口语练习-英语美文(中英文)15篇

./Chapter1.EveryLivingPersonHasProblems单词与词组Wordsandphrasesingredient n.组成物tough a.坚强的soarv.高涨perceive v.觉察mirage n.海市蜃楼profanityn.亵渎positivea.实际的setbackn.挫折copout 逃避initiatev.开始,发起bottomline基础predicamentn.困境stick...out坚持lifespann.生命期限thawv.融化,溶解根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵.What︵isthesecretingredient︵oftoughpeople▼thatenablesthemtosucceed?↘Whydotheysurvivethetoughtimes▼whenothersareovercomebythem?↘Whydotheywinwhenotherslose?↘Whydotheysoarwhenotherssink?↘Theanswerisverysimple.It'sall︵inhowtheyperceivetheirproblems.Yes,everylivingpersonhasproblems.Aproblem-freelifeis︵an︵illusion-amirage︵inthedesert.Acceptthatfact.Everymountainhasapeak.Everyvalleyhasitslowpoint.Lifehasitsups︵anddowns,↗itspeaks︵andvalleys.↘Nooneis︵upallthetime,↘nor︵aretheydownallthetime.Problemsdoend.Theyareallresolved︵intime. Youmaynotbeabletocontrolthetimes,butyoucancompose︵yourresponse.Youcanturnyourpain︵intoprofanity-orintopoetry.Thechoice︵is︵uptoyou.Youmaynothavechosenyourtoughtime,butyoucanchoosehowyouwillreacttoit.Forinstance,↗whatisthepositivereaction▼toaterriblefinancialsetback?↘Inthissituation↗woulditbethepositivereactiontocop︵outandrun︵away?↗Escapethroughalcohol,↗drug,↗orsuicide?↘No!Suchnegativereactionsonlyproducegreaterproblems▼bypromisingatemporarysolutiontothepressingproblem.Thepositivesolutiontoaproblem▼mayrequirecouragetoinitiateit.Whenyoucontrolyourreactiontotheseeminglyun-controllableproblem︵oflife,then︵infactyoudocontroltheproblem'seffect︵onyou.Yourreactiontotheproblemisthelastword!That'sthebottomline.Whatwill︵youletthisproblemdotoyou?↘Itcanmakeyoutender↗ortough.↘Itcanmakeyoubetter↗orbitter.↘Italldepends︵onyou. Inthefinal︵analysis,thetoughpeoplewhosurvivethetoughtimesdoso▼becausethey'vechosentoreactpositively▼totheirpredicament.Toughtimesneverlast,buttoughpeopledo.Toughpeoplestick︵it︵out.Historyteaches︵usthateveryproblemhas︵alifespan.Noproblem︵ispermanent.Storms︵alwaysgive︵waytothesun.Winteralwaysthaws︵intospringtime.Yourstormwillpass.Yourwinterwillthaw.Yourproblemwillbesolved.背诵小贴士Recitationtips关键词：1.secretingredient,toughpeople,survive-overcome,win-lose,soar-sink.2.perceiveproblems,illusion.3.peak,low,upsanddowns,end,resolved.4.controltimes,composeresponse,react,financialsetback,positive,negative,controlreaction,lastword.5.reactpositively,toughtimes,toughpeople,stickout,permanent,storm-sun,winter-springtime.参考译文人人有本难念的经坚韧不拨的人成功的秘诀是什么？他们为什么能挺过艰难的时刻,而其他人却被困难所压倒？为什么成功的是他们,而失败的是其他人？为什么他们一飞冲天,而其他人都深陷泥沼？答案很简单,全看他们是如何看待自己面临的难题.不错,人人有本难念的经.没有难题困扰的人生只能是一个幻想,是沙漠中的海市蜃楼.还是接受这个事实吧.每一座山都有巅峰,每一个峡谷都有深底.人生也有兴衰起伏,不会有人一生都时乖命蹇.难题总有了结的一天.随着时间的推移,一切难题都会迎刃而解.你也许不能控制时势,可是你能够冷静应对.你既可以把痛苦转换为怨天尤人的诅咒,也可以赋予之以诗意,这全在于你自己的选择.时运不济的你或许无从选择,但是你可以选择应对的方略.譬如,遭遇一次严重的经济挫折,究竟怎么做才称得上积极应对呢？放弃而后潜逃？借酒浇愁？吸毒麻醉？抑或自杀？这样的逃避是积极应对吗？当然不是！这样一些消极的反应似乎暂时解决了迫在眉睫的难题,但事实上只会招致更棘手的难题.积极的应对只能是鼓起勇气着手解决.对于人生中看似无法控制的难题,当你能够控制自己的应对,那么你就事实上控制了难题对你的影响.你对难题的应对是至关重要的、最根本的.难题能对你产生什么样的影响呢？它可以使你脆弱,也可以使你坚强；它可以使你升华,也可以使你痛苦.全在于你自己.归根结底,坚韧的人之所以能挺过艰难的岁月,是因为他们选择积极地去应对困境.艰难的岁月不会没完没了,坚韧的人会始终不懈,坚持到底.