新编大学英语3课文原文

Book 3

Unit 1 Personality

The Misery of Shyness

Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. All kinds of people describe themselves as shy: short, tall, dull, intelligent, young, old, slim, overweight. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are excessively concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly swirling in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? I'm ugly. I'm wearing unattractive clothes.

It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people adversely. A person's self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves, and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a profound effect on all areas of their lives. For instance, people who have a positive sense of self-worth or high self-esteem usually act with confidence. Because they have self-assurance, they do not need constant praise and encouragement from others to feel good about themselves. Self-confident people participate in life enthusiastically and spontaneously. They are not affected by what others think they "should" do. People with high self-esteem are not hurt by criticism; they do not regard criticism as a personal attack. Instead, they view a criticism as a suggestion for improvement.

In contrast, shy people, having low self-esteem, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need reassurance that they are doing "the right thing". Shy people are very sensitive to criticism; they feel it confirms their inferiority. They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliments because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a compliment with a statement like this one: "You're just saying that to make me feel good. I know it's not true." It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is detrimental, or harmful.

Can shyness be completely eliminated, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determined and patient effort in building self-confidence. Since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self-esteem, it is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths. For example, most people would like to be "A" students in every subject. It is not fair for them to label themselves as inferior because they have difficulty in some areas. People's expectations of themselves must be realistic. Dwelling on the impossible leads to a sense of inadequacy, and even feelings of envy, or jealousy. We are self-destructive when we envy a student who gets better grades.

If you are shy, here are some specific helpful steps toward building self-confidence and overcoming shyness:

1. Recognize your personal strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has both. As

self-acceptance grows, shyness naturally diminishes.

2. Set reasonable goals. For example, you may be timid about being with a group of strangers at a party. Don't feel that you must converse with everyone. Concentrate on talking to only one or two people. You will feel more comfortable.

3. Guilt and shame are destructive feelings. Don't waste time and energy on them. Suppose you have hurt someone's feelings. Feeling ashamed accomplishes nothing. Instead, accept the fact that you have made a mistake, and make up your mind to be more sensitive in the future.

4. There are numerous approaches to all issues. Few opinions are completely right or wrong. Don't be afraid to speak up and give your point of view.

5. Do not make negative comments about yourself. This is a form of self-rejection. Avoid describing yourself as stupid, ugly, a failure. Accent the positive.

6. Accept criticism thoughtfully. Do not interpret it as a personal attack. If, for example, a friend complains about your cooking, accept it as a comment on your cooking, not yourself. Be assured that you are still good friends, but perhaps your cooking could improve.

7. Remember that everyone experiences some failures and disappointments. Profit from them as learning experiences. Very often a disappointment becomes a turning point for a wonderful experience to come along. For instance, you may be rejected by the college of your choice. However, at the college you actually attend, you may find a quality of education beyond what you had expected.

8. Do not associate with people who make you feel inadequate. Try to change their attitude or yours, or remove yourself from that relationship. People who hurt you do not have your best interests at heart.

9. Set aside time to relax, enjoy hobbies, and re-evaluate your goals regularly. Time spent this way helps you learn more about yourself.

10. Practice being in social situations. Don't isolate yourself from people. Try making one acquaintance at a time; eventually you will circulate in large groups with skill and self-assurance.

Each one of us is a unique, valuable individual. We are interesting in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our full potential. Let's not allow shyness to block our chances for a rich and fulfilling life.

Two Ways of Looking at Life

Your attitude strongly reflects your outlook on life. Take a closer look at that connection. Are you a pessimist—or an optimist? Can you see how your way of looking actually does color your attitude? And remember: change your outlook and you change your attitude.

The father is looking down into the crib at his sleeping newborn daughter, just home from the hospital. His heart is overflowing with awe and gratitude for the beauty of her, the perfection.

The baby opens her eyes and stares straight up.

The father calls her name, expecting that she will turn her head and look at him. Her eyes don't move. 4 He picks up a furry little toy attached to the rail of the crib and shakes it, ringing the bell it contains. The baby's eyes don't move.

His heart has begun to beat rapidly. He finds his wife in their bedroom and tells her what just happened. "She doesn't seem to respond to noise at all," he says. "It's as if she can't hear."

"I'm sure she's all right," the wife says, pulling her dressing gown around her. Together they go into the baby's room.

She calls the baby's name, jingles the bell, claps her hands. Then she picks up the baby, who immediately becomes lively and makes happy sounds.

"My God," the father says. "She's deaf."

"No, she's not," the mother says. "I mean, it's too soon to say a thing like that. Look, she's brand-new. Her eyes don't even focus yet."

"But there wasn't the slightest movement, even when you clapped as hard as you could."

The mother takes a book from the shelf. "Let's read what's in the baby book," she says. She looks up "hearing" and reads out loud: "'Don't be alarmed if your newborn fails to be startled by loud noises or fails to turn toward sound. Reactions to sound often take some time to develop. Your pediatrician can test your child's hearing neurologically.

"There," the mother says. "Doesn't that make you feel better?"

"Not much," the father says. "It doesn't even mention the other possibility, that the baby is deaf. And all I know is that my baby doesn't hear a thing. I've got the worst feeling about this. Maybe it's because my grandfather was deaf. If that beautiful baby is deaf and it's my fault, I'll never forgive myself."

"Hey, wait a minute," says the wife. "You're worrying too much. We'll call the pediatrician first thing Monday. In the meantime, cheer up. Here, hold the baby while I fix her blanket. It's all pulled out."

The father takes the baby but gives her back to his wife as soon as he can. All weekend he finds himself unable to prepare for next week's work. He follows his wife around the house, thinking about the baby's hearing and about the way deafness would ruin her life. He imagines only the worst: no hearing, no development of language, his beautiful child cut off from society, locked in a soundless world. By Sunday night he has sunk into despair.

The mother leaves a message with the pediatrician's answering service asking for an early appointment Monday. She spends the weekend doing her exercises, reading, and trying to calm her husband.

The pediatrician's tests are reassuring, but the father's spirits remain low. Not until a week later, when the baby shows her first startle to the loud sound of a passing truck, does he begin to recover and enjoy his new daughter again.

This father and mother have two different ways of looking at the world. Whenever something bad happens to him—a call from the bank manager, a disagreement with his wife, even a frown from his employer—he imagines the worst: bankruptcy, jail, divorce,

and dismissal. He is prone to depression; he often feels extremely tired; his health suffers. She, on the other hand, sees bad events in their least threatening light. To her, they are temporary challenges to be overcome. After a reversal, she bounces back quickly, and finds all her energy again. Her health is excellent.

The optimists and the pessimists: I have been studying them for the past twenty-five years. The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe bad events will last a long time, will undermine everything they do, and are their own fault. The optimists, who are confronted with the same hard knocks of this world, think about misfortune in the opposite way. They tend to believe defeat is just a temporary setback, that its causes are confined to this one case. The optimists believe defeat is not their fault: circumstances, bad luck, or other people brought it about. Such people are not bothered by defeat. Confronted by a bad situation, they perceive it as a challenge and try harder.

These two habits of thinking about causes have consequences. Literally hundreds of studies show that pessimists give up more easily and get depressed more often. These experiments also show that optimists do much better in school and at work. They regularly exceed the predictions of aptitude tests. When optimists run for office, they are more apt to be elected than pessimists are. Their health is unusually good. Evidence suggests they may even live longer.

Twenty-five years of study has convinced me that if we habitually believe, as does the pessimist, that misfortune is our fault, is enduring, and will undermine everything we do, more of it will happen to us than if we believe otherwise. I am also convinced that if we are in the grip of this view, we will get depressed easily, we will accomplish less than our potential, and we will even get physically sick more often. Pessimistic prophecies are self-fulfilling.

You Are What You Think

Do you see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty? Do you keep your eye upon the doughnut, not upon the hole? Suddenly these clich és are scientific questions, as researchers scrutinize the power of positive thinking.

A fast-growing body of research—104 studies so far, involving some 15,000 people—is proving that optimism can help you to be happier, healthier and more successful. Pessimism leads, by contrast, to hopelessness, sickness and failure, and is linked to depression, loneliness and painful shyness. "If we could teach people to think more positively," says psychologist Craig A. Anderson of Rice University in Houston, "it would be like inoculating them against these mental ills."

"Your abilities count," explains psychologist Michael F. Scheier of Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, "but the belief that you can succeed affects whether or not you will." In part, that's because optimists and pessimists deal with the same challenges and disappointments in very different ways.

Take, for example, your job. In a major study, psychologist Martin E. P. Seligman of

the University of Pennsylvania and colleague Peter Schulman surveyed sales representatives at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. They found that the positive thinkers among long-time representatives sold 37 percent more insurance than did the negative thinkers. Of newly hired representatives, optimists sold 20 percent more.

Impressed, the company hired 100 people who had failed the standard industry test but had scored high on optimism. These people, who might never have been hired, sold 10 percent more insurance than did the average representative.

How did they do it? The secret to an optimist's success, according to Seligman, is in his "explanatory style". When things go wrong the pessimist tends to blame himself. "I'm no good at this," he says. "I always fail." The optimist looks for other explanations. He blames the weather, the phone connection, even the other person. That customer was in a bad mood, he thinks. When things go right, the optimist takes credit while the pessimist thinks success is due to luck.

Negative or positive, it was a self-fulfilling prophecy. "If people feel hopeless," says Anderson, "they don't bother to acquire the skills they need to succeed."

A sense of control, according to Anderson, is the real test for success. The optimist feels in control of his own life. If things are going badly, he acts quickly, looking for solutions, forming a new plan of action, and reaching out for advice. The pessimist feels like a toy of fate and moves slowly. He doesn't seek advice, since he assumes nothing can be done.

