Putting Things Off
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 ~  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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 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.
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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.
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 . . . I will be sitting in English class,
and I haven’t even started on my
paragraph yet.
 此句型為未來進行式，詳細用法請
見本課句型解析2。
 start on + sth 開始 . . .
 After finishing the main course, the
customers started on the dessert.
This is a classic situation for me. I have
managed to put off writing this paragraph all
afternoon, just as I manage to put off nearly all of my
assignments for hours, days, and even weeks.
Therefore, I am always in trouble when time
runs out. My English teacher once quoted
Henry David Thoreau’s words, “The mass of men lead
lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau was right.
Because of my procrastination, I have wasted a great
amount of valuable time, and I find myself always
one step behind in life.
 此處的quiet用來修飾感覺(desperation)，
指有某種特殊的感覺，但不可言喻，例：
 Mina never hesitates about speaking her
mind, which shows her quiet confidence.
(心中的自信)
 . . . I have wasted a great amount of
valuable time . . . one step behind in life.
 waste + 時間/金錢 (+ V-ing/on sth)
 Don’t waste time doing/on trivial things.
 Stop wasting your money buying/on the
unnecessary items.
 a great/large/huge amount of後方接不可
數名詞，表示「大量的」之意，例：
 Building a reservoir costs a great amount
of money.
和a great amount of相似的用法還有a
large/great number of，該用法後方接可
數名詞，表示「許多的」之意，例：
 A large number of teenagers are fond
of pop music.
 one step behind用以形容某人無法事
先做好萬全的準備或是後知後覺，其
相反詞為one step ahead of，例：
As a good manager, Mr. Lee is always
one step ahead of his employees.
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet
desperation.”這句話是從梭羅著名的散文集
《湖濱散記》(Walden)中節錄而來。下一句為
What is called resignation is confirmed
desperation.
對梭羅來說，這段話是當時社會大眾的最
佳寫照，也用以嘲諷人性從眾和認命的惰性。
梭羅認為一般人都過著消沉絕望的生活，每個
人就像行屍走肉一般，天天過著一成不變的日
子。即便心裡知道自己可以過得更有意義，但
是也僅止於在心裡想著而不曾加以實現。作者
在此引用這句話，目的是要說明主角就和梭羅
眼中的芸芸眾生一樣，每天過著消極的生活。
The results of my procrastination can be
summed up in the famous saying,
“Procrastination is the thief of time.” I
spend more time thinking up weak excuses for
why I can’t do an assignment now than I ever
spend on the actual assignment. As for the ways
I put off an assignment, they definitely
leave something to be desired. Sometimes, for
example, I might call my friend for the eleventh
time that day, or I might even watch a television
show meant for a four-year-old.
 這句話引述自英國詩人愛德華‧楊格
(Edward Young)的作品《夜思》(The
Complaint: or NightThoughts on Life,
Death, and Immortality)。該詩是一篇
談論死亡的長篇諷喻詩，乃楊格因一
些親友相繼死亡而有所
感觸之作，相當膾炙人口。
Edward Young為英國詩人、劇作家兼文藝
評論家，《夜思》和《試論獨創性作品》
(Conjectures on Original Composition)奠定他在
文壇上的地位。前者共分九部，風靡當時歐
洲的讀者；後者為楊格獻給朋友理查生
(Samuel Richardson)的一本評論性的散文集，
說明文學的原創性比模仿古典文學作品來得
重要。另外，楊格雖身為劇作家，卻缺乏舞
臺感，所以他的劇本很少上演。
 I spend more time thinking up weak excuses
for why I can’t . . .
 spend + 時間/金錢 + V-ing/on sth
 Adam spent almost half of his savings on
his car.
 Jim spent a lot of time organizing the party.
 think up sth (infml.) 想出、構思出(尤指藉口)
 weak在此表示「缺乏說服力的」，除了可修
飾此處的excuse外，尚有a weak alibi「無說
服力的不在場證明」、weak evidence「無說服
力的證據」等常見用法。
 an excuse for sth/V-ing (做)某事的藉口
 Bob always makes an excuse for his
lateness/being late.
 關係副詞why在此即介系詞for加上關係
代名詞which，用以修飾先行詞the
reason。一般而言，關係副詞的先行詞
大多可省略，例：
 Cole stood his date up last night that’s
(the reason) why he made an apology.
 代名詞they在此指稱的是前方的名詞
the ways。
 be meant for sb/sth 為某人或某目的而
準備
 This special pair of scissors is meant
for left-handed people.
Procrastination also causes me to waste time
when I finally get down to the task I have been
avoiding. The simplest task takes up extreme
proportions of my mind because of the panic I
feel for having put it off for so long. I become an
irrational, unclear thinker when I am rushed,
and this makes me very slow in doing any task.
However, the clock ticks on; it never stops for
procrastinators like me.
