第1课Text A
Text A Critical Reading
Critical reading applies to non-fiction writing in which the author puts forth a position or seeks to make a statement. Critical reading is active reading. It involves more than just understanding what an author is saying. Critical reading involves questioning and evaluating what the author is saying，and forming your own opinions about what the author is saying. Here are the things you should do to be a critical reader.
批判性地阅读
批判性阅读适合于那种作者提出一种观点或试图陈述一种说法纪实类写作。批判性阅读是积极阅读。它不但仅涉及理解作者说了些什么，还涉及质疑和评价作者话，并对此形成自己观点。成为一名批判性阅读者需要做到如下几点。
Consider the context of what is written. You may be reading something that was written by an author from a different cultural context than (=from) yours. Or，you may be reading something written some time ago in a different time context than yours. In either case，you must recognize and take into account any differences between your values and attitudes and those represented by the author.
考虑写作背景。你所读也许是与你有不同文化背景人所写，或者是与你有不同步代背景人近年此前所写。无论哪种状况，你都必要注意并考虑你价值观和态度与作者所代表价值观和态度有何不同。
Question assertions made by the author. Don't accept what is written at face value(完全地，以面值/表象). Before accepting what is written，be certain that the author provides sufficient support for any assertions made. Look for facts，examples，and statistics that provide support. Also，look to see if (=whether) the author has integrated the work of authorities.
质疑作者论点。不要轻信作品表面意思。在接受作者观点前，一方面要拟定作者作出每一种论点均有足够论据支持。找出能支持该论点事实、实例、和数据。此外，注意作者与否参照了权威著作。
Compare what is written with other written work on the subject. Look to see that what is written is consistent with what others have written about the subject. If there are inconsistencies，carefully evaluate the support the author provides for the inconsistencies.
与同主题文章进行比较。查看该作者文章与其她作者关于同一主题文章与否有一致性。如果存在不一致性，对不一致地方背后论据支持要进行仔细甄别。
Analyze assumptions made by the author. Assumptions are whatever the author must believe is true in order to make assertions. In many cases，the author's assumptions are not directly stated. This means you must read carefully in order to identify any assumptions. Once you identify an assumption，you must decide whether or not the assumption is valid.
分析作者提出假设。假设是作者以为具备对的性前提，基于这些前提作者才干提出论点。诸多时候作者假设并没有直接阐明，这就意味着你必要通过仔细阅读来发现这些假设。一旦发现某一假设，你必要判断这一假设与否合理。
Evaluate the sources the author uses. In doing this，be certain that the sources are credible. For example，Einstein is a credible source if the author is writing about landmark achievements in physics. Also be certain that the sources are relevant. Einstein is not a relevant source when the subject is poetry. Finally，if the author is writing about a subject in its current state，be sure that the sources are current. For example，studies done by Einstein in the early 20th century may not be appropriate if the writer is discussing the current state of knowledge in physics.
鉴别文章出处。鉴别时要保证文章出处真实可信。例如，如果文章是关于物理学里程碑式成就，那么爱因斯坦阐述就是可靠出处。此外还要保证出处具备有关性。如果文章主题是诗歌，那么爱因斯坦阐述就不是有关出处。最后，如果作者写是某个主题当前情形，那就要保证出处来源也是当前最新。例如，如果作者讨论是物理学知识现状，那么爱因斯坦在二十世纪初期进行研究也许就不适合伙出处了。
Identify any possible author bias. A written discussion of American politics will likely look considerably different depending on whether the writer is a Democrat or a Republican. What is written may very well reflect a biased position. You need to take this possible bias into account when reading what the author has written. That is，take what is written with "a grain of salt" （有保存地）.
甄别作者也许带有偏见。关于美国政治书面阐述也许因作者是共和党人或民主党人迥然而异。作者所写内容很也许反映其带有偏见立场。阅读时要考虑到这种偏见存在也许性。也就是说，要对文章内容“半信半疑”。
By being a critical reader，you will become better informed and may change your views as appropriate.
