第一章 爱和微笑，人生的芳醇（1）

love and smile, the sweetest wine of life

Paving a Brilliant Way

·Barack Obama·

Tonight is a particular honor for me because，let’ s face it，my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student，born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats，went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father，my grandfather，was a cook，a domestic servant to the British.

But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place: America，that shone as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before.

While studying here，my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world，in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor，my grandfather signed up for duty，joined Patton’ s army，marched across Europe. Back home，my grandmother raised a baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war，they studied on the GI Bill，bought a house through FHA，and later moved west，all the way to Hawaii，in search of opportunity.

And they，too，had big dreams for their daughter，a common dream，born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbable love，they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation.

They would give me an African name，Barack，or “blessed，” believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land，even though they weren’ t rich，because in a generous America you don’ t have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are both passed away now. Yet，I know that，on this night，they look down on me with great pride.

铺就辉煌之路

巴拉克·奥巴马

对我而言，今晚是特别荣耀的时刻。的确，从现实来看，我今天能现身在这个舞台上，简直就是不可能的事。我的父亲是一位外籍学生，在肯尼亚的小村庄出生、长大。他从小以羊为伴，在一间铁皮屋学校接受教育。他的父亲，也就是我的祖父，是英国人的家仆，担任厨师的工作。

但祖父对儿子怀抱着更远大的梦想。因此，靠着艰苦的努力和坚强的意志力，父亲获得了奖学金，在一个充满魔法的地方学习，那就是美国，这里闪烁着自由与机会的光芒，照亮了许多之前来到这里的人。

父亲在这里读书时，遇见了母亲。她出生在世界另一端的堪萨斯州的一个小镇。在大萧条时期，她的父亲，也就是我的外祖父，大部分时候在从事石油钻井的工作，闲时也务农。在珍珠港事件后的第二天，外祖父自愿入伍，投入巴顿将军旗下，远征整个欧洲。在家乡，我的外祖母边抚养孩子，边到轰炸机装配线上去工作。战后，他们利用美国退伍军人权利法案的资助继续深造，并通过联邦住宅管理局买了一栋房子。之后，为了寻找新的机会，他们迁往西部，就这样一路来到了夏威夷。

而他们对女儿同样也怀抱着远大的梦想。是的！一个共同的梦想，却诞生在两个洲。我的双亲不仅都拥有一份不同寻常的爱，也都怀抱着同样不变的信念--他们相信在这个国度里，没有不可能的事。

他们为我取了一个非洲式的名字巴拉克，意思是受祝福，他们相信，在兼容并蓄的美国，名字绝对不会是成功的障碍。尽管他们并不富裕，但却期望我能去这个国家最好的学校学习，因为在有容乃大的美国，你不一定要多富裕才能发挥你的潜能。他们现在都过世了，但我知道，就在今晚，他们正骄傲地俯瞰着我。

实战提升篇

核心单词

herd n. 畜群；牧群v. 放牧

perseverance n. 坚持不懈；坚忍不拔

beacon n. 烽火台灯塔；信号浮标v. 明亮，指引

assembly n. 与会者；集合

continent n. 大陆，大洲adj. 自制的，克制的

barrier n. 障碍物；路障，栅栏

实用句型

Yet，I know that，on this night，they look down on me with great pride.

但我知道，就在今晚，他们正骄傲地俯瞰着我。

(1) on this night在这里是插入语，其位置灵活，常常用逗号或破折号与其他成分隔开。

(2) look down on轻视，类似的表达还有look forward to盼望；look back on回顾，回头看；look ahead考虑到将来等固定搭配。

翻译行不行

1. 两人之间逐渐产生了友情。（grow up）

2. 当 “禁止吸烟” 的指示灯亮时，请您熄灭香烟。（sign up）

3. 他妻子生病了，得去找医生。（in search of）

A Glass of Milk

·Betty Stantey·

One day，a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods door to door found that he only had one dime left. He was hungry so he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.

