Vocabulary Preparation:

 

rack up to get a number oramount of something, especially a number of points in a competition 累积；累计

log book an official record ofevents, especially on a journey in a ship or plane

errand  n. a short journey inorder to do something for someone, for example delivering or collectingsomething for them 差使；差事

deposit  v. to put money or something valuable ina bank or other place where it will be safe 存放；存款

spry adj. lively, active; vigorous 活泼的；充满生气的

 

 

Notes:

 

The safety net is a termused to describe a collection of services provided by the state, such aswelfare, unemployment benefit, universal healthcare, homeless shelters, theminimum wage and sometimes subsidized services such as public transport, whichprevent individuals from falling into poverty beyond a certain level. 社会保障；社会安全网

The two-step is a dance with long sliding steps, a step found in many folkdances. It consists of two steps in approximately the same direction onto thesame foot, separated by a closing step with the other foot. 拍圆舞

CBS, alsoColumbia Broadcasting System, is a major radio and television network inthe United States. From the beginning of its existence to the present day, CBShas generally been the most watched network in the United States. 哥伦比亚广播公司

 

 

Exercise1: Listen to the news report and get the main idea.

      

What is the mainpoint of the report?

A. The problemsconcerning old people in China

B. The hours theold people can deposit in Bank of China

C. The new wayof caring for the elderly citizens in China

D. The publicattitude toward the traditional family in China

 

Exercise2: Listen to the news report again and fill in the blanks with the exact wordsor phrases.

 

Bob Schieffer: A report in this week, on how American families dealing with theneeds of    １   as a population ages. Well, tonight, we wanna show you whatthey’re doing in China. A community there is coming up with   2   for helping the elderly. Barry Petersen concludes    3   “Caring for Mom & Dad”

Barry Petersen: 88-year-old Song Rongxiuis very well taken care of. She lives with her daughter, her grandson and hisfamily in Beijing. That's the way the elderly have   4   been cared for in China. But modern times have created alot of new   5   for China's young people — often far from home, and that meansleaving the elderly behind. So here in the city of Chongqing, they had an idea:making a rather unique promise to get people to help their elderly neighbors.The idea is    6   itself. Call it the "Age Bank." People rack uphours, noting it in a log book. They gave their time caring for senior citizens- hours they can   7   in their golden years as the next generation takes care ofthem. This community leader came up with the idea. "There were a lot ofretirees in this neighborhood," he told us. "They weren’t very busy and the very elderlyneeded help." It can be anything from running aquick errand to just stopping in for a daily chat. WangDingru is 92 years old.

Barry Petersen: What do the helpers doto help you through the day? "They treat me like I'm their mother.” Shesays, “cooking meals, buying groceries."   8   Mrs. Zhai, does this work with an eye on her future."I've been    9   time in the bank," she says, "so one day peoplewill help me." Like other countries, China has an aging population that isgrowing fast. But here, there’s no government safety net, few   10  . Families have alwaystaken care of theirown. Butto these elderly, the age bank has made volunteers feel like family, and keptMrs. Wang so spry that she can teach me the China two-step — and so happybecause even without family, thanks to the “age bank” she has the next bestthing: people who care. Barry Petersen, CBS News,Chongqing, China.