【英译汉】

　　But Americans are a restless people who are always ready to move. So, although they enjoy the life in the suburbs, they will by no means end their pursuit there. When his income rises as his career makes progress, he soon looks for a better house, in a better district, with more land, a better view, a bigger and finer swimming pool. He may be attached to the house which is home for the time being but this does not mean that he will put his roots there. Today’s job, today’s income, today’s friends and neighborhood: all these are part of an American’s (and his family’s) identity. Instant coffee, instant friends—but nothing is seen as permanent; an American hopes and expects to exchange them all for something better; and he finds no difficulty in identifying himself with the new.

　　【参考译文】

　　然而，美国是一个静不下来的民族，他们时刻准备搬家。因此就算他们在郊区享受生活，他们也绝不会停止他们的追求。只要事业有进步，收入有所提高时，他就会很快寻找在更高的街区，更宽敞的有着更好的视野的，有更大更高的游泳池的，更棒的住所，可能在暂时在那里落脚定居一段时间，但这并不意味着他就一直会在那里扎根。今天的工作，今天的收入，今天的朋友，今天的邻居，所有的一切都是一个美国人和他的家庭的身份象征。速溶咖啡，瞬间的朋友——好似没有什么被看成是永恒的;美国人总是希望，期盼着该改变现状。以求更好。并且，美国人发现先于新事物打交道并不困难。