However，he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly，and then asked， “How much do I owe you?”

“You don’ t owe me anything，” she replied. “Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said， “Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house，he not only felt stronger physically，but it also increased his faith in God and the human race. He was about to give up and quit before this point.

Years later the young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city，where specialists can be called in to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly，now famous，was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from，a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately，he rose and went down through the hospital hall into her room.

Dressed in his doctor’ s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room and determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on，he gave special attention to her case.

After a long struggle，the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to her room. She was afraid to open it because she was positive that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked，and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention. She read these words……

“Paid in full with a glass of milk.”

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she prayed silently: “Thank You，God. Your love has spread through human hearts and hands.”

一杯牛奶的温暖

贝蒂·斯坦利

一天，一个贫穷的小男孩为了攒够学费正挨家挨户地推销商品。肚子饿得咕咕直响，可他摸遍全身，却只找到一角钱。于是他决定向下一户人家讨口饭吃。

然而，当一位年轻的美丽女子打开房门的时候，这个小男孩却有点不知所措了。他没有要饭，只乞求给他一口水喝。可她看出男孩肚子很饿，于是就倒了一大杯牛奶给他。男孩慢慢地喝完牛奶，问道： “我应该付多少钱？”

年轻女子微笑着回答： “一分钱也不用付。我妈妈教导我，施以爱心，不图回报。” 男孩说： “那么，就请接受我由衷的感谢吧！” 说完，他就离开了这户人家。此时的他不仅浑身是劲儿，而且更加相信上帝和整个人类。而在这之前，他都感到万念俱灰了。

很多年之后，那位女子得了一种罕见的重病，当地医生对此束手无策。最后，她被转到大城市医治，并请来专家会诊。大名鼎鼎的霍华德·凯利医生也参加了医疗方案的制定。当他听到病人来自的那个城镇的名字时，一个奇怪的念头闪过脑际。他马上起身直奔她的病房。

身穿白大褂的凯利医生来到病房，一眼就认出了恩人。回到会诊室后，他决心一定要竭尽所能来治好她的病。从那天起，他就特别关照这个对自己有恩的病人。

经过艰苦的努力，手术成功了。凯利医生要求把医药费用通知单送到他那里，他看了一下，便在通知单的旁边签了字。当医药费用通知单送到她的病房时，她不敢看。因为她确信，治病的费用一定非常昂贵，恐怕她下半辈子也难以还清了。最后，她还是鼓起勇气，翻开了药费通知单，旁边的一行小字引起了她的注意，她不禁轻声读了出来：

“医药费已付：一杯牛奶。”

（签名）霍华德·凯利医生

喜悦的泪水溢出了她的眼睛，她默默地祈祷： “谢谢你，上帝，你的爱已通过人类的心灵和双手在传播。”

实战提升篇

核心单词

dime n. 一角硬币

nerve n. 忧虑，焦躁；勇敢

owe v. 欠 (债) ；应该把……归功于

physically adv. 身体上；实际上；完全地

critically adv. 批判性地；苛求地；危急地；严重地

consultation n. 咨询；商议；参考；参阅

gown n. 女礼服， (妇女穿的) 长礼服；手术衣

approval n. 批准；认可；赞成；同意

实用句型

He was hungry so he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.

他很饿于是他决定向下一户人家讨口饭吃。

(1) so在这里引导因果状语从句。

(2) decide to决定做，类似的表达还有decide on考虑后决定等固定搭配。

翻译行不行

1. 我替你去开会吧！（instead of）

2. 我出生在波士顿，但是大部分时间在费城。（come from）

3. 在付清贷款后，我们会有更多钱花。（pay off）

The Difference a Teacher Can Make

·Anonymous·

Steve，a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents，was about to be lost forever，by the U.S. education system. Remarkably，he could read，yet，in spite of his reading skills，Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade，as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy，looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old，yet，Steve went unnoticed……until Miss White.

