英语四级阅读美文两篇

　　办公室里的八卦你会参加吗?我不想让人觉得我八卦，但我也承认我常会参与其中。在我这个千变万化的行业中，我认为我的行为是合理的，理由是八卦可以帮我获得信息，弄清形势——这样想也许是错误的。

　　Amid a rise in office gossip，researchers are disagreeing over whether it is fundamentally good or bad. Some defend it as a way of building bonds among people and sharing essential information. But others hold that office gossip can be savage and destructive, as the New York Times reports. (At one company, PrintingForLess.com, which has a strict no-gossip policy, gossiping about colleagues can become a firing offense.)

　　随着办公室八卦的兴起，研究人员对它到底是好还是坏也存在不同看法。一些人为它辩解说，这是同事间建立关系和分享必要信息的一种途径。但根据《纽约时报》的报导，也有人认为，办公室八卦可能十分低级，具有破坏性。(一家名为PrintingForLess.com的公司制定了严格限制八卦的政策，谈论同事的闲话可能面临解雇。)

　　(1) In one case analyzed in a scholarly journal, middle school teachers' gossip about their principal became so poisonous that the principal retaliated, many teachers fled the schoo1 and students' test scores declined. In this case, gossip amounted to "a form of warfare that brought everyone down."

　　(1)在某学校期刊分析的一个案例中，中学教师对他们校长的八卦很坏，以至于校长进行了报复，很多教师逃离了学校，学生的考成绩一落千丈。在这个案例中，八卦成为了一种损人不利己的战争。

　　On the other hand, less malignant gossip that stops short of repeating lies or breaching confidences can serve as a source of understanding, (2) Gossip helps us analyze the motivations of other people, and enables those low on the food chain, in particular, to understand how power is used in their organizations, says this New York Times article. It is relaxing, it brings people together, and as a pastime it beats gambling, drinking or doing drugs，this reasoning holds.

　　另一方面，没有重复谎言或泄漏机密的不存恶意的八卦可能带来互相理解。 (2)《纽约时报》的文章说，闲谈可以帮助我们分析其他人的动机，尤其是那些处于食物链低端的人可以了解所处组织中的权力是如何使用的。它是一种放松，可以让人们融洽，作为一种消遣它比赌博、饮酒或吸毒要好，这种判断也不无道理。

　　Whatever side you take, gossip is here to stay. It is a universal human practice and it is too complex to say it is either good or bad, a University of Colorado researcher says. When researchers at Case Western University asked students to cite 1essons they had 1earned from gossip, the students gave these examples: "Infidelity will eventually catch up with you" and "Cheerfu1 peop1e are not oecessari1y happy." This positive dimension of gossip was featured receot1y in the news1etter Work & Family Life.

　　无论你站在哪一面，八卦都不会改变。美国科罗拉多大学的研究人员说，这是人类普遍存在的，很难说清到底是好是坏。当凯斯西大学的研究人员要求学生列出从八卦中得到的教训时，学生举出的例子有：“最终将众叛亲离"和"快乐的人不一定幸福”。最近的《工作家庭生活》通讯提到了八卦的积极一面。

　　(3)I have seen gossip he1p co-workers in some places where I have work, giving rise to compassion or offers of support when someone is going though hard times. On the other hand, I have also seen gossip over an office romance, for example-distract people from the work and even force unwanted transfers.

　　(3)我看到八卦在我曾工作过的一些地方给同事带来了好处，增进了感情或给遇到困难的人提供了支持。另一方面，我也看到八卦一一比如针对办公室恋情，分散了人们的工作精力，甚至带来了意想之外的变动。

　　四级句型讲解

　　1. In one case analyzed in a scholarly journal, middle school teachers' gossip about their principal became so poisonous that the principal retaliated, many teachers fled the schoo1 and students' test scores declined.

　　本句是一个复合句，主句是middle school teacher' gossip about their principal became so poisonous.其中about their principal介词短语作后置定语，修饰gossip。后面that引导结果状语从句，与so相呼应。前面in one case...journal介词短语作状语，其中analyzed in a scholarly journal过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰case。

　　语法重点：介词短语作状语，介词短语作定语，结果状语从句

　　2. Gossip helps us analyze the motivations of other people, and enables those low on the food chain, in particular, to understand how power is used in their organizations, says this New York Times article.

