| 答え An opinion poll conducted by a major independent agency in October found that the majority of youths aged 16 to 22 feel pessimistic about the future. Interviews with pollees revealed a variety of reasons for the negative sentiment. One 19-year-old female university student polled at a local pub summed up the feeling of many in her generation by saying, I'm not trying to contemplate my future because the more I think about it, the more hopeless I feel." A 22-year-old man added, I've been working for about three and a half years since I graduated from high school. I thought it would be better for my future to work while I could instead of entering a university because I knew lots of people with university degrees who weren't able to find jobs." Another male college student commented that he was worried about the aging of society as well as the future employment situation. One of the surprising findings of the poll was that an increasing number of youths feel anxious about the possibility of their prospective children growing up to be delinquent. This anxiety is thought to be a result of the recent increase in juvenile crime. The road ahead does not appear to look dark for everyone, however. The poll concluded a minority of youths are still optimistic about the future. One of them said, We human beings have overcome the difficulties which have loomed in front of us up to this point. I think we'll be competent enough to continue to cope with difficulties in the future." Another slice of the age group is somewhat ambivalent about future prospects. As one 20-year-old girl put it, I've hardly thought about my future. Things go the way they go." 単語＆フレーズ ◆ opinion poll 世論調査 ◆ aged 〜 to ・・・ 〜から・・・の年齢の ◆ pollee 世論調査をされる人 ◆ sentiment 心情、意見 ◆ poll 世論調査をする ◆ contemplate よく考える ◆ the aging of society 高齢化社会 ◆ feel anxious about〜 〜を心配する ◆ prospective 将来の ◆ delinquent 非行の ◆ juvenile 少年の、児童の ◆ loom (いやなものが) 視界の中に大きく迫ってくる ◆ ambivalent 反対の感情を持った ◆ Things go the way they go. なるようになる。 All Rights Reserved. C 2000 Front Page |