1. Metrosexual都市美男
A:Have you noticed, men these days are becoming more and more interested in how they look? Some of my male friends and co-workers use moisturizers and makeup every day, some even wear jewelry! Every time I come near them I get a whiff of their cologne.
B:I know what you mean! Men in today’s society are definitely starting to care more and more about their own image. Some men spend as much time and money on their appearance as most women do—a few even go to beauty salons and get plastic surgery. I’ve heard that now, one out of every ten people who get plastic surgery is male.
A:It’s an interesting phenomenon. Traditionally, women are the ones who are supposed to care most about beauty, but people’s values are changing these days, especially in the big cities. A few years earlier, if a man showed he cared about his appearance or clothes, he would be told he was being too feminine, or acting like a girl. But now, plenty of men would willingly describe themselves as “metrosexual”—it doesn’t have a negative connotation.
B:I think this has a lot to do with mass media. Many celebrities, especially in the movie industry, are so-called “pretty boys.” They are admired and idolized by the public, and many young men want to imitate their clothes and fashions, which is one of the reasons for the “pretty boy” phenomenon in society at large. In reality, whether or not you’re a celebrity, a well-groomed appearance can raise your self-confidence and help you make a good impression on other people.
A:True! I think another reason that men are paying more attention to their appearance is that they’ve realized that women are paying attention to men’s appearance! A man who makes an effort to look his best is more likely to win the approval of the opposite gender. Also, many women appreciate a man who doesn’t roll his eyes as soon as she mentions anything having to do with fashion.
B:Yeah, I think it’s related to the fact that the position of women in society is continuously rising, and they are becoming more and more particular when it comes to choosing a partner. Women have always been more interested in men who are physically handsome in addition to being responsible and economically secure, but now that women can be more selective, men have to work harder to prove themselves the ideal partner. Men are realizing that it pays to be considerate, attentive and well-dressed.
A:So whereas before, women dressed up in order to attract men, nowadays men are also dressing up to attract women. Men and women really are becoming more and more equal in society!
A：你有没有发现，现在社会上的男人越来越爱美了？我身边的一些男性朋友和同事，每天都使用护肤品和化妆品，有的还佩戴饰品！每次走近他们，我就能闻到男士香水的味道。
B：是啊！现代社会的男人的确越来越在意自己的形象了，一些男人在修饰外表上花费的时间和金钱跟大多数女人一样，有的男人甚至进美容院去整容。据说，现在十名整容者中就有一名是男性。
A：我觉得这个现象很有意思。传统观念认为，女性是最爱美的，但是现在，人们的观念发生了很大的变化，尤其是在大城市。几年前，如果一个男人对自己的衣着和外表太过在意，会被旁人耻笑为“女人气”或者“娘娘腔”。但是现在，很多男人都愿意把自己说成“都市美男”，这个词完全没有负面含意了。
B：我觉得，这和大众传媒的发达有很大的关系。很多明星，尤其是在演艺界，被叫作“花样美男”。他们被大众崇拜和偶像化，很多年轻的男孩子都想模仿他们的穿衣打扮，这是“美男”现象在社会上流行的一个原因。实际上，不管你是不是明星，光鲜靓丽的外表都能提升自己的信心，给人以良好的印象。
A：对！我觉得男人更注重外表的另一个原因就是他们认识到了女人也很注重男人的外表！一个精心打扮后的男人更容易得到异性的认可。还有，很多女人都很欣赏那些可以和他们聊一聊时尚话题的男性。
B：嗯，我觉得这和现在女性社会地位的上升也有关，她们在对象的选择上越来越挑剔，女人总是对那些长得很帅又有责任感而且有经济实力的男人更有兴趣。既然女人更挑剔了，男人们就得更努力去证明自己是理想的伴侣。男人们也认识到体贴、细心和精心打扮会有好处。
A：这么说，以前是女人为了吸引男人而打扮自己。现在男人也为了吸引女人而打扮。男人和女人的社会地位越来越平等了！
2. Tomboys中性美女
A:Some of my girlfriends have an unusual style. They have short hair, they only wear T-shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes, and they never wear makeup. I think if I didn’t know them I wouldn’t be able to tell that they were girls!