　　本句是一个复合句。 says前面的成分充当says的宾语。其中 analyze...other people是help的宾语补足语。to understand... organizations不定式短语作enables的宾语补足语。其中bow引导名词性从句，作understand的宾语。

　　语法重点：宾语从句，宾语补足语

　　3. I have seen gossip he1p co-workers in some places where I have work, giving rise to compassion or offers of support when someone is going though hard times.

　　本句是一个复合句。gossip help co-workers in some places where I have worked是省略了引导词的宾语从句，作seen的宾语，其中where引导限制性定语从句，修饰place。giving rise to...hard times现在分词短语作结果状语。其中when引导时间状语从句。

　　语法重点：宾语从句，定语从句，分词短语作状语，时间状语从句

　　英语四级阅读美文：职业生涯的危机

　　In the new movie Up in the Air, Anna Kendrick stars opposite George Clooney as Natalie Keener, an ambitious new college graduate who takes a job at a company whose business is to fire people.

　　在最新影片《在云端》中，安娜·肯德里克与乔治·克鲁尼演对手戏。她饰演娜塔莉·基纳一一一位刚刚在一家替其他企业裁员的公司谋到一份职位的充满抱负的大学毕业生。

　　(1) Natalie quickly gets to work developing a videoconferencing system that saves the company millions by performing terminations online. While on a cross-country trip to learn the rope，however, Natalie is shaken by the emotional implications of her prized job and quits.

　　(1)娜塔莉很快就适应了新工作，并且通过开发一种视频电话会议系统，可以在网上般人就鱼，从而帮她所在的公司节省了数百万美元的资金。然而，在一次为熟悉业务的全国旅行中，她为自己本来引以为傲的这份工作给别人的情感带来的重大影响感到震惊，并且最终提出了辞呈。

　　These days, many people---young and old---are experiencing a career-life crisis, asking: "What do I do when I realize my dream job isn't so wonderful after all?"

　　眼下，很多人一一无论老少，都在经历着一场职业生涯的危机。他们都在扪心自问：当我意识到自己一直梦想的那份工作其实不怎么样的时候，我该怎么办?

　　Not long after Christine Hassler, 33 years old, of Los Angeles landed a prestigious and lucrative job as a Hollywood agent, she found herself arriving at work with knots in her stomach and counting the minutes until the weekend.

　　今年33岁、来自洛杉矶的克里斯汀·哈斯勒在一家好莱坞代理机构谋得一份令人羡慕、报酬丰厚的职位。但是不久之后，她就发现自己每次来上班的时候总是充满不安，上班后分分衫、秒都在盼望周末快点到来。

　　"I didn't like the job, and I didn't like the person I was becoming while doing it-stressed out, irritable and unmotivated," she says.

　　她说，"我根本不喜欢这份工作，也不喜欢因为这份工作而逐渐改变的自己一一顿疲力尽、暴躁易怒、没有斗志。"

　　Recognize the Impact

　　认识影响

　　(2) Securing a position in your most desired field is a major achievement, and when the day-to-day work doesn't turn out to be as great as you thought it would be, it's normal to feel depressed，disappointed and confused.

　　(2)在你梦想的领域获得一份工作是一项重要的成就，而当日常工作结果并非你想象的那么完美的时候，感到沮丧、失望和困惑是非常正常的现象。

　　You may feel powerless to make a decision, and this state of limbo can cause you to experience physical symptoms like insomnia, malaise and stomachaches.

　　你可能会感到无力作出决定，而这种没着没落的感觉可能会使你

　　经历种种症状，比如失眠、莫名的不适和胃痛。

　　Examine Expectations

　　审视期望值

　　The way to cope is first to examine your expectations. Says Ms. Hassler: (3)"Often, the first few years at a job aren't the most thrilling because you're learning the ropes, and it may be unreasonable to think that you'll be jumping out of bed to go to work every day, or that you'll get promoted before you've had time to prove yourself."

