Unit 3 Leisure Activities
Passage A Clubs and Societies
Parties, drinking, eating - oh, and working - all help pass the time, but deep down there's something you're really eager to find, but you can't quite put your finger on. What you have been looking for, my friend, is the chance to throw yourself into the world of University Societies, and discover the huge range of activities which thrive in a city like Oxford.
Whether you want to pursue an existing interest or develop new ones, your first move should be to check out the bewilderingly large array of clubs at the OUSU Freshers' Fair. With your Freshers' Fair ticket, you can get your hands on a brand-new edition of the comprehensive guide to all things at Oxford. If you miss the Fair, don't despair: you can see what societies are offered in the Oxford Directory, a handbook issued to you in Freshers' Week. Take a while to browse through --- it's your one major chance to find out about what goes on in the University.
The degree to which people get involved in societies varies a great deal. Some totally immerse themselves in a club, hardly speaking to anyone who isn't a member of that group for the next three years and rising to become a leader of the organization. Others prefer to take a more eclectic approach, being members of several societies and taking part in whichever of their events seem interesting. Many people, perhaps foolishly, completely ignore University societies and just hang out with mates in college.
Societies offer a great chance to meet people from outside college, which, especially for arts students, is something it is sometimes difficult to do. But don't forget that most colleges2 have their own flourishing societies, which you may be able to join in your college during Freshers' Week. Music and drama are often popular and it is very easy to get some mates together and start something up. If you have ambitions to open up your new Shakespearian Rap Society3 to the whole University, you can register it with the University Proctors, who give out start-up grants and loans, among other benefits.
One of the downsides, especially with larger societies, is the hacking which takes place. 'Hack' is the negative term applied to those seeking advancement (usually to President) in whatever Club or Society, and some clubs such as the Oxford Union or the Guild Society tend to attract those with the spark of ambition more than others. When students suddenly remember their blank CVs5 which are supposed to secure them a highly paid job once they graduate, hackery is almost inevitable. Do not be afraid, though: the vast majority of students tend to avoid such self-seeking behaviour and get on with life.
With over 300 registered societies there really is something for everyone. Apart from the obvious political parties and sports clubs there are groups for all the main religions; societies interested in the society and culture of countries from China to Bulgaria, and UK regions from Scotland to Essex; charities for those interested in voluntary work, literature, music, drama and sci-fi; and a fair number of strange groups such as the LMH Pudding Society, the Oxford Stunt Factory and the Pooh Sticks Society. You won't get bored.
A篇 俱乐部和社团
聚会、饮酒、用饭--哦，还有工作--都让光阴流逝，但你内心深处确有一些很想查找的东西，却无法实现。你一直在寻觅的，我的朋友，确实是将你自己投身到大学社团中的机遇，去发觉各类各样的活动。这些集体在像牛津如此的城市里散发着勃勃生机。
不论你是想维持已有的爱好，仍是培育新的爱好，你第一应该到牛津大学学生会的新生集会上去看看那些令人眼花缭乱的俱乐部。手持一张新生集会的入场券，你就能够够取得一份崭新的关于牛津大学方方面面的综合指南。若是你错过了这场集会，别泄气，在新生周里发给你的牛津目录上，你将看到各类社团的介绍。你不妨稍作阅读--这可是你见地大学生活的重要机遇。
人们投身社团生活的程度各不相同。有的完全沉醉于一个俱乐部，在接下来的三年里几乎不跟非本俱乐部成员说话，直至成为该组织的领导者。其余的人更情愿选择灵活的方式，参加几个社团，参加凡是他们感爱好的活动。 还有许多人，或许有点笨，完全无视大学社团的存在，只是与大学里的伙伴们在一路打发时刻。
社团令人们有大量的机遇结识校园之外的人，专门关于文科学生来讲，这是难能宝贵的。可是别忘了，许多学院有自己兴盛的社团，你也能在新生周里加入这些社团。音乐和戏剧老是很受欢迎，有爱好的人聚在一路做点什么，也并非难事。若是你有心为学校新弄一个莎士比亚说唱社团，你能够向大学校监申请注册，还可取得启动资助、贷款及其他益处。
尤其是对大社团而言，其中的一个负面确实是学生的钻营。\钻营\指的是有些学生在俱乐部或社团里追求职位的提高（一般是要做主席），有些社团，比如牛津大学学生俱乐部或同业协会总能吸引那些比他人更有野心的人。当学生们突然想到他们空白的履历，想到履历将与他们以后可否找到一份高收入的工作紧密相关，想方设法往上爬就几乎是在所不免的了。尽管如此，也不用担忧：绝大多数学生不同意这种自我钻营的行为。他们能够从容的面对生活。
三百多个社团，对每一个人来讲，都应该能找到自己的位置。除一些偏向明显的政治聚会和体育俱乐部外，所有的要紧宗教都有自己的组织；有热衷于不同国家或地域的社会与文化的社团，从中国到保加利亚，和从苏格兰到埃塞克斯的英国各地域；有热衷于义工、文学、音乐、戏剧和科幻小说的协会；还有五花八门的独特组织，比如玛格丽特女子学院布丁协会，牛津特技协会，和普胡牌友协会。你会喜爱它们的。
Passage B A Well-Balanced Life
A well-balanced life is necessary to live in today's world. Without a well-balanced life a person can neither function properly nor develop into a well-rounded individual. Without some sort of balance in life people tend to be unfulfilled and unhappy.
I've experienced great stress in my study and work. And I've tried every means to adjust myself and relieve my stress. Finally I found a way out in my leisure time. Leisure time is very important and necessary for me. Without it I am sure I would go insane. I spend most of my extra time reading, listening to music, talking to my real life friends, or talking on the Internet with people I meet. I really enjoy going out into a quiet place and reading poetry or books by Walt Whitman and Robert Frost. If I did not make time for all of this I would not be able to handle everything else in life. Along with reading to relax, listening to music is very important to me. If I feel sad, I listen to slow songs, while if I am happy I like listening to fast songs. Music is the universal language and it can express different feelings. It can relate to the soul, or in fact I think it is the soul of feelings. My real life friends and my Internet friends are also part of my leisure and social time. Friends have always been important to me. They are the backbone in everything I do. The good friends that I have are always there for me in every situation I am in. Without them I would not have led a healthy, balanced life. Not so long ago I went through a short time of depression. I fell behind in all my work and stopped talking to my friends. After a week of acting this way, one of my good friends pulled me aside and invited me to go for a walk with her. We talked about what was going on in my life and she helped me to figure out what I wanted to do. I do not know what would have happened if she had not been there.
Many things add to having a well-balanced life. Stress can be a very dangerous and tiresome experience. It can lead to depression and unhappiness. But when it happens, you can do something other than wait, like talking to your friends or listening to music. Then you may not think you should have been so stressed and depressed.
A well-balanced life is important to maintain. Without some sort of balance it is hard to get by in everyday life. And the creative use of leisure time plays a vital role.
B篇 心态平稳
在今天的现实生活中，维持心态平稳十分必要。生活中心态失衡，既无法专门好地工作，心身也不能取得全面的进展。生活中有时心态失衡，人们就会感觉不知足，不愉快。
Unit3LeisureActivities课文翻译大学体验英语一
