资源描述
第1课Text AText A Critical ReadingCritical reading applies to non-fiction writing in which the author puts forth a position or seeks to make a statement. Critical reading is active reading. It involves more than just understanding what an author is saying. Critical reading involves questioning and evaluating what the author is saying, and forming your own opinions about what the author is saying. Here are the things you should do to be a critical reader. 批判性地阅读批判性阅读适合于那种作者提出一个观点或试图陈述一个说法的纪实类写作。批判性阅读是积极阅读。它不仅仅包括理解作者说了些什么，还包括质疑和评价作者的话，并对此形成自己的观点。成为一名批判性阅读者需要做到以下几点。Consider the context of what is written. You may be reading something that was written by an author from a different cultural context than (=from) yours. Or, you may be reading something written some time ago in a different time context than yours. In either case, you must recognize and take into account any differences between your values and attitudes and those represented by the author.考虑写作背景。你所读的可能是与你有不同文化背景的人所写的，或者是与你有不同时代背景的人多年以前所写的。无论哪种情况，你都必须注意并考虑你的价值观和态度与作者所代表的价值观和态度有何不同。Question assertions made by the author. Dont accept what is written at face value(完全地, 以面值/表象). Before accepting what is written, be certain that the author provides sufficient support for any assertions made. Look for facts, examples, and statistics that provide support. Also, look to see if (=whether) the author has integrated the work of authorities.质疑作者的论点。不要轻信作品的表面意思。在接受作者观点前，首先要确定作者作出的每一个论点都有足够的论据支持。找出能支持该论点的事实、实例、和数据。另外，注意作者是否参考了权威著作。pare what is written with other written work on the subject. Look to see that what is written is consistent with what others have written about the subject. If there are inconsistencies, carefully evaluate the support the author provides for the inconsistencies.与同主题文章进行比较。查看该作者的文章与其他作者关于同一主题的文章是否有一致性。如果存在不一致性，对不一致的地方背后的论据支持要进行仔细甄别。Analyze assumptions made by the author. Assumptions are whatever the author must believe is true in order to make assertions. In many cases, the authors assumptions are not directly stated. This means you must read carefully in order to identify any assumptions. Once you identify an assumption, you must decide whether or not the assumption is valid.分析作者提出的假设。假设是作者认为具有正确性的前提，基于这些前提作者才能提出论点。很多时候作者的假设并没有直接说明，这就意味着你必须通过仔细阅读来发现这些假设。一旦发现某一假设，你必须判断这一假设是否合理。Evaluate the sources the author uses. In doing this, be certain that the sources are credible. For example, Einstein is a credible source if the author is writing about landmark achievements in physics. Also be certain that the sources are relevant. Einstein is not a relevant source when the subject is poetry. Finally, if the author is writing about a subject in its current state, be sure that the sources are current. For example, studies done by Einstein in the early 20th century may not be appropriate if the writer is discussing the current state of knowledge in physics.鉴别文章出处。鉴别时要确保文章出处真实可信。例如，如果文章是关于物理学里程碑式的成就，那么爱因斯坦的论述就是可靠的出处。此外还要确保出处具有相关性。如果文章主题是诗歌，那么爱因斯坦的论述就不是相关出处。最后，如果作者写的是某个主题当前的情形，那就要确保出处来源也是当前最新的。例如，如果作者讨论的是物理学知识的现状，那么爱因斯坦在二十世纪早期进行的研究可能就不适合作出处了。