The Stress of Modern City Life
Guidance for Reciting
All work and no play make Jason a dull boy.
Science is，while giving us a better and easier life，driving us far away from our natural placid life into a state of constant oppression both in mind and body. This critical situation exists particularly in the modern cities.
As the population increases rapidly，men have to struggle and make a greater effort in order to survive. All day long they are engrossed in exhausting thoughts and considerations，plotting new schemes，worrying over thousands of things，at the same time，suffering from the fatigue of their work and finding themselves hardly any time to relax.
Living accommodation is also a great problem in a big city. Space is precious and expensive，therefore，people have to crowd together within the minimum space.
How can they possibly cast away all their troubles and have a good rest at home under such circumstances？
Notes
1.placid [5plAsid] a. 安静的，平和的
2.engross [in5grEus] v. 占去，使全神贯注
3.plot [plRt] v. 绘图，密谋，计划
4.accommodation [E7kRmE5deiFEn] n. 住处，膳宿
现代都市生活的压力
诵读导言
只干活不玩耍，聪明的孩子会变傻。
科学在让我们的生活更美好更舒适的同时，也驱使我们远离自然平静的生活而进入一种在身心上经常受压迫的状态。这种严重的情形特别存在于现代都市之中。
由于人口急速增加，人们为了生存只得奋斗和更加努力。他们整天殚精竭虑，筹谋新计划，忧虑许多事情，同时又经受工作上的疲劳，简直没有放松的时间。
居住也成为大城市的大问题，空间是昂贵的，所以，人们只得挤在一起。
在这种情形下，他们怎么可能丢掉那些烦心的事，在家中得到好好的休息呢？
口语点津
都市压力如此之大，怎一个“忙”字了得？汉语中有“手忙脚乱”这个成语，很巧的是，英语中的“忙”也用到了“手”和“脚”。I'm sorry I can't help you right now because I have my hands full.（很抱歉，我现在无法帮助你，因为我已经够忙了。）have one's hands full就是“非常忙碌”的意思。再来看用“脚”表示“忙”的例句：I was run off my feet today.（我今天忙得焦头烂额的。）