风险，而且您很可能会成为骗
子的目标。
·您的拟婚配偶也许会不断向您勒索更多的
金钱。
·您可能会完全依赖于您的拟婚配偶。
·即使性生活最初并不是你们协议的一部
分，您也有可能迫于压力与其发生性关系。
·您的拟婚配偶可能会直接敲诈您。
·您的拟婚配偶可能会轻易拒绝与您一起去
参加针对夫妻的面试，这样您就无法把临时绿卡
换成永久绿卡。
☆ It bears repeating: If you marry to get a
Green Card, you put yourself at the mercy of
your fictive spouse and other shady characters.
Also, if you are caught you will not be allowed
any immigration benefit for life.
☆ 再次重申：如果您想通过假结婚拿到绿卡，意味着您
要受到您的拟婚配偶及其他不法人员的摆布。另外，一旦被
发现，您的移民权益将被终生剥夺。
If your I-94 has already expired, you
cannot apply to have your stay extended
or to change your status because you are
now in the country illegally. The only
exceptions are if you are asking for
asylum or legitimately married to a
citizen. You can only legally residein
theU.S. as long as your I-94 is valid.
如果您的出入境卡I-94已经过期，那么您将不
能再申请延期或改签了，因为此时您已经属于非法
滞留了。唯一的例外就是：您要申请政治避难或者
合法地与美国公民结了婚。只有在您的I-94有效的
前提下，您才能算是合法地在美国居住。
Some foreignerswho don't have a legal
basis for changing their immigration
status stay in the U.S. anyway. They seem
unfazed by the fact that once their I-94s
have expired, they are living outside the
law. These illegal immigrants have heard
and seen how many people live and work in
theU.S. without legal status, and they
decide to forge ahead and explore their
own, illegal America. With time, they
manage to buy a car or a house, and
sometimes
even
to
open
their
own
business, all without understanding that
if they arecaught by the police, they
could wind up in an immigration detention
center for an extended period of time (at
least a year). Neither their business nor
their assets will help them then.
但是，不管怎样，还是有一些外国人在没有合
法改签的前提下就待在了美国。他们似乎并不担心
这一事实：等他们的I-94过期以后，他们就已经不
受法律的保护了。在耳闻目睹了许多非法移民在美
国的工作和生活以后，一些新的非法移民也决定铤
而走险，然后在美国打拼他们的非法天下。随着时
光的流逝，他们渐渐拥有了自己的车子、房子甚至
自己的公司，却完全不去想一旦被警察逮捕，他们
会因为非法入境而被移民拘留中心拘留（至少一
年）。到那时，不管他们的生意还是财产都无法解
救他们。
The millions of foreigners who don't
have legal status in the U.S. are all
afraid of thesame thing: a run-in with
thepolice. Don't beone of them.
在美国，有成百万的非法居民，他们都害怕同
一件事：与警察不期而遇。所以，不要成为他们中
的一员。
Chapter 20 The Infamous Green Cards
第二十章 蒙羞的绿卡
Almost everyone everywhere in the
world has heard of Green Cards, the
residency permits that allow you to live
and work in theU.S. Many people dream of
getting one of their own. Here's how the
processworks.
几乎全世界的人都听说过绿卡，绿卡是允许您
在美国生活和工作的凭证。许多人做梦都想要一张
属于自己的绿卡。下面介绍一下办理绿卡的手续。
The easiest and fastest way to get a
Green Card is to marry a U.S. citizen.
Not only will you start a happy new life
with someone you love, you'll also be
given
conditional
permanent
resident
status and issued a conditional Green
Card - or CR - valid for 2 years.
要想获得绿卡，最快最容易的方法就是同美国
公民结婚。这不仅可以使您开始与爱人的幸福新生
活，还可以让您获得条件性的永久居民身份以及一
张条件性的绿卡（临时绿卡），临时绿卡也叫CR，
有效期为两年。
Sometime between the 21st to 24th
months after you've gotten resident
status, you and your spouse should submit
an I-751 Form, Petition to Remove the
Conditions of Residence. If approved, the
immigration service will send you a
regular
Green
Card.
However,
if
immigration
officials
suspect
your
marriage may not be the real deal, they
will ask you to come in for an interview.
As a rule,most couples must have an
interview,
even
thosewho
have
been
happily married for years.
在您获得居民身份后的第21至24个月，您和您
的配偶应当提交一张I-751表，即临时绿卡转永久
绿卡申请表。如果获得批准，移民局会寄给您一张
正式的绿卡。但是，如果移民局的官员怀疑您的婚
姻不属实的话，他们可能会要求与您面谈。通常，
大多数夫妇都得面谈，就连那些已经在一起幸福生
活了多年的夫妇也不例外。
☆ If you have gotten divorced or have been
recognized as a victim of spousal abuse, you can
submit the I-751 yourself any time after you
receive conditional resident status.
☆ 如果您已经离婚了或者被认定为是家庭暴力受害者，
那么您可以在获得条件性居民身份后随时自行提交I-751
表。
Some people view marriage to a U.S.
citizen as a simple business deal. Either
by themselves or through middlemen, they
find citizens willing to marry for two
years
until
they
have
received
unconditional Green Cards in return for
thousands
of
dollars.
Unfortunately,
aswe've already seen in the last chapter,
thesemarriages of convenience can cause a
whole range of annoyances and woes for
both partners. That's why if someone
offers you a fictivemarriage deal as away
to get permanent U.S. residency, you need
to remember that
有些人把与美国人结婚当作一笔简单的交易。
他们或是靠自己或是靠中间人找到那些愿意为了几
千美元而与其假结婚两年的美国人，直到其中一方
得到无条件绿卡（永久绿卡）为止。不幸的是，就
如上一章所讲的，这种便捷婚姻只会给双方带来一
连串的麻烦和痛苦。所以，如果有人向您推销这样
的假婚交易以便让您获得美国永久居住权的话，那
您应当记起下面这些忠告：
·It's against the law.
·You are putting yourself at risk
and at themercy of conmen.
·Your fictivespousemay keep
demandingmore and moremoney from you.
·You will be completely dependent
on your fictivespouse.
·You may be pressured to have a
sexual relationship with your fictive
spouse even though thiswas not part of
your original agreement.
·You could be directly blackmailed
by your spouse.
·Your fictive spouse could easily
refuse to go with you to the
couples'interview that allows you to
replaceyour temporary Green Card with a
permanent one.
·这触犯了美国的法律。
·您是在自冒风险，而且您很可能会成为骗
子的目标。
·您的拟婚配偶也许会不断向您索要更多的
金钱。
·您可能会完全依赖于您的拟婚配偶。
·即使性生活最初并不是你们协议的一部
分，您也有可能迫于压力与其发生性关系。
·您的拟婚配偶可能会直接敲诈您。
·您的拟婚配偶可能会轻易拒绝与您一起去
参加针对夫妻的面试，这样您就无法把临时绿卡
换成永久绿卡。
☆ Don't let a wedding ring shackle you to
shady characters. This is no way to get a Green
Card!
☆ 不要让结婚戒指把自己与一个不法分子拴在一起，这
样不可能得到绿卡！
A good and legal way to get a Green
Card is through relativeswho are U.S.
citizens.
Citizens
can
apply
to
theimmigration authorities to sponsor
their relatives if
正当合法地获得绿卡的一个好方法是通过美籍
亲属。您的美国亲戚可以向移民局申请做您的担保
人，如果他/她满足以下条件的话：
·They are over 21.
·They have a steady source of
income allowing them to act as
financial sponsors.
·They can prove their financial
stability and document their income.
·21岁以上
·有稳定的收入来源，可以担当经济担保人
·能证明自己财务稳定，并能提供收入的书
面证明
☆ If you don't make enough to qualify as a
sponsor, you can find another sponsor willing to
take on this responsibility.
☆ 如果您不够资格做担保人，您可以找个愿意帮您承担
此责任的人。
U.S. citizens can act as immigration
sponsors for
美国公民可以为以下亲属做移民担保人：
·Spouses
·Parents
·Children
·Siblings
·配偶
·父母
·子女
·直系兄弟姐妹
U.S. permanent residents can act as
immigration sponsors for
美国永久居民可为以下亲属做移民担保人：
·Spouses
·Unmarried children
·配偶
·未婚子女
U.S.
citizens
cannot
act
as
immigration sponsors for
美国公民不能为以下亲属做移民担保人：
·Their spouse's parents
·Cousins
·Aunts and uncles
·Nieces and nephews
·Grandparents
·Grandchildren
·配偶的父母
·旁系兄弟姐妹
·父母的兄弟姐妹
·直系兄弟姐妹的子女
·祖父母和外祖父母
·孙辈
☆ U.S. citizens' relatives can get their
Green Cards much more quickly through U.S.
consulates than in the U.S. itself.
☆ 通过美国领事馆办理，美国公民的亲属会比在美国国
内更快地获得绿卡。
When a relative who is a citizen or
permanent resident decides to become your
sponsor, he or she will sign an Affidavit
of Support. This means that your relative
will support you financially until
当您那位美国亲戚决定做您的担保人，那么不
管他/她是美国公民还是美国的永久居民，他/她都
要签一份经济担保书。这意味着他/她将会在经济
上一直资助您， 直到：
·You become aU.S. citizen, or
·You earn 40 units according to the
Social Security Administration, which
corresponds to 10 years of working in
theU.S.
·您成为美国公民， 或者
·社会保障局的数据显示：您已工作满了40
个季度，即相当于您在美国工作了10年。
If your sponsor refuses to honor his
or
her
obligations
toward
you,
immigration
officialswill
beable
to
request, on the basis of the Affidavit of
Support, that a court force your sponsor
to take financi al responsibility for
your life in the U.S., including any
health
care
that
you
require.
For
example, if your sponsor refuses to pay
your hospital bill, theAffidavit of
Support can beused to makehim do so.
如果您的担保人拒绝履行他/她对您应承担的义
务，那么移民局官员可以根据“经济担保书”要求
法院强制他/她承担您在美国的生活费用，并包括
您所需的任何卫生保健费用。例如，如果您的担保
人拒绝支付您的医疗费用，那“经济担保书”会强
制要求他/她支付。
If you don't have any relatives in the
U.S., another very popular way to get a
Green Card is to win one in a lottery.
Every year, the Green Card lottery allows
thousands of foreigners to emigrate
legally to the U.S. You can participate
in the lottery while in the U.S. or
abroad.
如果您连一个美国亲戚都没有，那么还有一种
很流行的方式，即通过抽奖获得绿卡。每年，都有
成千上万的外国人通过绿卡乐透抽奖而成为美国的
合法移民。不论您是在美国国内还是在国外，都可
以参加抽奖活动。
You can enter the lottery over the
Internet at www.usagcls.com, and winners
are selected by computer. They are then
invited for an interview at a local
immigration office if they are already in
theU.S. or at a U.S. consulate if they
are still overseas. Those who pass the
interview are given immigrant visas,
along with their spouse and children
under the ageof 21.
您可以登录www.usagcls.com进行抽奖，中奖
者会通过电脑选出来。中奖者会被邀请到当地的移
民办公室接受面试，而在国外的中奖者则可以去美
国领事馆。凡是通过面试的人，不仅自己会得到移
民签证，而且其配偶及21岁以下的子女也可以得
到。
☆ Try to get through the interview process
as quickly as possible. The number of lottery
winners always exceeds the number of actual
Green Cards available.
☆ 要尽快通过面试，因为实际获得绿卡的人数并没有像
中奖者那么多。
Businesspeople and business owners
with
L-1,
Intra-company
Transferees
status have the right to apply for a
special type of Green Card. Applications
for permanent residency from owners or
employees of international companies are
reviewed over the courseof a year.
拥有L-1跨国公司调派人员工作签证的商人或企
业主有权申请一种特殊的绿卡，不过若是他们想要
申请永久居留权，则要接受一年的审查。
Investorswho invest $1million in an
American company can apply for aGreen
Card without havingto first apply for an
E-1, Treaty Trader, or E-2, Treaty
Investor, visa.
向美国公司投资了100万美元的投资人可以直接
申请绿卡，而不用先申请E-1（条约国贸易商签
证）或E-2（条约国投资商签证）。
☆ Investors are issued CR Green Cards valid
for 2 years.
☆ 投资者会被授予CR绿卡，有效期为两年。
Toward the end of the conditional
period, investors can submit an I-829
Form, a “Petition by Entrepreneur to
Remove
Conditions
on
Residence.”The
applicant's conditional card can be
changed to a regular Green Card if
在条件性居留期快要结束时，投资者要提交一
个I-829表，即解除企业家条件性居留的申请。如
果申请满足以下条件，那么条件性绿卡就可以换成
正式绿卡了：
·Thecompany is still in business .
·It has created at least ten jobs
for U.S. citizens or permanent
residents.
·The applicant has invested at
least $1 million (or in some cases,
$500,000). Businesspeople who have
invested less than $1 million can apply
for residency as theowner of an
international company.
·公司仍在运营中
·公司为美国公民或永久居民创造了至少10
个就业机会
·申请人至少要投资100万美元（某些情况下
可以是50万美元）。投资少于100万美元的商人
可以以跨国公司企业主的身份申请居住权
☆ Those with a CR Green Card, either as a
citizen's spouse or as an investor, must submit
their application at least ninety days before
their CR Green Card expires to avoid losing
their immigration status.
☆
CR绿卡持有者，不论其是美国公民的配偶还是投资
人，必须在绿卡到期前90天内提交申请表，以免丧失移民身
份。
Specialists and company employees with
H-1B status can also apply for Green
Cards. As a rule, getting residency with
an
H-1B
visa
involves
a
Labor
Certification Application from the U.S.
Department of Labor. In the recent past,
this process used to take anywhere from a
year to several years.
有H-1B签证的专家和公司雇员也可以申请绿
卡。通常情况下，想用H-1B签证获得居住权的，申
请者还需要得到美国劳工部开具的劳工认证。在过
去这几年，在任何地方办理这个手续一般都需要一
年到几年的时间。
Perm Law, makes the certification
process
a
lot
simpler.
Now,
the
Department of Labor will review all
requests in three to four months. If the
request is approved, the applicant can
then apply for a Green Card. This opens
up a whole world of possibilities for
people who have come to the U.S. on a
tourist visa but then found an employer
willing to sponsor them. Once foreigners
go through the Perm certification process
and submit the paperwork for a Green
Card, they gain the status of an
applicant
waiting
for
permanent
residency.
2005年3月28日，美国通过了一条关于劳工认证的新法
规--《劳工法），该法规使办理劳工认证的证明手续更简单
了。现在，所有的申请都会在三到四个月内得到劳工部的审
核。如果申请得到批准，申请人就有资格申请绿卡了。这给
那些拿着旅游签证来到美国而后又有雇主愿意为他们担保的
人提供了极大的便利。一旦外国人通过了劳工认证并且提交
了绿卡申请文件，他们就有可能得到永久居留权了。
The Perm Law also makes it much easier
to get an entry visa for workerswho find
a job in theU.S. while still abroad. The
entire process of getting the necessary
documents should not takemorethan a year
and a half.
《劳工法》也使那些身在国外、却已在美国找
好工作的人能够更容易地拿到准入签证，并且办理
所有必要文件的手续只需要不到一年半的时间。
☆ Any U.S. employer that hires you will have
to prove to the Department of Labor that you are
absolutely necessary to his business. That's why
some employers are looking for nurses, chefs or
European car mechanics, while others need
specialists in crystallography, aeronautical
engineering or mining.
☆ 任何雇用您的美国雇主都必须向劳工部证明：您对他
的企业来说是必不可少的。这就是为什么有些雇主想要聘用
护士、主厨或欧洲汽车机械师，也有一些人需要晶体学、航
空工程或矿业方面的专家。
Some categories of specialists do not
have to get certified and can apply for
residency immediately. These include
某些领域的专家不需要证明就可以直接申请居
住权，其中包括：
·Specialists who are well known in
their fields and who have unique
abilities in business or thearts
·Professionals involved in work of
strategic national importanceto theU.S.
·Teachers or instructorswho excel
in their fields
·Specialistswith L-1 (business) or
E(investor) non-immigrant status
·Certain religious leaders
·Nurses and physical therapists
·某领域的知名专家或商界、艺术界有特殊
才能的专家
·为美国国家战略性工作作出贡献的专业人
士
·在专业领域表现突出的教师或导师
·拥有L-1 (商业)或E (投资人)非移民身份
的专家
·某些宗教领袖
·护士和理疗师
Nurses are a special case in the
complicated field of U.S. immigration.
Back in 1997, the Illegal Immigration Act
became
law
and
established
precise
definitions
of
legal
and
illegal
immigration status in the U.S. The
section on health careworkers listed the
rights of foreign workers in the health
care professions who come to the U.S.
Later, the Commission on Graduates of
Foreign Nursing Schools (or the CGFNS)
developed a unique program for foreign
medical
professionals,
which
allows
nurses to skip the certification process
and receive a Green Card and come to the
U.S. relatively quickly (within a year).
护士在复杂的美国移民领域中是一个特例。早
在1997年，《非法移民法》便通过了，该法案明确
定义了在美国的合法和非法移民身份。在医疗工作
者那个版块，列出了外国医疗人员加入美籍的权
利。之后，外国护校毕业生评审委员会（即
CGFNS）为外国医务人员制订了一个特殊的方案，
该方案允许护士免除证明手续而直接申请绿卡，以
便他们能更快地加入美国国籍（一年内办理完）。
Every year, around 10,000 nurses come
to the U.S. from the Philippines, while
about 2,000 come from China, India and
Australia. In some countries, special
schools have opened to train nurses who
then emigrate to the U.S. Doctors can
also be admitted to the U.S. under this
program as long as they have nursing
degrees.
Later,
they
can
get
the
necessary education to become a licensed
doctor in the U.S.
每年，有将近10000名菲律宾护士加入美国国籍，而来
自中国、印度和澳大利亚的护士有2000名左右。有些国家，
有专门的护士培训学校，去那里培训的人都是为了移民美
国。如果医生有护士学位，那他/她也可以通过这个项目加
入美国国籍。之后，他们可能接受必要的培训，成为一名美
国的执业医师。
If you are outside the U.S. and want
to work here, you'll need to find a U.S.
employer first in order to get awork
visa. You can find employers
如果您人不在美国却想来这儿工作，您需要先
找个美国雇主，然后办个工作签证。您可以通过以
下途径寻找雇主：
·Directly, by contacting companies
via the Internet
·Applying for a job through an
American recruiting firm
·Applying for a job through a local
agency that specializes in finding
employment abroad
·在网上直接联系公司
·通过美国的招聘公司申请工作
·通过当地的专门提供国外工作机会的职介
所申请工作
☆ If you come to the U.S. on a tourist visa
but plan to work here, what you are doing is
against the law. Anyone from an employment
agency or any employer who offers you a job but
only gives you a tourist visa - not a work visa
- is guilty of fraud. And accepting employment
of this kind means you're breaking the law.
☆ 您若是拿着旅游签证到了美国却打算在这儿工作，那
是违法的。如果给您提供工作的职业介绍所或雇主，只给了
您旅游签证而不是工作签证的话，那就算是诈骗罪。同时，
接受这样的工作也意味着违法。
In some cases, theU.S. immigration
service can take away a person's right to
apply for aGreen Card. This includes
有些情况下，美国移民局有权剥夺一个人申请
绿卡的权利。这些情况包括：
·Giving falseinformation on forms
or in interviews
·Working illegally whilein
theStates on a non-immigrant visa
·Requesting a change in status less
than two months after arriving in
theU.S.
·Living in theU.S. illegally after
your tourist visa has expired
·Committing certain crimes (first
offense)
·Committing certain misdemeanors
several times
·Drunk driving
·Dealing or using drugs
·Being officially deported
·Having a contagious disease
·Suffering from a physical or
mental statethat poses a threat to
society
·Threatening U.S. national security
·Relying on welfareand
stateassistancefor your income
·Lacking the right professional
qualifications (for those applying for
a Green Card based as a specialist)
·填写表格或者面试时给出虚假信息
·以非移民签证到美国非法务工
·来美国未满两个月就要求改签
·旅游签证到期后仍在美国非法滞留
·犯某种罪（初犯）
·多次犯某些轻罪
·酒后驾车
·贩毒或吸毒
·已经被正式驱逐出境
·患有接触性传染病
·患有对社会构成威胁的身体或精神疾病
·威胁美国的国家安全
·收入依靠福利及国家补助
·缺少适当的职业资格证（针对以专家身份
申请绿卡的人）
☆ If you receive a refusal or rejection from
the immigration service, go see an immigration
lawyer. They may be able to help you appeal the
decision.
☆ 如果移民局拒绝或否决了您的请求，请找一位移民律
师，因为他们也许可以帮助您对此决议提起上诉。
Permanent residency is noted with a
square stamp in your passport made by a
USCIS official when you enter theUnited
States or after you havean interview in
theU.S. The date on the stamp is your
official immigration date. The stamp also
contains
your
permanent
resident
identification number. This stamp is
valid for one year. During this time,
immigrants usually receive a Green Card
(Form I-551) in themail with their photo,
fingerprints, signature, and amagnetic
strip on the back.
您如果获得了在美国的永久居留权，那么美国
移民局官员会在您进入美国时或者面试结束后在您
的护照上盖上一个方形的印章。章上的日期就是您
的正式移民日期，另外，章上还包含您的永久居民
身份证号。章的有效期为一年。在这一年中，作为
移民的您通常会收到一张邮寄过来的绿卡(I-551
表)，卡的正面会有您的照片、指纹、签字，而背
面还附有磁条。
After receiving your Green Card, make
sure to check it very carefully to be
sure that all the details are correct. If
you notice a mistake, you need to return
the card to your nearest USCIS office
immediately. The card will be replaced
free of charge in a short period of time.
If your stamp has expired but you haven't
received your Green Card yet, go to your
local USCISoffice and get a new stamp
before leaving thecountry.
您在收到绿卡后，请务必仔细检查一遍，以确
认所有信息都正确无误。如果您发现了错误，应该
把绿卡返回给离您最近的移民局。很快，他们就会
免费给您换一张新的绿卡。如果章已到期而您仍未
拿到绿卡的话，那么您可以在离开美国之前到当地
移民局办公室盖个新章。
☆ The stamp in your passport allows you to
work, travel abroad and enjoy all the rights of
a legal U.S. resident.
☆ 签证上的方章准许您在美工作或去他国旅游，并享有
美国合法居民的所有权利。
Green Cards are valid for 10 years and
can be renewed after expiration by filing
Form I-90.
绿卡的有效期为10年，到期以后填写I-90表就
可以换一张新卡。
If you have aGreen Card, you have
theright:
如果您有一张绿卡，那么您就享有以下权利：
·To liveand work permanently in
theU.S.
·To apply for citizenship in
accordancewith USCISregulations
·To apply for entry visas for your
spouseand unmarried children
·To enter and leave theU.S. if you
abideby immigration laws
·To enlist in some elements of
theU.S. armed forces
·To apply for a driver's license
·To purchase and own firearms, if
it is not prohibited by local laws
·To study at state-funded schools
and colleges
·To own property in theU.S.
·To receive public assistance as
part of welfare programs
·在美国永久生活和工作
·根据美国公民及移民服务局的规定申请成
为美国公民
·为您的配偶和未婚子女申请准入签证
·只要您遵循移民法，就可以自由出入美国
·加入美国的武装部队
·申请驾驶执照
·在当地法律的允许范围内，购买和拥有枪
支
·在公立中小学校或大学读书
·在美国购买房地产
·获得政府的公共资助，此为福利之一
At thesame time, as aGreen Card
holder,
you
havethefollowing
responsibilities:
与此同时，绿卡持有者还有以下义务：
·To fileyour taxes in theU.S., no
matter whereyou liveand work
·To live in the U.S. for at least
six months every year. If you need to
be away longer, seeChapter 60.
·Not to violateU.S. law
·To register for theSelective
Service if you are amale between the
ages of 18 and 26. This signs you up
for themilitary in case of a draft. You
can sign up at the post office.
·To maintain your immigrant status
·To inform theOffice of Homeland
Security of your new address within ten
days of moving(Form AR-11,
the“Alien'sChangeof AddressCard”).
You can find more information about
Form AR-11 by calling theUSCISat 1-800375-5283.
·To get new Green Cards for your
children once they reach theageof 14
·不论您在美国的哪个地方生活或工作，都
要纳税
·每年至少在美国居住六个月。如果您需要
离开更长时间，参照第六十章
·不准触犯美国法律
·18至26岁的男性要进行兵役登记，注册登
记之后一旦被应征就算入伍了。您也可以到邮局
去报名从军
·保留移民身份
·在搬家后的十天之内，要告知本土安全局
您的新地址（AR-11表，即“外国人地址更改
卡”）。您可以拨打美国移民局的电话1-800375-5283，以咨询更多有关AR-11表的信息
·为年满14岁的子女领取新的绿卡
Try to leave theU.S. as infrequently
as possible. You don't want to have to
prove to USCISofficials later that your
country of permanent residence is indeed
the U.S. when you apply for citizenship.
尽量不要过于频繁地离开美国。如果出入境太
频繁，当您申请公民身份时，也许移民官员会要您
证明您的永久居住国真的就是美国，你总不希望发
生这种事吧。
Five years after you receive a Green
Card, you can apply to the immigration
service to become a citizen. Spouses of
U.S. citizens can apply three years after
receiving permanent residency.
拿到绿卡五年后，您就可以向移民局申请成为
美国公民了。美国公民的配偶则可以在获得永久居
住权三年以后提出成为美国公民的申请。
☆ U.S. citizen or Green Card holder can
voluntarily
refuse
their
citizenship
or
immigration status at any time by submitting a
request to the nearest USCIS office.
☆ 美国公民或绿卡持有者可以在任何时候主动放弃其公
民或移民身份，前提是要到最近的美国公民及移民服务局的
办事处提交申请。
Chapter 21 Legal help
第二十一章 法律援助
As you noticed in the last chapter,
immigration procedures are complicated and so aremany other aspects of American
life. Many immigrants who come to the
United States and even peoplewho have
lived here a long time all make the
samemistake: They turn to a lawyer only
in an emergency. Unfortunately, this
means that people often choose the wrong
lawyer and may end up with someone who is
less than competent or who charges them
ridiculous fees. That's why, instead of
waiting for disaster to strike, it's a
good idea to gather information about
lawyers practicing in your area from
newspapers
and
magazines
and
from
relatives and acquaintances before you
need one.
正如您在上一章注意到的那样，办理移民手续
是很复杂的，而美国生活中的很多其他方面也与这
一样复杂。很多移民到美国的人，甚至是那些已经
在美国生活了很长时间的人，都会犯同样一个错
误：他们只在紧急情况下才会向律师求助。不幸的
是，这就意味着人们常常会找不到合适的律师，结
果往往是要么找到的律师不称职，要么律师会向他
们收取离谱的费用。所以，不要坐以待毙，而要在
您需要请律师之前就注意收集相关领域的信息，信
息可以来自报刊，也可以来自您的亲戚或熟人。
☆ Consider talking to a lawyer even if he or
she
doesn't
speak
your
native
language.
Unfortunately, not everyone from your country
will be good at what they do.
☆ 即使律师不懂您的母语，也要考虑跟他/她谈一谈。
因为令人遗憾的是，从贵国来的律师不一定会做得很好。
You may want to start a folder or file
with useful information about different
legal
services.When
you
have
a
sparemoment, you can call various law
offices, which usually have at least one
toll-free number, ask them your questions
and find out about their fees. When you
need someone's help - say, after a car
accident, fire or dispute with your
insurance company, or if you need a
divorce - you can turn to your file and
pick the best lawyer for the job.
您可以先新建一个文件夹或者文档，用来汇总
各种法律服务的有用信息。有空的时候，您可以联
系一下不同的律师事务所，请教一些问题，再顺便
打听一下他们的费用，通常他们至少会有一个免费
的电话号码。当您需要律师的帮助时---比方说，
您遇到了车祸、火灾，或者与保险公司发生了纠
纷，或者是您要离婚---您就可以从资料中挑选出
最合适的律师人选了。
Note that most U.S. lawyers specialize
in what they do and practice according to
the laws of their state. Some lawyers
practice only in family law, others in
business or criminal law. However, a
specialized
immigration
lawyer
in
Portland, Oregon may be happy to take
cases in New York City, San Diego or
Anchorage, Alaska, because immigration
law is federal,meaning it's the same
across the U.S.
值得注意的是，美国大多数的律师都是专攻各
自的方向，并根据他们州的法律来办事的。有的律
师只做家庭案件，有些则专攻商法或刑法。不过，
如果律师是专门搞移民案件的，那么就算他住在俄
勒冈州的波特兰，他也许也会很高兴地接手来自纽
约、圣地亚哥或阿拉斯加州的安克雷奇的案子，因
为移民法是联邦法律，这就意味着在全美都通用。
If you want to win most of your legal
disputes, choose different lawyers for
each situation. In American business the
client bears the risk when picking an
attorney. As an employer, you are taking
on all the risk of your decision to hire
a certain lawyer. It's important to
understand right from the start that if
your lawyer doesn't get you the results
you
were
hoping
for,
there
could
beseveral reasons for this, for example
如果您想在大多数法律纠纷中获胜，那您就得
依据每次不同的情况来选择不同的律师。在美国商
界，当事人在挑选代理人的时候是要承担风险的。
作为雇主，雇用哪个律师由您决定，而因此带来的
风险也都要由您承担。您最好一开始就弄明白一件
事，即如果您的律师未能帮您达到预期的结果，可
能会有几个原因，比如：
·You were hoping for an outcomethat
is simply impossibleto achieve
·You chose thewrong lawyer for the
job
·您在要求得到一个几乎无法达到的结果
·您选错了律师
It's also crucial to understand that
an agreement or contract with a lawyer
does not guarantee you'll get what you
want. According to their contracts,
lawyers normally get paid by thehour for
their work, not for theresults of that
work.
同样您还要搞明白：与律师签订协议或合同并
不能保证您就会得到预期的结果。依据合同，通常
律师是按小时收费的，而不是按其工作的最终结果
收费。
If
you
decide
after
signing
an
agreement with a lawyer that you need to
fire him or her, don't hesitate to inform
your lawyer of your decision. Pay for any
costs he or she incurred, and give the
case to someone else.
如果您与律师签订了协议却又想解雇他/她，请
不要犹豫，直接通知他/她就好了。结清他/她之前
的费用以后，再把案子交给其他人。
If a lawyer deceives or defrauds you,
call
如果有律师骗了您或想诈取您的钱财，可以给
以下部门打电话：
·Theprosecutor's office in your
state or district
·The Consumer Protection Agency.
You can find the address and phone
number of your local agency at
www.consumeraffairs.com/db/ConsumerProte
and in thebluepages of thephone book.
·Your local police
·Thelocal and stateBar Association
·您所在州或地区的检察官办公室
·消费者保护机构。登录
www.consumeraffairs.com/db/ConsumerProte
或在电话簿蓝页中您可以找到当地分支机构的地
址和电话
·当地警察局
·当地及州立的律师协会
The first months or years in the U.S.
can be hellish for many immigrants. The
endless problems and anxieties, numerous
mistakes and the difficulty of the
English language can leave people at a
total loss. Sometimes, they encounter
employers who cheat them out of wages or
who refuse to pay at all, or landlords
who raise the rent without notice.
Unfortunately, there are many people out
there who try to take advantage of recent
immigrants'language
problems
and
ignorance. They know that many immigrants
will tolerate injustice to get a job or a
place to live.
对很多移民来说，初到美国的几个月或几年会过得很糟
糕。那些没完没了的麻烦和无尽的忧虑，数不胜数的错误和
误会，再加上英语语言上的障碍，可以完全把人搞得晕头转
向。有时，他们还会遇到拖欠工资甚至干脆不发工资的雇
主，或者擅自涨房租的房东。不幸的是，很多人都在利用新
移民在语言上的障碍和初来乍到的懵懂无知而占他们的便
宜。因为他们知道，许多移民为了得到一份工作或者一个住
处会愿意忍受这些不公正的待遇。
However, America grants the same
rights to all legal U.S. residents
regardless of their immigration status.
Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.
Don't be afraid to stand up for your
rights. Americans usethe legal system to
do this every day.
然而，在美国，无论何种移民身份，美国都承
认其所有合法居民享有同等的权利。法律面前人人
平等，不要害怕站出来维护自己的权利。美国人每
天都在用法律武器维护着自己的权利。
☆ In any dispute, don't waste time. Gather
the facts and information you need to prove your
case right away.
☆ 出现纠纷时，请不要浪费时间，而要立刻着手收集对
您有利的事实和信息。
You won't need to run to lawyers all
the time, of course. You can often
represent your own interests in court. To
get more information, call your local
court (you'll find the main number at the
beginning of your local phone book). Then
you'll find out what to do next. Keep
calm, be patient and act. In America,
many people will probably end up in court
at some point in their life for one
reason or another whether they like it or
not. The most important question is how
they'll wind up in court: as the
plaintiff-the person bringing the caseto
court-or as thedefendant.
当然，您也不需要总是去找律师。通常，在法
庭上，您自己可以代表自己的权益出庭。若想获得
更多信息，请打电话联系当地法院（您可以在当地
电话簿的前几页找到法院的总机号），然后您就会
弄明白下一步该做什么。不管怎样，请始终保持冷
静，保有耐心并积极行动。在美国，不管人们喜不
喜欢，很多人早晚都会在其人生的某个阶段因为这
样或那样的原因而走上法庭。最重要的问题是他们
将会在法庭上充当怎样的角色：是原告，即提起诉
讼的人，还是被告。
Finally, many cities offer free legal
help over the phone. That means you can
get legal advice without leaving your own
home.
最后您还要知道，许多城市都会提供免费的电
话法律援助。这就意味着，您可以足不出户就获得
法律方面的建议。
Chapter 22 What to do first as a
recent immigrant
第二十二章 新移民必做事宜
So, now you have permission from the
USCIS to stay in the U.S. past the date
on your I-94.What next?
得到美国公民及移民服务局的认可之后，您就
可以在I-94卡到期后继续留在美国了。那么，接下
来该做些什么呢？
As we saw back in the introduction,
Americans areworkaholics. Having a job
has a major impact on a person's
lifestyle. Before you begin your job
hunt, figure out what type of work you
can do quickly and well. Once you know
what you can do, start looking for work.
Sometimes, it can takemonths to find work
in your field, so it's a good idea to
find an acceptable temporary job to tide
you over. Bear in mind that there are
usually more jobs in big cities than
there are in rural areas. However, you
should also keep in mind that the cost of
living is relatively high in urban areas.
我们再回头看一看序言，美国人都是工作狂。
拥有一份什么样的工作在很大程度上影响了一个人
的生活方式。在您开始找工作之前，先好好想想什
么样的工作您可以做得又快又好。想清楚自己能做
什么后，您就可以开始行动了。有时，要找到一份
符合自己专业的工作需要花上好几个月的时间，这
时先找一份差强人意的临时工作帮您渡过难关也是
一个不错的选择。一定要记住，大城市里的工作机
会通常要比农村地区多得多。但是，您也要记住，
城市里的生活花销也相对较高。
Before you find a job, try to rent a
temporary place based on a monthly
contract. Only after you get on your feet
and find a job you should start looking
seriously for permanent housing because
your
job
and
work
schedulewill
determinewhere you want to live.When
choosing a place, think carefully about
在您找到工作之前，试着先租一个按月签合同
的临时住处。等到您站稳脚跟并找到工作以后，您
就应该开始认真寻找一个长期住所了，因为您的工
作和上班时间将决定您想住在哪儿。选择住所时，
仔细考虑以下几个方面：
·How long it will take you to get
to work
·What transportation is available.
If you use public transportation, check
the schedules ahead of time so you
won't have any problems later on, such
as wasting timewaiting for buses that
run infrequently
·Whether the area has a branch of
your bank, a post office, newspaper
stands or machines, a grocery store,
dry cleaners, hair salons and a few caf
佴s, as well as convenient gas stations
·Where theclosest daycare centers,
kindergartens and schools are
·How safethearea is
·您到达工作地点需要多长时间
·附近有什么交通工具。如果您乘坐公共交
通工具，那就要提前查看一下时刻表，以免日后
会遇到问题，比如，因为等发车间隔较长的公交
车而浪费时间
·这一地区是否有您开户银行的支行、邮
局、报摊或售报机、便利店、干洗店、发廊或一
些咖啡厅，以及便利的加油站
·最近的日托中心、幼儿园和学校都在哪儿
·这一地区的治安状况如何
☆ Don't be discouraged if you don't have a
lot of housing choices because of your limited
income. Remember that you are just starting your
life in the U.S. The best is yet to come.
☆ 如果您因为收入有限而在选住处的时候没有多大的选
择余地，那也不用觉得受挫。记住，您在美国的生活才刚刚
起步，好生活还在后面。
Many immigrants believe that it is
psychologically easier and a lot cheaper
to live with people from the same
country.When everyone is from the same
culture and lives in one neighborhood,
they almost alwaysmaintain traditions and
use their native language in storesand
hair salons, in restaurant sand at the
dry cleaners, in businesses and medical
offices. Immigrants who live in immigrant
communities do not have a pressing need
to learn English. But for this very
reason,
pricesand
rent
can
be
considerably
higher
in
these
neighborhoods. Because they don't know
English, the immigrants who live there,
especially the elderly, are not able to
look for better dealsin other areas.
许多移民都认为：和来自本国的人生活在一起
的生活成本会低得多，心理上也会轻松很多。当生
活在某个居民区的人们都来自同一文化时，他们通
常能一直保持传统，而且当他们在商店、发廊、饭
馆、干洗店、公司和医疗机构的时候，彼此也会用
母语进行交流。那些住在移民社区的居民不用那么
迫切地学习英语。但正是由于这个原因，这些地区
的物价和租金会比其他地方高很多。因为生活在那
里的移民不懂英语，所以他们没办法去其他地区找
更划算的房子和物品，这种情况在老年人中尤甚。
☆ All immigrants have to make their own
choice whether they want to actively assimilate,
adopt only some aspects of the American
lifestyle or watch from the sidelines.
☆ 至于移民们是想积极地融入美国的生活方式，或是只
想接受它的某些方面，还是想保持旁观者的态度，这就要看
他们自己的选择了。
Once you have a permanent address,
you'll be able to get your Social
Security Number (SSN) and open a bank
account.
有了固定住址以后，您就能获得一个社安号并
用它开立银行账户了。
After that, even if you don't need a
car, it's a really good idea to get your
driver's license, which you can use as
identification and proof of address in
your state. Some states offer official ID
cards for people who don't know how to
drive, but if you can, go ahead and take
the tests and get your driver's license.
然后，即使您不需要汽车，考个驾照也是一个
不错的选择，因为您可以在您所在的州把它当作身
份证或住址证明来用。一些州会给不会开车的人提
供正式的身份证，但如果您会开车的话，那就直接
去考个驾照好了。
So, to make a long story short, the
immigrant's to-do list is:
最后，长话短说，移民者必做事宜主要有：
·Find a job
·Find a permanent placeto live
·Get your Social Security Card
·Open a bank account
·Get your driver's licenseor state
ID
·找份工作
·找个固定住所
·领取一张社安卡
·开立一个银行账户
·考个驾照或办张所在州的身份证
We'll talk about just how to do all
this in the upcoming chapters.
在后面的章节中，我们将讨论如何才能完成上
述事宜。
Chapter 23 Getting your SSN
第二十三章 获取社安号
As you'll soon discover from the news
and your own experience, social security
is incredibly important in the United
States. Designed to prevent elderly
Americans from living in poverty, it's
one of the main sources of income and
medical insurance for Americans over
theage of 65. It also helps millions of
disabled Americans.
到了美国以后，您很快就会通过新闻或自身经
验了解到：在美国，社会保障有着无比的重要性。
社会保障旨在防止美国的老年人生活贫困，而它也
是美国65岁以上老人收入和医疗保险的主要来源之
一。同时，它也帮助了美国数以万计的残疾人。
☆ Every legal immigrant who works in the
U.S. must pay Social Security taxes, which are
usually deducted from your paycheck. Check your
paycheck to be sure. If you are paid in cash and
your employer is not with holding taxes from
your wages, you are responsible for paying these
taxes yourself.
☆ 每位在美工作的合法移民都应该缴纳社会保障税，这
笔钱通常会从您的工资支票中扣除。为安全起见，请定期检
查您的工资支票。如果您的老板直接付给您现金，而没有从
您的工资中扣除这笔税款的话，那么您也有责任自己去缴
纳。
All legal residents of the U.S. have
their own identification number, or
Social Security Number. Without this
number, you won't be able to start work,
open a bank account, or buy things on
credit, and you'll find it hard to rent
an apartment, see a doctor, or even get a
library card .
美国所有的合法居民都有自己的身份证号，也
可以叫社安号。没有这个号码，您就不能开始工
作，不能开立银行账户，也不能用信用卡购物。另
外，租房子、看医生，甚至办张借书卡都会很难。
You can get a number from any local
Social Security Administration office.
When filling out the application, make
sure
you
write
down
your
personal
information correctly to avoid future
difficulties. You'll also need to prove
that you are in the U.S. legally. Themain
documents that prove your legal status in
theU.S. are
您可以在当地任何一个社会保障管理办公室获
取您的社安号。为避免日后有麻烦，填写申请表
时，请您务必准确填写个人信息。另外，您还需证
明您在美国的合法性，能够证明您合法身份的主要
证件有：
·U.S. passport
·A certificateof naturalization
·A Green Card or foreign passport
with a USCISstamp with your alien
number(A# xxx-xxx-xxx)
·美国护照
·入籍美国的证明
·绿卡或盖有移民局印章的外国护照（上面
附有您的侨民号A# xxx-xxx-xxx）
A
representative
at
the
Social
Security office will put your data into
Social Security's computer system and ask
you to sign a form. Your signature
indicates
that
the
information
is
correct.
社会保障办公室的工作人员会把您的数据输入
社会保障系统的计算机系统，然后要您签署一张表
格，以确定录入的信息准确无误。
☆ Before signing the form, check and double
check that your name and other information are
right. You need to be careful because all other
government and private agencies compare their
data to Social Security's.
☆ 签署该表格前，请务必再三核查您的姓名和其他信息
是否正确。您必须要慎之又慎，因为所有其他的政府部门和
私人机构都会以社会保障系统的数据为准。
As a rule, about 14 days after you
apply, you should receive your Social
Security card with your nine-digit SSN
(xxx-xx-xxxx) and your full name, in the
mail.
按照惯例，大约在提交申请14天后，您就能通
过邮件收到社安卡了，上面会有您的全名和九位数
的社安号（xxx-xxx-xxx）。
☆ If
you
notice
that
your
name
is
misspelled, note the error and send the card
back.
☆ 如果您发现社安卡上面的名字拼写有误，请指出错误
并将卡片寄回。
If you see the words“Not Valid for
Employment”on your card, this means you
are not allowed to work. If you don't see
it on your card, you have permission to
work.
如果您的社安卡上有“务工无效”的字样，说
明您不能在美国工作。如果您没有发现这些字样，
就说明您已经获得工作许可了。
☆ If you lose your card, don't panic.
Contact your local Social Security office and
ask for a replacement card, which is free.
☆ 如果您的社安卡丢了，请不要惊慌。联系当地社会保
障管理办公室，补办一张新卡即可。一般来说，补办新卡是
免费的。
Once you have your number, be sure to
enter your SSN correctly when filling out
important documents. This will save you
lots of time and trouble in the future.
一旦您获得社安号，在办理重要证件时，请务
必输入正确的社安号。一旦出错，您以后会有很多
麻烦，也会浪费您很多时间。
☆ You can find the address of your local
Social Security office by calling 1-800-772-1213
or at www.socialsecurity.gov.
☆
拨打1-800-772-1213或登录
www.socialsecurity.gov，您就可以找到当地社会保障管
理办公室的地址。
Identity theft occurs when someone
obtains credit cards or opens bank
accounts pretending to be you. This is a
growing problem in the U.S. To protect
yourself from identity theft or from
someone misusing your SSN or bank account
number
有人会冒用您的身份办理信用卡或开立银行账
户，这个问题在美国越来越多。为了保护您自身的
利益，防止别人盗用您的身份、冒用您的社安号或
银行账号，您要注意几下几点：
·Never give out your personal
information, especially your SSN,
unless it's absolutely necessary (i.e.,
at your bank)
·Don't carry your Social Security
Card in your wallet or purse
·Carry only the credit cards you
need and your picture ID like a driver
license or a student ID with you
·不要轻易泄露自己的个人信息，特别是社
安号，除非在绝对必要的情形下。（如在银行办
理业务时）
·不要把社安卡放在皮夹或者手提包里
·出门仅携带所需的信用卡及附有照片的身
份证件，如驾照或学生证
☆ You can get additional information about
identity theft and what to do about it from the
Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-438-4338 or
www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
☆ 关于身份盗用及如何处理的详细信息，您可以通过拨
打1-877-438-4338或登www.consumer.gov/idtheft咨询
联邦贸易委员会。
Chapter 24 Getting your driver's
license
第二十四章 考取驾照
Your driver's license is one of the
most
important
forms
of
identification(ID)
in
the
United
States.Many peoplewho don't driveoften
get a license anyway to prove that they
live in a particular state. And of
course, you can't legally drivea car
without a license.
在美国，驾驶执照是一个人最重要的身份证明
之一。很多人尽管不开车，但他们通常也会考个驾
照，为的就是用它证明自己真的住在某个州。当
然，如果没有驾照，您开车也是违法的。
As you discovered back in Chapter 10,
you can rent a car for a short while with
either a U.S. or international driver's
license. If you want to rent for longer,
however, you'll need a local license or
temporary permit (see below). Note that
traffic laws vary slightly state to
state. Every state has a set procedure
for issuing licenses and special rules
for certain groups of people. You can get
a free booklet (guidebook) with detailed
information on how to get your license
and on traffic laws in your state by
contacting your local office of motor
vehicles. These offices have different
names in different states, such as
看过第十章您已经知道，只要您持有美国驾照
或者国际驾照，就可以短期租借一辆车。但若想长
期租借，您就需要有一个本地驾照或者一份临时许
可证（见下文）。需要注意的是，各个州的交通法
规会稍有不同，每个州都会有一套签发驾照的程序
以及针对特定群体的特殊规定。你可以联系当地的
机动车管理处，然后要一本免费的小册子（指
南），上面会详细地告诉您如何在您所在的州考取
驾照。并通过交规考试。这些管理处在不同的州往
往有不同的名称，例如：
·Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
·Department of Transportation
·Department of Public Safety
·Motor VehicleAdministration
·机动车管理处（DMV）
·交通部
·公共安全部
·机动车管理局
You can find the address and phone
number of your local office in the blue
pages
of
the
phone
book
and
at
www.firstgov.gov/topics/motor_vehicles.sht
您可以查找电话簿蓝页或者登录
www.firstgov.gov/topics/motor_vehicles.sht
从中，您能找到您所在地和机动车管理处的地址和
电话号码。
There are several steps to getting
your license:
以下是考取驾照的若干步骤：
·Filling out an application in
English (you will need to show your ID)
·Paying for your driving test
·Taking a vision test
·Receiving a card with the date and
time of your written test. The
guidebook has all of the information
needed for the written test.
·Taking a written multiple choice
test on traffic laws. Multiple choice
means you pick the correct answer from
the several different options you're
given. In many places, foreigners can
takethis test in their native language.
·Receiving a card with the date,
time and location of your practical
driving test. This is sometimes called
a road test.
·Passing your practical driving
test. Note that this test involves
driving around a real neighborhood, not
a special course. During the test, the
evaluator will observe how well you
drive under real conditions.
·Receiving your temporary driver
permit (in some states)
·Receiving your driver's license
·用英文填写申请书（需要出示您的身份证
明）
·支付驾照考试的费用
·进行视力测试
·得到一张卡片，上面会有笔试的日期和时
间，而笔试的全部内容都已经包含在那本指南里
了
·参加书面的交通法规选择题测试，选择题
就是从给出的不同选项中选择正确答案。在许多
地方，外国人可以用他们的母语参加考试
·得到一张卡片，上面会写明实际道路驾驶
考试的日期、时间和地点。有时，这项考试也被
称为路考
·通过实际道路驾驶考试。请注意，考这项
时会让您在真正的街区驾驶，而不只是在一条特
设的车道上驾驶。考试中，考官会仔细观察您在
真实路况下的驾驶情况
·得到临时驾驶证（在一些州）
·得到驾驶执照
☆ Actually, you can obtain a“learner's
permit”after passing the written test. However,
this allows you to drive only with certain
restrictions, such as driving with a person who
at or above a specified age such as 25.
☆
实际上，只要通过笔试，您就可以获得“见习驾
照”，但它只允许您在某些限制条件下进行驾驶，例如要有
年龄在25岁或25岁以上的人陪同驾驶。
You can usethefollowing documents as
ID:
您可以使用以下文件作为身份证明：
·A foreign passport with a valid
U.S. visa
·An international student card with
photo
·Your birth certificate with a
notarized translation
·A Green Card
·A U.S. passport
·A certificateof naturalization
·带有有效美国签证的外国护照
·带有照片的国际学生证
·经过公证的翻译版出生证明
·绿卡
·美国护照
·入籍美国的证明
☆ It's a good idea to study your guidebook
in English, as the examiner during your driving
test, as well as most traffic police, will ask
you questions in English.
☆ 最好阅读英语版的指南，因为不管是驾驶考试中的考
官还是大多数交警，他们都会用英语问您一些问题。
All this may seem complicated, but
don't worry. Everyone gets their license
eventually. Here are some tips to help
you cruise through:
这一切看起来似乎很复杂，但不必焦虑，因为
每个人到最后都能考到驾照。以下是一些能帮您顺
利通关的小贴士：
·Fill out your application
carefully
·Check your personal information on
the computer form filled out by DMV
employees because mistakes can also
lead to delays in getting your license
·Never use cheat sheets or notes
while taking your written test because
you won't be allowed to finish if
caught.
·认真填写申请书
·等机动车管理处的工作人员把您的个人信
息录入计算机里的表格以后，您自己应该核对一
遍。如果万一出错，有可能导致您不能及时领到
驾照
·参加笔试时，切勿夹带小抄。因为一旦被
发现作弊，您会被逐出考场
☆In general, Americans frown on cheat sheets
or using notes while taking a written test.
☆
一般来说，美国人都很看不惯在笔试中打小抄的行
为。
·Before taking your practical
driving test, practice driving on a
variety of roads, as well as near your
test location (the neighborhood around
the local DMV office). Note that you
must have a learner's permit first and
you cannot practice alone. There are
restrictions that you must follow.
·Before your practical driving
test, make sure your headlights,
windshield wipers, etc.( there is a
list in the guidebook) are in good
working order. You'll have to operate
them as part of your practical driving
test.
·Use the same car for practicing
and taking your practical driving test.
You can use a car from your relative,
friend or driving school.
·When taking your practical driving
test, make sure to check carefully
before moving into the left lane.
First, check your rearview mirror. Then
look at your left side-view mirror.
Finally, turn your head to the left to
seewhether anyone is in your blind
spot.
·When taking your practical driving
test in a car with an automatic
transmission, use only your right foot
for both the gas and brake pedals.
·参加路考前，一定要在各种不同的道路上
进行练习，当然也要去测试地点（地方机动车管
理办公室周边）练练。请注意，您必须要有“见
习驾照”才能上路练习，而且不能一个人单独练
习。您必须遵守这些限制性规定
·参加路考前，请确保车的头灯、挡风玻璃
的刮水器等（指南中列有清单）性能良好。您要
把它们当作路考的一部分来对待
·请在日常练习和参加路考时都使用同一辆
车。这辆车可以是您的亲朋好友的，也可以是驾
校的
·参加路考时，在把车开上左车道前，请务
必仔细检查一下车况。首先，检查后视镜；然
后，检查左边的侧视镜；最后，向您的左边看看
是否有人在您的盲区内
·路考时，如果车辆有自动变速器，那么请
只用右脚控制油门和刹车
·路考时，要认真听从考官的指示，不要辩
解或找借口。
·以低于限速的速度行驶，但也不要行驶得
过慢或在右转弯前停车。
☆ You can retake both the written and
driving exams if you fail them Remember that you
do have to pass the written exam first before
you attempt to take the driving exam.
☆ 如果笔试或路考没有通过，您都可以重考。请记住，
您必须先通过笔试才能参加路考。
Quite often local offices of motor
vehicles can offer you to register to
vote if you are an American citizen. And
anyone can sign up there to be an organ
donor. Your agreement to become an organ
donor in the event of death will be noted
on your license such aswith a sticker.
如果您是美国公民，那么本地的机动车管理办
公室会主动请您注册支持器官捐赠。任何人都可以
报名成为一名器官捐献者。如果您同意当发生事故
导致死亡后捐献器官，他们会在您的驾照上注明这
一点，如在上面粘贴一个标签。
Samantha had a terrible time trying to get
her license. She had to wait for more than two
years after she successfully passed her driving
test. The problem? Her personal information at
the DMV did not match Social Security's. When
she got the DMV's rejection letter telling her
this, she went to the local Social Security
office and checked her personal data. She had
the office send a letter notifying the DMV that
there were no mistakes in Social Security's
data. However, for the next 3 or 4 months,
Samantha would regularly receive rejection
letters from the DMV and would have to repeat
the process over and over.
萨曼莎领取驾照的经历十分糟糕。成功通过路考之后，
她足足等了两年多才拿到驾照。问题出在哪儿呢？她在机动
车管理处的个人信息与社会保障部的存档资料不符。当她收
到机动车管理处的拒绝信并得知此事后，她就去当地的社会
保障办公室核对了个人资料。然后，她让社保办公室给机动
车管理处发一封信，告诉他们社会保障系统的数据准确无
误。可是，在接下来的三四个月里，萨曼莎会定期收到机动
车管理处的拒绝信，然后她就不得不一遍遍地重复这个过
程。
After two years, Samantha lost all patience
and all hope of ever seeing her face on a
driver's license. She sent an official inquiry
to the main office of her state's DMV. It took
less than a week to get to the bottom of the
problem. Social Security and the DMV couldn't
agree on the young woman's gender. Instead of
“F”for female, the DMV had “M”for male.
Samantha hadn't noticed the mistake when she
looked over what the DMV employee had entered
into the computer. That was why she waited years
to get her license.
两年后，萨曼莎失去了所有的耐心。她不再像从前那样
期盼着拿到自己的驾照了。她给她所在州的机动车管理处的
主要部门发了一份正式的咨询函。结果用了不到一周的时间
就找到了问题的根源：原来是社会保障部和机动车管理处对
这位年轻妇女的性别没有达成一致。机动车管理处的资料上
填写的性别是M（男性），而不是F（女性）。原来，当年萨
曼莎在检查由机动车管理处的工作人员输入计算机的个人信
息时，没有注意到这个错误。这就是为什么她苦等了若干年
才拿到驾照的原因。
Thankfully, few of us have to go
through what Samantha did. Most likely,
before you know it, you'll see your
smiling face in the photo on your brand
new license. On it, you'll also find
值得庆幸的是，像萨曼莎这样倒霉的人并不
多。最有可能的是，您还没有回过神来，就已经收
到了崭新的驾照，上面是您笑容满面的照片。在驾
照上，您还会看到：
·Your first and last name
·Your permanent address
·Your birthday
·Your gender (male/female)
·Your hair and eye color
·Your height and weight
·Your license's expiration date
·您的姓名
·您的永久地址
·您的生日
·您的性别（男/女）
·您头发和眼睛的颜色
·您的身高和体重
·您驾照的有效期
Right before your license expires, you
should contact your local DMV office and
get it renewed. To do so requires
在驾照到期前，您应该与本地的机动车管理办
公室联系，以更新您的驾照。更新驾照时需要：
·Filling out an application to
haveyour license renewed. You'll have
to show your current license and
another ID
·Taking a vision test
·Passing another written
multiplechoice test on traffic laws
·填写驾照更新申请单，同时出示当前的驾
照和其他身份证明
·进行视力测试
·再通过另一个书面的交通法规选择题测试
If you move within the same state, you
can get an official sticker to put on
your license that shows your new address.
Just ask at the DMV.
如果您只在一个州内开车，那么当您换了住处
以后，您只要去机动车管理处让工作人员在您的驾
照上贴一个显示新地址的官方标签就好了。
Good luck on the road!
祝您一路顺风！
Chapter 25 Looking for work
第二十五章 求职
If you didn't come to U.S. because of
a job offer or to study, looking for work
will be your main occupation. Though
unemployment in the U.S. is lower than in
most European countries, millions of
Americans lose their jobs each year. This
means finding a job can be tough, and you
may
feel
you
are
at
a
distinct
disadvantage as someone new to the
country. But don't give up! There are
plenty of employers looking for good
employees. They will consider your skills
and professional qualifications first,
not your origin or immigration status.
如果您来美国既不是因为得到了工作机会，也
不是为了留学，那么您的主要任务就是找一份工
作。尽管美国的失业率低于多数的欧洲国家，但每
年还是有数百万的美国人失业。也就是说，找工作
会很艰难。同时，作为刚来这个国家的人，您可能
会感到自己明显处于劣势。不过请不要放弃！因为
有很多老板都在寻找好雇员，他们通常会首先考虑
您的技能和职业资格，而不是您来自哪个国家或是
拥有什么样的移民身份。
Before looking for a job, you need to
know the following:
在找工作之前，您需要知道以下几点：
·What work you are willing and able
to do (unskilled labor, skilled work,
or work demanding professional degrees
and in some cases licenses)
·How far you arewilling to travel
to work
·Howmuch you are able to work.
Youmay wish to work full time(around 40
hours a week), part time(less than 40
hours a week) and on a permanent or
temporary basis.
·What hourly wages or monthly
salary you arewilling to work for
·How long you arewilling to search
for a good job
·您想做并能做什么样的工作（是非技术性
的体力劳动、技术性的工作，还是需要专业学位
甚至行业执照的工作）
·您愿意到离住处多远的地方上班
·您能工作多长时间。您可能想做全职(一周
工作40个小时左右），也可能想做兼职(一周工
作不到40个小时)；您可能想找份长期的工作，
也可能只想做个临时工
·您预期的时薪或月薪又是多少
·您愿意花多长的时间找一份好工作
Unskilled jobs, such as those in
sales, janitorial work, child care, day
labor or delivery work are easy to find
in
most
parts
of
the
U.S.
Many
immigrants, college students and older
teenagers, as well as some new mothers,
start off in this kind of generally low
paying job. More skilled professions tile layers, truck drivers and certain
types
of
assemblers
require
conversational English in addition to
professional skills.
非技术性的工作，如销售、看门、儿童保育、
打零工或是派送等，在美国的大部分地区还是很容
易找到的。很多移民、大学生、二十来岁的少年以
及一些刚生完孩子的母亲，一开始都是从这种一般
来说收入较低的工作做起的。技术含量相对更高的
职业，如砖瓦铺设员、卡车司机，还有特定类型的
装配工，除了要求应聘者具备专业技能以外，还要
求能用英语会话。
To work as a contractor, electrician,
nurse, engineer or pilot, you'll need a
professional degree or license. Other
professions, such as hairdressers, cooks
and
pharmacists,
requirespecial
certificates or licenses too.
要是想做承包商、电工、护士、工程师或者飞
行员，您需要具备专业学位或是行业执照。其他的
职业，比如理发师、厨师、药剂师，也需要专门的
证书或执照。
☆ Not every foreign professional license or
certificate is valid in the U.S., and a license
issued in one state may not be valid in another.
☆
外国的专业学位或执照在美国并不是都有效的，另
外，一个州发放的许可证在另一个州可能就不适用了。
With all the complicated licenses and
requirements, you may not be ready to
look for work in your field right away.
You might first need to brush up on your
English
or
get
some
additional
professional training. While doing so,
you may want to look for some temporary
unskilled work. You can obtain more
information about various professions and
professional
requirements
in
the
Occupational Outlook Handbook issued by
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This
handbook can be found at public libraries
or onlineat www.stats.bls.gov.
由于上述种种复杂的许可证和求职要求，您可
能一时还做不到马上就能找份对口的工作。也许您
需要先强化一下英语水平，或者参加一些其他的专
业培训。与此同时，您可能想找一些临时的、非技
术性的工作。要想获得更多有关各种职业及其要求
的信息，您可以查阅由美国劳动统计局出版的《职
业展望手册》。这本册子既可以在公共图书馆找
到，也可以在网站www.stats.bls.gov上找到。
Your commute - how long it takes you
to get to and from work - will be an
important deciding factor in your job
search if you
您的通勤时间---您上下班时在路上花费的时
间---将是您在求职时一个重要的决定性因素，如
果您
·Don't havea car
·Have children or relatives at home
who require supervision or care
·Attend classes at a school or
college
·Have more than one job
·没有车
·家里有孩子或亲人需要看管或照料
·参加了培训班或者选修了大学课程
·同时有好几份工作
☆ When you consider a job offer, make sure
the wages will cover the costs and expenses of
your commute.
☆ 当您考虑某个工作机会时，一定要确保所得工资包含
了通勤费这一项。
Employers don't offer every candidate
for
an
open
position
a
full-time
permanent job from the beginning. Most
employers will offer you a temporary job
for only a few days a week or probation
period which is usually about 3 months to
avoid giving you benefits and paying for
your insurance as stated in their company
policy, as well as to avoid having any
additional obligation to you.
通常，老板不会从一开始就给每个应征者一份
长期的全职工作。大多数老板会先给您一份临时的
工作，试着让您每周过来做几天，或者给您设定一
个试用期（通常是三个月），这样公司就不必如其
在制度中所承诺的那样，既要给您提供一定的津
贴，又要帮您交保险，还要为您承担其他的义务
了。
If you agree to work for a certain
number of hours, you need to be sure that
the salary offered corresponds to the
average
wages
for
that
particular
profession.
For
detailed
information
about wages, you can look online at the
Bureau
of
Labor
Statistics'
site
(www.stats.bls.gov).
如果您同意工作一定的小时数，那么就需要确
保此项工作的报酬和该行业的平均工资基本一致。
要想了解更多有关薪酬的详情，您可以登录劳动统
计局的网站(www.stats.bls.gov )。
Sometimes, it can take quite a while
to
find
a
decent
job.
Don't
get
discouraged. The search for your dream
job may take months or even years.
Americans who have less than ideal jobs
are constantly on the lookout for better
work. They know that temporary work will
look better on their resume than being
unemployed. As a new immigrant, you have
a choice: either you can study English
and get a professional education, or you
can start working right away. Whatever
you choose, you'll be doing something
that will look good on your resume in the
future.
有时候，找一份体面的工作要花费相当长的时
间。但不要灰心，因为找一份梦寐以求的工作可能
会要花上几个月、甚至几年的时间。那些对自己的
工作不太满意的美国人一直都在不停地寻找更好的
工作机会。他们知道，在简历上填一份临时工的工
作经历也总比填失业要好。作为一个新移民，您既
可以选择学习英语、接受职业教育，也可以选择马
上工作。不管您选择做什么，都能给您未来的简历
增色。
☆ Try to avoid long gaps in your work
history, as employers pay particularly close
attention to them.
☆
尽量让自己的工作履历中不要有太长时间的待业状
态，因为雇主对应聘者的工作经历尤其看重。
When looking for a job, pursue every
possible avenue at the same time:
找工作的时候，要同时寻求所有可能的途径：
·Ask relatives, friends and
acquaintances if they know of any work
·Look for “help wanted” ads in
the newspaper or “help wanted” signs
at local businesses
·Apply at a local employment agency
·Ask local non-profit or charity
organizations for help finding a job
·Look on the Internet
·Visit potential employers and ask
about openings
·问问亲朋好友及其他熟人，看他们知不知
道有什么工作机会
·寻找报纸上的招聘广告，或是当地企业的
招聘启事
·向当地的职业介绍所提出申请
·向当地的非盈利性机构或慈善机构寻求求
职帮助
·上网查询
·拜访潜在的雇主，询问有关空缺职位的信
息
Tell everyone you talk to that you are
looking for a certain kind of job,
whether this person is a relative or a
casual acquaintance. All of them will
have
their
circle
of
friends
and
contacts. If it works out, they may
introduce you to a friend who is looking
for people to fill a particular opening.
The more people who know about your job
search, the more likely you are to get a
job offer.
把您正在找工作的消息告诉所有跟您聊天的
人，不管那人是您的亲戚，还是一般的朋友，因为
所有这些人都会有自己的朋友圈和交际圈。如果这
招起作用了，他们可能会把您介绍给正在招聘雇员
的朋友。有越多的人知道您在找工作，您得到工作
机会的可能性就越大。
☆ Don't be shy. Get out there and tell the
world that you are a skilled professional and a
dedicated worker.
☆ 不要不好意思。出去告诉所有的人，您不仅是一个专
业能手，而且工作起来很专注。
When you look through newspapers and
magazines
for
jobs,
look
in
the
classifieds
section
under
Career,
Employment or Help Wanted. This is where
ads for job openings are printed. The
largest number of employment-related ads
appears in the Sunday papers.
通过浏览报刊寻找工作机会时，要看如下几个
分类广告专栏：“Career”（职业资讯）、“
Employment
”（就业信息）、或者“Help
Wanted”（招工广告）等。这些栏目面都是招聘广
告。一般说来，周日的报纸上那些与就业相关的广
告最多。
An ad's size does not reflect the size
of the company who placed the ad. This is
why it makes sense to take a close look
at all the ads, regardless of their size
or where they appear in the paper. If an
ad catches your eye, call the employer
immediately
and
find
out
whatever
information you'd like to know like how
many hours a week you should work,
whether it is a day or night job and
where the job is located. Do not
seriously consider offers that promise
big money for people without experience
or from anyone who offers you a business
opportunity that requires you to pay them
money first. These ads and offers are
most often used by shady characters to
defraud people of their money.
广告篇幅的大小并不等于招聘公司规模的大
小。因此，不论广告居于哪个版面，有多大篇幅，
都要仔细地查看才行。如果您看中了某个广告，请
马上给雇主打电话，然后向其打听任何您想知道的
信息，比如：一周要工作多少时间，是白班还是夜
班，以及上班地点在哪儿等等。如果对方承诺给没
有工作经验的人很高的工资，或者给您提供商业合
作的机会但要求您先付他们钱的话，那就不要把这
些机会当回事了，因为这些广告和工作机会往往是
不法分子用来诈骗钱财的惯用伎俩。
☆ Even if you already have a job, look
regularly at the help wanted ads because you
might spot some interesting opportunities.
☆ 即使您已经有了一份工作，也可以时常查看一下招聘
广告，说不定什么时候您会发现一些有意思的机会呢。
In addition to ads in the paper, many
large companies post information about
openings on their websites. You can use
the
Internet
to
contact
potential
employers directly without having to go
through an employment agency. These
agencies often charge employers a pretty
penny for their services.
除了在报纸上打广告，很多大公司还会在自己
的网站上刊登招聘信息。您可以通过网络直接和招
聘雇主联系，而不必非去职业介绍所。一般来说，
职介所会向雇主收取不菲的中介费。
For professionals looking for jobs
with salaries of more than $100,000, the
best option is often a “head hunter”,
an agency that helps major companies in
various
industries
find
high-level
executives. For specialists looking for
lower annual salaries, there are a wide
variety of employment services and job
agencies that advertise on television and
in industry journals, in local and
national newspapers, online and in the
phone book. Some federal and state
agencies,
as
well
as
non-profit
organizations, can also help you with
your job search and don't charge fees for
their
services.
Many
for-profit
employment services charge employers and
sometimes
even
workers
for
their
services.
对于想找年薪超过10万美元的工作的专业人
士，通常最好的选择就是光顾“猎头公司”。猎头
公司是一个帮助各行业的大公司寻找高级主管的机
构。对于那些对自己的年薪没那么高要求的专业人
士来说，渠道就要多得多了，因为各式各样的就业
服务和职业介绍所都会在电视、行业期刊、地方性
的报纸、全国性的报纸、网上以及电话簿上打广
告。一些联邦和州立的机构以及非盈利性组织也可
以帮您免费找工作。很多盈利性的职业介绍所会向
雇主，有时甚至还会向求职者收取中介费。
☆ Apply at several employment
simultaneously.
☆ 建议同时在若干家职业介绍所投简历。
agencies
Before you sign a contract with a
company promising to find you a job, read
it carefully and get answers to any
questions you have. Employers almost
always pay a fee to the agency that finds
them employees, and some might ask you to
cover part of this fee. Think twice
before you do this; most reputable
agencies and companies will not charge
you.
在与承诺给您找份工作的公司签合同之前，请
仔细阅读合同条款并问清楚所有您想知道的东西。
职业介绍所要是帮助雇主招到了员工，雇主通常要
向他们支付一定的费用，有些雇主可能还会要求您
来负担一部分中介费。如果发生这种事，您可要三
思而后行，因为大多数信誉好的机构和公司是不会
向您收费的。
☆ If you do agree to pay a fee, never pay an
employment agency before they have found you a
job. Settle accounts only after you have work.
☆ 如果您确实答应要付中介费的话，那么千万不要在职
介所给您找到工作之前就付费，而要等到找到工作之后再结
算。
As a rule, when you're looking for
work that does not require professional
skills or experience, it's faster to go
in person to a potential employer and
apply right then and there. For other
types of work, it's best to call ahead
and make an appointment for an interview.
You should get together any documents
that
demonstrate
your
professional
qualifications before your interview.
通常，如果您想找的工作不需要专业技能或工
作经验的话，那更快的方式还是亲自去一趟要招人
的公司，然后在那里当场应聘。至于其他类型的工
作，最好先打个电话预约一次面试。在面试之前，
您应该整理好所有能证明您工作资历的文件。
Every company or employment agency
will ask you to fill out an employment
application, which usually asks you for
每一家公司或职业介绍所都会让您填一份应聘
申请表，该表通常会要求您填写：
·Your personal information and
address
·Your education
·Your work history
·References from previous
employers, business partners or
personal contacts
·Your medical history
·What job or type of job you are
applying for
·您的个人信息和地址
·您的教育情况
·您的工作履历
·您以前的雇主、合伙人或熟人的介绍信
·您的个人病史
·您想要申请什么类型的工作
Some
applications
also
include
questions specific to the company that
help determine whether you are fit for
the job.
一些申请表还会包含一些与公司有关的问题，
以帮助您确定您是否适合这份工作。
☆ Print your answers on the application
clearly and in English.Make sure that you check
your spelling and grammar carefully.
☆ 用英语在申请表上写清楚您的答案，并且一定要仔细
地核查拼写和语法。
If you are applying for a job that
requires
experience
or
professional
qualifications, you need to prepare a
resume for your potential employer. Note
that the American style of resume might
be very different from what immigrants
used in their home countries (order,
types of information included). In your
resume, you should describe very briefly
your education, work experience and any
professional skills relevant to the
position that you have. Depending on the
job, you may want to emphasize
如果您申请的是需要工作经验或专业技能的工
作，那么您需要给招聘的单位准备一份简历。注
意，美式简历的写法可能与您本国的简历写法有着
很大差异（包括顺序和应包含的信息类型等）。在
您的简历中，应该非常简要地描述一下您的受教育
情况、工作经历，以及您拥有的任何与职位相关的
职业技能。根据不同的工作类型，您可能想强调：
·Your years of experience in this
particular field
·The multifaceted knowledge and
professional skills you've gained from
your education or past work experience
·What you've achieved in this
particular field
·您在这个特定领域中多年的工作经验
·您从以往的教育或工作经历中所获得的多
方面的知识和专业能力
·您在这个特定的领域取得了哪些成绩
☆ Try to express what makes you a special
and unique person in your resume.
☆ 要尽量在简历中说明您有哪些与众不同的特点。
Don't waste time and money sending a
general resume to dozens of companies.
Put together a new resume for every
interview and highlight what is most
likely
to
interest
each
potential
employer. To write an effective and eyecatching resume, carefully examine the
job
announcement
and
the
company's
website
for
clues
about
what
qualifications
they
are
especially
looking for. Remember that not every
company needs someone who has won an
international award or who speaks five
languages. However, they might need
exactly what you have to offer.
不要向几十个公司投同一份简历，因为这既费
时又费钱。建议为每一次面试都准备一份新的简
历，并且突出强调各个招聘者可能会最感兴趣的部
分。要想写一份夺人眼球且让人印象深刻的简历，
就要仔细研究招聘信息和招聘公司的网站，以了解
招聘公司最需要什么样的人。请记住，不是每个公
司都需要那些获过国际奖项或者能说五种语言的
人。不过，也许这些公司就需要您所具备的素质。
When sending off your resume, don't
forget to include a cover letter, in
which you introduce yourself. The goal of
the cover letter is to get the potential
employers interested in you personally.
投寄简历时，不要忘记附上一封求职信。写求
职信的目的是为了让未来的老板对您这个人感兴
趣。
You can find guides for putting
together a good resume and cover letter
in books on job hunting at your local
library or online by typing the terms
“resume” or “cover letter” into your
favorite search engine.
关于如何才能写出好的简历和求职信的问题，
您可以去当地图书馆找关于求职的书籍来看，也可
以在您最喜欢用的搜索引擎上键入“resume（简
历）”或“cover
letter（附信）”来查找相关
信息。
☆ You can also find a lot of helpful
information from the U.S. Labor Department's
site, www.dol.gov
☆ 您还可以在美国劳工部的网站（www.dol.gov）上找
到很多有帮助的信息。
You might send out many resumes before
getting a positive response from a
potential employer. Don't give up. You'll
get your chance and eventually get an
interview. Once you're called in for a
job interview, prepare for it very
carefully. You'll need to bring:
您可能得在发出很多份简历以后才能从未来的
雇主那里得到一个正面的答复。不要放弃，最终您
总会得到面试机会的。一旦有人通知您参加面试，
一定要非常认真地进行准备。您可能需要带上：
·A form of ID (a foreign passport
with a stamp permitting you to work,
U.S. driver's license, Green Card, U.S.
passport, naturalization certificate,
or a non-driving state ID)
·Your Social Security Card
·Diplomas and university
transcripts (the originals along with
notarized translations of anything not
in English)
·Any certifications or licenses
you've gotten in the U.S.
·A detailed work history
·A copy of your completed
employment application, your cover
letter, and your resume
·A list of questions about your
potential job and employer
·A list of personal and
professional references (This can be
anyone, from former bosses to close
colleagues, who are not relatives)
·某种形式的身份证明（允许在美务工的外
国护照、美国驾照、绿卡、美国护照、入籍证
明，或者非驾照的州身份证）
·您的社安卡
·文凭和大学成绩单（原件及经过公证的非
英文部分的翻译件）
·您在美国获得的所有证书和许可证
·详细的工作经历介绍
·完整的求职申请、求职信以及简历各一份
·您对这份工作和这位雇主想问的一系列问
题
·您的私人推荐人和职业推荐人的名单（可
以是前任老板或要好的同事，只要不是亲属均
可）
☆ When you leave a job, get a letter of
reference from your boss. Many companies ask for
detailed information about previous employment
during interviews. You should let the people on
your reference list know that they may be
contacted by potential employers.You may want to
send your referrals an updated resume as well so
that they can thoroughly answer questions about
you.
☆ 离职前，要从老板那里拿到一封介绍信，因为很多公
司会在面试中询问有关您上一份工作的具体情况。您应该告
诉您的推荐人，可能您的潜在顾主会和他们联系。您可能需
要把最新的简历也寄给他们一份，这样他们才能全面地回答
关于您的问题。
If your interview goes well, you'll
probably receive a job offer several days
later.
This offer will include a detailed
description of your salary, benefits and
vacation time.
