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I. Reading comprehension
Passage 1
Strip cartoons in newspapers are immensely popular. Some people only buy certain newspapers in ｏrder to follow the adventures of their favorite cartoon characters. Generally speaking，strip cartoons are neither subtle nor unkind. Their appeal rests largely on the fact that ｏrdinary people can identify with them—the …little man? in the office，the ups ａnd downs of suburban married life，the domineering behavior of neighbors, children, relations ａnd household pets，to say nothing of cars，washing machines，vacuum cleaners ａnd similar contraptions（奇妙的装置）which frequently seem to have a will of their own.
Weary commuters battling with public transport，harassed housewives underpaid secretaries ａnd clerks—har dworking people who don?t live glamorous ａnd exciting lives—can laugh at themselves in these cartoons. Sometimes a strip cartoon represents a world of pure fantasy in which Superman ｏr Woman always emerges triumphant in spite of the most hair-raising adven tures. We know we aren?t really like that，but it?s fun to think we could be if we had the chance.
Political cartoons are essentially topical ａnd pull no punches. Their wit mirrors the absurdities，prejudices ａnd blunders in law ａnd ｏrder ａnd current affairs. The physical characteristics of prominent men ａnd women in Government ｏr State are mercilessly caricatured（讽刺）. Since the English，with the inborn independence of an island race，have a healthy contempt for bureaucracy ａnd are cheerfully critical of whatever government happens to be in office, political cartoons provide an endless source of amusement. After all, as a famous politician is reported to have said，“…politics are too serious a matter to be left to politicians.”
1. Strip cartoons generally ________.
A) represent people we know personally
B) are a means of identification
C) are not intended to be offensive
D) bear little relation to ｏrdinary life
2. In the opinion of the writer some household appliances .
A) behave as if they were human
B) are always falling to pieces
C) are fitted with on controls
D) are not designed to work efficiently
3. Cartoons of office ｏr domestic life have a particular appeal for people who
.
A) have plenty of self-confidence
B) like to indulge their fantasies
C) have routine jobs
D) envy their superiors
4. Political cartoonists are not afraid to .
A) misrepresent public opinion
B) ridicule government policy
C) offend public opinion
D) break the law
5. Whatever form of government is elected the general public will invariably
it.
A) ignore B) reject C) laugh at D) find fault with
Passage 2
Some economists have suggested that the U.S. distribution of income is somehow naturally more unequal than that of other countries. After all，the U.S. is geographically ａnd racially more diverse than Europe. Nevertheless, it is noted that even the highest-income regions of the U.S. have significantly higher rates of poverty than all but the poorest nations of Europe. Romania ｏr Bulgaria might have similar percentages of poverty, but theirs is hardly a standard fｏr the wｏrld?s richest nation to aspire to.
Even if blacks，the racial group with the highest poverty level，are eliminated ｆrom the calculations，the U.S. still has twice the European rate of poverty. ａnd American poｏr wｏrk just as much as the poｏr of European nations, if not mｏre. Mｏre single mothers in the U.S.，fｏr example，have jobs than in Great Britain （although fewer than is Sweden，where liberal childcare allowances make it easier to combine family ａnd employment）
If the exodus（退出）from the bottom of the middle class can be traced to a lack of government suppｏrt fｏr the wｏrking poｏr，that still leaves departures at the top to be explained. Although income ｆrom two careers is pushing an increasing number of households over the threshold to the upper class，higher salaries earned by men account fｏr the bulk of upward mobility. In addition，many are moving up simply because the salary of the top 10 percent of wage earners is now at least 3.8 time that of the bottom 20 percent，as compared with 2.6 only 25 years ago.
Will the middle class eventually become a minｏrity in the U.S.？Current numbers suggest there is no danger of that befｏre the turn of the century at least. Nevertheless, the trend seems ominous（不祥的）. As long as the wｏrk fｏrce is increasingly segregated into professionalized，high paying jobs ａnd less skilled，low-paying ones，the middle will be threatened.
6. The highest-income regions of the U.S. have higher rates of poverty than .
A) Romania ａnd Bulgaria
B) the poｏrest nations of Europe
C) all European nations
D) all except the poｏrest European nations
7. The U.S. distribution of income is mｏre unequal than that of European countries
because .
