每个人的心中都有会藏有一个梦,因为有了它,我们的人生才会完整,才会更精彩,而我们总有一个开始的地方——那就是校园。
我们为学习而来
We’re All Here to Learn
佚名 / Anonymous
“16,” I said. I have forgotten the math question my second-grade teacher, Joyce Cooper, asked that day, but I will never forget my answer. As soon as the number left my mouth, the whole class at Smallwood Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia, started laughing. I felt like the stupidest person in the world.
Mrs. Cooper fixed them with a stern look. Then she said, “We’re all here to learn.”
Another time, Mrs. Cooper asked us to write a report about what we hoped to do with our lives. I wrote, “I want to be a teacher like Mrs. Cooper.”
She wrote on my report, “You would make an outstanding teacher because you are determined and you try hard.” I was to carry those words in my heart for the next 27 years.
After I graduated from high school in 1976, I married a wonderful man, Ben, a mechanic. Before long, Latonya was born.
We needed every dime just to get by. College and teaching was out of the question. I did, however, wind up with a job in a school—as a janitor’s assistant. I cleaned 17 classrooms at Larrymore Elmentary School each day, including Mrs. Cooper’s. She had transferred to Larrymore after Smallwood closed down.
I would tell Mrs. Cooper that I still wanted to teach, and she would repeat the words she had written on my report years earlier. But bills always seemed to get in the way.
Then one day in 1986 I thought of my dream, of how badly I wanted to help children. But to do that I needed to arrive in the mornings as a teacher—not in the afternoons to mop up.
I talked it over with Ben and Latonya, and it was settled: I would enroll at Old Dominion University. For 7 years I attended classes in the mornings before work. When I got home from work, I studied. On days I had no classes to attend, I worked as a teaching assistant for Mrs. Cooper.
Sometimes I wondered whether I had the strength to make it. When I got my first failing grade, I talked about quitting. My younger sister Helen refused to hear it. “You want to be a teacher, ” she said. “If you stop, you’ll never reach your dream.”
Helen knew about not giving up—she’d been fighting diabetes. When either of us got down, she would say, “You’re going to make it. We’re going to make it.”
In 1987, Helen, only 24, died of kidney failure related to diabetes. It was up to me to make it for both of us.
On May 8, 1993, my dream day arrived—graduation. Getting my college degree and state teaching license officially qualified me to be a teacher.
I interviewed with 3 schools. At Coleman Place Elementary School, principal Jeanne Tomlinson said, “Your face looks so familiar.” She had worked at Larrymore more than 10 years earlier. I had cleaned her room, and she remembered me.
Still, I had no concrete offers. The call came when I had just signed my 18th contract as a janitor’s assistant. Coleman Place had a job for me teaching fifth grade.
Not long after I started, something happened that brought the past rushing back. I had written a sentence full of grammatical errors on the blackboard. Then I asked students to come and correct the mistakes.
One girl got halfway through, became confused and stopped. As the other children laughed, tears rolled down her cheeks. I gave her a hug and told her to get a drink of water. Then, remembering Mrs. Cooper, I fixed the rest of the class with a firm look. “We’re all here to learn,” I said.
“16。”我答道。那天,二年级的老师乔伊斯?库珀问的数学题是什么,我早已忘了,但我依然记得自己当时的回答。我刚说出那个数字,弗吉尼亚州诺福克市斯莫尔伍德小学的全班同学便开始哄堂大笑。我感觉世界上没有比我更笨的人了。
库珀夫人用严肃的目光制止了他们,并说:“我们都是为了学习才来这儿的。”
还有一次,库珀夫人让我们写一篇有关未来理想的文章。我写道:“我想成为像库珀夫人那样的老师。”
她给我的评语是:“你坚定而勤奋,一定会成为一名出色的教师。”接下来的27年,我一直将这些话珍藏在心里。
1976年高中毕业后,我与一个好男人结婚了。他叫本,是个机械师。没多久,我们的孩子拉托尼亚出生了。
我们的生活很拮据,上大学和教书这些就更谈不上了。但是,我在学校找了一份门房助理的工作。每天我要打扫拉里莫尔小学的17间教室,库珀夫人的教室也包含在内。斯莫尔伍德小学关闭后,她来到了这所学校。
我告诉她,我仍然渴望教书,而她一直重复着多年前写给我的那句话,然而家里的账单总是没完没了。
1986 年的一天,我一直在思考着我的梦想,考虑着我多么想帮助孩子们。要想那样,我就必须以老师的身份早上去学校,而不是下午去拖地。
我跟本和拉托尼亚商量了此事,问题是这样解决的:我可以去上成人自治大学。七年来,我早上上班前去上课,下班后学习。没课的时候,我就为库珀夫人做助教。
有时,我很惊讶自己是如何做到的。第一次成绩不合格时,我想放弃。但妹妹海伦讨厌我这么说。“你想当一名教师,”她说,“如果你现在气馁了,就永远无法实现自己的梦想。”
她很清楚永不放弃的意义——她正在与糖尿病作斗争。无论我们谁泄气了,她总会说:“你一定能做到,我们一定能做到的。”
1987年,年仅24岁的海伦因糖尿病引发的肾衰竭去世了。现在,只有我去完成我们共同的愿望了。
1993年5月8日,圆梦的日子到来了——我毕业了。我获得的大学学位和教学许可证,让我有了执教的正式资格。
我去了三所学校面试。科尔曼普莱斯小学的校长珍妮?汤姆林森说:“你看上去很面熟。”十多年前,她曾在拉里莫尔小学工作过。她记得我,因为我曾打扫过她的房间。
但我仍没有得到具体的答复。当我签完门房助手的第18份工作合同时,电话响了。我被科尔曼普莱斯小学聘为五年级的教师。
执教没多久,我就遇到了一件事,仿佛让我回到了过去。我在黑板上写了一个语法错误的句子,然后让学生上前修改。
一个女孩做到一半时,有些迷茫,就停了下来。其他同学都笑了起来,她的眼泪顺着面颊滚落下来。我给了她一个拥抱,并让她去喝点儿水。此时,我想起了库珀夫人。于是,我严肃地看着班里的同学,然后说道:“我们都是为了学习而来的。”
记忆填空
1. We needed every dime____to get by. College and teaching was out of the____. I did, however, wind up with a job in a____—as a janitor’s assistant. I____17 classrooms at Larrymore Elmentary School_____ day, including Mrs. Cooper’s.
2. Not____ after I started, something happened that brought the____rushing back. I had written a sentence full of grammatical____ on the blackboard. Then I asked students to come and_____the mistakes.
佳句翻译
1. 你坚定而勤奋,一定会成为一名出色的教师。
译________________________________
2. 如果你现在气馁了,就永远无法实现自己的梦想。
译________________________________
3. 她很清楚永不放弃的意义——她正在与糖尿病作斗争。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. We needed every dime just to get by.
get by:通过;混过
造_______________________________
2. I did, however, wind up with a job in a school—as a janitor’s assistant.
wind up:卷紧(吊起,使紧张)
造_______________________________
如果梦想足够大
If the Dream Is Big Enough
辛西娅?斯图尔特?卡贝尔 / Cynthia Stewart Copier
I used to watch her from my kitchen window, she seemed so small as she muscled her way through the crowd of boys on the playground. The school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids as they played during recess. A sea of children, and yet to me, she stood out from them all.
I remember the first day I saw her playing basketball. I watched in wonder as she ran circles around the other kids. She managed to shoot jump shots just over their heads and into the net. The boys always tried to stop her but no one could.
I began to notice her at other times, basketball in hand, playing alone. She would practice dribbling and shooting over and over again, sometimes until dark. One day I asked her why she practiced so much. She looked directly in my eyes and without a moment of hesitation she said, “I want to go to college. The only way I can go is if I get a scholarship. I like basketball. I decided that if I were good enough, I would get a scholarship. I am going to play college basketball. I want to be the best. My daddy told me if the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.” Then she smiled and ran towards the court to recap the routine I had seen over and over again.
Well, I had to give it to her—she was determined. I watched her through those junior high years and into high school. Every week, she led her varsity team to victory.
One day in her senior year, I saw her sitting in the grass, head cradled in her arms. I walked across the street and sat down in the cool grass beside her. Quietly I asked what was wrong. “Oh, nothing,” came a soft reply. “I am just too short.” The coach told her that at 5'5" she would probably never get to play for a top ranked team—much less offered a scholarship—so she should stop dreaming about college.
She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat tighten as I sensed her disappointment. I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet.
She lifted her head from her hands and told me that her father said those coaches were wrong. They just did not understand the power of a dream. He told her that if she really wanted to play for a good college, if she truly wanted a scholarship, that nothing could stop her except one thing—her own attitude. He told her again, “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.”
The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California Championship game, she was seen by a college recruiter. She was indeed offered a scholarship, a full ride, to a Division I, NCAA women’s basketball team. She was going to get the college education that she had dreamed of and worked toward for all those years.
It’s true: if the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.
透过厨房的窗户,我经常看见她穿梭于操场上,挤在一群男孩子中间,显得格外瘦小。学校就在我家街对面,课间休息时,我经常能看见孩子们在操场上打球。在很多孩子中,我总觉得,她与众不同。
我还记得第一天看到她打篮球的情景,看着她在其他孩子身边兜来转去,我感到非常惊奇。她总是设法在他们头顶跳投,使球命中篮筐。那些男孩子拼命阻止,但没人做得到。
在其他的时间我也注意到她,她一个人打篮球,反复地练习运球和投篮,有时一直练到天黑。一天,我问她为什么这样刻苦地练习。她直视我的眼睛,不假思索地说:“我想上大学,唯一方法就是获得奖学金。我喜欢打篮球,我想只要我打得好,到大学里打篮球了,就能获得奖学金,我还想成为最优秀的球员。父亲告诉我,如果梦想足够大,什么也难不倒。”说完,她笑着跑向篮球场,又开始了无数次的练习。
我很佩服她这么有决心,我看着她从初中升到高中,每星期,她带领的校篮球队都能取得胜利。
她读高中的一天,我见她坐在草地上,头埋在臂弯里。我穿过街道,坐在她身旁的草地上,轻声问她发生了什么事。“噢,没什么,”她轻轻地回答我,“只是我个子太矮了。”教练告诉她,5.5英尺的身高绝对达不到一流球队的标准——更别说拿奖学金了——所以,她应该放弃大学梦了。
她沮丧极了,见她如此失望,我也很难过,我问她是否和父亲谈过此事。
她把头从臂弯里抬起来,告诉我,父亲说教练的想法是错误的,他们根本不懂梦想的力量。他告诉她,如果她真想去一个好大学打球并获得奖学金,除了自己的态度,没有什么能阻止她。他一再说:“如果梦想足够大,什么也难不倒。”
第二年,当她和她的球队去参加北加利福尼亚州冠军赛时,她被一位大学的招生人员看中。她真的获得了奖学金,并且是全额,同时进入了全国大学体育协会中的一支女子甲组篮球队。她将接受梦寐以求并为之奋斗了多年的大学教育。
的确,如果梦想足够大,什么也难不倒。
心灵小语
态度决定一切,客观因素和别人的评价往往成为我们实现梦想的路上的绊脚石。只要我们坚定信念,目光只盯着梦想的目标,不环顾左右,就能使这一切障碍化为乌有,顺利地抵达梦想之境。
记忆填空
1. I remember the first day I saw her playing___ . I watched in wonder____ she ran circles around the other kids. She managed to shoot jump shots just over their_____and into the net. The boys always tried to stop her_____no one could.
