美文晨读：你是否已经沉迷网络

【内容概述】

网络成瘾是一种相对具有争议性的病症。虽然沉迷网络没有被所有医生认定为是一种疾病，但是很多人都发现自己在生活中有过度使用网络的情况。通过本文的学习，你可以发现自己是否已经是网络沉迷者，或者说患有“网络成瘾症”。毕竟，再有用的东西都可能是很危险的。

【美文赏读】

Internet addiction[1] is a relatively new and controversial disorder(有争议的病症). Though it is still not recognized as a specific disorder by all doctors, many people see the signs of Internet overuse in their lives and trying to fight it.

Most compulsive（强迫性的、成性的） computer users are hooked[2] on a few specific activities: online buying or gambling, online relationships (including social networking社交网站), computer games, and compulsive data searching. These are activities that many of us often perform. Some people, however, find them hard to stop. Their online activities may become more important than their "real-life" activities. They may allow relationships to die[3]because they only spend time with Internet friends. They may be unable to stop playing video games and ignore chores[4] or family time. People often turn to the Internet for stress relief[5], or to get away from their problems for a few minutes. However, they may become too dependent on escaping into the Internet. The Internet becomes a destructive force in their lives.

To check for possible Internet addition or compulsion(强迫), doctors ask a few key questions. They ask about whether spending time online is affecting your school or work performance. They ask if family or friends complain about your Internet use and if you form more new relationships online than offline. They ask if you worry that life without the Internet would be useless and boring, if you often stay online longer than you intended[6], or if you lie about how long you've been in front of the computer.

We use the Internet so much that an unhealthy addiction can be hard to spot[7]. Think carefully about how you use the Internet. Even useful tools can be dangerous.

【精品注释】

[1] addiction是名词，词义是“沉溺，瘾”，既可以做可数名词，也可以做不可数名词使用。另外addiction的同根词还有“addict”，词义为“有瘾的人、沉迷于某事物的人”，如：She is a TV addict(她是个电视迷)；另外形容词addicted也是非常常用的一个词，有短语“become/be/get addicted to”表示“沉迷于某事物”。

[2] hook本身的意思是“钩住”，“be hooked on sb./sth.”是一个常见的俚语，意思是“爱上、迷恋上某人（某事物）”。

[3] die应该是学习者非常熟悉的一个简单词汇，这里不是表示“死”，而是做比喻的含义“消失、消亡”。这句话的意思是：他们可能因为只花时间跟网友相处而断了原本的人际关系。

[4] chore的意思是“日常杂活”，是很实用的一个名词，也可以指令人讨厌的人或事物。如：I find teaching a chore. 我发现教书很烦人。

[5] stress relief的意思是缓解压力，relief的基本词义是“减轻、解除”，后面常接介词from，如：Your words bring me relief from anxiety. 你的话让我不那么焦虑了。relief 的动词形式是relieve，如：These pills will relieve your discomfort. 这些药物会让你解除不适感。

[6] intend是高中英语中非常重要的一个词汇，基本词义是“打算，计划”。这句话是一个比较状语从句，意思是“你上网时间是不是经常比你原先估计的要长？”要详细学习intend这个词汇，请参见intend的用法。

[7] spot的意思是“发现、找到、认出”，一般指从许多的人和事物中找到。例如：I am afraid I can't spot you in the crowd. 我恐怕无法从人群中找到你。