Amy: Good morning, Talia.
Talia: Oh, hi. Good morning.
Amy: You know, you're working too hard.
Talia: I know. I always work this hard. Maybe you could mention that to Tony? I don't think he knows it.
Amy: Is that a new hairstyle? It's very ... unique.
Talia: Very funny. I had to work late last night. I' m tired, I'm in a bad mood, and I don't care about my hair.
Amy: That's probably why you're not a reporter yet.
Talia: You think so?
Amy: No, I'm just kidding...
Talia: You may be right.
Amy: Maybe Tony will take you more seriously after you finish the journalism class.
Talia: Oh, no! Our journalism class! I forgot. It's tomorrow. What's the homework?
Amy: Compare two news stories on the same topic.
Talia: That's easy enough to do. Sounds interesting, too. I guess I'll do it after work.
Amy: You work too hard.
Amy: Why don't you take a break tonight? Yeah, why not come with me to a party?
Talia: No thanks. Maybe some other time.
Amy: Come on! Josh Taylor is having a party. A lot of available guys will be there... You might meet someone.
Talia: No, listen! I'm too busy to go. Go without me...
Tony: Good, you're here. I have something important to talk to you about.
What are you working on?
Talia: I'm researching the background information for that transportation story.
Amy: She's always working. She told me to tell you that.
Tony: I have a big project for you to work on. I know you've been hoping for a break. This may be it.
Talia: Really? That's great!
Tony: Come to my office in about 10 minutes. By the way, you look different. Have you done something with your hair?
Unit 2 Breaking News（1）
Tony: Someone sent us this tape. This is incredible. What a shame. Talia: What' s a shame?
Tony: Have you ever heard of Nick Crawford, the soccer player? He's the
star forward on our national team.
Talia: Of course. Everyone's heard of him, I think.
Tony: Well, apparently this conversation took place a while ago: Nick Crawford talks about how he needs money.
Amy: That's not big news. There's a rumor that he's fallen into debt lately.
I've heard all sorts of gossip about that.
Tony: Yes, but, it gets even more interesting. Also on the tape, a woman offers him $50,000.
Talia: What for?
Tony: To sit out the first round qualifying match. Remember? Nick Crawford had an injury and couldn't play in that game?
Talia: Sure, I remember. We lost that match, and if we lose again, we might be eliminated.
Tony: Exactly. The next qualifying round is coming up. If this tape is real, Nick Crawford will be history.
Amy: You mean, he won't get to play in the next match?
Tony: Exactly. And without him, we'll probably lose again.
Amy: Wow! A real scandal! Is the tape for real?
Tony: Talia, that's your job now. Find out if the tape is authentic. And you'd better find out fast.
Unit 2 Breaking News（2）
Talia: OK. I'll get this tape to an expert.
Tony: If we can, we'll run the tape on tonight's broadcast—before the competition hears about it. In fact, they may already have a copy
of this tape.
Talia: Speaking of copies, we ought to make a copy of this. We shouldn't give away our only one.
Tony: Good thinking. Amy ... handle this with care.
Amy: Absolutely!
Talia: See you later. I'm going to call the audio department. They can give me the name of an expert.
Tony: Tell them we need someone fast.
Talia: OK. I'm on it.
Tony: Is there a problem?
Talia: Not exactly. I'll do it. It's just that ... I know Nick Crawford. Tony: You do?
Talia: Yes. We went to college together. It's hard to believe he would do something like this.
Tony: Well, wake up and smell the coffee, Talia! He's a big star. He's been
a star on the national team for four years now.People do crazy
things when they get famous.
Talia: I just can't believe it. Nick Crawford taking a bribe?
Tony: Listen, Talia. You're smart. You're a good researcher, and one day— I hope — you'll be a great reporter. But don't let your
emotions get in the way of your work. If you do, I'll have to find
someone else to work on this story.
Unit 3 A Job For Talia（1）
Woma n’s voice on tape: We’ll pay you fifty thousand dollars.
