The Cost of Prom

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Every high school junior and senior dreams of attending the prom―the glamour, the glitz, the dressing up, and the memories―but the prom is becoming more and more expensive.1 Is this four or five hours worth the cost? Tickets range from $50 to $80, tuxedo2 rentals cost about $150, flowers are $40 or more, and prom dresses average at least $250. If you rent a limousine3, there goes another $400. Your prom could cost almost $1,000! Is it really worth that much?

Most proms are held at locations that have catering and a DJ.4 Why don’t we go back to having the prom in the school gym? Attendees could go out for dinner beforehand. Underclassmen5 could decorate the gym and help pay for the dance. It doesn’t really matter where the prom is held; it is the fun that you have there and the memories that are important. High school students shouldn’t have to worry about going into debt to attend their prom.

Girls could consider renting dresses or making them. I was fortunate that my mother made my date’s dress. This saved her over $100. Since girls only wear their outfits6 once, why not rent them like the guys do with their tuxedoes? Dresses should not have to cost so much.

There’s no problem with renting a limousine to get to and from the prom as long as more than three couples go together and split7 the cost, especially with the price of gas lately. Yes, limos mean fewer cars on the road and make socializing more fun, but you can only rent them for so many hours and then you are stuck.8

The prom could easily become less expensive if guys wore suits and girls wore nice long dresses. Having the prom in the gym and sponsored by the underclassmen would lower the ticket price. Parents could serve a special dinner at home, and they don’t have to spend money on eating out.

In these tough economic times, with more and more parents being laid off, young people should not have to spend so much on a big fancy prom.

小舞会，大花销

每一位初中生和高中生都梦想着参加毕业舞会――炫目奢华的场面、精致的衣着打扮、美妙的回忆――然而，参加这种毕业舞会的花销不断攀升。这四五个小时值得花那么多钱吗？入场券价位在50―80美元不等，男士无尾晚礼服租金大约要150美元，鲜花需要40美元或更多，舞会礼服的平均花费至少是250美元。如果要租一辆豪华轿车，还需另外再花400美元。最后算下来，参加这个舞会大约要花费1,000美元！那么，这真值得花这么多钱吗？

大多数舞会都在可提供饮食服务和唱片骑士的场所举行。可是，为什么不回到学校体育馆去举行毕业舞会呢？来参加的人可以提前在外面自行用餐。低年级的学生可以帮忙布置现场，这可抵消他们参加舞会的一些费用。其实，舞会在哪里举行并不重要，重要的是大家在此欢聚的乐趣和回忆。中学生不应该因参加舞会而负债累累，并为此忧心忡忡。

女孩子们可以考虑租或自制礼服。我很幸运，因为我的舞伴穿的礼服就是我妈妈做的。这样节省了她一百多美元。既然女生的礼服只穿一次，为什么不像男生一样去租衣服呢？在服装上不应该花太多钱。

租一辆豪华轿车其实问题不大，只要至少有三对情侣一起分担费用就可以，尤其是考虑到最近油价上涨，一起租车也不失为一个好办法。的确，租用豪华轿车将意味着路上跑的汽车会减少，而且让社交活动更为有趣。但是，你只能租几个小时，再租下去你就该为钱犯难了。

如果男生穿西装，女生穿漂亮的长裙，毕业舞会的花销就很容易削减下来。在体育馆举行毕业舞会，并由低年级学生提供帮助，也可以使入场券更便宜。父母可以在家给孩子们准备一顿特别的晚餐以省去外出用餐的费用。

