Unit 1Text ANever, ever give up! 永不言棄！As a young boy, Britains great Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, attended a public school called Harrow. 英國的偉大首相溫斯頓丘吉爾爵士，小時候在哈羅公學上學。He was not a good student, and had he not been from a famous family, he probably would have been removed from the school for deviating from the rules. 當時他可不是個好學生，要不是出身名門，他可能早就因為違反紀律被開除了。Thankfully, he did finish at Harrow and his errors there did not preclude him from going on to the university. 謝天謝地，他總算從哈羅畢業了，在那里犯下的錯誤并沒影響到他上大學。He eventually had a premier army career whereby he was later elected prime minister. 后來，他憑著軍旅生涯中的杰出表現當選為英國首相。He achieved fame for his wit, wisdom, civic duty, and abundant courage in his refusal to surrender during the miserable dark days of World War II. 他的才思、智慧、公民責任感以及在二戰痛苦而黑暗的時期拒絕投降的無畏勇氣，為他贏得了美名。His amazing determination helped motivate his entire nation and was an inspiration worldwide. 他非凡的決心，不僅激勵了整個民族，還鼓舞了全世界。Toward the end of his period as prime minister, he was invited to address the patriotic young boys at his old school, Harrow. 在他首相任期即將結束時，他應邀前往母校哈羅公學，為滿懷報國之志的同學們作演講。The headmaster said, Young gentlemen, the greatest speaker of our time, will be here in a few days to address you, and you should obey whatever sound advice he may give you. 校長說：“年輕的先生們，當代最偉大的演說家過幾天就會來為你們演講，他提出的任何中肯的建議，你們都要聽從?！盩he great day arrived. Sir Winston stood up, all five feet, five inches and 107 kilos of him, and gave this short, clear-cut speech: 那個激動人心的日子終于到了。溫斯頓爵士站了起來他只有 5 英尺 5 英寸高，體重卻有 107 公斤。他作了言簡意賅的講話：Young men, never give up. Never give up! Never give up! Never, never, never, never! “年輕人，要永不放棄。永不放棄！永不放棄！永不，永不，永不，永不！”Personal history, educational opportunity, individual dilemmas - none of these can inhibit a strong spirit committed to success. 個人經歷、教育機會、個人困境，這些都不能阻擋一個全力以赴追求成功的、有著堅強意志的人。No task is too hard. No amount of preparation is too long or too difficult. 任務再苦，準備再長，難度再大，都不能讓他放棄自己的追求。Take the example of two of the most scholarly scientists of our age, Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. 就以本時代最有學問的兩位科學家阿爾伯特愛因斯坦和托馬斯愛迪生為例，Both faced immense obstacles and extreme criticism. Both were called slow to learn and written off as idiots by their teachers. 他們都曾面臨巨大的障礙和極端的批評，都曾被說成“不開竅”，被老師當成笨蛋而放棄。Thomas Edison ran away from school because his teacher whipped him repeatedly for asking too many questions. 托馬斯愛迪生還曾逃學，因為老師嫌他問的問題太多而經常鞭打他。Einstein didnt speak fluently until he was almost nine years old and was such a poor student that some thought he was unable to learn. 愛因斯坦一直到將近 9 歲才能流利地說話，學習成績太差，有些人認為他都已經學不好了。Yet both boys parents believed in them. They worked intensely each day with their sons, and the boys learned to never bypass the long hours of hard work that they needed to succeed. 然而，這兩個男孩的父母都相信他們。他們堅持不懈地每天和兒子一起努力，孩子們也了解到，要想成功，就絕不要怕付出長期而艱辛的努力。In the end, both Einstein and Edison overcame their childhood persecution and went on to achieve magnificent discoveries that benefit the entire world today. 