I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let’s take a look at three types of “waits”.
我在某处读到，我们一生中有整整三分之一的时间都在等待。但我们到底在哪些地方等待，对于我们这样不耐烦的社会意味着什么呢？为了理解这个问题，让我们来看看三种类型的“等待”。

The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most annoying of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink(洗碗池) as an example. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it’s full. During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.
最纯粹的等待形式是“观察等待”。这无疑是所有等待中最令人烦恼的。以填满厨房洗碗池为例。在这个过程中，你什么都做不了，只能盯着洗碗池直到它满了。在这些等待期间，大脑会脱离身体，四处游荡，直到水溢出柜台边缘，浸湿你的袜子。这种等待让人感到无助和茫然。

A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup requires a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. “Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes.” I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience.
“观察等待”的表亲是“强制等待”。这种等待需要一点纪律。正确准备包装的方便面汤需要强制等待。说明非常具体。“将三杯水煮沸，加入混合物，小火煮三分钟，熄火，静置五分钟。”我怀疑真的有人严格遵循这些程序。毕竟，强制等待需要耐心。

Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.
或许最有力的等待类型是“幸运等待”。这种等待在很大程度上是自愿的。与同样是自愿的强制等待不同，等待你的幸运机会并不一定意味着它会发生。

Turning one’s life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn’t come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.
将生活变成一场等待游戏需要信念和希望，严格来说只适合我们中的乐观主义者。表面上看，这似乎和遵循方便面汤的说明一样荒谬，但幸运等待对于那些愿意这样做的人来说非常有益。只要一个人不依赖它，希望一些好事发生永远不会伤害任何人。

We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you’re standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you’ll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don’t be desperate. You’re probably just as busy as the next guy.
我们确实花了相当多的时间在等待上。下次你在水槽前等待水满时，同时煮方便面汤，直到一大袋现金从天而降，不要绝望。你可能和下一个人一样忙碌。

1. While doing a Watched-Pot Wait, we tend to _.
   A. keep ourselves busy
   B. get absent-minded
   C. grow anxious
   D. stay focused
   答案：B

2. What is the difference between the Forced Wait and the Watched-Pot Wait?
   A. The Forced Wait requires some self-control.
   B. The Forced Wait makes people passive.
   C. The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions.
   D. The Watched-Pot Wait engages body and brain.
   答案：A

3. What can we learn about the Lucky-Break Wait?
   A. It is less voluntary than the Forced Wait.
   B. It doesn’t always bring the desired result.
   C. It is more fruitful than the Forced Wait.
   D. It doesn’t give people faith and hope.
   答案：B

4. What does the author advise us to do the next time we are waiting?
   A. Take it seriously.
   B. Don’t rely on others.
   C. Do something else.
   D. Don’t lose heart.
   答案：D

5. The author supports his view by _.
   A. exploring various causes of “waits”
   B. describing detailed processes of “waits”
   C. analyzing different categories of “waits”
   D. revealing frustrating consequences of “waits”
   答案：C