(单词翻译:单击)
课文
New Year resolutions 新年的决心
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
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!
参考译文
【参考译文】
新年是下决心的时候，至少在大多数人的心里会编排出一份应做什么和不应做什么的令人生畏的单子。相同的决心以单调的规律年复一年地出现。我们决心每天早晨起得早些；吃得少些；多花点时间与孩子们一起做游戏；做大量的家务；对不喜欢的人友善一些；小心驾车；每天都要带着狗散步；等等。以往的经验告诉我们有些事是办不到的。如果我们烟瘾大，戒不掉，那是因为屡戒屡败，失去信心。我们大多数人想自我完善却遭到失败，这是因为我们的规划过于宏大，而又根本没有时间去实施。我们还犯有一个根本性的错误，即把我们的决心向大家宣布。这样一旦滑回到那些老习惯上去，我们在别人的眼里会显得更加难堪。我深知这些问题，于是，今年我对自己的计划要严加保密，只给自己定下两项适中的任务；每天早上锻炼身体，每天晚上多看点书。新年除夕举办的一次通宵晚会，使我理直气壮地在新年头一天免去了这两项任务。不过，新年第二天，我全力以赴地照着去做了。
早锻炼一共只有11分钟，我打算在别人起床之前进行。这就要求我比平时早11分钟把自己从床上拽起来，这种自我约束是很艰苦的。不过开头两天我还是成功地蹑手蹑脚地来到楼下起居室，被谁也没发现。我在地毯上跳来蹦过去，扭曲身子，摆出各种姿势，弄得浑身不舒服，然后坐到桌边吃早饭，一副筋疲力尽的样子。正是这副模样泄露了我的秘密。第二天早晨全家人结队来到起居室看我表演。这真叫人不好意思，但我心平气和地顶住全家人的嘲笑和奚落。不久，大家对我习以为常了，而这时我的热情却减退了。我花在锻炼上的时间逐渐减少，慢慢地从11分钟减到了零。到了1月10日，我恢复了原来的作息时间。我辩解说，早晨少耗费精力锻炼，晚上下班回家看书时头脑更清醒些。有几天晚上，我极力摆脱了电视的诱惑，坐在自己的房间里，两眼盯在书上。可是，有一天夜里，我感到又冷又孤单，便来到楼下坐在电视机前假装看书。这下我可完了，因为不一会儿，我就恢复了以前的坏习惯，在屏幕前打起瞌睡来。但我还没有放弃多看些书的决心。事实上，我刚买来一本叫《一分钟读一千字的诀窍》的书。也许这本书能解决我的问题，但我一直还没时间去看这本书！
词汇讲解
1.resolution n.决心
例句：His resolution swayed after the first failure.
第一次失败之后他的决心就动摇了。
2.mentally adv.内心里
例句：The man is always mentally deranged.
这个人总是疯疯癫癫的。
3.compile v.编辑，编制
例句：I have been fully occupied in compile this book these days.
这些天来我一直忙于编写这本书。
4.formidable adj.令人畏惧的
例句：This is a formidable project.
这个工程非常艰巨。
5.recur v.再发生，又出现
例句：The dream recur throughout her life.
这个梦在她的一生中反复出现。
6.regularity n.规律性
例句：The pendulum swings with great regularity.
钟摆很有规律地摆动着。
7.accomplishment n.成就
例句：I want to savor this great moment of accomplishment.
我要享受成功的微妙时刻。
8.attainment n.达到
例句：The attainment of her ambitions was still a dream.
她要实现抱负仍是一种梦想。
9.inveterate adj.根深蒂固的
10.self-improvement n.自我完善
11.scheme n.简单的计划，方案
12.ambitious adj.雄心勃勃的
例句：We felt an animation about the ambitious plan.
我们对此宏伟规划感到兴奋。
13.pitfall n.意外的困难，易犯的错误
例句：The road to the conquest of cancer is long and full of pitfall.