2. I want to go to college. The only way I can go is if I get a___. I like basketball. I decided that if I were good_____, I would get a scholarship. I am going to play college basketball. I want to be the____ .
佳句翻译
1. 如果梦想足够大,什么也难不倒。
译________________________________
2. 她读高中的一天,我见她坐在草地上,头埋在臂弯里。
译________________________________
3. 如果她真想去一个好大学打球并获得奖学金,除了自己的态度,没有什么能阻止她。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. A sea of children, and yet to me, she stood out from them all.
stand out:站出来;突出;引人注目,脱颖而出;坚持
造_______________________________
2. She was going to get the college education that she had dreamed of and worked toward for all those years.
dream of:梦见;梦想
造_______________________________
大学生活回忆(1)
University Days(1)
詹姆斯?瑟伯 / James Thurber
I passed all the other courses that I took at my University, but I could never pass botany. This was because all botany students had to spend several hours a week in a laboratory looking through a microscope at plant cells, and I could never see through a microscope.
I never once saw a cell through a microscope. This used to enrage my instructor. He would wander around the laboratory pleased with the progress all the students were making in drawing the involved and, so I am told, interesting structure of flower cells, until he came to me.
I would just be standing there. “I can’t see anything,” I would say. He would begin patiently enough, explaining how anybody can see through a microscope, but he would always end up in a fury, claiming that I could too see through a microscope but just pretend that I couldn’t. “It takes away from the beauty of flowers anyway,” I used to tell him.“We are not concerned with beauty in this course,” he would say. “We are concerned solely with what I may call the mechanics of flowers.” “Well,” I’d say, “I can’t see anything.” “Try it just once again,” he’d say, and I would put my eye to the microscope and see nothing at all, except now and again a nebulous milky substance—a phenomenon of maladjustment.
You were supposed to see a vivid, restless clockwork of sharply defined plant cells, “I see what looks like a lot of milk,” I would tell him. This, he claimed, was the result of my not having adjusted the microscope properly, so he would read just it for me, or rather, for himself. And I would look again and see milk.
I finally took a deferred pass, as they called it, and waited a year and tried again. (You had to pass one of the biological sciences or you couldn’t graduate.) The professor had come back from vacation brown as a berry, brightened, and eagered to explain cellstructure again to his classes. “Well,” he said to me, cheerily when we met in the fist laboratory hour of the term,“we’re going to see cells this time, aren’t we? ”“Yes, sir,” I said. Students to right of me and to left of me and in front of me were seeing cells, and what’s more, they were quietly drawing pictures of them on their notebooks. Of course, I didn’t see anything.
“We’ll try it,” the professor said to me grimly, “with every adjustment the microscope known to man. As God is my witness, I’ll arrange this glass so that you see cells through it or I’ll give up teaching. In 22 years of botany, I—” He cut off abruptly for he was beginning to quiver all over, like Lionel Barrymore.
So we tried it with every adjustment of the microscope known to man. With only one of them did I see anything but blackness or the familiar lacteal opacity, and that time I saw, to my pleasure and amazement, a variegated constellation of flecks, specks and dots. These I hastily drew. The instructor, noting my activity, came back from an adjoining desk, a smile on his lips and his eyebrows high in hope. He looked at my cell drawing. “What’s that?” He demanded, with a hint of squeal in his voice. “That’s what I saw,” I said. “You didn’t, you didn’t, you didn’t!” He screamed, losing control of his temper instantly, and he bent over and squinted into the microscope. His head snapped up. “That’s your eye!” He shouted. “You’ve fixed the lens so that it reflects! You’ve drawn your eye!”
我通过了大学里所有要修的课程,然而,植物学却怎么也无法通过。原因是这样的:在一周中,修植物学的学生总要在实验室中花几个小时,透过显微镜观察植物细胞,然而,我在显微镜里从来没有看见过任何东西。
我从来没有在显微镜中看到过一个细胞,这一度激怒了我的老师。实验室里,所有的学生都在画实验细胞,老师来回踱着步子,为学生们获得的进展而感到高兴。然而,一走到我这里,他就再也高兴不起来了,并且告诉我其他同学画的都是很有趣的花细胞结构图。
我只是站在那里,告诉他:“我看不到任何东西。”起初,他还非常耐心地告诉我,每个人都可以在显微镜中看到细胞。然而,每次结束的时候,他总是暴跳如雷,并且说我在显微镜中看到了细胞,就是假装看不见。我常常跟他说,“无论如何,这样看的话,花就失去了它的美。”他就会说:“这门课与美没有任何关系,我们应该关心的只是花的结构。”我说:“我什么也看不到呀。”他说:“再看一次。”我把眼睛移到显微镜上,只是有几次看到了乳白色的云雾状物质——这是显微镜没调好而导致的,除此之外,根本看不见任何东西。
在显微镜中,应该看到一个轮廓清晰的植物细胞,而且应该是生动而不断运动着的。我告诉他:“我看到了大量牛奶一般的物质。”他告诉我,这是因为没有调整好显微镜,因此,他帮我重新调整了显微镜,更准确地说是为他自己调整。我又看了一遍,可是看到的还是牛奶一样的东西。
最终,我的这门课如大家所说的那样——延期过关,只好重修一年后再考学分(我们必须修一门生物课,不然就无法毕业)。教授心情愉快,他刚度假回来,脸被烤得像一只红色的浆果,他急切地要给大家讲解细胞结构:“这节课,我们要讲细胞结构,是不是?”我答道:“是的,先生。”我左边、右边和前边的同学都在观察细胞,他们甚至开始在笔记本上静静地画细胞结构图。我当然还是看不到任何东西。
教授用上一切可以利用的办法来调整显微镜,然后他冷酷地说:“我们再试一次。我再把显微镜调整一下,你肯定能够看到细胞,上帝为我作证,如果你再看不到,我就不再教书。我教了22多年的植物学,我……”,由于整个身体开始发抖,就像Lionel Barrymore那般(当时走红的性格演员,擅长演暴躁易怒的老人),他突然就不说话了。
于是,在调整显微镜时,我们用尽了一切可能的办法。然而,我看到的只是黑洞洞的或是熟悉的不透明乳状物。有一次,我惊喜地发现了一堆斑驳的微粒重叠在一起,就迅速地把它们画了下来。看到我的举动后,教授从邻桌回到我这里,他微笑着挑起眉毛,一脸期待的表情。他看到我画的细胞,声音变得又尖又长,叫喊道:“这是什么?”我答道:“这就是我看到的东西。”他当即发起了脾气,尖叫道:“那不可能,那不可能,那不可能!”然后,眯起一只眼睛,屈伸向显微镜看去。他猛地抬起头,冲我大叫道:“那是你的眼睛,透镜被你动了,所以它反射了你的眼睛。你画的是自己的眼睛!”
心灵小语
俗话说:严师出高徒。做学问是一件严谨精细的事,严格操作、严格要求才能迈进学问的大门。然而严格要求不等于忽视学生身体禀赋等自身的特点。如果一味强加要求,只会适得其反。我们呼唤更多的好老师,更呼唤因材施教的好老师。
记忆填空
1. “I can’t see____,” I would say. He would begin patiently enough, explaining____ anybody can see through a microscope, but he would always end up in a fury, claiming that I could too see_____a microscope but just pretend that I couldn’t.
2. As God is my witness, I’ll arrange this___ so that you see cells through it or I’ll give up teaching. In twenty-two years of botany, I—” He____ off abruptly for he was beginning to quiver all over,____Lionel Barrymore.
佳句翻译
1. 实验室里,所有的学生都在画实验细胞,老师来回踱着步子,为学生们获得的进展而感到高兴。
译________________________________
2. 于是,在调整显微镜时,我们用尽了一切可能的办法。
译________________________________
3. 看到我的举动后,教授从邻桌回到我这里,他微笑着挑起眉毛,一脸期待的表情。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. ...but he would always end up in a fury, claiming that I could too see through a microscope...
end up:结束;告终;结果;到头来
造_______________________________
2. You were supposed to see a vivid, restless clockwork of sharply defined plant cells...
be supposed to:认为必须;认为应该;被期望
造_______________________________
大学生活回忆(2)
University Days(2)
詹姆斯?瑟伯 / James Thurber
Another course that I didn’t like, but somehow managed to pass, was economics. I went to that class straight from the botany class, which didn’t help me in understanding either subject. I used to get them mixed up. But not as mixed up as another student in my economic class who came there direct from a physics laboratory. He was Bolenciecwcz. Most of his professors were lenient and helped him along. None gave him more hints, in answering questions, or asked him simpler ones than the economics professor, a thin timid man named Bassum. One day when we were on the subject of transportation and distribution, it came Bolenciecwcz’s turn to answer a question. “Name one means of transportation,” the professor said to him. No light came into his eyes. “Just any means of transportation.” Said the professor.
Bo1enciecwcz sat staring at him. “That is,” pursued the professor, “any medium, agency, or method of going from one place to another.” Bolenciecwcz had the look of a man who is being led into a trap.
“You may choose among steam, horse-drawn, or electrically-propelled vehicles,” said the instructor. “I might suggest the one which we commonly take in making long journeys across land.” There was a profound silence in which everybody stirred uneasily, including Bolenciecwcz and Mr. Bassum.
Mr. Bassum abruptly broke this silence in an amazing manner.“Choo-choo-choo,” he said, in a low voice, and turned instantly scarlet. He glanced appealingly around the room.
“Toot, toot, too-tooooooo!” Some students with deep voice moaned, and we all looked encouragingly at Bolenciecwcz. Somebody else gave a fine imitation of a loccomotive letting off steam. Mr. Bassum himself rounded off the little show. “Ding, dong, ding, dong,” he said hopefully. Bolenciecwcz was staring at the floor now, trying to think, his great brow furrowed, his huge hands rubbing together, his face red.
“How did you come to college this year, Mr. Bolenciecwcz?” Asked the professor. “Chuffa, chuffa, chuffa, chuffa.”
“My father sent me.” Came the reply.
“What on?” Asked Bassum.