历史告诉我们,每一个难题都有始有终,任何难题都不会永远存在.暴风雨过后一定是灿烂的阳光.严冬必然会化为春光.你的暴风雨也会过去,你的冬天也会回暖.你的难题终将解决.Chapter2.Winners单词与词组Wordsandphrasespotential n. 潜力creatively adv.创造性地productive v. 能产的authenticity n. 真实性authentic a. 真实可信的credible a. 可靠的actualize v. 实现unprecedented a. 空前的evaluate v. 评估bound a. 被束缚的awed a. 表示敬畏的spontaneous a. 自发的zest n. 热情compassionate a. 富同情心的adversity n. 逆境根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵. Eachhumanbeingisborn︵assomethingnew,something▼thatneverexistedbefore.Heisbornwithwhatheneeds▼towinatlife.Eachpersoninhisownway▼cansee,↗hear,↗touch,↗taste,↗andthinkforhimself.↘Eachhashisuniquepotentials,hiscapabilities︵andlimitations.Eachcanbeasignificant,↗thinking,↗aware,↗andcreativelyproductiveperson▼inhisownright-awinner.Winnershavedifferentpotentials.Achievement︵isnotthemost︵importantthing.Authenticityis.Theauthenticpersonexperiencestherealityofhimself▼byknowinghimself,↗beinghimself,↗andbecomingacredible,↗responsiveperson.Heactualizeshis︵own︵unprecedenteduniqueness▼andappreciatestheuniqueness︵of︵others. Awinnerisnot︵afraidtodohis︵ownthinking▼andtousehis︵ownknowledge.Hecanseparatefactsfrom︵opinion↗▼anddoesn'tpretendtohavealltheanswers.Helistenstoothers,↗evaluateswhattheysay,↗butcomestohisownconclusions.↘Whilehecanadmireandrespect︵otherpeople,heisnottotallydefined,↗bound,↗orawedbythem.↘ Awinnercanbespontaneous.Hedoesn'thavetorespond︵inpredetermined,↗rigidways.Hecanchangehisplanswhenthesituationcallsfor︵it.Awinnerhas︵azestforlife.Heenjoyswork,↗play,↗food,↗otherpeople,↗andtheworld︵ofnature.↘Withoutguiltheenjoyshisownaccomplishments.Withoutenvyheenjoystheaccomplishments︵of︵others.Althoughawinnercanfreelyenjoyhimself,hecanalsopostpone︵enjoyment.Hecandisciplinehimselfinthepresent▼toenhancehisenjoyment︵inthefuture.Heisnot︵afraidtogoafterwhathewants▼butdoessoin︵appropriateways.Hedoesnotgethissecuritybycontrollingothers. Awinnercares︵abouttheworldand︵itspeople.Heisnot︵isolatedfromthegeneralproblems︵ofsociety.Heisconcerned,↗compassionate↗andcommittedtoimprovingthequalityoflife.Even︵intheface︵ofnational↗andinternational︵adversity,hedoesnotseehimself︵astotallypowerless.Hedoeswhathecantomaketheworld▼abetterplace.背诵小贴士Recitationtips仔细地思考这些问题：1.我是在做自己吗？我了解自己吗？我对周围的人和事做出回应吗？AmIauthentic?DoIknowmyself?AmIbeingmyself?AmIresponsive?2.我听别人说话时有意识地在评价吗？我是否真的独立思考,而非人云亦云？DoIdomyownthinkingandusemyownknowledge?DoIlistentoothersandevaluatewhatsay?3.我是否自然不做作,天然无矫饰？我是否快乐,友好？AmIspontaneous?DoIhaveazestforlife?DoIenjoywork,play,food,otherpeople,andtheworldofnature?4.我是否有足够的自控力？AmIabletodisciplinemyselftopostponeenjoymentinordertohaveenhancedenjoymentinthefuture?5.我不是个冷漠无情的人吧？DoIcareabouttheworldanditspeople?参考译文成功者每一个人生来就是一个先前从未存在过的崭新的个体.他在人生中成功立业的能力与生俱来.每一个人都可以以其独特的方式观察、倾听、触摸、体味和思索大千世界.每个人都有独一无二的潜质--才干和局限.每一个人都可以凭自己的努力成为一个有价值、有头脑、有感悟、有创造力、有成就的人,即成功者.成功者的潜质各不相同.成就并不是最重要的,活得真实才是.一个真实的人通过了解自我、坚持自我,使自己成为值得信赖、乐于回应的人来体验真实的自我.他实现独特的永不重复的自我,同时也尊重他人的独特性.成功者不惮于用自己的头脑去思考,用自己的感官去体会大千世界.他能够区分出哪些是事实、哪些是观点.同时并不宣称洞察一切.他倾听他人的意见,评估他们的话语,可是结论要由自己作出,他可以钦慕、敬重别人,可是他决不为他人所局限、所束缚,不会对他们敬若神灵.成功者是自在的.