美国青少年

Many American youngsters earn their own allowance by doing odd jobs1 for their neighbors. Babysitting2 is one of the common of these jobs. Most couples do not have maids or relatives3 living with them,and they need to have someone watch the children if they want to go out.

Another wayis bymowing4 lawn5 in summer and clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways in winter.

Many people mow their own lawns, but often people prefer to give the job to a neighbor's child.In winter,snow clearing from streets and highways is the government's responsibility6.

Homeowners or tenants7, however, must clear sidewalks and driveways. Since clearing snow is very tiring,many people prefer to hire teenagers for this job rather than do it themselves.

Besides, many American teenagers usually work two or three hours after school and all day Saturday or Sunday at the local supermarket. They work as cashiers8 or stockroom clerks,or they help customers carry things to their cars. Other favorite jobs are waiting on tables in restaurants or working part－time at stores or gas stations.

By earning their own allowance, teenagers acquire a feeling of independence9 and a sense of responsibility, which prepares them for a productive life in society.

注释

1. odd job 零活，零工

2. babysitting n. 代人临时照看小孩

3. relative n. 亲属，亲戚

4. mow vt. (用镰刀或机器)割（草、谷类植物等）

5. lawn n. 草地，草坪

6. responsibility n. 责任，职责，义务

7. tenant n. 租户，房客

8. cashier n. 出纳员

9. independence n. 自主，自立，独立

许多美国小孩通过帮他们的邻居做零活来挣自己的零花钱，看小孩是这类工作中最常见的。大多数夫妇没有女佣人也没有亲戚和他们生活在一起，因此，当他们想出门的时候，他们需要一个能够照看小孩的人。

另一种方法是在夏天修剪草坪或者在冬天清扫人行道和车行道上的积雪。

尽管许多人是自己修剪草坪，但人们通常喜欢让邻居家小孩来做。在冬天，清扫街道和公路上的积雪属政府的职责。不过，房主和承租房子的人，无论如何都要清扫自己家门前的人行道和车行道。既然扫雪是件苦差，于是许多人宁可雇用十多岁的青少年，也不自己扫。

还有，许多美国少年，利用放学后的两三个小时和整个双休日去当地的超市打工。他们常做出纳员或仓库保管员，或者帮助顾客把东西搬到他们的车上。其他较受欢迎的工作还有到饭店当服务生，或者到百货商店、煤气站做兼职工。

在挣零花钱的同时，这些青少年还获得了独立感和责任感，这为他们以后在社会中生存发展做了准备。