The Fine Art of Putting Things Off中英对照
unit2the_fine_art_of_putting_things_off中英对照
Unit 21. Cool one’s heels ，be forced to waitto,testify to3. apocalyptic, predicting the end of the world4. not at all or in any respect(prō-kŏn′səl), A high administrator in one of the modern colonial empires.(roo′mə-nāt′), turn a matter over and over in the mind.,go over---,,noisy,talk idly,encourage:, make strong(ăk′ə-dēm′), a. The academic environment;；b. Academic life.,psychiatrist/ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/,not recognized by the conscious mind/truː.ɪ.zəm/,obvious truth,a statement that is so obviously true that it is almost not worth saying:II., having worth or merit or value, appeal or request earnestly;n,[proʊˌkræstɪ'neɪʃn],putting off or delaying an action to a later timeThe Fine Art of Putting Things Off拖延的艺术Michael Demarest迈克尔·德马雷斯特1"Never put off till tomorrow," exhorted Lord Chesterfield in 1749, "what you can do today." That the elegant earl never got around to marrying his son's mother and had a bad habit of keeping worthies like Dr. Johnson cooling their heels for hours in an anteroom attests（证明） to the fact that even the most well-intentioned men have been postponers ever. Quintus Fabius Maximus, one of the great Roman generals, was dubbed "Cunctator”(Delayer拖延者) for putting off battle until the last possible vinum['vaɪnəm] break（休息）. Moses pleaded a speech defect （语言表达缺陷） to rationalize（找理由） his reluctance to deliver Jehovah's edicts （法令）to Pharaoh. Hamlet, of course, raised procrastination（拖延） to an art form.“今天能做的事情决不要推到明天。
The Fine Art of Putting Things Off
Chesterfield was born on September 22, 1694, in London, and educated at the University of Cambridge. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1715. In 1726, after succeeding to the earldom of Chesterfield, he entered the House of Lords.
German writer and scientist. A master of poetry, drama, and the novel, he spent 50 years on his two-part dramatic poem Faust (published 1808 and 1832).
Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator
Roman commander and statesman whose cautious delaying tactics (whence the surname Cunctator, meaning “delayer”) during the early stages of the Second Punic War (218– 201) gave Rome time to recover its strength and take the offensive against the invading Carthaginian army of Hannibal. Fabianism has come to mean a gradual or cautious policy.
教程6_Unit_Two
Unit TwoText I The Fine Art of Putting Things Off 拖延的学问1.cool one’s heels：be forced to wait; be kept waiting。
空等。
2.attest to：testify to; serve as an evidence to affirm／to be proof of。
证实，证明。
3.apocalyptic[ə'pɑkə'lɪptɪk]：foreboding imminent disaster or final doom 。
启示录的。
4.proconsul [prəʊ'kɒns(ə)l]：an administrator in a colony usually with wide powers。
地方总督。
5.ruminate：go over in the mind repeatedly and often slowly。
沉思，反刍。
6.nattering：chattering；hence, noisy。
唠叨，瞎扯。
7.echelon['eʃəlɒn;]-：rank, 1evel。
排成梯队。
8.fortify ：encourage；support。
设防于，使坚强。
9.reappraisal[,riə'prezl]：re-evaluation。
重新估计，评价。
10.academe[,ækə'di:m]：the academic community; academics。
研究院。
11.shrink：1)psychoanalyst or psychiatrist精神分析学家。
2)become smaller or draw together收缩，缩短。
12.subliminal：[sə'blɪmɪn(ə)l]existing or functioning outside the area of conscious awareness。
The Fine Art of Putting Things Off
--use of restrained exaggeration;
--use of formal words and phrases; --use of extensive quotations.
IV. Summarizing and Speech-making
Task 1: Sum up the main idea of the text with 200 words.
4
5 6 7
Become indecisive Increased feelings of overwhelm
Negative impact on relationship
8
II. Text Structure: Argumentation
Thesis:
Procrastination is not altogether a bad practice. .
Test your procrastination factor!
Scores:
10-14 15-24 25-35 36-45 46-50 High procrastination factor Strong tendency to procrastinate Try to reduce Low procrastination factor Well controlled
III. Discourse Analysis
1. Style:
Style may refer to: --a writer’s habitual or peculiar way of using language; --the prevalent features of the language of a certain period; --the characteristic aspects of the language of a certain type of writing; --It may also mean grace of elegance in writing.
