I wonder if you realize just how many others share your problem. It is so common for people to distort the truth about themselves. Sometimes it's just an invented excuse when you're late for something or a pretence that you like someone you don't. These white lies don't usually harm anyone and indeed often help smooth over difficult social situations. They certainly are embarrassing if exposed but, on the whole, they're easily forgiven.
What you describe is a habit of lying that is more serious than this. I suspect that the lies you tell are ways of defending an idea you have of your own worth. People who have doubts about their own self-esteem often worry that others will judge them as harshly as they feel they deserve because of a secret idea that they are pretty worthless. In other words, they create a false picture of themselves, a picture of someone who meets all the expectations they think others have of them. And as you say, that causes problems—since they have to keep living up to that image. At the same time, they have to tell further lie to cover the stories they have already told. According to some authorities, this is particularly among women especially those who have few opportunities to develop an adequate sense of self-worth.
I suggest you give yourself one day during which you stick solidly to the truth about yourself. Give yourself a small treat at the end of the day if you have managed to keep it up. Wait a week and then try it again. Once you have achieved three separate lie-free days, see if you can cope with three days running, then extend it to a whole week. Don't make a promise to yourself that you will never lie again because almost certainly you will — it's too much to take on at once. Try to change things little by little, by setting yourself manageable targets. After a while, you'll wonder why you ever had the problem at all.
1.This passage is a reply to someone who_______.
A.keeps a habit of lying for vain reasons
B.works hard to meet others' expectations
C.does not know the truth about himself and is too sure of himself
D.does not know how to make a realistic plan for himself
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage？
A.White lies often cause embarrassment in social situations.
B.It is important for women to have an adequate sense of self-worth.
C.It takes a little time to get rid of your habit.
D.Take exercise like running if you are free and keep it up.
3.The expression "living up to" (Line 6, Para. 2) can best be replaced by_________.
A.growing up with B.living with C.seeking D.sticking to
4.In the last paragraph the writer implies that_______.
A.you will solve the problem with patience and a strong will
B.you must be hard on yourself to accomplish something
C.your problem lies in the fact that you hasten to make promises
D.you must set different targets at different stages of your life
5.The writer suggested that______.
A.you should promise yourself never to lie again
B.you should get rid of bad habit gradually
C.you can manage your lying target well
D.you can get rid of the bad habit in the interval of three days
长难例句分析
［长难例句］Sometimes it's just an invented excuse when you're late for something or a pretence that you like someone you don't.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是it's just an invented excuse... or a pretence。when引导的是时间状语。a pretence后面是that引导的同位语从句。
［参考译文］有时候这仅仅是当你迟到的时候编造理由或是假装喜欢一个其实并不喜欢的人。
［长难例句］People who have doubts about their own self-esteem often worry that others will judge them as harshly as they feel they deserve because of a secret idea that they are pretty worthless.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是People...worry that...because of...。people后面是who引导的定语从句，that从句在主句的谓语动词worry后面作宾语。在这个宾语从句中，as harshly as they feel they deserve作状语成分修饰动词judge。最后是由because of引导介词短语作原因状语。
［参考译文］那些怀疑自己尊严的人常担心他人会苛刻地评价他们，就像他们因心里认为自己一文不值而感到自己应得的那样。
［长难例句］Don't make a promise to yourself that you will never lie again because almost certainly you will — it's too much to take on at once.
［结构分析］本句是一个祈使句，主干是Don't make a promise...。that引导的是同位语从句，修饰a promise。because...will是原因状语成分；破折号后面是对这个原因进行进一步的解释。
［参考译文］不要对自己许诺不再说谎，因为无疑你会说谎——马上就付诸实施太难。
全文参考译文
我不知道你是否意识到，有着和你一样问题的人有多少。人们歪曲有关自己的事实是非常普遍的事情。有时候这只是当你迟到的时候编造理由或是假装喜欢一个事实上并不喜欢的人。这些善意的谎言通常不会伤害任何人，而且的确会有助于缓和一些难为人的社交处境。如果被揭穿，这些谎言当然很令人尴尬，不过一般来说，这些谎言轻易就会得到人们的原谅。
你所描述的是一种说谎的习惯，比起上面那种情况要严重得多。我怀疑你说的谎是捍卫自己价值观的方式。那些怀疑自己尊严的人常担心别人会苛刻地评价他们，就像他们因心里认为自己一文不值而感到自己应得的那样。换句话说，他们对自己的认识是错误的。他们认为自己是一个能够满足他人所有期望的人。就像你所说的，这会引发问题——因为他们必须不负众望。同时，他们还要说更多的谎来圆说过的谎。一些专家认为这种情况在女性当中极其普遍，尤其是那些没有机会充分认识自身价值的女性。
我建议你给自己一天的时间，在这一天内你完全坚持做真正的自己。若你能够坚持到底，在一天结束时给自己一个小小的奖励。待下一周再尝试一次。一旦你可以成功地在这单独三天里不说谎，看看你是否能够连续三天做到这一点，接下来把它延长到一个星期。不要对自己许诺不再说谎，因为无疑你会说谎——马上就付诸实施太难。通过树立可达到的目标，一点一滴地努力改变情况。一阵子之后，你就会纳闷为什么你曾经有过这种问题。
题目答案与解析
1.本篇文章是对什么人的回应？
A.出于虚荣而把撒谎当做习惯的人。 B.努力工作以达到别人期望的人。
C.不了解自己，自视过高的人。 D.不知道如何为自己制定现实计划的人。
【答案】A
【解析】综观全文，这是一篇劝人改变习惯、不再说谎的文章。从文章的第二段可知，这部分着重解释了说谎的种种原因，其中很多原因都与虚荣（vain）有关。因此，文章是给因为虚荣而有说谎习惯的人写的。因此A项为正确答案。
2.按照本篇文章，以下各项叙述中哪项是正确的？
A.善意的谎言通常会导致难为人的社交处境。
B.对女性来说，对自我价值有足够的认识是很重要的。
C.改掉习惯要花一点时间。
D.空闲时间进行跑步之类的锻炼并且坚持下去。
【答案】B
【解析】本题的依据是文章第二段的最后一句话According to some authorities，this is particularly among women especially those who have few opportunities to develop an adequate sense of self-worth，从中可知B项是正确答案。
3.“living up to”（第二段第六行）用_______代替最为适宜？
A.和……一起成长 B.和……一起生活 C.寻找 D.相符
【答案】D
【解析】本题中，living up to的意思是“符合”，与D项意思一致。因此D项为正确答案。
4.在文章最后一段，作者暗示_________。
A.有耐心和坚强的意志，就能解决问题 B.如果要完成事情必须坚强
C.你的问题在于许诺太快 D.你必须在生命的不同阶段定下不同的目标
【答案】A
【解析】本题可参照文章最后一段的最后两句话，从中可以推知，要改变说谎的习惯需要时间、耐心和意志。因此A项是正确答案。
5.作者建议______。
A.你可以跟自己许愿说不再撒谎 B.你可以逐步克服坏毛病
C.你可以很好地管理撒谎目标 D.你可以以三天为周期去克服坏习惯
【答案】B
【解析】在文章的最后一段中可以看出，作者建议对方要逐渐改掉坏毛病，不要急功近利。