“I got an allowance,” said his student, in a low, husky voice, obviously embarrassed.
“No, no,” said Bassum.“Name a means of transportation. What did you ride here on?”
“Train,” said Bolenciecwcz.
“Quite right,” said the professor. “Now, Mr. Nugent, will tell us...”
我不喜欢的另外一门课程是经济学,但是我还是努力通过了这门课程。尽管这两门课程对我理解这两门学科毫无益处,我还是在上完植物学课之后径直去上经济学课了。我经常混淆这两门课的内容。与选经济学课的另外一名学生相比,我没有他混淆得厉害,他是下了物理实验室课后直接来上经济学课的。他叫波兰西维茨,教他的大多数教授都很仁慈,一直以来对他都很照顾。在课堂上回答问题的时候,瘦小腼腆的经济学教授巴森给他的提示最多,所提的问题也比较简单。一天,正好轮到波兰西维茨回答问题,那天讲的是到运输和分销部分的内容。教授说:“请说出一种运输工具的名称。”然而,波兰西维茨的两眼毫无光彩。教授又说:“任何一种运输工具都可以。”
波兰西维茨坐在位子上,盯着教授。教授继续补充道:“从一个地方到达另外一个地方的任何介质、工具或者方式。”波兰西维茨一脸困惑,像要被带到沟里去一样。
教授说道:“你可以从蒸汽驱动、马力驱动或电力驱动交通工具中任选一个。我建议你选择能够穿越陆地进行长途旅行的交通工具。”教室中,包括波兰西维茨和巴森教授在内的每个人,都感到尴尬,默不作声地等待结果。突然,巴森以一种令人惊异的方式打破了沉默。他压低了声调,发出“突突突……”的声音,刹那间脸憋得通红。他用恳求的目光,把教室环视了一周。
一些学生用低沉的声音咕哝着:“嘟嘟,嘟嘟,嘟嘟嘟!”我们都向波兰西维茨投去了鼓励的目光。一个学生还发出了一阵很棒的机车头鸣笛的声音。最后,巴森教授满怀期望地说道: “叮咚,叮咚。”他自己结束了这场短暂的模仿秀。现在,波兰西维茨两只眼睛盯着地板,竭尽全力地思考着。他来回搓着两只大手,两条浓重的粗眉毛紧锁着,脸涨得通红。
教授问道:“波兰西维茨先生,你今天是怎么来到学校的。”然后,他说:“哐—哐—哐……”
他回答道:“父亲送我来的。”
巴森教授问道:“他怎么把你送到学校的?”
波兰西维茨用低哑的声音尴尬地说道:“我获得了一份助学金。”
巴森教授说道:“不,不,说出交通工具的名称,你们是乘什么来到这里的?”
波兰西维茨说:“火车。”
巴森教授说道:“完全正确。现在,纽金特先生,你能告诉我们……”
心灵小语
相对于严师的严谨,慈师的慈祥关爱更容易让我们感动和怀念。慈师常有一颗包容、热情、关爱的心,他们就像父母,无微不至地关怀我们、爱我们。慈师如一杯清茶,余香袅袅,回味无穷。
记忆填空
1. One day when we were on the____ of transportation and distribution, it came Bolenciecwcz’s___ to answer a question. “Name one___ of transportation,” the professor said to him. No light came_____his eyes.
2. “You may____ among steam, horse-drawn, or electrically-propelled vehicles,” said the instructor. “I might____ the one which we commonly______in making long journeys across land.”
佳句翻译
1. 尽管这两门课程对我理解这两门学科毫无益处,我还是在上完植物学课之后径直去上经济学课了。
译________________________________
2. 他用恳求的目光,把教室环视了一周。
译________________________________
3. 他来回搓着两只大手,两条浓重的粗眉毛紧锁着,脸涨得通红。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. I used to get them mixed up.
mix up:混乱
造_______________________________
2. Somebody else gave a fine imitation of a loccomotive letting off steam.
let off:免除;放过;放掉(气);放(枪);引爆(炸弹);准许……暂时停止工作
造_______________________________
真的梦想,没有屏障
Save Money for College by My Own
佚名 / Anonymous
I will never forget one day in my first year in high school. I was sitting on the stairs descending into the basement, putting my head in my hands and crying out in despair to my parents that I would never be able to save enough money for college. My parents tried to console me, but it seemed impossible to save $64, 268, the cost for the private restitution that I desperately wanted to attend.
Now let me tell you the amazing story of how I earned this sum of money.
It all began with a paper route in Ankeny, IA. I hated delivering that route, but was determined to stick it out for six months until my family moved to Wausau, WI. With a few meager dollars from my paper route, a small nest egg began to develop. My next job was with an athletic company as a telephone customer service representative. The savings account continued to grow very slowly. Then, the fall of my junior year of high school, I began to waitress at Denny’s restaurant. It was a hard work, but the money began to roll in and this job paid at least twice as much money per hour.
By the time my senior year arrived, I had saved a considerable amount of money. This was encouraging, but I knew that I would also need some help, so began the process of applying for scholarships. Sometimes it was discouraging because I was rejected again and again. Then, my first scholarship offer came in, $2, 000 a year to play tennis. This is only a small dent at a school that costs approximately $14, 000 a year, but it was a start. Several other academic scholarships also came my way and soon I was up to have $9,050 in scholarships. Between scholarships and savings, I had enough money for my first year!_
Another interesting development emerged. I began testing out of classes. Running anxiously to the mailbox in anticipation of my test scores became part of my daily routine. Excitement mounted as test result saved me approximately $1,000 in tuition and then enabled me to graduate a year early. This would save room and board expenses as well.
Finally, I was off to college. Because of careful saving, I did not have to work during the school year. Then, summer hit and it was time to work harder than ever. I continued working as a waitress at night, instructed tennis camps several mornings a week and worked as a secretary for a few hours in the afternoons. Being a little overzealous, I decided to also take a class at a community college. This class at the community college saved me $650, it was an exhausting summer and made me anxious to return to my relatively easy life at college.
During my second and third years of undergraduate schooling, I decided to work about five hours per week in the campus admissions office answering phones. This provided a little spending money and kept me from draining my savings. The overall situation looked hopeful as I approached my senior year as long as I could make as much money as I had the previous summer. That is when I decided to go to Israel to study for 3 weeks. I hesitated in making this decision and had just about decided not to go because it would cost me $1,600 more to get the credits in Israel.
About two weeks later my Mom called to tell me that I had $1,600 in the bank that I had forgotten about! One of my concerns about this trip was not only the cost, but the loss of time to make money; however, I made as much that summer in the ten weeks that I was home as I had made during the fourteen weeks that I was home the summer before. The way everything worked together to make this trip feasible was one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me.
Finally, my senior year of college was upon me and to keep things interesting, I decided to buy a car. I obviously did not have a lot of money to spend for a car. I searched many newspaper ads and I was ecstatic to find one for only $4, 200.
Then, I also attended an 8-week course on marriage and family in Colorado. This was an incredible experience that taught me a great deal about my worldview and how to develop a healthy family. This experience was also very costly, $4,000. I was surprised to find that I had graduated with no debt and so many remarkable journeys along the way.
This experience has shaped me in many important ways. The first thing that I learned was the importance of a strong work ethics. Working long hours did a lot to mold my character and helped me learn the value of a dollar. It also made me learn how to craft creative solutions to difficult dilemmas.
我永远也不会忘记高中一年级时发生的一件事。一天,我两手抱头坐在通往地下室的楼梯上,绝望地哭着对父母说,我永远也没有办法攒够读大学的费用了,我很想申请一所私立大学,学费是64268美元。父母试着安慰我,但是我似乎不可能攒够这笔钱。
我赚这笔钱的过程很不可思议,下面让我讲给大家听。
整个故事是从在艾奥瓦州安可尼市送报纸开始的。这份工作,我坚持了六个月,尽管我很厌恶那条送报纸的路线,但还是决心干下去,直到我家搬到威斯康星州的沃索市。每次送报纸赚的几块钱,让我的存款逐渐多了起来。体育用品公司的电话客户服务代理,是我的第二份工作,然而存折上存款的数目增长得仍然很慢。后来,在高二那一年的秋天,我在丹尼斯餐馆当女侍者,每小时的薪水比先前的多出至少一倍,虽然很辛苦,却能赚到很多钱。
高三的时候,我的存款数目已经相当可观了,这让我十分振奋。但我知道,自己仍然需要一些钱来为自己支付学费。于是,我开始申请奖学金,然而,我一次又一次地遭到拒绝,这让我很气馁。终于,我获得了一笔一年2000美元的资助,条件是我为学校打网球,这是我的第一笔奖学金,也是一个良好的开端,尽管相对于一年14000美元的学费来说,这真是太少了。之后,我又获得了几项学科奖学金,总额高达9050美元。我已有的存款加上这些奖学金,终于可以支付第一学年的学费了。
之后,生活中出现了很有意思的事情。我开始参加课外考试,每天都想知道考试成绩,每天都怀着焦虑的心情查收邮件,这成了我平时工作的一部分。我的兴奋与日俱增,因为我考试成绩优异,学费大概省下了1000美元,并且得以提前一年毕业,伙食费和住宿费也就可以节省下来了。
最终,我进入大学读书了。第一学年,我不用去打工了,这都得益于我平时的细心节约。放暑假时,我不得不比以前更加努力地工作,每周几个上午当网球夏令营教练,下午做几个小时的秘书,晚上继续当餐馆女服务生。作为一个对事情有着过分热情的人,我决定在公立大学选修一门课程,这能为我节省650美元。我迫切期望回到相对轻松的大学生活中,因为这个暑假过得太累了。
大二、大三的时候,我决定去学校的招生办公室做接听电话的工作,每周有五个小时的工作时间。有了这份工作,我就可以给自己挣点儿零花钱,不必把积蓄都花光了。如果大三暑假我能够赚到上一个暑假那么多的钱,生活就会充满希望。这时,我想去以色列学习三个星期,由于要多花1600美元来修学分,对于去还是不去,我踌躇不定,最后还是决定放弃。
大概两周之后,妈妈打电话告诉我,我的银行存款还有1600美元,我已经忘记了这件事!关于去以色列学习的事情,我有两个方面的顾虑,一方面是学习费用,另一方面就是没有时间打工赚钱了。然而,在那个暑假中,我用10周的时间赚到了上个暑假14周赚到的钱数。各种事情凑到一起促成了我的以色列之行,这真是一件令人激动的事情。
终于读大四了,我决定买一部车,因为我想让生活变得更加有趣。显然,我没有太多钱买车,我看了许多报纸广告,终于找到一辆只需花4200美元就可以买到的车,这让我欣喜若狂。
此后,我又在科罗拉多州学习了8周,那是一门关于婚姻和家庭的课程。我学到了许多关于世界观的知识,并且学会了如何组建一个健康的家庭。这个价格不菲的课程花了我4000美元,然而,这次的学习经历让人难以置信。大学毕业的时候,我发现自己非但没有负债,还有了那么多不平凡的经历,这让我感到惊喜。
这些经历在许多方面给了我巨大影响。首先,我懂得了具有坚定的敬业精神是很重要的。每次的长时间工作,对我性格的形成起到了很大作用,并且让我体会到了每一美元的价值。此外,它还使我学会了用有创意的解决办法去面对困境。
心灵小语
真的梦想,没有屏障。怀揣着梦想的人,所拥有的力量是无法估量的。
记忆填空
1. Then, summer hit and it was time to work harder____ever. I continued working_____a waitress at night, instructed tennis camps several mornings a week and worked as a secretary for a few____ in the afternoons.