最終，愛因斯坦和愛迪生都擺脫了童年的困擾，進而作出了造福當今全世界的偉大發現。Consider also the heroic example of Abraham Lincoln, who faced substantial hardships, failures and repeated misfortunes in his lifetime. 再如亞伯拉罕林肯這個英雄的典范，他一生面臨了無數艱辛、失敗和接二連三的不幸。His background was certainly not glamorous. He was raised in a very poor family with only one year of formal education. 他的出身和經歷真是一點也算不上光鮮。他在一個非常貧困的家庭長大，只受過一年正規教育。He failed in business twice, suffered a nervous breakdown when his first love died suddenly and lost eight political elections. 經商兩度失敗，初戀愛人的突然離世也使他精神崩潰，還在八次政治選舉中落馬。Later in life, he suffered profound grief over the tragic death of three of his four children. 此后，他的四個孩子有三個不幸去世，令他悲痛欲絕。Yet his strong will was the spur that pushed him forward, strengthening his optimism, dedication and determination. 然而，堅強的意志鞭策著他，推動他前進，使他更加樂觀、投入、堅毅。It intensified and focused his efforts and enabled him to triumph over the overwhelming failures and profound difficulties in his life. 這讓他得以全力以赴，一次次戰勝生命中的巨大困難和挫折。A hundred years later, people from around the world commend Abraham Lincoln as the greatest American president of all time. 一百年之后，世界各地的人們都贊頌亞伯拉罕林肯，認為他是有史以來最偉大的美國總統。Just like Churchill and Lincoln, only those who keep their eyes on the prize, those who uphold a committed and focused will and spirit, will find their endeavors successful. 與丘吉爾和林肯一樣，只有那些“執著地追求成功”的人，那些保持始終如一的精神意志的人，才會通過自身的努力，獲得成功。Many artists, statesmen, writers and inventors have had the same experience. 許多藝術家、政治家、作家和發明家都有同樣的經歷。They achieved prosperity because they possessed a fierce will to keep preparing and working and a passion to succeed. 他們之所以能取得這樣的成就，是因為他們擁有強烈的意愿，不懈地準備、奮斗，并保持對成功的激情。They attained success, not because it was easy, but because they had the will to overcome profound obstacles and to work diligently in the pursuit of their goals. 他們取得了成功，并不是因為成功很容易，而是因為他們擁有克服重重障礙的意志，為了追求目標而勤奮努力。After growing up on a cattle ranch without running water or electricity, Sandra Day OConnor fought to achieve the best education possible. 桑德拉戴奧康納成長于既沒自來水也沒電的養牛場，她努力學習以使自己接受到最好的教育。Consistently graduating at the top of her class, she worked her way into Stanford Law School, where she graduated with honors. 她的學習成績在班上始終名列前茅，一路奮斗終于進入了斯坦福大學法學院，并以優異的成績從法學院畢業。But despite all of her hard work, Sandra Day OConnor was still a woman in the 1950s. 盡管奧康納勤奮刻苦，但在 20 世紀 50 年代，她仍然受到女人身份的制約。Even with the prestige of her degree from Stanford, she was rejected from the entire law circuit as firms preferred to hire less qualified men rather than risk hiring a female lawyer, which was unprecedented. 即使斯坦福大學的學位有良好的聲譽，她仍被整個法律界拒之門外，因為事務所寧愿聘請才干稍遜的男性，也不愿冒險破例雇傭一位女律師。Yet Sandra Day OConnor refused to give up on her dreams. 然而，桑德拉戴奧康納并未放棄夢想。Through sheer persistence she was eventually nominated and then appointed the first woman Supreme Court Justice of the United States of America. 她執著地堅持下去，終于得到提名并被任命為美國第一位女性最高法院大法官。There, she acted as a crucial vote on issues like abortion and womens rights. 