Putting Things Off
Powerpoint Templates
Powerpoint Templates
 ~  Introduction
Whenever I try to do my assignments, my
mind always wanders. Because of my bad
habit of putting things off, I have wasted a lot
of time and always been one step behind in
life.
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 Body I
Procrastination is the thief of
time.
1 I spend more time inventing
excuses for my
procrastination than actually
doing my assignment.
2 I always waste a lot of time
on trivial matters.
3 I feel panic and work very
slowly when I get down to
the task.
 Body II
I'm always one step behind
in life and at school.
1 I always try to catch up on
what should have already
been done.
2 I never get the satisfaction
that comes from getting
things done on time, and I
feel bad
about this.
3 I always find myself
trapped by unfinished
business from the past.
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Powerpoint Templates
 Conclusion
I need to learn how to be organized
and prompt so that I won't be
trapped in the prison of
procrastination anymore.
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假設語氣用法 ,練習課本句型一
It’s late at night, and it’s time that I did my
homework. My eyelids droop as I think about
the English assignment
before me: Write an
droop-drooped-drooped-drooping
introductory paragraph for an essay on one of
the
five selectedv.topics. I give some thought
to
introduce
and
the
topics, but soon
introduction
n. I find my eyes as well as
my
mind wandering
introductory
a. to the mosquito bites on
my leg.
bite-bit-bitten-biting v.
bite n.
bite-sized a.
biting wind a.
I give some thought to the topics, but soon I
find my eyes as well as my mind
wandering . . .
 give thought to sth 認真考慮 . . .
(= give sth thought)
Paula promised that she would give
thought to my suggestion / my
suggestion thought.
 find 當不完全及物動詞時，受詞後必須再接補
語。常見的受詞補語包括現在分詞、過去分
詞、形容詞以及名詞，句型為S + find + O +
OC (V-ing/V-en/adj./N)，表示「偶然看見…，
突然發覺…」，例：
The clerk found the girl passing out in
the shop.
 Samuel found his money stolen.
 Rachel found the classroom empty.
 Katharine found the boy a genius.
A as well as B A以及B都…
此用法較強調A；若A與B都作主詞時，
動詞應與名詞A一致，例：
 I as well as Julio am a student.
主詞和動詞一致性:
1 當主詞是單數時，後方接含有連帶成分的字詞，
如along with、as well as、besides、in addition
to . . . 等，動詞應與主詞 一致，使用單數，例：
1. The letter, along with some pictures, was
sent to me.
2. My girlfriend, in addition to my parents, is
going to see me off at the airport.
2 由either . . . or . . . 、not only . . . but also . . .
等連接詞連接主詞時，動詞依最接近的名詞之
單複數而定，例：
1. Either Fred or I am to attend the
meeting.
2. Not only Ken but also his brothers are
going to see a movie this afternoon.
Next, I notice a stain on the shirt I am
wearing. Then, my eyes wander to the clock.
Suddenly, I am pulled back to reality as I
realize that in a matter of hours I will be
sitting in English class, and I haven’t even
started on my paragraph yet.
start on something
start V-ing
start to V原型
句型練習 II Page 17.
S+ will be + V-ing
This is a classic situation for me. I have
managed to put off writing this paragraph all
afternoon, just as I manage to put off nearly all of my
assignments for hours, days, and even weeks.
Therefore, I am always in trouble when time
runs out. My English teacher once quoted
Henry David Thoreau’s words, “The mass of men lead
lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau was right.
Because of my procrastination, I have wasted a great
amount of valuable time, and I find myself always
one step behind in life.
one step ahead 早一步
. . . I have wasted a great amount of valuable
time . . . one step behind in life.
 waste + 時間/金錢 (+ V-ing/on sth)
 Don’t waste time doing/on trivial things.
 Stop wasting your money buying/on the
unnecessary items.
a great/large/huge amount of
後方接不可數名詞，表示「大量的」。
Building a reservoir costs a great amount of
money.
a large/great number of 後方接可數名詞，
表示「許多的」之意。
A large number of teenagers are fond of
pop music.
The results of my procrastination can be
summed up in the famous saying, “Procrastination
is the thief of time.” I spend more time thinking up
weak excuses for why I can’t do an assignment
至於
now
than I ever spend on the actual assignment.
As for the ways I put off an assignment, they
definitely
leave something to be desired.
th
the 11
Sometimes, for example, I might call my friend for
is day, or I might even watch
the eleventhwhich
time that
a television show meant for a four-year-old.