Identify any possible author bias. A written discussion of American politics will likely look considerably different depending on whether the writer is a Democrat or a Republican. What is written may very well reflect a biased position. You need to take this possible bias into account when reading what the author has written. That is, take what is written with a grain of salt （有保留地）.甄别作者可能带有的偏见。有关美国政治的书面论述可能因作者是某党人或某党人迥然而异。作者所写的内容很可能反映其带有偏见的立场。阅读时要考虑到这种偏见存在的可能性。也就是说，要对文章内容“半信半疑”。By being a critical reader, you will bee better informed and may change your views as appropriate.成为一名批判性阅读者，你的思路会不断拓宽，观点会更加合理。第1课Text BThe Language of ConfidenceThe language we use programs our brains. Mastering our language gives us a great degree of mastery over our lives and our destinies. It is important to use the language in the best way possible in order to dramatically improve our quality of life.自信的语言语言能影响我们的大脑。掌握语言就能在很大程度上掌握我们的生活和命运。将语言发挥到极致可以极大地改善我们的生活质量，这一点至关重要。Even the smallest of words can have the deepest effect on our subconscious mind, which is like a child, and it doesnt really understand the difference between what really happens and what you imagine. It is eager to please and willing to carry out any mands that you give it - whether you do this knowingly or not is entirely up to you.再短的单词也能对我们的潜意识产生深远的影响。我们的潜意识就像一个孩子，分不清真实发生的事和自己想象的事。它渴望取悦，乐意听从你给它的任何命令，而你是有意还是无意地做这些完全取决于你。TryIt is a small word yet it has an amazing impact upon us. If someone says, Ill try to do that, you know that they are not going to be pulling their whole heart into(全身心投入于) it, and may not even do it at all. How often do you use the word try when talking about the things that matter to you? Do you say Ill try to be more confident or Ill try to do that or Ill try to call?“尽力”这是一个简单的词，却能对我们产生不简单的影响。如果有人说“我会尽力做这件事的”，你知道他其实并不打算全心全意做这件事，甚至可能根本不会去做。你有多少次在谈论对于你非常重要的事时使用了“尽力”这个词?你是否说过“我会尽力做到更加自信”、“我会尽力去做这件事”或者“我会尽力去呼喊”?Think about something that you would like to achieve, and say it to yourself in two different ways. Firstly say, Ill try to and notice how you feel. Next say, I will do and see how you feel.想一件你想完成的事情，然后用两种不同的方式对自己说。首先说“我会尽力去做”，然后注意你会有什么感受。再对自己说“我要做”，然后看你又会有什么感受。The latter makes you feel better than the first one, doesnt it? It gives you a sense of determination, a feeling that it will be done. Listen to the people around you and when they say they will try, notice if it gets done or not. Eliminate the word try from your dictionary and see how your life improves.后一种方式给你的感受要比前一种好，不是吗?它给你一种坚定感，一种事情一定会完成的感觉。听听你身边的人怎么说，如果他们说他们会尽力，看看事情最后是不是完成了。从你的词典里删除“尽力”这个词，看看你的生活会如何改善。 CantThis is another small word with a big impact. It disempowers us, makes us feel weak and helpless, and damages our self-esteem. It limits our infinite abilities and stifles creativity. Rub it out from your internal dictionary and replace it with something that makes you feel great.“不能”这又是一个简单却影响巨大的词。它让我们失去力量，让我们感到脆弱与无助，让我们的自尊心受到伤害。它限制了我们无限的才能，扼杀了我们的创造力。把这个词从你内心的词典里擦去吧，换一个让你感到伟大的词。Instead of (=Rather than) saying you cant, why not say something like I choose or I choose not to. Using words like this allows you to take back your power and to be in control of your life.不要说你“不能”，为什么不换一个别的说法，比如“我选择”或者“我选择不”。使用这些词能让你恢复力量，掌控自己的生活。