他无须以既定的、僵硬的方式用出回应.一旦情况改变,他会相应地变更计划.成功者对人生充满了热忱.他享受工作、玩乐和美食、欣赏他人并钟爱大自然.他享受成功的乐趣而问心无愧；他分享他人的成就而心无芥蒂.成功者可以自由自在地享受人生,他还可以延缓这种享受.为了未来的享受更加丰厚,他可以在时下约束自己,追求自己的目标,他无所畏惧,但总是行之有道,不逾规矩.他不会为了自己的安全感去控制他人.成功者关注世界,关心他人.对于社会的普遍问题,他从不置身事外.他有一颗关注的心、同情的心,全身心致力于提高人生的质量.即便在本国或国际间发生困难之际,他也不会感到无能为力.他竭尽力之所能,使这个世界成为更加美好的地方.Chapter3.Losers单词与词组Wordsandphrasestransition n. 转变interdependence n.互相依赖nutrition n.营养inadequate n.不适当的traumatic a.创伤的deter v. 阻止autonomy n. 自主actualization n. 实现cope v. 处理hangonto 紧紧握住repress v. 压制channel v. 引导根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵. Althoughpeople︵areborntowin,theyare︵alsobornhelpless▼andtotallydependent︵ontheirenvironment.Winnerssuccessfullymakethetransitionfromtotalhelplessness↗▼toindependenceandthen↗▼tointerdependence.Losersdonot.Somewherealongtheline▼theybegintoavoidbecomingself-responsible.Fewpeoplearetotalwinners↗orlosers.Most︵ofthemarewinners︵insomeareas︵oftheirlives▼andlosers︵inothers.Theirwinning↗orlosingisinfluenced▼bywhathappenstothem︵inchildhood. Alack︵ofresponsetodependencyneeds,↗poornutrition,↗brutality,↗unhappyrelationships,↗disease,↗continuingdisappointments,↗inadequatephysicalcare,↗andtraumatic︵events↘▼areamongthemanyexperiences▼thatcontributetomakingpeoplelosers.Such︵experiencesinterrupt,↗deter,↗orpreventthenormalprogresstowardautonomy↗▼andself-actualization.Tocopewithnegativeexperiences▼achildlearnstomanipulatehimself︵andothers.Thesemanipulativetechniquesarehardtogiveup▼later︵inlifeandoftenbecomesetpatterns.Awinnerworkstoshedthem.Aloserhangs︵ontothem. Aloserrepresseshiscapacity▼toexpressspontaneouslyandappropriatelyhisfullrange︵ofpossiblebehavior.Hemaybeunaware︵ofother︵optionsforhislife▼ifthepathhechoosesgoesnowhere.Heis︵afraidtotrynewthings.Hemaintainshis︵ownstatus.Heis︵arepeater.Herepeatsnot︵onlyhismistakes,but︵alsothose︵ofhisfamilyandculture. Aloserhasdifficultygiving↗andreceiving︵affection.Hedoesnotenter︵intointimate,↗honest,↗directrelationshipswith︵others.Instead,hetriestomanipulatethemintoliving︵uptohisexpectations▼andchannelshisenergiesintoliving︵uptotheirexpectations.背诵小贴士Recitationtips精品句子！人生向来很无助,很无奈,成功者学习摆脱这种无助的状态,达到独立,自主的状态.失败者只要愿意,也能做到！1.Winnerssuccessfullymakethetransitionfromtotalhelplessnesstoindependence,andthentointerdependence.Losersdonot.2.Fewpeoplearetotalwinnersorlosers.3.Therearemanyexperiencesthatcontributetomakingpeoplelosers.4.Aloserrepresseshiscapacitytoexpressspontaneouslyandappropriatelyhisfullrangeofpossiblebehavior.5.Aloserhasdifficultygivingandreceivingaffection.参考译文失败者尽管成功立业的能力与生俱来,人们出生之际也是无助的,完完全全地依赖环境而生存.成功者顺利地从完全的无助过渡到自立,接着再过渡到人际间的相互依存.失败者则不然.在这一过程的某一环节上,他们开始不愿对自己负责.很少有人是完全的成功者或失败者.大多数人在人生的某些方面是成功者,而在另外一些方面则是失败者.人的成功和失败与童年的经历有关.诸如婴幼儿时期无人照顾,营养不良,受到虐待,不良的人际关系,疾病,接踵而至的挫折,不良的医疗条件造成心灵创痛的事件等,这一切经历都可能导致人生的失败.这些经历中断、延缓或阻碍了走向自立和自我实现的正常进程.在应付负面经历的过程中,小孩子学会了操纵自己和他人.这些操纵性手腕在成年后很难弃绝,常常变成顽固的习性,成功者竭力弃绝这种习性,而失败者深陷其中,难以自拔.失败者压抑自己以自然而得体的方式灵活行事的能力.他选择的道路是条死胡同,他不明白人生中还有其他许多选择.他不敢进行新的尝试.他维持着现状.他只在原地踏步,不仅重复着自己的错误,而且重复着他的家庭和本民族的错误.失败者难以表达或接受爱意.他从不与他人建立亲密、诚实而直率的关系.