141. While the inclination to procrastinate is common , one must fully consider the detrimental impact of unnecessary delays .

　　雖然拖延的傾向是普遍的，但是人們應(yīng)該充分考慮到不必要的延誤造成的有害影響。

　　142. The tendency to take things for granted is understandable , but the need for one to rationally evaluate the circumstances of any situation is absolutely essential .

　　想當(dāng)然的傾向是可以理解的，但是，理智地估計任何情形的情況是完全必需的。

　　143. Most people are under the illusion that a college degree guarantees success . There is no such guarantee without hard work .

　　許多人錯誤地認(rèn)為大學(xué)學(xué)位能保證成功。不努力工作就沒有這樣的保證。

　　144. Some stubbornly hold to the correctness of traditional practices , but in so doing they seem to totally ignore the fact that progress depends on change .

　　一些人固執(zhí)地堅(jiān)持傳統(tǒng)做法的正確性，但是，他們這么做，似乎完全忽視了進(jìn)步依靠變化的事實(shí)。

　　145. Generally speaking , previous parliamentary policy debates ignored the relevance of transparency .

　　總的來說，以前議會中針對政策的辯論忽視了透明度的重要性。

　　146. A precise definition of poverty is actually very difficult to determine . Where does one draw the line between those who are poor and those who are not ?

　　對貧困的精確定義實(shí)際上是很難的。如何在貧窮和非貧窮的人之間劃一條界限呢?

　　147. Admittedly , bribery and corruption are endemic to our political and economic systems , but it doesn't necessarily follow that all politicians and business people resort to illicit behavior .

　　誠然，賄賂和腐敗在我們的政治和經(jīng)濟(jì)系統(tǒng)中很流行，但這并不是說所有的政府官員和商界人士都采取違法行為。

　　148. There's little doubt that a third World War is avoidable , but it is highly unlikely that regional conflicts will disappear in the foreseeable future .

　　毫無疑問，第三次世界大戰(zhàn)是可以避免的，但是，在可預(yù)見的將來地區(qū)沖突消失是非常不可能的。

　　149. Some people assume that investing in stock is a safe pursuit , but their assumption fails to hold water when considering the substantial risk involved .

　　有的人想當(dāng)然地認(rèn)為投資股票是有把握的事情，但是，考慮到涉及的巨大風(fēng)險，他們的想當(dāng)然就說不通了。

　　150. Some people have called for accelerated across-the-board changes . Their approach quite frankly ignores the need for gradual but effective changes .

　　一些人要求更快速的全盤改變。他們的做法的確忽略了漸進(jìn)而有效的改變的必要性。

　　151. There is undoubtedly an element of truth in assertions that capital punishment is necessary , but proponents seem to ignore the fact that the practice has failed to deter heinous crimes .

　　毫無疑問，主張極刑的必要性有正確的成分，但是，支持者似乎忽略了這種做法不能阻止令人發(fā)指的罪行這一事實(shí)。

　　152. Many people assume that the extinction of a plant or animal species is of little consequence . Careful examination , however , reveals that the extinction of any one species disrupts the food chain , and the loss of a plant species leads to the disappearance of a key ingredient which might yield a cure for cancer .

　　許多人想當(dāng)然地認(rèn)為一種植物或動物的滅絕產(chǎn)生的后果很小。然而，仔細(xì)的考察揭示出任何一個物種的滅絕會破壞食物鏈，一種植物的消失造成有可能生成治療癌癥的藥物的關(guān)鍵成分的缺失。

　　153. At first glance , the characteristics of Bugs BUnny seem comical . However , a closer examination reveals the cartoon character never creates a problem , and instead simply hopes for quiet and peaceful life . This suggests that cartoons most often teach children the difference between good and evil .

　　乍一看，流氓兔的性格似乎滑稽。然而，仔細(xì)觀察發(fā)現(xiàn)這個卡通人物從不制造麻煩，相反，它只希望過安靜平和的生活。這說明卡通在大多數(shù)情況下教授給兒童好與壞之間的區(qū)別。

　　154. Logically , calls for a New World Order sound valid , and I whole-heartedly agree with some points , but the absurdity arises when considering that the world's 200-odd nations have diverse agendas when it comes to development and diplomacy .

　　從邏輯而言，要求形成新的世界秩序聽似正確，而且我真心實(shí)意地同意一些觀點(diǎn)，但是，考慮到世界上二百余個國家在發(fā)展和外交上有不同的議事日程，這種要求就顯得荒謬了。

　　155. In spite of claims to the contrary , it is common knowledge that corporal punishment most often has the exact opposite affect intended .

　　盡管有相反的主張，但是大家都知道體法在多數(shù)情況下產(chǎn)生適得其反的效果。

　　156. We were brought up to believe that the role of a man was to provide and the role of a woman was to care for the household and family . Today , however , role reversal is becoming increasingly commonplace .

　　我們從小就相信男人的角色市提供生活所需，女人的角色是照顧家庭和子女。然而，今天，角色的互換變得越來越普遍。

　　157. Some people tend to tenaciously cling to the misguided concept of racial superiority . Their persistence in doing so , however , does readily reveal the inferior mentality and social incompatibility of certain human beings .

　　一些人頑強(qiáng)地堅(jiān)持種族優(yōu)越性的錯誤觀點(diǎn)。然而，他們堅(jiān)持這樣做正揭示了某些人自卑的心理和社會對立性。

　　158. Some people claim the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) far exceeds that of Western-style pharmaceuticals . More often than not , however , the exact opposite is true .

　　有的人聲稱中藥的功效遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)好于西藥。但是，通常情況下，事實(shí)正好相反。

　　159. Workers commonly complain that causes for labor disputes rest solely on the shoulders of management . Quite likely the opposite is true .

　　工人經(jīng)常抱怨勞資糾紛的責(zé)任完全在管理者的肩上。很可能正好相反。

　　160. There are those who claim that competition brings out the best in people . Others contend it simply forces one person to prove he/she is better than another . Advocates vociferously support one position or the other . I suggest the former proposition bears greater relevance than the latter .

　　有些人認(rèn)為競爭促使人們發(fā)揮出最優(yōu)秀的東西。另一些人認(rèn)為它只是強(qiáng)迫一個人證明他/她比別人更優(yōu)秀。提倡者叫囂著支持其中的一個立場。我認(rèn)為前一個立場比后一個立場更恰當(dāng)。