坐落于英格兰西北部一角的湖区是无可比拟的。在这个仅有30里宽的角落里，绿色荫荫。英格兰最高耸险峻的山与最广阔幽深的湖紧紧依偎在一起，构成了最壮观美丽的风景。
令人敬畏的山峰和连绵起伏的丘陵耸立于绿意盎然的山谷中。羊儿在布满苔藓的干石墙边闲适地啃食青草。现在，这个风景秀丽的乡村一角已经成为国家湖区公园，具有典型的英式风格。这里的风景布局完美紧凑，所以当人们大步流星地走在长满青草的山坡上时，可以观赏到脚下群山倒映于水中的壮丽景象。
湖区有着很长的一段历史，火山、地震和冰河世纪形成了这里险峻的火山岩山峰、美丽的褶皱景象以及其妙的冰川时代之谷。
高耸于凯斯维克之上的克斯尔里格怪石圈能够唤起人们对早期定居者以及它们被巍峨群山包围着的聚居地的回忆。
湖区有着独特的魅力，难怪这个国家最一流的作家都热爱并居住在这里。
诗人威廉•华兹华斯与她的妹妹多萝西、妻子玛丽和最大的三个孩子曾经生活在格拉斯米尔的鸽舍。当布谷鸟的钟声敲出和谐的乐音时，来访者轻叩了前门，然后坐在窗边一个深陷的座椅上，或者坐在壁炉旁，细细读起了多萝西那周的日记。
1802年一个宜人的春天，多萝茜散步回来写下一篇日记，描写了厄尔斯沃特湖边随风摇曳的水仙花。这篇日记激发了华兹华斯最著名诗歌的创作灵感。
小小的鸽舍里，那布满黑斑的墙壁见证了华兹华斯一家在狭小的厨房里自制蜡烛的熏烟。“羊油做的蜡烛在燃烧时冒着一股烟”导游伊斯特·鲁特若有所思地解释道：“因此光线微弱，也让他们的视力变差。华兹华斯漫步于山间田园时创作了大量的诗歌。”相较于由华兹华斯勾勒出的山间上那极美的四英亩海德山花园，鸽舍后面那个小而陡的花园也是简单中不失雅致。鸽舍里陈列着家具、财物、和肖像画，只肖一点想象力你就能看见华兹华斯透过厚厚的镜片在写作。这些镜片依然陈列在鸽舍里。
湖区的天然美景也吸引了其他的文学巨匠们，像毕翠克丝·波特，她像个孩子一样热爱着这片土地，并于1905年买下了如田园诗般的农屋，起名为Hill Top。她把这个房子留给了国民托管组织，并且要求这里的家具，图书室和美丽的花园保持原样，所以，今天参观者们可以在这个唤起回忆的房子里，轻手轻脚地拿着她的插画书（如《母鸭杰米玛的故事》）进行实物对比，正是这些实物赋予作者绘画的灵感。
湖区的魔力之一在于每一个山谷都是不同的。英国最深的湖瓦斯特沃特湖被高耸的山峰环绕，它的壮观和博罗代尔山谷的柔美是完全不一样的。爬到山峰高处，向下看去，又见另一个恬静的山谷自有它的魅力。
游客可以从格拉斯米尔的鸽舍很快地上山，并在通往目的地——圣·奥斯沃德教堂路上的碑林处小憩，那些碑林是一代又一代的立碑人为那些逝去的安息者所立的石碑。在通往山中小湖的路上，沿途可
以欣赏格拉斯米尔的宏伟风光。然后愉快地下山，并在富有16世纪风格的长途驿站——旅行者休息室——喝上一品脱啤酒，然后散步到小村庄中。
华兹华斯与他的四个兄弟姐妹小时候的家坐落在科克茅斯，现在已经被国民托管组织重建还原到那个时代的样貌了，并有工作人员在那打理日常琐事。正如新鲜的空气一样，美味健康的食物也是湖区的一部分，让旅行者很有食欲，在山中或湖畔呆了一整天之后，浓汤，脆皮面包，美味的自制蛋糕，还有冰淇淋，对他们来说实在难以抗拒。 “从这里步行到黑悬崖大约要一个小时，在崖顶游客们会看到极好的兰代尔湖和温德米尔湖全景，而那时游客们早已迫不及待饱餐一顿、开怀畅饮了”史蒂芬·多德如是说。他在安布尔赛德的附近开了一家广受赞誉的“醉鸭”酒吧。他拥有自己的啤酒厂，和以他们家已故的宠物命名的啤酒。“醉鸭”酒吧得名于前身维多利亚酒吧老板娘的故事。一天她发现她的鸭子直直地躺在路上，于是开始拔毛作为食材，却没有意识到一桶啤酒全部流到了鸭食槽。当鸭子醒后，她十分后悔。所以，她为那些被拔了毛的鸭子做了一些针织衫直到它们的羽毛重新长出。
那些田园诗般的湖畔风景和那千变万化的全景，使湖区那引人入胜的田园风光成为让人们流连忘返的旅游胜地。
P2 Reading Comprehension and Language Activities Text Translation
