In a brand-new1 survey2, we asked kids around the country how they view their own future—and the world's. The future is a funny thing. Some days it seems so full of promise, other days so full of uncertainty and danger. If only your old Magic 8 Ball could give you some real answers about what lies ahead. As a matter of fact, we're just as curious as you are. That's why we decided to conduct a definitive3 survey on what you think about your future. Our questions covered all the big areas of life: money, health, career, marriage and more. So read on—your future starts now.
Money and Career
Cash Flow: Plenty of you want to be doctors or movie stars. But your career choices are seemingly4 unlimited. Whatever job you end up in, one thing is certain: You plan to make some serious money5 while doing it. Who has the greatest expectations6? Nonwhite teens and younger teens. Girls and older teens, meanwhile, aren't so sure that they'll be able to bring home a big fat paycheck. Hmmm, are they being realistic or pessimistic7?
97％ of all teens surveyed expect to make as much or more money than their parents．
77％ of nonwhite teens feel they＇ll be in a higher economic class than their parents, compared with 61％ of white teens．
50％ of all teens expect to earn at least ＄50, 000 a year．
29％ of all teens believe they＇ll make ＄100, 000 a year or more．
How Do You Spell8 Success? Despite the fact that teens are constantly bombarded9 with images that equate success with a resounding ka－ching10, most of you don't place money above all else. Says Janice Chen, 17: “When I told my parents that I wanted to be a fashion editor or designer, they were a little hesitant. But when they realized it was something I was interested in, they knew it would be OK. As long as I was happy it didn't matter if I would be successful or rich. Those would just be bonuses11 of a good career.” Of course, you're not completely blind to the lure12 of big bucks13. And guys tend to be more materialistic than girls.
61％ of all teens surveyed define success as doing something you love, no matter how much money you make．
24％ of guys equate success with making lots of money, compared with 17％ of girls．
6％ of all teens believe the secret lies in having a family, while another 6％ says being happily married is the key．
Bringing Home the Bacon14: Alas, guys and girls can't seem to agree on this one. The guys tend to fall back into traditional ways of thinking about who the family breadwinner should be (namely, themselves), while the girls say they'll definitely plan to be on equal footing with their future spouse15 or partner. And some girls even go so far as to pooh-pooh16 the couple's lifestyle entirely. “I see myself as a strong single female living alone,” writes one. And she's not alone. Other girls proudly described themselves as “self-sufficient17” women.
77％ of girls envision themselves as one of two equal breadwinners, compared with 42％ of guys．
55％ of guys describe themselves as the “main breadwinner in my family,” compared with 15％ of girls．
5％ of girls believe they＇ll be supported by their significant other．
Health And Looks
Body Image: Everyone pretty much assumes18 that teens have low self-esteem19 about their looks, but does that assumption hold up in our survey? Yes and no. Girls want to be thinner, guys want to be fitter. And some think the whole issue is a waste of time. “Why should I care what I look like?” writes one. “I wasn't put here to impress you.” Guys tend to have a better body image than girls. But that leaves a pretty significant percentage of teens who are unhappy with their appearance. “I always find something wrong with the way I look,” writes one girl. “People keep telling me that I'm beautiful. I can't believe they say that. Maybe one day I will realize it.”
56％ of guys say they＇re comfortable with their bodies right now, compared with 41％ of girls．
39％ of girls are most concerned with weight when thinking about their looks, compared with 28％ of guys．
31％ of guys are most concerned about fitness when thinking about their looks, compared with 19％ of girls．
The Shape of Things to Come: One survey-taker writes that the future will bring about certain changes. “I will not be in the pressure of high school. I will not have to worry about how I look because people will accept me for who I am and how I treat them.” Other teens are banking on20 science and medicine to help them reach their goal of physical perfection: “Ten years from now I'll have access to methods, procedures, supplements and medicines that will help me to be and stay pretty.” Still others say they're ready for whatever physical changes time may throw their way: “Even if in 10 years my skin begins to sag or I get laugh lines all over my face, I'll be stable. I'll be me as long as I can make friends and keep them, not because of my looks, but due to21 my personality.”
