* My car ran out of gas!
* I lost my keys!
* The copy machine is broken again!
* I don't have any cash!
★ 我的車子沒油了！
★ 我把鑰匙搞丟了！
★ 影印機又壞了！
★ 我沒有任何現金！
Daily hassles are an unavoidable part of life. Fortunately, most of them are minor
difficulties, not major crises. The effects of your alarm clock not going off are not as lasting as a car
accident. Daily problems come and go. But the way you handle them—and talk about them—can
make a lasting impression.
日常的麻煩是生活中不可避免的一部份。幸好這些大部份都只是小麻煩，而非重大危機，
鬧鐘不響所造成的影響，不會像一場車禍所帶來的影響那樣久。日常生活中的難題來來去去，
然而你如何處理和談論它們的方式，卻可能給人留下很久的印象。
How do you react to bothersome troubles? Some people remain calm, others laugh or cry, and some blow up. It’s OK to let your frustration out when troubles come up. Keeping anger inside may make you more upset. Talking about the problem can help you feel better. Be careful not to become a complainer, though.
面對惱人的難題，你會怎麼反應呢？有些人保持冷靜，有些人大笑或大哭，而有些人則
會大發脾氣。當麻煩上門的時候，宣洩一下你的挫折感倒是沒關係。憤怒埋在心裡可能
會使你更惱火，談談你的問題可以使你感覺好一點。不過要小心不要變成一個愛抱怨的人。
Conversation 1(in the office)
Maggie: How are you today, Shawna?
Shawna: It’s been a crazy morning! We ran out of hot water, I burnt the toast, and the dog ran away.
Debbie and Charlie missed the school bus. And as usual, the traffic held me up!
Maggie: My morning was like that last Monday.
Shawna: Really? Then you know what I’m talking about.
Maggie: Yeah. Well, I hope your afternoon will be better!
會話一
（在辦公室裡）
瑪姬： 你今天可好，夏娜？
夏娜： 今天早上真是一團糟！我們沒有熱水用、我烤焦了吐司、還有狗跑出去，黛比和查理
沒趕上校車，而如往常，我被堵在車陣裡了！
瑪姬： 我上禮拜一早上就是像這樣。
夏娜： 真的？那你一定很瞭解我剛剛所說的情形。
瑪姬： 是啊。嗯，我希望你今天下午會好一點。
When friends or family members meet small hardships, listen to them. Give a sincere response. Offer some advice or a suggestion. Help them to understand it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes humor eases minor irritations. Try responding with one of the following phrases:
* I know what you mean.
* That happened to me the other day.
* I’m sorry. Can I help you?
* Life’s like that sometimes!
當朋友或是家人碰上了小小的難題時，聽他們說說，給予誠摯的回應，提供一些忠告或
是建議，幫助他們瞭解這不是世界末日。有時候幽默能抒解小煩躁。試著用以下的句子
來回應：
★ 我明白你的意思。
★ 那天我也發生過同樣的事。
★ 我很替你難過，我能幫什麼忙嗎？
★ 有時候生活就是這樣呢！
Conversation 2
(in the university cafeteria)
Brent: Hi, Kayleen! How was your examination?
Kayleen: Terrible. I had a ton of homework last night. I didn’t get to bed until 3:30 a.m. I forgot
to set my alarm clock, so I was running late. I almost fell asleep during the exam!
Brent: That’s too bad. Maybe I can help you study for the next exam. Perhaps I should give you
some coffee and awake-up call!
Kayleen: Thanks, Brent. That might help!
會話二
（在大學的餐廳裡）
布藍特： 嗨，凱林！你考試考得怎麼樣？
凱 林： 一團糟。我昨晚有一大堆的功課，一直到清晨三點半才上床，因為忘了設定鬧鐘所
以遲到了，考試的時候還差點睡著呢！
布藍特： 好慘啊。或許我可以幫你一起預備下一次的考試。或許該給你一些咖啡和打電話叫
你起床！
凱 林： 謝了，布藍特。那或許會很有幫助！
Being prepared for everyday challenges will help you to face them, too. According to Murphy’s Law,
if anything can go wrong, it will. For instance, the day that you don’t have your umbrella is the day it rains
the hardest. The night you take your in-laws out for dinner is the night you don’t have any cash.
為日常的挑戰預先作好準備會幫助你面對它們。根據莫非定律，該出狀況的遲早都會出狀況。
例如：你沒帶傘的那天就會是雨下得最大的一天；你帶丈母娘一大家子出去吃飯的那晚，就是
你身上沒有一毛錢的一晚。
⊙Word Bank
* I lost my keys!