高英6-Fine-arts-of-putting-things-off
Unit TwoText 1: The Fine Arts of Putting Things Off Ⅰ. Learning objectivesⅡ. Warm-up questions1.H ow do you find the text, easy or difficult? (general impression)2.W hat are the specific difficulties you came across when reading the text?i.Diction (formal, big words)ii.Style (formal)iii.Tone (serious? humorous?)iv.AllusionsIII. Questions on the text1. What is the author’s argument/message?⏹Y ou can well put off till tomorrow whatyou can do today.⏹P rocrastination is not altogether a badpractice. Sometimes it isrecommendable..(Compare with conventional ideas:⏹N ever put off till tomorrow what you cado today.⏹P rocrastination is the thief of time2. How would you comment on the author’s tone?⏹h alf serious, half joking3. Read quickly the beginning of eachparagraph. Can you see the generalorganizational pattern of the text?Work out the outlineI Opening to present the topic (para1)II Classification of human beings into two categoriesIII Main argument: Procrastination as a worldwide way of lifePara 3: literary/artisticPara 4: military, diplomatic, legalPara 5: commercial/businessPara 6: administrativePara 7: academicPara 8 medicalIV ConclusionIV. Analysis of the textParagraph 1:1.W hat advise did Lord Chesterfield giveto his son?Was he himself a good example of doing things promptly?Explain the irony.2.T o support his theme that evenwell-known people are in a habit of delaying things, the author gives several examples. What examples are given?(Quintus Fabius Maximus, Moses, Hamlet) Read the notes and explain in your own words what is the thing that each of them postponed?i.Quintus –delayed battle (cautionand delay to wear out the enemy.) ii.Moses –delayed passing God’s message to Pharaoh.iii.Hamlet – put off revenge3. Are you impressed/amused by theauthor’s effective opening? What’syour impression of the author’s style?In the first paragraph, the author refers to 5 people who are well-known either in history or literary/religious circles, who are they?5 well-known historical figures: LordChesterfield, Dr. Johnson, QuintusFabius Maximus, Moses, HamletWhat makes the five people related inthis context? Or what is the thing thateach of them postponed doing?1.I s the author’s way of beginning theessay effective?2.W hy does the author refer to visits tothe barber, the dentist and the doctor “Faustian encounters”?3.R ead the topic sentence and commenton the organization pattern of theparagraph.4.E xamine how the author contrasts the two different ways of doing things and underline the verbs. Are they used in parallel?5.I n line 14, the author writes “until the apocalyptic voice of Diner threatens doom for Denver”. Explain what the “Apocalypse” is and what is the metaphorical use of “apocalyptic”?6.R ead note 8 and tell what you know of “Faust”7.W hat is typical of those “do-it-nowers”? And what about the “delayers”?8.R ead the 3rd paragraph, think: what kind of people may belong to “a creative soul”? How many supporting details are given in the paragraph? Please note how the author refers to a particular novelist and later to “many a writer” to convince the readers thatdelay can do benefits to writers/artists in general.9.N ote the topic sentence of paragraph 4and how it is developed. Explain the humor/irony in the examples given. itary/diplomatic/legal matters arenormally urgent business that asks for immediate action. However according to the author, postponement remains a prevailing practice in these circles.What are the details?11.What are the excuses normally givenby those who postpone writing academic papers?12.How does the explosion ofinformation become an excuse for those who hesitate to take action?Ⅲ. Relevant information1.L ord Chesterfield:Lord Chesterfield (1694—1773):English Statesman, orator and author;literary reputation rests upon hisletters to his illegitimate son who wasborn in Holland in 1732. The lettersare noted for wit and worldly wisdom.They were published in 1774 under thetitle “Letters to His Son”.2.D r. Samuel Johnson (1709—1784):English poet, critic, and man of letters;the literary dictator in England in thelater half of the 18th century; stronginfluence on literary thought and style;one of the most famous personalities;best known for Dictionary of theEnglish Language( innovation inlexicography)rank of British nobleman:Duke-Marquis-Earl-Viscount-BaronDuches-Marquise-Countess-Viscountess-Ba roness3.Q uintus Fabius Maximus: Romangeneral, whose cautious delaying tactics gave Rome time to recover its strength and take the offensive against the invading army; so get the nick name “ Cunctator”; Fabianism( derived from his name “ Fabius”)4.F abian Society: founded in 1884; advocating social change