成为一名批判性阅读者，你思路会不断拓宽，观点会更加合理。
第1课Text B
The Language of Confidence
The language we use programs our brains. Mastering our language gives us a great degree of mastery over our lives and our destinies. It is important to use the language in the best way possible in order to dramatically improve our quality of life.
自信语言
语言能影响咱们大脑。掌握语言就能在很大限度上掌握咱们生活和命运。将语言发挥到极致可以极大地改进咱们生活质量，这一点至关重要。
Even the smallest of words can have the deepest effect on our subconscious mind，which is like a child，and it doesn't really understand the difference between what really happens and what you imagine. It is eager to please and willing to carry out any commands that you give it -- whether you do this knowingly or not is entirely up to you.
再短单词也能对咱们潜意识产生深远影响。咱们潜意识就像一种孩子，分不清真实发生事和自己想象事。它渴望取悦，乐意听从你给它任何命令，而你是故意还是无意地做这些完全取决于你。
"Try"
It is a small word yet it has an amazing impact upon us. If someone says，"I'll try to do that"，you know that they are not going to be pulling their whole heart into(全身心投入于) it，and may not even do it at all. How often do you use the word try when talking about the things that matter to you?Do you say "I'll try to be more confident" or "I'll try to do that" or "I'll try to call"?
“竭力”
这是一种简朴词，却能对咱们产生不简朴影响。如果有人说“我会竭力做这件事”，你懂得她其实并不打算全心全意做这件事，甚至也许主线不会去做。你有多少次在谈论对于你非常重要事时使用了“竭力”这个词?你与否说过“我会竭力做到更加自信”、“我会竭力去做这件事”或者“我会竭力去呼喊”?
Think about something that you would like to achieve，and say it to yourself in two different ways. Firstly say，"I'll try to… " and notice how you feel. Next say，"I will do…" and see how you feel.
想一件你想完毕事情，然后用两种不同方式对自己说。一方面说“我会竭力去做……”，然后注意你会有什么感受。再对自己说“我要做……”，然后看你又会有什么感受。
The latter makes you feel better than the first one，doesn't it?It gives you a sense of determination，a feeling that it will be done. Listen to the people around you and when they say they will try，notice if it gets done or not. Eliminate the word try from your dictionary and see how your life improves.
后一种方式给你感受要比前一种好，不是吗?它给你一种坚定感，一种事情一定会完毕感觉。听听你身边人怎么说，如果她们说她们会竭力，看看事情最后是不是完毕了。从你词典里删除“竭力”这个词，看看你生活会如何改进。
"Can't"
This is another small word with a big impact. It disempowers us，makes us feel weak and helpless，and damages our self-esteem. It limits our infinite abilities and stifles creativity. Rub it out from your internal dictionary and replace it with something that makes you feel great.
“不能”
这又是一种简朴却影响巨大词。它让咱们失去力量，让咱们感到脆弱与无助，让咱们自尊心受到伤害。它限制了咱们无限才干，扼杀了咱们创造力。把这个词从你内心词典里擦去吧，换一种让你感到伟大词。
Instead of (=Rather than) saying you can't，why not say something like "I choose…" or "I choose not to…". Using words like this allows you to take back your power and to be in control of your life.
不要说你“不能”，为什么不换一种别说法，例如“我选取……”或者“我选取不……”。使用这些词能让你恢复力量，掌控自己生活。
Words may appear small and insignificant，yet they can have a deep and lasting effect on us. Mastering your language gives you the power to live whatever life you desire.
某些词语或许看似简朴、微局限性道，却能对咱们产生深刻而持久影响。掌握你语言能让你获得力量去实现你渴望生活。
What words do you use a lot that disempower you?Make a list of words you commonly use and then write next to them some alternatives you can use. Make these alternatives words that make you feel fabulous(极好)，not only about yourself，but about life and what you are doing!
你使用过哪些让你失去力量词?列出你惯用此类词，然后在旁边写出它们代替词。让这些代替词不但使你对自己感觉良好，并且使你对生活、对正在做事情感觉无限美好吧!