Optimists may think they are better than the facts would justify—and sometimes that's what keeps them from getting sick. In a long-term study, researchers examined the health histories of a group of Harvard graduates, all of whom were in the top half of their class and in fine physical condition. Yet some were positive thinkers, and some negative. Twenty years later, there were more middle-age diseases among the pessimists than the optimists.

Many studies suggest that the pessimist's feeling of helplessness undermines the body's natural defenses, the immune system. Dr Christopher Peterson of the University of Michigan has found that the pessimist doesn't take good care of himself. Feeling passive and unable to dodge life's blows, he expects ill health and other misfortunes, no matter what he does. He eats unhealthy food, avoids exercise, ignores the doctor, has another drink.

Most people are a mix of optimism and pessimism, but are inclined in one direction or the other. It is a pattern of thinking learned from early childhood, says Seligman. It grows out of thousands of cautions or encouragements, negative statements or positive ones. Too many "don'ts" and warnings of danger can make a child feel incompetent, fearful—and pessimistic.

As they grow, children experience small triumphs, such as learning to tie shoelaces. Parents can help turn these successes into a sense of control, and that breeds optimism.

Pessimism is a hard habit to break—but it can be done. In a series of studies, Dr Carol Dweck of the University of Illinois has been working with children in the early grades of school. As she helps students to change the explanations for their failures—from "I must be dumb" to "I didn't study hard enough"—their academic performance improves.

So, if you' re a pessimist, there's reason for optimism. You can change. Here's how, says Steve Hollon, a psychologist at Vanderbilt University:

1. Pay careful attention to your thoughts when bad things happen. Write down the first thing that comes to mind, without any changes or corrections.

2. Now try an experiment. Do something that's contrary to any negative reactions. Let's say something has gone wrong at work. Do you think, I hate my job, but I could never get a better one? Act as if that weren't so. Send out r ésum és. Go to interviews. Look into training and check job information.

3. Keep track of what happens. Were your first thoughts right or wrong? "If your thoughts are holding you back, change them," says Hollon. "It's trial and error, no guarantees, but give yourself a chance."

Positive thinking leads to positive action—and reaction. What you expect from the world, the evidence suggests, is what you're likely to get.

Unit 2 Myths and Legends

Why the Tortoise's Shell Is Not Smooth

The distant sound of low voices, broken now and again by singing, reached Okonkwo from his wives' huts as each woman and her children told folk stories. Ekwefi and her daughter, Ezinma, sat on a mat on the floor. It was Ekwefi's turn to tell a story. Suddenly the murmuring stopped and all eyes turned to their favorite and most skillful storyteller.

"Once upon a time," she began, "all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. They were very happy and began to prepare themselves for the great day. They painted their bodies deep red and drew beautiful patterns on them with dye.

"Tortoise saw all these preparations and soon discovered what it all meant. Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice; he was full of cunning. As soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky his throat began to itch at the very thought. There was a famine in those days and Tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two moons. His body rattled like a dry stick in his empty shell. Slowly but surely he began to plan how he would go to the sky."

"But he had no wings," said Ezinma.

"Be patient," replied her mother. "That is the story. Tortoise had no wings, but he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them.

"' We know you too well,' said the birds when they had heard him. 'You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. If we allow you to come with us you will soon begin your mischief. We know you of old.'

"'You do not know me,' said Tortoise. 'I am a changed man. I am not the

mischievous man you once knew. On the contrary, I am thoughtful and well-meaning. I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making trouble for himself. Rest assured, I promise I will not cause you any trouble.'

"Tortoise had a sweet tongue, and within a short time all the birds agreed that he was a changed man, and they all gave him a feather, with which he made two splendidly colorful wings.

"At last the great day came and Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting place. When all the birds had gathered together, they all set off together. Tortoise was very happy as he flew among the birds, and he was soon chosen as the man to speak for the party because he was a great orator.

"' There is one important thing which we must not forget,' he said as they flew on their way. 'When people are invited to a great feast like this, they take new names for the occasion. Our hosts in the sky will expect us to honor this age-old custom.

"None of the birds had heard of this custom but they knew that Tortoise, in spite of his failings in other areas, was a widely traveled man who knew the customs of different peoples. And so they each took a new name. When they had all taken a new name, Tortoise also took one. He was to be called All of you.

"At last the party arrived in the sky and their hosts were very happy to see them. Tortoise stood up in his many-colored plumage and thanked them for their invitation. His speech was so eloquent that all the birds were glad they had brought him, and nodded their heads in approval of all he said. Their hosts took him as the king of the birds, especially as he looked somewhat different from the others.

"After a selection of nuts had been presented and eaten, the, people of the sky set before their guests the most delectable dishes Tortoise had ever seen or dreamed of. The soup was brought out hot from the fire and in the very pot in which it had been cooked. It was full, of meat and fish. Tortoise began to sniff aloud. There was pounded yam and also yam soup cooked with palm oil and fresh fish. There were also pots of palm wine. When everything had been set before the guests, one of the people of the sky came forward and tasted a little from each pot. He then invited the birds to eat. But Tortoise jumped to his feet and asked: 'For whom have you prepared this feast?' "' For all of you,' replied the man.

"Tortoise turned to the birds and said: 'You remember that my name is All of you. The custom here is to serve the spokesman first and the others later. They will serve you when I have eaten.'

"He began to eat and the birds grumbled angrily among themselves. The people of the sky thought it must be their custom to leave all the food for their king. And so Tortoise ate the best part of the food and then drank two pots of palm wine, so that he was full of food and drink and his body grew fat enough to fill out his shell.

"The birds gathered round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had thrown on the floor. Some of them were too angry to eat. They chose to fly home on an empty stomach. But before they left each took back the feather he had lent to Tortoise. And there he stood in his hard shell full of food and wine but without any wings to fly home. He asked the birds to take a message for his wife, but they all refused. In the end Parrot, who had felt more angry than the others, suddenly changed his mind and agreed

to take the message.

"' Tell my wife,' said Tortoise, 'to bring out all the soft things in my house and cover the ground with them so that I can jump down from the sky without hurting myself.

"Parrot promised faithfully to deliver the message, and then flew away smiling to himself. However when he reached Tortoise's house he told his wife to bring out all the hard and sharp things in the house. And so Tortoise's wife dutifully brought out her husband's hoes, knives, spears, guns, and even his cannon. Tortoise looked down from the sky and saw his wife bringing things out, but it was too far to see what they were. When all seemed ready he let himself go. He fell and fell and fell until he began to fear that he would never stop falling. And then like the sound of his cannon he crashed to the ground."

"Did he die?" asked Ezinma.

"No," replied Ekwefi. "His shell broke into hundreds of pieces. But there was a great medicine man in the neighborhood. Tortoise's wife sent for him and he gathered all the bits of shell and stuck them together. That is why the Tortoise's shell is not smooth." Beauty and the Beast

There was once a very rich merchant who had six children, three sons and three daughters. He gave his daughters everything they wanted, but they were very conceited and spoiled, except for the youngest, whom they called Beauty. She was as beautiful as she was sweet, and her two sisters were consumed with jealousy.

One terrible day the merchant learned that he had lost all of his money, and the family was forced to move from their luxurious mansion in town to a small house in the country. The sons immediately helped their father with the outside chores. Poor Beauty, she had never lived without servants. Now she had to get up before sunrise to light the fire and make the food and clean the house. But she soon grew accustomed to it and said, "Crying won't improve the situation. I must try to make myself happy." Her sisters, on the other hand, stayed in bed till noon and were annoyed that Beauty was not as miserable as they were.

A year later, the father received a letter that one of his lost ships had been found and had arrived filled with merchandise for him. Everyone was delighted because they would once again rich. As the merchant left, the two older daughters begged their father to bring them home all sorts of precious jewels and elegant gowns. "And what does my Beauty want?" the father asked. "Oh, I need nothing, but if you could bring me a rose, I would be most appreciative," she said. Of course, Beauty did not need the rose, but she thought she had better ask for something so as not to appear to be criticizing her sisters' greed.

The merchant reached the harbor, but alas, the vessel had sunk, consequently he was still as poor as before. On the way home he got lost in a forest, and it began to snow. "I shall die of the cold or be eaten by wolves and never see my dear children again," he reflected sadly. Suddenly, he saw a huge mansion with all the lights on. He knocked at the door, but no one answered. He entered only to find a large fire burning in the fireplace and a table set with delicious food. He waited a long time for the owner to

appear, but no one came. He was starving, so he finally ate a bit of the food. He then found a bedroom where he fell fast asleep. The next morning he was astonished to find a brand new suit of clothes laid out for him and a fresh breakfast awaiting him. "This must be the castle of some fairies," he thought, and so he said a loud "thank you" and left. He was surprised to see that the snow had disappeared and that there was a lovely garden filled with rosebushes. "I shall take just one rose for my Beauty," he said, but as he cut the rose he heard a loud and terrible voice. He saw an ugly monster who said, "Ungrateful man! I have saved your life and in return you steal my roses. You must die!" But the merchant begged the Beast not to kill him for the sake of his children. The Beast seemed interested when he learned of Beauty and her request for the rose. "Then you must ask her to come here in place of you. You will have three months. Return home, and if she will not come then you must return. However you will not depart empty-handed. Return to your room and you will find a chest of gold," the Beast said. "Well, if I must die, at least I shall not leave my children destitute," thought the father, and he took the chest of gold and returned home.

"Here, Beauty," he said, "take this rose. Little do you know how that rose will cost your unhappy father his life." And he related his adventure with the Beast.