战胜癌症的征途是漫长的,而且布满意想不到的困难。
14.modest adj. 要求不过分的
例句：She is modest and amiable to everyone.
她待人谦和。
15.assiduously adv. 刻苦地
16.self-discipline n.自我约束
17.frame n.躯体
18.betray v.暴露，显露
例句：His countenance betrayed irresolution and reluctance.
他的脸部表情露出犹豫和勉强。
19.troop v.成群结队地走动
20.unsettle v.使不安
例句：This strike may unsettle the economy.
这次罢工可能会使经济不安定。
21.taunt n.嘲笑，奚落人的话
22.jibe n.嘲弄，挖苦
23.good-humouredly adv. 和气地，心情好地
24.wane v.逐渐变小，变弱
例句：Her feelings for John wax and wane.
她对约翰的感情时好时坏。
25.hypnotize v.使欲睡，使蒙胧
26.undoing n.祸根，毁灭的原因
27.screen n.电视机屏幕
课文讲解
1.The same old favorites recur year in year out with monotonous regularity.
参考翻译：相同的决心以单调的规律年复一年地出现。
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.
那位老人到公园去做早操，一年到头总不间断。
2.Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.
参考翻译：以往的经验告诉我们有些事是办不到的。
beyond attainment做不到
例句：Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.
以往的经验告诉我们，某些事情我们是做不到的。
3.If we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure.
参考翻译：如果我们烟瘾大，戒不掉，那是因为屡戒屡败，失去信心。
so……that引导结果状语从句。
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.
参考翻译：我们大多数人想自我完善却遭到失败，这是因为我们的规划过于宏大，而又根本没有时间去实施。
too的用法
too表示太、过于的意思时,在句中修饰形容词或副词。too前面不可用fairly, very, quite等副词修饰,但可以用far, rather, much, a bit, a little, a lot等词语修饰,以表达不同的程度。例如:
You’re standing too near the camera. Can you move a little farther? 你站得离摄像机太近,能否走远一点?
I don’t go in for rock’n’ roll. It’s much too noisy for my taste. 我不喜欢摇滚音乐。就我对音乐的欣赏而言,它太过于喧闹了。
The cakes are delicious. He’d like to have a third one because the second one is rather too small. 这些蛋糕味道很好。我还想吃第三块,因为第二块实在太小了。
5.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.
参考翻译：我们还犯有一个根本性的错误，即把我们的决心向大家宣布。这样一旦滑回到那些老习惯上去，我们在别人的眼里会显得更加难堪。
so that也是引导结果状语从句。
6.Aware of these pitfalls, this year I attempted to keep my resolutions to myself.
参考翻译：深知这些问题，于是，今年我对自己的计划要严加保密。
aware of 知道(察觉到,意识到)
例句：I was not aware of the slight changes.
我察觉不到这细微的变化。
attempt to试图
例句：The offender attempted to grease the palm of the judge.
罪犯企图贿赂法官。
7.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.
参考翻译：新年除夕举办的一次通宵晚会，使我理直气壮地在新年头一天免去了这两项任务。
provide with给...提供
例句：I provided the police with the evidence.
我提供证据给警察。
apply to将...应用于
例句：You must apply yourself to your studies.
你应该专心学习。
8.Nevertheless, I managed to creep down into the living room for two days before anyone found me out.
参考翻译：不过开头两天我还是成功地蹑手蹑脚地来到楼下起居室，被谁也没发现。
manage to达成, 设法
例句：He managed to subdue his mounting anger.
他设法克制住了阵阵愤怒。
9.Little by little the eleven minutes fell to zero.
参考翻译：慢慢地从11分钟减到了零。
little by little一点一点地,逐渐,慢慢地
例句：The hall began to fill up with people little by little.
