Only Boring People Are Bored只有让人无聊的人才会感到无聊
by Brian Foden
What started off as a joke may actually be a serious problem.
那些一开始被当作玩笑话的事，实际上可能是个严重的问题。
It's likely you are familiar with some of the special days, weeks, and months created by organizations around the world to spread awareness of important concerns. Some examples of this include Earth Day, AIDS Awareness Month, and World Poverty Day. But have you ever heard of National Anti-Boredom Month in the US? Anything designed to _(1)_ boredom must be interesting, so read on to discover the origins of this special month.
What is National Anti-Boredom Month and how did it start? The answers _(2)_ in understanding the mindset of a New Jersey public relations expert named Alan Caruba. The initiative grew out of Caruba's 1984 spoof that involved _(3)_ a fake organization called The Boring Institute. His _(4)_ came about while he was watching the famed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. _(5)_ that the parade always seemed the same year after year, he decided to have a bit of fun by developing a press release claiming it was actually a hoax. _(6)_ from his newly created institute, the release stated that what was shown on TV was actually a video of the parade from a decade earlier. This _(7)_ to other spoofs on celebritydom, and National Anti-Boredom Month was born.
While Caruba's organization and Anti-Boredom Month started as a joke on the media, there is a serious _(8)_ message to it all. Caruba wrote in an Internet article in 2008 that boredom was a precursor to _(9)_ and suicide and that it may lead to crime. He also stated boredom was the cause of some divorces and that it was trouble. _(10)_ National Anti-Boredom Month might be a joke, boredom can be a serious problem, so find something fun to do right now.
(A) underlying(B) lie(C) motivation(D) Observing(E) depression
(F) While(G) Issued(H) conquer(I) led(J) creating
Anything designed to conquer boredom must be interesting, so read on to discover the origins of this special month.
理由
a. 原句实等於∶
Anything which is designed to _______ boredom must be interesting,...
b. 得知本题测试下列固定句构
be designed to V被设计来……
This book is designed to teach students how to write.
这本书旨在教导学生如何写作。
c. 根据上述，空格内应置原形及物动词，使 boredom 作其受词。选项中仅(B) lie（躺、说谎、在於）、(H) conquer（克服）为原形动词。但 (B) 为不及物动词。根据语意，仅 (H) 为正选。
The answers lie in understanding the mindset of a New Jersey public relations expert named Alan Caruba.
理由
a. 本句句首以复数名词 The answers（这些答案）作为主词，得知空格内应置复数动词，且为现在式，因为空格前的句子 "What is National Anti-Boredom Month...?" 为现在式。
b. 选项中仅 (B) lie（说谎、躺、在於）为现在式动词，且因为空格後有介词 in，形成下列固定用法∶
lie in...在於……
In my view, success lies in hard work.
我认为成功全在於努力。
c. 根据上述，(B) 项应为正选。
The initiative grew out of Caruba's 1984 spoof that involved creating a fake organization called The Boring Institute.
理由
a. 空格前有 that 引导的形容词子句，此处 that 等於 which，之後的动词 involved 表『包括』，得知之後须接名词或动名词作受词，形成下列固定用法∶
involve vt. 包括，包含
The test involves answering a series of questions about a photograph.
这项考试包含回答一张照片的几个问题。
Many of the crimes in the city involve drugs.
该城市中的许多犯罪都和毒品有关。
c. 然而因为空格後有名词词组 a fake organization（假组织），得知空格应置动名词，使该名词作动名词的受词，形成的动名词片语同时作 involved 的受词。选项中仅 (A) underlying（凸显……的重要）、(J) creating（创造）为动名词。根据语意，仅 (J) 为正选。
His motivation came about while he was watching the famed Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV.
理由
a. 空格前有所有格 His，得知空格内应置名词作主词，使空格後有动词 came about（发生）作动词。
b. 选项中，仅(C) motivation（动机）、(E) depression（忧郁症）可作名词。根据语意，仅 (C) 为正选。
c. motivation n. 动机
His biggest problem is his lack of motivation.