反之,他试图操纵他人,希望他人不辜负他的期望,而自己也竭力去迎合他人的期望.Chapter4.IfIWereaBoyAgain单词与词组Wordsandphrasesperseverance n. 毅力surmount v.爬上顶端pyramid n. 金字塔school v. 锻炼cultivation n. 培养frown v. 皱眉courtesy n. 礼貌根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵. If︵Iwere︵aboyagain,Iwouldpractiseperseverancemoreoften,andnevergive︵up︵athingbecauseit︵washardor︵inconvenient.Ifwewantlight,↗wemustconquerdarkness.Perseverancecansometimes︵equalgeniusin︵itsresults."There︵are︵onlytwocreatures,"says︵aproverb,"whocansurmountthepyramids-theeagle↗andthesnail." If︵Iwere︵aboyagain,Iwouldschoolmyself︵intoahabit︵ofattention;Iwouldletnothingcomebetweenme↗andthesubject︵inhand.Iwouldrememberthat▼agoodskaternevertriestoskate︵intwodirections︵at︵once.Thehabit︵of︵attentionbecomespart︵of︵ourlife,ifwebeginearlyenough.Ioftenheargrown-uppeoplesay,"Icouldnotfixmyattentiononthelecture↗orbook,althoughIwishedtodoso,"andthereason︵is,thehabitwasnotformed︵inyouth. If︵Iweretolivemylifeover︵again,Iwouldpaymoreattentiontothecultivation︵ofthememory.Iwouldstrengthenthatfacultybyeverypossiblemeans,and,on︵everypossibleoccasion.Ittakes︵alittlehardwork︵atfirst▼torememberthings︵accurately;butmemorysoonhelps︵itself,andgivesverylittletrouble.It︵onlyneedsearlycultivation▼tobecome︵apower. If︵Iwere︵aboyagain,Iwouldlook︵onthecheerfulside.Life︵isverymuchlike︵amirror:ifyousmile︵upon︵it,itsmilesback︵upon︵you;butifyoufrown︵andlookdoubtful︵on︵it,youwillget︵asimilarlook︵inreturn.Innersunshinewarmsnot︵onlytheheart︵oftheowner,but︵ofallthatcome︵incontactwith︵it.Whoshutslove︵out,inturnshallbeshutfromlove. If︵Iwere︵aboyagain,Iwouldschoolmyselftosay"No"oftener.Imightwritepages︵ontheimportance︵oflearningveryearlyinlife▼togainthatpoint▼whereayoungboycanstand︵erect,anddeclinedoingan︵unworthyact▼becauseit︵is︵unworthy. If︵Iwere︵aboyagain,Iwoulddemand︵ofmyselfmorecourtesy▼towardsmycompanions︵↗andfriends,and︵indeedtowardsstrangers︵aswell.Thesmallestcourtesies︵alongtheroughroads︵oflife▼arelikethelittlebirdsthatsingtousallwinterlong,andmakethatseason︵of︵ice︵andsnow▼moreendurable.Finally,instead︵oftryinghardtobehappy,as︵ifthatwerethesolepurpose︵oflife,Iwould,if︵Iwere︵aboyagain,trystillhardertomakeothershappy.背诵小贴士Recitationtips记住关键词：practiseperseverance,developahabitofattention,strengthenmemory,lookonthecheerfulside,say'no'oftener,showmorecourtesytoothers,tobehappyisnotthesolepurposeoflife.参考译文这是一篇非常好的文章,作者用平常的话语道出深刻的生活哲理,希望能给您增添勇气和智慧.假如我再回到童年假如我再回到童年,我会更多地培养自己的毅力,决不因为事情艰难或麻烦而放弃不干.如果我们需要光明,我们就得征服黑暗.在产生的结果方面,毅力往往可以与天才相妣美.谚语说："能登上金字塔的生物只有两种--雄鹰与蜗牛."假如我再回到童年,我会培养自己专心致志的习惯；一旦手头有事,决不让任何东西使我分心.我会牢记：一位优秀的溜冰手从不试图同时滑向两个不同的方向.如果及早养成专心致志的习惯,它就会成为我们生命的一个部分.我常常听到成年人说："尽管我希望集中注意力听讲课或读书,但往往做不到."其原因就在于年轻时没有养成这种习惯.假如我能重新活过,我会更加注意培养自己的记忆力.我要采取一切可能的办法,在一切可能的场合,增强记忆力.要精确地记住一切事物,起初的确要作出一番小小的努力；但用不了多久,记忆力本身就会起作用,使记忆成为轻而易举的事.只需及早培养,记忆自会成为一种才能.假如我再回到童年,我会凡事都看光明的一面.生活就像一面镜子：你朝它微笑,它也会朝你微笑；但如果你朝它皱眉头,它也会朝你皱眉头；如果你用怀疑的目光看待它,它也会以同样怀疑的目光看待你.内心的阳光不仅温暖了自己的心,同时也温暖了所有跟他接触的人的心."谁将爱拒之门外,谁就会被爱拒之门外."假如我再回到童年,我就要养成经常说"不"的习惯.我可以写上好几页,谈谈早期培养这一点的重要性.一个少年要能挺得起腰杆,拒绝做不值得做的事--就因为它不值得做.假如我再回到童年,我会要求自己对待同伴和朋友更礼貌,而且对陌生人也同样如此.