Nick’s voice on tape: And all I have to do is sit on the bench? Woman’s voice on tape: That’s right. Do that, and fifty thousand dollars is
yours.
Nick’s voice on tape: Well, I can really use the mon ey. You’ve got
yourself a deal.
Woman’s voice on tape: Great. It’s a pleasure doing business with you. Tony: How’s it going?
Talia: I can’t tell. I hope our expert will be able to figure it out.
Tony: Me, too, when will we have the results?
Talia: He’s goi ng to call me back this afternoon.
Tony: Good.
Talia: You know, I’ve been a researcher here for three years. I’ve investigated other scandals. But something here doesn’t seem
right.
Tony: What do you mean?
Talia: It just doesn’t make sense. Nick Cr awford loves soccer. Why would he do something to hurt his career?
Tony: That’s a good question. How well do you know Nick Crawford? Is he a friend of yours?
Talia: No, not really. I just knew him in college. We had English together for two semesters.
Tony: Oh, th at’s it?
Talia: Well, I got to know him a little. I know that he moved here from England about 10 years ago. I know that he’s smart. And I know
that he’s always dreamed of being a great soccer star.
Tony: Mm-hmm.
Talia: So, why would he risk ruining his career?
Unit 3 A Job For Talia（2）
Talia: Bad news. The audio expert needs another day to check the tape. Tony: Did you tell him it was urgent? Find someone else.
Talia: Of course I told him. But I also told him we need to be sure, absolutely sure.
Tony: Tha t’s true.
Talia: Tony, listen. I have an idea. Let me go and talk to Nick.
Tony: I don’t know…
Talia: He may remember me. He may be willing to confide in me. Tony: Talia, look, you’re not a reporter yet, you’re still a researcher.
Remember?
新时代交互英语读写译课文翻译
新时代交互英语读写译课文翻译- 哈佛学子的成功之道 1 许多不同类型的自助书籍都给读者提出建议，帮助他们培养一定的技能、目标和态度，以获得成功，并拥有一种健康的生活方式。现在，在采访了 1600 名大学生后，马萨诸塞州波士顿市哈佛大学的研究者们找到了促成哈佛学子学业成功、让他们产生满足感的因素。 2 他们的重要发现让哈佛大学做出了改变其策略的决定，这些变化包括：给学生布且更多的小组作业以及在下午安排课程。目的是为了鼓励学生吃晚餐时可以继续讨论他们的课程。 3 研究者们是如何获得他们所需的信息的呢？首先，他们提出很多问题，涉及学生的课余活动、教学质量和指导质量等方方面面。研究者们通过寻找规律来找出某些课程有用的原因。他们询问学生的感受----对自己所学的东西是否感到高兴、满意或兴奋，然后把得到的答案与学生们在学业方面的成功进行比较。这些问题旨在找出是什么让学生高兴，又是什么在帮助他们学习。 4 以下是他们通过调查研究所提出的建议： (1) 了解任课教师。学生每个学期都要听四到五个教师的课。至少要熟悉其中的一位教师并且也要让他们认识你，这样会有使你感到和学校联系在一起。另一个重要的忠告是：向任课教师请教有关课程学习的建议。问一些有关你要做什么才能得到提高的具体问题。例如，像“怎样才能使我第一段的论证更有效？”这样的问题能让你获得所需的建议。研究表明，大多数寻求帮助的学生都能提高他们的成绩，而那些没有寻求帮助的学生则成绩不好或者不及格。 (2)分小组学习。做作业很重要，但是仅仅如此是不够的。为了真正理解学习内容，在学习之余最好和两三个同学组成学习小组，和他们一起完成作业。能这样做的同学会更好地理解学习内容。他们会觉得与课堂的联系更紧密，从而更积极地参与课堂学习。 (3) 留出足够的时间去做好一件事情。在这次哈佛大学的研究中，学习好的学生比学习不好的学生在学习上花的时间更多。学习好的学生可以不间断地学习两到三个小时，而学习不太好的学生一次只学习、二、三十分钟，往往在一天的某些特定时段学习，如晚费前载体育运动后。几乎没有多少学生能意识到抓有不间断的学习时间的必要性。 (4)参加一项活动。你也许认识不到加入一个俱乐部或加入一个团队的重要性，但这恰恰是很重要的。要参加体育俱乐部，你不必是一名优秀的运动员。没有运动天赋的学生可以在体育俱乐部里给教练帮帮忙，尽自己的一份力，比如在比赛或训练期间给队员准备水瓶或切好橙子给他们吃。 学生只要参加了一 项活动，哪怕参与的方式是微不足道的，他们也会以更积极的心态去面对他们的学业。
