The idea of low material desire, low consumption and refusing to work, marry and have children, concluded as a “lying down” lifestyle, recently struck a chord with many young Chinese who are eager to take pause to breathe in this fast-paced and highly-competitive society.

Many millennials and generation Zs complained to the Global Times that burdens, including work stress, family disputes and financial strains, have pushed them “against the wall”. They said they hate the “involution”, joking that they would rather give up some of what they have than get trapped in an endless competition against peers.

“Instead of always following the ‘virtues’ of struggle, endure and sacrifice to bear the stresses, they prefer a temporary lying down as catharsis and adjustment,” said a scholar. “It is no wonder that some young people, under the growing pressures from child-raising to paying the mortgage today, would try to live in a simple way and leave the worries behind.”

Interestingly the majority of millennials and Gen Zs reached by the Global Times, who claim to be big fans of the lying down philosophy, acknowledged that they only accept a temporary lying down as a short rest. It is true that with the great improvement of living conditions, some Chinese youth have partially lost the spirit of hardship and are not willing to bear too much hard work. But in fact, lying down is not entirely comfortable. Young people who lie down always feel guilty about their constant loss of morale far beyond their reach.

“Young people on campus have both aspirations and confusion about their future, but most of us have rejected setting ourselves up in chains to waste opportunities and challenges,” a postgraduate student told the Global Times. “It’s no use running away. I have to ‘stand up’ and face the reality sooner or later.”

【小题1】Which of the following can be described as a “lying down” lifestyle?

A．Following the ‘virtues’ of struggle, endure and sacrifice.

B．Living in a simple way and leaving the worries behind.

C．Bearing lots of hard work to improve one’s living conditions.

D．Standing up and facing the reality consistently.

【小题2】What might have caused the “lying down” lifestyle among the young?

A．Improvements in living conditions.	B．Growing pressure from family and social life.
C．Increasing material possessions from families.	D．Temporary adjustment to failure in competitions.

【小题3】What’s the scholar’s attitude toward the “lying down” group?

A．Understanding.

B．Intolerant.

C．Supportive.

D．Unclear.

【小题4】What can be inferred about the young generation from the text?

A．They would rather escape than take challenges.	B．They really enjoy the “lying down” lifestyle.
C．They find their dreams far beyond their reach.	D．They never really drop their responsibilities.