46％ of all teens surveyed believe they＇ll be more confident with how they look in 10 years．
50％ of girls say they might consider having plastic surgery22 someday, compared with 32％ of guys．
35％ of all teens choose poor health when asked what they fear most about getting older．
13％ of girls choose gaining weight and losing their looks when asked what they fear most about getting older．
在一份全新的问卷里，我们询问了全国各地的孩子们如何看待自己和这个世界的未来。未来是件有趣的事情，好像一时充满希望，一时呢又危险莫测。如果你的老式8号魔术球游戏能给你一些有关未来的答案就好啦。事实上，我们跟你一样好奇，这就是我们决定搞这个问卷调查的原因，确切地了解你对自己将来的想法。我们的问题涉及到生活的各个主要方面：金钱、健康、事业和婚姻等等。接着往下读，你的未来现在就开始喽。
金钱与事业
现金收入：你们当中很多人想当医生或电影明星，而其实你们的职业好像有无数的选择。不管你最终选择了什么工作，有一点是肯定的：你想挣一大笔钱。那谁的抱负最远大？是十多岁非白人少年，还有那些十三、四岁的少年，而女生和十七、八岁的人却没有多大把握自己能给家里带回大把的钞票。嗯，他们是现实呢还是悲观呢？
97%的孩子期望能挣和父母一样多或更多的钱。
77%的非白人孩子觉得他们会比父母的经济阶层更高，而只有61%的白人孩子如此认为。
50%的孩子希望年收入至少5万美元。
29%的人相信他们每年至少会挣10万美元。
你如何理解成功？尽管孩子们不停地受到“成功即赚大钱”这些意念的轰炸，但你们中的大多数人却没有把金钱放在第一位。17岁的贾尼斯·陈说：“我告诉父母想作一名时尚杂志编辑或者时装设计师时，他们有点犹豫。不过他们意识到那是我的兴趣所在之后，就欣然接受了。只要我快乐，是否成功或者发财都没有关系，那些不过是一份好职业的额外收获。”当然啦，你也不可能对大钱的诱惑视而不见，而男生比女生往往更现实。
61%的人把成功定义为做想做的事情，无论挣钱多少。
24%的男生把成功等同于挣大钱，女生则只有17%。
有6%认为立业的秘诀在成家，另外有6%则说美满的婚姻才是关键。
挣钱养家。 哎！在这点上男女生可就意见不一啦。男生倾向于回到传统的观念去想谁应该是家里养家糊口的人（也就是他们自己喽），可女生们却斩钉截铁，要与未来的伴侣平起平坐。一些女孩走得更远，对两人世界的生活嗤之以鼻。“我认为自己是个单身女强人，一个人生活足矣。”有一位这样写道。持有这种观点的人大有人在，还有一些女生骄傲地自诩为“自足”女性。
77%的女生想像自己未来会是平等的两个挣钱养家的人之一，男生的比例则只有42%。
55%的男生描绘自己是家里的挣钱主力，而女生只有15%。
5%的女孩认为她们将靠另一半生活。
健康与外表
形象：人们大都以为十几岁的孩子不会太注重自己的外表，那这个看法是否在我们的调查中站得住脚呢？答案既是也不是。女孩子们想苗条些，男生则希望更强壮。也有人认为这整个儿是在浪费时间。“干吗我要在乎自己的样子？我又不是搁这儿来引谁注意的。”有人这么写道。男生一般比女生对自己的外表更乐观，但有相当比例的人对自己的外表不满。一个女孩写道：“我总觉得自己看上去有什么不对。别人老是夸我漂亮，我不相信他们的话。也许有一天我会意识到吧。”
对自己目前形象满意者，男生占56%，女生占41%。
外貌方面非常在乎体重的女生有39%，男生则只有28%。
外貌上很注重健康结实的男生有31%，而女生只有19%。
未来情形： 一位被调查者认为未来会带来一些变化：“我不会有高中的压力，不必担心自己的长相，因为人们会根据我怎么为人处世而接纳我这个人。”别的孩子则指望借助科技和医疗手段使自己的外在形象达到完美，他们认为“十年后，我就可以借助各种方法、手段、补品和药物使自己永葆靓丽”。也有人认为不管时间如何改变外貌，他们都有心理准备：“即使十年后我的皮肤松弛、脸上满是笑纹，我也会泰然处之。我还是我，只要我还能交朋友、维持彼此的友谊，不是因为长相而是因为个性。”
46%的被调查者认为十年后他们对自己的外表会更有信心。
女生的50%和男生的32%说他们有一天也许会考虑整形手术。
对于变老什么最让他们害怕这个问题，35%的人选择了健康衰退。
对于同一个问题，有13%的女生选择了肥胖和美貌不再。
1. brand－new 崭新的
2． survey n． 调查
3． definitive adj． 确定的，权威性的
4． seemingly adv． 表面上
5． serious money 一大笔钱
6． expectation n． 展望，期望
7． pessimistic adj． 悲观的
8． spell [spel] v． 解除疑惑，理解
9． bombard v． 炮轰，轰击
10． equate v． 等同
resounding adj． 响亮的 ka－ching为象声词，指点钞机发出的咔喳声，这里是很多钱的意思。
11． bonus n． 奖金
12． lure n． 诱惑
13． buck n． (口)美钞
14． bacon n． 咸肉 bacon和bread这里都是钱的代名词。
15． spouse [spauz] n． 配偶
16． pooh－pooh v． 呸(藐视，嘲笑)
17． sufficient adj． 充分的，足够的
18． assume v． 认为 assumption n． 设想，想法
19． self－esteem n． 自尊，自大
20． bank on 指望
21． due to 因为
22． plastic surgery 整容手术