Activity 3 Listen and read.

Mum:lt's getting late,Betty. How is your homework?

妈妈：时候不早了，贝蒂。你的家庭作业（做得）怎么样了？

Betty:Nearly finished. Mum,do you think that life is better today than in the past?

贝蒂：就快完成了。妈妈，你认为现在的生活比过去的好吗？

Mum:Yes,of course,l do.

妈妈：是的，当然，我是这么认为的。

Betty: I do too. People are wealthier, today, and they live longer than they did in the past.

贝蒂：我也这么认为。现在人们更富裕，也比过去长寿了。

Mum:That's true. We know more about medicine today, and there's less fear of getting ill because we know how to deal

with the ordinary diseases. But people don't take as much exercise as they ,used to.

妈妈：确实是这样。我们现在对医学懂得更多了，并且（我们）对于患病的担心少了，因为我们知道如何处理一些日常的疾病。但是人们不像过去一样做很多运动了。

Betty:l suppose that's because more people have cars,and they walk or use their bikes less.

贝蒂：我认为那是因为更多人拥有汽车，他们走路更少了，骑自行车也更少了。

Mum:Some people think life in the past was simpler and healthier than today. More wealth sometimes means less health.

When the number of cars is doubled, the pollution is also doubled, or even worse.

妈妈：一些人认为过去的生活比现在的生活更简单而且更健康。有时越多的财富意味着身体越不健康。当汽车的数量加倍时，污染也加倍，甚至更糟。

Betty:What about work? Do people work as hard as they did fifty years ago?

贝蒂：那工作呢？人们工作像他们五十年前一样辛苦吗？

Mum: Yes, and they sometimes work harder. People seldom say they have enough spare time! 'Why don't you go and ask Mrs Li,our neighbour? She's over seventy years old. She's seen how life has changed.

妈妈：是的，而且他们有时候工作更辛苦。人们很少说他们有足够的空闲时间！你为什么不去问一下我们的邻居李太太？她七十多岁了。她看到了生活是如何变化的。

Betty:That's a good idea. l'II go and ask her.

贝蒂：那是个好主意。我将去问问她。

Mum:Remember to speak up!l She's a bit deaf now.

妈妈：记得大点声说！她现在有点儿耳背了。