 . . . causes me to waste time when I finally
get down to the task I have been avoiding.
 cause sb to V 致使某人去做…
Fear of failure causes Felix to work
harder.
 have been + V-ing為「現在完成進行
式」，可表示在一段時間內持續進行
的動作，例：
 The baby has been sleeping for three
hours.
現在完成進行式(the present perfect
progressive tense)與現在完成式的用法類似，用
以表示「從以前開始，一直持續到現在的動作
或狀態」，一般會與時間副詞for加上一段時間
或since加上過去式連用。現在完成式強調「動
作的完成」，而現在完成進行式則強調「動作
或事件在目前的持續性」，例：
 The pen pals have been writing to each other
for eight years.
 We have been cleaning our house since this
morning.
另外，教師可提醒學生：現在完成進行式只能
表達「從過去持續至今的狀態或動作」，而現
在完成式則可表達「到現在剛完成的動作」及
「到目前為止的經驗」，例：
 The family have been living here for 20 years.
(→ 強調目前還住在這)
 The scientist has traveled to many countries to
give speeches.
(→ 強調到目前為止的經驗)
 . . . when I am rushed, and this makes me
very slow in doing any task.
 rush在此指「使…倉促行事，催促…」。
課文採被動語態表示主角是受到外在因素
(如交作業的期限)影響，因此迫使他不得
不倉促行事。
 this在此指稱的是前半句「當我被催促時，
就變成不理性、思路不清的人」一事。
 make在此作不完全及物動詞，其後搭配受
詞與受詞補語，其受詞補語可作形容詞，
例：
 Supermarkets have made our lives .
 Proper exercise makes people .
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Furthermore, procrastination keeps me
one step behind in life and at school as I try to
catch up on what I should have already
done. While most students diligently do their
homework for that night, I diligently do my
homework from last night, or even from last
week. Because I can never seem to do a task
when it is assigned, I never get the
satisfaction from getting things done on time
or being on top of everything.
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 . . . what I should have already done.
 what + S + V在此譯作「…的事情」。
複合關係代 名詞what即the thing(s)
which，因此what的前方不需再加先行
詞。what引導的名詞子句可作主詞或受
詞，例：
 What you heard was true.
( what所引導的名詞子句在此作主詞)
 Nobody believed what Jennifer said.
( what所引導的名詞子句在此作受詞)
 S + should + have V-en . . . 表示「該做
而未做」，此句型多半用在「懊悔、覺
得可惜」的情境，例：
 I should have told you the truth then.
( 我當時應該告訴你實話的，但實際
上我並沒有。)
 Wayne really should have studied
harder. ( Wayne應該要更用功唸
書，但實際上他並沒有。)

Because it seems that I can never
do a task . . .
Rather,
I always end up feeling that I am at
the bottom of a pit, trying to climb out—one
late assignment at a time. However, since I
am always behind, catching up on my work is
almost the same as trying to walk up a
downward-moving escalator—very difficult
and nearly impossible. Because of
procrastination, I am never free to live in the
present. Instead, I always find myself
trapped by unfinished business from the
past.
 Rather,
I always end up feeling that I am at
the
bottom of a pit, trying to . . . at a time.
 rather adv. 相反，反而(常用於否定句)
 The award is not meant to praise the winner,
but rather to amuse the audience.
 end up可改以finish up代替，表「最後變成…，
以…告終」，其後補語除了可作現在分詞之
外，還可搭配下列不同的詞性：
 The ruthless dictator ended up overthrown
by his people. ( 過去分詞作主詞補語)
 The drunken driver ended up in jail.
( 介系詞片語作主詞補語)
 After the party, the house ended up messy.
( 形容詞作主詞補語)
 . . . I am at the bottom of a pit and try
to . . .
 at a time為表示「頻率」的副詞片語，
例：
 The elegant lady ate the cookies one
at a time.
 Be careful with the boxes; please
move them one at a time.
 Adv. + V-ing可組成複合形容詞，此類字
詞的詳細說明請見U6的Word File解析。
 present n. sing. 現在，目前
 You should live in the present; don't
waste your time daydreaming.
 unfinished business 未完成之事
 Daniel had some unfinished business to
settle, so he worked overtime last night.
Thus, procrastination continues to rob me
of time. My life is continually interrupted by
spurts of anxiety and desperation as one
deadline after another flies by. I have yet to
grasp the concepts of organization and
promptness. I hope that I will grasp them
soon. Otherwise, I will be doomed to a life in
the procrastinator’s prison that I have built for
myself.
 . . . one deadline after another flies by.
 one N after another 一個接著一個的…
 Cindy loves pies. She can keep on eating
one piece after another.
 The passengers got off the bus one after
another.
 fly by (時間)飛逝 (= fly past)
 Little will people notice that time flies by,
especially when they are having a lot of fun.
 It is hopeful that I will grasp them soon.
Hopefully, I will grasp them soon.
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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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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
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( 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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(
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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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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.