英语美文：独一无二的你

 I will never forget the lesson which Mr. Li gave² us. One day Mr. Li was³ speaking to us in our school meeting⁵ room. He began his speech⁶ by holding up a $100 bill⁷. He asked, "Who would⁸ like this $100 bill?"

我难以忘怀李老师给我们上的那一课。有一天，他在学校的会议室给我们做了一次演讲。 他手持一百美元，开始了他的讲话。“谁想要这100美元？”他问道。

Most of us put up our hands quickly. Then he said⁹, "I am going¹⁰ to give this $100 to one of you, but first let me do this." He then made¹¹ the bill into a ball and said; "Who wants it now?" We raised¹² our hands again. But he said, "Wait a moment." He then dropped it on the floor and stepped¹³ on it. After that, he picked¹⁴ up the dirty bill and said,

绝大部分的学生迅速举手。接下来，他说：“我会把这一百美元给你们之中的一个人，但是，我先得做点什么。” 他将这张钞票揉成一团（这里个人觉得应该这样翻译比较准确）后说道：“现在，谁还要这100美元？” 学生再一次举起手来。 但是，他又说：“请稍等片刻。” 他将钞票扔到地上用脚踩它，之后，他拾起这张脏了的钞票问道：

"Who still wants it?" Many hands were still up.

“谁还要它？”很多人依然举手。

"My friends," he said, "you have learned¹⁵ a valuable¹⁶ lesson today. No matter what I did¹⁷ to the money, you still wanted it because it did not go down in value¹⁸. It was still worth¹⁹ $100.

“我的孩子们”，他说道，“今天，你们得到了宝贵的一课。不管我怎么对待这张钞票，你们依然想要得到它，这是因为我并没有贬低它的价值。它仍然是一张价值一百美元的钞票。”

"We always lose²⁰ many chances²¹ we take in our lives. "He went on speaking, "We feel as⁴ if we are worth nothing. But remember, no matter what has happened to you, you will never lose your value: you are always valuable to those people who love you. Your value doesn't come from what you do or who you know, but WHO YOU ARE."

“我们总是与生命中许多机会失之交臂。”他接着说道，“我们觉得自己没有价值，但是，要牢记，无论发生什么，我们的价值仍然存在，对于爱着你的人们来说，你有很大的价值，你的价值并不来源于你的出身还有你的作为，仅仅来源与你自身。”

"You are special and valuable. Don't ever¹ forget it!"

“别忘了，你是珍贵而特殊的存在。”

1 ever   

adv.曾经；永远；不断地；在任何时候；究竟

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to hangzhou?你曾经去过杭州吗？
• I will be young and strong and beautiful for ever.我将永远年轻、强壮，永远漂亮。

2 gave   

vbl.（give的过去式）给予，产生，发表

参考例句：

• He asked for money and I gave him some.他要钱，我给了他一些。
• I gave you a map so you wouldn't get lost. 我给你一张地图，这样你就不会迷路了。

3 was   

v.(is,am的过去式)是，在

参考例句：

• He said he was right.他说他是正确的。
• He was cold and hungry.他又冷又饿。

4 as   

conj.按照；如同

参考例句：

• He got work in a hotel as a waiter.他在一家旅馆找到了当服务生的工作。
• In the hotel,the old men were drinking away as usual.在旅馆里，这些老人和往常一样喝个不停。

5 meeting   

n.会议；集会

参考例句：

• Will you be at the meeting?你会来开会吗？
• We would like to hold the meeting at an early date.我们希望早日举行这次会议。

6 speech   

n.讲话，演说

参考例句：

• I did not lose a word of his speech.他的演说我没有听漏一个字。
• We were listening in to the Prime Minister's speech.我们正在收音机旁听首相的广播演说。

7 bill   

(Bill)比尔(男名)；n.帐单，钞票，票据，清单；议案，法案；广告；鸟嘴，喙；vt.开帐单，用海报宣传，把...列成表

参考例句：

• Bill is both a good swimmer and a good cook.比尔不仅是个游泳好手，而且是个烹调能手。
• It will save trouble if you pay the bill now.如果你现在付账就没事了。

8 would   

aux.will的过去式；愿，要；常常；大概；将要，会

参考例句：

• Why would you say that?为什么你会这么说？
• Would you please help me?你能帮帮我吗？

9 said   

v.动词say的过去式、过去分词

参考例句：

• He said to me that he could not come.他对我说他不能来。
• He said to his mother that he would do it by himself.他对他的母亲说他将自己独立做那件事。

10 going   

n.去，离去，地面(或道路)的状况，工作情况；(复数形式）goings: 行为；adj.进行中的，流行的，现存的

参考例句：

• We're going to listen to a report this afternoon. 今天下午我们要去听报告。
• He hates leaving the office and going on holiday.他不愿离开办公室去度假。

11 made   

v.make的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• They were not made in china.它们不是中国制造的。
• The monkey made a long arm for the peach.猴子伸臂去摘桃子。

12 raised   

adj.凸起的，浮雕的，发酵的

参考例句：

• She raised the gun and fired. 她举枪射击。
• the sound of raised voices 提高嗓门的说话声

13 stepped   

v.举步，行走，跨步( step的过去式和过去分词 )；离开(along)；（尤指马）轻快地走；（跳舞时）合着节拍走

参考例句：

• The ice cracked as I stepped onto it. 我一踩冰就裂了。
• She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. 介绍完毕后她就登上讲台。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 picked   

adj.精选的，摘下的v.采( pick的过去式和过去分词 )；摘；啄；叼

参考例句：

• I picked up a few good bargains in the sale. 我在减价期间买了几样挺不错的便宜货。
• She picked herself up, brushed herself down, and started walking again. 她爬起来，掸掸身上的灰尘，又往前走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

16 valuable   

adj.有价值的，贵重的，宝贵的，可估价的

参考例句：

• This is one of the most valuable lessons I learned.这是我所学到的最宝贵的教训。
• He has a valuable collection of stamps.他收藏了很有价值的邮票。

17 did   

v.动词do的过去式

参考例句：

• How many goals did you score in the last game?上一场比赛你们进了几个球？
• Why did you choose basketball in the first place?你为何首先选择篮球呢？

18 value   

n.价值，价格，有用性，重要性；[pl.]价值观念，标准

参考例句：

• This lesson adds to the value of the book.这一课增加了这本书的价值。
• People do not know the value of health till they lose it.人们直到失去健康，才知道健康的可贵。

19 worth   

adj.值钱；值得，具有..价值；n.价值，作用

参考例句：

• The book was old and it was not worth a cent.这本书旧了，一文不值。
• This novel is worth reading. 这部小说值得一读。

20 lose   

v.丢失，失去，迷失，(钟表)走慢

参考例句：

• I always lose at cards, with my bad luck.我不走运，打牌总输。
• I can always lose myself in a good book.一本好书会使我爱不释手。

21 chances   

n.机会( chance的名词复数 )；偶然；风险；某事发生的可能性

参考例句：

• I'm not over-optimistic about my chances of getting the job. 我对获得这份工作不抱太大希望。
• They appeared surprisingly pessimistic about their chances of winning. 他们对胜利的可能性显得出奇地悲观。