Persistence
很少人在第一次就轻而易举地获得成功，而坚持就意味着能够成功。
Persistence is the key to success, whether for a single person or an organization. The lack of it would mean failure in reaching a certain goal. Success seldom comes easily on the first try. What separates the successful from the unsuccessful is persistence. Successful people also fail from time to time, but they don’t let their failure defeat their spirit. Successful people learn from defeats, revise their strategy as needed and try again and again until they succeed. Unsuccessful people try something once or twice and when it fails, they give up, usually passing the blame on to someone or something else, and learn nothing from their own experience.
Successful people expect periodic defeats, learn what went wrong and why, don’t waste looking for someone to blame, make necessary adjustments, and try again. If you are persistent, you will almost inevitably succeed. If you are not persistent, you will almost certainly fail.
[注释]：
persistence: the act of persisting 毅力
revise: to reconsider and change or modify 修改
strategy: 策略
periodic: happening or appearing at regular intervals 定期的
inevitably: invariably occurring or appearing; predictable 不可避免的
Cost of Love
母亲的爱，无论以何种方式表达，都是如此伟大。
One night when my wife was preparing dinner, our little son took a piece of paper to her which read:
For washing the car………………………………….$5.00
For making my own bed this week…………………$1.00
Going to the provision shop…………………….……$0.50
Playing with little sister…………………….…..…...$0.25
Taking out the rubbish………………………....…….$1.00
Getting a good report card……………………...……$5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor……………...$2.00
Total..…………………………………………………$14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment. I could see a thousand memories flashed through her mind. So she picked up the pen and turning the paper over, this is what she wrote:
For 9 months I carried you, growing inside me…………………No Charge
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you…….No Charge
For the toys, food and clothes and wiping your nose……………No Charge
When you add it all up, the full cost of my love………………No Charge
Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. He looked at his mother and said, “Mummy, I love you.” Then he took the pen and in great big letters wrote on the “bill” “All paid.”
[注释]：
provision: 供应; 预备
corridor: 走廊，通道
flash : to think of or remember something suddenly 闪现，一瞬间
wipe : to clean or dry something by rubbing 擦，揩，擦去
Great Expectations (excerpt)
下面的一段文字选自查尔斯·狄更斯的《远大前程》（1860—1861），这是他比较晚期的作品。狄更斯在经历了丰富的人生后，对人、事、周围环境及自己的生活经历都有了深刻的理解，而他所有成熟的思想都汇总在《远大前程》一书中。这部作品的语言可谓是出神入化，要学习英国语言，这是一本典范。狄更斯的作品不矫揉造作，不选用那些华而不实的词语。他的用词都简单明了，通俗易懂。所以小说读来朴实无华，如行云流水。
As the night was fast falling, and as the moon, being past the full, would not rise early, we held a little council: a short one, for clearly our course was to lie by at the first lonely tavern we could find. So, they plied their oars once more, and I looked out for anything like a house. Thus we held on, speaking little, for four or five dull miles. It was very cold, and, a collier coming by us, with her gallery-fire smoking and flaring, looked like a comfortable home. The night was as dark by this time as it would be until morning; and what light we had, seemed to come more from the river than the sky, as the oars in their dipping stuck at a few reflected stars.
—— Charles Dickens
天黑得很快，偏巧这天又是下弦月，月亮不会很早升起。我们就稍稍商量了一下，可是也用不着多讨论，因为情况是明摆着的，再划下去我们一遇到冷落的酒店就得投宿。于是他们又使劲打起浆来，我则用心寻找岸上是否隐隐约约有什么房屋的模样。这样又赶了四五英里路，一路上好不气闷，大家简直不说一句话。天气非常冷，一艘煤船从我们近旁驶过，船上厨房里生着火，炊烟缕缕，火光荧荧，在我们看来简直就是个安乐家了。这时夜已透黑，看来就要这样一直黑到天明，我们仅有的一点光亮似乎不是来自天空，而是来自河上，一浆又一浆的，搅动着那寥寥几颗倒映在水里的寒星。
[注释]：
council: an assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation, or discussion 讨
论会议
tavern: an inn for travelers 酒馆，客栈
plied their oars ：使劲划起桨来
collier: a coal ship 运煤船
gallery-fire：厨房
Great Expectations，意思是指一笔遗产，中文译为“远大前程”（有的译作“孤星血泪”）。这个译名给读者一种印象，即作品的主人公是有远大前程的。而事实上，这个“远大前程”是带讽刺意义的，这部作品的主题决非仅仅是写孤儿皮普想当上等人的理想幻灭的故事，如果这样理解，就领会错了狄更斯创作这部作品的意义。皮普生活在姐姐家里，生活艰苦，他的理想是当一名像姐夫一样的铁匠，他没有想当上等人。后来他之所以想当上等人是因为环境的改变。狄更斯的哲学思想之一是环境对人思想的影响，不同的环境可以造就出不同的人。
Anthrax,Another Terrorist Weapon
反恐已经成为这个世纪最热门的词汇之一。
When one newspaper photo editor in Florida died of anthrax and another tested positive, people wondered if this was connected to the attacks of September 11. More cases are appearing around the U.S., but the FBI has yet to determine if these are terrorist attacks. However, recent events have brought one question to the minds of many—what is anthrax?