* The copy machine is broken again!
* I don't have any cash!
★ 我的車子沒油了！
★ 我把鑰匙搞丟了！
★ 影印機又壞了！
★ 我沒有任何現金！
Daily hassles are an unavoidable part of life. Fortunately, most of them are minor
difficulties, not major crises. The effects of your alarm clock not going off are not as lasting as a car
accident. Daily problems come and go. But the way you handle them—and talk about them—can
make a lasting impression.
日常的麻煩是生活中不可避免的一部份。幸好這些大部份都只是小麻煩，而非重大危機，
鬧鐘不響所造成的影響，不會像一場車禍所帶來的影響那樣久。日常生活中的難題來來去去，
然而你如何處理和談論它們的方式，卻可能給人留下很久的印象。
How do you react to bothersome troubles? Some people remain calm, others laugh or cry, and some blow up. It’s OK to let your frustration out when troubles come up. Keeping anger inside may make you more upset. Talking about the problem can help you feel better. Be careful not to become a complainer, though.
面對惱人的難題，你會怎麼反應呢？有些人保持冷靜，有些人大笑或大哭，而有些人則
會大發脾氣。當麻煩上門的時候，宣洩一下你的挫折感倒是沒關係。憤怒埋在心裡可能
會使你更惱火，談談你的問題可以使你感覺好一點。不過要小心不要變成一個愛抱怨的人。
Conversation 1(in the office)
Maggie: How are you today, Shawna?
Shawna: It’s been a crazy morning! We ran out of hot water, I burnt the toast, and the dog ran away.
Debbie and Charlie missed the school bus. And as usual, the traffic held me up!
Maggie: My morning was like that last Monday.
Shawna: Really? Then you know what I’m talking about.
Maggie: Yeah. Well, I hope your afternoon will be better!
會話一
（在辦公室裡）
瑪姬： 你今天可好，夏娜？
夏娜： 今天早上真是一團糟！我們沒有熱水用、我烤焦了吐司、還有狗跑出去，黛比和查理
沒趕上校車，而如往常，我被堵在車陣裡了！
瑪姬： 我上禮拜一早上就是像這樣。
夏娜： 真的？那你一定很瞭解我剛剛所說的情形。
瑪姬： 是啊。嗯，我希望你今天下午會好一點。
When friends or family members meet small hardships, listen to them. Give a sincere response. Offer some advice or a suggestion. Help them to understand it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes humor eases minor irritations. Try responding with one of the following phrases:
* I know what you mean.
* That happened to me the other day.
* I’m sorry. Can I help you?
* Life’s like that sometimes!
當朋友或是家人碰上了小小的難題時，聽他們說說，給予誠摯的回應，提供一些忠告或
是建議，幫助他們瞭解這不是世界末日。有時候幽默能抒解小煩躁。試著用以下的句子
來回應：
★ 我明白你的意思。
★ 那天我也發生過同樣的事。
★ 我很替你難過，我能幫什麼忙嗎？
★ 有時候生活就是這樣呢！
Conversation 2
(in the university cafeteria)
Brent: Hi, Kayleen! How was your examination?
Kayleen: Terrible. I had a ton of homework last night. I didn’t get to bed until 3:30 a.m. I forgot
to set my alarm clock, so I was running late. I almost fell asleep during the exam!
Brent: That’s too bad. Maybe I can help you study for the next exam. Perhaps I should give you
some coffee and awake-up call!
Kayleen: Thanks, Brent. That might help!
會話二
（在大學的餐廳裡）
布藍特： 嗨，凱林！你考試考得怎麼樣？
凱 林： 一團糟。我昨晚有一大堆的功課，一直到清晨三點半才上床，因為忘了設定鬧鐘所
以遲到了，考試的時候還差點睡著呢！
布藍特： 好慘啊。或許我可以幫你一起預備下一次的考試。或許該給你一些咖啡和打電話叫
你起床！
凱 林： 謝了，布藍特。那或許會很有幫助！
Being prepared for everyday challenges will help you to face them, too. According to Murphy’s Law,
if anything can go wrong, it will. For instance, the day that you don’t have your umbrella is the day it rains
the hardest. The night you take your in-laws out for dinner is the night you don’t have any cash.
為日常的挑戰預先作好準備會幫助你面對它們。根據莫非定律，該出狀況的遲早都會出狀況。
例如：你沒帶傘的那天就會是雨下得最大的一天；你帶丈母娘一大家子出去吃飯的那晚，就是
你身上沒有一毛錢的一晚。
Conversation 3
(at home)
Esther: Hello, dear. How was your day?