她任職期間，對很多問題，例如墮胎和婦女權利，都起到了極為關鍵的作用。Many people simply say that they want something, but they do not expend the substantial effort required to achieve it. 很多人只是嘴上說他們想要什么東西，但并不真正地付出大量努力去實現。Many people let the threat of failure stop them from trying with all of their heart. 很多人因為害怕失敗而不敢全心嘗試。The secret of success is based upon a burning inward desire - a robust, fierce will and focus - that fuels the determination to act, to keep preparing, to keep going even when we are tired and fail. 而成功的秘訣在于內心燃燒的欲望一種堅定不移的意志和專注力從而激發行動的決心，即使疲憊，即使失敗，也會繼續準備，繼續前進。As a wise saying goes: Its not how many times you fall down that matters. Its how many times you get back up that makes success! 正如一句箴言所說：“你摔倒了多少次并不要緊；你能多少次重新站起來對成功才至關重要！”Focus on becoming more knowledgeable. Focus on gradual, consistent progress. 專注于汲取更多的知識，爭取持之以恒地漸進，Maintain the strong will to keep going - even when you are tired and want to slack or the odds seem too large. 保持永不言退的堅強意志即使在你疲憊想要松懈的時候，或者困難重重之時。Keep your eyes on the prize! Where theres a will, theres a way! With hard work, determination, dedication and preparation, you can transcend any handicap, accomplish any feat, and achieve success! “執著地追求成功！”“有志者，事竟成！”只要刻苦努力，意志堅決，專心投入，準備充分，你就能跨越一切障礙，完成所有壯舉，取得成功！Text BChance favors the prepared 機會偏愛有準備之人Les Brown and his twin brother were adopted by Mamie Brown, a kitchen worker, shortly after their birth in a poverty-stricken Miami neighborhood. 萊斯布朗和其孿生兄弟出生于邁阿密一個異常貧困的街區，出生后不久就一起被廚工瑪米布朗收養。Because of his overactive behavior and nonstop talking as a child, Les was placed in special education classes for the learning disabled all the way through high school. 由于兒時過度好動，還愛不停地說話，萊斯被送到專為學習困難兒童而設的特殊教育班，并一直讀到了高中。Upon graduation, he became a garbage collector. 一畢業，他就成了一名垃圾清運工。The prospective opportunities for his future looked slim to others, but not to Les. 大家都覺得他將來不會有什么好前途，但他自己卻不這么想。He had a passion, a dream - a big dream that he was ready to work hard for. 他有激情，有夢想一個讓他為之奮斗的偉大夢想。He was destined to be a disc jockey, also known as a DJ, one of the radio celebrities mixing music broadcasts for the whole city. 他覺得自己一定會成為電臺音樂唱片節目主持人，通常也叫“DJ”，那可是電臺名人，專門為面向全市的廣播制作音樂節目。At night he would take a radio to bed so he could indulge his dream by listening to the local DJs. 一到晚上，他就帶著收音機上床睡覺，這樣他就可以一邊聽著當地 DJ 的節目，一邊沉浸在自己的夢想里。He created an imaginary radio station in his tiny bedroom. 他在自己的小臥室里營造了一個假想電臺。A hairbrush served as his microphone as he energetically practiced speaking his masterpieces to his imaginary listeners. 他把梳子當麥克風，勁頭十足地對著想象中的聽眾練習自己的杰作。He aggravated his friends with his constant practicing. They all told him that he didnt have a chance and he would never be a DJ. 他無休止地練習讓朋友們不勝其煩。他們都說他根本沒有機會，永遠都不可能成為 DJ。They scorned him and said to stop dreaming and focus on the real world. Nonetheless, Les didnt let their negativity stop him. 他們嘲弄他，告訴他別做白日夢，要面對現實。然而，這些負面影響并沒有讓萊斯停止追求。He kept his goals close to his heart and remained wrapped up in his own world, completely absorbed in preparing for his future, preparing to live his dream as a renowned DJ. 