powerpoint templates putting things off. powerpoint templates page 2 ~ introduction whenever i try...

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Putting Things Off

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~ IntroductionWhenever I try to do my assignments, my mind always wanders. Because of my bad habit of putting things off, I have wasted a lot of time and always been one step behind in life.



Body I

Procrastination is the thief of

time.

1 I spend more time inventing excuses for my procrastination than actually doing my assignment.

2 I always waste a lot of time on trivial matters.

3 I feel panic and work very slowly when I get down to the task.

Body III'm always one step behind in life and at school.1 I always try to catch up on

what should have already been done.

2 I never get the satisfaction that comes from getting things done on time, and I feel bad

about this.3 I always find myself

trapped by unfinished business from the past.



Conclusion

I need to learn how to be organized and prompt so that I won't be trapped in the prison of procrastination anymore.


It’s late at night, and it’s time that I did my homework. My eyelids droop as I think about the English assignment before me: Write an introductory paragraph for an essay on one of the five selected topics. I give some thought to the topics, but soon I find my eyes as well as my mind wandering to the mosquito bites on my leg.

droop-drooped-drooped-drooping

introduce v.introduction n.introductory a.

and

bite-bit-bitten-biting v.bite n.bite-sized a.biting wind a.

假設語氣用法 , 練習課本句型一

I give some thought to the topics, but soon I find my eyes as well as my mind wandering . . .

give thought to sth 認真考慮 . . . (= give sth thought)

Paula promised that she would give thought to my suggestion / my suggestion thought.

find 當不完全及物動詞時，受詞後必須再接補語。常見的受詞補語包括現在分詞、過去分詞、形容詞以及名詞，句型為 S + find + O + OC (V- ing/V-en/adj./N) ，表示「偶然看見…，突然發覺…」，例：

The clerk found the girl passing out in the shop. Samuel found his money stolen. Rachel found the classroom empty. Katharine found the boy a genius.

A as well as B A以及B 都…

此用法較強調A；若A 與 B都作主詞時，動詞應與名詞 A一致，例：

I as well as Julio am a student.

主詞和動詞一致性 : 1 當主詞是單數時，後方接含有連帶成分的字詞，如 along with 、 as well as 、 besides 、 in addition to . . . 等，動詞應與主詞一致，使用單數，例： 1. The letter, along with some pictures, was sent to me. 2. My girlfriend, in addition to my parents, is going to see me off at the airport.

2 由 either . . . or . . . 、 not only . . . but also . . . 等連接詞連接主詞時，動詞依最接近的名詞之單複數而定，例：

1.Either Fred or I am to attend the meeting.

2. Not only Ken but also his brothers are going to see a movie this afternoon.


Next, I notice a stain on the shirt I am wearing. Then, my eyes wander to the clock. Suddenly, I am pulled back to reality as I realize that in a matter of hours I will be sitting in English class, and I haven’t even started on my paragraph yet.


. . . I will be sitting in English class, and I haven’t even started on my paragraph yet.

此句型為未來進行式，詳細用法請見本課句型解析 2 。

start on + sth 開始 . . . After finishing the main course, the customers started on the dessert.

This is a classic situation for me. I have managed to put off writing this paragraph all afternoon, just as I manage to put off nearly all of my assignments for hours, days, and even weeks. Therefore, I am always in trouble when time runs out. My English teacher once quoted Henry David Thoreau’s words, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau was right. Because of my procrastination, I have wasted a great amount of valuable time, and I find myself always one step behind in life.

此處的 quiet 用來修飾感覺 (desperation) ，指有某種特殊的感覺，但不可言喻，例：

Mina never hesitates about speaking her mind, which shows her quiet confidence.

( 心中的自信 )

. . . I have wasted a great amount of valuable time . . . one step behind in life.

waste + 時間 / 金錢 (+ V-ing/on sth)

Don’t waste time doing/on trivial things. Stop wasting your money buying/on the unnecessary items.

a great/large/huge amount of 後方接不可數名詞，表示「大量的」之意，例：

Building a reservoir costs a great amount of money.

和 a great amount of 相似的用法還有 a large/great number of ，該用法後方接可數名詞，表示「許多的」之意，例： A large number of teenagers are fond of pop music.

one step behind 用以形容某人無法事先做好萬全的準備或是後知後覺，其相反詞為 one step ahead of ，例： As a good manager, Mr. Lee is always one step ahead of his employees.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” 這句話是從梭羅著名的散文集《湖濱散記》 (Walden) 中節錄而來。下一句為What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. 對梭羅來說，這段話是當時社會大眾的最佳寫照，也用以嘲諷人性從眾和認命的惰性。梭羅認為一般人都過著消沉絕望的生活，每個人就像行屍走肉一般，天天過著一成不變的日子。即便心裡知道自己可以過得更有意義，但是也僅止於在心裡想著而不曾加以實現。作者在此引用這句話，目的是要說明主角就和梭羅眼中的芸芸眾生一樣，每天過著消極的生活。

The results of my procrastination can be summed up in the famous saying,

“Procrastination is the thief of time.” I spend more time thinking up weak excuses for why I can’t do an assignment now than I ever spend on the actual assignment. As for the ways I put off an assignment, they definitely leave something to be desired. Sometimes, for example, I might call my friend for the eleventh time that day, or I might even watch a television show meant for a four-year-old.