Anthrax is a disease that normally infects livestock killing almost every animal that contracts the disease. Humans that come into contact with these animals or their hides on a regular basis, such as ranchers, are at the greatest risk of getting this disease. This might be why anthrax is also known as the wool sorter’s disease.
Anthrax usually enters the body through the skin or by breathing. It cannot be spread from person to person, so it is not contagious. Anthrax is invisible to the naked eye and it has no smell or taste. The early symptoms of this disease are similar to those of the common cold. There is a vaccine for it that involves six shots. If it is caught in early stages, anthrax can be treated with antibiotics.
Anthrax, unlike the common cold, is not something that people catch every day. But if someone wanted to intentionally spread the disease, that’s another story.
[注释]：
editor: one who edits, especially as an occupation 编辑，编者
anthrax: an infectious, usually fatal disease characterized by ulcerative skin lesions 炭疽热（一种
传染病，由炭疽杆菌感染引起。通过与带病毒的动物部位如毛发、粪便、毛皮接触后可以
传染给人，病症为皮肤溃烂损伤）
infect: to invade and produce infection in 传染，感染
livestock: domestic animals 家畜，牲畜
contract: to acquire or incur 感染
rancher: one that owns or manages a ranch <美>牧场(或农场)主，农场工人
sorter: to arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify 从事分类的人，这里指皮毛工人
contagious: 传染性的，会感染的
invisible: 看不见的，无形的
naked: having no covering 无保护的，无遮盖的
symptom: a characteristic sign or indication of the existence of something else 症状，征兆
vaccine: 疫苗
antibiotic: 抗生素, 抗生学
intentionally: done deliberately; intended 有意地,故意地
The Garden of Eden
Bible 一词源于希腊文的biblia，意思是“书丛”。圣经分为两部分：旧约和新约，包含有诗歌、法律、历史、预言、训诲、故事、书信等文体。旧约的内容是希伯来人出埃及时，上帝（耶和华）与人类（希伯来人）所立之旧的盟约以及此盟约的兑现。所谓“约”，即“约定”的意思。新约是上帝与人类所立的新的盟约，此盟约是以耶稣的圣训和他的生活为基础的。下面是圣经故事《创世纪》中的一段。
GOD had made a beautiful garden for the first man and woman to live in. The garden, called Eden, was full of many wonderful things. Flowers as beautiful to look at as they were to smell grew everywhere. Soft, green grass grew under foot. The joyful music of songbirds drifted across gentle, warm breezes. A clear flowing stream gave cool, fresh water to drink, while hanging from the limbs of the many trees were all sorts of delicious fruits. Tasty vegetables grew free for the gathering. In the Garden of Eden were also all manner of animals, both large and small. Adam and Eve didn’t have to be afraid of any of the beasts, for all the animals were their friends. GOD told the man and woman that it was their job to take care of their new home. He also told them that two special trees grew in the garden. One was the Tree of Life. The other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
GOD told them, “You may eat the fruit that grows on all the trees except for one. You mustn’t touch the fruit that grows on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If you eat the fruit that grows on that tree you will die.”
[注释]：
Eden: the garden that was the first home of Adam and Eve (圣经)伊甸园，乐园
drift: something moving along in a current of air or water 飘；漂流
breeze: a light current of air; a gentle wind 微风
Adam and Eve:亚当和夏娃(《圣经》中的人物，所谓的人类始祖)
Hallowe’en
Hallowe’en is a popular festival in many countries all over the world, and every year it seems to get bigger.
It’s getting dark earlier and it’s starting to get cold. Christmas is still a long way away. We need something to cheer us up and take our minds of the fact that winter is nearly here. See how much you know about the traditional festival of Hallowe’en.