在经济不景气时期，越来越多的父母们面临着失业，年轻人不应该为一场高档舞会花太多钱。

单词卡片

1. glamour: 奢华，华丽；glitz: 浮华，闪光。

2. tuxedo: 男士无尾半正式晚礼服。3. limousine: 豪华轿车。

4. catering: 提供饮食及服务；DJ:即disc jockey的缩写，意为“流行音乐节目主持人”。

5. underclassmen: 此处指中学的低年级学生。

6. outfit: （尤指在特殊场合穿着的）全套服装。

7. split: 分担（费用）。

8. limo: 即limousine的缩写；

stuck: 陷入困境、被动中。

Educating Melissa女生玛丽莎I――求学篇

玛丽莎是谁？

她有着怎样的喜怒哀乐？

让我们与玛丽莎一起――

体味美国年轻人生动日常口语！走近美国丰富多姿的社会文化！

本篇节选自《女生玛丽莎I――求学篇》（Educating Melissa） 。该书的主人公是一个即将毕业的高中生玛丽莎，书中从她如何申请美国的大学讲起，记述了她大学生活的点点滴滴，从如何选课、交友、约会、课余兼职到挑灯夜战、准备考试等等。此书采取对话的方式，英汉对照，大量使用了现代美国大学生的日常用语，是一部真实而典型的美国大学生生活实录。

Two weeks later. Outside the high school.

Melissa: Jessica, can you give me a ride home?

Jessica: Sure. Get in! I have to leave right now. I am babysitting1 Olivia this afternoon.

A cellular phone rings. Melissa: Oh great, it’s my mom! She

probably saw that I didn’t finish

washing up the dishes after

breakfast this morning. Hi mom!

Sorry about those dishes.

Suddenly, Melissa shrieks.

Melissa (talking to her mom): Ah! I’m on my way home right now! See you in a few minutes!

Jessica: What’s going on? Is everything OK?

两周后，学校外。

玛丽莎：杰茜卡，你能开车顺便送我回家吗？

杰茜卡：当然可以。上车吧！我得马上出发，今天下午我要照看奥利维娅。

手机响了。

玛丽莎： 噢，天哪，是我妈妈！她可能发现我今天早饭后没有洗盘子。嗨，妈妈！对不起，我没有洗盘子。

突然，玛丽莎尖叫了一声。

玛丽莎（对她妈妈说）：啊！我正在回家的路

上！一会儿见！

杰茜卡： 怎么了？没事吧？

Melissa: My SAT scores just arrived! Hurry up! Can’t you drive any faster?

Jessica: As a matter of fact, no, I can’t drive

any faster! There is a cop2 behind us now and my parents said that

they would take away my car if I get another speeding ticket …

Two weeks later at high school.

Jessica: How was your trip to UAP? Did you

like it?

Melissa: Yes, I loved it! I also visited several universities in California, but they just didn’t do anything for me. Hey, guess what? I ran into Andrea at UAP! It

was really great seeing a familiar face on campus!

Jessica: So, have you started the application

process at UAP?

Melissa: Yes, I am working on getting all of the

paperwork completed and sent off

before the early admission3 deadline. We’ll see if I can make it. Also, I

might have a chance to meet with the president of the university some time next week―he just happens to be in town talking to several students about the college. I am so excited! How are things going for you and your paperwork for the police academy?

玛丽莎： 我的SAT成绩出来了！快点儿！你能再开快点儿吗？

杰茜卡： 事实上，不行的，我不能开得比这更快了！我们身后正有警察跟着，而且我爸妈说如果我再拿到一张超速罚单，他俩就会没收我的车子了……

两个星期后，在玛丽莎的学校。

杰茜卡： 你的亚洲太平洋大学之行如何？你喜欢这所学校吗？

玛丽莎： 是呀，非常喜欢！我还参观了加州其他几所大学，但是对我来说是多此一举。嘿，你猜怎么着？我在亚洲太平洋大学遇到安德烈娅了！在校园里碰见熟人可真高兴！

杰茜卡： 那么，你开始申请亚洲太平洋大学了吗？

玛丽莎： 是的，我正着手完成所有的书面材料，争取在提前录取的截止日期之前把材料寄出。看看我能否被录取。而且，我下周可能还有机会跟他们的校长见面――他恰好在镇上，和一些学生聊聊这所大学的情况。我真是太兴奋了！你呢，你申请警察学院的材料准备得怎么样了？

单词卡片

1. babysit: 看孩子，照顾小孩。美国法律规定：12岁以下的孩童不可单独在家，如果父母有事外出，一定要请人到家陪伴孩子。

2. cop:〈口〉警察。

3. early admission: 可理解为“提前录取”。学生认定某一所大学，只申请这所大学，一旦学校也决定接受该生，发给其录取通知（admission），该生就必须接受，不可再申请其他大学。

Jessica: Everything is coming along. It looks

like I will be submitting all of my

materials and completing my physical examination this summer. In fact, I have to start working out soon―that physical examination is going to be a killer!4 Let’s start running together on the weekends. I need someone to keep me on track!