Beauty immediately insisted on returning to the home of the Beast to save her father's life and would hear no arguments. On the day of her departure her sisters rubbed their eyes with onions, pretending to be sad that she was leaving and would probably die. When the merchant and Beauty arrived at the palace, it was lit exactly as before. The fire was roaring and the table was magnificently set. "Oh, the Beast intends to fatten me before he kills me," thought Beauty. Despite her fears she acted cheerful and brave for her father. Suddenly they heard a horrible noise, and the Beast appeared. "Have you come here willingly?" the Beast asked. "Yes," trembled Beauty. "Good, then say farewell to your father." The grief-stricken merchant was thus forced to leave his daughter and return home.

Beauty was sure that the Beast would eat her that night. She was surprised to find "Beauty's Apartment" engraved on a gold plate over the door of her bedroom. The room was full of magnificent furniture and the shelves were lined with all the books that she loved. There was a piano for her to play. Inside one of the books was written, Welcome Beauty, banish fear,

You are queen and mistress here.

Speak your wishes, speak your will,

Swift obedience meets them still.

"With all this magnificence, I don't suppose the Beast will eat me soon," she said, and felt less afraid.

The next night the Beast came to the dinner table and said, "Beauty, will you let me watch you eat? If my presence bothers you I will leave. Tell me, do you think I am very ugly?" And Beauty said, "Yes," because she could not lie, however she added, "but I think you are very good-natured." They talked, and Beauty started to feel very calm until the Beast said, "Beauty, will you be my wife?" Although she did not want to make the

Beast angry, she said, "No." The Beast began to howl and sadly said, "Then, farewell, Beauty," and left the room.

For three months the same thing happened each night at dinner. Beauty began to look forward to these visits and lost her fear of the Beast's deformity, but every night, before he left, he asked the same question: "Beauty, will you be my wife?"

"Oh, Beast, I wish I could consent to marry you. I shall always consider you a great friend, but I do not love you."

"But will you promise to never leave me?" the Beast asked.

"Oh, Beast, I am so worried about my dear father, and I miss him so."

"Ah, then you will leave, and the Beast will die of grief."

"Oh, no," said Beauty. "If you let me visit my father, I promise I will return and live with you forever."

"You shall be there tomorrow," said the Beast. "But remember, when you wish to return to me, you must lay your ring on the table before you go to bed."

The next morning, when Beauty awoke, she found herself in her father's home, and her room was filled with chests of gold and elegant silk gowns from the Beast. Everyone was overjoyed to see her except her cold-hearted sisters. They were consumed with jealousy; nevertheless they pretended to be happy and begged her to stay as long as she could. On the tenth night Beauty had a dream in which she saw the Beast lying in his garden, dying. She awoke in tears. "Oh, how ungrateful I am. Is it his fault that he is so very ugly? He has been so kind and generous to me. Why did I not consent to marry him?" Then she got out of bed, put her ring on the table, and went back to sleep. The next morning she awoke in the Beast's castle. She put on her most beautiful gown and waited for him to come. After dinner, when he still hadn't appeared, she remembered the dream and ran to the garden, where she found him lying on the ground, almost dead. She bent over him, crying and hugging him. "Oh, Beast, please do not die! Live and be my husband." At those words she saw bright flashes of light and heard music, and, instead of the hideous beast, she saw one of the most handsome princes that she had ever laid eyes on. He thanked her for putting an end to the horrible spell that had been cast over him by a wicked witch. Then a fairy appeared waving a wand, and Beauty's entire family appeared. The fairy smiled and said, "Beauty, you have made a wise choice because you have chosen virtue over beauty. You and the prince shall live happily ever after." Then the fairy turned to Beauty's two sisters and said, "You who are so consumed by envy and jealousy, you will be transformed into two statues of stone but still retain your reason. You will stand at the door of Beauty's castle, and it will be your punishment to observe her daily happiness until the day you die."

The Monkey King

Monkey was born from an egg which had been fertilized by the wind as it lay on the peak of a mountain in Ao-lai on the eastern side of the Ocean. He became unbelievably adept at magic arts and learned further skills from a Taoist Immortal who among other things named him Discoverer of Secrets, taught him to change his shape at will and to fly through the air.

Monkey organized all the monkeys of the world into a kingdom and killed a Beast who was persecuting them. He obtained a magic weapon from the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea with which he began to make himself master of the four quarters.

One day, at a great feast given in his honor, Monkey drank too much. While he was asleep, he was seized by the servants of the king of Hell, who had him chained in the infernal regions. He broke his bonds, however, and stole the register of judgments, from which he deleted his own name and those of all monkeys. As a result of all the trouble which he had caused, Monkey was summoned to Heaven to explain his conduct. The Lord of Heaven made him Grand Guardian of the Heavenly Stables to keep him quiet. Monkey behaved himself well for a while, but soon began to create trouble in Heaven. He then went back to Mount Huaguo. The Lord of Heaven organized a siege of the mountain, but was defeated. Finally, after Monkey had declared himself Governor of Heaven and Great Saint, terms were arranged and he agreed to conform to the divine laws as Superintendent in Chief of the Heavenly Peach Garden, the source of Immortality. Much to his anger, he was not invited to the Peach Festival and decided to take revenge. He not only ate all the food and wine prepared for the feast but also stole the pills of immortality from the house of Lao Jun. Since he had already eaten the peaches, Monkey was made doubly immortal. After this he went once again to Mount Huaguo. But by now his irresponsible behavior had infuriated all the gods and goddesses. After a long battle during which Monkey employed all his magic skills to avoid defeat, he was finally captured and brought to the Jade Emperor, who condemned him to death.

The sentence could not, however, be carried out because Monkey was protected both by the peaches and by the pills of immortality. He was handed over to Lao Jun to be distilled in the alchemists' furnace. He was put in the furnace which was heated to white heat for forty-nine days, but at the end of this time Monkey lifted the lid and threatened to destroy Heaven. In despair, the Jade Emperor sent for the Buddha, who asked Monkey why he wished to possess Heaven. Monkey's reply was that he knew with certainty that he was powerful enough to rule Heaven. When the Buddha demanded proof of this claim, Monkey explained that he was immortal, invulnerable, able to change his shape in seventy-two different ways, to fly through the air, and to leap a distance of 108,000 li. The Buddha doubted whether Monkey could even jump out of his palm, but agreed that if Monkey was successful, then he would be entitled to rule Heaven. So Monkey leaped into the air and sprang prodigiously across Heaven to the furthest confines of the earth, where he came to rest at the base of a great mountain. Here he pissed as animals do when they wish to mark out a territory as their own. Then he returned in a single bound and confronted the Buddha. But the Buddha laughed at his claim to have crossed the whole universe in one bound and showed him that the mountain where he had pissed was but the base of one of the Buddha's fingers and that he had not even escaped from the palm of the Buddha's hand. Then the Buddha created a magic mountain and shut Monkey within it.

He would have remained there forever had the Bodhisattva Guan Yin not obtained his release so that he could accompany Tang Seng on his great pilgrimage to the Western Paradise to fetch the authentic versions of the Buddha's teachings. The monkey swore faithfully to obey his new master and to protect him from all dangers. He did this despite many temptations along the way and at least eighty great dangers which the pilgrims, including a pig, had to face. On their return a last hazard awaited them when a turtle — who was conveying them and the scriptures across a flooded river — discovered that Tang Seng

had not yet fulfilled a vow he had made to him, swam away and left them to drown. But they swam safely ashore and were greeted with great celebrations by the Emperor and the people.

Their final honors came from a heavenly committee under the presidency of Buddha. Tang Seng was recognized as a former chief disciple of the Buddha and was granted a high rank in Heaven. Monkey was made God of Victorious Strife, and the Pig was created Chief Divine Altar Cleanser. The Horse who had carried Tang Seng and the scriptures was turned into a four-clawed dragon and named chief of heavenly dragons. At the beginning of his pilgrimage Tang Seng had put a helmet on Monkey which became tight whenever he strayed or misbehaved. The pain had caused Monkey to refrain from wickedness. Therefore, when he was given his new title, Monkey begged Tang Seng to remove the helmet, since he had now become an enlightened one. Tang Seng answered that if Monkey was indeed enlightened, the helmet would have gone of its own accord. Monkey reached up to feel his head and found that the helmet had disappeared.

Unit 3 Social Problems

Latchkey Children—Knock, Knock, Is Anybody Home?

In the United States the cost of living has been steadily rising for the past few decades. Food prices, clothing costs, housing expenses, and tuition fees are constantly getting higher and higher. Partly because of financial need, and partly because of career choices for personal fulfillment, mothers have been leaving the traditional role of full-time homemaker. Increasingly they have been taking salaried jobs outside the home.

Making such a significant role change affects the entire family, especially the children. Some consequences are obvious. For example, dinnertime is at a later hour. The emotional impact, on the other hand, can be more subtle. Mothers leave home in the morning, feeling guilty because they will not be home when their children return from school. They suppress their guilt since they believe that their work will benefit everyone in the long run. The income will enable the family to save for college tuition, take an extended vacation, buy a new car, and so on.

The emotional impact on the children can be significant. It is quite common for children to feel hurt and resentful. After all, they are alone several hours, and they feel that their mothers should "be there" for them. They might need assistance with their homework or want to share the day's activities. All too often, however, the mothers arrive home exhausted and face the immediate task of preparing dinner. Their priority is making the evening meal for the family, not engaging in relaxed conversation.

Latchkey children range in age from six to thirteen. On a daily basis they return from school and unlock the door to their home with the key hanging around their necks. They are now on their own, alone, in quiet, empty rooms. For some youngsters, it is a productive period of private time, while for others it is a frightening, lonely void. For reasons of safety, many parents forbid their children to go out to play or to have visitors at home. The youngsters, therefore, feel isolated.