through gradual reform rather than by violent revolution actionAdj. employing a cautiously persistent strategy to wear out enemy5.M oses: a Hebrew Patriarch; born in Egypt, led the Jewish away from their bondage and, across the desert. During the journey he was inspired by God.6.J ehovah: the name of God used in the Old TestamentParaphrase: Moses justified his unwillingness to pass Jehovah’s orderto Pharaoh, saying that he was “slowof speech”.7.F austian encounters:Faust: a wandering artronomer andnecromancer who lived in Germany(1488—1541) and was reputed to havesold his soul to the Devil; he was thehero of dramas by Marlowe andGoethe (“Faust”). In Goethe’s the herohad many encounters withMephistopheles, the Devil.Ⅳ. Organization of the textPara.1: Opening to present the topicClassification of human beings into two categoriesMain argument: Procrastination as a worldwide way of lifePara 3: literary/artisticPara 4: military, diplomatic, and legalPara 5: commercial/businessPara 6: administrativePara 7: academicPara 8: medicalConclusionⅤ. Language points1.e xhort: try hard to persuade sb. to dosth.e.g. to exhort the man not to drink toomuchexhortation: n. e.g. fervent exhortations to revolutionary actions2.g et round: also come round to; to findtime for sth. Or doing sth. Esp. after delaye.g. --I should be able to get round tothat job next week.--After a long journey he got round to writing the letter.--The committee will get round toyour suggestion after they havedealt with urgent business.3. attest to: testify/be the proof of/to prove sth.e.g. The fingerprints on the gun attested to his guilt..4. be dubbed: a. be given the name ofe.g. London was dubbed the “insurance capital of the world”.b. to dub a filme.g. The TV series is dubbed into six languages.5. plead: a. to plead a particular thing as an excusee.g. –He might find it convenient to plead ignorance.--I pleaded that I fell ill.c.f. b. to plead guilty/not guilty in a court (to officially state that …)c. to plead with sb. to do sth. e.g. to plead her to control herself.6. ungodly: (colloq.) a. outrageous e.g. anungodly hour to arrive(at anunreasonably precise hour)精确到不近人情的时间b. wicked7. to dine on sth.: to eat sthe.g. How pleasant it is to dine on finewell-cooked fish and freshvegetables, in such charmingsurrounding.c.f. to dine out: to eat dinner in a restaurante.g. Let’s dine out tonight.to dine off:e.g. Does the emperor readily dine off gold plates?用金盘子吃？8．file for: a. to apply formally 正式申请to start action in law towards sth.e.g. The actor’s wife has filed for divorce again.b. (Am.E) to offer oneself formally for a poste.g. How many people have filed for thisoffice?9. apocalyptic: foreboding imminentdisaster or final doom预示世界末日的from: the Apocalypse 〈启示录〉a. the last book of the New Testament, recounting a divine revelation to St.John; It describes visions of heaven anda prophetic account of the end of theworld.b. revelation esp. of the end of the world.10. Diners Club: introduced in 1950 the firstuniversal credit card.11. Denver: the capital and the largest cityof Colorado (probably: where the headquarters of Diners Club)12. doom: (biblical) end of the world.(text) withdraw the credit card from the owner.13. geodetic: from geodesy, the branch ofmathematics dealing with the f14. proconsul: an administrator in a colony殖民地总督15. Singapore sling: an alcoholic drink16. ruminate about/on/over/upon: reflecton/think; to consider sth. carefully and at length.--Many valuable ideas have comethrough ruminating over variouspossibilities.17. nattering: chattering, noisy18. order in: a. to obtain (supplies) byordering, usu. in quantitye.g. Have you ordered in enoughenvelopes this month?b. to order sb. to entere.g. The teacher ordered the children in.(text): to obtain supplies of machine guns and fresh troops by sendingout telex. 所幸的是他没有现代化的电传催他调进更多的枪支和援兵。
李观仪新编英语教程第六册unit 2 the fine art of putting things off
Dictionary work
1. cool one’s heels: be forced to wait; be kept waiting
2. attest to: (v.) testify to; serve as an evidence to affirm/ to be proof of 证实, 证明
5. ruminate: (v.) go over in the mind repeatedly and often slowly 反刍, 沉思
6. nattering: (adj.) chattering; hence, noisy
rel. natter: chatter; to talk for a long time, especially about unimportant things 唠叨；闲聊
明日歌
明日复明日， 明日何其多。 我生待明日， 万事成蹉跎。 世人若被明日累， 春去秋来老将至。 朝看水东流， 暮看日西坠。 百年明日能几何？ 请君听我《明日歌》！
——清·钱鹤滩 (1461—1504)
ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้
Song of today
Today again today, how much will be for today. Doing nothing today, when will you do then? How many todays in a life? What a pity doing nothing today! Don't wait for tomorrow, things must be done in each day. Let's sing the song of today and do matters from today!
