New Year resolutions 新年的決心
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽錄音，然後回答以下問題。
What marked the end of the writer's New Year resolutions?
The New Year is a time for resolutions. Mentally, at least, most of us could compile formidable lists of 'dos' and 'don'ts'. The same old favorites recur year in year out with monotonous regularity. We resolve to get up earlier each morning, eat less, find more time to play with the children, do a thousand and one jobs about the house, be nice to people we don't' like, drive carefully, and take the dog for a walk every day. Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment. If we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure. Most of us fail in our efforts at self-improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out. We also make the fundamental error of announcing our resolutions to everybody so that we look even more foolish when we slip back into our bad old ways. Aware of these pitfalls, this year I attempted to keep my resolutions to myself. I limited myself to two modest ambitions: to do physical exercise every morning and to read more of an evening. An all-night party on New Year's Eve provided me with a good excuse for not carrying out either of these new resolutions on the first day of the year, but on the second, I applied myself assiduously to the task.
The daily exercises lasted only eleven minutes and I proposed to do them early in the morning before anyone had got up. The self-discipline required to drag myself out of bed eleven minutes earlier than usual was considerable. Nevertheless, I managed to creep down into the living room for two days before anyone found me out. After jumping about on the carpet and twisting the human frame into uncomfortable positions, I sat down at the breakfast table in an exhausted condition. It was this that betrayed me. The next morning the whole family trooped in to watch the performance. That was really unsettling, but I fended off the taunts and jibes of the family good-humouredly and soon everybody got used to the idea. However, my enthusiasm waned. The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. Little by little the eleven minutes fell to zero. By January 10th, I was back to where I had started from. I argued that if I spent less time exhausting myself at exercises in the morning, I would keep my mind fresh for reading when I got home formwork Resisting the hypnotizing effect of television, I sat in my room for a few evenings with my eyes glued to book. One night, however, feeling cold and lonely, I went downstairs and sat in front of the television pretending to read. That proved to be my undoing, for I soon got back to my old bad habit of dozing off in front of the screen. I still haven't given up my resolution to do more reading. In fact, I have just bought a book entitled How to Read a Thousand Words a Minute. Perhaps it will solve my problem, but I just haven't had time to read it!
【參考譯文】
新年是下決心的時候，至少在大多數人的心裡會編排出一份“應做什麼”和“不應做什麼”的令人生畏的單子。相同的決心以單調的規律年復一年地出現。我們決心每天早晨起得早些；吃得少些；多花點時間與孩子們一起做遊戲；做大量的家務；對不喜歡的人友善一些；小心駕車；每天都要帶著狗散步；等等。以往的經驗告訴我們有些事是辦不到的。如果我們煙癮大，戒不掉，那是因為屢戒屢敗，失去信心。我們大多數人想自我完善卻遭到失敗，這是因為我們的規劃過於巨集大，而又根本沒有時間去實施。我們還犯有一個根本性的錯誤，即把我們的決心向大家宣佈。這樣一旦滑回到那些老習慣上去，我們在別人的眼裡會顯得更加難堪。我深知這些問題，於是，今年我對自己的計劃要嚴加保密，只給自己定下兩項適中的任務；每天早上鍛鍊身體，每天晚上多看點書。新年除夕舉辦的一次通宵晚會，使我理直氣壯地在新年頭一天免去了這兩項任務。不過，新年第二天，我全力以赴地照著去做了。
早鍛鍊一共只有11分鐘，我打算在別人起床之前進行。這就要求我比平時早11分鐘把自己從床上拽起來，這種自我約束是很艱苦的。不過開頭兩天我還是成功地躡手躡腳地來到樓下起居室，被誰也沒發現。我在地毯上跳來蹦過去，扭曲身子，擺出各種姿勢，弄得渾身不舒服，然後坐到桌邊吃早飯，一副筋疲力盡的樣子。正是這副模樣洩露了我的祕密。第二天早晨全家人結隊來到起居室看我表演。這真叫人不好意思，但我心平氣和地頂住全家人的嘲笑和奚落。不久，大家對我習以為常了，而這時我的熱情卻減退了。我花在鍛鍊上的時間逐漸減少，慢慢地從11分鐘減到了零。到了1月10日，我恢復了原來的作息時間。我辯解說，早晨少耗費精力鍛鍊，晚上下班回家看書時頭腦更清醒些。有幾天晚上，我極力擺脫了電視的誘惑，坐在自己的房間裡，兩眼盯在書上。可是，有一天夜裡，我感到又冷又孤單，便來到樓下坐在電視機前假裝看書。這下我可完了，因為不一會兒，我就恢復了以前的壞習慣，在螢幕前打起瞌睡來。但我還沒有放棄多看些書的決心。事實上，我剛買來一本叫《一分鐘讀一千字的訣竅》的書。也許這本書能解決我的問題，但我一直還沒時間去看這本書！
lution n.決心
例句：His resolution swayed after the first failure.