别再为迟到找借口
哈里·贝地
每个办公室总有那么几个人习惯上班迟到。管理者该如何处理多元文化环境里的这一问题呢？文化背景不同，时间观念也大不相同，作为老板，应持何种态度，是忍气吞声还是采取惩罚措施呢？
专家告诉我们，西方人和东方人对时间的看法是不同的。从文化角度来说，西方人更多地生活在当前和不远的将来，而亚洲人却更多地生活在古老的过去和遥远的未来。
亚洲人尽力避免成为时间的神经质的奴隶。生活在他们看来只是永恒中的匆匆一瞬。他们喜欢旅游所带来的那种“失重”感，没有近期目标，也没有紧急任务。
对许多亚洲人来说，生活是一次漫长的旅行。幸福绝对不是一个时间问题。他们喜欢按部就班，不愿来去匆匆。静观季节的变化、儿女的成长也不认为是在虚度光阴。
西方人相信幸福就在不远的前方。多花点时间，多费点金钱，多下点工夫就能达到。尤其是美国人，他们就靠时间紧迫的日程安 排和最后期限而生存。
但是学究们深思熟虑悟出的这一见解又是如何与上班守时这一问题联系起来的呢？是否我们应该从这种文化方面的差异得出结论，一些雇员上班拖拖拉拉就是合情合理的？还是说这意味着一个管理者应该忽略守时这一工作守则呢？
表面上看来，管理者会不得不对一些文化群体比对另一些文化群体在守时方面更宽容一些，但是这在城市文明中是站不住脚的，它将使人相信此种文化的时间观念比西方的时间观念逊色这一学术论调。
这便混淆了两种截然不同的事情：遵守时间和对时间的哲学观。
一个人认为时间是以百年来度量的，并非以秒来计算，这与他每天能够按时到办公室上班并无关系。没有哪一个亚洲雇员会为自己的迟到找一个文化背景方面的借口。他可能会寻找一些更现代化的借口，如交通堵塞、表慢了以及停车麻烦等。这些措辞与西方办公室人员所用的藉口并无区别。为什么在亚洲经常以这些借口迟到可以被接受，而在西方这样一个人却被认为是不可依靠、不可信赖的呢？
问题可能是，在我们亚洲人的社会生活中，对于那些让我们在市区约会的地点等候半小时的亲友们，我们往往比较宽容。我们不会认为他们不把我们的友谊和亲情当回事儿。我们也不会认为他们失礼。更糟糕的是，我们还容许他们用含糊其辞的借口来为自己开脱。
可是，如何对待社会生活中的那些迟到者却是个人问题。而在现代商业领域，我们不容许有这种灵活性。
如果一个人偶尔一次上班迟到，谁也不会在意。遵守时间不应成为一时的风尚。而在一个办公环境中，应该有这样一种纪律约束的氛围来使人们遵守时间。
即使那些实行弹性工作时间的公司，也会规定哪些时间雇员必须在办公室，否则就无法召集各个部门一起开会。
一些公司可能会主动改变他们的上下班时间，以使雇员能够避开交通高峰期。但那并不是说就不再需要守时。
一般来说，迟到这一问题只和少数雇员有关。管理者应该试图通过劝告——必要的话可反复教育——来改变他们的坏习惯。这并非易事，而且有时还颇需要些耐心。
但是，我们也应摆脱那种认为期望别人守时就是不能容忍某种文化的迂腐观点。这种陈词滥调应当立即摒弃。
The thrill of seeing my first hummingbird in my garden has never left me---the sight of this unbelievably tiny creature with dazzling plumage flitting boldly from flower to flower. To entice others, I began growing their favorite plants -- fuchsia, bee balm, cardinal flowers, touch-me-nots. Hummingbirds soon began visiting my garden from May through late September, before departing for warmer climes. In 1988 the last one left October 3 -- or so I thought.
