【英语时差8,16】小心「毕业班倦怠症」大流行

I've recently spoken very directly with a few of my students about a malady¹ that afflicts² a certain small percentage of students in that final run of days that lead to the big one: GRADUATION DAY. That malady is not the dreaded³ H1N1 virus, nor bronchitis, appendicitis⁴, or tonsillitis. No, the malady of which I speak is known as "senioritis." Senioritis is an affliction that can treat college and high school seniors the way a fly swatter treats flies. Everything is buzzing along fine and dandy, and then, bam! The symptoms of senioritis are well known. They include an all but irresistible⁵ urge to cut classes and ignore due dates for homework and presentations. Students in the throes of senioritis often feel a profound sense of lethargy. Right out of the blue, seniors about to graduate suddenly become candidates for the Nobel Prize in Absenteeism. Stricken with senioritis, some young scholars are unable to lift a single finger or take a single step forward. A severe case of senioritis may actually sink an ordinarily cheerful and energetic senior into a bottomless pit of listlessness and languor⁶. "Seniors," runs my advice these days, "treasure these last laps between now and June. Keep pumping those knees. The finish line is near. Don't stop yet. Don't be an absentee."

malady (n.) 疾病；（社会）弊病；歪风 The common cold is a malady that often afflicts people when the weather is changeable.

dreaded (adj.) 可怕的；令人畏惧的 When the sailors saw the dark shape coming towards them, they feared it was the dreaded sea monster.

symptom (n.) 症狀；徵候 Symptoms of the flu include coughing, sore throat, body aches and fever.

profound (adj.) 深度的；完全的 The spectators felt a profound sense of wonder at the sight of the eclipse.

lethargy (n.) 嗜睡；无生气 The hot, humid weather induced a feeling of lethargy among the students.

absenteeism (n.) 旷课 Giving frequent surprise quizzes might help to solve the problem of absenteeism.

lap (n.) （竞赛场）一圈；（游泳池）一个來回 Swimming laps is a good form of exercise.

fly swatter苍蝇拍 The electric shock fly swatter served as a danger to humans as well as to flies.

to cut class 翘课 Phoebe got in trouble for cutting class to go shopping.

to lift a finger 举手之劳 Kyle was so lazy that he would not even lift a finger to help his mother.

1 malady   

n.病，疾病(通常做比喻)

参考例句：

• There is no specific remedy for the malady.没有医治这种病的特效药。
• They are managing to control the malady into a small range.他们设法将疾病控制在小范围之内。

2 afflicts   

使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Level 3-Afflicts a target with the Curse of the Silent. 三级-用静默诅咒折磨一个目标。
• Level 1-Afflicts a target with the Curse of the Silent. 一级-用静默诅咒折磨一个目标。

3 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

4 appendicitis   

n.阑尾炎，盲肠炎

参考例句：

• He came down with appendicitis.他得了阑尾炎。
• Acute appendicitis usually develops without relation to the ingestion of food.急性阑尾炎的发生通常与饮食无关。

5 irresistible   

adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的

参考例句：

• The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前，势不可挡。
• She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。

6 languor   

n.无精力，倦怠

参考例句：

• It was hot,yet with a sweet languor about it.天气是炎热的，然而却有一种惬意的懒洋洋的感觉。
• She,in her languor,had not troubled to eat much.她懒懒的，没吃多少东西。