B:There are a lot of girls like that, but I think they’re still really cute. Their style has a nice casual and confident feeling; it looks very natural.
A:Some of them even talk different than other girls; their voices are kind of throaty, low alto quality rather than high?pitched.
B:There are definitely girls who project a more masculine attitude. One good example of this kind of “tomboy” is the 2005 Super Girl contest winner, Li Yuchun. To tell you the truth, the first time I saw her on TV, I couldn’t tell she was a girl, but the more I watched the more I liked her style. By the end, I was a dedicated fan.
A:That’s true, Li Yuchun has tons of fans even though she doesn’t fit the traditional Chinese ideal of female beauty. Tomboys like her defy the idea that women have to be gentle, tender, sweet, and cute in order to be pretty.
B:Tomboys can be graceful and feminine, too, though—it’s just a different way of expressing yourself. Some people think girls with a more androgynous style are just sloppy or lazy, but many of them care just as much about their appearance as other girls. Also, just because she’s a tomboy doesn’t mean a girl isn’t well-mannered or polite.
A:I think that this trend toward a more androgynous style for women doesn’t just reflect the change of beauty standards and changing fashion trends, it’s also an expression of individuality.
B:You could even say that tomboys are an example of the independence and strength of modern women.
A:I think so. This more androgynous form of beauty is really in style these days; fashion designers have started coming out with more androgynous clothes and accessories, and it’s becoming a hot trend.
B：But even though this trend is becoming more and more popular, sometimes people make assumptions about other people’s personalities based on the type of clothes they wear, but in my experience tomboys aren’t any different from girls with a more traditionally feminine style. You can be down to earth, outgoing and attractive to the opposite sex regardless of whether you wouldn’t dream of wearing a skirt or you wear a skirt every day.
A:Yeah, in my opinon it’s great that girls these days have more freedom to dress however they want and still look cool.
A：我的一些女朋友有很特别的风格。她们通常留短发，喜欢穿T恤、牛仔裤和帆布鞋，从来不化妆。我觉得如果我不认识她们，我可能看不出来她们是女孩子！
B：有很多那样的女孩子，不过我觉得她们依旧很可爱，有种随意、帅气的感觉，不做作。
A：她们说起话来都和别的女孩子不一样，她们的嗓音是有些沙哑的女低音，不是又尖又细的女高音。
B：她们就是有男人气质的女人，典型的代表人物就是2005年“超级女声”的冠军——李宇春。说实话，当我在电视上第一次看见她的时候，我真的没看出来她是个女生，可是越看越喜欢，到后来，我成了她的忠实粉丝。
A：是的，虽然李宇春不是典型的中国传统美女，但她有很多粉丝。像她那样的中性美女打破了女孩应该文静、温柔、甜美和可爱才算漂亮的审美观。
B：中性美女也很优雅、有女人味——这只是展示自己的不同方式。一些人觉得中性风格的女生都很邋遢或什么都不讲究，但是很多中性美女和其他女孩一样很在意自己的外表。还有，一个中性女生并不意味着她的举止不好或没有礼貌。
A：我觉得女性中性化的趋势不仅反映了人们的审美标准和时尚潮流的变化，更是女性张扬个性的表现。
B：你甚至可以说中性美女是时代女性独立和自强的代表。
A：我同意。这种更中性化的风格现在大行其道，很多设计师都开始设计中性的服装和饰品，现在非常流行。
B：但是虽然这种趋势越来越流行了，有时候人们仍然会根据穿衣风格来判断一个人的性格。但是，根据我的经历，中性女生和传统的女生没什么两样。不管你是从来都不想穿裙子还是每天都穿裙子，你都可以很纯真、外向和吸引异性。
A：对，我觉得现在的女孩子可以更自由地打扮、想怎么打扮就怎么打扮看起来仍然很酷，这很棒！
3. Lightning Marriage闪婚
A:I went to a friend’s wedding yesterday. I was so happy for them—the bride and the groom looked like a match made in heaven. But I almost couldn’t believe it was happening because they only met 3 months ago, and now they’re married!