初三听说课程 第2讲模仿朗读（二） 课后作业-模仿朗读文本 第一段音频文本： 模仿朗读（共8分） 听以下短文一遍，给你50秒钟的时间准备，然后模仿朗读。当听到“开始录音”的信号后，立即在50秒钟内朗读短文，当听到要求“停止录音”的信号时，应立即中止朗读。 Many children in the USA and Canada go to summer camps. Many summer camps take place in the countryside. Young children usually join day camps. They go back home after spending a few hours at camp. Older children may spend a few nights away from home. They can make new friends and learn useful skills at camp. There are also summer camps in China. Some summer camps are for international students. Many of them like to learn about Chinese culture. 第二段音频文本： 模仿朗读（共8分） 听以下短文一遍，给你50秒钟的时间准备，然后模仿朗读。当听到“开始录音”的信号后，立即在50秒钟内朗读短文，当听到要求“停止录音”的信号时，应立即中止朗读。Tomatoes were first grown in Central and South America. They were unknown to the restof the world until the 16th century. In the beginning, many people in Europe refused to eat tomatoes because they thought the fruit was dangerous. In one story, a man ate some tomatoes in public. Everyone in the town crowded around him to watch him die. When he did not die, they realized that tomatoes were safe to eat and no longer avoided them.
Not Your Average Teen Lots of teenage girls dream of becoming rich and famous. But it's not a fantasy for Michelle Wie. Just before her 16th birthday last fall, she became the highest-paid woman golfer in history simply by turning professional and lending her name to commercial endorsements that will pay her between $10 million and $12 million a year, most of which will go into a trust fund until she becomes an adult. Wie has been a celebrity since she was 13, when people began predicting she would become the Tiger Woods of women' sgolf. But, as correspondent Steve Kroft reports, that has never been enough for Wie. She wants to become the first woman ever to successfully compete with men in a professional sport. She has tried a couple of times on the PGA Tour without embarrassing herself. As you will see, she has changed a lot since we first talked to her way back in 2004, when she was 14. At the time, Wie told Kroft her ultimate goal was to play in the Masters. "I think it'd be pretty neat walking down the Masters fairways," she said. It was a neat dream for a 14-year-old kid. Nothing has happened in the last two years to change Wie's mind or shake her confidence. She is stronger now, more mature and glamorous. She has already demonstrated that she can play herself into the middle of the pack against the best men on the PGA Tour and has come within a shot of winning her first two starts on the LPGA Tour this year as a part-time professional. The day before 60 Minutes interviewed her at the Fields Open in Honolulu, she shot a final round of 66, coming from six strokes off the lead to just miss a playoff. "You won your first check yesterday," Kroft says. "Uh-huh," Wie says. "It was, it was really cool. I mean, I was like looking at how much I won. I was like 'Oh my God.' " Wie says she won around $72,000. Asked whether she gets to keep that money, Wie said she didn't know. "I'm trying to negotiate with my dad how much I can spend of that, and stuff like that. We're still working it out. But, you know, I'm definitely gonna go shopping today," she says, laughing. Half of her life is spent in the adult world, competing with men and women twice her age for paychecks they may need to make expenses and dealing with the media, sponsors and marketing executives. The rest of the time she is a junior at Punahou High School in Honolulu, where she is an A student and claims to lead the life of a typical 16-year-old.