我至今仍未忘记第一次在我家后花园看见蜂鸟时的那种心跳的感觉，一只小的不可思议的小生物，披着炫目的羽毛，大胆的在花丛中飞来飞去。为了招来更多的蜂鸟，我开始在花园里种植他们喜欢的植物---倒金钟，聚香脂，害羞草等。不久，从5月到9月下旬，蜂鸟不停的光顾我家花园，之后便向温暖的地方飞去了。大约在1988年10月3日，最后一只蜂鸟也离去了---我想是这样的。
On October 21, a cold, frostbitten day, I went outdoors for my early-morning chores. Suddenly I saw a young male ruby-throated hummingbird in what had been a patch of flowering tobacco. I couldn't believe my eyes. By this time he should have been in a much warmer climate.
10月21日，一个寒气逼人的日子，还出现了霜冻。我一大早出门干杂活时，突然在一块以前开满烟花的烟草地里，我发现一只年幼的颈部呈红宝石色的蜂鸟。我不敢相信自己的眼睛，在这时候他应该在一个气候比较暖和的地方呀！
I quickly assessed the yard. Hummingbirds usually need to feed once every ten to fifteen minutes, and most of the flowers in my garden were frosted over. This bird would have nothing to eat. So I hung out a feeder with a nectar solution. However, the bird didn't seem to know what to do with it and kept circling a particular spot, apparently looking for the fuchsia plants that I had brought in the night before. Hummingbirds remember, even a year later, where the "good stuff" was.
我迅速扫视了一下院子。蜂鸟通常需要大约每隔10-15分钟进食一次，但是花园里大部分花都被霜覆盖了。因此他没有可吃的东西，于是我就将一个装有花蜜的食挂在外面。但是鸟儿似乎不知道该怎么做，只是在一个地方不停的兜圈子。显然是在寻找我昨晚上搬到屋子里的倒挂金钟植物。即使事隔一年，蜂鸟依然还记得存放“美食”的地方。
Finally I placed a trail of plants leading to my sun room, where there were plenty of flowers in bloom. When the hummingbird came inside, I closed the door behind him, then set up another feeder. The bird went from flower to flower before at last discovering the feeder. He liked the nectar and fed on it the rest of the day.
最后， 我在通向日光花房的路上摆放了一排小植物，花房里群花争艳。当蜂鸟进到里面去，我就关上门，然后又重新搭了一个喂食器。它喜欢这些鸟食，这些天来它都一次为食。
Although I loved the idea of a hummingbird spending the winter in my sun room, I hesitated to deprive him of his freedom. But I also didn't want him to die. So I called a university ornithology lab.
尽管我想让蜂鸟在花房里过冬，但又不愿剥夺它的自由。我不想他死。因此我给一所大学的鸟类实验室打了个电话。
Hummingbirds are the smallest bird in the animal world. An adult male bird measures only 2.24 inches in total length, half of which is taken by the bill and tail and weigh 0.056 oz. (females are slightly heavier). Hummingbirds mainly feed on flower nectar and help spread pollen.