他心中一直銘記自己的目標，繼續沉浸在自己的世界里，全身心投入到對未來的準備中，去實現他成為著名 DJ 的夢想。One day Les decided to take the initiative and begin with this enterprise. 一天，萊斯決定主動出擊，開始自己的事業。He boldly went to the local radio station and told the station manager he understood the layout of the station and was ready to be a disc jockey. 他大膽地來到當地電臺，告訴經理他熟悉電臺布局環境，完全可以成為一名 DJ。The manager looked dubiously at the untidy young man in overalls and a straw hat and inquired, Do you have any expertise in broadcasting? 經理滿腹狐疑地看著這個一身工作服還戴著頂草帽的邋遢年輕人，問他：“你了解播音的專業知識嗎？”Les replied, No sir, I dont. 萊斯回答說：“不，先生，我不了解?！盬ell, son, Im afraid we dont have a job for you then, he responded bluntly. So, Les first chance at success had been a complete bust. “哦，孩子，那恐怕我們沒法雇用你，”經理直截了當地回應。就這樣，萊斯對成功的第一次嘗試完全以失敗告終。Les was determined. He adored his adoptive mother, Mamie Brown, and was careful with his money to try and buy her nice things. 萊斯十分堅定。他很愛自己的養母瑪米布朗，還精打細算攢錢為她買喜歡的東西。Despite everyones discouragement, she believed in him and had taught him to pursue his goals and persist in his dreams no matter what others said. 盡管人人都打擊他，但她卻十分信任他，告訴他不管別人怎么說，都要追求自己的目標，堅持自己的夢想。So, in spite of what the station manager had originally said, Les returned to the station every day for a week. 因此，不管電臺經理之前怎么說，萊斯每天還是會去電臺，這樣持續了一周。His persistence was very persuasive, and the station manager finally gave in and took Les on to do small tasks - at no pay. 他的堅持很能打動人，電臺經理終于讓了步，讓他做一些小事情不過沒有報酬。Les brought coffee and food. He catered to their every need at work and worked overtime whenever necessary. 萊斯負責給大家提供咖啡和吃的東西。他在工作中盡力滿足大家的每一個要求，而且只要有需要，任何時候都可以加班。Eventually, his enthusiasm won their confidence and they would send Les in their Cadillac to pick up celebrities, not knowing that he didnt even have a drivers license! 最后，他的工作熱情贏得了大家的信任，他們讓萊斯開著凱迪拉克去接送名人，居然不知道他連駕照都沒有。While hanging out with the stations real DJs, Les taught himself their posture and hand movements on the control panel. 與電臺真正的 DJ 相處時，萊斯自學他們操作調音臺的姿勢和手勢。He stayed around the studio, soaking up whatever knowledge he could. 他徘徊在播音間，力所能及地汲取全部知識。He was disciplined; back in his bedroom at night, he faithfully practiced in anticipation of the opportunity he knew would come. 他非常自律，晚上一回到房間，就滿懷著期待不懈地練習，他知道機遇終會降臨。One afternoon at work, the DJ named Rock started to feel very sick while on the air. 一天下午，工作期間，一個名叫洛克的 DJ 在直播時突然病得厲害。Les was the only person around, and he realized that Rock was coughing and losing his voice. 周圍只有萊斯，而他意識到洛克正在咳嗽，都快不能說話了。Les stayed close in case there was some way he might help alleviate his coworkers distress. 萊斯湊近他，看看有什么辦法能幫助同事減輕痛苦。He also worried that the illness was sure to doom this broadcast. 他也擔心這病肯定會讓廣播無法進行下去。Finally, when the phone rang, Les grabbed it. It was the station manager, as he knew it would be. 最后，電話鈴響了，萊斯抓起電話。正是電臺經理，對此他已有預感。Les, this is Mr. Klein. I dont think Rock can finish his program, “萊斯，我是克萊因。我覺得洛克沒辦法做完這期節目了。”