這句話引述自英國詩人愛德華‧楊格(Edward Young) 的作品《夜思》 (The Complaint: or Night Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality) 。該詩是一篇談論死亡的長篇諷喻詩，乃楊格因一些親友相繼死亡而有所

感觸之作，相當膾炙人口。

Edward Young 為英國詩人、劇作家兼文藝評論家，《夜思》和《試論獨創性作品》(Conjectures on Original Composition) 奠定他在文壇上的地位。前者共分九部，風靡當時歐洲的讀者；後者為楊格獻給朋友理查生(Samuel Richardson) 的一本評論性的散文集，說明文學的原創性比模仿古典文學作品來得重要。另外，楊格雖身為劇作家，卻缺乏舞臺感，所以他的劇本很少上演。

I spend more time thinking up weak excuses for why I can’t . . .

spend + 時間 / 金錢 + V-ing/on sth

Adam spent almost half of his savings on his car.

Jim spent a lot of time organizing the party.

think up sth (infml.) 想出、構思出 ( 尤指藉口 )

weak 在此表示「缺乏說服力的」，除了可修飾此處的 excuse 外，尚有 a weak alibi 「無說

服力的不在場證明」、 weak evidence 「無說服力的證據」等常見用法。

an excuse for sth/V-ing ( 做 ) 某事的藉口 Bob always makes an excuse for his lateness/being late.

關係副詞 why 在此即介系詞 for 加上關係代名詞 which ，用以修飾先行詞 the reason 。一般而言，關係副詞的先行詞大多可省略，例：

Cole stood his date up last night that’s (the reason) why he made an apology.

代名詞 they 在此指稱的是前方的名詞 the ways 。

be meant for sb/sth 為某人或某目的而準備

This special pair of scissors is meant for left-handed people.

Procrastination also causes me to waste time when I finally get down to the task I have been avoiding. The simplest task takes up extreme proportions of my mind because of the panic I feel for having put it off for so long. I become an irrational, unclear thinker when I am rushed, and this makes me very slow in doing any task. However, the clock ticks on; it never stops for procrastinators like me.

. . . causes me to waste time when I finally get down to the task I have been avoiding.

cause sb to V 致使某人去做… Fear of failure causes Felix to work harder. have been + V-ing 為「現在完成進行式」，可表示在一段時間內持續進行的動作，例：

The baby has been sleeping for three hours.

現在完成進行式 (the present perfect progressive tense) 與現在完成式的用法類似，用以表示「從以前開始，一直持續到現在的動作或狀態」，一般會與時間副詞 for 加上一段時間或 since 加上過去式連用。現在完成式強調「動作的完成」，而現在完成進行式則強調「動作或事件在目前的持續性」，例： The pen pals have been writing to each other for eight years. We have been cleaning our house since this morning.

另外，教師可提醒學生：現在完成進行式只能表達「從過去持續至今的狀態或動作」，而現在完成式則可表達「到現在剛完成的動作」及「到目前為止的經驗」，例： The family have been living here for 20 years. (→ 強調目前還住在這 ) The scientist has traveled to many countries to give speeches. (→ 強調到目前為止的經驗 )

. . . when I am rushed, and this makes me very slow in doing any task.

rush 在此指「使…倉促行事，催促…」。課文採被動語態表示主角是受到外在因素 ( 如交作業的期限 ) 影響，因此迫使他不得不倉促行事。

this 在此指稱的是前半句「當我被催促時，就變成不理性、思路不清的人」一事。

make 在此作不完全及物動詞，其後搭配受詞與受詞補語，其受詞補語可作形容詞，

例： Supermarkets have made our lives . Proper exercise makes people .


Furthermore, procrastination keeps me one step behind in life and at school as I try to catch up on what I should have already done. While most students diligently do their homework for that night, I diligently do my homework from last night, or even from last week. Because I can never seem to do a task when it is assigned, I never get the satisfaction from getting things done on time or being on top of everything.


. . . what I should have already done. what + S + V 在此譯作「…的事情」。複合

關係代名詞 what 即 the thing(s) which ，因此 what 的前方不需再加先行詞。 what引導的名詞子句可作主詞或受詞，例： What you heard was true. ( what 所引導的名詞子句在此作主詞 ) Nobody believed what Jennifer said. ( what 所引導的名詞子句在此作受詞 )

S + should + have V-en . . . 表示「該做而未做」，此句型多半用在「懊悔、覺得可惜」的情境，例： I should have told you the truth then. ( 我當時應該告訴你實話的，但實際上我並沒有。 ) Wayne really should have studied harder. ( Wayne 應該要更用功唸書，但實際上他並沒有。 )

Because it seems that I can never do a task . . .