蜂鸟是动物世界里最小的鸟类，一只成年的雄鸟总长仅仅2.24英寸，但它的鸟嘴和尾巴就占去了一半。 它的体重为0.05602盎司（雌鸟略重）。蜂鸟主要是以花蜜为食并且可以帮助传播花粉。
The ornithologist warned me this bird was probably not going to make it: hummingbirds need to add 50 percent extra body weight before migrating south, and I had doubts this little guy had done that. The ornithologist gave me three choices: I could keep the bird all winter, fatten him up and let him go after a few days, or find someone to release him down south.
鸟类学家警告我说，这只小鸟可能无法南迁，因为蜂鸟在往南方迁徙之前需要额外增加50%的体重，我怀疑这个小家伙是否能做到这一点。鸟类学家给我三条建议：我可以留它在此过冬，或者把它养肥，几天后让它飞走；或者找个人把它带到南方放飞。
If the bird had nothing outside to eat today, tomorrow wouldn't be any better, I reasoned. And sending him south was not feasible. However, I could provide suitable living conditions in my glassed-in sunroom.
我推测，如果蜂鸟今天不能在外面找到任何食物吃，那么明天情况也不会好转。而且把它送往南方也不现实。但是在我的可以透进阳光的玻璃房内，我可以给它提供合适的居住条件。
I decided to keep the bird until spring. I named him Squeak because of his constant squeaky chirping. He certainly seemed content that first day, and he'd already captured my heart.
我决定把它留下来直到来年春天，我给它取名为“吱吱”，因为不时的发出吱吱的声音。显然第一天它看上去很满足，而且它让我一见倾心。
Offering Squeak a balanced diet now became my main concern. Besides nectar, hummingbirds need protein from insects. They may eat hundreds every day. There weren't enough insects in the sun room. A zoo with a hummingbird aviary suggested Nektar-Plus. I kept two feeders of this complete diet going at all times.
如今为吱吱提供平衡的膳食成了我最主要的牵挂。蜂鸟除了吃花蜜，它还需要来自虫子的蛋白质。它们每天可以吃上百条虫子。但是暖房里没有足够的虫子了，因此，一个有着大型蜂鸟鸟舍得动物园建议我买Nektar—Plus牌的鸟食，于是我便一直在暖房里给鸟儿放有两个装有这类营养全面的食物的喂食器。
Because hummingbirds love to bathe, I also bought a small plastic birdbath for Squeak. But he had different plans. On his third morning, he flew over to a plant I had just misted and began to slide around on the leaves, chirping all the while. He was getting his underparts wet -- his breast, his wings, his chin. After bathing, he flew around the room to dry himself. The air passing through his wet feathers produced a sound like a deck of cards being shuffled. Once dry Squeak preened his sparkling emerald-green garb.
因为蜂虫酷爱洗澡，我于是为吱吱买了一个小小的塑料澡盆，但是它却有着不同的花样。第三天早上，它飞到一棵我刚刚洒了水的植物上，开始在植物的叶子上四处滑动，还一边吱吱的叫着。它把自己的下半身弄湿---胸部，翅膀，下颌。洗完澡后，它在暖房中飞翔，把羽毛晾干。从它湿漉漉的羽毛间穿过的气流发出一种象是洗牌的声音。羽毛晾干后，吱吱便用嘴巴梳理它那闪闪发亮的鲜绿色的羽毛。
By mid-November, he hovered in front of my spray bottle, fanning his tail in anticipation of getting his shower. He began to make it a game. As soon as I started spraying him, he'd fly straight for my face, detour around my head at the last instant, fly away, then return to a branch. After doing this five or six times, he'd settle down to be bathed.
