《高级听力教程》Unit 3 Part 5 Page 222

原文标题 How Is Urbanization Nagetive Affecting Our Society?

第三单元着重讨论城镇化作用，在2000-2010这十年期间，也是不可逆的过程。

然而，城镇化带来的城市之间人们隔阂加剧，种族隔离、生活分区、区域之间相互不通气，进而贫富差距变大，逐渐显现各种社会问题，例如犯罪率上升等。

How Is Urbanization Negatively Affecting Our Society?

How is urbanization negatively affecting our society? The answer to this question is not a simple one. When answering this question one must understand that urbanization cannot be stopped, but only contained in a manner that will help the United States to function better as a country. The move densely populated and more heterogeneous a community is, the more accentuated characteristics can be associated with urbanism.

Urbanism promotes urban violence, political instability, crime and aggressive behavior. Rapid population growth in urban area also perpetuate poverty. Another major issue being created by this local problem is the breaking of the traditional family structure, Out cities are not working well! Sanitation, safety, transportation, housing, education and even electricity are failing, These are all responsibilities of the government, or it is at least their job to regulate these services deemed to be monopolies. And it is a known fact that monopolies deem toward inefficiency.

Functionalists look at our cities as a means to profit. Cities are a place where everybody visits, and therefore vendors can raise their prices and profit more on their products. For example, from my own personal experience, I bought a pack of cigarettes for $3.00 at my local gas station, and when I visited inner city Orlando, I bought the same brand of cigarettes for $4.00.

In the United States, the breaking of the traditional family structure is an issue that has become increasingly noticeable in recent years, particularly in urbanized areas. The traditional, mom and dad, and children are rarely seen in the inner cities any more. There is a weakened bond of kinship, and declining social family significant as America has transferred industrial, educational and recreational activities to specialized institutions outside of the home. It is depriving families of their most characteristic, historical functions.

……