I wonder if you realize just how many others share your problem. It is so common for people to distort the truth about themselves. Sometimes it‘s just an invented excuse when you‘ re late for something or a pretence that you like someone you don‘t. These white lies don‘ t usually harm anyone and indeed often help smooth over difficult social situations. They certainly are embarrassing if exposed but，on the whole，they‘ re easily forgiven.

　　What you describe is a habit of 1ying that is more serious than this. I suspect that the lies you tell are ways of defending an idea you have of your own worth. People who have doubts about their own self-esteem often worry that others wil1 judge them as harshly as they feel they deserve because of a secret idea that they are pretty worthless. In other words， they create a false picture of themselves， a picture of someone who meets all the expectations they think others have of them. And as you say， that causes problems —— since they have to keep living up to that image. At

　　the same time， they have to tell further life to cover the stories they have already to1d. According to some authorities， this is particular1y among women especially those who have few opportunities to develop an adequate sense of self-worth.

　　I suggest you give yourself one day during which you stick solid1y to the truth about yourse1f. Give yourself a sma1l treat at the end of the day if you have managed to keep it up. Wait a week and then try it 8gain. Once you have achieved three separate lie-free days， see if you can cope with three days running， then extend it to a whole week. Don‘ t make a promise to yourself that you will never lie again because almost certainly you will —— it‘s too much to take on at once. Try to change things little by little， by setting yourself manageable targets. Alter a while， you‘ll wonder why you ever had the problem at al1.

　　Question： The expression“ living up to” in the second paragraph can best be replaced by _________.

　　A. growing up with B. living with

　　C. seeking D. sticking to

　　解答：选D.

　　这是一道词汇题。Living up to 的意事与A、B、C三个答案意义相距甚远，故而D为本题最佳答案。

　　注：解词汇题时也可参看下面“英译中”部分的猜词手段。

　　三、英译中：考核学生对难句的理解。

　　考核学生对难句的理解。

　　难句翻译应遵循的主要步骤如下：

　　1. 先判断句子结构，确定该句是简单句、并列句还是复合句；

　　2. 如果是简单句，找出关键词：主谓宾或主系表；

　　3. 如果是并列句、复合句，找出各从句间的关系；

　　4. 分清从句层次，理清修饰成份之间的关系；

　　5. 区分各从句内的关键词；

　　6. 根据汉语习惯，写出译文；

　　7. 略作润色，使译文通顺；

　　8. 检查校对，拾遗补漏。

　　如遇到生词可采取下列办法来力图解决：

　　Guess Translation

　　1. 定义（ definition）

　　通过上下文给出的定义，考生可以将某些生词的意思猜测出来。使定义与被定义的内

　　容之间建立起关系的词有： put it