(单词翻译:单击)
录音原文
Dear Annie:
亲爱的安妮：
I live with my boyfriend, Mike, in a very small apartment. Last month, his mother and 14-year-old sister moved in. They had nowhere else to go.
我和我的男友迈克住在一个非常小的公寓里。上个月，他的母亲和他14岁的妹妹搬了进去。她们无处可去。
His mom has no money and nothing to contribute except for some food stamps, which keep the pantries slightly stocked. When we buy food, we have to buy enough for four.
迈克的妈妈除了一些食品券之外一无所有。这些食品券把食品室都塞满了。如今，我们买饭要买四个人的。
We have no idea when she will be able to move out. Our electric bill has doubled and we are paying a lot more for water. Mike and I are having trouble making ends meet, and I don't sense much effort on his mother's part to find work. She is only looking for a specific type of job.
我们不知道她什么时候搬走。我们的电费增加了一倍，水费也涨了很多。我和迈克入不敷出了。我感到他的母亲并没有努力寻找工作。她只是在寻找她想要的工作。
This is taking a toll on our relationship. How do we tell her to just take any job she can get and move out? － Squished
这令我们的关系紧张起来。你能告诉我们，怎样让她对工作不再挑拣然后搬出我们的公寓吗？——一个为生活所迫的人
Dear Squished:
You can't tell her anything. Mike has to do it. Mike needs to give Mom a deadline for getting a job (perhaps three months), making it clear that if she cannot find one in her particular field by then, she must take whatever allows her to pay rent. She should not be freeloading. However, Mike may be unwilling to stick with such an ultimatum, so consider moving out until this resolves itself.
亲爱的为生活所迫的人：
你不能对她说些什么，但迈克可以跟她说。迈克需要给他妈妈制定一个期限（比如3个月），在这期间她必须找到工作。和她说清楚，如果她最后无法找到她想要的工作，她就必须接受任何可支撑她房租的的工作。她不应依赖别人。但是，迈克可能不愿意对他的妈妈发出最后通牒，所以让她搬出去这事还是顺其自然吧。
重点讲解
1. contribute vt. 有助于, 捐助, 投稿
例句：Would it be presumptuous of me to ask you to contribute? 可否冒昧请求你出一份力?
2. food stamp n. 食品券（发给失业者或贫民的粮票）
例句：My daughter, she ain't even gonna know what a food stamp is. 我的女儿永远也不用知道救济粮的味道。
3. ultimatum n.最后通碟
例句：They delivered an ultimatum to Iraq. 他们向伊拉克发出最后通牒。