第一次失敗之後他的決心就動搖了。
ally adv.內心裡
例句：The man is always mentally deranged.
這個人總是瘋瘋癲癲的。
ile v.編輯，編制
例句：I have been fully occupied in compile this book these days.
這些天來我一直忙於編寫這本書。
idable adj.令人畏懼的
例句：This is a formidable project.
這個工程非常艱鉅。
r v.再發生，又出現
例句：The dream recur throughout her life.
這個夢在她的一生中反覆出現。
larity n.規律性
例句：The pendulum swings with great regularity.
鐘擺很有規律地擺動著。
mplishment n.成就
例句：I want to savor this great moment of accomplishment.
我要享受成功的微妙時刻。
inment n.達到
例句：The attainment of her ambitions was still a dream.
她要實現抱負仍是一種夢想。
terate adj.根深蒂固的
-improvement n.自我完善
me n.簡單的計劃，方案
tious adj.雄心勃勃的
例句：We felt an animation about the ambitious plan.
我們對此巨集偉規劃感到興奮。
all n.意外的困難，易犯的錯誤
例句：The road to the conquest of cancer is long and full of pitfall.
戰勝癌症的征途是漫長的,而且佈滿意想不到的困難。
st adj. 要求不過分的
例句：She is modest and amiable to everyone.
她待人謙和。
duously adv. 刻苦地
-discipline n.自我約束
e n.軀體
ay v.暴露，顯露
例句：His countenance betrayed irresolution and reluctance.
他的臉部表情露出猶豫和勉強。
p v.成群結隊地走動
ttle v.使不安
例句：This strike may unsettle the economy.
這次罷工可能會使經濟不安定。
t n.嘲笑，奚落人的話
n.嘲弄，挖苦
-humouredly adv. 和氣地，心情好地
v.逐漸變小，變弱
例句：Her feelings for John wax and wane.
她對約翰的感情時好時壞。
otize v.使欲睡，使蒙朧
ing n.禍根，毀滅的原因
en n.電視機螢幕
same old favorites recur year in year out with monotonous regularity.
參考翻譯：相同的決心以單調的規律年復一年地出現。
year in year out一年又一年
例句：The old man does morning exercises in the park year in and year out.
那位老人到公園去做早操，一年到頭總不間斷。
experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.
參考翻譯：以往的經驗告訴我們有些事是辦不到的。
beyond attainment做不到
例句：Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.
以往的經驗告訴我們，某些事情我們是做不到的。
we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure.
參考翻譯：如果我們煙癮大，戒不掉，那是因為屢戒屢敗，失去信心。
so……that引導結果狀語從句。
4. Most of us fail in our efforts at self-improvement because our schemes are too ambitious and we never have time to carry them out.
參考翻譯：我們大多數人想自我完善卻遭到失敗，這是因為我們的規劃過於巨集大，而又根本沒有時間去實施。
too的用法
too表示“太”、“過於”的意思時,在句中修飾形容詞或副詞。too前面不可用fairly, very, quite等副詞修飾,但可以用far, rather, much, a bit, a little, a lot等詞語修飾,以表達不同的程度。例如:
You’re standing too near the camera. Can you move a little farther? 你站得離攝像機太近,能否走遠一點?
I don’t go in for rock’n’ roll. It’s much too noisy for my taste. 我不喜歡搖滾音樂。就我對音樂的欣賞而言,它太過於喧鬧了。
The cakes are delicious. He’d like to have a third one because the second one is rather too small. 這些蛋糕味道很好。我還想吃第三塊,因為第二塊實在太小了。
also make the fundamental error of announcing our resolutions to everybody so that we look even more foolish when we slip back into our bad old ways.
參考翻譯：我們還犯有一個根本性的錯誤，即把我們的決心向大家宣佈。這樣一旦滑回到那些老習慣上去，我們在別人的眼裡會顯得更加難堪。
so that也是引導結果狀語從句。
e of these pitfalls, this year I attempted to keep my resolutions to myself.
參考翻譯：深知這些問題，於是，今年我對自己的計劃要嚴加保密。
aware of 知道(察覺到,意識到)
例句：I was not aware of the slight changes.
我察覺不到這細微的變化。
attempt to試圖
例句：The offender attempted to grease the palm of the judge.
罪犯企圖賄賂法官。
all-night party on New Year's Eve provided me with a good excuse for not carrying out either of these new resolutions on the first day of the year, but on the second, I applied myself assiduously to the task.
