The U.S. Census
According to the U.S. Constitution, the “federal” (national) government must “take a census” (count the number of people) living in the United States every 10 years. The first census was in 1790, so every year ending in zero is a census year. One of the main reasons for the census is to determine how “to allot” (to divide among different people or groups of people) the 435 members that “form” (are part of) the United States House of Representatives, the officials who represent the people of the United States and make laws. States that have more people get more representatives, and states that have a smaller population are given fewer representatives, but the number of representatives is always 435.根據美國憲法，「聯邦」（全國）政府必須每10年進行一次「人口普查」（計算居住在美國的人口數量）。第一次人口普查是在1790年，因此每逢以零結尾的年份就是人口普查年。進行人口普查的主要原因之一是為了確定如何「分配」（在不同的人或群體之間分配）美國眾議院的435名成員，這些成員代表美國人民並制定法律。人口較多的州獲得更多的代表，而人口較少的州則獲得較少的代表，但代表人數始終是435人。
In order to “take into account” (consider; make part of a decision) births, deaths, and “migration” (moving from one part of the country to another), the government counts every 10 years and then makes any necessary changes. During the 1980s and 1990s, for example, states in the Southwest U.S., such as Arizona, Nevada, and California, increased their number of representatives due to more people moving to those states for jobs.
為了「考慮」（納入決策）出生、死亡和「遷徙」（從國內一個地方移動到另一個地方），政府每10年進行一次普查，並根據需要進行調整。例如，在1980年代和1990年代，美國西南部的州，如亞利桑那州、內華達州和加利福尼亞州，因為有更多人為工作搬到這些州，所以增加了代表人數。
How does the U.S. Census “Bureau” (office) collect “data” (information) to count people? First, it mails a letter to every “residence” (house, apartment, or other place where people live) in the U.S. with a “survey” (a list of questions). Most people get a two- or three-page survey that they are asked “to fill out” (to complete) and mail back to the government within about two weeks.
美國人口普查「局」（機構）如何收集「數據」（信息）來統計人口呢？首先，他們會向美國的每個「住宅」（房屋、公寓或其他人居住的地方）郵寄一封信，信中包含一份「調查問卷」（問題列表）。大多數人會收到一份兩到三頁的問卷，要求他們在大約兩週內「填寫」（完成）並寄回給政府。
The survey asks just a few questions, including the names of everyone living in your house, your telephone number, whether you own your residence or rent it, your age, your sex, your birthday, your “income” (how much money you make), and your “race” (such as African American, Asian American, and white). It is very simple and short, and is available in many different languages.
問卷只詢問一些簡單的問題，包括住在你家裡的每個人的姓名、你的電話號碼、你是擁有還是租賃你的住宅、你的年齡、性別、生日、你的「收入」（你賺多少錢）以及你的「種族」（如非裔美國人、亞裔美國人和白人）。這份問卷非常簡短，也有多種語言版本。
One more interesting fact about the U.S. Census: the Census Bureau counts everyone, even people who are living here “without permission” (illegally). The government also promises to keep the information secret for at least 72 years so that people will be honest and not “withhold” (refuse to give) information they are asking for.
關於美國人口普查還有一個有趣的事實：普查局統計所有人，甚至包括那些「未經許可」（非法）居住在此的人。政府還承諾將信息保密至少72年，以便人們能夠誠實作答，不會「隱瞞」（拒絕提供）他們所要求的信息。
重要單字
- 1. Federal [ˈfɛdərəl] - 聯邦的
- 2. Census [ˈsɛnsəs] - 人口普查
- 3. Allot [əˈlɒt] - 分配
- 4. Form [fɔːrm] - 構成
- 5. Take into account [teɪk ˈɪntuː əˈkaʊnt] - 考慮
- 6. Migration [maɪˈɡreɪʃən] - 遷徙
- 7. Bureau [ˈbjʊəroʊ] - 局、辦事處
- 8. Data [ˈdeɪtə] - 數據
- 9. Survey [ˈsɜːrveɪ] - 調查問卷
- 10. Residence [ˈrɛzɪdəns] - 住宅
- 11. Income [ˈɪnkʌm] - 收入
- 12. Race [reɪs] - 種族
- 13. Without permission [wɪˈðaʊt pərˈmɪʃən] - 未經許可
