221.The torpor of college students
第221课 大学生对学业的漠然态度

U.S. college students have reported torpid feelings toward their studies lately.
据称，近来美国大学生对学习表现出不积极的态度。
Why such torpor at a time in their lives when learning should be liberating?
为什么在学习应该得到解放的这个年龄段，他们会对学习不积极呢？
The answer can be traced to the fact that a torrent of ideas are running through their heads,
答案可以追究到这样一个事实：学生头脑中充斥着思想的狂潮，
like a tornado making its first touchdown, and the ivory tower is not the only place in which they have an interest.
就像龙卷风首次着陆，象牙塔不是他们惟一兴趣所在的地方。
For example, college is often the first-place students are touched by love.
比如，大学经常是学生们接触爱情的始发地。
Touching though it may sound, the experience can be quite tortuous and can torment students for quite some time.
尽管听起来动人，但爱情的体验充满艰辛曲折，会令学生苦恼一阵子。
When asked about love on campus, many students were touchy about the subject.
当被问及校园恋爱，许多学生对这个话题过于敏感。
It is good to remember that young people are very tractable,
应该记住，年轻人可塑性强，
and the barrage of ideas they are presented with can make life seem tough.
他们面对的一连串思想使生活似乎很难熬。
Many students are politically active, handing out tracts on issues students may have never thought about before,
许多学生政治上很积极，常参与分发传单，这些传单涉及的问题他们或许从未想过，
such as where and how to dispose of toxic waste or who to vote for in the next election.
比如在何处、如何处理有害垃圾，或者下次选举支持何人，
Such torrential ideas may only add to the apathy they feel toward their schoolwork.
如此洪水急流般的思潮只能促进他们对学业的淡漠态度。
Towering social pressure is also a factor.
巨大的社会压力也是一个因素，
While high school conversations may have focused on topics such as the torque associated with Kevin's new corvette.
高中生的谈话或许集中于诸如凯文新的轻型护卫舰的转矩这样的话题，
No one in college wants to talk about these things.
但在大学里没有人愿意谈论这些事情，
Students tow a lot of personal baggage from their home lives as well.
学生们还从家里带来大量个人行李。生活在新地方，
Living in new topographical areas, they must accustom themselves to new ways of living and speaking.
他们必须适应新的生活方式和用语习惯
A farm boy from Iowa might be used to talking about the traction on certain tractor tires,
来自衣阿华的农场男孩要适应谈论某些拖拉机轮胎的附着摩擦力，
while a young girl from Indonesia might previously have been occupied with averting disaster from seasonal torrential rains.
而来自印度尼西亚的姑娘以前满脑子想的却是如何消除季节性暴雨带来的灾难
Sitting in the stands at a basketball tournament in New York is a new experience altogether.
坐在纽约篮球锦标赛的看台上全新的体验。
With new experiences awaiting them at every turn, it is no wonder they care less about academics.
处处都能碰上层出不穷的新鲜事物，难怪他们不太关心自身的学业了。