A) the U.S. has twice the European rate of poverty
B) the U.S. is one of the wｏrld?s richest nations
C) Europe is geographically ａnd racially less diverse than the U.S.
D) there is a lack of government suppｏrt fｏr the wｏrking poｏr in U.S.
8. By saying “the salary of the top 10 percent o f wage earners is now at least 3.8 times
that of the bottom 20 percent，as compared with 2.6 only 25 years ago,” the auth ｏr means .
A) the gulf between top earners ａnd bottom wage earners has considerably
widened in 25 years
B) mｏre people are neither rich nｏr poｏr now
C) the number of the top 10 percent of wage earners has increased
D) the salary of the 10 percent of wage earners has increased greatly
9. ｆrom the passage，it can be concluded that .
A) the middle class will eventually become a minｏrity in the U.S.
B) most of the middle class people will mｏre into the upper class befｏre the
end of this century
C) if the gap between the rich ａnd poｏr further widens，the propｏrtion of the
middle class population will decrease
D) professionalized，high-paying jobs will comprise the bulk of the wｏrk fｏrce in the U.S.
10. “Two careers” in Para. 3 refers to.
A) the middle ａnd upper classes B) high-paying ａnd low-paying jobs
C) husband?s ａnd wife?s jobs D) the top ａnd the bottom wage earners What is the significance of the Refｏrmation (Unit 8, text 1, Book IV)?
II. Put the following into Chinese:
1. Successful implementation of the key concepts of “refｏrm ａnd opening up” ａnd “ economics as the central task” over the past 30 days through an internal policy o f change ａnd capacity building, enabled China to develop into an economic powerhouse.
2. The suggestion that further negotiations are to take place to produce an “acceptable” repｏrt suggests that the politics of coalition government are doing the country disservice. Given the sensitivities involved, all the infｏrmation should be available so that people can reach their own conclusions, rather than being left with suspicion that fact are being replaced by political ideology.
III. Answer the following question:
What is the significance of the Refｏrmation (Text 1, Unit 8, Book IV)?
Answer Sheet
I.Reading Comprehension
1._C___
2. _A__
3. ___C_
4. __B__
5. __D__
6. __A___
7. __B___
8. __A__
9. _B___10. __D__
II. Put the following into Chinese
1.成功实施的关键概念的“改革开放”和“经济为中心”在过去的30天通过变革和能力建设的一个内部政策，使中国发展成为一个经济强国。
2. 建议进一步的谈判将产生一个“可接受”的报告指出，联合政府的政治是国家做了伤害。由于涉及敏感，所有的信息可以使人们可以得出自己的结论，而不是被怀疑的事实被政治意识形态所取代。
III. Answer the following question
答：1、The Roman Catholic Church was never the international court to which all rulers and states were to be morally responsible for.
2、Economically，peasants all over Europe had no need to pay a good amount of their gains to the Pope.
3、In educational and cultural matters，the monopoly of the church was broken.
4、In religion，Protestantism brought into being different forms of Christianity to challenge the absolute rule of the Roman Catholic Church.
5、In language，the dominant position of Latin had to give way to the national languages as a result of various translations of the Bible into the vernacular.
6、In spirit, absolute obedience became out-moded.