Yes, he murmured, I know. “是的，”他低聲說，“我知道?！盬ould you call one of the other deejays to come in and take over? “你能打電話叫其他 DJ 來接替他嗎？”Yes, sir, I sure will. “好的，先生，我一定去叫?！盉ut try as he might, none of the regular DJs were available. 但他找了個遍，卻發現一個正式 DJ 都找不到。MC Cormick and DJ Slick were both out of town for the weekend and DJ Neil was also feeling sick. It seemed that the radio station was in big trouble. 主持人考密克和 DJ 斯雷克都出城度周末去了，尼爾身體也不舒服。似乎電臺的麻煩大了。Frantic with distress, Les called the general manager. Mr. Klein, I cant find nobody, Les said. 萊斯無計可施，幾欲抓狂，只好給總經理打電話。“克萊因先生，一個人都找不到，”萊斯說。Mr. Klein then asked, Young man, do you know how to work the controls in the studio? 克萊因先生于是問道：“小伙子，你知道怎么操作播音間里的調音臺么？”Yes sir, replied Les, grinning with the sudden opportunity. He didnt even blink before he called his mother and his friends. “我知道的，先生，”萊斯回答，為突如其來的機會笑了。他一刻都不耽擱，馬上給母親和朋友們打了電話。You all go out on the front porch and turn up the radio because Im about to come on the air! he said. “你們都到前廊去，打開收音機，我馬上要直播了！”他說。Les rushed into the booth, hoisted Rock onto a nearby couch, and sat down in his place. He was ready. 萊斯沖進播音間，把洛克扶到附近的沙發上，然后坐上了他的位置。他已做好準備。He flipped on the microphone and eloquently rapped, Look out! This is me, LB, Les Brown! 打開麥克風，他流利地開始了一段說唱：“注意啦！我是萊布，萊斯布朗！There were none before me and there will be none after me. Therefore, that makes me the one and only. Young and single and love to mingle. 空前絕后的萊斯布朗，獨一無二的萊斯布朗。我青春年少，單身無掛，喜愛結交；Qualified to bring you satisfaction, a whole lot of action. Look out, baby, Im your lovin man. 我會讓你心滿意足，動能無限。來吧，親愛的，我就是你喜愛的那個人。”Because of his preparation, Les was ready. He had dazzled the audience and heard applause from his general manager. 正因為萊斯勤于準備，他才能一切就緒。聽眾為之折服，經理為之鼓掌。From that fateful beginning, Les was propelled to become an icon in broadcasting, politics, public speaking and television. 在那決定命運的一刻后，萊斯不斷前進，成為在廣播、政治、演講和電視等領域的一位偶像級人物。Unit 2Text ASwimming through fear 游越恐懼I was on a tour of France with my friends when our car pulled to a stop at the beach and we saw the Mediterranean Sea. 當時我和朋友正在法國旅行，我們把汽車停在海灘，眼前就是地中海。Massive waves surged against large rocks that formed a waterproof jetty. 巨浪翻滾擊打著構筑起防波堤的偌大巖石。People said this beach was known for its notorious rip currents. 人們說這里的海灘以其可怕的裂流而著稱。I shivered with fear. Nothing scared me as much as water. 恐懼讓我不寒而栗。沒有什么比水讓我更害怕了。Just the sight of the sea made me sick to my stomach. 只是看到了海就已經讓我覺得反胃。Id always loved water and been a good swimmer until last summer, when Id decided to climb up to the highest diving board at the pool. 我曾經一直都是喜歡水的，并且直到去年夏天我都還是一名游泳好手。那時，我決定爬上游泳池邊上最高的跳板來跳水。Id hopped from that height and hit the water with an incredible impact. The air was ousted from my lungs and I blacked out. 我從那么高的地方跳下，重重地撞擊到水面上。我肺里的空氣一下子全被擠出去了，馬上不省人事。The next thing I knew, my brother was pulling my feeble body out of the pool. 醒來時發現哥哥正把我虛弱的身體從游泳池里拖出來。From then on, my fear wouldnt recede; I was absolutely terrified of water. 從那時起，我對水的恐懼就沒有消退過，我怕極了水。