Words may appear small and insignificant, yet they can have a deep and lasting effect on us. Mastering your language gives you the power to live whatever life you desire.一些词语或许看似简单、微不足道，却能对我们产生深刻而持久的影响。掌握你的语言能让你获得力量去实现你渴望的生活。What words do you use a lot that disempower you? Make a list of words you monly use and then write next to them some alternatives you can use. Make these alternatives words that make you feel fabulous(极好的), not only about yourself, but about life and what you are doing!你使用过哪些让你失去力量的词? 列出你常用的这类词，然后在旁边写出它们的替代词。让这些替代词不仅使你对自己感觉良好，而且使你对生活、对正在做的事情感觉无限美好吧!第2课Text ASpilt MilkHave you heard of the story about spilt milk? Well, we all know there is no use crying over spilt milk. But this story is different. I would hope all parents would respond in this manner.打翻的牛奶你是否听过打翻的牛奶的故事?我们都知道为已经打翻的牛奶哭泣是没有用的。不过这次的故事不同。我希望所有父母都能作出如此回应。I recently heard a story about a famous research scientist who had made several very important medical breakthroughs. He was interviewed by a newspaper reporter who asked him why he was so much more creative than the average person; what set him so far apart from others?最近我听到一个故事，故事的主角是一个在医学领域取得多项重大突破的知名科学家。在一次报社记者对他的采访中，记者问他为什么他比普通人更富有创造力，是什么让他如此与众不同。He responded that, in his opinion, it all came from an experience with his mother that occurred when he was about two years old. He had been trying to remove a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when he lost his grip on the slippery bottle and it fell, spilling its contents all over the kitchen floor a veritable (十足的) sea of milk!他回答道，在他看来，这全部源于他两岁时和妈妈的一次共同的经历。他试图从冰箱里取出一瓶牛奶，却没有抓住光滑的瓶子，瓶子掉了，牛奶洒得厨房满地都是白花花的一片。When his mother came into the kitchen, instead of yelling at him, giving him a lecture, or punishing him, she said, Robert, what a great wonderful mess you have made! I have rarely seen such a huge puddle of milk. Well, the damage has already been done. Would you like to get down and play in the milk for a few minutes before we clean it up?他妈妈走进厨房时，没有对他大吼大叫，没有训斥他或惩罚他，而是对他说：“罗伯特，瞧你把地板弄得，多么的壮观啊!我几乎从未见过这么大的一摊牛奶。噢，既然损失已经造成了，你要不要下来玩一会牛奶我们再打扫?”Indeed, he did. After a few minutes, his mother said, You know, Robert, whenever you make a mess like this, eventually you have to clean it up and restore everything to its proper order. So, how would you like to do that? We could use a sponge, a towel, or a mop. Which do you prefer? He chose the sponge and together they cleaned up the spilt milk.他真的在一地的牛奶上玩了一会儿。几分钟后，妈妈又说：“罗伯特，你要知道，每次像这样搞得一团糟，最终还是要收拾干净，让一切恢复原位。所以，你看该怎么打扫好呢?我们可以使用一块海绵、一条毛巾或者一个拖把。你喜欢用哪一个呢?”他选择了海绵，并和妈妈一起把地板上的牛奶打扫干净。His mother then said, You know, what we have here is a failed experiment in how to effectively carry a big milk bottle with two tiny hands. Lets go out in the back yard and fill the bottle with water and see if you can discover a way to carry it without dropping it. The little boy learned that if he grasped the bottle at the top near the lip with both hands, he could carry it without dropping it. What a wonderful lesson!他妈妈接着对他说：“你知道，今天我们实际上做了个实验如何用两只小手稳妥地端一个大的牛奶瓶，可惜我们的实验失败了。那我们去后院继续做实验吧，给瓶子里装上水，看看你能不能发现用什么方法端这个瓶子它不会掉。”于是这个小男孩学会了用双手抓住瓶子上面靠近瓶盖的位置，这样端的时候瓶子就不会掉。