Latchkey children who were interviewed reported diverse reactions. Some latchkey children said that being on their own for a few hours each day fostered, or stimulated, a sense of independence and responsibility. They felt loved and trusted, and this feeling encouraged them to be self-confident. Latchkey girls, by observing how their mothers coped with the demands of a family

and a job, learned the role model of a working mother. Some children stated that they used their unsupervised free time to perfect their athletic skills, such as playing basketball. Others read books or practiced a musical instrument. These children looked upon their free time after school as an opportunity for personal development. It led to positive, productive, and valuable experiences.

Conversely, many latchkey children expressed much bitterness, resentment, and anger for being made to live in this fashion. Many claimed that too much responsibility was placed on them at an early age; it was an overwhelming burden. They were little people who really wanted to be protected, encouraged, and cared for through attention from their mothers. Coming home to an empty house was disappointing, lonely, and often frightening. They felt abandoned by their mothers. After all, it seemed to them that most other children had "normal" families whose mothers were "around," whereas their own mothers were never home. Many children turned on the television for the whole afternoon day after day, in order to diminish feelings of isolation; furthermore, the voices were comforting. Frequently, they would doze off.

Because of either economic necessity or strong determination for personal fulfillment, or both, the phenomenon of latchkey children is widespread in our society. Whatever the reason, it is a compelling situation with which families must cope. The question to ask is not whether or not mothers should work full-time. Given the reality of the situation, the question to ask is: how can an optimum plan be worked out to deal effectively with the situation.

It is advisable for all members of the family to express their feelings and concerns about the inevitable change candidly. These remarks should be discussed fully. Many factors must be taken into consideration: the children's personality and maturity, the amount of time the children will be alone, the safety of the neighborhood, accessibility of help in case of an emergency. Of supreme importance is the quality of the relationship between parents and children. It is most important that the children be secure in the knowledge that they are loved. Feeling loved provides invaluable emotional strength to cope successfully with almost any difficulty that arises in life.

It's a Mugger's Game in Manhattan

Martin had lived in New York for forty years and never been mugged once. This did not make him confident—on the contrary, it terrified him. The way he saw it, he was now the most likely person in Manhattan to get mugged next.

"What are the odds of my getting mugged?" he asked his friend Lenny.

"How much are you willing to bet?" said Lenny, who was a compulsive gambler.

"Oh come on, this is too important to bet on!"

"Nothing is too important to bet on," said Lenny, shocked. That was the end of their friendship.

"How do you think I can avoid getting mugged?" Martin asked his friend Grace. Grace had not been outside her apartment in five years, as a sure-fire way of avoiding being mugged. It had failed; someone had broken in and mugged her.

"I've no idea, Martin," she said. "Most of these guys are on drugs anyway, and they need the money for their addiction."

This gave Martin an idea. If the muggers only needed the money for drugs, why didn't he offer them drugs instead? Then possibly they would be so grateful they wouldn't harm him. Through some rich friends he knew he bought small quantities of heroin and cocaine. He had never touched the stuff himself, so he had to label them carefully to make sure he didn't get them mixed up.

One day he was walking in a part of Central Park he shouldn't have been in (the part where there is grass and trees) when three men leapt out at him. One was black, one was Puerto Rican and one was Caucasian. Well, at least mugging is being integrated he thought.

"You want drugs?" he cried. "I've got drugs! Anything you want you can have. Just name it. But

don't touch me!"

The three men let go of him respectfully.

"We almost made a big mistake there," said one of them. "This guy's a pusher. Hurt him, and we could have the Mafia down on us. Let's see what you got, mister."

Somewhat to his surprise Martin found himself displaying his wares to his clientele. Even more to his surprise, he found himself accepting money for the drugs, much more than he'd paid for them.

"How come you guys have all this money?" He said. "Why are you out mugging if you have money?"

"Well, we're not real muggers," said the Caucasian embarrassed. "We're out-of-work actors."

"I thought out-of-work showbiz people always became waiters or barmen," said Martin.

"Right. But there are so many showbiz people in catering now that you can't get work as waiters. So we had to get work as muggers.

When Martin got home, he bought some more drugs from his friend. Pretty soon he sold them to some more muggers. Pretty soon after that he found he was spending more and more time pushing drugs, and making more and more money at it. Being afraid of muggings had turned him into a professional drug-pusher.

One day a man leapt out at him and grabbed him. "You want drugs?" said Martin. "I got drugs.

"I want money," said a familiar voice.

"Lenny!" cried Martin. "How're you doing?"

"Badly," said Lenny. "I lost everything gambling."

He hit Martin over the head and took his money, wallet and all his credit cards, leaving the little packets of white powder behind.

Thief

He is waiting at the airline ticket counter when he first notices the young woman. She has glossy black hair pulled tightly into a knot at the back of her head—the man imagines it loosened and falling to the small of her back—and carries over the shoulder of her leather coat a heavy black purse. She wears black boots of soft leather. He struggles to see her face—she is ahead of him in line—but it is not until she has bought her ticket and turns to walk away that he realizes her beauty, which is pale and dark-eyed and full-mouthed, and which quickens his heartbeat. She seems aware that he is staring at her and lowers her gaze abruptly.

The airline clerk interrupts. The man gives up looking at the woman—he thinks she may be about twenty-five—and buys a round-trip, coach class ticket to an eastern city.

His flight leaves in an hour. To kill time, the man steps into one of the airport cocktail bars and orders a Scotch and water. While he sips it he watches the flow of travelers through the terminal—including a remarkable number, he thinks, of unmarried pretty women dressed in fashion magazine clothes—until he catches sight of the black-haired girl in the leather coat. She is standing near a Travelers Aid counter, deep in conversation with a second girl, a blonde in a cloth coat trimmed with gray fur. He wants somehow to attract the brunette's attention, to invite her to have a drink with him before her own flight leaves for wherever she is traveling, but even though he believes for a moment she is looking his way he cannot catch her eye from out of the shadows of the bar. In another instant the two women separate; neither of their directions is toward him. He orders a second Scotch and water.

When next he sees her, he is buying a magazine to read during the flight and he becomes aware that someone is pushing him. At first he is startled that anyone would be so close as to touch him, but when he sees who it is he musters a smile.

"Busy place," he says.

She looks up at him—Is she blushing?—and an odd grimace crosses her mouth and vanishes. She moves away from him and joins the crowds in the terminal.

The man is at the counter with his magazine, but when he reaches into his back pocket for his wallet the pocket is empty. Where could I have lost it? He thinks. His mind begins enumerating the credit cards, the currency, the membership and identification cards; his stomach churns with something very like fear. The girl who was so near to me, he thinks—and all at once he understands that she has picked his pocket. 8 What is he to do? He still has his ticket, safely tucked inside his coat—he reaches into the jacket to feel the envelope, to make sure. He can take the flight, call someone to pick him up at his destination—since he cannot even afford bus fare—conduct his business and fly home. But in the meantime he will have to do something about the lost credit cards—call home, have his wife get the numbers out of the top desk drawer, phone the card companies—so difficult a process, the whole thing suffocating. What shall he do?

First: Find a policeman, tell what has happened, describe the young woman; damn her, he thinks, for seeming to be attentive to him, to let herself stand so close to him, to blush prettily when he spoke—and all the time she wanted only to steal from him. And her blush was not shyness but the anxiety of being caught; that was most disturbing of all. Damned deceitful creatures. He will spare the policeman the details—just tell what she has done, what is in the wallet. He grits his teeth. He will probably never see his wallet again.

He is trying to decide if he should save time by talking to a guard near the X-ray machines when he is appalled—and extremely happy—to see the black-haired girl. She is seated against a front window of the terminal, taxis and private cars moving slowly beyond her in the gathering darkness she seems interested in a book. A seat beside her is empty, and the man occupies it.

"I've been looking for you," he said.

She glances at him with no sort of recognition. "I don't know you," she says.

"Sure you do."

She sighs and puts the book aside. "Is this all you characters think about—picking up girls like we were stray animals? What do you think I am?"

"You lifted my wallet," he says. He is pleased to have said "lifted," thinking it sounds more worldly than stole or took or even ripped off.

"I beg your pardon?" the girl says.

"I know you did—at the magazine counter. If you'll just give it back, we can forget the whole thing. If you don't, then I'll hand you over to the police."

She studies him, her face serious, "All right," she says. She pulls the black bag onto her lap, reaches into it and draws out a wallet.

He takes it from her. "Wait a minute," he says. "This isn't mine."

The girl runs; he runs after her. It is like a scene in a movie—bystanders scattering, the girl zigzagging to avoid collisions, the sound of his own breathing reminding him how old he is—until he hears a woman's voice behind him:

"Stop, thief! Stop that man!"

Ahead of him the brunette disappears around a corner and in the same moment a young man in a marine uniform puts out a foot to trip him up. He falls hard, banging knee and elbow on the tile floor of the terminal, but manages to hang on to the wallet which is not his.

The wallet is a woman's, fat with money and credit cards from different stores, and it belongs to the blonde in the fur-trimmed coat—the blonde he has earlier seen in conversation with the criminal brunette. She, too, is breathless, as is the policeman with her.

"That's him," the blonde girl says. "He lifted my wallet."

Unit 4 Career Planning

Career Planning

Career planning does not necessarily follow routine or logical steps. Each of us places weight on different factors and may consider certain phases of career planning at different times. Career planning includes gathering information about ourselves and about occupations, estimating the probable outcomes of various courses of action, and finally, choosing alternatives that we find attractive and feasible.

Many observers have pointed out that students are not very efficient career planners. They cite evidence that (1) most students choose from among a very narrow group of occupations; (2) as many as 40 to 60 percent choose professional occupations, when in reality only 15 to 18 percent of the work force is engaged in professional work;

(3) young men show a striking lack of interest in clerical, sales, and service occupations, although these fields offer many job opportunities; and (4) as many as a third of the students are unable to express any choice of occupation.