2. One of my concerns about this trip was not only the____ , but the loss of____to make money;____, I made as much that summer in the ten weeks that I was home as I had made during the fourteen weeks that I was home the summer______.
佳句翻译
1. 每次送报纸赚的几块钱,让我的存款逐渐多了起来。
译________________________________
2. 我迫切期望回到相对轻松的大学生活中,因为这个暑假过得太累了。
译________________________________
3. 之后,生活中出现了很有意思的事情。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. ...the money began to roll in and this job paid at least twice as much money per hour.
roll in:纷至沓来;滚滚而来
造_______________________________
2. ...so began the process of applying for scholarships.
apply for:申请;请求;接洽
造_______________________________
一个孤儿的故事
The Story of an Orphan
佚名 / Anonymous
This extraordinary story about extraordinary people begins at the turn of the century. It is a very American story—about ideals, ambition, success, love, and marriage—that has its roots at a time when many believed anything was possible in America. The story starts with an orphan boy of ordinary means who used his determination and talent to realize the American Dream and more.
The orphan boy was Willard Dickerman Straight from Oswego, New York. He was 17 when he entered Cornell University in 1897. There were 2000 students at Cornell then. They lived in fraternity houses or boarded with families in town. Straight joined Delta Tau Delta, and lived in the chapter house on the corner of Edgemoor and Stewart avenues during his 4 years at Cornell.
Straight entered the College of Architecture at Cornell, not because he had his heart set on becoming an architect, but because, with his talent and interest in drawing, it seemed a logical choice. His activities on campus reflected the different aspects of his personality, as artistic, imaginative bent with a keen sense on fun and the ambition to get things done. He contributed sketches to the comic periodical the Widow; wrote articles for the Cornell Era, a more sober literary publication; became art editor of the Cornellian; and by his senior year was editor and chief of the Cornell Era. He enlivened the party scene with his guitar and good tenor voice. Straight organized the first Spring Day, a circus like fair with sideshows, to make money for the depleted athletic fund. It was his idea to start a distinctive College of Architecture event, which evolved into the popular Green Dragon Day. During his senior year he was president of the Savage Club.
After Straight graduated from Cornell in 1901, he took a job with the Maritime Customs Service in Nanking. He learned the language quickly and became familiar with Chinese people of all ranks and with the diplomats and businessmen in Peking. By the age of 30, Straight was believed to be one of the most powerful men in the Far East, earning as much as the President of the United States.
At a dinner party in 1906, Straight was introduced to Dorothy Payne Whitney, heiress to the Whitney fortune. When Dorothy and her party visited Peking in 1909, friendship turned to romance. Willard pursued Dorothy relentlessly with letters and flowers. He finally won her in 1911.
19世纪末20世纪初,一个非凡人物的非凡故事开始了。这是一个关于理想、抱负、成功、爱情和婚姻的故事,它让许多人相信在美国一切都有可能为背景,是一个非常美国化的故事。这个故事是从一个非常平凡的孤儿开始的,他凭借决心和才能实现了自己的美国梦,以及其他更多的梦想。
这个孤儿来自纽约的奥斯维格,他的名字是威拉德?迪克曼?斯特雷特。1897年,17岁的斯特雷特进入康奈尔大学读书,当时学校有2000多名学生,学生们或是住在一起,或是住在镇上人的家里。在康奈尔大学的四年中,斯特雷特加入了“三?十九?三”团体,住在社团公寓,这座公寓位于埃治摩尔大街与斯图沃特大街的拐角处。
斯特雷特就读于康奈尔大学建筑学院,但这并不是因为他想成为建筑师,而是因为他在绘画方面的才能和所显示出的兴趣,这看起来是一个合理的选择。斯特雷特参加了各种校园活动,这使他性格的其他方面得以展现:擅长艺术鉴赏和想象,极具幽默感,并且拥有实现抱负的雄心壮志。他给《寡妇》漫画杂志提供画稿,为严肃性文学出版物《康奈尔时代》写文章, 并担任《康奈尔人》的美术编辑。在大学四年级的时候,他担任《康奈尔时代》的编辑和主编。在举行派对的时候,斯特雷特的吉他演奏和男高音演唱使现场气氛异常活跃。为了给资金匮乏的运动员基金会募集资金,斯特雷特创办了“春之日”,这是一种类似于马戏的展览会,带有表演节目。他还创办了“建筑学院节”,这个节日后来发展成为很受欢迎的“绿龙日”。大学四年级时,斯特雷特被选举为野人俱乐部的主席。
1901年,斯特雷特从康奈尔大学毕业之后,进入中国南京的海关服务公司工作。他很快就学会了讲中文,与各个阶层的中国人都变得熟识起来,并与北京的外交官和商人熟识。30岁的时候,斯特雷特成为远东地区最具影响力的人物之一,并获得了与美国总统一样高的名望。
在1906年的一场晚宴上,经人引荐,斯特雷特结识了惠特尼家族财产的继承人多罗西?佩恩?惠特尼。1909年,多罗西带领随行人员访问北京时,这段友谊变成了一段罗曼史。威拉德不断地给多罗西写情书、送花。1911年,他终于赢得了多罗西的芳心。
心灵小语
在生活中,许多人容易被身处的环境所束缚,他们接受既定的命运,服从命运的安排。事实上,生活是自己选择和创造的。你要尊重自己,对自己负责,勇敢、坚强地面对一切,克服困境和挫折,一步步地走近梦想,实现理想的生活。
记忆填空
1. The___ starts with an orphan boy of ordinary____ who used his determination and talent to realize the American______and more.
2. Straight____ the College of Architecture at Cornell, not because he had his____ set on becoming an architect, but because, with his talent and interest in_____ , it seemed a logical choice.
佳句翻译
1. 大学四年级时,斯特雷特被选举为野人俱乐部的主席。
译________________________________
2. 很快就学会了讲中文,与各个阶层的中国人都变得熟识起来,并与北京的外交官和商人熟识。
译________________________________
3. 30岁的时候,斯特雷斯成为远东地区最具影响力的人物之一,并获得了与美国总统一样高的名望。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. This extraordinary story about extraordinary people begins at the turn of the century.
the turn of the century:世纪初
造_______________________________
2. It was his idea to start a distinctive College of Architecture event, which evolved into the popular Green Dragon Day.
evolve into:发展成
造_______________________________
特别的同学
Never too Old to Live Your Dream
丹?克拉克 / Dan Clark
The first day of school our professor introduced himself to our chemistry class and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, “Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I’m 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?”
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” And she gave me a giant squeeze.
“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked.
She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple children, and then retire and travel.”
“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” She told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next 3 months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this“time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the school year, Rose became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the term we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet and I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three-by-five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a bit embarrassed, she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.” As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began:
“We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy and achieving success.
“You have to laugh and find humor each and every day.
“You’ ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.
“There is a giant difference between growing older and growing up. If you are 19 years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn 20 years old. If I am 87 years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.
“Have no regrets. The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”
She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose”. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At year’s end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over 2000 college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.
上学的第一天,教授向化学班的全体同学作了自我介绍,还鼓励我们去结识并不认识的人。我站起来向四周望去,正在这时,有人轻轻拍了拍我的肩膀。我转过身来,看到一位满脸皱纹、个子矮小的老太太正对着我开心地笑着,她的笑容使她看起来容光焕发。
她说道:“你好,英俊的小伙子。我是罗斯,今年87岁。我能不能拥抱你一下?”
我笑了,热情地回答道:“当然可以。”她给了我一个大大的拥抱。
“你为什么在这么年轻、这么纯真的年纪选择上大学?”我开玩笑地说。
她也开玩笑地回答:“我到这里来就是想找一个有钱的丈夫结婚,生几个孩子,然后退休去旅行。”
“你不是在开玩笑吧?”我问道。我非常好奇,想知道是什么力量使她在这样的年纪去迎接这样的挑战。
“我一直以来的梦想就是接受大学教育,如今我终于如愿以偿了。”她告诉我。
下课之后,我们走进学生会大楼,一起分享了一杯泡沫巧克力奶昔。没过一会儿,我们便成了朋友。在接下来的三个月里,我们每天都会一起离开教室,进行长时间的交谈。我经常入迷似的倾听着这位“时间机器”分享着她的智慧和经验。
整整一个学年,罗斯成了校园里的偶像,不管走到哪里,她都会很轻松地交到朋友。她喜欢打扮自己,因为大家投给她的关注使她兴奋不已,她陶醉于欢乐之中。
在学期即将结束的时候,我们请罗斯在足球宴会上致辞,我永远不会忘记她给我们的谆谆教诲。在主持人介绍之后,罗斯走上了讲台,就在她要开始发表早就准备好的演讲时,几张三寸乘以五寸的卡片从她的手里掉到了地上。她有点儿沮丧,有点儿尴尬,她向着麦克风倾了倾身子,坦言道:“不好意思,我抖得厉害。我于四旬斋节时戒了啤酒,威士忌太烈了!我无法整理好今天的演讲,如此一来,让我和你们说说我所知道的事情。”我们听完之后哈哈大笑起来,她清了清嗓子,开始了她的演讲:
“我们并不是因为老了才不再动了;而是由于停止运动,我们才会变老。想要拥有年轻、快乐、成功,只有四个秘诀:
“每天要开怀大笑,要保持幽默感。
“心怀梦想。一旦失去梦想,你就完了。
“了解慢慢变老和不断成长之间有着天壤之别。你19岁,在床上躺整整一年的时间,不做任何有益的事,你变成20岁的人。我87岁,在床上躺一年,不做任何事情,我会变成88岁。每个人都会慢慢变老,这不需要任何才能。我想要说的是,要通过在变化中寻找机会而不断成长。
“不要心怀遗憾。老年人往往会感到遗憾,并非为自己已做的事,而是为自己尚未做过的事。害怕死亡的人都是一些留有遗憾的人。”
她精神十足地以歌曲《玫瑰花》结束了她的演讲,激励我们每一个人去研读歌词,于日常生活中践行歌中传达的箴言。
年终的时候,罗斯取得了多年之前便开始攻读的大学学位。在毕业一周后,罗斯在睡梦中静静地离开了人世。有2000多名大学生参加了她的葬礼,他们用这一行动来表示对这位伟大女士的敬重。她用自身经历告诉我们:实现梦想,永远不会太迟。
心灵小语
精神年轻的人就好似一个不朽的神灵,永远怀有无限的希望和梦想,拥有令人目不暇接的人生好风景。他们能够听任自己的志趣自由驰骋,让精神高涨,让生命充满活力。这种人热爱生活,热爱人生,也被别人所敬重。他们拥有许多朋友和梦想,并有信心实现自己的梦想。就像勇敢乐观的罗斯,最终梦想成真。
记忆填空
1. Over the course of the_____year, Rose became a campus icon and easily_____friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the_____students. She was living it_____.