新编英语教程6 U2 the fine art of putting things off
The Fine Art of Putting Things OffMarch 15, 2010About the title⏹The best skill or method of delaying things.⏹Art (here) —skill or method拖延(v) →拖延(n) →拖延者⏹delay → delay → delayer;⏹postpone → postponement → postponer;⏹procrastinate → procrastination → procrastinator;⏹put offProverbs about time:⏹“Procrastination is the thief of time.”拖延就是浪费时间。
⏹“Never put off tomorrow what may be done today.”今日事，今日毕。
⏹Putting things off is the waste of time.⏹Just do what you should do as quickly as possible.⏹Consolation is the thief of time⏹Constant enjoyment is the waste of time.Song of tomorrowby Qian HetanTomorrow upon tomorrow,So many tomorrows have gone!If we only eye on tomorrow,Nothing in the world can be done!People are cumbered by tomorrow,As seasons alternate, old they grow.In mornings, we see rivers eastward flow.At nightfalls, we see sunsets westward glow.This life, how many tomorrows do you know?Please listen to my "Song of Tomorrow".明日歌⏹明日复明日，明日何其多。
Unit 2The Fine Art of Putting Things Off
Ruminate Ruminate: (formal) think deeply and carefully 沉思,认真思考 e.g. ~on/over/about sth rumination ruminative ruminatively
Difficult Sentences
Lawyers are among the world‟s most addicted postponers : Lawyers are the world‟s worst postponers who just could not free themselves from postponing. Addicted: dependent on something (usually a drug) and unable to stop having it; enthusiastically devoted to a particular thing or activity. e.g. be addicted to computer games
Difficult Sentences
(L37) the caution that breeds delay: the great care that causes delay Breed: “to be the cause of sth 孕育、导致 Literally ,breed refers to either animals producing their offspring or people who keep animals or plants for the purpose of producing young ones in a controlled way,饲养、培育
The Fine Art of ___中英对照
The Fine Art of ___中英对照Lord Chesterfield once advised his son to never put off until tomorrow what can be done today。
but even he had his own ___。
___ people waiting for hours。
This shows that even the most well-___ Quintus Fabius Maximus。
a Roman general。
was even given the nickname "Delayer" for putting off battles until the last possible moment。
___。
And of course。
___ into an art form.自从“拖延者”时代以来，拖延的艺术实际上被军事、外交和法律所垄断。
在过去，英国殖民地总督面对当地人的起义时，可以端着新加坡司令鸡尾酒，安逸地思考民族叛乱的形势。
幸运的是，他没有电传机在一旁喋喋不休地传递着命令，一会儿是增加机枪，一会儿又是增派军队之类的。
直到第二次世界大战时，美国将军仍然可以与敌方将军达成协议，休息一天，去掠夺村民的鸡和酒，然后第二天再战。
律师是世界上最喜欢拖延的人之一。
据一位从不拖延的贝弗利山保险推销员___ ___所说，“没有留下遗嘱就去世的律师数不胜数。
”Every problem has a n。
even when there is no n to find one。
However。
there is a n ___。
especially in the upper levels of business。
Richard Manderbach。
a group ___ of America。
___。
___ for those who are lazy。
TheFineArtofPuttingThingsOff中英对照
The Fine Art of Putting Things Off拖延的艺术Michael Demarest迈克尔·德马雷斯特1"Never put off till tomorrow," exhorted Lord Chesterfield in 1749, "what you can do today." That the elegant earl never got around to marrying his son's mother and had a bad habit of keeping worthies like Dr. Johnson cooling their heels for hours in an anteroom attests to the fact that even the most well-intentioned men have been postponers ever. Quintus Fabius Maximus, one of the great Roman generals, was dubbed "Cunctator” (Delayer) for putting off battle until the last possible vinum break. Moses pleaded a speech defect to rationalize his reluctance to deliver Jehovah's edicts to Pharaoh. Hamlet, of course, raised procrastination to an art form.“今天能做的事情决不要推到明天。
”切斯特菲尔德伯爵在1794年劝告儿子说。
但是这位高雅德伯爵一直没有抽出时间来与孩子母亲举行婚礼，还有让约翰逊博士等名士在接待室久等的坏习惯。
新编英语教程6unit 2 fine art of putting things off
Part II (p3-8) Why people procrastinate
• p3 procrastination among writers
• p4 procrastination in the military, diplomacy and law
• p5 procrastination in business • p6 procrastination in the government, economic institutions and languages
plead: v. 1) to ask earnestly and in an begging way 2) give … as an excuse 提出…为借口 plead sth. as the reason for … speech defect: stammer, slow of speech
edict: official order
15
Part I (p1, 2) Procrastination: a common scene
P2 two kinds of people • delayers • do-it-nowers How many of them respectively?
What are the two kinds of people like?
