英文欣赏：我们这个时代的购物狂(上)
Shopaholics of Our Times
我们这个时代的购物狂
In trying to keep up with the Jones, many people buy more than they can really afford.
人们都试图跟随琼斯，许多人购物超过了他们的承受能力。
For some who purchase many items they neither need or use, however, there is more than merely trying to keep up with the Jones going on.
然而，那些购买很多既不需要也不使用的东西的人，不仅仅是想要跟随琼斯的脚步。
These people have a compulsive shopping disorder, addicted to going to malls and buying things they really don’t need.
这些人患有购物强迫症，沉溺于逛商场，买自己不需要的东西。
They spend a lot of time juggling accounts and bills to be able to continue to shop for more things and lie to others about the amount of shopping done and the amount of money spent.
他们花很多时间摆平账户和账单，为了买更多的东西，有关购物数量和所花金额对别人撒谎。
Compulsive shopping is the uncontrollable desire to purchase items.
购物强迫症指对购物有种无法遏制的强烈愿望。
In a society that celebrates spending and credit, this behavior is usually looked upon as a joke rather than a serious problem.
在一个秀支出和信贷的社会里，这种行为常被看成一个笑话，而不是一个严重的问题。
Shopaholics are often viewed as merely being financially irresponsible and therefore left on their own with no support in dealing with their problem.
购物狂不仅被视为金钱上的不负责任，而且也会令自己再遇到困难的时候变得束手无策。
Studies indicate that as many as 1 in 12 people in the US suffer from shopaholism with 80%-90% of those suffering from it being women.
研究表明在美国12个人里就有1个患有购物狂症，其中80%到90%是女性。
The typical compulsive buyer is a woman in her early to mid-30s who has a number of credit cards and whose family earns a low to middle income.
典型的强迫性购物狂是30到35岁间的女性，她们有一系列的信用卡，家庭收入处于低到中等水平。
The shopaholism can have devastating effects.
购物狂症会带来毁灭性打击。
It often leads to financial problems, such as overspending and can also create mental and emotional difficulties.
它常会导致经济困境，比如过度消费，还可能会产生精神和情感的困扰。
1. keep up with
(1) 跟上，不落在……后面：
eg. Hurry up, or you won’t keep up with them.
快点，否则你就赶不上他们了。
(2) 赶上（某思想、风尚等）
eg. Young girls like to keep up with the latest fashions.
年轻女孩喜欢赶最新潮流。
(3) 保持联系，和……来往：
eg. She still kept up with her classmates after graduation.
毕业后她仍然与她的同学保持联系。
2. neither… or… 既不……也不……
eg. Professor Hisamatsu spoke neither English nor German.
久松教授既不讲英语，也不讲德语。
3. addict to doing…
(1) 沉湎于，沉溺于，醉心于
eg. Sady is addicted to collecting stamps.
萨迪酷爱集邮。
(2) 使上瘾，使吸毒成瘾；使（自己）沾染（某些恶习）
eg. Jack became addicted to drugs at quite an early age.
杰克很小年纪时就吸毒成瘾了。
4. look upon as 把……看作是……
eg. The Chinese Dragon is look upon as the ultimate symbol of Good Fortune.
中国龙被视为好命运最后的象征符号。
5. suffer from 忍受，遭受；患……病；受……之苦
eg. How long have you been suffering from a headache?
你头痛有多久了？
eg. Your son suffers from your excessive shielding.
你的过分袒护，反而害了你的儿子。