Question

I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let's take a look at three types of "waits".

The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most unpleasant of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink (洗碗池) as an example. There is completely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it's full. During these waits, the brain runs away from the body until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and absent-minded.

A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup requires a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. "Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer (燉) three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes." I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures (步驟) strictly. After all, Forced Waiting needs patience.

Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual because it is mostly voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.

Turning one's life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists (樂觀派) among us. It seems to be silly to follow the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn't come to depend on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.

We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you're standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you'll have to eat until a large bag of money falls out of the sky, don't be desperate. You're probably just as busy as the next guy.

1.What is the difference between the Forced Wait and the Watched-Pot Wait?

A. The Watched-Pot Wait involves body and brain.

B. The Forced Wait makes people helpless.

C. The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions.

D. The Forced Wait requires some self-control.

2.What can we learn about the Lucky-Break Wait?

A. It is less voluntary than the Forced Wait.

B. It brings more results than the Forced Wait.

C. It doesn't always bring the result we want.

D. It doesn't give people faith and hope.

3.What does the writer advise us to do the next time we are waiting?

A. Don't lose heart. B. Don't depend on others.

C. Do something else. D. Take it seriously.

4.The writer supports his opinion by _________.

A. describing detailed processes of "waits"

B. analyzing different kinds of "waits"

C. exploring several causes of "waits"

D. showing disappointing results of "waits"

Answer 1