2. There is a giant____ between growing older and growing up. If you are 19 years old and lie in_____for one full year and don’t do one productive_____, you will turn 20 years old.
佳句翻译
1. 我非常好奇,想知道是什么力量使她在这样的年纪去迎接这样的挑战。
译________________________________
2. 她喜欢打扮自己,因为大家投给她的关注使她兴奋不已。
译________________________________
3. 老年人往往会感到遗憾,并非为自己已做的事,而是为自己尚未做过的事。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
take on:接受……的挑战;对付;承担
造_______________________________
2. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students.
dress up:打扮;装饰
造_______________________________
努力永远有机会
The Day I Flunked Out of Law School
佚名 / Anonymous
The dean of the University of Colorado School of Law, decided that I couldn’t return to classes next fall because my grades were too low. He said I would never make a lawyer. Even today words cannot describe my upset. I’d never really failed at anything significant. After all, the University of Colorado at Boulder was a Taj Mahal, the door to judicial clerk ships and prestigious law firms.
But I decided to try again and went to see Clifford Mills, the dean of Westminster Cortege of Law—a poor man’s school with no tenured professors or law review. After reading my college transcript, Dean Mills let me enroll at Westminster, on one condition: that I repeat all my first-year classes, this time paying attention. “I’ll be looking over your shoulder,” he said.
One door had closed. But others opened.
Given a second chance, I worked much harder, becoming fascinated by the law of evidence. In my second year the professor who taught the course passed away. I was asked to take over—inconceivable at a law school like Boulder. Evidence became a lifelong specialty, and for many years I taught classes on the subject for judges, law students and practicing lawyers throughout the country.
Meanwhile I worked days in the Denver City Attorney’s office as a clerk. It was anything but glamorous. But it led to a job as an assistant city attomey after graduation.
I would became a county judge at age 28, one of Denver’ s youngest. Later I was elected as a district judge, and then appointed by the President to the federal judiciary as a U. S. district judge. And, ultimately, I did return to Boulder—to receive the University of Colorado’s George Norlin Award, and an honorary doctorate of law.
Sooner or later everyone will fall short at something important to them—whether it be a job, a dream or a relationship. Flunking out of law school, I believe, made me a better judge, it certainly taught me about the frailties of the human condition, and about the need to give people second chances.
But failure also taught me that life is a road with unpredictable forks and unexpected tomorrows. To take advantage of them, you can’t let yourself be destroyed by a defeat, or let others set the limits on your ability to achieve.
由于我的分数太低了,科罗拉多大学法学院的院长决定,我从下个秋季开始就不能再回到学校上课了。他说,我永远不可能成为一名律师。即使是今天,我也无法用语言来形容当时的烦乱心情,以前,我在重大的事情上还从来没有真正失败过。毕竟,波尔得的科罗拉多大学是一扇通往司法职业和名气很高的律师事务所的大门,它就是一座泰姬陵。
然而,我决定再尝试一下,于是就去找威斯敏斯特法学院的克利福德?米尔斯院长,这个法学院没有终身教授和法学刊物,是一个穷人学校。在看了我的大学成绩单之后,米尔斯决定接受我进入威斯敏斯特法学院,条件是我要认真地重读一年级的所有课程。他说:“我会一直关注你的表现的。”
一扇门关上了,其他门敞开了。
得到了第二次学习的机会,我更加努力地学习,并且逐渐对证据法产生了浓厚的兴趣。第二年,教这门课的教授去世了,学院居然请我教授这门课程,这种事情在波尔得那样的法学院简直是无法想象的。多年来,我一直为全国各地的法官、法学专业的学生和见习律师讲授这门课程,证据法成为我的终身专业。
与此同时,白天我在丹佛市检察官办公室做职员,这是一份没有什么吸引力的工作。然而,这段经历让我在毕业后找到了担任市助理检察官的工作。
我在28岁的时候成为一名县法官,同时也是丹佛市最年轻的法官之一。后来,我当选为地区法官,再后来,我被总统任命为联邦司法部美国地区法官。最后,我又回到了波尔得,为的是接受科罗拉多大学的乔治?诺林奖和荣誉法学博士学位。
每个人或早或晚都会在人生大事上遭遇一些短暂的挫折,不管是工作、梦想还是各种关系。正是因为被法学院开除,我才成为一名更加优秀的法官,对此我深信不疑。毋庸置疑,这个经历让我认识到了人性的弱点,认识到给予别人第二次机会的重要意义。
除此之外,我也从失败中懂得,人生的旅途充满了不可预知的岔路口和意想不到的明天。你不能让自己被失败摧毁,不能让别人束缚自己实现梦想的能力,而是要充分利用这些挫折来学习。
心灵小语
人生的道路不会永远平坦,但也不会永远坎坷与落寞。当身处困境的时候,不要灰心,不要认为生活已经无法改变,而要变得更加坚强。当机遇再次来临的时候,要懂得好好珍惜,不要因为挫折和别人的束缚,而放弃自己的追求和梦想。
记忆填空
1. After____ my college transcript, Dean Mills let me enroll at Westminster, on one______: that I repeat all my first-year classes, this time paying_____ .“I’ll be looking over your shoulder.” he said.
2. Flunking out of____ school, I believe, made me a____ judge, it certainly taught me about the frailties of the human condition, and about the need to give people______ chances.
佳句翻译
1. 这是一份没有什么吸引力的工作。
译________________________________
2. 每个人或早或晚都会在人生大事上遭遇一些短暂的挫折,不管是工作、梦想还是各种关系。
译________________________________
3. 我也从失败中懂得,人生的旅途充满了不可预知的岔路口和意想不到的明天。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. After all,the University of Colorado at Boulder was a Taj Mahal...
after all:毕竟;终究;到底
造_______________________________
2. Sooner or later everyone will fall short at something...
fall short:不足;缺乏;不符合标准
造_______________________________
我的大学理财规划
University Education Does not Come Cheap
佚名 / Anonymous
No money, no spare time, and no sleep. Such are the joys of being a college student in the United States, or anywhere I suspect.
Not having come from a rich family, the prospect of paying for university haunted me all through high school.
There are many scholarships available for students in the U.S. They are based on race, financial need, academic excellence, talent in sports, and other criteria. Either private or government organizations can be the source of funds.
I happened to get a few scholarships while still in high school, but the universities to which I was applying still expected my parents to contribute about half the tuition, which was around US $ 5,000. We did not have the money.
I could earn tuition money, forget education, or simply look for a more affordable school. And, that seemed the best choice for me.
I took my academic scholarships to Delta College, in the state of Michigan. They covered most of the cost, which was US $ 8,000. This is referred to as a community college, where there are 2-year programmes. After 2 years, students can work in their field, or finish at a 4-year university.
During those 2 years, I worked part time to pay tuition, and saved money by living at home. In doing so, I met a lot of people who were in the same situation. Either they did not have the money, or they weren’t sure what career they wanted, so they went for cheaper courses at a community college._
After 2 years, I chose Central Michigan University (CMU) and applied for other scholarships. I had made enough money in the 2 years and had enough scholarships that I finally could afford the school.
I had the funds and was excited, but I was nervous about moving away from a situation where no one really had a lot of money, to a place where some students didn’t need to work hard to get where they were.
Luckily, some friends I had made at my old college were going to CMU. Living in a dorm on campus was often as expensive as tuition and was just too much. So, we decided to share an apartment. Split four ways, the rent only came to U.S. $ 235 a month, while a dorm room was U.S. $ 600 a month. Still, to cover the cost of cellphones, textbooks, meals, and other necessities, we all needed extra money.
My roommates got jobs in fast food place, but I checked with the university to see if there were any jobs in the work-study programme. If CMU had not given me a job, I would have to take out a bank loan. That money would have to be paid back with interest. I did not want to start my new career after graduation, in debt.
美国大学生的快乐时光,就是没有钱、没有业余时间、没有充足的睡眠。我想,其他国家的大学生或许也是如此。
我出生在一个并不宽裕的家庭,整个高中时期,我就为如何支付大学的费用而感到苦恼。
在美国,学生可以通过种族、经济状况、学习成绩、体育特长和其他标准获得资助,途径很多。私人或政府机构是这些基金的来源。
高中时期,我获得过几份奖学金,可是,我申请的大学仍然需要父母为我支付一半的学费,大约5000美元。然而,我们没有钱。
我可以先赚学费后上学,或者申请一个可以支付得起学费的学校。对我来说,最好的选择似乎是第二种办法。
我获得了奖学金,进入密歇根州三角州学院读书。奖学金大约是8000美元,这支付了我的大部分学费。这是一所公立大学,有两年的学习项目,两年以后,学生可以在自己的专业领域工作,或者选择四年制大学完成学业。
在读大学的两年中,为了省钱,我选择住在家里,并且做兼职来支付学费。这其间,我认识了许多与自己境况相同的学生,他们之所以来学费便宜的公立大学读书,或是因为没有钱,或是还不知道自己将来做什么工作。
两年之后,我决定去密歇根中央大学读书,并申请了其他几份奖学金。这些奖学金加上过去两年所赚的钱,我终于能够支付得起上大学的费用了。
获得这些资助让我感到兴奋。然而,当我从周围没有一个人富有的环境,忽然跨到了一个许多人不需要努力工作就可以得到很多钱的环境时,我备感紧张。
然而,让我感到欣慰的是,我在公立大学的一些朋友也要来密歇根中央大学读书了。就像学费一样,学校宿舍的住宿费也很昂贵,一个月需要600美元。于是,我们决定四个人住一间公寓,每人分摊235美元。我们还需要一些钱,来支付手机、课本、三餐和其他生活必需品的费用。
我的室友在快餐厅打工,然而,我想在大学的勤工俭学项目中看看有没有工作可以选择。如果在学校找不到工作,我就只能申请需要支付利息的银行贷款了。可是,我不想毕业后刚刚参加工作就背上债务。
心灵小语
只要你相信,并愿意尝试,生活中就会有无限的可能。人要有足够的自信,积极地面对生活,主动地采取行动,一步步地实现自己的愿望,并勇于承担起生活的重担,发挥自己的无限潜能。最终,你会得到幸运女神的青睐。
记忆填空
1. I_____to get a few scholarships while still in high school, but the universities to____ I was applying still expected my parents to contribute about_____the tuition, which was around US $ 5,000. We did not have the_____ .