B:I think this kind of situation is becoming more widespread. I’ve heard there’s even a new word for it: “lightning marriage.” You know, like getting married as fast as a bolt of lightning. As far as these lightning marriages go, a relationship of three months is considered comparatively long, I heard about some people who only knew each other for seven hours before they got married!
A:This is really an era that requires speed and stresses efficiency! Even relationships and marriage aren’t exceptions. Do you think these “lightning marriages” can be happy and fulfilling?
B:I think “lightning marriages” are really interesting. If it was love at first sight for two people and they got married immediately, it would definitely be exciting, and after marriage their lives would be full of a sense of mystery and newness. Besides this, “lighting marriages” also have a great advantage: they can save the cost, including saving time and money.
A:I certainly believe that falling in love is something that can happen in the blink of an eye, but married life requires long-lasting, steady love. So I think “lightning marriages” seem like a big gamble. They’re turning love into a game.
B:On the other hand, there are a lot of people who have been in very long term relationships, but in the end, because they waited so long, their relationship loses the passion it had in the beginning and they break up, which is really painful for them both. I think “lightning marriages” are still better than that kind of situation!
A:But if the two people in a “lightning marriage” haven’t known each other very long, and don’t completely understand each other, don’t you think after they get married they’ll have a hard time avoiding conflicts?
B:I think a married couple’s happiness isn’t measured by how long they were together before they got married, so a “lightning marriage” doesn’t have to lead to instability. Any marriage can succeed or fail.
A:I still think it’s too risky; I think these “lightning marriages” will end up in “lightning divorces,” and that’s much worse for the two people than if they hadn’t married at all.
B:It’s true, “lightning marriages” aren’t right for everyone; only those who have courage and the right attitude can take the risk!
A：昨天我去参加了一个朋友的婚礼，新郎和新娘看上去很般配，我很为他们高兴，但让我感到不可思议的是，他们刚刚认识3个月就结婚了。
B：现在这种情况已经并不少见了，而且还有了一个相应的新词“闪婚”，意思就是“像闪电一样很快很快的结婚”。3个月的恋爱期在闪婚中算是比较长的了，听说还有认识7个小时就结婚的人呢！
A：这真是一个追求速度、讲究效率的时代啊！连恋爱、结婚也不例外。你觉得“闪婚”会幸福吗？
B：我觉得“闪婚”挺好玩儿的！如果两个人一见钟情就结婚，肯定很刺激，而且婚后生活也会充满神秘感和新鲜感。此外，“闪婚”还有一个很大的好处，就是能节约恋爱成本，包括金钱成本和时间成本。
A：我相信爱上一个人可能是一瞬间的事情，但是婚姻生活需要的是长久的、稳定的爱情，所以我觉得“闪婚”就好像是在赌博，把爱情当成游戏。
B：可是也有很多人经历了马拉松式的恋爱，最后就因为恋爱时间太长、缺少恋爱初期的激情而分手了，而且双方还都很痛苦，我觉得这种情况还不如“闪婚”呢！
A：可是“闪婚”的双方恋爱时间短，互相了解不充分，在婚后的生活中难免会出现矛盾。你说呢？
B：我觉得婚姻幸福不幸福，不是用恋爱的时间长短来衡量的，所以闪婚并不意味婚姻不稳固，任何婚姻都可能成功或失败。
A：可我还是觉得这样做太冒险了，我担心“闪婚”之后很快就会离婚，那真的是比没有结婚还痛苦。
B：的确 “闪婚”并不适合每个人，有勇气、而且心态好的人才能尝试！
4. Singles’ Day光棍节
A:Do you know what holiday falls on November 11th?