Melissa: Sounds good. I saw quite a few fine looking young men at UAP. I’d better get myself in shape! …

Two months later on a Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. Jones: When do you think you will hear

back from UAP? Your father and I are very proud that you were accepted into two other schools, but I know

you really want to go to UAP. Did Ms.

White give you any indication how

long this process could take?

Melissa: The only thing that Ms. White said was to be patient. After two months, I bet it would be all right to give the admissions office5 at UAP a call to see whether they are mailing out the notices…

Mr. Jones comes through the door and places the envelope on the table. All three members of the Jones family sit down and look at the

envelope.

杰茜卡： 一切都还顺利。看来我要在今年夏天交齐所有的书面材料，还要完成体检。实际上，我现在得赶快锻炼一下身体了――体检是很难通过的一关！我们开始周末一起跑步吧。我需要一个人来监督我锻炼！

玛丽莎： 这主意听上去不错。我在亚洲太平洋大学看到好几个帅小伙儿。我最好练出一副好身材！……

两个月后，一个星期六的下午。

琼斯太太：你觉得什么时候能听到亚洲太平洋大学的回音？我和你爸都为你感到骄傲，你已经被其他两所大学录取了，但我知道你最想去亚洲太平洋大学。怀特女士告诉你整个过程要花多长时间了吗？

玛丽莎： 怀特女士只告诉我要有耐心。我敢说过了这两个月，给亚洲太平洋大学招生办打电话询问通知书是否寄出的话，应该没什么问题的……

琼斯先生走进来，把信封放在桌子上。一家三口围坐下来看着这封信。

Mr. Jones: Go ahead, honey. Open it.

Melissa: Mom, could you open it for me? I am too nervous.

Mrs. Jones (winking): OK. But, you’ll have to read the good news to us.

Mrs. Jones opens the letter. Melissa slowly takes it out of the envelope.

Melissa: Oh my God!

Mr. Jones (looking at Mrs. Jones): What does it say?

Melissa: I got in! It is welcoming me to join the UAP Class of 2007!

Mrs. Jones: Congratulations, honey! We knew you could do it! Let’s call Eric to tell him the good news.

Melissa picks up the phone.

Melissa: Hello. Eric? Guess what??

Eric: Hey Missy6! How are you doing? Did you get into UAP?

Melissa: Yes! I just got accepted!!!

Eric: Awesome! That school is so perfect for you! Congratulations! I’ll see you in May for your graduation ceremony. Say “hi” to mom and dad for me.

Melissa: OK. See you soon!

琼斯先生：宝贝儿，打开看看。

玛丽莎： 妈妈，你能帮我打开吗？我好紧张。

琼斯太太（眨眨眼睛）：好啊。不过你要自己把好消息念给我们听。

琼斯太太打开信封，玛丽莎慢慢地把信取出来。

玛丽莎： 哦，天啊！

琼斯先生（看着琼斯太太）：上面怎么说的？

玛丽莎： 我被录取了！这封信欢迎我成为亚洲太平洋大学2007届的学生！

琼斯太太：祝贺你，宝贝儿！我们知道你一定行的！快给埃里克打电话，告诉他这个好消息！

玛丽莎拿起话筒。

玛丽莎：喂，是埃里克吗？猜猜什么事儿？？

埃里克：嘿，玛莎！你怎么样？被亚洲太平

洋大学录取了吗？

玛丽莎：是的！我被录取了！！！

埃里克：真棒！那所学校很适合你！恭喜你了！五月份你的毕业典礼上见。代我向爸妈问好。

玛丽莎：好的。再见！

单词卡片

4. work out: 做运动，体育锻炼；killer: 字面意思是“杀手”，在这里引申的意思是“最难过的一关”、“最困难的事情”，用今天通俗的话说就是“最要命的”。

5. admissions office: 招生办公室，其主要功能是审核学生的入学资格。

6. Missy: 玛莎，是Melissa的昵称或小名，只有父母或是很熟的朋友才可以用。