1、Passage5 Waiting 1 I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. 2 But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? 3 To understand the issue, lets take a look at three types of “waits”. 4 The very purest form of waiting is the
2、Watched-Pot Wait. 5 It is without doubt the most annoying of all. 6 Take filling up the kitchen sink as an example. 7 There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until its full. 8 During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wander
3、s about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. 9 This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless. 10 A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. 11 This one requires a bit of discipline. 12 Properly preparing packaged noodle soup requires a Forced Wa
4、it. 13 Directions are very specific. 14 “Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes.” 15 I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. 16 After all, Forced Waiting requires patience. 17 Perhaps the most pow
5、erful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. 18 This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. 19 Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen. 20 Turning ones life into a waiting game requires
6、faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. 21 On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. 22 As long as one doesnt come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen ne
7、ver hurts anybody. 23 We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. 24 The next time youre standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that youll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, dont be desperate. 25 Youre probably just as busy as the ne
8、xt guy.一 单词和短语Words and expressionssink /sk/ vt. 使下沉vi.下沉n. 水池; 洗涤槽; 污水坑counter /kant/ n. 柜台discipline /dspln/ n.纪律；训练vt.训练；惩罚* simmer /sm/ vt. & vi. 炖 optimist /ptmst/ n.乐观主义者desperate /desprt/ adj. 令人绝望的；极度渴望的；不顾一切的reveal /rvil/ vt. 显示；透露；揭露；泄露frustrating /frstret/ adj. 令人沮丧的二 参考译文Translation等 待1我
9、曾在某处读到过一句话：我们整整三分之一的生命都在等待中度过。2但我们都在哪里做这些等待？这对我们这样没耐心的社会又意味着什么? 3要理解这个问题, 让我们看看三种类型的“等待”。4最纯粹的等待是盯着水壶的等待。5这无疑是最恼人的。6以给厨房的洗碗池放水为例。7在等水放满的过程中你绝对什么也做不了，只能是两只眼睛盯着水槽直到水满为止。8在这些等待的过程中，大脑会神游，直到水漫过灶台边缘流到你的袜子上。9这种等待让等待者感到无助、心不在焉。10盯着水壶的等待的表亲是强迫性等待。11这种等待需要一点自律。12准备一份打包面汤的过程需要一种强制性等待。13步骤是明确的。14“将三杯水煮开，加入配料，煮
10、三分钟，停止加热，放置五分钟。” 15我怀疑是否有人严格按照这个程序走。16毕竟，强迫性等待是需要耐心的。17也许，最具有力量的等待是等待好运。18这种类型的等待不同寻常，因为它在很大程度上是自愿的。19 不同于强制性等待（也是自愿的），等待你的好运降临不一定意味着好运真的会降临。20把一个人的人生变成一场等待游戏需要心存信念和希望，这完全是我们当中乐观主义者的事情。21从表面上看，这看起来就像按照汤料上的说明书来做一样荒谬，但等待好运的降临对那些愿意这么做的人很有好处。22 只要一个人不依赖它，对好事发生的希翼永远不会伤害到任何人。 23我们确实花了不少时间等待。24下次当你一边煮着你将必须
11、要吃的面条汤，一边站在水槽边等着它盛满水，同时又等着一大袋现金从天而降的时候，不要觉得绝望。25你可能和下一个人一样忙。三 理解Comprehension1. While doing a Watched-Pot Wait, we tend to _.A. keep ourselves busy B. get absent-mindedC. grow anxious D. stay focused2. What is the difference between the Forced Wait and the Watched-Pot Wait?A. The Forced Wait require
12、s some self-control.B. The Forced Wait makes people passive.C. The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions.D. The Watched-Pot Wait engages body and brain.3. What can we learn about the Lucky-Break Wait?A. It is less voluntary than the Forced Wait.B. It doesnt always bring the desired result.C. It is more
13、fruitful than the Forced Wait.D. It doesnt give people faith and hope.4. What does the author advise us to do the next time we are waiting?A. Take it seriously. B. Dont rely on others.C. Do something else. D. Dont lose heart.5. The author supports his view by _.A. exploring various causes of “waits”
14、.B. describing detailed processes of “waits”.C. analyzing different categories of “waits”D. revealing frustrating consequences of “waits”四用另一个单词或短语替换以下摘自本文的单词或短语。Replace the following words or phrases in the passage with another word or phrase.7 keep both eyes fixed on 8 the brain slips away from the body and wanders about 14 remove from heat 15 procedures 20 strictly 21 ridiculous, directions, well serves_Passage5 三BABDC四7 stare at 8 the thought wanders away/ the mind wanders away/ you are absent-minded 14 turn off the heat 15 processes 20 entirely 21silly, instructions, is helpful for