Miss White was a smiling，young，beautiful redhead，and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life，he couldn’ t take his eyes off his teacher；yet，still he failed. He never did his homework，and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words，and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework，he felt just miserable! Still，he did not study.

In the middle of the first semester of school，the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests，and continued to dream of other things，as the day wore on. His heart was not in school，but in the woods，where he often escaped alone，trying to shut out the sights，sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone，because no one was sober enough to care. Oddly，Steve never missed a day of school.

One day，Miss White’ s impatient voice broke into his daydreams.

“Steve!” Startled，he turned to look at her.

“Pay attention!”

Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration，as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.

“You all did pretty well，” she told the class， “except for one boy，and it breaks my heart to tell you this，but……” She hesitated，pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare，her eyes searching his face.

“The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”

She just stared at Steve，as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.

After that，it was war! Steve still wouldn’ t do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe，he remained stubborn.

“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.

“You’ re smart enough! You’ ll see a change!” Nothing fazed him.

“Give yourself a chance! Don’ t give up on your life!” Nothing.

“Steve! Please! I care about you!”

Wow! Suddenly，Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone，totally unattainable and perfect，CARED ABOUT HIM?!

Steve went home from school，thoughtful，that afternoon. Walking into the house，he took one look around. Both parents were passed out，in various stages of undress，and the stench was overpowering! He，quickly，gathered up his camping gear，a jar of peanut butter，a loaf of bread，a bottle of water，and this time……his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined，he headed for the woods.

The following Monday he arrived at school on time，and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in，all sparkle and smiles! God，she was beautiful! He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not.

Miss White，immediately，gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test，and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise，Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled，she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk，his heart pounding within his chest. As he sat down，he couldn’ t resist another look at the lovely woman.

Miss White’ s face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve，then down，then up. Suddenly，her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!

From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same，but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn，but he was good at it! He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge，and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel! And he continued this course throughout his school life.

After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy，and he had a successful military career. During that time，he met the love of his life，he raised a family，and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career，he inspired many young people，who without him，might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy，and he continues to inspire others，as an adjunct professor in a nearby college.

Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know，because I am the love of his life.

You see，it’ s simple，really. A change took place within the heart of one boy，all because of one teacher，who cared.

老师改变了男孩的人生

佚　名

史蒂夫是一个12岁的小男孩，父母嗜酒成性，他面临着辍学的危险。显然，他会阅读，只是成绩总不尽如人意。从一年级到现在，年年如此。史蒂夫个子高大，看上去似乎比同龄的孩子要大得多。可他一直都被人忽视，直到怀特小姐的出现。

怀特小姐总是面带笑容，她年轻、还有一头亮丽的红头发。史蒂夫就喜欢她这种类型的，生平第一次。他无法将视线从老师身上移开，可是他的成绩还是不及格。他从不写作业，总是给怀特小姐添麻烦。她刻薄的言辞让他心碎，每当因没有完成作业而受罚时，他都非常痛苦，但他还是不学习。

第一学期期中，整个七年级都要进行基础技能测验。史蒂夫草草地将测验应付完，便继续幻想其他的事，一天天就这样过去了。他的心根本不在学校，而是在树林中。他经常独自躲藏在那里，以期避开酒鬼之家的吵闹声和令人作呕的气味。所有的人都无暇顾及他，没有人关心他是否安全，也没人知道他已经离开。奇怪的是，即便如此，史蒂夫却从没旷过一天课。

一天，怀特小姐不耐烦的声音把他从白日梦中惊醒了。

“史蒂夫！” 他震惊地转过头看着她。

“不要开小差！”

怀特小姐公布七年级的测验结果时，史蒂夫用青春期男孩特有的那种爱慕的眼光盯着她。

“你们都考得不错，” 她对学生们说， “除了一个男生，这令我很伤心，但是……” 她犹豫了，犀利的目光锁定在史蒂夫身上，盯着他。

“我们七年级最聪明的学生，竟然没及格！”