If you need to compare the offer to
what other people in the same field are
making
in
your
city,
go
to
www.roberthalffinance.com/salarycenter.
如果您面试顺利的话，几天后，您可能就会收
到一份工作邀请函。这份信函中会详细地说明您的
薪金、津贴和假期。如果您想与在同一城市从事同
一领域的人们比较一下待遇的话，可以登录网站
www.roberthalffinance.com/salarycenter。
Many Americans believe that if you're
poor, it is because you're just lazy and
that hard work will always lead to
rewards, success and personal happiness.
This
belief
is
reflected
in
the
relationship
between
employees
and
employers. The earlier you start building
your resume and the more dedicated your
efforts to look for a good job, and the
harder you work at your job, the more
likely you are to achieve the status you
deserve because employers will react
positively
to
your
commitment
and
dedication.
很多美国人认为：一个人贫穷是因为他懒惰，
而努力工作总会得到回报、成功和个人幸福。这种
信念也在劳资关系中反映了出来。您越早地开始筹
划简历，越专注地寻找一份好工作，您越努力地工
作，您就越有可能获得您应得的地位，因为老板们
会积极地回馈您的投入和奉献。
Recent
graduates
from
good
universities and professional schools
will often find job hunting substantially
easier than everyone else. Human resource
representatives at various companies have
strong contacts at many universities.
These talent scouts look for the best and
brightest
students
and
make
them
attractive job offers after graduation.
Employers will often fight over topquality graduates on the job market.
最近，名牌大学和专业院校的毕业生通常在找
工作的时候会比其他人找工作简单很多。各类公司
的人力资源代表都与很多大学有着密切的接触。这
些人才的挖掘者会寻找最优秀、最聪明的学生，然
后在他们毕业后向他们发出待遇丰厚的工作邀请。
通常，老板们会在就业市场上争夺那些出类拔萃的
毕业生。
☆ The U.S. has strict laws against hiring
discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age or
gender. If you believe you were refused a job
due to a mental or physical disability or
because of your age, gender or ethnicity, you
can get help from the U.S..Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission at 1-800-669-4000 (1-800669-6820 for the hearing impaired) or at www.
eeoc.gov.
☆ 美国的法律严格禁止在招聘活动中有种族、民族、年
龄或性别方面的歧视。如果您觉得自己因为身体或精神方面
的缺陷，或者因为年龄、性别、民族而被招聘单位拒绝的
话，您可以向美国平等就业机会委员会寻求帮助。该机构的
电话是1-800-669-4000 (听力有障碍的人员可拨打1-800669-6820 )，网站是www.eeoc.gov。
Finally, for foreign students, there
are
programs
offering
them
the
opportunity to work temporarily in the
U.S. Some travel agencies, for example,
organize summer work internships in the
U.S. for students as part of the Work &
Travel program. For more information
about work programs, go to the Internet
and type the term “work and travel”
into your favorite search engine. Also,
foreign students can sometimes legally
work on their campuses.
最后，在美国还有为外国学生提供的临时就业
机会。比如，一些旅行社会为学生组织在美国的暑
期工作实习，以此作为“工作加旅游”项目的一部
分。要了解更多有关工作方面的信息，请上网在您
最喜欢用的搜索引擎上键入关键词“work
and
travel（工作加旅游）”即可。有时，外国学生还
可以在校园里获得合法的工作。
Chapter 26 Renting an apartment
第二十六章 租房
You can rent just about any type of
dwelling in the United States: houses,
rooms in houses, apartments and even
single rooms in apartments. You may even
see the occasional ad for a log cabin or
house boat for rent. Singles and couples
without children generally prefer to rent
apartments while families with children
try to live in detached houses with yards
if they can afford to do so. Apartment
buildings
are
often
next
door
to
privately owned single family houses.
When choosing an apartment or room, the
main criteria are
在美国，您可以租用各种类型的住宅：独栋小
楼、独栋小楼里的单间、公寓或公寓里的单间。偶
尔，甚至您还有机会看到出租圆木小屋或船屋的广
告。单身人士和无子女的夫妇通常更喜欢租住公
寓，而有子女的家庭，如果经济条件准许的话，会
选择居住在有庭院的独栋小楼里。公寓大楼通常会
挨着私人的独栋家庭别墅。选择公寓或房间的标准
如下：
·How much it costs
·How long you plan to stay
·How big the place is and whether
there are enough rooms for every member
of your household
·Where the apartment is located
·Whether it is near public
transportation
·Your potential neighbors
·How close it is to stores, cafes,
libraries, hair salons, dry cleaners,
etc.
·How close it is to schools or day
care centers if you have children
·How close it is to a college or
university, gym or swimming pool, if
that matters to you
·How far away your friends or
relatives live. This can be very
important in certain situations.
·租金
·租期
·空间的大小，是否有足够的房间供您的家
人居住
·公寓的地理位置
·附近的公共交通是否方便
·未来的邻居如何
·距离商店、咖啡厅、图书馆、理发厅和干
洗店等有多远
·如果您有孩子的话，还要考虑到学校或日
托中心的距离
·距离学院或大学、健身房或游泳池有多
远，如果这些地方与您的生活密切相关的话
·距离您朋友或亲戚的住所有多远，在某些
情形下这一点是非常重要的
On average nationwide, Americans spend
around 22% of their monthly income on
housing,
parking
and
utilities-their
electricity, gas, water, and phone bills.
As a rule, low-income families spend a
greater percentage of their income to pay
all these bills than do families with
higher incomes.
在美国，平均每个人把月收入的22%花在住房、
停车、电、气、水以及电话费上。通常来说，低收
入家庭的这方面的支出在他们收入中所占的比重要
比高收入家庭所占的比重大。
When
you
start
looking
for
an
apartment, figure out how much rent you
will be able pay every month.
当您开始找房子之前，先算一算您一个月可以
支付多少租金。
Commonly, American landlords like to
rent or lease apartments for one year. It
can be much harder to find landlords
willing to rent month-to-month or weekto-week.When you sign a rental agreement,
you agree to stay in the apartment for
the period of the lease. Often you'll be
charged extra fees-such as one month's
rent-if you move before your lease is up.
通常，美国房东都喜欢将房子出租一年，而绝
少有房东愿意按月或按周来出租。当您签订租约
时，就表示您同意在这个租期内租住。如果您提前
搬出，您往往需要交付额外的费用---比如一个月
的租金。
In your home country, people may be
used to sharing rooms and living in small
spaces together. However, in the U.S.,
most renters and landlords want a place
with a separate bedroom for each member
of the family. Thus, if you are a couple
with one child, landlords will insist on
showing you two-bedroom apartments, no
matter how much you beg to see a onebedroom.
在您自己的国家，也许人们早已习惯于好几个
一起共住一个屋子、共同生活在狭小的空间里。然
而，在美国，大多数房客都喜欢让家庭的每个成员
都有一个独立的卧室，而出租人也喜欢这样租。因
此，如果您是一家三口的话，无论您多想看看只有
一个卧室的房子，房东都会坚持向您介绍有两个卧
室的公寓。
In addition to a bedroom most rental
apartments have
除了有一间卧室之外，大部分出租的公寓还
有：
·A kitchen with built-in cabinets,
a refrigerator, a stove and sometimes a
dishwasher
·A living room
·A full bathroom with a bathtub or
a shower
·An additional “half-bath” or
“powder room” with just a toilet and
a sink if the apartment is large
·带有嵌入式橱柜、冰箱和烤炉的厨房，有
时还有洗碗机
·一个客厅
·一个有浴缸或淋浴间的设施齐备的卫生间
·如果房间够大的话，还会附带一个“厕
所”或“化妆间”，里面配有马桶和盥洗台
Depending on the size of the apartment
and the number of people in your
household, the number of bedrooms and
bathrooms will vary. Studio apartments
for singles have only one room with a
kitchen area and no separate bedroom.
根据公寓大小的不同和您家的人数，卧室和卫
生间的数量也会有所不同。单间公寓是专为单身人
士准备的，它里面只有一个房间，没有单独的卧
室，但通常会带有烹饪分区。
In addition to your own private
apartment, you may also have access to
communal spaces such as a laundry room, a
parking garage, a recreational room, a
small gym, a play area, or a swimming
pool.
除了您的私人公寓外，您也许还可以使用它的
公共场所，如洗衣房、车库、娱乐室、小健身房、
游乐区或者游泳池。
These extra amenities vary according
to the size, location, and cost of your
apartment building or complex.
这些额外的福利设施会随着您公寓的大小、位
置以及公寓楼或大厦的总体花销而不尽相同。
To learn more about the neighborhood
you are thinking about living in, take
some time to walk around neighboring
streets in the evening, as well as during
the day. Talk to people out walking their
dogs. You can also call the local police
station for information about crime rates
in the area.
您若想进一步考察一下您打算入住的居民区，
您可以在白天或晚上花些时间去周围的街道走走，
与出来遛狗的人聊上几句。您也可以打电话给当地
派出所问问该地区的犯罪率如何。
☆ Remember that every neighborhood or area
has its own mix of people and services that
determines the price of real estate.
☆ 切记: 每一个居民区或地区都有它自己的人员构成和
服务设施，而正是这些因素决定了房产的价格。
Many
Americans
choose
their
neighborhoods based on its reputation for
safety and for the quality of the local
schools if they have children. The
proximity to their workplaces as well as
local amenities and services are also
important. Singles and couples without
children
are
more
likely
to
seek
neighborhoods that provide a vibrant
social
atmosphere
with
restaurants,
galleries,
and
boutiques.
For
the
wealthy, a prestigious address can also
be a strong draw.
许多美国人会依据某地的治安状况选择居民
区，如果有孩子的话，他们还会依据当地学校的教
育质量来选择。另外，是否临近工作地点、当地的
福利设施和服务系统齐备与否等都是很重要的因
素。单身人士和无子女的夫妇更倾向于选择有活
力、人气旺的社区，那里通常会有许多餐馆、画廊
和精品时装店。对于有钱人来说，一个声名显赫的
地点也会有很大的吸引力。
The demand for quality housing in
attractive areas is high. Tenants often
stay
put
in
safe
and
desirable
neighborhoods, and landlords take names
for waiting lists of potential tenants.
人们对风景怡人的地方的优质房源有很大的需
求量。通常，房客愿意住在安全可靠而且宜人的街
区，而房东会把潜在的客户记录在候租名单上。
In ethnic neighborhoods, where most
residents are immigrants from a single
country,
you
can
sometimes
find
affordable housing though it may often
lack comfort and convenience. That's the
funny thing about these neighborhoods:
While some landlords overcharge their
tenants, many will take kindly to a
fellow countryman and give you a decent
deal. Don't forget, however, that many
landlords in these neighborhoods don't
invest money in upgrading their property.
Most of their tenants are immigrants who
are just starting out in the U.S. and are
happy to live just about anywhere, even
in a run-down apartment.
在民族移民区，大多数居民都是来自同一个国
家的移民，您有时可以在那儿找到便宜的房子，但
这些房子通常住起来不太舒适且不够方便。在这样
的地方会发生有趣的事：有些房东会向房客漫天要
价，而许多房东则还会友善地对待同胞，给房客一
个合适的价钱。但是不要忘记，这些居民区的许多
房东并不会在改善住房条件上进行投资。因为大部
分房客都是刚刚来到美国的移民，所以他们住哪儿
都觉得满足，哪怕是破旧的公寓也行。
If you don't have your own car or if
your family includes children, teenagers
or
older
relatives,
you
should
familiarize
yourself
with
public
transportation routes and schedules and
find out whether there are any stops in
your area.
如果您自己没车，或者您家里有小孩或年长的
亲戚，那么您一定要熟悉公共交通的线路及其时刻
表，并且找一找您所住的地方是否有站点。
When speaking to a potential landlord,
don't forget to ask him or her about the
other tenants in the building and about
specific rules for tenants. Remember
当您和未来的房东谈话时，要问他/她一些关于
楼内其他房客的事情以及对房客的一些特殊要求。
记住：
·Older people often need quiet for
most of the day
·Kids can make lots of noise
·Americans are diverse and live
diverse lifestyles. Some people like to
have guests or relatives over on a
regular basis, which can cause problems
if parking at the building is limited.
·Apartment owner may have rules
about overnight visitors, especially
for long term stays
·一般老人一天中的大部分时间都需要安静
·小孩会很吵闹
·美国人是多种多样的，他们的生活方式也
是形形色色的。一些人经常喜欢邀请客人或亲戚
来家里做客，要是楼内的停车位有限的话就容易
引起矛盾了
·公寓的主人可能对留宿的来访者有一定的
规定，尤其对要长住的来访者
Finally,
if
there
are
stores,
restaurants, libraries, movie theaters,
cleaners and Laundromats nearby, you'll
save yourself a lot of time and trouble
running errands and taking care of your
everyday needs.
最后，如果附近有商店、餐馆、图书馆、电影
院、洗衣店和自助洗衣店的话，那将为您节约很多
时间，也为您免去为了生活每日所需而到处奔波之
苦。
Now that you've found out what kind of
apartment
you
need
in
a
specific
neighborhood, start looking for a place
by exploring several avenues at once:
既然您已经知道在具体的邻里环境中要租什么
样的公寓了，那就开始找房子吧！建议您“多管齐
下”：
·Gather information about available
apartments in the neighborhood you've
chosen by walking around and looking
for “For Rent” or “Apartment
Available” signs on buildings
·Check bulletin boards in public
places such as libraries or grocery
stores for flyers advertising
apartments for rent. Also, try the
Internet.
·Get a local paper and check the
“For Rent,” “Rentals” or “Real
Estate for Rent” sections in your
local daily or Sunday paper, as well as
papers for the immigrant community. You
may also want to look at “Roommate
Wanted” ads
·Get in touch with a property
management company or a real estate
agent who deals with rentals.
·在您所选地区搜集出租房屋的信息，您可
以去那里四处走走，看看房子上有没有写
有“For Rent（出租）”或“Apartment
Available（有房出租）”的广告招贴
·查看公共场所的广告板，如图书馆、便利
店等，看看上面有没有贴出租公寓的广告传单。
同时，也可以试试上网查找
·买一份当地的日报或星期天报，查看上面
的“For Rent（出租）”、“Rentals（租房）
或“Real Estate for Rent（房产出租）版
块。或者是看看移民社区的报纸也可以。另外，
您也可以看看“Roommate Wanted（寻合租室
友）”的广告
·联系物业公司或经营出租项目的房产代理
商
☆ Before signing an agreement with an agent,
find out who will pay the agent's fees, you or
the landlord.
☆ 与中介签订合同之前，要明确中介费用由谁支付，是
您还是房东。
·Ask your coworkers, relatives and
friends whether they know of any
apartments for rent
·问一下您的同事、亲戚和朋友，看看他们
是否知道任何正在出租的公寓
No landlord has the right to refuse to
rent to you because of:
房东无权因以下原因而拒绝把房子租给您：
·Your ethnicity or race
·Your religion
·Your gender
·Your disabilities
·Your marital status
·Your children
·Your country of origin
·您的民族或种族
·您的宗教信仰
·您的性别
·您身体的残疾
·您的婚姻状况
·您有孩子
·您来自哪国
If you feel a landlord has refused to
rent to you for one of these reasons,
contact
the
local
office
of
the
Department
of
Consumer
Affairs
for
Landlord-Tenant Relations, as well as the
Department
of
Housing
and
Urban
Development (HUD) at 1-800-669-9777.
如果您感觉房东是因为上述原因之一而拒绝租
房给您的话，可以拨打电话1-800-669-9777，联
系本地的消费者事务局办公室，然后找“房东与房
客关系部”，或者找住房和城市发展部（简称
HUD）。
A landlord can reasonably refuse to
rent to you if you have
如果您有下列情况，房东可以合理地拒绝向您
出租房屋：
·Pets
·Too many people in each room-(Some
landlords will not allow male and
female children to share a bedroom, but
others will make sure to ask before you
agree to rent.)
·Negative references from your
previous employers or landlords
·Shaky finances -（The lack of
steady income and a low bank balance
are some of the main reasons a landlord
will refuse to rent to a prospective
tenant.）
·养宠物
·一个房间里住的人过多（一些房东不允许
小男孩和小女孩同住一间卧室，但有些是允许
的。因此，确保在您同意租住之前一定要问清
楚。）
·您之前的雇主或房东的负面介绍信
·不稳定的经济收入（求租人的收入不稳定
或者存款太少，也是房东拒绝出租房屋的主要原
因之一。）
You will need the following documents
to sign a rental or lease
签订出租或租赁协议时，您会用到如下证件：
·Driver's license
·Photo ID
·References from a past landlord
·Proof that you can pay the rent,
such as a pay stub or recent bank
account statement
·Personal references from friends
and acquaintances
·Information about your parents and
school（for students）
·驾照
·有照片的身份证
·前任房东的介绍信
·能证明您有能力支付租金的证据，比方说
工资单或近期的银行对账单
·来自朋友或认识的人的私人介绍信
·（如果您是学生）您父母及学校的信息
The main points addressed in your
lease will be:
协议上应该列出的主要几项是：
·Information about the landlord and
renter
·The rental property's address
·The rent （Don't be afraid to
bargain with your landlord about the
rent and which utilities will be paid
by the landlord.）
·Rent due dates and late fees
·The security deposit, which you
will get back when you move out unless
you violate the terms of the rental
agreement or cause significant damage
to the apartment
·Your landlord's obligations
·A full description of the
apartment and all property in it
·A list of utilities paid by the
landlord and by the tenant （Tenants
always pay to have phone service
connected and for all phone bills.）
·A list of building rules（whether
pets are permitted, when noise is
allowed, how long house guests can
stay, etc.）
·The period of the lease and
penalties for breaking the lease
·Whether the tenant can sublet the
apartment-rent it out to someone else
while they are away
·房东和房客的信息
·出租房产的地址
·租金（大胆地就租金与房东进行讨价还
价，至于公用设备应由谁来支付也要讲清楚）
·协议到期的日期以及拖欠租金时的滞纳金
·押金，一般您在搬出去的时候可以收回押
金，但如果您违反了出租协议上的条款或对公寓
造成了重大破坏，则不予退还
·房东的职责
·房屋及其内部所有财产的详细描述
·由房东和房客支付的公用设备清单（一般
房客需要支付开通电话的服务费及一切电话账
单）
·房屋使用规则清单（是否可以养宠物，什
么时间允许有喧闹声，房客留宿的客人可以住多
久等等）
·租赁期限以及违约的相应处罚
·房客有没有权利转租房子，即当他们不在
时租给别人
☆ Before moving in, check and list all
cosmetic repairs that are needed and whether all
appliances, lighting and plumbing are in working
order. This will save you from possibly having
to pay for repairs for damage you didn't cause.
☆ 在入住之前，检查并列出所有需要修理的地方，并查
看是否所有的设备、灯、水管等都好用。这样可以避免为不
是由您自己造成的损坏而支付修理费的情况发生。
If you have never rented an apartment
before, try to find a 6-month lease with
the
possibility
of
extending
the
agreement. Look at this example:
如果您以前从未租过房子，可以先试着签一个
租期为六个月但可续签的合同。看看下面的例子：
Carol Penn desperately needed to find a
studio apartment. For several days during her
lunch
break,
she
would
drive
around
neighborhoods near her work. She soon found a
good place at a good price. She signed a lease
and paid the security deposit and first and last
month's rent. Five days after moving in, she
realized that she had moved to a neighborhood
that seemed fine in the daytime, but was
dangerous and very noisy at night. The sounds of
music, shouting, squealing car brakes and street
brawls drifting up from the street below put her
on edge. She didn't want to lose a lot of money
by breaking her lease, so she continued to rent
the apartment for an entire year, often spending
the night at friends' or relatives' places. If
she had found out more about the neighborhood
she was thinking of moving into ahead of time,
she could have avoided the constant disturbance
and unpleasant neighborhood.
卡罗尔·佩恩急着想找一个单间公寓。一连几个工作
日，她都趁着中午午休的时间开车去工作地点附近的居民
区寻找。很快，她找到了一个看起来既好又便宜的地方。
她签了租约，然后交了押金和全部租金。入住五天后，她
发现她住的地方虽然白天看起来很好，但到了晚上就又危
险又吵闹。从街上传来的音乐声、叫喊声、长而尖的刹车
声和街上的喧闹声一阵阵传来。可是她不想违约，因为那
会损失一大笔钱，于是她继续租住了一整年，但期间经常
在朋友或亲戚家过夜。如果她事先能够对想搬去住的小区
多了解一下的话，她本可以躲开这些频繁的干扰和让人不
愉快的邻居。
But let's say you're smart and that you get a
place in a neighborhood that's perfect for you,
and you want to stay there. After your lease
expires, you and your landlord have the right to
either extend or end it. The new conditions of
your lease and how much your rent increases or
decreases depend on the economic situation in
the area, as well as a variety of other factors.
Rent increases in many cities are regulated by
law, and you can always get information from
city authorities about how the average price in
your area is determined. If your landlord plans
to raise your rent, he or she should give you 30
days advance notice. According to law, a tenant
who does not agree to a rent increase can
continue renting the apartment at the old rate
for 30 days. After that time, the tenant may
have to move out.
假设您很精明，然后找到了一个对您来说堪称
完美的住处，并且打算住在那里。协议期满后，您
和房东都有权续约或终止租约。如果续租的话，租
约的新条件和租金的增减由那个区域的经济情况和
许多其他因素共同决定。在许多城市，租金的增长
是受法规控制的，要想了解您所在区域的平均租金
是怎么算出来的，您只要去市政当局问一问就知道
了。如果房东打算提高租金，他/她应该提前30天
通知您。根据法律，如果房客不同意涨租金的话，
仍可以按照原来的价格继续在所租的房子里住30
天。但之后，房客就必须搬出去了。
☆ If your landlord does not follow this
procedure, contact the local office of the
Department of Consumer Affairs, Landlord-Tenant
Relations which has different names in different
states.For example, in New York you should
contact Department of Housing Preservation &
Development-HPD.
☆ 如果房东不遵循提前一个月通知涨房租这一程序，您
可联系当地消费者事务局的房东与房客关系部，注意，这个
部门在不同的州可能名称不同。例如在纽约，您应该联系住
房保护与发展部（简称HPD）。
At the same time, try always follow
the lease agreement. Otherwise your
landlord can use his or her right to
initiate eviction proceedings against
you. Some of main reasons for eviction
are:
与此同时，尽量一直遵守租约，否则，房东将
有权对您实施驱逐。驱逐房客的主要原因有：
·Non-payment of rent
·The tenant causes or allows damage
to the unit and refuses to pay for the
damage.
·The tenant refuses to sign a new
lease which is substantially the same
as the old lease.
·After notice to cease, the tenant
continues to be disruptive as to
destroy the peace and quiet of other
tenants.
·The tenant refuses to allow access
to the landlord who has a legitimate
reason to enter the apartment.
·The tenant refuses to vacate
temporary housing provided while
repairs were being completed on
tenant's unit.
·不交房租
·租户导致或纵容房间设施被损毁，并拒绝
赔偿损失
·租户拒签与旧协议基本一致的新协议
·被制止过之后，租户继续其破坏行为，以
至于扰乱其他租户的平静与安宁
·房东有正当理由需要进入公寓时，租户拒
绝其进入
·当租住的房间进行修缮时，房东会安排房
客住在临时的住处，但当修缮结束后，房客拒绝
从房东提供的临时住处搬走
☆ For more information about eviction
proceedings-who can be evicted and how it workscontact the local office of the Department of
Consumer Affairs, Landlord-Tenant Relations or
another similar agency.
☆ 想要知道更多有关驱逐行为的信息，即什么样的人可
以被逐出以及如何实施驱逐，可以联系当地的消费者事务局
办公室，找房东与房客关系部或其他类似机构。
Chapter 27 Setting up phone service
at home
第二十七章 申请宅电
After you sign a rental agreement, the
next thing you'll want to do is call your
friends and family and let them know
about your new home. To do this, however,
you'll need to sign on with a local phone
service provider. Before you do, think
about what services you'll need. These
may include
签订租赁协议后，接下来需要给您的亲友打电
话，告知他们您新家的情况。不过， 在这之前，
您需要同当地的电话服务商签约。在签约前，请想
好您需要什么样的电话服务。服务分为很多种：
·A separate phone line for a fax
machine or for a dial-up modem
·Additional lines for the same
phone number
·Keeping your name and telephone
number unlisted or unpublished
·Blocking information about your
phone number from being displayed when
you call someone with caller ID
·Blocking calls made via the
operator, which are often expensive
(operator blocking)
·Blocking all outgoing long
distance calls (toll restriction)
·Blocking outgoing long distance
calls unless the caller enters the
correct PIN number (toll restriction
with PIN override)
·Blocking 900 numbers, which are
also very expensive (900 block)
·Certain additional services, such
as caller ID and call waiting, which
will cost you extra
·The total amount you're willing to
spend on your phone bill
·一条用于传真机或拨号上网的独立的电话
线
·同一号码下加设若干条分机线
·不收录或不出版您的姓名和电话号码
·当您给有来电显示的机子打电话时，您的
电话号码不会被显示出来
·阻止经由接线员转接的高话费电话（阻断
接线员转接电话）
·限制所有往外面打的长途电话（长途限
制）
·除非输入正确的密码，否则限制往外拨打
长途电话（设置长途电话密码限制）
·阻止以900开头的高话费号码（900限制）
·一些额外服务，如来电显示和呼叫等待是
要额外收费的
·您预期的电话费总开销
Once you know what you need, the phone
company can help you come up with a plan
that suits your needs and will even give
you several phone numbers to choose
from.In larger cities and town, it
usually does not take more than two
working days to get phone service. In
some smaller towns, however, it can take
a lot longer. All communication with the
phone company has to be conducted over
the phone.
明确自己的需求后，电话公司会帮您制订合适
的方案，甚至会提供一些电话号码供您选择。在大
城镇，一般用不了两个工作日就能把电话服务搞
定，而在小一些的城镇，时间可能会长一些。一切
与电话公司的沟通也只能在电话上进行。
☆ When you sign your contract, find out from
your phone company exactly where you can call
without being charged for long distance.
☆ 签完电话合同后，要向电话公司问清楚，具体打往哪
些地区的电话不算长途。
The rates charged by different phone
companies can vary greatly. Every company
periodically
offers
its
customers
discounts
on
long-distance
and
international calls. But before you sign
up for some new savings plan, make sure
to find out the conditions and how long
the offer lasts. Often, companies will
neglect to inform their customers when a
savings plan is no longer valid. If you
aren't careful, you may end up with an
upsettingly large phone bill.
不同的电话公司的电话费率差别悬殊。每家公
司都会定期给客户提供拨打长途或国际长途电话的
折扣。但在签订新的省钱计划前，请务必查明折扣
的使用条件与有效期限。通常，当某个省钱方案失
效时，电话公司并不会通知它的用户。如果您不注
意的话，很可能会产生令您苦恼的高额电话费。
☆ Any savings plan offered by a phone
company will always be more expensive than using
prepaid calling cards for long-distance and
international calls.
☆ 比起预付费长途电话卡或国际电话卡，任何一家电话
公司提供的话费节省计划相对来说更贵。
Chapter 28 Basic everyday services
and how to use them
第二十八章 基本日常服务与有效利用
When you arrive in the U.S., you may
get the impression after a while that to
reach the high standard of living you've
seen in Hollywood films or popular
novels, Americans need
到达美国后，您可能要花一段时间才能明白，
要想达到在好莱坞电影或流行小说里看到的高水平
生活，美国人需要：
·A big salary
·A car for every member of the
family
·Their own home or condominium
·Health insurance
·丰厚的薪水
·每个家庭成员都有属于自己的车
·拥有自己的家或公寓
·有健康保险
And if truth be told, you'd be right.
All of the above influence Americans'
quality of life. But at the same time,
the day-to-day conditions people live in
play an equally important role, and those
include
access
to
basic,
everyday
services. In recent years, Americans have
been able to take advantage of a wide
variety of services, which help them
实话实说，您的这些想法都是正确的，以上所
有方面都确实影响着美国人的生活质量。但同时不
要忘了，人们每天所处的生活环境及其能得到的基
本服务也同样重要。近些年来，美国人已经能够利
用各种各样的服务来帮助自己做到：
·Save time on laundry, cooking and
cleaning up around the house
·Always look their best-neat and
healthy
·Have plenty of time for selfimprovement or socializing with friends
and family
·Have extra time to go shopping or
enjoy other forms of entertainment
·在洗衣服、做饭和打扫房间上节省时间
·总是展现出最佳状态，看起来整洁、健康
·有大量的时间进行自我提高或是和亲朋好
友聚会
·有空闲的时间可以用来逛街或者享受其他
类型的娱乐活动
American
have
long
had
a
deep
appreciation of everyday services. This
is what they are always on the lookout
for the best, most convenient offerings.
Among the most common services you'll
find
美国人对日常能享受到的服务一向都很看重。
在日常服务方面，他们始终都在追求最优质、最便
捷的服务。最普遍的服务项目有：
·Postal services
·Rental services
·Laundries and dry cleaners
·Clothing alteration and repair
·Hair salons
·Beauty parlors and spas
·Nail salons
·Health clubs
·邮政服务
·租赁服务
·洗衣店及干洗店
·衣物改修及缝补服务
·理发店
·美容院和水疗中心
·美甲店
·健身俱乐部
The U.S. Postal Service is the largest
in the world. It has around 750,000
employees and manages more than 200
billion pieces of mail each year. In
general, Americans are quite satisfied
with the postal service. You can send
just about anything by mail that does not
pose a threat to those around you. For
your convenience, the post office has
邮政服务。美国拥有全世界最大的邮政服务体
系，它拥有75万名左右的员工，每年处理超过2000
亿封的邮件。一般说来，美国人对邮政服务还是很
满意的。您几乎可以通过邮件来寄送任何东西，当
然前提是这东西不会给周围的人造成威胁。为方便
大众，邮局设有：
·Different delivery speeds, ranging
from several hours to a few days
·Certified mail, which means that
the post office records the delivery
time of an item
·Certificate of mailing, which
confirms your mail was sent （but not
that it was delivered）
·Insured mail, which means you can
get compensation if the item is lost or
damaged
·Money orders that can be used in
the U.S. for amounts up to $700
·Collect on delivery (COD), which
will allow you to receive up to $1,000
from the addressee of the item. The
post office also confirms that the item
was delivered and gives the money to
the sender.
·Registered mail, which is the
safest way to send something valuable.
The post office will register when the
item was sent and when it was
delivered.
·Restricted delivery, which
guarantees that the item will be
delivered directly to the addressee
·Return receipt, which means the
post office will send you a post card
showing when the item was delivered
·Mail forwarding and holding
services. You can have your mail sent
elsewhere or held at the post office if
you move or leave town for a while
·不同的邮递速度服务，从几小时到几天不
等
·邮件确认，即邮局将记录每件物品的送达
时间
·邮寄凭证，确认您的邮件已被发送（而不
是邮件是否已被接收）
·保价邮件，如果邮件丢失或受损，您可以
得到赔偿
·邮政汇款，在美国，邮政汇款的金额最多
不能超过700美元
·货到付款（COD），允许您通过邮局接收收
货人交付的货款，但总额不得超过1000美元。同
时，邮局会确认货物是否送达，送达后再把货款
交给发件人
·挂号邮递，是用来邮寄贵重物品最安全的
方式，邮局会记录邮品的发送和接收时间
·限制性邮递（投交收件人亲收），保证邮
件会直接交给收件人
·邮件回执，邮局会给您发送邮件回执，告
知您邮件何时已被送达
·邮件转递及寄存业务。当您要搬家或临时
外出，您可以让邮局把邮件转发到别处或者请其
代为保存
☆ You can get more information about the
U.S. Postal Service at www.usps.com or at your
local post office.
☆ 如果您想知道有关美国邮政服务的更多信息，可以访
问网站www.usps.com，也可以去当地邮局查询。
To prevent delays in delivery, make
sure to address the envelope properly,
stating
为了防止邮寄延误，一定要在信封上正确填写
地址，要写上：
·The full name of the person you
are sending it to
·The house number, street and
apartment number
·The city, state and 5-or 9-digit
zip code
·收信人的全名
·门牌号、街道及公寓号
·所在城市与州的名称及五位或九位的邮政
编码
The address should appear in the
middle of the envelope, or on its lower
right hand side. Write your address (the
return address) in the upper left-hand
corner.
收件地址要写在信封的中间或者右边偏下的位
置，并在左上角写上您的地址（即回信地址）。
☆ You can also get express delivery service
from many independent companies. They can
deliver your envelopes, boxes or tubules within
the U.S. and too many foreign countries.
☆ 您也可以在许多私人公司享受快递服务。这些公司能
将您的信件、包裹或纸筒型邮件邮到美国各地及世界许多国
家。
Rental stores can be found across the
U.S. and can rent you just about anything
under the sun, including
出租商店。在美国到处都有出租商店，您几乎
能在出租商店租到任何东西，其中包括：
·Graduation gowns and tuxedos
(formal wear)
·Wedding dresses and accessories
·Tables, chairs, tents and other
furnishings for special events
·Cars and trucks
·Appliances, electronics, and
furniture
·And many, many other things
·毕业礼服和无尾燕尾服（正装）
·婚纱及各种婚庆用品
·桌椅、帐篷及其他用于各种活动的装备
·汽车及卡车
·家用电器、电子产品及家具
·以及许许多多其他的东西
You can find rental places and their
addresses and phone numbers in your
phonebook under the listings for the type
of item you need. Do not forget that
rental costs vary according to what
you're renting and how long you are
renting it.
您可以在电话簿中查找您所需的物品目录，找
到相应的出租店的地址和电话号码。不要忘了，租
赁费取决于您所租用物品的种类及租期的长短。
Before signing a rental agreement,
consider whether you will use the object
for a single or limited time, or whether
you will need it for a longer period. For
example, it makes perfect sense to rent a
tuxedo or a dress for your wedding, but
it's often much more economical to buy
(and
possibly
later
resell)
an
inexpensive
appliance
or
piece
of
furniture.
在您签署租赁协议之前，要想清楚这东西您是
只用较短的时间，还是会用很长的时间。打个比
方，如果租无尾燕尾服或礼服是为了结婚就非常合
理，但如果是电器或家具的话，通常来说还是买一
套便宜的比较合算（以后还可以再卖掉）。
Laundries and cleaners are everywhere
in the States. In any town or hamlet, in
any
shopping
centers,
you'll
see
laundromats or self-service laundries,
some of which are open 24 hours a day.
They are equipped with washing machines
and dryers and will cost you $2 to $3 per
load of laundry if you bring your own
detergent. You'll often see dry cleaners
next door, where you can have clothing
that is dry clean only dry cleaned and
pressed for a few dollars per item.
Sometimes, you can pay when you pick up
your clothes, and sometimes, you need to
pay when you drop them off. Don't forget
that it takes some cleaners a few days to
get to your order, so if you need that
suit for tomorrow's conference, bear this
in mind.
洗衣店和干洗店。在美国，洗衣店和干洗店随
处可见。在任何一个城镇、村庄或购物中心，您都
能看到自助洗衣店或自助洗衣房，其中有些是24小
时营业的。这些洗衣店配有洗衣机和甩干机，如果
您自带洗涤剂的话，每洗一桶您只需花两到三美
元。洗衣店隔壁通常就是干洗店，在那儿您可以干
洗那些只能干洗的衣服，每件干洗加熨烫只需几美
元。有时，您可以在取衣服的时候再付钱，但有
时，您得在洗衣服之前就付钱。请记住：有些干洗
店需要过几天才能处理您的衣服。所以，如果您的
西服第二天开会要穿的话，您可得记住这一点。
Before you head to a laundromat to see
whether you already have one in your
building. Many apartment buildings have
their own laundry room in the basement or
garage area. Some have a laundry room on
each floor.
在没弄清楚您住的公寓大楼有没有自动洗衣房
之前，请不要马上直奔自助洗衣店。很多公寓楼都
在地下室或车库设有洗衣房，有的还在每层楼都设
有洗衣房。
Tailors
and
stores
offering
alterations can help you get that new
suit or dress to fit just right. Many
large department stores have their own
tailors who will alter clothing when you
buy
it.
Smaller
tailor
shops
are
traditionally located not far from major
shopping streets in big cities. A custom
order from an American tailor will cost
you a lot of money, but you're guaranteed
to get quality results.
裁缝店和改衣店。裁缝店和改衣店能帮您把新
买的西装或套裙改得正好合身。很多大型百货商店
都有自己的裁缝，他们可以帮您改您在那儿新买的
衣服。在大城市里，小型裁缝店通常坐落于主要商
业街附近。在美国，请一个裁缝改衣服会花很多
钱，不过他能确保您得到优质和满意的结果。
Among hair dressers in the U.S., there
are men's barber shops and unisex hair
salons that serve both men and women.
Usually, you need to make an appointment
in advance, though some salons will
feature
signs
saying
“Walk-ins
Welcome,” which means you can get your
hair cut without an appointment. If you
are late for an appointment, don't be
surprised if your stylist can't see you.
Hair stylists often have tight schedules
and may even refuse to see customers who
are always late or miss appointments.
Prices vary according to the stylists' or
salons' reputations, the neighborhood and
how much rent the salon pays.
理发店。在美国，有专门的男士理发店，也有
男女皆宜的理发店。尽管有些理发店门口会挂
有“欢迎光临”的标牌，表示您可以不用预约就直
接进去理发，但通常来说，你最好还是提前预约。
但如果您没有按时赴约，您的理发师可能会对您视
而不见，请不要对这一点感到奇怪。发型师的日程
总是排得很满，他们甚至会拒绝见那些经常迟到或
者不赴约的顾客。理发店的价位不一，通常取决于
理发师或者理发店的知名度、理发店的周边环境以
及理发店所交的房屋租金。
Beauty salons and day spas try to make
the American dream of eternal youth and
beauty come true. America's thousands of
cosmetologists offer services to help
customers
美容院和水疗中心。美容店和水疗中心努力让
人们实现“青春和美丽永驻”的美国梦。在美国，
成千上万的美容师为顾客们提供着服务，美容师会
帮助顾客：
·Lose weight
·Shape their bodies
·Have younger looking skin
·Choose their make up
·Cut and style their hair
·Various other beauty, heath, and
fitness services
·减肥
·塑形
·焕肤
·选择合适的化妆品
·修剪头发，设计发型
·其他各种各样的美容及健身服务
Nail salons have become just as
ubiquitous as laundromats and video
rental stores.The average price for
amanicure runs from $7 to $50, depending
on the salon.
美甲店。美甲店已经像自助洗衣店和音像出租
店一样遍布全美各地了。修一次指甲的平均价格从
7美元到50美元不等，具体要看是哪家美甲店。
Health and Sport Clubs. Americans
spend hours at gyms and health clubs for
many reasons. Some people go to keep in
shape and encourage their children to
live healthy lives. Others workout at
their doctor's recommendation and still
others just go to have fun and spend time
with friends, old and new.
健康俱乐部或健身房。美国人会在健身房和健
康俱乐部花费很多时间，这其中有很多原因。有些
人去健身是为了保持身材，并且鼓励他们的孩子过
健康的生活；有些人是为了遵循医嘱；还有些人纯
粹是为了好玩儿，为了能和新老朋友在一起。
If you decide to sign up at a health
club or gym, you want to pick the best
place, of course. As you make your
decision, keep in mind
如果决定要参加某个健康俱乐部或者健身房，
您肯定想挑个最好的地方。那么当您作决定的时
候，一定要考虑到：
·Whether the club is conveniently
located near your home or work
·Whether your friends, relatives
and colleagues have had good
experiences with the club
·Whether you like what you see when
you go for a trial visit (usually,
clubs will let you come and check out a
place once before signing up)
·这家俱乐部离您家或者工作地点是否很
近，很方便
·您的亲朋好友或同事是否有人在这家俱乐
部有过美好的体验
·当您去那里参观体验时，您是否喜欢您所
看到的（通常情况下，俱乐部会允许会员在签约
前来体验一次）
☆ When you go for a trial visit, make sure
to ask the guide plenty of questions and to chat
with other club members.
☆ 当您去俱乐部参观体验时，一定要向教练多问几个问
题，还要和其他俱乐部会员聊一聊。
When you visit the club for the first
time, it's a good idea to pay attention
to
当您第一次去参观俱乐部的时候，最好多关
注：
·The friendliness and competence of
the staff-if the staff included
certified trainers, which is a strong
guarantee that you'll get good service
·The club's cleanliness
·Facilities like swimming pool,
weight rooms, tennis courts,
racquetball courts, or basketball
courts
·Whether it offers free instruction
on how to use the club's exercise
machines and equipment
·The club's cardiovascular and
resistance equipment
·Other programs offered, such as
aerobics classes, water aerobics or
team sports like basketball
·Personal trainer sessions and
lessons for sports like tennis, squash
and swimming
·Programs to supplement your
workout such as stress management,
weight management and smoking cessation
classes
·Whether the club has enough free
machines at the times you'll be working
out
·Whether the club offers child care
( free or for a separate fee)
·The age at which
children/teenagers can participate in
activities or use equipment
·The club's parking
· 员工是否友好，是否称职---如果员工中
有资深教练员，那对于您能够得到优质的服务就
是一个有力的保证
·俱乐部环境是否整洁
·俱乐部的设施如何，比如游泳池、举重
房、网球场、壁球场或者篮球场等
·是否会免费介绍怎样使用俱乐部里的训练
器材和设备
·俱乐部里是否有心血管保健和阻力训练的
设备
·俱乐部提供的其他活动，比如有氧健身操
班、水中有氧健身操或者像篮球这样的团队运动
·一对一的指导和课程，指导您进行网球、
壁球和游泳等运动
·锻炼的补充活动，比如压力缓解、体重控
制及戒烟课程等
·俱乐部是否在您锻炼的时候有足够的闲置
器械
·俱乐部是否提供儿童托管服务（免费还是
单独收费）
·多大的儿童或青少年可以参加活动或使用
器械
·俱乐部停车场
☆ You can always check with the Better
Business Bureau to see whether there have been
any
complaints
against
the
club.
Go
to
www.bbb.org to find out about businesses in your
area.
☆ 您随时都可以去商业改进局去查一下，看看有没有关
于这家俱乐部的投诉。您也可以登录www.bbb.org了解它在
您所在地区的商业运营情况。
After you've picked your club, you
will be asked to sign a contract which
will state
选好俱乐部以后，您得签一份合同，合同上会
包括如下几条：
·The length of the membership
contract-some contracts will be valid
for several years, while other will run
month to month. Don't agree to sign up
for lifetime membership, however, as
this kind of contract is prohibited by
law in many states.
·The conditions of membership
·会员合约的期限，有些合约在几年内都会
有效，而另一些则采取月月变换制。然而，千万
不要签署终身制的合同，因为这种合同在很多州
都是不合法的。
·会员条件
☆ Depending on where the club is located,
the services it offers and the quality of those
services, membership fees can ranges from a
small payment to several hundred dollars a
month.
☆ 根据俱乐部的位置及其提供的服务和服务质量，会员
费可能从每月一笔小钱到数百美元不等。
·Any other initial agreements with
the club
·The length of the cooling-off
period, during which you can cancel
your membership (usually, this period
is about three days or so)
·The club rules
·Whether the membership can be sold
to a third party, for example, another
company
·与俱乐部的其他初始协议
·可变更期的期限，在这期间，您可以取消
自己的会员身份（通常情况下，可变更期为三天
左右）
·俱乐部的规定
·会员资格是否可以转让给第三方，比如说
其他公司
☆ If your membership is sold to a third
party, it can be a lot harder to get out of the
membership contract.
☆ 如果您把会员资格转让给了第三方，要想脱离会员合
同的约束，会更加困难。
In addition to private health clubs,
there are many public clubs like the
YMCA. YMCAs are located across the
country and are generally more family and
child-oriented.
除了私人健康俱乐部，还有许多公共俱乐部，
比如基督教青年会（YMCA）。基督教青年会在美国
各地都有，而且通常以家庭和儿童为目标对象。
In a 1996 report titled “Physical Activity
and Health” ,the secretary of health and human
services emphasized that daily physical activity
will allow Americans to improve their health and
improve their quality of life. Moreover, various
types
of
physical
activity
have
various
beneficial effects on a person's health. For
this reason, the more varied your workout, the
more benefit you'll see overall.
在1996年一篇名为《体育锻炼与健康》的报道中，美国
卫生与公众服务部部长强调，坚持每天锻炼身体可以改善国
民健康状况，提高国民生活水平。此外，不同的体育活动对
一个人的健康有着不同的有益影响。正因为如此，您锻炼的
方式越多样，您得到的益处也就越多。
Official statements like the one above have a
positive
effect
on
American
society
and
Americans in their quest for a healthy, happy
life.
美国社会和美国人素来追求健康快乐的生活，
所以类似上述的官方报告对他们均有着积极的影
响。
Chapter 29 Getting credit
第二十九章 申办信用卡
The United States is a huge consumer
market overflowing with various goods and
services. Domestic and foreign retailers
and suppliers are constantly competing to
give American consumers the best deal. As
supply
increases,
so
do
consumer
expectations and demands, and Americans
spend a lot of money satisfying these
wants and needs.But because many people
don't want or can't afford to pay for
goods,
services,
real
estate
or
businesses upfront and all at once, they
prefer to buy on credit and pay off the
debt gradually.
美国是个充斥着各种商品与服务的巨大消费市
场。国内外的零售商和供应商一直竞相为美国消费
者提供最大的优惠。随着供应的增长，人们的消费
预期和需求也随之增长，而美国人会花很多钱来满
足这些需求。但是许多人其实不想或者没能力一次
性付清商品、服务、房产或者交易的费用，他们更
倾向于用信用卡支付，然后分期还款。
Getting your first loan from a bank
can be an uphill battle and will have a
serious impact on your credit history.
Your credit history is determined by how
you have paid your bills, credit cards
and loans, as well as your late payments
or unpaid balances.Credit bureaus keep
track of your credit history and will
issue a credit report to you or to
financial institutions.
从银行贷第一笔款就如同打一场艰难的战役，
并且这会对您的信用史产生非常重要的影响。您的
信用史取决于您如何支付账单，如何给信用卡还款
和如何还贷，以及您出现过的延期支付的情况或者
未付的款项。信用局会记录您的信用史并给您或者
金融机构出具一份信用报告。
☆ U.S. lenders will not consider
histories created in other countries.
☆ 美国贷款方不会考虑其他国家的信用史。
credit
Foreigners' credit histories consist
only of their transactions in the United
States.This is why it can be difficult
and expensive for them to get their first
loans or lines of credit. To avoid this
problem, start building your credit as
soon as possible. The most common ways
are
外国人的信用史只包含其在美国的交易。所
以，他们要想获得第一笔贷款或第一个信用额度是
很艰难而且代价很大的。为避免获得贷款和信用额
度太难，最好一到美国马上就建立您的信用记录。
建立信用记录最普遍的方式是：
·Buying a car with a partial down
payment
·Buying goods on credit someone
else, such as a friend or relative,
acting as a cosigner
·Opening a line of credit and
getting a credit card at a bank with a
certain amount given to the bank as a
deposit
·用分期付款的方式买车
·作为联署人使用他人的信用卡购物，比如
用朋友或亲属的信用卡
·通过在银行存入一定的款项申领一张信用
卡和一定的信贷额度
☆ This deposit will be converted into a CD
(certificate of deposit) for several months, and
at the end of this time, all the information
about how you managed the credit will be entered
in your file at a credit bureau.
☆ 这笔存款会被转成为期数月的存折，在这几个月中，
所有关于您使用信用卡的信息都会载入信用局的档案。
You can apply for a credit card
您可以在下列机构申请信用卡：
·At a bank branch at any university
or college
·At the bank used by the company
that employs you
·At a local branch of your bank
abroad
·At the bank where you have a
checking account
·At a bank that specializes in
issuing credit cards to people without
credit histories
·银行在任何一所大学或学院的分行
·在自己受雇公司的合作银行
·您本国的持卡银行在美国当地的分行
·在您支票账户的银行
·在专门为没有信誉记录的人发放信用卡的
银行
When choosing a credit card, you
should
pay
close
attention
to
the
following information:
选择信用卡时要注意以下几点：
·The interest rate on the card
·The payment period
·The grace period (the additional
period during which you can pay your
bill without accruing an additional
penalty or charge)
·The costs, if any, associated with
opening the credit card account
·The credit limit
·Any special offers from the bank
issuing the card
·信用卡的利率
·还款期限
·宽限期（不会引起附加罚款或额外付费的
附加还款期限）
·信用卡账户的开户费用
·透支额度
·发卡银行的特殊优惠
Credit cards are everywhere in the
U.S. and the most popular form of credit,
especially because servicing these cards
is very profitable for banks. Banks and
credit card companies send out a steady
stream
of
brochures
and
booklets
advertising credit cards with high credit
limits and low interest rates, though
rates vary widely from card to card.
信用卡遍布美国，是最流行的贷款形式，造成
这种现象最主要的原因是因为发放这些信用卡可以
给银行带来丰厚的利润。银行和信用卡公司会定期
发放定量的小册子和宣传单，为信用卡的高额度和
低利率做广告，尽管每张卡的利率差别会很大。
You can apply for a credit card
without leaving home. All you have to do
is pick a company or bank, sign the
application form you got in the mail and
send it back in the enclosed addressed
envelope. In a few weeks, you'll get your
new credit card in the mail.
足不出户您就可以申请信用卡。您所做的只是
选择一家公司或银行，然后他们会把申请表邮寄给
您，您在填完申请表后用公司或银行寄过来的带有
地址的信封把表格寄回去就可以了。几周之后，您
就会收到邮寄过来的新信用卡了。
Depending on your credit history, bank
balance, workplace and other factors, the
bank will determine your credit limit. It
can range from a few hundred dollars to
several thousand. Try to pay your credit
card bill on time. This way, you'll avoid
annoying late fees and interest charges,
and eventually, the company will see that
you are a trustworthy customer and you'll
get a better interest rate and a higher
credit limit.Paying on time is also the
best thing you can do for your credit
history.
银行会依据您的信用史、存款余额、工作地点
和一些其他因素来决定您的信用额度，信用额度往
往从几百美元到几千美元不等。要尽量按时支付信
用卡账单，只有这样，您才能避免支付那些恼人的
滞纳金和利息。最终，公司也会认为您是一个可信
赖的消费者，然后给您一个更低的利率和更高的信
用额度。同时，按时付款也是保持良好信用史的最
好方式。
People who have large balances on
their credit cards are often offered
additional cards. These cards promise low
rates for several months and additional
funds.
By
doing
this,
credit
card
companies draw their customers ever
deeper into debt.
通常，银行会给信用卡有很大余额的人提供附
属卡，附属卡往往会承诺几个月的低利率和附加款
项。由此，信用卡公司会使客户陷入更深的负债之
中。
When you use a credit card, don't
forget that you'll have to pay interest
on any balance you don't pay off right
away. It's no secret that many people
don't manage to pay their bill in full at
the end of every month. They simply don't
have the money.Sometimes, they only
manage to make required minimum monthly
payments. However, this approach will
quickly draw them deeply in debt, and it
will often take them many years to pay
off their original loans as well as the
accrued interest.
使用信用卡时，不要忘了，您那些没有立即偿
清的账单余额是需要付利息的。大家都知道，很多
人到了月底并不能偿付所有的账单。原因很简单：
他们就是没钱。有时，他们只能按要求支付每月的
最低还款额。然而，这种方式会让他们很快深陷负
债境地，并且他们常常需要好几年的时间才能偿清
最初的贷款及应计的利率。
☆ Again, pay your credit card bill on time
if you don't want to pay late fees or wind up
with higher interest rates. Look at the
following example:
☆ 再重申一遍，如果不想日后支付滞纳金，也不想卷入
更高利率的旋涡之中的话，那就要按时支付信用卡账单。我
们看一下下面的例子：
Danuta Cohen decided to replace the carpet in
her house with hardwood floors. She placed an
order at a local hardware store and paid for it
in full with her credit card. Instead of
arriving in three weeks as promised, her
flooring arrived in 31 days. When it came, the
color and amount of the materials were not what
she had ordered at all. Danuta refused to pay
for the order and demanded her money back. It
took several days to negotiate with the store
and get a refund to her credit card. A few days
afterward, Danuta got her credit card statement
in the mail and saw that her bank had charged
her interest on the charge from the hardware
store. She began to dispute this with her bank.
Meanwhile, her bank charged her late fees on top
of everything else. She finally decided to give
up and pay the interests and the fees.
丹奴塔·科恩决定把房间里的地毯换成硬木底板。她
在当地的一家五金商店订了货，并且用信用卡支付了全
额。可原本说三周后便能送达的地方，结果31天后才送
到。到货时，发现材料的颜色、数量与她订购的完全不
同。丹奴塔拒绝付款，并要求退款。她花了几天的时间和
商店协商，最后，商店把退款打到了她的信用卡上。几天
后，丹奴塔在邮箱收到了她的信用卡对账单，她发现银行
对她在五金店的花费收取了利息。她开始和银行争论。但
更有甚者，银行同时还要收她的滞纳金。最后她决定放
弃，乖乖支付了利息和滞纳金。
Danuta's story shows how ruthless
credit card companies are and how little
they care about your personal problems.
Be careful and act rationally when you
get and use a credit card.
丹奴塔的故事告诉我们，无情的信用卡公司根
本不会关心您的个人问题。所以，当您拿到一张信
用卡并开始使用时，一定要小心，并且要理智行
事。
After you create the first pages of
your credit history, which may take
several months if not years, you will
then be able to apply for credit cards
and for bank loans in order to make major
purchases or repairs.
在您的信用史翻开第一页之后---这个过程即使
花不了几年，至少也要好几个月---您就能够为大
宗的采购和修缮申请信用卡和银行贷款了。
Credit can be both long-term and
short-term. The interest rate on longterm loans is always lower than on shortterm loans. The most common kinds of
short-term credit are
信贷可以分为长期信贷和短期信贷，长期贷款
的利率要低于短期信贷的利率。最常见的短期信贷
是：
·Credit cards
·Payment plans for medical bills
·Payment plans for home
improvements
·Payment plans or store credit
cards for relatively inexpensive goods
and services such as televisions,
refrigerators or vacations
·信用卡
·医疗账单支付计划
·家庭装修支付计划
·为相对便宜的商品（如电视机、电冰箱）
和服务（如度假的花销）拟订的偿还计划或商店
信用卡
The most common forms of long-term
credit are
最常见的长期信贷形式有：
·Mortgages for purchasing real
estate, including a house or a condo
·Loans to purchase a business or
company
·住房贷款，住房包括独栋别墅和具有独立
产权的公寓
·为收购企业或公司的贷款
Every bank requires different things
from customers who would like to get
credit.
They all have their own set of
criteria for determining whether to lend
to you. Some banks insist that you prove
beyond the shadow of a doubt that you'll
be able to pay off the loan, while others
charge higher interest rates to protect
themselves from potential risk.
各家银行对申请信贷的客户有着不同的要求，
他们都用一套自己的标准来权衡是否要贷款给您。
一些银行坚持要信贷申请人证明自己具有毋庸置疑
的信贷偿还能力，而另一些银行则用收取高额利率
的方法来为自己规避风险。
Among the multitude of conditions for
getting a loan, the most common include
在获得贷款的众多条件中，最普遍的几个条件
是：
·A steady income for several years
·Money for a down payment and
closing costs, if you're buying a house
or business
·Your immigration status (U.S.
citizenship or Green Card in hand)
·A good credit history
·几年来您都有稳定的收入
·购买房产或企业时，需要支付首付款和手
续费
·您的移居身份（有美国公民身份或有绿
卡）
·良好的信用史
The following information can also
prove crucial:
下面的信息也同样重要：
·The number and amount of current
loans or lines of credit you have
·Tax fraud or evasion convictions
·Previous bankruptcy
·您现有的贷款或贷款额度
·偷税漏税记录
·先前破产记录
The most difficult type of loan or
credit to get is for home improvements or
construction, things like repairing your
house, painting it, building a pool,
getting a new roof and so on. Banks
suffer real losses when borrowers default
on their loans and don't pay them back.
For this reason, they are especially
cautious when making this kind of loan.
If you urgently need a loan to make
repairs or build a home, try to be
patient and do everything the bank asks
to prove that you can pay.
贷款或信贷品种中最难申请的就是家装或建房
贷款，诸如，修缮房屋、粉刷墙壁、修建泳池、更
换屋顶等等。当借贷人违约拒不还款时，银行的损
失确实不小。正因如此，在处理这种贷款时银行会
格外谨慎。如果您急需一笔贷款来修缮或者建造房
屋，那就要耐心地完成银行的每个要求来证明您的
偿还能力。
Some loans are remarkably easy to get,
however. Strangely enough, most loans for
cars, boats and homes are approved, as
the bank can foreclose on (take away)
your property if you don't pay.
然而，有些贷款就非常容易申请到。很不可思
议，大多数买车、买船和买房的贷款都会获得批
准，因为如果您不偿还贷款的话，银行可以没收您
的财产。
Americans often use loans to finance
their businesses. Bank specialists will
analyze the current state of the business
and the business plan submitted by the
applicant. As a rule, the majority of
business people rely on help from banks
to expand or open a new business.
美国人经常贷款为企业融资。银行的专家会分
析申请人提交上来的企业运营表及其商业计划。一
般情况下，大多数商人都要依赖银行贷款来拓展生
意或设立新公司。
At
most
banks
and
lending
institutions,
interest
rates
depend
directly on
在大多数银行和信贷机构，利率直接取决于：
·Your credit history
·The size of your down payment
·How long you have to pay back the
loan
·The Federal Reserve's prime
interest rate
·The current economic status of
your area and the prospects for its
future growth
·您的信用记录
·首付款的多少
·还贷时限
·美联储基准利率
·您所在地当前的经济状况及其未来的增长
预期
The most inexpensive way to get credit
is to go directly to a bank. But the bank
will take a while to review your
application, and you should be prepared
to wait. Many lending institutions can
get you a loan through their brokers more
quickly. However, the brokers' interest
rates will be significantly higher than
those of a bank. You will also have to
pay the broker's commission.
最便宜的贷款申请方式是直接去银行。但是，
银行需要一定的时间来审查您的申请表，所以您需
要做好等待的准备。许多信贷机构可以通过经纪人
更快地为您申请到贷款。然而，经纪人的利率会比
银行的利率高出很多。另外，您还要付给他们佣
金。
When
signing
a
contract
with
a
financial broker, take full advantage of
the point in the contract where it says
the broker must get you credit within a
certain number of days or pay a certain
amount for every day past the deadline.
If you don't make brokers financially
responsible for their actions, you will
have little chance of getting your loan
on time.
和融资中介签合同时，您要充分利用一点，即
要在合同中写明中介必须在多少天之内为您贷到
款，否则每超过一天就要支付一天的罚金。如果中
介不需要为他们的行为从经济上来负责，那么您就
很难按时得到贷款。
Not every bank application will be
approved. Applications for short-term
loans for less than five years are
rejected most frequently.
并不是所有的贷款申请都能够得到批准。经常
不被批准的是少于五年的短期贷款申请。
Among the many reasons for rejecting
an applicant, some of the most common are
在驳回申请的众多原因之中，最普遍的原因
有：
·The number of department store
accounts
·The number of major department
store references
·The total number of revolving bank
accounts
·The length of credit history for
retail credit cards
·Recently opened installment
accounts, the payment plans offered by
some stores
·Number of bank credit references
·Resident status
·百货商店消费账户的数量
·百货商店主要信用推荐人的数量
·银行循环贷款账户的总个数
·您零售信用卡信用记录的长短
·近期开立的分期付款账户和一些商店给您
提供的支付计划
·银行贷款信用推荐人的个数
·您的居住身份
☆ Nobody knows what is preferable for the
bank: to have many accounts or few of them, to
have short or long length of credit history for
retail credit cards.
☆ 谁也不知道某家银行喜欢什么样的客户：是有很多银
行账户的客户更受他们青睐，还是只有几个账户的客户更受
他们青睐; 如果申请的是零售信用卡的话，是信用记录长些
好，还是信用记录短一些好。
If your loan application is rejected,
you will receive notification by mail
telling you why. If there is no reason
stated, you have the right to ask one of
the three credit bureaus, which provide
services to banks, for a copy of your
credit report. They are
如果您的贷款申请被驳回，您会收到一份邮件
通知，邮件中会写明原委。如果邮件中没有说明驳
回您贷款申请的原由，您有权向专门为银行提供服
务的三个信用局中的任何一家索要一份您自己的信
用记录。这三个信用局是：
·Experian (www.experiandirect.com)
·TransUnion (www.truecredit.com)
·Equifax (www.equifax.com)
·益百利公司(www.experiandirect.com)
·环联公司(www.truecredit.com)
·艾贵发公司(www.equifax.com)
Each of these services charge a fee
for your credit report, but if you go to
www.ftc.gov first, you can get a free
credit report from all three agencies,
and you can actually view each of them
online and print them out. To request
your report, you will need to send the
following information to one of the three
bureaus:
向这三个信用局索要信用报告均需付费，但是
如果您访问网站www.ftc.gov，就能从三个机构得
到免费的信用报告。信用报告可在网上浏览然后打
印。如果要向信用局索要信用报告的话，请把下面
的信息发到其中的任意一家：
·Your full name
·Your birthday
·Your home addresses for the last 2
years
·Your Social Security Number
·您的全名
·您的生日
·您近两年的家庭住址
·您的社安号
☆ If several people applied for the loan and
were rejected, include full information about
each of them in your request.
☆ 如果是好几个人一起申请贷款但遭驳回了，那么在申
请时就需要把每个人的信息都附上。
In a few weeks, you should receive
your credit report, which is usually
accompanied by an investigation request
form. Should you disagree with some of
the information in the report, you can
fill out this request and send it in. If
you can, include copies of documents that
back up your claim that something is
wrong on the report.
几周之后，您就能收到信用报告了，通常随报
告还会附上一张调查问卷表。要是您不同意报告上
的信息，可以填好这份问卷并将其寄回。如果可以
的话，最好附上相关的证明文件，以证明报告上的
信息确实有误。
As it was mentioned earlier, as of
September 1, 2005, all U.S. residents
have the right to get a free copy of
their credit report. All you need to do
is
call
1-877-322-8228
or
go
to
www.ftc.gov.
正如前面提到过的，所有美国居民都有权免费
获得他们的信用报告，这项规定是从2005年9月1日
开始的。要获得信用报告，您只需拨打电话1-877322-8228或登录网站www.ftc.gov即可。
Chapter 30 Buying or leasing a car
第三十章 买车或租车
Americans love their cars. In America,
cars symbolize freedom, independence,
wealth and social status. The market is
inundated with vehicles of all makes
imaginable,
while
the
annual
sales
figures for new cars and trucks continue
to climb.
美国人爱车。在美国，车是自由、独立、财富
和社会地位的象征。尽管市场上充斥着林林总总的
各式车辆，新款轿车和卡车的年销售额还是在不断
攀升。
The main ways to buy a car are to go
to a licensed car dealership or an auto
auction or to buy a car used from its
current owner.
买车的主要方式有：到特许的汽车经销商那里
买车，到汽车拍卖行去买车，或者从个人手里买二
手车。
Car dealerships, depending on their
size, generally offer a wide selection of
both new and used vehicles. When buying a
car from a dealer, you usually have a
better guarantee of quality than if you
buy at auctions or from an individual.
You can find out what cars are for sale
at what price from
汽车特许经销商店，根据其门店大小，一般会
供应大量的新车或二手车。在特许的汽车经销商那
里买车，比从拍卖行或个人手里买车在质量上更有
保证。您可以通过以下渠道了解到有哪些车在卖，
以及这些车的售价是多少：
·Dealers' ads in newspapers
·Dealers and carmakers' TV and
radio ads
·Ads for upcoming auto auctions in
the press and on TV
·The Internet
·Classified ads placed by
individuals in your local paper
·“For Sale” signs on cars giving
a phone number where you can find out
more information
·经销商在报纸上登的广告
·经销商和生产商在电视上和广播中播出的
广告
·报刊和电视上为即将举行的汽车拍卖会所
打的广告
·因特网
·当地报纸上由个人刊登的分类广告
·有“For Sale (出售)”字样的汽车，上
面会给出电话号码，要想了解更多信息就打电话
问问卖主
When buying a car, consider
买车时要考虑：
·The price, naturally
·How big a loan you will need to
buy it
·How you plan to use the car, such
as for commuting or for long trips
·How long you plan to use the car.
If you plan to keep it for less than
three years, it may make more sense to
lease or to buy a used car
·The car's safety record （You can
find a car's rating at
www.nhtsa.dot.gov, th National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, or at
www.hwysafety.org, the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety.）
·How much it will cost to run the
car and its fuel efficiency
·Its reliability（Check past issues
of Consumer Reports magazine at the
library）
·The car's condition, if you're
buying a used car
·Any hidden faults or results of
accidents（for used cars）
·The car's appeal and your personal
preferences
·自然首先是价格
·买车要贷多少款
·买车的用途，用于上下班还是长途旅行
·买了车以后打算用多长时间，如果打算只
使用三年以下，那也许还是租一辆或买辆二手车
更划算
·车的安全驾驶记录（您可以在美国国家高
速公路交通安全局的网站www.nhtsa.dot.gov或
美国高速公路安全保险协会的网站
www.hwysafety.org找到对该汽车的评估报告）
·驾驶该车的费用及车的燃油率
·车的可靠性（在图书馆查阅《消费者报
告》杂志的过刊）
·若买的是二手车，注意车的性能
·若买的是二手车，注意有无潜在的缺陷或
事故痕迹
·车的诱人之处以及您的个人喜好
You can find out the approximate
market price of the model you've chosen
by calling Consumer Reports at 1-800-2052445 or by looking at the Kelley Blue
Book or at one of many websites, such as
要了解您所选中车型的大致市场价格，您可以
致电《消费者报告》，电话是1-800-205-2445，
也可以查看《凯利蓝皮书》或上网查看，网址如：
·www.autoadvice.com
·www.carprice.com
To find out more about the car that's
caught your eye and the price, take it
for a test drive and talk to several
dealers
before
making
your
final
decision.
欲了解您中意车型的更多信息及价格，也可以
试驾一下，货比三家后再定夺。
☆ Have the seller write down the offering
price to avoid any unexpected increases as the
deal proceeds.
☆ 让卖家写下他的报价，避免他在交易中出人意料地提
价。
Once you know how much car dealers are
asking for the car, compare their price
to those of online sellers. Often, people
selling cars over the Internet offer
lower prices, which you can use to your
advantage
when
negotiating
at
the
dealership.
一旦您了解了经销者的报价，拿它和网上卖家
的价格比一比。通常，汽车在网上的售价会低一
些，这一点要在与经销商讨价还价时好好利用起
来。
Here are some tips for bargaining with
car dealers:
以下是在和经销商讨价还价时的一些建议：
·Don't change the accessories and
features of your car as the dealer can
then play around with the price
·Don't buy any additional service
plans because the salesperson may try
to sell you something you don't need at
the moment and will then fiddle with
the price
·Discuss only the total price of
the car, not the size of monthly
payments
·Be firm and confident. After all,
you are the person who chooses the car
and whom you buy it from
·Stay calm, even if you really like
the car
·不要改变车的配件和性能，因为经销商很
可能会在价格上做文章
·不要买任何附加的服务方案，因为销售人
员会努力卖给您一些目前用不上的东西，然后他
们好改动价格
·只对总价进行讨价还价，而不是对每月的
付款额度讨价还价
·要表现得坚定、自信。毕竟，是您在选车
和买车
·即使您真喜欢某辆车，也要保持冷静
☆ If the dealer refuses to negotiate, don't
waste your time.There are plenty of other
dealers around and plenty of other offers. More
likely than not, the dealer will call you in a
few days and agree to your price.
☆ 如果经销商拒绝讨价还价，那就不要再浪费时间了。
卖车的地方很多，报价也会不一样，所以，不愁买不到。很
有可能过几天之后这个经销商会给您打电话同意您出的价
格。
If you decide to buy a used car at an
auction or from its owner, keep this
advice in mind:
如果您决定从拍卖行或个人手里买二手车，请
牢记以下建议：
·Before you go to look at the car,
find out the name of the car's actual
owner as stated on the certificate of
title because the name of the seller
and the owner must be the same
·Ask for receipts showing that the
car received regular tune-ups
·Ask about the car's features,
color and interior, how old the car is
and why the owner is selling
·Check if the car's body is
asymmetrical. This is a sign it has
been in an accident
·As you look carefully at the car,
you may find evidence that it has been
in an accident. Try to determine how
well it was repaired and maintained
·Take a good look at the underside
of the car, where you may spot faults
and damage
·If necessary, take the car to a
mechanic and have it checked out.
·在看车前，要先核对车证上的车主姓名，
因为卖车人和车主必须是同一人
·索要收据以证明汽车接受过定期的保养
·问清楚车的性能、颜色、内部情况、车龄
以及车主卖车的原因
·检查车身是否对称，从这一点能看出车是
否出过事故
·仔细检查车体时，您也许会找出车出过事
故的证据。如果是这样，要好好判断一下车的修
理和保养状况
·仔细检查一下汽车底盘，您可能会在那里
找出毛病和破损
·有必要的话，把车送到机修工那里检查一
下
Cassandra bought a used car from a “friend”
of the owner. (Actually the “friend” was just
a middle man). She paid in cash. After a couple
of days, she discovered that the car had major
transmission
problems
requiring
$1,200
in
repairs.
She
went
back
to
the
seller's
“friend” who had not even known about the
problem. He gave her $600 because he was a
decent guy (He didn't have to do anything). The
original owner disappeared.
卡桑德拉通过车主的“朋友”买了一辆二手车。（实际
上，这个“朋友”只是个中介）。她用现金支付了车款。但
是没过几天，她发现汽车有个重大的传动装置的问题，需要
花费1200美元进行修理，于是她回去找车主的这个“朋
友”，可他对这个问题也一无所知。这个人做事非常正派，
给了她600美元（其实他什么也不需要做）。而原来的那个
车主却逃之夭夭了。
If you decide to buy a car, always try
to talk the dealer or owner down and get
a better price.
如果您决定买车，那么一定要讨价还价，直到
把经销商或车主说服以一个比较优惠的价格把车买
下来为止。
☆ Large car dealers almost always charge
more for used cars than individual sellers do
because they guarantee the car's quality.It may
be worth paying for this guarantee!
☆ 大型汽车经销商卖的二手车通常要比个人卖的二手车
要贵，因为他们卖的车更有质量保证。也许多花点儿钱买个
保证也值得！
If you buy a car from its owner, find
out how to close the deal and reregister
the car to your name at the local DMV to
avoid any future problems.
如果您要从车主手里买车，那就要知道怎样达
成协议，怎样到当地的机动车管理处把车过户到您
的名下，以免日后麻烦。
☆ Not all auto auctions will take cars back
that have hidden problems or defects.
☆ 并非所有的汽车拍卖行都会回收那些有安全隐患或有
缺陷的车。
If you have decided to buy your
teenage child his or her first car, you
should:
您若想给您十几岁的孩子买他/她的第一辆车，
您应该：
·Check the condition of the car and
find out as much as possible about how
to use it. This will prevent problems
when your child is behind the wheel, if
you are buying a used car.
·If you choose an inexpensive used
car, be ready to sink a lot of money
into repairs. In practice, the cheaper
the car, the more expensive the
maintenance
·If you decide on a new car, don't
forget that the absolute majority of
teenage drivers get in an accident
their first year on the road.
·If you decide on a new car,
remember that the more expensive the
car, the more expensive the insurance
for a teenage driver.
·Remember when choosing a car that
the fewer seats it has, the fewer
buddies your child can give rides to.
·If you can't afford to pay for
driver's education classes, monthly
maintenance costs and possible repairs,
tell your child that he or she will
have to wait.
·When trying to decide between a
new or used car, consider giving your
teen your old car, which you already
know well.
·Whatever you decide, remember that
the main criteria should be reliability
and safety, as your child will not have
much experience driving when he or she
first gets behind the wheel.
·检查车的性能，并尽可能多地了解那辆车
要如何驾驶。这样一来，如果您买的是二手车的
话，孩子驾驶时就会少很多麻烦。
·若您买了辆便宜的二手车，那就请做好要
花大量的钱进行维修的准备。实际上，车越便
宜，要花的维修保养费越高。
·若您决定买新车，不要忘了：绝大多数青
少年司机会在开车的第一年出车祸。
·若您决定买新车，记住：车越贵，青少年
司机要上的保险也越高。
·记住：车的座位越少，您孩子能载的朋友
也就越少。
·如果您在经济上承担不起孩子考驾照的费
用、每月的养车费以及可能会有的修理费，那么
只能告诉孩子等等了。
·当您在犹豫选择新车还是二手车的时候，
不妨考虑把您自己的旧车送给孩子，因为您对该
车已经很了解了。
·无论您作什么决定，记住大原则是安全、
可靠，因为您的孩子初次开车时可没有什么经
验。
Whether you're buying a new sedan for
yourself or a used hatchback for your son
or daughter, you'll probably need a car
loan. Unless you can pay the full price
in cash, looking for a cheap car loan
will be just as important as finding the
right car.
不论您是给自己买辆新车也好，还是给您的儿
子或女儿买辆二手斜背式小汽车也罢，您可能都需
要汽车贷款。除非您能一次性用现金支付，不然的
话，选择一个便宜的汽车贷款和找一辆合适的车一
样重要。
Banks often have the least expensive
loan options. However, they also demand
myriad different documents to prove you
have a stable income and can make your
payments. A car loan through a bank can
take several weeks. Some people who don't
have the patience to wait rush and get a
more expensive but faster loan from one
of the many lenders that don't require
mountains of documents. Many lenders are
located in dealerships and let dealers
take care of setting up the loan and
determining the interest rate for each
sale.
通常，从银行贷款是最便宜的。然而，由于银
行会要求您出示大量的文件，以证明您有稳定的收
入和偿还能力。所以，到银行申请贷款往往要花好
几周时间。一些人等不及，就会从众多放款人中选
择一个放款人，申请利息更高但也更快捷的贷款。
通常来说，放款人不会要求您填写堆积如山的文
件。许多贷款人/公司就在汽车经销处，他们让经
销商负责放贷并决定每笔贷款的利率。
☆ Before signing off on a loan, don't forget
to add a “prepayment option”freeing you of any
penalties if you pay the loan off early.
☆
在签贷款协议之前，别忘了添加“提前还款
（prepaymentoption）”选项，这可以避免您因提前还款
而遭到处罚。
Now that you've got the perfect car
and have arranged the cheapest loan, it's
time to talk auto insurance, without
which you are not allowed to drive in the
U.S. You can buy insurance at the
dealership, or you can buy a policy ahead
of time from an insurance company. If you
don't have insurance and you're buying a
car at a dealership, you won't be able to
get the keys to your car. If you buy a
car from its owner, one of three things
can happen:
现在您已经有了一辆完美的车，而且贷款利率
也是最低的，下面就该讨论一下汽车保险了。因为
在美国如果没有保险，就不能开车。您可以在汽车
经销商那里买保险，也可以提前在保险公司买。您
若没买保险就到经销商那里去买车，您是拿不到车
钥匙的。若您是从个人手里买车，会出现以下三种
情况：
·The seller already has insurance
for the first month you own the car
after the sale.
·The seller is ready to pay for the
first month's insurance.
·You will be responsible to pay for
insurance once the sale is complete.
