大学英语精读第四册第十单元内容详解

大学英语精读第四册第十单元内容详解

　　导语：工作对社会的意义，社会的发展进步，与每个社会组成成员的选择倾向是有密切关系的。下面是一篇关于人为什么工作的.英语课文，欢迎阅读。

　　Text　　Doyouviewworkasaburdenoranopportunity?Areyouthekindofpersonwholooksforwaystosaveyourenergyorthekindthatfindsspendingyourenergysatisfying?Whydopeopleliketocomplainaboutwork?Findtheanswerstoquestionliketheseinthefollowingessay.

　　WHYPEOPLEWORK

　　LeonardR.Sayles

　　Jobsandworkdomuchmorethanmostofusrealizetoprovidehappinesssandcontentment.We'reallusedtothinkingthatworkprovidesthematerialthingsoflife--thegoodsandservicesthatmakepossibleourmoderncivilization.Butwearemuchlessconsciousoftheextenttowhichworkprovidesthemoreintangible,butmorecrucial,psychologicalwell-beingthatcanmakethedifferencebetweenafullandanemptylife.

　　Historically,workhasbeenassociatedwithslaveryandsinandpunishment.Andinourowndayweareusedtohearingthetraditionalcomplaints:Ican'twaitformyvacation,IwishIcouldstayhometoday,Mybosstreatsmepoorly,I'vegottoomuchworktodoandnotenoughtimetodoit.Againstthisbackground,itmaywellcomeasasurprisetolearnthatnotonlypsychologistsbutotherbehavioralscientistshavecometoacceptthepositivecontributionofworktotheindividual'shappinessandsenseofpersonalachievement.Workismorethananecessityformosthumanbeings;itisthefocusoftheirlives,thesourceoftheiridentityandcreativity.

　　Ratherthanapunishmentoraburden,workistheopportunitytorealizeone'spotential.Manypsychiatristsheadingmentalhealthclinicshaveobserveditshealingeffect.Agoodmanypatientswhofeeldepressedinclinicsgainrenewedself-confidencewhengainfullyemployedandlosesome,ifnotall,oftheirmostacutesymptoms.Increasingly,institutionsdealingwithmentalhealthproblemsareestablishingworkshopswhereinthosetoosicktogetajobinoutsideindustrycanwork,whileeveryeffortisexertedtoarrangerealjobsforthosewellenoughtoworkoutside.

　　Andthereverseistrue,too.Forlargenumbersofpeople,theabsenceofworkisharmfultotheirhealth.RetirementoftenbringsmanyproblemssurroundingtheWhatdoIdowithmyself?question,eventhoughtheremaybenofinancialcares.Largenumbersofpeopleregularlygetheadachesandotherillnessesonweekendswhentheydon'thavetheirjobstogoto,andmustfendforthemselves.Ithasbeenobservedthatunemployment,quiteasidefromexertingfinancialpressures,bringsenormouspsychologicaltroublesandthatmanyindividualsdeterioraterapidlywhenjobless.

　　Butwhy?Whyshouldworkbesuchasignificantsourceofhumansatisfaction?Agoodshareoftheanswerrestsinthekindofpridethatisstimulatedbythejob,bytheactivityofaccomplishing.

　　PrideinAccomplishment

　　Thehumanbeinglongsforasenseofbeingaccomplished,ofbeingabletodothings,withhishand,withhismind,withhiswill.Eachofuswantstofeelheorshehastheabilitytodosomethingthatismeaningfulandthatservesasatributetoourinherentabilities.

　　Itiseasiesttoseethisinthecraftsmanwholovinglyshapessomecheapmaterialintoanobjectthatmaybeeitherusefulorbeautifulorboth.Youcanseethecarpenterorbricklayerstandasideandadmiretheproductofhispersonalskill.

　　Butevenwherethereisnoobviousendproductthatissolelyattributabletooneperson'sskill,researchershavefoundthatemployeesfindprideinaccomplishment.Ourownresearchinhospitalssuggeststhateventhehouskeepingandlaundrystaffstakeprideinthefactthatintheirownwaystheyarehelpingtocuresickpeople--andthusaccomplishinggooddeal.

　　We'reoftenmisledbythecomplaintssurroundingdifficultwork;deepdownmostpeopleregardtheirwoncapacitytoconquerthetoughjobasthemarkoftheirownuniquepersonality.ComplainingisjustpartofworkingAfterall,howelsedoyouknowwhoyouare,exceptasyoucandemonstratetheabilityofyourmindtocontrolyoulimbsadhandsandwords?Youare,insignificantmeasure,whatyoucando.

　　Somearedeceivedintothinkingthatpeopleliketostoreupenergy,torestandsavethemselvesasmuchaspossible.Justtheopposite.Itisenergyexpenditurethatissatisfying.