B:I’ve heard that a lot of young people call this day “Singles’ Day”! But how did it come from?
A:It is said it originated from the early 1990s, when college students first put forward the idea of choosing the day of November 11 (1111) as a day for single people. It became popular and turned into a cultural event on campus even society.
B:Then, How do they celebrate Single’? Day?
A:There are tons of ways to celebrate it! At some universities, student organizations have singles parties, to give single guys and girls an opportunity to meet and stop being single; some people go out singing and drinking, let off steam about being single; and some people go on blind dates looking for suitable partners; some people get together with other single friends to just have a good time. Singles’ Day has also become a holiday even people who aren’t single, on this day lots of people with partners pretend they are single again, together tasting their old single life.
B:That’s really cool! Looks like this holiday is a lot of fun for a lot of people.
A:It is, in China, the number of single people has increased. Before, being “single” had a connotation of being lonely, lonesome, and unloved, but now it is no longer the substitute name for sadness, it means more independence, more freedom and unrestrained way of life.
B:So what you’re saying is, before they were “passively” single, and now they’re “actively” single?
A:Some people are that way, but definitely not all of them. There are still lots of people these days who are sad about being single, and want to escape it somehow, but more and more young people think that marriage isn’t something one has to do, they aren’t looking for partners, and they don’t want to get married. They consider themselves very young at heart, and still have a lot of other things to do.
B:It looks like the economy has developed, society is changing, and people’s values are also changing!
A:In the past many older young people just married for the sake of marriage. But nowadays young people’s ideas about marriage and values have changed. They value intellectual exchange more, and require a common language of communication.
B:Perhaps this trend of singlehood will have a definite negative impact on society! If the number of single people increases, the existence of society and humanity may both be threatened. In some western countries, this trend has already become apparent.
A:Yep! So, some experts say, this kind of lifestyle deserves respect, but shouldn’t be advocated!
A：你知道11月11日是什么节日吗？
B：我听说过，很多年轻人管这一天叫“光棍节”！但是这个节日是怎么来的呢？
A：据说它起源于90年代初期的大学校园，一些单身的大学生们首先提出了这个想法，就是把11月11日作为单身人的节日。之后，这个节日越来越流行，成了校园文化乃至社会文化中的一件大事。
B：那么，他们怎么庆祝“光棍节”呢？
A：庆祝的花样可多了！在一些大学，学生组织会举办单身晚会，为众多单身男女创造机会，结束单身；有的人会去K歌或喝酒，发泄自己身为一名“光棍”的郁闷；也有人去参加“陌生约会”，寻找适合自己的另一半；也有一些都是单身的好朋友会借这个机会聚会玩乐。还有，光棍节也成为越来越多非单身者的狂欢节日，许多人在这一天与爱人扮回单身状态，来回味自己久违的单身生活。
B：真有意思！看来这个节日给很多人都带来了快乐！
A：是的，在中国，现在单身的人越来越多了。以前，单身就意味着孤独、寂寞和没有人爱；可是现在，单身不再是伤感的代名词，它代表着一种更独立、更自由和没有约束的生活方式。
B：这么说，他们以前是“被动单身”，而现在是“主动单身”了？。
A：有些人是这样，但并不是所有的。现在还有很多人因为单身而痛苦，想摆脱单身；但是越来越多的年轻人不认为结婚是必须的，他们不是找不着对象，而是不想婚恋，他们认为自己的心理年龄还很小，还有很多事情要做。
B：看来经济发展了，社会在变，人们的观念也在变啊！
A：过去不少大龄青年是“为结婚而结婚”，但现代青年的婚姻观、价值观都发生了改变。他们更看重思想的交流，要求有共同语言。
B：可是单身的趋势也必然会给社会带来一定的负面影响啊！如果单身的人越来越多，社会和人类的存在都会受到威胁。在一些西方国家，这种趋势已经越来越明显了。
A：是的！所以，有的专家提出，这种生活状态值得尊重，但不应该提倡！
5.Infomania资讯癖
A:I haven’t gotten any emails today? That’s so weird! I haven’t even got spam.
