英语美文：永不言弃

 对于克服严重的身体残疾,实现看似不可能的目标,这也许是最好的例子之一,它体现了永不言弃的态度。 

　In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular¹ bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat² and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before. 

　　Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion³ he managed to convince1 his son Washington, an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. 

　　Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished⁴ and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration⁵, and headiness2 of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge. 

　　The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tregic3 accident on the site4 took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with certain account of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move. 

　　"We told them so." 

　　"Crazy men and their crazy dreams." 

　　"It's foolish to chase wild visions." 

　　Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scraped5 since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite⁶ of his handicap⁷, Washington was never discouraged and still had burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. 

　　He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm6 to some of his friends, but they were too daunted7 by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the top of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and decided⁸ to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife. 

　　He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again. 

　　For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute8 of one's indomitable9 spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute⁹ to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 years patiently decoded10 the message of her husband and told the engineers what to do. 

　　Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal. 

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　英语美文单词注释 

　　①convince vt.说服,劝说 

　　②headiness n.顽固 

　　③tragic adj.悲惨的,悲剧似的 

　　④on the site 现场 

　　⑤scrape vi.刮掉,擦掉 

　　⑥enthusiasm n.热情 

　　⑦daunt vt.气馁,使胆怯 

　　⑧tribute n.表示尊敬或赞美的言辞或行为;殷勤 

　　⑨indomitable adj.不屈服的,不屈不挠的 

　　⑩decode vt.解码,译码

1 spectacular   

adj.引人注目的，出色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• This is a spectacular film.这是一部场面壮观的电影。
• This is the most spectacular financial crash of the decade.这是10年里最引人注目的金融破产事件。

2 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

3 persuasion   

n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派

参考例句：

• He decided to leave only after much persuasion.经过多方劝说，他才决定离开。
• After a lot of persuasion,she agreed to go.经过多次劝说后，她同意去了。

4 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

5 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

6 spite   

n.（用于短语）虽然，不顾，尽管

参考例句：

• He has modern ideas in spite of his great age.尽管他年事很高，但思想观念却很入时。
• In spite of his anger,his remarks were restrained.他尽管生气，说的话还是有节制的。

7 handicap   

n.障碍（身体或智力方面的），缺陷；vt.妨碍

参考例句：

• Losing our best player was a handicap to the team.失去最棒的运动员对我队不利。
• His physical handicap prevented him from standing.因为他身体残废，无法站立。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 tribute   

n.颂词，称赞，(表示敬意的)礼物；贡品

参考例句：

• She accepted their tribute graciously.她慈祥地接受了他们的致意。
• Many conquered nations had to pay tribute to the rulers of ancient Rome.许多被征服的国家必须向古罗马的统治者朝贡。