1   Everyone has problems, yet we go aboutsolving them in different ways. Here are some simple steps you might try.

1. Ask Yourself: What Is the Problem I Need to Solve?

2   Interestingly enough, this may be the hardest part of the process. What appears to be the problem on the surface(表面) may not always be at the root.

3   I remember once thinking: My problem is my teachers are giving us too much to do. But when I actually sat down and listed all my assignments, I realized teachers were giving me the same amount of homework as before. Then why was I so stressed out? What I finally concluded(推论出) was: Homework load wasn’t my problem.

4   As time went on, I realized something else: My teachers weren’t giving more homework, but I was getting less sleep. Maybe my stress level had something to do with the amount of sleep I was getting. Solving my stressful (压力重的) problem took a different turn once I’d identified(确定) the true culprit(产生事故的原因).

2. Look for Reason Why You Have the Problem.

5   There may be any number of reasons why you’ve hit a snag(意外的障碍). Of course, not all problems are your own making. Other people can and probably do complicate(使复杂化) your life. No matter how hard you try, you can’t solve your problems by changing someone else — although we’ve all wished we could. That leaves “yourself” to work with.

6   When something becomes a problem for you, you need to ask yourself: Do I have this problem because:

• I’m doing the wrong thing?

• I’m not doing something I need to be doing?

• I’m trying to do too much?

• I’m doing the right thing but doing it the wrong way?

7   Trying to figure out why I had a stressful situation(局面) on my hands called for some mental(心理上的) gymnastics (体操). I’d ruled out teachers who gave too much homework. But what about this for a reason: “not getting enough sleep.” Seemed logical to me. So I questioned myself further.

8   “Self,” I asked. “Why aren’t you getting enough sleep?”

9   And my “self” answered, “Because I’m up late doing homework.”

10   “Aha! So homework is the problem?”

11   “No. Homework is not the problem. When I start my homework is the problem.”

12   “And when do you start your homework?”

13   “Oh, after I finish working at my job, or going to youth group, or rehearsing(彩排) for the school play, or writing for the school newspaper, or practicing for the tennis(网球) team...”

14   I got stressed out just listing everything.

15   But I had discovered something: My problem’s name was Stress. And in my case, it all came from trying to do too much.

16   Bingo(瞧，嘿).  Simple as that. The cause of my problem was found, but there were more steps to be taken.

17   Next, I had to:

3. Think Through the Options.

18   “I listed everything I could think of that might help me out of my dilemma(困境). I wrote out my options because it was easier than trying to keep track of them in my head. I decided I could:

• Quit my job.

• Ask my drama(戏剧) coach to find a replacement(代替，取代) for me in the school play.

• Skip(有意不出席) youth group on Wednesday nights.

• Give up the tennis team.

• Resign(辞职) my position as news editor(编辑) for the school newspaper.

• Drop a class and do homework in study hall so I’d have time for all my extracurricular(课外的) activities.

19   Listing the possibilities(可能性) was like looking at a road map. I could take more than one route and get to the same place. But some roads I prefer over others. Or some seem the smarter way to go. I look at the alternatives(供抉择的解决办法). Then I pull out a yellow highlighter(荧光笔) and outline(描…的外形) my route.

20   I had to do the same for my problem-solving journey.

21   I was ready for the next step:

4. Act on the Decision.

22   At the next practice, I told my tennis coach I’d decided to quit the team. I explained my reasons. She wasn’t thrilled, but she did mention(提到) something about “at least you know what you need to do.”

23   Problem solved.

24   We realize this formula(准则，方案) will not work for every problem. Some problems you face are so complex you need a professional(专业人员的) counselor. Should your problem persist(持续，存留): PLEASE SEEK(寻求) HELP.

(612 words)

1.Everyone has problems, yet we go about solving them in different ways.

每个人都会遇到问题，但是我们解决问题的方式却不一样。

本句中的go about 的意思是“着手干，经常从事于”，后面可以跟名词，也可以跟动名词。又如：

Go about your own business.

忙你自己的事情去吧！

Mr. Smith goes about doing good.

史密斯先生经常做好事。

2.Then why was I so stressed out?

那我为什么会感到如此备受压力呢？

本句中的stressed out常拼作stressed-out，是个复合形容词，意思是“备受压力的”。

3.Solving my stressful problem took a different turn once I’d identified the true culprit.

我一旦确定了问题的真正原因，我压力重的问题解决起来就大不一样了。

本句中的once是个连接词，意思是“一旦”，引导后面的从句；turn的意思是“改变，转变”，与动词take搭配构成常用的短语。又如：

His illness took a favorable turn.

他的病情有了好转。

My life took a new turn.

我的生活出现了新的转机。

4.Trying to figure out why I had a stressful situation on my hands called for some mental gymnastics.

要琢磨出我为何身陷一个压力重的局面需要做一些智力训练。

从语法上来说，Trying to figure out why I had a stressful situation on my hands是动名词短语，做整个句子的主语；called for是动词短语做谓语，意思是“需要”；some

mental gymnastics是宾语，这里的mental gymnastics是比喻，其实就是“心理分析”。其中的figure out意思是“琢 磨出”，又如：

I cannot figure out what he is driving at.

我琢磨不出他究竟想干什么。

on one’s hands意思是“需要负责”，又如：

She hasa large family on her hands.

她有一大群子女要照顾。

call for意思是“需要”，又如：

The situation calls for our immediate attention.

这局面需要我们立刻予以关注。

5.Because I’m up late doing homework.

因为我在熬夜做作业。

本句中的be(或sit/stay) up late doing sth. 意思是“熬夜做某事”。又如：

Before examination, many students are up late reviewing their lessons.

考试之前，很多学生都在熬夜复习功课。

6.But some roads I prefer over others.

但我喜欢一些路，却不喜欢其他路。

这是个倒装句，原句为：

But I prefer some roads over others.

为了和前面的句子连接得更紧密，作者把prefer的宾语some roads提前了。句中的over也可以用介词to来替代。又如：

We prefer cooperation over competition with them.  

7.Problem solved.

问题解决了。

这是个省略句，完整的句子应该是The problem has

been / is solved。该句采取省略形式似乎暗示读者，只要我们按照文中的4个步骤来处理问题，问题就可以迎刃而解。

8.Should your problem persist: PLEASE SEEK HELP.

如果问题挥之不去，请寻求帮助。

本句中的should用来表示语气较强的假设，放在句子开头形成倒装句。又如：

Should you be interested, I have a book on the subject you might like to read.

如果你感兴趣，我有一本论述这个问题的书，或许你想读一读。