One Is the Loneliest Number|倍受歧视的单身贵族

by Marcus Maurice

Are you unlucky in love or lucky to have gotten out of that last relationship alive?

A new term has been coined recently, singlism, which means being discriminated against because a person is unmarried. Most single people in the US haven't noticed, but the cards are stacked against them. Singles always pay more for car insurance than those married and with families. Health insurance is also less affordable because insurers think that singles are more prone to do things that could cause serious injury. Also, married people can add their spouses to their insurance plans for reduced prices, while singles are not allowed to do the same with someone close to them. When it comes to renting houses or apartments, landlords and property owners tend to think that singles will have wild parties all night long. They choose married couples because they feel that they won't ruin their rental properties or irritate their neighbors.

Some single men are paid less than married ones for the exact same work. What's more, people without families are expected to work longer hours or go on business trips more often. Tax laws are set up to give breaks to those that are married. Also, when a married person dies, his or her benefits go to their husband or wife. When a single person dies, his or her benefits go straight back into the system.

It's a shame that singles are marginalized at a time when they make up almost half of the population. Married couples save up for property, children, and college funds, while singles are helping the economy by spending their disposable income. People should realize getting married and having a family is not the only practical way of life. It's about time that singlism was stopped for good.

1.  How are singles discriminated against?

(A) They are denied the chance to buy cars at a lower price.

(B) They aren't allowed to have parties all night long.

(C) They are forbidden to buy property with their savings.

(D) They are restricted from adding their parents to their insurance plans.

2.  Which of the following can be concluded from the second paragraph?

(A) More single people evade taxes.

(B) Single people die younger than married ones.

(C) Married men earn less money than single ones.

(D) At work, singles are sent on more trips because they don't have families to take care of.

3.  According to the article, which of the following is true?

(A) Singles make more contributions to society and are treated accordingly.

(B) Married people have their funerals paid for by the government.

(C) Unmarried adults nearly equal the amount of married people in the general population.

(D) Single people can save more money than married ones.

4.  What is the author's attitude towards singlism?

(A) It is to blame for the declining birthrate.

(B) It does more good than harm to society.

(C) It should be halted.

(D) It is acceptable.

倍受歧视的单身贵族

你是恋爱运不佳，还是幸运地活着逃离上一段感情？

Singlism是最近发明的新词，意思是有人因未婚而遭到歧视。在美国，大多数的单身男女都没察觉情势对自己不利。比起有家室的已婚者，单身人士总是要付更高额的车险，健康保险的保费也比较贵，因为保险业者认为他们较易从事导致严重伤害的活动。同时，已婚者可用较低的保费将配偶纳入自己的保险规划，而单身者则不能以相同的方式将自己的挚亲挚爱纳入。说到租赁房屋或公寓，房东和产权所有者往往认为单身贵族会整晚举办疯狂派对。他们选择把房子租给已婚夫妇，因为他们觉得这些人不会毁损自己的出租房屋或惹恼邻居。

有些单身汉和已婚男性同工却不同酬地赚得比较少。此外，没有家室的人被期望工作的时间较长或是更常出差。就连税法的设立也对已婚人士有减税优惠。而且，已婚人士身故时，救济金会送达配偶的手中。而单身者身故时，救济金则回归体制。

单身人口几乎占总人口的一半，但很遗憾却遭到边缘化。已婚夫妇为不动产、子女和大学基金存钱的时候，单身者却以可支配的收入帮助了整个经济制度。大众应该了解，结婚和组织家庭不是生命中唯一可行的方式。该是永远停止单身歧视的时候了。

答案：1. (D)2. (D)3. (C)4. (C)

除了情人节外，现在还有单身者留意日（Singles Awareness Day，简称 SAD），日期有采用与情人节同一天、前一天或后一天。主要是让大家关怀一些没有情人的单身者，为单身人士提供另类的方式度过情人节，让没有伴侣的人不用参与传统的情人节庆祝活动。

在单身者留意日当天，单身人士会聚会庆祝或怜悯其单身身分，当中有些藉此提醒情侣们留意那些比他们不幸的单身者。（数据源：维基百科）