Leisure Sickness|休闲病

by Owain Mckimm

Why do workaholics suddenly feel ill when they go on holiday?

Many of us know people who are always working and never seem to stop. Have you ever heard of anyone who is _(1)_ to vacations? It's not really an allergy, but taking a vacation does seem to make some people sick. It's called leisure sickness, and it's something that people _(2)_ for only the last 20 years or so. It happens like this—you are all ready to go on a vacation, and when it finally begins, you get sick immediately. Researchers have found that leisure sickness is not uncommon these days. The question is, why does it happen?

It's a bit of a mystery. However, there are a few possible _(3)_. One theory is that when people are always focused on work, they have no time to get sick and their bodies _(4)_ the problems until they take a break. Another possibility is that it is actually healthier to be very busy, for people become stronger and are less _(5)_ to fall ill when they are always working. When extremely hard-working people go on vacation, their bodies relax and stop fighting illnesses the way they usually do. On the other hand, it could be that people experience leisure sickness because they can't adjust _(6)_ being on vacation. When people are _(7)_ with their work, they might forget how to relax, and the pressure of their sudden vacation makes them get ill. For most of us, however, vacations are fun, and leisure sickness is one problem that we do not have to worry about.

1.  (A) reliable    (B) allergic    (C) regretful   (D) courteous

2.  (A) studied (B) were studying   (C) have been studying  (D) had studied

3.  (A) complaints  (B) opportunities   (C) explanations    (D) achievements

4.  (A) ignore  (B) admire  (C) define  (D) reveal

5.  (A) possible    (B) probable    (C) likely  (D) convenient

6.  (A) to  (B) for (C) in  (D) with

7.  (A) doubtful    (B) optimistic  (C) grateful    (D) obsessed

   1.  Have you ever heard of anyone who is allergic to vacations?

休闲病

为什么工作狂放假时就会觉得身体不舒服？

我们许多人都认识一直在工作而似乎从不休息的人。你曾听过任何人对假期感到过敏的吗？那其实并非是真的过敏症，但放假的确可能会使某些人感到身体不舒服。这称为休闲病，直到最近 20 年左右才开始有人研究它。休闲病发生的情况如下：你万事皆备要去度假，当假期一开始，你立刻就生病了。研究者发现休闲病在现今并非罕见。问题是它为何会发生？

这种情况有点神秘。然而，有几种可能的解释。理论之一是当人们把重心都放在工作上，他们就没空生病，身体会忽视问题，直到他们休息为止。另一种可能是极度忙碌实际上会让人较为健康，因为当人们不断工作时，他们会变得较为强壮而比较不会生病。当极度努力工作的人们去度假，他们的身体会放松下来，并且不再如往常般对抗疾病。就另一方面来说，人们得到休闲病也可能是因为他们无法适应放假。当人们沉迷于工作，他们可能会忘了如何放松，突然放假而产生的压力使得他们感到身体不适。然而，对于我们大多数人来说，放假是种乐趣，休闲病是我们无须担心的问题。

答案：  1.  B   2.  C   3.  C   4.  A   5.  C

   6.  A   7.  D

工作狂（workaholic）指过度投入甚至沉迷于工作的人。工作狂不一定喜欢工作，可能只是强迫性地感到需要工作。虽然这个称呼通常带有贬低的色彩，但有时也被用来形容某人对工作高度投入，而且这里的『工作』可以泛指某些兴趣或爱好，如体育或音乐等等。

在日本以成语『灭私奉公』来描述工作狂现象。泛指彻底牺牲私人的时间，全心全力为职场上的工作奉献一生。对于已婚者，可能因此导致和家人关系的疏远，而导致离婚。此外，对于健康可能会有负面的影响，甚至发生过劳死。（数据源：维基百科）