In their book Decision Making, Irving Janis and Leon Mann identify serious flaws in the ways many people make decisions. These flaws seem to be associated with the patterns people use to cope with problems. The first flaw is complacency. People who ignore challenging information about the choices they make demonstrate complacency. People who take the attitude that "It won't affect me" or "It will never happen" use complacency as a dominant pattern of behaving. Of course, complacency is appropriate for any decision in which nothing much is at stake, but that does not describe career decisions.

A second flaw in the way people cope with decisions is defensive avoidance. When confronted with a decision and unable to believe they can find an acceptable solution, some people remain calm by resorting to wishful thinking or daydreaming. Students who fail to think about the implications of their career choices often engage in rationalization (deceiving oneself with self-satisfying but incorrect explanations for one's behavior) or procrastination (putting off or delaying). Facing the situation may produce anxiety, but examining alternatives could also bring relief.

A third flaw is hyper vigilance. This occurs in career decision making when people believe there is not enough time to find a solution and they panic. They search frantically for career possibilities and seize on hastily invented solutions, overlooking the consequences of their choice as well as other alternatives. People who are in a panic sometimes do not think clearly or logically.

The best coping behavior is vigilance. Vigilant decision making occurs when people believe that (1) a choice should be made, (2) they can find a solution, and (3) there is enough time. Under these conditions, students can conduct an effective search for alternative careers, carefully evaluate each alternative, and work out contingency plans in case one or another risk appears.

Following are the keys to career planning.

1. Study yourself. This is the key to career planning. Understanding what you are like, what you value, and what you want to become is the foundation for all career planning. In studying yourself, you examine your strengths and weaknesses, your goals, and the trends in your personal development. The self-understanding that you gain enables you to imagine how certain occupations may best fit your personality, interests, abilities, and goals. All career decisions require us to learn both about ourselves and about work, and to integrate these two kinds of knowledge.

2. Write your career goals down. A technique useful for organizing ideas about your career development is actually to write them down by time blocks in your life. Writing something down forces you to crystallize your thinking and to recognize unclear and half-formed ideas. It may lead to new insights into your possibilities and may help you to see new relationships, patterns, and trends, or to identify gaps in your thinking about your career development.

3. Review your plans and progress periodically with another person. Every so often, take stock of your situation and consider what steps have to be taken next. Taking inventory of progress and planning further steps can help you cope with the changes that you undergo and the changes that take place in the labor market. Talking over your plans with a college counselor, your parents, and your friends helps you define your goals and improve your career plans or make them work.

4. If you choose a career that does not fit you, you can start over. Today, growing numbers of men and women are changing careers or getting second starts in careers that have greater appeal to them. Many of those who find that their line of work is unsatisfactory retrain themselves for a different occupation. Often their new occupation is one that they overlooked when they were young or that they did not have an opportunity to pursue at that time for financial or other reasons.

Sociologists say that there are few changes in careers that involve "downward" movement; most involve the traditional business of "getting ahead". Society no longer attaches the stigma of "instability" to the idea of career hopping, as it once did.

Job changes and career shifts occur at all ages. It has been estimated that as many as one out of four male workers between the ages of twenty and twenty-five change their lines of work. About half that number do so between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four.

Career planning does not guarantee that all the problems, difficulties, or decision-making situations that face you in the future will be solved or made any easier. No formula can be given to do that. But career planning should help you to approach and cope better with new problems, such as deciding whether or not to enter educational or training programs, deciding whether or not to change jobs, and analyzing the difficulties you are having with a situation or a person.

Nobody can foresee what the future holds for any of us. There are social, emotional, and moral considerations in our future that cannot be foreseen. But the most important lesson of this often unhappy modern world is that progress comes from planning. Ignorance about one's career is not bliss; reason is better than chance and fate. Although there is no sure way to make career plans work out, there are things that you can do now to shape your career possibilities.

Take Charge of Your Learning You Know Yourself Best

Remember that unless you can take charge of your own learning, you will probably not succeed in mastering a new language. You know yourself best, so you should use your self-knowledge to guide your studies, even if it means that sometimes you will have to disregard some of your teacher's approaches or other people's suggestions.

People tend to learn in different ways. Some are very analytical and need a rule for everything. Others are more intuitive; they prefer to gather examples and imitate them. Some need lots of repetition, while others require less. In a classroom situation, the teacher cannot tailor the approach to each individual student. Therefore, you cannot always rely on your teacher to provide you with an approach that is specifically designed for you. You need to experiment in order to discover what works best.

So in order to master another language, you need to be personally involved. You need to play with the language to develop a feel for how it works. 1 The language must, in some sense, become a part of you rather than remain an external mechanical system that you manipulate according to a set of instructions. Learning a language is a little like learning to ride a bicycle. One can describe rather precisely what is involved in bicycle riding, but until a learner actually gets on the bike and falls off a few times, no meaningful learning can take place.

Set Clear Goals

You need to decide for yourself what the overall goals for your language study are. This will help you to develop a clearer direction and to measure your performance. For the same reasons, it is helpful to set clear goals for your daily and weekly study. Follow the goals you have set for yourself, even if this means supplementing the work that is done in your course. For instance, if your goal is to have a good accent, you can work independently on your pronunciation if it is not stressed in your course.

Establish a Regular Schedule

Language is learned in small bits, so try to establish a regular schedule for studying and then stick to it. You achieve little by occasional cramming; after all, you didn't learn your native language all at once. In fact, it took you quite a while to master all its intricacies, so give yourself the same chance when learning a new language. Do some studying every day, even on weekends and when there is no homework assignment. Work through your exercises as they are assigned, rather than doing them at the last possible minute. Exercises do little good if they don't have time to sink in. Finally, find the best time of day to do your studying. Don't do it when you have many other things on your mind or when you are exhausted. Your mind has to be receptive for learning to take place.

Pay Attention to the Learning Successes of Yours and Others

As you proceed in your learning, notice your successes and especially note what you did to achieve these successes. Determine which exercises seem to help you most and for which kind of tasks: translations, mechanical drills, answering questions, compositions, and so forth. Also, note whether you find written or oral exercises more helpful and whether you retain a rule better when it is given to you before practice or when you deduce your own rule from examples presented to you.

Ask other students how they got the right answers or how they successfully learned something, and then see if their strategies will also work for you. For example, if someone guessed a word that you did not recognize, ask how he or she did it. Sometimes it is helpful to look at how others organize their notes, rules, and vocabulary lists as well. You can also ask other students how they go about preparing for class.

Experiment to Determine Your Learning Preference

Experiment to see if some tasks are better accomplished by using the eye, while others are better accomplished with the ear. For example, you may find that listening to tapes helps you improve your oral comprehension and memorize dialogues, but you may retain vocabulary better if you use flash cards. Remember that applying the same strategy to all tasks will not work. If you tend to rely too much on the eye, as many adults do, you may slow down your progress because so much of language requires learners to use their hearing. You may need to consciously work on strengthening your listening skills.

Notice Which Strategies Work and Which Don't

As you proceed with your learning, you should be on the lookout for what works and what doesn't. Once you have identified the strategies that work best for you, continue to use them. At the same time, be on the lookout for strategies that aren't effective. For instance, if you "choke up" in class when performing a dialogue with another student, could it be that you prepared for this task by reading and rereading the dialogue by yourself? If this strategy doesn't work, try working with a classmate. After all, it takes two to talk.

Define your problems clearly. Be on the lookout for your learning problems, and try to determine what you can do to solve them. If you keep examining this process, you will find that you will be better able to define your problems and thus better able to find solutions.

Summer Job Planning

Assuming that you know what you want to do after college—and you may be considered shortsighted these days if you have not picked a career by the time you enter college—you should start thinking about a job even before you graduate.

What companies or organizations have the job you want? Let's say you majored in English or history and you want to write a great novel. You need a job to support and educate you. You have to select from a list of several possibilities, not unlike choosing an option from the 'menu on the screen of a personal computer. Your options might include:

A. Working for a publishing company

B. Writing for a scientific company

C. Working for a public relations firm

D. Going to graduate school to postpone decision

E. None of these

If you select option A, for example, it would be a good idea to write letters while

you are in college to a dozen or more publishing houses and ask for an interview with the personnel director. If you happen to have a contact such as an editor who might be willing to meet with you, so much the better

Make every effort to have an interview. You should be familiar with the company before your interview and your aim should be to express to the personnel manager your interest in working for the company. You might ask if a summer job (with pay, if possible) or an internship is available. In many cases interns do receive a small stipend; in others no pay is offered.

It is important at this stage of your life to find a summer job that will enhance your future career. If you cannot find one in your field, then the alternative is to take another type of summer job—lifeguard, housepainter, landscaper, waitress, or worker in a retail store or supermarket. These jobs tend to pay quite well, and you can save enough for many college expenses. That aspect has to be weighed against the fact that they might not help your career plans. Any summer job that requires hard work and a certain amount of responsibility is good for your r ésum é. Naturally if the job is career-oriented, it makes better reading.

One day on the commuter train, I was sitting in front of two high school girls, and one said to the other, "My college education won't cost my father one cent. At least I don't think so." She explained that she had been working weekends, summers, and Christmas and spring vacations as a waitress in a restaurant. Her tips were so good she had saved up $ 10,000. She planned to go to Rutgers University, commuting from home. If she continued working through college she figured she could graduate without debt and go to graduate school.