B:It makes you uncomfortable, hmm? I’ve been there before. Once, I didn’t get a single text message from anyone all day. I was continuously looking at my cell phone; I even suspected it might be broken. In the end, I didn’t relax until I sent a few text messages to a friend and received a reply.
A:Looks like we’ve become so accustomed to these “disturbances” that if we aren’t disturbed for a whole day, we can’t bear it.
B:Actually, this is a kind of disease, called “information anxiety disorder,” or “infomania.”
A:No way—can it really be possible that sending and receiving emails and text messages too often is a disease?
B:Well it’s not like cancer or anything, but because information and communication technologies have become so highly developed, and so many ways of communicating have accumulated, we have developed a strong need to be “in touch.” Because of this, if we enter into a situation where we’re cut off from information, we won’t be able to sit still and might become anxious and jittery.
A:But in recent years people’s work and life has become inextricably tied to the internet, cell phones, etc. Are you telling me that everyone has this sickness?
B:Generally speaking, extroverts are more prone to it. Because they like to interact with people, they may get addicted to being in constant contact with others through online chatting or text messaging. This can bring them a sense of security and confidence.
A:But couldn’t some introverted people become “infomaniacs” too? I mean, because less outgoing people aren’t as comfortable expressing themselves, so in real life they might get nervous interacting with people face to face, but sending and receiving emails and text messages isn’t the same. They don’t have to immediately reply, so they have enough time to think about it and then answer.
B:That’s a really good point. But the drawbacks are that we increasingly depend on the internet, and I think people’s actual ability to interact face to face will decrease. Maybe at some point in the future, when people meet face to face they won’t say anything; they’ll just use their cell phones or computers to communicate.
A:Ooooo, scary! Looks like high technology is really a double-edged sword! After all, not even the best technology can compensate for our personal shortcomings.
A：我今天居然没有收到一个邮件？真奇怪！连垃圾邮件都没有。
B：觉得不舒服，是吧？我也遇到过这种情况，有一次，我一天都没收到任何人的短信，我就总是去看手机，甚至怀疑是我的手机坏了，后来给朋友发了几条短信，收到了回复，才放心。
A：看来我们已经习惯被别人“打扰”了，一天没人打扰，自己先受不了了。
B：其实，这是一种病，被称为“信息焦虑综合症”，也叫“资讯癖”。
A：不可能，难道频繁收发邮件和短信也是病吗？
B：这并不是癌症或其它的病，但是由于现在的通讯技术太发达了，资讯太丰富了，所以我们对信息的需求也很大，因此，一旦我们进入信息隔绝的状态，就会坐立不安，甚至会产生烦躁。
A：可是近些年，人们的工作和生活都离不开网络和手机啊，难道每个人都有这种病吗？
B：一般来说，外向的人更容易这样，他们喜欢与人交往，他们可能会沉溺于跟别人在网上聊天儿或收发手机短信，这会给他们带来安全感和自信。
A：可是难道内向的人不会也有资讯癖吗？这类人不善于表达，在现实中跟别人进行面对面的交流时可能会有问题；但是收发邮件和短信就不一样了，他们不需要立刻回应，有足够的时间思考，然后再做出回应。
B：说得对！这种病的害处就是我们会越来越依赖网络，我担心人们的实际交往能力会下降。可能将来有一天，面对面的两个人不是用嘴说话，而是用手机或者电脑才能交流。
A：好可怕啊！看来高科技真是一把双刃剑啊！但是，甚至最发达的科学技术也不能弥补我们人类的弱点。