赖世雄高级美国英语 lesson 16

　　16， When is the best time？

　　Some people go so far as to say that time does not really exist； it is all in the mind， they claim. Others note that according to astrophysicists， time really does exist； it is inseparable from space， coexisting in what these scientists call the "time-space continuum." No matter which view you may hold， time is of relative importance in different cultures. However， when traveling， doing business， or studying in a German-or English-speaking country， it is a good idea to consider time to be of the utmost importance.

　　Many people have noted¹ that the Germans and English are both methodical and well-organized. Naturally， not everyone among them is， but these peoples do seem to share a penchant² for orderliness and punctuality. Clocks and time have played a great part in defining the character of the Anglo-Saxons. The geographic³ use of time began during the British Empire with the world divided by latitude⁴ and longitude⁵， with zero degrees longitude running through the observatory⁶ at Greenwish， in London. According to the British of that day， the world began its time-keeping from London——and it still does. Time is of paramount⁷ importance to these Europeans and their overseas descendants. If you are visiting or staying in these countries， here are a few pieces of advice to help you make the transition to a time-centered civilization.

　　As you probably already know， being punctual——to the minute——is held in high esteem⁸ among them. Time is the most valuable commodity one can have， according to the doctrine⁹ of the time worshippers. We are not given very much of it whilst on this planet， and we should do our best to utilize¹⁰ it efficiently¹¹ each and every day， they say. Wasting others' time by forcing them to wait if a sign of disorganized living， a sort of admission to being low-class. It is also seen as an insult to those kept waiting， as if to say， "Your time is not that important." To them， this attitude borders on sin itself！ In business， being late even only a few times may make the difference between your getting a promotion¹² and being kept "in your place." For social dates， it is a sign of slovenliness¹³ at best， rejection¹⁴ of those waiting at worst. In school， never burst open the door of the lecture hall to announce， "I'm sorry I'm late， sir" as is the customin many countries. The double crime of being tardy¹⁵ and interrupting the proceedings¹⁶ which began on time occurs， with a likely prejudiced and unfavorable grade awaiting the hapless student.

　　Of course， being late can sometimes not be avoided， as in unexpected traffic jams， home emergencies， or having been given the wrong information of date or place. When these all-too-human mishaps¹⁷ do occur， it is important to explain the reason for being late. It is also a good idea， of course， to apologize for the useless waiting and to assure the other or others that it will never happen again. In this age of cell phones， every effort should be made to call ahead if tardiness¹⁸ of more than ten minutes is unavoidable， especially for business or professional appointments or important dates. The last phrase anyone wants to hear is a frosty "You could have called." That is the prelude¹⁹ to a ruined evening.

　　Not everything begins exactly on time， even in Anglo-Saxon culture. Many casual parties are "open" there. The same is generally true of backyard barbecues and picnics. Dinner parties， on the other hand，are obviously planned around a meal time； one should make every effort to arrive on （not before） time. A friendly "Drop by this evening" invites common sense to interpret： too early during the evening may embarrass the host who is eating dinner， while too late may disturb those who prefer going to bed early. A call first to make sure is never out of line.

　　Remember that time is relative in importance to people within a culture just as it is between cultures. Nothing is more important than human relations. If you commit the "crime" of being late with Anglo-Germanic friends， simply apologize. Few people intentionally²⁰ keep others waiting， after all. Remember， too， that， "When in Rome， do as the Romans do." In English-and German-speaking lands， this means "Time waits for no man！"

 

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 penchant   

n.爱好，嗜好；（强烈的）倾向

参考例句：

• She has a penchant for Indian food.她爱吃印度食物。
• He had a penchant for playing jokes on people.他喜欢拿人开玩笑。

3 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

4 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。

5 longitude   

n.经线，经度

参考例句：

• The city is at longitude 21°east.这个城市位于东经21度。
• He noted the latitude and longitude,then made a mark on the admiralty chart.他记下纬度和经度，然后在航海图上做了个标记。

6 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

7 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

8 esteem   

n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。

9 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

10 utilize   

vt.使用，利用

参考例句：

• The cook will utilize the leftover ham bone to make soup.厨师要用吃剩的猪腿骨做汤。
• You must utilize all available resources.你必须利用一切可以得到的资源。

11 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

12 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

13 slovenliness   

参考例句：

• Slovenliness is no part of religion. 邋遢并非宗教的一部分。 来自辞典例句
• Slovenliness no part of religion. “邋遢”并非宗教的一部分。 来自互联网

14 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

15 tardy   

adj.缓慢的，迟缓的

参考例句：

• It's impolite to make a tardy appearance.晚到是不礼貌的。
• The boss is unsatisfied with the tardy tempo.老板不满于这种缓慢的进度。

16 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

17 mishaps   

n.轻微的事故，小的意外( mishap的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a series of mishaps 一连串的倒霉事
• In spite of one or two minor mishaps everything was going swimmingly. 尽管遇到了一两件小小的不幸，一切都进行得很顺利。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 tardiness   

n.缓慢；迟延；拖拉

参考例句：

• Her teacher gave her extra homework because of her tardiness. 由于她的迟到，老师给她布置了额外的家庭作业。 来自辞典例句
• Someone said that tardiness is the subtlest form of selflove and conceit. 有人说迟到是自私和自负的最微妙的表现形式。 来自辞典例句

19 prelude   

n.序言，前兆，序曲

参考例句：

• The prelude to the musical composition is very long.这首乐曲的序曲很长。
• The German invasion of Poland was a prelude to World War II.德国入侵波兰是第二次世界大战的序幕。

20 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。