Filial piety crisis in Chinese countryside

时间：2007-05-26 06:24:52

（单词翻译:单击）

Chinanews, Beijing, May 25 – While the well-faring old parents in cities are enjoying the celebration with their children on the Mothers’ Day, their numerous counterparts in the countryside of China are still striving to make a living due to the lack of filial support from their children. This is the conclusion drawn1 through a survey by Zhai Yu, an NPC deputy in Heilongjiang.

 

There is a real story happening in Zhai Yu’s hometown, Mashan Village of Jixi City, Heilongjiang province. An old couple both in their 80s, the husband with lame2 legs and the wife bed ridden, were not found dead by their neighbors until several days after they had died in their own house. This old couple had been abandoned by their children, who lived in the same village of their poor parents.

 

Zhai was quiet shocked by this tragic3 story and felt obligated to make a survey about the endowment condition of the aged4 in the villages of China.

 

Covering 10,401 people above 60 years’ old from 72 villages in 46 counties of 31provinces, the survey shows that the average annual income of these elderly people is 650 yuan; 45.3% of the total interviewed live separately from their children, and 85% confess that they have to do farm work on their own. More shockingly, 5% of interviewees are found to have difficulties getting enough food, 93% seldom have new clothes and 69% even do not have alternatives to wear. In addition, 67% of the respondents say they can not afford the medical expense when afflicted5 by slight ailments6, and 86% are not able to pay for the hospitalization cost when having severe diseases.

 

“The problem of endowment in the rural areas are of big concern to not only the 0.9 billion peasants themselves but also to society at large. Filial piety7 is a lowest requirement for being called a man and an indispensable morality for being a nation,” says Zhai,” The aged in the countryside, where social insurance is often inadequate8, should, in any case, be taken good care of in this society.”

 
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1 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
2 lame r9gzj     
adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的
参考例句：
  • The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
  • I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。
3 tragic inaw2     
adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的
参考例句：
  • The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
  • Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。
4 aged 6zWzdI     
adj.年老的，陈年的
参考例句：
  • He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
  • He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
5 afflicted aaf4adfe86f9ab55b4275dae2a2e305a     
使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
  • A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。
6 ailments 6ba3bf93bc9d97e7fdc2b1b65b3e69d6     
疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • His ailments include a mild heart attack and arthritis. 他患有轻度心脏病和关节炎。
  • He hospitalizes patients for minor ailments. 他把只有小病的患者也送进医院。
7 piety muuy3     
n.虔诚，虔敬
参考例句：
  • They were drawn to the church not by piety but by curiosity.他们去教堂不是出于虔诚而是出于好奇。
  • Experience makes us see an enormous difference between piety and goodness.经验使我们看到虔诚与善意之间有着巨大的区别。
8 inadequate 2kzyk     
adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的
参考例句：
  • The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
  • She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

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