Post-(adj.之後的)80s youth fall in and out of love like eating a bowl of "instant (adj.即食的) noodles," a survey (n.問卷調查) has revealed (v.發現).
The Chinese Manufacturers' Association (n.中華廠商聯合會) interviewed (v.訪問) 509 youngsters (n.青年人) - aged 18 to 28 - late last month.
More than 40 percent said they are willing to spend less than a month in courtship (n.追求), and would break off (v.斷絕) their relationship within a month. And within a month of breaking up (n.分手), about 40 percent would jump into (v.迅速開始) a new relationship.
Association chairwoman of youth Stella Lee Wai-fun (n.李慧芬) said such findings (n.發現) reveal the "instant noodles" love culture among the post-80s generation (n.一代).
"It is also shocking (adj.震驚的) to see over half of the respondents (n.回應者、受訪者) admitted dating (v.約會) two to three partners (n.伴侶) at the same time, and that 35 percent had one night stands (n.一夜情)," said Lee, adding young people start and end relationships without deep thought.
"The 37 percent starting a new relationship within a month after breaking up reflects (v.反映) the post-80s are not so serious towards a relationship," said Lee, who blamed this "quick start, quick split (v.分手)" love culture on movies.
(The Standard , February 11)
一項問卷調查發現，80後青年拍拖與分手的心態，有如吃一碗“即食麵”。
中華廠商聯合會上月底訪問了509名青年人，他們年齡介乎18至28歲。
超過40%的受訪者表示，他們只願花費少於一個月時間追求對象，並在一個月內分手；而分手後一個月內，有大約四成人會迅速開始另一段關係。
廠商會青年委員會主席李慧芬指出，這些發現顯示80後的一代崇尚“即食麵”愛情文化。
李慧芬說：“令人震驚的是，有過半數受訪者承認一腳踏兩、三船，而有35%試過一夜情。”她並說，年輕人未經深思熟慮便開始和結束戀情。
李說：“有37%分手一個月內展開新戀情，反映80後對愛情並不認真。”她把這種“快食，快棄”的愛情文化歸咎於電影。
（《英文虎報》，2月11日）
閱讀指引
1. instant (adj) /'?笈nst?瑆nt/，IN-stunt 立即的、即食的
解讀：instant本指立即的、立刻的，相當於immediate，例如︰Their reply was almost instant / immediate（他們幾乎立即回覆）；instant後來引申於食物和飲品，指即食的、即溶的，例如文中的instant noodles是即食麵，又例如instant coffee是即溶咖啡。
2. pollster (n) /'p?瑆?痸lst?瑆/，POLL-star 民意調查員、問卷調查主辦者
解讀：名詞poll解作民意調查、問卷調查，也叫opinion poll，相當於文中的survey；做民意調查，可說carry out / conduct / take a poll；標題的pollster(s)指做poll的人或團體，亦即民意調查員、問卷調查主辦者。
3. courtship (n) /'k?瓡:t?瓿?笈p/，COURT-ship 追求、求愛
解讀：用作動詞的court可解作追求、求愛，例如court a young girl是追求一名少女，而be courting則可指戀愛，例如︰The two are courting是兩人正在戀愛；名詞是courtship，意思相若。
