【视频文本】

Breaking up is hard to do — especially if your lover lives far away. Do it graciously with these tips.
You Will NeedHonesty
Consideration
Civility

Step 1: Be honest敢于面对
End things as soon as you realize it’s over for you. Don’t let your partner go on thinking everything is fine just because you don’t have to face them any time soon.

Step 2: Consider the relationship's length感情的程度
Consider the length of the relationship. If it’s been less than a year, a telephone call may suffice. Longer than that, and the honorable thing is to tell them in person, if at all possible.

Don’t wait until their next visit to end things. They won’t appreciate that they invested time and money to get dumped.

Step 3: Weigh the circumstances考虑实际情况
Weigh the circumstances. If the relationship has been petering out on both sides for a while, there’s probably no need to make a big song and dance about it. You might even be able to start the conversation with a direct but kindly worded e-mail.

Texting the news is not appropriate under any circumstances.

Step 4: Follow traditional rules按照风俗习惯
Follow the same rules of civility that apply to a non-long-distance relationship: Don’t ditch them close to their birthday, Valentine’s Day, or the winter holidays.

Step 5: Have a clear phone connection打电话要清楚
If you’re breaking the news by phone, make sure you’re in a quiet place with good reception; a bad connection or dropped call will only add to the agony on both sides.

Step 6: Return their stuff归还对方的物品
Return their stuff, packing it with care. It’s the least you can do.

One study of long-distance and geographically close couples found that about 40 percent of people in either group eventually break up.

【重点词汇】

 song and dance
 n. .不着边际的废话;大事宣扬

  peter
 vi. 2.逐渐减少；逐渐减弱；慢慢消失
The road petered out into a dirt track.
大道延伸到一条泥土小径。
By midday their enthusiasm had petered out.
他们的热情到中午就烟消云散了。

civility
n. 1.礼貌,客气
He greeted us with civility.
他谦恭地同我们打了招呼。
2.礼仪,客套
We exchanged a few civilities.
我们相互寒暄了几句

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