多么美妙的一堂课!The renowned scientist remarked that it was at that moment that he knew he didnt need to be afraid to make mistakes. Instead, he learned that mistakes were just opportunities for learning something new, which is, after all, what scientific experiments are all about(真谛). Even if the experiment doesnt work, we usually learn something valuable from it.这位著名的科学家谈论道，正是在那一刻他明白了无需害怕犯错误。相反，他认识到错误正是学习新东西的机会，毕竟任何科学实验都是如此。即使实验“行不通”，我们往往也能从中得到一些宝贵的经验。Wouldnt it be great if all parents would respond （in）the way Roberts mother responded to him?如果所有家长都像罗伯特的妈妈那样对待孩子该有多好啊。第2课Text BText B The CakeCindy glanced nervously at the clock on the kitchen wall. Five minutes before midnight.蛋糕辛迪紧X地瞥了一眼挂在厨房墙壁上的时钟，还有5分钟就到午夜了。They should be home any time now, she thought as she put the finishing touches on the chocolate cake she was frosting. It was the first time in her 12 years she had tried to make a cake from scratch, and to be honest, it wasnt exactly an aesthetic triumph. The cake waswell, lumpy. And the frosting was bitter, as if she had run out of sugar or something, which, of course, she had. “现在，他们随时都会回来。”她一边想着，一边在巧克力蛋糕上抹上最后一些糖霜。这是她从小到大12年来第一次尝试制作蛋糕，完全是从头学起。不过说实话，蛋糕至少从审美角度说不算成功。这块蛋糕嗯，看起来凹凸不平。糖霜是苦的，好像她把糖或者别的什么东西都用光了。当然，糖的确是用光了。And then there was the way the kitchen looked. Imagine a huge blender filled with all the fixings for chocolate cake including the requisite bowls, pans and utensils. Now imagine that the blender is turned on. High speed. With the lid off. Do you get the idea?再看看她把厨房搞成什么样了。想象一个巨大的搅拌机，里面盛着制作蛋糕的全部原料包括必备的锅、碗及其他器皿。再想象一下这个搅拌机开动了，高速运转，盖子是打开着的。你能想象出这是什么样的场景吗? But Cindy wasnt thinking about the mess. She had created something, a veritable phoenix of flour and sugar rising out of the kitchen clutter. She was anxious for her parents to return home from their date so she could present her anniversary gift to them. She turned off the kitchen lights and waited excitedly in the darkness. When at last she saw the flash of the car headlights, she positioned herself in the kitchen doorway. By the time she heard the key sliding into the front door, she was THIS CLOSE to exploding.但辛迪没有考虑这些混乱。她创造了某件东西，一只用面粉和糖做成的十足的凤凰正从厨房的一片狼藉中升起。她焦急地等待着父母约会后回来，以便她能将自己的周年纪念礼物送给他们。她关掉厨房的灯，在黑暗中兴奋地等待着。终于，她看见汽车头灯在闪烁，她在厨房门口站定。当她听到钥匙插进前门锁孔的声音时，她的心激动得几乎要蹦出来了!Her parents tried to slip in quietly, but Cindy would have none of that(不接受). She flipped on the lights dramatically and trumpeted: “Ta-daaa! She gestured grandly toward the kitchen table, where a slightly off-balance two-layer chocolate cake awaited their inspection.父母尽量放轻脚步，悄悄地走进门来，但辛迪可不管那些。她激动地用手指按下电灯开关，大声叫道：“看!”她庄严地向厨房的餐桌打了个手势，一个稍微有点不平衡的双层蛋糕正在等待着他们的检阅。But her mothers eyes never made it all the way to the table. Just look at this mess! she moaned. How many times have I talked to you about cleaning up after yourself?但是母亲的眼睛压根儿就没有向餐桌那边看去。“看看你搞得什么啊!”母亲埋怨道，“我给你说了多少次吃完饭要随手收拾干净?”But Mom, I was only I should make you clean this up right now, but Im too tired to stay up with you to make sure you get it done right, her mother said. So youll do it first thing in the morning.Honey, Cindys father interjected gently, take a look at the table.“可是妈妈，我只是”“我现在就想让你立刻收拾干净，但是今天太累了，没法熬夜监督你干活，”母亲说，“你明早起床第一件事就是收拾厨房。”“亲爱的”，辛迪的父亲小声提醒道，“看看餐桌。”