Luke: Pretty bad. The report I’d been working so hard on was deleted from my computer.
At lunch time, I realized the car had a flat tire.
Esther: Oh, no! How was your afternoon?
Luke: Not much better. I forgot about the 2:00 meeting. I was supposed to make copies of the
schedule, but the copy machine broke down.
Esther: I’m so sorry to hear that, Luke. Sounds like Murphy’s Law is working overtime!
Problems are here to stay, but there’s no need to fret ! When you come face to face with
an everyday problem, respond appropriately. You’ll be glad you did, and so will those around you!
會話三
（在家裡）
艾絲特： 哈囉，親愛的。今天可好？路 可： 蠻糟的。我花了好大功夫寫的報告，在電腦裡
被殺掉了。中飯的時候，我發現車胎沒氣了。
艾絲特： 喔，真慘！那你下午還好嗎？
路 可： 也沒有好到哪裡去。我忘了兩點要開會。本來應該要影印議程的，可是影印機也壞了。
艾絲特： 我很替你難過，路可。看來莫非定律在你身上真是應驗得太過火了！
麻煩是會找上門來，但也毋需焦躁！當你面臨日常生活的麻煩時，好好地應對。你會因為自己
的應對合宜而感到高興，身旁的人也會這麼覺得！
(at home)
Esther: Hello, dear. How was your day?
Luke: Pretty bad. The report I’d been working so hard on was deleted from my computer.
At lunch time, I realized the car had a flat tire.
Esther: Oh, no! How was your afternoon?
Luke: Not much better. I forgot about the 2:00 meeting. I was supposed to make copies of the
schedule, but the copy machine broke down.
Esther: I’m so sorry to hear that, Luke. Sounds like Murphy’s Law is working overtime!
Problems are here to stay, but there’s no need to fret ! When you come face to face with
an everyday problem, respond appropriately. You’ll be glad you did, and so will those around you!
會話三
（在家裡）
艾絲特： 哈囉，親愛的。今天可好？路 可： 蠻糟的。我花了好大功夫寫的報告，在電腦裡
被殺掉了。中飯的時候，我發現車胎沒氣了。
艾絲特： 喔，真慘！那你下午還好嗎？
路 可： 也沒有好到哪裡去。我忘了兩點要開會。本來應該要影印議程的，可是影印機也壞了。
艾絲特： 我很替你難過，路可。看來莫非定律在你身上真是應驗得太過火了！
麻煩是會找上門來，但也毋需焦躁！當你面臨日常生活的麻煩時，好好地應對。你會因為自己
的應對合宜而感到高興，身旁的人也會這麼覺得！
⊙Word Bank
hassle (n) 困難；掙扎
unavoidable (adj) 不可避免的
blow up (v phr) 大發脾氣
hold someone up (v phr) 使某人停滯不前
hardship (n) 艱難；辛苦
irritation (n) 苦惱；煩躁
Murphy’s Law (n phr) 莫非定律
irritation (n) 苦惱；煩躁
Murphy’s Law (n phr) 莫非定律
@The Day's Phrase
The clowns are going to bring up the rear at the parade.
小丑們將在遊行隊伍中殿後。
小丑們將在遊行隊伍中殿後。
My older sister warned me to buckle down. She said otherwise I will not graduate on time.
我姊姊警告我要努力用功。她說否則我無法如期畢業
我姊姊警告我要努力用功。她說否則我無法如期畢業
Our estimate of how many people would show up at the party missed by a mile.
我姊姊警告我要努力用功。她說否則我無法如期畢業。
我姊姊警告我要努力用功。她說否則我無法如期畢業。
Our estimate of how many people would show up at the party missed by a mile.
我們所估計會出席派對的人數與實際人數差了一大截。
I got the sack yesterday. Now I have to find a new job.
我昨天被炒魷魚了。現在我得找個新工作。
Joey's knee was much better. He hoped to get in on a piece of the action at the next football game.
喬伊的膝蓋好多了，他希望下次足球賽時他能參上一腳。
我們所估計會出席派對的人數與實際人數差了一大截。
I got the sack yesterday. Now I have to find a new job.
我昨天被炒魷魚了。現在我得找個新工作。
Joey's knee was much better. He hoped to get in on a piece of the action at the next football game.
喬伊的膝蓋好多了，他希望下次足球賽時他能參上一腳。
Carol burned her cake, so she will have to start again from scratch.
卡蘿把蛋糕烤焦了，所以她得重新再做一個。
卡蘿把蛋糕烤焦了，所以她得重新再做一個。
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