Unit 15 Are You a Workaholic ?

1. Unit 15 Are You a Workaholic?

2. Teaching Arrangement • Pre-reading task • Background • Analyzing the text in detail • Exercises

3. Pre-reading task • Have you ever heard of the word workaholic? How is the word made up? Does it tell you something about the meaning of the word? • Is working hard good for us? Is there a limit to working hard? Why?/ Why not?

4. Background • workaholic: work+ -aholic • -aholic: (suffix) someone who cannot stop doing something or using something • workaholic： someone who cannot stop working, and doesn’t have time for anything else

5. Analyzing the text in detail There's a big difference between working hard and being a workaholic. Working hard involves being organized, focused, getting a lot of work done, knowing when to stop, and having a life other than work. Workaholics, on the other hand, are often disorganized, always find reasons for working more, feel lost without work to do, hide from problems through work, don't know how or when to relax, bring work home from the office, can't communicate well with co-workers and family members, and have unbalanced, one-dimensional lives. Next

6. dimension n.[C] (可数名词) a part of a situation that makes you regard the situation in a particular way (形势的)方面，部分 The baby has added a new dimension to their lives. 婴儿给他们的生活增添了新的内容。 aspect

7. aspect n.[C] (可数名词) One part of a situation, idea, plan etc that has many parts 方面（+of） Alcoholism affects all aspects of family life. 酗酒影响家庭生活的各个方面。

8. Workaholics, like alcoholics, suffer from an addiction, usually defined as compulsive behavior despite negative consequences. They are sometimes pushed intotheir addiction by their work ethic, by workaholic role models, and by a work systemthat tacitly encourages workaholism. Despite lip service to the contrary ("a balancedemployee is a productive employee"), most employers want their employees to work longer hours, rewarding them with higher pay and better benefits. In many companies, workers unwilling to burn the midnight oil are at risk.Certainly, they put themselvesin jeopardy by working normal hours. Americans tend to become trapped in a materialistic work-and-spend cycle that leads them to ratchet up their expectations. Next

9. compulsive Adj. compulsive behavior is very difficult to stop or control,and is often a result of or a sign of a mental problem 难以抑制的 Compulsive spending is often a symptom of deep unhappiness. 肆意的挥霍常常是内心郁闷的一种征兆。

10. work ethic n.[singular, U] a belief in the moral value of work 职业道德 the protestant work ethic 新教徒的职业道德

11. lip service n. to say that you support or agree with something without doing anything to prove your support 空口答应，口惠而实不至 They only pay lip service to women’s rights. 他们只是口头上支持妇女的权利。

12. to the contrary showing that the opposite is true 意思相反【地】，完全不同【地】 Unless there is evidence on the contrary, we ought to believe them. 除非有反证，否则我们应该相信他们。

13. reward v.tr to give something to someone because they have done something good or helpful 酬谢，报答，奖赏 How can I reward your kindness? 我怎么来报答你的好意呢？ reward sb. with sth. 以…报答 reward sb. for sth. 因…得到报酬

14. in jeopardy in danger of being lost or harmed 处在【失去或受害的】危险之中 =in danger/at risk

15. According to some psychology counselors, workaholism can be both good and bad for us. It can fuel a sense of self-esteem and accomplishment. And we get paid forit and praised for it, which produces good feelings we may not be able to get in otherparts of our lives. Next

16. fuel • n.(C,U) a substance such as coal, gas, or oil that can be burned to produce heat or energy 燃料 • v.tr fuelled (BrE)/fueled (AmE) to make a situation worse or make sb.’s feelings stronger 使恶化，使感情更强烈 The attempts to stop strike only fuelled the worker’s resentment. 制止罢工的企图只能使工人更加的不满。

17. Workaholism is a problem that has been around since the Stone Age -- whenever people have sought to escape other parts of their life through work. Our parentsand grandparents worked very hard, but theirs was more of a physical work. Ours hasmore stress in it, especially in these days of rising competition and downsizing companies. The companies are getting smaller and smaller because of bleak economicconditions and employees fear for their jobs -- so they work longer hours. We seem to be more in the fast lane than ever before. Next

18. downsize v.[i. tr] if a company downsizes, or downsizes its operations, it reduces the number of people it employs in order to reduce costs [指公司，机构为降低成本而]裁员，紧缩编制

