❶Words that last a lifetime影响人一生的话

By Chris K./姜仲华（译）

◆语篇导读

人有时会因为某些因素的制约而导致发展暂时受到影响，然而或许又是在某个机遇中，某人的只言片语的鼓励竟然会让你改变一生，让你在默默的打拼中得以走向事业的成功与辉煌。是的，这就是语言的力量。语言很重要，永远不要怀疑它们的影响力。

As I was just anaveragestudent in high school，I studied hard in college for the first year and a half.Not because I wasn't trying;it was just an experience that my small-town background hadn't prepared me for.I wondered if I couldmake it，what the future might be.

During the last term of my second year，I was in a class that was known for its strict teacher.I had taken the first exam for the class and was not expecting the results to be much better than what I received in other classes.With muchanxiety，I waited for the teacher to hand me my exam paper and，when he did，there it was—the two words that changed my collegecareerand then thepathof my life—good job.Those two words made all the difference in the world to me.They helped me believe I could do it，and that there was someone who cared me.

I have been lucky enough to visit some of mysponsoredyouth in the Philippines.During each visit，I spend time talking with them about my experiences and about believing in what they can do and what they can achieve successfully.My words are often repeated back to me in their letters and on my return visits.It reminds me that words matter.Never doubt their influence.Theyinspire—providing belief，encouragement and hope to youth for a different life.

Never doubt that the seed you are planting is bearing fruit.It will show itself in many different ways.And maybe you will be lucky enough to share in it.Sometimes，it takes only a couple of words to make a change that lasts a lifetime.

◆词语积淀

average/'ævərɪdʒ/adj.平均的；普通的

make it获得成功；渡过难关

anxiety/æŋ'zaɪəti/n.焦虑；忧虑；担心

career/kə'rɪə(r)/n.职业；生涯；事业

path/pɑːθ/n.路线；成功的途径；小路；小径

sponsor/'spɒnsə(r)/vt.赞助；资助

inspire/ɪn'spaɪə(r)/vi.&vt.鼓舞；激励

◆典句赏析

1.Not because I wasn't trying;it was just an experience that my small-town background hadn't prepared me for.不是因为我一直不努力；这只是一次人生经历，我的小镇背景此前没有让我为此做好准备。

这是一个并列句，“Not because I wasn't trying.”是省略句，其主句部分（I studied hard in college）承上一句省略。第二个分句中关系代词that引导定语从句，修饰先行词experience；在定语从句中作介词for的宾语；短语prepare for sth意为“为某事做准备”。

【即时尝试】我希望得到良好教育的，为此，我一直在努力为之准备。

2.I had taken the first exam for the class and was not expecting the results to be much better than what I received in other classes.我参加了这门课的第一次考试，没指望成绩会比其他课好得多。

这是一个简单句，had taken和was not expecting为并列谓语。参加考试是在说话之前发生的，所以用过去完成时。received仅指过去发生的动作，其本身没有比较，所以使用一般过去时；take the first exam for the class意为“第一次考（他上的）这门课”。for表示“局限于”等含义；expect sb.to do sth.为固定搭配，意为“指望/期待某人做某事”；“what I received in other classes”是宾语从句，作介词than的宾语。

【即时尝试】我们正期待下周参加英语第三单元考试。

3.Never doubt that the seed you are planting is bearing fruit.永远不要怀疑你正在播种的种子正在结出果实。

本句为祈使句，由否定副词never加动词原形doubt构成句子主干，即主句；that引导的宾语从句the seed you are planting is bearing fruit中主语seed被定语从句you are planting修饰。doubt在这里作及物动词，意为“怀疑”。

【即时尝试】千万不要忘记你正在帮助的人们也正在帮助你。

译文助读

我只是一个普通的高中生，所以在大学开始的一年半里我很努力地学习。不是因为我一直以来不努力；这只是一次人生经历，我的小镇背景此前没有让我为此做好准备。我想知道我是否能成功，未来会是个什么样子。

在我二年级的最后一个学期，我上了一个以严厉著称的老师的课。我参加了这门课的第一次考试，没指望成绩会比其他课好得多。我非常焦虑地等待着老师把我的试卷发给我，当他把试卷给我的时候，情况是这样的：我看到试卷上有两个单词，我的大学生涯和今后的人生道路就是被这两个单词改变了——well done（干得好）。这两个单词对于我在这个世界来说有重要的影响。他们有助于我相信我能做到，有人关心我。

我有幸访问了我在菲律宾赞助的一些青年。每次访问期间，我都花时间和他们谈论我的经历，并且相信他们能做什么，他们能成功实现什么。我的话经常在他们的来信和我的回访中被大家反复地说给我听。它提醒我，语言很重要。永远不要怀疑它们的影响力。他们能激励人——为年轻人提供信念、鼓励和希望，让他们过上不同的生活。

永远不要怀疑你正在播种的种子正在结出果实。它将以许多不同的方式展现出来。也许你会很幸运地分享它。有时候，只要几句话就能改变人的一生。