Whether for school reports or office assignments, everyone is familiar with deadlines. A “deadline” is another term for a “due date,” a fixed day or time when a particular assignment needs to be finished. Where did this term come from? Originally, a “dead line” referred to a boundary around a prison camp. If prisoners tried to escape by crossing it, they risked being shot to death by guards. Thankfully, most deadlines are not so extreme these days.
In the early 1900s, the term was used in relation to frames on a printing press. Any text outside the “deadline” would not be printed. It was in the magazine and newspaper publishing industry of the 1920s that deadline first became associated with a time limit.
Most teachers and bosses consider deadlines essential for ensuring things get done in a timely manner. While deadlines can create discipline in a classroom or office, they can also create a lot of pressure, especially for people who procrastinate. Despite that, sociologists believe deadlines are good psychological motivators.
Photo courtesy of AdobeStock / 照片:AdobeStock提供
First, if you miss a deadline, you risk the disapproval of others. Therefore, deadlines are useful for maintaining positive social relations. Successfully meeting a deadline can also provide a boost of confidence. With deadlines, we can meet goals and keep promises to ourselves and others. It’s important to remember that people respect others who keep their word.
By doing what you pledge to do, deadlines can even help you become the person you strive to be. Instead of fearing and panicking about deadlines, use them as tools to create proper work habits. If a deadline for a big project is causing you anxiety, consider this trick. Break your project down into smaller segments that you can manage bit by bit. That way, the final deadline won’t seem so ominous.
無論是學校報告還是辦公室工作,每個人對截止日期都很熟悉。「deadline」(截止日期)是「due date」的另一個詞,是特定任務需要被完成的固定日期或時間。這個詞是從哪裡來的呢?最初,「dead line」(死線)指的是戰俘營周圍的邊界。如果囚犯試圖越過它逃跑,他們就有被守衛槍殺的危險。值得慶幸的是,現在大多數的死線都不是那麼極端。
Photo courtesy of AdobeStock / 照片:AdobeStock提供
1900年代初期,該詞被用來指有關印刷機上的邊框。落在「deadline」之外的任何文本都不會被印出來。就是在1920年代的雜誌和報紙出版業中,「deadline」這個字最先變得與時間限制有所關聯。
大多數的老師和老闆都認為,截止日期對於確保工作及時完成至關重要。雖然截止日期可以在教室或辦公室建立紀律,但它們也會產生很大的壓力,尤其是對拖延的人來說。儘管如此,社會學家認為截止日期是很好的心理動力。
首先,如果你錯過截止日期,你會有遭受他人不滿的風險。因此,截止日期對於維持正面的社會關係很有用。成功趕上截止日期還可以增強信心。有了截止日期,我們就可以達成目標並信守對我們自己和他人的承諾。重要的是要記住,人們尊重守信的人。
透過做你承諾要做的事情,截止日期甚至可以幫助你成為你努力想成為的人。與其對截止日期感到恐懼和恐慌,不如把它們用作養成正確工作習慣的工具。如果一個大計畫的截止日期造成你的焦慮,考慮一下這個訣竅。將你的計畫分解成你可以一點一點順利完成的較小部分。那樣的話,最後的截止日期就不會顯得那麼令人不安了。
What Did You Learn?
1. Which of the following are mentioned in the passage?
(多選題)
(A) The definition of a deadline.
(B) Reasons to ignore deadlines.
(C) How to successfully extend deadlines.
(D) Where the term deadline comes from.
(E) Why deadlines are a thing of the past.
(F) Disagreements sociologists have on deadlines.
2. Choose the options that are associated with deadlines, according to the passage.(多選題)
(A) A segment
(B) A time limit
(C) A boundary
(D) An open space
參考答案︰1. (A)、(D) 2. (B)、(C)
Words in Use
1. boundary n. 邊界,界線
The hotel is located on the boundary between the city and the countryside.
這間旅館位於城市與鄉村的邊界上。
2. cross vt. 越過;穿越
After you cross the bridge, you will see our school on the right.
過這座橋後你就會在右手邊看到我們的學校。
3. thankfully adv. 值得慶幸的是
Thankfully, no one was hurt in the explosion.
慶幸的是,沒有人在這場爆炸中受傷。
4. frame n. 邊框,框架
The frame of the window is made of iron.
這扇窗戶的框架是鐵做的。
5. publishing n. 出版業
Hans is looking to expand his publishing business.
漢斯想拓展其出版事業。
Practical Phrases
1. be familiar with. . . 熟悉……
The new worker isn’t familiar with the company rules yet.
那位新來的員工尚未熟悉公司的規則。
2. in relation to. . . 有關……
Christine said nothing in relation to the test she failed yesterday.