參考翻譯：新年除夕舉辦的一次通宵晚會，使我理直氣壯地在新年頭一天免去了這兩項任務。
provide with給...提供
例句：I provided the police with the evidence.
我提供證據給警察。
apply to將...應用於
例句：You must apply yourself to your studies.
你應該專心學習。
rtheless, I managed to creep down into the living room for two days before anyone found me out.
參考翻譯：不過開頭兩天我還是成功地躡手躡腳地來到樓下起居室，被誰也沒發現。
manage to達成, 設法
例句：He managed to subdue his mounting anger.
他設法剋制住了陣陣憤怒。
le by little the eleven minutes fell to zero.
參考翻譯：慢慢地從11分鐘減到了零。
little by little一點一點地,逐漸,慢慢地
例句：The hall began to fill up with people little by little.
大廳逐漸地擠滿人潮。
引導結果狀語從句的從屬連詞主要的有so that, so…that, such…that等：He studied hard so that he passed the exam. 他學習用功，所以考試通過了。He was so angry that he couldn’t speak. 他氣得話都說不出來。He shut the window with such force'Times New Roman'">他關窗子用力很大，結果玻璃震破了。注：so…that和such…that中的that有時(尤其在口語中)可省略：)I am so busy I have no time to write a letter. 我很忙，連寫信的時間都沒有。
There was such a lot of rain (that) we couldn’t go out. 雨那麼大，我們沒法出去。
so that
一、引導目的狀語從句
so that“以便，為了”，引導一個表示目的的狀語從句，此時可與 in order that 換用；從句謂語中常用情態動詞 may/might, can/could, should, would 等；主從句間連線緊湊，沒有逗號相隔。例：
My old father began to study computer at the age of sixty so that(= in order that) he might keep up with times. 父親六十歲時才開始學習電腦，以便跟上時代。
I spend more time learning English every day so that(= in order that) I can make greater progress this year. 為了今年取得更大進步，我每天用了更多的時間學英語。
二、引導結果狀語從句
so that“因此，所以”，引導一個表示結果的狀語從句，此時不能與 in order that 換用；從句中謂語根據需要使用相應的時態，主從句間可有逗號相隔。本文開頭所列舉例句中的 so that 就是這種用法。又如：
She had not planned her time well,so that she did not finish her homework on time.
她沒把時間計劃好，所以沒按時完成家庭作業。
Wang Lang did not work hard enough, so that she is out of work when she is still young.
王浪工作不夠努力，因此，年輕時就失業了。
三、辨別兩種不同狀語從句
1) 根據句子結構辨別
從句謂語中含有情態動詞 may/ might,can/ could, should, would 等，這時 so that 引導的是一個目的狀語從句；從句前面有逗號和主句相隔，此時 so that 引導的.是一個結果狀語從句。試對比以下兩個例句：
Yesterday morning Yang Cheng got up early so that she could catch the first bus.
昨天早上楊成為了趕上早班車起床很早。
Yesterday morning Yang Cheng got up early, so that she caught the first bus.
昨天早上楊成起床很早，因此，她趕上了早班車。
2) 根據主從句邏輯關係辨別
so that 引導目的狀語從句，一般表示尚未完成的目的或意圖，主句和從句之間是結果與目的關係；而 so that 引導的結果狀語從句則是表示主句所導致的結果，主句和從句之間是原因與結果的關係。試比較：
I tell my students my new telephone number so that they may call me when necessary.
我把新的電話號碼告訴學生以便必要時他們給我打個電話。
I told my students my new telephone number so that all of them called me when necessary.
我把新的電話號碼告訴了學生，因此，必要時他們都給我打了電話。
ally, at least, mostof us could compile formidable lists of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’.
至少在大多數人的心裡會編排出一份“應做什麼”和“不應做什麼”的令人生畏的單子。
same old favorites recur year in year out with monotonousregularity.
相同的決心以單調的規律年復一年地出現。
experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.
以往的經驗告訴我們有些事是辦不到的
we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure.
如果我們煙癮大，戒不掉，那是因為屢戒屢敗，失去信心。
So that ：這裡的that 並不是so…that的片語 that是作為frustration的定語從句的先行詞出現的。
also make the fundamental error ofannouncing our resolutions to every body so that we look even more foolish whenwe slip back into our bad old ways.
可以表達重蹈覆轍的意思。
所以當我們重蹈覆轍的時候，更加顯得愚蠢不堪。
6.…I applied myself assiduously to thedesk.
我堅持履行了我的計劃。
was this that betrayed me.
而就是這一點暴露了我的祕密。
這個簡單句在兩個長句子中間出現，調整了句子的協調性，而且避免了重複羅嗦。
暴露祕密這個表達。。一般想到的是exposed吧。。
ver, my enthusiasm waned.
然而，我的熱情逐漸消退了。