When I started looking for a summer job in college I found that the only organization that would hire me (except for restaurants) was Filene's, the big Boston department store that operated a summer branch on Cape Cod, where my family vacationed. During my freshman year at college I paid a visit to the Northampton, Mass. branch, a year-round operation. I asked for a job selling on Saturdays and a job the following summer. I was hired on the spot. The following summer the manager of the Northampton shop assumed management of the Cape Cod branch for the summer, and she asked me to come along as a salesgirl.

All through college I earned my expenses by working for Filene's on the Cape during the summer months and on Saturdays and sale days during the college years. I also conceived and wrote copy for the advertisements that Filene's ran in our college newspaper during the winter, and an art major did the drawings based on my ideas. By the time I was a senior I knew that I did not want to go into retailing, but it was my hedge against the future. I knew from conversations with the store manager that if I could not find a newspaper reporting job I could find a spot on the Filene's training squad, and use that step toward a writing job.

Unit 1 羞怯的痛苦 对许多人来说，羞怯是很多不愉快的起因。各种各样的人——矮的、高的、愚笨的、聪明的、年轻的、年老的、瘦的、胖的——都说自己是羞怯的。羞怯的人会焦虑不安，感到不自然；也就是说，他们过分地关注自己的外表和举止。脑海中不断盘旋着一些使自己不安的想法：我给人留下的是什么印象？他们喜欢我吗？我讲话是不是傻里傻气？我长得难看。我穿的衣服毫不引人注目。 很显然这种不安的感觉会对人产生不利的影响。一个人的自我看法反映在自己的行为方式之中，而一个人的行为方式又影响他人的反应。通常，人们如何看待自己对他们生活的各个方面都会产生深刻的影响。例如，具有积极的自我价值观或很强自尊心的人往往表现出自信。而由于自信，他们不需要他人不断地称赞和鼓励，也能使自己感觉良好。自信者热情、自发地投入生活。他们不因别人认为他们“该”做什么而受到影响。有很强自尊心的人不会被批评所伤害；他们不会把批评看作是人身攻击。 相反，他们认为批评是一种提醒他们改进的建议。相比之下，羞怯的人自尊心较弱，往往消极被动并且容易受他人影响。他们（是否）在做“该做的事情”需要得到别人的肯定。害羞的人对批评非常敏感；他们觉得批评正好证实了他们比别人差。他们也很难因别人的赞美而高兴，因为他们相信自己不值得称赞。羞怯的人也许会用这样的话来回答别人的赞美之辞：“你这么说只是为了让我感觉好一些。我知道这不是真的。”显然，尽管自我意识是一种健康的品质，过分的自我意识却是不利和有害的。 能否彻底消除或者至少减轻羞怯感呢？幸运的是，人们能够通过坚持

不懈的努力建立自信从而克服羞怯。由于胆怯和缺少自尊是密切相关的，因此正视自己的弱点和正视自己的优点一样重要。例如，大多数人希望每门功课都得A。如果仅仅因为在某些领域有困难，就把自己列为差生，这不恰如其分。人们对自己的期望必须现实。老是想那些不可能的事情会令自己觉得无能，甚至产生嫉妒。当我们嫉妒比自己成绩好的学生时，我们正在自我否定。 如果你害羞，这里有些具体有效的步骤帮助你树立信心并克服羞怯感：１．认清自己的优缺点。每个人既有优点又有缺点。随着对自我的不断认同，羞怯感就会自然减弱。 ２．确定合理的目标。例如，在聚会时和一群陌生人在一起，你也许会怯场。不要以为你必须和每个人交谈。集中精力，仅和一两个人交谈，你会感到更自在些。 ３．内疚和羞耻感是消极的情感。不要把时间和精力浪费在这上头。假设你伤害了某人的感情，（光）感到羞愧是无济于事的。相反，应该承认你犯了个错误，并决心在将来更加善解人意。 ４．所有问题都有许多种解决办法。很少有完全正确或完全错误的意见。要敢于公开表达自己的观点。 ５．不要对自己做消极的评论。这是一种自我否定。千万别把自己描述为愚蠢的、丑陋的，或者一个失败者。注重自己积极的方面。 ６．接受批评时要缜密思考。不要把批评理解为人身攻击。例如，如果一位朋友抱怨你的烹饪技术，要把这当成对你的烹饪技术而不是对你本人的评价而接受下来。放心，你们还是好朋友，但你的烹饪技术也许确实

Unit 10 Agriculture Farming for the Future [1] Every year, more people face poverty and hunger and more of the earth's resources are ruined. The problems are enormous, but many experts believe that the situation is not hopeless. The solution will require big changes in how we think about agriculture, food, and our planet. [2] First of all, farmers everywhere need to develop methods that are less destructive to the environment. The change from single crop farming to a mixed crop system would be one important step. The planting of several different crops improves the soil and helps prevent erosion. Erosion could also be prevented by planting trees to protect the fields from the wind. Another way farmers could improve the soil is to avoid deep plowing. In fact, only a slight plowing is necessary if proper methods are used. [3] If the soil were treated better, farmers would not need to use chemical fertilizers. They could use natural animal and vegetable products instead. With mixed crops, farmers would need fewer toxic chemical insecticides. They could use biological methods of controlling insects and disease. [4] Farmers could also help save the earth's precious supplies of water and petroleum. To save water, they could plant more water-efficient plants instead of the standard types of wheat or corn. They could also use watering systems that are much less wasteful. To save petroleum, farmers could make use of bio-gas generators which could be fueled by the vegetable and animal wastes of the farms. In less-developed countries, bio-gas generators could reduce the need for firewood and so help save forests, as well. [5] In less-developed countries, the small farmers need help. They need to learn more about crops that are better suited to local conditions. They need to learn how to limit erosion and make the best use of their resources. These farmers will never be successful without land and economic reform. This should be the aim of governments and international agencies. The current industrial and cash crop policies are only making the situation worse. [6] Industrialized countries could use their economic resources to help bring about these changes. They could make some changes in their own policies. At present, much food is wasted in these countries for political reasons. In Europe and in North America, tons of fruit and dairy products are thrown away every year. Eating habits, too, could be changed in these countries. For example, people often eat foods from distant places instead of local foods. The transportation of the imported foods adds to the global pollution problem. People in industrialized countries also eat a lot of meat, especially beef.

Unit 1 Listen1_Ex1 Interviewer:Angela, you were born in Korea but you've been living in Canada for a long time, haven't you? Angela:Yes, I was 10 years old when my parents immigrated to Canada and I've been living here for 20 years now. Interviewer:Do you think that belonging to two different cultures has affected your personality? Angela:Yes, definitely. There are times when I think that I have two personalities. Depending on where I am and who I'm with, I'm Korean or I'm Canadian. Interviewer:That sounds complicated. Could you explain what you mean? Angela:Well, growing up in Canada when I was going to high school, for example, I was known as Angela to the outside world, and as Sun-Kyung at home. I would wave hello to my teachers, but bow to my parents' Korean friends when they visited our home. Interviewer:Do different cultures have different ideas as to what is polite? Angela:Yes, definitely. In high school, I was expected to look straight in the eyes of my teachers and to talk openly with them. But when Koreans spoke to me, I was expected to look at my feet and to be shy and silent. Interviewer:Do you think that having two personalities makes you a richer person? Angela:Yes, but sometimes I don't know who I am. 1.Angela immigrated from Canada to Korea.(F ) 2.Angela is about 20 years old now.(F ) 3.Angela had two different personalities,one at school and one at home.(T ) 4.Sun-Kyung is Anglela's gilefriend at school.(F ) 5.Angela agrees that culture affects personality.(T ) 6.Being expected to two different cultures is sometimes confusing.(T) 1) outside world 2) at home 3) wave hello 4) bow 5) look straight in the eyes of 6) openly 7) look at my feet 8) shy and silent Listen2_Ex1 I am a very sensitive person, and that's good to a point. I feel everyone should be able to feel or understand what others are going through. But when you hurt, cry, or are unhappy for people you don't know, or for a movie that is not real, then I think that's a little too sensitive. That's the way I am. I am a very independent person. I must do things for myself. I don't like people doing things for me, or helping me, or giving me things. It's not that I don't appreciate it, because I do. I just feel that when someone does something for you, you owe them, and if there is one thing I don't like to feel, it's that I owe anyone anything. I think I would be a good friend. I would do almost anything for someone I like, and would share or give anything I have. I'm very caring and understanding. People

Reading comprehension 1略 2 BDCAC AADBB Vocabulary 1. 1) A. entertaining B. entertainment C. entertained D. entertainer 2) A. recognizable B. recognized C. recognition 3) A. tempting B. temptation C. tempt 4) A. reasoned B. reasoning C. reasonable D. reason 5) A. analyzed B. analytical C. analyst D. analysis 6) A. valuable B. valuation C. valued/values D. values 7) A. humorist B. humor C. humorous D. humorless 8) A. understandable B. understanding C. understand D. misunderstood 2. 1) a sense of responsibility 2) a sense of safety/security 3) a sense of inferiority 4) a sense of superiority 5) a sense of rhythm 6) a sense of justice 7) a sense of shame 8) a sense of helplessness 9) a sense of direction 10) a sense of urgency 3. 1) Lively behavior is normal 2) Fast cars appeal to 3) diverse arguments 4) I asked my boss for clarification 5) sensitive to light 6) Mutual encouragement 7) made fun of him 8) persists in his opinion/viewpoint 9) to be the focus/center of attention 10) we buy our tickets in advance 4. 1）certain/sure 2) involved 3) end 4) behavior 5) disciplining 6) agreed 7) individually 8) first 9) response 10) question 11) attempt 12) voice 13) directly 14) followed 15) trouble Unit 2 便笺的力量 Reading comprehension 1略 2 FFTFTFTFTTFTFT Vocabulary 1. Creating Compound Words