在坎坷的人生道路上,最细小的礼貌犹如在漫长的冬季为我们歌唱的小鸟,使得冰天雪地的严冬变得较易忍受.最后,假如我再回到童年,我不会竭力为自己谋幸福--仿佛那是人生的唯一目标；与之相反,我会更加努力--让他人幸福.Chapter5.IDreadtheEndoftheYear单词与词组Wordsandphrasesdread v. 惧怕psychologist n.心理学家fogy n. 守旧者Goethe n. 歌德<诗人>immense a. 无边的根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵. "Idreadtocometotheend︵oftheyear",said︵afriendtomerecently,"itmakesmerealize▼Iamgrowingold." WilliamJames,thegreatpsychologist,saidthatmostmenare"oldfogies︵attwenty-five".Hewasright.Mostmen︵attwenty-five▼aresatisfiedwiththeirjobs.Theyhave︵accumulatedthelittlestock︵ofprejudices▼thattheycalltheir"Principles,"andclosedtheirmindstoallnewideas;theyhaveceasedtogrow. Theminute▼amanceasestogrow-nomatterwhathisyears-thatminutehebeginstobeold.Ontheotherhand,thereallygreatmannevergrowsold.Goethepassed︵outateighty-three,andfinishedhisFaust▼onlyafewyears︵earlier;Gladstonetook︵up︵anewlanguage▼whenhewasseventy.Laplace,↗theastronomer,↗wasstill︵atwork▼whendeathcaught︵upwithhim▼atseventy-eight.Hediedcrying,"Whatweknowisnothing;whatwedonotknowis︵immense." Andthereyouhavetherealanswertothequestion,"When︵is︵amanold?↘"Laplaceatseventy-eightdiedyoung.Hewasstill︵unsatisfied,stillsurethathehad︵alottolearn. Aslong︵as︵amancankeephimself︵inthatattitude︵ofmind,↗aslong︵ashecanlookback︵oneveryyear▼andsay,"Igrew,"heisstillyoung. Theminuteheceasestogrow,theminutehesaystohimself,"Iknowallthat︵Ineedtoknow,"--thatdayyouthstops.Hemaybetwenty-five︵orseventy-five,itmakesnodifference.Onthatday▼hebeginstobeold.背诵小贴士Recitationtips这篇文章是典型的摆事实,讲道理的结构,作者从几个方面反复论证一个道理：Theminuteamanceasestogrow-nomatterwhathisyears-thatminutehebeginstobeold.Ontheotherhand,thereallygreatmannevergrowsold.前两段不背也罢,后面的把几个事例记住就好了.参考译文；；我惧怕岁末年尾 "我惧怕临近岁末年尾",一位朋友最近对我说："它使我意识到我正在变老."伟大的心理学家威廉·詹姆斯就曾说过,大多数人"25岁时就成了守旧落伍者".他的话是对的.大多数人25岁时就满足于他们的工作.他们已经积累了一些他们称之为"原则"的偏见,对所有新的思想关闭心灵之门；他们已经停止成长.一个人一旦停止成长--不管他年龄多大--他就开始衰老.反之,真正的伟人从来不会衰老.歌德享年83岁,逝世前几年才完成《浮士德》；格莱斯顿70岁时又开始学习一门外国语；法国天文学家拉普拉斯78岁死时还在工作着.临死前,他大声喊道："我们所知的太少太少,我们所不知的太多太多." "一个人何时变老？",从这类事例中对这个问题你已经有了真正的答案.拉普拉斯78岁逝世时依然年轻.他依旧不满足,依旧感到许多东西要学.一个人,只要他能够保持这种心态,只要他在回首过去的一年时能够说"我在成长",他就依然年轻.他一旦停止成长,他一旦对自己说"我该懂的都懂了",这个时候他的青春也就完了.他可能在25岁时死去,也可能在75岁时死去,这都没有区别.就在那一天,他开始变老.Chapter单词与词组Wordsandphrasespredictable a. 可预言的prime n.青春,精华computation n. 计算possess v. 拥有trade-off n. 交换,平衡quotient n. 商,份额sonata n.奏鸣曲根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵. Theups︵↗anddowns︵oflife▼mayseemtohavenopredictableplan.Butscientistsknow▼there︵areverydefinitepatterns▼thatalmost︵allpeopleshare.Even︵ifyou'vepassedsome︵ofyour"prime",youstillhaveotherprimeyearstoexperience▼inthefuture.Certain︵importantprimesseemtopeaklater︵inlife. When︵areyousmartest?↘From18-25,accordingtoI.Q.scores;butyou'rewiser↗andmoreexperienced▼with︵increasing︵age. You'resharpest︵inyour20's;around30,memorybeginstodecline,particularlyyour︵abilitytoperformmathematicalcomputations.ButyourI.Q.for︵othertasksclimbs.Yourvocabularyat︵age45,for︵example,isthreetimes︵asgreat︵aswhenyougraduatedfromcollege.At60,↗yourbrainpossesses︵almost▼fourtimes︵asmuch︵information︵as︵itdid▼atage21.Thistrade︵-offbetweensharpness︵↗andwisdomhasledpsychologiststosuggestthat▼↗"maturityquotients"<M.Q.