他最大的问题便是他缺乏动机。
Observing that the parade always seemed the same year after year, he decided to have a bit of fun by developing a press release claiming it was actually a hoax.
理由
a. 由於空格位於句首，故应选单字开头字母为大写的选项，选项中 (D) Observing（观察）、(G) Issued（被发布）、(F) While（当、而、虽然） 均为大写开头单字。然而，空格後有 that 子句，势必作为动词的受词。
b. 原句实等於∶
He observed that the parade..., he decided to...(×)
此时两句皆为主要子句，中间无连接词连接，属错误句构。因此第一个主要子句须改成分词片语，步骤如下∶
(1) 删除相同主词；
(2) 将动词改为现在分词，此处 observed 改为 observing。
c. 根据上述，(D) 项应为正选。
Issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that what was shown on TV was actually a video of the parade from a decade earlier.
理由
a. 空格在句首，得知只能选开头字母大写的答案，且因为空格後并不是完整子句，故空格不得置连接词。(G) 及 (F) 项为大写开头，而 (F) While 为连接词，故仅 (G) 为正选。
b. 原句实等於∶
The release was issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that...(×)
此时两句皆为主要子句，中间无连接词连接，属错误句构。因此第一个主要子句须改成分词片语，步骤如下∶
(1) 删除相同主词；
(2) 将动词改为现在分词，此处 was issued 改为 being issued，且 being 可以省略。
c. 根据上述，仅 (G) 项为正选。
d. issue vt. 发布
They issued a joint statement denying the charges.
他们发布了联合声明，否认那项指控。
This led to other spoofs on celebritydom, and National Anti-Boredom Month was born.
理由
a. 空格前有主词 This，得知空格应置动词，且此动词可与介词 to 搭配形成下列固定用法∶
lead to...造成……
The driver's carelessness led to the accident.
那位驾驶的粗心导致了这场车祸。
b. 由於空格前句子为过去式，得知空格也须置过去式动词，以形成时态一致，选项中仅 (I) 符合上述条件，故为正选。
While Caruba's organization and Anti-Boredom Month started as a joke on the media, there is a serious underlying message to it all.
理由
a. 空格後为名词 message（讯息），空格前为形容词 serious（严肃的），得知空格就算不加字也合乎语法。若此处要加字，则须加形容词，使该形容词与 message 搭配成为复合字，被 serious 修饰。
b. 选项中仅剩 (A) underlying（根本的）为形容词，故为正选。
c. underlying a. 根本的
Unemployment is the underlying cause of the rising crime rate.
失业问题是犯罪率不断上升的根本原因。
Caruba wrote in an Internet article in 2008 that boredom was a precursor to depression and suicide and that it may lead to crime.
理由
a. 空格後有对等连接词 and，之後有名词 suicide（自杀），得知空格须置名词以作空格前介词 to 的受词。此外，由於是对等连接词连接两属性相同的词或片语，故此处应选 (E) depression（忧郁症）。
b. depression n. 忧郁症
John has been suffering from depression since 2008.
约翰自从 2008 年以来一直受忧郁症所苦。
While National Anti-Boredom Month might be a joke, boredom can be a serious problem,...
理由
a. 由於空格後为一完整子句 "National Anti-Boredom Month might be a joke"（全国反无聊月可能是个玩笑话）空格後又有一完整子句 "boredom can be a serious problem"（无聊可能会是个严重的问题），得知空格应置连接词以连接两个完整子句，故仅 (F) 为正选。
b. while conj. 虽然
While Tom's very good at science, his brother is absolutely hopeless.
