Extensive Reading Lesson 22

教育费用成为中国家庭的重负

据中国妇联5月15日（国际家庭日）发布的一份调查报告显示，子女教育费用高、家庭收入低以及家人生病是困扰中国家庭的三大问题。

在所有受访者中，接近一半的人称生活中最大的困难是子女的教育支出，百分之四十认为他们的家庭收入低，生活窘迫，还有三分之一的家庭家中有病人，因此要承担沉重的医疗负担。

当被问及家庭需要哪些帮助时，一半以上受访者认为他们需要子女教育咨询服务，40%的人需要找工作，而三分之一的人选择社区医疗服务。

涉及夫妻间相处的问题，接近70%的丈夫以及超过70%的妻子认为对感情不忠是夫妻间最不能容忍的缺点。超过60%的夫妻认为自己感情稳定，夫妻关系良好，但只有40%的夫妻称共同管理他们的财产。

赡养老人是中国家庭的一个重要义务。97%的受访者都认为虐待老人是最应该被惩罚的行为，但多数受访者认为他们的收入不足以为老人提供足够好的生活，还有一些人称承受不起老人的医疗费用。有些子女则是因为工作太忙，很难好好照顾老人。

Education costs a heavy burden for Chinese families

Children's education, low income and health care are the three biggest worries for Chinese families, according to a report published by China's Women's Federation on May 15, the International Day of Families.

Nearly half the families interviewed said their biggest difficulty in life is paying for their children's education. Two fifths said their low incomes forced them to lead a hand to mouth existence. And a third have family members who are seriously ill and face the burden of medical costs.

When asked what types of help families need, more than half said help with children's education, 40 percent said help finding a job, and a third said provision of community health services.

Talking about problems between husbands and wives, nearly 70 percent of husbands and more than 70 percent of wives said unfaithfulness was the most intolerable fault in a partner. More than 60 percent of couples are satisfied with their marriages. But only 40 percent of couples pool their incomes and manage their finances together.

Supporting the old is seen as a major obligation of Chinese families. Mistreating the old was identified by 97 percent of those interviewed as the most reprehensible behavior. But most people complain their incomes are insufficient to adequately support the old. Many also worry about being able to afford their aging relatives' medical bills. Some younger people also admit they are too busy to take care of their parents.

(China.org.cn by Chen Chen, May 20, 2010)