>beadoptedforadults.When︵areyouhappiest?↘Youhavethebestphysicalsense︵ofyourself▼from15to24;thebestprofessionalsense▼from40to49. Before︵age24,webelievethatourhappiestyears︵areyettocome;over30,webelievethatthey'rebehind︵us.ANationalHealthSurveyagrees:After︵age30,we"becomemorerealistic▼anddonotviewhappiness︵as︵agoal︵in︵itself.Ifwemaintain︵ourhealth,↗achieveprofessional︵↗When︵areyoumostcreative?↘Generallybetween30and39,butthepeakvarieswithdifferentprofessions.Mozartwrote︵asymphonyandfoursonatas▼byageeight,andMendelssohncomposed︵hisbestknownwork▼AMidsummerNight'sDream,at17,butmost︵ofthegreatmusic▼waswrittenbymen▼between33and39.Thoughthepeak︵inmostfieldscomesearly-mostNobelprizewinnersdidtheirtopresearch▼intheirlate20'sand30's-creativepeoplecontinuetoproducequalitywork▼throughouttheirlives.Forthe"well-conditionedmind",there︵isnoupperlimit.↘背诵小贴士Recitationtips三个大段：1.Whenareyousmartest?2.Whenareyouhappiest?3.Whenareyoumostcreative?再回到主题：ArethesethebestyearsofyourLife?想一想！参考译文这是你生命的最佳时期吗？人生的起伏似乎没有可以预知的模式,但是科学家现在发现有一些模式相当明确,绝大多数人都不例外.即使你度过了一些最佳时期,你仍然会在将来经历另外几个最佳时期.某些最佳时期似乎在生命的后半段才会到来.什么时候你最聪明？根据智商得分,你从15岁至25岁最聪明.然而,随着年龄的增长,你更加具有智慧和经验. 20多岁的时候你的思维最敏捷；30岁左右,记忆力开始衰退,尤其是你的数学计算能力.然而你做其他事情的智商提高了.例如45岁时你的词汇量是你刚从大学毕业时的3倍.60岁时你大脑中储存的信息几乎是你21岁时的4倍.敏锐和智慧之间的这种消长,已经使得心理学家们提出了在成年人中采用"成熟商"这一概念.什么时候你的自我感觉最好？15岁至24岁之间你的身体感觉最好；40岁至49岁之间你对自己的职业感觉最佳. 24岁之前,我们相信自己最快乐的日子尚未到来；过了30岁,我们就认为最快乐的时光已经过去.一项全国性的健康调查也揭示了同样的结果：30岁过后,我们变得更加实际,不把幸福当成生命本身的一种目标.我们认为,只要我们保持健康,事业上、情感上称心如意,那么我们就觉得幸福便会随之而来.什么时候你最富创造力？一般在30岁至39岁之间.但是不同的职业,高峰期也不相同.莫扎特8岁时就创作了一部交响曲、4首奏鸣曲；门德尔松17岁就完成了他的最著名的作品《仲夏夜之梦》,但是大部分伟大的音乐作品都是人们在33岁至39岁之间创作出来的.虽然大多数领域的最佳状态来得比较早--大多数诺贝尔奖获得者都是在25岁以后、30多岁时完成他们最出色的研究--但是创造型的人会在生命中不断地完成高质量的工作.对于"状态良好的大脑",不存在上限.Chapter单词与词组Wordsandphrasesprofoundly adv. 深深地ordinary a.平凡的frustration n. 挫败accomplishment n.成就anguish n. 痛苦crucial a. 至关紧要的inclination n.倾向inevitable a. 必然的disservice n. 伤害根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵.Lookingback︵overmylife,itseemstomethat▼Ihavelearnedthemost▼when︵Ifeltthegreatestpain.Mymother'sdeath,for︵example,madememoreprofoundlyaware︵ofthebeautyinnature.Mycapacityforfindingjoyinthemostordinaryevents<watching︵aflower︵open,↗leavesturningred,↗abirdtaking︵abath↘>seemstodeepeneachtimeIlivethroughgreatsorrow.Deathmakeslifemoreprecious;↗frustrationmakessuccessmorefulfilling;↗failuremakesthenext︵accomplishmentmoremeaningful. In︵ordertofeeldeeply▼it︵isnecessarytofeel︵everything.It︵is︵impossibletochoose.Youcan'treallyknow▼howgreat▼isyoursense︵ofjoyat︵ababy'sbirth▼oryoursatisfaction︵atsucceeding︵at︵ahardjob▼unlessyouare︵alsodeeplyaware︵oftheanguish︵ofseparation▼↗andthepain︵offailure.