八年级英语阅读理解10篇 一、One day, Mr. Black went into a restaurant. __1______. There was nothing in the pockets of his coat. After he had his meal, __2_______. He found there was much money in one of his pockets. “Whose is this?”he thought. He saw a waiter near the door, so Mr.Black said to him, “Somebody put a lot of money in my coat. _____3_________. I have to go. Take it ,please. When he comes back, give it to him.” The waiter took it and went away. At the moment , __4_______.“I’ m sorry.” Said the man. “Ｉ took your coat and you got mine. Please give me my coat and the money.” Mr. Black answered, “Ｉ gave the money to the waiter. He’ll give it to you.” Mr. Black called the manager, but the manager(经理) said, “We have no waiters here. We only have waitresses（女服务员）.__5__________” A.He went to take his coat back. B.At the moment ，Another man came with a coat just like Mr.Black’s. C.He went to have lunch. D.He put his coat on a chair near the door. E.I have no time to wait for him F.He must be a thief！ G.He is so kind! 1, Mr.Black went out______. A to eat something B to put his coat on a chair C to buy a coat D to see his friend 2,After his meal, Mr.Black________. A couldn’t find any money in his coat B didn’t know where he put his coat C found some money in the pocket of his coat D didn’t take back his coat 3,Mr.Black gave the money to ______. A the manager B the waiter C the waitress D the owner(主人) 4，The two coats looked_______. A quite different B the same C very dear D too cheap 5, Who is the thief? A Mr.Black B The manager C The waitress D The waiter 二、When we think of Hollywood, we think of films and famous film stars. __1_______ Today people make films in other places , too. Not all famous film stars live in Hollywood. ___2______ You can easily see where Hollywood is in Los Angeles._3_________. It says “HOLLYWOOD”. The white letters are fifty feet tall. You can see the sign from far away. The Hollywood sign is a famous Hollywood landmark（印迹）in Los Angeles. Many postcards show this famous Hollywood landmark. ___4__________. This is one of the open-air theatres in the word. It has seventeen thousand seats and a very different stage（台阶）. The design（设计）of the stage was by a great American called Frank Lcoyed Wright. _5______________ A.They’re part of Hollywood’s history. B.There is a big sign （标志）on the hills. C.H ollywood is a famous city in the USA. D.We all like the city. E.But Hollywood is still a very special city in Los Angeles, California. F.You can listen to all kinds of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. G.In the hills (小山)of Hollywood , there is also the Hollywood Bowl. 6, The best title for the reading should be ______. A Hollywood B Famous Films and Film Stars C the History of Hollywood D Famous Hollywood Sign 7, We learn from the reading that _______. A “HOLLYWOOD” can just be seen from far away B Hollywood is now a place only for travelers C All the films are made in Hollywood D Hollywood is one part of Los Angeles 8,The word “special”in the last sentence of the first paragraph means______. A new B old C famous D unusual 9, At the Hollywood Bowl_______. A all postcards are made B only 7 000 people can get together C people can enjoy music D you can hardly listen to different kinds of concerts 10,It seems(好像) that ______. A some famous film stars don’t choose （选择）to live in Hollywood B film stars don’t think Hollywood is a good place to make films C the Hollywood Bowl is larger than any other open-air theatres in the world D the Hollywood Bowl is a hill in Hollywood 三、Long long ago,there lived a poor man named Ali Baba.One day when he was cutting wood in the forest,he saw a large number of men coming towards him.He was frightened (害怕的)and climbed up into a large tree.When the men got to a big rock,they get off their horses and took off a lot of heavy bags.Ali Baba was sure that they were robbers (强盗). A moment later,one of the robbers said to a big rock, “Open,Sesame（芝麻）!”.Then a door opened in the rock.The robbers entered and the door shut again.After a long time,the door opened and the robbers came out,one of them said,“Close,Sesame!”And the door closed at once.Then the robbers got on their horses and left.Ali Baba came up the rock and said,“Open,Sesame!”The door opened.He filled several bags with gold and diamonds,and put the bags on his donkey.Then he said,“Shut,Sesame!”.The door closed at once and he rode back to the town. 1.What was Ali Baba doing when he saw a large number of men? A.He was sitting in front of a tree. B.He was climbing a tree. C.He was cutting wood in the forest. D.He was sitting on a rock. 2.Why did Ali Baba hid into a large tree? A.Because he was afraid of the men. B.Because he wanted to do some exercises. C.Because he wanted to cut wood. D.Because he liked climbing the trees. 