I know its a mess, his wife said coldly. The whole kitchen is a disaster. I cant stand to look at it. She stormed up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.“我知道餐桌上一团糟”，母亲冷冷地说，“整个厨房简直就是一场灾难。我实在是看不下去。”她气冲冲地上了楼梯，进了房间，砰的一声把门关上。For a few moments Cindy and her father stood silently, neither one knowing what to say（独立主格结构）. At last she looked up at him, her eyes moist and red. She never saw the cake, she said.辛迪和父亲静立片刻，两人都不知该说什么。最后辛迪抬头看着父亲，发红的眼睛里含着泪水。“她根本没看到蛋糕”，她说。Unfortunately, Cindys mother isnt the only parent who suffers from Situational Timbercular Glaua（青光眼） the occasional inability to see the forest for the trees. From time to time we all allow ourselves to be blinded to issues of long-term significance by stuff that seems awfully important right now, but isnt. Muddy shoes, lost lunch money and messy kitchens are troublesome, and they deserve their place among lifes frustrations. But whats a little mud even on new carpet pared to a childs self-esteem? Is a lost dollar more valuable than a youngsters emerging dignity? And while kitchen sanitation is important, is it worth the sacrifice of tender feelings and relationships?不幸的是，辛迪的母亲不是唯一一个这样的父母，他们患有情景性森林青光眼临时性地只见树木不见森林。由于那些眼下貌似极其重要但并非重要的事情，我们有时会对具有长远重要意义的事情视而不见。沾上泥的鞋、丢了的午餐费、脏乱的厨房，这些东西是很讨厌，值得让人沮丧一阵子了。但是和孩子的自尊心相比，一个泥点哪怕是粘在了新铺的地毯上又能算什么呢?丢失的一美元难道比一个孩子成长中的尊严更宝贵?厨房的卫生固然重要，可是值得为此牺牲温柔的亲情吗?Im not saying that our children dont need to learn responsibility, or to occasionally suffer the painful consequences of their own bad choices. Those lessons are vital, and need to be carefully taught. But as parents, we must never forget that were not just teaching lessons were teaching children. That means there are times when we really need to see the mess in the kitchen, and times when we only （need）to see the cake.我不是说我们的孩子不需要学会负责任，不需要有时为自己错误的选择付出痛苦的代价。这些道理也很重要，需要认真教授于他们。但是作为父母，我们不要忘了我们一不仅仅是在教课我们是在教孩子。这意味着有时候我们确实要看到厨房的脏乱，而有时候我们只需看到蛋糕。第3课Text AReflections: Friendship and LoyaltyHow many of us recognize true loyalty in a friend? Loyalty consists of a friend, who will stick by you, through thick and thin. A friend who is always honest with you and never betrays the friendship with lies is a loyal friend. If you have a loyal friend, you have indeed found a true virtue in that friend.关于友情和忠诚的思考我们之中有多少人能在朋友中识别出真正的忠诚? 忠诚包括无论何时都会支持你的朋友。一直对你坦诚、从不撒谎背叛你的朋友才是忠诚的朋友。如果你有一位忠诚的朋友，你一定在他身上发现了真正的美德。The current trend on the Internet is befriending anyone who requests to be your friend. However, this new trend may lead to disasters. It may be popular and trendy to have a network filled with a multitude of mutual friends. However, one true loyal friend may be the only friend you need.如今网络上流行的趋势是你可以和任何一个想成为你朋友的人做朋友。然而，这种新的趋势有可能会引发灾难。在网络上拥有一大批共同好友可能是比较流行，但是一个真正忠诚的朋友可能是你需要的唯一的那一个。A term used on the popular Facebook site is B.F.F. This acronym means best friends forever. Are they really your best friends forever? You might ask yourself this question, Will they share my private matters with others on the pages of Facebook, or perish the thought, engage in gossip about me with others? If the answer to that is, I dont know, more than likely, they will not be your best friends forever. Maybe not, even for a day.