新时代交互英语读写译课文翻译- 哈佛学子的成功之道 1 许多不同类型的自助书籍都给读者提出建议，帮助他们培养一定的技能、目标和态度，以获得成功，并拥有一种健康的生活方式。现在，在采访了1600 名大学生后，马萨诸塞州波士顿市哈佛大学的研究者们找到了促成哈佛学子学业成功、让他们产生满足感的因素。 2 他们的重要发现让哈佛大学做出了改变其策略的决定，这些变化包括：给学生布且更多的小组作业以及在下午安排课程。目的是为了鼓励学生吃晚餐时可以继续讨论他们的课程。 3 研究者们是如何获得他们所需的信息的呢？首先，他们提出很多问题，涉及学生的课余活动、教学质量和指导质量等方方面面。研究者们通过寻找规律来找出某些课程有用的原因。他们询问学生的感受----对自己所学的东西是否感到高兴、满意或兴奋，然后把得到的答案与学生们在学业方面的成功进行比较。这些问题旨在找出是什么让学生高兴，又是什么在帮助他们学习。 4 以下是他们通过调查研究所提出的建议： (1) 了解任课教师。学生每个学期都要听四到五个教师的课。至少要熟悉其中的一位教师并且也要让他们认识你，这样会有使你感到和学校联系在一起。另一个重要的忠告是：向任课教师请教有关课程学习的建议。问一些有关你要做什么才能得到提高的具体问题。例如，像“怎样才能使我第一段的论证更有效？”这样的问题能让你获得所需的建议。研究表明，大多数寻求帮助的学生都能提高他们的成绩，而那些没有寻求帮助的学生则成绩不好或者不及格。 (2)分小组学习。做作业很重要，但是仅仅如此是不够的。为了真正理解学习内容，在学习之余最好和两三个同学组成学习小组，和他们一起完成作业。能这样做的同学会更好地理解学习内容。他们会觉得与课堂的联系更紧密，从而更积极地参与课堂学习。(3) 留出足够的时间去做好一件事情。在这次哈佛大学的研究中，学习好的学生比学习不好的学生在学习上花的时间更多。学习好的学生可以不间断地学习两到三个小时，而学习不太好的学生一次只学习、二、三十分钟，往往在一天的某些特定时段学习，如晚费前载体育运动后。几乎没有多少学生能意识到抓有不间断的学习时间的必要性。(4)参加一项活动。你也许认识不到加入一个俱乐部或加入一个团队的重要性，但这恰恰是很重要的。要参加体育俱乐部，你不必是一名优秀的运动员。没有运动天赋的学生可以在体育俱乐部里给教练帮帮忙，尽自己的一份力，比如在比赛或训练期间给队员准备水瓶或切好橙子给他们吃。 学生只要参加了一 项活动，哪怕参与的方式是微不足道的，他们也会以更积极的心态去面对他们的学业。 5 安排好你的时间，这可以帮助你在学习上取得成功；制定好一个计划并严格执行，你就能从中获得乐趣并与班上的同学相处愉快。留够时间，学个彻底，玩个痛快，你就
Burning Rage This story originally aired on Nov. 13, 2005. When they first emerged in the mid-1990s, the environmental extremists calling themselves the "Earth Liberation Front" announced they were "the burning rage of a dying planet." Ever since, the ELF, along with its sister group, the Animal Liberation Front, has been burning everything from SUV dealerships to research labs to housing developments. In the last decade, these so-called "Eco-terrorists" have been responsible for more than $100 million in damages. And their tactics are beginning to escalate. Some splinter groups have set off homemade bombs and threatened to kill people. As correspondent Ed Bradley first reported last November, things have gotten so bad, the FBI now considers them the country's biggest domestic terrorist threat. 错误! The biggest act of eco-terrorism in U.S. history was a fire, deliberately set on the night of August 1, 2003, that destroyed a nearly-completed $23 million apartment complex just outside San Diego. The fire was set to protest urban sprawl. "It was the biggest fire I have ever responded to as a firefighter," remembers Jeff Carle, a division chief for the San Diego Fire Department. "That fire was not stoppable. At the stage that the fire was in when we arrived, there were problems in the adjacent occupied apartment complexes. Pine trees were starting to catch fire. Items on patios were starting to light up and catch fire. And we had to direct our activity towards saving life before we could do anything about the property." Hundreds were roused from their beds and evacuated. Luckily, nobody –including firefighters – was injured. By the time the fire burned itself out the next morning, all that remained was a 12-foot-long banner that read: "If you build it, we will burn it." Also on the banner was the acronym: E-L-F. When Carle saw the banner, he