The Value of Life Lessons

陈亚娜

During my elementary school years， I used to compare my mom with my best friend Tiffanys mom.

Tiffanys mom always gave her lots of money to buy the most fashionable clothes and favorite food.

Her mom allowed her to do anything she liked. I really admired Tiffany. My mom didnt give me much pocket money and she always told me that I should behave myself. I was annoyed with her.

Whenever I didnt get what I wanted， I would complain to my mom， Tiffanys mom would give her that！ I wish she were my mom. Every time， my mom would calmly say “Poor Tiffany”. I couldnt understand her. “She shouldnt be feeling sorry for Tiffany！” I thought， “She should be feeling sorry for me.”

One day， I couldnt help saying to Mom， “Poor Tiffany？ Lucky Tiffany！ She gets everything she wants！Why do you feel sorry for her？” I burst into tears.

My mom sat down next to me and said softly， “Yes， I do feel sorry for her. I have been teaching you a lesson that she will never be taught.”

I looked up at her， “What are you talking about？”

Mom said with care， “One day she will really want something. Maybe shell find out that she cant have it. Her mother wont always be around to give her money， and whats more， money cant buy everything.”

She continued， “I have taught you valuable lessons by not giving you everything you want. Youll know how to look for bargains and save money， but she wont. Youll understand that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she wont. When Tiffany is a grown woman， shell wake up one day and she will be wishing that she had a mom like the one youve got. Life lessons are more important than modern clothes and delicious food.”

It took some time， but I eventually understood my moms words. Now I am a happy and successful woman.

【难句解析】

1. Whenever I didnt get what I wanted， I would complain to my mom， Tiffanys mom would give her that！

释义：无论什么时候，我得不到我想要的，我就向妈妈抱怨：“Tiffany的妈妈将会给她的。”

点拨：what I wanted作get的宾语，在宾语从句中，what作want的宾语。what作为连接代词，承担两重任务：连接句子和代替从句缺少的成分（可以代替从句主语、宾语或表语）。例如：

What I want for the moment is a car. （在主语从句中，what是want的宾语）我此刻想要的是一辆汽车。

What surprises me most is that she doesnt even know where the differences between the two things are. （在主语从句中，what是主语）使我感到最吃惊的事情是，她甚至还不知道这二者的区别在哪里。

2. I wish she were my mom.

释义：我多么希望她是我的妈妈。

點拨：在wish后的宾语从句中要使用虚拟语气。对现在情况的虚拟，从句动词用一般过去时;对过去情况的虚拟，从句动词常用过去完成时;对未来情况的虚拟，从句动词形式为   would / could+动词原形。在虚拟语气中，条件状语从句中的谓语动词如果是be的过去形式，一般用 were。例如：

I wish I were not so busy. 但愿我不那样忙碌。

She wished she had stayed at home. 她后悔的是她当时要是留在家里就好了。

I wish you would go with us tomorrow. 要是你明天同我们一起去就好了。

3. Yes， I do feel sorry for her.

释义：是的，我确实为她感到难过。

点拨：do在此句中起强调作用。当句子中没有其他的助动词时，我们可以在动词前使用助动词do表示对该动词的强调。用于表示强调的do可以有时态的变化，但其后的动词要用原形。例如：

I do hope youll stay for lunch. 我真地希望你留下吃午饭。

She did write to say thank you. 她的确写信向你道谢了。

4. Youll understand that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she wont.

释义：你将明白你需要努力工作，才能得到你想要的东西，而她不能。

点拨：that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she wont作understand的宾语从句，不定式to get the things作结果状语，that you want作定语从句，修饰先行词things。例如：

I think that you should go over your lessons seriously to pass the examinations that are important. 我认为你应该认真复习你的功课，才能通过很重要的考试。

【阅读链接】

I. Choose the right answer.

1. During the authors elementary school years， she _______.

A. wished that her mom were as good as Tiffanys

B. went to school with Tiffany every day

C. usually compared her lesson with Tiffanys

D. sometimes gave lots of money to Tiffany

2. Why did the authors mom always say “Poor Tiffany”？

A. She felt sorry for Tiffany because Tiffany was poor.

B. She wanted to tell a lie to comfort the author.

C. She thought that Tiffany was spoiled by her mother.

D. She told the author this and wanted her to help Tiffany.

3. What do we learn about the authors mother？

A. She was strict and taught the author to be independent.

B. She cared for other peoples children more than her own.

C. She thought that life lessons were as important as money.

D. She was so poor that she couldnt give the author much money.

4. What can we infer from the passage？

A. The author was quite annoyed with her mother in the past.

B. The authors mother felt sorry for Tiffany.

C. Tiffanys mother took the authors mothers advice.

D. The author is thankful to her mother now.

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. They dont ____ ____ ____ ____ （允許我们游泳） at this beach.

2. If they ____ ____ ____ （朝上看） the sky， they could see the beautiful clear moon.

3. He ____ ____ （确实来过） but soon went back.

4. ____ ____ （所发生的事情） just now was interesting.

5. I wish you ____ ____ （来） to my birthday party yesterday.

6. Treat your keyboard ____ ____ （小心） and it should last for years.