Unit 1 Personality In-Class Reading 羞怯的痛苦 1 对许多人来说，羞怯是很多不愉快的起因。各种各样的人——矮的、高的、愚笨的、聪明的、年轻的、年老的、瘦的、胖的——都说自己是羞怯的。羞怯的人会焦虑不安，感到不自然；也就是说，他们过分地关注自己的外表和举止。脑海中不断盘旋着一些使自己不安的想法：我给人留下的是什么印象？他们喜欢我吗？我讲话是不是傻里傻气？我长得难看。我穿的衣服毫不引人注目。 2 很显然这种不安的感觉会对人产生不利的影响。一个人的自我看法反映在自己的行为方式之中，而一个人的行为方式又影响他人的反应。通常，人们如何看待自己对他们生活的各个方面都会产生深刻的影响。例如，具有积极的自我价值观或很强自尊心的人往往表现出自信。而由于自信，他们不需要他人不断地称赞和鼓励，也能使自己感觉良好。自信者热情、自发地投入生活。他们不因别人认为他们“该”做什么而受到影响。有很强自尊心的人不会被批评所伤害；他们不会把批评看作是人身攻击。相反，他们认为批评是一种提醒他们改进的建议。 3 相比之下，羞怯的人自尊心较弱，往往消极被动并且容易受他人影响。他们（是否）在做“该做的事情”需要得到别人的肯定。害羞的人对批评非常敏感；他们觉得批评正好证实了他们比别人差。他们也很难因别人的赞美而高兴，因为他们相信自己不值得称赞。羞怯的人也许会用这样的话来回答别人的赞美之辞：“你这么说只是为了让我感觉好一些。我知道这不是真的。”显然，尽管自我意识是一种健康的品质，过分的自我意识却是不利和有害的。 4能否彻底消除或者至少减轻羞怯感呢？幸运的是，人们能够通过坚持不懈的努力建立自信从而克服羞怯。由于胆怯和缺少自尊是密切相关的，因此正视自己的弱点和正视自己的优点一样重要。例如，大多数人希望每门功课都得A。 5 如果仅仅因为在某些领域有困难，就把自己列为差生，这不恰如其分。人们对自己的期望必须现实。老是想那些不可能的事情会令自己觉得无能，甚至产生嫉妒。当我们嫉妒比自己成绩好的学生时，我们正在自我否定。如果你害羞，这里有些具体有效的步骤帮助你树立信心并克服羞怯感： 6 1．认清自己的优缺点。每个人既有优点又有缺点。随着对自我的不断认同，羞怯感就会自然减弱。 7 2．确定合理的目标。例如，在聚会时和一群陌生人在一起，你也许会怯场。不要以为你必须和每个人交谈。集中精力，仅和一两个人交谈，你会感到更自在些。 8 3．疚和羞耻感是消极的情感。不要把时间和精力浪费在这上头。假设你伤害了某人的感情，（光）感到羞愧是无济于事的。相反，应该承认你犯了个错误，并决心在将来更加善解人意。 9 4．所有问题都有许多种解决办法。很少有完全正确或完全错误的意见。要敢于公开表达自己的观点。 10 5．不要对自己做消极的评论。这是一种自我否定。千万别把自己描述为愚蠢的、丑陋的，或者一个失败者。注重自己积极的方面。

Part 1 Listening 1 Ex1: C A D C B Ex2: 1) approaching 2) left 3) toilet 4) locked 5) Tickets please 6) pushed 7) stamped Scripts: Two Belgians and two Dutchmen traveled regularly to work on the same train. After a while the Dutchmen saw that the two Belgians only had one ticket between them and asked how they managed to achieve this. The Belgians explained that when they heard the conductor approaching from the other end of the carriage, the two of them left their seats, went into the toilet and locked the door. When the conductor knocked on the toilet door, saying, "Tickets, please!", they pushed one ticket under the door. It was then stamped and pushed back under the door again. The Dutchmen thought this was a very good idea and the following morning bought one ticket between them. When they got to their carriage there was only one Belgian. They told him what they had done and asked the Belgian if he had a ticket as he was traveling on his own. The Belgian said he did not have a ticket at all and when they asked how he proposed to manage to travel free of charge, he told them they would have to wait and see until the conductor arrived, but he had no doubt that he would manage it without difficulty. As soon as they heard the conductor coming, the two Dutchmen immediately went to the toilet and locked the door. A few moments later, the Belgian followed them down the corridor and knocked on the toilet door, saying, "Tickets, please!" One ticket appeared under the door. Questions: 1. Where did the story take place 2. What did the two Dutchmen want to know from the two Belgians 3. How did the Dutchmen feel about the Belgians' behavior 4. What did the Belgian do when asked if he had a ticket 5. Who finally managed to travel free of charge Listening 2 Ex1: 1 department store 2. attend college 3. difficult 4. physical education 5. terrified Ex2: FTTFT Scripts: My name is Atsuko Saeki. I work as a salesclerk in a big department store in Fuji, Japan. Six years ago when I was 21 years old, I went to California to attend college. Life in the United States was much more difficult than I had ever imagined. It wasn't like the descriptions I had read in my textbooks. People often seemed tense and so I felt very alone. One of my hardest classes was physical education. We often played volleyball. All the other students were good at it, but I clearly wasn't. One afternoon, the teacher asked me to hit the ball to my classmates. For most people, this would be easy but I was terrified that I would make a fool of myself. When one of the boys on my team saw how nervous I was, he walked up to me and whispered, "Come on, you can do that." You can't imagine how those words of encouragement made me feel. I was so happy that I almost cried. I managed to hit the ball and I think I thanked the young man, but I'm not sure. I have never forgotten his kind words of encouragement. He probably doesn't even remember what he said to me or how much his kindness meant to me. Whenever things aren't going well, I think of those simple words of encouragement: Come on, you can do that.

Unit 1 Personality 羞怯的痛苦 对许多人来说，羞怯是很多不愉快的起因。各种各样的人——矮的、高的、愚笨的、聪明的、年轻的、年老的、瘦的、胖的——都说自己是羞怯的。羞怯的人会焦虑不安，感到不自然；也就是说，他们过分地关注自己的外表和举止。脑海中不断盘旋着一些使自己不安的想法：我给人留下的是什么印象？他们喜欢我吗？我讲话是不是傻里傻气？我长得难看。我穿的衣服毫不引人注目。很显然这种不安的感觉会对人产生不利的影响。一个人的自我看法反映在自己的行为方式之中，而一个人的行为方式又影响他人的反应。通常，人们如何看待自己对他们生活的各个方面都会产生深刻的影响。例如，具有积极的自我价值观或很强自尊心的人往往表现出自信。而由于自信，他们不需要他人不断地称赞和鼓励，也能使自己感觉良好。自信者热情、自发地投入生活。他们不因别人认为他们“该”做什么而受到影响。有很强自尊心的人不会被批评所伤害；他们不会把批评看作是人身攻击。相反，他们认为批评是一种提醒他们改进的建议。相比之下，羞怯的人自尊心较弱，往往消极被动并且容易受他人影响。他们（是否）在做“该做的事情”需要得到别人的肯定。害羞的人对批评非常敏感；他们觉得批评正好证实了他们比别人差。他们也很难因别人的赞美而高兴，因为他们相信自己不值得称赞。羞怯的人也许会用这样的话来回答别人的赞美之辞：“你这么说只是为了让我感觉好一些。我知道这不是真的。”显然，尽管自我意识是一种健康的品质，过分的自我意识却是不利和有害的。能否彻底消除或者至少减轻羞怯感呢？幸运的是，人们能够通过坚持不懈的努力建立自信从而克服羞怯。由于胆怯和缺少自尊是密切相关的，因此正视自己的弱点和正视自己的优点一样重要。例如，大多数人希望每门功课都得A。如果仅仅因为在某些领域有困难，就把自己列为差生，这不恰如其分。人们对自己的期望必须现实。老是想那些不可能的事情会令自己觉得无能，甚至产生嫉妒。当我们嫉妒比自己成绩好的学生时，我们正在自我否定。如果你害羞，这里有些具体有效的步骤帮助你树立信心并克服羞怯感：１．认清自己的优缺点。每个人既有优点又有缺点。随着对自我的不断认同，羞怯感就会自然减弱。２．确定合理的目标。例如，在聚会时和一群陌生人在一起，你也许会怯场。不要以为你必须和每个人交谈。集中精力，仅和一两个人交谈，你会感到更自在些。３．内疚和羞耻感是消极的情感。不要把时间和精力浪费在这上头。假设你伤害了某人的感情，（光）感到羞愧是无济于事的。相反，应该承认你犯了个错误，并决心在将来更加善解人意。４．所有问题都有许多种解决办法。很少有完全正确或完全错误的意见。要敢于公开表达自己的观点。５．不要对自己做消极的评论。这是一种自我否定。千万别把自己描述为愚蠢的、丑陋的，或者一个失败者。注重自己积极的方面。６．接受批评时要缜密思考。不要把批评理解为人身攻击。例如，如果一位朋友抱怨你的烹饪技术，要把这当成对你的烹饪技术而不是对你本人的评价而接受下来。放心，你们还是好朋友，但你的烹饪技术也许确实有待改进。７．记住，每个人都会经历一些失败和挫折。要把它们作为增长见识的经历，从中受益。挫折往往会成为转机，随之而来的将是一段美妙绝伦的经历。例如，你可能被你所中意的大学拒之门外。然而，在你就读的大学里，你可能发现这里教育的某一特点比你料想的好得多。８．有些人会使你感到自己无能，不要和这种人交往。去设法改变他们对你的态度或者改变你对自己的态度，要不就脱离这种关系。伤害你的人并不关心你的最大利益。９．留出时间休息，享受自己的业余爱好，并且定期地重新审定自己的目标。为此所花费的时间有助于更好地了解你自己。１０．多在社交场合中锻炼。不要把自己同他人隔离开来。设法一次结识一位朋友；最终你将能够娴熟而自信地在众人中周旋。我们每个人都是独一无二、难能可贵的个体。我们自有吸引人的地方。我们对自己了解得越多，就越容易充分发挥自己的潜力。不要让羞怯成为阻碍我们拥有丰富和成功生活的绊脚石。 Unit3 Social Problems