11月的中旬，它在我的喷壶钱飞来飞去，用尾巴扇来扇区想给自己洗澡。它开始把它当作玩游戏。一旦我给它喷水，它便向我迎面飞来，并在我头顶上空盘旋，一会飞走，然后回到花枝上，像这样飞来飞去过5、6次，它才会停下来洗澡。
It didn't take long before Squeak became as inquisitive about me as I was about him. He often investigated my hair and my eyes. Once when I walked into his room wearing a floral-print dress, he tried to figure out how to get nectar from the "flowers."
没过多久，吱吱就 对我产生了好奇，就像我对它好奇一样。它时常研究我我的眼睛和头发。有一次当我穿着印有花的衣服走进它的房子时，它尽然试图从“花中”采花蜜。
If I talked softly to him, he cocked his head and answered in endearing, barely audible chirps. If I hummed to him he tilted his head and closed his eyes.
如果我温柔的对它说话，他就会竖起脑袋发出讨人喜欢的，几乎听不见的吱吱声。如果我给它哼唱小曲儿，它就斜着脑袋闭着眼睛。
There were times, however, when Squeak would become angry at me. I had to move his favorite plant, a flowering maple, because it had grown too tall. When he realized it was gone, he stretched his neck and pulled his head back as if looking at something in sheer disbelief. He kept flying away and returning, expecting the flowering maple to reappear. When I finally brought it back, he calmed down.
然而吱吱也有对我生气的时候。我不得不移开它喜欢的植物，一株正在开花的枫树。因为那树张的太高了。当它意识到树已经被搬走了时，它就伸着脖子，向后伸着头，就像满腹疑惑的看着什么。它不停地飞来飞去，希望他那开着花的的枫树再次出现。当我终于把树搬回来时，它才安静下来。
As winter turned to spring, I wanted to strengthen our bond. I was hoping that once I let him go, he'd make my garden his territory, and I could continue our relationship. So I gave him a treat. I filled a feeder with a particularly sweet solution of 2-to- 1 water and sugar and held it in my hand.
春来冬去后，我想进一步加深我们之间的关系。我希望一旦我把它放走后，它会把我的花园当作自己的家园。这样我们就能继续保持我们之间的关系。所以我就给了准备了一顿美餐。我给以给食槽里装满了一种有水和糖的按2：1的比例混合而成的特别天的溶液，把它举在手里。
After just one taste, Squeak loved it. He began watching for me and waiting by the door handle. When I walked in, he poked around me looking for the nectar.
刚尝了一口后，吱吱就喜欢上了这种甜食，它开始注视着我，在门把上等我。上当我走进来时他就在我周围乱戳寻找食物。
By late April, we had become good friends. At times Squeak would hover around my head, just looking at me for no apparent reason. He even let me stroke his breast in the evening before I turned out the lights.
到了4月底，我们已经变成为好朋友了。有时，吱吱会在我头上盘旋，注视着我，毫无理由。在晚上关灯之前它甚至让我抚摩它的胸膜。
Spring rolled around far too quickly. I had known all along that I would eventually have to release Squeak. Still, it is hard to let go of something you've treasured --even when you know it's the right thing to do.
春天转瞬即逝。我一直都知道，我不得不把吱吱放掉。然而，让自己珍爱的东西离开是件困难的事，即使你知道这样做是对的。
In early May the other hummingbirds returned, and when Squeak spotted them outside, he became excited, chattering and flying rapidly to and fro. One day I saw him and another male hovering beak to beak with the window between them.
五月初，其他的蜂鸟回来了。当吱吱认出它们时 ，变得格外兴奋，在空中不停地叫者，盘旋着。有一天我看见它和一只雄鸟隔着窗户嘴对嘴地盘旋着。
I knew what had to be done. May 14 would be the release date. That morning went as usual for Squeak: a shower, preening, begging for treats. At about 10:30, I finally got up the nerve to make my move. I opened the door outside for the first time since Squeak's arrival and stood with his treat in my hand. He came over for a sip, then flew back inside. He did it again and again. Each time I moved farther outside, and after a half-hour of coaxing I was a couple of feet beyond the sun room.