　　“应对这种状况的办法，首先就是审视自己的期望值。”哈斯勒女士说. (3)一般来说，每份新工作的最初几年都不会那么令人兴奋，原因是你还在熟悉业务当中。这时候，要求自己每天都很积极地起床上班，或者希望自己在有时间证明自身价值之前就得到提升，可能都是不合情理的的想法。

　　Plan on the Sidelines

　　自我规划

　　If you're certain that you've made a wrong turn　not to get mired in feelings of negativity. "If you go to work every day with a woe-is-me attitude, you are going to feel even worse," says Ms. Hassler, who eventually left Hollywood to become a life coach and book author. She suggests talking about your feelings with a friend or mentor, but keeping your game face on at work.

　　如果你肯定自己的职业选择是错误的一步，那么也要试着不让自己陷在负面情绪里无法自拔。哈斯勒女士说，如果你每天去上班的时候都抱着我很倒霉的态度，那么你会感觉更差。哈斯勒女士最终离开了好莱坞，成为了一位生活指导和作家。她建议和朋友或者导师畅谈自己的感想，但是在工作的时候则要保持正常心态。

　　Maintain your work reputation and in your free time you can start putting plans in place to transition your career. (4) Begin researching positions that are a better fit for your skills and interests, start saving money, and attend networking activities in different industries so that you can get plugged into their communities.

　　一方面保持在工作上的声望，一方面在闲暇的时候开始自我规划，为职业转型做好准备。 (4)不妨开始研究更加适合自己技能和兴趣的职位，开始存钱，参加不同行业的社交活动，以便将来能够进入它们的领域。

　　Take the Pressure Off

　　消除压力

　　And don't do anything rash. Although it's normal to make a career detour, it's also hard work, so you'll be well served to consider your next move carefully. (5) Putting pressure on yourself to find the perfect career right now will not make it happen any faster, so remove the sense of urgency.

　　不要行事鲁莽。虽然职业转型遇挫是很正常的事情，但是这也意味着要付出努力，因此仔细考虑自己的下一步行动有利无害。(5)给自己太多压力，要求自己马上找到完美的职业，只会适得其反，因此不要有紧迫感。

　　"Relax and spend some time getting to know yourself," says Ms. Hassler. "As we get a clearer picture of who we are, then what we want to do becomes easier to identify."

　　哈斯勒女士说，“不妨放松心情，花些时间了解自己。随着我们越来越清楚自己是谁，那么也就更加容易找到我们到底想做什么。”

　　四级句型讲解

　　1. Natalie quickly gets to work developing a videoconferencing system that saves the company millions by performing terminations online.

　　本句是一个复合句，主句是Natalie quickly gets to work。 developing a videoconferencing system现在分词短语作方式状语。that 引导限制性定语从句，修饰system。

　　语法重点：分词短语作状语，定语从句

　　2. Securing a position in your most desired field is a major achievement, and when the day-to-day work doesn't turn out to be as great as you thought it would be, it's normal to feel depressed，disappointed and confused.

　　本句是一个复合句，主句是Securing a position …major achievement 和it's normal to feel depressed, disappointed and confused。第一个句子中 securing a position...field动名词短语作主语。when引导时间状语从句。

　　语法重点：动名词短语作主语，时间状语从句

　　3. "Often, the first few years at a job aren't the most thrilling because you're learning the ropes, and it may be unreasonable to think that you'll be jumping out of bed to go to work every day, or that you'll get promoted before you've had time to prove yourself."

　　本句是一个复合句。because引导原因状语从句。it是形式主语，真正的主语是后面的不定式短语，to think…prove yourself. 其中两个that引导两个宾语从句，作think的宾语。第二个从句中， before引导时间状语从句。

　　语法重点：原因状语从句，形式主语，宾语从句，时间状语从句

　　4. Begin researching positions that are a better fit for your skills and interests, start saving money, and attend networking activities in different industries so that you can get plugged into their communities.

　　本句是一个复合句。 Begin researching positions, start saving money和attend networking activities in different industries是三个并列的祈使句。that引导限制性定语从句，修饰positions. so that引导目的状语从句。

　　语法重点：祈使句，定语从句，目的状语从句

　　5. Putting pressure on yourself to find the perfect career right now will not make it happen any faster, so remove the sense of urgency.

　　本句是两个简单句。第一个句子中. Putting pressure...right now 动名词短语作主语，其中to find...right now不定式短语作目的状语。 happen any faster是make的宾语补足语。

　　语法重点：动名词作主语，不定式短语作状语，宾语补足语