书城外语每天都是精彩:英语诵读美文240篇(英汉对照)
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第43章

That's the Way the Ball Bounces

Guidance for Reciting

As fruit needs not only sunshine but cold nights and chilling showers to ripen it,so character needs not only joy but trial and difficulty to mellow it. Remember:Life is not all roses.

Refuse to complain about things,learn to improve your surroundings and create your world the way you believe it should be. Perhaps you can't control your job,but you may be able to make other changes in your life. Refuse to dwell on the mistakes or disappointments that are sometimes a part of life,instead learn how you can make things better.

Notes

1.dwell [dwel] v. 细说,详述[(+on/upon)];生活(在),存在(于)[(+in)]

这就是生活

诵读导言

水果不仅需要阳光,也需要凉夜。寒冷的雨水能使其成熟。人的性格陶冶不仅需要欢乐,也需要考验和困难。请记住:人生并不总是康庄大道。

不要抱怨,学习如何改善环境,创造你的理想世界。或许你不能支配自己的工作,但你能够使生活发生转变。不要沉湎于错误和失望中难以自拔,有时它们是生活不可或缺的组成部分,学会从中吸取教训,下次做得更好。

口语点津

生活中难免有不如意的事情发生。就算你再愤怒,再无奈,有些事也是无法改变的。这个时候,只有安慰一下自己,接受现实,说一声“That's the way the ball bounces.”(这就是生活)。这个习语源自20世纪50年代。从字面意思看,球就是这么弹起来的,也就是自然规律,于是引申为“这就是生活”。还有一个类似的说法叫“That's the way the cookie crumbles”,饼干就是这么碎的。不管是弹起的球,还是碎了的饼干,这些说法能够流传至今,应该归功于它们念起来朗朗上口――“ball”和“bounce”都是“b”开头,而“cookie”和“crumbles”都是“c”开头。另外,还有一种说法是“That's the way it goes”。不管是哪种说法,都流露着人们的无奈。看下面例句:――You promised to baby-sit on the night of Jean's party?你答应在珍妮开派对那天晚上看孩子?――Oh,well,that's the way the ball bounces. 哎,没有办法呀。