2. In doing so, I met a lot of people who were in the_____situation. Either they did not have the money, or they weren’t sure what career they_____, so they went for______courses at a community college.
佳句翻译
1. 我出生在一个并不宽裕的家庭,整个高中时期,我就为如何支付大学的费用而感到苦恼。
译________________________________
2. 获得这些资助让我感到兴奋。
译________________________________
3. 学校宿舍的住宿费也很昂贵,一个月需要600美元。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. This is referred to as a community college...
refer to as:把……称作
造_______________________________
2. That money would have to be paid back with interest.
pay back:偿付(借款等);还钱
造_______________________________
生命的篇章
Minnesota Dreamer
佚名 / Anonymous
Even if I did not have a dream, I always had a plan. In college, I learned to be responsible and organized and to set goals that I could attain. Then everything changed. I will never forget my final week from college last year. Days away from graduation and miles away from home, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I left the hospital alone, in devastation. Unsure of what my future would hold, I shed countless tears. Life suddenly became an unforeseeable thing, and I could not know what to do. Although close friends eased the pain, I could not hide from them my fear of facing death. Somehow, I managed to complete the exams in spite of my jangled nerves.
I began to feel different from everyone else, since my friends were graduating, celebrating, and eager to move on to new chapters in their lives. But I could not join them and celebrate with them. I especially found it interesting to see how others around me dealt with my news. Some acted suddenly distant for lack of words, some dramatized the whole thing, and some acted perfectly normal, which felt the most comfortable for me.
Within days, I had packed up all of my college belongings and headed home with my family ready to face this unexpected hurdle. I immediately turned to my best friend from high school. She had gone through cancer in our senior year, and because of watching her courageously overcome so many obstacles 4 years before, I knew she could give me the fuel I needed for my own battle.
As my surgery date to remove the tumor got closer, I was experiencing intense physical pain. Part of me wanted it over with and the other part of me was coming unglued. The wall of strength I had built was crumbling. I was so angry that I had to go through this when all those around me were going on with their lives. I spent a lot of time asking, why me?
But something wonderful started happening in the midst of all this. I began to see all the beauty around me in a wholly new way. The smallest things that I neglected before started to catch my eyes. I noticed how colorful and serene a sunset could be when you took time to enjoy it. Blades of grass cascading along hillsides looked a brighter shade of green. A small child’s laughter became an instant remedy for a bad day.
Miraculously, I woke up from surgery grateful to be alive and well. Words cannot describe the happiness I felt at that special moment—to be given a second chance. My recovery was a long process as I learned to walk again and so simple tasks. I remember when I went home and studied my bald head for the first time. It shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did! Ironically, a month before I knew I had a tumor, I cut my long hair short and donated it to the American Cancer Society. I discovered there is a huge difference between short and bald!
Life can sure throw a good curve ball when you least expect it. Yet I have had this new start, and I am enjoying every minute of it. I used to hear people say you should dream the unimaginable, and I always preferred to plan instead. Now, dreaming big and following my heart’s desire without knowing how it will end up is the only thing I have time to do.
即使在我一个梦想都没有的时候,我一直都有计划。读大学期间,我学会了做人要有责任感,做事要讲究条理,要树立切实可行的目标。然而,所有的事情都发生了变化。去年,大学毕业的前一周是我终生难忘的日子。大学毕业的前几天,我在离家很远的地方被诊断患有脑瘤。我陷入了绝望之中,独自从医院里跑了出来,泪水止不住地掉下来,我不知道将来的生活会是什么样子。生活在瞬间变得无法预测,我感到茫然。尽管在好友的安慰下痛苦缓解了许多,我却无法在他们面前掩饰自己对死亡的恐惧。尽管烦乱至极,我还是完成了考试。
我开始变得与其他人不同。我的朋友们正忙着毕业、庆祝,急切地掀开新的生活篇章的时候,我却无法加入他们,不能与他们一起庆祝。我发现观察身边的人对我生病消息的反应非常有趣:一些人因为不知道跟我说些什么而远离我;一些人的反应富于戏剧性;还有一些人的反应很合情合理,我面对这些人时备感舒服。
几天之内,我收拾好了学校里的所有行李,回家与家人一起面对这突如其来的不幸。到家后,我马上去找高中时最好的朋友——高三那年她患了癌症。我知道,她能够带给我与疾病作战的勇气,因为四年前,我亲眼目睹她勇敢地克服了诸多磨难。
在切除肿瘤手术的日子来临的那段时间,剧烈的病痛折磨着我。我一边想随它去,一边又感到极度烦乱,建立起来的精神支柱濒临崩溃的边缘。身边的其他人都健健康康地活着,我却要遭受病痛的折磨,这让我变得非常愤怒。我经常问自己:为什么会是我?
就在这个时候,一些令人惊奇的事情发生了,我开始以全新的眼光看待周围所有美好的事物。我开始关注那些极其微小的事情,曾经,我忽略了它们的存在。我注意到,当花一点儿时间去享受落日时,你就会发现那是多么缤纷和平静;从山坡上生长的小草飘落下来的绿色叶片,看起来是那么鲜亮;只要听听小孩子的笑声,我在一天中所受到的煎熬马上就会消失得无影无踪。
我从手术中醒来后,感激自己健康地活了下来,这真是不可思议。我获得了第二次生命,那一刻我的心中充满了难以言表的幸福感。我要重新学习走路,做一些简单的事情,所以身体完全恢复是一个很长的过程。记得在回到家里之后,我第一次仔细地看自己光秃秃的脑袋,我本不该如此,但我的确感到惊讶。具有讽刺意味的是,在我得知自己患有脑瘤这件事情的一个月之前,我把头发剪短,并将长头发捐赠给了美国癌症学会。我发现,短发和没有头发简直有着天壤之别!
生活会在你意想不到的时候捉弄你一下,这是必然的。既然我有了这个新的开始,我就要珍惜生命的每一分钟。以前,我常常听别人说,你不要梦想那些不可能的事情,我也总是喜欢按部就班。现在,心怀梦想,跟着内心的渴望向前走,而不必考虑结果如何,占据了我的全部时间。
心灵小语
生活会在你意想不到的时候捉弄你一下,这是必然的。但由此,它也为了你打开了一扇通向新生的门。
记忆填空
1. Unsure of what my future would____ , I shed countless tears.____suddenly became an unforeseeable thing, and I could not know what to do. Although close friends eased the____, I could not hide from them my fear of facing______.
2. The wall of strength I had____was crumbling. I was so angry that I had to go through this when all those around me were going____with their lives. I spent a lot of time asking,_____me?
佳句翻译
1. 几天之内,我收拾好了学校里的所有行李,回家与家人一起面对这突如其来的不幸。
译________________________________
2. 我获得了第二次生命,那一刻我的心中充满了难以言表的幸福感。
译________________________________
3. 生活会在你意想不到的时候捉弄你一下,这是必然的。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. I immediately turned to my best friend from high school.
turn to:求助于
造_______________________________
2. I used to hear people say you should dream the unimaginable...
used to:过去时常;过去曾做
造_______________________________
戏剧即生活
Walks in the Theater World
苏珊娜?施奈德 / Suannen Schneider
17 years ago there were 30 of us, all aged around 20, and dreaming of a really great career in the theater. We had good reason for dreaming. After all we had been chosen from hundreds of candidates and accepted for the Salzburg Mozarteum’s 3 drama classes. That meant something, so we felt talented and important.
We probably all were talented, to a greater or lesser degree, and inexperienced too—in love with acting and convinced that our ability would bring us to the great theaters of this world. We wanted to serve great art, and great art deserved us. That is how we thought then.
Everyday reality looked rather different. The first lesson we had to learn was that drama students kiss and hug always and everywhere. The great figures showed us how. We fell in love with all and sundry, and smoked whatever was offered to us. A year later, when new pupils turned up, we proudly presented ourselves as advanced drama students.
Instead of declaiming Schiller and Shakespeare on stage we first had to learn our craft. Fencing, tap-dancing, singing. Throwing and catching imaginary balls. Recognizing, with closed eyes, fellow students by their hands. What all that had to do with great art only became apparent to us very slowly. We wanted to be on stage. When we were at long, long last allowed to walk the boards, we quickly understood that a dark stage could be the loneliest place in the world.
It is not at all easy for outsiders to comprehend what is supposedly so difficult about learning a few sentences by heart and then presenting them. Of course there is stage fright, but what else? The most complex thing of all is simply walking across the stage. One never quite gets that right. A person crossing a stage is not simply someone walking, but a person acting a part. But what part? That is the problem.
The initial euphoria soon gave way to sobriety. Anyone honest with him—or herself could already ascertain whether he merely believed in the immensity of his talent or whether he really possessed it. It was not difficult to see in oneself and in others who was burning with passion for acting and who only had a flickering talent—because for 3 years one was preoccupied with nothing but oneself, with one’s feelings, voice, body, and the inner barriers which some could surmount and others not. But it was easy to deceive oneself to begin with since for a while passion can be a good substitute for lack of talent.
What has become of us—30 dreams and 17 years later? A long story, above all. No, thirty stories. Some of us are well-known, almost famous. Andrea and April for instance. One has played in a TV opera for years, and the other is the only woman in the actors’ team in Saturday’s quiz show. Some of us have vanished, like Mafia and Mathias. Mafia, who could dance and play the piano so beautifully, simply didn’t return after the vacation in the first year. Mathias, now running a sound studio in Vienna, finally realized that“my ambitions were perhaps a little excessive.”By saying this, he preserved himself from a life—lie with which too many bad actors console themselves: that they are unlucky to be unrecognized, and that if the right director turned up, their immense talent would be appreciated.
Perhaps those are absolutely everyday stories as could be told at any time of any class at any drama school. However, 2 stories of our class stand out, one sad and one wonderful.
The sad story. Eberhard Schmidt had too little time to realize his dreams. He wanted to become a great director and he had already got quite a way as assistant to some eminent directors. He died of AIDS 8 years ago. I only met him once again, at Frankfurt a year before his death.
We were linked because our names followed one another in the alphabet. He was Schmidt and I am Schneider. We were called forward in couples for the 6 tests we had to undergo before both were accepted in the drama school. To begin with of course we were enemies, competitors for one of at most twelve training places per class. The further we got, Schmidt and Schneider, the more we hoped that the other would not be left behind. When we both got through, we embraced. For the first time. And for the second time in Frankfurt when saying good-bye forever.