9
Part I (p1, 2) Procrastination: a common scene
A animated film about Moses: the Prince of Egypt
10
Part I (p1, 2) Procrastination: a common scene
Lord: a man with a rank in the aristocracy in Britain Lady aristocratic titles: • duke 公爵 • marquis 侯爵 • earl 伯爵 • viscount 子爵 • baron 男爵
unit2 The_Fine_Art_of_Putting_Things_Off中英对照
Unit 21. Cool one’s heels ，be forced to wait2.attest to,testify to3. apocalyptic, predicting the end of the world4. not at all or in any respect5.ponconsul(prō-kŏn′səl), A high administrator in one of the modern colonial empires.6.ruminate(roo′mə-nāt′), turn a matter over and over in the mind.,go over---7.nattering, chatter.ing,noisy,talk idly8.fortify, encourage:, make strong9.academe(ăk′ə-dēm′), a. The academic environment;；b. Academic life.10.shrink,psychiatrist11.subliminal /ˌsʌbˈlɪm.ɪ.nəl/,not recognized by the conscious mind12.truism /truː.ɪ.zəm/,obvious truth,a statement that is so obviously true that itis almost not worth saying:II.1.worthy,having worth or merit or value2.plead, appeal or request earnestly;3.procrastinatio n,[proʊˌkræstɪ'neɪʃn],putting off or delaying an action to a later timeThe Fine Art of Putting Things Off拖延的艺术Michael Demarest迈克尔·德马雷斯特1"Never put off till tomorrow," exhorted Lord Chesterfield in 1749, "what you can do today." That the elegant earl never got around to marrying his son's mother and had a bad habit of keeping worthies like Dr. Johnson cooling their heels for hours in an anteroom attests（证明） to the fact that even the most well-intentioned men have been postponers ever. Quintus Fabius Maximus, one of the great Roman generals, was dubbed "Cunctator”(Delayer拖延者) for putting off battle until thelast possible vinum ['vaɪnəm]break（休息）. Moses pleaded a speech defect（语言表达缺陷） to rationalize（找理由） his reluctance to deliver Jehovah's edicts （法令）to Pharaoh. Hamlet, of course, raised procrastination（拖延） to an art form.“今天能做的事情决不要推到明天。
The Fine Art of Putting Things Off中英对照
拖延的艺术Michael Demarest迈克尔·德马雷斯特1"Never put off till tomorrow," exhorted Lord Chesterfield in 1749, "what you can do today." That the elegant earl never got around to marrying his son's mother and had a bad habit of keeping worthies like Dr. Johnson cooling their heels for hours in an anteroom attests to the fact that even the most well-intentioned men have been postponers ever. Quintus Fabius Maximus, one of the great Roman generals, was dubbed "Cunctator” (Delayer) for putting off battle until the last possible vinum break. Moses pleaded a speech defect to rationalize his reluctance to deliver Jehovah's edicts to Pharaoh. Hamlet, of course, raised procrastination to an art form.“今天能做的事情决不要推到明天。
”切斯特菲尔德伯爵在1794年劝告儿子说。
但是这位高雅德伯爵一直没有抽出时间来与孩子母亲举行婚礼，还有让约翰逊博士等名士在接待室久等的坏习惯。
高级英语(新编英语教程第6册)Book 6 Unit 2 The Fine Art of Putting Things Off
Moses Parts the Sea
The army chased the Hebrews to the banks of the Red Sea. They would have been trapped but a miracle happened. God told Moses to lift up his rod and as he did so the waters parted to make a dry path. They were able to make their escape.
A Change of Mind
The Hebrews knew they must leave Egypt quickly. They needed food to take with them. There was no time to let the bread rise before it was cooked. They had to take the dough as it was. Pharaoh changed his mind again and sent his army after them to bring tgues
Moses went to Pharaoh to ask him to set the Hebrews free. Pharaoh did not want to lose his slaves. He would not let them go, because they worked on his grand buildings. Awful things began to happen in Egypt. There were ten plagues. Before each one, Moses had warned Pharaoh what would happen. Moses told him the disasters had been sent by God.