says he knew he had a problem. A problem, because he knew what ELF stood for: the Earth Liberation Front, the most radical fringe of the environmental movement. It's the same group that set nine simultaneous fires across the Vail Mountain ski resort in 1998 to protest its expansion, causing $12 million in damage. And it is the same group that has left SUV dealerships across America looking like scenes from Iraq's Sunni triangle, their way of protesting the gas-guzzling habits of American car buyers. The ELF is a spin-off of another group called the ALF, or Animal Liberation Front, whose masked members have been known to videotape themselves breaking into research labs, where they destroy years of painstaking work and free captive animals. In recent years,
Unit 1 College Life Language study of Reading1: Harvard University’s Habits for Success. ①Many different types of self-help books advise the reader to develop the skills, goals, and attitudes that will both promote success and provide for a healthy lifestyle. [= Through self-help books, a reader can learn how to become successful and prepare for a healthy way of living by developing the skills, goals and attitudes. ] 许多不同类型的自助书籍都给读者提出建议，帮助他们培养一定的技能、目标和态度，以获得成功，并拥有一种健康的生活方式。 develop v. 1) to grow or change into something bigger, stronger, or more advanced, or to make someone or something do this [ advance]发展Chicago developed into a big city in the late 1800s. 2）to design or make a new idea, product, system etc over a period of time 发明，设计 Scientists are developing new drugs to treat arthritis关节炎. 3）to start to have a feeling or quality that then becomes stronger: 逐渐产生 The children are beginning to develop a sense of responsibility. 孩子们逐渐产生了一种责任感。 develop a sense of…/develop a awareness of产生一种…意识 It was in college that he developed a taste for (=started to like) rugby football.在大学的时候他开始喜欢上了橄榄球。 4）if you develop a skill or ability, or if it develops, it becomes stronger or more advanced: 进步，提高 The course is designed to help students develop their speaking skills.这门课是为了提高学生演讲能力而设计的。promote v. 1) To help in the growth or development of 促进，推动，增进 e.g. promote foreign trade 促进对外贸易 e.g. Milk can promote health. 牛奶可以增进健康 2) To give (someone) a higher position or rank 提升，晋升（某人） e.g. The instructor was promoted to professor. 那位讲师升为教授。（to 后表示地位之名词不加冠词 3）To bring (goods) to public notice in order to encourage people to buy 推销/促销（货物）promote a new product; promoter：（事业）推动者，赞助人，（公司）创立者 promotion：晋级，促进；促销get/be given a promotion provide for 1) to make the necessary future arrangements for 为…做好准备 It is highly important to provide for the future.预先做好准备非常重要。 2)to support; supply with the things necessary for life供养，抚养 He had to provide for five children.他要供养五个孩子。 3)provide sb. With sth / provide sth for sb. lifestyle n. 生活方式；lifework 一生的事业 Lifetime: the chance of a lifetime；in one’s lifetime; lifetime employment 终生雇佣 ②contribute （to）v. 1)to help in causing a situation, event, or condition起促成作用,有助于，成为（---的）原因 e.g.A proper amount of exercise contributes to good health. Various factors contributed to his downfall.