你最不喜欢一周中的哪一天？哪一天最难熬？很多人的回答可能都是这样的 “星期一”。一周的开始意味着快乐的周末已经结束，新一周的工作学习也已经展开。本文围绕 “什么让星期一变得郁闷” 以及这种感觉是否只存在于我们的脑海里展开讨论。
词汇：emotion 情感
Ask most people which day of the week they dread the most and the answer is likely to be Monday. The first day of the week can make us grouchy and depressed, which is why the feeling is described as the Monday Blues. But what is it exactly that makes us feel down and does it affect everyone?
问大多数人一周中最害怕哪一天，答案很可能是星期一。一周的第一天会让我们不高兴、沮丧，这就是为什么这种感觉被称为“星期一忧郁”。但究竟是什么让我们感到沮丧，它会影响每个人吗?
Apparently, the most depressing day of the year is the third Monday in January, when it’s cold and dark outside. This day was nicknamed ‘Blue Monday’ by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2004. He came up with it after a holiday company asked him for a ‘scientific formula’ for the January blues.
显然，一年中最令人沮丧的一天是一月的第三个星期一，此时外面又冷又黑。2004年，心理学家克里夫·阿诺尔将这一天戏称为“蓝色星期一”。他是在一家度假公司向他咨询一月抑郁症的“科学配方”后想出这个主意的。
Even if there was little science behind the formula, it’s probably true that the sound of our alarm clock on any Monday morning signals the dawning of a new week and possibly the end of our weekend of fun. Research shows our Monday mood can be based on a direct comparison to the day before. It’s what psychologists call an emotional shift, and no other part of the week has a transition like it.
即使这个公式背后没有什么科学依据，但我们周一早上的闹钟声可能预示着新的一周的开始，也可能预示着我们周末快乐地结束。研究表明，我们周一的情绪可以建立在与前一天的直接比较之上。这就是心理学家所说的情绪转变，一周中没有其他时间会有这样的情绪转变。
Monday means the end of weekend lie-ins – it’s back to the routine and the realisation that there are five days ahead of the nine-to-five, and according to the BBC Bitesize website “If you can’t stand your job then the Monday blues can be very real.” And your miserable Monday is followed by trying Tuesday – the most popular day for sending out job applications.
周一意味着周末睡懒觉的结束——人们又回到了日常生活，意识到还有五天就是朝九晚五的日子。根据BBC Bitesize网站的说法，“如果你无法忍受你的工作，那么周一忧郁症可能会非常真实。”痛苦的周一之后是努力的周二——发送求职申请最受欢迎的一天。
But is Monday as bad as we like to think it is? Feeling a bit low shouldn’t be confused with more serious depression, caused by other factors. Writing for the BBC, author and presenter Claudia Hammond, argues that this low feeling might be a myth. She says: “There is a strong cultural idea that we don’t like Mondays.” She mentions an Australian study in 2008 about how people reflected on their mood and found the day that scored the lowest was in fact Wednesdays. So, when Monday comes, maybe we should give it a second chance!
但是周一真的像我们想象的那么糟糕吗?感觉有点低落不应该与其他因素引起的更严重的抑郁相混淆。为BBC撰稿的作家兼主持人克劳迪娅•哈蒙德认为，这种低落的感觉可能是一个神话。她说:“我们有一种强烈的文化观念，认为我们不喜欢周一。”她提到了2008年澳大利亚的一项关于人们如何反思自己情绪的研究，发现得分最低的一天实际上是周三。所以，当周一到来的时候，我们应该给它第二次机会!
词汇表dread 担忧，害怕grouchy 满腹牢骚的，不高兴的depressed 沮丧的Monday blues 星期一忧郁症down 情绪低落的，不高兴的Blue Monday “蓝色星期一”，忧愁的星期一。psychologist 心理学家mood 心情，情绪an emotional shift 情绪的转变realisation 意识到miserable 苦不堪言的trying 令人厌烦的low 情绪低落的，消沉的depression 抑郁，忧愁
reflect 认真思考，反思
测验与练习1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. When is, allegedly, the most depressing day of the year?
2. According to the article, what can you do at weekends that you can’t do on a Monday?
3. True or false? Monday is the most popular day for sending out job application forms.
4. According to an Australian study, which day was considered to be the worst day of the week?
5. Between which two days is there often the biggest ‘emotional shift’?
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. If there’s one thing I _______ the most, it’s end of term exams!
miserable，grouchy ，down ，dread
2. I had a very _______ day at work today.
realisation ，trying ，dawning， reflected
3. I noticed _______ in my son, once he started going to school.
an emotion ，an emotional shift， a realisation， miserable
4. The weather has been _______. It hasn’t stopped raining all week.
miserable， down， depressed， low
5. Despite the show’s terrible ratings, it deserves _______ to see it can attract a bigger audience.
trying，down， a second chance， reflect
答案1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. When is allegedly, the most depressing day of the year?Apparently, the most depressing day of the year is the third Monday in January.
2. According to the article, what can you do at weekends that you can’t do on a Monday?Monday means the end of weekend lie-ins.
3. True or false? Monday is the most popular day for sending out job application forms.False. Tuesday is the most popular day for sending out job applications.
4. According to an Australian study, which day was considered to be the worst day of the week?An Australian study in 2008 about how people reflected on their mood found the day that scored the lowest was Wednesdays.
5. Between which two days is there often the biggest ‘emotional shift’?
The biggest emotional shift is between Sunday and Monday – no other part of the week has a transition like it.
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. If there’s one thing I dread the most, it’s end of term exams!
2. I had a very trying day at work today.
3. I noticed an emotional shift in my son, once he started going to school.
4. The weather has been miserable. It hasn’t stopped raining all week.
5. Despite the show’s terrible ratings, it deserves a second chance to see it can attract a bigger audience.
,