 I spend more time thinking up weak excuses
for why I can’t . . .
 spend + 時間/金錢 + V-ing/on sth
 Adam spent almost half of his savings on
his car.
 Jim spent a lot of time organizing the party.
 think up sth (infml.) 想出、構思出(尤指藉口)
 weak在此表示「缺乏說服力的」，除了可修
飾此處的excuse外，尚有a weak alibi「無說
服力的不在場證明」、weak evidence「無說服
力的證據」等常見用法。
 an excuse for sth/V-ing (做)某事的藉口
 Bob always makes an excuse for his
lateness/being late.
 關係副詞why在此即介系詞for加上關係
代名詞which，用以修飾先行詞the
reason。一般而言，關係副詞的先行詞
大多可省略，例：
 Cole stood his date up last night that’s
(the reason) why he made an apology.
 代名詞they在此指稱的是前方的名詞
the ways。
 be meant for sb/sth 為某人或某目的而
準備
 This special pair of scissors is meant
for left-handed people.
which
Procrastination also causes me to waste time
when I finally get down to the task I have been
avoiding. The simplest task takes up extreme
proportions of my mind because of the panic I
feel for having put it off for so long. I become an
irrational, unclear thinker when I am rushed, and
this makes me very slow in doing any task.
However, the clock ticks on; it never stops for
procrastinators like me.
. . . causes me to waste time when I finally
get down to the task I have been avoiding.
 cause sb to V 致使某人去做…
Fear of failure causes Felix to work harder.
 have been + V-ing為「現在完成進行式」，
可表示在一段時間內持續進行的動作。
 The baby has been sleeping for three hours.
 The baby has been sleeping since 10:00.
現在完成進行式則強調「動作或事件在目前的
持續性」。
現在完成式強調「動作的完成」。
 My pen pals have been writing to each other
for eight years.
My pen pals have written hundreds of letters
to me.
 We have been cleaning our house since this
morning.
 We have cleaned our house.
. . . when I am rushed, and this makes me very
slow in doing any task.
 rush在此指「使…倉促行事，催促…」。
課文採被動語態表示主角是受到外在因素
(如交作業的期限)影響，因此迫使他不得
不倉促行事。
 this在此指稱的是前半句「當我被催促時，
就變成不理性、思路不清的人」一事。
 make在此作不完全及物動詞，其後搭配受
詞與受詞補語，其受詞補語可作形容詞，
 Supermarkets have made our lives .
 Proper exercise makes people .
Furthermore, procrastination keeps me
表達:
原本應該要做卻沒做
one step behind in
life and
at school as I try to
catch up on what I should have already done.
While most students diligently do their
homework
for thatthat
night,
I diligently
doamy
Because
it seems
I can
never do
task . . .
homework from last night, or even from last
week. Because I can never seem to do a task
when it is assigned, I never get the satisfaction
from getting things done on time or being on
top of everything.
. . . what I should have already done.
 what + S + V在此譯作「…的事情」。複
合關係代 名詞what即the thing(s) which，
因此what的前方不需再加先行詞。what
引導的名詞子句可作主詞或受詞，例：
 What you heard was true.
( what所引導的名詞子句在此作主詞)
 Nobody believed what Jennifer said.
( what所引導的名詞子句在此作受詞)
S + should + have V-en . . . 表示「該做而
未做」，此句型多半用在「懊悔、覺得
可惜」的情境：
 I should have told you the truth then.
我當時應該告訴你實話的，但實際 上
我並沒有。
 Wayne really should have studied harder.
Wayne應該要更用功唸書，但實際
上
他並沒有。
Rather, I always end up feeling that I am at the
bottom of a pit, trying to climb out—one late
assignment at a time. However, since I am
always behind, catching up on my work is
almost the same as trying to walk up a
downward-moving escalator—very difficult and
nearly impossible. Because of procrastination, I
am never free to live in the present. Instead, I
always find myself trapped by unfinished
business from the past.
Rather, I always end up feeling that I am at
the bottom of a pit, trying to . . . at a time.
 rather adv. 相反，反而(常用於否定句)
 The award is not meant to praise the winner,
but rather to amuse the audience.
end up可改以finish up代替，表「最後變成…，
以…告終」，其後補語除了可作現在分詞之
外，還可搭配下列不同的詞性：
 The ruthless dictator ended up overthrown
by his people. ( 過去分詞作主詞補語)
 The drunken driver ended up in jail.
( 介系詞片語作主詞補語)
 After the party, the house ended up messy.