·卖方已经上好了您过户后第一个月的车
险。
·卖方愿意给您上第一个月的车险。
·一旦买卖成交，您就要自己买车险。
Once you buy a car, you have to
register it at the local DMV within a
certain period of time, as established by
the law in your state. If you buy a car
from a dealer, he will give you all the
documents you need to register your car.
买了车以后，您要在规定时间内到当地汽车管
理处登记注册，具体事宜依据您所在州的法律。如
果您是从经销商那里买的车，经销商会给您提供所
有注册所需的文件。
When an individual takes your payment,
he is required to give you the car's
certificate of title (often just called
the title). On the back, he should write
the date the car was transferred to your
name and the current odometer reading,
and then sign it.
如果您把车款给了个人，卖车的人需要把车证
给您（通常称为title）。在车证背面，他应写明
该车过户给您的日期，当前的里程数，然后签名。
After registering your car, you will
receive a sticker indicating the month
and year that your registration is valid
until. Reregistering your car, unlike
inspections, happens every year in the
same month the car was first registered.
Renewing your registration can be done by
mail or online.
注册之后，您会得到一张贴纸，上面会标明此
次注册的有效期限，期限只精确到年月。注册跟车
检不同，在第一次注册之后，您需要每年都在同一
月份去注册一次。后续注册可以通过传统的邮件进
行，也可以在网上进行。
Besides paying for the registration
fee, you may be required to check
technical condition of your car once in a
while. Mechanical inspections, in states
that require them, can be done by garages
and service centers licensed to conduct
them. They will forward results of these
inspections directly to the DMV. You can
learn the rules for registering your car
and getting it inspected in your state by
going to www.state.xx.us or www.xx.gov,
where
the
“xx”
is
the
2-letter
abbreviation for your state.
除了要交纳注册费，您可能还会时不时地被要
求去检验一下车的技术性能。在要求检查车辆技术
性能的州，机械检查可以到有营业执照的汽车修配
厂或者服务中心完成，而检查结果会被直接送到汽
车管理处。您可以登录www.state.xx.us
或者
www.xx.gov了解相关规定，这里的“xx”代表您
所在州的两个字母的缩写。
Officials can refuse to register your
car or postpone registration in certain
situations:
在以下特定情况下，官员可以拒绝为您的车注
册或者延迟注册：
·You did not pay a fine for a
traffic violation on time.
·You do not have proof that the car
was inspected.
·您没有按时缴纳交通违规的罚款
·您无法证明车辆已经接受过检验
Many Americans prefer to lease their
cars instead of buying them, especially
if
their
employers
give
them
a
transportation allowance. They lease a
car for several years with the right at
the end of the lease to return the car to
the leasers. If anything goes wrong with
the car, the leaser may provide a new
vehicle. Leasing is most popular among
people who
许多美国人宁愿租车也不买车，尤其是如果老
板给他们交通补助的话。他们会租一辆车，而且一
租就是好几年，然后到租期再把车还给出租人。要
是车有毛病了，出租人会提供一辆新车。租车在以
下人群中最受欢迎：
·Don't want to own their own car
·Haven't made their final decision
about which car they want
·Live somewhere temporarily
·Change cars at least once every
five years
·Believe it will be cheaper to
lease than to buy
·Have given their own car to a
family member, such as a student, to
use for a period of time
·不想有自己的车的人
·还没想好买什么车的人
·暂居在某地的人
·至少每五年要换一辆车的人
·认为租车比买车便宜的人
· 已经把自己的车借给家人---比如：还在
上学的孩子---用一段时间的人
☆ When deciding whether to buy or lease,
don't forget that a new car loses a significant
portion of its value once you've signed off on
the purchase.
☆ 当您在为买车还是租车犹豫不决时，一定要记住：在
您签订购买协议的那一刻，您的新车就已经大大贬值了。
Chapter 31 Buying and selling real
estate
第三十一章 房产买卖
In the U.S., the real estate market is
constantly growing and very profitable.
It involves astronomical amounts of
money,
and
this
money
comes
from
individuals,
banks,
financial
institutions,
insurance
companies,
investors and the government.
在美国，房地产市场持续增长，而且利润可
观。这个行业席卷大量的钱财，这些钱财来源于个
人、银行、金融机构、保险公司、投资商以及政
府。
For many Americans, buying their own
home is a decision on par with deciding
to open their own business. It is the
cornerstone of the American dream. A
house or condo is seen as a long-term
investment and a symbol of long-term
security. How good an investment a house
is depends on the many professionals who
are required by law to be in on the deal:
real
estate
agents,
loan
officers,
lawyers, bank associates, appraisers,
inspectors, and escrow and title company
employees. Depending on your goal and who
else is involved in the home buying
process, there are several different
types of ownership:
对于很多美国人来说，计划买房就如同决定创
业一样，是美国梦的基石。独栋小楼或者拥有独立
产权的公寓可以被视为一种长期投资，也可以视为
长期抵押品。房产投资的好坏取决于依法参与交易
的众多专业人士，其中包括房地产经纪人、信贷
员、律师、银行合伙人、评估师、验房师、第三方
托管公司以及产权公司的员工。根据您的目标和参
与房屋交易的其他人的不同，产权有如下几种不同
的形式：
·100% ownership by one person or
company
·Two or more owners ( “tenancy in
common” or “joint tenancy”)
·Ownership by a married couple (
“community property” or “community
property with right of survivorship”)
·由个人或公司100%持有产权
·房产有两个或两个以上的所有者（“一般
共有”[1]或“联权共有”[2]）
·已婚夫妇的产权（“夫妻共同财
产”或“有自动继承权的夫妻共同财产”）
Every form of ownership has its own
characteristics and its own advantages
and disadvantages. Whatever type of
ownership you choose, you'll go through
the same process to buy a home. Here are
the steps involved in home-buying:
每种产权形式都有自己的特点及优缺点。但不
论您选择哪种产权形式，买房都需要同样的程序。
下面就是买房的步骤：
·Evaluating your personal finances
and how much you can invest in real
estate
·Choosing a lender
·Choosing a community or
neighborhood
·Choosing a real estate agent to
represent you ( sometimes called “a
buyer's agent”)
·Choosing a house or building
·Making an initial offer to the
seller via your real estate agent by
signing the purchase contract
·Waiting for the seller's response
and negotiating the different parts of
the purchase contract via your agent
·Signing all documents and sending
them to the escrow company
·评估您的个人财务状况，看您在房产方面
能投资多少钱
·选择贷款方
·选择一个社区或居民区
·选择房地产经纪人（有时被称作“买方经
纪人”）
·选择一幢独栋小楼或公寓楼
·通过房地产经纪人以签署购买合同的形式
向卖方作出最初报价
·等待卖方的回应，并通过经纪人来就购房
合同中的各个部分进行谈判
·签署所有文件，并送交第三方托管公司
☆ The escrow company is a neutral company
but is involved in a real estate transaction. It
holds all financial funds and coordinates every
transaction between the buyer and the seller. In
certain states such as Iowa or Michigan, this is
done by title companies. The escrow period
usually takes about a month (from the time your
offer to buy the property is accepted until you
get possession of the property). During this
time, the seller may still be living there and
preparing to move.
☆ 第三方托管公司是在房产交易中涉及的一个中立的公
司。它保管所有的财务资金，协调买卖双方的所有交易。在
某些州，比如艾奥瓦州和密歇根州，这些是由产权公司来完
成的。第三方托管期一般为一个月（从您的购房请求被确认
直到您拥有房产）。在这期间，卖方还可以住在那儿，做搬
离准备。
·Processing loan approval and
reports (Start the loan approval
process immediately after the escrow is
opened.)
·Inspecting the house and
negotiating repairs or money in lieu of
actual work done
·Closing the deal and signing off
on all the paperwork
·Taking possession of the property
·进行贷款审批并制作审批报告（在第三方
托管期开始后，会立即启动贷款审批流程）
·验收房屋，并就需要维修的地方进行谈判
协商，不做实际修缮的话也可用现金作为补偿
·达成交易并签署所有文件
·获得房产所有权
Evaluating your personal finances and
determining how much you want to invest.
As you decide whether you should buy a
house or condo, look carefully at your
finances and figure out how much you can
afford to spend on a home. Your annual
income, current debts and credit history
will all affect your mortgage, the length
of your mortgage and your interest rate.
在您选择决定是买别墅还是公寓前先评估您的
个人财务状况，然后再决定您想投资多少钱。在您
选择约定是买别墅还是买公寓的时候，请认真查看
自己的财务状况，弄清楚自己能在房屋上花多少
钱。您的年收入、当前的债务和信用记录都会影响
到您抵押贷款的额度、年限以及利率。
☆ Your total monthly payments on all debts,
including your mortgage, should not exceed 36%
of your household income before taxes.
☆ 您每月所需偿还的债务总额，包含抵押贷款，不应该
超过您家庭税前总收入的36%。
You
can
also
search
online
for
mortgage calculators and qualifiers, and
see exactly how much home you can qualify
for. Many bank websites have these tools
in their mortgage sections, or you can
put the phrase “mortgage calculator”
into your favorite search engine. These
calculators will also add in expenses
like
property
tax
and
homeowner's
insurance, which can have a big impact on
the size of your monthly house payments.
您也可以上网搜索一下抵押贷款计算器和申请
抵押贷款的资质要求，看看自己到底能住得起多大
的房子。很多银行网站的抵押贷款版块里都有这些
工具，或者您也可以在自己最喜欢使用的搜索引擎
里键入关键词“mortgage calculator （抵押贷
款计算器）”。这些计算器会把财产税和房主保险
等费用加进去，这些费用会在很大程度上影响到您
月还款额的多少。
Choosing a lender. Looking for a
mortgage will require patience and time.
Mortgages are issued by mortgage banks
that
specialize
in
financing
home
purchases as well as by commercial and
savings banks, credit unions and other
financial institutions.Every institution
has its own lending policies and its own
conditions and processes for making loans
and determining interest rates, which
vary with changes in the financial
markets and at the Federal Reserve. You
can look at various banks and companies'
current
mortgage
rates
at
www.compareinterestrates.com and find out
about
important
issues
such
as
unnecessary fees and lending, and you can
learn about housing discrimination at
www.hud.gov under the “Topic Areas”
section.
选择贷方。选择抵押贷款需要耐心和时间。发
放抵押贷款的机构有：专门从事为购买房产融资的
抵押贷款银行，以及一般的商业银行、储蓄银行、
信用合作社和其他金融机构。每个机构都有自己的
信贷政策，以及放款和确定利率的条件和程序。银
行利率往往会随着金融市场和美联储的变化而变
化。登录www.compareinterestrates.com您可以
查看各个银行和公司的现行抵押贷款利率，并了解
有关不必要费用以及放贷等的重要问题。访问
www.hud.gov网站的“Topic
Areas”（主题版
块），您可以学到辨别房屋的知识。
☆ It takes time to find the bank that offers
the best rates.However, once you've found it,
you'll reduce the overall cost of buying a home
significantly.
☆ 要想找到贷款利率最低的银行很耗时间。但是，如果
找到了，您的购房总支出将会大幅减少。
If you don't want to shop around
yourself and decide to go to a financial
broker to get the best mortgage deal, be
prepared to pay a hefty commission.
如果您不想自己去找，而是想让金融代理人帮
您去找最划算的抵押贷款的话，那么您就要做好付
高额佣金的准备了。
Choosing the area where you'd like to
live. One of the most important criteria
in choosing a property is its location,
the area where you'd like to live. The
main factors affecting what area you
choose are
选择房产最重要的条件之一就是它的地段，因
为您要选择一个自己喜欢住的地段。影响您选择住
地的主要因素有：
·The area's appearance. It's
important to see whether the homeowners
in the neighborhood maintain individual
homes and gardens and whether the local
government repairs the streets and
enforces local regulations such as
those prohibiting unsightly messes.
·The socio-economic level of the
local residents
·The cost of housing in the area
·The distance to supermarkets,
shopping malls, hospitals, libraries,
church, parks, and other services
·Your commute time (how far the
area is from your work)
·The quality of schools and
preschools in the area
·The distance from friends and
relatives
·Access to public transportation if
that's important to you
·Any sources of constant noise such
as railroads, airports, metro stations
or military bases
·Crime in the area
·区域环境。这片居民区的房主们是否保养
自己的房子和花园，当地政府是否维修街道，是
否执行如“严禁脏乱”等地方政策等，这几点都
很重要
·当地居民的社会经济水平
·这个地区的住房花费
·距离服务设施的远近，如：超市、大型购
物中心、医院、图书馆、教堂、公园以及其他服
务设施等
·您的通勤时间（这个地区距离您的上班地
点有多远）
·这个地区的学校和幼儿园的质量
·离您亲朋好友有多远
·公共交通是否便利（如果这对您很重要的
话）
·有无长期噪音的来源，比如铁路、机场、
地铁站或者军事基地
·这个地区的治安状况
☆ You can request a criminal report from
your local police department or from your agent.
☆ 您可以从当地警方或者您的代理人那里索取一份犯罪
报告。
Once
you've
chosen
the
town
or
neighborhood that's right for you, you
can start looking for an actual home by
talking to a real estate agent or broker.
一旦您选好了适合您的城镇或居民区，您就可
以找个房产代理商或者房产中介，帮您寻找合适的
房子了。
☆ Many real estate agents will be more
interested in selling you what's on the market
quickly than helping you find the home you want.
Look at this example:
☆
大部分房地产代理更愿意向您兜售市场上现有的房
源，并让您尽快出手购买，而不是帮您寻找您想要的房子。
请看下面的例子：
Mary planned to move to the greater Los
Angeles area. Over several weeks, she drove
around
and
had
a
look
at
the
area's
neighborhoods using a local map. She decided she
wanted to buy a place in Los Feliz Village. Mary
called several real estate agents and told them
what she wanted. After a few weeks, Mary
realized that the agents had absolutely no
interest in looking for houses or apartments
that fit her needs, as they would require them
to do more work. The most aggressive agents
showed her houses in neighborhoods and areas
near, but not in, Los Feliz Village, such as
Burbank and Glendale, and swore that they were
good deals. Whenever they would show Mary a
house, they would pressure her by saying things
like, “This apartment has already been taken
off the market, but we may be able to fight for
it,” or “There's already another offer in on
this place, so if you want it, you'd better make
an offer now.”
玛丽计划搬到大洛杉矶地区。她开着车，拿着地图，在
那个地方转了好几个星期。她决定住在洛斯费利斯村。玛丽
联系了几个房产代理，告诉了他们她想要找什么样的房子。
几个星期后，玛丽发现他们根本没兴趣去帮她找一处适合她
的别墅或公寓，因为这样他们的工作量会大很多。最积极的
代理给她看了一些位于洛斯费利斯村附近的房子，如伯班克
和格伦代尔的房子，但没有洛斯费利斯村里面的房子，而且
还信誓旦旦地说那些都是很好的选择。每次他们给玛丽看房
子的时候，都会说一些像“这套公寓已经退出市场了，但我
们会努力争取的”，或者“另一个买家也看好这要房子了，
所以如果您想要，最好现在出手”之类的话，给玛丽施加压
力。
This pressure irritated Mary and forced to
keep her guard up. She thought of all the buyers
who didn't have the time or energy after a hard
day's work to resist these pushy agents and
wound up with houses that they really didn't
like.
这样的压力让玛丽很恼怒，并且让她警觉起来。她想起
了那些在辛苦工作一天后既没时间也没精力去与那些咄咄逼
人的房产代理周旋的人们，这些人到头来只会买一套不是自
己真正满意的房子。
Because
Mary's
experience
is
so
common, especially in marginal cities,
choosing a good agent is crucial to your
house hunt.
类似于玛丽的经历十分多见，尤其在边远城
市。所以，买房时选择一家好的房产代理商至关重
要。
The overwhelming majority of Americans
have dealt with this kind of sales pro
who rapidly transforms the buyer from the
leader, who is paying for a service, to
the person being led, ordered around and
told what to think.As a result, the buyer
ends up getting something he doesn't
really want and something very different
from what he first envisioned.
绝大多数的美国人都与这种销售人员打过交
道，这些人可以很快把买家由一个购买服务的主导
者变成一个被主导、被差遣、被指挥的人。在他们
的影响下，最终买家常常会购买自己并不是很想要
的并且与先前的设想很不一样的房产。
You can also get a good feel of the
available properties by visiting “open
houses” on weekends and by looking at
advertised properties, but a good buyer's
agent can make your search much more
effective. He or she can provide you with
a comprehensive listing of the homes for
sale in your area (called an “MLS”
list). These lists can be tailored to
meet your specifications such as listing
price or size. Some of the best houses
are never shown in an “open house” and
may be sold very quickly before much
advertising is done.
您也可以通过参加“周末看房会”或者翻阅房
产广告来更多地了解相关信息，但一个好的买方经
纪人能让您的搜房更加高效。他/她会给您提供一
份当地待售房屋的综合列表（被称作MLS [3]表，即
多重上市服务系统），他们可以据您的限制条件
（如价格和面积等）来为您量身打造一份列表。一
些好房子从不会在“周末看房会”中展示，它们会
很快在尚未投放太多广告的时候就被售出。
You can also contact the seller's
agent to show you a property, but
remember that these agents are working on
behalf of the seller, not you.
您也可以联系卖方经纪人来给您看房子，但记
住：他们代表的是卖家，而不是您。
Choosing a real estate agent. After
you decide where you'd like to live, you
can contact various real estate agencies
or, depending on your area, you can
simply make an appointment to see an
agent and talk to him or her. As a rule,
you'll find it most helpful to go to a
real estate agency with an office in the
area. Most agents operate in a specific
area and have established relationships
with local developers and owners. They
often live in or nearby their community.
选择房地产代理商。当您决定了居住片区以
后，就可以多联系几个房地产代理商了，或者根据
具体情况，您也可以直接约见代理人，然后同他/
她谈一谈。通常，最奏效的方法是去找在当地有办
事处的房地产公司。大多数代理商都有一个特定的
经营区域，并会与该区域的开发商和业主建立起良
好的联系。代理商通常就住在这个社区，或者社区
附近。
The main characteristics of a good,
professional real estate agent are
一个好的、专业的房地产代理商应该具备如下
特点：
·An ability to listen carefully to
you and pay attention to your wishes
·The ability to explain matters in
a way that shows professional
competence
·The ability to negotiate well
·A pleasant outward appearance
·Plenty of time for you, as someone
who is hurrying will not do a good job.
If your agent is always in a rush, he
or she will keep you in a constant
state of stress.
·The ability to get things done on
time and keep in touch with you on a
regular basis. You and your agent
should be able to reach each other at
any time if necessary.
·Experience in the neighborhood or
town that interests you
·Experience working at his or her
current agency. Referrals from other
home owners is crucial.
·Willingness to give you sufficient
time to review and sign documents, as
well as explain all the details
·能认真听取您的意见并注意您想要的东西
·能够在解答问题的时候展现出专业水准
·有很好的谈判能力
·有宜人的外表
·能给您很多时间，因为匆匆忙忙的时候，
人是做不好事情的。如果您的代理人总是匆匆忙
忙，他/她会让您感受到持续的压力
·能及时完成任务，并且定期与您联系。只
要有需要，您和您的经纪人可以随时联系上对方
·在您感兴趣的居民区或城镇有相关经验
·他/她在当前的房产公司有工作经验。此
外，是否有其他房主的推荐也是很重要的
·愿意给您足够的时间，供您检查和签署文
件，向您详细解释所有细节
☆ Don't decide that someone is best for you
just because he is from the same country as you
or even if he or she is a relative or good
friend. An agent's nationality and good will do
not guarantee that he will act professionally.
Look at whatever documents you get from your
agent at home and use a dictionary if you need
to. If you can't understand what something
means, ask your agent to explain until you
understand it clearly. Many aggressive agents or
brokers will be annoyed by such a scrupulous
buyer and may get upset, insisting that they
already explained everything you need to know.
If your agent treats you this way, find someone
else.
☆ 不要因为某人与您来自同一个国家, 或者因为他/她
是您的亲戚或好朋友，就觉得他/她是最适合您的房产中
介。一个中介的国籍及其友善程度并不能保证他/她就能做
得很专业。回家以后，要好好读一读中介给您的所有文件，
必要时可以查查词典。如果有些东西您不理解，可以请中介
解释一下，直到您完全理解为止。许多强势的中介或代理会
被太细致的买家惹怒，感到厌烦，并且坚持说他们已经向您
解释了所有您需要知道的东西。如果您的中介这样对您，那
您就找别人吧。
☆ Don't rush and sign something that you
don't understand. By signing, you may be taking
on a financial obligation. Here's a comparison
of two agent types:
☆ 不要急着签订您不理解的东西。签了字，您就要承担
经济责任了。下面是两种中介的对比：
Coco Bush is an ace on the real estate
market. Unlike other agents, Coco pays close and
constant attention to her clients, noting their
characters, habits and priorities. She remembers
their comments when they are viewing a property
and tries to pick the next property so that it
matches her client's needs. She has an excellent
memory and professional approach to her clients,
along with incredible patience, endurance and
the ability to negotiate the best possible deal
for her client. She doesn't limit her practice
to one narrow area. She also does out-of-state
transactions, which is unusual.
科科·布什是房地产市场上的能手。同其他代理人不
同，科科密切而持续地关注她的客户，注意他们的性格、
爱好和优先考虑的事项。她会记住客户在看房时的评论，
并努力在下次为客户提供符合他们需求的房产。她拥有超
强的记忆力，具有与客户打交道的专业方式，以及非凡的
耐心、忍耐力和尽最大努力为顾客争取实惠的能力。她没
有把自己的工作范围局限在很小的区域。而是也会做一些
跨州的交易，这是很少见的。
Robet Anany, who was educated as a lawyer,
may seem a bit distracted and slow compared to
quicksilver Coco. If buyers are in a hurry, they
might well be irritated by his temperament.
However, if you take a closer look at Robert,
you'll soon see that he is a true professional.
As a lawyer, he can't stand rushing or making a
fuss, and he's always on the ball. He has extra
inspections done to uncover any additional
problems with the home and get a better price
for the buyer.
罗伯特·阿纳尼是学法律的，他同聪明伶俐的科科比
起来有点漫不经心，还有点迟钝。如果买家性子急的话，
可能会被他的性格惹恼。但是如果仔细去了解罗伯特，您
很快发现他是真正的专家。作为一名律师，他不能忍受毛
毛躁躁和小题大做，而且他总是很机警。他会额外检查一
遍房子以便发现其他任何问题，并且会为买家争取更优惠
的价格。
Real estate agents make their living
from commissions on sales and purchases.
The more a place costs, the more
commission they earn. For this reason,
not all brokers are willing to fight for
a lower price. Moreover, if the buyer is
determined to get a lower price, the
negotiations could drag on and the deal
might never happen. This is also not in
the interest of the agent.
房地产中介通过在买卖中赚取佣金维持生计。
房产价格越高，他们赚取的佣金也就越高。为此，
并不是所有的代理人都愿意为顾客争取低价的。另
外，如果买家决意要砍个低价，那么谈判将会被拖
延下去，而交易也许会泡汤。这种情况对代理人也
不利。
☆ Remember that your broker or agent is
working for you.They should always push for a
better price and represent your interests, and
not merely see you as a way to make a quick
buck.
☆ 记住，您的代理人或中介是为您工作的。他们应该代
表您的利益，始终为您争取更好的价格，而不应该只把您看
成容易赚钱的途径。
A good buyer's agent
一名好的买方经纪人：·Can show you
houses from variety of different
agencies. He is not limited to just his
agency's own listings.
·Has access to MLS listings and
aware of properties that are just going
on the market, often before they have
been advertised
·Can narrow down the list of
properties according to your selection
criteria
·Can access these properties
through the use of lock boxes. You can
often enter these houses with your own
agent when neither the seller nor his
agents are present.
·Can point out the defects of a
potential property that you might not
have noticed such as cracked walls or
water stains.
·Can negotiate on your behalf for
the best deal and better deal with the
seller and his agent if there are
complications.
·You don't need to pay the buyer's
agent at any time. He receives a
commission from the seller. You don't
need to sign a contract with him, and
if you are not happy, find another
agent to help you locate your dream
home.
·能够给您看来自不同房产公司的房源，而
不只局限于自己所在的房产公司的房源。
·会使用多重上市系统（MLS），而且知道那
些刚刚上市甚至还没做广告的房源。
·能根据您的选择标准来缩小搜索范围。
·有房门钥匙盒的使用权，在卖方和卖方经
纪人都不在的时候，您也可以和自己的代理人进
入这些房屋。
·能指出房屋中您没注意到的缺陷，比如墙
上的裂缝或者水渍。
·如果双方有纠纷，能够代表您的利益同卖
方及其经纪人协商，为您争取最佳的交易或者更
好的交易。
·您在任何时候都不用给买方经纪人支付佣
金。买方经纪人的佣金会由卖家负责支付。您也
不用和他签合同，如果您对他不满意，就再找一
个代理人来帮您寻找理想的房子。
Choosing a home. At your first meeting
with your agent, tell him what kind of
property you would like to buy. In the
U.S., you can buy
第一次见代理人时，请告诉他您想要买什么样
的房产。在美国，您可以购买：
·A detached or single-family house
on a small plot of land
·A ranch or farm with a large
amount of land and various barns and
outbuildings
·A town house, which shares no more
than two walls with neighboring
dwellings
·A condominium unit with two or
more common walls with neighboring
dwellings
·占地面积小的独栋或独户别墅
·有大量的土地、各式的谷仓及附属建筑的
农庄或农场
·和周边住宅最多共享两面墙的联体别墅
·和周边住宅共享两面或以上墙体的公寓套
间
Frequently, brokers and agents will
choose several homes from their database
that have asking prices 10% to 15% higher
than what you can afford and bring them
to their first meeting with a new client.
Don't be alarmed by the asking prices.
Remember that every deal is its own case.
Start by looking at various options.
After seeing several condos or houses and
comparing their prices, you'll rapidly
get a sense of whether you like what's
being shown to you.
一般情况下，房产代理人和中介在第一次约见
新客户时，会先从他们现有的房源中选出若干套房
子供客户选择，而且他们开出的价格要比客户能承
受的价位高出10%~15%。听到他们的报价时，您不
要感到惊讶。要记住，每一笔交易都要具体情况具
体分析。您不妨先参看一下有哪些选择。在看过若
干套公寓或别墅并比对了它们的价格之后，您很快
就会知道自己喜不喜欢代理给您提供的选择。
Note the differences in available
properties. “Turn-key” properties are
ready to move in; others will need minor
repairs that the seller may agree to
make. Buying an “as-is” property means
that you will be responsible for making
all of the repairs, which may be
substantial and costly. A “tear-down”
means that the buyer will demolish the
existing structure(s) and construct a
completely new building on the same land.
要留心现有房源之间的差异。比如，有些房子
可以直接入住（“Turn-key”）；而有些房子还需
要进行一点小修小补，并且也许您可以说服卖家来
完成维修；有些房子则需要您自己进行所有的维
修，而且也许维修费用会相当高（“as-is”）；
有些情况则需要您拆除原有的建筑，然后在同一块
地上重建一栋全新的楼（“tear-down”）。
When viewing a home that has caught
your
eye,
pay
particularly
close
attention to the following:
当您看到自己心仪的房屋后，要特别注意以下
方面：
·The yard and outdoor areas (and
pool, if applicable)
·The home and garage's exterior
·The windows (from inside and
outside), porch and doors
·The floors, walls and ceilings
·Kitchen appliances and air
conditioning
·Built-in shelves, cabinets and
closets
·The wiring, heating and plumbing
·The basement and whether it has
any trace of flooding or leaks
·Any holes or rot in the floors of
balconies, porches or terraces
·院落和户外的基本情况（及泳池，如果有
的话）
·房屋本身及车库外延
·窗户（从里向外和从外向里都要看），门
廊和门
·地板、墙壁和天花板
·厨房设施和空调设备
·嵌入式的壁架、壁橱和壁柜
·供电、供暖和管道系统
·地下室以及它是否有浸水和漏水现象
·阳台、走廊和露台是否有孔洞或腐蚀现象
☆ Pay especially close attention to your
next-door neighbors and note what their houses
look like, whether they have a lot of dogs or
other animals, or whether they regularly engage
in noisy activities in or around their homes.
You should walk through the neighborhood at
different times of the day and evening.
☆ 除房屋本身的质量外，您还需要特别关注一下您的左
邻右舍。如邻居家的房屋是什么样的？他们是不是养了很多
狗或者其他动物？ 他们是否经常在房屋内外进行一些噪音
很大的活动？为确认上述问题是否存在，您需要在白天和晚
上的不同时段到房屋所在的居民区四处走走。
To gain more value for your money,
remember that it is better to buy a less
expensive
property
in
a
great
neighborhood and update it than to buy
the most beautiful house in a less
desirable neighborhood.
为了让自己的投资有更大的升值空间，请记
住：宁可在一个很棒的居民区买个便宜点的房子，
也不要在一个没吸引力的居民区买里面最漂亮的房
子。
Often different agents will offer to
show you the same houses. To avoid
wasting your time, find out the exact
address of any property you plan to view
with your agent.
另外，为了避免浪费时间，您最好搞清楚您打
算和代理人一起去看的房子具体在什么位置，因为
不同的中介经常会向您介绍同一处房产。
Once, Tom and his agent looked at condo with
an asking price of $285,000. As Tom was looking
at the place, he had only one desire: to leave
the dump as soon as possible. The unit was in
terrible condition. Its doors and windows were
broken, and a strange, unpleasant odor permeated
the entire place. “How could the owner ask such
a ridiculous price for such a run-down hole?”
Tom wondered. A few weeks later, another agent
offered to show him a condo at the same address.
一次，汤姆和他的代理看了一套公寓，卖方出价28.5万
美元。汤姆在看房的时候只有一个想法：这个地方真够烂
的，看完赶紧走。这套房糟糕透顶：门窗破破烂烂的不说，
整个房子还充斥着一种奇怪的难闻的气味，这让人无法忍
受。汤姆觉得很奇怪：“卖家怎么能够给这样一栋破房子开
这么高的价？”过了几周以后，又有一个代理人要带汤姆去
同一个地方看那套房子。
When Tom refused outright, the agent gave him
several reasons why he might want to take
another look. “Never refuse to look at real
estate. You can always renovate. The most
important factors are the building's condition
and your future neighbors and neighborhood,
which you're going to have to live with for a
long time.” After taking a better look at the
area and talking to the neighbors, Tom walked
through the foul-smelling rooms one more time
and decided to make an offer.
汤姆马上拒绝了代理人的提议，但是代理人跟他讲了好
几个应该再去看一看的理由。他说：“永远不要拒绝看房
子，房子总是可以装修的。看房子的重点是看整栋楼的状
况，看您未来的邻居以及整个居民区，毕竟您要和他们生活
很长一段时间。”汤姆在仔细地查看了这个区域，并与邻居
们聊过之后，他再次穿过那个充斥着怪味的套间，并决定考
虑出价。
Making an offer. If you decide you
would like to buy a particular property,
put together a contract with the help of
your agent.
出价。您如果决定购买某一处房产，您首先要
在代理人的帮助下起草一份购买合同。
These contracts usually contain the
same information:
这样的合同通常应包含如下信息：
·The names of all participants in
the deal, including their real estate
agents
·The address and legal description
of the property that is being bought
and sold
·The price offered by the buyer
·The deposit required to make an
offer
·Additional requirements from the
buyer and the seller. For example, as a
buyer, you can give a seller a deadline
to accept or reject your offer.
·The conditions under which the
deal will take place
·Circumstances that will allow the
buyer to call off the deal without
losing deposit
·Circumstances that will allow the
seller to call off the deal
·The expected closing date
·参与交易的所有人员的姓名，交易人员包
括房产代理人
·被买卖房产的地址和法律描述
·买方的报价
·报价所需的预付款/定金
·买卖双方的附加要求。比如，作为买家，
您可以给卖家限定一个最后期限，要求其在这个
截止日期前告知您他是否接受您的报价。
·交易成交的条件
·在何种情况下，买方可单方面终止交易并
收回预付款/定金
·在何种情况下，卖方可单方面终止交易
·预期的成交时间
The most crucial part of the agreement
is the price. The price stated in this
first
version
of
the
contract
is
considered the initial offer. When making
an offer for a house, discuss with your
broker
要达成协议，关键是价格。第一个合同版本中
的价格是房产的初始价格。在给房屋出价时，您应
与代理人商讨如下问题：
·Whether the asking price of the
seller is higher than the home's actual
value
·The condition of the property
·The additional costs of repairs
after you buy the home
·卖方的报价是否高于房屋的实际价值
·房屋的状况
·购房后的后续维修费用
In the U.S., most sellers and buyers
are willing to negotiate. If you want a
lower price, make an initial offer that
is at least 10% to 15% below the asking
price.
You
can
use
the
National
Association of Realtors' website at
www.realtors.org to find out more about
the current average and median prices for
real estate in your area.
在美国，大多数的买家和卖家都愿意就价格进
行协商。如果您想把价格压低，那您给的初始价格
可以比卖方报价低10~15%。您可以通过美国房地产
经纪人协会的网站www.realtors.org 来查询当地
不动产的现行均价以及中位价。
☆ While you want to get the house for less,
don't get carried away. Be reasonable when
putting together an offer, as there may be
several other potential buyers submitting their
offers at the same time. For example, in the
story above Tom offered the owner $200,000
instead of the asking price of $285,000.
☆ 当您想给房子砍价的时候，一定要理智、冷静，并且
最好出个合理的价格。因为，在您出价的同时，可能还会有
几个其他的潜在买家在对同一处房产出价。比如在上述汤姆
的买房案例中，房主的报价是28.5 万，而汤姆出价20万。
Negotiations. Depending on how the
seller responds to your offer (this is
often
called
countering),
you
may
continue to negotiate. This should be
done by your agent. At this stage you
probably will not meet the seller at all.
Alternatively, you may have to admit
defeat as the seller accepts a better
offer. If you want to keep talking, take
a good look at all the comments,
corrections, additions and exceptions in
the counter offer you receive. As a rule,
it should take no more than a month or
two to reach an agreement, and sometimes
as little as a few weeks, days or even
hours.
议价。您可以根据卖家对您所出价格（这通常
被称为还价）的反应来判断是否有必要进一步协
商。此步骤应由您的代理人完成。在这个时候，您
可能根本见不到卖家，也可能是卖家接受了更高的
出价，而您不得不退出此次竞购。如果您想和卖方
进一步协商的话，就要好好看看您收到的反馈：卖
家在还价中所做的所有评论、更正、增补以及异议
等。通常来说，达成一个房屋交易不会超过一个月
或两个月的时间，有时甚至只需几周、几天甚至几
个小时。
If you are sure that you want to buy a
particular property and you need time to
get a mortgage, you can ask the seller in
a purchase agreement or in a follow-up
offer to take the property off the market
during negotiations.
如果您已经确定要购买某处房产而且您需要时
间来申请住房贷款的话，您可以在购买合同或者后
续协议中让卖家保证一件事：房屋在您申请贷款过
程中不再上市销售。
☆ You must be firm, as many sellers will not
agree to take their property off the market.
☆ 在这个问题上，您的态度必须坚决，因为很多卖家是
不会同意把房产从交易市场上撤回的。
The seller may insist that if you, the
buyer, do not fulfill the conditions of
your agreement by a certain date, the
property will be put back on the market.
卖家可能会坚持要求：若您（买方）在某个日
期之前无法达成协议的条件，房产将会重新上市出
售。
You can avoid this scenario by getting
pre-approved for a mortgage at your
chosen bank. If you send a letter of preapproval of your bank along with your
initial offer, you'll show the seller
that you already have financing and are a
serious buyer.
为避免这种情况的发生，您可以到您选好的银
行预先申请抵押贷款。当您把银行的预批信连同您
最初的报价一起寄给卖方的时候，您可以向卖方证
明：您已经融好资并且您是一个诚心的买家。
Inspections. Every contract states
when inspections have to be done and
indicates which party is responsible for
inspections and appraisals. Inspection
and appraisal reports are issued to both
the buyer and seller and must be
conducted within the time stated in the
contract.
房屋验收。房屋协议均会明确说明验收房子的
时间以及由哪一方负责验收和评估。房屋验收和评
估必须在合同规定的时间内完成，并且验房报告应
该给买卖双方各发一份。
During a home inspection, inspectors
will look for visible defects and faults.
The most important areas are the home's
roof, foundation, wiring, heating, sewage
and ventilation, which can cost a lot to
repair.
If
you
inspector
uncovers
defects, you may be able to get out of
your contract. You can also negotiate
with the seller to make repairs for you
or to lower the price. Be careful if the
house is still filled with the seller's
possessions such as boxes or large pieces
of furniture which may hide serious
defects.
在验房的过程中，验房人员会寻找房屋的各种
明显缺陷。重点区域包括房顶、地基、供电系统、
供热系统、排污系统和通风系统等等，因为通常这
些的维修费用会很高。如果验房人员发现了缺陷，
您有权单方终止合同，或者您也可以要求卖家进行
必要的维修或者降低房价。验房时要注意一点：卖
方未挪出房间的各种大件的家具或箱子等可能会遮
盖房屋的严重缺陷。
Not all inspections are created equal.
You may want to consider hiring someone
with
credentials
from
the
National
Association
of
Home
Inspectors（www.nahi.org）,
as
many
states don't require inspectors to be
licensed or have any experience on the
job.Your real estate agent should be able
to help you with some recommendations.
而且验房人员的水平可能参差不齐。鉴于很多
州对于验房人员并没有从业资格或经验的要求，您
可以考虑雇用一个有美国验房师协会
（www.nahi.org）颁发的资质证明的人。您的房
产代理人会帮您推荐一些验房师。
If
either
party
wishes,
other
inspections might be ordered such as:
应买卖双方的要求，也可以安排其他项目的验
收，如：
·Termite inspection
·Soil testing
·Water testing
·Asbestos, mold inspection
·白蚁检查
·土壤测试
·水测试
·石棉检验和房屋构架检测
In Tom's case, when an inspection
found that asbestos levels in the ceiling
were slightly above the norm, he was able
to get a much lower price for the condo.
在汤姆的案例中，验房人员发现房子天花板中
的石棉含量微微超了标，于是他以低很多的价格买
到了那套公寓。
☆ While the home is being inspected, you and
your agent should be working closely with a bank
to get your mortgage approved.
☆ 在验房的同时，您应该与代理商积极配合银行，尽快
把银行的抵押贷款搞定。
An appraisal is required by your
lender as proof that the home will serve
as adequate collateral. If the appraiser
determines that a property is worth less
than the loan amount, your bank may not
finance the deal, or your mortgage amount
may be reduced. Appraisers compare the
house to similar ones that have been sold
in the same area in recent months.
贷方一般会要求您出示房屋的评估报告，以确
保房屋市值足够充当抵押品。如果信贷评估员认为
房屋市值低于您要申请的贷款金额，银行就有可能
会驳回您的贷款申请或是降低您的贷款额度。具体
的评估方法是：信贷评估员会把您的房子与近几个
月在同一地区售出的类似的房子进行比较。
The main criteria include
主要的评估指标包括：
·The year the building came into
use or was built
·The total square footage and
number of rooms
·The price per square foot
·The number of balconies, fire
places and the size of the garage
·Any upgrades to the property
·Whether the property has a garage,
a big yard, a view, etc.
·房屋的建筑时间或启用时间
·房屋的总平方英尺数和房间数
·房屋的市值
·房屋内阳台、壁炉的个数以及车库的面积
·房屋的升值空间
·房屋是否有庭院、车库，以及良好的视野
等。
☆ The appraised value of a home won't always
convince a seller to lower the price.
☆ 房产的评估价值不一定总会说动卖家降低价格。
Once a home has been inspected and
appraised, if all is well, the next step
in the process is the title search. A
title search confirms that the seller
legally owns the property according to
documents on file and that there are no
liens (legal claims on the property for
repayment of debt) or other potential
problems connected with the property. In
the U.S., no sale should be considered
final without a title search.
当房屋经过验收和评估以后，如果一切顺利，
那么下一步就是对房屋进行产权调查。房屋的产权
调查是要确认卖家拥有该房屋的合法产权，并保证
房屋产权没有被抵押（如作还款抵押），而且该房
产也没有其他潜在的问题。在美国，没经过房屋产
权调查，交易就不算最终完成。
Every buyer may have the right to get
out the contract if, for example:
通常，如果出现以下情况，买方可以单方退出
协议：
·The bank refuses to finance the
purchase or offers unreasonable
interest rates
·The home inspection uncovers
serious problems that the buyer was not
aware of and does not like
·The seller defaults on his
obligations
·The property cannot be appraised
for the offered price
·The title report uncovers serious
problems
·银行拒绝批准抵押贷款或提出不合理的利
率要求
·验房人员发现房屋具有严重问题，而且这
些问题买方事先并不知情，知道以后，买方表示
不满意
·卖方未履行其应尽义务
·房产的评估价低于卖方的报价
·产权调查中发现重大问题
Don't forget the final inspection
which you and your agent should do a
couple
days
before
closing!
This
inspection is important because you don't
want any unwanted surprises such as
missing appliances that you assumed had
been included in the deal or holes in the
wall that had previously been hidden by
the seller's massive bookcase.
别忘了，您和您的代理人还要在达成交易的前
几天对房屋进行最后一次检验！最后这次验房的工
作非常重要，因为没有哪个购房者会希望出现任何
不愿看到的意外情况，比如：房子里少了原本您以
为包含在交易中的家电，或者墙上的窟窿先前一直
被卖家的大书架挡着没让您发现！
The final contract. Based on the
contract,
inspectors'
reports
and
confirmation from your lender, the buyer
and seller remove all contingencies and
sign the documents confirming any repairs
to be made by the seller and specifying
when they must be completed. Then they
set a final closing date.
最终的合同。根据初始合同、验房报告和贷款
确认函，买卖双方排除各种或有事项，签署最后的
合同文件，文件中应当明确买房对房屋的修理义务
并规定房屋维修完成的时间。然后，确定一个最后
的成交日期。
Closing. The signed purchase contract
and any other required documents during
the
transaction
are
given
to
an
independent escrow company to do the
legal paperwork.The deal will be closed
once they have
成交。在交易中签署的购买协议及其他必要文
件，一律交由第三方托管机构对其进行合法托管。
一旦满足以下条件，交易即告完成：
·A statement that the owner does
not owe any payments or taxes on the
home
·A title report stating that the
seller is the 100% owner of the
property
·Notice that the buyer's bank has
put the mortgage amount in escrow
·Knowledge that the property has
been transferred from the seller to the
buyer via the title company
·Knowledge that the buyer does not
owe any closing costs to the seller or
to escrow
·Verification that any other
requirements have been met
·卖方声明该房产没有任何欠款或未付税款
·产权报告声明卖方对该房产拥有100%的所
有权
·买家银行已将抵押贷款金额交由第三方托
管机构
·确认房屋产权已经通过产权公司从卖方转
移给了买方
·确认买方不欠卖方或第三方托管机构任何
款项
·确认其他条件均已满足
The entire deal is conducted in
accordance
with
the
Real
Estate
Settlement Procedures Act. Every state
has its own laws regulating when the deed
is issued. For example, in California,
the copy of the deed is handed over to
the buyer at closing, which proves that
he has the right to ownership. The
original deed will be recorded and then
mailed to the buyer's address.
整个交易过程应遵循《房地产过户程序法》的
相关规定。同时，各个州都有其自己的法律来规范
房产证的签发过程。比如：在加利福尼亚，交易达
成的时候，买主会先拿到一张房产证复印件，以证
明他对房产拥有所有权。而房产证原件会在登记之
后邮寄给买方。
Taking possession. The deed will state
the date the home becomes the official
property of the buyer. As a rule, the
seller is required to leave the premises
by that date.In rare cases, the seller
asks for a few extra days to move out. As
the new owner, you can decide whether you
want to charge the seller for these extra
days or whether you agree to let him use
your property free of charge.
过户。一般，房产证上会写明买方正式开始拥
有房产的确切日期。一般情况下，卖家要在这个日
期之前搬离该房屋。在少数情况下，卖方会要求多
给他几天时间让他搬家。您作为房子的新主人，可
以自行决定是要对卖方的滞留收取一定的费用，还
是免费让卖方多住几天。
☆ As the new owner, you are responsible for
your home, regardless of whether the former
owners are still living there.
☆ 作为房子的新主人，无论卖方是否还在那儿居住，您
都要对房子负责。
Once you've bought a home, you may
want to stay put for several years in
order to make good on your investment. If
you are thinking of selling soon after
you move in, don't forget about capital
gains taxes. Many states require you to
live in a property as your primary
residence for a minimum period if you
want to avoid paying capital gains tax
when you sell. In California, that period
is one year.
买房后，您可能想把它放上几年，以期日后在
这个投资上获利。如果您搬进去不久就想把房子转
手，别忘了考虑资本利得税的问题。很多州的法律
都规定，房主在卖房时若想免交资本利得税，至少
要把这个房子作为主要居住地居住一定的时间。在
加利福尼亚，这个时限是一年。
If you are selling your home, it's a
good idea to keep the following in mind:
您在出售房产时，以下问题值得注意：
·Before putting your home on the
market, decide whether your goal is to
make as much money as possible or to
sell as quickly as possible.
·Choose a competent professional
seller's agent. It's a crucial point
for your deal
·Figure out how much real estate
prices are fluctuating
·把房产投放到市场之前，要明确交易目
的，您是想让收益最大化还是时间最小化
·选择经验丰富且专业的房产代理人，这也
是交易成功的关键因素
·明确房地产交易的市场行情
☆ Your asking price should depend on your
needs
and
goals,
not
your
agent's
recommendation.
☆ 房屋的出价应该根据您的需要和目的，而不是房产代
理的建议。
Some people try to sell their houses
on their own without an agent in order to
avoid paying a commission. However, they
often end up selling their home for a lot
less than they would have if they had
gotten an experienced agent to negotiate
for them.
不少卖家为避免产生中介费，尝试亲自出售房
产。然而，因为没有经验丰富的房产代理商的帮
助，通常卖家最终获得的利润往往比交易本应达到
的利润少很多。
[1] 一般共有（tenancy in common），是指由两个或
者两个以上的人共享所有权（可能是额或者不等额）。在其
中一个共有人逝世后，他/她在财产中的份额会自动转移给
他/她的继承人，而不是转给其他共有人。
[2] 联权共有（joint tenancy），联权共有在形式上
是双方共同拥有全部的不动产，当其一方逝世后，剩余的一
方便独自拥有该不动产。
[3] MLS，英文全称为Multiple Listing System，即
多重上市服务系统，是20 世纪20、30年代诞生于美国的一
种房地产交易方式。它是由许多房地产经纪人联合起来共同
建立，共享系统的信息资源，使客户委托的房地产出售、出
租业务能在较短的时间内完成。
Chapter 32 Home improvements and
contractors
第三十二章 房屋修缮与承包商
Say you've bought a lovely older home
what
Americans
sometimes
call
a
“handyman special”. Or say you've found
the perfect location for your business,
but the place needs some work before you
set up shop. That means you'll need to do
some major renovations. But if you've
decided to renovate or repair a building
to use as your home or office space, be
warned: It may take a while. In the U.S.,
repairs demand patience, and the process
can drag on for months. But if you decide
to renovate and spend a lot of money, to
save time and money, you should first
decide how urgently the renovation is
needed and whether the money invested
will increase the value of your property.
Repairs and renovations need to be a good
investment.
假设您买了一套称心的二手房，美国人有时会
称之为“装修屋”；或者您找到了一个做生意的绝
佳地段，但这个房子需要整修之后才能开始营业。
这就意味着您要对房子做一些大的整修。而如果您
已经决定要把房子装修或修缮一下，将此地作为家
宅或者办公地点，那您就要注意了：它也许会花掉
您不少时间。在美国，装修的时候需要耐心，因为
装修过程可能会拖上几个月的时间。但如果您决定
要花上一大笔钱来整修房屋的话，那么为了节约您
的时间和金钱，您首先应该搞清楚家装对您来说到
底有多急迫，以及投入的资金是否会使您的房产增
值。因为修缮与翻新都应该是一次很好的投资。
If the repairs you plan will not
increase
the
market
value
of
your
property, don't do them. This rule
applies to any building, regardless of
whether you plan to sell it in the near
future.
如果您计划要做的整修工作不能增加您的房产
市值，那么还是放弃装修为好。这条规则适用于任
何房屋，不管您是否计划在将来要把它卖掉。
To
determine
the
value
of
your
property after repairs, first do a price
survey of your area. If the majority of
buildings in your neighborhood cost
$120,000 to $180,000, this sets the limit
for any investments you make. Let's say
that you lucked out and bought a house in
serious need of repair for $100,000 in
the neighborhood. If you invest $40,000
to $50,000, you can turn around almost
immediately and sell it for $200,000, but
not for more. Still, that makes your
renovation project a smart investment.
要明确房产在修缮之后的价值，首先您需要对
所在地区的房屋作一个价格调查。如果您附近的大
部分房屋价格都在12万到18万美元之间，那么这就
限制了您投资的价格范围。假设您非常走运，在附
近买了个急待装修但价位仅在10万美元的房子，然
后又假设您花了4万到5万美元装修了一下，那么您
基本上可以马上转手卖到20万美元，但这个价格也
算到头了。不过，您的装修工作仍不失为一项明智
的投资。
Remember that the higher the price per
square foot is in your area, the more
profitable it will be to invest in
renovations. The profit you stand to make
from renovations often greatly exceeds
what you'll spend.
记住，您所在地区房屋的市值越高，装修也就
越是一项有利可图的投资。通常，装修后的收益要
远远超过您在装修时投入的费用。
Here's what you need to get started on
major improvements or renovations:
对房屋进行大的装修和翻新工作时，可以从以
下方面着手：
·Put together a plan for the entire
building or renovation project. This
should include a list of every job,
from start to finish, the project will
require. It's a good idea to get some
information about local building codes
and standards.
You don't want to plan something that
isn't
allowed
in
your
area.
Plan
carefully because changes later on will
cost you and increase the total cost of
the project.
·Get preliminary estimates from
several contractors of how much it
would cost to demolish the building and
start from scratch. Sometimes, it's a
lot cheaper than completely renovating
a rundown building. Make sure that the
estimates you compare are calculated
using the same materials and include a
deadline for project completion. If a
contractor is offering a much lower
estimate, it may be because his basing
it on low quality materials.
·Pick your contractor carefully
·为整个建筑工程或翻修项目拟订计划。该
计划应该包括从工程开始到结束的整个过程中会
涉及的每一项工作。先搜集一些关于当地房屋规
范与标准的信息，对您来说会很有帮助，至少这
样可以避免您的方案不被当地许可。您一定要仔
细做好前期规划，因为以后出现的任何变动都会
让您多费钱，从而使工程的总成本增加
·如果想把房子拆了重新再建，建议您要多
走访几个建筑承包商，让他们大致估算一下所需
的费用。有时，建一个新房子会比彻底翻修一所
破房子便宜得多。一定要保证各个承包商在估算
的时候使用了同样的材料，并把完工期限也考虑
进去了。如果某个承包商的预算报价要比其他承
包商的报价低，也许这个估价是基于品质较差的
材料做出来的
·仔细挑选建筑装修队
To make sure that your project will
conform to state and local laws regarding
things like parking lots and building
exteriors, make sure you hire someone
licensed by the state. To check, contact
the State Contractors Board, where you
can find out more about contractors'
licenses
and
qualifications.
The
contractor board can also tell you how
long a contractor has been in business
and whether customers have registered any
complaints about his or her work.
为确保您的工程会符合州或地方的法律从业规
定，比如关于停车场以及外围建筑等方面的规定，
您一定要雇用持有您所在州颁发的执照的承包商。
为了保险起见，您可以联系该州的承包商协会，以
了解您打算选择的承包商是否拥有从业许可证和资
格证明。该协会还能告诉您某承包商的从业时间，
及其是否有顾客投诉的记录。
Be selective when making your final
decision about a contractor. Don't forget
to check references from other clients.
If you can, look at other completed
projects the contractor was responsible
for. Getting a referral from a satisfied
customer whom you personally know is
invaluable.
在最终决定选择哪家承包商的时候，一定要精
挑细选。不要忘了从其他客户那里获取一些参考信
息。如果可以的话，最好要看看这个承包商之前做
过的其他工程。如果有您认识的人曾经得到过他们
满意的服务并且向您力荐的话，那就再好不过了。
☆ Ask the contractor whether the company
is“bonded”, which means that it insured
against claims covering worker's compensation,
and property damage and personal liability in
case of accidents. Then call to verify the
contractor's insurance coverage after obtaining
the name of the insurance carrier and agency.
☆ 询问承包商所在公司是否“有担保”，也就是说，万
一发生意外事故，该公司是否就工人赔偿、财产损失以及个
人责任承担保险索赔。然后，在获得保险公司和保险代理行
的名字之后，再打电话确认一下承包商的承保范围。
After deciding on a contractor,
need to figure out how to finance
project.Compare what various banks
credit
unions
will
offer
you
you
the
and
(the
amounts, interest rates, terms, and tax
considerations) and pick the deal that's
best for you.
确定了具体承包商之后，您需要决定如何为工
程融资。先对比一下各家银行和信用合作社所能提
供的项目（比如金额、利率、期限、节税考量），
然后选择对您最有利的交易。
Once your financing is settled, it's
time to sign a contract with your
contractor. A good contract will include
一旦资金问题解决以后，您就该和承包商签订
合同了。一个理想的合同应该包括如下内容：
·A thorough description of the work
to be done, specifying all materials to
be used in terms of quality, quantity,
weight, color, size, or brand name
·A work schedule for each phase of
the project, and the agreed upon
starting and completion dates
·The total cost, with a breakdown
of labor and material charges
·A payment schedule
·详细描述所需完成的工作，并指明所有将
要用到的材料的质量、数量、重量、颜色、规格
和品牌
·工程每一阶段的日程安排以及商定好的工
程起讫日期
·全部花销，包括具体每一项劳务费和材料
费
·付款时间表
☆ Discuss any deductions from the final fee
for falling behind schedule or for inferiorquality work.
☆ 如果未能按期完工或工程质量低劣，双方可商议从最
终费用中扣除相应费用。
·Any warranties and guarantees
regarding workmanship
·The method for debris and material
removal once the job is finished
·Any additional information
pertaining to how you want the
contractor to perform, and the type of
work you expect
·关于工人技能的保证与担保
·工程完工后如何处理废料和剩料
·您希望承包商如何开展工作，以及您想要
一个什么样的房子
☆ Don't forget to include the contractor's
full name, business address, telephone number
and contractor's license number in the contract.
☆ 合同中不要漏掉承包商的全名、公司地址、电话号码
及其执照号码。
On any improvement project, you may be
asked to make a down payment.Excluding
the down payment, you should not make
payments for any incomplete work.Schedule
additional payments after completion of
each phase of the project. All of these
terms should be spelled out in the
contract and clearly understood by both
you and the contractor.
任何房屋修缮工程都可能会要求您先交预付
款。但除了预付款之外，您不应该为任何未完成的
工作付款。在每一阶段的工程完工之后，再计划支
付相应款项。所有这些支付条款都应该在合同中详
细写明，并且合同双方都要完全理解。
☆ If your improvement project is the result
of damages covered by an insurance policy, check
with your insurance company or agent to
determine the extent of coverage before signing
a contract to have the damages repaired.
☆ 如果您的修缮工程本来就是保险公司的理赔项目，那
么您应在签合同进行维修之前，向您的保险公司或保险代理
人确认一下理赔范围。
For a project that involves several
subcontractors and a large financial
commitment, you should protect yourself
from liens against your building in the
event the primary contractor does not pay
the subcontractors or suppliers. You may
do this by adding a release-of-lien
clause to the contract or by placing your
payments in an escrow account until the
work is completed.
如果工程涉及几个分包商和大额贷款的话，您
一定要保证您的房子不会因为总承包商没付钱给分
包商或供应商而被质押。为避免这一点，您可以在
合同中加入一项房屋质押免除条款，或者在工程完
工前将款项交由第三方托管。
Here are some tips on how to protect
your-self:
下面是一些自我保护的建议：
·You should know who will be doing
the actual work on the project. For
example, does the contractor hire an
experienced team or does he rely on day
laborers?
·Contact the State Contractors
Board if you are unable to resolve a
dispute with your contractor.
·Don't sign the contract until you
have completely read and understood all
of the provisions.
·Don't submit to high-pressure
sales tactics by a contractor or sales
representative.
·Don't sign a completion
certificate for the job before it has
been inspected and properly completed
as agreed to in the contract.
·Don't pay for the entire job in
advance or pay cash to the salesperson
or contractor.
·Work closely with the contractor
throughout the entire improvement
project.
·您要了解工程实际由谁来负责，例如，承
包商是要雇用一支有经验的建筑装修队还是雇用
临时工？
·如果您无法解决和承包商之间的争执，可
以联系您所在州的承包商协会。
·要在完全阅读并理解所有条款之后，再签
署合同。
·不要屈从于承包商或销售代表的高压销售
策略。
·在完工证明上签字之前，一定要检验并确
认工作已经严格按照合同的规定完成了。
·不要提前支付工程费或者给销售人员或承
包商支付现金。
·在整个修缮过程中，要和承包商密切合
作。
Regardless of how large a remodeling
project you've planned, normally you will
hire professionals even to paint the
ceilings and walls, or to hang wallpaper.
不管您计划的翻修工程有多么浩大，正常情况
下，即便是粉刷天花板、墙壁或贴墙纸之类的活
儿，您最好也要雇用专业人来完成。
☆ Many skilled specialists will recommend
that you do other minor repairs at the same time
as your main project. Most of these can wait. As
you compare the estimates you receive, you can
figure out how much work the project will
actually require and how much it will cost.
☆ 很多有经验的专家会建议您在主体工程进行的同时，
自己来做一些小修小补的工作。当然，大部分次要工作不必
急于一时。当您在比较各家给出的预算时，您就可以搞清楚
这个工程实际需要多少工作量，需要多少花费了。
When Caroline wanted to replace the vanity in
her bathroom, she discovered she needed to move
the pipes about 3 inches to the left. Some of
the plumbers she spoke to suggested replacing
all the pipes in the bathroom for $250 to $300.
Other said less work was required and only asked
$80 to $100. In the end, she found a plumber who
did the job for $40. The search took two weeks,
however. If you don't have the time or desire to
comparison shop and save money, then you might
want hire the more expensive but faster worker.
当卡罗琳想把梳妆台放回洗手间时，她发现她需要把水
管向左边移动3英寸。她咨询了几个水暖工，一些人建议她
花上250到300美元把洗手间里的水管都换掉，而另外一些则
认为不需要这么大的工作量，只收80到100美元就可以了。
最后，她雇了一个水管工，那人要加40美元。但是找到这个
水管工足足花了两周。如果您没有这样的时间或者不愿意为
了省钱而货比三家，那么也许您想雇一个收费较高但工作效
率也较高的工人。
While work is underway, you should
家装过程中您应该做到以下几点：
·Check how work is proceeding from
time to time, as experience shows that
workers work faster and better if they
know their customers are watching
·Point out any problems or things
you don't like
·If any conflicts arise, don't put
off resolving them, as your indecision
will allow the specialist to stop work
and only come back when he has the time
·不时地检查一下工程进度。经验证明，有
了客户的监督，装修工人会工作得更快更好
·如果有不满意的地方，不妨直言不讳
·如果有了什么冲突，不要把问题搁置起
来，因为您的优柔寡断会让装修人员把您的活儿
撂在一边，然后等到他有空的时候再回来解决
☆ Don't be afraid to speak your mind and say
exactly what you think. Remember that this work
is being done for you, and you are the one
paying.
☆ 明确地说出您的想法，不要有顾虑。切记，这个工作
是为您做的，钱也是您来付的。
However, you don't need to hire
someone for every little repair job.
That's why you may want to think about
whether you can do the job yourself
before you sign a contract with a
professional. Most Americans don't spend
money on contractors for simple repairs.
Instead, they go to a home improvement or
hardware store and talk to employees
there. After listening to their advice
and reading a few reference books, they
work on the project on a weekend or day
off.
不过，您无需为每一件细小的修理工作都雇一
个人。所以，在您与专业人士签合同之前，可以想
一想这个活儿您能不能亲自上阵。大多数美国人是
不会为了简单的修理工作花钱请承包商的。相反，
他们会去家装商店或五金店，然后与那里的雇员聊
一聊。在听取雇员的意见之后，再看几本参考书，
他们就会在周末或放假的时候亲自开工了。
If
you
decide
to
do
something
yourself, before you start you need to
decide
如果您决定要亲自干一些活，那么在开始之
前，您要想好下面的事情：
·Whether you really want to do the
project
·Whether you'd rather save the
money you'd spend hiring someone else
·Whether you'd feel better avoiding
the potential conflicts that could
arise if you hired someone
·Whether you care about what your
neighbors, friends or relatives say
·Whether you can follow
instructions precisely
·Whether you're willing to redo
work that you aren't happy with
·Whether you believe your skills
can improve
·您是不是真的想做这个工程
·您是不是真的愿意为了省点钱，把原本可
以雇别人来做的活儿由自己来做
·您会不会因为免去了雇人时会发生的潜在
冲突而感觉良好
·您会不会介意您的邻居、朋友或亲人的评
论
·您是不是能严格地按照说明书来操作
·您是不是愿意重新做一遍您不满意的活儿
·您相不相信您的技能会提高
☆ Remember, the cost of materials and your
time will probably be ten times less expensive
than hiring someone else.
☆ 记住，您亲自上阵的话，所用的材料费和时间都会比
雇别人时要少10倍。
American book market offers you plenty
different sources of information on how
to choose right materials and how to do
small projects such as painting the
ceilings and walls in your home, patching
holes, ripping up and laying new carpet
or hanging wallpaper, easy and fast. Do
not forget about public libraries with
their free sources and free Internet.
美国的图书市场给读者提供了大量不同的信息
资源，可以教您如何选择正确的材料，以及如何粉
刷家里的天花板和墙壁，如何补窟窿，如何铺新地
毯，如何挂墙纸等，而且方法都简单易学。查找信
息时，别忘了公共图书馆的免费资源和免费上网服
务。
Some Americans prefer to work with
contractors when doing any remodeling
because they can recommend what materials
would be best and in what order you
should do things. They may also be
willing to inspect your work and check to
see how you're doing. You'll have to pay
for this help, of course. But with some
good
professional
advice,
remodeling
projects can be a lot of fun.
在做房屋翻新工作时，一些美国人喜欢和承包
商合作，因为他们可以告诉您什么材料最合适，怎
样的工顺最合理。他们也许还会愿意给您的工程把
把关，看看您做得怎么样。当然，既然人家帮了
忙，您就得出钱感谢人家。有了这些好的家装建
议，装修工作会变得妙趣横生。
Chapter 33 Investing
第三十三章 投资
Many Americans, regardless of their
social
status,
equate
the
word
“investment”
with
profit.
Everyone
dreams of making money off of what
they've already earned. Some of the most
common types of investments are
许多美国人，无论其社会地位如何，都认
为“投资”就等于利润。每个人都梦想着能用自己
已经赚到的钱再生出其他的钱来。一些最常见的投
资方式有：
·Real estate
·Business
·Securities
·房地产
·公司
·证券
Real estate is the most popular form
of investment in recent years. Investment
properties include
近年来，房地产是最热门的投资项目。投资房
产包括：
·Residential Properties with Rental
Income
·Commercial Properties
·Single-family houses
·Condominium units
·Lots or plots of land
·靠出租收取租金的住宅房产
·商用房产
·独户别墅
·公寓单元房
·大片或小块土地
When buying residential real estate,
investors are motivated by a whole
multitude of reasons. For example, they
may want
购置住宅房产时，投资者的动机有很多种。例
如，他们可能会有以下想法：
·To buy apartment buildings in
ethnic neighborhoods, fix them up
inexpensively and then rent them out
·To buy condos or houses in upscale
neighborhoods in hopes of seeing a
rapid growth in price
·To buy new buildings that do not
require any further investment and rent
them out
·To buy buildings in poor condition
and renovate them in the future
·在民族聚居区购买公寓楼，花少许钱进行
装修之后再出租出去
·在高级住宅区购买高档公寓或别墅，以期
房价快速上涨
·购买不需要任何后期投资的新建楼，然后
出租出去
·购买状况糟糕的楼房，然后在将来进行翻
新
To buy real estate as an investment,
you don't need to have 100% of its price
in cash. It is good to have some money on
hand, however, because the higher your
down payment, the easier it will be to
get a loan with a low interest rate. If
you rent out the property, you will
receive rental income every month, which
will cover your mortgage payments and
should give you enough money to maintain
or improve the property, too.However, to
increase their profits, some owners
neglect their properties for years on
end. As a rule, rent usually covers more
than just the owner's expenses; it also
brings in a constant profit.
要投资房地产，您不需要有100%的现钱。但
是，最好手头有一定的现金，因为您的首付款越
高，您就越容易得到低利率的贷款。如果您把房子
租出去，那么您每个月都会有房租进账，这笔钱不
仅能让您来还每月的贷款，而且也应该足以支撑房
子的保养和装修费。然而，为了提高利润，有的房
主往往连续几年都对自己的房产不管不问。通常，
房屋的租金要远远高于房主的各项支出，所以租房
子可以给房主带来源源不断的利润。
☆ You will not have to pay tax on any
profits you make from selling your building if
you reinvest the amount into another property
within the time specified by law.
☆ 如果您在法律限定的时间内用出售房产的所得购买另
一处房产的话，那么您将不必支付利润税。
There are two main ways to invest in a
business
投资公司主要有两种方式：
·Buy or invest in an existing
business
·Start your own business
·购买或者投资现有的公司
·自主创业
If you buy a company that's already up
and running, remember that it can be very
difficult to estimate the value of an
existing business. The seller will want
to sell high, and the buyer will want to
buy low. When looking for a compromise,
annual revenue is a good indicator of a
business' value. As a rule, the buyer and
seller will decide on a price that is
equal to the business' revenue for the
previous two years.
如果您想购买一家正在运营的公司，那么请记
住：估算现有企业的价值会很困难，因为卖方会期
望以高价卖出，而买方却想以低价买入。若想寻求
折中的办法，不妨参照一下该企业的年收入，因为
它能很好地反映企业的价值。通常，买方和卖方最
终谈定的价格会等于该公司前两年的总收入。
Opening your own business is less
expensive initially but requires the
right market strategy and good employees,
which can be expensive. You can find out
more in the next chapter, which deals
specifically with the ins-and-outs of
small business in America.
自主创业的初期投资没有那么高，但是需要有
正确的市场战略和优秀的员工，而这两项会花掉您
很多钱。在下一章会有更多的相关信息，其中会专
门讲美国小企业的收入和支出问题。
☆ One of the main secrets to succeed with a
new business is finding a unique idea and
implementing it as simply as possible.
☆ 找到一个独特的理念并用最简单的方式付诸实施，这
是创业成功的主要秘诀之一。
For Americans with stable income,
investing in securities can be a wise
strategy or at the very least an amusing
game. For people with lower incomes, it
can mean constant stress and significant
financial loss.
对于收入稳定的美国人来说，证券投资是比较
明智的投资策略，而且就算赚不到什么钱，它本身
也是一个很有趣的游戏。然而对于低收入人群来
说，这可能就意味着长期的压力以及惨重的经济损
失。
The main types of securities are
证券投资的类型主要有：
·Foreign currency
·Government or corporate bonds
·Stocks
·外汇
·政府债券或公司债券
·股票
When playing the foreign currency
market, you win or lose depending on the
difference in exchange rates. In recent
years, the market players have focused on
the U.S. dollar and the euro.
外币市场。投资外币市场时，您的盈亏取决于
汇率差。近几年，外汇投资者主要关注美元和欧元
这两种货币。
U.S. Treasury bonds-often called T
notes-or foreign government bonds are
usually a very safe investment. The
quality of corporate bonds depends on the
company's stability. Both government and
corporate
bonds
are
rated
by
international rating agencies for their
reliability,
which
can
help
guide
investors. Bonds mature at different
times, from 3 years on up. Their yield
depends on their term and ranges from 29% annually.
美国国债。美国国债（通常叫做T notes）或其
他国家的国债通常是一种非常安全的投资方式。公
司债券的好坏取决于该公司的稳定性。政府债券和
公司债券的可靠性都会由国际评级机构为其评定，
此评定可以指导投资者。债券的到期时间各不相
同，但至少都在三年以上。债券的收益率取决于其
期限的长短，每年的收益一般在2～9%之间。
Stocks can yield incredible profits if
you invest in the right company at the
right time. But if you don't, you may
wind up broke. While you follow the
market's many ups and downs in fear of
missing important news, you may be
repeating
the
mistakes
of
other
investors. Before you start playing the
market, you need to
股票。如果您在正确的时间投资于正确的公
司，股票能为您创造不可思议的利润。但是如果您
时运不济，那就可能会落个破产的下场。如果您因
为害怕错过重要的信息而盲目跟着股市起起伏伏
时，您很可能会步其他一些投资者的后尘，和他们
一样犯下同样的错误。在您涉足股票市场之前，您
应该：
·Avoid investing all your money in
stocks
·Take a short stockbroker's class
·Invest an amount that won't ruin
your life if you lose it
·Invest your money for at least
five years, as investment is a longterm undertaking
·Consult a good stockbroker, whom
you have found after interviewing
several
·Make sure your broker is
competent, not just expensive. The size
of a broker's commission does not
always reflect his professionalism.
·Don't start playing the market if
you have health problems. Save yourself
the stress.
·不要把自己所有的积蓄投资于股市
·参加一个股票经纪人的短期培训班
·保证投资亏损时不会毁掉您的生活
·投资期限至少在五年以上，因为投资是一
项长期的事业
·与若干个股票经纪人面谈后，从中挑选一
个最好的并向其咨询
·要确保您选的股票经济人称职，而不只是
收费高。股票经纪人的收费标准并不总是能反映
他的专业水准
·如果您身体不好，就请不要玩股票了，以
免给自己太大压力
Mutual funds offer an easier way to
invest in the stock market. When you
purchase a share in a fund at a certain
price, you should find out when the fund
is obligated to buy or sell extra shares
if prices rise or fall. Some funds may
state a certain projected annual return
on your investment in your contract, but
most offer no guarantees. Your only
guarantee is the financial health of the
companies whose shares you are buying or
selling via the fund.
共同基金。共同基金为投资股票市场提供了更
简便的方式。当您以一定的价格购买基金时，您应
该搞清楚随着价格的涨跌，基金应该在何时售出或
买入。有些基金可能会在合同中约定您的投资每年
会有一定的投资回报，但大多数基金不会在这方面
作承诺。您唯一的保障就是您所投资的公司的财务
状况，因为您其实是通过基金在买卖这些公司的股
票。
In 1998, Kerstin and Klaus Landgraf decided
to invest some of the profits from their
thriving business into various securities:
1998年，克斯廷和克劳斯·兰德格拉夫的公司发展得
很好，于是他们决定将部分利润投资于几种证券：
·30% into foreign currency
·30% into bonds
·And 40% into stocks
·30%投资外汇
·30%投资债券
·40%投资股票
Their bank acted as the broker, and they
invested $2 million. Until 2000, they saw about
6% return per year. In January 2000, their
account was at $2,263,490. In May, it had grown
to $2,512,160. Klaus suggested they replace some
of the foreign currency with stocks, as the
stock market was clearly on the rise. In June,
they had
他们投资了200万美元，并由他们的银行担任股票经纪
人。到2000年，他们每年大约获得了6%的回报。2000年1
月，他们的账户上有2263490美元，同年5月，涨至2512160
美元。正当股票市场处于明显的上涨时期时，克劳斯提议把
部分外汇投资转为股票。到6月份，他们的投资比重为：
·30% in bonds
·50% in stocks
·And only 20% in foreign currency
·30%的债券
·50%的股票
·20%的外汇
A few months later, the value of their
account had fallen to $2,377,000, which confused
both Klaus and Kirsten, because the market was
still headed up.
几个月后，他们的账户金额降至2377000美元，这让克
劳斯和克斯廷很不解，因为当时股票市场仍持续上涨。
In May 2001, the account was already down to
$2,164,000. Klaus began to panic about the lost
$300,000. However, the indexes for the U.S. and
Asia stock markets were plummeting. Investors
were losing more money by the day. Klaus
insisted on selling the shares, saying, “At
least we can salvage something.” Kerstin
suggested they change their investments once
again and by early July 2001, they had
2001年5月，他们的账户金额已跌至2164000美元，而克
劳斯也开始为亏损的300000美元忧心忡忡。然而，美国和亚
洲的股票指数一路下跌，股票投资者们损失的钱也一天比一
天多。克劳斯坚持抛出手中的股票，他说：“至少我们还可
以挽回一些收益。”而克斯廷提议他们应该再次更改投资比
例。到2001年7月初，他们的投资组合为：
·25% in stocks
·30% in bonds
·And 45% in foreign currency
·25%的股票
·30%的债券
·45%的外汇
The markets stagnated for the next six
months. There were no booms or busts, but the
Landgrafs started out 2002 with only $1,902,135.
在接下来的六个月里，股票市场停滞了，既没有更繁荣
也没有更萧条。但是到2002年初，兰德格拉夫夫妇的账面就
只剩下1902135美元了。
To
their
horror,
the
markets
fell
dramatically for much of 2003, as did the value
of the stocks the couple still had. February saw
only $1,700,000 in their account. Klaus demanded
his half of the remaining funds from the bank.
To avoid having to sell her stock, Kerstin
proposed giving up her share of the business to
her husband, which was worth $850,000.Soon, the
formalities were taken care of and the documents
transferring Kerstin's share in the business
were signed. Klaus was more than happy to be rid
of those pesky securities.
令他们恐惧的是，2003年的大部分时间股市都在大幅下
跌，自然，这对夫妇手里的股票也大幅缩水。2月份，他们
的账户只剩下1700000美元。克劳斯要求从银行取出他的那
半基金。但克斯廷不想卖掉自己的股票，于是她提出把自己
价值850000美元的公司股份转给丈夫。不久，两人办理了相
应的手续，并签署了转让克斯廷股份的文件。克劳斯很高兴
能摆脱那些烦人的证券。
Kerstin
spent
several
difficult
months
waiting for the markets to rise. In the
beginning of 2004, quotes began to creep up
again. In late 2004, her portfolio was valued at
$2,035,800.The smart decision not to sell not
only allowed her to earn back the lost
investment, but also to earn some additional
profit.
克斯廷连续数月苦苦等待股市好转，2004年初，股指再
次逐渐攀升。到了2004年末，她的投资组合价值升到
2035800美元。坚持不抛售股票的英明决策不仅使她挽回亏
损，还让她赚取了一些额外利润。
☆ When diversifying your investments, pay
attention to what percentage of each type of
investment you have. One type should not make up
more than 50% of your total investment.
☆
当您进行差异化投资时，请注意各个投资品种的比
重。同一类投资不应该超过总投资的。
If
stock
prices
keep
rising,
you
should be able to make some good money
when you sell your shares. When you sell,
don't be in a hurry to buy any new shares
because at that moment, all stocks will
be selling high. If you are nervous about
risking your hard-earned dollars,make
less risky, lower yield investments.
如果股票价格持续上涨，您只要出售股票就能
赚上一大笔。出售之后，先别急于购买其他股票，
因为那时所有的股价都很高。如果您不想用辛辛苦
苦赚来的美元去冒险，那就尝试一些低风险、低收
益的投资吧。
Don't forget that politics and big
money rule supreme on the securities
market. If you are willing to take the
risk, you can play their game and win a
share of huge profits, or at the very
least break even.