Rather, I always end up feeling that I am at the bottom of a pit, trying to climb out—one late assignment at a time. However, since I am always behind, catching up on my work is almost the same as trying to walk up a

downward-moving escalator—very difficult and nearly impossible. Because of procrastination, I am never free to live in the present. Instead, I always find myself

trapped by unfinished business from the past.

Rather, I always end up feeling that I am at the

bottom of a pit, trying to . . . at a time.

rather adv. 相反，反而 ( 常用於否定句 ) The award is not meant to praise the winner, but rather to amuse the audience.

end up 可改以 finish up 代替，表「最後變成…，以…告終」，其後補語除了可作現在分詞之外，還可搭配下列不同的詞性： The ruthless dictator ended up overthrown by his people. ( 過去分詞作主詞補語 ) The drunken driver ended up in jail.

( 介系詞片語作主詞補語 ) After the party, the house ended up messy.

( 形容詞作主詞補語 )

. . . I am at the bottom of a pit and try to . . .

at a time 為表示「頻率」的副詞片語，例： The elegant lady ate the cookies one at a time. Be careful with the boxes; please move them one at a time.

Adv. + V-ing 可組成複合形容詞，此類字詞的詳細說明請見 U6 的 Word File 解析。

present n. sing. 現在，目前 You should live in the present; don't

waste your time daydreaming. unfinished business 未完成之事 Daniel had some unfinished business to

settle, so he worked overtime last night.

Thus, procrastination continues to rob me of time. My life is continually interrupted by spurts of anxiety and desperation as one deadline after another flies by. I have yet to grasp the concepts of organization and promptness. I hope that I will grasp them soon. Otherwise, I will be doomed to a life in the procrastinator’s prison that I have built for myself.

. . . one deadline after another flies by. one N after another 一個接著一個的… Cindy loves pies. She can keep on eating one piece after another.

The passengers got off the bus one after another.

fly by ( 時間 )飛逝 (= fly past) Little will people notice that time flies by, especially when they are having a lot of fun.

It is hopeful that I will grasp them soon. Hopefully, I will grasp them soon.


Comprehension Check I. According to the reading, check () the

results of procrastination. ______ (A) Finding one’s mind always

focused on one’s work.______ (B) Wasting a great amount of

time.______ (C) Being one step behind in life.______ (D) Spending a lot of time

memorizing famous sayings.



II. Choose the correct answer to each question or statement.

( ) 1. The main idea of the reading is that __________.(A) procrastination causes people to

panic and become irrational(B) people should never procrastinate

when they work(C) procrastinators tend to be prompt

and well-organized(D) procrastinators are always too busy

to complete their tasks

B



( ) 2. “The mosquito bites” and “a stain on the shirt” in the first paragraph suggest that the speaker __________.(A) didn’t stay focused on his assignment(B) was inspired by the bites and the stain(C) didn’t care about the bites and the stain(D) was doing an assignment on mosquito bites and stains

A



( ) 3. According to the reading, which of the following statements is NOT true?(A) The speaker spends a lot of time thinking up excuses for why he can’t start on an assignment.(B) The speaker often feels anxious about the upcoming deadlines for his assignments.(C) Because of procrastination, the speaker is always trapped by unfinished business from the past.(D) Being one step behind in life leaves the speaker living in the present.

D



( ) 4. From the reading, we can infer that the speaker __________.(A) usually has difficulty taking the

escalator(B) enjoys leading his life of quiet

desperation(C) considers it easy to catch up on his

work(D) often leaves his assignments until

the last minute

D



Questions for Discussion

I. Have you ever put off any of your assignments? If so, share your experiences with your classmates. If not, share your thoughts about procrastination.

II. Do you have any bad habits? If not, do you know what bad habits most people have? Name one of these bad habits and discuss how it has influenced people’s life and how to kick this habit. 參考解答

參考解答


I

1) Yes, I have once put off an assignment until the last minute. The night before the deadline, I began to feel anxious and nervous because time was running out. I was afraid that my teacher would punish me and that I would get a low grade. What's worse, all of these worries began to make me impatient. That night, I even yelled at my mother when she suggested that I go to bed early. In the end, I upset some people around me, including my family, and my teacher, of course. It was all because I had put off an assignment until the last minute.

2) No, I have never procrastinated because I know that procrastination can cause a lot of trouble. Take my brother for instance. He was once a classic procrastinator. He used to fail to hand in his assignments on time at school. As a result, he was asked to stay after school all the time. Later, my parents helped my brother kick this bad habit by checking if he had finished his homework for that day. Since my brother successfully got rid of this habit of procrastination, he has been able to use his time wisely. Now, he seldom has trouble staying on top of his work. So, I believe that if we don’t put things off, we can certainly live a better and a more relaxed life.

II There are times when I even fall asleep. However, I think there are some steps I can take to solve this problem. First, I should stop spending so much time playing computer games every night. Next, I should go to bed earlier, so that I can wake up early enough to leisurely enjoy my breakfast at home. In that way, I will be energetic and dynamic at school. By doing so, perhaps I can make significant progress on my school performance, too.

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