新闻万花筒：BBC视角之贫富悬殊，富人捐闲置物品给穷人

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It’s a well-known and often quoted fact that consumer spending drives the US economy. But it’s also led to what could be called the Stuff Paradox. A large number of Americans have so much clutter they don’t know what to do with it. While many others don’t have anything at all. So what happens to all that stuff that people don’t want and how can it help those most in need.

We get bedding and towels.

Ok.

You can fill up as much space as you have. And you often do. And so then you have to start actually makingdecisions. And there is, you know, the rule of them that if you haven’t worn it or in a year’s time you don’t absolutely love it, then let it go. But then there’s other things your special items and your memorabilia and furniture, and things like that you don’t wanna let go of.

A recent survey says fifty-four percent of Americans feel overwhelmed by clutter and seventy-eight percenthave no idea what do to with it. Many need help to get rid of it, going online for support, hiring professionals or as Carrie is doing asking a charity to give her castoffs a new lease of life.

One of the pieces that will be donating is our family dining room table and eight chairs and then the sideboard in addition to the queen size bed.

Well, this table is beautiful. I mean, this one will last but about ten minutes in our showroom. People will want this right away. So thank you. It’s gorgeous. The chairs are beautiful, as well.

Wonderful.

And as for the bed, I mean, it’s harder to get a good bed than it is to get food or clothing.

Mark Bergel is the founder and chief executive of A Wider Circle, which furnishes four thousand homes for impoverished families every year.

Families come to us with an average income of about 12,000 dollars a year and an average family size of four. Many people live without beds, without dressers, without tables and chairs. Meanwhile, there are a whole host of people who have excess beds and tables and chairs and sheets and towels. So we go to the peoplewho have more than they need. We collect their items. We bring them here and set them up and distribute them to people who have less than they need.

The nation’s capital has one of the widest wealth gaps in the nation. The top five percent of households earn an average of almost half a million dollars a year. While, the poorest five percent make less than ten thousand.

April Johnson has just moved into a new home and hopes A Wider Circle will help her furnish it.

The last house I lived in, my landlord sold his property, so me and my children have been homeless for thepast six months.

And you’ve got five children, haven’t you?

Yes, Ma’m.

词汇解析

distribute

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

v.分配；散发；分布

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

Clothes and blankets have been distributed among the refugees.

向难民分发了衣服和毯子。

The population is distributed in a very uneven pattern.

人口分布很不平衡。

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essential

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.本质的；必要的；重要的

n.要素；必需品

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

This is desirable but by no means essential to the primary objective of validating mathematical models of aircraft behaviour.

对于验证飞机性能的数学模型这一主要目的来说，这是必须的，但决不是最本质的.

用作名词 (n.)

A man should never neglect these social essentials.

一个人决不该疏忽了这些社交上的必需品。

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bitterly

英汉解释

adv.残酷地；痛苦地

参考例句

用作副词 (adv.)

It is bitterly cold today.

今天冷得很。

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contribute

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

vt.捐助；投稿

vi.投稿；贡献；是原因之一

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

She asked him to contribute a biweekly article on European affairs.

她让他每两周写一篇有关欧洲情况的文章。

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

The first is to cut back on treats and snacks. These are generally high in calories and may contribute to weight gain.

首先,就是减少小零食。这些零食一般都含有很高的热量,很容易引起狗狗的发胖;

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favorable

难度：1星畅通词汇，属常用20000词

英汉解释

adj.有利的；顺利的；良好的；赞同的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The conditions are favorable for opening a new business.

各种条件有利于开办新企业。

They are favorable to the proposal.

他们赞同这项提议。

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ensure

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vt.担保；保证；使安全；确保

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

The doctors were zealous in their efforts to ensure the survival of premature babies.

医生们在努力保证早产婴儿成活方面热情很高。

If you want to ensure that you catch the plane, take a taxi.

你要想确保能赶上那班飞机，就坐出租车去吧。

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various

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.各种各样的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

He decided to leave school for various reasons .

由于各种各样的原因,他决定离开学校。

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