第2课Text A
Spilt Milk
Have you heard of the story about spilt milk?Well，we all know there is no use crying over spilt milk. But this story is different. I would hope all parents would respond in this manner.
打翻牛奶
你与否听过打翻牛奶故事?咱们都懂得为已经打翻牛奶哭泣是没有用。但是这次故事不同。我但愿所有父母都能作出如此回应。
I recently heard a story about a famous research scientist who had made several very important medical breakthroughs. He was interviewed by a newspaper reporter who asked him why he was so much more creative than the average person；what set him so far apart from others?
近来我听到一种故事，故事主角是一种在医学领域获得多项重大突破知名科学家。在一次报社记者对她采访中，记者问她为什么她比普通人更富有创造力，是什么让她如此与众不同。
He responded that，in his opinion，it all came from an experience with his mother that occurred when he was about two years old. He had been trying to remove a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when he lost his grip on the slippery bottle and it fell，spilling its contents all over the kitchen floor — a veritable (十足) sea of milk!
她回答道，在她看来，这所有源于她两岁时和妈妈一次共同经历。她试图从冰箱里取出一瓶牛奶，却没有抓住光滑瓶子，瓶子掉了，牛奶洒得厨房满地都是——白花花一片。
When his mother came into the kitchen，instead of yelling at him，giving him a lecture，or punishing him，she said，"Robert，what a great wonderful mess you have made！I have rarely seen such a huge puddle of milk. Well，the damage has already been done. Would you like to get down and play in the milk for a few minutes before we clean it up?"
她妈妈走进厨房时，没有对她大吼大叫，没有谴责她或惩罚她，而是对她说：“罗伯特，瞧你把地板弄得，多么壮观啊!我几乎从未见过这样大一摊牛奶。噢，既然损失已经导致了，你要不要下来玩一会牛奶咱们再打扫?”
Indeed，he did. After a few minutes，his mother said，"You know，Robert，whenever you make a mess like this，eventually you have to clean it up and restore everything to its proper order. So，how would you like to do that?We could use a sponge，a towel，or a mop. Which do you prefer?" He chose the sponge and together they cleaned up the spilt milk.
她真在一地牛奶上玩了一会儿。几分钟后，妈妈又说：“罗伯特，你要懂得，每次像这样搞得一团糟，最后还是要收拾干净，让一切恢复原位。因此，你看该怎么打扫好呢?咱们可以使用一块海绵、一条毛巾或者一种拖把。你喜欢用哪一种呢?”她选取了海绵，并和妈妈一起把地板上牛奶打扫干净。
His mother then said，"You know，what we have here is a failed experiment in how to effectively carry a big milk bottle with two tiny hands. Let's go out in the back yard and fill the bottle with water and see if you can discover a way to carry it without dropping it." The little boy learned that if he grasped the bottle at the top near the lip with both hands，he could carry it without dropping it. What a wonderful lesson!
她妈妈接着对她说：“你懂得，今天咱们事实上做了个实验——如何用两只小手稳妥地端一种大牛奶瓶，可惜咱们实验失败了。那咱们去后院继续做实验吧，给瓶子里装上水，看看你能不能发现用什么办法端这个瓶子它不会掉。”于是这个小男孩学会了用双手抓住瓶子上面接近瓶盖位置，这样端时候瓶子就不会掉。多么美妙一堂课!
The renowned scientist remarked that it was at that moment that he knew he didn't need to be afraid to make mistakes. Instead，he learned that mistakes were just opportunities for learning something new，which is，after all，what scientific experiments are all about(真谛). Even if the experiment " doesn't work"，we usually learn something valuable from it.
这位知名科学家谈论道，正是在那一刻她明白了无需胆怯出错误。相反，她结识到错误正是学习新东西机会，毕竟任何科学实验都是如此。’虽然实验“行不通”，咱们往往也能从中得到某些宝贵经验。
Wouldn't it be great if all parents would respond （in）the way Robert's mother responded to him?