广受欢迎的脸谱上有一个词叫做BFF。这个缩写词的意思是“永远的最好的朋“友”。他们真的是你永远的最好的朋友吗?你可能会问自己：“他们会把我的私事发布在脸谱网页上与他人分享吗? 甚至与他人一起八卦我的隐私吗? 但愿永远不会。”如果答案是“我不知道”，那么很有可能，他们不是你永远的好朋友，甚至连一天也没可能是。I choose to have a B.L.F., a best loyal friend, for those of you who may be challenged by the use of acronyms during this age of technology and fast-talking.在这个科技和快速交谈发展的时代对可能会面临使用缩写语的你们来说，我更想要一个BLF，忠诚的好朋友。Loyalty found in a friend is akin to making a deposit in a bank account. More often than not, your deposits gain interest, an interest in your well-being and welfare. A loyal friend attracts another loyal friend. In essence, water does seek its own level.朋友间的忠诚就像是在银行账户里存款一样。通常你的存款会获得利息，关乎你幸福某的利息。忠诚的朋友吸引另一个忠诚的朋友。本质上，水自然会向下流朋友间总是惺惺相惜。If you were a B.L.F. way before Facebook gained notoriety, then Im sure you understand the premise of loyalty in a friend. You should never exploit your B.L.F. to gain more friends or make yourself seem more important to others. These are not the traits of a best loyal friend.如果你早在脸谱网赢得恶名之前就是个BLF的话，我相信你一定明白忠诚的朋友的前提。你不该利用自己的BLF来结交更多的朋友或者让你自己看起来更加重要。这些不是忠诚的好朋友的特质。A best loyal friend does not care who is invited to your party. They will attend your party and celebrate you, just in the way a best loyal friend should do.忠诚的最好的朋友不会在意你宴会上都请了谁。他们会来参加你的宴会并向你表示祝贺，就像忠诚的最好的朋友应该做的那样。Reconnecting with a best loyal friend is easier to do on the pages of Facebook. However, a virtual friend does not assure you of his loyalty. My caution to you is that youd better pay attention to the smiling faces on the Facebook pages. In the eighties we were warned of smiling faces in a song, which contained these lyrics, A smile is just a frown turned upside down, my friend. Now, that is the undisputed truth for my generation.在脸谱网上和忠诚的好朋友联络来得容易得多。然而，一个虚拟的朋友无法向你保证其忠诚。我给你的告诫是，你最好注意那些脸谱上的笑脸们。在80年代我们就在歌谣中被告知“笑脸是反着的苦恼的脸，我的朋友”。这在我们这一代也是不争的事实。第3课Text BA Tribute to the DogThe best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and bee his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may bee traitors to their faith.狗的赞歌在这个世上一个人最好的朋友也可能与他反目成仇，他呕心养育的儿女也可能对他忘恩负义。那些我们最亲近的人，那些我们以幸福和名誉信任的人，也可能背叛他们的忠诚。The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A mans reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolute, unselfish friend a man may have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.一个人所拥有的财富也可能失去。它可能在最被需要时随风而逝，名声也可能因一念之差而损毁殆尽。当我们功成名就，一些人卑躬屈膝，极力讨好；当失败的阴云笼罩在我们的头顶，那些人又可能最先对我们落井下石。而一个人在这充满私欲的世界里的一个绝对无私的朋友，一个永不抛弃他的朋友，一个绝不忘恩负义与背信弃义的朋友，则是他的狗。A mans dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his masters side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the sores and wounds that e in the encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper（贫民）master as if （=as though）he were a prince.一个人的狗无论其主人贫穷富贵，生老病死，都会和他站在一起，永不分离。只要能留在主人身边，它宁愿睡在冰冷的地上而不顾寒风凛冽，大雪纷飞。它会吻主人的手，哪怕主人手里没有一丁点食物；它会抚慰主人在艰难时世中遭遇的身心创伤；它也会如同护卫王子一般，守卫熟睡中潦倒的主人。When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings（飞走）and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant（不变的） in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast（被遗弃者）in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog as
展开阅读全文