别忘了：在证券市场上，政策和大户永远是主
角。如果您愿意冒冒风险，那么您要遵守他们的游
戏规则，这样一来，您要么可以从他们丰厚的利润
中分取一杯羹，要么至少也可以不赚不赔。
Chapter 34 Starting and running a
business
第三十四章 企业类型与商业运作
Private capital and private property
are the economic basis of America. One of
the
main
priorities
of
the
U.S.
government's
domestic
policy
is
to
protect and support them.Private business
forms the foundation for the entire
country
and
provides
jobs
for
the
overwhelming majority of Americans. And
when a private company is doing well, the
government can collect more taxes.
私人资本和私人财产是美国的经济基础。美国
政府的主要对内政策之一就是要保护和支持私人资
本与私人财产。私营企业不仅构成了美国整个国家
的基础，并且为绝大多数的美国人提供了工作机
会。当一家私营公司经营良好时，政府可以征更多
的税。
There are a wide variety of different
types of businesses. They include
企业的类型是多种多样的，它们包括：
·Sole proprietorships
·General partnership
·Corporation
·Limited liabilities companies
·独资企业
·普通合伙企业
·股份有限公司
·有限责任公司
A sole proprietorship is when only one
person
is
the
owner.
A
general
partnership is when two or more persons
are the owners.
独资企业由一个人持有。普通合伙企业由两个
或两个以上的人持有。
If
you
decide
to
form
a
sole
proprietorship or general partnership,
bear in mind that
如果您决定创立一家独资企业或是普通合伙企
业的话，请记住：
·Sole is easy to start and
liquidate.
·A lawyer's help is needed to start
and to liquidate a general partnership.
He must also draft a partnership
agreement to satisfy all parties from
the beginning. If you want to save
money, use help on the Internet or
reference books (compiled by companies
like Nolo Press) to guide you in
creating or liquidating partnerships
and corporations step by step.
·The owner of sole proprietorships
or partnership bears full
responsibility if business owes money
or if legal actions are initiated
against it.
·A sole proprietorship has limited
life. After some years in business, the
owner decides to invite partners to
develop his business or to close it if
there is no interest anymore.
·独资企业容易创办也容易清算。
·普通合伙企业需要在律师的帮助下才能创
立和清算。律师必须在一开始就起草一份合作协
议，并让合作各方都感到满意。如果您想省钱，
也可以借助网络或参考书（如由诺拉出版公司编
辑出版的书）的指导来帮助自己一步步创办或清
算企业和公司。
·如果企业欠了债或被起诉，企业的所有人
（独资企业持有人或合伙企业合伙人）要负全
责，这一规则既适用独资企业，也适用普通合伙
企业。
·独资企业寿命有限。在企业运作几年之
后，企业持有人会通过邀请合伙人加盟来拓展业
务，也可能会等到企业不再盈利的时候将它关
闭。
In America, the majority of the
businesses are corporations. We say
“Corporate
America”
to
refer
to
America's
business
face.
The
main
difference of the corporation from the
forms of business organization discussed
earlier is the presence of shareholders.
A
Corporation
is
owned
by
its
shareholders. There can be hundreds or
thousands of shareholders or only one.
There are two types of corporations: Cand
S.
在美国，绝大部分的企业都是股份有限公司。
所以我们用“股份有限制的美国”来形容美国的商
业面貌。股份有限公司和前面谈到的企业组织形式
有一个主要的区别，即股东的出现。股份有限公司
是由股东持有的。股东可以有成百上千个，也可以
只有一个。股份有限公司有C型和S型两种。
Here's
what
makes
CCorporations
different from other business formations
C型股份有限公司与其他企业形式有以下区别：
·They have an unlimited number of
shareholders
·Shareholders can be individuals
from any country. Thus, foreign legal
entities can also be shareholders.
·A C Corp can issue many types of
stocks: Common, preferred, cumulative,
convertible and so on.
·The majority of C Corps are
publicly traded, meaning that you can
buy their stocks at stock exchange
markets throughout the country.
·They are subject to double
taxation, first on the earnings and
then on the dividends
·它们的股东数量不受限制。
·股东可以是来自任何国家的个人。所以，
外国的法人实体也可以成为其股东。
·C型股份有限公司可以发行多种股票，如：
普通股、优先股、累积股、可换股等等。
·大部分C型股份有限公司是公开上市的，就
是说您能在全国各地的股票交易所购买它们的股
票。
·它们要缴纳双种税，一是所得税，二是分
红税。
☆ Shareholders are responsible for paying
taxes on dividends, not the company.
☆ 股东们要为分红收入缴税，而公司则不必负责缴纳分
红税。
Rules
area
different
for
SCorporations. For example
对于S型股份有限公司有不同的规定，例如：
·They have limited number of
shareholders, that is between 1 to 100
shareholders.
·Only U.S. citizens, Green Card
holders, American estates and trusts
can be shareholders.
·They can issue only one type of
stocks, mostly common stocks.
·The majority of S Corps are not
publicly traded; They are the so called
closely held corporations.
·Their profits are not subject to
taxes and pass through to the
shareholders. Even though a SCorp pays
a small amount of taxes to the state
where the company was incorporated, the
bulk amount of taxes is the burden of
shareholders. Here the S Corp looks and
acts like a Partnership. Both these
forms of business organization are
called "pass through entities".
·它们的股东数量有限，人数在1至100人之
间。
·股东只能是美国公民、绿卡持有者或美国
房地产和信托投资机构。
·它们只能发行一种股票，通常是普通股。
·大部分S公司是不公开上市的，它们是所谓
的封闭型股份公司。
·S型股份有限公司不需要缴纳所得税，所得
税由股东们缴纳。不过，S型股份有限公司也需
要向当地政府缴纳少量的税，但大部分的税款还
是由股东负担的。这里，S型股份有限公司看起
来和运作起来都像普通合伙企业。这两种企业组
织形式都叫做“税赋转移公司”（即不以公司的
名义缴税）。
☆ S Corporation shareholders will need a
Form K-1 from the company to show what profits
or losses they have experienced.
☆ S型股份有限公司的股东们可以从公司发布的K-1明细
表来了解公司的收益和损失。
Limited liability partnerships (LLP)
are a very popular form of business for
groups of professionals, such as lawyers,
doctors and accountants. Usually, none of
the LLP founders is held responsible for
the company's or other founders' debts,
and can't be held responsible for the
company's wrongdoing.
有限责任合伙公司（LLP）。对于专业人士团体
来说，例如律师、医生和会计等，有限责任合伙公
司是很常见的商业模式。通常，LLP的创建者不对
公司或是其他创建者的债务负责，他们也不对公司
的不正当行为负责。
Limited Liability Companies (LLC) are
the most popular type of business in the
U.S. LLCs can be found in every industry
and market sector. In contrast to general
partnerships, none of the founders can be
held responsible for company debts.
有限责任公司（LLC)。有限责任公司是美国最
常见的企业类型。LLC遍布各大产业和各个市场部
门。与普通合伙公司不同的是，有限责任公司的创
建人都不必对公司的债务负责。
☆ For tax purposes, an LLC may be considered
a partnership or a corporation. Often, if the
company has two or more members, it is
automatically classified as a partnership unless
the members hold a special election to be taxed
as a corporation. However, a one-member LLC is
automatically taxed as a corporation.
☆ 因为税款，LLC或许会被认为是合伙企业或股份有限
公司。通常，如果一个公司有两个或两个以上的成员，它会
被默认为是合伙企业，除非其成员专门投票表决公司要以股
份有限公司的形式缴税。而只有一人的有限责任公司则自动
以股份有限公司形式缴税。
Suppose
after
all
this
boring
discussion of business forms, you still
want to have a business in America. Here
are your choices: buying an existing
business, buying a franchise, becoming a
partner in a pre-existing business, or
starting your own business.
假设在听了这些关于企业形式的枯燥介绍后，
您依然想在美国创办企业，这里可以为您提供一些
选择：购买一个现成的企业，购买一个特许经营
权，成为现有企业的合伙人或是自主创业。
Buying an existing business. Here are
the advantages of buying an existing
business:
购买现成的企业。购买现成的企业有以下优
势：
·The business is already up and
running, and you won't have to go
through the tough period of setting it
up, when there are lots of costs and no
income
·The business has already occupied
a certain niche in the market and
already has its regular clientele and
customers
·The company already has a staff
that is more or less working as a team.
You won't have to spend lots of time
and money looking for and training
employees.
But
let's
not
forget
the
disadvantages:
·You'll have to invest major
resources to purchase an existing
business
·You could face unforeseen costs
that will wipe out your profits, such
as making major repairs, updating
equipment or hiring and training
additional staff
·As a rule, it is very costly to
purchase an existing profitable
business
·企业已经成立并投入运营，您无需经历创
办公司的艰难阶段，创业时往往是开销很大，却
没收入。
·企业已经有了一定的市场基础，也有了稳
定的客户群和消费群体。
·公司已经有了一批员工，而且他们差不多
形成了一个团队。所以，您无需再花大量的时间
和金钱来招聘和培训员工。
但与此同时，也不要忘了它的缺点：
·购买一个现成的企业需要投入大量的资金
·您可能会面临不可预见的支出，从而抵消
您的盈利，比如进行大的维修，更新设备或是雇
用和培训新员工
·一般来说，购买一个现成的盈利企业是非
常昂贵的
☆ It is better to purchase an existing
business
through
escrow.For
instance,
in
California, escrow is a common practice, but in
New York, the buyer and seller only need a
lawyer-drafted
buy
and
sell
agreement.
Californians must have these agreements as well.
Escrow, in addition to the buy and sell
agreement,
requires
a
title
research
and
guarantees that the business has no other debts
in addition to those disclosed through the
accounting records (books).
☆ 购买现成的公司最好通过中立的第三方。例如，在加
利福尼亚州，第三方交易是很常见的，可是在纽约，买卖双
方只需一份由律师起草的买卖协议就可以了。当然，加利福
尼亚州也需要有买卖协议。除了买卖协议，中立的第三方还
需要对企业产权进行调查，以保证除了已包含在会计核算中
的债务，企业没有其他的外债。
Before you make your final decision
about purchasing an existing business,
use a qualified accountant to help you to
check its bookkeeping records during the
last few years or more. Ideally, all the
books should be audited. It means they
should be certified by a specialized
auditing
accounting
firm
or
an
independent certified public accountant
(CPA), who has experience in the field of
auditing.
The
majority
of
small
businesses do not have audited books.
First of all, it is costly; secondly,
small businesses often do not have
reliable accounting system in place. This
is why buying of small business requires
extensive
research
and
reliable
professional help. It is much better to
buy a business in the area you are
familiar with. For instance if you are
the pharmacist do not buy a gas station;
instead, buy a medical supply store or a
small pharmacy.
在您最终决定购买现成的企业之前，请找一个
符合资质的会计帮您检查一下该公司过去几年的账
目。最好是把所有的账目都审核一遍。也就是说，
账目要交由专业的审计公司或独立的资深注册会计
师（CPA）来进行审核。大部分小企业都不会对账
目进行审计。原因有两点：第一，审计很贵；第
二，小企业通常都没有可靠的会计体系。这就是为
什么购买小企业需要进行广泛的调查，并且需要可
信赖的专业人士的帮助。一般来说，在自己熟悉的
领域购买企业会比较好。比如，如果您是药剂师，
那就不要买加油站，而可以考虑买一个医疗用品商
店或者小药房。
Buying a franchise. When you buy a
franchise, you buy the right to open a
business using the name, trademarks,
emblems and other external aspects of a
major brand.Franchises are most common in
the fast food, retail and hotel and
entertainment industries.
购买特许经营权。购买特许经营权就是购买某
个大品牌的名称、商标、标志或其他外在方面的使
用权来创办企业。特许经营权在快餐、零售、酒店
及娱乐业最为常见。
There are certain advantages to buying
a franchise:
购买特许经营权有如下几项好处：
·Your business can be set up
quickly and will start generating
income immediately
·You won't need as much starting
capital
·The company that sells you the
franchise will lease you equipment,
help you arrange loans or credit and
offer you special assistance in a
variety of other ways
·您的企业可以快速筹建起来并马上开始盈
利
·您不需要很多启动资金
·卖给您经营特许权的公司会租给您设备，
帮您安排贷款或信用额度，并在很多其他方面为
您提供特殊的帮助
As a franchise owner, you won't have
to spend as much time promoting and
running your business but as always,
there are also disadvantages:
作为特许经营权持有者，您无需花费大量时间
去拓展和经营业务。可是同样，它也有缺点：
·A franchise is always regulated,
which means you won't be able to change
the products you offer, to print your
own menu or to buy something from
suppliers that aren't pre-approved by
the franchisor
·You may have to wrestle with
unforeseen costs that eat up your
profits, much like if you bought an
existing business. Therefore, it is
important to discuss with a franchisor
the payments before you buy its
business.
·Franchise fee can eat up your
profit
·经营特许权公司始终处于监管之下，就是
说您不可以改变您所经营的产品，不可以印制自
己的商品目录，也不可以在未经授权之前从其他
供应商那里采购商品。
·同购买现成的企业一样，您可能也得和不
可预料的开销作斗争，而这些开销会吞食您的利
润。因此，在购买之前您要与授权人商量好如何
付款，这一点很重要
·特许经营权费可能会吞食您的利润
Becoming a partner in a pre-existing
business also has its own advantages:
加盟一个老牌企业也有它的优势：
·The business is already in
operation.
·It has a certain niche on the
market and needs a new partner in order
to expand-say the company has opened a
new store or has bought a new building
and is moving-or because the owner(s)
are overwhelmed by a growing number of
orders or requests for services.
·The company already has a team of
workers, as well as contacts and
relationships with various suppliers
and customers. But they need you to
bring a new burst of energy to the
business.
·企业已经投入运营
·它已经在市场上有一定的基础，而只是需
要一个新的合伙人来拓展生意---比如它开了一
家新店或者买了一座新楼并准备搬进去---或者
它的所有者对源源不断的订单和服务需求有点招
架不住
·公司已经有了一个员工团队，也与各类供
应商和客户建立了联系。但它们需要您为企业注
入一股新的活力
In many cases the need for new partner
arises
from
a
lack
of
operational
capital. A new partner brings in new
money. This money is less expensive than
a loan from a bank or another financial
institution. This is especially true for
businesses owned by emigrants without a
well-established credit history.
在很多情况下，企业需要新的伙伴是因为缺乏
运营资金，因为新的合作者往往会带来新的资金。
这些钱要比银行或其他金融机构的贷款更划算。这
对信贷记录尚不完善的移民企业来说，更是如此。
Of course a pre-existing business also
has disadvantages:
当然，老牌企业也有一些劣势：
·You might have a clash of
personalities with your partners,
different ideas about how the business
should expand, or different demands
from employees or suppliers, for
instance.
·The business may have long-term
problems that will be hard to address
without cooperation from the other
partners.
·You may have problems with
employees who are not happy about the
changes at the company.
Let's say you've decided to buy all or
part of an existing business. You can
start
your
search
for
the
perfect
opportunity via:
·Business brokers who specialize in
selling businesses
·Ads in newspapers, special
journals, trade and industry magazines,
and newsletters, or on specialized
websites
·也许您会与您的合伙人在个性上不和，在
如何拓展生意方面有不同的见解，或者对员工和
供应商有不同的要求
·企业也许会有一些“老大难”的问题，而
如果得不到其他合伙人的支持，这些问题会很难
解决
·您可能会与不满公司变化的雇员产生矛盾
假设您已经决定整体收购或部分收购某个现成
的企业，您可以通过以下几种途径寻找绝佳的机
会：
·通过专门从事企业买卖的企业经纪人
·媒体上的广告，媒体包括：报纸、专业期
刊、贸易与工业杂志、时事通讯或专业网站
Once you've found someone willing to
sell, try to find out what exactly you'll
get for the asking price. For example, a
restaurant is more than just the space it
occupies: it's also all the kitchen
equipment,
coolers,
furnishings
and
tableware. Unless you know exactly what
you're buying, you could wind up with a
space stripped down to the bare walls. If
you're buying a service business, such as
a law office or medical practice, the
value of its goodwill will be important,
for example, to its clientele or customer
base. If you don't agree on this ahead of
time, all of your potential clients, who
don't really care where they go for their
appointments, could leave along with the
lawyer or doctor who sold you the place.
一旦您发现有人要出售公司，就先努力搞清楚
花了那些钱后您到底能买到什么。例如，饭店并不
只是它占据的那个空间，它还包括所有的厨房设
备、冷冻设备、桌椅和餐具。除非您非常清楚自己
在买什么，否则很有可能会买下一间空空如也的屋
子。如果您要收购的是像律师事务所或医疗诊所这
样的服务性公司，那么公司的商业信誉就尤为重
要，因为这一点将关系到您的客户或消费者基础。
如果您先前不认同这一点，那么可能有这种情况发
生：随着原律师或医生的离去，您所有的潜在客户
也会随之离去，因为他们并不十分在乎到哪儿去见
他们的律师或医生。
When deciding to buy or not to buy,
don't
hurry.
First
do
some
market
research.Markets
rise
and
fall,
of
course, and you'll need to gather enough
information about the business you're
interested in buying in order to have an
idea how the business and the market
works. Talk to other business people,
learn about the laws that govern the
business, and find out about growth
opportunities for the company.
在决定买还是不买时，不要着急，最好先做一
些市场调查。因为市场是起起伏伏的，所以您要充
分收集您有意购买的企业的信息，这样有利于您了
解这个企业和市场是如何运作的。与其他生意人聊
聊，了解一下约束企业的法律条文，看一看企业的
发展前景如何。
The success of your business venture in
America will depend to a great extent on two
interrelated factors: marketing and management.
Remember a weak initial marketing campaign is
the one of the main reasons new businesses fail.
People fail because they buy businesses even
profitable ones, without any knowledge about
them. At the same time, there are many cases
when people who are familiar with particular
industries decide to buy unprofitable companies
and turn them around. In few years such “new”
businesses become very profitable. So, buy only
a business for which you have professional
knowledge. Do not buy what looks appealing to
you if you do not have deep understanding of
that business.
在美国，公司要成功在很大程度上取决于两个相关因
素：市场营销与经营管理。要记住，最初薄弱的营销活动是
导致新生企业走向失败的主要原因之一。另外，人们失败的
原因还有一个，那就是他们对所收购的行业一无所知，在这
种情况下，就算是本身盈利丰厚的企业也会被搞垮的。与此
同时，也有一些案例是这样的：由于收购者对特定行业非常
了解，所以他们决定买下效益不好的企业之后使其扭亏为
盈。几年之后，这样的“新生”企业会有很丰厚的回报。所
以，一定要在自己熟知的行业内收购企业，不要涉足那些对
您很具有吸引力但您却并不了解的行业。
While you look at the market, you
should also try to figure out why the
business is up for sale. The seller may
readily give you an explanation, but this
may not be the real reason he or she is
selling. Try to find out what's really
going on. Talk to the people who may know
something about the company. In many
cases, owners are simply tired of running
the business and want to retire.
在观察市场时，您也应该试着弄明白人家为什
么要把这家企业卖掉。也许卖方会很快给您一个解
释，但这也许并不是他/她出售企业的真正原因。
您应该努力找出真正的原因，去问问可能对公司情
况有所了解的人吧。许多情况下，持有人只是因为
不想再经营公司而想要退休了而已。
The price of a business depends
directly on how much income it can
generate in its present state. This is
why you need to look at a company's
income history over the course of several
years based on its tax returns and
accounting records. A lot of useful
information can be found in General
Leger, which according to law, each and
every business in U.S. must have.
一个企业能卖多少钱直接取决于它现阶段的盈
利能力。这就是为什么您要查看公司的纳税申报单
和会计记录的原因了，因为您可以从中直观地了解
到公司近几年的收入情况。在总分类账簿上，您可
以查到很多有用的信息。依照法律规定，总分类账
簿是每个美国公司都必须要有的。
It is very important to verify the
authenticity of the bookkeeping records.
In some cases books are cooked, that is
falsified to show better results than the
business could produce. This is why it's
important to examine the audited books.
Audited books are certified with the name
of the auditor or auditing company. As a
rule, an auditor is a specialized CPA
firm or independent certified public
accountant with an experience not less
than 400 hours of audit. In reality,
two/third of small businesses are sold
without auditor's control. Unfortunately,
many buyers believe what they see, not
what is true.
审查会计记录的有效性非常重要，因为一些账
目是经过润饰的，它们所呈现的是比公司实际经营
情况要好的非真实数据。这也是之所以要查看审计
过的账册的原因。审计账册是由审计员或审计公司
审查合格的账册，上面会有审计人员或审计公司的
签名。按规定，审计人可以是一个专业的CPA公
司，也可以是独立的注册会计师，后者需要有不少
于400小时的审计经验。事实上，三分之二的小企
业的买卖是未经审计的。可惜的是，许多收购人只
相信自己看到的，而不相信什么是真实的。
☆ The best way to find out more about a
company's business is to spend several days at
its offices and observe how the company
operates. If the seller lets you, work few days
there. Then it will no longer be a secret why
gas stations are sold very quickly but tailor's
shops and some restaurants very slowly.
☆ 想要多了解一个公司，最好的方法就是去这家公司的
办公室里观察几天，看看该公司是怎样运转的。如果卖家同
意的话，您还可以去那儿上几天班。这样您就能发现为什么
加油站卖得很快，而裁缝店和一些饭店卖得很慢的原因了。
After you figure out the company's
financial standing and work out all the
details with the current owner, you and
the seller need to get everything down in
writing and put together a contract that
covers every aspect of the sale. Your
lawyer will draft a Buy and Sell
Agreement according to your state's
business regulations, which will let you
avoid litigation in the future. You'll
often find the following points in this
kind of a contract:
您在掌握了这家公司的财务状况并且与卖家商
量好所有的细节之后，您和卖家应该把一切细节都
落实到纸面上并拟写成合同。根据您所在州的公司
法规，您的律师会为您草拟一份买卖协议，这份协
议可以让您在将来远离法律纠纷。您经常会在这类
合同中找到以下几点：
·A precise statement of what is
being sold by whom, to whom and at what
price.
This point should include a detailed
breakdown of the price, so that the value
of every piece of property is stated
clearly.
·All obligations and
responsibilities taken on by the seller
and the buyer once the deal is closed
·The time and method of payment
·对“谁以什么样的价格向谁出售了什
么”这一事实的精确陈述。这一点中还应包括详
细的价格细目，这样才可以明确每部分财产的价
值
·买卖成交后，买卖双方各自需要履行的义
务与职责
·付款的时间和方式
☆ You should figure out how to finance the
purchase while you are researching the company's
finances. You should already have your financing
in place by the time you start putting together
the final contract.
☆ 在对某公司财务状况进行调查时，您还应该想好如何
为这次收购融资。在开始拟订最终合同时，您的资金应该已
经到位了。
·Any changes in price that could
occur between the moment of signing the
contract and closing the deal, such as
sale of inventory, purchase of new
equipment, tax payments and so on
·A guarantee from the seller that
the information provided to the buyer
was true and correct and additional
conditions in case this information
proves to be incorrect
·Penalties to be paid by the seller
if he or she gave false information
about the business to the buyer
·The seller's obligation to manage
the business until it is sold, how
ownership will be transferred and any
other obligations of the seller after
the deal is closed
·What the parties will do in case
of the losses or damages between
signing the contract and closing the
deal
·Whether the seller will be allowed
to compete with the business after it
is sold.(Usually the buyer wants an
agreement from the seller to withhold
from doing business in the same field
for at least three years.)
·How the deal will be closed,
including the date, time and place
·Other points or matters of
importance to the seller and/or buyer
·从签订合同到结束交易这段时间内可能发
生的任何价格变动，比如库存的卖出，新设备的
买入以及税款的缴纳等
·卖方保证他提供给买方的信息真实可靠，
并列出在万一信息被证明不真实的情况下的附加
条款
·如果卖方给买方提供虚假的企业信息，卖
方应该受到的惩罚
·卖方在企业出售前有照常管理企业的义
务，企业的所有权如何转让以及交易结束后卖方
应承担的其他责任
·从签订合同到结束交易这段时间内，若企
业发生损失或遭到破坏，买卖双方应采取什么措
施
·是否允许卖方在出售企业后还与买方在这
一领域竞争。（通常，买方希望卖方能同意至少
在三年内不再从事同一行业。）
·确定结束交易的日期、时间和地点
·对卖方与（或）买方来说很重要的其他事
项
If at any point you feel pressure from
the seller or if the seller seems
reluctant to providing you with the
information you need, you should forget
about the offer and move out. Americans
like to repeat the old Latin adage
“caveat
emptor”
or
“Buyer,
beware!”Buying a business isn't remotely
like buying a vacuum cleaner, or even
buying a car. So don't waste your time,
do not jeopardize your future by making a
bad investment. Don't forget that there
are plenty of offers out there on the
market.
如果您感受到了卖方给您施加的压力，或者卖
方看起来不愿意向您提供您所需要的信息，那么不
管交易已经到了哪一步，您都应该马上退出交易。
美国人总喜欢重复那句古拉丁谚语“购者自
慎”或“买者当心!”收购一个企业远不像买一台
真空吸尘器或买辆车那么简单。所以请不要浪费时
间，请不要因为作出一项错误投资而使自己的未来
陷入危机。不要忘了，市场上的机会多得是。
And now, let's talk a bit more about
lawyers. As you can imagine, having a
good lawyer is an essential part of
buying a business. Even if you're buying
a business together with a partner, you
should still have your own lawyer. If you
decide to save some money and use the
same lawyer as the seller, you should be
prepared to sign a Conflict of Interest
statement. This document means that when
the seller or the buyer comes to the
lawyer, the lawyer will not tell either
party how to act against the other.
下面，再多谈谈关于律师方面的事情。正如您
所想象的那样，雇一个好律师是收购企业的过程中
一个至关重要的环节。即便您是与他人合伙收购，
您也应该要有一个自己的律师。如果您为了省钱而
决定与卖方共用一个律师的话，那您应该准备好签
一份利益冲突声明书。这个文件意味着当卖方或买
方去咨询律师时，律师不会帮助任何一方做损害另
一方利益的事。
☆ To prevent potential complications when
buying a business, it's best to conduct the deal
through an escrow company, which will register
the actions of both parties, such as payments
made by the buyer, inspections, inventories, and
the handing over the keys.
☆ 为防止在购买企业的过程中出现复杂难解的状况，最
好通过第三方公司来处理这类问题。第三方公司会登记买卖
双方的各项行为，例如：买方付款、检查验收、库存盘点以
及钥匙交接等事宜。
And
here
are
a
few
more
recommendations if you've decided to buy
a business in the U.S.:
如果您已经决定要在美国收购企业，那么以下
还有几条建议：
·Don't rush to invest money.
·Be confident in your own ability
to manage your investment.
·不要急于投钱
·要对自己的投资能力有信心
Finally, you have the option to open
your own business. In contrast to buying
an existing business, setting up your own
business has its peculiarities in the
U.S. If you decide to open your own
business, you'll need
最后，您也可以选择自主创业。与收购现成的
企业相比，在美国创建自己的公司具有一定的特殊
性。如果您决定自己开公司，您需要：
·A strong desire and the physical
stamina to run your own business-Even
highly successful business people may
not love every minute of their work.
You should feel very positively about
your business future because if you
don't, you'll have a hard time devoting
yourself to it.
·A clear idea of what you plan to
do
·To decide how much of your own
money you want to invest in the
business
·To decide how much outside
investment you'll need to open
·To decide how large a bank loan
you'll need
·To understand your market, whom
your future customers will be, what
they will be willing to buy and spend,
and where they are located-A business
means customer service, and every
customer will demand good treatment and
service from you.
·To decide where to locate your
business - You may be able to run
certain types of businesses from your
home. But remember, not only your
clients but also dishonest people will
beable to easily find you.
·To register your company as a sole
proprietorship, or a general
partnership if you areopening the
business with a partner
·To obtain an Employer
Identification Number or EIN which also
known as Federal ID number if you plan
to have employees. To do so, send Form
SS- (Application for Employer
Identification Number) to the IRS. The
obtain EIN is fast and easy because the
American government places value on
private businesses.
·具备经营自己公司的强烈意愿和强壮体
魄，因为即使是相当成功的商人也不一定会时时
刻刻喜欢自己正在做的事。您要对企业的未来充
满信心，否则您会很难全身心地投入其中
·清楚自己要做什么
·决定拿出多少自己的钱来投资
·判断让企业启动需要多少外部投资
·判断您会需要多少银行贷款
·要了解市场，明白您将来的顾客是哪些
人，他们愿意花钱买什么，他们都住在哪里。因
为企业是为顾客服务的，每一个顾客都希望能从
您这里得到优质的服务
· 决定公司的地点---有些类型的生意您也
许可以从家里做起。 但是切记，如果那样的
话，不仅您的客户，而且那些不老实的人也能很
容易地找到您
·如果您一个人开公司，就把公司注册成独
资经营；如果您还有合伙人，就把公司注册成普
通合伙企业
·如果您计划招聘员工，您需要申请一个雇
主身份识别号码(EIN)，也就是联邦公民身份证
号码。为了得到这个号码，您需要向美国国税局
（IRS）提交SS-4表格（雇主身份识别号码申请
表）。由于美国政府非常重视私营企业，所以申
请一个雇主识别号码会很快，也会很容易
☆ You do not need EIN if you have sole
proprietorship and don't have employees. For
income tax form, you can use your Social
Security Number or SSN.
☆ 如果您是个独资经营者且不需要聘请员工，那就不需
要雇主身份识别号码了。至于收入税表格，您可以使用您的
社安号（SSN）。
·To find office or retail space for
your business and sign a lease
agreement, if you can't run your
business from your home
·To open a bank account for the new
company at the bank you've selected
·To choose the accountant, lawyer,
insurance company and bank you will use
·如果您不能在家里经营，就要找一个办公
场所或者商用空间，并且跟出租方签订租赁协议
·选一家银行，在那里为您的新公司开立一
个银行账户
·挑选在将来会需要的会计师、律师、保险
公司和银行
☆ The accountant, lawyer and insurance
company should be familiar with your area of
business.
☆ 您选的会计师、律师和保险公司必须熟悉您所在的行
业。
·To hire employees
·雇用员工
You can find out more about opening
your own business from many different
sources, including
您可以从许多不同的渠道了解有关创立公司的
更多信息，渠道包括：
·Classes and courses on how to open
a business. The majority of these
classes are free, and instructors are
generally retired business owners.
·State public law libraries
·The public library, where you'll
find reference books highlighting
various aspects of the entrepreneurship
·On the Internet
·听课，大多数讲如何开设公司的课程都是
免费的，而且主讲人通常是已退休的公司老板
·去州立法律图书馆
·去公共图书馆，您可以在那里找到从各个
方面讲述企业家精神的书籍
·上网
To open your own business, you'll need
starting capital. Depending on your
business plan, you may decide to invest
your own money, to invite other people to
become partners, or to use loans. Your
share in the business will depend on how
you structure this initial investment,
and this will determine your liability if
problems or losses occur.
要开办公司，您需要启动资金。根据您的商业
策划，您可能会决定用自己的资金，或者决定邀请
别人成为您的合伙人，或者是决定利用贷款。您在
公司所占的股份取决于最初的投资结构，而您的股
份又决定了当出现问题或发生亏损时您需要承担的
责任。
To get a loan from a bank, the bank's
loan officer may ask you for
向银行贷款，银行的信贷员会跟您要：
·A business plan-A business plan
that looks professional and wellthought-out will inspire more
confidence in potential investors and
banks. The rules and examples of strong
business plans can be found in guides
to writing business letters and
documents as well as on the Internet.
Try searching for “business proposal
writer.”
·The total amount of investment in
the business
·Documents requested by the bank
showing you'll be able to pay off your
loan
·Money in a bank account, the money
you plan to invest in your business
·Collateral, which means the hard
assets that you own: Your house, autos,
and collectables.
· 商业策划书---一个看上去专业并且经过
深思熟虑的商业策划书可以使潜在的投资者及银
行对您更有信心。您可以读一读关于如何书写商
业信函和文件的指南，书中会讲优秀商业策划案
的写作规则和相应范本。当然，这些信息也可以
在网上查找，试着搜搜“business proposal
writer（商业策划书写手）”。
·企业总投资额的数据。
·银行要求您出具的证明您有还贷能力的文
件
·您银行账户里的资金，即您计划投资在生
意上的钱
·抵押品，即您所拥有的硬资产，如：房
子、汽车和收藏品
Depending on the bank policy, you can obtain
different kind of loans. Most banks will not
lend more than 50% of the investment required
for a business. Sometimes, after the bank has
checked your records and other documents and has
decided that your business will be profitable in
the future, it will lend you as much as you have
requested. The Small Business Administration is
trying to help minorities (women, African
Americans, Asian Americans and so on) and will
often lend from $5,000 to $10,000. In some
cases, people can obtain even up to $150,000
from it. Venture capitals lend money mostly for
innovative business ideas. Their interest is
very high because of high risk. Therefore,
depending on your business you may have plenty
of opportunities: to get a credit line from a
bank or from Small Business Administration for
small business, or to apply for huge amount of
money for your fantastic project.
根据银行的政策不同，您能获得不同类型的贷款。大多
数银行的贷款不会超过企业投资的百分之五十。有时，在银
行核查完您的商业记录和其他文件，并判定您的企业在将来
能够盈利之后，银行会如数贷给您所申请的额度。美国小企
业管理局一直在尽力帮助企业界的少数群体（妇女、非洲裔
美国人、亚裔美国人等等），并且通常会向他们发放5000至
10000美元的贷款。在某种情况下，人们甚至可以从那里获
得高达150000美元的贷款。风险资金主要会贷给那些有创意
的商业点子。由于风险高，所以风险投资的利息也会高。因
此，根据您的业务您会有很多机会：从银行或小企业管理局
那里获得信用贷款，或者为您那极好的项目申请巨额的风险
投资。
When opening your business
当您开设公司时：
·Do not invest all your cash.
Instead, leave as much as possible for
rainy days.
·Try to attract money of other
investors such as relatives, friends,
and financial companies and funds
·不要把您所有的现金都投进去，而要尽量
多留点钱以备不时之需
·努力从其他投资者那里吸引资金，如亲
戚、朋友、金融公司和基金
Most people start their own business
as sole proprietors without significant
investment or capital at risk. A sole
proprietorship will allow you to
大多数人在没有大投资或资金风险的情况下，
会采用独资经营的方式开始创业。独资经营会使
您：
·Get personal experience in running
a business
·获得经营企业的个人经历
The experience will help you to make
the right decision about the future,
whether
to
continue
or
close
your
business. Even if you close your company
and start looking for a job, always
mention to new employers that you have
experience running a business.
经营一段时间以后，您就会知道后面要怎么办
了，是继续营业还是关门大吉。即使您关掉公司，
然后重新去找工作，您也要向新雇主提一下您有过
开公司的经历。
·Establish relationships with
potential partners
·Establish a strong customer base
·与潜在的合作者建立起关系
·培养强有力的顾客群
As a small business owner, try to work with
the federal, state or local government, military
or schools because they are the best clients and
always pay their vendors. It is not easy to get
them as clients since competition is very
strong. Requirements for government and military
contractors are extremely complicated, but it is
certainly worth it to try.
作为一个小企业主，要试着与联邦政府、州政府、地方
政府、军队或者学校合作，因为他们是最好的客户，会保证
给经销商付款。由于竞争异常激烈，争取到这样的客户并不
容易。通常，政府和军队对其供应商均有着极为复杂的要
求，但不管要求多么复杂，还是值得一试的。
If you decide to start a partnership,
here's what you will need to do to be
successful:
当您决定合伙经营时，要做到以下几点才能成
功：
·To attract partners who will act
professionally-Although some partners
are active participants in the
business, others might be more passive,
only taking part in the financing of
the business.
·To draw up a partnership agreement
that clearly states how much each
partner invested into the business, how
much each of them receives and when and
with what particular condition, what
each partner will do and be responsible
for, as well what their financial
obligations will be if they do not do
what they are supposed to, or decided
to leave the partnership.
· 要找专业的合伙人---也许有一些合伙人
在公司事务上表现得很积极，但也有一些人可能
会比较消极，他们也许只会参与企业融资。
·起草一份合伙契约，清楚地说明每一个合
伙人注入的资金数额，每个人从中获取的份额，
以及在什么时候、在什么样的情况下每个人该做
什么、该为什么负责；同样，还要写清楚，如果
他们不按规定去做或者决定终止合作，他们应该
承担什么样的经济责任。
When people start a new business
together, the partners are often very
friendly and share future plans and
future profits. This is the perfect time
to discuss the responsibilities and
obligations of each partner in case the
business doesn't do as well as initially
expected. It is certainly not uncommon
for a new partnership to face losses and
problems.
This
agreement
is
most
important not when everything is going
well and the business is making millions
but rather in hard times when troubles
begin.
当人们一起开始创办公司时，合伙人之间通常
会非常友善，他们有着相同的未来计划，还会共享
未来的收益。这个时候非常合适讨论各个合伙人的
责任和义务，以防业务不能像起初预计的那样顺利
推进。对于一个刚成立的公司来说，损失和问题是
再正常不过的事了。当企业一切运转正常并且几百
万几百万地挣钱的时候，这个契约不是很重要；但
当企业面临困境时，这个契约就到了发挥关键作用
的时候了。
When Mansour Kafehzade bought an apartment
building, he turned to his friend, Ben Zafarya,
for a loan. Ben agreed, and Mansour signed the
purchase contract on the building.However,
Mansour didn't bother to sign anything with Ben,
and soon Ben was demanding a 33% share of the
business. As Mansour had already invested a
considerable amount of money in the deal, he
agreed. Over the next four months as the sale
was closing, Ben changed his demands several
times, always demanding a bigger share in the
project and more financial control.
曼索尔·卡菲扎德再买某栋公寓楼的时候，他找朋友
本·扎法亚借了点贷款。本同意了，然后曼索尔就签订了
买楼契约。然而，曼索尔没有费事和本签任何契约。不
久，本就要求得到这笔生意33%的股份。因为曼索尔已经
在这笔交易上投资了相当大的金额，所以他同意了。在接
下来的4个月里，随着交易的达成，本几次更改要求，每
次都想要在项目中占据更大的份额，有更大的金融控制
权。
After the building was purchased, the
partners followed their business plan and went
to a bank for a loan to renovate the property.
From that moment on, Ben began to do everything
he could to get in Mansour's way and put
financial pressure on him. It took several
months to sort things out, but the partners
still didn't have a loan. Mansour was forced to
dissolve the partnership in court and pay some
hefty lawyer's fees. The court ruled that the
building had to be sold, which meant losses for
both partners. Because they didn't have a
contract before the project started, Ben was
able to demand better and better terms for
himself, influence important decisions and slow
down the business' development, which in the end
led to court proceedings and losses for both
sides.
公寓楼买到手之后，这对合伙人根据商业计划去银行贷
款，准备装修公寓楼。从那时起，本就开始处处为难曼索
尔，还给他施加财政压力。花了几个月的时间他们才把事情
理清楚，但是他们还是没得到贷款。曼索尔被迫要求法庭帮
忙解除两人的合作关系，然后付了昂贵的律师费。法庭判决
他们卖掉公寓楼，而这对双方都意味着损失。就因为在项目
开始前，他们没有签订任何契约，所以本才能不断提要求，
争取对自己有利的条款，从而影响了项目的重大决定，最后
导致了法庭诉讼和双方的损失。
Moreover, if you want your partnership
to run smoothly, you'll also need
此外，如果您希望合作关系可以顺利平稳地进
行下去，您还需要：
·To determine how future profits
will be distributed and invested. This
will be very important for the
business' development and to reinforce
the partners' relationship
·确定未来的利润如何分配，如何进行再投
资，这对于公司的发展以及巩固合伙人的关系都
是非常重要的
☆ You should not plow all of your profits
back into the business.Sometimes it is much more
profitable to invest in new businesses such as
real estate.
☆
您不应将所有的利润都用于同一个公司的投资。有
时，投资新的业务会让您获得更多的利润，比如房地产。
·To determine who will be your TMP
(Tax Matter Person). This person must
be reliable, highly professional and
versatile for he/she has to know not
only your partnership's trade but
general and tax accounting as well.
This person signs your partnership tax
returns.
·要在合伙人中确定一位税务专员（TMP）。
这个人一定要可靠，要非常专业，而且能力要全
面，不仅要通晓公司的生意，还要懂财务会计和
税务会计。这个人可以在将来负责签署公司的纳
税申报单
☆ Watching your finances carefully when you
are first getting started marks the beginning of
a successful business career.However, it's not a
guarantee that you won't lose your investment.
☆ 从一开始就密切留意公司的财务状况，这是一个成功
的公司开始的标志。不过，这不能确保您不会损失您的投
资。
If you suddenly discover that your partner
has withdrawn all the money from the company's
account and disappeared, don't despair. Remember
that though you may never see that money again,
you have learned a valuable business lesson for
the future. It is very common thing when
partners betray each other. This kind of
partnership relation has become a plot for many
movies made in Hollywood.
如果您突然发现合伙人把公司账户里的钱取了个干干净
净而且从此人间蒸发的话，也不要太绝望。记住，即使您再
也拿不回那些钱，至少也算是给自己的将来上了宝贵的一
课。合伙人之间互相背叛是很常见的，好莱坞就有很多电影
演过这样的情节。
That
said,
before
you
make
the
decision to open your own business, you
may want to think about these figures:
说了那么多，在您决定开始创业之前，您需要
看看下面这些数字：
·80% of new businesses in the U.S.
fail in their first year
·More than 50% of businesses that
survive will fold over the next five
years
·Only 5% of new businesses will
eventually celebrate their 10th
anniversary
·在美国，百分之八十的新公司会在第一年
倒闭
·在接下来的五年里，又有百分之五十以上
的公司会倒闭
·只有百分之五的新公司能在最后举行他们
的十周年庆典
Though many fail, some companies do go
on to become major players in the U.S.
economy, and someday, yours might, too.
尽管许多都失败了，但还有一些公司确实成了
美国经济的弄潮儿。有一天，也许您的公司也会。
Chapter 35 Paying your taxes
第三十五章 纳税
Though you may not realize it at
first,
taxes
are
an
important
and
complicated part of life in the U.S. This
is true not only for Americans, but for
anyone who stays in the U.S. for an
extended period of time to study, be an
intern, or do any kind of work that
generates income inside of the country.
也许您刚到美国时不会注意这一点，但纳税确
确实实是人们生活中一个重要而复杂的部分。不仅
对美国公民来说是这样的，对那些在美国要待较长
时间的人来说也是这样，这些人可能在美国求学、
实习或者从事任何在美国境内获取报酬的工作。
Because taxes are so important, before
you leave for the U.S., it's a good idea
to get all the information you'll need to
pay your taxes while residing abroad.
Many countries have tax treaties with the
U.S. If you are going to be on an
extended business trip or internship or
are going to study, try to familiarize
yourself with tax regulations for nonresidents with various types of visas.
That way, when you talk to U.S. consular
officials, you can ask them for a
particular kind of visa based on this
information. For example, for employees
of
foreign
governments
and
some
international organizations, there are
special international treaties governing
taxes.
因为纳税如此重要，所以您在去美国之前，最
好要把外国人在美国如何纳税的信息都统统了解一
遍。许多国家都已经与美国签订了税务协定。如果
您要去美国出差、实习或学习较长的时间的话，那
么建议您熟悉一下美国的税务法规，法规对持有不
同种类签证的非美国居民都作了规定。那样的话，
您与美国领事馆官员交谈时，可以根据这些信息申
请适合您的签证。比如，对于外国政府官员和一些
国际组织的雇员来说，就有专门的国际协定用来规
范他们的纳税行为。
There are many different types of
taxes in the U.S. They are levied at
different levels - federal, state and
municipal-and the rules and amounts vary.
美国有许多不同的税种，它们可以分为三个不
同的级别---联邦的、州的、地方的---纳税的规则
和金额各不相同。
The most common taxes in the U.S.
include
美国最常见的税种包括：
·Income tax
·Property tax
·Real estate tax
·Social security tax
·Gift tax
·Sales tax
·所得税
·财产税
·房地产税
·社安税
·赠与税
·销售税
Every person who earns income in the
U.S. has to pay income tax, despite his
or her citizenship. This is why anyone
who comes to America to study, work or
start a new life needs to know about U.S.
taxes.
不管是哪国公民，只要在美国有收入就得缴纳
个人所得税。这就是为什么凡是来美国学习、工作
或者开始新生活的人们都必须了解美国税制的原
因。
The federal taxing agency known as the
Internal Revenue Service or IRS (there
are state taxing agencies as well)
divides
taxpayers
into
two
groups:
businesses and individuals.
联邦税务机构，美国国家税务局即IRS（也有州
税务局）把纳税人分为两种：企业和个人。
Businesses are subject to different
taxes,
depending
on
their
entity,
charter,
location
and
income
(See
previous chapter).
企业因其实体、特许状、地点、收入的不同而
缴纳不同的税种（请参见上一章）。
Individual taxpayers are divided into
residents, non-residents and dual status
aliens.Each group has its own rules as
we'll see below.
个人纳税人被分为居民纳税人、非居民纳税人
以及拥有双重身份的外国侨民纳税人。税法对每一
类人都有不同的纳税规定，后面我们将谈到这一
点。
Even if you aren't a U.S. citizen, you
are
considered
a
resident
for
tax
purposes if you meet one of two tests for
the calendar year: the Green Card test
(you are a legal permanent U.S. resident)
or the substantial presence test. To meet
the last test, you must be physically
present in the United States for at least
即使您不是美国公民，您也可以被看作“纳税
居民”，只要您在一年（公历年）内能满足两大法
则之一即可：绿卡检定法则（如果您是美国合法永
久居民）或者居留时间法则。为满足第二个法则，
应同时符合以下要求：
·31 days during the current year,
and
·183 days during the presiding
three-year period that includes the
current year and the two years
immediately before that, counting
a-all the days you were present in the
current year, and
b-1/3 of the days you were present in
the first year before the current year,
and
c-1/6 of the days you were present in
the second year before the current year.
·本年度在美国居留至少31天
·本年度及前两年的时间里总共在美国累计
居留达183天，天数计算方法为：
a. 本年度在美国居留的总天数
b. 前年在美国居留的总天数乘以1/3
c. 大前年在美国居留的总天数乘以1/6
Healy was physically present in the
United States for 120 days in each of the
years 2002, 2003, and 2004. To determine
if she meets the substantial presence
test for 2004, count the full 120 days of
presence in 2004, 40 days in 2003 (1/3 of
120), and 20 days in 2002 (1/6 of 120).
Since the total for the 3-year period is
180 days, Healy was not considered a
resident under the substantial presence
test for 2004.
希利在2002年、2003年、2004年这三年的时间
里，每年在美国各居留120天。看她是否符合2004
年的居留时间法则，我们来计算一下天数：2004年
120天，2003年40天（120天的1/3），2002年20天
（120天的1/6），三年总计的天数是180天（少于
法定的183天）。所以，希利在2004度的居留时间
法则下不被认为是居民纳税人。
Sometimes, there are days that you
don't have to count as official days in
the U.S for the substantial presence test
在下面几种情形下，在美国逗留的天数不应计
入在美国的居留天数：
·Days you commute to work in the
United States from a residence in
Canada or Mexico, if you regularly
commute from Canada or Mexico
·Days you are in the United States
for less than twenty four hours, when
you are in transit between two places
outside the United States
·Days you are in the United States
as a crew member of a foreign vessel
·Days you are unable to leave the
United States because of a medical
condition that develops while you are
in the United States
·Days you are in the country as an
exempt individual.
·居住在加拿大或墨西哥，工作在美国，并
经常往返于加拿大或墨西哥与美国之间的通勤天
数
·在美国境外的两地之间旅行，但途经美
国，并且在美国逗留的时间不足24小时的天数
·以外国船员的身份在美国居留的天数
·因在美国突发疾病而不得不待在美国的天
数
·在美国享有税收豁免的天数
You
are
considered
an
exempt
individual if
在美国，符合以下几种情况可以享受税收豁免
权：
·You work for a foreign government
·You are a teacher or trainee with
a J or Q visa if you substantially
comply with the requirements of the
visa
·You are a student with a F, J, M
or Q visa if you substantially comply
with the requirements of the visa; or
·You are a professional athlete in
the U.S. temporarily as part of a
charitable sports event
·您效力于外国政府
·您是持有J类或Q类签证的教师或实习生，
并且基本遵守签证的规定
·您是持有F类、J类、M类或Q类签证的外国
学生，并且基本符合签证的规定
·您是临时来美国参加慈善运动会的职业运
动员
You have to expect the unexpected from
the IRS. IRS officials have the right to
make independent decisions about any
issue that has to do with taxpayers. For
example, if you qualify as a resident
according to the substantial presence
test, the IRS may consider you a
nonresident alien if
美国国税局（IRS）的有些做法会是您想不到
的。国税局官员有权就纳税人的任何问题作出独立
决定。比如，根据居留时间法则，您符合了居民纳
税人的条件，但国税局可以把您看作非居民纳税
人，如果：
·You were in the U.S. for fewer
than 183 days during the current year
·You have a different tax home-in
other words you live and maintain a
residence in another country
·You have a closer connection to
that country than to the U.S., that is
you are the bono fide resident of the
foreign country.
·您本年度在美国的居留时间不满183天
·您在别的国家纳税---换句话说，您在别的
国家生活，并且在那里拥有合法的居住资格
·您与那个国家的关系比您与美国的关系更
为密切，也就是说，您应该是那个国家的真正居
民
☆
If
you
have
already
submitted
an
application (applied for a Green Card if you
have the legal right to do so) to become a
permanent U.S. resident and you still waiting
for a written confirmation or a document (Green
Card), you must file a residential tax return.
It's called Green Card test. You CAN NOT file
nonresidential tax return after you just only
applied for permanent residency.
☆ 如果您已经提交了成为美国永久居民的申请表（如果
您有合法权利可以申请绿卡的话），而且您仍在等待一份书
面确认或文件证明（绿卡），您必须以居民身份填写纳税申
报单，这才符合绿卡检定法则。您提出永久居住权的申请
后，就不可以再填写非居民纳税申报单了。
Whether you're a tax resident or a
permanent U.S. resident, you have to
follow the same rules as U.S. citizens.
This means you need to file an individual
residential income tax return. You can
select from a variety of different forms,
depending on your income and whether you
plan to take any tax deductions: Form
1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. Before you chose
the form, read the IRS instructions. You
can find all information in Publication
17. Whichever form you choose, you need
to mail it to your regional IRS service
center-you'll find the address on the
form-by
April
15
of
the
following
year.For example, if you're paying taxes
for 2007, you have to mail in your return
by April 15, 2008. (If April 15 is a
Saturday,
Sunday,
or
holiday,
the
deadline is Monday of the following week
or the next day after holiday.)Your
return must be postmarked (stamped at the
post office) by that date, but it's not a
problem if it reaches the IRS a few days
later. Post offices will often keep
longer hours right before tax time to
make sure everyone can get their return
in on time.
不管您是纳税居民，还是美国永久居民，都必
须和美国公民一样遵守纳税条例。这就意味着您需
要以居民身份填写一份个人所得税纳税申报单。根
据您的收入是否需要课税减免，您可以从各种不同
的表格中选取适合自己的表格：表1040，表1040Ａ
或表1040EZ。您在选表格之前，请先读一下国税局
的报税说明，您可以在国税局的《报税手册17，你
的联邦收入税》上找到所有的信息。不论您选哪种
表格，您都得在次年4月15日之前把它邮寄到当地
的国税局服务中心---地址在表格上。比如，如果
您要缴纳2007年的税款的话，就必须在2008年4月
15日之前把报税申报单寄出（如果4月15日是周
六、周日或节假日，那么周末后的第一个周一或假
期后的第一天为截止日期）。您要保证邮寄的申报
单上的邮戳（邮局给邮件盖的章）日期在截止日期
之前，只要这样，即使您的邮件比规定的日期晚几
天到国税局也是没关系的。邮局通常会在申报单交
纳截止日期前加班加点，以确保每个人都可以及时
上交他们的纳税单。
More and more people in US file their tax
return electronically. Year after year this
number is increasing. In a future, IRS expects
that every US tax payer and business will file
electronically. What this will do for the
country? First of all, it will eliminate tons
and tons of papers. Secondly, it will free
thousands of IRS processors who manually enter
tax return data into IRS computers or scan them.
A lot of people are still afraid of electronic
filing.Why? Since an electronically filed return
goes straight to IRS main frame, there is a
belief that this kind of return could be audited
more
easily
and
more
frequently
by
the
IRS.Taxpayers
can't
control
what
kind
of
information or extra information is flowing to
IRS computer. Nevertheless, more and more
individual
taxpayers
and
businesses
file
electronically every year.
在美国，越来越多的人开始电子报税，而且人数在逐年
上升。美国国税局希望将来每一个在美国纳税的个人和公司
都采用电子报税的方法。这对国家有什么好处呢？首先，这
可以减少对纸张的巨大消耗；其次，能够解放国税局成千上
万的录入人员，那些人负责用手工活扫描的方式将申报单上
的数据输入IRS电脑。但还有很多人对电子报税心存顾虑，
为什么？因为电子报税会直接把纳税单交到国税局总部，毫
无疑问这会让国税局的工作人员更容易也更频繁地对表格进
行审定，但是纳税人却不能监控会有什么样的信息或非相关
信息涌入国税局的电脑。尽管如此，每年还是有越来越多的
纳税个人和公司使用电子报税。
☆ For American residents and citizens, their
worldwide income is taxable in the US.
☆ 对于美国居民和美国公民来说，他们在全世界范围内
的收入均须在美国纳税。
So now you should have a good idea who
exactly can be considered a resident
alien.If you aren't a U.S. citizen or a
resident alien, that means you're a
nonresident alien and you'll only have to
pay taxes on income that you earned from
American sources, for example, from trade
or business conducted in the U.S.
现在您应该对外籍居民的身份有所了解了。如
果您不是美国公民或外籍居民，您就是非居民外国
人，相应地，您只要就在美国的收入纳税即可，比
如在美国做生意的收入。
☆ If you were a nonresident alien student,
teacher, or trainee who was temporarily present
in the United States on a F, J, M, or Q visa,
you are considered engaged in a trade or
business in the United States. You must file a
return only if you have income that is subject
to tax, such as wages, tips, dividends,
scholarships, and fellowship grants.
☆ 如果您是非居民外来学生、教师或实习生，只是暂居
美国，而且持有的是F类、J类、M类或Q类签证的话，您就会
被视为在美国参与商业活动。只要您有收入，比如薪金、小
费、红利、奖学金或是研究人员补助金，就必须填写纳税申
报单。
So if you are a nonresident alien for
tax purposes and you did earn income in
the U.S., your income is divided into
distinct categories
所以，如果您在纳税的层面上属于非居民外国
人，而且您在美国有收入的话，您的收入要分成不
同类别：
·Income that is effectively
connected with trade or business in the
U.S. Here, you are subject to the same
tax rules as residents but without a
right to use any deductions.
·Income that is not effectively
connected with a U.S. business or
trade. This income is taxed at a rate
of around 30%.
·与美国境内的企业或贸易发生有效联系的
收入。您的这部分收入和美国居民一样受相同纳
税条例的约束，但您无权享受税收减免
·与美国境内的企业或贸易无有效联系的收
入。这部分收入大约按30%的税率纳税
While Lutz Bock's main business was located
in Europe, he also invested in the U.S. stock
market through a U.S. brokerage. Each year, his
broker would withhold 30% of his earnings in
dividends
because
Lutz
was
considered
a
nonresident alien. At the same time, the broker
did not withhold any capital gains taxes because
Lutz was in the U.S. for fewer than 183 days,
which met the IRS requirements for nonresidents.
卢茨·博克的业务主要在欧洲，但他通过美国的经济
人向美国的股票市场投资。由于卢茨被视为非居民外国
人，每年他的经纪人都会从他的红利中预留30%作为税
款。同时，由于卢茨在美国没有居留满183天，经纪人就
不能扣除任何资本所得税，这是国税局对非居民纳税人的
规定。
Robert Tsai, much like Lutz Bock, had a
thriving business in Taiwan but also decided to
invest in a large manufacturing company in San
Francisco. Though he rarely paid a visit to his
factory and was in the U.S. less than 183 days,
his annual earnings were taxed according to the
same rules and the same rates that apply to US
citizens. Why? What made him different from
Lutz? The difference is that Tsai's capital
gains and dividends were effectively connected
with a US trade or business.
罗伯特·蔡与卢茨的情况差不多，他在台湾有一家生
意兴隆的企业，但同时又决定在旧金山投资一个大的制造
公司。虽然他很少去工厂，而且在美国总共居住不到183
天，但他的年收入要按对美国居民的纳税标准和税率征
税。这是为什么呢？是什么导致他和卢茨的纳税不同？因
为蔡的资本收入和红利与美国的贸易或企业有着有效的联
系。
☆ If your U.S. broker didn't withhold all
the federal taxes he should have, or if he
withheld too much, you need to fill out Form
1040NR to either pay what you owe or get a
return from the IRS.
☆ 如果您的美国经纪人没有足额预留您应该缴纳的联邦
税或多扣了一些税，您必须填写一张1040NR表，以便补充支
付应付的税额或索要应退税额。
If you are a nonresident and have
taxable income, including income from
trade or a U.S. business, you must file a
1040NR by April 15. If you don't have any
taxable income under U.S. law, you still
need to file a return by June 15. In
either case, send federal tax returns to
the Internal Revenue Service Center in
Philadelphia.
如果您是非居民外国人，但有应纳税收入，包
括在美国从事贸易或经营企业的收入，您必须在次
年4月15日之前填写1040NR表。如果您在美国法律
的要求范围内没有应纳税收入，您也要在6月15日
之前填写一张申报单。两种情况下，您都需要把联
邦纳税申报单寄给设在费城的国税局服务中心。
To be considered a dual-status alien,
you need to be both a resident and a
nonresident of the U.S. in one calendar
year. Though this may sound impossible,
this situation often arises when people
leave or arrive in America. To determine
the date when you became a tax resident,
you need to
要被认定为是双重身份外国人，您必须在一年
（公历年）中，在纳税层面上既是美国居民又是非
居民。这听起来好像不大可能，这种情况经常发生
在人们刚到美国或离开美国的时候。要确定您成为
居民纳税人的日期，您需要：
·Have confirmation of the day you
officially arrived in the U.S.
·Pass the Green Card or substantial
presence test discussed above
·拥有正式到达美国的日期证明
·通过了前面提到的绿卡检定法则或居留时
间法则
If you are using the substantial
presence test, your residency begins on
the day you entered the country. However,
according to the Green Card test, your
residency begins when you become a U.S.
permanent
resident
according
to
immigration law as outlined by the USCIS.
Naturally, these two dates don't always
match. If you don't qualify as a tax
resident according to either test this
year, but you will pass the substantial
presence test next year, you can choose
your tax status-resident or nonresidentfor this year.
如果您用的是居留时间法则，您在美国的居留
期是从您到达美国之日开始算起的。但要是依据绿
卡检定法则，您在美国的居留期要从您成为美国永
久居民之日算起，这要依据美国公民及移民服务局
（USCIS）起草的移民法来判断。一般情况下，这
两个日期通常不吻合。如果今年您不符合上述任何
一个法则，但是您会在明年达到居留时间法则的
话，那么您可以选择一个您本年度的纳税身份--居民纳税人还是非居民纳税人。
☆ Dual-status does not refer to your
citizenship, but only to your filing status for
tax purposes in the United States.
☆ 双重身份并不是指您的公民身份，只是指您在美国报
税时的报税身份。
For the part of the year you are a
Resident Alien, you are taxed on income
from all sources, including outside the
United States.
在您作为居民外国人的那部分时间里，您的所
有收入都要纳税，包括您在美国以外的收入。
For the part of the year you are a
Non-Resident Alien, you are taxed on
income from U.S. sources only.
在您作为非居民外国人的那部分时间里，您只
需要为您在美国的收入纳税。
☆ In any case, you can file either a 1040 or
1040 NR with the Internal Revenue Service Center
in Philadelphia.
☆ 在任何一种情况下，您都可以向国税局费城服务中心
提交1040或1040NR表。
You
can
get
even
more
detailed
information about every category of tax
payer in the U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens on
the
IRS
website
at
www.irs.gov/publications/p519.
在国税局的网站
www.irs.gov/publications/p519上，有供外国
人参看的“美国税务指南”，从中您可以了解到美
国对各类纳税人的详细规定。
All taxpayers must include their
Social Security Numbers on their tax
returns.However, not everyone has an SSN.
For those who don't, the IRS has created
individual
Taxpayer
Identification
Numbers, or TIN. To get a TIN, you need
to fill out Form W-7 and send it to the
IRS. Your TIN will be a nine-digit number
that looks like a real Social Security
Number (SSN), but the first digit of the
TIN is always 9 and the fourth is either
a 7 or an 8, for example, 9xx-7x-xxxx.
所有纳税人必须在纳税申报单上填写社安号。
但是，并非人人都有社安号，对于没有社安号的
人，美国国税局会给您生成一个纳税人识别号
（TIN），要得到纳税人识别号，您需要先填写表
W-7，然后将其寄至美国国税局。您得到的纳税人
识别号为九位数，看起来很像社安号（SSN），通
常第一位数字是9，第四位数字是7或8，例如：
9xx-7x-xxxx。
Before you fill out your tax forms,
you need to figure out what your taxable
income is based on your filing status,
which will determine what rate you'll be
taxed at and whether you can take certain
deductions or get any tax credits. The
rules for determining the filing status
of
residents
and
nonresidents
are
different. For example, a resident filing
a 1040 can select his or her filing
status from the categories of: Single,
Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing
Separately,
Head
of
Household
or
Widow(er) with Dependent Child. However,
a nonresident can only choose between the
categories of Single Nonresident Alien or
Married Nonresident Alien. Again please
see Publication 519 , U.S. Tax Guide for
Aliens.
填写纳税表之前，须根据您的报税身份弄清自
己的应纳税收入属于哪一种，这将决定您的缴税税
率以及您是否可以减免或抵免一定的税款。居民纳
税人和非居民纳税人也有不同的报税身份的区分。
比如：居民纳税人在填写表1040时可以从以下几种
类别选择自己的报税身份：单身纳税人、已婚联合
申报纳税人、已婚分开申报纳税人、户主纳税人、
有子女需要扶养的寡妇或鳏夫纳税人。而非居民纳
税人只有两种报税身份之分，即单身非居民外国人
和已婚非居民外国人。欲知详情，请参看《报税手
册519，外国人纳税指南》。
As you've noticed already, doing your
own taxes is not a game in America. It is
important to think about your tax return
year round, and not just in early April.
To put together your return, you'll need
正如您已经注意到的：在美国，缴纳个税绝非
简单的游戏。一年中，您时刻都要想着您的纳税申
报单，千万别到了四月初才想起来。填写申报表，
您会用到：
·Documents showing your income
sources (wages, lottery winnings,
dividends, returns on investments,
purchase or sale of stocks, mutual
funds and so on)
·All receipts and records related
to construction and maintenance of your
business or real estate
·All receipts and records related
to your vehicle if it is used as part
of your business
·Receipts for all expenses
connected to any trips, domestic or
foreign
·Receipts for donations to
charitable organizations and certain
non-profit groups(When you make a
donation, ask whether it's tax
deductible and what kind of charity it
is: public or private.)
·Records showing your contribution
to your pension fund
·Documents showing the interest you
paid on any mortgages, and
·Many other documents that you
think might be helpful or useful
·表明您收入来源（薪金、彩票奖金、红
利、投资收入、股票买卖、共同基金等）的文件
·您对自己的公司或不动产进行建设和维护
的所有收据和相关记录
·如果您的交通工具是您企业的一部分，您
要有关于此交通工具的所有收据和·到国内外旅
行的所有费用的收据
·向慈善机构和非盈利组织捐款的收据（捐
款时，问清是否可扣减税款以及慈善活动的性
质：公共的还是个人的）
·缴纳养老保险金的记录
·支付按揭贷款利息的证明文件
·其他许多您认为可能有用的文件
☆ If your yearly income high enough, you may
want to talk to a tax professional who
specializes in individual tax returns and will
be able to reduce your taxable income within the
scope of law.Although their services are not
cheap, they may help you save a considerable
amount of money.
☆ 如果您的年薪比较高，最好咨询一下个人所得税申报
方面的专业人士，他或许能在法律允许的范围内帮助您降低
应纳税收入。虽然他们的服务费用不低，但是他们或许可以
帮助您节约一大笔税款。
Beginning January 1, you will be able
to find tax forms at your public library
or your tax professional's office, along
with free brochures and instructions on
how to file.There's no point in saving
any old blanks or instructions from
previous years, as the tax law and forms
change every year. If you're missing a
particular form or schedule, you can go
to the IRS website at www.irs.gov and
download it. You can also call 1-800-TAXFORM (1-800-829-3676) and have it mailed
to you.
每年的1月1日起，您可以在公共图书馆或您纳
税顾问的办公室里找到纳税申报单，通常表格还附
带免费的小册子或说明书，教您怎样填写纳税申报
单。保留往年的空白表格和说明书是没有用的，因
为税法和纳税申报表每年都在变化。如果您一旦弄
丢了某个表格或目录清单，可以到国税局的网站
www.irs.gov上去下载。您也可以拨打电话1-800TAX-FORM（1-800-829-3676），让他们给您邮寄
一份。
First of all, you'll need to calculate
your gross income. Enter all your earned
income on line 7 of the Form 1040. You
can easily find this number on your W-2
forms. These documents are usually sent
out at the beginning of the year by
employers. This is your earned income.
Below line 7, you will find lines to
enter your unearned income: interest as
well as dividends and capital gains. You
can find these figures on forms 1099 INT
and 1099 DIV send out by banks and
investment companies. You may want to
contact them and make sure they are
sending the forms you need to the right
address and at right time. For example,
you should receive your W2 forms no later
than January 31. If you do not receive
these documents on time, you can use
substitute forms. Your income should be
reported on right lines of the tax return
form depending on its source, whether you
were employed, self-employed, farming, or
received income from alimony, investments
or any other sources. Add up these
figures to get your total income.
首先，您得粗略地估算自己的总收入。然后，
把您总的劳动收入填入表1040的第7行。您可以很
容易地在W-2表格上找到这个数字。这些文件通常
是由您的雇主在年初寄出的。前面讲的是您的劳动
所得，在第7行下面，您要填写非劳动所得：即利
息、红利和资本收益。这些数据可以在由银行和投
资公司寄出的表1099 INT和1099 DIV表中找到。
对此，您应该联系银行和投资公司，确保他们在正
确的时候往正确的地址寄出了这些表格。例如，最
晚您应该在1月31日之前收到表W-2。如果您没有按
时收到表格，您可以用其他表格替代。您需要依据
自己的收入来源将相应的数据填到表格的正确位
置，如您的收入是通过受雇、自雇取得，还是来自
农场经营、赡养费、投资收益或其他来源。最后，
把各项收入相加，得出您的总收入。
☆ The IRS doesn't consider all income
taxable. For example, you don't have to pay tax
on child support and welfare payments.A gift
below $11,000 from any person is not taxable as
well.
☆ 美国国税局不是对所有的收入都征税，比如，子女抚
养费和社会福利费就不需纳税。另外，一件价值低于11,000
美元的赠与物也不需纳税。
Once you've calculated your total
income, you can move on to the next
section: Adjusted Gross Income. After you
make all allowable deductions, you'll
wind up with your Taxable Income. The IRS
has clear and detailed instructions on
how to fill out these different tax
forms.
计算完总收入后，您就可以进行下一步了：调
整后的总收入。当您扣除所有可减免部分以后，就
得到应纳税收入了。美国国税局对如何填写不同税
种的报税单有非常清楚和详细的说明。
The IRS instructions include tables
that show you how much tax you owe
depending on your filing status. Any
taxes that you paid over the course of
the year (what your employer deducted
automatically from your paycheck or any
quarterly payments you made, if you are
self-employed) is subtracted from this
amount and gives you your final tax bill,
the amount you owe or are entitled to
receive back, that is the refund you can
expect if you've overpaid your taxes
throughout the year. In other words, your
tax return declaration is a simple
reconciliation of all what you have paid
during a year with the amount you owe.
国税局的报税说明中还有一些列表，这些列表
可以告诉您，根据您的报税身份，您需要报多少
税。您在这一年中已经缴纳的税（由雇主代为扣缴
的税，或者自雇人士按季度报缴的税）会从这个数
额中减掉，最后得到的就是您最终的应纳税账单，
包括最终的应纳税额和应退税额。也就是说，如果
一年中您多付了税还可以得到退税。实际上，您的
纳税申报表就是一张简明的对账单，里面包括了一
年中所有您已经缴纳的税款和您应该缴纳的税款。
If you decide to prepare your taxes by
yourself, do it much early that few weeks
before deadline. You will notice that all
IRS instructions are written in clear and
simple language. Foreigners who have some
difficulties with English will only need
a few days studying the instructions with
the help of a dictionary to figure out
how to file a tax return. You can also
get free help from the IRS at a taxpayer
assistance center. You can find the
center
nearest
you
by
going
to
www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html. If
you have any questions while filling out
your tax forms, you can also speak with
an IRS representative at 1-800-829-1040.
The representative will give you his or
her ID number and try to answer your
question in a professional manner.
如果您想亲自申报，一定要在截止日期前几周
就着手准备。美国国税局的所有说明指南都是用简
单易懂的英语写成的，即使不太懂英语的外国人也
只需借助字典，花上几天时间就能学会怎样填写申
报单了。您也可以从国税局纳税人援助中心得到免
费的帮助，登录网站
www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html可以找
到离您最近的援助中心。如果在填写纳税申报单时
遇到任何问题，都可以拨打电话1-800-8291040，向美国国税局的工作人员咨询。工作人员会
告诉您他或她的身份证号，并尽力用专业的方式回
答您的问题。
When Sabine was filling out her first U.S.
tax return, she had a problem: What should she
do about rental income she received from
property abroad, which by American standards,
didn't amount to much? Many of her friends, who
were also immigrants, recommended she not
declare it at all. One day, Sabine decided to
call the IRS. The representative asked her a lot
of questions. Suddenly, he announced he would
call her back at a phone number of her choice
and explain what she needed to do. Later,
another representative called back and told
Sabine what to write in each section. She asked
him several times whether he was sure everything
was correct, and the representative answered
yes. From that day on, Sabine has always called
the IRS when preparing her taxes.
萨拜因在填写第一张纳税申请单时遇到了一个问题：她
不知道怎么填报她在国外房产的房租收入，虽然这笔钱在美
国人眼里只有一点点。她的许多移民朋友建议她完全不用申
报这部分收入。有一天，萨拜因决定给美国国税局打个电
话。工作人员问了她许多问题以后，突然和她要了一个电话
号码，说会给她回电话，然后再告诉她应该怎么办。后来，
另一个工作人员给萨拜因回了电话，并告诉她每一部分应该
怎样填写。她问了好几次是否百分之百确定该这么填写，工
作人员都肯定地回答“是”。从那天以后，萨拜因每到准备
纳税的时候，就给国税局打电话咨询。
☆ Regardless of who helped you do your
taxes, you are still fully responsible for the
accuracy of your tax forms so always double
check any advice you get, even if it's coming
directly from the IRS.
☆ 不管在报税过程有谁帮过您，您依然要对自己的纳税
申请表的准确性负全责，所以一定要对别人的建议进行反复
的核查，即便给您建议的人是美国国税局的工作人员。
Of course, filing lots of forms and
getting help takes time. What should you
do if you're running behind? When's the
last day you can file your return?
当然，填写大量的表格再加上寻求帮助要花很
多时间。那么，如果您没按时填完表格该怎么办？
提交申报表的截止日期是哪天？
The deadline for most taxpayers is
April 15, as we saw above. Your return
needs to be postmarked by that date. If
you simply can't make it and need more
time, send in Form 4868, an Application
for Automatic Extension of Time to File
U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. You
can get extra six more months to file
Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040NR, or
1040NR-EZ. You do not have to explain why
you are asking for the extension. IRs
will contact you only if your request is
denied.
前面提到，对于绝大部分纳税人来说，4月15日
是提交申报表的截止日期。也就是说，您的申报表
必须在这个日期之前寄出，且日期以邮戳为准。如
果您确实无法完成申报，需要多一点时间的话，可
以提交4868表，即美国税务的个人所得税自动延期
申报表。然后，您就可以获得6个月的时间来填写
表1040、1040A、1040EZ、1040NR或1040NR-EZ
了。您不必说明为什么要延期，如果您的要求被拒
绝了，美国国税局会联系您。
For example, to get the extra time in
2008 you must
比如，您想在2008年获得额外的申报时间，您
必须：
·Properly estimate your 2007 tax
liability using the information
available to you,
·Enter your total tax liability on
line4 of Form 4868, and
·File Form 4868 by the regular duedate of your return
·利用有效信息合理估计您2007年的应纳税
额
·把您的应纳税总额填在表4868的第4行
·在常规的申报截止日期前提交表4868
Keep in mind that an extension just
gives you extra time to do your paperwork
and file your tax return. However, it
does not give you extra time to pay your
taxes! If you extend your filing time,
you must pay interest on the amount that
you owe for the time period beginning on
the regular due date (usually April 15th)
until you pay your taxes.In addition to
this extra interest, you may be charged a
penalty.
Form
4868
gives
detailed
information about the interest and any
late payment penalty you should add to
your taxes.
记住，给您这些额外时间是让您来完成文书工
作并提交纳税申报表的，而不是给您时间来纳税
的！如果您延长申报时间，那就得支付您应补交税
款的利息，时间从正常的截止日期（4月15日）算
起，到您纳税结束。除了要补交额外的税款利息以
外，您还有可能被处以罚金。表4868上有关于延迟
缴税应交利息与罚金的详细信息，这些钱必须加到
您的税款里。
☆ The IRS wants you to get your numbers
right and pay your taxes properly. They are
willing to give you more time to do so, but if
you don't notify them that you're running late,
you could be charged fines or penalties. And
watch out! You'll be charged interest and late
filing fees on any taxes you owe after the due
date, April 15, regardless of when you finally
file your return. So if you think you might owe
money, you should pay of what you think you owe,
by April 15.
☆ 美国国税局要求纳税人能正确填写各项数据并按规定
正确缴税。他们愿意给您多一些时间来完成这些操作，但是
如果您没有通知他们您要延期，您就要交罚款或受到其他的
处罚了。注意！不论您什么时候提交申报单，只要是晚于4
月15日，您都要为您所欠税款支付利息和滞纳金。所以如果
您感觉自己还欠国税局一些钱的话，就应该在4月15日前支
付相应税金。
Because tax law is so complicated and
is always changing, you may need to talk
to a professional, such as
因为税法很复杂而且经常变化，所以您最好向
专业人士进行咨询，比如：
·A Certified Public Accountant who
has received state certification to
practice accounting. In addition to
accounting and auditing, CPAs also
prepare tax returns for individuals and
businesses.
·A Board-certified Tax Attorney
·An Enrolled Agent who has passed a
comprehensive two-day federal exam
·A Tax Preparer who has passed
state exams and fulfilled certain
requirements to do taxes
·获得州税务会计认证的注册会计师
（CPA）。他们除了做会计和审计以外，还可以
为个人和公司准备纳税申报单
·已通过委员会认证的税务律师
·通过为期两天的联邦政府综合测试的注册
税务代理人
·通过州级考试并满足做税务工作要求的报
税员
☆ Attorneys and certified public accountants
(CPAs) are licensed by the state but don't
always specialize in taxes. Enrolled agents,
however, specialize in taxes. They have to abide
by the U.S. Treasury Circular No.230 in their
practice to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
None of these professionals works for IRS or
represents IRS (unless they are legally employed
by IRS). They simply have rights to represent
taxpayers before the IRS.