the fine art of putting off课件大纲含翻译
the fine art of putting off课件大纲含翻译Title: The Fine Art of ProcrastinationSlide 1:- Title: The Fine Art of Procrastination- Introduction to the topic and its relevanceSlide 2:- Definition of procrastination- Delaying or postponing tasks intentionally- Common reasons for procrastinationSlide 3:- Types of procrastinators- Perfectionist procrastinators- Busy procrastinators- Indecisive procrastinators- Overwhelmed procrastinatorsSlide 4:- Consequences of procrastination- Increased stress levels- Poor time management- Missed deadlines- Reduced productivitySlide 5:- Procrastination myths- "I work better under pressure."- "I have plenty of time to complete the task."- "Procrastination is just laziness."Slide 6:- Benefits of procrastination- Increased creativity and problem-solving abilities- Enhanced focus during tight deadlines- Opportunities for reflection and idea generationSlide 7:- Strategies to overcome procrastination- Set realistic goals and deadlines- Break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks- Use time management techniques (e.g., Pomodoro Technique)- Minimize distractions (e.g., turn off notifications)Slide 8:- Techniques to boost motivation- Find your purpose and set meaningful goals- Create a supportive environment- Reward yourself for completing tasks- Visualize the benefits of completing the taskSlide 9:- Overcoming perfectionism- Embrace imperfections and prioritize progress over perfection- Set realistic standards and expectations- Practice self-compassion and positive self-talkSlide 10:- Conclusion- Recap of key points discussed- Encouragement to embrace a balanced approach to task management - Q&A session书名：拖延的艺术幻灯片1：-标题：拖延的艺术-主题简介及其相关性幻灯片2：-拖延的定义-故意推迟或推迟任务-拖延的常见原因幻灯片3：-拖延者的类型-完美主义拖延者-忙碌的拖延者-优柔寡断的拖延者-不知所措的拖延者幻灯片4：-拖延的后果-压力水平增加-时间管理不善-错过最后期限-生产力下降幻灯片5：-拖延神话- “我在压力下工作得更好。
The Fine Art of Putting Things Off
Present Richard Nixon
Present Richard Nixon (1969-1972) , more specifically, the burglarizing of the Democratic Party national headquarters in the Watergate apartment complex in Washington, D.C. , in 1972. the antecedents of Watergate were steps taken by Nixon from 1967 to 1971 allegedly in the cause of national security.
1884年一部分知识分子创立了费边社该社成员认为社会改革应循序渐进故以公元前3世纪古罗马一位因主张等待时机避免决战的战略而著名的将军费边的名字命名社名
The Fine Art of Putting Things Off
Unit Two
Lord Chesterfield
Lord Chesterfield(1694 - 1773), English statesman, orator and author. His literary reputation rest upon his letters to his illegitimate son, Philip Stanhope, who was born in Holland in 1732. The letters, filled with wit and worldly wisdom, were published under the title Letters to His Son (1774)
The fine art of putting things off
The fine art of putting things offParagraph:3Incur:招致，引起；revive：唤醒4Monopoly:垄断；proconsul:地方总督；ruminate:沉思，反复思考；blessedly:幸福的；natter:唠叨，瞎扯；enemy:敌军；counterpart:配对物，副本；loot:掠夺，抢劫；attorney:代理人，律师5Chronic:慢性的，长期的；procrastination:延迟，拖延；echelon:等级；dynamic:动态，活力；caution:小心，谨慎；breed:导致；vice:副的；fortify：加强，坚定；a delicate edge:稳固的防线；consult:商议6Flourish:繁荣；smother:窒息，遮掩；reappraisal:再评价；thereby:因此，从而；Watergate:水门事件；hasty:草率的，急忙的；stud:散步；apricot:杏仁，杏树7Sociologist:社会学家；churn out:艰苦的做出；agonies:苦恼8Assiduous:刻苦的，百折不挠的；clinical:临床的，简陋；confronting:面对，处理；evade:逃避；trivial:琐碎的，无价值的；subliminal: subconscious;9Truism：自明之理；parliamentary:议会的；deliberation:考虑，审议；architect:建筑师；construct:修建；mellow:成熟的；assassin:暗杀者，刺客；consume:消耗；delicately：优美的，精致的；haste：催促，匆忙；by of means:务必；pace:怀着对...的敬意Explanation of sentences:1. the art of postponement had been virtually a monopoly of the military …, diplomacy and the law:the practice of putting things off had almost been exclusively done by the military, etc. The implied meaning is that the military, diplomacy, and the law are almost the worst delayers.