↘It'sthroughthecapacitytofeel▼thatwediscover︵ourselves︵andothers▼andexplorethepotentialfor︵afull,↗significantlife. This︵is︵an︵especiallycrucialissueforparents.Ournatural︵inclination︵istotrytoprotectchildrenfrompain.Wehavethemistakennotionthat▼if︵achild︵ishappy▼wearedoing︵agoodjob;if︵achild︵issad▼wearefailingasparents.Butgivingchildrenthemessagethat▼happyisgood▼↗andsad︵isterrible▼↘decreasestheircapacitytoexplorethefullrange︵ofhuman︵experiences.Childrenneedtounderstandthat▼suffering,↗frustration↗andfailure↘arenot︵onlyinevitable▼buthelpful.Theparentwhotook︵asimplepuzzle︵awayfrom︵afour-year︵-oldchild▼hasdreadfulfeeling▼because"hegetstooupset︵andfrustrated▼whenhecan'tget︵itright︵immediately,"--didthechild︵agreatdisservice.Childrenneedtoexperiencesuchfeelings︵astheygrowup;ithelpsthemtodevelopthepatience,↗persistence︵↗and︵ability↘tocope▼thatthey'llneed▼when︵ascientific︵experimentfails,or︵alowgrade︵isreceived▼afterdiligentstudy.There︵isnothingsoterrible︵aboutfailing↘andfeelingpain;whathurts▼inthelongrun▼is▼nottrying▼because︵ofthefear︵ofpain.背诵小贴士Recitationtips我们都害怕痛苦,事实上没有痛苦做为参照,我们又怎能体会欢欣的价值？1.Lookingbackovermylife,itseemstomethatIhavelearnedthemostwhenIfeltthegreatestpain.Death-life;frustration-success;failure-accomplishment.2.Childrenneedtounderstandthatsuffering,frustrationandfailurearenotonlyinevitablebuthelpful.参考译文痛苦与成长回首往事,我觉得最痛苦的经历似乎给了我最大启迪.比方说,母亲的去世让我更加深切地体会到大自然的美好.每经受一次大的痛苦,我在对日常事物中发现愉悦的能力〔观赏花儿开放,叶儿变红,鸟儿沐浴就增加一分.死亡使得生命格外珍贵；挫折使得成功更加完满；失败使得下一次成就更有意义.要想感受深切,就须感受一切,有所选择地感受是不可能的.你没有深切体会到分娩的阵痛,又哪能真正领悟到新生命诞生的巨大喜悦？你没有深切体会到失败的痛楚,又哪能真正领悟到成功完成一项艰巨工作之后的满足？我们在感受之中发现自己和他人,探索完满而有意义的生活的可能性.这尤其是父母面临的一个严峻问题.做家长的总是情不自禁地竭力避免让孩子受苦.我们错误地认为,只要孩子幸福,家长就算尽了职,而孩子不幸,家长就是失了职.但是,让孩子感知幸福即好、不幸即糟这一讯息,则削弱了他们全面发掘人生经验的能力.孩子们应该懂得,痛苦、挫折和失败非但不可避免,而且非常有益.父母拿走四岁孩子手中的智力玩具,唯恐"他一时做不好就会灰心丧气",这无异于害了孩子.孩子们在成长过程中需要这样的情感经历,这种情感经历有助于培养孩子的耐心、毅力和能力,让他们将来在科学实验失败的时候,在经过努力学习仍取得低分的时候,都能够处之泰然.失败和痛苦并不可怕；归根结底,真正有害的是因为惧怕痛苦而拒绝尝试.Chapter单词与词组Wordsandphrasesequate v. 使相等abiding a.持久的glamorous a. 有魅力的cling v. 坚持diminish v. 使减少endeavor n. 努力inevitably adv.不可避免地inevitable a. 必然的civic a. 市民的根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵. Ilive︵inHollywood.Youmaythinkpeople︵insuch︵aglamorous,↗fun-filledplace▼arehappierthan︵others.Ifso,youhavesomemistaken︵ideas︵▼aboutthenature︵ofhappiness.Manyintelligentpeoplestillequatehappinesswithfun.Thetruth︵isthat▼fun︵↗andhappinesshavelittle↗ornothingincommon.Fun︵iswhatweexperience▼during︵an︵act.Happinessiswhatweexperience▼after︵an︵act.It︵is︵adeeper,↗more︵abiding︵emotion.Goingtoan︵amusementpark︵orballgame,watching︵amovieortelevision,arefun︵activitiesthathelpusrelax,↗temporarilyforget︵ourproblems▼↗andmaybeevenlaugh.Buttheydonotbringhappiness,becausetheirpositive︵effectsend▼whenthefun︵ends. Ihave︵oftenthoughtthat▼ifHollywoodstarshave︵aroletoplay,it︵istoteach︵us▼thathappinesshasnothingtodowithfun.Theserich,↗beautiful︵individualshaveconstant︵access▼toglamorousparties,↗fancycars,↗expensivehomes,↗everythingthatspells"happiness".But︵inmemoir︵aftermemoir,celebritiesrevealtheunhappinesshiddenbeneath︵alltheirfun:depression,↗alcoholism,↗drugaddiction,↗brokenmarriages,↗troubledchildren,↗profoundloneliness.