3.We are sure that there were ______ in the men's bags. A.some rocks B.some food C.some sesames D.some gold and diamonds 4.How did the robbers get the things in the cave? A.They bought them in the market. B.They robbed them from other people. C.They picked them up from the road. D.Some of their friends sent the things to them as presents. 5.After coming back to the town,Ali Baba would become _____ A.poor B.sad C.sick D.rich 四、Different people like different sports. We all know that football is the most popular sport __1__ Europe even around the world because it is exciting. __2__ in China the most popular sport is __3__. It’s __4__ and cheaper to play than many other sports. In China, almost every school has ping-pong tables and almost every student can 5_ it. In the USA, many Americans think football is boring. __6__ like basketball and American football. American football is not a round ball and playing American football is a rough game. So it’s very __7__ to play American football, it’s more difficult to play it __8__. In Canada, most people like ice hockey. They think ice hockey(冰球) is __9__. They are very excited when they watch ice hockey games. Ice hockey is the national sport of Canada. There will be an ice hockey game on TV this weekend and many Canadians __10__ it. Do you like sports? What sport do you like best? ( ) 1. A. to B. in C. for D. at ( ) 2. A. Because B. So C. But D. For ( ) 3. A. table tennis B. basketball C. cycling D. football ( ) 4. A. easy B. easily C. easier D. more easily ( ) 5. A. plays B. play C. playing D. played ( ) 6. A. He B. They C. It D. We ( ) 7. A. dangerous B. safe C. safer D. more dangerous ( ) 8. A. good B. well C. bad D. nice ( ) 9. A. exciting B. unpopular C. tiring D. boring ( ) 10.A. watch B. are watchingC. watchesD. are going to watch 五、I live in a small town near Xing’ an in Guilin. __1_____________, because it is too small. The air here is fresh(清新的). There are not many tall buildings in our town. ____2__________There are four hundred students and twenty-five teachers in our school. In the front of the school, there is a playground. __3_________There is a little garden behind our school. And we can grow beautiful flowers and plant trees in the garden. Next to the garden, there is an orange orchard(果园). __4_________. There is a river not far from our school. In summer, we usually go swimming with our teachers in it. ___5_______. The teachers are very nice. We love our school. A.We study Chinese, English, maths and other subjects at school B,There are many new students in our school. C.You can’t see it on the map of China, D.The best building is in our school.
二年级英语阅读训练题目 二年级英语阅读训练题目 MrBrownlivesinanicehouseinasmalltownwithhiswife,MrsBrown .FromMondaytoFridayheworksinanofficenearhishouse.Heisfreeon SaturdaysandSundays.Hehasanicegardenbesidehishouse.Helikesg rowingflowersandheoftenworksinthegardenonSaturdaysandSunday s.TheflowersareverybeautifulandMrsBrownlikesthemverymuch.Sh eoftenhelpsMrBrown. ()1.MrBrownlivesin_________withhiswife. A.acity B.asmalltown C.abigtown ()2.Heworks_________daysaweekinhisoffice. A.four B.five C.six ()3.Heisnt_________onSaturdaysandSundays. A.free B.busy C.happy ()4.Helikes_________onSaturdaysandSundays. A.workinginhisgarden B.walkinginhisgardon C.lookingathisga rden ()5.MrsBrown_________theflowers. A.likes B.doesntlike C.oftenhelps 注解： 1.B-从短文第一句MrBrownlivesinanicehouseinasmalltownwithhiswife.布朗先生和他太太住在小镇上的`一座很美丽的房子里可以得出答案。
精心整理适合小学二年级阅读的经典英语短文 TheEagleprotestedthatitwasidleforhimtotry,asnaturehadnotpro videdhimwithwings;buttheTortoisepressedhimwithentreatiesand promisesoftreasure,insistingthatitcouldonlybeaquestionoflea rningthecraftoftheair.
老鹰劝她，这是他的一个白日梦，因为大自然并没有赋予他可以飞翔的翅膀。可是乌龟再三恳求，还用珍宝利诱老鹰，一再坚持这只是一个了解如何在空中飞翔的问题。 骨。 鹰与捕鹰者TheEagleandhisCaptor AManoncecaughtanEagle,andafterclippinghiswingsturnedhimloos eamongthefowlsinhishen-house,wherehemopedinacorner,lookingv
erydejectedandforlorn.AfterawhilehisCaptorwasgladenoughtose llhimtoaneighbour,whotookhimhomeandlethiswingsgrowagain.Ass oonashehadrecoveredtheuseofthem,theEagleflewoutandcaughtaha re,whichhebroughthomeandpresentedtohisbenefactor.Afoxobserv edthis,andsaidtotheEagle,“Don’twasteyourgiftsonhim!Goandg 【篇三】 小女孩的梦想AlittleGirl’sDream
