英语播客初级版 第161期(外教讲解):社会保险

A: Well, that was an interesting documentary!

B: For sure! I didn’t really understand some of the technical jargon they used in the film when they talked about social security in the US.

A: Like what?

B: Well, they mentioned how people put away money in something called a 401K?

A: Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but a 401k is a type of retirement plan that allows employees to save and invest for their own retirement. Through a you can authorize your employer to deduct a certain amount of money from your paycheck and invest it in the plan. Everyone tries to contribute as much as possible so that when you retire, you can rest peacefully on your nest egg.

B: That’s interesting and logical I guess. In my country, we also have to contribute to a government-run retirement fund, but most people don’t really trust it so they just invest in properties or things like that.

A: That seems a bit unstable don’t you think?

B: Yeah, but corrupt governments in the past have created distrust among banks and financial institutions, so now people prefer to have money hidden in a jar or a piggy bank.

A: I’ve been thinking of doing that lately! I don’t want some banker to run off with my money!

Social Security 美国政府推行的一项保护某些群体的政策

invest vt. 投资

The state has planned to invest two millions in the dam.

国家计划投资两百万元修建这个大坝。

【拓展词汇】

pension n.养老金，抚恤金

disability insurance伤残保险

survivor benefits遗属津贴(援助那些劳动力死亡的家庭)

unemployment benefits/compensation 事业保险

defined benefit plan养老金的固定受益计划

A :那是个有意思的纪录片。

B :当然，我不明白影片中档他们谈到美国社会保险时提及的一些技术术语。

A: 比如说?

B: 他们提到人们如何将钱投进一个叫401K的东西。

A :我知道它听起来和奇怪，事实上401K是一项退休计划，它允许雇员将钱省下来为了以后的退休而投资。通过这个机会，你可以授权雇主从你的工资中扣除一定量的钱，并将钱投入那个计划。每个人都尽可能的出钱，以便当你退休时可以安享晚年。

B :那很有意思也很符合逻辑。在我的国家，我们必须拿些钱加入政府经管的基金，但是大多数人并不相信，人们还是将钱投到房产或类似的东西上。

A: 那看起来不稳定，你不觉得吗?

B: 是的，但是目前的政府让银行和金融机构感到不可信任。所以现在人们更愿意将钱藏到罐子里或是存到贪心的银行里。

A: 我也正在向那么做。我不想让某个银行家将我的钱卷走。