( 形容詞作主詞補語)
. . . I am at the bottom of a pit and try to . . .
at a time為表示「頻率」的副詞片語，例：
The lady ate the cookies one at a time.
 Be careful with the boxes; please move
them one at a time.
Adv. + V-ing可組成複合形容詞。
present n. sing. 現在，目前
 You should live in the present; don't
waste your time daydreaming.
unfinished business 未完成之事
 Daniel had some unfinished business to
settle, so he worked overtime last night.
Thus, procrastination continues to rob me
of time. My life is continually interrupted by
spurts of anxiety and desperation as one
deadline after another flies by. I have yet to
grasp the concepts of organization and
promptness. I hope that I will grasp them soon.
Otherwise, I will be doomed to a life in the
procrastinator’s prison that I have built for
myself.
. . . one deadline after another flies by.
 one N after another 一個接著一個的…
 Cindy loves pies. She can keep on eating
one piece after another.
 The passengers got off the bus one after
another.
 fly by (時間)飛逝 (= fly past)
 Little will people notice that time flies by,
especially when they are having a lot of fun.
It is hopeful that I will grasp them soon.
Hopefully, I will grasp them soon.
Powerpoint Templates
Comprehension Check
I. According to the reading, check () the results
of procrastination.
______ (A) Finding one’s mind always
focused on one’s work.
______ (B) Wasting a great amount of
time.
______ (C) Being one step behind in life.
______ (D) Spending a lot of time
memorizing famous sayings.
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Powerpoint Templates
II. Choose the correct answer to
each question or statement.
( B ) 1. The main idea of the reading is that
__________.
(A) procrastination causes people to
panic and become irrational
(B) people should never procrastinate
when they work
(C) procrastinators tend to be prompt
and well-organized
(D) procrastinators are always too busy
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to complete their tasks
Powerpoint Templates
( A ) 2. “The mosquito bites” and “a stain on the
shirt” in the first paragraph suggest that
the speaker __________.
(A) didn’t stay focused on his assignment
(B) was inspired by the bites and the
stain
(C) didn’t care about the bites and the
stain
(D) was doing an assignment on
mosquito bites and stains
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(
Powerpoint Templates
D ) 3. According to the reading, which of the
following statements is NOT true?
(A) The speaker spends a lot of time
thinking up excuses for why he can’t
start on an assignment.
(B) The speaker often feels anxious about
the upcoming deadlines for his
assignments.
(C) Because of procrastination, the
speaker is always trapped by
unfinished business from the past.
(D) Being one step behind in life leaves
the speaker living in the present.
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Powerpoint Templates
( D ) 4. From the reading, we can infer that the
speaker __________.
(A) usually has difficulty taking the
escalator
(B) enjoys leading his life of quiet
desperation
(C) considers it easy to catch up on his
work
(D) often leaves his assignments until
the last minute
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Powerpoint Templates
Questions for Discussion
I. Have you ever put off any of your
assignments? If so, share your experiences
with your classmates. If not, share your
thoughts about procrastination. 參考解答
II. Do you have any bad habits? If not, do you
know what bad habits most people have?
Name one of these bad habits and discuss
how it has influenced people’s life and how to
kick this habit. 參考解答
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I
1) Yes, I have once put off an assignment until the
last minute. The night before the deadline, I began
to feel anxious and nervous because time was
running out. I was afraid that my teacher would
punish me and that I would get a low grade.
What's worse, all of these worries began to make
me impatient. That night, I even yelled at my
mother when she suggested that I go to bed early.
In the end, I upset some people around me,
including my family, and my teacher, of course. It
was all because I had put off an assignment until
the last minute.
2) No, I have never procrastinated because I know
that procrastination can cause a lot of trouble.
Take my brother for instance. He was once a
classic procrastinator. He used to fail to hand in
his assignments on time at school. As a result, he
was asked to stay after school all the time. Later,
my parents helped my brother kick this bad habit
by checking if he had finished his homework for
that day. Since my brother successfully got rid of
this habit of procrastination, he has been able to
use his time wisely. Now, he seldom has trouble
staying on top of his work. So, I believe that if
we don’t put things off, we can certainly live a
better and a more relaxed life.
II There are times when I even fall asleep.
However, I think there are some steps I can take
to solve this problem. First, I should stop
spending so much time playing computer games
every night. Next, I should go to bed earlier, so
that I can wake up early enough to leisurely
enjoy my breakfast at home. In that way, I will
be energetic and dynamic at school. By doing so,
perhaps I can make significant progress on my
school performance, too.