19. Psychology counsellors have noticed three types of workaholics: . People with high energy that needs discharging. . Very competitive people who have a strong need to prove themselves and tie their self-esteem to their work. . People who use work to escape from something, such as grief, frustration or guilt. They keep themselves so busy that they have no time or energy to deal with their real problems. Next

20. tie to to fasten one thing to another with a piece of sting,rope etc 系，扎，栓，捆 • tie sb. to sth. They tied him to a lamp-post. 他们把他捆在一根灯柱上。

21. These three types generally have the same traits. They can't stand not to be active. They find it hard to go on vacation. They're more comfortable being with co-workers than with family and friends. They equate self-esteem and success with hard work. They'd rather be at work than elsewhere or doing any thing else. Next

22. trait n.(C) a particular quality in someone’s character (某人性格中的)特性，品质 Anne’s generosity is one of her most pleasing traits. 安妮的慷慨是她最受人喜爱的品性之一。

23. equate v.tr to consider that two or more things are similar or connected 同等看待；使相等 • equate sth. with Some people equate nationalism with fascism. 有些人将民族主义与法西斯主义等同起来。

24. Workaholics commonly view their addiction through denial and rationalisation. They deny that the time they're devoting to work is that much more than what other people are working, and they rationalise that their schedule is for the family and important for being promoted. They also tend to view themselves and their work as indispensable and their working long hours as commitment to the company. Of course there is nothing wrong with theircommitment, ambition and stamina. But what is wrong is that these things often come in at a high price to their health and the welfare of their families. Next

25. rationalise v. to find or invent a reasonable explanation for your behavior or attitudes 为…找出合理的理由 • rational adj.合理的 • rationalisation n. • rationalist n.理性主义者

26. commitment • n.(C) a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way 承诺 Jim’s afraid of emotional commitment 吉姆害怕感情上的承诺。 • n.(U) the hard work and loyalty that someone gives to an organization,activity etc (对某一组织，某项活动等所付出的) 辛劳，忠诚，奉献 Her commitment to work is beyond question. 她的敬业精神不容置疑。

27. at a price • used to say that you can buy sth., but only if you pay a lot of money 以很高的价钱 • used to say that sth. can be achieved, but that it involves sth. unpleasant 以很高的代价 She was finally made senior executive,but at what price! 她最终当上了高级经理，但那是以什么样的代价啊！

28. As workaholics tend to put all their eggs in one basket -- their job, they can be helped by spreading these eggs into several baskets. Psychology counsellors, for example, often help these people by asking about their hobbies they enjoyed in the past and don't have any more now. That kind of question can often get them started toward regaining more of a balance in their lives. Next

29. not any more =no more=no longer 不再 Paul and Ann aren’t going out together any more. 保罗和安已经分手了。

30. To be a healthy person physically and psychologically, one should lead a balanced life, according to some psychology experts. Those little things may seem relatively insignificant -- reading mystery novels, playing volleyball, spending time with family and friends, playing with the dog, going fishing. They can be at least as rewarding as work. 课文参考译文

31. at least not less than a particular number or amount 至少，起码 It will take you at least 20 minutes to get there. 到那里你至少要花20分钟。 at most used to say that a number or amount could not be larger 至多，不超过 You could buy a good washing machine for about $350, $400 at most. 350美元左右，最多400美元，就能买一台 不错的洗衣机。

32. Exercises • Translation 1.他又在说好听的了，别拿他的话当真。（lip service） 2.比赛获胜者获得了奖杯。(reward) He is paying lip service again. Don’t take his words seriously. The winners were rewarded with the cup.

33. 3.他兢兢业业从教20年，同事中没有人怀疑他对教育事业的忠诚。（commitment）3.他兢兢业业从教20年，同事中没有人怀疑他对教育事业的忠诚。（commitment） 4.他们赢得了胜利，但也付出了沉重的代价。（at a price） He has been teaching conscientously for twenty years. None of his colleagues have any doubt about his commitment to the cause of education. They finally won, but paid a heavy price.