她紧盯着史蒂夫，全班同学都转过头看着他。史蒂夫羞愧地低着头，盯着指尖。

此后， “战争” 仍在继续！史蒂夫还是不愿写作业。即便惩罚再严厉，他也依然我行我素。

“努力试一下！坚持一周也好啊！” 可他就是无动于衷。

“你很聪明！如果你努力一定会有可喜的变化！” 没有什么话语可以打动他。

“给自己一个机会！不要轻言放弃。” 仍无济于事。

“史蒂夫，求你了，我那么关心你！”

哦！史蒂夫突然恍然大悟！真的有人关心他？简直不可思议，竟然有人关心他？！

那天下午，史蒂夫满腹思绪地回家了。进了家门，他扫视了一下屋内，看到父母裸露着身子睡着了。屋内臭气熏天，简直让人无法忍受。他快速找齐露营装备：一瓶花生酱，一块面包，一瓶水，这次他还把课本带上了。他坚定地走向了树林。

紧接着的那个周一早上，他按时来到学校，期待着怀特小姐步入教室。她面带微笑神采飞扬地走进来了。天哪！她真是太美了！他希望看到她对他微笑，但她没有。

怀特小姐突然决定测试周末的家庭作业。史蒂夫很快就做完了，并第一个递交了答卷。怀特小姐满脸惊奇地接过他的卷子，她批阅试卷时的疑惑溢于言表。史蒂夫回到座位上，心怦怦地狂跳不止。坐下之后，他情不自禁地又瞄了一眼这位漂亮的女子。

怀特小姐脸上满是震惊的神情，她瞟了一眼史蒂夫，又低下头去，然后又再次抬起头来。突然，她脸上绽放出灿烂的笑容。七年级最聪明的男孩终于首次通过了测试。

从那时起，史蒂夫就好像换了个人。虽然家庭生活依旧，但他的生活确实发生了变化。他发觉自己不仅能学习，而且能学得很好！他发现自己能理解并牢记所学知识，并能学以致用。史蒂夫开始变得优秀了，而且他在整个求学生涯中，一直都保持着优秀。

高中毕业后，史蒂夫应征加入了海军，他的军旅生涯也很成功。期间，他结识了他的爱人，组建了家庭，并从Magna Cum Laude大学毕业。他在海军服军役期间，曾鼓励过许多年轻人。假如没有他，这些人或许不可能建立自信，实现自身价值。从海军退役后，史蒂夫开始了他的第二份工作--在附近的一所大学担任助理教授，继续鼓舞他人。

怀特小姐留下了一份宝贵遗产，她挽救了一个男孩，这个男孩使许多生命发生了变化。我对这一切都很了解，因为我就是他的爱人。

你看，事情就这么简单。一个男孩的内心世界，只因一个老师的关心，就发生了如此大的变化。

实战提升篇

核心单词

remarkably adv. 引人注目地；明显地；非常地

sharp adj. 锋利的；尖的；陡的，机警的

entire adj. 全部的，整个的

impatient adj. 无耐心的，不耐烦的；无法忍受的

hesitate v. 踌躇；有疑虑，不愿意

severe adj. 严重的；剧烈的；严厉的；苛刻的

retain v. 保留，保持

military adj. 军事的；军用的

legacy n. 遗产；遗赠

实用句型

As he sat down，he couldn’ t resist another look at the lovely woman.

坐下之后，他情不自禁地又瞄了一眼这位漂亮的女子。

(1) As在这里作连词，引导时间状语从句。

(2) look at看，类似的表达还有look over仔细检查；look forward to盼

望；look into研究，调查等固定搭配。

翻译行不行

1. 尽管遇到很多挫折，他仍坚持做实验。（in spite of ）

2. 他的梦想是成为一名飞行员。（dream of）

3. 篮球赛何时举行? （take place）