Who are Generation Z? 认识一下 “九五后” 这代年轻人
你也许听说过 “九五后” 这个称谓。在西方很多国家，人们把出生于九十年代中叶后，2010年前的年轻人统称为 “Z世代”。有人认为，出生于互联网时代的他们对科技产物有着天生的敏锐感。你了解这代人吗？你同意这种用年龄归类的方式吗？《随身英语》探讨 “Z世代” 的特征，并介绍和 “年轻人” 有关的英语词汇。
Vocabulary: youth 年轻人
When were you born? If it was in the late nineties or early noughties, then you've been classified as being part of Generation Z. But what does that mean and is it necessary to group people according to their date of birth?
你什么时候出生的？如果是在90年代末或60年代初，那么你被归类为Z一代的一员。但这意味着什么？有必要根据人们的出生日期对他们进行分组吗？
People have always been defined by their generation. We had the baby boomers of the 1960s, followed by Generation X and then Generation Y, often referred to as millennials, and the'new kids on the block' are Generation Z – aged between 16 and 22. It's easy to classify these young people as all being the same, sharing the same attitudes towards life – but is that fair?
人总是由他们这一代人来定义的。我们有20世纪60年代的婴儿潮一代，接着是X一代，然后是Y一代，通常被称为千禧一代，“初来乍到的人”是Z一代，年龄在16到22岁之间。很容易把这些年轻人归类为所有人都是一样的，对生活的态度都是一样的，但这公平吗？
A survey by the BBC's youth radio channel, Radio One, found that people from Generation Z, informally called 'Z-ers', may be viewed by others as shallow digital natives, incapable of real-world friendships. But they actually view themselves as hardworking, entrepreneurial and about to change the world for the better. It's an ambitious aim.
英国广播公司（BBC）青年广播频道“一号电台”（radio One）的一项调查发现，Z一代人（非正式地称为“Z-ers”）可能被其他人视为肤浅的数字原住民，无法与现实世界建立友谊。但事实上，他们认为自己勤奋、有创业精神，打算把世界变得更好。这是一个雄心勃勃的目标。
The previous generation, born between the mid-1980s and late 1990s - the millennials - were also thought to have these characteristics. But according to Hiral Patel, an analyst from Barclays, many people view this new generation as "mini-millennials" She told the BBC that Z-ers are different "they have their own set of values and preferences which consumer brands need to cater for. Our research found that Gen Z are tech-innate, hyper-informed consumers, and extremely savvy."
上一代，出生于20世纪80年代中期至90年代末的千禧一代也被认为具有这些特征。但据巴克莱（Barclays）分析师希拉尔•帕特尔（Hiral Patel）表示，许多人认为这一代人是“迷你千禧一代”，她对BBC表示，Z-ers不同，“他们有自己的价值观和偏好，消费者品牌需要迎合这些价值观和偏好。我们的研究发现，Z一代是天生谙熟科技产物的消费者，消息非常灵通的，而且非常精明。”
It's true to say that technology is playing an important part in the lives of Generation Z, particularly in the area of social media. In fact they have not known life without it and using it to communicate, share ideas and campaign is second nature – it is their norm. It means they have more of a say on what we eat, drink and buy than any generation before them. These young people certainly need to be listened to by retailers and businesses – they are the people with time on their hands and money.
诚然，技术在Z一代的生活中扮演着重要的角色，特别是在社交媒体领域。事实上，他们不知道没有它的生活，用它来交流、分享思想和竞选是他们的第二天性——这是他们的准则。这意味着他们对我们吃的、喝的和买的东西比他们之前的任何一代都有发言权。这些年轻人当然需要得到零售商和企业的倾听——他们是手头有时间和金钱的人。
But being a Z-er comes with pressure. One young person told the BBC survey "many people in Generation Z have mental health issues because they're unsure what the future will bring." The future always brings uncertainties but maybe there is pressure for this generation to be the most successful ever. If you're one of them, how do you feel about your future?
但做一个Z-er是有压力的。一位年轻人在接受英国广播公司（BBC）的调查时说，“Z一代的很多人都有心理健康问题，因为他们不确定未来会带来什么。”未来总是带来不确定性，但也许这一代人有压力成为有史以来最成功的一代。如果你是他们中的一员，你对自己的未来有何感想？
词汇表
noughties ['nɔ:tiz] 2000后至2010年
generation 世代
baby boomer （二战后至六十年代间）婴儿潮一代出生的人
millennial 二十一世纪初期成年的千禧一代
new kids on the block 初来乍到的人
real-world 现实世界中的
entrepreneurial [ˌɒntrəprə'nɜ:rɪəl] 富有企业家精神的
ambitious 雄心勃勃的
cater for 迎合
tech-innate 天生谙熟科技产物的
hyper-informed 消息非常灵通的
savvy [ˈsævi] 精通…的
second nature 习惯、习性
norm 常规、常态
time on their hands 有大把的时间
pressure 压力
mental health issue 心理健康问题
测验与练习
一. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. Which generation came before Generation X?
2. What have Generation Z never lived without?
3. True or false? Generation Z feel they are unable to make real-life friendships.
4. According to the article, what can the pressures Generation Z experience lead to?
5. Why should retailers and businesses listen to what the people of Generation Z are saying?
二. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。
1. Our university canteen has to ______ all kinds of dietary requirements.
A. cater at B. cater with C. cater for D. catering for
2. My friend is very computer ______ and he's managed to easily fix my laptop.
A. norm B. pressure C.savvy D.tech-innate
3. As you've got ______, maybe you could help me with the housework?
A. handy time B. time on your hands C.time with your hands D. hands on time
4. As far as pop music is concerned, the ______ were a time of innovation.
A. noughties B. generation C. baby boomers D. real world
5. My sister is great at singing and dancing so taking part in the musical was ______ for her.
A. norm B.pressure C. second nature D. real world
答案
一. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. Which generation came before Generation X?
The baby boomer generation.
2. What have Generation Z never lived without?
Generation Z have never lived without social media.
3. True or false? Generation Z feel they are unable to make real-life friendships.
False. Other people have viewed Generation Z as incapable of real-world friendships but the people from this generation would necessarily agree.
4. According to the article, what can the pressures Generation Z experience lead to?
The pressures can contribute to the development of mental health issues.
5. Why should retailers and businesses listen to what the people of Generation Z are saying?
Not only are they used to commenting on social media, they are the people with spare time and money.
二. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。
1. Our university canteen has to cater for all kinds of dietary requirements.
2. My friend is very computer savvy and he's managed to easily fix my laptop.
3. As you've got time on your hands, maybe you could help me with the housework?!
4. As far as pop music is concerned, the noughties were a time of innovation.
5. My sister is great at singing and dancing so taking part in the musical was second nature for her.
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