如果所有家长都像罗伯特妈妈那样对待孩子该有多好啊。
第2课Text B
Text B The Cake
Cindy glanced nervously at the clock on the kitchen wall. Five minutes before midnight.
蛋糕
辛迪紧张地瞥了一眼挂在厨房墙壁上时钟，尚有5分钟就到半夜了。
"They should be home any time now," she thought as she put the finishing touches on the chocolate cake she was frosting. It was the first time in her 12 years she had tried to make a cake from scratch，and to be honest，it wasn't exactly an aesthetic triumph. The cake was…well，lumpy. And the frosting was bitter，as if she had run out of sugar or something，which，of course，she had.
“当前，她们随时都会回来。”她一边想着，一边在巧克力蛋糕上抹上最后某些糖霜。这是她从小到大来第一次尝试制作蛋糕，完全是从头学起。但是说实话，蛋糕至少从审美角度说不算成功。这块蛋糕……嗯，看起来凹凸不平。糖霜是苦，好像她把糖或者别什么东西都用光了。固然，糖确是用光了。
And then there was the way the kitchen looked. Imagine a huge blender filled with all the fixings for chocolate cake — including the requisite bowls，pans and utensils. Now imagine that the blender is turned on. High speed. With the lid off. Do you get the idea?
再看看她把厨房搞成什么样了。想象一种巨大搅拌机，里面盛着制作蛋糕所有原料——涉及必备锅、碗及其她器皿。再想象一下这个搅拌机开动了，高速运转，盖子是打开着。你能想象出这是什么样场景吗?
But Cindy wasn't thinking about the mess. She had created something，a veritable phoenix of flour and sugar rising out of the kitchen clutter. She was anxious for her parents to return home from their date so she could present her anniversary gift to them. She turned off the kitchen lights and waited excitedly in the darkness. When at last she saw the flash of the car headlights，she positioned herself in the kitchen doorway. By the time she heard the key sliding into the front door，she was THIS CLOSE to exploding.
但辛迪没有考虑这些混乱。她创造了某件东西，一只用面粉和糖做成十足凤凰正从厨房一片狼藉中升起。她焦急地等待着父母约会后回来，以便她能将自己周年龄念礼物送给她们。她关掉厨房灯，在黑暗中兴奋地等待着。终于，她看见汽车头灯在闪烁，她在厨房门口站定。当她听到钥匙插进前门锁孔声音时，她心激动得几乎要蹦出来了!
Her parents tried to slip in quietly，but Cindy would have none of that(不接受). She flipped on the lights dramatically and trumpeted：“Ta-daaa!" She gestured grandly toward the kitchen table，where a slightly off-balance two-layer chocolate cake awaited their inspection.
父母尽量放轻脚步，悄悄地走进门来，但辛迪可不论那些。她激动地用手指按下电灯开关，大声叫道：“看!”她庄严地向厨房餐桌打了个手势，一种稍微有点不平衡双层蛋糕正在等待着她们检阅。
But her mother's eyes never made it all the way to the table. "Just look at this mess!" she moaned. "How many times have I talked to you about cleaning up after yourself?"
但是妈妈眼睛压根儿就没有向餐桌那边看去。“看看你搞得什么啊!”妈妈抱怨道，“我给你说了多少次吃完饭要随手收拾干净?”
"But Mom，I was only… "
"I should make you clean this up right now，but I'm too tired to stay up with you to make sure you get it done right," her mother said. "So you'll do it first thing in the morning."
"Honey," Cindy's father interjected gently，"take a look at the table."
“可是妈妈，我只是……”
“我当前就想让你立即收拾干净，但是今天太累了，没法熬夜监督你干活，”妈妈说，“你明早起床第一件事就是收拾厨房。”
“亲爱”，辛迪爸爸小声提示道，“看看餐桌。”
"I know — it's a mess," his wife said coldly. "The whole kitchen is a disaster. I can't stand to look at it." She stormed up the stairs and into her room，slamming the door shut behind her.