各种因素导致了他的垮台 2) to join with others in giving (money, help, etc) 捐献；捐助；贡献出；提供（时间，精力等） e.g. He contributed a lot of money to the charity. e.g. She contributed many good ideas to the discussion. Contribution n. make great contributions to --- ③tip n. 1) a helpful piece of advice 小建议，小窍门，劝告，告诫 Take my tip and keep well away from that place. The manual手册，指南is full of useful tips. 2) a small amount of money given as a gift, usually in addition to the official price, for a small service performed 小费Shall I leave a tip for the waiter? 3) the usually pointed end of something （某物的）尖端 a town at the southern tip of India on/at the tip of one's tongue: not quite able to be remembered 就在嘴边，但记不起来了 Now what's her name? It's on the tip of my tongue. the tip of the iceberg: a small sign of a much larger situation, problem, etc.冰山一角；重大情况（问题等）露出表面的极小一部分；The official statistics on drug addiction are only the tip of the iceberg; the real figure may well be much higher. ④specific adj. 1) detailed and exact; clear in meaning or explanation 明确的，具体的e.g. He came here for a specific aim. 2) particular；fixed, determined, or named 特定的，一定的，（至于名词前） e.g. a specific sum of money 一定金额 3) limited to；found only in 仅限于----的；特有的；固有的 e.g. This disease is specific to horses. ⑤effective adj.
Unit 1 Another Busy Day Tapescript of Video 1 Amy: Good morning, Talia. Talia: Oh, hi. Good morning. Amy: You know, you're working too hard. Talia: I know. I always work this hard. Maybe you could mention that to Tony? I don't think he knows it. Amy : Is that a new hairstyle? It's very ... unique. Talia : Very funny. I had to work late last night. I' m tired, I'm in a bad mood, and I don't care about my hair. Amy: That's probably why you're not a reporter yet. Talia : You think so? Amy: No, I'm just kidding... Talia : You may be right. Amy : Maybe Tony will take you more seriously after you finish the journalism class. Talia : Oh, no! Our journalism class! I forgot. It's tomorrow. What's the homework? Amy : Compare two news stories on the same topic. Talia : That's easy enough to do. Sounds interesting, too. I guess I'll do it after work. Amy : You work too hard. Video 2 Amy : Why don't you take a break tonight? Yeah, why not come with me to a party? Talia : No thanks. Maybe some other time. Amy : Come on! Josh Taylor is having a party. A lot of available guys will be there... You might meet someone. Talia : No, listen! I'm too busy to go. Go without me... Tony : Good, you're here. I have something important to talk to you about. What are you working on? Talia : I'm researching the background information for that transportation story. Amy : She's always working. She told me to tell you that. Tony : I have a big project for you to work on. I know you've been hoping for a break. This may be it. Talia : Really? That's great! Tony : Come to my office in about 10 minutes. By the way, you look different. Have you done something with your hair?