我明白我该做什么了。5月4日将是放飞的日子。那天早上，对它来说和往常一样，沐浴，梳理羽毛，祈求一顿大餐。大约到10.30，我鼓起勇气采取行动。这是自从吱吱来后，我第一次打开了门，站在那里，手里拿着它的美食。它过来吃了一口，又飞回里边。如此的一遍又一遍，每次我都会离开门远一些，在半小时以后，我把它骗到了离房子几英尺的地方。
Finally he came all the way out. He took a drink, then inspected the fuchsia plant hanging on the porch.
终于，它飞了出来，喝了一口水 ，然后打量起挂在门廊的倒挂金钟植物。突然，它飞了起来，飞过屋顶，消失在天空中。
Tears welled up in my eyes. For an instant, I was sorry for releasing him m yet I also knew it was for the best.
泪水盈满了我的眼眶。好一会儿，我还为放走它而伤心，然而，我也知道这是最好的方法。
I still miss this diminutive dynamo with his bold, captivating nature, and I look for him everywhere, even now. In the summer, I keep the screen off a window in the sun room, hoping he might suddenly fly in for a shower or a sugary treat or just to visit for a while. And who knows -- when autumn next arrives, I might even have the pleasure of his company again.
现在我仍然想念这个活力旺盛的小东西，它是那么勇敢，充满了迷人的魅力。我四处寻找它的踪迹，即使现在也一样。夏天我让暖房的窗户下开着，希望它会突然飞入，沐浴一番，或者吃点甜食，或者仅仅光顾一会儿。谁知道呢？当秋季再来时，或许我能够有幸再次与它相伴。
Time to Stop Excuses for Lateness
不要再为迟到找借口了
There are always a couple of people in every office who are habitually late for work. How should a manager handle the problem in a multicultural environment? Should he be patient because different cultures have their own concepts of time? Or should he take disciplinary action?
每个办公室总有一部分人上班经常迟到。作为管理人员应该怎样处理多元文化环境下的这一问题呢？是对不同文化不同时间观念的认可而耐心地去看待这一点还是采取一些惩戒性的措施呢？
Scholars tell us that Westerners and Asians approach time differently. Culturally, Westerners live more in the present and the near future. Asians live more in the ancient past or in the distant future.
一些学者告诉我们说在时间观念方面，东西方国家截然不同。 由于文化上的差异，西方人更多的是活在当前和不久的将来，而东方人生活在久远的的过去和遥远的未来。
Asians try to avoid a neurotic slavery to time, viewing life as a passing moment in eternity. They enjoy the sense of "zero gravity" that comes from travelling without an immediate goal or an urgent objective.
亚洲人尽量避免成为时间的神经质的奴隶，他们把生活看作人世间的一刹那。他们喜欢旅游所带来的“失重感”，没有近期目标，也没有紧急任务。
To many Asians, life is a long journey and happiness is simply not a matter of time. Instead of rushing, they prefer to maintain a steady pace. Quietly watching the seasons change or children grow is certainly not considered a waste of time.
对于许多亚洲人来说，生命是一种长途旅行。幸福绝对不是时间的问题。他们喜欢迈着悠悠的步伐，而不喜欢来去匆匆。静静地看着春去秋来，看着孩子们长大成人一点儿也不会被认为是浪费时间的事。
Westerners believe that happiness is just over the next hill. A little more time, money or struggle will get them there. Americans, in particular, live by time-pressing schedules and deadlines.
西方人相信幸福就在不远处前方，多点时间，多点金钱或奋斗就会使他们达到目标。特别是美国人，他们就靠时间紧迫的日程安排和最后期限而生存。
But how does this insight, so studiously compiled by academics, relate to the need for punctuality in the office? Should we extrapolate from this difference in cultural outlook that it's justified for some employees to be tardy in today's office life? Does it mean that a manager should disregard punctuality as an office discipline?
