The Paper Chase
1. "Running a house is lot like running a business." says Stephanie Denton, a professional organizer based in Cincinnati, Ohio, who specializes in both residential and commercial paperwork and record keeping. To get a successful grip on organizing documents, bills, and other materials, Denton suggests the following tips:
2. Create a space in which you can always do your paperwork. This is perhaps the most important element of a successful system. If you can't devote an entire desk to the task, at least invest in a rolling file cart to store active paperwork and a two-drawer file cabinet for family records. Store the rolling file cart wherever it is most convenient and comfortable to do your work. whether that is the kitchen, office, or family room.
3. When in doubt, throw it out, the first step to implementing a workable filling system is to eliminate paper you don't use, don't need, or that you could easily access again elsewhere. Throw out duplicate statements, old catalogs, and all of the coupons, mailings, or offerings you'll never have an opportunity to use or even read.
4. Set aside two days a month to pay bills, if a monthly due date doesn't fit into your cycle, call up the creditor and suggest a more convenient date, keep two manila folders at the front of your system for current bills — one to correspond with each bill-paying day — and file all incoming bills. Keep a list in the front of each folder of what needs to be paid in case the invoice never arrives or gets misplaces.
5. Think of your filling system not as a rigid tool, but as a living, breathing system that can accommodate your changing needs. A good filling system is both mentally and physically flexible, everyone's needs are different, says Denton, but when devising a filling system, ask yourself: "Where would I look for this?" Create main headings for your filling system, such as investments, Taxes, Children, and so forth, and file individual folders under the main headings. Never overstuff your files.
词汇：
paperwork 文书工作 incoming 将要或正要进来的
overstuff 把……塞得过满 creditor 债权人
statement 账目 misplace 把……放错地方
duplicate 复制的 invoice 发票
correspond 与……一致、和……和谐或相配
mailing 邮件 heading 标题 rigid 呆板的，僵硬的
注释：
1.running a house：打理一所房子。run在这里是“管理”的意思。又如：He's been running a testaurant since he left school
2.base…in…：在……为……设立基础、提供基础。又如：They based the new company in Portland
3.get a grip on：抓住，控制，掌握。又如：getting a grip on the new technique
4.family room：家庭游艺室，指用于家庭成员娱乐的房间
5.manila folders：马尼拉折叠夹
6.in case：万一。又如：Take a hat with you in case the sun is very hot.
词汇：
paperwork 文书工作 incoming 将要或正要进来的
overstuff 把……塞得过满 creditor 债权人
statement 账目 misplace 把……放错地方
duplicate 复制的 invoice 发票
correspond 与……一致、和……和谐或相配
mailing 邮件 heading 标题 rigid 呆板的，僵硬的
注释：
1.running a house：打理一所房子。run在这里是“管理”的意思。又如：He's been running a testaurant since he left school
2.base…in…：在……为……设立基础、提供基础。又如：They based the new company in Portland
3.get a grip on：抓住，控制，掌握。又如：getting a grip on the new technique
4.family room：家庭游艺室，指用于家庭成员娱乐的房间
5.manila folders：马尼拉折叠夹
6.in case：万一。又如：Take a hat with you in case the sun is very hot.
答案与题解：
1.A 这段的第一句是主题句，讲的是要为整理文件找到工作空间。
2.E 这段谈及的是，没有用的文件如各种复件、旧索引、优待券等，要及时扔掉。
3.F 这一段讲的是如何处理账单。
4.C 这段讲的是一个好的档案系统应具备的两个条件：既要灵活又要调理清晰。
5. B Stephanie Denton非常擅长整理档案，所以B是答案。虽然F在语法上讲得过去，但优待券不是可进行投资的东西，所以也就不存在是否擅长做此事的问题。
6. C 文中提到，档案车放在什么地方都可以，前提是使用方便。
7. A 文章说，优待券没什么用，所以应该扔掉。
8. D 文章的最后一段谈到，好的档案系统要有心理和身体两个方面的灵活性，接下去又说，每个人的需要都是不同的。所以答案是D。
译文：文件整理
Stephanie Denton是俄亥俄州辛辛那提地区的职业筹划人，专门负责居民和商业部分的文书和 记录工作。他说，“打理房子更像做生意”。如何成功地组织文件、账单和其他材料，Denton提供 了如下建议：
创造一个可以一直做文书工作的空间。这或许是一个成功机制的最重要的部分。如果你没有 整张桌子的话，至少要有一个可以移动的小车来储存那些经常使用的文书，还要有一个带两个抽 屉的柜子来存放家庭记录。把这个可移动的小车放在你工作最方便、最舒适的地方，无论是厨房、 办公室还是家庭游艺室。
当有怀疑的时候，就把它扔出来。建立一个可行的档案系统，首先要把那些你不用、不需要 或者你可以在其他地方轻易得到的文件扔掉。扔掉那些复件、旧索引和所有你永远不会有机会使 用甚至阅读的优待券、邮件和礼券。
每个月留出两天时间付账单。如果每个月的结账日期不适合你，打电话给你的债权人并建议 换一个更方便的日期。建立一个与每个结账日相对应的账单系统，在你当前的账单系统前放两个 马尼拉折叠夹来整理所有进来的账单。在每个需要付账的文件夹前列一个清单以防发票没到或者 放错了地方。
你的档案系统不是一个严格的工具，而是一个活生生的、能够呼吸的、能适应你不断变化需 要的系统。一个好的档案系统要有心理和身体两个方面的灵活性。Denton说，每个人的需要都是 不同的，但是在设计档案系统前问问自己，“我要到哪儿去找它呢?”为你的档案系统加上主要的 标题，比如投资、税务、孩子等，然后将文件夹分类放在标题下。不要把你的文件夹塞得过满。