Unit 1 Script 1 Talia: It's all so incredible, Mom. I’m working on a story about one of the national soccer players, Nick Crawford… No, that's the thing. He knows that one of his teammates has framed him. And I believe he's innocent. Talia: Look, Mom, I have to go. I’II call you tomorrow, OK? Bye. Yes, yes, me, too. Bye．Nick：Hi．I came as soon as I could．What’s up? Talia：I’ve been thinking about this all day…. Now tell me, again：When and how did you meet this Jackie Baker woman? Nick：I’ve already told you．She came up to me at the juice bar．We set up a meeting．Talia：Right．At her office．Except you never went up to her office．Nick：Right, so she meets me in the lobby, we shake hands , and she takes me to lunch．Talia：Yes, to a little place around the corner, as I recaII. Nick：Right. And then she asks me to endorse a new pair of shoes. Talia：Yeah. You told me they’re called Kicks. Nick：Right. And she explains that I’ll have to wear the shoes when I play. And the company will use my name in the ads. Talia：OK. Can you think of anything else? Nick：Well, we did talk about an idea for a Kicks commercial． Talia：A commercial? What commercial? Nick：I told you about that, didn’t l? They wanted me to be in a commercial． Script 2 Talia：Hang on a second. You never said anything about a commercial. I wanna hear more about this. Don’t leave out any details. This could be important．Nick：OK. So, over lunch she describes the deal… Jackie：So，you’ll wear our shoes when you play. And we’ll use y our name in ads. Do that and fifty thousand dollars is yours. Nick：Sounds good. And this will be sometime next year? Jackie：Uh, yeah, that’s right. We can work out the details later for this, but we’ll probably want you to appear in a commercial.i Nick：Cool! Jackie：In fact. I'm working on an idea for a commercial right now. Do you wanna hear about it? Nick：Sure. Jackie：OK. Picture this. You’re sitting in a park. On a bench. It’s a beautiful spring day. Nick：So far, So good. Jackie：OK. A young kid comes up to you and says, ―Hey! Aren’t you Nick Crawford, the soccer star?‖ Nick：Uh—huh. Jackie：And you say, ―That’s me. ‖Or something like that． Nick：Right．
第六单元 ALS-I Script Tanya: Hello, everyone. Welcome to your Tuesday Lunch Break. I’m Tanya Rivero. We begin today with the latest census report out this morning, showing the US population is expected to grow significantly older over the next several decades. By 2050 it is projected to reach 83.7 million, almost double the number of elderly in 2012. The baby boomers are largely behind this shift, as the first wave began turning 65 a few years ago. And the racial face of the elderly is changing, with many more Hispanics and non-Whites in the mix. By 2050, the U.S. is expected to have the largest older population of all developed nations with the exception of China and India, the world’s two mo st populous countries. Joining us now to break this all down is Daniel Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Libertarian think-tank, the Cato Institute. Hi Daniel, thanks for being with us. Daniel: I’m glad to be on the program. Tanya: So, Daniel, this report concludes that this dramatic population shift is expected to drain resources from areas like education and shift them toward areas like health care. I think that’s probably an obvious shift, but what are some of the other changes in store? Daniel: From an e conomic perspective, the big thing we need to look at is we’re going t o have a worsening worker-dependent ratio. What does that mean? It simply means that as our population ages, there are going to be more and more old people relying on that 16 to 64 working age group, to produce the goods and services our economy needs. Tha t’s a big challenge. Setting aside government policy and everything else, an aging population, whether it’s in the US, Japan, or in Europe, is going to be a significant burden for a lot of economies moving forward. Tanya: So what does that mean specificall y? Let’s talk about Medicare, is there any chance it will last? Daniel:That’s the real challenge. Now let’s bring government policy into the mix. When you have tax and transfer programs like Medicare, like Social Security, like Medicaid, and a lot of these programs explicitly funnel big benefits to the elderly, and your population is aging; that’s a recipe for fiscal crisis. I mean, we all probably remember in school, learning about a po pulation pyramid. The assumption was always that you’d have a lot more workers and a small group of retirees. Well, we’re moving from a population pyramid to something more like a population cylinder, and tax and transferring government programs simply don’t work. You’re going to have too many people riding in the wagon, and not enough people pulling the wagon because the tax rates that you would have to impose on those workers would be crippling to the economy. Tanya: And that cylinder can almost get top heavy, which would certainly mean it might topple. Now let’s talk a lit tle bit about the younger workers. Is there any hope for this group? What do they have to look forward to? Daniel: Well right now, they’re already paying 15.3% payroll taxes, between Soc ial Security and Medicare, that’s the so called FICA, part of their pa ycheck. Of course, they only see half of it because the other half is paid on their behalf by their employers. But, it’s 15.3% now. In order to try to bail out Social Security and Medica re, you’re talking about those tax rates in effect doubling. And of co urse, that’s a huge burden on these younger workers at