The wonderful story. Sven Bechtolf is for the moment the only one of us about whom it can already be said that he has achieved even more than we all dared dream at the time. In 1996, he was chosen best director of the year. That was really something.
However, my first meeting with Sven was not very agreeable. Together with 12 others I had just got through the enhance examination. I was sitting with Franziska on a bench in front of the rehearsal stage. Sven, a year ahead of us, stood on some steps, wearing mauve dungarees, and looking us over: motionless and a little arrogant but damned good-looking with a well-structured face, brown eyes, and blonde hair.
Then he came down the steps, right towards me, and then at the last moment swerved aside so as to ask Franziska instead of me: “What’s your name?”
Nevertheless we became friends. 3 years later on the riverbank at night, when we were practising the tap-steps for our final examination in dance, he promised to give me a part in the first film he made.
Today Sven is at once a director and a member of the executive board of the Thalia Theater in Hamburg, one of Germany’s best companies. He has also acted many great parts and was elevated to the aristocracy of the craft.
Right at the end of our training we had to prepare a role that we would probably never perform on stage. I chose Goethe’s Gretchen. No director would have cast me as Gretchen since I lack the blondeness and delicacy for the part. That was the great attraction. At the end of the play,when Gretchen sits in prison close to madness and awaiting death,_she says, “Woe, woe, they are coming. Bitter death.” I gave up the acting profession because of that sentence.
The words simply didn’t flow. I could of course have recited them, but while I was saying this sentence I constantly asked myself:_Who is going to believe in your desperation? I could just as well have said, “Who’s eaten my jelly baby?” or “What, a quarter past 5 already?” There would not have been any difference. In desperation I said this sentence again and again, hoping that a fear of death would arise. The opposite was the case.
What distinguishes a good actor from a bad one—and the reason for my failure which had of course been evident for some time—is credibility. True art consists of making the spectator forget that the actor is only playing a part.
Recognition that this profession was not for me was painful. For 3 years it was my life, a wonderful life. Botho Strauss has written a kind of universal sentence about the theater:“Only theater prevented me from becoming a great actor.” Yes, that’s true of me, too.
17年前,我们三十个年轻人都梦想着在戏剧圈干出一番真正的大事业,那时我们都是20岁左右。我们有充分的理由拥有这样的梦想,毕竟我们是从几百名考生中选拔出来考进萨尔茨堡?莫扎特学院这三个戏剧班的。那可是一件了不起的事情,因此我们自视甚高,认为自己很有才能。
我们也许或多或少都是一些有才华的人,然而,我们也缺乏经验——只是拥有对表演的热爱和对于自己能够走向世界最大剧院的自信。我们希望自己服务于伟大的艺术事业,与此同时,伟大的艺术事业也值得我们为之奋斗一生。当时,我们的想法就是这样的。
然而,现实生活与我们的想象相去甚远。第一节课的时候,我们就得知,戏剧专业的学生要不分时间和地点地接吻和拥抱。那些知名演员给我们作示范,我们要与形形色色的人相爱,无论给我们的是什么烟,我们都要抽。一年之后,当新学生入校后,我们就自豪地摆出一副戏剧专业高年级学生的姿态。
戏剧专业的学生并不是一开始就学习朗诵席勒和莎士比亚的作品,而是先要学习表演。学习的课程包括击剑、踢踏舞、唱歌、抛接想象中的球,以及闭着眼睛摸同学的手来辨认他是谁。所有这一切与伟大艺术有关系的事物,只是一点一点地呈现在我们的眼前。我们期望着登上舞台进行表演,当经历了漫长的学习过程,我们终于获准登上舞台时,我们很快就懂得,世界上最孤单的地方就是那个黑暗的舞台。
外行人或许很难理解把台词记住然后再表演出来,是一件多么艰难的事情。当然还会出现怯场的情况,然而其他困难呢?仅仅走台步就是所有事情中最难的一件了,没有一个人能够走得恰到好处。走台步是在表演一个角色,绝非像人们散步那样简单。然而,是什么角色呢?这就是表演的难题了。
没过多久,清醒代替了最初的兴奋。任何一个能够诚实面对自己的人都能够确定,他或她到底是相信自己的无限才能,还是已经真正拥有了它。看看究竟谁有表演的热情,谁的才情只是一闪而过的火花,这从自身和其他人的身上不难得出答案。因为三年来,我们关注的总是自己的情感、声音、躯体和内心的障碍,有些人战胜了这些障碍,有些人却没有。最初,激情可以暂时弥补才华的缺乏,因此,人们很容易被自己的错觉所欺骗。
17年之后,我们三十个人的梦想变成了什么样子呢?总之,这个故事不是几句话就可以讲完的。不,应该是三十个故事。我们中的一些人已经成名,几乎是家喻户晓了,比如安德烈亚和艾普丽尔,一个多年来一直演电视剧,另一个则是星期六问答秀节目组唯一的女演员。有些人却没了消息,比如马法和马赛厄斯。在记忆中,马法的舞蹈和钢琴都很出色,然而,第一学年的假期之后,他就再也没有回到学校。现在,马赛厄斯在维也纳经营一家录音室,他最终意识到:“也许,我当年的雄心壮志有点儿过头。”他说的倒是真话,不像许多蹩脚的演员,用谎言来自我安慰:没有得到认可是因为运气太差;如果遇见一位能够发掘自己才能的导演,他们无限的才华就能得到赏识。
在任何一所戏剧学校的任何一个班级里,那些都绝对是随时有可能发生的平常事。不过,在我们那个班级里,有两件事情给人们留下的印象最深刻:一件是令人伤心的,另一件则是令人愉快的。
先说说那个令人伤心的故事吧。埃伯哈德?施密特的生命太短暂了,没能实现自己的梦想。他梦想成为一名大导演,在为几位大牌导演当助理的时候,他已初露锋芒。八年前,他死于艾滋病。我后来只在法兰克福见过他一次,那是在他生病去世的前一年。
我们两个人扯上关系是因为按照字母顺序排列,我们的名字是挨着的。他的姓是施密特,我的姓是施奈德。在被戏剧学校录取之前,我们一共要参加6次考试,每次考试的时候,我们总是被叫到一起搭档表演。因为每个班最多录取12个人,因此最初的时候,我们都把彼此当做敌人和竞争对手。到了后来,我们——施密特和施奈德距离希望越近,我们就越不愿意看到对方被淘汰。当两人都被成功录取时,我们拥抱在一起,那是我们第一次拥抱对方。在法兰克福永别时,我们第二次拥抱了对方。
现在说说令人愉快的故事吧。斯文?贝克托夫,他是目前我们当中唯一实现梦想,甚至所达到的目标已经超出了我们当时所设想目标的人。他在1996年被评为年度最佳导演,这可是一个不同寻常的奖项。
然而,我与斯文第一次见面时,彼此相处得并不愉快。当时,我与其他11名同学刚刚通过入学考试,我和弗兰泽斯卡坐在排练台前的一条长椅上。斯文比我们高一个年级,他当时穿着一条紫红色的粗棉布裤子,站在台阶上望着我们。他纹丝不动地站在那里,有点儿傲慢。不过,他长得倒是很英俊——五官俊朗,眼睛是棕色的,一头金发。
然后,他从台阶上走了下来,朝着我走过来,可是到了跟前,他却转向弗兰泽斯卡问道:“你叫什么名字?”
不过,我们还是成了很好的朋友。三年之后,在河边的一个夜晚,当我们正在为舞蹈课的期末考试练习踢踏舞的时候,他向我作了一个承诺,那就是让我在他导演的第一部片子中饰演一个角色。
现在,斯文成为一名导演,同时也是汉堡的塔里亚剧场管理委员会的委员——塔里亚剧场是德国顶级剧场之一。此外,他还成功演绎了许多不朽的角色,人们奉他为演艺界的巨星。
戏剧学院的课程即将结束的时候,每个学生都不得不准备一个可能一生都不会在舞台上表演的角色。我选中了歌德诗剧中的格莱琴,我没有这个角色所需要的一头金发和高雅气质,因此不会有导演让我演这个角色。这就很有意思了,在剧本的结尾,格莱琴坐在监狱中等待死亡的降临,她几近疯狂地说道:“咳,咳,它们即将降临,令人痛苦的死亡。”我之所以放弃演艺事业,就是因为那句台词。
那句台词说得确实不够流畅。当然,我本可以把它们背诵出来,然而,当说这句台词的时候,我总是不断地问自己:谁会相信你的绝望呢?我还不如说:“谁把我的娃娃糖吃了?”或“什么,已经五点一刻了?”效果都是一样的。我绝望地一遍又一遍地重复着这句台词,希望能够找到死亡的恐惧感。然而,结果恰恰相反。
一名出色演员和一名蹩脚演员的区别就在于角色的逼真程度,当然,这显然也是我一段时间以来失败的原因。能够使观众忘记演员仅仅是在扮演一个角色的艺术,才是真正的艺术。
当我意识到自己不适合从事这个职业的时候,我感到非常痛苦。因为这三年就是我的生命,一段非常美好的生活。博托?施特劳斯曾经写过一段关于戏剧的名言:“阻止我成为一名好演员的就是戏剧。”是的,对我来说也是如此。
记忆填空
1. Everyday reality looked_____ different. The first_____we had to learn was that drama students kiss and hug always and everywhere. The great figures showed us___ . We fell in love with all and sundry, and smoked whatever was______ to us.
2. We wanted to be on____. When we were at long, long last allowed to walk the boards, we quickly understood that a____stage could be the loneliest______in the world.
佳句翻译
1. 所有这一切与伟大艺术有关系的事物,都只是一点一点地呈现在我们的眼前。
译________________________________
2. 他还成功演绎了许多不朽的角色,人们奉他为演艺界的巨星。
译________________________________
3. 因为这三年就是我的生命,一段非常美好的生活。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. What all that had to do with great art only became apparent to us very slowly.
have to do with:与……相关
造_______________________________
2. But it was easy to deceive oneself to begin with since for a while passion can be a good substitute....
begin with:以……开始;开始于……
造_______________________________
爱的奇迹
Love Lives Forever
佚名 / Anonymous
My mouth felt dry as I followed my mother into the doctor’s private office and sank into a padded chair next to hers. This doctor didn’t carry a stethoscope. He had a room full of gadgets and gizmos to analyze the learning abilities of failing students. That day he had analyzed me.
He shuffled papers and jabbed his wire frame glasses with a forefinger. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Mrs. Dow, but Peter has dyslexia. A fairly severe case.”
I swallowed and tried to breathe. The doctor went on. “He’ll never read above the 4th-grade level. Since he won’t be able to complete high school requirements, I suggest you enroll him in a trade school where he can learn to work with his hands.”
I didn’t want to go to trade school. I wanted to be a preacher, like my dad. My eyes filled with tears, but I forced them back. A 12-year-old was too big to cry.