☆ 律师和注册会计师（CPAs）是通过州级认证的，但他
们并不都是专攻税务的。不过，注册税务代理人是专攻税务
的人员。他们在代理纳税人向美国国税局进行纳税申报时，
必须遵守“美国第230号库务通告”。这些专业人士都不会
为美国国税局工作或者代理他们的业务（除非他们合法受雇
于美国国税局）。他们仅有权代表纳税人与国税局交涉。
As I mentioned earlier, no matter who
does your taxes, you are responsible for
their accuracy before the IRS. This is
why you need to keep all your tax-related
documents on file for at least three
years, as well as copies of the returns
themselves, in case you get audited by
the IRS. The tax authorities randomly
audit a certain number of taxpayers each
year, which means you should hang on to
your papers just in case.
如前面提到的，不论谁帮您进行纳税申报，在
美国国税局眼里，您都要对其准确性负责。这就是
为什么您一定要保留好至少近三年来您所有与纳税
有关的文件，同时，最好保留纳税申报单的复印
件，以免美国国税局找您审计。税务当局每年都会
随机抽查一部分纳税人，因此为了以防万一，您一
定要保管好有关的文件。
Chapter 36 The way we love
第三十六章 恋爱在美国
Americans dream of finding truelove.
You'll hear about this search for “the
one”- the perfect partner-everywhere: in
pop songs, on daytime talk shows, in
movies and in self-help books. Americans
look for true love, try to keep love
alive once they find it and suffer when
they lose it, but they never stop
dreaming of love.
邂逅真爱是美国人梦寐以求的事。从流行歌
曲、日间访谈到影视作品、自助书籍，您几乎可以
随处听到或看到他们对理想伴侣的向往与追求。美
国人追求真爱，他们在得到真爱之后会努力为爱情
保鲜，一旦失去真爱也会痛苦不堪。但无论得失，
他们都从未放弃追求真爱的梦想。
This romance doesn't always mix well
with the materialism that forms the basis
for
some
Americans'
values.
Unfortunately, many people see universal
human values like honor, integrity,
brotherly love and charity in purely
material terms and equate them with
money. For someone who thinks this way,
the amount of money you have determines
how they'll treat you. This also applies
to love. Many people in the U.S. seem to
believe that the more money they have,
the more people will love them.
这种浪漫与构成美国人价值观基础的物质主义
常常不能很好地融合。遗憾的是，许多人把荣誉、
正直、手足之爱、悲悯之心等普世价值观完全与物
质利益挂钩，并将其与金钱等同。对于持有这种价
值观的人来说，他怎样对待您，取决于您有多少金
钱。谈到爱情，也是一样的情形。很多美国人认
为，他们兜里的钱越多，就会有越多的人爱他们。
Love has many different guises in
different cultures, which means when talk
turns to love, you want to make sure that
you understand the situation correctly.
Many older teenagers, college students
and adults in the U.S. will tell someone
that they love them without a second
thought. Even kissing and other signs of
physical affection, including even sexual
intercourse, do not necessarily mean what
they did a few decades ago or what they
mean in other countries. Instead of
finding more exact ways to express their
feelings, many Americans will convey
their general goodwill by saying, “I
love you.”
文化不同，爱情也呈现出千姿百态。所以，谈
到爱，您得先弄清楚具体的背景。在美国，很多青
少年、大学生以及成年人在邂逅某个人以后，可能
会不假思索地脱口而出“我爱你”。而像亲吻、上
床等亲密之举已经与几十年前或者在其他国家的意
义不尽相同。现在，很多美国人一般不会寻求更确
切的情感表达方式，而是用“我爱你”来表达他们
一般的善意。
These three words can mean various
things in various situations.For example,
an American who says “I love you” could
be telling you
“我爱你”这三个字可以在不同情境下表达不
同的意思，比如：
·“It's great to see you again”
·“I'm really grateful to you”
·“I hope you succeed”
·“Don't worry; I'm here for you”
·“I will miss you”
·“I hope we'll meet again”
·“You were great”( usually used
as thanks to the partner in casual sex)
·“真高兴能再次见到你”
·“我真是对你感激不尽”
·“祝你成功”
·“别担心，我会帮你的”
·“我会想你的”
·“我希望我们还能再见”
·“你真是太棒了”（通常用于向临时的性
伴侣表达感谢）
If a man and woman love each other, it
doesn't necessarily mean they want or
plan to get married. Many live together
without making a life-long commitment.
Americans today tend to get married
around age 30, after they've finished
their
education
and
gotten
some
experience living on their own and
managing their finances. People who have
achieved some success in their career are
considered by many Americans to be
desirable partners. Often, the financial
stability of the future household is of
far greater significance to Americans
thinking of tying the knot than their
future spouses' religious or ethnic
background.
一对男女坠入爱河，并不意味着他们打算步入
婚姻殿堂。很多情侣会选择同居，而不承诺要相伴
一生。现在的美国人倾向于在30岁左右结婚，这个
时候他们已经不用再上学，而且有了一定的独立生
活和理财经验。在很多美国人眼中，事业已小有所
成的人是比较理想的伴侣。通常，对于打算喜结良
缘的美国人来说，未来家庭的经济稳定要比伴侣的
宗教、种族背景重要得多。
In the minds of the overwhelming
majority of Americans, a good job and
steady income equal family stability. In
a stable family, everyone gets along
great and loves and supports everyone
else. However, when times get tough and a
family
hits
financial
difficulties,
spouses can sometimes seem less than
loving.
在绝大多数美国人的观念中，一份理想的工作
和稳定的收入意味着家庭的稳定。在稳定的家庭
中，每个人都会相处融洽并且爱护、支持自己的家
人。然而，一旦日子不太好过，家庭出现经济问题
时，配偶之间有时候看起来就不是那么相爱了。
Frequently, ties between partners are
the strongest when both spouses have
approximately the same income. However,
when the standard of living of one spouse
depends completely on the other's income,
the relationship tends to get rocky when
money problems arise. Some people panic
and do thoughtless things when troubled
by the thought of losing their house or
property-and therefore their financial
stability and security. In such moments,
they forget their vows and promises to be
faithful and supportive, for better or
for worse. Love and affection get left by
the wayside as both partners struggle to
overcome financial hardship and keep
their standard of living.Because they
think financial stability is the key to
wedded bliss, many people in the U.S.
work hard to improve the financial
standing of their family and thus their
importance to their loved ones.
一般认为，伴侣两人收入相当，那么他们的关
系是最稳固的。但是，如果一方的生活完全依赖另
一方的收入的话，那么一旦出现财务危机，两者的
关系就会动摇。有些人一想到可能会失去房子或财
产，就会惶恐不安，甚至做出欠考虑的事情。因为
对他们来说，房子和财产意味着财务的稳定性和他
们的安全感。在这种时候，他们会把“无论顺逆都
要忠贞和相互扶持”的山盟海誓统统抛到脑后。当
两个人为了克服财务危机和保持生活水准艰难打拼
时，感情这个东西就会被搁置在一旁了。因为很多
美国人把经济上的稳固视为婚姻幸福的关键，所以
他们不辞辛劳地努力工作来提高家庭的收入水平，
并以此提升自己对爱人来说的重要程度。
That said, you may be wondering
whether love ever lasts in America. The
answer, of course, is yes. There are
millions of happy couples who have
devoted their lives to each other and
their marriage, not to increasing their
wealth. And there are couples who have
lived together for years without being
officially married and who are convinced
that getting hitched would ruin their
loving relationship. These happy couples
emphasize that they have expected and
have enjoyed romantic love throughout
their relationships. They share similar
interests and hobbies, have a good time
together, and try to be real friends for
each other. Many of them smile, “We have
always something new to talk about.”
说到这，您可能会质疑：美国还有长久的爱情
吗？ 答案当然是肯定的。美国有着数以百万的幸
福眷侣，他们倾其一生为彼此付出，营造美满婚
姻，而并不是致力于财富的积累上。也有很多恋人
已经同居多年而没有正式登记结婚，他们认为用婚
姻把两个人捆绑在一起只会破坏他们相亲相爱的关
系。这些幸福的伴侣强调说，他们在这样的关系中
可以一直期待浪漫、享受浪漫。他们志同道合，尽
享幸福时光，并把彼此视为知己。他们中有很多人
会微笑着说：“我们之间有说不完的新鲜事。”
Love remains extremely important to
Americans, just as it is to most people
around the world. But in America, love
can take some unusual forms. For example,
some people get married and remarried to
the same people several times, falling in
love all over again each time. This isn't
really frowned upon in the United States
today, though some people might think it
a bit strange. And as you'll see from a
short visit to any American home with
cats or dogs, Americans absolutely adore
their pets, perhaps precisely because
their pets are devoted to them, no matter
what their income or social status.
和世界上大多数人一样，美国人极其看重爱
情。但美国人爱的形式有时候会与众不同。比如，
某些人会跟同一个人结婚、离婚、再结婚反复好几
次，但每一次都会再重新恋爱一遍。或许有人觉得
这听起来有些荒唐，但这在今天的美国一点都不足
为奇。如果您到任何养猫或养狗的美国家庭短期造
访，您都会发现美国人对宠物宠爱有加，也许就是
因为宠物会一直对主人死心塌地、不离不弃，而且
从不计较主人的收入或地位吧。
But back to the tricky phrase, “I
love you.” It's best to use these three
little words only in the context of a
personal, affectionate relationship. They
are not a good way to express gratitude
when someone has helped you or done a
good job, especially if you are a man and
the person you are thanking is a man,
too. There are plenty of other, more
appropriate ways to say thanks or express
your appreciation like “Thanks for your
help,” “Thanks, that's great,” or
“Thanks, you did a great job!”
不过在说“我爱你”这个微妙的辞令时，我们
最好还是把这三个字用在亲密的个人关系中。比如
当一个人帮助了您或者工作得很出色时，这三个字
并不适合拿来用，尤其是在两个男人之间，更不适
合。在这种场合，我们还有很多更为贴切的表达方
式，比如“谢谢您对我的帮助”，“谢谢您，真是
棒极了”或者“谢谢您，干得漂亮！”。
But don't be afraid to say things
like,
“I've
fallen
in
love
with
America” or “I really love it here.”
Many Americans will smile as if you've
just paid them a personal compliment.
They'll be delighted to hear that you
love their homeland just as much as they
do.
但当您想说“我爱上美国了”或“我真是好爱
这里”时，可不要羞于说出口哦！很多美国人会把
它当成是对他们个人的恭维而报以微笑的。听到您
像他们一样爱他们的国家，他们会心花怒放的！
Chapter 37 Getting married
第三十七章 结婚
The institution of marriage can tell
you a lot about a society, and America is
no exception. The rules and customs that
govern marriage say much about how
Americans juggle love, family obligations
and money.
一个社会的婚姻制度会让我们了解到这个社会
的很多东西，美国也不例外。关注一下美国婚姻的
规矩和风俗，我们会从中了解到美国人是怎样同时
兼顾爱情、家庭责任以及金钱的。
In the U.S., people can get married
without parental permission once they are
over the age of 18 in all but two states.
Couples who are younger are generally not
considered ready for the commitment of
marriage. Instead, they tend to go out on
dates and spend their free time and
vacations together. Some move in together
without
getting
married,
which
is
considered a good idea by many Americans.
Many younger couples try living together
before they officially get married so
they can get a sense of how compatible
they are in everyday life.
在美国，除了两个州以外，年满18周岁的人可
以不经过父母的同意就结婚。人们普遍认为，小于
18岁的孩子还不能对婚姻作出承诺。不过，少男少
女们可以出去约会，也可以共度闲暇和假日时光。
有些恋人会搬到一起住但不结婚，这在很多美国人
看来是个好主意。而很多18岁以下的恋人选择先生
活在一起看看，等了解双方在日常生活中的相容度
以后再正式结婚。
In recent years, many American men and
women have chosen not to take on the
obligations of marriage because in the
U.S., it's a big responsibility. As the
cost of living increases, some peopleusually folks with something to lose in a
divorce-see marriage as a financial
luxury.
However,
for
many
people,
marriage offers tax benefits and allows
the couple to pool resources to make
major purchases like a house and get
health
insurance,
and
is
therefore
financially beneficial. College students
who tie the knot (get married), for
instance, don't take on a financial risk
because they are unlikely to acquire a
large amount of money or real estate in
the first years of their life together,
which means they won't have very much to
divide if they get divorced. The same
holds true for young people who are at
the beginning of their careers. However,
people who have achieved a certain level
of success and who own valuable assets
will often think twice before getting
hitched. Usually, this type of couple
prefers to live together for several
years before considering marriage.
最近，很多美国男女都不选择结婚，因为在美
国，结婚意味着巨大的责任。随着生活费用与日俱
增，一些人通常是一旦离婚就会面临损失，他们把
婚姻看作一种经济上的奢侈品。可对于很多人来
说，婚姻也能给他们带来不少好处，比如可以享受
税收优惠，可以集中资源进行大件的采购，如买房
等，还能获得健康保险。所以从经济上来讲，结婚
也是大有裨益的。大学生选择结婚就不会有经济上
的风险，因为在他们共同生活的最初几年里，他们
不大可能挣很多钱或者是买房，这就意味着就算他
们离婚也没有多少东西好分的。对于事业刚刚起步
的年轻人来说，情况也是如此。但对于那些事业有
成、资产丰厚的人来说，步入婚姻就需要三思了。
在这种情况下，他们更愿意先同居几年再考虑要不
要结婚。
The government, for its part, supports
the institution of marriage and the
family in a wide variety of ways. Married
couples have numerous special legal
rights and benefits, including
政府会以多种方式支持婚姻和家庭制度。按照
规定，夫妇享有各种特殊的权利和优惠，包括：
·More favorable income tax laws
·The creation of marital life
estate trusts
·The right to a spouse's Social
Security, disability, and other pension
or public assistance benefits
·The right to sue someone for
harming or killing your spouse
·Better insurance rates
·Citizenship for aliens
·The right to make medical
decisions about one's spouse and
·The right to the marital privilege
in court, i.e., the right not to
testify against your spouse in criminal
court
·The right to request spousal
support in the event of a divorce
·更优惠的个人所得税政策
·设立婚内终生产业信托
·有权享有配偶的社会保险、残疾保险及其
他抚恤金或公共救济金
·有权起诉伤害或谋杀配偶的人
·有权享受更优惠的保险税率
·有权从外侨变为美国公民
·有权为配偶作出疾病医治方面的决定
·在法庭上拥有夫妻保密特权，比如，在刑
事法庭上一方可以选择不去指证其配偶
·有权在离婚时要求配偶支付赡养费
Moreover, people with families
此外，很多已成家的人们还有以下优势：
·Often have an easier time finding
a job
·Find it simpler and easier to make
a career for themselves because they
have the support of their families
·Are offered all sorts of programs,
discounts and benefits from banks,
shopping centers and transportation
companies Traditionally, there are
several steps to getting married. Not
everyone does all of them, but many
Americans do. They include
·Engagement, when, according to
tradition, a man proposes to a woman
and puts an engagement ring-usually a
gold band with a diamond-on her left
ring finger if she agrees to marry him.
Nowadays, a woman may also “pop the
question”(ask a man to marry her), and
the couple may do without an engagement
ring.
·Wedding preparations, which can
take anywhere from a few weeks to an
entire year depending on the size of
the wedding. Usually couples make
separate arrangements with many
different service providers including
photographers, caterers, bakeries,
musicians, stationary stores, florists,
wedding dress stores, tuxedo rental
stores, and so on.
·Official registration of the
marriage at the courthouse. After this
civil ceremony, the couple receives a
marriage certificate.
·The wedding itself often takes
place at a place of worship. It could
also be outdoors in a garden or on a
beach or at a courthouse.
·找工作时更容易
·有家庭做后盾，自己打拼事业更简单、更
容易
·可以获得银行、购物中心以及交通公司提
供的各种活动、折扣和优惠
依照美国传统，恋人结婚要经历几个步骤。这
些步骤并非人人都要经历，但很多美国人还是愿意
循规蹈矩。步骤包括如下方面：
·首先是订婚。根据传统，如果一个女人同
意嫁给一个男人，男人要向女人求婚并把一枚订
婚戒指（通常是一枚镶有钻石的金戒指）戴在女
人左手的无名指上。现如今，也有女人向男人求
婚的，但戴戒指那个环节可能就没有了。
·其次是婚礼筹备阶段。依照婚礼规模，婚
礼的筹备时间可以短到几个星期，也可以长到一
整年。通常男女双方会分头安排各类婚庆服务，
包括摄影师、宴席筹备人、面包师、乐师，以及
文具店、花店、婚纱店、礼服租用店等等。
·然后是到县政府大楼正式登记结婚。结婚
登记之后，夫妇领取结婚证书。
·最后就是举行结婚典礼。婚礼通常会选在
教堂举行，当然也可以在户外，比如花园、海滩
或是县政府大楼。
☆ If you want to get married at a religious
site, you may be required to participate in premarital counseling beforehand.
☆ 如果您想在宗教圣地举行婚礼，也许要事先参加婚前
辅导。
·A reception after the wedding for
relatives and friends
·婚礼过后新人会宴请亲朋好友。
Not all engaged couples wind up
getting
married,
of
course.
The
preparation period allows the bride and
groom to think over their decision. If a
couple decides not to marry and has
already spent money on the wedding, the
two sides will figure out who will cover
the costs. And these costs can be
staggering: The average wedding that
follows all the ethnic or religious
customs of a couple can run from $12,000
to $20,000 on up.
当然，并不是订了婚就一定会结婚。婚礼筹备
期间，准新郎新娘可以再慎重考虑他们的决定。如
果他们决定不结婚了，但为婚礼筹备已经花了很多
钱，那么双方可以商量由哪方支付这些费用。这笔
费用可能高得惊人：如果一个婚礼完全遵照其民族
或宗教习俗操办，平均花费可达12,000到20,000
美元，甚至更高。
☆ Usually, the woman keeps the engagement
ring if the man changes his mind but returns it
to the man if she decides to break the
engagement.
☆ 通常来说，如果男方改变主意，女方可以保留订婚戒
指；但如果是女方想解除婚约，她要把订婚戒指退还给男
方。
Across the U.S., you'll find various
offices, agencies and boutiques that
specialize
in
organizing
weddings.
However, more and more couples are
foregoing fancy ceremonies and taking
honeymoons
and
buying
real
estate
instead.
在美国，到处都是各种各样的办事处、代理
点、专卖店，他们专门从事婚礼筹办事宜。但现在
有越来越多的恋人选择放弃盛大的婚礼，而是去度
蜜月和买房产。
Every state has its own laws governing
how long it takes to get married and how
marriages are registered. Only a very few
states allow you to get married in just a
few days. Nevada, for instance, allows
lovers to tie the knot on the spot.
Registration offices and wedding chapels
in Las Vegas are open around the clock,
and they can issue couples a marriage
license valid anywhere in the U.S. in a
matter of hours.
关于结婚需要的时间和结婚登记的程序，美国
各个州都有自己的法律规定。仅有几个州允许恋人
在几天之内办好结婚手续。比如，内华达州，恋人
可以当场登记结婚。而拉斯维加斯的登记处和举办
婚礼的教堂是全天开放的，它们可以在几小时之内
向男女双方颁发结婚证，而且该结婚证在美国各地
都有效。
Unfortunately, there are cases when
spouses don't know everything they should
about their love's past life or finances.
This is why it's sometimes a good idea to
have a prenuptial agreement prepared
before getting married. To do this, you
should talk to a family attorney, who
will help you and your spouse-to-be to
prepare such an agreement.
遗憾的是，有些夫妇并不完全了解配偶的过去
和财务状况。从这个意义上讲，男女双方在结婚前
达成一个婚前协议不失为明智之举。您可以跟家庭
法律师咨询此事，他会帮助您和您未来的配偶达成
此协议。
A prenuptial agreement may include
婚前协议包括以下内容：
·All the assets of each soon-to-bespouse including property, property
rights, and debts
·Distribution of assets and
property in the event that one spouse
dies
·Division of money during marriage
·Division of property after divorce
·Support after divorce
·Anything else the parties want to
consider
·准配偶双方各自的全部资产，包括财产、
产权以及债务
·如果一方去世，如何分配其资产
·婚姻期间如何分配金钱
·离婚以后如何分配财产
·离婚以后的赡养费用
·双方希望考虑的其他事宜
☆
All
of
your
financial
assets
and
obligations before marriage remain yours unless
you add your spouse to the account.
☆ 您所有婚前的金融资产和债务都继续属于您自己，除
非您把您配偶的名字加到自己的账户户主里。
You can find out more about how to
find a family attorney and what to look
for by going to the American Bar
Association's
website,
www.abanet.org.
Look in the “Family Law” section.
如果您想了解更多有关如何找家庭律师及找什
么样的律师等事宜，可以登录美国律师协会网站
www.abanet.org，浏览“家庭法”一栏。
Now that you've sorted out all the
legal details, it's time to celebrate!
Whether you and your love decide to get
married in a civil ceremony at the county
courthouse or to have a big traditional
wedding at a place of worship, you are
sure to make memories that will last a
lifetime.
现在您已经弄清了所有的法律程序，请尽情欢
庆吧！无论您和您的恋人是决定在县政府大楼里举
办民间婚礼，还是在教堂举行隆重的传统婚礼，你
们肯定会留下值得回味一生的记忆！
Chapter 38 Getting Divorced
第三十八章 离异
Even with a good prenuptial agreement
and the best of intentions, not all
marriages work out. Some fall apart
during the first year, and about half of
all marriages in America end in divorce
within the first ten years. The younger
the couple, the more likely they are to
get divorced. Yet even though they are no
longer living as man and wife, some
couples split up and never bother to get
an official divorce.
一对恋人即便有周全的婚前协议，即使怀着最
美好的期待，他们也不一定能白头偕老。在美国，
有些夫妇在结婚第一年就劳燕分飞了，而且大约有
一半的婚姻会在最初十年里以离婚告终。夫妇年纪
越轻，离婚的可能性就越大。一些人尽管不再以夫
妇名义生活一起了，但也懒得去办理离婚手续，而
是直接就各奔东西了。
☆ Until you are officially divorced, you may
be still responsible for your spouse's actions
according to U.S. law , even if you no longer
live together.
☆ 根据美国法律，即使您和配偶已分居，您也要为配偶
的行为负责，除非你们正式离婚。
The most common methods to accomplish
a divorce are
办理离婚最常用的方法如下：
·Uncontested-without a lawyer, in
which both spouses can agree on
financial and property matters and
child custody on their own and present
their decision to the court
·Contested-with two lawyers when
the spouses cannot agree on their own
·By default-with one lawyer, when
the other spouse cannot be located or
decides to agree to whatever the spouse
and lawyer come up with
·无争议离婚（又称“协议离婚”）：双方
都不找律师，而是自行达成财务、财产和子女监
护权方面的协议，然后将决定提交给法院
·争议离婚：双方各有一名律师，双方不能
自行达成一致意见时，各自请律师出面协调和解
决
·一方不到场：只有一名律师，适用于找不
到其中一方或者一方任由对方及其律师提条件之
时
☆ It may be difficult to find your spouse if
he or she has moved to a different state.
☆
如果您的配偶已经搬到另一个州，您恐怕很难找到
他/她了。
The
least
expensive
way
to
get
divorced is when both sides agree to
divorce and agree on how to divide any
common property (uncontested divorce).
However, personal principles and mutual
demands often do not allow spouses to
keep their emotions in check and come to
an agreement. Moreover, some states have
special
and
sometimes
complicated
requirements for couples with children.
In these situations, both sides - the
initiator of the divorce (the petitioner)
and the respondent-usually hire a divorce
attorney, who will draw up the documents
necessary to begin divorce proceedings
under state law.
花销最低的离婚方式是协议离婚，即双方均同
意离婚并协商解决共有财产的分割问题（又称“无
争议离婚”）。但是因为各自的原则和相互的要
求，配偶们经常难以控制情绪并达成一致。除此之
外，对于已有子女的夫妇来说，有些州还有特殊
的、有时甚至是复杂的要求。考虑到这些因素，男
女双方---提出离婚的上诉人和被上诉人---通常会
请一名离婚律师，并由他按照本州法律来起草离婚
诉讼所需的文件。
☆ Family law in the U.S. differs from state
to state. That's why you'll need to look for a
divorce attorney who practices law in your home
state.
☆ 美国各州的家庭法不尽相同，因此您必须请到可以在
您所在的州执业的离婚律师。
When searching for a good lawyer to
represent you, make sure to find out
whether
要找到一个出色的律师来维护您的利益，您必
须确保以下几点：
·The lawyer knows the latest
changes to state and federal laws in
custody, tax, child and spousal
support, insurance, property rights and
retirement
·The lawyer really understands
where the case stands, sees the strong
and weak sides of your case, and has a
good idea how the case will turn out
·The lawyer gives you clear and
straight forward advice and
communicates with you
·此律师必须熟知该州及联邦法律中最新修
改的内容，包括监护权、税务、子女及配偶的扶
养、保险、财产权以及退休等各方面的内容
·此律师必须非常了解案件的情况，清楚您
的优势和劣势，并对案件结果有一定的预见性
·此律师能够给您清晰坦率的忠告，能够跟
您有效地沟通
☆ No matter how strong your case may seem,
don't forget that you can never predict exactly
how a judge will rule.
☆ 无论您的案子看起来对您多么有利，您也不要忘了一
点：法官到底会怎么判，您永远难以预料。
You also need to remember that
您还必须了解以下两点：
·It's not really in a lawyer's
financial interest to represent lower-
income parties in a divorce case
·All lawyers charge by the hour. That
means that the longer your divorce drags
on
and
the
more
phone
calls,
correspondence
and
court
appearances
involved, the more bills you can expect
from your lawyer.
·在离婚案中，从经济的角度讲，如果让一
名律师代表低收入一方出面，对他来说实在不上
算
·所有的律师都是按小时收费的。也就是
说，您的离婚案拖得时间越长，你们彼此往来的
电话和信件越多，他出庭越频繁，那么您收到他
寄来的账单也就越多
Once you decide whether you need a
lawyer and retain one, you can start
submitting documents to the court, as
required by state law.
一旦您决定聘请某位律师，就可以开始向法庭
提交本州法律规定的有关文件了。
These may include
这些文件可能包括：
·A Petition-the first document
filed by a party. It starts the divorce
case and tells the court generally what
the issues are
·An Order to Show Case-the request
for temporary orders from the court. It
can be used to address issues like
custody, support, property division
·A Declaration-a statement of facts
where the party sets forth its basis
for the requested orders
·An Income and Expense Declaration,
which shows the sides' education, job,
income sources and assets, as well as
expenses for supporting themselves and
their children
· 离婚申请书---即由一双提交的第一份文
件。 这意味着离婚案的开始，并使法庭大体了
解双方的争端
· 受理案件判决---即要求法庭作出的临时
判决。它可以用来解决诸如监护权、扶养以及财
产分割等问题
· 离婚声明---双方提出离婚并要求判决的
声明
· 收支声明---声明双方的教育、工作、收
入来源、财产以及维持自己和子女生活所需的费
用
Some spouses don't reveal the full
extent
of
their
income
in
their
declarations, which means that lawyers on
both sides are forced to take additional
time and investigate the actual income of
both parties.
有些离婚当事人并不会在声明中坦白自己的全
部收入，这就是说，两边的律师都得花更多的时间
来核查对方的实际收入。
When a couple divorces, deciding who
should have what piece of property-the
house, the car, the boat, for example-and
how to divide other assets, such as
investments or pension benefits or a
home-based business, can be extremely
difficult. It can be even more difficult
if there are outstanding debts.
当一对夫妇离婚时，极为困难的就是如何分配
具体的财产---比如房子、车子、船---及其他的资
产，如投资、退休金或是居家小企业等等。如果还
掺杂着巨额债务的话，那问题就更为棘手了。
At the same time one side can demand
alimony/spouse support, finding more and
more reasons to receive as much as
possible from another side.
与此同时，一方可以寻找各种理由向对方要求
尽可能多的赡养费/扶养费。
Alimony/spouse support is different
from child support. Where child support
is a simple mathematical calculation
using guidelines published by your state,
alimony is very much in the discretion of
the judge.
赡养费/扶养费不同于子女扶养费。子女扶养费
只要按照您所在的州的政策来确定即可，不过是个
简单的数学问题，而赡养费/扶养费则在很大程度
上依赖于法官的判决。
The court tries to protect the rights
of children first and foremost in any
divorce.After the divorce, one spouse
will usually obtain custody of the
children while the other one will have
visitation rights, the right to see them
on a regular basis.
在任何离婚案中，法庭首先会全力保护儿童的
权益。男女离婚后，通常是由一方获得子女的监护
权，而另一方则有探视权，即定期看望子女的权
利。
To file for divorce in a particular
state, you have to have lived in that
state for a certain period of time. For
example, some states, such as Indiana and
Arkansas, only require you to have lived
in the state for 60 days, while othersArizona and Illinois-set the limit at 90
days. Other states such as Maryland and
Connecticut require you to live in the
state an entire year before allowing you
to file for a divorce.
如果您想在某一州申请离婚，您必须要在该州
生活过一段时间。比如，有些州（如印第安纳州和
阿肯色州）只要求您在那里居住满60天即可；而其
他一些州（像亚利桑那州和伊利诺伊州）则把居住
时间的最少天数设为90天；还有的州（如马里兰州
和康涅狄格州）则要求您在那生活一整年后才允许
您申请离婚。
In addition, most states have a
mandatory waiting period before the court
will grant the divorce. This gives time
for couples to consider whether they
really want to end their marriage. In
California, for example, couples have to
wait a minimum of six months. In a few
states, like in Florida, however, there
is no waiting period at all.
除此以外，大多数州规定：在法庭同意双方离
婚之前，会有一段强制的等候期。这段等候期是让
双方仔细考虑他们是否真想结束这段婚姻。比如，
在加利福尼亚州，夫妇要离婚的话至少要等上六个
月。但也有个别州（比如佛罗里达州）则根本没有
设等候期。
If your state has a waiting period, it
may recommend or on rare occasions
require you and your spouse to talk to a
marriage
counselor,
a
trained
professional
who
aims
to
help
you
discover what went wrong, how to cope and
how to pick up the pieces and go on.
如果您所在的州设立了等候期，那么该州也许
会建议甚至要求（非常少见）您和您的配偶去咨询
婚姻顾问。作为受过训练的专业人士，婚姻顾问会
力求帮助你们发现问题的症结，并着手想出解决的
办法，帮助你们重修旧好。
☆ If your spouse absolutely refuses to see a
counselor, don't wait. Go on your own and talk
about your problems. Individual counseling can
be extremely helpful and satisfying.
☆ 如果您的配偶坚决拒绝和您去找婚姻顾问，那就别等
他/她了，您自己去跟顾问聊聊你们的问题就好了。单独咨
询往往大有裨益，并会让您得到满意的结果。
If a couple does decide to split up,
often
parents
and
children
attend
counseling together to lessen the effects
that a divorce or custody dispute has on
the children, and to help the family work
through their emotions.
如果一对夫妻执意分手，他们常常带着孩子一
起去咨询。这是为了减少父母离婚或争夺监护权给
孩子造成的不良影响，让所有家庭成员都尽可能平
安地度过情感低谷。
But how do you find the right
counselor? Try asking your attorney, your
coworkers and your friends. The court or
a helpful social worker may also be able
to recommend someone. When choosing a
counselor, be picky. Counselors have
different styles and approaches. Search
until you find a counselor with whom you
feel comfortable. A counselor may provide
a first session at no cost or at a
reduced rate to see whether “it's a
match.” Ask about cost during your first
meeting, and check your health insurance
policy to see whether your plan covers
any part of the cost.
可问题是怎么才能找到合适的婚姻顾问呢？您
可以问问您的律师、同事和朋友，而且法院或者热
心的社会工作者可能也会给您推荐人选。选择顾问
的时候尽量要精挑细选。咨询顾问们风格各异，方
法不同。您得找个跟自己投缘的。顾问可能会免费
或打折给您上一课，看看你们是否合得来。第一次
见面时您要问问费用，回家以后再查查您的健康保
险保单，看看保险能不能帮您解决部分费用。
☆ The waiting period can be a trying and
emotional time for everyone involved in a
divorce. Reassurance from friends and family
members or legal advice from your lawyer may
help during this time, but a counselor is
trained to address your emotional ups and downs.
☆ 对于任何身陷离婚旋涡的人来说，等候期是一种情感
的考验与煎熬。这段时间，亲朋好友的劝慰或是律师的忠告
也许会起点作用，但只有训练有素的婚姻顾问才能真正帮助
您调节情感波动。
Sometimes, couples just know it's over
and don't want to wait. They decide that
the marriage can't be salvaged and want a
“quickie” divorce. If their home state
won't let them, they'll go wherever a
fast divorce is possible. So it's no
surprise that Nevada is popular not only
for its liberal marriage policies, but
also
for
its
“high-speed
divorces”.However,
“high-speed”
are
only a common myth, not fact. Divorces in
Nevada are valid in every other state in
the
union.
Unfortunately,
not
all
Americans know that it is much harder to
get divorced than it is to get married in
Nevada. To get divorced in Nevada, you
must be a permanent resident of the
State, which means you must
有时，夫妻心里清楚他们的关系已经走到尽头
了，不必再耗时间了。他们认为婚姻已经无可挽
回，所以就想要速战速决。如果他们所在的州不允
许，他们愿意去任何一个能火速办理离婚的州，比
如内华达州。内华达州不仅有着自由的结婚政策，
而且办理离婚也很高效，所以该州人气颇“高”，
这就不足为奇了。实际上，内华达州的高效率的离
婚办理速度只是一个大众传言，而事实并非如此。
虽然在内华达办理的离婚在美国其他的州都有效。
遗憾的是，不是所有美国人都知道：在内华达州，
离婚要比结婚难得多。要在内华达州办理离婚，您
必须是那里的常住居民。也就是说，在申请离婚
时，您必须：
·Live in the state for at least six
weeks before the date you file for a
divorce
·Have a permanent address in the
state documented with a lease and utility
bill or, if you are renting a room from
someone, with a statement from your
roommate that you live with them.
·至少在该州居住六个星期
·在该州拥有一个永久住址，并且配以租约
和水、电、燃气费账单。如果您和他人合租，您
还需要一份室友的声明。
☆ If you declare yourself a permanent
resident of Nevada, you are also stating that
you intend to live and work there after the
first six months are up.
☆ 如果您声称自己是内华达州的永久居民，这就意味着
至少在接下来的半年中您要在那里生活和工作。
Though this may sound strange, on
occasion, people from other states will
get together all the paperwork proving
that they are permanent Nevada residents
and then file for divorce. Often, they
claim they don't know where their spouse
is. As required by Nevada family law,
local lawyers then try to find the
missing spouse through the press. If the
partner doesn't appear over the next
several weeks, the local court rules that
the couple is officially divorced.
这些听起来好像挺奇怪的，但不时地，总会有
来自其他州的人们极力搜集各种文件，来证明自己
是内华达州的永久居民，然后在那里申请离婚。通
常，他们会宣称自己不知道配偶去哪里了。依据内
华达州的家庭法，当地的律师会努力通过媒体寻找
那位“失踪”配偶的下落。如果此人在其后的几周
里没有出现，当地法院就可以判处夫妇二人正式离
婚。
For this reason, if your spouse is
spending a lot of time in Las Vegas,
watch out. Not only could your partner be
gambling away your family fortune, he or
she could be trying to file for a divorce
behind your back. If you suddenly find
out that your spouse has divorced you in
Nevada without your knowledge, you have
the right to file a petition with the
court that ruled on the case, asking that
the divorce be set aside. Even though
Nevada may grant the divorce, it may have
no jurisdiction over the parties' assets,
debts and so on.
基于以上情况，如果您的配偶长期在拉斯维加
斯逗留，您可要长个心眼了。他不但可能把您的家
产赌个精光，还可能企图背着您申请离婚。如果您
突然发现您的配偶已经背着您在内华达州跟您离了
婚，您有权向判处离婚的法庭提出上诉，请求法庭
暂时搁置离婚判决。即使内华达州有判处离婚的权
利，但它并没有对双方资产、债务等的审判权。
If you end up in a similar situation
and want to contest a divorce, you should
如果您陷入类似情形，并想挽回婚姻的话，您
应该：
·Consider carefully whether the
divorce really hurts your interests and
whether you are willing to spend
considerable money to reverse it
·Talk to a lawyer and find out
whether the divorce will cause you
additional worries and problems
·Find out from your former spouse
where the divorce was registered, if
possible
·Call 411 free of charge and find
out the phone number of the family
court in the town where the divorce was
registered
·Request a copy of the case file
(This kind of request does not have a
standard form, so just write a letter
asking for the copy.)
·Send your request and a check as a
deposit for the court's services
·Examine your case based on the
copies you receive from the court
·Give you lawyer the documents you
received from the family court, as well
as your petition to have the divorce
overturned
·Talk about how you will pay the
lawyer's fees if you are experiencing
financial difficulties
·仔细考虑一下离婚是否会真的损害您的利
益，以及您是否愿意花一大笔钱来挽回婚姻
·跟律师好好谈谈，看看离婚是否会给您带
来其他的烦恼和麻烦
·如果有可能，问一下您的前夫/妻是在哪里
办理的离婚
·拨打免费电话411，查询办理离婚所在地的
家事法庭的电话号码
·索要一份案卷备份（这种请求没有标准的
格式，所以直接写封信过去要就行了。）
·将您的请求寄给法庭，同时寄上一张支
票，作为支付法庭服务的押金
·根据法庭寄来的案卷备份，仔细考虑您自
己的案子
·把您从家事法庭得到的文件，以及撤销离
婚判决的呈请书一并交给律师
·如果您手头紧，可以跟律师把将来如何支
持律师费的问题先谈清楚
Jenny Becker had just started the process of
becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen when she
discovered that her husband didn't want her to
become a citizen because he was afraid she would
leave him. After going through all the stages of
naturalization, she waited for an invitation to
come take her citizenship oath. A few days
before the ceremony, her husband announced that
they would always be together and would never
get divorced because he had done something to
make sure she would never leave him. Jenny found
out later that her husband had gone to Las Vegas
one day and filed for a divorce, claiming that
珍妮·贝克尔刚刚开始办理加入美国国籍的时候，她就
发现她的丈夫不想让她成为美国公民，因为他怕她会弃他而
去。珍妮把所有入职手续办完以后，就等着有人邀请她去进
行入籍宣誓。宣誓仪式前几天，她丈夫宣布：他们会一辈子
绑在一起，离不了婚了，因为他已经采取了某种措施，使她
永远无法离开他了。珍妮后来才发现真相：她丈夫有一天去
拉斯维加斯申请了离婚，并且对那边的法庭宣称：
·He lived and worked there, and
·He had no information about his
wife's whereabouts.
·他自己在那里居住、上班
·而他妻子下落不明
Two months later, he received notice from the
local court that he was divorced. Her husband's
plan made what Jenny had told USCIS officials
under
oath-that
she
was
married-false
information
because
her
naturalization
certificate stated that she was married. The
discrepancy between the marital status on her
documents and Jenny's actual status would make
it impossible for her to leave him, or so her
husband thought, as this threatened the validity
of her citizenship and promised to create all
sorts of other difficulties for her.
两个月后，他就收到了当地法院批准离婚的通知。他的
这一招使得珍妮跟美国移民局官员起誓过的内容成了虚假信
息，因为珍妮入职的证明写着她是已婚。他的如意算盘大概
是这样的：珍妮文件上的婚姻状况和实际情况有出入，这一
点会让她离不开她丈夫，因为这一点不仅会威胁到她国籍的
有效性，还会招来其他种种麻烦和障碍。
Undaunted by the possibility of trouble with
the immigration officials, Jenny knew that her
husband's actions would cause problems in the
future and decided to go to court to have the
divorce declared invalid. Her husband had known
where she was all along, she argued, and was not
a permanent resident of Las Vegas. A few months
later, the court decided in her favor.
珍妮并没有因为移民局官员可能会来找麻烦而被吓住。
她知道她丈夫的行为会给将来带来麻烦，所以她决定去法庭
请求判处离婚无效。几个月后，法庭判她胜诉。
If you wind up in a complicated
situation like Jenny's, you need to act
immediately.Get advice from a lawyer and
start doing what you can to avoid major
problems in the future.
如果您也陷入了类似于珍妮的复杂境地，那么
请一定要迅速行动。赶紧找个律师，让他支支招，
然后尽最大的可能将问题解决，避免将来发生大麻
烦。
Finally, if you're getting a divorce,
don't forget about Affidavits of Support.
If you have ever acted as a sponsor for
your spouse to immigrate to the U.S., you
have signed an Affidavit of Support
requiring you to support your spouse
financially. Don't forget that this
document is still in force if you divorce
your spouse. It will require you to
support your spouse until
最后，如果您真的想离婚，别忘了经济担保书
这回事。如果您是您配偶申请移民美国的经济担保
人的话，您签署过的经济担保书会要求您在经济上
支持他/她。别忘了：即使您离了婚，这份文件也
是有效的。根据文件，您必须资助您的配偶一直到
·Your partner becomes a U.S.
citizen, or
·Your partner earns 40 units
according to the Social Security
Administration, which means he or she
has worked in the States for ten years
·他/她成为美国公民，或者
·根据社会保障管理局的要求，他/她工作满
40个工作季度以后，即他/她在美国工作的时间
达到10年
Chapter 39 Sex in America
第三十九章 性在美国
Though by European standards Americans
are rather prudish about nudity and
sexuality, they aren't afraid to talk
about sex. Many Americans learn about sex
and sexual morals at an early age.
Children, for example, are told that
their future brother or sister is inside
their mother's growing tummy. Friendships
between young boys and girls are not
ridiculed, but are respected, as long as
they stay within certain bounds that are
considered appropriate for the children's
age.
High
schools
and
even
middle
schools, for example, often sponsor
dances for students where boys and girls
can show their feelings to each other
freely. Romantic relationships between
teenagers are generally not discouraged
or made fun of. The majority of parents
are fairly nonchalant about their child's
first sweetheart. All in all, Americans
don't tend to get in the way of people in
love. On the contrary, society supports
couples in love who are sincerely trying
to have a loving relationship.
尽管按照欧洲人的标准，美国人对裸体和性爱
显得有点装正经。事实上美国人并不谈性色变。很
多美国人从小就对性和性道德有所了解。比如，父
母会告诉小孩子，他们未来的弟弟或妹妹就躲在妈
妈一天天变大的肚子里。男孩和女孩交朋友时，只
要言行跟他们的年龄相符，就不会被别人嘲笑，反
而会得到尊重。比如，高中甚至初中会经常为学生
们举办舞会，让男孩和女孩之间可以自由地表达好
感。少年之间的恋爱关系通常不会被泼冷水，也不
会遭到取笑。大多数家长会以相当冷静的态度对待
孩子的初恋。总之，美国人不大喜欢棒打鸳鸯。恰
恰相反，美国社会还会鼓励那些真心诚意想要维系
感情的情侣。
In recent years, sexually explicit
advertising, contemporary fashion, music
and film stars have had a strong
influence on teenagers and their desire
to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Many
Americans have mixed feelings about teen
sex, and this can contribute to the
confusion that many young Americans
experience. The contradictory messages
can lead teenagers to experiment with
something they may or may not be able to
handle.
近些年，来自广告界、时尚圈、乐坛以及影坛
的性感十足的明星们对十几岁的孩子们产生了强烈
的影响，使他们很想有自己的男朋友或女朋友。很
多美国人对少年性爱的态度很是矛盾，而这又让迷
茫中的年轻人更加困惑了。矛盾的信息会让少年们
想要尝试，而结果他们却未必能应付。
While
many
teenagers
have
sex
initially
to
find
out
more
about
themselves and their sexuality, many
adult Americans try to give their partner
as much pleasure as possible when making
love. Sex allows them to express their
feelings openly, feelings that they might
not be able to show their partner outside
the bedroom.
少年们初试云雨是出于对自身和性爱的好奇，
而很多美国成人男欢女爱，则是为了让伴侣尽享欢
爱。性爱可以使他们坦率地表达那些在卧室以外无
法向情侣表达的情感。
Couples often split up when one
partner is not able to understand the
other's sexual needs and feelings. Sex as
a source of pleasure and bonding plays a
fairly significant role in the stable
relationships of many couples in the
United States. If a couple loses or can't
find sexual harmony for one reason or
another, the partners will openly discuss
the problem and try to help each other
any way they can. They may even seek help
from
a
doctor
or
therapist.
For
Americans, harmonious and satisfying sex
based on trust and mutual respect is a
guarantee that a relationship will last.
This is why many Americans are eager to
listen to outside advice and will use any
means necessary to preserve this harmony.
情侣中的一方如果不能理解对方的性爱需要和
情感，那么他们常常会分道扬镳。在美国，性爱对
于很多情侣来说是快乐的源泉，也是维系他们关系
稳定非常重要的因素。如果情侣由于某种原因无法
实现性爱的和谐，他们会开诚布公地交流这个问
题，并且会想尽办法帮助对方。他们甚至还会向医
生或理疗师寻求帮助。对美国人来说，如果两人希
望关系天长地久，就要在信任与互相尊重的基础上
建立起和谐美满的性爱关系。很多美国人会兴致勃
勃地倾听他人的高见，并且会竭尽所能保持性爱和
谐，正是出于这个原因。
Same-sex couples are not seen as
particularly
good
or
bad
by
most
Americans. Gays and lesbians have fought
for their rights and are recognized as
legitimate
members
of
society.
The
acceptance of same-sex couples differs
across the country. They probably will
find
more
acceptances
in
larger
metropolitan areas and in more liberal
parts
of
the
country.
Just
like
heterosexual
couples,
many
same-sex
couples often stay together for years and
have stable and committed relationships.
大多数美国人对同性情侣的态度不置可否。男
女同性恋者曾经为他们的权利进行过斗争，如今他
们已被认可为合法的社会成员。不过，美国各地对
同性恋情侣的接受程度各不相同。大都市以及比较
开明的乡村地区对同性恋情侣给予了更多的宽容。
像很多异性夫妇一样，很多同性恋夫妻会多年地生
活在一起，并保持着稳定而忠诚的关系。
Like many other parts of American
society, the law guarantees certain
protections
connected
to
sexual
relations,
including
protection
for
minors and anyone forced to engage in
nonconsensual sex acts. For this reason,
follow this advice to avoid unforeseen
circumstances
and
unpleasant
consequences:
正如美国社会的许多其他方面一样，法律对两
性关系也作出了若干保护性规定，其中保护未成年
人以及任何被胁迫实施性行为的人。所以，为避免
突发情况和不良后果，请听从以下建议：
·Refuse any sexual advances from
your partner if you feel you are being
coerced
·Do not get involved in a sexual
relationship that goes against your
moral, cultural or religious principles
·Listen to other people's advice
and recommendations, but make your own
decision
·Don't do anything sexual without
clear consent from your partner
·Avoid sexual relations with anyone
who says yes to sex under the influence
of drugs or alcohol, as saying yes
while intoxicated or drugged does not
legally constitute consent in the
United States
·Don't interpret flirting or open
discussion of sexual topics as an
invitation to have sex, unless the
person you're talking to explicitly
communicates interest and consent
·Be ready to stop at any point
during a sexual encounter if your
partner suddenly says no
·Avoid sexual relations with people
you do not know
·如果您感到自己受到伴侣的强迫，就要拒
绝他的性要求
·不要卷入有悖于您的道德、文化或是宗教
准则的性关系中
·听从他人的忠告和良言，但要自己拿主意
·未经伴侣明确同意，不要轻易作出性举动
·如果有人在酒后或吸毒以后答应了性要
求，一定不要与他/她发生性关系。因为在美
国，醉酒或吸毒情况下同意发生性行为是得不到
法律认可的
·不要把调情或公开讨论性爱话题误认为是
求爱信号，除非跟您谈话的那个人明确地表达了
其兴趣和意愿
·在性爱过程中如果对方突然拒绝，就要立
即打住
·避免跟陌生人发生性关系
☆ Depending
on
their
backgrounds
and
beliefs, some Americans begin having sex already
in high school, some in college and some only
feel comfortable engaging in sex after marriage.
Don't be surprised if some Americans talk or
joke openly about sex, while others feel
extremely uncomfortable at the mention of the
topic. It's all part of America's incredible
diversity.
☆ 由于家庭背景和信仰不同，一些美国人早在高中时就
开始有性生活，而有些人是在大学才开始的，还有些人则感
觉只有结婚之后才能有性生活。有些美国人会公开谈论性话
题或用它插科打诨，而其他人则可能会谈性色变。对此请不
要大惊小怪，因为这正是美国奇妙的多元化的一种体现。
Chapter 40 Extramarital affairs
第四十章 婚外恋
The family in America is protected by
the law and by public opinion. When they
get married, the partners know that
cheating on their spouse could lead to a
lot of unpleasantness and substantial
financial loss. If a spouse makes a
successful petition for divorce on the
ground
of
infidelity,
the
court's
position is most often easy to predict:
It will protect the interests of the
petitioner.
在美国，家庭是受法律和公众舆论保护的。当
恋人走入婚姻后，他们十分清楚，对伴侣不忠不仅
会招致极大不快，而且还会在经济上给他们带来重
大的损失。如果一方基于配偶不忠而起诉离婚，法
庭的态度可想而知：它会保护起诉人的权益。
Many Americans believe that having a
sexual relationship with someone who is
married is immoral. However, this is no
reason to think that extramarital affairs
never
happen
in
the
U.S.
These
relationships do happen, and occur most
frequently between coworkers, between
bosses and employees, or between the
spouses of close friends. As a rule,
these relationships happen when a couple
is experiencing temporary difficulties,
or when one of the partners needs to
release some emotional tension or perhaps
gain some advantage or promotion at work.
These affairs usually end quickly, but
they can sometimes last for years. On
rare occasions, they transform into
something
more
serious,
and
sexual
partners decide to divorce their spouses
and get married. However, in the majority
of cases, lovers stop seeing each other
after a while and agree to keep their
affair a secret.
在很多美国人眼里，跟一个有夫之妇或有妇之
夫发生性关系是有悖伦理道德的。不过，这也绝不
是说在美国就不存在婚外恋。这种恋情确有发生，
尤其是在同事之间、老板和下属之间以及密友的爱
人之间。出现这种现象通常有几种情况：当一对夫
妇正身陷临时性的危机时，或当其中一方想释放一
些情感上的压力时，或者也有可能是为了在职场上
获得某种优势或是得到晋升。此类风流韵事通常维
持不了多久，但有时也可能持续几年的时间。在极
少数情况下，这类事件也有可能一发不可收拾：性
伴侣双方决定跟各自的配偶离婚，然后再结连理。
但在大多数情况下，情人们过一阵子就会中断往
来，并且对其情事三缄其口。
Most workplaces discourage workplace
romances.
Unfortunately,
sometimes
employees feel that they can't refuse a
coworker or supervisor's sexual advances
due to their position in the company.
Afraid of losing their job, they agree to
become lovers, even though they know that
this pressure equals sexual harassment
and is punishable by law.
大多数办公场所不提倡办公室恋情。但遗憾的
是，有些公司员工出于自身职位的考虑，他们无法
拒绝其同事或上司的性冒犯。尽管他们明白这种冒
犯等同于性骚扰，应当依法受到惩罚，但由于害怕
丢掉工作，他们还是委身屈从，答应成为冒犯者的
情人。
While you probably don't plan to hit on your
coworkers or pressure anyone into bed, you still
need to be careful when making sexual or offcolor jokes in professional settings, if that's
part of your sense of humor. Many Americans-both
men and women-will laugh along with you, but
some might not be amused. Instead, they may
think you are coming on to them (making a sexual
advance) and could accuse you of sexual
harassment. So before you tell the joke about
the naughty farmer's daughter, think twice. If
you do say something that offends someone,
apologize sincerely and avoid the subject with
that person in the future.
如果您为了展现自己的幽默感而喜欢在公共场所讲一些
荤段子，并无意引诱或是逼迫任何人和您上床，您还是要谨
慎开口为妙。很多美国人（不论男女）可能会附和地笑笑，
但有些人不会觉得有趣。相反，他们会觉得您有不轨的意图
（进行性侵犯）而控告您对他们实施性骚扰。所以，在您要
大讲什么“撒野的农家女”之类的段子前，还是三思而后行
吧。如果您的话的确冒犯了某人，您要郑重道歉，并且以后
也不要再跟这个人提及此类话题了。
Almost
every
employment
contract
includes a section warning new employees
about sexual harassment in the workplace
and describing the consequences. For this
reason,
every
complaint
of
sexual
harassment
against
coworkers
or
supervisors is taken seriously by most
companies. As a rule, an individual
proven guilty of harassment often will be
fired immediately.
几乎每份雇用合同里都会包含一条警示，告诫
新员工不要在工作场合进行性骚扰，并明确说明性
骚扰会产生的严重后果。所以，如果有员工投诉其
同事或上司对其进行性骚扰，大多数公司都会进行
严肃的处理。通常，被证实实施性骚扰的那个人会
被立即开除。
Sexual harassment means more than just
trouble at the office, however. Americans
can be very sensitive to what they
perceive as sexual conduct in public. So,
if you are on a beach or at a swimming
pool or gym, for example, do not stare at
members of the opposite gender. Be
careful when showing friendly affection,
such as hugging, touching or kissing
someone, if you don't know the person
very well. This will help you avoid any
accusations of improper behavior or
sexual harassment.
其实，性骚扰并不仅限于职场。美国人对公共
场所的两性行为也非常敏感。所以，您在海滩、游
泳池或者健身房等地方，请不要盯着异性看个没
完。如果您要向一个不太熟悉的人表达好感，要慎
用拥抱、触摸或亲吻等方式，以免遭到行为不端或
是性骚扰的投诉。
Children
and
teenagers
are
also
protected by law from sexual harassment.
To avoid being accused of inappropriate
behavior
法律同样也保护少年儿童免遭性骚扰。如果您
不想被人投诉行为不端，请注意以下几点：
•Don't touch or pick up children
without the parents' permission
•Avoid directly approaching or talking
with children unless their parents are
present or there is an emergency
•Do not give anything to the child
such as candy or a toy without the
parents' permission
•If you do need to help a lost or
injured child, quickly hand him/her over
to the police or a security guard. In
stores, have a salesperson contact the
manager for you, or at events, look for
an organizer.
·未经其父母允许，不要随便触碰或是抱起
他们的孩子
·除非孩子的父母在场或者有紧急情况，否
则不要直接靠近孩子或是跟他说话
·未经其父母允许，不要随便给孩子东西，
比如糖果或玩具
·如果有迷了路或受了伤的孩子需要您的帮
助，请迅速把他/她交给警察或保安。如果在商
店，可以让售货员替您联系经理；如果是在某个
活动中，就找活动的负责人
☆ Never drive the child in your car.
☆ 不要用自己的车把小孩带走。
You can find out more about sexual
harassment
in
the
U.S.
at
www.eeoc.gov/types/sexual_harassment.html.
Because your culture may have different
customs and attitudes, it's important to
know what kind of actions, including
jokes,
pictures,
e-mails,
ways
of
touching another person, and even verbal
comments, might be considered sexual
harassment in the United States.
要了解更多关于美国性骚扰的问题，可登录
www.eeoc.gov/types/sexual_harassment.html。
由于您的文化习俗和理念可能与美国的有所不同，
所以您很有必要了解在这个国家有哪些言行（比如
笑话、照片、电子邮件、触碰另一个人的方式以及
口头评论等等）会有性骚扰之嫌。
Chapter 41 Hiring a babysitter or
nanny
第四十一章 雇用幼儿看护或育儿保姆
In America today, not every family can
afford to have only one person working
outside the home. This means that a few
months after a woman gives birth, she
often has to go back to work. The family
will then hire a nanny or babysitter to
take care of their new baby.
在今日的美国，不是每个家庭都能靠一个人在
外打拼就可以支撑起生活。也就是说，母亲在生完
孩子几个月后，她往往就得回到工作岗位。所以，
家里就需要雇一个专门的幼儿看护或育儿保姆来照
看新生儿。
It can take quite a long time to find
a good babysitter. Many parents begin
looking for a skilled nanny long before
their child is born. They may prospect
candidates
要想找一个称心如意的幼儿看护相当耗时。很
多父母早在小孩未出生之前，就已经开始物色专业
的育儿保姆了。他们可以通过以下途径寻找合适的
人选：
•At colleges and medical schools
•At their workplaces
•In local newspapers in which
babysitters/nannies place their own
advertisements or through employment
agencies
•By asking their friends and
relatives
·去大学以及医学院
·在自己的工作场所
·查看当地报纸（上面有幼儿看护/育儿保姆
本人登的广告或通过职介所登的广告）
·让亲朋好友推荐人选
☆ The word “nanny”usually refers to an
individual
with
specialized
training
and
qualifications. It doesn't have the same meaning
as“babysitter”.
☆“nanny”通常指的是受过专门训练、拥有专业资格的
育儿保姆，而“babysitter”与它的含义有所不同。
（baby sitter 一般指代人临时照看小孩的幼儿看护。）
Every family has its own priorities in
choosing someone to care for their child.They
may want a nanny who
每个家庭在选择照看小孩的人选时，都有各自
的倾向。他们理想的人选可能包括如下条件：
•Is of a certain age with
specialized medical or education
training documented by a degree or
certificate
•Has work experience with young
children and babies
•Has references from previous
employers
•Has a pleasant, attentive and good
natured personality
•Charges a reasonable amount for her
services
·符合一定的年龄要求，受过专门的医学或
教育学训练，并有相应的学位或资格证书
·有照顾婴儿以及小孩的工作经验
·有前任雇主的推荐信
·性格讨人喜欢，而且细心、善良
·收费合理
Sometimes, young couples hire their
relatives or people without any special
training as nannies. However, the money
they save on a less expensive babysitter
can easily be outweighed by the costs of
dealing with a less than professional
nanny.
有时候，年轻的父母会雇佣他们的亲属或从未
受过专业训练的人来做育儿保姆。这么做倒是省
钱，但这样的保姆并非专业出身，父母们往往得不
偿失。
•Can give first aid to children
•Has a driver's license and insured
car
•Has personal insurance (If you hire
a nanny without insurance, you may be
financially liable for any accident
that occurs while she is working at
your home.)
•Can stay with a baby for particular
days and hours
•Can take care of a child in their
home. Some babysitters prefer to care
for the child in their own homes rather
than at the children's homes.
•Has the proper immigration status
(Hiring an undocumented worker is a
serious crime in the U.S.)
•Is of a certain nationality
•Has certain religious beliefs
•Can speak English or other foreign
languages well
·能给孩子提供急救
·有驾照，有上过保险的私家车
·有个人保险（如果一个没有保险的保姆在
您家中干活时发生意外，您可能要承担经济责
任。）
·可以跟婴幼儿共处特定的天数和小时数
·可以在保姆自己家里照顾小孩。有些保姆
更喜欢在自己家里照顾小孩，而不是在雇主家里
工作
·拥有正式的移民身份（雇用非法移民在美
国是严重的犯罪）
·拥有某国国籍
·有某种宗教信仰
·能讲一口流利的英语或其他外语
Not every family pays much attention how well
the babysitter speaks English. For example, in
immigrant
communities
you
can
often
see
babysitters speaking the same language as
parents and knowing limited English vocabulary.
Make sure, though, that your babysitter does
speak enough English to deal with emergencies.
并不是每个家庭都看重幼儿看护的英文水平。比如在移
民聚居区，您经常会见到看护和孩子们的父母操着同一种语
言，而且只懂得有限的英语单词。不过，您要保证雇来的看
护在应对紧急状况时英语能够过关。
•Is willing to be a live-in nanny, who may
be responsible for light housekeeping and
some cooking
·愿意住在雇主家里，并可以打理少量家
务，还可以做饭
Finding a nanny or babysitter through
an agency will cost you from $250 to
$1,000.Many agencies try to find their
clients qualified nannies very quickly,
often
taking
full
financial
responsibility
for
the
nanny's
professional
skills
and
personal
integrity. Agencies also offer various
types of nannies for children who are too
young for school, such as
如果您通过介绍所物色幼儿看护或育儿保姆，
费用会从250美元到1000美元不等。很多介绍所会
努力在最短时间内给客户找到合适的育儿保姆，并
对保姆的业务技能和操守承担全部经济责任。介绍
所也为学龄前儿童提供各种特色的保姆。比如：
•Foreign students (au pairs) who
come to the U.S. for a particular
period of time at the request of a
family. The family agrees to pay for
the journey, lodging, food, insurance
and weekly salary while giving them
time to study or relax each week.
•Nannies who have graduated from
special schools and have licenses. Most
recent graduates try to find work
through an agency when they are just
starting their careers.
Every nanny, babysitter or au pair
should always keep handy the following
information about their charge's
parents:
•Emergency phone numbers for both of
the child's parents
•Phone numbers of the family's close
friends and relatives
•The name and phone number of the
child's pediatrician
•A copy of the child's insurance
card or policy
·外国学生（互惠生），他们应某个美国家
庭的要求到美国住上一段时间（帮助这个家庭照
顾儿童或做一些家务）。这个家庭同意为该外国
学生支付旅行、食宿、保险等费用，并会提供周
薪，同时每周还给他们学习或休闲的时间
·从专门学校毕业并有上岗证的育儿保姆。
最近很多毕业生在事业刚刚起步时，会通过职业
介绍所找这类工作
每个幼儿看护、育儿保姆或是互惠生都应该对
雇主的以下信息了如指掌：
·孩子父母的紧急联系电话
·该家庭亲朋好友的电话号码
·孩子私人医生的姓名及电话
·孩子保险卡或保险单的复印件
☆ If you have neighbors you know well and
trust, let them know that you've hired a nanny.
That way, if they hear your child crying or
screaming, they'll be more likely come over to
see what's going on. They may keep on an eye on
what happens when you're not around, and they
can help the nanny out in an emergency. You
should also occasionally drop by unexpectedly to
make sure that your child is happy and wellcared for. Some parents even install hidden
cameras in their homes if they are worried about
child neglect or abuse.
☆ 如果您的邻居和您很熟悉，而且值得信赖，请把您雇
育儿保姆一事告诉他们。那样的话，如果他们听到您的孩子
在哭喊，就会过去看看发生了什么情况。当您不在家时，他
们可以帮您留心，而当您的保姆遇到紧急情况时，他们也可
以助一臂之力。您也应该偶尔突然回家看看孩子是不是开
心，是不是被照顾得很好。有些父母担心自己的孩子会被冷
落或者遭受虐待，甚至还会在家里秘密安装摄像头。
Hiring a nanny is a matter of trust,
especially if you are having someone live
in your home. You need to find a person
you believe will take decent care of your
child and will not take advantage of you.
Perhaps the most extreme example of a
violation of this trust is when con
artists try to scam wealthy families by
getting their accomplices hired on as
nannies
or
cleaning
ladies.
These
accomplices start out working for the
family but later help rob the house or
kidnap the children. While most of us
will never have to deal with a scenario
this terrible, you could have some
unpleasant consequences on your hands if
you hire someone to watch your child who
turns out to be less than trustworthy. So
do all that you can to find the right
person, even if it means paying a bit
more than you'd planned.
雇用育儿保姆，尤其是让她住在您家里，有个
信任的问题。您找的保姆必须值得您信赖---她会
好好看护您的孩子，而且不会利用和算计您。滥用
雇主信任的最极端的例子可能是这样的：骗子让他
的同伙扮做保姆或清洁女工潜入有钱的人家，伺机
榨取钱财。这些同伙刚开始会佯装在这家干活，然
后就会帮着偷东西或是绑架家里的小孩。当然我们
大多数人可能一辈子都不会碰到这种可怕的事情，
但如果您雇来照看小孩的保姆不那么值得信赖的
话，您就可能会遭遇不快了。所以，您一定要竭尽
全力物色合适的人选，哪怕花的钱要比您预期的多
一些。
Chapter 42 Enrolling your child in a
preschool
第四十二章 子女的学前教育
Nursery
schools,
preschools
and
daycare centers offer services to parents
of children who are too young to attend
school. Most of them cost money and
plenty of it.Each school has its own
criteria for accepting children, which
may include
对于孩子太小、还不能上学的家长来说，托儿
所、幼儿园和日托中心能解除他们的后顾之忧。不
过，这些地方大都收费很高。每个学校接收学生都
有各自的标准，其中包括：
•Whether your child can do basic
tasks like putting on a coat, going to
the bathroom or eating on his or her
own
•Whether your child plays well with
others
•Whether your child is able to be
away from you, the parents, for longer
periods of time
·您的孩子能否独立完成一些基本任务，如
穿衣、吃饭、上厕所等
·您的孩子能否跟别的孩子融洽相处
·您的孩子能否较长时间离开家长
When choosing a preschool for your
child, pay attention to the following:
给您的孩子选择幼儿园时，要注意以下几点：
•What kind of school you need. Some
programs are full-time while others are
just two or three days a week for a few
hours.
•Hours of operation and charges for
late pick-ups
•Whether the preschool has a license
and is accredited by either The
National Association for the Education
of Young Children (NAEYC) or The
National Association for Family Child
Care (NAFCC)
•What level of education and/or
medical training the school's director
and teachers have
•Whether the teachers are able to
give your child first aid
•Plans for an emergency
•The school's primary language, as
foreign language schools can acquaint
your child with a different language
and culture
•Educational philosophy
•Schedule and variety of activities
which may include art, music, exercise,
academics (introduction to numbers and
letters)
•Balance of structured activities
and unstructured playtime
•The quality of food offered and
whether it's possible to substitute
other foods for those your child can't
eat
•Whether the school is tidy and
clean
•Whether the school has a good,
well-maintained playground
•Whether the school has good toys
•How the children get along with one
another
•Ratio of children to caregivers
•The relationship between the
children and teachers
•Whether parents can visit the
school when they want
•Whether it's possible to discuss
your child's development with the
teachers
•Expectations of parent involvement.
Some programs such as co-operatives
rely on parents to participate in
classroom activities.
·您想选择哪种类型的幼儿园：有些幼儿园
是全日制的，而有些则一周只上两三天，每天只
上几个小时
·幼儿园的工作时间以及对迟接孩子收取的
费用
·该幼儿园是否有营业执照，是否获得过美
国幼儿教育协会（NAEYC）或美国儿童家庭看护
协会（NAFCC）的认证
·幼儿园主管及教师的教育以及/或者医疗培
训情况
·教师们能否为孩子提供急救服务
·是否有紧急情况预案
·该幼儿园使用的主要语言，因为外语学校
能让您的孩子了解其他的语言和文化
·办学理念
·课程表以及多种多样的活动安排，如艺
术、音乐、体育以及文化课（教孩子认识数字和
字母）
·有组织的活动和自由的游戏时间之间的平
衡
·幼儿园的食物质量如何，如果您的孩子有
不能吃的东西，有没有其他备选食品
·幼儿园是否干净整洁
·幼儿园是否有设施齐备、维护良好的操场
·幼儿园是否有好的玩具
·孩子们相处得是否融洽
·孩子和看护人员的比例
·孩子和教师之间的关系
·家长是否可以随时去看望孩子
·能否跟老师探讨孩子的成长问题
·是否需要家长参与课堂活动，因为有些合
作项目有赖于家长的参与
To make the final decision about particular
school, it's important to visit it several
times, to talk with the director and teachers,
to observe the center in operation (with
children present), and to observe how the
director and teachers interact with your child.
If your child likes the preschool, he or she
will be eager to go there every day.
在下决心选择某所学校之前，您有必要带孩子多去几次
学校，跟学校的校长和老师谈一谈，观察一下有孩子们在校
时学校的运行状况，并且看看校长和老师跟您的孩子互动的
怎么样。如果您的孩子喜欢这所幼儿园，那么他/她每天都
会兴冲冲的去上学。
If you need more help finding a good
preschool or daycare, you can contact the
U.S.Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services' National Center for Childcare
at
1-800-616-2242
or
at
www.childcareaware.org.
If
you
have
limited income, you should also find out
more about the Early Head Start and Head
Start programs in your area by calling
the Department of Health and Human
Services at 1-866-763-6481 or online at
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb. Head Start
programs are specifically designed to
help children from lower-income families
get access to good daycare and get ready
for a successful school career.
如果您希望物色一所理想的幼儿园或日托所，
您可以找美国卫生与公共服务部的全国儿童托管中
心寻求帮助，电话是1-800-616-2242，网站是
www.childcareaware.org。若您的收入有限，也
可以致电1-866-763-6481或登录
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb，从美国卫生与
公共服务部了解您所在地区的儿童早期教育和学前
教育项目。学前教育项目是专门为低收入家庭子女
设立的，以帮助他们获得良好的托管，为顺利开启
其学业生涯做好准备。
Chapter 43 Enrolling your child in a
grade or high school
第四十三章 子女的基础教育或高中入学
Children start school in the U.S. at
age 5 or 6. Schooling is divided into the
following stages:
美国孩子从五六岁开始上学。学校教育可以分
成以下几个阶段：
•Kindergarten for 5 year olds;
•Elementary school for 1st through
5th grade (until about age 11)
•Middle school or junior high for
6th through 8th grade(for ages 11-13)
•High school for 9th through 12th
grade(for ages 14-18)
·5岁上幼儿园
·小学1~5年级（上到大约11岁）
·初中6~8年级（11~13岁）
·高中9~12年级（14~18岁）
Depending on the school district,
schools in your area may have different
names for each stage and different age
groups at each stage.
不同地区的学校可能对每个阶段有不同的称
谓，也有不同的年龄要求。
Among the great variety of schools in
the U.S., there are two basic types:
在美国五花八门的学校里面，主要有两种类
型：
•Public schools funded by the state
with no tuition fees
•Private or independent schools that
charge tuition
·由各州出资、不收学费的公立学校
·收取学费的私立学校或独立学校
Parents always have a right to choose
between public and private schools, as
well as the right to educate their
children at home (called homeschooling).
家长们有权为孩子选择上公立学校还是私立学
校，也有权选择在家里教育孩子（这又叫“家庭学
校/家庭学校教育”）。
Even though in principle, there are no
radical differences between a public and
private school education systems, they
still do things differently, for example
尽管从原则上讲，两种学校的教育体制并没有
显著的差别，但在实际运营上还是不一样的，比
如：
•Most public schools accept students
based on where they live
•Public schools are strictly divided
into grades and territorial districts
•Public schools' budgets are mostly
funded by local property taxes, though
they also can receive federal funding,
grants and private donations
•Public schools hire only state
certified teachers with a bachelor's
degree, while many private schools do
not require teachers to be certified
•Public high school students can
often take extra classes at the local
community college or university
•Some public schools have thousands
of students
•The average class size at a public
school is 30 to 40 students for high
school but 20 to 25 for elementary
school
•Public schools cannot teach classes
promoting religion
•Many private schools only accept
students who have good grades for the
previous two years and do well on
entrance exams while other private
schools such as parochial (religious
based) schools may accept students
without exams.Instead, parochial
schools may select students based on
membership to a particular religious
institution.
•Private schools often have
elementary, middle and high school
students in one building or on the same
campus
•Private schools' budgets come from
tuition payments, private donations
from religious or charity organizations
and the school's own fundraising
efforts(Parents may be expected to do a
great deal of fundraising in addition
to paying tuition.)
•Not all private schools have wellequipped science labs, gyms and
classrooms
•Many private schools try to attract
talented and gifted students who will
contribute the school's prestige and
competitiveness and therefore allow it
to charge higher tuition (Academically
strong public schools also try to
attract and keep talented students.)
•Students in the higher grades at
some private schools are offered a wide
variety of classes at the school itself
and do not have to attend outside
college classes(Public schools
generally offer a wider variety of
classes than do private schools.)
•Private schools usually accept only
a limited number of students
•The average class size at a private
school ranges from 3 to 20 students
•Some private schools offer religion
as one of their main subjects
•Some private schools specialize in
a foreign language
·大多数公立学校按照学区来招收学生
·公立学校严格区分不同的年级和学区
·公立学校的预算主要来自地方的财产税，
但也有来自联邦政府的资金、拨款以及私人捐款
·公立学校只聘用拥有学士学位并获得州级
认证的教师，而很多私立学校对教师的资格认证
没有硬性的规定
·公立高中的学生常常可以免费选修当地社
区学院或大学的课程
·有些公立学校会有好几千名学生
·公立学校平均每班的学生人数大致为：中
学30~40人，小学20~25人
·公立学校不教授倡导宗教的课程
·很多私立学校只接收在前两年成绩好并在
入学考试中表现优异的学生，而有些私立学校，
如教会学校，则有可能不需要通过考试接收学
生，而是根据学生们所属的宗教机构来招收学生
·私立学校的小学、初中和高中学生常常在
同一栋大楼或同一个校园里上课
·私立学校的预算来自学生的学费、宗教或
慈善组织的私人捐款以及学校的自筹资金（学生
家长除了要交学费外，还要花大力气帮学校筹集
资金。）
·并非所有的私立学校都拥有设备齐全的实
验室、体育馆和教室
·很多私立学校会竭尽全力吸引多才多艺的
学生，以便提高学校的声誉和竞争力，这样他们
就能收取更高的学费了（学术能力强的公立学校
也会极力吸引并留住有特殊才能的学生。）
·一些私立学校的高年级学生在自己的学校
就可以选择各种各样的课程，所以他们不必去外
面的大学选修课程（公立学校开设的课程在种类
上通常要比私立学校的多。）
·私立学校接收的学生人数通常很有限
·私立学校平均每班的学生人数在3到20人不
等
·有些私立学校把宗教设为主课之一
·有些私立学校会专门讲授一门外语
Regardless of whether they are public
or private, most U.S. schools begin the
school year in late August or early
September. The school year is usually
divided into two semesters, fall and
spring, and at the end of each semester,
students have exams or finals covering
what they have learned that semester.
Between semesters, schools close for
longer holidays (around two weeks in late
December and around 60 to 80 days in midJune). Schools also close during the
school year for shorter state holidays
and breaks.Some schools divide the year
up into trimesters or quarters, but the
principle is basically the same.
美国的大多数学校（无论公立还是私立）都在
八月末或九月初开始新的学年。一学年通常分为秋
季和春季两个学期，并且在每个学期期末，学生们
会参加测验或期末考试，以检验他们一个学期的学
习成果。在两个学期之间，学校会放很长时间的假
（寒假在12月末，约有两个星期的假期；暑假从6
月中旬开始，假期长达60~80天）。在学年当中，
学校在法定节假日或休息日也会放假，不过时间较
短。也有些学校把一学年分成三个或者四个学期，
但基本原则是一致的。
The majority of public and private
schools teach approximately the same
subjects.However, the actual content and
curriculum can differ from state to
state, and even from school to school,
because there is no national mandatory
curriculum in the U.S.Children who change
schools may have trouble, for example,
with math or physics at their new school
because they studied something completely
different in their classes back at their
old school. This is why parents try not
to move their children to a different
school, especially once they reach high
school-that,
and
the
experience
of
meeting new teachers and classmates can
be emotionally stressful for the child.
Of
course,
in
reality,
parents
do
sometimes have to relocate, whether they
want to or not, and that means their kids
will have to change schools.
