Bob 趴在书桌上，看起来懒洋洋的，Sofia 上前找他聊天。
Sofia: What’s the matter, Bob? You look troubled.
Sofia：怎么啦 Bob？你看起来好像有困难。
Bob: I don’t want to face the final paper…
Bob：我不想面对期末报告啊啊…
Sofia: You mean the one that is due on next Friday?
Sofia：你是说下周五要缴的期末报告吗？
Bob: Yeah… I haven’t started yet.
Bob：对啊…我都还没开始。
Sofia: (Surprised) That paper has to be 10,000 words! In English!
Sofia：(惊讶) 那份报告至少要用英文写一万字！而且是用英文！
Bob: I suppose that’s why I’ve been procrastinating. I just don’t want to face it.
Bob：我想那正是为什么我一直拖延，我就是不想面对。
Sofia: But you’ll flunk the class if you don’t hand it in on time.
Sofia：但是没有如期缴交就会被当的！
Bob: I know… (moaning) Sofia, do you have any tips on how to improve my efficiency?
Bob：我知道… (呻吟) Sofia，你有任何提高效率的秘诀吗？
在听 Sofia 公布她的「打击拖延症」妙招前，先来学学这些单字吧！
due (adj.) 到期的
due 的中文为「到期的；预期的；预计的」。而常见片语 due to 意思则是「由于」，同 because of。
These library books are due on Monday.
这些图书馆的书周一到期。
Mary and John’s baby is due on April 21.
Mary 和 John 的宝宝预计在 4/21 诞生。
The marathon has been canceled due to bad weather.
由于天气不佳，马拉松取消了。
procrastinate (v.) 拖延
procrastinate 的中文为「拖延；延迟」，这个字源自拉丁文 procrastinus，该字由 pro- ( forward「往后」、until「直到」) 加上 crastinus ( tomorrow「明天」)，字面意思就是「推到明天或直到明天」。
Bob tends to procrastinate, and waits until the last minute to do his work.
Bob 往往将凡事拖延到最后一刻。
名词 procrastination 则是「拖延症」。
Someday you shall pay for your procrastination.
有一天你会为你的拖延症付出代价的。
efficiency (n.) 效率
efficiency 的中文为「效率」，例如：improve the efficiency (提升效率)。形容词 efficient 则表示「有效率的」。
Tommy was fired because he lacked efficiency at work.
Tommy 因为工作没效率而被辞职。
该如何打击拖延症呢？
Sofia: I always make a to-do list.
Sofia：我都会写一张待做清单。
Bob: I’m listening.
Bob：嗯嗯。
Sofia: Divide your goal into smaller goals. Each one shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish on its own. These smaller goals will make up your to-do list.
Sofia：把你的目标分成一个个小目标，每一个都不要难到没办法一次完成。这些就是你待做清单上的小目标。
Bob: Okay, so my goal is to finish a 10,000-word paper before Friday.
Bob：好，我的目标就是周五前完成一万字报告。
Sofia: Right, okay but that’s still a big goal. It’s Saturday today, you’ve still five days, so split the task into five parts. Make a smaller goal of writing 2,000 words each day.
Sofia：对，好，但那还是个大目标。今天是星期六，你还有五天，所以就把它分成五个部分。所以你可以订定每天完成两千字的小目标。
Bob: Alright, and then?
Bob：好，然后呢？
Sofia: Then, each time you accomplish a smaller goal, give yourself a reward! For example, I watch two episodes of my favorite show Netflix.
Sofia：然后每当你完成一个小目标，你就犒赏一下自己！举例来说，我的奖励是看两集我最爱的 Netflix 节目。
Bob: Okay… maybe that could work.
Bob：嗯…这或许管用。
Sofia: It works pretty well on me. It has increased my productivity and gives me a sense of accomplishment. But you know what they say Bob: The ultimate inspiration is the deadline!
Sofia：对我来说很管用。帮助我提升生产力，获得成就感。不过呢你知道大家都这样说，没什么比截止日更能激发灵感！
小 V 觉得 Sofia 最后一句才是重点！来学习单字吧！
productivity (n.) 生产力
productivity 的中文为「生产力」。此字由动词 produce 衍生而来，意思为「生产；出产」，名词 product 则表示「产品」。
The workers received an order to increase their productivity.
工人们接到提高生产力的指令。
This factory produces all kinds of plastic products.
这间工厂生产各式塑胶制品。
inspiration (n.) 灵感
动词 inspire 的中文为「激励；激发」，其名词形即是 inspiration (灵感)，例如：draw inspiration from… (从…汲取灵感)。
The painter was inspired by the song.
这位画家为一首歌所启发。
Dali drew inspiration from his dreams.
Dali 从梦境汲取灵感。
deadline (n.) 截止日
deadline 的字面意思为「死线」，引申义为「截止日；期限」，例如：meet the deadline (赶上截止日)。
I stayed up late last night working on my paper in order to meet the deadline.
为了赶上截止日，我整夜都在飙报告完全没睡。