“我懂得——餐桌上一团糟”，妈妈冷冷地说，“整个厨房简直就是一场劫难。我实在是看不下去。”她气冲冲地上了楼梯，进了房间，砰一声把门关上。
For a few moments Cindy and her father stood silently，neither one knowing what to say（独立主格构造）. At last she looked up at him，her eyes moist and red. "She never saw the cake," she said.
辛迪和爸爸静立半晌，两人都不知该说什么。最后辛迪昂首看着爸爸，发红眼睛里含着泪水。“她主线没看到蛋糕”，她说。
Unfortunately，Cindy's mother isn't the only parent who suffers from Situational Timbercular Glaucoma（青光眼）— the occasional inability to see the forest for the trees. From time to time we all allow ourselves to be blinded to issues of long-term significance by stuff that seems awfully important right now，but isn't. Muddy shoes，lost lunch money and messy kitchens are troublesome，and they deserve their place among life's frustrations. But what's a little mud — even on new carpet — compared to a child's self-esteem?Is a lost dollar more valuable than a youngster's emerging dignity?And while kitchen sanitation is important，is it worth the sacrifice of tender feelings and relationships?
不幸是，辛迪妈妈不是唯一一种这样父母，她们患有情景性森林青光眼——暂时性地只见树木不见森林。由于那些眼下貌似极其重要但并非重要事情，咱们有时会对具备长远重要意义事情视而不见。沾上泥鞋、丢了午餐费、脏乱厨房，这些东西是很讨厌，值得让人沮丧一阵子了。但是和孩子自尊心相比，一种泥点——哪怕是粘在了新铺地毯上——又能算什么呢?丢失一美元难道比一种孩子成长中尊严更宝贵?厨房卫生固然重要，可是值得为此牺牲温柔亲情吗?
I'm not saying that our children don't need to learn responsibility，or to occasionally suffer the painful consequences of their own bad choices. Those lessons are vital，and need to be carefully taught. But as parents，we must never forget that we're not just teaching lessons — we're teaching children. That means there are times when we really need to see the mess in the kitchen，and times when we only （need）to see the cake.
我不是说咱们孩子不需要学会负责任，不需要有时为自己错误选取付出痛苦代价。这些道理也很重要，需要认真专家于她们。但是作为父母，咱们不要忘了咱们一不但仅是在教课——咱们是在教孩子。这意味着有时候咱们的确要看到厨房脏乱，而有时候咱们只需看到蛋糕。
第3课Text A
Reflections：Friendship and Loyalty
How many of us recognize true loyalty in a friend?Loyalty consists of a friend，who will stick by you，through thick and thin. A friend who is always honest with you and never betrays the friendship with lies is a loyal friend. If you have a loyal friend，you have indeed found a true virtue in that friend.
关于情谊和忠诚思考
咱们之中有多少人能在朋友中辨认出真正忠诚?忠诚涉及无论何时都会支持你朋友。始终对你坦诚、从不撒谎背叛你朋友才是忠诚朋友。如果你有一位忠诚朋友，你一定在她身上发现了真正美德。
The current trend on the Internet is befriending anyone who requests to be your friend. However，this new trend may lead to disasters. It may be popular and trendy to have a network filled with a multitude of mutual friends. However，one true loyal friend may be the only friend you need.
如今网络上流行趋势是你可以和任何一种想成为你朋友人做朋友。然而，这种新趋势有也许会引起劫难。在网络上拥有一大批共同朋友也许是比较流行，但是一种真正忠诚朋友也许是你需要唯一那一种。
A term used on the popular Facebook site is B.F.F. This acronym means best friends forever. Are they really your best friends forever?You might ask yourself this question，"Will they share my private matters with others on the pages of Facebook，or perish the thought，engage in gossip about me with others?" If the answer to that is，"I don't know"，more than likely，they will not be your best friends forever. Maybe not，even for a day.
广受欢迎脸谱网站上有一种词叫做B．F．F。这个缩写词意思是“永远最佳朋“友”。她们真是你永远最佳朋友吗?你也许会问自己：“她们会把我私事发布在脸谱网页上与她人分享吗?甚至与她人一起八卦我隐私吗?但愿永远不会。” 如果答案是“我不懂得”，那么很有也许，她们不是你永远好朋友，甚至连一天也没也许是。
I choose to have a B.L.F.，a best loyal friend，for those of you who may be challenged by the use of acronyms during this age of technology and fast-talking.