大部分公立学校和私立学校教授的学科大体相
同，但具体的内容和课程会因州而异，甚至因校而
异，因为美国没有全国统一的课程设置。因此，对
于转学的孩子来说，他们到了新学校后很可能会有
困难，比如：数学或物理他们可能就会听不懂，因
为他们原来的学校教的是与新学校完全不同的内
容。所以，家长们总是尽力不让自己的孩子转学，
尤其是孩子上了高中以后更是这样。除了课业上的
困难，结识新老师和新同学对孩子来说也会造成心
理上的压力。但事实上，有时候不管家长是否情
愿，他们必须得换地方。这样的话，他们的孩子也
只好跟着转学。
Every school sets its own class
schedule, which usually starts between
7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and ends between
2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Students are
given time between classes to have lunch
at
the
school
cafeteria
and
are
discouraged from going home to eat. They
usually don't have enough time, anyway:
Lunch periods at most schools are rarely
more than 30 or 40 minutes long. However,
students are welcome to bring food from
home to eat.
每个学校都会自行规定作息时间，通常上午
7:30~8:30开始上课，下午2:00~3:30放学。学生
们在课间可以到学校食堂去吃午饭，通常学校不鼓
励学生回家吃饭。大多数学校的午饭时间不会超过
30 ~ 40分钟，所以学生们通常也来不及回家吃
饭。不过，学校鼓励学生们从家里带饭。
☆ While some schools have strict rules about
if and when upper-level students can leave the
school grounds, other schools are open and let
students come and go as they please.
☆ 对于优等生，有些学校会严格地规定他们能不能随便
离校以及什么时候能离校，但也有些学校允许这样的学生自
由出入校园。
If you are thinking about enrolling
your child at a certain public or private
school, you can find out more about it
from various sources:
如果您正在考虑送您的孩子上某所公立或私立
学校，您可以从以下渠道了解更多信息：
•From your local school district
(Ask about “open-enrollment” programs
that allow you to enroll your child in
the public school of your choice.)
•From the school's admission or
administrative office
•From a local real estate agent.
Real estate prices are often closely
tied to the quality of neighborhood
schools.
•From the Internet, such as Profiles
of Public Elementary, Middle, and High
Schools in the USA
(www.publicschoolreview.com) , or from
Public School Ranking
(www.psk12.com/rating/index.php)
·您所在的学区（咨询一下“开放招生”项
目，该项目可以让您把孩子送到自己心仪的公立
学校去读书。）
·该校的招生办或行政办公室
·当地的房地产中介。房价往往跟临近学校
的教学质量密切相关
·互联网，比如登录网站
www.publicschoolreview.com来了解美国公立
小学、初中、高中的概况，或者登录网站
www.psk12.com/rating/index.php来了解公立
学校的排名情况
☆ It can be hard to find the right school
for your child, be it public or private. Try to
find as much information about the schools that
interest you that you can before you enroll your
child.Of course, if you live in a particular
area and choose to have your child attend public
school, he or she usually will have to attend
the school that service that area.
☆ 为孩子物色一所合适的学校（无论是公立学校还是私
立学校）可不是件轻而易举的事。您要先尽可能多地了解您
感兴趣的学校的信息，然后再给您的孩子报名。当然，如果
您住在某个特定的区域，并且打算把孩子送到公立学校，那
么您的孩子通常只能到服务该学区的学校去上学了。
Every child in the U.S. has the right
to a free education at a public school.
To enroll your child in a public school,
you will need to bring the following:
在美国，每个孩子都有在公立学校免费接受教
育的权利。想把孩子送到公立学校，您要把下列东
西带齐：
•A birth certificate
•School records or transcripts
showing your child's grades (marks) for
the last 1 to 2 years, depending on the
school ( You need to have a notarized
translation of all documents that are
not in English.)
•Your child's medical records
showing his or her vaccinations
(Aschool admission officer or
administrator can tell you where you
get your child vaccinated for free.)
•Proof that you live in the school
district, such as a telephone bill or a
rental agreement
•An English test and, at some
schools, a math test to place your
child in the right grade
·孩子的出生证明
·提供最近1～2年内孩子的成绩单。对于这
一项，不同的学校会有不同的规定（如果文件不
是用英语写的，您需要提供经过公证的翻译
件。）
·孩子的医疗记录，即疫苗接种记录（学校
的招生负责人或行政人员会告诉您去哪里可以给
孩子免费接种疫苗。）
·能证明您生活在该学区的证据，比如电话
费账单或租房合同
·英语分级考试---有些学校可能还要求数学
分级考试---以便把您的孩子分到适当的年级[1]
Americans like to say that there is no
such thing as a free lunch, meaning you
can't get something for nothing. But
school kids can get a free lunch. For
students from low-income families, there
are several programs to help with school
meals, such as the School Breakfast
Program,
the
National
School
Lunch
Program and the Special Milk Program. You
can find out more information about these
programs from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd.
美国人爱说“天下没有免费的午餐”，意思是
没有付出就没有回报。不过，学校的孩子的的确确
可以吃到“免费的午餐”。对于低收入家庭的孩子
来说，学校有几个项目可以帮助他们解决吃饭问
题，比如“校园早餐项目”、“全国校园午餐项
目”以及“特别牛奶项目”。您可以登录美国农业
部的网站www.fns.usda.gov/cnd，从中可以获得
更多的相关信息。
☆ When enrolling your child, ask whether he
or she qualifies for a school meal program.
☆ 在给孩子报名时，您可以咨询一下他/她是否有资格
参加校用餐饮项目。
Some states have special programs for
gifted and talented children from lowincome families that give them the
opportunity to study in schools with
high-quality
instruction.
In
funding
these programs, the government strives to
make up for damage done by the ethnic and
racial isolation common in public schools
located in areas where one ethnic group
predominates.
Schools
in
low-income
neighborhoods frequently suffer from
有些州为那些家境贫寒但有特长的学生设定了
特殊的项目，可以让他们到师资雄厚的学校去学
习。在一个民族“独大”的地区，那里的公立学校
经常会有民族或种族之间互相孤立的现象，而政府
之所以要资助这样的项目，就是为了减少这种现象
带来的危害。低收入社区内的学校常常会受到以下
问题的困扰：
•Overcrowded classrooms
•Aggression and tension among students
along racial lines
•Low levels of academic achievement
•Poor preparation of students for
college
•Low self-esteem among students
·教室过分拥挤
·不同种族的学生互相攻击、关系紧张
·学生学业水平低下
·学生上大学的准备不足
·学生自尊心不强
The most common programs to address
these
problems
are
called
magnet
programs,
which
support
progressive
specialized schools focusing on fields
like
用以解决以上问题最常见的方案就是“磁石项
目”，该项目旨在支持那些先进的、采用特色化教
学的学校在如下领域有所建树：
•The arts
•Foreign languages
•The humanities
•Law
•Math, science and technology
•Medicine
·艺术
·外语
·人文
·法律
·数学、科技
·医学
☆ Gifted and talented programs are not the
same as magnet schools. Many general public
schools offer gifted and talented programs.
☆ 很多普通公立学校会给那些多才多艺的学生提供特别
的入学方案，但这种方案与这里提到的“磁石学校”的方案
是不同的。
The school district will sometimes
invest considerable amounts of money to
attract qualified teachers to magnet
schools and provide these schools with
good equipment, as well as free school
buses for students. You can find out more
about gifted and talented programs from
your local school district or check out
www.magnet.edu.
校区有时会给“磁石学校”投入大量的资金，
用以吸引高素质的教师来任教，并且为学校配以精
良的设备，为学生提供免费的校车。您可以通过当
地学区或者登录www.magnet.edu来获取更多针对
特长生的就读方案。
☆ California, Illinois, Missouri and North
Carolina have the largest number of magnet
schools.To enroll your child in a magnet school,
you will need
☆ 加利福尼亚州、伊利诺斯州、密苏里州及北卡罗来纳
州拥有的“磁石学校”最多。如果您想送孩子去“磁石学
校”，需要以下步骤：
•To get a recommendation from your
child's previous school about his or
her talents
•Fill out an application (often
called a choices application) and send
it to the school district
•Give a letter to your child's
current school granting the school
administration permission to give the
school district information about your
child
•Have your child take an English and
math test if necessary
•Do everything listed above before
the deadline set by the school district
·由孩子之前的学校提供一封关于其特长的
推荐信
·填写申请表（通常称为“择校申请
表”），之后寄到学区
·写信给您孩子现在的学校，授权学校的行
政部门向学区提供有关您孩子的个人信息
·如有必要，让您的孩子参加英语和数学考
试
·在学区规定的截止日期前完成上述步骤
☆ Do not underplay your child's abilities.
Proudly say what your kid can do, and give him
or her a chance to take the magnet program exam.
☆ 请不要对您孩子的才能轻描淡写。自豪地为您的孩子
美言几句吧，这样才能帮助他/她争取到参加“磁石学
校”入学考试的机会。
Private schools are always looking to
attract new students. To do so, the
schools hold various events and open
houses throughout the year and regularly
send out brochures to parents. To choose
the right private school for your child,
you should
私立学校也总是在极力招揽新生。为了达到此
目的，私立学校会常年举行名目繁多的活动，并且
常年开放参观，还会定期给家长分发宣传册。想要
选到合适的私立学校，您要注意如下几点：
•Visit several schools, paying
attention to the students' behavior and
attitude
•Talk to students and their parents,
as well as to school staff
•Visit the cafeterias, library,
labs, art studios and gym
•Ask the admission office to give
you copies of the school's annual
reports for the last three years
·多走访几个学校，观察学生们的言行和态
度
·跟学生、学生家长以及教职员工聊一聊
·参观一下食堂、图书馆、实验室、艺术工
作室和体育馆
·向学校招生办索要近三年的年报复印件
Every private school has its own
policies. The differences among schools
include
每个私立学校都有自己的规章制度。学校之间
的差别可能体现在如下方面：
•Some schools require parents to
participate in school events, while
some reduce parent interaction to a
minimum.
•Some are boarding schools, where
students live at the school.
•Some boarding schools do not allow
parents to visit during the work week.
•Class size can vary from 3 to 20
students (A smaller class size does not
always mean better instruction.)
•Not every school offers additional
tutoring sessions for students who are
having trouble.
•Some schools do not have a swimming
pool, physical education classes, dance
or theater classes, reading clubs or
newspapers.
•Not all schools can accommodate
students with physical or mental
disabilities.
·一些学校会要求家长参加学校活动，而有
些学校则尽量缩减与家长的互动。
·有些学校实行寄宿制，学生都住在学校
·有些寄宿制学校不允许父母在工作周探望
自己的孩子
·班级学生数从3人到20人不等（小班并不总
意味着更好的教育）
·不是每个学校都会为学习有困难的孩子提
供额外的辅导课程
·有些学校没有游泳池、体育课、舞蹈课、
戏剧课、阅读俱乐部或报刊
·并非所有学校都会接收身体有残疾或者智
力有障碍的学生
☆ All schools must provide a safe and
sanitary environment for students.
☆ 所有学校必须为学生提供一个安全、卫生的环境。
•Every school sets its own policy on
school uniforms or dress codes.
•Some schools will only accept
children from certain areas, as they do
not want their students to travel long
distances.
•Some schools specialize in
education for foreigners, while others
will only accept a limited number of
children from other countries.
•Some schools do not offer English
as a second language (ESL) courses for
foreigners. These schools sometimes
require students to demonstrate oral
and written fluency in English before
they are accepted.
·每所学校均自行订立有关校服或着装的要
求
·一些学校只接收某些地区的学生，因为他
们不希望学生长途跋涉去上学
·一些学校是专门招收外国人的，而另外一
些则只接收一定数量的外国学生
·一些学校不为外国人提供ESL课程（即英语
为第二语言的英语课程）。这些学校有时会要求
学生在入学前就证明自己能够用英语流畅地交流
和写作
☆ Children
with
the
same
native
language
will generally use this language to communicate
with each other rather than English.For this
reason, you may want to find out from the
school's admission office what the student
body's ethnic makeup is, if this issue applies
to you.
☆ 操着相同母语的孩子们通常会用母语进行交流，而不
用英语。所以如果您也属于这种情况，您可以去学校的招生
办查询一下那里学生的民族构成。
•Some religious schools will not
accept students from other faiths.
•Some schools are not allowed to do
community service, which can matter
when students apply to college.
•Every school sets its own tuition
and fees.
•Not all schools offer students
financial aid.
·有些宗教学校不接收有其他信仰的学生
·有些学校没有资格参与社区服务，这一点
在学生申请大学时会有影响
·每所学校都会自行规定学费及其他费用
·不是所有学校都会给予学生经济资助
At many of America's academically
strong
schools,
two
of
the
main
acceptance criteria are the child's
academic achievement at school and their
individuality.
For
example,
HarvardWestlake School in Los Angeles accepts
talented
children
with
unique
personalities and aims to educate them
and
develop
their
best
personal
qualities,
thus
raising
the
next
generation of U.S. business and political
elite. It's no surprise that there is
stiff competition to get into schools
like Harvard-Westlake and that their
graduates do extremely well academically.
美国很多学术实力雄厚的学校接收学生时主要
有两个参考标准：学生的在校成绩和他们的个性。
比如，洛杉矶的哈佛西湖学校就把目光聚焦在那些
天赋很高、个性独特的学生身上，目的是想教育他
们，把他们的个人素质培养到极致，为美国商界和
政界培养精英接班人。所以，想跻身哈佛西湖这类
名校就需要过五关斩六将。这类名校的毕业生在学
业上都是相当棒的。
You can often judge the academic
strength of a school by its teachers'
qualifications and the number of AP
classes (Advanced Placement classes) it
offers. These classes are the equivalent
of college courses and train students to
take AP tests. Good AP test scores can
give students a significant advantage
when applying to college and can reduce
the number of college classes they have
to take to get a degree.
您可以根据学校的师资和跳级课程的多少来评
判该校的学术实力。这些跳级课程相当于大学课
程，以训练学生参加跳级考试为目的。如果一个学
生跳级考试成绩优秀，就会在申请大学时获得极大
的优势，还可以减少为拿到学位需要选修的课程。
☆ Before your child starts high school, put
together a four-year academic plan with the
kinds of classes your child would like to take.
This will help you choose the right school.
☆
在您的孩子上高中前，您可以根据孩子的意愿和喜
好，制订一个四年的学习计划，上面罗列出他/她想学的各
种课程。这样做有助于您选到一所合适的学校。
When they first got to the U.S., the members
of the Kappich family had no notion of how the
education
system
worked,
especially
the
peculiarities of the academic curriculum, AP
classes and their significance when applying to
colleges. In 9th grade, their daughter took only
one AP class, biology, at her school. Over the
next year, they learned all about what subjects
and AP classes she should take. However, her
school did not offer all the subjects she wanted
and it was impossible to transfer her to another
school because the schools the Kappiches asked
for had no room in their 11th grades classes.
She wound up having to take 6 AP classes online
over the next two years.
卡皮茨一家初来美国时，对美国的教育体制没有一点儿
概念，更不清楚课程设置与调剂课程的特点，以及他们与申
请大学的利害关系，他们的女儿在九年级时，只在自己的学
校选择了生物这一门跳级课。到了第二年，他们才彻底搞清
楚，孩子要学习哪些学科，以及跳级课程。但是，孩子的学
校没有她想选的所有课程，而且转学的路也被堵上了，因为
他们申请的那些学校11年级的班级都已经满员了。结果，他
们的女儿只好在网上选了六门跳级课，并且要在两年内修
完。
Private schools are not included in
the public school rating system. For this
reason, it can be difficult to compare
private schools. Every school has its own
benefits to offer your child. However,
your reasons for enrolling your child in
a private school should guide you in your
choice.
私立学校不在公立学校的评价体系之内，因此
它们难见高下。每所私立学校都有它自己的长处，
您可以根据孩子的需求为他/她选择适合的私立学
校。
Some
schools
publish
helpful
information in their annual reports, such
as
一些学校会在年报中发布一些有用的信息，比
如：
•The number of students who took the
SAT in language and math
•Students' average SAT scores
•The list of universities that
accepted students from the school
·学生参加SAT [2]语言以及数学考试的人数
·学生们SAT考试的平均成绩
·录取该校学生的大学一览表
Applications for private schools are
usually
accepted
September
through
January.During this period, the school
sends parents brochures and application
forms and sets times for interviews with
prospective students.
私立学校招生一般从每年的9月延续到次年1
月。在此期间，学校会给家长发放宣传册和申请
表，并与有望录取的学生确定面试时间。
Every school has its own requirements
for forms and reports, but the most
common are
每所学校对招生所需的表格和报告都有各自的
要求，但最常见的包括如下内容：
•The Candidate's Portion of the
Admission for Application, which
includes several questions, usually
answered in essay form, that give the
school a first impression of your child
•The Parent's Portion of the
Admission for Application, with
questions that help the school learn
more about your family
•A financial aid application
•An administrative report describing
your child's performance at his or her
old school(Some schools may be
reluctant to give you a report, as they
don't want to lose a talented student.)
•Teachers' references
•Personal references from someone
who knows your child outside of school,
from a club or sports team
•Your child's current grades
•Your child's transcripts for the
last two years, showing scores on final
exams
•Your child's score on an ISEE test
for language and math
·由考生填写的入学申请表（包括若干问答
题，通常要求以小论文的形式进行回答，小论文
会让学校对您的孩子有一个初步的印象）
·由家长填写的入学申请表（也设有若干问
题，这些问题能让学校更充分地了解您的家庭状
况）
·经济资助申请表
·由孩子先前的学校出具的有关学生表现的
行政报告（一些学校为了不想失去有天分的学
生，可能会不愿意为您出具该报告）
·教师的推荐信
·由熟悉您孩子的校外人士（比如俱乐部或
运动队）出具的推荐信
·您孩子目前的年级
·您孩子近两年的期末考试成绩单
·您孩子在ISEE考试[3]中的语言和数学成绩
The ISEE (Independent School Entrance
Examination) is administered by the
Educational Records Bureau for more than
1,500 private schools in the U.S. The
three-hour exam tests students' language
and math skills and has three levels for
grades 5 through 12. To do well on the
ISEE, your child will need to study for
it outside of school, as no school
program includes preparation for this
exam.
ISEE（独立学校入学考试）是一种由教育档案
局主办、面向美国1500多所私立学校的考试。考试
为5年级到12年级的学生设有三个级别，考试时间
为三个小时，用以检验学生的语言和数学技能。由
于学校没有备考课程，所以如果您的孩子想要考个
好成绩，就需要到校外去补习。
Here are some tips for helping your
child get a good score on the ISEE
以下是一些能帮助您孩子在ISEE考试中拿高分
的建议：
•Start studying for the test at
least 60 to 90 days before the test
date
•Use an ISEE preparation textbook
from Kaplan or Princeton, for instance.
Your textbook should first and foremost
include several 165-minute practice
tests, as well as sections on the
synonym and analogies parts of the
language test. (If your child knows
many English synonyms and can solve the
analogies, he or she will likely get a
high score on the test.)
•Give your child at least one full
165-minute test to find out which areas
need the most work.
•Buy or borrow textbooks to help
your child address these weak areas
(It's best to have your child use
several different textbook sat once as
the various approaches will allow him
or her to grasp the material more
easily and quickly.)
•Study math terms and formulas using
flash cards
•Have your child write an essay in
30 minutes on various subjects. This
will help your child master expository
writing techniques. During the test
itself, your child will not have much
time to think.
·至少要在考前60~90天就开始备考
·使用美国楷博教育集团或普林斯顿大学出
版的备考教材。您手里必须有几套165分钟的模
拟考试题，还要有语言考试中的同义词和类比题
部分的复习内容。（如果您的孩子知道的同义词
很多，并且类比题也不在话下，那么他/她拿高
分的希望就很大。）
·让您孩子至少完完整整地考一次165分钟的
考试，以便查漏补缺
·买或借一些教材帮您的孩子攻克薄弱环节
（最好让您孩子同时使用几种不同的教材，因为
教材各自的切入点会帮助您的孩子更轻松、迅速
地抓住内容的精髓。）
·让孩子用学习卡片巩固数学术语和公式
·让您的孩子就各种不同的话题在30分钟内
完成小论文，这会帮助他/她掌握说明文的写作
技巧。考试的时候，孩子往往来不及思考
☆ An American-style essay consists of an
introduction that presents the thesis, the main
argument of the essay. This is followed by three
to four paragraphs giving supporting evidence
for this thesis. Finally, there is a conclusion
that summarizes the points made above and
suggests further questions.
☆ 美式作文的结构如下：首先在开头点题，即提出文章
的主要论点，其次用三到四段文字给出论据，最后是结论部
分，总结观点，并提出一些建设性的问题。
If you can afford it, you should have
your child take a preliminary ISEE test
to help him or her overcome any anxiety
and to evaluate their preparedness.
如果您经济上负担得起的话，应该让孩子先参
加一下ISEE预考，来缓解他/她的紧张情绪，并检
验他/她的备考情况。
Your child can take an ISEE test,
which costs $73, once every six months.
You can get more information about how to
register for a test at www.iseetest.org.
If you are outside the U.S., your child
can take the ISEE at the ERB office in
your country. You can get the office's
address by calling 1-800-446-0320 within
the U.S.
您的孩子可以每半年参加一次ISEE考试，费用
是73美元。您可以登录网站www.iseetest.org来
了解更多的报名信息。如果您不在美国，您的孩子
可以到您所在国家的教育档案局办公室参加ISEE考
试。如果您在美国境内，则可以拨打电话1-800446-0320来了解办公室的具体地址。
☆ Not all private schools require the ISEE,
and some might be willing to trust grades from
international schools.
☆ 不是所有的私立学校都要求有ISEE成绩，有些学校可
能也会认可国际学校的成绩。
When she came to the U.S., Patricia brought
an education certificate with excellent grades
from a highly respected and academically strong
private school in Poland. But several private
schools in the U.S. did not accept her because
they did not trust the grades on a certificate
issued by a foreign school.
帕特里夏来自波兰，她来美国的时候带来了国内一所私
立大学的学历证书而且成绩优异，该校在波兰学术实力超强
且广受赞誉。但当她到了美国，好几所私立学校都拒绝接受
她，因为这些学校均不信任由外国学校办法的成绩证明。
The financial office of any private
school can give you information about how
to submit documents requesting financial
aid, including
如果您想申请经济资助，任何一所私立学校的
财务办公室都可以告诉您如何提交申请经济资助所
需的文件，其中包括：
•Parents' financial statement to the
school
•A copy of your U.S. tax returns for
the last two years, if you have them
•Copies of financial documents
demonstrating your family's current
income
•A letter in which you explain the
reasons for financial hardship and what
you are doing to improve the situation
·提交给学校的家庭财务状况声明
·您近两年的美国纳税申报单复印件（如果
您有的话）
·显示您家庭目前收入的财务文件复印件
·写一封信，说明您家庭经济困难的原因及
正在采取的改善措施
Schools usually decide whether they
will give you financial aid at the same
time they decide whether to accept your
child.
学校通常会在决定是否录取您孩子的同时，考
虑是否给他/她提供经济资助。
Applying to a private school is a lot
like competing in an elaborate contest
that drags on for months and months
without any guarantees of winning. This
is why many parents apply to several
schools at once. Schools will inform you
of their decision by mail in early
spring.
申请私立学校很像旷日持久的比赛，而且胜负
难料。所以，很多家长会同时申请好几所学校。学
校会在初春时给您发邮件，告诉您他们的录取决
定。
If your child has been rejected, don't
waste your time going to the admissions
committee and trying to change their
mind. Pressure of this kind from parents
only irritates school officials. Don't
forget that the school chooses students
and not vice versa.
如果您的孩子被学校拒绝，不要再耗费时间去
招生办企图使他们回心转意。父母这样施压只会惹
恼校方官员。别忘了：是学校在选择学生，而不是
反过来。
If your child is accepted by several
schools at once, the final decision is
yours. You need to notify the school and
enroll your child by the deadline stated
in the school's acceptance letter. Pay
close attention to the agreement you sign
with the school, especially where it
discusses refunding tuition in case of
emergencies, such as if your child gets
sick
or
the
family
has
to
move
unexpectedly.
如果您的孩子同时被几所学校录取，那么最终
的决定权掌握在您的手里。您需要在录取通知书规
定的日期前通知学校，并去学校报到。一定要特别
注意您和学校签订的协议，尤其要注意协议中对紧
急情况下（比如孩子生病或您家要意外搬迁）有关
退费事宜的规定。
If you would really like to see your
talented child in a private school but
you can't afford tuition, keep patiently
looking for the right school. Never
forget that talented people, especially
children, are valued highly in America.
There are all sorts of organizations and
committees, individuals and charity funds
out there that help gifted children.
Write to them and ask for help. Give a
detailed description of your child's
abilities and talents. Don't be shy. Talk
up your child's gifts. If you don't tell
people about how wonderful your kid is,
no one will ever know. If you send out a
hundred letters asking for financial
assistance with your child's education,
you are very likely to get invited to
come in for an interview.
如果您非常希望您那天资聪颖的孩子能进入私
立学校，但又囊中羞涩的话，请沉住气，耐心地为
他/她搜罗合适的学校。千万不要忘了：美国极其
重视人才，尤其是那些神童。社会上有各类组织、
委员会、个人以及慈善基金可以帮助那些有才华的
孩子。您可以给这些组织写信求助，在求助信中，
您要详细地介绍您孩子的天资和禀赋。不要不好意
思，只管实话实说。如果您自己不毛遂自荐，那别
人永远都不会知道您的孩子有多出色。如果您发了
一百封请求别人资助孩子读书的信件，相信一定会
有人请您去面谈。
Finally, few words about high school
in the U.S. The course of study at any
high school, private or public, lasts
four years. All the programs and classes
that your child will need to get into
college were created with this in mind.
If you arrive in the U.S. with a child
who is old enough to be in 10th grade, it
may be very difficult for your child to
complete all the necessary high school
classes in only three years. For this
reason, you may want to advise your child
to start in 9th grade so that he can
complete the entire course of study in
the same place.
关于美国高中，最后再补充几句。无论公立高
中还是私立高中，学制都是四年。孩子申请大学所
需的项目和课程都是按照这四年的学制来设计的。
假设您来美国时孩子的年纪已经够上10年级了，但
事实上，要您的孩子在三年之内完成全部高中课程
是非常难的。所以您最好建议您的孩子从9年级开
始念起，以便能在同一所学校完成全部学业。
To graduate, students must complete a certain
number of units. Some subjects are required
while others are optional. Students generally
work with counselors to set up individual plans
of study which takes into account his or her
long-term goals, interests, and abilities.
Students planning to enter an university can
take more rigorous classes, while other students
may focus on vocational preparation. Some states
require students also to take an exit exam to
earn a diploma in addition to completing the
required number of units.
学生要毕业，必须完成一定数量的教学单元。其中，有
些学科是必修的，有些是选修的。学生通常会和辅导员一起
制定自己的学习计划。计划的时候会考虑他/她的长期目
标、兴趣爱好以及能力。想上大学的学生可以选修一些更有
挑战性的课，而别的学生可以为参加工作做准备。有些州除
了要求学生完成一定的课业任务外，还安排他们参加毕业考
试，才授予他们文凭。
For international students who would
like
to
continue
their
secondary
education at a U.S. high school, there
are various agencies offering their
services in many countries.Before you
decide on a school, you should
对于想来美国读高中的国际学生来说，很多国
家都有各种各样的中介可以提供相关服务。在决定
选择哪所学校之前，您应该做到以下几点：
•Get as much information as you can
from the agency regarding the school
•Ask questions of the school
administration via the school's website
•Get detailed information about the
climate in the area where the school is
located
•If possible, visit the school while
classes are in session
•Use the information in this chapter
to help you make your choice
·从中介那里尽可能多了解该校的信息
·通过学校网站向该校行政部门咨询
·详细了解该校所在地区的气候情况
·如果有可能，在学期中去参观一下学校
·利用本章提供的信息选择理想的学校
[1]
美国的学校在分年级的时候是按照学生单科的知识
水平来分的，比如一个孩子的英文在9年级，数学在10年
级，历史在11年级等等。所以，很多时候，一个孩子没有固
定的年级。
[2] SAT是Scholastic Assessment Tests的缩写，指
学术水平测验考试，是美国高中生进美国一些大学的标准入
学考试。其重要性相当于中国的高考，也是世界各国高中生
申请进入国大学本科学习能否被录取, 以及能否得到奖学金
的重要参考。
[3] ISEE是Independent School Entrance Exam的缩
写，主要考查学生的文字能力和数字理能力。很多著名的私
立学校要求申请者必须参加ISEE或者SSAT
（Secondary
SchoolAdmission Test，美国中学入学考试），而且ISEE
或者SSAT是非常重要的参考指标，其成绩的好坏直接决定申
请者能否被学校录取。
Chapter 44 Getting a college or
professional degree
第四十四章 如何获取大学学位或专业文
凭
While some Americans are nostalgic for
their high school days, others will tell
you that the best years of their lives
were in college. For many new Americans,
however, fun is not the reason they want
to go to college: They need the knowledge
and
the
potential
for
professional
advancement that a degree offers. Here's
how you can apply-and get in-to colleges
and professional schools in the U.S.
有些美国人会念念不忘他们的高中生活，而另
一些人则会告诉您大学才是他们人生中最美好的时
光。但是对很多美国新移民来说，他们进入大学不
是因为大学好玩。他们需要的是知识和学位，以便
将来能在职场上大展拳脚。下面我们谈一下如何申
请并进入美国大学和职业类学校。There are two
different types of institutions of higher
education and professional training in
the U.S.: two-year community or junior
colleges and four-year colleges and
universities.
在美国有两种不同的高等教育机构和职业培训
机构：两年制的社区大学或专科学院；四年制的本
科学院和大学。
Community or junior colleges offer
社区大学和专科学院提供如下内容：
•Vocational associate degree
programs that allow graduates to work
as technicians, bookkeepers, and other
trained professionals
•Programs preparing students to
enter four-year schools
•Programs that allow students to
transfer as juniors (third-year
students) to four-year schools
•Additional training for those
students wanting to get a second degree
·相当于大专学历的职业课程，学生毕业后
可从事技师、会计以及其他职业
·为学生进入四年制本科院校做准备的课程
·允许学生以大三学生的身份转入四年制本
科院校
·为想获得双学位的学生提供的附加培训
The student body at community colleges
usually consists of
社区大学的学生群体一般包含下列人士：
•High school students
•High school graduates
•Non-traditional (usually older)
students who are continuing their
education
•Foreign students
•Foreign university graduates who
would like to get accredited in the
U.S.
•Immigrants
•Students who want to get a degree
in a new field
·高中生
·高中毕业生
·接受继续教育的非常规学生（多为上了年
纪的人）
·留学生
·想在美国获得认证的外国大学毕业生
·移民
·想在另一领域取得学位的学生
Universities and colleges offer
本科大学或学院提供如下内容：
•Four-year programs ending in a
bachelor's degree(BA, BS) in a certain
discipline such as art history, math or
sociology
•Programs for students transferring
from community colleges
·学制四年的课程，毕业后颁发某一学科
（如艺术史、数学、社会学）的学士学位（文学
学士或理学学士）
·为来自社区大学的学生设置的课程
In addition, universities typically
offer
除此之外，大学通常还提供以下内容：
•One-or two-year programs ending in
a master's degree (MA) for students
with a bachelor's degree
•Programs for students with master's
degrees ending in a doctoral degree
(PhD)
•Programs for students with
bachelor's degrees wanting to get a
professional degree in medicine, law,
business or education
·1～2年的硕士学位课程，申请对象为已取
得学士学位的学生
·博士学位课程，申请对象为已取得硕士学
位的学生
·专业学位（如医学、法律、商务或教育）
课程，申请对象为已取得学士学位的学生
The difference between four-year colleges and
universities is that universities also offer
graduate programs. Colleges do not have graduate
programs, universities do. This is true of ALL
colleges. For instance, Reed College in Portland
is an academically strong private school, but it
doesn't have any grad-level programs, so it's
called a “college”.Some so-so universities may
be academically weaker than some prestigious
colleges, but because they have grad programs,
they're called “universities”.
四年制本科学院和大学的区别是：大学提供研究生课
程，而学院不提供，而且，是所有的学院都不提供。比如，
波特兰市的里德学院是一所学术实力雄厚的私立学校，但由
于不设任何研究生课程，所以被称为“学院”。有些一般般
的大学在学术上可能还比不上某些有名望的学院，但因为设
有研究生课程，所以被叫做“大学”。
The student body at universities and
colleges consists of
四年制大学和学院的学生群包括：
•High school graduates
•Community college graduates
•Non-traditional (usually older)
students who are continuing their
education
•Foreign students
•Students who have transferred from
other colleges or universities
•Various graduate students who
already have their bachelor's degree
Choosing a school for bachelor's or
master's program.
·高中毕业生
·社区大学毕业生
·接受继续教育的非常规学生（多为上了年
纪的人）
·留学生
·从其他学院或大学转来的学生
·已取得学士学位的各类研究生
There are thousands of different
colleges and universities in the U.S.,
each with its own requirements for
admission,
its
own
financial
aid
resources and its own curricula for
various courses. To find the school
that's best for you, take the time to
gather and consider information about
schools
that
have
strong
academic
programs in the areas that interest you.
Try to get your information from a
variety of sources, such as
选择本科或研究生课程要注意，美国有成千上
万所学院和大学，每所院校都有各自的录取条件、
经济资助渠道以及课程设置。想跨入最理想的学
校，就必须要好好收集那些在您感兴趣的领域学术
实力雄厚的学校的信息，并且还要好好斟酌。获得
学校信息的渠道多种多样，比如：
•Annual guides to institutions of
higher learning, such as Barron's
College Guide
•Education fairs held at your local
community college or high school
•Various schools' catalogues, which
will be sent to you at your request
•The experience of friends and
relatives who have graduated from
schools that interest you
•Advice from your high school or
community college guidance counselor
•The Internet
·高等教育机构年度指南，如《巴伦美国大
学简介》[1]
·在当地的社区学院或高中举行的教育会展
·各类大学的目录（会应您的要求给您寄过
去）
·您的亲朋好友的经验之谈，如果他们之前
就读的是您感兴趣的学校
·您高中或社区学院咨询顾问的意见
·互联网
☆ You'll find lots of useful information at
The College Board's site, www.collegeboard.com.
☆
登录美国大学理事会的网站
www.collegeboard.com，您可以了解到很多有用的信息。
When you are choosing a university for
a bachelor's or master's program, you
should pay attention to the following：
当您想进入大学读本科或是研究生时，应该注
意以下问题：
•The school's academic reputation
•Whether it has a department in the
fields that most interest you
•What degree programs it offers and
How much they cost
•Whether it has honors programs for
excellent students
•How much financial aid (
scholarships, grants, loans, teaching
or research stipends for graduate
students) it offers
•The application deadline and fees
•The exams required to apply (AP,
SAT, SAT II, TOEFL, GRE, ACT, etc.)
•The exam scores required for
admission
•Whether the school will accept
college-level courses you have taken at
other schools
•What letters of reference you will
need from former teachers and employers
·学校的学术声望如何
·是否有您最感兴趣的专业院系
·提供哪些学位课程以及学费是多少
·对优等生是否有荣誉计划
·提供多少经济资助（比如奖学金、补助
金、贷款、面向研究生的教学或研究津贴）
·申请的截止日期及费用
·申请要求的考试（AP，SAT，SAT II [2]，
TOEFL [3]，GRE [4]，ACT [5]等等）
·学校的录取分数线是多少
·学校是否承认您在其他学校修的大学水平
的课程
·需要以前的老师或雇主写什么样的推荐信
☆ When picking the best graduate program,
the reputations of the university, department
and professors you will be working with are
extremely important. You will need to do well on
the GREs or other exams and get strong
recommendations from past professors and/or
employers.
☆ 谈到选择最理想的研究生项目，大学院系以及您选择
的教授的声望都十分重要。您也需要在GRE或是其他考试中
取得好成绩，并获得以前的老师以及/或者雇主强有力的推
荐信。
•What the school demands from
applicants academically as well as
personally
•The cost of textbooks and
materials. The textbooks and materials
of some lab courses can be very
expensive
•Student housing and dorms. Check
whether you can stay in a dorm
throughout your education or whether
you will have to move off-campus after
a year or two.If the latter is true, be
sure to consider the cost of off-campus
apartments.
•Approximate costs for housing,
meals, facilities or computer fees,
parking, and day care if you have
children
•The school's location and How much
you will spend on the commute
•Whether the school has
laboratories, libraries and gym
facilities
•Student clubs and organizations
•Fraternities and sororities
•General campus culture. For
example, are there many weekend
activities on or around campus or do
most students leave the school and head
to their hometowns?
•Beauty and upkeep of the campus
•Whether the school offers
transportation for students
•Attractions of the surrounding
community
•Whether the school offers visa
support for foreigners needing an F-1
visa
·该校对学生学业及其本人有何要求
·教材以及其他材料的费用（有些实验课的
书本费和材料费很昂贵）
·学生的住宿条件如何（是整个大学期间都
可以住在宿舍还是过一两年后要搬到校外，这一
点必须问清楚。因为如果是后者的话，就一定要
把在校外租房子的费用考虑进去
·估算食宿费、设备或计算机费以及停车费
等大概要多少钱，如果您有孩子，还要考虑日托
费用
·了解学校的位置，计算来回坐通勤车要花
多长时间
·学校是否有实验室、图书馆以及体育馆等
设施
·是否有学生俱乐部或社团
·是否有男生或女生联谊会
·总体的校园文化如何，比如，周末在学校
或学校附近是否有很多的活动？还是大多数学生
会离校回家？
·校园美不美，维护得好不好
·学校是否给学生提供交通工具
·周围社区有何景点
·学校是否会帮助留学生办理学生签证
☆ For foreigners, one of the most important
criterion for choosing a college or university
is whether it has a department that deals with
foreign students and their concerns.
☆ 对于外国人来说，选择一所学院或大学最重要的标准
之一就是它是否设有专门处理留学生事务的部门。
•The number of students at the
school and in each class
•The gender makeup of the school
(same-sex or coed)
•Whether the school offers
internships and exchange programs
•Which companies have hired
graduates of the schoolPreparation for
students still in high school. High
school students need to think about the
following as they apply to college:
•Building a strong, four-year
academic plan in high school, including
both regular and APclasses
•Keeping your grade-point average or
GPA high every semester
•Getting a good score on your SAT
•Taking SAT II in subjects like
chemistry, math or a foreign language
•Participating in community service
•Participating in extracurricular
activities, clubs and organizations(In
terms of college admissions, you get
more points for organizing your own
club at your school rather than joining
an already existing club.)
•Getting good letters of
recommendation from employers, if you
already have a job after school
•Comparing different kinds of
colleges in terms of their programs and
costs.
Keep in mind that private schools
are much more expensive than public
schools.
However, public schools also charge
different rates for in-state and outof-state students as these schools are
supported by state budgets.
•Asking their parents to put
together the tax documents and
paperwork for financial aid
applications
·在校生人数和每个班级的人数
·学校的性别构成（男校、女校，还是男女
同校）
·学校是否有实习和交流项目
·哪些公司聘用过该校的毕业生
·在高中时制订好周密的四年学习计划，包
括常规课程和跳级课程
·每学期的各科平均成绩（GPA）都要保持在
较高的水平
·SAT考试拿高分
·参加SAT II单科考试，比如化学、数学或
者外语等科目
·参加社区服务
·参加课外活动，加入俱乐部或社团（注：
如果您申请的是大学，那么独立组织过自己的社
团会比参加现有的社团为您赢得更多的分数。）
·如果您已经毕业并有了一份工作，一定要
让雇主给您写封好的推荐信
·比较不同院校的课程和费用。记住，私立
学校的收费要比公立学校贵得多。但由于公立学
校是由各州财政支持的，所以学校对州内和州外
学生有不同的收费标准
·让父母把税务文件和申请经济资助的文件
准备好
☆ Upperclassmen who work will need a
different set of documents than those who do not
have a job.
☆ 已经工作的高年级学生需要的材料和没有工作的学生
是不一样的。
The earlier a high school student
chooses a college or university, the
clearer it will be what she needs to do
to get accepted. For example, some
universities will take candidates with a
3.1GPA, no AP classes and a total SAT and
SAT II score of 1600, while others may or
may not accept someone with even a 4.0
GPA, 10 AP classes and 2100 on the SATs.
高中学生越早选择大学院校，他/她就越清楚要
怎样做才能被录取。比如，有些大学会录取GPA达
到3.1、没有修过跳级课程、SAT和SAT
II的考试
总分在1600分以上的学生，而在另外一些大学，即
使学生的学科平均成绩达到4.0、修过10门跳级
课、SAT总分高达2100分，也不见得会被录取。
☆ Most GPAs are a 4-point system. Generally,
a 4.0 average is the top score though some high
schools give students bonus points and thus
higher averages if they take AP courses.
☆ 大多数GPA都是四分制的。通常来说，平均分达到4.0
就是最高分了。但有些高中会给选修跳级课程的学生附加
分，因此这些学生的平均分也会相应的高一些。
Here's how to study for the SAT and
SAT II：
以下是备考SAT 和SAT II的须知：
•Study with a Kaplan or Princeton
workbook
•Go to special courses preparing you
for the tests
•While studying for the tests, write
vocabulary words you don't know on
flashcards and memorize them(Try to
read a variety of non-fiction and
fiction, especially literature. This is
a great way to prepare for the SAT. Not
only will it improve your score, you'll
have fun doing it.)
•Take a practice SAT so that you
know what areas need the most work
•Spend some time studying to improve
your weak areas
·使用楷博或普林斯顿的教材
·参加考前培训班
·备考时，把不认识的单词写在卡片上再去
记忆。（试着多读一些小说和非小说读物，尤其
是文学。这是备考SAT的好方法，因为它不仅能
提高您的分数，还能给您带来乐趣。）
·参加一次SAT模拟考，以便了解自己的薄弱
环节
·专门花时间提高您的薄弱环节
Foreign
students
can
also
study
successfully for the SAT and SAT II by
using the textbooks and manuals available
at American educational or cultural
centers in their countries. There, they
can obtain educational materials and
information
about
how
to
take
the
additional
English
language
tests
required as part of the New Generation
TOEFL.
外国学生可以利用在本国的美国教育或文化中
心出售的教材和手册成功拿下SAT和SAT II。在那
里，他们还可以获得有关新一代托福考试所要求的
附加英语考试的相关教材和信息。
☆ You can find out where the American center
nearest you is by contacting your local U.S.
consulate
or
looking
on
the
U.S.
State
Department's website, www.state.gov.
☆ 您可以联系当地的美国领事馆或者登录美国国务院网
站www.state.gov，来了解离您最近的美国文化中心的位
置。
In 2005, the Education Testing Service, the
company responsible for developing the TOEFL
exam, launched a new version of the test, the
New Generation TOEFL. The new exam has four
parts: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
The new TOEFL certificates are valid for two
years. You can find more information online
about the TOEFL and preparation courses at
2005年，负责研发托福考试的美国教育考试服
务中心推出了新一代托福考试。新托福包含四个部
分：阅读、写作、听力和口语。新托福的证书有两
年的有效期。您可以登录以下网站了解更多有关托
福以及备考课程的信息：
•www.ets.org
•www.ets.org/toefl
•www.stuff.co.uk/toefl.htm
·www.ets.org
·www.ets.org/toefl
·www.stuff.co.uk/toefl.htm
Some high school graduates and recent
immigrants prefer to go to a two-year
community college before attempting life
at the university. Community colleges
have few or no requirements for entrance,
allowing anyone to take classes. They are
less expensive per credit hour compared
to universities and also may it possible
for students to work full-time and study
at the same time. (Of course, you can
still work if you are a university
student but the more rigorous classes
make doing both more difficult). And
after two years, if you do well at
community college, you can often transfer
to a four-year school. Students who would
like to transfer from a community college
to a four-year college or university will
need
一些高中毕业生和初到美国来的移民更愿意先
到社区学院读两年，然后再去感受大学的生活。社
区学院几乎没有招生门槛，任何人都可以去读。和
大学相比，在社区学院修学分花费要少很多。而且
社区学院还允许学生边学习边全职工作。（当然，
您在大学学习期间也可以打工，但那里繁重的课业
会让半工半读变得很难。）而您在社区学院学习两
年后，如果成绩好的话，常常可以转到四年制的本
科院校去读书。要想从社区大学转到四年制的本科
院校，需要做到以下几点：
•To talk to a guidance counselor or
advisor about creating a two-year
academic plan that includes all the
courses necessary for transfer
•To keep their GPA high every
semester
•To talk to a guidance counselor and
choose the best school for you before
your last semester of study
·咨询课业顾问或辅导员，制订一个为期两
年的学习计划，计划需包括转校所需的全部课程
·每学期各科的平均成绩要优异
·咨询课业顾问，让他帮您在最后一个学期
前选择一所对您来说最好的学校
Your guidance counselor will help you
write to the university you choose and
will prepare all the paperwork you'll
need to transfer.
您的咨询顾问会帮您给您心仪的大学写信，并
帮您准备转校所需的全部资料。
Not all foreign students can get into
an American college or university. Among
the main criteria for accepting foreign
students are
不是所有的外国学生都可以进入美国的本科院
校就读的。美国的本科院校在接收留学生时有如下
主要的标准：
•Good academic record at home
•Strong SAT, SAT II or TOEFL scores
•A document guaranteeing that the
student has the financial means to
study and live in the U.S.
·在国内学业优异
·在SAT，SAT II 或托福考试中拿到高分
·有文件证明该学生有足够的经济实力在美
国学习和生活
☆ Just because you have been accepted by a
U.S. school does not mean you will automatically
receive an F-1 visa. You will first have to
prove to a U.S. consular official that you
intend to return to your home country after
graduation.
☆ 有美国学校同意接收您并不意味着您就会自动获得学
生签证，您首先要向美国领事馆官员保证您毕业以后会回
国。
Many students start their college
career at one school but have the
opportunity to continue their studies
elsewhere. Talented and able students who
start out at a small local college, for
example, may eventually be able to
transfer to one of the country's more
prestigious universities.
很多学生在某所大学开始大学生涯后，还有机
会转到别的大学去继续深造。有才华和有能力的学
生也许一开始在当地一所不起眼的小院校就读，但
最后却有机会转到国内更负盛名的大学去学习。
☆ Students can transfer to a different
college or university in any year except their
final year. Keep in mind, though, that transfer
students sometimes take more than four years to
finish their degrees, as they have to take
additional classes at their new school.
☆ 除了最后一个学年之外，学生们可以随时转学到其他
院校。但要记住，转校生有时要在新学校选修额外的课程，
所以有时候要花四年多的时间才能拿到学位。
Degree recognition for immigrants.
Immigrants who have a degree from their
home country can often get that degree
recognized in the U.S. and continue to
work in their field. The best strategy is
usually to start off at a community
college to take all classes you need for
degree recognition and then transfer to a
four-year school. To do this, you will
need
移民学位认定须知。在本国拿到过学位的移民
通常可以在美国进行学位认定，认定以后就可以在
其专业领域继续工作了。最好的策略通常是：先在
社区学院修完学位认定所需的课程，然后再转到一
个四年制的本科院校。要这么做，您需要：
•To get a translation of your
foreign transcript (the record of all
the classes you took and your grades in
these classes)
•To send this translation to the
university of your choice
•To get a list from the university
of what courses you took in the past
correspond to the U.S. system
•To talk to a guidance counselor at
your local community college about what
courses you will need to transfer to a
four-year college or university
•To transfer once you've finished
your courses at the community college
·把您在国内选修过的所有课程及成绩翻译
成英文
·把成绩单的翻译件寄到您选中的学校
·向大学索取一份清单，上面会显示您选修
过的哪些课程是跟美国的课程体制相对应的
·咨询您所在的社区学院里的课业顾问，以
了解转到四年制的院校需要选修哪些课程
·一旦完成社区大学的所有课程就转学
☆ Getting your degree recognized or getting
accredited in theU.S. usually may take at least
two years.
☆ 在美国，要得到学位认定通常要花至少两年的时间。
Choosing your major. As you fill out
your admissions application, you may be
asked what you want to major in, or in
other words what your specialty subject
will be. Many applicants are not sure
when they apply for college what exactly
they will choose as their major. For this
reason, schools give you two years to
take general courses, and you only have
to make your final decision before the
end of your second year of study. In some
cases, students change their major during
their third year of college and as a
result have to change their entire plan
of study. Of course, changing your mind
means it will take you longer and cost
you more to finish college.
选择专业。当您填完入学申请后，可能会有人
问您想修什么专业，也就是说您将来的主攻方向。
很多申请者在申请大学时都会表示不太确定要修什
么专业，所以，学校会先让您学习两年的公共课，
您只需在第二学年末作出最终决定即可。有时候，
学生会在大三时换专业，这就意味着得全盘改变原
来的学习计划。当然，改变计划意味着您要投入更
多的时间和金钱才能念完大学。
If you are applying for a master's
program, you must know your area of
specialization ahead of time, as you are
applying directly to a certain department
and your whole graduate career will
center on this area. The department will
make the decision about whether to accept
you and whether to give you a research
fellowship or a teaching assistantship.
Thus, choosing the right department is
crucial for your graduate school career.
If a department doesn't give you funding,
you should think twice before enrolling
in that graduate program, especially if
it's
in
the
humanities
or
social
sciences.You may wind up deep in debt.
如果您想申请硕士课程，那就必须提前了解您
主修的领域，因为您是直接向某个院系申请的，申
请成功以后您的研究生生涯就会以此为重点了。该
院系会决定是否录取您，是否给您提供研究奖学金
或者让您当助教。因此，选对院系对您的研究生生
涯来说至关重要。如果某个院系不给您提供经济资
助，那您就要考虑自己是否真的想要申请该研究生
项目了，尤其是人文或社科领域。因为贸然选择很
可能会让您债台高筑。
Generally graduate students enter an
opportunity to be paid for teaching or
doing research to cover their tuition
and/or living expenses.
通常，研究生有机会靠教课或做研究赚取一些
报酬，用以支付学费以及/或者生活费。
As an undergraduate(a person studying
for a bachelor's degree), the person who
will guide you through the process of
picking a major is your advisor, the
professor who helps you choose what
courses to take and what major would be
best for you. Advisors are there to give
advice about the big decisions students
have to make in their academic careers or
lives.
作为本科生（攻读学士学位的学生），您的指
导老师会在您选择专业的过程中为您提供全程指
导，他/她会帮助您选课，帮助您选择最适合的专
业。指导老师们会在您学习生涯的重大时刻为您提
供宝贵建议。
The academic year. The academic year
at most colleges and universities is
divided into sessions: two long semesters
(fall and spring) and two short interim
sessions
(winter
and
summer).
Some
schools
use
trimesters
or
quarters
instead of semesters. Every course gives
students a certain number of credits.
Credits allow the school to follow the
progress
of
each
student
toward
graduation. This system also allows
schools to determine whether a student
大学的学年。大多数大学院校的学年都分为几
个部分：两个长学期（春秋两个学期）和两个较短
的过渡学期（冬夏两个学期）。有些学校设有三个
或者四个学期，而非两个。每门课程都有一定的学
分，这些学分能让学校跟进每位学生的学习进度，
直至学生毕业。这种体制还可以让学校确定一个学
生是否
•Is a full-time or part-time student
•Has enough credits to complete
his/her major
•Has enough credits in a semester to
qualify for financial aid
·是全日制学生或半日制学生
·已经修完专业所需的学分
·在某学期修够了学分而有资格申请经济资
助
Students are given course grades based
on exams and various assignments. These
grades are averaged into their GPA. In
general, a student's college GPA is used
to determine how well he/she is doing
academically and whether he/she qualifies
for financial aid. It also plays a rolein
applying to graduate school.
根据学生的考试成绩和各种作业的完成情况，
老师会为其各门功课打分。这些分数会被转换成
GPA，通过GPA可以判定学生的成绩是否优异、是否
有资格获得经济资助。而当他们申请研究生学校
时，这个成绩也会发挥作用。
Financial
aid.
One
of
the
most
important documents students and college
applicants need to fill out is the FAFSA,
or Free Application for Federal Student
Aid. You can get an application from your
school or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You
will need to fill out a new FAFSA every
year. It includes
经济补助。对在校生和大学申请者来说，他们
需要填写的最重要的一份文件就是FAFSA（即Free
Application for Federal Student Aid，联邦
学生免费资助表）。这个申请表可以从您的学校获
得或从网站www.fafsa.ed.gov上下载。每年，学
生都需要填写一份新的资助表。表格包括如下内
容：
•The student's personal information,
income for the previous year, savings
and real estate
•Personal information and the
income, savings and real estate owned
by the student's parents
•Copies of the student's and
parents' tax returns
·学生的个人信息、去年的收入、存款以及
房产
·学生父母的个人信息、收入、存款以及房
产
·学生及其父母的纳税申报单
☆ Students are considered independent of
their parents and their income if they have
their own source of income and have filed their
own tax returns.
☆
如果学生有自己的收入来源并且会自行申报纳税的
话，则被视为在经济上已独立于父母。
Based on this information, the school
and the government will decide how much
aid to give and in what form. Detailed
information will be sent in a letter from
the school's financial aid office, and
this
letter,
which
is
called
the
financial aid award, will help you decide
how much your studies will cost you.
Financial aid is given in the form of
scholarships, grants, loans and workstudy jobs.
根据这些信息，学校和政府会决定给予学生多
少资助以及以何种形式发放。学校的经济资助办公
室会用书信的形式告诉您具体安排。这封信通常被
称作“经济资助判定书”，它可以帮您算出学习所
需的费用。经济资助通常以奖学金、补助金、贷款
以及勤工俭学等形式发放。
Scholarships and grants are offered to
students according to criteria such as
age, academic record, academic merit
and/or financial need. As scholarships
come from all sorts of different sourcesthe state or federal government, the
school
itself,
private
companies,
nonprofits,
individuals
and
charity
foundations-they each come with their own
requirements
and
conditions.
Some
programs give funding to both Americans
and foreigners, while others are only for
U.S. citizens.
奖学金和补助金。奖学金和补助金是根据若干
标准（如年龄、学习成绩、学业特长以及/或者经
济困难程度）来发放的。由于奖学金的来源多种多
样，如：州政府或联邦政府、学校本身、私营企
业、非盈利组织、个人以及慈善基金会，所以每种
奖学金都有各自的要求和条件。有些项目既会资助
美国人，也会资助外国人，但有些项目则只资助美
国公民。
☆ Foreign students cannot receive federal or
state funding, but some universities offer
financial aid from private sources.Universities
have
information
about
financial
aid
for
foreigners on their websites.
☆ 留学生无权获得联邦政府或州政府的资助，但一些大
学会用私人资金为他们提供资助。要了解面向留学生的资助
信息，请到大学网站进行查询。
You
can
also
find
more
helpful
information online at
您还可以登录下面的网站来获取更多的有用信
息：
•www.iie.org-the Institute of
International Education
•www.nafsa.org – the Association of
International Educators-NAFSA
•profiles.studyusa.com/Kaplan_Interna
· www.iie.org---国际教育协会
· www.nafsa.org---美国国际教育工作者
协会---NAFSA [6]
·profiles.studyusa.com/Kaplan_Intern
NY005_English.html-Kaplan
International Programs
NY005_English.html---楷博国际项目
•www.edupass.org - Financial Aid
Information Page
· www.edupass.org---经济资助信息主页
There are many American organizations, clubs
and foundations offer their own scholarship
programs independent of scholars. You have to
apply to them directly. In every bookstore or
library you can find books about private
scholarships with all information in detail such
as who may qualify for particular scholarship,
how much money you can expect, and the deadline
for the applications. You can also find more
helpful information online at:
美国有很多组织、俱乐部和基金会设有自己的奖学金项
目，这些项目独立于学校，所以您必须直接向他们申请。每
家书店或图书馆都有关于私人奖学金的书籍，上面有十分详
细的信息，比如哪些人有资格申请某类奖学金、奖学金的数
目有多少以及申请奖学金的截止日期等等。您也可以通过下
面的网站来了解更多信息：
•www.fastweb.com – Fast Web:
Scholarships, Financial Aid and Colleges
•www.scholarships.com-Scholarship.com
·www.fastweb.com--快速搜索网：奖学金、经济
资助金和大学
·www.scholarships.com--奖学金网
Scholarships and grants are given
outright to the student and do not to be
paid back. The only exception is when the
financial aid office discovers that a
student
has
not
provided
accurate
information about his financial status.
This student may have to pay a fine as
well as return the scholarship or grant
money.
奖学金和补助金会全额发放给学生，并无需返
还。存在的例外是：一旦经济资助办公室发现某名
学生提供的经济状况不属实，那么这名学生不仅要
全额归还奖学金或补助金，还要缴纳罚金。
And don't forget you may have to pay
taxes on scholarship or grant money,
depending on your taxpayer status.
同时不要忘了：根据您的纳税人身份，您可能
需要为奖学金或补助金缴纳税款。
Here are the tax rules that apply to
international students in the U.S.:
在美国，对留学生纳税有如下规定：
•You don't have to pay tax on
scholarships that come from sources
outside the U.S.
•But if you get a U.S. scholarship,
you have to follow the rules for
residents
·如果您的奖学金并非来自美国，就不需要
缴税
·但如果您获得的是美国的奖学金，那么您
就需要与居民纳税人一样纳税
Here are the rules for residents:
居民纳税人的纳税法则如下：
•If you are working toward a degree,
you don't have to pay tax on funds used
to pay tuition, membership fees,
textbooks and materials, supplies, and
equipment necessary for your studies.
You will have to pay tax on the part of
your scholarship you use for other
purposes, such as paying your rent.
•If you aren't working toward a
degree, you owe tax on the entire
scholarship.
·假设您在攻读学位，那么如果您用奖学金
来支付学费、会员费、教科书、学习资料、生活
用品、学习必需的设备等，您就不需要纳税。但
如果您把奖学金挪作他用，比如支付房租，那么
就得缴税
·假设您没在攻读学位，那么您要为全部的
奖学金纳税
☆ Before you accept a scholarship, talk to a
tax specialist or someone at your school who can
tell you how much tax you'll have to pay.
Unfortunately, many students eagerly agree to a
scholarship, only to discover that they owe
taxes on part of it.They are then forced to take
a job in order to come up with the money they
owe the government.
☆ 在接受一项奖学金之前，请先咨询一下税务专家或校
内相关人士，他们会告诉您要缴纳多少税。不幸的是，很多
学生兴致勃勃地接受了奖学金，却发现奖学金还得缴税。一
旦欠了政府的税金，他们还得找份工作来填补空缺。
Loans
are
given
to
students
by
financial companies to pay for their
education and must bepaid back. There are
two different kinds of loans:
贷款是金融公司提供给学生让他们支付教育费
用的，并且必须偿还。贷款有两种：
•Subsidized, which must be paid only
after the student is no longer in
school
•Non-subsidized, which must be paid
back right away
·有补贴贷款，学生在毕业或离校后必须偿
还
·无补贴贷款，学生必须马上偿还
Many Americans consider subsidized
student loans “good debt”, as funny as
that might sound. These loans usually
have very low monthly payments. If paid
regularly, student loans do not have a
major impact on your ability to borrow
money or get a mortgage. Interest rates
are reasonable, and you can easily get
your
student
loans
consolidated
or
suspend payment if you lose your job or
have other financial problems in the
future.
很多美国人把有补贴的学生贷款看成是“善心
债”，听起来很滑稽吧。通常，这些贷款每个月的
还款额度很低。如果您定期偿还，学生贷款对您以
后的贷款或者申请按揭没有太大的影响。同时，利
率也很合理，如果您将来丢了工作或是出现了经济
困难，您还可以很轻松地通过债务合并机构把您的
学生贷款与其他债务合并之后再慢慢来还，或者也
可以推迟偿还学生贷款。
Work-study is a very popular form of
financial aid among students as it allows
them to make some money at the university
and pay for part of the cost of food,
laundry, etc. They can also arrange their
work
schedule
to
fit
their
class
schedule.
勤工俭学是一种很受学生欢迎的经济资助形
式，因为它可以使学生们在校园里赚点小钱来支付
餐费、洗衣费等开销。他们还可以根据课程表来安
排工作时间表。
You can find out more about federal
financial aid programs by calling 1-800433-3243 or at the U.S. Department of
Education's financial aid website at
www2.ed.gov/finaid/landing.jhtml.
您可以拨打电话1-800-433-3243或登录美国教
育经济资助部的网站：
www2.ed.gov/finaid/landing.jhtml来了解更多
关于联邦政府的经济资助项目。
☆ If you would like to study at an expensive
private college but do not have the money to pay
for the tuition, fill out a FAFSA and submit it
along with your admissions application.
☆ 如果您想在一所高收费的私立大学就读，但却苦于囊
中羞涩，可以填一份“联邦学生免费资助申请表
（FAFSA）”，再把它与您的入学申请一起递交上去。
When choosing a university, remember
that tuition at a state university is
considerably lower for state residents
than
for
“out-of-state”
students
because
residents'
education
is
subsidized by the state budget. If you
have moved fairly recently to a new
state, however, you should look at
residency requirements for the state
university before you bank on getting
less-expensive, in-state tuition. In some
states, you have to live in the State for
several years before you qualify.
选择大学时，您要记住：如果学生选择在本州
的州立大学就读，所需的学费要远低于外地生源要
交的学费，因为每个州的居民教育都是由该州财政
补助的。如果您最近刚刚搬到另一个州，您应该查
一下该州的州立大学对居民条件有何要求，然后再
指望能像本州居民一样支付比较便宜的学费。有些
州规定，要在该州居住几年后才有资格享受本州居
民的待遇。
☆ Apply to several schools at once, as you
have no guarantee of being accepted into any of
them.
☆ 您不能保证哪所学校一定会录取您，所以您要同时申
请几所不同的学校。
Don't hesitate to apply to private
schools if you are a highly qualified
student.These schools will make every
effort to put together combinations of
funding for highly qualified, low or
middle-income students.
如果您资质出众，请大胆地申请私立学校，因
为这些学校会想尽一切办法为资质出众但出身中低
收入家庭的学生提供经济后盾。
[1]
《巴伦美国大学简介》介绍了美国1600多所大学及
学院，是非常全面的择校资料。它出每个学校的收费标准、
入学手续、录取要求、学习课程、教师队伍、科研特长、学
费资助住宿条件等方方面面的软硬件情况，以帮助学生和家
长了解各类学校，并最终选择到合适的大学。
[2]
SAT II 是Subject Tests的缩写，指SAT单科考
试。SAT II大部分为选择题，主要考考生某一专业的知识。
可选择的SAT II单科考试科目有数学、物理、化学、生物、
外语（包汉语、日语、德语、法语、西班牙语）等，学生应
根据各专业和学校的要求报考。
[3]
TOEFL 是Test of English as a Foreign
Language的缩写，指把英语作为外语的英语试，是由美国教
育考试服务处（Educational Testing Service）举办
的、为申请去美国或加拿等国家上大学或入研究生院学习的
非英语国家学生提供的一种英语水平考试。
[4] GRE是Graduate Record Examination的缩写，欲
进入研究生院深造，攻读硕士、博学位的大学毕业生几乎都
必须通过该项考试。我国申请到美国攻读博士的研究生除了
要参TOEFL考试外，还需要参加GRE考试。
[5]
ACT是AmericanCollegeTest的缩写，是美国高中
生报考美国大学的标准入学考试。AC考试由美国大学测验组
织机构（ACT）主办。ACT考试不是单纯的语言考试，而是针
对学生合能力的测试。考试重视学生对基础课程的掌握并检
查学生的一般学术能力，难度贴近高中生必考科目为英语、
数学、阅读、科学，全部为选择题，共215道。
[6]
Student
NAFSA是National Association of Foreign
Advisers的缩写，即美国留学顾问协会，它是美
国国际教育工作者协会的前身。
Chapter 45 The American way of
speaking English
第四十五章 美式英语口语
Americans have their own version-or to
be more precise, versions-of theEnglish
language.
The
variety
of
different
accents, slang expressions and wordplay
can be bewildering at first. American
English owes a huge debt to the many
immigrants who came to the United States
from every corner of the globe. They have
played an important historical role in
molding American English and have made
substantial changes to the language.
Therefore, American English, which has
evolved over several centuries, sounds
radically different from the English
spoken in Great Britain. This is why it's
no surprise that once they've opened
their
mouths,
Americans
are
rarely
confused with the British.
美国人有自己的英语---更准确地说是有好几种
自己的英语。他们操各种口音，用俚语表达，玩文
字游戏，初听起来让人不知所云。这样的美国英语
要归功于来自五湖四海的移民们。他们对这种语言
进行了相当大的改造，对造就今天的美国英语起到
了重要的历史作用。美国英语在进化了几个世纪以
后，现在听起来已经跟英国英语大相径庭了。所
以，美国人一张口，就很少会被误认为是英国人。
Another
reason
for
linguistic
diversity within the United States is the
sheer size of the country. Until the
development of modern transportation and
mass media, it was difficult for farflung communities and individuals to be
in contact with each other, leading to
the variety of regional accents that can
still be heard today.
美国境内语言多样化的另一个原因是因为美国
幅员辽阔。在现代化的交通工具和大众传媒尚未发
展起来之前，那些边远的社区和个人很难互相往
来，这也就造就了今天依然能听到多样化的地方口
音。
Of course, some immigrants will avoid
learning much English by living in ethnic
neighborhoods and working with people
from their native countries. However, if
you want to enter the mainstream culture
and economy, you will need to learn some
English.Even for mothers who stay at home
raising their children, learning English
is important in order to communicate with
their children's teachers and to help
their children with their schoolwork.
当然，有些移民为了能少学点英语，会选择居
住在民族聚居区，选择跟本国人共事。但如果您想
融入美国的主流文化和经济生活，就必须多学一些
英文。即便是在家里带孩子的母亲也要好好学英
语，因为她们要跟孩子的老师沟通，帮助孩子辅导
功课。
However, before you resolve to learn
perfect American English, try to figure
out how far you can get with the English
you already know. If your accent is not
heavy and if your job doesn't require you
to sound like you were born in Kansas
City, there's really no reason to spend
lots of time and money working on it as a
“perfect”
accent
as
it
won't
necessarily improve your earnings or your
life. While many Americans will be
curious about your accent and where
you're from, they won't think less of you
for speaking understandable but accented
English.
不过，在您决心要学一口流利的美语之前，请
想想您现有的英语水平可以在多大程度上满足您的
需要。如果您的口音不是很重，而且您的工作也不
要求您把英语说得跟堪萨斯人一样，那您就完全不
需要花费大量的时间和金钱学习一口地道而纯正的
口音。因为地道的发音不一定就能提高您的薪水，
或者改善您的生活。也许很多美国人会对您的口音
和背景心存好奇，但他们并不会因为您说一口能听
懂但是有口音的英语而看低您。
American English, with its huge and
diverse vocabulary, isn't the simplest
language to master, though the grammar
might seem easy at first. If you decide
to study it in depth, however, pay
particular attention to synonyms and
antonyms,
and
to
what
individual
prefixes, roots and suffixes mean in
various words. Try to read various kinds
of books and magazines and listen to the
radio and watch TV as much as possible,
paying close attention to word use and
idiomatic expressions. Most importantly,
don't be shy about using new words and
don't be afraid of making mistakes. Try
to do more than just understand what
people are saying to you; talk back to
them as well. You may need to ask your
American friends and acquaintances to
correct you when you make mistakes .Many
Americans
think
it's
impolite
to
interrupt with a correction or won't want
to hurt your feelings. Tell them it's
okay and that you need their help. Along
the way, you'll be sure to meet someone
who will enjoy showing you the wonders of
American English.
尽管美国英语的语法初看起来比较简单，但它
的词汇却是浩如烟海，所以想要精通美语并不容
易。但如果您想深入学习英语，那就要格外关注同
义词和反义词，以及前缀、词根、后缀在不同单词
里的意义。尽量多涉猎书籍和杂志，多听收音机，
多看电视，同时注意单词的用法和习语的表达。更
重要的是，不要不好意思用新词，也不要害怕犯
错。不要只满足于能听懂别人说的话，要尽量跟他
们互动。当您犯错时，您可以让您的美国朋友帮您
纠正。很多美国人因为觉得打断别人说话不礼貌，
或者不想伤害您的感情，所以不会纠正您的错误。
请告诉他们这没关系，并且您需要他们的帮助。相
信您一定会遇到愿意与您分享美语妙处的朋友！
If it's important for you to have good
American pronunciation, you may want to
enroll in a speech course at a local
adult schools, community college, or
university. In these courses, instructors
work with students in small groups to
help them improve their pronunciation.
These courses also give you access to
language labs with equipment that allows
you to record and listen to yourself
speak, as well as with a wide variety of
audio and video tapes to help you
practice.
如果拥有地道美式发音对您来说很重要，您可
以在当地的成人学校、社区大学或本科院校报一个
口语班。这样的班一般都是小班授课，培训老师会
给同学纠正发音。在这样的课上，您还有机会去语
言实验室。去那儿，您可以把自己说的话录下来，
然后听听自己的发音。此外，实验室里还有各种各
样的音视频材料可供您练习。
☆ Speech classes demand a lot of time and
effort from students.
☆ 口语课会占用学生大量的时间和精力，所以当您报名
时可要做好心理准备哦！
Keep this in mind when you sign up.In
addition to improving your pronunciation,
you may also want to enroll in writing
and grammar classes if your job requires
you to send out written letters or email.
除了报班改善发音，如果您在工作中还需要用
英语处理信件或电子邮件，您还可以报班学习写作
和语法。
If you are outside the U.S. but want
to study English in America, you have a
few options. In many countries, there are
agencies that specialize in study abroad
and can help you select the courses or
programs best for you. You can find out
more about international agencies and
language programs by typing “study
English in USA” into your favorite
search engine.
如果您不在美国但又想到美国学英语，您有若
干种选择。很多国家都有专门办理海外留学的中介
机构，他们会帮您选择最适合您的课程或项目。您
还可以把“study English in USA(在美国学英
语)”键入您最常用的搜索引擎，以了解更多的国
际中介和语言项目。
☆ Enrollment and paid tuition at a language
center does not guarantee that you'll get a U.S.
visa.
☆ 您在语言中心报了名、交了学费并不能保证您可以得
到美国签证。
Chapter 46 Ethnic neighborhoods and
assimilation
第四十六章 移民社区与同化
For most immigrants, one of the most
difficult questions facing them is where
they should live when they first land in
the U.S. As a rule, because they don't
know English, how to rent a place or get
a job, many of them end up living in the
same neighborhood as their compatriots.
These neighborhoods, which tend to form
only in larger cities, all have a few
things in common:
对大多数移民而言，初到美国时面临的最大的
难题之一就是住哪儿的问题。通常来说，因为他们
不懂英语，也不知道如何租房或求职，所以他们中
有许多人最终会选择和同胞住在一个居民区。这些
聚居区往往只会在比较大型的城市里出现，而且都
具有一些共同点：
•The population consists mainly of
people from the same country
•The ethnic minority shows goodwill
to people of other ethnicities
•People will speak in their native
language and throw in English phrases
•Some immigrants have less interest
in learning English
•Young children will speak their
parents' native language. However,
later they may prefer to use English
more when they begin attending school.
·居民主要来自同一个国家
·占少数的族群会对其他族群表示友好
·人们在说自己的母语时会穿插使用一些英
语短语
·有些移民对学习英语不感兴趣
·小孩子习惯说父母的母语，但等他们上学
后，会更愿意说英语。
☆ A teenager who graduates from a local high
school but go on to study at a university in
another city will often behave very differently
from his or her peers who continue to live and
work in the neighborhood.
☆ 通常，同样毕业于当地高中的学生，毕业后去了外地
上大学的学生会和那些继续留在移民社区的同龄人在行为处
事上有很大的差别。
•Local stores sell ethnic magazines,
music, videos, traditional foods and
household items like dishes and
clothing
•The local population is actively
involved in the life of their community
•The local population observes
ethnic holidays and keeps national
traditions
•Many local private preschools give
instruction in a language other than
English
•If students of one ethnicity are in
The majority in a classroom, it will
affect the atmosphere of the class.
•Small and mid-sized business owners
usually hire people of the same
background
•Most people in the neighborhood
would prefer their child to marry
someone of the same ethnicity as them
·当地的商店会销售本族的杂志、音乐、录
像带、传统食品以及如餐具和衣服等居家用品
·当地人会积极地融入到他们的社区生活中
·当地人会庆祝本民族的节日并保持民族传
统
·很多当地私立学前班除了教授英语之外，
还会教授一门语言
·如果班级里某个族裔的学生占大多数的
话，就会影响到整个班级的氛围
·中小型企业的老板通常会雇用具有相同背
景的人
·大多数聚居区里的人更愿意让自己的孩子
与本民族的人结婚
If they move into an ethnic neighborhood,
immigrants usually find work and new friends
close to home. The moral support of their
compatriots makes it easier to assimilate during
their first years in the U.S. Not all of these
immigrants will end up moving to different
neighborhoods or cities once they've gotten
their bearings. Many immigrants who stay in
ethnic neighborhoods are happy with their way of
life and their standard of living, which is
significantly higher than what they enjoyed in
their native land.
移民搬进移民社区后，通常会在家的附近找工作，交朋
友。来自同胞们道义上的支持会使他们在最初几年更容易融
入美国的生活。站稳脚跟以后，有些移民也不会搬到别的居
民区或别的城市。很多待在移民区里的移民对自己的生活方
式和生活水准非常满意，因为那已经明显高于他们在本土的
生活标准了。
Many
immigrants
don't
want
to
assimilate into American society or
achieve anything particularly great. The
most important thing for them is to live
a peaceful and comfortable life without
major problems or upsets, as well as hold
a steady job. For many immigrants, living
in an ethnic neighborhood is a vital part
of this.
很多移民并不像融入美国社会，也不想拥有非
凡的成就。对他们而言，最重要的是能够平静而舒
适地生活，没有大的波折和沉浮，并且工作稳定。
对很多移民来说，住在移民社区是这种生活的重要
组成部分。
As you might remember from earlier
chapters, the price of living in ethnic
neighborhoods is intimately connected to
the cost of rent, goods and services.
Usually, rent is not cheap in these
neighborhoods, although sometimes you can
get lucky and find a place a very
reasonable price. However, as a rule,
you'll find that basic ethnic goods and
services are fairly inexpensive in ethnic
neighborhoods. But let's not forget that
other goods and services will probably
cost you a bit more than they would in
other mixed areas.
可能您还记得在前面的章节介绍过，在移民社
区生活的费用与租金、商品和服务的花费息息相
关。通常，这些居民区里的房子并不便宜，尽管有
时候您可以幸运地找到一处价格非常合理的房子。
不过，通常您会发现本民族的商品和服务在移民社
区里是相当便宜的，但是请别忘了：其他的商品和
服务很可能要比种族混合社区要贵。
With time, many immigrants discover
their own America and begin to explore
the American way of life in more depth.
Some people decide it's worth it to move
out of their ethnic neighborhood to an
area where the quality of life is higher.
Others decide they want to dive into life
in the U.S. For these folks, ethnic
neighborhoods
can
feel
cramped
and
limiting. But some immigrants feel that
the American way of doing things is
strange and foreign to them. They feel
better protecting themselves from the
American mainstream and may be very happy
to stay in an ethnic neighborhood for
good.