初中二年级英语阅读阅读理解（一） Every year students in many countries learn English. Some of these students are children. Others are young people. Some learn at school, others teach themselves. Why do all these people want to learn English? It is hard to answer that question. Many boys and girls learn English at school because it is one of their subjects. Many people learn English because it is useful in their work. Some young people learn English for their higher studies because some of their books are in English at college（学院）or university（大学）. Other people learn English because they want to read newspapers and magazines（杂志）in English. 根据短文内容判断正误，正确的填T，错误的填F。 ( ) 1. Everybody learn English at school. ( ) 2. It is hard to answer why so many people learn English. ( ) 3. Children learn English because they like it. ( ) 4. All the books are written in English. ( ) 5. English is useful in people's work and life. 初中二年级英语阅读阅读理解（二） In England, afternoon tea is the most informal (非正式) meal of a day. It is taken between four and five. If you are a friend of the family, you may come for tea at any time. Very often it is not taken at a table. The members of the family and visitors take the tea in the sitting room. Each person has a cup and saucer (茶盘), a spoon (调羹) and a small plate for bread and butter (黄油) and cakes. By the way, do not help yourself to cakes first, bread and butter first, and then cake. Do remember: Though you can eat as much as you want, do not put more than one piece of bread or cake on your plate each time. ( ) 6. In England, afternoon tea is usually taken . A. between breakfast and lunch B. in the middle of a day C. early in the afternoon D late in the afternoon ( ) 7. A real English afternoon tea has . A. tea only B. both tea and food C. tea, food and vegetables D. the same things as other meals
小学二年级英语阅读理解 why 为什么because 因为 drop 落下poor 可怜的 Poor man Look at this man. What is he doing? He’s carrying a very big box. The box is full of big apples. He wants to put it on the back of his bike and take it home. Can he do that? No, I don’t think so. Why not？Because the box is too full and too heavy. Look! What’s wrong? He drops the box. Poor man! Exercise： 1. Read carefully and write “T” for true and “F” for false beside the statements. 仔细阅读，在下列句子前标上（T）对或（F）不对。 （）1. The box is not very big. （）2. The box is full of apples. （）3. He puts the apples in the bag. （）4. He can carry the box home. 2. Choose the best answer： （）1. What is the man doing? He is ______________ A. eating some apples B. carrying a box C. riding a bike D. making a box （）2. What’s in the box? A. some books B. some bikes C. some apples D. some boxes （）3. Can he carry the box? A. Yes, he can. B. Yes, he is. C. No, he can’t D. No, he isn’t （）4. Is the box full or empty? A. Yes, it is. B. No, it isn’t. C. It’s empty. D. It’s full.
初二英语英语阅读理解 题 集团标准化小组：[VVOPPT-JOPP28-JPPTL98-LOPPNN]
初二英语英语阅读理解题 1 An owl is a bird with very large eyes. Those eyes make the owl look clever. The owl can not move its eyes freely as we can. It can only look straight ahead. If it wants to look at both sides, it must turn its neck. Owls make a strange noise because the owls sleep most of the day. They usually give their cries at night. The cry sounds like “Whoo! Whoo”. This strange sound sometimes frightens people at night. ( ) 1. An owl looks clever because 。 A. it has a beautiful body B. it has big eyes C. it can look straight ahead D. it can turn its neck ( )2. An owl looks for food at night because 。 A. it has large eyes B. it can’t move its eyes freely as we can C. it sees better at night than during the day D. it can’t see anything at all during the day ( )3. An owl eats 。 A. small birds B. all kinds of birds C. all kinds of other animals D. none of the above ( )4. The cry of an owl is 。 A. frightening B. good to listen to C. like a song D. like the sound of a cow
阅读理解 1 1. Poor Man! New words and expressions: 1. why 为什么 2. because 因为 3. drop 落下 4. poor 可怜的 Look at this man. What is he doing? He ’s carrying a very big box. The box is full of big apples. He wants to put it on the back of his bike and take it home. Can he do that? No, I don ’t think so. Why not? Because the box is too full and too heavy. Look! What ’s wrong? He drops the box. Poor man! I. Read carefully and write “T ” for True and “F ” for False beside the statements.仔细阅读，在下列句子前标上T （对）或F （不对）。 ( ) 1. The box is not very big. ( ) 2. The box is full of apples. ( ) 3. He puts the apples in the bag. ( ) 4. He can carry the box home. II. Choose the best answer to these questions.选出最佳答案。 ( ) 1. What is the man doing? He is . A. eating some apples B. carrying a box C. riding a bike D. making a box ( ) 2. What ’s in the box? A. Some books. B. Some bikes. C. Some apples. D. Some boxes. ( ) 3. Can he carry the box?
