一、词汇

1. simplify vt.单一化，简单化

simple adj.简单的，简易的，朴素的

simply adv.简单地，完全，只是

simplicity n.简单，简易，朴素，直率

[反义词]

complicate

[例句]

The English in this story has been simplified to make it easier to understand. 这个故事里的英语被简写了，更容易理解。

2. mythical adj.神秘的

二、Unit 1 

Modern Life

Paragraph 4~5~6:

In America,the move away from juggling to a simpler,less materialistic lifestyle is a well-established trend.Downshifting–also known in America as "voluntary simplicity"–has,ironically,even bred a new area of what might be termed anti-consumerism.There are a number of bestselling downshifting self-help books for people who want to simplify their lives;there are newsletters,such as The Tightwad Gazette,that give hundreds of thousands of Americans useful tips on anything from recycling their cling-film to making their own soap;there are even support groups for those who want to achieve the mid-'90s equivalent of dropping out.

While in America the trend started as a reaction to the economic deline–after the mass redundancies caused by downsizing in the late 1980s–and is still linked to the politics of thrift,in Britain,at least among the middle-class downshifters of my acquaintance,we have different reasons for seeking to simplify our lives.

For the women of my generation who were urged to keep juggling through the '80s, downshifting in the mid '90s is not so much a search for the mythical good life–growing your organic vegetables,and risking turning into one–as a personal recognition of your limitations.

译文:

在美国,脱离忙碌转而过一种更简单、更少物质化的生活已成确定趋势。放慢生活节奏─在美国也称"自愿简单化"─的生活风格甚至产生了一个可称之为反消费主义的新领域。对于那些想简单生活的人来说,有许多畅销的关于放慢生活节奏的的自助书;还有像《守财奴报》之类的通讯,给数十万美国人提供包罗万象的实用小窍门,从再利用保鲜膜到自治肥皂;甚至还有帮助小组,帮人按90年代中期脱离传统社会的人的生活方式去生活。

在美国,这种趋势一开始是对经济衰落所做出的一种反应─出现在80年代后期缩小经济规模所引起的大量人员冗余之后─现在仍与提倡节俭的政纲相联系;而在英国,至少在我所认识的中产阶级的放慢生活节奏者中,我们有着不同的缘由去寻求简单化的生活。

对我这一代在80年代被敦促搏击生活的女性来说,90年代中期放慢生活节奏与其说是寻求神话般的美好生活─自己种有机蔬菜以及冒险进入一个仙境─倒不如说我们都认识到了自身的局限。