Lesson
2
If I Were a Boy Again
1
If I were a boy again, I would practice perseverance① more often, and never give up a thing because it was hard or inconvenient. If we want light, we must conquer darkness. Perseverance can sometimes equal genius② in its results. “There are only two creatures③,” says a proverb, “Who can surmount④ the pyramids—the eagle and the snail.”
2
If I were a boy again, I would school myself into a habit of attention; I would let nothing come between me and the subject in hand. I would remember that a good skater never tries to skate in two directions at once. The habit of attention becomes part of our life, if we begin early enough. I often hear grown up people say, “I could not fix my attention on the sermon or book, although I wished to do so”, and the reason is, the habit was not formed in youth.
3
If I were to live my life over again, I would pay more attention to the cultivation of the memory. I would strengthen that faculty⑤ by every possible means, and on every possible occasion. It takes a little hard work at first to remember things accurately; but memory soon helps itself, and gives very little trouble. It only needs early cultivation to become a power.
4
If I were a boy again, I would cultivate courage. “Nothing is so mild and gentle as courage, nothing so cruel and pitiless as cowardice,” says a wise author. We too often borrow trouble, and anticipate that may never appear. “The fear of ill exceeds the ill we fear.” Dangers will arise in any career, but presence of mind will often conquer the worst of them. Be prepared for any fate, and there is no harm to be feared.
5
If I were a boy again, I would look on the cheerful side. Life is very much like a mirror: if you smile upon it, I smiles back upon you; but if you frown and look doubtful on it, you will get a similar look in return. Inner sunshine warms not only the heart of the owner, but of all that come in contact with it. “Who shuts love out, in turn shall be shut out from love.” Importance of learning very early in life to gain that point where a young boy can stand erect⑥, and decline.
6
If I were a boy again, I would school myself to say “no” more often. I might write pages on the doing an unworthy act because it is unworthy. If I were a boy again, I would demand of myself more courtesy⑦ towards my companions and friends and indeed towards strangers as well. The smallest courtesies along the rough roads of life are like the little birds that sing to us all winter long, and make that season of ice and snow more endurable⑧.
7
Finally, instead of trying hard to be happy, as if that were the sole purpose of life, I would, if I were a boy again, I would still try harder to make others happy.
(511 words)
①perseverance [ˌpɜ:səˑvɪərəns] n. 坚定不移
②genius [ˑdʒi:nɪəs] n. 天才，天赋；天才人物
③creature [ˑkri:tʃə(r)] n. 人；动物；傀儡；创造物
④surmount [səˑmaʊnt] vt. 战胜，超越，克服；在……顶上
⑤faculty [ˑfækltɪ] n. 才能，本领，能力；全体教员
⑥erect [ɪˑrekt] adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的
⑦courtesy [ˑkɜ:təsɪ] n. 谦恭；允许；礼貌
⑧endurable [ɪnˑdjʊərəbl] adj. 可忍受的，能忍耐的
I. How well did you read?
1. [Evaluate the information] What does the proverb “There are only two creatures who can surmount the pyramids—the eagle and the snail” mean?
A. Both features can be very fast.
B. Both features have their own advantages.
C. Perseverance can make up some disadvantages.
2. [Evaluate the information] What does the author mean by saying “a good skater never tries to skate in two directions at once”?
A. He cannot skate well. B. He wants to be focused.
C. One can only do one thing.
3. [Note the fact] According to the author, remembering things________.
A. gets easier as one remembers more
B. takes little hard work
C. is difficult to be accurate
II. Read for words.
1. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined words.
(1) If I were a boy again, I would strengthen that faculty by every possible means.
A. 能力 B.全体教师 C.特权
(2) The fear of ill exceeds the ill we fear.
A. equals B. inferior to C. surpasses
2. Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined expressions.
(1) If I were a boy again, I would school myself into a habit of attention
A. cultivate B. go to school C. get rid of
(2) Dangers will arise in any career, but presence of mind will often conquer the worst of them.
A. being absent-minded B. paying attention to C. being courageous