书城外语用耳朵听最优美的散文
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第42章 智慧人生(8)

On March,1887,Annie Sullivan met Helen Keller for the first time.She was to be her governess.Helen Keller was not only blind but also deaf and mute.Before Annie Sullivan came to Helen's house,one or two people had told Helen's mother that the girl was an idiot.But Annie took superhuman patience to help Helen talk,read,write and feel things.Helen was delighted to be able to say words that her family and a few friends could understand what she said.Annie also helped her to serve others.Annie always told her,"No matter what happens,keep on beginning.Each time you fail,start all over again.You will grow stronger until you fl nd you have accomplished a purpose."

In 1900,Annie helped Helen get into college.During Helen's years in school.Annie sat beside in every class.She spelled out the teachers lectures because many books were printed in Braille.Annie herself read them to Helen by spelling the information into her hand.Helen graduated from college in 1904.On October 19,1936,Annie Sullivan passed away,leaving Helen Keller by herself.But Annie Sullivan's inspiration lived on Helen's heart after her death.Helen always kept on trying to do her best.Finally,Helen became a famous American blind woman writer and an educationaIist.

难点重点,一目了然!

长难句解析 Sentence Structures

A She had to Iive in the poorhouse where the illness that had been in her eyes at the age of three caused her to be bIind.

她住进了孤儿院,就在那里当她三岁时候得的眼病导致她成了盲人。

此句where引导表示地点的定语从句,修饰名词poorhouse;that引导定语从句修饰名illness。

B Annie moved to the Perkins Institution for the bIind in October,1880 when she was fourteen years oId.

1880年10月,当她十四岁时,安妮搬到了为盲人设立的帕金斯慈善所。

句中when引导的是表示时间状语从句。

A Good Heart to Lean On 倾心相依

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今日关键语导读 Today's Key Points

我要把对父亲的思念尘封在自己的内心,我要在冥冥中得到父亲对我的原谅,痛恨自己不懂事理的幼稚。只能一个人痛苦地为自己的良心赎过,为天堂的父亲祈祷,不知道在那边父亲还好吗?人经历了洗礼才会长大,学会了宽容,学会了珍惜,才会拥有至诚至忠的爱。

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When I was growing up,I was embarrassed to be seen with my father.He was severely crippIed and very short,and when we would walk together,his hand on my arm for balance,people would stare.I would inwardIy squirm at the unwanted attention.If he ever noticed or was bothered,he never let on.

It was difficult to coordinate our steps-his halting,my impatient-and because of that,we didn't say much as we went along.But as we started out,He always said,[A]"You set the pace.I will try to adjust to you."He went to work sick and despite nasty weather.He almost never missed a day,and would make it to the office even if others could not,a matter of pride.

When snow or ice was on the ground,it was impossible for him to walk,even with help.[B]Once he would cling to the handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice-free.Then I think of it now,[C]I marvel at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to subject himself to such indignity and stress,and at how he did it-without bitterness or complaint.

He never talked about himself as an object of pity,nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or abIe.Unable to engage in many activities,my father still tried to participate in some way,where he could have a good time just sitting and watching.I now know he participated in some things vicariously through me,his only son.And when I came home on leave,he saw to it that I visited his office.Introducing me,he was really saying,"This is my son,but it is also me."

Those words were never said aloud.He has been gone many years now,but I think of him often.Now I am older.I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people,even though I still don't know precisely what a"good heart"is.But I know the times I don't have one myself.I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks.If he didn't,I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was,how unworthy I was,how I regretted it.I think of him when I complain about trifles,when I am envious of another's good fortune,when I don't have a"good heart".

At such times I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance,and say,"You set the pace.I will try to adjust to you."

难点重点,一目了然!

长难句解析 Sentence Structures

A "You set the pace,I will try to adjust to you."

"你走你的,我想法儿跟上你。"

句中pace原意指(在赛跑中)领先定步调;(在文中可理解为比喻意)立下生活等之榜样。

B Once there.he would cling to the handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice-free.

然后他就紧抓着铁道通口的扶手,直到下面没有冰雪的台阶才放手。

句中cling to意思是抓紧(某物);ice-free(原指港口)不冻的,此处指地铁下面无积雪。

C I marvel at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to subject himseIf to such indignity and stress.

我感到十分惊叹,像他那么一个年长的人,得有多大的勇气才能屈就这样的窘境。

句中marvel at意思是(对……)感到惊叹;subject himself to意思是使遭受;使经历

How To Be True To Yourself 怎样做个表里如一的人

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朗读指数:★★★★☆

背诵指数:★★★☆☆

难度指数:★★☆☆☆

总词汇量:0364词汇

每个好故事都有灵魂!

今日关键语导读 Today's Key Points

作者的祖父母认为诚实是判断你行为的一个内在标准,虽然当今社会诚实的人越来越少,但诚实的确是我们社会所要求的道德底线。他们把诚实本能地理解为:诚实意味着具备一定的伦理道德标准,既不看风使舵,也不随着眼下的形势而转移。始终能够赢得胜利的是那种坚持行为标准、不屈从于安逸伦理观诱惑的生活。

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My grandparents believed you were either honest or you weren't.There was no in between.They had a simple motto hanging on their living-room wall:"Life is like a field of newly fallen snow;where I choose to walk every step will show."They didn't have to talk about it-they demonstrated the motto by the way they lived.

[A]They understood instinctively that integrity means having a personal standard of morality and ethics that does not sell out to expediency and that is not relative to the situation at hand.Integrity is an inner standard for judging your behavior.Unfortunately,integrity is in short supply today-and getting scarce.But it is the real bottom Iine in every area of society.And it is something we must demand of ourselves.