　　Justwatchanemployeewhomustdealwithcountlessotherpeoplebecausehisorherjobisatsomecentralpointinacommunicationsnetwork:asalesmanatabusycounter,astockbrokeronthephone,acustomerrepresentative.Theywilltellyouhowmuchskillandexperienceittakestoanswercountlessquestionsandhandlevariouskindsofpersonalitieseveryhouroftheday.Noteveryonecaninteractwithsuchpersistenceandoverlonghours,butthosewhodo,pridethemselvesonadistinctiveabilitythatcontributesmightilytotherunningoftheorganization.

　　Butworkismorethanaccomplishmentandprideinbeingabletocommandthejob,becauseexceptforafewcraftsmenandartistsmostworktakesplaceoutintheworld,withanthroughotherpeople.

　　Espritdecorps

　　Perhaspsanexamplewillmakethepoint:

　　Irememberviewingahalfdozenmeinachairfactorywhosejobitwastobendseveralpiecesofsteelandattachthemsothatafoldingchairwouldresult.Whilethereweretenortwelveoftheseteamsthatworkedtogether,oneinparticularwasknownforitsperfectcoordinationandlightning-likeefforts.Themenknewtheyweregood.Theywouldworkspurtsfortwentyorthirtyminutesbeforetakingabreak--toshowthemselves,bystandersandothergroupswhatitwastobesuperblyskilledandself-controlled,tobethebestinthefactory.

　　WhenItalkedwiththem,eachexpressedenormousprideinbeingapartofthefastest,bestteam.Andthissenseofbelongingtoanaccomplishedworkgroupisoneofthedistinctivesatisfactionsoftheworldofwork.

　　Onefurtherwordaboutworkgroupsatisfactions.Unlikemayotheraspectsoflife,relationshipsamongpeopleatworktendtobesimpler,lesscomplicated,somewhatlessemotional.Thisisnottosaytherearen'targumentsandjealousies,but,onthewhole,behavioralresearchdisclosesthathumanrelationsatworkarejusteasier,perhapsbecausetheyaremoreregularandpredictableandthussimplertoadjusttothanthesporadic,themoreintenseandlessregularrelationshipsinthecommunity.Andtheworkgroupalsogentlypressuresitsmemberstolearnhowtoadjusttooneanothersothattheroughedgesareworkedoffbecausepeopleknowtheymustdocertainthingswithandthroughoneanothereachday.

　　Beyondtheteamandtheworkgroup,thereistheorganization,whetheritbecompanyorhospitaloruniversity.Thesameprideinbeingpartofawell-coordinated,successfulunitisderivedfrombeingpartofalargercollectivity.Workingforacompanythatisthoughofasbeingpartofthebestinthecommunitycanprovideemployeeswithbothstatusandself-confidence.Theyassume,usuallywithgoodreason,thatothersregardthemmorehighly,evenenvythem,andthattheyaremorecompetentthantheaveragebecauseofthisassociationwithawinner,aprestigiousinstitution.Weintruthbaskinthereflectedgloryoftheinstitution,andweseekwaysofassertingourmembershipsothatotherswillknowandcanrecognizeourgoodfortune.

　　NewWords　　contentment

　　n.happiness;satisfaction满足

　　civilization

　　n.文明

　　intangible

　　a.thatcannotbetouchedorgrasped触摸不到的

　　crucial

　　a.decisive;critical决定性的，关键的

　　pschological

　　a.ofthesoulormind心理的

　　historically

　　ad.inthecourseofhistory,inaccordancewithorinrespecttohistory

　　associate

　　vt.connectorbringtogetherinone'smind联想

　　slavery

　　n.thesystemofhavingslaves;theconditionofbeingaslave奴隶制度;奴隶身份

　　sin

　　n.behaviorthatisagainsttheprinciplesofmorality;animmoralact罪孽

　　punishment

　　n.punishingorbeingpunished惩罚

　　complaint

　　n.complaining;astatementexpressingunhappiness,pain,dissatisfaction抱怨

　　behavioral

　　a.oforhavingtodowithbehavior行为的

　　contribution

　　n.actofcontributing;sth.contributed

　　necessity

　　n.sth.thatisnecessary;theconditionofbeingnecessary,neededorunavoidable必需品;必要性

　　focus

　　n.thecentralpoint;centreofinterest焦点

　　creativity

　　n.theabilitytoproducenewandorignalideasandthings;inventiveness创造性

　　clinic

　　n.buildingorpartofahospitalwheredoctorsgivespecializedmedicaltreatmentandadvice;amedicalinstitutionforspecialpurposes诊所

　　heal

　　v.(causeto)becomehealthy治愈，愈合，痊愈

　　depressed

　　a.sad;lowinspirits精神抑郁的，情绪沮丧的

　　depress

　　vt.makesad,lowinspirits

　　renew

　　vt.reestablish;givenewlifeandfreshnessto使更新

　　gainfully

　　ad.profitably

　　acute

　　a.severe;strong严重的，急性的

　　symptom

　　a.achangeinthebody'sconditionthatindicatesillness症状

　　institution

　　n.asociety,club,collegeoranyorganizationestablishedforsomepublicorsocialpurpose公共机构

　　workshop

　　n.aroomofbuildingwhichcontainstoolsormachineryformakingorrepairingthings车间，工场

　　wherein

　　conj.inwhich

　　exert

　　vt.use(strength,skill,etc.)尽力

　　reverse

　　n.theopposite;theotherwayround,theback相反，背面

　　absence

　　n.non-existence;lack

　　retirement

　　n.instanceofretiringorbeingretired;conditionofbeingretired退休

　　financial

　　a.relatingtomoney财政的;金融的

　　weekend

　　n.SaturdayandSunday,esp.whenconsideredasaholidayfromwork

　　fend

　　vi.provide(for)供养;照料

　　unemployment

　　n.thestateofbeingunemployed

　　significant

　　a.ofnoticeableimportanceoreffect重大的

　　significancen.