34. 5.考试得高分不等于聪明。（equate with） 6.如果你没有接到更改时间的通知，那么会议将在十点准时召开。（to the contrary） Good scores in exams cannot be equated with intelligence. If you don’t hear anything to the contrary, the meeting will begin at ten o’clock sharp.

35. 7.许多困在山洞里的人在救援队赶到之前就死了。（trap）7.许多困在山洞里的人在救援队赶到之前就死了。（trap） Many people trapped in the cave died before the rescue party arrived.

36. 课文译文 1. 努力工作和醉心于工作之间有很大的区别。 2. 努力工作是指工作有条有理、精力集中，完成许多工作，知道何时歇手，知道除了工作还有生活。而工作狂们常常是缺乏条理，总在寻找理由想做得更多些，没有工作可做时就感到不知所措，想通过工作来躲避问题。他们不知道怎样或何时放松一下，经常把办公室里的活儿带回家里去做，不善于和同事及家人交流沟通，生活不平衡，单调乏味。 你是个工作狂吗?

37. 3. 工作狂，就像那些老是醉醺醺的人一样，有一种无法摆脱的习惯，这种习惯通常被定义为不顾及消极后果的强迫性行为。他们有时是被自己的工作信念、工作狂的行为模式以及一种工作狂自我认可的工作方式所逼而养成这习惯的。大多数雇主尽管口头上说得很漂亮(“生活保持平衡的雇员是效率高的雇员”)，可他们需要的是忠心耿耿的、愿意超时间工作的雇员，并用高薪和更多的福利来奖励他们。在许多公司里，不愿意开夜车的职工的处境岌岌可危。他们只在正常时间内工作就肯定是在拿自己的饭碗冒险。美国人往往会陷人一种由商人们所鼓吹的工作——消费的模式 之中，这种模式引诱他们抬高了自己的 期望值。

38. 5. 工作狂自石器时代起就成了一个很明显的问题了——每当人们试图通过工作来逃避他们生活中的其他部分时就会出现这个问题。我们的父母和祖辈们工作都很努力，但是他们的劳动基本上是体力劳动。而我们的工作则压力更大，尤其是在当今竞争的日趋激烈、公司规模日趋缩小的时代。由于经济形势黯淡，公司不断裁员，雇员失去工作，因此他们工作时间更长。我们好像比过去任何时候都更加处于快车道上。

39. 6. 心理咨询顾问已经注意到了三种类型的工作狂： ●精力充沛、需要释放的人。 ●竞争心很强、急需证明自己、并把自我价值和工作联系起来的人。 ●想通过工作来逃避诸如悲伤、沮丧和内疚之类东西的人。他们让自己处于极 度忙碌的状态，这样他们就没有时间或精力去对付他们的现实问题了。

40. 7. 这三类人通常有同样的特点：他们忍受不了懒 懒散散，他们发觉很难抽出时间去度假，与跟家 人和朋友们在一起相比，他们觉得和同事们在一起 感到更舒服自在些。他们把自我价值和成功与拼命工 作紧密相连。他们宁可干活，不愿到别的地方去或做其他事情。 8. 据推测，工作狂通过否认和自圆其说来解释自己的工作习惯。他们否认自己在工作上花了太多的时间，他们自我辩解地说他们的工作是为了家庭，同时对升职也至关重要。他们也往往认为他们本人及他们的工作对公司是不可或缺的，他们超时工作是对公司的一种承诺。当然他们的承诺、抱负和持久的精力均无可 指责，错的是这些东西是以牺牲他们的健康和 他们家庭幸福为高昂代价才得以实现的。

41. 9. 因为工作狂把一切希望都寄托在一件事——他们 的工作上，因此帮助他们的办法是把他们的希望 分散到其它几件事上去。例如，心理咨询顾问常常可以通过询问他们过去喜欢的、而现在却丢得一干二净的业余爱好来帮助他们。此类问题往往能促使他们开始更多地恢复他们生活的平衡。 10. 一些心理专家概括说，为了做生理和心理上都健康的人，我们必须过种平衡的生活。那些小事情——阅读神秘小说、打排球、花时间和家人及朋友在一起、跟狗一起玩耍、去钓鱼——对实现健康的目的而言，似乎是一些不太起眼的方法，但至少可以和工作一样 有益于身心健康。

42. Thank you for your attention!