The origins of the name
The festival of Hallowe’en has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions. Over 2,000 years ago the Celts in Britain, Ireland and parts of France celebrated Samhain to mark the beginning of winter. When the Romans invaded, they merged this with Feralia, their celebration of the passing of the dead. As Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace these pagan feasts with official Church holy days. One of these was November 1. It was called “All Hallows”, and October 31 was known as “All Hallows’ Eve”, and then Hallowe’en.
Hallowe’en traditions
In the past there was a tradition called “souling”. Poor people went around houses asking for food. In exchange, they promised to say prayers for the dead. People no longer go souling, but the habit has been transformed into a modern Hallowe’en game for children in America, who dress up as ghosts, witches and monsters and go around people’s houses.
Witches
Hallowe’en wouldn’t be fun without witches. Witches have always been part of popular folklore. Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” opens with three witches. A witch was someone — usually a woman— who had special powers and had dealings with the devil. The American town, Salem, is famous for the “witchcraft trials”, which took place there in 1692.
Pumpkins
The pumpkin has become a symbol of Hallowe’en. People empty a pumpkin, cut a face into the side, and put a candle inside to make a lamp. It’s known as a Jack O’ Lantern, from a story about a man called Jack, who made a deal with the devil.
Animals
Black cats, frogs, mice and spiders are just some of the animals associated with Hallowe’en. Generally, the more unpleasant the animal, the stronger the Hallowe’en connection. Nocturnal animals like bats are particular favourites, and if, as is the case with vampire bats, they like
drinking blood, they are high on the Hallowe’en list.
[注释]：
Hallowe’en: 万圣节前夕（10 月31 日夜）
Celtic and Roman traditions: 在古代，凯尔特人要在夏末举行仪式感谢上苍和太阳的恩惠。
当时的占卜者点燃灯笼并施巫术以驱赶据说在四周游荡的妖魔鬼怪。后来，凯尔特人的
10 月31 日与罗马人用果仁和苹果来庆祝的丰收节融合了。
Samhain：也就是古代凯尔特人庆祝的节日（10 月31 日），意为“夏末”
merge: to blend together, especially in gradual stages 融合
Feralia：古代的一个宗教节日
pagan: one who has no religion 异教徒
witch: a woman popularly believed to have supernatural powers and practice sorcery, and often
believed to be aided by spirits or a familiar 巫师，女巫
monster: 怪物，妖怪
folklore: the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally 民间
传说
Macbeth: king of Scotland 麦克白 (莎士比亚悲剧《麦克白》中的主人公)
Salem: 塞勒姆，美国东北部城市，因1692 巫师审判及N.霍桑的“匕墙之房”而著名
pumpkin: a coarse, trailing vine (Cucurbita pepo) widely cultivated for its fruit 南瓜
spider: 蜘蛛
nocturnal: of, relating to, or occurring in the night 夜的，夜曲的
vampire: a reanimated corpse that is believed to rise from the grave at night to suck the blood of
sleeping people 吸血鬼
万圣节期间，许多公共场所乃至居家院落，都会布置上很多装饰，诸如各式鬼怪、南瓜灯、黑猫以及巫婆的扫帚之类。孩子们则会穿上不同的万圣节服装，拎着南瓜灯挨家挨户地敲门并说“trick or treat”，向主人讨糖（或其他小东西）。给的话就是“treat”(请客)，不给的话他们就会用“trick”（砸玻璃、涂门啊之类恶作剧）来捣乱。
Two Peoms
《恬静的女孩》是一首非常有趣的短诗，本诗的前三行说：“我想把你比作没有星星的夜晚，要不是你的眼睛。”事实上，作者把姑娘的美目比作夜空的明星；后三行说：“我想把你比作无梦的睡眠，要不是你的歌声。”其实是形容姑娘甜美的歌声宛如天籁，让人如痴如醉。用反衬的手法写出了恬静姑娘的风采：她平静如水，明眸善睐；她轻柔如歌，使人心醉..
Quiet Girl
I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams
Were it not for your songs.
—— Langston Hughes
My People
The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.
The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.
Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.
—— Langston Hughes
[注释]：
liken: to see, mention, or show as similar; compare 常与to 连用，表示“把……比作”的意思。
were: were it not for 是典型的虚拟语气，它的另外一种形式是If it were not for，表示“如果
不是……”的意思。与事实相反，是一种假设的状况，其中的动词用过去时。
Langston Hughes，兰斯顿·休斯（1902—1967），美国杰出的黑人诗人，黑人文艺复兴运动
的卓越领导者，代表作品是《萎靡的布鲁斯》。他的诗大多是表现黑人群众的思想感情。所选的两首诗歌都是休斯脍炙人口的作品。
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