( para.4)2.the world’s most addicted postponers:the world’s worst postponers whojust could not free themselves from postponing. (para.4)3. The number of attorneys who die without a will is amazing:It is a usual practice for people to make a will, an official statement of the way they wish their property to be shared out after their death before they die. (para.4)4.the caution that breeds delay: the great care that causes delay (para.5)5. Many languages are studded with phrases:many languages are provided with phrases (para.6)6. Churn out three to five pages of writing a day:produce three to five pages a day (para.7)7. check out the latest book: examine the latest book carefully; borrow the latest book from the library (para.7)8. drag one’s feet / heels:(informal) act intentionally in a slow or ineffective way (para.8)9. by all means: (formal) yes, of course; certainly 当然可以(para.9)GossipParagraph：1Siamese: of Siam (now called Thailand) 暹罗的，暹罗人的，暹罗语的；adjacent: close to 邻近的；snake pit: madhouse 疯人院；scratch the surface: look closely into (the issue)2exaggerating :夸大的；domestic：家庭的，国内的；scandals：丑闻耻辱; glee: 欣喜，幸灾乐祸；legacy: 遗产，遗赠；heritage：遗产，继承物；freakish: 不寻常的；反常的；奇怪的；奇异的mundane: 平凡的；平淡的注：legacy——a gift of personal property by will；heritage——practices that are handed down from past by tradition3plumpest bison: 丰满的野牛；the cave man :粗野汉穴居人antiquity：古物；bison：北美野牛; 欧洲野牛；speculate on / about：思考；思索；推断；推测；due: 应有的权益; 应得的事物；应有的承认；frivolity: 轻薄，轻浮；轻浮的举动；无聊事或行为；轻薄话own up (to): 坦白地承认；供认4.misguided：adj. 被误导的，v. 使入歧途（misguide的过去分词）；distort ：vt. 扭曲；使失真；曲解，vi. 扭曲；变形predominantly：adv. 主要地；显著地；scurrilous:用污言秽语谩骂的，恶言诽谤的scurrility:谩骂性，诽谤性；粗鄙性；恶意谩骂；粗鄙的笑话；粗话，mean-spirited: 卑鄙的；心胸狭窄的，小心眼的，小气的disown：vt. 否认,断绝与……的关系; amiable:和蔼可亲的；令人愉悦的;5.fabrication：n. 制造，建造；装配；伪造物；acquaintance：n. 熟人；相识；了解；知道; slander (n. & v.): 口头诽谤;rumor-monger (n. & v.): 造谣，散播流言；willful: 任性的，固执的；fabrication: 虚构的东西，（尤指谎言、借口等）；undermine: (暗中地)逐渐削弱或暗中破坏；6pare away/ down：减少修掉；flattering：adj. 奉承的；谄媚的widening：v. 使扩大；拓宽；扩展（widen的ing形式）；使变宽connotation：n. 内涵；含蓄；暗示，隐含意义；储蓄的东西speculation：n. 投机；推测；思索；投机买卖crony (n. & v.): 老朋友，密友; 结成密友inextricable：（adj. & adv.）无法摆脱的，解不开的entwine: 盘绕；使缠绕；使交错；使紧密结合traffic: 交往，交流；交换7authenticity：n. 真实性，确实性；可靠性fabulist: 预言家；撒谎者；捏造者enchanting: 令人陶醉的；迷人的；可爱的sibling: 兄弟姐妹；8condemn：vt. 谴责；判刑，定罪；声讨go about: 着手干……，从事……dissect: 解剖；仔细分析；剖析；详细评论minutia: 微小的细节，细枝末节；琐事，小事titillate: 呵…痒；逗引；使兴奋bask:舒适地晒太阳，取暖；（在某种环境或气氛中）感到舒适，感到乐趣aura: 特殊气氛；氛围9stripped away：除去揭掉；revealed：透露显示；affirm：vi. 确认；断言；nosy / nosey: 爱打听的，好管闲事的;plain: 名副其实的，十足的，绝对的;unadorned:朴素的；不加渲染的;come in for: 接受，遭受(责备/ 表扬)；rankle: 激起怨恨；（在精神上）久久折磨beneficent: 乐善好施的，慷慨地；慈善的; 有益的。
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The Fine Art of Putting Things Off拖延的艺术Michael Demarest迈克尔·德马雷斯特1"Never put off till tomorrow," exhorted Lord Chesterfield in 1749, "what you can do today." That the elegant earl never got around to marrying his son's mother and had a bad habit of keeping worthies like Dr. Johnson cooling their heels for hours in an anteroom attests to the fact that even the most well-intentioned men have been postponers ever. Quintus Fabius Maximus, one of the great Roman generals, was dubbed "Cunctator” (Delayer) for putting off battle until the last possible vinum break. Moses pleaded a speech defect to rationalize his reluctance to deliver Jehovah's edicts to Pharaoh. Hamlet, of course, raised procrastination to an art form.“今天能做的事情决不要推到明天。
”切斯特菲尔德伯爵在1794年劝告儿子说。
但是这位高雅德伯爵一直没有抽出时间来与孩子母亲举行婚礼，还有让约翰逊博士等名士在接待室久等的坏习惯。
这足以证明，用心最善之人亦可是拖沓之士。
罗马的一位大将军昆塔斯·费边·马克西姆斯为了有尽可能多的机会喝酒消闲，常常推迟战斗，被人起了“拖延者”的绰号；摩西不愿向法老传达耶和华的法令，便借口说自己语言有缺陷；当然哈姆雷特更是把拖延上升为一种艺术形式。