↘ Thewaypeopleclingtothebelief▼that︵afun-filled,↗pain-freelife↘equateshappiness▼actuallydiminishestheirchances︵of︵ever︵attainingrealhappiness.Iffunandpleasureare︵equatedwithhappiness,thenpainmustbeequatedwith︵unhappiness.But,infact,theopposite︵istrue:Moretimesthannot,thingsthatleadtohappiness▼involvesomepain. As︵aresult,manypeopleavoidtheveryendeavors▼that︵arethesource︵oftruehappiness.Theyfearthepaininevitablybroughtbysuchthingsas▼marriage,↗raisingchildren,↗professionalachievement,↗religiouscommitment,↗civic︵orcharitablework,↗andself-improvement.↘背诵小贴士Recitationtips事实上这篇文章就两个中心意思:1.Happinesshasnothingtodowithfun.2.Thingsthatleadtohappinessinvolvesomepain.问问你自己：我幸福吗？我认为幸福的本质是什么？它跟痛苦,付出有关系吗？参考译文幸福的本质我住在好莱坞.你可能认为住在这样一个魅力四射、充满欢笑的地方要比其他人更幸福.倘若如此,你就误解了幸福的本质.许多聪明人依旧将幸福与娱乐等同起来.事实上,娱乐与幸福很少、甚至毫无共同之处.娱乐是某个活动进行中的体验,而幸福则是活动之后的体验.幸福是更深刻、更持久的情感.去游乐场或去看球赛,看电影或看电视,这些都是娱乐活动,有助于我们放松身心,暂时忘却自己的难题,甚至让我们放声大笑.但是,这一切并不能带来幸福,因为娱乐一结束,它们的正面效应亦随之终结.我常常这样想,如果好莱坞明星起到某种作用的话,那就是向我们昭示幸福与娱乐毫无关系.作为个人,他们富有,楚楚动人,可以随时出席令人神往的宴会,拥有顶尖级汽车、昂贵的宅第--这一切似乎意味着"幸福".然而,在一部又一部的回忆录中,名流们揭示了隐藏在这一切娱乐活动背后的不幸：忧郁、酗酒、吸毒成瘾、失败的婚姻、饱受困扰的孩子、极度的孤独.人们执迷不悟,以为充满欢笑、没有痛苦的生活就等于幸福；这实际上减少了他们真正臻于幸福之境的可能性.如果娱乐和快乐等同于幸福的话,那么痛苦必然等同于不幸福.可事实正相反：导致幸福的一切常常蕴含着些许痛苦.因此,许多人不愿努力,而这些努力恰恰正是真正幸福的源泉.诸如婚姻、抚育子女、职业成就、宗教信仰、公共及慈善事业、自身修养等必然带来痛苦,他们因而对于这一切心怀畏惧.Chapter9.作者:刘欣〔1975-,XX大学外国语学院英语系学生.1996年3月22日在北京举行的"21世纪杯全国英语演讲比赛"中,以《选择的重要性》为题发表演说,夺得第一名.同年5月22日,代表中国首次参加世界英语联合会在伦敦举行的单词与词组Wordsandphrasesprime a.主要的abundance n.丰富materialize v.物质化根据朗读标记,听录音跟读,然后背诵. OverthepastSpringFestival,Igot︵involved︵in︵afamilydispute.RightbeforeIgot︵home,foursatellitechannels︵ofCCTV▼wereaddedtothe14channels▼wehad︵alreadyhad.Inprimetime︵atnight,theyallhad︵interestingshows.Therefore,thefive︵of︵us-myparents,↗mysisters↗and︵I-hadtoargueoverwhattowatch.Finally,weagreethat▼weshouldwatchthe"most︵interesting"-ifwecould︵agreewhatthatwas.However,All︵of︵usthererememberthat▼for︵alongtimeafterwehadTV,therewereonlyone︵↗ortwochannels︵available.Theincrease︵in︵options▼reveal︵an︵importantchange︵in︵ourlife:theabundance︵ofchoice.Fifteenyears︵ago,wealldressed︵inonestyle↗and︵inonecolor.Today,weselectfrom︵awidevarietyofdesigns↗︵andshades.Fifteenyears︵ago,wereadfewnewspapers.Today,wereadEnglishnewspapersliketheChinaDailyandthe21stCentury,↗aswell︵asvariousChinesenewspapers.Fifteenyears︵ago,Englishmajorstookonlycourses︵inlanguage↗︵andliterature.Today,wealsostudyWesternculture,↗journalism,↗businesscommunications,↗internationalrelations,↗andcomputerscience.↘ Theemergence︵ofchoicesmarksthebeginning↗︵of︵anewerainChina抯history,an︵era↗oftherebirth︵oftheChinesenation. Weenjoytheabundance︵ofchoice.Butthishasnotcomeeasily. About150years︵ago,Chinawasforcedtoopen︵up︵itsdoor▼byWesterncannons↗︵andgunboats.Ithasbeenthroughthestruggle↗︵andsacrifice︵ofgenerations▼thatwefinallyhavegainedtheopportunity▼tochoosefor︵ourselves.Thepolicyofreform↗︵and︵openness︵isthechoice▼thathasmadeallthedifference. Like︵others︵ofmyage,I'mtooyoungtohaveexperiencedthetime▼whentheChinesepeoplehadnorighttochoose.However,asthenextcenturydrawsnear,it︵istimetoask:Whatdoeschoicereallymeantousyoungpeople?↘ Ischoice︵agame▼thatrelies︵onchance︵orluck?↘Ischoice︵an︵emptypromise▼thatnevermaterializes?↗Or︵ischoice︵apuzzle▼sodiff