Jason, are you coming? my friend, Matt, called. “賈森，你要過來嗎？”我的朋友馬特朝我喊道。Yeah, I said. Just enjoying the view, from dry land, I added silently, worried they might deem my fear pathetic if they knew. 我說：“好，就是欣賞一下景色”，又在心里默默加了一句在岸上欣賞。擔心如果他們知道我害怕水而可憐我。Suddenly I heard shouting in French. A mob of people were running into the sea, fully clothed. Thats odd, I thought. 突然，我聽到有人用法語喊叫。接著看見一群人沒脫衣服，就沖到海里。我心想，這真是太奇怪了。I glimpsed something moving up and down amid the waves, past the end of the jetty. I gasped, realizing the catastrophe with horror. 我瞥見防波堤盡頭的海浪中有個東西在上下浮動。我驚恐地意識到大事不妙，倒吸了一口涼氣，Thats a little boy out there! The would-be rescuers fought against the tide, but the situation was bleak. With the waters tow, theyd never get to him in time. 那居然是個小男孩！前去救落水男童的人們搏擊著海浪，但情況卻不樂觀。由于水的拉拽，他們根本不可能及時游到小男孩身邊。I looked back at the boy. His head popped up, then a wave crashed over him and he disappeared for a moment; I had to intervene. 我扭頭看看那小男孩。他的頭剛露出水面，然后一個浪頭打過來，好一陣不見蹤影我不得不做點什么了。I appraised the situation and realized - the jetty! The boy was close to it; maybe I could help from there. 我估計了當下的情形后注意到了對，那防波堤！小男孩靠近那個地方，也許我可以從那兒幫忙。I raced down the beach, out onto the jetty, and it hit me: Water! My palms got sweaty and my stomach felt sick, symptoms of my fear. I stopped short. 我沖下海灘，跑上防波堤，但突然我想起了什么水！頓時有了恐懼的癥狀：我手心冒汗，胃里感覺不適。我一下子停下來。The people in the water had underestimated the waves and werent making any progress. 水里的那些人低估了海浪的威力，救援工作沒有任何進展。I was the only one who saw that going out on the jetty was the fastest way to reach the drowning boy. 只有我注意到了跑到防波堤上是到達溺水男童的最快的路徑。Yet in the midst of this tragedy, I was extremely terrified. I tried to remember the lifeguard training Id had as a teenager. 然而在此性命攸關之際，我極度恐慌。我努力去回想十幾歲時所接受的救生員訓練。I was paralyzed with fear, but I forced myself to move forward with this impromptu rescue. 我因恐懼而全身癱軟，但我強迫自己向前移動，展開這場突發的救援行動。I dont want this. Surely someone else can save him before I have to. 我不想做這些，在我施救之前肯定會有別人救他吧。At the ridge of the jetty, I whirled around, convinced Id see an athletic swimmer plowing through the rough water toward the boy. 我在防波堤的邊上迅速轉過身來，深信會看見某個游泳健將正向著小男孩劈波斬浪。To my dismay, no one was there. I turned back out to the sea to see the boy battered by vicious waves about 25 yards away from me. 但是讓我沮喪的是，一個人也沒有。我回身面向大海，看見 25 碼開外惡浪擊打著小男孩。Sucking in a deep breath, I threw myself into the water. 我深吸一口氣，縱身躍入水中。As soon as I jumped in, I felt like I was back in that pool, breathless, struggling, terrified. Salt stung my eyes. Focus, I shouted in my head. Where is he? 一跳進水里，我感覺仿佛又回到了當年的那個游泳池，我喘不過氣，拼命掙扎，驚恐萬分。咸水刺痛了我的雙眼?！凹凶⒁饬?，”我在心里喊道?！八谀睦铮俊盩hen, with clarity, I saw a thin arm waving weakly a few yards away. 然后我清楚地看到一只細小的手臂在離我幾碼處微弱地揮動著。I swam with all my strength, reaching the boy just as he sank below the surface. 我拼盡全力游過去，在他剛要沒水之時趕到了。I grabbed his arm and pulled. He popped back up, eyes wide with terror, pawing and twisting against me. 我抓住他的手臂拉他。他冒出水面，眼睛因恐懼瞪得很大，胡亂抓扯著我。Repose (Calm down)! I commanded th