随着时间的推移，许多移民对美国会形成自己
的认识，并开始往深处探究美国人的生活方式。有
些人觉得有必要搬出社区到生活质量更高的地方
去，而另一些人则想完全投入到美国的生活中。对
于这些人来说，移民社区会让他们觉得碍手碍脚，
太受限制。但也有些移民却认为美国人的处事方式
对他们来说很陌生，所以他们更喜欢独立于美国主
流之外，也更乐意一直住在移民社区。
☆ The second generation of immigrants is
much more likely to move out of these ethnic
communities and into the American mainstream.
☆ 移民的下一代更有可能离开移民社区、融入美国主流
社会。
Today, it is considered rude and
socially awkward in the U.S. to express
dislike for someone based on their
nationality or ethnicity. If you have a
conflict with someone who is of a
different ethnicity, try to be polite and
not insult him on ethnic grounds. If you
are in an ethnic neighborhood, be polite
and friendly to its residents. And enjoy
the specialty foods and culture these
neighborhoods have to offer.
在今天的美国，基于别人所属的国籍或民族而
对其表露出厌恶，会被视为野蛮无理和不善社交。
如果您和其他民族的人起了矛盾，试着客气些，并
且不要在种族背景上侮辱他。如果您到了一个移民
社区，请礼貌友好地对待那儿的居民。对于那里的
特色食品和文化，也请您用欣赏的眼光去享受。
Chapter 47 Getting along with your
neighbors, friends and relatives
第四十七章 与邻里亲朋的相处之道
Americans are always on the move, and
this has an effect on how they interact
with their neighbors. For instance,
relationships
between
people
renting
apartments next to each other differ
significantly from relationships between
people who own houses or condos next to
each other.
美国人总在搬家，而这在一定程度上影响了他
们与邻里的关系。比如，同样是邻居，公寓楼租客
之间的关系就明显不同于别墅或公寓业主之间的关
系。
People from all different backgrounds
and ethnic groups are frequently found
renting apartments in the same building.
While some tenants like to live it up and
invite friends over on a regular basis,
others will be quieter and more reserved.
Some tenants stay in the same place for a
long time, while others move often. This
means that most neighbors prefer to keep
on friendly yet casual terms with the
folks
next
door,
limiting
their
interaction to short greetings and small
talk about the weather, the latest
basketball game, or recent shopping
trips. After parting ways, neighbors
quickly get back to their own lives and
forget these little chats.
在同一栋公寓里住着来自不同背景、不同种族
的人是司空见惯的事。一些房客喜欢热闹，会经常
邀请朋友来家里玩，而另外一些则更加安静、内
敛。有些房客会在同一个地方住很久，而另一些则
总是搬来搬去。这意味着大多数人会选择与邻居保
持肤浅的友好关系，他们彼此间只会简短地打个招
呼、谈谈天气、聊聊近期的球赛，或者说说最近的
购物经历。说声再见后彼此很快就会回到各自的生
活中，而对之前说过的话并不会记在心上。
☆ Don't expect advice or support from casual
acquaintances like neighbors. Americans learn at
an early age that they shouldn't burden others
with their personal problems. Instead, they try
to solve them on their own or with help from a
few, very close friends or relatives.
☆ 不要指望像邻居那样的泛泛之交能给您提供什么意见
或支持。美国人很早就明白不应该拿自己的私人问题去麻烦
别人。取而代之的是，他们都尽量靠自己来解决问题。就算
麻烦别人，也只限于为数不多的挚友或亲戚。
Here are a few tips on staying on good
terms with your neighbors:
下面是一些与邻居融洽相处的小贴士：
•Stick to pleasant topics of
conversation such as the weather or
weekend activities, and your neighbors
will think you're a pleasant person.
•When speaking to your neighbors,
refer to them in the same way they
introduce themselves-for example,
Jonathan, John, or Mr. Bryan-and you'll
be sure to get in their good graces.
•Once in a while, if you need to
borrow something small like a cup of
flour or the right-sized envelope, ask
your neighbor. They will often be happy
to help.
•Don't forget to thank neighbors for
any help they give you.
•Never use your neighbors'
refrigerator or other property on a
regular basis.
They may feel you are infringing on
their privacy and property.
•Never walk into someone's apartment
without being invited, as this could
make the person very uncomfortable.
·坚持只与邻居聊那些愉快的话题，比如天
气或者周末的活动安排，这样您的邻居会认为您
是一个和善的人。
·当与邻居交谈的时候，用对方介绍自己的
方式称呼他们。例如，Jonathan，John，或者
Mr. Bryan，这样他们一定也会对您以礼相待。
·偶尔地，如果您想借一杯面粉或者一个大
小合适的信封，去问问您的邻居吧。他们会很乐
意帮您。
·不要忘了对邻居的所有帮助都要表示感
谢。
·不要经常借邻居的冰箱或其他类似的东
西，他们会认为您是在侵犯他们的隐私或侵占他
们的财产。
·不要不经邀请就进入他人的公寓，因为这
样会让人感觉很不舒服。
☆ If you frequently stop by neighbors'
apartments, they may see this as an intrusion
into their private life.
☆ 如果您经常驻足于邻居家门口，他们会认为您在冒犯
他们的私生活。
Another important part of being a good
neighbor is abiding by the rules of your
apartment building. These rules govern
things like
要成为一个好邻居，另一个条件就是要遵守公
寓楼的规矩，包括：
•When you can make noise or have
parties
•When you can repair your apartment
•Whether you can have pets
•The use of a shared garage
•The use of the swimming pool, there
creation room, or another shared
facility
·什么时候您才可以发出噪音或者开派对
·什么时候您才可以维修您的公寓
·您是否可以养宠物
·如何使用共用车库
·如何使用游泳池、游艺室或者其他共用设
施
When neighbors own their homes or
condos, they tend to meet more often.
They sometimes talk about issues that
concern the entire building, street,
neighborhood or community where they
live. Neighbors in this situation speak
with each other more frequently, often on
a daily basis as they walk their dogs or
pull out of their garages. In these daily
conversations, they may have a bit more
time to talk a little about their
personal lives. However, it is still
important to remember one of the main
ground rules for relating to Americans:
They will probably not feel comfortable
involving you in their personal problems
or being involved in yours, unless you
are a very good and trusted friend.
Getting to this point in a friendship
with an American can take a whilesometimes
even
several
years-so
be
patient and don't take it personally if
they do not invite you into their homes
or into their personal lives.
当邻居们住的是自己的房子或公寓时，他们往
往就会经常见面了。他们会时不时地讨论一些关于
他们居住的楼房、街道、居民区或者社区的话题。
这时，邻里间的交流会变得比较频繁，比如在每天
出去遛狗或者从车库提车的时候他们都会聊上几
句。在这样的日常交流中，他们也许会多花点时间
谈一点个人的生活。但是，此时依然不要忘记那条
与美国人打交道的重要规则：不要把自己卷入他们
的私人问题或者把他们卷进您的私人问题中，因为
这会让他们感到不舒服，除非你们是非常要好且互
相信任的朋友。要与美国人有这样的交情需要些工
夫---有时候甚至要几年的时间，所以请耐心点
儿。如果他们没有邀请您去家里或进入他们的私人
生活，那么你也不要胡思乱想。
If you own a home and you want to play
an active role in your local community,
you may want to join a neighborhood
association. These organizations make
important decisions about issues like
parks and zoning (what can be built
where) and let you make a contribution to
your area. The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development has information
about community involvement on their
website (www.hud.gov).
如果您买下了一处房子并且想在当地社区扮演
一个积极的角色，您也许会想加入社区协会。这些
组织有权就公园建设和区域规划（在哪建什么）讨
论并作出决定，让您为所在的地区做点贡献。在美
国住房和城市发展部的网页（www.hud.gov）上可
以找到参与社区工作的相关信息。
As we've already seen, Americans are
incredibly mobile. As they move from
state
to
state,
they
make
new
acquaintances among their coworkers or
neighbors. They will celebrate birthdays
and other short holidays with this
immediate circle of friends from their
new neighborhood and family. Old friends
who live far away from each other usually
keep in touch by phone or Internet and
rarely get a chance to see each other in
person due to their busy schedules.
正如我们所看到的，美国人的流动性十分惊
人。随着他们从一个州搬到另一个州，他们结识了
不同的同事和邻居。他们会和这些新朋友及家人一
起庆祝生日或欢度小长假。住得很远的老朋友通常
会通过电话和网络保持联系，由于彼此都很忙，所
以很少有机会抽时间见面。
When people move, they often leave
behind relatives as well as friends. High
school graduates know, for example, that
if they choose to go to a university in
another city, they will have to move into
a dorm and move away from home. They will
get a chance to see relatives and old
friends only during vacations and long
holidays. After they graduate from the
university, they may end up far away from
their parents and childhood friends,
depending on where they find work. Mostly
they will see them only once or twice a
year during long holidays when everyone
tries to come back to his or her own
state.
当人们搬家时，经常要与亲朋好友分开。例
如，高中毕业生知道，如果他们选择到另一个城市
去上大学，他们会要离开家、住进宿舍。他们只有
在寒暑假和长一点的节假日才有机会回去见见亲戚
朋友。当他们大学毕业后，又因为工作地点的缘
故，可能最终会与父母和儿时的伙伴离得很远。通
常，大家会尽量在放长假的时候回到故乡去看看父
母和朋友，不过这样的机会在一年中最多也就一两
次。
This
mobility
means
that
your
neighbors, college buddies and coworkers
are often the only close friends you can
turn to in an emergency or with whom you
can share a special occasion.
这种流动性意味着，在某种紧急情况下或在某
些特殊时刻，您能够寻求帮助的或者能够与您一起
分享的人就只有您的邻居、大学同窗以及同事了。
Nonetheless, many folks do keep in
touch, even though they're far apart.
Americans are united by phone calls, the
Internet, letters and greeting cards. the
main driving force behind many longdistance friendships is lasting gratitude
for the support and love someone provided
when it was needed most.
尽管人们离得很远，但许多人依然会保持联
系。美国人被电话、网络、信件和贺卡联系在了一
起。支撑着这种远距离友情的主要动力是一种长久
的感激之情，即对那些曾经在他们最需要帮助的时
候给予过支持和关爱的人们的感激。
Chapter 48 Charities, donations and
membership
第四十八章 慈善、捐赠与会员申请
Americans
are
charitable.
They
understand that by helping those less
fortunate, they are making life better
for everyone. From an early age, children
are taught to give toys to other children
from poorer families. School children
collect books, clothing and other goods
to help out families who don't have
enough,
especially
as
Christmas
approaches. Adults also contribute their
time and resources in various ways,
including
美国人很乐善好施。他们知道帮助不幸的人能
让每个人的生活都变得更好。孩子小时候，大人们
就会教他们给贫困家庭的孩子捐玩具。上了学以
后，孩子们会捐书籍、衣服和其他的物品给那些需
要这些东西的家庭，特别是当圣诞节临近的时候这
种捐助更为多见。大人们也同样会用各种方式贡献
自己的时间和资源，具体包括：
•Donating clothing and household
items, appliances, cars or food
•Offering free services, such as
tutoring, legal services, medical care
or transportation
•Working without pay as volunteers
•Donating money to charitable funds,
organizations, religious groups or
special fundraising events
·捐献衣物、家居用品、家用电器、车或食
物
·提供免费的服务，例如做家教，提供法律
服务、医疗保健或者运输服务
·做志愿者并且不拿报酬
·向慈善基金、组织机构、宗教团体或特殊
募捐活动捐款
Many
popular
volunteer
activities
include
许多热门的志愿者活动包括：
•Fundraising
drives
for
medical
research, school and extra-curricular
activities for children, and community
programs
•Habitat
for
Humanity,
which
constructs homes for low-income families
•Animal shelters
•Environmental groups
•Political campaigns
•Public libraries
•Serving as docents at cultural and
historical sites, museums, parks, zoos
and so on
·为医学研究、孩子的课内外活动以及社区
活动筹措资金
·参与人道居所组织（Habitat for
Humanity），为低收入家庭建造房屋
·建造动物收容所
·参加环保小组
·参加政治运动
·建设公共图书馆
·在文化历史古迹、博物馆、公园、动物园
等地当讲解员
For families, a lot of volunteer work
directly involves their own children such
as coaching youth sports teams and
leading scouting groups. In many schools,
members of the local Parent Teacher
Association (PTA) help out in classrooms
and organize school events.
对于有孩子的家庭来说，许多志愿工作都是直
接围绕他们的孩子展开的，比如：训练年轻的运动
队或者给童子军当领队。在许多学校，当地的家长
教师协会（PTA）成员会在教室帮忙，还会帮助组
织学校活动。
If you're looking for somewhere to
give back to your community as a
volunteer, check out the “Volunteer
Opportunities” in the classifieds of
your local paper. You can also call the
telephone
numbers
listed
under
“Volunteer Information” in your local
phone
book.
There,
you'll
find
organizations like Retired and Senior
Volunteer Programs, your local Community
Action Network, the Volunteer Corps in
the Mayor's Office, or your School
District's
Volunteer
Program.
Many
volunteer activities are also organized
through churches, synagogues and other
religious groups.
如果您想做志愿者回报您的社区，那您可以查
询一下当地报纸上名
为“VolunteerOpportunities（志愿者机
会）”的分类信息，或者也可以拨打当地电话簿
中“Volunteer Information（志愿者信息）”栏
目里的电话号码。您会在那儿找到一些组织机构，
像退休老人志工方案（RSVP）、您当地的社区活动
组织、市长办公室志愿服务队以及您所在校区的志
愿者项目。另外，教堂、犹太教会和其他宗教团体
也会组织许多志愿者活动。
☆ Don't forget to use Internet to find more
about your local volunteer opportunities.
☆ 不要忘了可以通过网络获得更多在当地成为志愿者的
信息。
Many charitable organizations send out
letters asking for donations through the
mail.
But
watch
out:
Not
every
organization that claims to be a charity
will
use
your
money
properly.
Unfortunately, some supposed charities
are frauds. For this reason, before you
send your check, make sure that your
money is going to go to those who really
need it. You can avoid being a victim of
charity
fraud
by
giving
to
large,
reputable organizations, or by contacting
the Better Business Bureau, which also
monitors
nonprofit
and
charity
organizations. You can find out more
about many charitable organizations and
funds and their activities at the website
of the Better Business Bureau's Wise
Giving Alliance at www.give.org. And when
you make a major donation to a registered
charity, don't forget to get a receipt.
You'll be able to write the gift off your
taxes.
一些慈善机构会通过发信件来请求捐赠。但是
要小心，因为并非所有宣称自己做慈善的组织都会
合理使用您的捐款。不幸的是，一些所谓的慈善机
构其实是骗子。因此，在您寄出支票之前，请确保
这些钱是给真正需要钱的人。为了不成为慈善诈骗
的受害人，您可以把钱捐给声誉好的大型机构，或
者联系一下商业改进局，该局同样是非盈利组织和
慈善机构的监管部门。登录商业改进局的网站
www.give.org，您可以从上面的“智慧捐赠联
盟”上找到更多有关慈善机构、慈善基金和慈善活
动的信息。当您向注册过的慈善机构捐了一大笔款
时，请不要忘记索要收据。有了收据，您的这部分
捐赠就不需要纳税了。
☆ All public and private schools at all
levels from elementary through universities also
seek
donations
for
their
programs
and
scholarships.
☆ 各级公立和私立学校（从小学到大学）都要为其自身
的教学计划和奖学金寻求资金捐助。
In 2005, parents and friends of Marshall High
School Academic Decathlon team, Los Angeles,
organized several different cultural events to
collect enough donations to send school team to
Washington,
D.C.,
to
study
more
about
Renaissance Art. The children and their parents
paid nothing for that trip.
2005年，洛杉矶马歇尔高中学术十项全能队的家长和朋
友们组织了几个不同的文化活动，目的是凑齐足够的捐款送
校队去华盛顿学习更多文艺复兴时期的艺术。那趟旅行，孩
子和家长一分钱都没花。
Among the largest charities in the
U.S. are the Salvation Army and Goodwill
Industries International, usually known
simply as Goodwill. You can get more
information about these two charities and
their activities by calling the Salvation
Army at 1-800-728-7825 or by visiting
www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf
or calling Goodwill at 1-877-782-3387 or
visiting www.goodwill.org. Along with
many other programs, these organizations
run more than 1,500 thrift stores that
accept donations of all kinds and sell
the donated clothing, shoes, books,
dishes, appliances, furniture and even
cars at low prices. If a customer
desperately needs an item but does not
have money to pay for it, the store will
often give it to him free.
救世军和国际亲善行业是美国最大的慈善机构
中的两个。后者通常简称为“亲善”。要想了解救
世军的更多信息及活动，您可以拨打电话1-800728-7825或登录网站
www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf
如果您想了解有关国际亲善行业的更多信息及活
动，可以登录网站www.goodwill.org，或拨打电
话1-877-782-3387。这两个组织有很多慈善项
目，其中一个就是二手店。他们总共经营了1500余
家二手店，这些店接受各种物品的捐赠，并会以低
价卖出获捐的衣服、鞋子、书籍、碗盘、家用电器
和家具，甚至还有汽车。如果有消费者急需某物而
又没有钱，商店经常会免费把东西给他/她。
You can find the thrift store nearest
you by looking in the phone book, or by
calling the Salvation Army at 1-800-6752882 or visiting www.satruck.com or
Goodwill
at
1-877-741-0186
or
visitingwww.goodwill.org.
要找离您最近的二手店，您有几种方式：一是
在电话簿中查找；二是拨打救世军的电话1-800675-2882或登录其网站www.satruck.com；三是登
录国际亲善行业的网站www.goodwill.org或拨打
其电话1-877-741-0186。
☆ Many churches, hospitals and local charity
organizations have their own, smaller thrift
stores, which you can find in the phone book.
☆ 许多教会、医院和当地的慈善组织都有自己的小规模
二手店，您可以在电话簿中找到它们。
Some charities, cultural organizations
and non-profits ask you to become a
member or a “friend”, which is the same
thing which gives you certain benefits
and lets you participate in special
programs
in
return
for
a
certain
donation. These membership programs are
common among arts and cultural non-
profits and often give members discount
tickets or invitations to special events,
for example.
一些慈善机构、文化组织和非盈利机构会邀请
您成为它们的会员或“朋友”，其实他们只是先给
您一些优惠让您参加一些特殊的项目，然后再让您
为他们捐一些钱。这些会员项目在艺术和文化性的
非盈利活动中比较常见，例如，他们会经常给会员
提供特殊活动的打折票或邀请函。
Chapter 49 Health care and insurance
第四十九章 医疗保健与医疗保险
America is known worldwide for its
high-quality health care. It's also well
known that health care in the U.S. costs
more than anywhere else in the world. The
health care system involves numerous
doctors
and
assisting
professionals,
hospitals and emergency care units,
producers
of
medical
equipment
and
pharmaceuticals, and insurance companies.
The government also plays an active role
in the health care system by regulating
health
care
providers
and
drug
manufacturers, making sure they comply
with laws and requirements, and financing
medical research and health insurance for
the poor and elderly.
美国高品质的医疗保健享誉全球，同样出名的
还有其高昂的医疗保健费用，其费用远远高于其他
任何一个国家。美国的医疗保健体系包括为数众多
的医生与助理医护人员、医院与急诊监护病房、医
疗器械生产商、制药商以及保险公司。政府在医疗
保健体系中也发挥着积极的作用，它监管保健服务
提供者与制药商，确保他们遵守法律法规，资助医
药研究，还给穷人以及老人上医疗保险。
People can get access to health care
if they have
如果想获得医疗保健，那么您需要有：
•Private medical insurance
•Free medical insurance from the
government
•The money to pay their medical
bills without insurance
·个人医疗保险
·政府提供的免费的医疗保险
·无保险也能付得起医疗账单的钱
There is no obligatory national health
insurance program in the U.S. People who
have the financial means to pay for
insurance buy it from an insurance
company
or
get
it
through
their
employers. The elderly, the disabled, and
families with limited incomes (this
includes many new immigrants) can get
insurance coverage through governmentfinanced Medicaid and Medicare programs.
在美国，没有强制性的国民健康保健方案。有
经济能力投保的人会从保险公司购买保险或由雇主
为其购买保险。老人、残疾人和收入有限的家庭
（包括许多新移民）可通过由政府资助的医疗补助
和医疗保险计划获得保险。
Unfortunately, millions of Americans,
including millions of children, do not
have health insurance for a wide variety
of reasons. the most common reasons are：
但是，有数以百万计的美国人，包括许许多多
的儿童，却因种种原因而没有医疗保险。其中最普
遍的原因是：
•Their employers do not offer
insurance, or they can't afford to pay
premiums of $150-$400 each month.
•They are generally healthy.
•They don't have a chronic illness.
•They have enough money to pay for
medical services without insurance.
•They don't care about their health.
•They know premiums will be high and
will keep rising because they have
habits detrimental to their health.
•They try to treat their medical
problems themselves.
•They don't trust doctors.
•They don't want to spend the money.
·雇主不提供保险或无力支付每月150~400
美元的保险费。
·他们大都基本健康。
·他们没有慢性病。
·即使无保险，他们也有足够的钱支付医疗
服务费用。
·他们不关心自己的健康。
·因为他们有不利于身体健康的习惯，所以
他们知道保费会很高而且会越来越高。
·他们尝试自己给自己治病。
·他们不信任医生。
·他们不想花这个钱。
What options do you have if you aren't
insured and you don't have much money?
Try community health centers or community
clinics. They treat the uninsured and
charge very low or no fees. As a rule,
these clinics offer specialized services,
such
as
gynecological,
dental
or
psychiatric care. There are also other
clinics
that
operate
as
part
of
government programs such as HealthCare
Connect-MCAP, the Migrant Health Center
and the Black Lung Clinic. Some medical
schools and colleges also have low-cost
teaching clinics, where medical students
are trained under the supervision of
qualified doctors. To find a clinic near
you, go to the U.S. Department of Health
and
Human
Services
website
at
www.hhs.gov/.
如果您既没有投保也没有太多的钱，那您还有
什么选择呢？您还可以试试社区保健中心或社区诊
所。这些地方医治未投保的病人时，收费会很低廉
甚至全免。按常规，这些诊所提供的是专项服务，
例如妇科、牙科和精神病看护。还有其他一些诊所
是政府项目的一部分，如联合医保组织[1]--MCAP，移民健康中心和煤尘肺病诊所。一些医学院
校还有价格便宜的教学诊所，在那里，医学院的学
生在资深医师的监督下行医诊病。如果想要找一个
离您比较近的诊所，那么请查询美国卫生与公共服
务部网站www.hhs.gov/。
If you can afford it, it's a good idea
to get health insurance, but picking the
right
plan
can
be
tricky.
Health
insurance providers offer individual and
group plans. A group plan allows you to
insure your children up to age23 if they
are full-time students.
如果您承担得起，那么买份保险是个不错的主
意，但要选择一个适合您的保健方案是很费脑筋
的。健康保险提供商提供个人及团体保险方案。团
保方案允许您给您的23岁以下、身份为脱产学生的
孩子投保。
☆ When choosing a particular insurance plan,
obtain information and premium quotes (how much
your policy will cost) from several insurance
agents. Your school or employer will almost
always offer the best rate.
☆ 当您要选择保险方案时，您可以从多个不同的保险代
理人那里获取信息和保费报价（您的保单费用）。您的学校
或雇主给您投的保险费率通常是最低的。
After studying the different plan
options, you'll notice that they all have
advantages and disadvantages in their
basic coverage, which determines
研究完不同的保险方案后，您会发现他们在一
些基本的保险项目上均各有利弊。基本的保险项目
决定了：
•How often you can see a doctor
•How much your insurance will pay
for doctor's and hospital fees
•How much it will pay for surgeries
•Whether your insurance covers
prescription drugs
•Whether it covers medical supplies
such as special beds and chairs,
orthopedic shoes, canes or walkers
•Whether it includes eyeglasses and
contact lenses(sometimes called optical
or vision coverage)
•Whether it pays for chiropractors
or nutritional therapists
•Whether it pays for massage or
other kinds of physical therapy
•Whether it covers emergency
treatment at home and in other cities
·您多久能看一次医生
·您的保险能为您支付多少给医生和医院的
费用
·您的保险能为您支付多少手术费用
·您的保险中是否包含处方药
·您的保险是否包含医疗用品，如特殊的床
和椅子、矫形鞋、拐杖或助行器
·您的保险是否包含眼镜或是隐形眼镜（有
时也称为视力险）
·您的保险是否能支付脊椎按摩师或营养理
疗师的费用
·您的保险是否能支付按摩或其他理疗的费
用
·是否包含在家或在外地的紧急救治
Some health plans designate which
primary care physicians you must see. If
your plan does allow you to choose your
own physician, try to find a wellestablished
and
well-respected
professional
who
is
recommended
by
relatives, friends or other doctors. In
most cases, you will get a list of all
the doctors who work with your insurance
company
when
you
get
your
policy.
However, the doctor you pick from the
list may not have an office near you.
Also, keep in mind that all physicians
are
generally
attached
to
specific
hospitals. It's important to consider
which hospital you will go if you are
hospitalized.
一些保健方案会指定您必须看哪些主治医生。
如果您的保健方案确实允许您自己选择保健医生的
话，那就请您的亲戚、朋友或其他医生帮您推荐一
下，找一个有建树、口碑好的医师。大多数情况
下，当您拿到保单时，您还会得到一张医生列表，
上面是与您的承保公司有业务联系的所有医生的信
息。但是，您选中的医生可能在您家附近没有诊
所。同时还要记住，每个医生大多都会附属于某家
医院，所以考虑一下您要去哪家医院住院也很重
要。
☆ Some doctors do not accept new patients,
as their schedules are too busy.
☆ 有些医生是不收治新病人的，因为他们的日程表实在
排得太满了。
The doctor you'll see and work with
most is your primary care physician, also
called a primary care provider. This is
whom you'll turn to when you need basic
medical exams, tests or referrals to
specialists. Some primary care physicians
have what is called a family practice,
which means they treat both adults and
children. These doctors are also called
general practitioners.
您平常会见得最多、联系得最多的就是您的主
治医生（英文叫做
primarycarephysician/provider)。他会帮您进
行基本的医疗检查、测试，并会帮您推荐专科医
生。一些主治医生也提供家庭诊疗业务，即同时医
治成人和少年儿童。这样的医生也被称为全科医
生。
When
you
come
to
your
first
appointment with a new doctor, try to
bring along as much information as
possible about you and your health,
including
当您与您的新医生第一次见面时，请尽可能多
带一些关于您和您的健康的信息，其中包括：
•Your medical records
•Your immunization history
•A list of any medications you take
regularly
•A list of any allergies you have
•The name of your insurance company
and your policy number. Bring your
insurance card with you.
·您的病例
·您的免疫史
·您的常用药列表
·您的过敏史
·您保险公司的名称以及您的保单号，并且
要带上您的保险卡。
☆ Once you have your policy number, get an
appointment with your primary care physician
right away so his office will have a file on
you. This will help you get an appointment
should you suddenly need to see a doctor.
☆ 当您拿到保单号以后，请立即预约您的主治医生，以
便他在诊所给您建个档案。这样一来，当您突然要看医生的
时候，预约起来就方便了。
When making your first visit to the
physician, ask yourself the following
questions:
在第一次去会见保健医生时，请问问自己以下
几个问题：
•Was it easy to get to the doctor's
office?
•Did the doctor see me promptly or
did he or she run late?
•How clean was the office?
•Was I asked to fill out a medical
questionnaire?
•Did my physician tell me how to
avoid general health problems in the
future?
•If my physician is unavailable,
will I be able to see another physician
in emergencies such as a severe
stomachache or chest pains?
·去该医生的诊室方便吗？
·医生是准时见了我，还是迟到了？
·他的诊室干净吗？
·他要我填医疗调查问卷了吗？
·医生告诉我今后如何预防常见疾病了吗？
·如果我的医生没有时间，那我是否能在突
发剧烈的胃病或胸疼等紧急情况下去看别的医
生？
If for some reason you aren't happy
with your doctor and your plan allows you
to switch physicians, call your insurance
company as soon as possible, as switching
doctors can take some time.
如果因为某些原因您与您的医生发生了不愉
快，而且您的保健方案允许您更换医生的话，那么
请尽快与保险公司联系，因为换医生是要花一些时
间的。
If dental care is covered by your
policy, you will either be allowed to
choose a general dentist or will be
referred to one of the dentists selected
by the insurance company.
如果您的保单里包含牙齿护理，您还可以选择
一名全科牙医，或由保险公司为您指定一名牙医。
When making your first visit to the
dentist, do not forget to ask yourself
the same questions. The answers to these
questions will help you figure out if the
dentist is right for you.
当您首次见牙医的时候，请别忘了问问自己同
样的问题。这些问题的答案会帮您想清楚您的牙医
是不是适合您。
As dental treatment can be very
expensive in the U.S., do some research
and find additional information on the
Internet after your dental appointment
before you agree to any major procedures.
因为牙齿治疗在美国是非常昂贵的，所以您在
与牙医预约后到您同意对牙齿进行任何一项大的处
理之前，请做一些调研并到网上找一些额外的信
息。
☆ You'll find lots of helpful information at
www.ada.org , the American Dental Association
www.aacd.org , the American Academy of Cosmetic
Dentistry.
☆ 您可以在美国牙科协会网站www.ada.org和美国牙齿
美容研究会网站www.aacd.org找到大量有用的信息。
You will be billed for health care
through your insurance company. Some
plans allow you to pay your bill a few
days after your appointment, while others
require you to pay a portion of the bill,
called a co-pay, when you have your
appointment.
您的保险公司会给您寄医疗保健的账单。一些
保健方案允许您在接受医疗服务之后的几天内付
款，还有的方案则要求您在接受医疗服务时就支付
一部分费用，这笔费用的英文叫做co-pay [2]。
If your doctor writes a prescription
for a certain medication, make sure to
read the label carefully when you get
your prescription filled at a pharmacy,
as pharmacists sometimes make mistakes.
Also pay attention to the warnings on the
labels, which will tell you, for example,
whether you need to take the medication
with food or avoid alcohol or driving.
如果您的医生给您开了一些药物，那么去药店
拿药时，请一定要仔细阅读药物上的标签，因为药
剂师有时会出错。吃药时还要注意标签上的警告，
比方说，上面会告诉您要不要与其他食物一起服
用，需不需要忌酒，或者能不能开车等等。
☆
If
your
insurance
doesn't
cover
prescriptions, ask your doctor to prescribe a
generic version of the drug, if available.
Generic drugs are of the same quality but are
far less expensive than brand-name medications.
☆ 假设您的保险不包含处方药费，那如果可以的话，请
让您的医生给您开一些这些药物的非专利药品。这些仿专利
配方药与品牌药的品质相同，但价钱却远远低于品牌药。
For foreigners who plan to visit the
U.S., you can avoid problems getting
access to health care by
对于计划访美的外国人来说，可通过以下途径
避免医疗保健时出现麻烦：
•Getting information from your
insurance company at home about
insurance coverage in the U.S.
•If your insurance does not apply
overseas, buy a special policy that
will cover doctor's fees and
hospitalization in the U.S., along with
full coverage of the cost of
transporting your body in case of
accidental death (known as repatriation
of mortal remains).
•If your insurance policy expires
while you are in the States, consider
buying a new policy from a U.S.
insurance company.
•It would also be a good idea to get
dental insurance, especially if you are
staying in the States for a while.
·在国内的保险公司咨询有关美国的保险赔
偿信息
·如果您的保险不适用于海外，那么请买一
份专门的保险，以支付您在美国看医生和住院时
的费用，同时还要买份遗体转移险，以确保您在
国外意外死亡时保险公司会承担把您的遗体运送
回国的费用（即遗体遣送）
·如果您在美国时您的保险到期了，那么请
考虑从美国的保险公司买一份新保险
·买一份牙科保险是个不错主意，尤其是如
果您要在美国待上一阵子的话
No matter what your immigration status
is, you can always get emergency care.
All you need to do to call an ambulance
is dial 911. As emergency house calls can
be extremely expensive, if you feel ill
and you really can go without the help of
an ambulance, go immediately to the
nearest doctor's office or hospital. 24
hours clinics and emergency rooms are
there if you need help late at night. To
find the address of the nearest clinic,
call 411 or look in your local phonebook.
无论您是什么样的移民身份，您都能获得紧急
救助。要叫救护车您只要拨打911。但是因为打电
话叫急诊会非常贵，所以如果您只是觉得不舒服但
还没有到非要叫救护车的地步，那就请立即去最近
的诊所或医院。如果您在深夜需要看病的话，那儿
也有24小时的诊所和急诊室。要查找最近的诊所在
哪里，请拨打411或查询当地电话簿。
☆ Some hospitals, such as county hospitals,
provide emergency care, including surgery, free
of charge. You can get their addresses and phone
numbers from 411.
☆
有些医院，例如一些县级医院，会免费提供紧急救
助，包括外科手术。您可以通过拨打411获得这些医院的地
址和电话号码。
Sometimes,
doctors,
nurses
or
hospitals
make
terrible
errors
in
treatment that can cost patients their
health or even their lives. In the U.S.,
someone who is the victim of a medical
mistake can sue for damages in what's
called a medical malpractice suit. Often
these cases are a legitimate way to
redress a person's profound losses due to
error. But there are also plenty of shady
lawyers out there who encourage patients
to
sue
after
they've
undergone
unsuccessful
treatment
and
American
doctors have to have special insurance to
protect them against the huge financial
losses that can occur if patients win a
case against them.
有时，医生、护士或是医院在治疗病人的过程
中会出现重大的失误，从而损害病人健康甚至使病
人丧命。在美国，医疗事故的受害者是可以就损害
进行起诉的，这叫做医疗过失诉讼。这些诉讼是要
求对受害人因医疗过失而遭受惨重损失进行赔偿的
法律途径。但是，在美国，有许多不良律师会在病
人的治疗不太成功的情况下也鼓动他们起诉。因
此，美国的医生不得不买一种特殊的保险来保护自
己，以弥补病人胜诉后会给他们造成巨大的经济损
失。
Before you decide to sue for medical
malpractice, you should
在您决定提起医疗过失诉讼之前，您应该：
•Make sure you followed your
doctor's instructions and
recommendations exactly. You, not your
doctor, may be responsible for the
mistake.
•Get a second opinion. Take your
medical records to another doctor with
the same specialty and find out whether
you were treated properly.
•Get it in writing. Have the doctor
write down everything he or she noticed
from your records, including whether
you were treated improperly or poorly.
It may not be easy to get a written
statement from a doctor, as many
doctors may not want to testify against
their colleagues or may not have the
time to do so.
•Decide whether you are willing to
get involved in a court case that could
take a long time and demand a lot of
your time and energy, even if your
doctor clearly made a mistake.
•Talk to a lawyer and bring along
all the records related to the case,
including the written statement from
the independent doctor.
·确定自己完全遵从了医生的指示和建议。
因为有可能是您，而不是您的医生要为该失误负
责。
·听取第二方意见。将您的医疗记录给同一
个领域的另一个医生看看，以确定您是否得到了
正确诊治。
·获得书面证据。让第二方医生写下他/她在
您的病例中注意到的一切，包括您是否得到了错
误或差劲的治疗。让医生写书面声明也许并不容
易，因为许多医生
不愿意出庭指证他们的同行，或者可能他们确
实没有时间去作证。
·想想您是否愿意卷入一场又耗时又耗精力
的官司，即使您的医生犯了明显的错误。
·找一个律师谈谈，并且带上所有与案子有
关的文件记录，其中包括独立医生出具的书面声
明。
☆ Getting the documents together in a case
against a doctor can be expensive and time
consuming, even if you are clearly in the right.
For this reason, lawyers can charge clients from
$25,000
to$50,000
for
malpractice
cases,
depending on how complicated the case is.
☆ 即使明显是您在理，要备齐起诉医生所需要的所有文
件也是又贵又耗时的。因此，律师会向医疗过失诉讼案件的
委托人收取2.5万到5万美元不等的费用，具体费用取决于案
件的复杂程度。
There are many ways doctors can
protect
themselves
from
malpractice
suits. They have special insurance and
attorneys who specialize in preventing
potential legal battles with patients.
These specialized lawyers often have a
medical background in addition to a law
degree, which allows them to get to the
heart of any malpractice case. So if
you're thinking about suing your doctor,
don't forget that you'll face a tough
opponent.
医生也有很多办法可以防止自己卷入过失诉讼
案中。他们有特殊的保险，还有专门防止医患法律
纠纷的专业律师。这些专业律师通常具备医学背景
和法学学位，这样他们就能找到医疗过失诉讼案件
的核心。所以，如果您正考虑起诉您的医生，那么
别忘了您将面对很强劲的对手。
There are patients out there who see
every medical mistake as an opportunity
to make a buck. This is their right, of
course, but they seem to have forgotten
the real reason they went to their doctor
in the first place: their health. And
what could be worse for your health than
spending years dealing with stressful and
upsetting court proceedings?
也有把每一次医疗过失都当成发财契机的病
人。他们当然有起诉的权利，但他们似乎忘了看医
生的初衷：健康。还有什么能比耗费多年时间经历
充满压力和烦恼的诉讼过程更能损害他们健康的
呢？
☆ If you're having health problems, don't
blame it all on your doctor. Think about your
own choices and lifestyle first: what foods you
eat and how you treat your body. As Americans
are fond of saying,“An apple a day keeps the
doctor away!”
☆ 如果您的健康出现问题，别完全归咎于您的医生。先
仔细想想您自己的选择和生活方式吧：您吃了什么样的食物
以及您是如何对待您的身体的。正如美国谚语所说：“一天
一个苹果，医生只好闲坐！”
[1]
联合医保组织是旨在为无保险人员联系保质的打折
医疗服务的机构。
[2] co-pay相当于咱们的挂号费，如每次看医生，都要
支付的一定金额。通常每次co-pay的费用在25 美元以下。
Chapter 50 Other types of insurance
and picking the right policy
第五十章 其他险种与保单选择
One of the best ways to “expect the
unexpected” is to make sure you've got
insurance to help you, should something
go wrong. As you think about your visit
to America, try to arrange any insurance
policies you will need ahead of time.
They should cover the entire time you are
in the U.S. As a rule, insurance in other
countries costs less than in the U.S. If
you are insured, you'll feel more selfassured and secure as you travel.
预防意外事故的最佳方法之一就是购买保险，
一旦出问题，保险可以帮您摆脱困境。当您考虑访
美时，请事先准备好您可能要用到的任何保单，而
且这些保单的保期要能涵盖您在美国的全部时间。
一般来说，其他国家的保费要比美国的保费便宜。
如果您买了保险，您出行时会觉得更踏实、更安
全。
But say you realize that you need
insurance coverage only after you've
arrived on America's shores. What then?
Here are some tips if you urgently need
to buy an insurance policy in the U.S.:
但是，假设您是到美国之后才意识到要买保
险，那应该怎么办呢？如果您在美国期间急需买保
险的话，可以参考以下几点建议：
•Figure out what you would like to
insure and for how much
•Check how reliable the company
you're considering is
•Ask whether you can get different
kinds of policies, such as homeowner's
and auto insurance, from the same
company
•Pick the best insurance option
after comparing their costs and
coverage
·想清楚您要买的险种和保额
·核查一下您看好的保险公司的信誉
·咨询是否可以在同一家保险公司同时买各
类保单，如房屋保险和汽车保险
·比较完价钱和承保范围之后，选择一个最
佳的保险项目
When choosing an insurance company,
pay attention to
选保险公司时，要注意以下几点：
•What types of insurance it offers.
Companies that offer many different
kinds of policies may offer you lower
rates.
•Whether the company is licensed by
your state's Department of Insurance
•Whether it has enough capital to
earn at least a B rating from A.M. Best
(www. ambest.com) or Weiss Ratings
(www.weissratings.com)
•Whether it is a direct-response
company that doesn't work through
middlemen
•Whether its prices are reasonable
•Whether it offers a “free look”,
a trial period of up to 20 days during
which you may terminate the policy
without paying any penalties
·该公司会提供什么样的险种。那些可以提
供多种不同保险的公司往往收取的保费也较低
·该公司是否在您所在州的保险管理部获得
了许可证
·该公司是否拥有足够资金以从阿尔费雷德
·贝斯特公司[1]（www.ambest.com）或者魏斯
评级公司[2]（www.weissratings.com）的分级
评定中至少获得B级以上的评价
·确认该公司是一家不通过中间人一对一地
给顾客服务的公司
·该公司的收费是否公道
·在该公司投保时是否有“犹豫期”，即给
顾客20天的试用期，在此期间顾客可以终止协议
但不用付任何违约金
☆ If you take a little extra time to study
and compare offers from various companies,
you'll have a much better chance of finding the
best offer and getting a good price.
☆ 如果您肯多花点时间去研究和比对不同保险公司的险
种的话，那么，您将更有可能选择到最理想而且价格最合理
的保险。
Among the many different types of
insurance, the most common deal directly
with a person's life and property. Here
are some of the insurance policies you
may want to consider if you're in the
U.S. for a longer stay.
在众多的保险种类当中，最常见的是那些与人
身和财产直接相关的险种。如果您要在美国待很长
一段时间的话，也许您可以考虑下面这些险种：
Disability insurance covers a portion
of your income when you can't work
because of illness or injury.
残废险。残疾险承保您因病或负伤而无法工作
时的一部分收入。
Life insurance protects your family
from financial hardship after your death.
Though there are many types of life
insurance policies, they all take into
consideration
the
following
when
determining your premium:
人寿保险。人寿保险可以保护您的家人在您去
世后免受财务危机。尽管人寿保险有很多种，但当
保险公司在确定您的保险费时，都会考虑以下因
素：
•Your age
•Your general health
•Whether you have any chronic
illnesses
•Your medical history (illnesses and
surgeries)
•Whether you have any harmful habits
like smoking
•Your relatives' medical history
·您的年龄
·您通常的健康情况
·您是否患有慢性疾病
·您的病历（患病或手术记录）
·您是否有任何有损健康的不良习惯(如吸
烟)
·您亲属的病历
Business insurance allows you to
protect yourself from possible risks and
losses connected to
商业保险。商业保险能保护您免受潜在的风险
和损失，这些风险包括：
•Nonpayment by clients or business
partners
•Bad investments
•Unforeseen circumstances and acts
of God (fires, wars, hurricanes and
storms, etc.)
·客户或商业伙伴拒绝付款
·不理想的投资
·发生意想不到的情况或者天灾（如火灾、
战争、飓风和暴风雨等）
In
addition,
liability
coverage
insurance allows you to protect yourself
from injury claims by anyone who has an
accident on your property.
此外，如果有人在您所属的房产处意外受伤，
责任险可以保护您免受任何伤害赔偿责任。
Homeowner's insurance will compensate
you for the cost of rebuilding or
replacing your home if it is destroyed or
damaged. This insurance is required if
you have a mortgage. Though there are a
wide variety of home-related insurance
policies,
no
one
policy
covers
everything. This is why you should insure
your home against the dangers most likely
to affect your area and your property
(flood, tornados, high winds, etc.).
屋主房屋保险。屋主房屋保险会赔付您由于房
屋遭受破损而需重建或维修的花费。如果您有房屋
抵押贷款的话，这个保险是强制性的。尽管还有很
多跟房屋有关的保险，但没有一种保险能覆盖所有
损失。因此，您要买保险预防最有可能影响到您所
在地区和您的财产的危险（如洪水、龙卷风、狂风
等）。
☆ When insuring your home, don't forget to
include liability coverage insurance, which will
protect you from damage claims for injuries or
accidents on your property or caused by members
of your household.
☆ 为您的房子买保险时别忘了买份责任险，这样当有人
在您所属的房产处受伤或发生意外时，抑或因您家人的缘故
造成他人受伤或发生意外时，您可免受伤害赔偿责任。
Personal
property
insurance
will
compensate losses if your valuables are
damaged or stolen. This includes things
like antiques, carpets, valuables, works
of art and expensive electronics. To get
a policy, you'll have to make a list of
your valuables and their estimated value.
Some types of property insurance will
cover your losses if something is lost or
stolen while you are traveling.
个人财产保险。个人财产保险是当您的贵重物
品被损毁或丢失时对您进行赔付的险种。这些物品
包括：古董、地毯、贵重品、艺术品和昂贵的电子
产品。要获得个人财产保险的保单，您必须先列一
个单子，上面要写清贵重物品的明细及各自的估
价。有些财产保险还可以承保您在旅行中丢失或被
盗的物品。
Car or auto insurance is mandatory in
the U.S. Every state has its own laws
that strictly regulate what the minimum
insurance
premium
is
and
who
is
financially
responsible
for
a
car
accident. Depending on which policy you
choose, your car insurance will have
several parts, including
汽车保险。在美国，汽车保险是强制性的。每
个州都有各自的法律来严格监管保费的最低额以及
判定该由谁来承担事故中的经济责任。根据您所选
择的保单，您的汽车保险会包括几个部分，其中包
括：
•Coverage of the cost of repairing
your car after an accident, even if it
was your fault (collision)
•Coverage of the cost of any damage
to your car that is not the result of
traffic accident such as broken
windows, theft or fire(comprehensive)
•Coverage of the cost of repairing
property such as a car or building that
your car damaged (property damage
liability)
•Coverage of any injuries or harm
done to other victims in a car accident
(bodily injury liability)
•Coverage of medical costs due to
accidents that occurred as the fault of
a driver with little or no
insurance(uninsured/underinsured
motorists bodily injury)
·承保事故后的汽车维修费，即便事故是因
您造成的。（撞车险）
·承保不因交通事故造成的任何车辆损失，
如玻璃破碎、汽车被盗或者汽车被烧。（综合
险）
·承保因您的车而损坏的车辆或者房屋的维
修费。（财产损失责任险）
·承保车祸中给其他受害人造成的任何损失
和破坏。（人体伤害责任险）
·承保因肇事司机未投保或保险不足而导致
的事故的医药费。（无保险和保险不足驾驶人保
险）
The cost of car insurance varies,
according to
汽车保险费的差异会因以下因素的不同而不
同：
•The driver's age
•The driver's experience
•The number of reported accidents
and traffic violations associated with
the driver
•The model and year of the driver's
car
•the car's value
·司机的年龄
·司机的经验
·司机发生事故的次数和交通违章次数
·汽车的车型和生产年份
·汽车的价值
Keep in mind that there are a number
of other factors that will increase your
insurance premiums, such as
记住：还有很多因素会使您的保险费用增长，
如：
•An expensive car
•A car with a bad safety rating
•The absence of seatbelts, airbags
or other safety features
•A driver below the age of 25
•Smoking
•The amount paid out by the
insurance company for previous claims
•An inexperienced driver
•Coverage for others driving your
vehicle
·高价汽车
·安全指数不高的汽车
·没有安全带、气囊或其他安全性能的汽车
·司机年龄未满25周岁
·吸烟
·保险公司之前赔付过的总金额
·司机缺乏经验
·覆盖当他人驾驶您的车辆时发生的损失
☆ The owner is responsible for any accident
involving his or her own vehicle, even if he or
she was not behind the wheel at that time.
☆ 车主对自己车辆发生的任何事故均负有责任，即使当
时车辆不是由他/她本人驾驶的。
•Where you live. You may have to pay
higher premiums if car accidents occur
frequently in your area.
•A foreign or international driver's
license and no U.S. license
•Optional coverage for the cost of a
rental car if your car is in accident
and requires repairs
·您住在哪里。如果您居住的地方是汽车事
故的多发地带，保险费用会更高。
·持有的是国外驾照或国际驾照，而非美国
驾照。
·是否覆盖当您的车因事故需要维修时的租
车费用。
☆ Before buying a car, talk to an insurance
agent and find out how much it will cost to
insure it. For more tips on buying a car, see
Chapter 30.
☆ 买车前，要先找个保险代理了解一下买汽车保险要花
费多少钱。如果想了解更多购车小窍门，请参见第三十章。
Every state has dozens of insurers.
Some are specialized, while some offer a
wide variety of policies. You can always
find someone willing to give you decent
coverage at a reasonable price.
每个州都有几十家保险公司。有些是特殊险别
的保险公司，而有些则会给您提供各式各样的保
单。您总能找到那种价格合理又适合您的保单。
If you plan to drive in the U.S., you
should talk to your insurance agent
before you leave about the best and
cheapest way to insure yourself while on
America's roads. Some insurance companies
will
issue
additional
policies
or
coverage for foreign trips.
如果您想在美国开车的话，那么请在赴美之前
找您的保险代理谈谈，以期找到最好、最便宜的方
式来为您在美国的开车保驾护航。有些保险公司还
会推行国外旅行附加险或国外旅行险。
Rental companies insure the cars they
rent out and often include insurance in
their rental rates. If you have your own
insurance, it will generally cover a
rental car. In that case, you don't need
to purchase additional insurance from the
rental company. You should check your
policy.
租车公司会给那些租出去的车购买保险，而且
保险通常会包含在租车费用中。如果您已经购买了
车险，一般来说保单也会承保租来的车辆。在这种
情况下，您就不必再向租车公司购买额外的保险
了。所以，租车前请您查看自己的保单。
[1] A.M. Best公司，美国著名的保险评级机构。成立于
1940年，是目前保险公司评级机中最著名的一家。它只对满
足一定财务标准(至少有100万美元资本)的保险公司进行评
级；评级资料来源于财产与责任保险公司和人寿与健康保险
公司的年度报表。评级等级划分：安全等级：A＋ ＋ ，A＋
最好；A，A-极好；B＋ ＋，B＋很好；危险等级：B，B-足
够好；C＋ ＋，C＋一般；C，C-勉强可以；D非常危险；E受
政府干预；F破产清算。
[2]
魏斯评级公司，美国信贷评级机构，主要业务是核
查公司账目等。
Chapter 51 Government health care
and assistance programs
第五十一章 政府医疗与资助项目
In the early 20th century, the U.S.
government
began
creating
special
programs to assist the elderly and
disabled,
as
well
as
low-income
households and families with children.
These programs are designed to keep
certain categories of people out of
poverty and provide a minimal level of
financial security. The Civil Rights Act
of 1964 later guaranteed that residents
of the United States cannot be denied
assistance
based
on
their
race,
nationality,
politics
or
religious
beliefs. The main government assistance
programs are
20世纪初，美国政府开始着手设立特殊项目，
用以资助老年人、残疾人、低收入家庭和有未成年
子女的家庭。这些特殊项目旨在使某些人群脱离贫
困，并为其提供最低经济保障。后来，1964年的
《民权法案》规定：美国公民不能因其种族、国
籍、政治立场和宗教信仰而被剥夺受资助的权利。
主要的政府资助项目有：
•Supplemental Security
Income(SSI),which helps people over 65,
the blind and the disabled
•Welfare, which supports people
without income or with extremely low
incomes
•Food stamps, which help low-income
families purchase groceries
•LIHEAP, the Low-Income Households
Energy Assistance Program, which
subsidizes heating and cooling costs
for families with low incomes
•Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF)
·社会安全生活补助金（SSI），资助对象为
65岁以上的老人、盲人和残疾人
·福利救济，资助无收入或超低收入人群
·食物代用券，供低收入家庭购买生活用品
·低收入家庭能源资助项目（LIHEAP），补
贴低收入家庭的取暖和制冷开支
·贫困家庭临时救助(TANF)
SSI is a monthly payment funded mostly
by the federal budget. Depending on your
state's budget, your state government
will also contribute to the total amount.
To get SSI, you must be
社会安全生活补助金。社会安全生活补助金由
联邦财政出资，并按月支付。各个州的政府根据其
预算也会多多少少为这个项目出点资金。申请该项
资助需满足下列条件之一：
•Over the age of 65, or
•Legally blind, or
•Disabled, or
•Have an illness or injury that has
prevented you from working for at least
a year
·65岁以上
·法律上认定的盲人
·法律上认定的残疾人
·因疾病或受伤导致一年或一年以上无法工
作的人
To qualify for SSI, your assets (bank
accounts;
stocks,
bonds
or
other
securities; cash, etc.) cannot be worth
more
than
$2,000
dollars
for
one
individual or $3,000 for a married
couple. This does not include the value
of
申请社会安全生活补助金，个人财产（包括银
行账户、股票、债券或其他证券、现金等）不得超
过2000美元，夫妻财产不得超过3000美元。其中不
包括以下财产：
•Your home that is your primary
residence
•Your personal belongings, including
clothing and furniture
•Your car
•Your life insurance policies
•Up to $1,500 savings for each
spouse to cover funeral costs
•Wages, if you are disabled but
work, as well as the wages you spend on
devices you need to work
·作为您主要居所的房子
·个人物品，包括衣服和家具
·您的汽车
·人身保险
·为夫妻双方分别存储的1500美元葬礼花费
·残疾人工作所得和购买工作必需品的支出
SSI is technically not available to
non-citizens,
but
there
are
some
exceptions. You need to apply to your
local
Social
Security
Administration
office to request SSI. You can get more
information about this program by calling
1-800-234-5772, or by going to www.
ssa.gov/pubs/11000.html. If you are not a
citizen,
see
www.ssa.gov/notices/suplemental-securityincome/spotlights/spot-non-citizens.htm.
社会安全生活补助金原则上只限于本国居民申
请，但是也有一些例外。申请该项资助您需到当地
的社会保障局办公室。要想了解该项目的更多的信
息，请拨打电话1-800
-234
-5772或登录
www.ssa.gov/pubs/11000.html，非本国居民请
登录网站www.ssa.gov/notices/suplementalsecurity-income/spotlights/spot-noncitizens.htm。
Welfare helps people who are not able
to work for some reason or who can no
longer receive unemployment benefits. To
participate
in
this
program,
which
entitles you to a monthly payment, you
will need to fill out an application and
have an interview with welfare officials.
As someone applying for welfare, you have
the right
福利救济。福利救济用以资助那些因故不能工
作或不能再接受失业救济金的人，它是按月分发
的。申请该项资助需填写一份申请表，然后接受福
利救济官员的面谈。申请福利救济时您有以下权
利：
•To get information about
eligibility requirements and payment
amounts
•To ask for a translator or personal
representative
•To receive notification in writing
of whether you qualify no later than
390 days after your interview
•To appeal a decision you do not
agree with
•To demand that your case be
reconsidered by your state's department
of social services
·有权获知申请条件和救济金金额
·有权申请一名翻译或个人代理
·有权在接受面谈后的390天内收到是否有资
格获得救济金的书面通知
·有权对您不同意的决定进行申诉
·有权要求您所在州的社会服务部重新考虑
判定结果
As a welfare applicant, you are
required
申请福利救济需要：
•To bring the documents that
officials will need to make a decision
as to your eligibility to the welfare
office. (You can get a list of what
you'll need to bring to the interview
at your local social services office.)
•To inform the office of any changes
in your family situation that may
affect the amount of assistance you
receive from a particular program. This
includes getting married, moving,
having children, getting a job or being
admitted to a hospital
•To show that you are actively
looking for other sources of income
•The documents you present will be
checked by calling your bank, asking
the DMV if you have a car, and asking
for information from the IRS
·携带有关证件，以便福利救济官员确定您
是否有资格得到福利救济。（您可以去当地的社
会服务办公室咨询，他们会告诉您面试时需要带
什么。）
·随时通知当局有关您家庭情况的任何变
化，因为这可能会影响到您获得的某一资助项目
的金额。家庭情况变化包括结婚、搬家、生育、
工作或住院治疗等。
·证明您正在积极地寻求其他能获得收入的
渠道
·有关部门会审核您提交的文件，他们会打
电话给您的银行、询问车辆管理处您是否有汽
车，并向国税局询问您的相关信息
☆ Do not hide the fact that you are a
student, as many educational institutions allow
students to receive welfare.
☆ 不要隐瞒您是学生的事实，因为许多教育机构允许学
生接受福利救济。
As a rule, food stamps are also issued
to people who receive SSI and welfare.
Until recently, they were given out in
booklets of little coupons worth $1 to
$20 that could be used at stores. Today,
most states have electronic cards called
EBTs. Money is added to these cards every
month, and they can be used just like a
debit card at most grocery stores.
一般情况下，食物代用券也会同时分发给正在
接受社会安全生活补助金和福利救济的人。以前，
食物代用券是以小册子的形式发放的，册子上面是
价值1至20美元不等的配给券，这些券可以在商店
里使用。现在，大多数的州都有种叫做税前收益
（EBTs，Earnings Before Tax）的电子卡。每个
月都会有钱汇入卡内，持卡人在大多数杂货店都能
将该电子卡当作借记卡来使用。
Food stamp scan only be used to buy
food or seeds and plants to grow food,
and not for tobacco products, alcohol and
non-food items. Food stamps are accepted
at practically every supermarket or
grocery store. You can find out more
about whether you qualify for this
program
and
how
to
enroll
at
www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/
or
at
www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/translations
for
information
in
other
languages
besides English.
食品代用券只能用来购买食品或者生产食品的
种子或幼苗，而不能用于买烟、酒以及其他非食品
商品。食品代用券几乎在每家超市和杂货店都能使
用。要想确认您是否符合申请条件以及如何进行申
请，请登录网站
www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/
非英语国家的人士请登录网站
www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/translations
☆ If you receive food stamps, you will
periodically have to inform the government of
your income to keep getting aid.
☆ 如您正在接受政府发放的食品代用券，您需要定期将
您的个人收入报告给政府，以持续获得资助。
LIHEAP helps pay for the energy costs
associated with heating your home in the
winter and cooling it in hot weather.
This program is aimed at helping the
disabled, the elderly and families with
young children that often receive SSI or
welfare as well.
低收入家庭能源资助项目（LIHEAP）。低收入
家庭能源资助项目用以帮助支付冬季供暖和夏季制
冷的能源花费。此项目旨在帮助残疾人、老人及子
女年幼的家庭，通常这些人也正在接受社会安全生
活补助金和福利救济。
If you're having trouble-paying your
heating bill, contact the utility company
to find out more about heating assistance
programs in your area.
如果您支付供暖费有困难的话，可以联系公用
事业公司，以了解当地更多的供暖援助的项目。
TANF offers temporary assistance to
families in need, if the family includes
a pregnant woman or at least one child
living with her parents, relatives or
guardians. To get more information about
this
program,
go
to
www.acf.dhhs.gov/index.html.
贫困家庭临时援助项目。如果家里有孕妇或者
至少有一个孩子（孩子可以是与父母、亲戚或监护
人在一起生活），贫困家庭临时援助项目会为这样
的家庭提供临时援助。想了解更多信息请登录网站
www.acf.dhhs.gov/index.html。
Services for victims of domestic
violence are available in every state.
You can get more information about
federal assistance and services for
immigrants at Department of Health and
Human
Services
website
at
www.hhs.gov/ocr/immigration/bifsltr.html.
家庭暴力受害者服务中心。每个州都设有家庭
暴力受害者服务中心。登录卫生与公共服务部的网
站
www.hhs.gov/ocr/immigration/bifsltr.html，
以了解更多联邦政府为移民设立的资助和服务项
目。
The
best
known
government-funded
health insurance programs are Medicaid
and Medicare, as we saw back in Chapter
49.
从第四十九章可知，在由政府资助的健康保险
项目中，最为人所知的就是医疗补助和医疗保险。
Medicaid is for low-income households
and pays for visits to the doctor and
hospital. Every state has its own rules
governing
how
this
program
works.
Medicaid
has
certain
eligibility
requirements.
联邦医疗补助计划。联邦医疗补助计划是为低
收入家庭设立的，可以帮他们支付看病住院的花
费。每个州对这个项目都有其各自的规定。申请联
邦医疗补助需要具备某些特定的资格。
Medicare offers health insurance to
people over 65 and some people who are
younger than 65 but have disabilities or
a chronic condition. This program has
several plans, some of which only cover
emergencies and some which cover medical
costs and low-cost prescription drugs for
an additional monthly premium. Medicare
can be supplemented by Medicaid in some
cases.
For
more
information
about
Medicare plans and how to use them, call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or go to
www.medicare.gov.
联邦医疗保险计划。联邦医疗保险计划是为65
岁以上的老人或65岁以下的残疾人或慢性病患者提
供的健康保险。此项目有几个不同的计划，有些计
划只承保紧急医疗救助，而另一些计划则会承保医
疗费，以及购买低价处方药的费用，但后者每月需
要额外的保费。在某些情况下联邦医疗保险能与联
邦医疗补助补充使用。要了解更多关于联邦医疗保
险及如何利用的信息，请拨打1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227)或登录网站
www.medicare.gov。
You can get more information about
both Medicare and Medicaid by going to
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services website at www.cms.hhs.govor by
calling 1-800-772-1213.
要想了解更多有关联邦医疗补助和联邦医疗保
险方面的信息，请到医疗保险和医疗补助中心进行
咨询，或者也可以登录其网站www.cms.hhs.gov，
拨打其电话1-800-772-1213。
SCHIP is provided by the states and
offers health insurance to children,
though some states also have other
programs to insure lower-income children
and expecting mothers. SCHIP covers
儿童医疗保险。儿童医疗保险（State
Children's Health Insurance Program，
SCHIP）是由州政府为儿童提供的健康保险，不过
有些州还有一些其他的项目用以资助低收入家庭的
儿童和孕妇的保险费用。儿童医疗保险主要会赔
付：
•Visits to the doctor
•Prescription drugs
•Hospitalization
·诊疗费
·处方药费
·住院费
To sign up for this program, the child
and his parents need to meet certain
requirements. Find out more about SCHIP
in your state by calling 1-877-543-7669
or by going to www.insurekidsnow.gov and
select the state where you live. You may
also want to contact the family and
social service administration of your
state to find out if there is other help
you can obtain for your child.
要申请此项目，孩子及其父母要满足一些特定
的要求。拨打1-877-543-7669或登录
www.insurekidsnow.gov并选择您所居住的州，就
可以了解更多关于儿童医疗保险方面的信息了。此
外，您也可以联系当地的家庭和社会服务管理局，
咨询是否还有其他可以资助孩子的项目。
☆ It is considered fraud to give false
information
when
applying
for
government
healthcare and assistance programs. To find out
more about which programs you qualify for, go to
www.govbenefits.gov.
☆ 在申请政府医疗保健和援助项目时，若所给信息是虚
假的则会被认为是诈骗行为。要想了解更多符合您条件的资
助项目，请登录www.govbenefits.gov。
Chapter 52 Assistance for the
elderly and the disabled
第五十二章 对老年人与残疾人的资助
There is no clear-cut age when someone
can be called “elderly” in the U.S.
Many Americans reach retirement age
(currently 65) and continue to work
productively and lead an active life. If
they do retire, their retirement savings
or pensions allow them to attend various
clubs, schools, and interesting classes,
to travel or to simply kick back and
relax.Many older Americans like to say
that they've worked hard all their lives,
and now they get to do whatever they
want. As America's population ages, an
entire industry has developed to provide
senior services and entertain older
people
so
that
they
can
remain
independent and play an important role in
society. the most common services for
older people include
在美国，对于多大年龄的人可以被称为“老年
人”并没有明确的规定。很多美国人到了退休年龄
（通常是65岁）以后，仍然会继续高效地工作，积
极地生活。如果真的退休了的话，他们的储蓄金或
退休金也足够他们支付参加各种俱乐部、上学念
书、报班学习感兴趣的课程，或者去旅行，甚至什
么也不干、单纯放松的费用。很多美国老人都会
说，他们辛苦工作了一辈子了，所以现在他们想做
什么就做什么。随着美国人口的老龄化，一个服务
老年人、娱乐老年人的完整产业已经发展起来，这
个产业让老年人可以继续自食其力，并在社会上充
当重要角色。该产业为老年人提供的最基本的服务
包括：
•Organizing tour groups to nearby
and distant destinations
•Organizing senior centers which
often provide free low-cost lunches and
social activities such as bingo and
card games
•Delivering goods, including
groceries, to their homes
•Accompanying older people on trips
to the store, sometimes even driving
them there
•Cleaning their homes
•Preparing meals
•Giving rides to doctor appointments
•Regular house calls by nurses and
regular medical procedures at home
·组织旅游团去近的和远的地方旅行
·组建老年活动中心，中心通常提供免费的
低价午餐，并会组织一些社交活动，例如宾果游
戏[1]和纸牌游戏等
·送货上门服务，包括食品杂货等
·陪老年人去商店，有时甚至会驾车送他们
去
·给老年人打扫房间
·给老年人做饭
·开车送老年人去看医生
·定期的护士上门走访和定期的上门医疗检
查
If for some reason an older person is
not able to care for himself and needs
outside help, he can move into a
residential complex where his neighbors
will also be seniors. the most common
types of these complexes are
如果出于某种原因某位老人不能照顾自己并需
要外界帮助的话，他还可以搬到老年人居住的综合
住宅区里去住。这种综合住宅区最常见的类型是：
•Subsidized senior housing for
people with low incomes
•Retirement communities where
seniors have their own apartments but
have some meals in common dining rooms
•Assisted living complexes that
offer cleaning services and some meals
for seniors who need help keeping
house. These complexes provide some
nursing assistance such as helping
residents with their medications.
•Board and care homes, for those who
need frequent medical procedures and
can't live on their own
·为低收入老年人提供的补贴性住房
·退休社区，那里的老年人有自己的公寓，
但可以在公共食堂里用餐
·陪助型老年公寓，那里会有人为那些需要
帮忙料理家务的老人提供保洁服务和做饭服务，
同时还提供一些护理服务，如帮助老人进行药物
治疗等
·膳宿照顾之家，这里适合那些需要经常进
行医疗检查并且不能独立生活的老人
For older people who need constant
medical supervision, there are nursing
homes that accept Medicaid and Medicare.
They are often located next to assistedliving complexes and can help independent
older people recover from surgery or
illness until they are able to move back
to assisted living.
对于那些需要长期接受医疗监护的老人来说，
还有被纳入联邦医疗补助和医疗保险计划的养老
院。这些养老院通常会挨着陪助型老年公寓，这样
它们就可以帮助那些独自生活的老人从手术或疾病
中康复过来，直至他们能够搬回陪助型老年公寓为
止。
☆ If you are older, you may want to look
into nearby nursing homes ahead of time and
choose the best, in case you need one. It is
very important to choose a nursing home
carefully as it's difficult to move to a
different one later on.
☆ 如果您年事已高，您也许想提早查看一下附近的养老
院并选一家最好的，以备不时之需。仔细选择好养老院非常
重要，因为日后再转到别的养老院很困难。
When choosing a nursing home or an
assisted-living
complex,
you
should
consider
当您在选择养老院或陪助型老年公寓时，您应
该考虑：
•Recommendations from relatives and
acquaintances
•Location
•Whether the home has openings
•The size and amenities in the rooms
•Whether the home has a storage area
where you can keep your personal
belongings
•How clean the home is
•The temperature and humidity in the
building
•Meal plans
•Activities and outings
•Visiting hours and rules
•Rules for using the telephone or
Internet
•The nurse/ patient ratio
•Scheduled visits by doctors or
dentists
•The condition of the other
residents living there. For example,
are those with memory and cognitive
problems such as dementia and
Alzheimer's disease separated from the
others?
•Whether relatives or official
guardians have access to medical
records showing the patient's state of
health
•Recorded violations of local and
state regulations
•Whether patients have access to
social and legal services
·亲戚朋友的推荐
·地理位置
·养老院是否有空位
·房间的大小和便利设施
·养老院是否有储藏室可以让您保存自己的
私人物品
·养老院有多干净
·建筑物内的温度和湿度
·一日三餐的方案
·消遣活动和户外活动
·探望的时间和相关规定
·使用电话或网络的规定
·护士与病人的比例
·医生或牙医的定期探访安排
·生活在那里的其他居民的状况。例如，在
记忆和认知方面存在障碍的痴呆或老年痴呆症患
者是否和其他人分开？
·亲戚或法定监护人是否能够查看显示病人
健康状况的病历
·是否有违反地方和州政府法律法规的行为
记录
·病人是否能得到社会服务和法律服务
☆ For older people who have trouble with
English, try to find a home that has staff who
speak their native language, as this will make
it easier for them to communicate with those
around them. Also consider whether the home
serves or allows patients to eat the ethnic
foods they are accustomed to.
☆ 对于那些英语说得不太好的老人来说，最好找一个有
工作人员会说他们母语的养老院，因为这样的话他们和周围
的人相处就更容易。同时也要考虑养老院是否提供或者允许
他们吃他们喜欢的本民族饭菜。
You
can
find
out
more
about
many
nursing homes-who lives in the home,
whether
they
accept
Medicare
and
Medicaid, what services they offer-by
ordering the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services' free “Guide to
Choosing a Nursing Home”. Call 1-800MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also
find
useful
information
at
www.medicare.gov
under
the
section
“Nursing
Home
Compare.”
Various
websites also rate nursing home care.
通过订阅美国卫生与公共服务部免费发放的
《养老院选择指南》，您能够找到更多有关养老院
的信息---都是什么人住在那儿，他们是否接收享
有联邦医疗保险和医疗补助计划的老人，以及养老
院提供什么样的服务等。您也可以拨打电话1800MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227）, 或者登录网站
www.medicare.gov，在“Nursing
Home
Compare(养老院对比”)中，您也可以找到更多有
用的信息。许多其他网站也对养老院护理进行评
级。
Medicaid basically requires a nursing home
patient to exhaust his or her resources first,
before it pays for care. Starting out with your
own money gives you more options to find a
better home.
在联邦医疗补助计划为养老院的病人付费之前，基本上
需要病人先倾其所有来付款。开始先用自己的钱能为自己争
取更多的选择机会，这样找到好一点的养老院的机会也就多
一些。
As we've already seen, many of the
programs that help the elderly also offer
assistance to the disabled. Just like
America's
active
seniors,
disabled
Americans also strive to participate
fully in society. The Americans with
Disabilities
act
passed
in
1990
guarantees that disabled persons cannot
be discriminated against in hiring,
transportation and access to public
buildings. Much has been done to allow
disabled people to lead full, active
lives, such as
正如我们已经了解的，很多帮助老年人的项目
也同样适用于残疾人。就像美国那些积极乐观的老
年人一样，美国的残疾人也积极地投身于社会之
中。美国于1990年通过的《残疾人法案》保证残疾
人不在找工作、乘坐交通工具和进入公共场所时受
到歧视。此外，社会还做了许多的事确保残疾人过
上丰富多彩、积极向上的生活。例如：
•Electric wheelchairs
•Ramps and elevators for wheelchairs
•Special sections in theaters,
stadiums, libraries and educational
institutions to accommodate wheelchairs
•Special reserved parking spaces and
shopping carts to make shopping easy
•State and public buildings and
public transportation with special
equipment to allow the disabled access
•Hospitals with special wards
•Public restrooms with larger stalls
to accommodate the disabled
·电动轮椅
·方便轮椅行走的坡道和电梯
·在剧院、体育场、图书馆和教育机构设置
残疾人的专区，方便轮椅的使用
·残疾人专用的停车场和购物车，以方便他
们购物
·配有特殊设备以方便残疾人进入的州政府
大楼、公共建筑以及公共交通工具
·设有残疾人特护病房的医院
·设有较大隔间以方便残疾人使用的公共厕
所
The disabled have the same rights,
benefits
and
government
assistance
possibilities as those who are not
disabled. In the U.S., they can live
wherever
they'd
like
because
most
buildings are equipped with an elevator
or ramp to accommodate wheelchairs.
However, disabled people who need help
and can't live on their own can move to
an assisted-living complex or a nursing
home.
残疾人和正常人享有同样的权利、利益以及获
得政府资助的可能性。在美国，他们想住哪儿就能
住在哪儿，因为大多数建筑都配有方便轮椅行动的
电梯或斜道。而那些需要帮助并且不能独立生活的
残疾人则可以搬到陪助型老年公寓或者养老院去居
住。
[1]
宾果游戏是一种风行美国的赌博游戏，它主要依靠
技巧取胜， 其游戏戏规则在各地有所不同。
Chapter 53 Protecting yourself from
domestic violence
第五十三章 家庭暴力与自我防护
Though the U.S. economy is highly
developed and women play an increasingly
important rolein public life, financial
difficulties,
social
ills
and
unemployment can lead to a serious
problem
in
some
families:
domestic
violence. Violence is when a person uses
force against another person to keep
physical control or gain psychological
power. Both men and women commit acts of
violence and abuse. They come from all
different backgrounds. They can be out of
work, or they can be millionaires. They
can belong to any ethnic group or
religion. To gain control and power over
their victims, violent domestic offenders
use
虽然美国经济已经高度发达，而且女性在社会
公众生活中发挥着越来越重要的作用，但是家庭的
经济困难、社会弊病以及失业等问题，还是会导致
一个严重的问题：家庭暴力。暴力是一个人用武力
对抗另一个人，从而在身体上控制对方或者在心理
上获得力量。男人和女人都有可能使用暴力或实施
虐待。他们来自不同的背景，可能是失业人员，也
可能是百万富翁，又可能属于某个民族或宗教的成
员。为了控制受害者并获得力量，家庭暴力犯会使
用：
•Isolation (controlling someone's
movements and contact with others)
•Intimidation (using aggressive
words and actions)
•Dependence(making someone fully
dependent and subservient in decisions
and actions)
•Threats (to take away the children,
refuse to divorce, turn someone in to
the immigration authorities)
•Manipulation (such as by using
children to take advantage of their
partner)
•Sexual abuse (forced sex and
treating the partner as a sex object)
•Economic abuse (refusing to let the
partner work outside the home, taking
away the partner's money and forcing
the partner to beg for pocket money)
•Emotional abuse (consciously
undermining self-esteem, rudeness,
convincing the partner that he or she
is crazy)
·隔离（控制某人的活动并防止其接触他
人）
·威胁（使用攻击性的语言和动作）
·迫使受害人对其形成依赖（使某人在作决
定和采取行动时完全地依赖和屈从于自己）
·恐吓（采取带走孩子、拒绝离婚或向移民
局告发等方式）
·操控（如利用孩子从配偶那儿占便宜）
·性虐待（强迫配偶性交，把其当作性交对
象）
·经济虐待（不肯让配偶在外工作，拿走配
偶的钱，强迫配偶为了零花钱向自己乞讨）
·精神虐待（故意伤害配偶的自尊；态度粗
野无礼；让配偶觉得自己是疯子）
In the U.S., domestic violence is a
crime. Victims are protected by the law,
and there are many shelters and programs
to help them. If you are a victim of
domestic violence:
在美国，家庭暴力是犯法的。受害者不仅受到
法律的保护，而且社会上还有很多收容所和项目会
向受害者提供帮助。如果您是家庭暴力的受害者，
您可以：
•Call 911. If your abuser won't let
you call 911, scream. Your neighbors
will probably call the police.
•Get away from your abuser. Go to a
shelter, which you will find in almost
any city or town in the U.S., where you
can stay temporarily with your
children. The 911 operator will be able
to tell you where the nearest shelter
is. To protect residents, most shelters
do not list their addresses and phone
numbers in the phonebook.
•Keep important documents in a safe
place you can get to easily outside the
home.
•Get help from a therapist or
counselor by calling a domestic
violence hotline, which you can also
find out from 911. The trained
specialists at the hotline will help
you figure out what to do.
·拨打911。若施暴者不让您拨打911，您就
尖叫，您的邻居可能会帮您叫警察。
·远离施暴者。去收容所，美国的大部分城
市或城镇都有收容所，您可以和孩子暂时待在那
里。911电话接线员会告诉您离您最近的收容所
在哪里。为了保护收容所里的人，大多数收容所
的地址和电话号码不会列在电话簿里。
·不要把重要文件放在家里，要放到外面一
个安全的地方，而且确保您要用的时候可以很容
易地拿到。
·拨打家庭暴力热线，或者拨打911，寻求治
疗专家或咨询顾问的帮助。热线里训练有素的专
家会帮助您理清楚接下来该怎么做。
☆ Do not defend yourself by using force
unless your life is in danger. You could be
charged with assault.