Mom stood up, so I jumped to my feet, too. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said. “Come along, Peter.”
We drove home without saying much. I felt numb. Dyslexia? I’d never heard the word until last week. Sure, I was always the slowest kid in my class. During recess I had a special hiding place behind a shrub. There I would cry because I couldn’t do my lessons no matter how hard I tried.
Of course, I never told my mom about that part of school. I was too ashamed. I didn’ t want to worry her, either. She had enough on her mind with teaching school full-time and taking care of dad, my two brothers, my sister and me.
Mom and I arrived home before the rest of the family. I was glad. I wanted some time alone. With my chin almost touching my chest, I pulled off my coat and hung it in the closet. When I turned around my mother was standing right in front of me. She didn’t say anything. She just stood there looking into my eyes with tears running down her cheeks. Seeing her cry was too much for me. Before I knew what was happening, I was in her arms bawling like a big baby. A few minutes later, she led me into the living room to the couch.
“Sit down, honey. I want to talk to you.”_
I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve and waited, plucking at the crease in my trousers.
“You heard what the doctor said about your not finishing school. I don’t believe him.”
I stopped sniffling and looked at her. Her mild blue eyes smiled into mine. Behind them lay an iron will. “We’ll have to work very hard, you and I, but I think we can do it. Now that I know what the problem is, we can try to overcome it. I’m going to hire a tutor who knows about dyslexia. I’ll work with you myself evenings and weekends.” Her eyebrows drew down as she peered at me. “Are you willing to work, Peter? Do you want to try?”
A ray of hope shone through the hazy future. “Yes, Mom. I want to have a try.”
The next 6 years were an endurance run for both of us. I studied with a tutor twice a week until I could haltingly read my lessons. Each night, my mom and I sat at my little desk and rehearsed that day’s schoolwork for at least 2 hours, sometimes until midnight. We drilled for tests until my head pounded and the print blurred before my eyes. At least twice a week, I wanted to quit. I had the strength of a kitten, but my mom’ s courage never wavered.
She’d rise early to pray over my school day. 1000 times I heard her say, “Lord, open Peter’s mind today. Help him remember the things we studied.”
Her vision reached beyond the 3 R’s. Twice I won at statewide speech competitions. I participated in school programmes and earned a license to work as an announcer on a local radio station.
Then my mother developed chronic migraines during my senior year. She blamed the headaches on stress. Some days the intense pain kept her in bed. Still she’d come to my room in the evening, wearing her robe, an ice pack in her hand, to study with me.
We laughed and cried when I passed my senior finals. Two days before graduation I talked to my mother and father about Bible college. I wanted to go, but I was afraid.
Mom said, “Apply at the Bible Institute in our town. You can live at home, and I’ll help you.”
I put my arms around her and hugged her close, a baseball-sized lump in my throat.
A week after graduation, my mom felt a stabbing pain in her head. She became disoriented for just a moment, but seemed to be all right. It was another migraine, she thought, so she went to bed. That night Dad tried to wake her. She was unconscious.
A few hours later, a white-coated doctor told us Mom had an aneurysm that had burst. A massive hemorrhage left us no hope. She died 2 days later.
My grief almost drowned me. For weeks I walked the floor all night, sometimes weeping, sometimes staring at nothing. Did I have a future without my mother? She was my eyes, my understanding, my life. Should I still enroll in Bible School? The thought of going on alone filled me with terror. But, deep inside, I knew I had to move on to the next step, for her.
When I brought home the first term’s books and course outlines, I sat in the chair at my little desk. With trembling fingers, I opened my history book and began to read the first chapter. Suddenly, I looked over at the chair she used to sit in. It was empty, but my heart was full.
Mom’s prayers still followed me. I could feel her presence. I could sense her faith.
In my graduation testimony I said, “Many people had a part in making Bible college a success for me. The person who helped me most is watching from Heaven tonight. To her I say, ‘ Thank you, Mom, for having faith in God and faith in me. You will always be with me.’ ”
我跟着母亲走进医生办公室,一屁股坐到母亲旁边的一把软椅子上,感觉口干舌燥。医生没有戴听诊器,他的房间里满是小装置和小玩意儿,那是用来分析成绩不好的学生是否具有学习障碍的。那天,他给我作了全面检查。
医生不紧不慢地翻看着病历,然后用食指推了推金丝边的眼镜,说:“我很遗憾地告诉你,杜夫人,彼得患的是阅读障碍,比较严重。”
我局促不安,几乎要窒息了,并努力使自己的心情平静下来。医生接着说:“他顶多能读到四年级,既然无法上高中,我建议你还是让他去上职业学校吧,那样,他还能学到一些手艺。”
我不要去职校,我还要像爸爸一样当牧师呢。我热泪盈眶,却强忍住了,我12岁了,已经是大孩子了,不能再哭了。
妈妈站了起来,我也跟着从椅子上跳了起来。“谢谢您,医生!”她说,“走吧,彼得。”
我们没再说什么,便开车回了家。我麻木了,阅读障碍?直到上周我才听说还有这么一种病。的确,我总是班里反应最慢的一个,课间休息时,我总会跑到灌木丛后边去,那是我所拥有的藏身之处。我会躲在那里,偷偷地流泪,因为无论我怎么努力,成绩总是不尽如人意。
当然了,我从未把这些事情告诉妈妈,我很羞愧。况且,我也不想让她为我担心,她在学校里全天上课已够心烦的了,而且她还要照顾爸爸和我们兄弟姐妹四人。
我和妈妈到家时,其他人都还没回来。我很高兴,我想一个人待一会儿。我垂头丧气地脱下外套,把它挂到壁橱里。当我转身时,母亲就站在我的面前,她一句话也没说,只是站在那儿默默地看着我,眼泪簌簌地滑过她的脸。看到她哭得那么伤心,我心里难受极了。不知为什么,我扑到她的怀里像个宝宝似的大哭起来。几分钟后,她把我带到客厅的沙发那儿。
“坐下吧,亲爱的,我想和你聊聊。”
我用袖口抹了抹眼泪,等着她开口,我的手不由自主地摆弄着裤子上的皱褶。
“你都听到了,医生说你不能完成学业,但我不相信。”
我停止了抽泣,盯着她看,她微笑着,那漂亮的蓝眼睛温柔地注视着我,在这温柔的背后隐藏着她无比坚强的意志。“我们必须齐心协力,我想我们一定能成功。现在,我已经知道问题的症结所在,我们要努力克服它。我打算给你请一位懂得如何应对阅读障碍的家庭教师,每天晚上和周末我来陪你一起学习。”她凝视着我,说:“彼得,你想努力学习吗?你愿意尝试一下吗?”
一道希望的曙光照亮了我那无法预知的未来生活。“妈妈,我愿意尝试。”
对我和妈妈来说,接下来的六年就像是漫长的耐力跑。家庭教师一周教我两次,直到我能结结巴巴地读出所学的课文。妈妈每晚陪我坐在小书桌旁,复习当天学校里学的课业,每晚至少要两个小时,有时甚至会到半夜。我们反复地做试卷上的习题,最后我头昏得都看不清卷子和书上的字了。每周至少两次,我都想中途放弃了。我的意志时而坚强时而脆弱,而母亲从未动摇过。
每天她都早早起床,为我的学业祈祷。我无数次地听到她说:“仁慈的上帝啊,开动彼得的脑筋,让他记住我们学过的所有知识吧。”
她对我的要求远远超出了学校所要求的读、写、算的三项基本技能。在州里举办的演讲比赛中,我两次获奖。我参加了学校的活动,并获得了地方电台播音员资格证书。
在我上高中时,母亲患上了慢性偏头疼,她说是压力过大所致。有时头疼得厉害,她不得不卧床休息,晚上她还是照旧穿着睡袍来到我的房间,手上攥着一包冰块,陪我学习。
我顺利地通过了高中毕业考试,我们激动得又哭又笑。毕业前两天,我向父母提到想去基督教神学院,我说我想去那所学院读书,可又怕进不去。
妈妈说:“申请我们镇里那所神学院吧,你还可以住家里,我仍能陪你一起学习。”
我激动得说不出话来,紧紧地拥抱了她。
毕业后的一星期,妈妈的头疼得更厉害了,如刀割一般。有一小会儿她有些失常,但似乎不是什么大问题,她以为是偏头疼又发作,就上床休息了。那天晚上,父亲努力想把她唤醒,她却完全失去了知觉。
几个小时后,一位穿白大褂的医生对我们说,母亲是动脉瘤恶化,出现了大出血。我们已经无法挽回她的生命,两天后,母亲便去世了。
我几乎难以承受失去母亲的巨大悲痛,接连几个星期,我整夜在地板上踱来踱去,时而哭泣,时而发愣。没有了母亲,我的未来将会怎样?她是我的双眼、我的生命,是我最知心的人。我是否还要去神学院呢?一想到未来的一切都要靠我自己,一种莫名的恐惧袭上心头。但是,在我的内心深处,我坚定了要走好下一步的信念,为了我的母亲,我要走下去。
我把第一学期的教材和大纲带回了家,坐在小书桌前,我用颤抖的双手打开历史课本,开始读第一课。突然,我看了一眼母亲常坐的那把椅子,上面空空的,我的心却十分踏实。
母亲的祈祷时刻伴随着我,我能感觉到她就在我左右,并能感受到她对我的信心。
在大学毕业典礼发言时,我讲道:“在神学院的求学生涯中,我得到过许多人的帮助,得以顺利地读完大学。对我给予帮助和鼓励最大的人此刻正在天堂遥望着我,我要对她说:‘感谢您,妈妈!是您对上帝的信仰和对我的信心,才使我能有今天的成就。您将永远驻留在我的心间。’”
心灵小语
爱,感人心肺,如天国的鲜花,永恒而甜蜜;如一盏明灯,将黑夜慢慢照亮;如山间清泉,滋润干枯的躯体。
记忆填空
1. I swallowed and tried to____. The doctor went on.“He’ll never____above the fourth-grade level.___ he won’t be able to complete high school requirements, I suggest you enroll him in a trade school where he can learn to work with his____ .”
2. Of course, I____told my mom about that part of school. I was too ashamed. I didn’t want to____her, either. She had____ on her mind with teaching school full-time and taking care of dad, my two brothers, my sister and me.
佳句翻译
1. 一道希望的曙光照亮了我那无法预知的未来生活。
译________________________________
2. 对我和妈妈来说,接下来的六年就像是漫长的耐力跑。
译________________________________
3. 在神学院的求学生涯中,我得到过许多人的帮助。
译________________________________
短语应用
1. I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve and waited, plucking at the crease in my trousers.
pluck at:抓住;拉住
造_______________________________
2. She blamed the headaches on stress.
blame on:推诿;责怪……;把……归咎于,归罪于
造_______________________________
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