　　satisfaction

　　n.bestateofbeingsatisfied满足

　　satisfactorya.

　　accomplished

　　a.skilled,expert有才艺的;有造诣的

　　tribute

　　n.materialevidenceofone'sworth,virtue,etc.

　　inherent

　　a.existingasanaturalandpermanentpartorqualityof内在的，生来的

　　craftsman

　　n.ahighlyskilledworkman手艺人，(名)工匠

　　bicklayer

　　n.aworkmanwhobuildswithbricks

　　attributable

　　a.thatcanbeattributed可归因于的

　　attribute

　　vt.把归因为

　　housekeeping

　　n.managementofahomeanditsaffairs家政

　　staff

　　n.thegroupofworkerswhocarryonajob(全体)员工

　　capacity

　　n.ability,power;theamountthatsth.canholdorproduce能力;容量

　　tough

　　a.difficulttodoordealwith艰巨的

　　unique

　　n.beingtheonlyoneofitstype独特的

　　limb

　　n.theleg,arm.orwingofananimal肢，翼

　　opposite

　　n.apersonorthingthatisentirelydifferentfromanother对立面，对立物

　　countless

　　a.verymany;toomanytobecounted

　　broker

　　n.personwhobuysandsellsforothers经纪人，掮客

　　stockbroker

　　n.apersonwhobuysandsellsstocksandbondsforotherforacommission证券经纪人

　　representative

　　n.apersonactinginplaceofoneormoreothers代表

　　interact

　　vi.actoneachother相互作用

　　persistence

　　n.theactorfactofkeepingondoingsthinspiteofdifficultyoropposition坚持

　　persistvi.

　　distinctive

　　a.clearlymarkingapersonorthingasdifferentfromother特殊的;与众不同的

　　mightily

　　ad.withpowerandstrength;greatly

　　espritdecorps

　　n.(French)spiritofloyaltyanddevotionwhichunitesthemembersofagrouporsociety团体精神，集体荣誉感

　　coordination

　　n.harmoniousadjustmentorworkingtogether协调

　　coordinatevt.

　　lightning

　　闪电

　　bystander

　　n.apersonstandingnearbutnottakingpartinaneventoractivity;onlooker旁观者

　　superbly

　　ad.magnificently;firstclass

　　aspect

　　n.onesideorviewofasubject方面

　　relationship

　　n.afriendshipbetweenpeople;connection关系

　　disclose

　　makeknown;showbyuncovering揭示

　　sporadic

　　a.occurringnowandthen;occasional零星发生的,偶尔的

　　collectivity

　　n.peoplecollectively,especiallyasformingacommunityorstate集体

　　collectivea.

　　status

　　n.(high)socialorprofessionalposition地位,身份

　　envy

　　vt.feeladmirationorill-willtoward(sb.)becausehehasthegoodfortuneonewishestohave羡慕;妒忌

　　winner

　　n.onethatwinsorseemsdestinedtowinorbesuccessful

　　prestigious

　　a.havingrespectthatresultsfromthegoodreputation(ofaperson,nation,etc.)有声望的

　　bask

　　vi.sitorlieinenjoyablewarmthandlight(舒适地)取暖,享受

　　reflect

　　vt.throwback(light,heat,soundorimage)反射;反映

　　assert

　　vt.demonstratetheexistenceof;declareforcefully宣称,断言

　　membership

　　n.thestateofbeingamember,ofaclub,society,etc.allthemembersofaclub,society,etc.

　　Phrases&Expressions　　associatewith

　　connectwith(oftenmentally)把与联系在一起

　　ratherthan

　　insteadof

　　fendforoneself

　　lookafteroneself照料自己，自行谋生

　　asidefrom

　　besides,apartfrom除以外

　　longfor

　　desire(tohave)sth.strongly渴望

　　takepridein

　　fellpleaseandhappybecauseof为而感到得意

　　storeup

　　putawayforfutureuse储存，储备

　　prideoneselfon

　　regardasaspecialreasonforprideorsatisfaction以自豪

　　makethe/one'spoint

　　provethatsth.istrue证明一个论点

　　inparticular

　　especially

　　atwork

　　busyatajob;doingwork

　　onethewhole

　　consideringeverything;ingeneral

　　workoff

　　getridof,dispose除去，清除