friends and family around the world represent a sort of social insurance that would be difficult to find in the united states. we do not use our friends to help us out in disaster as much as we do as ameans of getting ahead--or, at least, of getting the job done. the united states systems work by means of a series of closely tabulated favours and obligations carefully doled out where they will do the most good. and the least that we expect in exchange for a favor is gratitude.
參考答案:大意是：
在世界其它地方，朋友和家庭意味着某种社会保障，而在美国却很少是这样的。 我们(美国人)不是靠朋友来救自己，而更多的是把朋友作为出人头地的工具 - 或者说，至少通过朋友达到自己的目的。美国的关系系统是这样实现的：人们把不同的施舍与责任详尽地区分开来，小心地用于能有最大回报的地方。而对于施舍来说，我们最不期望我们的施舍只是换得一点感谢。