關於克莉絲汀昨天考不及格的測驗,她隻字未提。
3. in a timely manner 及時
Martin will reply to your inquiry in a timely manner, but he’s busy now.
馬汀會及時回覆您詢問的問題,但他現在在忙。
4. keep a promise 遵守承諾
keep one’s word 堅守某人的承諾
(此處word表「承諾」,是不可數名詞)
I hope you will keep your promise to finish your work before 10 o’clock.
我希望你能遵守諾言,在十點以前完成你的工作。
When Larry makes a promise, he always keeps his word.
賴瑞只要許下諾言就一定會遵守。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
Instagram is changing the default privacy settings for many US teenagers, part of an effort to keep them safer and give parents more control over how their kids interact online. The new settings will make teen accounts private by default, limit who those users can send private messages to, and put teens in the “most restrictive” tier when it comes to viewing sensitive content. That means the app will block teens from seeing sensitive photos and videos, including posts that show people fighting or certain cosmetic procedures. These more restrictive settings will be turned on automatically for all Instagram users under 18
Located in the picturesque mountains of eastern Spain, the small town of Bunol might appear to be just another idyllic place in the Spanish countryside. However, it is home to one of the world’s most popular food fights. Each August, tens of thousands of people from all around the globe swarm into Bunol to take part in La Tomatina. On the last Wednesday of August, you will find the streets of Bunol full of people eagerly waiting to hear the blast of a cannon. This signifies the start of La Tomatina, an event where participants hurl thousands of pounds of tomatoes
Get ready to spin on your head -- “breaking” is set to make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games! Often referred to as breakdance or breakdancing, breaking was born in the streets of New York City during the early 1970s. It began as a way for African-American and Latin youths to express their narratives and struggles through astonishing spins and movements. B-boys and b-girls, also known as breakers, frequently compete in cyphers: events where they take turns showcasing their dance moves within a circle of spectators. Breaking comprises four main elements: toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes. Toprock consists
在 COVID-19 成為全球大流行 (pandemic) 的傳染病後,如何有效篩檢確診病患,一度成為討論的熱點。 疫情爆發初期,國內有些縣市首長主張要普篩(全面篩檢),找出隱藏的新冠肺炎病例,不過,疫情指揮中心說明,全面用聚合?連鎖反應 (polymerase chain reaction, PCR) 檢驗來為全民普篩,將耗費近七百億元公帑和醫療資源,不符合效益。 根據衛福部長陳時中的說法,用準確度高的 PCR 方式對全國 2300 萬人普篩,平均一人 3000 元,總額將高達 690 億元。以當時的盛行率萬分之 18,即使不用人人普篩,以看似健康的人口1800 萬人計算,也需要花費 540 億元,才能找出當中的 3 萬 2577 人無症狀感染者,其中還有 1797 人屬於「偽陽性」,即使沒有得病,還是得將他們隔離、再檢測,才能恢復正常生活。 雖然也可以用價格較低(200 元/人)的快篩做篩檢,但此舉也需花費約 46 億元,且準確度偏低,偽陰和偽陽性機率更高。 (新冠肺炎)「普篩/全面篩檢」的英文是 widespread coronavirus testing 或 community-wide screening/testing。「快篩」是 rapid testing。篩檢中,可能出現「偽陰性」(false negative) 有患病,但篩不出來,和「偽陽性」(false positive)沒患病,卻篩檢出來。 在醫學檢測上「陰性」(negative) 代表沒有(病或病毒),「陽性」 (positive) 代表有(病或病毒),避免患病與否造成污名化,因此用比較中性 (neutral) 的詞彙來稱呼。至於驗孕 (pregnancy test),「陰性」代表未懷孕,「陽性」代表懷孕。 「盛行率」的英文是 prevalence rate,即患病率,在流行病學中指特定時間內總人口中罹患該病的人口所占比例。在新冠肺炎的篩檢中,「咽喉拭子」是目前國內主流採用的方式,「咽喉拭子」英文是 throat swab,就是以棉棒擦拭咽喉部位,取得上皮細胞,並置入病毒收集瓶。如果是採集鼻咽部位,就叫「鼻咽拭子」(nasal swab)。 另外,「靈敏度」(sensitivity) 與「特異度」(specificity) 也是醫學檢測時所使用的術語,用以衡量該檢測的準確度。特異度是不帶原者 (non-carrier) 中採檢陰性的比例,而靈敏度則是帶原者 (carrier) 中採檢陽性的比例,靈敏度、特異度越高,代表準確度越高。 文章由書林出版公司提供: www.bookman.com.tw 蘇正隆 — 台灣翻譯學學會前理事長、師大翻譯研究所兼任副教授; 編著《英語的對與錯》,《世紀病毒:必讀防疫英文知識與詞彙》...等