《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词3500》Unit 26 美国-工作狂之乡

　　nit 26
America -- Home to Workaholics
It is pretty likely that you -- or someone you know -- is a workaholic. Workaholics live for their work, often spending many extra ours at work, and often taking work home to complete. Americans -- live in a work-hard culture, but when work becomes the sole reason for a person's existence above more important things (such as family and friends), the issue becomes critical.
Part of the matter is societal. Americans are working more hours per week than in years past, and with all the downsizings and consolidations and lack of replacement¹ hirings, more and more workers are putting in extra hours to complete the work previously² completed by others. Some studies show that as many as 40 percent of workers don't even bother to take vacations, partly because of fears they may not have a job to come back to if they do.
Part of the matter is technological³. We live and work in a connected environment -- e-mails, instant messaging, fax machines, and cell phones -- making it hard for workers to truly get time away from their work.
Part of the matter is financial. Whether it is how more and more of us mistakenly define⁴ success in terms of financial measures or the fact that many Americans simply must work multiple jobs to earn a living wage and keep their families out of poverty, we are working more and more for the financial results.
Regardless of the reasons, workaholism can be a serious condition that can lead to the destruction of families, as well as to serious stress-related health problems. When work becomes the sole reason for being -- when it becomes the only thing we think about, the only thing that truly makes us happy -- then it is time to do something. And do not confuse hard work for workaholism. Hard workers know the boundaries between work and personal times and can function normally when not at work, while workaholics have no personal times and cannot function well outside of work.
The key to reducing workaholism is making time away from work. It will take some effort to sift⁵ from a sole focus on work, but for your mental and physical health, you really should make the effort to do the following: Spend time with family and (non-work) friends; Call home often to stay connected; Learn how to delegate⁶ work -- and learn to say no to new assignments; Take time off and leave work behind; Consider exercises to get your body back to a healthy shape; Consider volunteering -- to help others and to meet new people; Convince yourself it is okay sometimes to just sit and relax and do nothing; Find a hobby or two; Fight the urge that everything you do must be perfect -- to your standards.

1 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

4 define   

vt.解释，下定义，阐述，限定，规定

参考例句：

• Please define the words.请解释这些字的意义。
• It's hard to define exactly what has changed.很难解释清楚到底发生了什么变化。

5 sift   

v.筛撒，纷落，详察

参考例句：

• Sift out the wheat from the chaff.把小麦的壳筛出来。
• Sift sugar on top of the cake.在蛋糕上面撒上糖。

6 delegate   

n.代表，会议代表；vt.委派...为代表，授权

参考例句：

• They drafted her to serve as their delegate.他们选她当代表。
• The Chinese people delegate their power to the People's Congress.中国人民授权人民代表大会。