虽然汤姆很擅长科学，他弟弟却完全不在行。
boredom n. 无聊
mindset n. 心态
spoof n. 欺骗，愚弄
famed a. 知名的
parade n. 游行；阅兵典礼
press release n. 新闻稿
hoax n. 欺骗，愚弄
institute n. 协会
celebritydom n. 名人界
precursor n. 前兆
a. celebritydom, kingdom, stardom
以-dom结尾的单字有『界』的意思，如∶kingdom（王国）、celebritydom（名人界）、stardom（明星界）。
b. 比较 year after year / day after day / year by year / day by day。
year after year 表『年复一年』；day after day 表『日复一日』；day by day 表『一天一天地（强调情况在渐渐地变化）』。
Kevin studied day after day for the exam.
凯文日复一日念书准备那次的考试。
My grandfather's health is improving day by day.
我爷爷的健康渐渐在改善中。
Issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that what was shown on TV...
= Issued from his newly created institute, the release stated that the thing which was shown on TV...
他利用新成立的协会来发布新闻稿，声称电视上所呈现的游行……
It's likely (that)...很可能……
It is likely that the economy will improve this year.
今年的经济很有可能会改善。
be familiar with sth熟悉某事
be familiar to sb对某人而言很熟悉
I won't get lost because I'm familiar with this part of town.
我不会迷路，因为我对这个地方很熟悉。
awareness n. 体认
aware a. 了解的，知道的
Are you aware of the fact that you are making me angry?
你知不知道你令我生气了？
concern n. 关怀；关心的事
The rich man showed no concern for the poor.
这有钱人对穷人一点都不关切。
initiative n. 主动行动；进取心
on one's own initiative主动地
Richard showed a lot of initiative and was promoted to manager after only a year.
理查展现强烈进取心，仅一年後就获得升迁为经理。
The rookie cop disobeyed the captain's orders and acted on his own initiative.
那位菜鸟警察不服从队长的命令，擅自行动。
come about发生
= come to pass
= happen
Can you tell me how the accident came about?
你可以告诉我那件意外是如何发生的吗？
state vt. 声明（之後接 that 子句作受词）
Al stated that he would be running for president.
艾尔声称他会参选总统。
只有让人无聊的人才会感到无聊
那些一开始被当作玩笑话的事，实际上可能是个严重的问题。
世界各地的组织为了传扬对重要且引人关注事项的认知而创建了特别日子、星期及月份，其中一些日子、星期及月份你很可能已经很熟悉了。这方面的一些例子包括地球日、爱滋病宣传月、世界贫困日。但你可曾听过美国的全国反无聊月？任何旨在克服无聊的活动都一定要很有趣，那麽就继续往下看来发掘这个特殊月份的起源。
全国反无聊月是什麽，又是如何开始的？这些问题的答案在於要先了解新泽西州一位名为艾伦·卡鲁巴公关专家的心态。全国反无聊月的创始源自克鲁巴在 1984 年的一次整人计划，在该计划中，他创立了一个叫作『无聊协会』的假机构。克鲁巴在观赏梅西百货感恩节游行时产生了这个动机。他观察到那场游行似乎年年都是相同的活动，便决定拟一份新闻稿，声称那场感恩节游行其实是场骗局，藉此来获得一点儿乐趣。他利用新成立的协会来发布新闻稿，声称电视上所呈现的游行其实是 10 年前的录影节目。这也造成日後对名人界出现了一些整人活动，全国反无聊月於焉诞生。
虽然克鲁巴的组织和全国反无聊月起初对媒体开了一个玩笑，这一切却带有一个严肃的基本讯息。克鲁巴在 2008 年的网路文章上写道，无聊是忧郁症和自杀的前兆，同时无聊亦可能会导致犯罪。他还指出，无聊是一些人离婚的原因，并表示那会造成麻烦。虽然全国反无聊月可能是个笑话，无聊还是可能会成为严重的问题，所以现在就去找些乐事做做吧。
答案∶1.(H)2.(B)3.(J)4.(C)5.(D)6.(G)7.(I)8.(A)9.(E)10.(F)
