人生中难免会遇到各种磕磕绊绊，然而，身处逆境时能够从容应对十分重要。如何衡量一个人的适应力？怎样可以更好地面对挫折？听 “随身英语” 节目围绕这一话题展开讨论。

词汇：resilience 适应力

We’ve all heard of IQ, and terms like EQ, which relates to your emotional intelligence, are commonly used. But have you heard of AQ? AQ stands for adversity quotient and measures your ability to deal with the ups and downs of life. Being able to handle these rough patches we all go through is not only important in our personal lives but in our professional lives too. So how can we learn to be more resilient?

Adverse situations can take us by surprise and shock us. In the workplace, it could be in the form of redundancies, the company we work for going under or being restructured, or even missing out on a promotion. Failed friendships and relationships, financial hard times and even bereavements are things that can occur outside of work. AQ measures our ability to withstand the shocks when life throws curveballs at us – how likely we are to crumble or thrive in these situations. It can be used to predict our attitudes, perseverance, longevity, and the way we learn from changes in environment. In short, our resilience when there is a drastic change.

Luckily, there are some steps you can take to help you be more resilient and adaptable in the face of adversity, according to Dr Shahram Heshmat, professor of health economics at the University of Illinois. First, try and find a meaningful goal. Resilient people often have an aim and are able to concentrate more on a desired outcome, seeing negative situations as a bump in the road on the way to achieving their goal. Learning to relax and regulate your emotions is another key step – one way to help you destress is by practising breathing exercises. Likewise, dwelling on things and letting them get to you can cause you to be stressed. See difficulties more as an opportunity to learn and grow emotionally. Finally, make sure you have a good social support network. Being able to talk with someone about the challenges we face can help.

Things happen in life we can’t prevent – and sometimes they aren’t pleasant. But, taking a few steps to be more resilient can make them a little easier to get through.

词汇表

adversity 逆境，不幸
ups and downs 起起伏伏，波折
handle 应对，处理
rough patch 磕磕绊绊，困难时期
take someone by surprise 使某人措手不及
redundancy 裁员
bereavement 亲友丧亡
withstand 经受，承受
curveball 突如其来的难题
crumble 崩溃
thrive 出色应对（困难）
perseverance 坚持不懈
longevity 此处指持续的时长
drastic （变化）巨大的
resilient 适应力强的
adaptable 可适应变化的
in the face of 面对（困难）仍…
meaningful 有意义的
a bump in the road 一次坎坷、挫折
dwell on 念念不忘，耿耿于怀
get to someone 使某人难受
support network 提供支持的关系网络

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What does AQ stand for?

2. What adversities are mentioned that may occur in the workplace?

3. What adversities are mentioned that may occur in our personal lives?

4. Why does having a meaningful goal help in adverse situations?

5. What can you learn to help you destress?

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Can you _______ this problem? Let me know if you need any help!

in the face of                 redundancies               handle                      drastic

2. I hope she doesn’t _______ under the pressure. She has a lot of work to do.

handle                          crumble                         in the face of            ups and downs

3. Stop _______ on the past and start thinking about the future.

in the face of                drastic                           dwelling                    get to   

4. Due to financial restructuring, there will be a number of _______.

get to                            redundancies                handle                      drastic

5. I didn’t mean to throw you a _______ with that question. Sorry.

curveball                      redundancies                 drastic                      in the face of

答案

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。  

1. What does AQ stand for?
AQ stands for adversity quotient and measures your ability to deal with the ups and downs of life.

2. What adversities are mentioned that may occur in the workplace?
In the workplace, adverse situations could be in the form of redundancies, the company we work for going under or being restructured, or even missing out on a promotion.

3. What adversities are mentioned that may occur in our personal lives?
Failed friendships and relationships, financial hard times and even bereavements are adverse situations that can occur outside of work.

4. Why does having a meaningful goal help in adverse situations?
Resilient people often have an aim and are able concentrate more on a desired outcome.

5. What can you learn to help you destress?
Learning to relax and regulate your emotions is a key step – one way to help you destress is by practising breathing exercises.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Can you handle this problem? Let me know if you need any help!

2. I hope she doesn’t crumble under the pressure. She has a lot of work to do.

3. Stop dwelling on the past and start thinking about the future.

4. Due to financial restructuring, there will be a number of redundancies.

5. I didn’t mean to throw you a curveball with that question. Sorry.