Unit 2 The Fine Art of Putting Things Off Michael Demarest 1"Never put off till tomorrow," exhorted Lord Chesterfield in 1749, "what you can do today." That the elegant earl never got around to marrying his son's mother and had a bad habit of keeping worthies like Dr. Johnson cooling their heels for hours in an anteroom attests to the fact that even the most well-intentioned men have been postponers ever. Quintus Fabius Maximus, one of the great Roman generals, was dubbed "Cunctator " (Delayer) for putting off battle until the last possible vinum break. Moses pleaded a speech defect to rationalize his reluctance to deliver Jehovah's edicts to Pharaoh. Hamlet, of course, raised procrastination to an art form. 2The world is probably about evenly divided between delayers and do-it-nowers. There are those who prepare their income taxes in February, prepay mortgages and serve precisely planned dinners at an ungodly 6:30 . The other half dine happily on leftovers at 9 or 10, misplace bills and file for an extension of the income tax deadline. They seldom pay credit-card bills until the apocalyptic voice of Diners threatens doom from Denver. They postpone, as Faustian encounters, visits to barbershop, dentist or doctor. 3Yet for all the trouble procrastination may incur, delay can often inspire and revive a creative soul. Jean Kerr, author of many successful novels and plays, says that she reads every soup-can and jamjar label in her kitchen before settling down to her typewriter. Many a writer focuses on almost anything but his task—for example, on the Coast and Geodetic Survey of Maine's Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor, stimulating his imagination with names like Googins Ledge, Blunts Pond, Hio Hill and Burnt Porcupine, Long Porcupine, Sheep Porcupine and Bald Porcupine islands. 4From Cunctator's day until this century, the art of postponement had been virtually a monopoly of the military ("Hurry up and wait"), diplomacy and the law. In former times, a British proconsul faced with a native uprising could comfortably ruminate about the situation with Singapore Sling in hand. Blessedly, he had no nattering Telex to order in machine guns and fresh troops. A U.S. general as late as World War II could agree with his enemy counterpart to take a sporting day off, loot the villagers' chickens and wine and go back to battle a day later. Lawyers are among the world's most addicted postponers. According to Frank Nathan, a nonpost-poning Beverly Hills insurance salesman, "The number of attorneys who die without a will is amazing." 5Even where there is no will, there is a way. There is a difference, of course, between chronic procrastination and purposeful postponement, particularly in the higher echelons of business. Corporate dynamics encourage the caution that breeds delay, says Richard Manderbach, Bank of America group vice president. He notes that speedy action can be embarrassing or extremely costly. The data explosion fortifies those seeking excuses for inaction—another report to be read, another authority to be consulted. "There is always," says Manderbach, "a delicate edge between having enough information and too much." 6His point is well taken. Bureaucratization, which flourished amid the growing burdens of government and the greater complexity of society, was designed to smother policymakers in blankets of legalism, compromise and reappraisal—and thereby prevent hasty decisions from being made. The centralization of government that led to Watergate has spread to economic institutions and beyond, making procrastination a worldwide way of life. Many languages are studded with phrases that refer to putting things off—from the Spanish ma?ana to the Arabic bukra fil mishmish(literally "tomorrow in apricots," more loosely "leave it for the soft spring weather when the apricots are blooming"). 7Academe also takes high honors in procrastination. Bernard Sklar, a University of Southern California sociologist who churns out three to five pages of writing a day, admits that "many of my friends go through agonies when they face a blank page. There are all sorts of rationalizations: the pressure of teaching, responsibilities at home, checking out the latest book, looking up another footnote." 8Psychologists maintain that the most assiduous procrastinators are women, though many psychologists are (at $50-plus an hour) pretty good delayers themselves. Dr. Ralph Greenson, a professor of clinical psychiatry (and Marilyn Monroe's onetime shrink), takes a fairly gentle view of procrastination. "To many people," he says, "doing something, confronting, is the moment of truth. All frightened people will then avoid the moment of truth entirely, or evade or postpone it until the last possible moment." To Georgia State Psychologist Joen Pagan, however, procrastination may be a kind of subliminal way of sorting the important from the trivial. "When I drag my feet, there's usually some reason," says Fagan. "I feel it, but I don't yet know the real reason." 9In fact, there is a long and honorable history of procrastination to suggest that many ideas and decisions may well improve if postponed. It is something of a truism that to put off making a decision is itself a