在这个科技和迅速交谈发展时代对也许会晤临使用缩写语你们来说，我更想要一种B．L．F．，忠诚好朋友。
Loyalty found in a friend is akin to making a deposit in a bank account. More often than not，your deposits gain interest，an interest in your well-being and welfare. A loyal friend attracts another loyal friend. In essence，water does seek its own level.
朋友间忠诚就像是在银行账户里存款同样。普通你存款会获得利息，关乎你幸福安康利息。忠诚朋友吸引另一种忠诚朋友。本质上，水自然会向下流——朋友间总是惺惺相惜。
If you were a B.L.F. way before Facebook gained notoriety，then I'm sure you understand the premise of loyalty in a friend. You should never exploit your B.L.F. to gain more friends or make yourself seem more important to others. These are not the traits of a best loyal friend.
如果你早在脸谱网赢得恶名之前就是个B．L．F．话，我相信你一定明白忠诚朋友前提。你不该运用自己B．L．F．来结交更多朋友或者让你自己看起来更加重要。这些不是忠诚好朋友特质。
A best loyal friend does not care who is invited to your party. They will attend your party and celebrate you，just in the way a best loyal friend should do.
忠诚最佳朋友不会在乎你宴会上都请了谁。她们会来参加你宴会并向你表达祝贺，就像忠诚最佳朋友应当做那样。
Reconnecting with a best loyal friend is easier to do on the pages of Facebook. However，a virtual friend does not assure you of his loyalty. My caution to you is that you'd better pay attention to the smiling faces on the Facebook pages. In the eighties we were warned of smiling faces in a song，which contained these lyrics，" A smile is just a frown turned upside down，my friend." Now，that is the undisputed truth for my generation.
在脸谱网上和忠诚好朋友联系来得容易得多。然而，一种虚拟朋友无法向你保证其忠诚。我给你告诫是，你最佳注意那些脸谱网站上笑脸们。在80年代咱们就在歌谣中被告知“笑脸是反着苦恼脸，我朋友”。这在咱们这一代也是不争事实。
第3课Text B
A Tribute to the Dog
The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us，those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name，may become traitors to their faith.
狗赞歌
在这个世上一种人最佳朋友也也许与她反目成仇，她呕心养育子女也也许对她忘恩负义。那些咱们最亲近人，那些咱们以幸福和名誉信任人，也也许背叛她们忠诚。
The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him，perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolute，unselfish friend a man may have in this selfish world，the one that never deserts him，the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous，is his dog.
一种人所拥有财富也也许失去。它也许在最被需要时随风而逝，名声也也许因一念之
差而损毁殆尽。当咱们功成名就，某些人卑躬屈膝，极力讨好；当失败阴云笼罩在咱们头顶，那些人又也许最先对咱们落井下石。而一种人在这布满私欲世界里一种绝对无私朋友，一种永不抛弃她朋友，一种绝不忘恩负义与背信弃义朋友，则是她狗。
A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty，in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely，if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the sores and wounds that come in the encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper（贫民）master as if （=as though）he were a prince.
一种人狗无论其主人贫穷富贵，生老病死，都会和她站在一起，永不分离。只要能留在主人身边，它宁愿睡在冰冷地上而不顾寒风凛冽，大雪纷飞。它会吻主人手，哪怕主人手里没有一丁点食物；它会安慰主人在艰难时世中遭遇身心创伤；它也会犹如护卫王子普通，守卫熟睡中潦倒主人。
When all other friends desert，he remains. When riches take wings（飞走）and reputation falls to pieces，he is as constant（不变） in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth，an outcast（被遗弃者）in the world，friendless and homeless，the faithful dog asks (for) no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger，to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes and death takes its master in its embrace and the body is laid away(=buried) in the cold g
