名人教英文：安排直接扣帐
to set up a direct debit
安排直接扣帐
althea: i saw a really disturbing programme on tv yesterday evening.
阿尔泰娅﹕昨天晚上，我看了一个怵目惊心的电视节目。
neil: was that the one about children being forced to work in mines in africa?
尼尔﹕是不是叙述非洲儿童被迫成为矿场劳工那个节目？
althea: yes, that was the one. those kids are living through hell.
阿尔泰娅﹕不错，就是那个节目。那些孩子过的，简直是地狱生活。
neil: i know. it's terrible. but what can you do about it?
尼尔﹕是啊，真可怕，但有什么办法呢？
althea: well i've already decided to support a children's charity that works to help them.
阿尔泰娅﹕嗯，我决定支持一个儿童慈善机构，是协助那些非洲儿童的。
neil: so you're giving them a donation.
尼尔﹕你是捐一笔钱给那机构吧。
althea: more than that. i'm going to set up a direct debit on my bank account so that i contribute something to it every month automatically.
阿尔泰娅﹕不但如此，我还会安排从银行账户直接扣帐，每个月自动捐些钱给他们。
neil: you really are a kind-hearted soul.
尼尔﹕你心肠真好。
阿尔泰娅谈到非洲矿场的童工﹕those kids are living through hell。kid和child都是指小孩子，但kid字多用于口头，严肃的公函、文件等不宜使用。据牛津英文字典oxford english dictionary 载，十九世纪之前，kid只是「社会低下阶层的俚语」。
live through (something) 是「熬过（艰苦的事情、日子等）」，例如﹕(1) it was a terrible earthquake but he lived through it safe and sound（那场地震十分厉害，但他活了下来，而且丝毫无损）。(2) many of my generation have lived through grinding poverty（我这一代人，不少都熬过贫苦的日子）。
尼尔说阿尔泰娅心肠好﹕you really are a kind-hearted soul。soul的本义是「灵魂」；用来说人，常用在形容词之后，还常有称许的意思，例如﹕(1) he is an honest soul（他是个诚实的人）。(2) the old man is the very soul of kindness（那老翁很有爱心）。
阿尔泰娅谈到捐款给慈善机构的办法﹕i'm going to set up a direct debit。direct debit是「直接扣帐」，即与银行安排，容许某人或机构为某事从你的账户直接提款。direct debit和standing order（自动转账安排）不同﹕standing order是委托银行向某人或机构定期付款，例如﹕(1) do you pay your bills by direct debit or standing order?（你是用直接扣帐还是自动转账方式结账？）(2) i wish to set up a direct debit / a standing order for my rent payment（我想安排用直接扣帐 / 自动转账方式交租）。