☆ 除非有生命危险，否则不要用武力自卫。因为那样会
被指控人身侵犯。
No matter what your immigration status
is, don't be afraid to turn to neighbors,
friends, your religious community or
local officials for help. You can find
out more about your rights and the impact
on your immigration status after you are
recognized as a victim of domestic
violence
by
going
to
www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/battered.htm
or by calling the national hotline at 1800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 for the
hearing impaired.
不管您是何种移民身份，不要害怕向邻居、朋
友、宗教社区或地方官员求助。如果您被认定为是
家庭暴力受害者，您可以浏览
www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/battered.htm
或者拨打全国热线1-800-799-7233或1-800-7873224（供听力有障碍人士使用），了解您的权利，
以及这会对您的移民身份产生的影响。
When you divorce someone who has
abused you, you need to make sure the
court guarantees the safety of you and
your children. You can ask the court
about a restriction order which will
forbid your spouse from coming within a
restricted distance of you or your
children. After the divorce, you should
try to move or at least, install good,
strong locks on all your doors.
当您与施暴者离婚时，必须确保法庭会保证您
和您孩子的安全。您可以向法院要求限制令，以禁
止配偶在被限制的距离内与您和您的孩子接触。离
婚后，您应尽量搬家，或者最起码也要给家里所有
的门都安上牢固的好锁。
☆ Don't let doctors, neighbors, friends or
relatives make up your mind for you. Only you
can decide to stay in a relationship or to leave
it. Your life, safety and peaceful future, as
well as the fate of your children, depend on
your decision, and your decision alone.
☆ 不要让您的医生、邻居、朋友或亲戚为您作决定。只
有您能决定是继续保持婚姻关系还是离婚。您的生活、安全
和安定的未来，还有孩子的命运都将取决于，而且只取决于
您的决定。
Here are some facts and figures about
domestic violence:
下面是关于家庭暴力的事实和数字：
•Physical abuse is the main source
of injuries among women.
•60%of battered women are victims of
rape in their families.
•80%of men who abuse women commit no
other crimes.
•68% of teenagers and children
between the ages of 11 and 20 who
commit murder kill the man who was
abusing their mothers.
•90% of women who have been abused
state that their children witnessed
horrible scenes and situations.
•In 95%of spousal abuse cases, the
victims are women.
·身体虐待是对女性最主要的伤害。
·60％的受虐女性在家里会被强奸。
·80％虐待女性的男性无其他犯罪记录。
·68％11～ 20岁少年儿童杀人犯杀害的是
虐待其母亲的人。
·90％被虐待的女性说他们的孩子目睹过恐
怖的场面。
·在95％的虐待配偶案中受害者都是女性。
Chapter 54 Criminal cases and your
rights if you're arrested
第五十四章 刑事案件与被捕时享有的权
利
Few of us ever get involved in a crime
or wind up in jail, but there are people
out there who do, of course. Even if you
never have any trouble with the law, it's
helpful to know how the criminal justice
system works in the U.S. The U.S. justice
system
divides
crimes
into
various
categories:
我们中很少有谁会涉嫌犯罪或者惹上牢狱之
灾，但毕竟还是有人会。即使您从来没惹过法律上
的麻烦，但了解一下美国司法体系的运作方式还是
有帮助的。美国司法体系把犯罪分为几种不同类
型：
•Felonies punishable by jail time,
including life in prison, as well as
the death penalty
•Misdemeanors punishable by jail
time and/or fines (Many misdemeanors
will lead to probation, which means you
need to watch your step and obey the
law to avoid problems with the
authorities. In some cases, you will
have to report regularly to a probation
officer. You also may face other
restrictions such as staying in your
residence or wearing an ankle
bracelet.)
•Minor offenses punishable by fines
or community service
·可判处监禁（包括终身监禁和死刑）的重
罪
·可判处监禁并/或处罚款的轻罪（许多轻罪
都会得到保释，这意味着您以后要谨慎行事，遵
纪守法，以防惹出其他麻烦。有些情况，被保释
者必须向保释监督官定期报告。您也可能受到其
他限制，比如：待在住所里或者带上脚镣。）
·可判处罚款或者去社区服务的未成年人犯
罪
☆ Tax evasion is a serious crime in the U.S
and can lead to jail time, house arrest and
hefty fines.
☆ 在美国，逃税是很严重的犯罪，有可能被判监禁、软
禁和巨额罚款。
the most common crimes that lead to
the arrest of perpetrators or suspects
are
导致罪犯或犯罪嫌疑人被捕的常见罪行有：
•Murder
•Armed robbery
•Sex crimes
•Domestic disputes
•Drunk driving
•Violations committed by minors
•Carrying or concealing a weapon
•Racketeering
•Insurance fraud
•Credit card or check fraud
•Bank fraud
•Insider trading
•Money laundering
•Drug trafficking or dealing
•Prostitution
•Child pornography
·谋杀
·武装抢劫
·性犯罪
·家庭纠纷
·酒后驾车
·未成年人暴力犯罪
·非法携带或藏匿武器
·诈骗钱财
·保险诈骗
·信用卡或支票诈骗
·银行诈骗
·内幕交易
·洗钱
·贩卖毒品
·卖淫
·儿童色情
☆ Almost all felonies and misdemeanors will
lead to a fairly predictable outcome for
perpetrators: They will be caught, tried and
punished.
☆ 几乎所有重罪和轻罪的后果都是可以预知的：罪犯会
被逮捕、审判和惩罚。
In the U.S., the police do most of the
arresting. Police officers can arrest
在美国，逮捕多数由警方执行。警方可逮捕：
•Someone who has committed a crime
•Suspects as part of a criminal
investigation
·犯下罪行的人
·刑事案件调查中的嫌疑人
Officers also have the right to use
handcuffs during an arrest, search the
person and his belongings, and to take
the person to the police station.
同时，警察有权在逮捕时使用手铐，对人身及
物品进行搜查，并将人带回警察局。
☆ Never resist a police officer. Always be
compliant if you are being arrested to avoid
additional problems or criminal charges against
you.
☆ 绝对不要反抗警察。万一您被逮捕了，一定要顺从，
以避免引起其他对您不利的问题或刑事起诉。
According to the U.S. Constitution, as
we saw in Chapter 2, you have the
following rights if you are put under
arrest, regardless of your immigration
status:
正如第二章所说的：根据美国宪法，无论你是
何种移民身份，被逮捕时均享有如下权利：
•The right to hear the accusations
against you
•The right to remain silent, if you
don't want what you say to be used
against you in court
•The right to an attorney
·有权参加指控自己的庭审
·有权保持沉默，如果您不想自己所说的话
变成对自己不利的呈堂证供
·有权取得辩护律师的协助
☆ Show your ID if you are arrested to
prevent any potential mix-ups. The police may
have mistaken you for someone else.
☆ 如果您被逮捕，请务必出示您的身份证，避免任何可
能的混淆。警察有可能会把您错当成别人。
If you are charged with a crime,
contact your lawyer immediately to avoid
later complications. If you don't have a
criminal lawyer, you, your relatives or
your friends will have to choose from the
wide variety of legal services on the
market-and do it fast. Good defense
lawyers specialize in criminal law, have
experience as a criminal defense attorney
and have tried and won a high number and
percentage of cases.
如果您被指控犯罪，请立即联系您的律师，以
避免日后节外生枝。如果您没有自己的刑事辩护律
师，您和您的亲戚朋友须尽快在市面上的各种法律
服务人员中帮您挑一个律师。一个好的辩护律师往
往是专攻刑法的，在刑事辩护方面身经百战，而且
胜诉率高。
☆ If you don't have money to pay an
attorney, you will be assigned a public defense
attorney by the court.
☆
如果您没钱请律师，法院会为您配一个公共辩护律
师。
☆ You also have the right to a translator,
in both civil and criminal cases.
☆ 您也有权要求取得翻译人员的协助，无论是民事案件
还是刑事案件都可以。
Many people who are suspected of
committing a crime are not kept in jail
during
the
investigation
and
court
proceedings. Depending on the seriousness
of the crime, the suspect may be released
from police custody. In this case, the
suspect is required to appear at each
court hearing. Suspects may simply give
their word, or they might have to post
(provide) bail, which we'll learn about
in the next chapter.
许多刑事案件的犯罪嫌疑人在接受调查和庭审
期间不会被监禁。根据罪行的严重程度，嫌疑人可
能会从拘留所里被释放。在这种情况下，嫌疑人必
须出席每场庭审。要从拘留所出去，有时嫌疑人只
需提出申请，但有时则必须要交纳保释金，这些我
们将在下一章中谈及。
Chapter 55 Getting out on bail
第五十五章 取保候审
U.S.
law
does
not
allow
every
defendant to be released from police
custody before a trial. For some crimes,
suspects are not released until the final
verdict. For example, if you are charged
with a capital crime (for which you could
be sentenced to death), your lawyer won't
even try to get you out of jail before
the trial.
美国的法律并不允许每一个嫌疑犯都能在审判
前被解除监管。就一些犯罪行为而言，嫌疑犯只有
在等到最终裁决之后才可以被释放。例如，如果您
以极刑罪（那些可以被判处死刑的罪名）被起诉，
您的律师在审判前甚至根本不会尝试将您保释出
狱。
In most cases, however, the court
allows suspects to return home between
hearings. the main ways to get released
are
不过在多数情况下，法庭还是会准许嫌疑犯在
庭审间歇期间回家的。争取保释的方式有：
•On good faith
•On bail, an amount of money kept as
a deposit by the court
·基于诚信
·基于保释金，即给法庭交纳一定数额的押
金
Many crimes do not require the suspect
to post bail to be released. Special
programs, called OR or own recognizance,
allow people accused of minor crimes to
await trial at home. After speaking with
the suspect, an officer recommends that
the suspect be released. The suspect
signs a document and is required to
appear at court hearings. If he doesn't
appear, he will be charged with an
additional misdemeanor.
许多罪行并不需要嫌疑人通过交纳保释金获得
释放。有种特殊的程序，叫做自保，允许因情节较
轻的犯罪案件被控告的嫌疑犯在家候审。在审问之
后，警官可以建议释放嫌疑犯，然后嫌疑犯需要签
署一份保证出席庭审的文件。如果嫌疑犯没有出席
庭审，他将被追究额外的罪名。
If the courts do not allow a suspect
to be released in this way, he will have
to post(pay for) the bail set by the
court. The amount of bail required
depends on several factors:
如果法庭不允许嫌疑犯这样被释放的话，那么
嫌疑犯就需要向法庭交付保释金。保释金的数额取
决于以下几个因素：
•The seriousness of the crime
•Your criminal record
•Your work history
•Your social status
•Your lawyer
·犯罪行为的严重性
·您的犯罪记录
·您的工作履历
·您的社会地位
·您的律师
☆ Having a lawyer serves as an indication to
the court that you will appear at hearings.
☆ 聘请律师就是向法庭表明您会出席庭审。
If you have to post bail, the fastest
and cheapest way is to pay cash. If you
show up in court, the court will return
your money after the verdict. If you
don't show up, the court keeps the bail.
如果您需要交纳保释金，那么最快最省钱的方
式是付现金。如果您出席了庭审，法庭在作出裁决
之后会退还您的保释金。如果您没有出席，那么您
的保释金法庭将不予退还。
If you don't have enough money for
cash bail, the court may accept your
property such as a house deed, a car
title, or jewelry instead in what's
called a property bond.
如果您没有足够的现金用以支付保释金，法庭
可以接受您用房产证、汽车所有权或者珠宝等代
替，这就是所谓的财产保释。
Unfortunately, many defendants who
would like to get out of prison on bail
don't have the financial resources to do
so. They have to turn to bail agents or
bail bondsmen for help. As a rule, you
will be able to find the addresses of
bail bondsmen at the courthouse or in a
phonebook. Anyone can apply for a bail
bond: you, your friends or relatives who
will act as your cosigners. Bail bondsmen
will ask cosigners
不幸的是，许多被告希望可以保释出狱，但苦
于没有资金来源。他们不得不向保释代理或保释担
保人求助。通常，您能够在法院或电话簿上找到保
释担保人的联系方式。任何人都可以为您申请保释
担保书：您自己，或者您的亲戚朋友。如果您的亲
戚朋友帮您申请保释担保书的话，他们会作为您的
联署人。保释担保人会询问您的联署人：
•Whether they have a steady job
•Whether they live near the suspect
·他们是否有稳定的工作
·他们是否与嫌疑犯住得很近
Bail agents usually require some form
of collateral to issue a bond, such as
property or securities. If a cosigner
signs an agreement with a bondsman, he or
she
will
bear
full
financial
responsibility
for
your
actions,
especially if you run from the law. This
surety
bond,
backed
by
a
national
insurance company, acts instead of bail
and allows you to be released.
保释代理通常要求有某种形式的抵押才会开具
担保书，例如房产证或证券。如果您的联署人与担
保人签署了合约，他/她将对您的行为承担全部经
济责任，特别是在您逃避法律责任的时候。这种担
保书，留有国家保险公司的背书，可以替代保释金
使用，允许您被释放。
If you do not appear in court, the
court will receive the bail money and the
bail agent will do everything in his or
her power to get you back in jail. Most
of the agents work very skillfully and
have effective ways to get you to court.
Therefore, they will demand at least
10%of the total bail for such services,
and after the verdict is read, you will
only get back about 90%of the bail money.
如果您不如期出庭，那么法院将没收您的保释
金，而保释代理则会尽其所能把您送回监狱。大多
数保释代理的技巧非常娴熟，他们能用很多有效的
方法把您带到法庭。所以，对于他们的保释代理服
务，他们至少要收取保释金总额的10%，这意味着
在裁定结果宣读之后，您只能收回大约90%的保释
金。
In many states, companies that supply
bail bonds hire bounty hunters (sometimes
called bail enforcement agents or bail
runners) who have the legal right to
在很多州，提供保释担保书的公司会重金雇用
逃犯捕手，这些人有如下合法权利：
•Enter a private residence without a
warrant
•Work in the U.S. and abroad
•Abduct a suspect
·不需要搜查令，便可以进入民宅
·可以在美国和海外工作
·可以诱捕嫌疑犯
☆ Bounty hunters are good at tracking people
down who have missed their court dates. Most
suspects who jump bail wind up back in jail.
☆ 重金雇用的逃犯捕手非常善于跟踪追捕，被保释后不
如期出庭的嫌疑犯最后都将被送回监狱。
For their work, bounty hunters get a
certain percentage of the bail amount,
which is deducted from the money that is
returned to the suspect.
根据他们的工作情况，重金雇用的逃犯捕手将
从返还给嫌疑犯的保释金中得到一定数额的奖金。
All told, the fleeing suspect and his
cosigner have to pay
总的来说，出逃的嫌疑犯和他的联署人将不得
不支付：
•The bail amount
•The cost of the bail agent's
services
•The cost of the bounty hunter
·保释金
·保释代理的服务费
·重金雇用的逃犯捕手的费用
You can find out more about bail
bonds, as well as find agents and
attorneys, at www.bailbondservices.com.
登录www.bailbondservices.com，您可以找
到更多有关保释担保书、保释代理和律师方面的信
息。
☆ You may not need the services of a bail
agent to be released on bail. Before you talk to
a bail agent, talk to a criminal defense
attorney first.
☆ 有时，您不一定需要请保释代理帮忙才能获得保释出
狱。在您与保释代理交涉之前，请先与您的刑事辩护律师聊
聊。
No matter what else you do, if you
ever have to pay bail or even are
released on your own recognizance (OR)
don't flee.
不管您还做了什么，如果您交了保释金或者您
以自保（OR）的形式获释，那千万别出逃。
Chapter 56 Court decisions and
appeals
第五十六章 法庭裁决与上诉
The U.S. court system is very complex,
or so many people think. But it has one
simple and very important quality whether
you're looking at a rural county court or
a federal district court: the court
system is independent from other branches
of government. In other words, you won't
land in jail because the authorities want
you there. In most trials, the final word
is the jury's, which is made up of U.S.
citizens who weigh the evidence and reach
a unanimous decision about whether the
defendant is guilty.
美国的法院体系非常复杂，至少很多人这样认
为。但不论是乡村法庭还是联邦地方法院，都有一
个简单而重要的特征：法院体系独立于其他政府部
门。也就是说，您不会因为政府当局想让您坐牢您
就得坐牢。在大多数的审判中，由美国公民组成的
陪审团拥有最终判决权。陪审团会权衡证据，并最
终作出关于被告是否有罪的判决。
At a trial, which can sometimes take
months, the prosecutors must convince the
court of the defendant's guilt. The
defendant does not have to prove his
innocence and is considered innocent
until proven guilty.
在有时会耗时数月的审判中，起诉人必须说服
法庭被告是有罪的。被告无须证明自己的清白，在
被证明有罪之前他都被视作是清白的。
According to the law, every defendant
in a criminal or civil case has the
following rights:
根据法律，刑事或民事案件中的任何一个被告
都有如下的权利：
•The defendant's case will only go
to trial once it has been proven to
have merit.
•The defendant can have an attorney.
(If the defendant can't afford an
attorney, he will be assigned a free
attorney by the court.)
•The case must be examined promptly
as required by current law.
•The defendant has the right to
additional time to prepare a defense,
to have access to all the evidence and
proof of his guilt, and to question
witnesses before the start of the
trial. Defendants usually receive a
packet of reports, written statements,
photographs and other information
relevant to their case through their
lawyers.
•In some cases, the defendant has a
right to an out-of-court settlement.
Defendants may be able, in the
course of negotiations with the police,
to reduce their sentence if they plead
guilty as charged.
•The defendant has the right to
plead guilty or not guilty.
•Witnesses must be present at the
trial and the defendant can question
them through his attorney. In the U.S.,
written testimony can't be used in
court.Witnesses and victims must appear
at the trial and given oral testimony
for or against the accused.
•The attorney may be present during
the entire trial.
•A translator may be present during
the trial and the reading of the
verdict.
•The defendant has the right not to
testify against himself.
•The defendant must be mentally
competent to stand trial, or in other
words be psychologically capable of
understanding what he has been accused
of.
•In many cases, the defendant has
the right to a trial by jury.
·需要先证明被告的案件具有法律依据，才
能诉诸审判。
·被告有获得律师的权利。（如果被告请不
起律师，法院将为其指派一名免费的律师。）
·依照当前法律，案件必须迅速审判。
·被告有权申请更多时间组织辩护，有权知
道针对他罪行的所有证据和证明，并且还有权在
审判开始前质问目击者。被告通常会从他们的律
师那里收到一个文件包，里面包含报告、书面陈
述、照片以及其他与案件有关的信息。
·在一些案件中，被告有权请求庭外和解。
在同警方协商的过程中，如果被告主动认罪，他
们也许可以获得减刑。
·被告有权承认有罪或申辩无罪。
·目击证人必须出庭，被告可以通过律师对
其提问。在美国，书面证词不能用于法庭。目击
证人和受害者必须出庭作证，并当场在口头上
对/为被告人进行指控或申辩。
·律师可以在整个庭审过程中都在场。
·翻译人员可以在审判和宣判时在场。
·被告有权不提供对自己不利的证词。
·被告受审时精神必须正常，也就是说，被
告要清楚自己被指控了什么。
·在很多案件中，被告有权申请由陪审团审
判。
Jury members are only supposed to pay
attention to the evidence and arguments they
hear at the trial. They shouldn't have any prior
knowledge of the case from the media or be
familiar with public opinion about the case. For
most trials, it's not hard to find people to
serve on the jury. However, when celebrities or
public figures go on trial, the court has to
find people who not only know nothing about the
case, but also don't have their own personal
opinion about the famous defendant. This can
prove extremely difficult. Personal experience
can also disqualify someone from a jury. For
example, someone whose car has been stolen in
the past might not be objective when hearing the
defense of a suspected car thief.
陪审团成员只要关注他们在庭审时听到的证据和辩论即
可。他们不应预先通过媒体对此案件有任何了解，也不能熟
悉公众对此案的态度。在许多审判中，找人担任陪审团成员
并不难。然而，当名人或公众人物涉及审判时，法庭必须找
到那些对此案一无所知而且对该名人被告没有个人看法的
人。这可能会非常难。有过相似经历的个人也没有资格参加
陪审团。例如，过去有过汽车被盗经历的人，当听到有人为
偷车嫌疑人辩护时就可能会变得不够客观。
Once a trial has begun, jurors are prohibited
from discussing the case with anyone, reading or
watching the news and so on. For certain cases,
they may even be sequestered.
案件一旦开始，陪审团就会被禁止和任何人讨论此案或
者阅读，观看相关的新闻等。在某些案件中，他们甚至会被
隔离起来。
☆ In most U.S. criminal cases, the verdict
is reached by the unanimous decision of a jury.
☆ 在美国的大多数犯罪审判中，陪审团成员之间无异议
时才能作出裁决。
•The defendant may not be subjected
to cruel and unusual punishment or
excessive fines.
•The defendant can't be tried twice
for the same crime.
·被告不会被判处残忍和非常的刑罚或被过
度罚款。
·被告不能因为同一罪行被审判两次。
In criminal cases, the suspect's guilt
must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
In civil trials, the burden of proof lies
with the plaintiff, who has to prove that
the defendant is guilty or liable for
damages.
在刑事案件中，嫌疑人的罪行必须得到毫无疑
问的证明。在民事审判中，起诉人负有举证责任，
他/她需要证明被告有罪或对损害负有法律责任。
Before pronouncing a verdict and
reporting all issues connected with the
verdict, the defendant has the right to
read this report and comment on it. After
this, the court reads the verdict, which
should include the sentence and how the
criminal will be punished for the crime.
A sentence can include fines, jail time
or probation. Not abiding by this ruling
is also a crime.
在宣判和通报与此判决有关的所有事项之前，
被告有权阅读这份报告并加以评论。在这之后，法
庭才能宣判，判决包括判刑以及罪犯将得到什么样
的惩罚。判刑包括罚款、监禁或缓刑。不遵守裁决
也是一种犯罪。
All defendants have the right to
appeal verdicts. To do so, they need to
所有被告均有权对裁决提出上诉。如果想上
诉，他们需要：
•Petition for an appeal
•Pay a fee for an appeal
·提出上诉
·付上诉费
☆ If you can prove that you don't have the
money to pay this fee, you will be allowed to
file an appeal free.
☆ 如果您能证明自己没钱付上诉费，法院将允许您免费
上诉。
The appeal procedure is an essential
part of American justice. Appellate
courts at all levels-the court where the
case was first heard or courts at the
municipal, state or federal level-will
examine all appeals that come before
them.
The
judge
will
consider
all
documents related to the case from its
very start. This is why the accused will
not be forced to go through all the
proceedings a second time. The decisions
of a lower court can be appealed to a
higher court, and sometimes cases go all
the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the
highest court in the U.S. In contrast to
other appellate courts, the Supreme Court
hears only the cases it deems important.
Immigration cases rarely make it to the
Supreme Court level. For instance, if an
immigrant loses his appeal at the next
level, there is little chance that the
case will be heard by the Supreme Court.
Thus, in most immigration cases, the last
court decision will be the final ruling.
If an immigrant wins, the government is
more likely to have its appeal considered
by the Supreme Court.The verdict can be
overturned if errors were made during the
trial or if a person's rights were not
upheld. In this case, the prosecution has
no right to appeal the appellate court's
ruling. In addition, the prosecution
cannot appeal if the defendant in a
criminal case was ruled innocent in the
initial trial, because the defendant
can't be tried again for the same crime.
The rulings in civil cases can also be
appealed by the losing party.
上诉程序是美国司法的一个重要组成部分。各
个级别的上诉法院---首次审理这个案件的法院，
或者市法院、州法院、联邦法院---将会审查所有
提交给他们的上诉。法官从一开始就会考虑所有与
此案件有关的文件，所以被告不会被迫再走一遍所
有的程序。下一级法院的裁决可以被上诉到更高级
的法院，有时案件会一直上诉到美国最高法院。与
其他上诉法院不同的是，最高法院仅仅审理它认为
重要的案件。所以，移民案件很少能呈递到最高法
院。例如，如果某移民在最高法院的下一级别法院
败诉，那么该案件几乎没有可能被送交到最高法院
审理。因此，在多数移民案件中，法庭的最后裁决
就是最终判决。如果移民胜诉，那么政府就更有可
能让最高法院受理这个上诉。如果审判中出现误判
或者某人的权利没有得到维护的话，那么原有判决
可以被推翻。在这种情况下，控诉方无权就上诉法
院的审判结果进行上诉。另外，如果刑事案件的被
告在初审中被判无罪，那么控诉方也不能再上诉，
因为被告不能因同一罪行接受两次审判。民事审判
的裁决也可以由败诉方继续上诉。
Chapter 57 When permanent residents
break the law
第五十七章 当永久居民违法时
In general, Americans are law abiding
and expect everyone else to do the same,
especially if they have come to the U.S.
looking for a new life. Every foreign
national who has permission to live
permanently in the U.S. must abide by the
country's laws and justify the trust of
the American government. Though few
immigrants come to the U.S. to commit
crimes, it's important to know how
certain acts will affect your immigration
status. Unfortunately, many Green Card
holders have no idea how serious the
consequences of committing a crime in the
U.S. can be. You could
总的来说，美国人遵纪守法，并且希望其他人
也能如此，尤其是对那些来美国寻求新生活的人
们。每一个被允许在美国永久居住的外国侨民都必
须遵守美国的法律，并证明美国政府对他们的信任
是对的。虽然很少有移民来美国是为了犯罪的，但
是了解一下某些行为会对您的移民身份有怎样的影
响也很重要。令人遗憾的是，很多绿卡持有者都不
清楚在美国犯罪会造成多么严重的后果。比如您可
能：
•Be sent out of the country
•Be denied entry to the States if
you are currently outside the country
•Lose the right to apply for
citizenship
·被驱逐出境
·如果您当前正在国外，海关就会拒绝您入
境
·失去申请公民身份的权利
The list of crimes that can lead to
deportation are constantly being revised
and expanded by U.S. lawmakers and
immigration officials.
美国的立法者和移民官员在不断地修订和扩充
会导致驱逐出境的犯罪行为列表。
Criminal Offenses include five types
of crimes, which will make an alien
deportable:
刑事犯罪。能够使一个外国人被驱逐出境的刑
事犯罪主要包括以下五种类型：
•General crimes, including
conviction of a crime involving moral
turpitude, conviction of an aggravated
felony or conviction of a crime
relating to high speed flight from an
immigration checkpoint.
•Controlled substances(violating or
conspiring or attempting to violate any
law or regulation of a state, the
United States or a foreign country
relating to a controlled substance,
other than a single offense involving
possession for one's own use of thirty
grams or less of marijuana. An alien
also is deportable under this category
if he is a drug abuser or addict.)
•Certain firearm offenses, including
conviction of purchasing, selling,
offering for sale, exchanging, using,
owning, possessing, or carrying a
firearm or destructive device, or
attempting or conspiring to do so.
•Miscellaneous crimes, including
sabotage, espionage, treason and
sedition, violating the Military
Selective Service Act or the Trading
With the Enemy Act.
•A crime of domestic violence,
stalking, violating a protection order,
or crimes against children.
·一般罪行，包括道德败坏类犯罪、加重罪
或者与在移民检查站快速逃避检查有关的犯罪。
·触犯有关违禁物品法规的罪行（除了涉嫌
以自用为目的而持有30克或30克以下大麻的单一
罪行外，还触犯、密谋触犯或企图触犯任何州、
美国或者外国有关违禁品的任何法律法规。如果
在此范畴内的外国人吸毒或吸毒成瘾也可以被驱
逐出境。）
·某些枪支犯罪，包括被证明犯有购买、销
售、代销、交换、使用、拥有、占有或者携带枪
支或破坏性装置，或者企图、策划上述犯罪行
为。
·杂项罪行，包括阴谋破坏罪、间谍罪、叛
国罪和叛乱罪，以及触犯《联邦义务兵役法》或
者《与敌人交易法》的罪行。
·罪行如：家庭暴力罪、跟踪罪、违反保护
令罪或者危害儿童罪等。
☆ If you need more information about which
crimes can lead to deportation from the U.S. or
about changes to deportation law, it's a good
idea to talk to a deportation lawyer.
☆ 如想了解更多有关哪些罪行会导致被驱逐出境或者有
关驱逐出境法新变化的信息，建议您与这方面的律师好好聊
一聊。
Now, let's talk a bit about aggravated
felonies. Under the Immigration and
Naturalization Act, any noncitizen “who
is convicted of an aggravated felony at
any time after admission is deportable.”
Now over 50 classes of crimes are
considered aggravated felonies, including
下面让我们来谈一谈加重罪。《移民和国籍
法》规定，任何非公民“被宣判犯有加重罪的人在
招供后即可被递解出境”。现在，有超过50类的罪
行被认为是加重罪，包括：
•murder, rape, or sexual abuse of a
minor
•any drug trafficking crime
·谋杀、强奸或者性虐待未成年人
·任何毒品交易罪
Pole was only three years old when his parent
brought him to the U.S. He grew up in Belton,
Missouri. At the age 23, right after college
graduation, he was caught by police for
trafficking drugs. Unfortunately, his attorney
could not help him avoid deportation. Within two
years, Pole was deported to Albania, a country
he didn't remember.
波尔再被父母带到美国时只有三岁。他在密苏里州的贝
尔顿长大。23岁那年，他刚刚大学毕业就因贩毒而被警察逮
捕。不幸的是，他的律师没能帮他免除递解出境。不到两
年，波尔被遣送到原国--阿尔巴尼亚--一个他根本不记得的
国家。
•any offense related to money
laundering
•a theft or burglary offense
•an offense relating to the demand
for or receipt of ransom
•an offense relating to child
pornography
•an offense relating to racketeer
influenced corrupt organizations (RICO)
•an offense that relates to owning,
controlling, managing, or supervising a
prostitution business
•an offense relating to gathering or
transmitting national defense
information
•an offense that involves fraud or
deceit
•an offense relating to a failure to
appear before a court pursuant to a
court order to answer to or dispose of
a charge of a felony
·任何与洗钱有关的犯罪
·偷窃或入室盗窃罪
·与索要或接受赎金有关的犯罪
·与儿童色情有关的犯罪
·与触犯“反勒索及受贿组织法”（RICO）
有关的犯罪
·与拥有、控制、经营或指导卖淫交易有关
的犯罪
·与收集或传递国防信息有关的犯罪
·涉及诈骗和欺骗的犯罪
·未按照法院指令出庭答辩或处置重罪指控
的犯罪
Other acts can also have significant
impact on your immigration status:
其他行为也会对您的移民身份产生重要影响：
•Domestic violence
•Drug or alcohol addiction
•Bigamy (marrying more than one
spouse)
•Contempt of court (refusing to
follow court orders)
•Tax evasion
•Refusing to enroll in Selective
Service(for men ages 18-26)
•Welfare or insurance fraud
•Immigration fraud
•Falsely stating that you are a U.S.
citizen
•Voting in elections that are open
only to U.S. citizens
·家庭暴力
·吸毒或酗酒成瘾
·重婚罪（与一个以上的配偶结婚）
·藐视法庭（拒绝遵从法院指令）
·逃税
·拒绝服义务兵役（针对18~26岁的男子）
·福利或保险诈骗
·以欺骗手段移民
·假冒美国公民
·在仅面向美国公民开放的选举中投票
☆ Though state laws sometimes differ from
federal laws, you should be fully aware that
deportation can and does happen to immigrants
who break the law. However, you may be able
prevent certain serious consequences of a crime
if you get help from an immigration lawyer.
☆ 尽管有时州的法律不同于联邦法律，但您应该充分意
识到，违反法律的移民可能而且的确会被递解出境。不过，
如果求助于移民律师，您也许可以防止某些罪行产生如此严
重的后果。
Chapter 58 Taking trips
第五十八章 旅行
Travel is the favorite pastime of many
Americans. After working almost the
entire week, Americans are likely to hit
the road on their days off, even if it
means
several
days
of
driving
or
traveling.
旅行是许多美国人最喜欢的休闲方式。工作了
几乎整整一个星期以后，美国人很喜欢在放假期间
上路旅行，即使这意味着可能要连续驾车或游走数
日。
Americans especially love to travel
inside the U.S., because every state and
city or town has its own special sights
worth seeing. Americans are drawn to the
great mountain ranges and national parks,
waterfalls and deserts, and historical
and architectural sites that dot the
United States. You're likely to be amazed
by America's varied scenery and history,
too.
美国人尤其喜欢在国内旅游，因为美国的每个
州或城镇都有值得欣赏的独特风景。美国人被遍布
全国的崇山峻岭、国家公园、瀑布、沙漠以及历史
古迹和建筑遗址所吸引。如果您去旅行的话，也会
惊诧于美国各式的景观及其丰富的历史。
There
are
many
ways
to
travel,
depending on your preferences:
根据您的个人喜好，可以有多种旅游方式：
•Alone or in a group
•Using your own money or on credit
•Traveling by boat, plane, train or
bus
•Driving your own car or a rental
car
•Staying in a hotel or camping
•Using your frequent flyer miles or
other bonus programs
•Taking advantage of special offers
from hotels or airlines
·独自旅行或参团旅行
·用自己的钱旅行或赊账旅行
·乘船、坐飞机、坐火车或乘公共汽车旅行
·开私家车或租车去旅行
·住宾馆或露营
·利用常飞客计划积攒的里程数或其他的飞
行奖励方案
·充分利用好特价宾馆和特价机票
Before hitting the road, you should
plan your trip ahead of time and make
sure that
出行前您应该提前计划好行程，并确保：
•The tour you want won't be booked
•There will be seats on the flights
you want
•You can reserve a room at the hotel
you'd like
•You can learn about the sights at
your destination in advance
•You can order tickets for a show or
game you'd like to see
•You can ask for time off work
•You can get the best prices on
transportation, hotels, services and
entertainment
•You can get a loan or credit in
time to take your trip
•You'll have a great time
·您期望的旅行不会被预订满员
·您计划乘坐的航班会有空座位
·您可以在您想入住的宾馆预订房间
·您可以事先了解目的地的景点
·您可以预订您想观看的表演或者比赛的门
票
·您可以从单位请假
·您可以得到交通、住宿、服务以及娱乐的
最优价格
·您能及时地贷到款或申请到一定的信用额
度去旅游
·您会玩得很开心
Often Americans travel as a family or
with groups of friends to make the trip
more fun by spending time together. While
traveling, you'll also get a chance to
meet all different kinds of people and
make new friends. To keep on good terms
with the other folks on the tour or at
the campground, it's a good idea to
通常，美国人喜欢和家人或者朋友结伴去旅
游，这样他们可以一起欢度时光，让旅途更加愉
快。旅游时，您也会有机会结识各种各样的人，并
且结交新朋友。为了在旅途中或在宿营地与别人保
持良好的关系，您最好：
•Briefly introduce yourself and your
family
•Try to remember the names of your
new acquaintances
•Avoid personal questions
•Try to have fun and enjoy each
other's humor
•Avoid taking suggestions or
proposals seriously, unless they have
to do with entertainment
•Stick to more general topics of
conversation, such as your impressions
of your last trip, local cuisine or the
latest big game
·简要地介绍一下您自己及您的家人
·尽可能地记住新朋友的名字
·避免问私人问题
·尽量玩得开心些并欣赏彼此的幽默
·对待别人的建议或意见不要太过认真，除
非他们建议的与玩儿有关
·围绕普通的话题展开交流，比如您上次旅
游的感想、家乡菜肴或者最近的重大比赛
☆ Not everyone has a desire to talk about
serious subjects like business or politics.
☆ 并不是每个人都喜欢谈论诸如商业或者政治之类的严
肃话题。
If you exchange addresses and phone
numbers with your newfound friends,
there's no need to rush to get back in
touch. Remember that after a great
vacation,
everyone
returns
to
the
everyday grind and may not have a lot of
time to chat. However, once Christmas
comes around, you'll have the perfect
chance to send a card and reminisce about
your wonderful time together.
如果您和新认识的朋友交换了地址和电话，没
有必要旅行结束后就急着和他们联系。要知道，在
度过了一个美好的假期之后，每个人都回到了日常
琐事之中，可能没有多少时间闲聊。然而，一旦圣
诞将至，您便有了一个很好的机会可以给他们寄张
贺卡，追忆一下你们共同度过的美好时光。
Chapter 59 Getting permission to
leave the country temporarily
第五十九章 如何获准短期出境
The majority of people who legally
live in the United States have the right
to leave the country for a period of
time. American citizens with American
passport can leave the country without
any time limitation. For all other
people, there are special rules.
大多数合法居住在美国的居民都有权短期出
境。有美国护照的美国公民可以没有任何出境时间
限制。而对于其他人，则有专门的规定。
If you area foreign visitor with a
multi-entry U.S. visa that legally allows
you to stay in the U.S., then you can
leave the country and come back only
within the expiration period of that
visa. However, if you have a passport
with a multi-entry U.S. visa and plan to
travel
abroad
while
trying
to
get
permanent U.S. residency (say, before
your USCIS interview or the final stage
of getting a Green Card), you do not have
the right to use this visa to reenter the
U.S.
如果您是一个持有多次往返美国签证的外国游
客，那么您就可以在签证期满之前无限次地出入美
国。然而，当您持有一张多次往返美国的签证且正
设法取得美国永久居留权的时候（也就是说，在您
接受美国移民局面谈之前或是取得绿卡的最后阶
段），您却打算去国外旅行，那么您就没有权利用
这个签证再次入境美国了。
If you are a permanent resident, to
leave the country temporarily you need
如果您是永久居民，那么要短期出境的话需要
提供下列证件中的其中一项：
•A Green Card, or
•A foreign passport with a Green
Card stamp, or
•A U.S. Travel Document (You can
contact the USCIS and receive a Travel
Document valid for two years.)
·绿卡
·有绿卡印章的外国护照
·美国旅行证（您可以联系美国移民局申请
一张有效期为两年的旅行证。）
If you plan to apply for U.S.
citizenship in the next 5 years and you
need to be outside the U.S. for more than
12months, you need to submit Form N-470
(Application to Preserve Residence for
Naturalization Purposes) to the USCIS.
You can get more information from the
USCIS by calling 1-800-870-3676 or at
www.uscis.gov/emergencytravel.
如果您想要在接下来的五年内申请美国公民身
份，但又需要在美国境外居留12个月以上的时间，
您需要向美国移民局提交N-470表格（保留归化之
居留权的申请表）。要从美国移民局得到更多信
息，请拨打电话1-800-870-3676或登录网站
www.uscis.gov/emergencytravel。
If you are a refugee or an asylee, you
can leave the country temporarily if you
have a U.S. Travel Document. (You can
contact the USCIS and receive a Travel
Document valid for one year.)
如果您是难民或政治难民，而且您持有美国旅
行证，那么您可以暂时离开美国。（您可以联系美
国移民局，然后申请一张有效期为一年的旅行
证。）
Foreigners
whose
applications
for
permanent residency or asylum are being
reviewed need to apply to the USCIS,
stating the reason they need to travel
outside the United States. Official
permission to reenter the U.S. will
guarantee they can return. If approved,
officials will send them an Advance
Parole which will allow them to reenter
the United States.
正在申请永久居留权或政治避难的外国人，在
申请接受审查的过程中，如果要出境的话，需要向
美国移民局申请出境并陈述出境的原因。得到官方
准许后才能保证可以重返美国。如果申请获得了批
准，官方会发给他们一张提前离境许可，此许可允
许他们再次入境美国。
Thus, before leaving the country,
everyone who needs permission to reenter
the States should
因此，在出境之前，每一个需要得到再入境许
可的人都应该：
•Fill out Form I-131(Application for
Travel Document) at their local USCIS
office.
•Get an Advance Parole, which give
you temporary permission to return to
the U.S.
·在当地的移民局办公室填写I-131表格
（旅行证申请表）。
·取得提前离境许可，以得到重返美国的临
时许可。
☆ Political refugees and asylum applicants
should not leave the country before getting
their Parole to avoid being banned from entering
the U.S. for 10 years.
☆ 政治难民以及政治避难申请人在得到提前离境许可之
前不要出境，以防止10年内被禁止入境美国。
Regardless of your immigration status
is, you should double check when your
reentry permission, Green Card (or Green
Card stamp), or a U.S. Travel Document
expires
as
well
when
your
foreign
passport expires.
不论您的移民身份是什么，您都需要再三检查
您的再入境许可、绿卡（或绿卡印章），或您旅行
证件的到期时间，以及您外国护照的到期时间。
☆ If you do not return before your document
expires and you meet certain criteria, you may
be able to go to the nearest U.S. consulate and
request an SB-1 visa for returning resident
aliens.
☆ 如果您在证件有效期内不回美国，并且符合某些标准
的话，您可以去最近的美国领事馆申请外籍居民归境的SB-1
签证。
Chapter 60 Becoming a U.S. citizen
第六十章 如何成为美国公民
You don't have to have a U.S. passport
to live a free, equal and happy life in
America. Millions of people have gotten
an education, worked, married, raised a
family and planned for retirement without
becoming U.S. citizens.
想要在美国过上自由、平等、幸福的生活不一
定需要美国护照。数以百万计的人们都不是美国公
民，但他们在美国接受了教育，找到了工作，结了
婚，养大了孩子，并且还制订好了退休计划。
The law guarantees and protects the
rights of all legal U.S. residents,
regardless of their citizenship, race,
religion,
ethnicity
or
politics.
Permanent residents can enjoy almost all
the privileges of U.S. citizens. However,
there are some things only citizens can
do, like
美国的法律，不论居民的公民身份、种族、宗
教信仰、民族或政治立场是什么，均保证并维护一
切合法居民的权利。但是，有些事情只有美国公民
才可以做，如：
•Vote in federal elections
•Serve on juries
•Become elected officials
•Qualify for certain tax breaks
•Qualify for unemployment insurance
•Never be denied the right to live
in the U.S.
•Invite family members to the U.S.
•Travel with a U.S. passport
•Obtain U.S. citizenship for
children born abroad
•Receive federal grants and
scholarships reserved for citizens
·在联邦选举中投票
·担任陪审团成员
·成为民选官员
·享受一定的赋税减免的资格
·享受失业保险的资格
·享有终身不被剥夺在美国居住的权利
·邀请家人来美国
·使用美国护照去旅行
·在国外出生的孩子可获得美国国籍
·获得为美国公民预留的联邦助学金和奖学
金
The
decision
to
change
your
citizenship is not an easy one. Permanent
residence does not require you to support
the U.S. or defend it from internal or
external enemies. Some immigrants may not
be willing to take up arms and fight on
the American side in a war, which may end
up being against their homeland where
many friends and relatives still live.
For this reason, not all immigrants who
live in the U.S. for the required time
are rushing to change their citizenship.
下决心改变公民身份不是一件容易的事。拥有
永久居留权的居民并不需要支持美国或者保卫美国
不受国内外敌人的侵犯。一些移民可能不愿意在战
时拿起武器为美国而战，因为这可能导致他们与自
己的祖国为敌，而那里还生活着他们的许多亲友。
基于这一原因，并不是所有达到规定居住期限的移
民都急着想成为美国公民。
The USCIS has several categories of
people who qualify for U.S. citizenship.
The main ones are
根据移民局的规定，有几类人具有成为美国公
民的资格，主要是：
•Permanent residents without special
limitations who have had this status
for at least five years and has lived
in the U.S. for at least 30 months
during that period
•Permanent residents who are married
to U.S. citizens for at least three
years and who have been in the U.S. for
at least 18months
·没有特殊限制的永久性居民，保有此身份
至少达五年，并且在这五年期间有至少30个月居
住在美国
·与美国公民结婚三年以上的永久性居民，
并且在美国至少居住了18个月
To find out about all other applicant
categories and obtain full details of
this process, see the USCIS Guide to
Naturalization (Form M-476), which is
published every year and can be found at
any Citizenship Service Center. You can
find the address of the nearest center at
your public library. You can also order
this guide by calling the USCIS at 1-800870-3676 or at www.uscis.gov.
要想了解所有其他申请人的类别并且获得申请
过程的所有细节，请阅读美国移民局的《入籍指
南》（表M-476）。该书每年都会再版，而且在每
个公民服务中心都能找到。您可以在公共图书馆找
到离您最近的服务中心的地址。您也可以通过拨打
移民局的电话1-800-870-3676或者登录网站
www.uscis.gov订阅该指南。
The USCIS will accept applications for
citizenship up to 90 days before your
required residence period runs out (five
years
or
three
years
for
most
applicants). Try to get all the documents
you need together in time and fill out
Form
N-400“Application
for
Naturalization” properly.
美国移民局会在您的规定居住期满（对大多数
申请者来说为5年或3年）前90天接受公民身份申
请。请及时准备所需的所有文件，并且正确填写表
N-400，即入籍申请表。
☆ You must live in the same state for three
months to be able to submit Form N-400.
☆
上。
提交N-400表格时，您必须在同一个州居住三个月以
When filling out the form, you will
need to give your home addresses and
where you've worked for the last five
years.
You'll
also
have
to
submit
documentation
that
proves
this
information is correct, such as copies of
utility bills or leases and employment
contracts or pay stubs.
填写表格时，您需要给出过去五年来您的家庭
住址和工作单位。您还须提交能够证明您的信息真
实可靠的证明文件，例如：水、电、燃气等公用事
业账单或租约的复印件，以及雇用合同或工资票根
的复印件。
To document trips abroad, send in
copies of plane tickets and pages from
your passport with U.S. immigration
stamps showing the dates of exit and
entry. If you were out of the country for
more than six months, be ready to prove
that you have been a permanent resident
to immigration officials. Documents that
prove this include
如果要证明自己的出国旅行，请附上机票复印
件以及护照上盖有移民印章能表明您出入境日期的
当页复印件。如果您离开美国的时间长达六个月以
上的话，您必须向移民局官员证明您的永久居民身
份。证明永久居民身份所需的文件包括：
•A copy of your tax return
•A copy of utility bills that
include the time when you were abroad
•Copies of rent checks and leases
for the time you were abroad
•Copies of U.S. health insurance
policies and monthly premium payments
for the time you were abroad
·纳税申报单复印件
·包括出境时间在内的水、电、燃气费账单
的复印件
·在国外时您的房租支票与租约的复印件
·在国外时您的美国健康保险保单的复印件
及按月缴付的保费复印件
☆ Immigration officials have the final say
over whether they will consider these documents
and whether they will count your time abroad as
part of a year of residence or as an
interruption in your residence. This decision
cannot be appealed.
☆ 移民局官员有权最终决定是否考虑您的文件，并有权
决定是将您在国外的时间计入您在美国的居留时间，还是将
您在国外的时间视为您居民身份的中断（即不把您在国外的
时间归入您在美国的居留时间）。并且这一决定不容上诉。
If you worked abroad for more than 12
months, send in a copy of Form N470(Application to Reserve Residence for
Naturalization Purposes) which you should
have sent to the USCIS before leaving
(see Chapter 59).
如果您在国外工作超过了12个月，那么需要寄
一份N-470表格（保留归化之居留权的申请表），
这份表格本应在您出国之前就寄至移民局（见第五
十九章）。
One
other
tricky
part
of
your
naturalization application is the section
that relates to violating the law. Many
permanent residents don't fill it out
correctly. Remember that in the U.S., any
violation that involves paying a fine or
any court case settling a problem with
neighbors, relatives or strangers that
are documented by files from a public
commission or civil court are also
instances of breaking the law. It is not
a good idea to forget or try to hide
these instances. They should be reported
in the application and accompanied by
copies of receipts for fines paid and
copies of any court rulings.
在填写入籍申请表时，其中与违法有关的那部
分比较难处理。许多永久性居民都填不对这项内
容。请记住：在美国，像被处以罚款，或由公共委
员会或民事法庭记录在案的与邻居、亲戚或陌生人
发生的纠纷，都被视为违法行为。如果您把这些给
忘了或者企图隐瞒那就不太好了。这些事情都应该
在申请书中写明，并附上罚款收据的复印件以及任
何法院裁定的复印文件。
☆ You can get copies of the fines you paid
for traffic violations at the DMV, even if they
occurred years ago.
☆ 您可以在机动车管理处找到交通违章罚款单的复印文
件，即使违章事故是在几年前发生的。
When filling out the section on your
moral character, don't try to conceal
facts that cast doubt on your moral
character, such as
在填写品德面貌这一栏时，请不要试图隐瞒任
何有损您道德品质的事实，例如：
•Illegal gambling
•Drunk driving
•Prostitution
•Giving false information to
immigration officials
•Contempt of court
•Hate crimes or persecution of
others based on race, politics, etc.
·非法赌博
·酒后驾车
·卖淫
·向移民局提供虚假信息
·蔑视法庭
·基于种族或政治立场的仇恨犯罪或迫害等
☆ Some crimes will prevent you from getting
citizenship permanently, while others will only
temporarily prevent you from becoming a citizen.
This means you will not be allowed to apply for
citizenship until five years after the crime was
committed.
☆ 有些罪名将使您永远无法获得公民身份，而另外一些
罪名则只会暂时妨碍您获得公民身份。后者意味着犯罪后五
年之内您将无权申请公民身份。
When filling out your application,
bear in mind that immigration authorities
have plenty of opportunity to check to
see whether the information you give is
correct. There have been cases when
citizenship was revoked because the
person gave false information on an
application.
在填写申请表时，请记住：移民局有许多机会
可以核对您给出的信息正确与否。曾经就发生过因
在申请表中填写虚假信息而被撤销公民身份的事
件。
☆ Correct information regarding your marital
history is also crucial. Immigration officials
will require you to submit copies of all
marriage and divorce certificates, regardless of
where they occurred. It can take several months
to get this information from another country.
☆ 正确填写婚姻史也是十分重要的。移民局官员会要求
您递交所有的结婚证与离婚证的复印件，不管您是在什么地
方结婚或离婚的。要从另一国家获得这些文件通常需要几个
月的时间。
For permanent residents whose spouses
are
U.S.
citizens,
the
crucial
requirement is not only that the couple
has been married for three years, but
also that they are still married on the
date they submit their application and
take the citizenship oath.
对于配偶是美国公民的永久性居民来说，申请
公民身份的关键要求不仅是两人已经结婚三年，而
且在递交申请书和进行公民宣誓时两人仍然是婚姻
关系。
In case you would like to officially
change
your
name
along
with
your
citizenship, you have two chances during
the naturalization process to change your
name:
如果您在申请美国公民身份的同时，还想把名
字也改了，那么在入籍申请过程中您有两次改名的
机会：
•When you fill out your Form N-400
•During your USCIS interview
·填写N-400表格时
·与移民局官员面谈时
☆ Some people find it satisfying to change
their name, while others find it disturbing.
☆ 有些人觉得改名字很好，而另一些人则认为改名是自
找麻烦。
When you send your application to the
USCIS, put into an envelope with your
correct return address
将入籍申请书寄往移民局时，请随信附上写有
您正确地址的信封，以便移民局给您回信：
•The application form
•A check for the application fee
made out to the USCIS
·申请表
·一张给移民局的用于支付申请费用的支票
If for some reason your address
changes
after
you
send
in
your
application, you need to send Form AR-11
“Change of Address Form” to the USCIS
within 10 days after you move. You should
also fill out a special form at the post
office so that all your mail will be
forwarded to your new address, including
any letters from the immigration service.
如果申请书寄出后，出于某种原因您的住址有
所变更的话，您需要在更换住址后10天内给移民局
寄一张AR-11表（地址变更表）。此外，您还需要
在邮局填写一张专门的表格，以便所有的邮件（包
括移民局的信件）都能送到您的新地址。
☆ You can find out more about Form AR-11 by
calling
1-800-375-5283
or
at
www.usimmigrationsupport.org/form-ar11.html.
☆
拨打电话1-800-375-5283
或者登录网站
www.usimmigrationsupport.org/form-ar11.html，您能
找到更多有关AR-11表格的信息。
No one can say exactly how long it
will take the immigration officials to
process and check your application. This
is why you shouldn't worry and shouldn't
bother contacting the USCIS until a year
has passed. Usually, the letter from the
USCIS will come suddenly and be a
pleasant surprise. You may receive
谁都不知道移民局官员需要多长时间来处理和核
对您的申请书。因此，您不必焦虑，在一年之内您
也不必费劲与移民局联系。通常，移民局的信件会
突然从天而降，给您带来惊喜。您可能会收到：
•An invitation to have your
fingerprints taken
•A letter requesting additional
documents
•Carefully follow the directions
given to you by the USCIS at every
step.
·一份获取您指纹的邀请书
·一封索要额外文件的信件
·请按照移民局给出的指示认真做好每一个
步骤
Always try to be on time for USCIS
appointments and interviews. If for some
reason you can't make it, send a letter
stating why you can't be there. Send your
letter to the address or office that sent
you the appointment time. Immigration
officials may accept your explanation and
set a new time, or they may refuse your
naturalization request.
请记住：一定要准时参加与移民局的约会和面
谈。如果出于某种原因您不能按时参加，请写封信
说明您不能去的原因，并把这封信寄至当初通知您
约会时间的地址或办公室。移民局官员可能会接受
您的解释并约定新的时间，也可能会拒绝您的入籍
请求。
The USCIS works strictly according to
certain laws, regulations and procedures
and does not arbitrarily refuse people
citizenship. There is no need to try to
negotiate with immigration officials.
Every person who decides at some point to
become a citizen is fully responsible for
fulfilling the immigration requirements.
移民局会严格按照相关法律法规与程序办事，
不会随意拒绝公民的入籍申请。因此，没有必要试
图与移民局官员协商。每一位决定成为美国公民的
人都对满足移民要求负有全部的责任。
After you get fingerprinted, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
will need some time to do a criminal
background check. Sometimes, applicants
are
asked
to
come
in
and
get
fingerprinted a second time.
留下指纹后，联邦调查局需要一段时间来核查
您的犯罪记录。有时，申请人还会被叫去再留一次
指纹。
The most important stage in the
naturalization process is your interview
with a USCIS official. Your interviewer
will ask you questions based on the
answers you gave on your Form N-400 and
test your knowledge of written and spoken
English and U.S. history. You will be
asked to answer the immigration officer's
questions after taking an oath. If the
officer
catches
you
giving
false
information,
you
will
be
refused
citizenship.
入籍申请过程中最重要的一步就是与移民局官
员的面谈。您的面试官会根据您在N-400表格中填
写的答案提问，并且还会测试您的英语说写能力以
及您对美国历史的了解情况。在回答移民局官员的
提问之前，他/她会让您先起誓说您说的都是事
实。如果该官员发现您提供了虚假信息，那么您的
公民申请就会被拒绝。
It's a good idea to study very
carefully for your citizenship test. In
almost any town across the country,
you'll find free classes to prepare you
for
naturalization.
To
get
more
information about the courses nearest
you, ask at the local public library.
Depending on how well you know English,
the instructor will choose the best class
for you. Classes are usually held at
various times and consist of about
fifteen people. In class, your instructor
will teach you about American history and
traditions and will help you improve your
oral and written English skills.
认真准备一下公民申请测试内容是一个明智的
选择。几乎在美国的任何一个城镇，您都能找到帮
您准备入籍申请的免费培训班。向当地的图书馆咨
询，可以了解更多关于离您最近的培训班的信息。
教员会根据您的英语水平为您选择最适合的班级。
另外，各个班的授课时间各异，每个班大约15人左
右。在课堂上，教员会教授美国历史与传统，并会
帮助您提高英语口语水平和写作技能。
Those of you who can read and write
some English don't really need to attend
citizenship classes. You can easily study
for the test on your own. There are
various textbooks to help you learn about
American history and the U.S. government,
such as the student handbook from the
citizenship programs that are run by your
local school district or library, or
books like Entry into Citizenship by
Aliza Becker with Mary Ann Siegel. (Find
out more about this book by calling 1800-621-1918.)
In
addition
to
explanations, textbooks will also give
you a large number of exercises you can
use to perfect your written and spoken
language.
You
can
also
get
study
materials online from the USCIS at
www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.
The
Guide to Naturalization (Form M-476)
mentioned earlier in this chapter also
contains sample questions on U.S. history
and government.
有一定英语读写基础的人不一定非得参加这种
公民身份申请培训班。一般来说，您可以很轻松地
自学测试内容。要了解美国历史与美国的政府机
构，有多种参考书可供选择，例如，由当地学校或
图书馆管理的公民项目的学生手册，或者由
AlizaBecker和Mary Ann Siegel合写的《公民入
门》。关于《公民入门》一书，您可以拨打电话1800-621-1918了解该书的更多信息。除了讲解说
明之外，教科书还会提供大量习题，用以完善您的
写作与口语水平。您还可以登录移民局的网站
www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis获得学习资
料。本章前面提到的《入籍指南》（M-476表格）
中也有一些关于美国历史与政府机构的样题。
☆
Don't
mix
up
two
of
America's
most
important wars:
There's the Revolutionary War or War of
Independence
(1775-1783),
when
American
colonists fought the British for independence.
And there's the Civil War (1861-1865) when
the states in the north (the Union) fought
states in the south (the Confederacy).The
Confederacy resolved to secede or separate from
the United States and form an independent
country where slavery would remain legal. The
Union refused to accept this, and war began.
This war led to great bloodshed and loss of life
on both sides, but eventually led to the
prohibition of slavery in the U.S.
☆ 请不要混淆美国历史上两场最重要的战争：美国革命
战争或独立战争（1775~1783），北美殖民地人民为争取独
立与英国进行的战争。美国内战（1861~1865），当时北方
各州（北部联盟）对抗南方各州（南部邦联）。南部邦联决
议从美国脱离出来，建立一个独立的国家，以保持奴隶制的
合法性。但是北部联盟拒绝接受这一决议，于是战争爆发
了。这场战争导致双方大量的流血牺牲，但最终美国的奴隶
制被废除了。
☆ Some applicants do not have to take the
English and citizenship test. To find out if you
or your relative is exempt from the test, call
1-800-870-3676.
☆ 有些申请人不必参加英语测试和公民测试。想知道您
或者您的亲属是否可以免试，请拨打电话1-800-8703676。
Pay
especially
close
attention
preparing your-self psychologically for
the test. Immigration officials are
generally friendly and well meaning, but
a positive attitude and good experience
depends on you-and you alone. Here are
some tips to help you keep calm during
your test:
尤其请注意做好考试的心理准备。移民局官员
通常都是友好而且通情达理的。但是积极的态度和
丰富的阅历还是取决于您---并且只取决于您自
己。这里有一些能帮助您在考试中保持冷静的小贴
士：
•You can relax because you have
nothing to hide and no false
information in your application.
•By studying U.S. history carefully
and practicing your reading, writing
and speaking consistently, you'll know
that you did everything you could to
get ready for the test.
•Having all the documents you need
to support your application will boost
your self-confidence.
•If possible, avoid tense situations
or last-minute crises right before your
interview, so that you can feel good
about yourself and get there on time.
•Study the citizenship oath and the
U.S. flag beforehand, so that you can
understand the entire naturalization
process and feel more confident.
•If you are a religious believer,
saying a little prayer will surely have
a positive effect.
•Be confident that if you don't pass
this time, the immigration official
will give you a few more months to
study and try again.
·请尽量放松，因为在申请书中您没有隐瞒
任何信息，也没有提供任何虚假信息。
·请认真学习美国历史，并坚持练习英语的
听说读写。这样，您会觉得您已经为测试做好了
一切可能的准备。
·请准备好所有能支持您申请的文件，这将
会大大提升您的自信心。
·在面试前，请尽量避免紧张情绪或者踩着
点去面试。让时间宽松一点，这样您的自我感觉
会好一些，而且也不会有迟到的危险。
·请事先学习一下公民誓言和美国国旗的知
识，了解了入籍申请的全过程以后，您会更加自
信。
·如果您有宗教信仰，请在事前简短祷告一
下，这无疑能产生积极的作用。
·请相信：如果这次没有通过，移民局会给
您几个月的时间学习，然后让您再试一次。
☆ Your preparation for any appointment with
the USCIS will always have a strong influence on
your case.
☆ 每一次与移民局约见前都请做好准备，因为每一次准
备都会极大地影响您的申请。
In some cases, the USCIS official will
ask you to come in for a second interview
and bring some additional documents, or
to take a second test.
在某些情况下，移民局官员会要求您再去面试
一次并让您带上一些其他的文件，或者是要求您再
参加一次测试。
Once you get through the interview
successfully, you may be offered the
opportunity to take the citizenship oath
that same day, or to wait for a
citizenship ceremony in your area. You
will be informed of the date and location
of the ceremony by mail. On the day of
the ceremony, you will need to
一旦您面试成功，有可能当天就得到公民宣誓
的机会，也有可能会让您等候参加您所在地区的入
籍仪式。有人会通过邮件通知您入籍仪式的日期和
地点。在仪式当天，您需要：
•Register at the ceremony location
•Hand in your Green Card
•Answer questions regarding any
changes in your life since your USCIS
interview
•Take the oath
•Receive your certificate of
naturalization, which proves that you
are now a U.S. citizen
·在仪式举办地签到登记
·上交绿卡
·回答有关在与移民局面谈后您生活中出现
的任何变化方面的问题
·入籍宣誓
·领取入籍证书，证明您已经是美国公民了
That same day, you can submit an
application to get a U.S. passport. To do
so, take two passport-sized photos along
with you to the ceremony, along with your
checkbook to pay the necessary fees.
仪式当天，您还可以递交美国护照申请书。要
申请美国护照，当天您需要带两张在护照上用的照
片，并且带上您的支票簿以支付必要的费用。
☆ Applying for your passport on the day of
the ceremony is the fastest and least-expensive
way to get it.
☆ 在入籍仪式当天申请护照是最快捷、最省钱的方式。
Once you have your passport, you can
travel the world without any further
questions from the U.S. immigration
service.
拿到护照之后，您就可以随心所欲地环游世界
了，而且不会再受美国移民局的任何“骚扰”。
If you lose your certificate of
naturalization, you need to fill out Form
N-565“Application
for
Replacement
Naturalization/Citizenship Document” and
send it to the USCIS. You can order this
form by calling 1-800-870-3676 or online
at www.uscis.gov. It costs around $600 to
replace and can take a year or more.
如果您遗失了入籍证明，您需要填写N-565表
（入籍证或公民证的补办申请），并将其寄给移民
局。拨打电话1-800-870-3676或者登录网站
www.uscis.gov，您可以申领表格。补办入籍证或
公民证大约要花费600美元，而且需要一年或者更
长的时间才能办好。
If you would like to register a
complaint
about
the
service
you've
received
during
the
naturalization
process, you can fill out Form I-847
“Report of Complaint” and send it the
USCIS headquarters in Washington, DC. The
form can be ordered at the phone number
or website above.
如果您想对入籍申请过程中接受的服务进行投
诉，您可以填写I-847表格（投诉报告）并将其寄
给移民局在华盛顿特区的总部。I-847表格可以通
过上面提供的电话和网址申领。
☆ Regardless of whether their parents are
legally or illegally in the U.S., all children
born in the U.S. are automatically U.S.
citizens.
☆ 无论孩子的父母是否是美国的合法公民，只要孩子出
生在美国，就被自动视为美国公民。
Chapter 61 Separated for life
第六十一章 永久的分离
Some people, when they come to the
United States on a non-immigrant visa,
wind up staying in the U.S. and applying
to the USCIS for an adjustment of status.
However, many of them have no idea what
difficulties and struggles await them as
they wait for an answer from immigration
officials:
有些人凭借非移民签证来到美国，但最后却留
在了美国，而且他们还向美国移民局申请改签。可
是，当他们在等待移民局的答复时，许多人并未意
识到他们所面临的是一件多么困难的事情。
•It could take a year or more for
officials to review your application
•You should not leave the country
while this is happening
•You must appear at every
appointment scheduled by a USCIS
office. If you move, make sure to tell
the USCIS your new address (see Chapter
60 to learn how).
•You must prepare all the documents
requested for your appointment, which
could take several months to a year.
•You do not have the legal right to
work while your application is being
reviewed
•You have no right to any kind of
government-funded social assistance or
health insurance during this time
·移民局的官员审批您的申请可能需要一年
甚至更长的时间
·在您等待答复的这段时间，您不得离开美
国
·美国移民局安排的每次会面您都必须及时
赴约。如果您搬家了，要确保将您的新地址告知
移民局（详情请参见第六十章）
·您必须准备好与移民局会面时所需的全部
文件，而准备这些文件可能会花上几个月甚至是
一年的时间
·申请审批期间您将不能合法务工
·申请审批期间您无权享受由政府资助的任
何社会福利或健康保险
☆ The USCIS sometimes takes years to review
applications in some instances.
☆ 在某些情况下，美国移民局会用上几年的时间来审批
您的改签申请。
Some foreigners are stuck in the U.S. for
more than 10 or 15 years, waiting for a final
decision
by
the
immigration
authorities.
Meanwhile, their children back home are growing
up, relatives are passing away, and their
friends have seen major changes in their
lives.Forced by health problems or other dire
circumstances, some people have to leave the
U.S. without hearing back from the authorities.
According to immigration law, their cases are
closed because the applicant left the country
while the application was being reviewed, and
they are not allowed to return to the U.S. for
the next 10 years.
一些外国人被困在美国长达10年、15年乃至更长的时
间，就是为了等待移民局的一个最终判决。而在此期间，在
他们的家乡，他们的子女渐渐长大了，他们的亲戚有的去世
了，他们的朋友中有人的生活发生了很大的变化。由于健康
问题或是一些比这更糟糕的情况，一些人没有听到当局的回
复就不得不离开美国。根据移民法，如果申请改签的申请人
在审批期间离开美国，他们的申请会自动终止，并且他们将
在未来10年内不得重返美国。
☆ Before you apply to change your status,
think carefully whether it's worth it to put
yourself through significant hardship and be
separated from your loved ones. Worrying and
missing your nearest and dearest can lead to
depression and other health problems.
☆ 申请改签之前，请考虑清楚是否值得为了改签吃那么
多苦，并且还要与您的亲友分开那么久。担心和思念至亲至
爱会让您意志消沉并出现其他健康问题。
Some immigration lawyers may claim
they can get your application reviewed
quickly, but in practice no one can
guarantee this. For the USCIS, every
application is a separate case and is
reviewed individually. For this reason,
professional
lawyers
with
years
of
experience never give any guarantees that
your application will be reviewed within
a certain time frame and never promise
that you will be approved.
一些移民律师可能会声称他们可以让移民局尽
快审查您的移民申请，但事实上没有谁能够保证这
一点。对于美国移民局来说，每一份申请都是一个
独立的案子，并且都需要进行单独的审批。因此，
有几年从业经验的移民律师从来都不保证您的申请
会在某段时间内得到审查，也不会承诺您的申请一
定会得到批准。
☆ An applicant's relatives may be refused
U.S. visas for many years due to U.S. visa
policy.
☆ 由于美国的签证政策，一个申请人的亲属也许会被拒
签好多年。
Foreigners with immigrant status have
the right to come and go as they
please.However, the fast-paced American
lifestyle forces them to hurry and plan
their
time
constantly.
The
intense
schedule of work, study, and family, with
only very short breaks, often means they
can't find more than a few brief days to
visit their native land. Some immigrants
get so caught up in the rhythms of
American life that they think about going
home less and less frequently, though
they keep calling. As the years pass, not
only do the immigrants change, but the
homeland they left behind changes, too.
Often when people return, they find
themselves in a completely different
country that bears no resemblance to the
place they remember. As a rule, most
American immigrants rarely go back to
their previous country to visit, and some
who have come to the U.S. with their
families never go back to the country of
their childhood.
具有移民身份的外国人是有权自由进出美国
的。尽管如此，快节奏的美国生活方式总是使他们
行色匆匆，而且不得不经常规划自己的时间。因为
工作、学习、家庭等各方面都安排得很紧凑，所以
空闲的时间非常少，这就意味着他们没有太多的时
间回故乡探望。有一些移民完全被美国的生活节奏
束缚住了，他们考虑回家乡的次数越来越少，尽管
他们还是经常打电话。随着时间的推移，不光移民
自己有了变化，他们的家乡也在不断地变化。常常
当他们回去的时候，他们会发现自己仿佛完全置身
于一个不同的国家，家乡再也不是他们记忆中的模
样了。通常，大多数来到美国的移民都很少会回去
探望自己的故乡，而那些举家移居美国的移民则更
是从未回过自己童年的家乡。
Chapter 62 The American dream and
American disappointment
第六十二章 美国梦与美国失意
The history of the United States is
the history of how American principles
and values were formed. Despite their
varied goals, the absolute majority of
Americans dream of achieving success. But
in what way, exactly? People have to
figure that out their own paths to
success by themselves. The most important
thing is to be successful.
美国的历史其实是一部美国的原则与价值观形
成的历史。虽然各人的目标不尽相同，但是绝大多
数美国人都梦想成功。但敢问成功之路在何方呢？
答案是：在每个人的脚下。因为人们需要开创出属
于自己的成功之路。不管怎样，最重要的就是要成
功。
Professional success wins a person
social
recognition
and
financial
stability. To reach their goals, young
people struggle to get into the best
universities and schools, as well as to
obtain jobs at companies where they can
make the most of their abilities.
职场上的成功会为一个人赢得社会的认可和经
济的稳定。为了实现目标，年轻人拼命打拼，为的
就是要进入一流的学校和大学读书，然后再找一个
能够让自己充分施展才能的职位。
Because of this emphasis on careers,
having a family and children is not the
main goal of many Americans. In recent
years, Americans appear to be in no hurry
to get married. Many people want to gain
financial stability first, which is seen
as the basis of a happy family. This is
why they often prefer to buy a house or
condo, for example, before thinking of
tying the knot.
美国人非常重视事业，这使得很多人并不把结
婚生子当作人生的主要目标。近些年来，美国人越
来越不急着结婚了。很多人首先想实现经济上的稳
定，因为经济实力被他们看作家庭幸福的基石。这
也是为什么很多美国人更喜欢先置办房产而不是先
结婚的缘故。
Unfortunately, all this hard work
demands time and energy. And it's common
that people who have spent years devoted
to their careers later realize that they
haven't accomplished all they really
wanted. Some of the reasons for this
disappointment may be
可惜的是，所有这一切都非常耗时费力。而且
有一个很普遍的现象是：人们在职场打拼多年以后
才发现没有得到自己真正想要的东西。造成这些人
失落的原因可能有以下几种：
•They haven't gotten married.
•They haven't had children.
•They've lost touch with old
friends.
•Their family has fallen apart due
to financial problems.
•Stress at work has taken a toll on
their health.
•Their property was repossessed
because they couldn't manage their
debt.
•They are hard on themselves as
“losers”.
•They have lost all interest and joy
in life.
·他们还没有结婚。
·他们还没有子女。
·他们与故友失去了联络。
·他们的家庭因为经济问题而破裂。
·工作的压力已经让他们的健康受损。
·因为他们无法还清债务，他们的房产被收
回（以物抵债）。
·他们很难接受自己是“失败者”的事实。
·他们对生活失去了兴趣，也失去了生活的
乐趣。
However, all of these reasons do not
have much impact on Americans, who are
great dreamers. Even those who are
disappointed don't stay that way long.
Many Americans are quite materialistic
and success-driven. Every situation for
them is concrete, specific and real. This
realness defines their priorities and
allows them dream. Unfortunately, not
everyone has a clear vision of exactly
what they would like to do with their
lives. But those who set realistic goals
for themselves, as a rule, reach them and
achieve success. This is what America is
all about.
不过，所有这些原因都不会对美国人产生太大
的影响，因为他们是伟大的梦想家。即使是那些失
意的人也不会失意太久。很多美国人都很物质主
义，也都以成功为导向。每一种情形对于他们来说
都是实在的、具体的、现实的。这种现实主义确立
了他们做事时的优先顺序，并同时给了他们梦想的
空间。可不幸的是，并不是每个人对未来都有一个
明确的规划。但是对于那些为自己设定了明确现实
目标的人来说，通常他们都会朝着目标进发并最终
取得成功。这就是美国最核心的精髓。
☆ The more concrete your dream is, the more
likely it is that you can make it happen.
☆ 您的梦想越具体，您就越可能实现它。
While
the
United
States
is
a
materialistic culture, Americans also
view
themselves
as
family-oriented.
Parents often dedicate much of their
time, effort, and finances to raising
their children well, which they define as
being happy, healthy, and successful in
school and in extracurricular activities
such as sports and music. For those
parents their personal social life mostly
revolves around their children, and their
personal success is equal to the success
of their children.
虽然美国的文化崇尚物质，但是美国人同时也
认为自己是家庭本位主义者。为了让孩子们茁壮成
长，让他们拥有愉快、健康、成功的校园生活和课
外生活（如体育和音乐），父母们投入了大量的时
间、精力和钱财。对于那些主要围绕孩子来展开自
己社会生活的父母来说，他们的成功就等同于他们
孩子的成功。
And,
of
course,
there
are
many
Americans who dedicate their lives to
improving this society. Some of them
become social or political activists, who
support and defend our social rights and
freedoms and allow all of us to make our
new ideas and dreams a reality.
当然，还有很多美国人穷其一生致力于完善美
国社会。他们中有一些人成为了社会或政治活动
家，他们支持和捍卫美国人的社会权利与自由，让
所有美国人都有机会梦想成真！
Epilogue
跋
Dear Readers,
亲爱的读者：
We've come to the end of our whirlwind
tour of the United States. As you've read
one
chapter
after
another,
you've
discovered more and more about America.
Maybe
some
things
struck
you
as
inordinately simple or naive. Other
aspects of American life might have
seemed incredibly complicated and hard to
understand. And I'm sure there were lots
of other things that you've known all
along. But just like the many subjects
we've covered in this guidebook, America
is rich in its diversity and variety.
Living side by side, people of many
nations, cultures and creeds have had a
lasting influence on one another, which
has only made America richer.
我们已经进入此次美国旋风之旅的尾声了。当
您一章章翻阅过来，相信您对美国已经有了更加深
入的了解。也许美国的一些事情让您觉得太过简单
或者太过朴素了，而另一些方面又会显得太过复杂
并且令人费解。而且我敢肯定的是，里面讲到的有
些事情您早就已经知道了。可是，正如我们在本书
中讲到的众多内容一样，美国是一个兼容并包、丰
富多彩的国家。来自不同的国家、不同的文化和拥
有不同信仰的人们长期生活在一起，他们相互影
响，这只会让美国更加富丽多姿。
I hope that this book has helped you
understand the uniqueness of America,
with its endless possibilities for selfdevelopment and expression, for making
new ideas a reality. Nothing's impossible
in America. Everything that a person has
today and everything he may possess in
the future depends only on himself and
his efforts.
诚愿此书已经让您领略了美国的独特魅力，让
您感受到了她的无限可能：自我发展与自我表达的
可能，以及让梦想成真的可能。在美国什么事都有
可能。一个人目前所拥有的和他未来能拥有的完全
取决于他以及他自己的努力。
The most important part of life in
America is having a clear idea of what
you want to achieve. If you are willing
to work hard in pursuit of this dream,
you can make it come true.
在美国，最重要的一条是您要清楚自己想要实
现什么。清楚了以后，如果您愿意努力追求，那么
您就能梦想成真。
If you take away only two ideas from
this book, remember that this country
values everyone whose progressive and
innovative
ideas
can
contribute
to
society.
And
never
forget
that
in
America, you always have the right to
choose!
如果您只从这本书中学到了两点，那么这两点
应该是：一，美国很看重每一个有益于社会的进步
型和创新型人才；二，在美国，您永远有选择的权
利！