2010年12月英語四六級考試閱讀提高練習(16)

　　Laziness is a sin(罪), everyone knows that. We have probably all had lectures pointing out that laziness is immoral, that it is wasteful, and that lazy people will never amount to anything in life. But laziness can be more harmful than that, and it is often caused by more complex reasons rather than simple wish to avoid work. Some people who appear to be lazy are suffering from much more serious problems. They may be so distrustful of their fellow workers that they are unable to join in any group task for fear of ridicule or of having their idea stolen. These people who seem lazy may be ruined by a fear of failure that prevents fruitful work. Or other sorts of fantasies (幻想) may prevent work; some people are so busy planning, sometimes planning great deals of fantastic achievements that they are unable to deal with whatever "lesser" work is on hand. Still other people are not avoiding work; strictly speaking, they are merely procrastinating rescheduling their day.

　　Laziness can actually be helpful. Like procrastinators, some people may look lazy when they are really thinking, planning, researching. We should all remember that great scientific discoveries occurred by chance. Newton wasn't working in the orchard when the apple hit him and he devised the theory of gravity. All of us would like to have someone "lazy" build the car or stove we buy, particularly if that "laziness" were caused by the worker's taking time to

　　check each step of his work and to do his job right. And sometimes, being "lazy"—that is,, taking time off for a rest—is good for the overworked students or executives. Taking a rest can be particularly helpful to the athlete who is trying too hard or the doctor who's simply working himself overtime too many evenings at the clinic. So be careful when you're tempted to call someone lazy. That person may be thinking, resting, or planning his or her next work.

　　1. The main idea of this passage is that_______.

　　A. laziness is a moral sin

　　B. there are advantages and disadvantages in being lazy

　　C. laziness is the sign of deep-seated emotion problems

　　D. lazy people do more careful work

　　2. The passage states that_______.

　　A. laziness is a disease

　　B. laziness is more beneficial than harmful

　　C. a good definition of laziness is emotional illness

　　D. some people appear lazy because they are insecure

　　3. Which of the following conclusions does the passage support?

　　A. Most of the time laziness is a virtue.

　　B. Most assembly workers are lazy.

　　C. The word laziness is sometimes applied incorrectly.

　　D. Most insecure people are lazy.

　　4. As used in this passage, the word "devised"(Para. 2) means_______.

　　A. understood B. wrote

　　C. made D. proved

　　5. Being lazy may be good for_______.

　　A. doctors B. athletes

　　C. executives D. those who overwork themselves

　　1. B 2. D 3. C 4. C 5. D