2The world is probably about evenly divided between delayers and do-it-nowers. There are those who prepare their income taxes in February, prepay mortgages and serve precisely planned dinners at an ungodly 6:30 p.m. The other half dine happily on leftovers at 9 or 10, misplace bills and file for an extension of the income tax deadline. They seldom pay credit-card bills until the apocalyptic voice of Diners threatens doom from Denver. They postpone, as Faustian encounters, visits to barbershop, dentist or doctor.世上的人基本上可以平均地分成两类：拖延者和马上行动者。
有些人二月份九准备好交个人所得税，预先偿还抵押借款，按计划准时在常人难以忍受的六点半开饭；另一些人则乐于在九点或十点时吃些剩饭剩菜、错放账单和文件以期延长缴税的期限。
他们非要等到信用卡总部警告他们后果自负才肯去付信用卡上的帐。
就像浮士德遇见魔鬼一样，他们推迟去理发店、去看牙医或看医生。
3Yet for all the trouble procrastination may incur, delay can often inspire and revive a creative soul. Jean Kerr, author of many successful novels and plays, says that she reads every soup-can and jamjar label in her kitchen before settling down to her typewriter. Many a writer focuses on almost anything but his task—for example, on the Coast and Geodetic Survey of Maine's Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor, stimulating his imagination with names like Googins Ledge, Blunts Pond, Hio Hill and Burnt Porcupine, Long Porcupine, Sheep Porcupine and Bald Porcupine islands.尽管拖延会带来诸多不便，但拖延经常可以激发和唤醒具有创新意识的灵魂。
写下许多成功小说和剧本的作家琼·克尔说，她要把厨房里每个汤罐头和酱瓶子上的标签看上一遍后，才能安心地坐在打字机前。
许多作家都关注着他们任务之外的各种杂事，譬如，关注在缅因州法国人海湾和巴尔海港进行的海岸和土地测量，其中的地名，如古今斯暗礁、布伦特池塘、黑奥山、伯恩特豪猪、朗豪猪、希波豪猪以及鲍尔德豪猪岛，都激起了他们的想象。
4From Cunctator's day until this century, the art of postponement had been virtually a monopoly of the military ("Hurry up and wait"), diplomacy and the law. In former times, a British proconsul faced with a native uprising could comfortably ruminate about the situation with Singapore Sling in hand. Blessedly, he had no nattering Telex to order in machine guns and fresh troops. A U.S. general as late as World War II could agree with his enemy counterpart to take a sporting day off, loot the villagers' chickens and wine and go back to battle a day later. Lawyers are among the world's most addicted postponers. According to Frank Nathan, a nonpost-poning Beverly Hills insurance salesman, "The number of attorneys who die without a will is amazing."从“拖延者”年代到本世纪，拖延的艺术实际上被军事基地“赶快、待命”）、外交和法律所垄断。
在过去，英国殖民地总督，面对当地人的起义，可以端着酒，安逸地思考民族叛乱的形式。
庆幸的是，他没有电传机在一旁喋喋不休地传递着命令，一会儿是增加机关枪啊，一会儿又是增派军队啊什么的。
直到二战时，美国将军还可以跟敌方将军达成协议，休一天运动假，去掠夺村民的鸡和酒，次日再战。
律师是世界上最积习难改的延误者。
据贝弗利山的从不拖沓的保险推销员弗兰克·内森说，“没有留下遗嘱就去世的律师数不胜数。
”5Even where there is no will, there is a way. There is a difference, of course, between chronic procrastination and purposeful postponement, particularly in the higher echelons of business. Corporate dynamics encourage the caution that breeds delay, says Richard Manderbach, Bank of America group vice president. He notes that speedy action can be embarrassing or extremely costly. The data explosion fortifies those seeking excuses for inaction—another report to be read, another authority to be consulted. "There is always," says Manderbach, "a delicate edge between having enough information and too much."无志者，事也成。
当然，习惯性拖延和刻意延缓是有差别的，特别是在商业机构高层中。
美国银行集团副总裁查理德·曼德巴赫说，企业动力学鼓励谨慎行事，由此滋生了拖延。
他提到，仓促行事往往导致尴尬的局面，或付出沉重的代价。
信息爆炸鼓励了那些为自己的懒惰找借口的人——还有一篇报告要读，还有以个权威人士要咨询。
曼德巴赫说：“数据的充分与泛滥之间总有条微妙的界线。
”6His point is well taken. Bureaucratization, which flourished amid the growing burdens of government and the greater complexity of society, was designed to smother policymakers in blankets of legalism, compromise and reappraisal—and thereby prevent hasty decisions from being made. The centralization of government that led to Watergate has spread to economic institutions and beyond, making procrastination a worldwide way of life. Many languages are studded with phrases that refer to putting things off—from the Spanish mañana to the Arabic bukra fil mishmish (literally "tomorrow in apricots," more loosely "leave it for the soft spring weather when the apricots are blooming").他的观点被广为接受。