但是学究们深思熟虑悟出的这一见解有时如何与上班守时联系起来的呢？我们是否能从文化方面的差异得出结论，一些雇员上班拖拖拉拉就是合情合理的呢？还是经理应该忽视守时这条工作纪律呢？
On the surface, it might seem that a manager may have to be more tolerant about punctuality with some cultural groups than others. But this is unwarranted in an urban civilization. It would give credence to the academic literature that implies the time orientation in such a culture is inferior to that in the West.
从表面上看，管理者也许会对一些文化群体的人比来其他人在收拾方面更宽容。但是这在城市文明中是站不住脚的。它将使人相信此种文化的时间观念比西方的时间观念逊色这一学术论调。
This confuses two entirely different things: observance of punctuality and the philosophical perception of time.
这就混淆了两种截然不同的东西：守时和对时间的哲学观。
A person's belief that time is measured in centuries rather than in seconds has nothing to do with his ability to show up on time at the office every day. No Asian employee would ever use a cultural excuse for being late. He may certainly employ more modern excuses such as a traffic jam, a slow watch, or a parking problem. These excuses are the same as those used by office workers in the West. Why is it considered acceptable to be consistently late for these reasons in Asia, while in the West such a person would be considered undependable and untrustworthy?
一个人以世纪而不以秒分来衡量时间的信条与他能否每天按时出现在办公室并没有关系，没有一个亚洲雇员会为迟到找到一个文化方面的借口，他可能会用一些比较现代的借口，像堵车啦，表慢啦，或是停车问题等。这些借口就跟西方上班族的一模一样，为什么在亚洲以这些借口迟到可以被接受的，但在西方这种人被认为不可靠，不可信任呢？
The problem, perhaps, is that in our social life in Asia we tend to be more tolerant of friends and relatives who make us wait for half an hour at a downtown rendezvous. We do not think they are taking our friendship or affection for granted. We do not consider them guilty of disrespect. What is worse, we lei; them exonerate themselves with dubious excuses.
问题可能是，在我们亚洲人的社会生活中，对于那些让我们在市区的约会地点等上半小时的亲友们，我们往往更宽容，我们并不会觉得他们把友情感情不当一回事儿。我们也不会认为他们失礼，更糟糕的是，我们还让他们用含糊的借口为自己开脱责任。
But how we react to latecomers in our social lives is a matter of individual choice. In the world of modern business we cannot afford that flexibility.
但是如何对待社会生活中的迟到问题，那是我们个人的事。而在现代商业领域，我们不容许有这种灵活性。
Nobody minds if a person is late to work once in-a blue moon. Punctuality should not be allowed to become a fad. But in an office environment, there has to be a climate of discipline in which people respect the keeping of time.
如果一个人偶尔迟到，没人在意。但是守时不因该成为一时的风尚。在公共环境中，应该有这样一种纪律约束的氛围来使人们守时。
Even in those companies which maintain flexible time, there are set hours when employees must be present in the office. Otherwise it is impossible to call a meeting of people from different departments.
甚至正在那些有灵活办公时间的公司里，也必须规定什么时间雇员必须在办公室，否则是不可能召集所有在不同部门工作的员工开会。
Some companies may choose to stagger the opening and closing time of their offices to enable employees to avoid the rush hour. But that does not mean there is no longer a need for punctuality.
有些公司也许会主动改变员工的上下班时间，使他们避开上下班高峰期，但是这不表示不需要守时。
Being late is, generally, a problem relating to only a small number of employees. A manager should try to break their bad habits through counselling, repeatedly if required. It's not an easy task and in some cases requires fair amount of patience.
一般来说，迟到只是与小部分职员有关。管理者应该试图通过劝告—必要时刻反复劝告---来改变这种不良习惯。 这并不是一件容易的事情，甚至在某些情况下它要求具有相当的而耐心才能做到。
But it's about time we got rid of the academic notion that an expectation of punctuality is an intolerance of culture. It's a cliché and should be discarded forthwith.
我们早该摒弃这样一种学术的观念，认为期望守时就是对文化的不宽容。那是一种我们应该立即抛弃的陈词滥调。下载本文