Book 3 Unit 1 Personality The Misery of Shyness Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. All kinds of people describe themselves as shy: short, tall, dull, intelligent, young, old, slim, overweight. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are excessively concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly swirling in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? I'm ugly. I'm wearing unattractive clothes. It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people adversely. A person's self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves, and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a profound effect on all areas of their lives. For instance, people who have a positive sense of self-worth or high self-esteem usually act with confidence. Because they have self-assurance, they do not need constant praise and encouragement from others to feel good about themselves. Self-confident people participate in life enthusiastically and spontaneously. They are not affected by what others think they "should" do. People with high self-esteem are not hurt by criticism; they do not regard criticism as a personal attack. Instead, they view a criticism as a suggestion for improvement. In contrast, shy people, having low self-esteem, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need reassurance that they are doing "the right thing". Shy people are very sensitive to criticism; they feel it confirms their inferiority. They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliments because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a compliment with a statement like this one: "You're just saying that to make me feel good. I know it's not true." It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is detrimental, or harmful. Can shyness be completely eliminated, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determined and patient effort in building self-confidence. Since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self-esteem, it is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths. For example, most people would like to be "A" students in every subject. It is not fair for them to label themselves as inferior because they have difficulty in some areas. People's expectations of themselves must be realistic. Dwelling on the impossible leads to a sense of inadequacy, and even feelings of envy, or jealousy. We

课内阅读参考译文及课后习题答案(Book 4) Unit 1 享受幽默—什么东西令人开怀？ 1 听了一个有趣的故事会发笑、很开心，古今中外都一样。这一现象或许同语言本身一样悠久。那么，到底是什么东西会使一个故事或笑话让人感到滑稽可笑的呢？ 2 我是第一次辨识出幽默便喜欢上它的人，因此我曾试图跟学生议论和探讨幽默。这些学生文化差异很大，有来自拉丁美洲的，也有来自中国的。我还认真地思考过一些滑稽有趣的故事。这么做完全是出于自己的喜好。 3 为什么听我讲完一个笑话后，班上有些学生会笑得前仰后合，而其他学生看上去就像刚听我读了天气预报一样呢？显然，有些人对幽默比别人更敏感。而且，我们也发现有的人很善于讲笑话，而有的人要想说一点有趣的事却要费好大的劲。我们都听人说过这样的话：“我喜欢笑话，但我讲不好，也总是记不住。”有些人比别人更有幽默感，就像有些人更具有音乐、数学之类的才能一样。一个真正风趣的人在任何场合都有笑话可讲，而且讲了一个笑话，就会从他记忆里引出一连串的笑话。一个缺乏幽默感的人不可能成为一群人中最受欢迎的人。一个真正有幽默感的人不仅受人喜爱，而且在任何聚会上也往往是人们注意的焦点。这么说是有道理的。 4 甚至有些动物也具有幽默感。我岳母从前经常来我们家，并能住上很长一段时间。通常她不喜欢狗，但却很喜欢布利茨恩—我们养过的一条拉布拉多母猎犬。而且，她们的这种喜欢是相互的。布利茨恩在很小的时候就常常戏弄外祖母，当外祖母坐在起居室里她最喜欢的那张舒适的椅子上时，布利茨恩就故意把她卧室里的一只拖鞋叼到起居室，并在外祖母刚好够不到的地方蹦来跳去，一直逗到外祖母忍不住站起来去拿那只拖鞋。外祖母从椅子上一起来，布利茨恩就迅速跳上那椅子，从它那闪亮的棕色眼睛里掠过一丝拉布拉多式的微笑，无疑是在说：“啊哈，你又上了我的当。” 5 典型的笑话或幽默故事由明显的三部分构成。第一部分是铺垫（即背景），接下来是主干部分（即故事情节），随后便是妙语（即一个出人意料或令人惊讶的结尾）。如果这个妙语含有一定的幽默成分，这个笑话便会很有趣。通常笑话都包含这三部分，而且每部分都必须交代清楚。如果讲故事或说笑话的人使用听众都熟悉的手势和语言，则有助于增强效果。 6 我们可以对幽默这种娱乐形式，进行分析，从而发现究竟是什么使一个有趣的故事或笑话令人发笑。举例来说，最常见的幽默有以下几种，包括了从最显而易见的幽默到比较微妙含蓄的幽默。 7 “滑稽剧”是最明显的幽默。它语言简单、直截了当，常常以取笑他人为乐。说笑打闹这种形式过去是、现在仍然是滑稽说笑演员和小丑的惯用技巧。它为不同年龄、不同文化背景的人们所喜爱。几乎本世纪的每个讲英语的滑稽说笑演员都曾以这样或那样的方式说过下面这则笑话。一位男士问另一位男士：“昨晚我看到的那位和你在一起的贵妇是谁？”那位男士回答道：“那可不是什么贵妇，那是我老婆。”这个笑话的幽默之处在于第二位男士说他的妻子不是一位贵妇，也就是说她不是一个高雅的女人。这个笑话并没有因为经常讲而变得不再那么好笑。由于这是一个经典笑话，观众都知道要说什么，而且因为大家对这个笑话很熟悉而更加珍爱它。 8 中国的相声是一种特殊的滑稽剧。相声中两名中国喜剧演员幽默地谈论诸如官僚主义者、家庭问题或其他一些有关个人的话题。相声随处都能听到，无论是在乡村的小舞台上，还是在北京最大的剧院里，抑或在广播、电视上。它显然是中国人家喻户晓的一种传统的幽默形式。 9 “俏皮话”不像滑稽剧那样浅显，它是因语言的误用或误解而引人发笑。我特别喜欢

Unit 1 Personality羞怯的痛苦 对许多人来说，羞怯是很多不愉快的起因。各种各样的人——矮的、高的、愚笨的、聪明的、年轻的、年老的、瘦的、胖的——都说自己是羞怯的。羞怯的人会焦虑不安，感到不自然；也就是说，他们过分地关注自己的外表和举止。脑海中不断盘旋着一些使自己不安的想法：我给人留下的是什么印象？他们喜欢我吗？我讲话是不是傻里傻气？我长得难看。我穿的衣服毫不引人注目。很显然这种不安的感觉会对人产生不利的影响。一个人的自我看法反映在自己的行为方式之中，而一个人的行为方式又影响他人的反应。通常，人们如何看待自己对他们生活的各个方面都会产生深刻的影响。例如，具有积极的自我价值观或很强自尊心的人往往表现出自信。而由于自信，他们不需要他人不断地称赞和鼓励，也能使自己感觉良好。自信者热情、自发地投入生活。他们不因别人认为他们“该”做什么而受到影响。有很强自尊心的人不会被批评所伤害；他们不会把批评看作是人身攻击。相反，他们认为批评是一种提醒他们改进的建议。相比之下，羞怯的人自尊心较弱，往往消极被动并且容易受他人影响。他们（是否）在做“该做的事情”需要得到别人的肯定。害羞的人对批评非常敏感；他们觉得批评正好证实了他们比别人差。他们也很难因别人的赞美而高兴，因为他们相信自己不值得称赞。羞怯的人也许会用这样的话来回答别人的赞美之辞：“你这么说只是为了让我感觉好一些。我知道这不是真的。”显然，尽管自我意识是一种健康的品质，过分的自我意识却是不利和有害的。能否彻底消除或者至少减轻羞怯感呢？幸运的是，人们能够通过坚持不懈的努力建立自信从而克服羞怯。由于胆怯和缺少自尊是密切相关的，因此正视自己的弱点和正视自己的优点一样重要。例如，大多数人希望每门功课都得A。如果仅仅因为在某些领域有困难，就把自己列为差生，这不恰如其分。人们对自己的期望必须现实。老是想那些不可能的事情会令自己觉得无能，甚至产生嫉妒。当我们嫉妒比自己成绩好的学生时，我们正在自我否定。如果你害羞，这里有些具体有效的步骤帮助你树立信心并克服羞怯感：１．认清自己的优缺点。每个人既有优点又有缺点。随着对自我的不断认同，羞怯感就会自然减弱。２．确定合理的目标。例如，在聚会时和一群陌生人在一起，你也许会怯场。不要以为你必须和每个人交谈。集中精力，仅和一两个人交谈，你会感到更自在些。３．内疚和羞耻感是消极的情感。不要把时间和精力浪费在这上头。假设你伤害了某人的感情，（光）感到羞愧是无济于事的。相反，应该承认你犯了个错误，并决心在将来更加善解人意。４．所有问题都有许多种解决办法。很少有完全正确或完全错误的意见。要敢于公开表达自己的观点。５．不要对自己做消极的评论。这是一种自我否定。千万别把自己描述为愚蠢的、丑陋的，或者一个失败者。注重自己积极的方面。６．接受批评时要缜密思考。不要把批评理解为人身攻击。例如，如果一位朋友抱怨你的烹饪技术，要把这当成对你的烹饪技术而不是对你本人的评价而接受下来。放心，你们还是好朋友，但你的烹饪技术也许确实有待改进。７．记住，每个人都会经历一些失败和挫折。要把它们作为增长见识的经历，从中受益。挫折往往会成为转机，随之而来的将是一段美妙绝伦的经历。例如，你可能被你所中意的大学拒之门外。然而，