大厅逐渐地挤满人潮。
语法学习
引导结果状语从句的从属连词主要的有so that, so…that, such…that等：He studied hard so that he passed the exam. 他学习用功，所以考试通过了。He was so angry that he couldn’t speak. 他气得话都说不出来。He shut the window with such force'Times New Roman'">他关窗子用力很大，结果玻璃震破了。注：so…that和such…that中的that有时(尤其在口语中)可省略：)I am so busy I have no time to write a letter. 我很忙，连写信的时间都没有。
There was such a lot of rain (that) we couldn’t go out. 雨那么大，我们没法出去。
so that
一、引导目的状语从句
so that以便，为了，引导一个表示目的的状语从句，此时可与 in order that 换用；从句谓语中常用情态动词 may/might, can/could, should, would 等；主从句间连接紧凑，没有逗号相隔。例：
My old father began to study computer at the age of sixty so that(= in order that) he might keep up with times. 父亲六十岁时才开始学习电脑，以便跟上时代。
I spend more time learning English every day so that(= in order that) I can make greater progress this year. 为了今年取得更大进步，我每天用了更多的时间学英语。
二、引导结果状语从句
so that因此，所以，引导一个表示结果的状语从句，此时不能与 in order that 换用；从句中谓语根据需要使用相应的时态，主从句间可有逗号相隔。本文开头所列举例句中的 so that 就是这种用法。又如：
She had not planned her time well,so that she did not finish her homework on time.
她没把时间计划好，所以没按时完成家庭作业。
Wang Lang did not work hard enough, so that she is out of work when she is still young.
王浪工作不够努力，因此，年轻时就失业了。
三、辨别两种不同状语从句
1) 根据句子结构辨别
从句谓语中含有情态动词 may/ might,can/ could, should, would 等，这时 so that 引导的是一个目的状语从句；从句前面有逗号和主句相隔，此时 so that 引导的是一个结果状语从句。试对比以下两个例句：
Yesterday morning Yang Cheng got up early so that she could catch the first bus.
昨天早上杨成为了赶上早班车起床很早。
Yesterday morning Yang Cheng got up early, so that she caught the first bus.
昨天早上杨成起床很早，因此，她赶上了早班车。
2) 根据主从句逻辑关系辨别
so that 引导目的状语从句，一般表示尚未完成的目的或意图，主句和从句之间是结果与目的关系；而 so that 引导的结果状语从句则是表示主句所导致的结果，主句和从句之间是原因与结果的关系。试比较：
I tell my students my new telephone number so that they may call me when necessary.
我把新的电话号码告诉学生以便必要时他们给我打个电话。
I told my students my new telephone number so that all of them called me when necessary.
我把新的电话号码告诉了学生，因此，必要时他们都给我打了电话。
经典句子
1.Mentally, at least, mostof us could compile formidable lists of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’.
至少在大多数人的心里会编排出一份应做什么和不应做什么的令人生畏的单子。
2.The same old favorites recur year in year out with monotonousregularity.
相同的决心以单调的规律年复一年地出现。
3.Past experience has taught us that certain accomplishments are beyond attainment.
以往的经验告诉我们有些事是办不到的
4.If we remain inveterate smokers, it is only because we have so often experienced the frustration that results from failure.
如果我们烟瘾大，戒不掉，那是因为屡戒屡败，失去信心。
So that ：这里的that 并不是so…that的词组 that是作为frustration的定语从句的先行词出现的。
5.We 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.
可以表达重蹈覆辙的意思。
所以当我们重蹈覆辙的时候，更加显得愚蠢不堪。
6.…I applied myself assiduously to thedesk.
我坚持履行了我的计划。
7.It was this that betrayed me.
而就是这一点暴露了我的秘密。
这个简单句在两个长句子中间出现，调整了句子的协调性，而且避免了重复罗嗦。
暴露秘密这个表达。。一般想到的是exposed吧。。
8.However, my enthusiasm waned.
然而，我的热情逐渐消退了。
