1    Has anyone ever criticized you for the way you dress or the way you wear your hair? (Your parents would never do that, would they?) Or have you ever written a term paper that in your mind was worthy of a Pulitzer Prize(普利策奖), but your teacher only gives you a low grade? Regardless(不论) of what you do or say, there will always be someone around who finds fault with it.

Why People Criticize

2     People have various motives(动机) for criticizing others. For example, a person who says, “You are the ugliest person I’ve ever seen” is motivated(激起) by only one thing — a desire to make you feel bad or inferior(差的). However, sometimes it is difficult to determine a critic’s motives. A friend of yours, for example, might say something like, “Your hair really looked better the way it was before.” Is the friend being unkind or just trying to be helpful? It is up to you to analyze it and determine if there is any truth to it.

3     Another motive for offering criticism is a genuine(真正的) desire to be helpful. The teacher who criticizes your term paper, for example, is not being mean-spirited(卑鄙的). He or she simply wants you to improve your writing. Helpful advice such as this is called constructive criticism.

Some Helpful Hints(建议)

4     Although no one can escape(逃脱) the clutches(爪子) of criticism, these suggestions(建议) will help you handle it better.

5     • Understand that criticism is an inevitable(不可避免的) part of life. No one can please everybody all the time. Don’t even try!

6     • Don’t take criticism personally. Constructive criticism is generally directed at situations and behaviors, rather than directly at a person.

7     • Consider the criticism’s value. Even if a criticism seems way off base, there is generally at least a fragment (碎片) of truth to it.

8     • Try not to argue with the person who criticizes you. Such arguments rarely solve anything. Instead, ask questions that will help clarify the situation.

So You Want My Opinion

9     Receiving criticism is not an easy thing to do. It hurts to hear something negative about yourself, especially when you know it is true. Offering criticism is not any easier.

10     Generally, it is not a good idea to offer criticism unless it is absolutely essential. You need to speak up, for example, if someone will be put in danger if you do not. But what if someone asks for your criticism?

11     Author W. Somerset Maugham once said, “People who ask for your criticism want only praise.” In other words, it is human nature for people to seek approval(赞同) for the things they do or are interested in. When people ask for your opinion, be aware(意识到的) that many people will be expecting you to agree with them, and that they will probably be disappointed and even angry if you don’t say things that support their point of view.

12     When someone asks your opinion keep these suggestions in mind:

13     • Take your time before replying. Think about what you are going to say before you say it.

14     • By all means be honest with the person who asked for your opinion. If a friend asks you, for example, how you like a short story she has been working on for a long time, tell her sincerely how you feel about it. But use tact(策略). You can begin by pointing out some of the positive things about the story. Then, be specific about some of the things you do not like about the story.

15     • Offer suggestions for improvement.

(574 words)

1.Has anyone ever criticized you for the way you dress or the way you wear your hair?

有没有人批评过你的穿着方式或者所留的发型？

本句中的wear意思是“留(须、发等)。”

又如：

wear one’s hair long 

留长发

2.Regardless of what you do or say, there will always be someone around who finds fault with it.

无论你做什么或者说什么，身边总会有人挑刺。

本句中的regardless of 意思是“不顾，不论”，后面跟名词或名词性从句。又如：

Regardless of danger, he jumped into the river to save the drowning child. 

他不顾危险跳入河中，去拯救那个溺水的儿童。

find fault with是个固定搭配，意思是“挑剔”。又如：

They found fault with everything I said. 

他们对我所说的一切都要挑剔。

3.It is up to you to analyze it and determine if there is any truth to it.

这得由你来分析、确定他的批评是否有任何道理。

本句中的It是形式主语，真正的主语是to analyze it

and determine if there is any truth to it，这个真正主语中的两个it都是指别人提出的批评。up to sb.意思是“须由…决定的”。又如：

It is up to you whether you decide to take the job. 

你是否决定要这份工作取决于你自己。

4.Even if a criticism seems way off base, there is generally at least a fragment of truth to it.

即便某个批评与事实很不相符，通常至少是有一丁点事实根据的。

本句中的way是副词，意思是“远远地，非常”。又如：

way back in the sixties 

早在60年代

His expectations were way too high. 

他的期望真是太高了。

off base的意思是“与事实不符的，错误的”。又如：

stories that are off base 

失实的报道

You’re way off base. 

你大错特错了。

5.But what if someone asks for your criticism?

但如果有人要求你提出批评，你该怎么办呢？

本句中的what if意思是“如果…将会怎么样”。又如： 

What if it is true? 

如果这是真的又怎么样？

6.Take your time before replying.

别忙着回答。

本句中的take one’s time是个固定搭配，意思是“不着急”。又如：

He took his time answering / to answer my questions.

他从容不迫地回答了我的问题。