新世纪大学英语第二册课文TextA.docx

1、新世纪大学英语第二册课文TextA第一单元：I Forgive You 1第二单元 Three Days to See 3第三单元：The Shadowland of Dreams 4第四单元：Choose Optimism 6第五单元：Why Character Counts 8第六单元：The Creative Personality 11第七单元：What Does Teamwork Really Mean? 13第八单元：Did You Have a Tough Childhood? 14第一单元：I Forgive YouTrue forgiveness is hard to ach

2、ieve, especially when we believe weve been hurt too deeply. But many of us may not know that our life needs forgiveness. Just as the author puts it, forgiveness helps establish harmonious relationships between human beings. So let us follow the authors advice and take the first step toward living in

3、 harmony. Marriage isnt the only relationship that needs forgiveness. Its required with our children, friends, workmates, neighbours and even strangers. In fact, no human relationship can survive without the oxygen of forgiveness. Its not the kind of quality that only good-tempered people choose to

4、have; its a universal necessity for relationships and for your own physical and mental health.Some of us may think that weve been hurt too deeply, or too often, to forgive. But ironically, its those of us whove been most hurt that really need to forgive, for one simple reason: like cancer, bitternes

5、s can destroy its host. Unless its swiftly rooted out, it takes hold and grows, crippling and eventually even killing those who insist on clinging determinedly to it.For the truth is that unless we can forgive, we can never recover. Our wounds will continue to grow worse and never heal. As the ancie

6、nt Chinese proverb puts it, Whoever seeks revenge should dig two graves.For some people forgiveness seems impossible because they have no idea how to go about it. The first and most important thing you need to accept is that the act of forgiveness is not going to be easy. In fact, it will probably b

7、e the hardest thing most of us ever have to do.It seems totally unfair that we should forgive when were the ones who have been hurt. And thats the core of forgiveness.The saying Forgive and forget may roll off the tongue, but its as shallow as it is short. For one thing, its totally impossible. For

8、another, it misses the whole point of forgiveness. The things we most need to forgive in life are the things we cant forget. Rather than sweeping them under the carpet, we need to draw a line under them, deliberately choosing not to count them against the person who did them, and moving on.Thats why

9、, sometimes, the initial act of forgiveness may seem relatively easy, but dealing with the emotions that follow every time you see that person, or speak to or just think about him or her, can be harder. True forgiveness is not a one-off act; its a constant emotional confrontation.And the longer you

10、wait to forgive someone, the harder it becomes. Time really doesnt heal; it just gives the bitterness and resentment longer to eat away at you from inside. If you wait for the right time, you may never do it.A question you should ask yourself before you begin to tackle the art of forgiveness is this

11、: How many of us are ever completely innocent in any given situation?Some years ago, my wife and I bought a piece of cheap furniture. For the first few months, it fooled everyone it was smart, functional and impressive, and we felt it fitted our home perfectly. But as time rolled by, the thin coveri

12、ng slowly began to peel at the edges. It didnt create the same impression any more, but at least it was being honest!The fact is that, like it or not, behind our smart covering, were all just chipboard. So before we become other peoples judge and jury, wed be wise to take a long, hard look at oursel

13、ves in the mirror. And the more we see ourselves, warts and all, the more well want to and be able to forgive others for their flaws, and the more we forgive, the more well know true contentment. Forgiving others can get a satisfying reaction. Ive found that saying sorry to my kids has not only heal

14、ed broken relationships but has helped ease the situation, making it easier for my kids to ask for forgiveness themselves. So if you think youre right and cant find it in yourself to forgive, ask yourself this question: would you rather be right or happy?One of the hardest things about forgiveness i

15、s making that first move especially when you havent spoken to the person who hurt you for a while. But remember theyll probably be happy to hear from you. They might even be impressed that youve done what theyve wanted to do for years. But keep in mind youre doing this for you just as much as for th

16、em, so dont be upset if they dont react as you hoped.Of course, some people dont believe theyve done anything wrong, or dont care, so telling them you forgive them would only frustrate them and you. But that doesnt mean you cant find forgiveness in your heart. In fact, thats what true forgiveness is

17、: letting go of your anger and hurt, becoming at peace with what happened and moving on.The more you nurture your resentment, the more unhappy youll become. Unless you learn to develop the lost art of forgiving, youll always remain a victim, not just of people whove done you wrong, but also of your

18、own emotions.Forgiving puts you in control. However tough it is, the alternative is far worse. The phrase Forgive us our sins, though we refuse to forgive those who sin against us doesnt exist in the Bible. And theres a reason for that.第二单元 Three Days to See We tend to take what we have for granted,

19、 and seldom do we think about the value of life. Yet, Helen Keller, being both blind and deaf, taught us how to make the fullest use of our wonderful senses to appreciate life from a wholly different view - with love and passion. Helen Keller All of us have read thrilling stories in which the hero h

20、ad only a limited and specified time to live. Sometimes it was as long as a year; sometimes as short as twenty-four hours. But always we were interested in discovering just how the doomed man chose to spend his last days or his last hours. I speak, of course, of free men who have a choice, not conde

21、mned criminals whose sphere of activities is strictly confined.Such stories set us thinking, wondering what we should do under similar circumstances. What events, what experiences, what associations, should we crowd into those last hours as mortal beings? What happiness should we find in reviewing t

22、he past, what regrets?Sometimes I have thought it would be an excellent rule to live each day as if we should die tomorrow. Such an attitude would emphasize sharply the value of life. We should live each day with a gentleness, a vigor, and a keenness of appreciation which are often lost when time st

23、retches before us in the constant panorama of more days and months and years to come. There are those, of course, who would adopt the motto of Eat, drink, and be merry, but most people would be punished by the certainty of death.Most of us take life for granted. We know that one day we must die, but

24、 usually we picture that day as far in the future. When we are in good health, death is all but unimaginable. We seldom think of it. The days stretch out endlessly. So we go about our petty tasks, hardly aware of our listless attitude towards life.The same listlessness, I am afraid, characterizes th

25、e use of all our faculties and senses. Only the deaf appreciate hearing, only the blind realize the blessings that lie in sight. Particularly does this observation apply to those who have lost sight and hearing in adult life. But those who have never suffered loss of sight or hearing damage seldom m

26、ake the fullest use of these blessed faculties. Their eyes and ears take in all sights and sounds hazily, without concentration, and with little appreciation. It is the same old story of not being grateful for what we have until we lose it, of not being conscious of health until we are ill.I have of

27、ten thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days at some time during his early adult life. Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what the

28、y see. Recently I was visited by a very good friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, and I asked her what she had observed. Nothing in particular, she replied. I might have shown disbelief had I not been accustomed to such responses, for long ago I became convinced that the seein

29、g see little.How was it possible, I asked myself, to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? I who cannot see find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch. I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf. I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch

30、, or the rough bark of a pine. In spring I touch the branches of trees hopefully in search of a bud, the first sign of awakening Nature after her winters sleep. I feel the delightful texture of a flower, and discover its remarkable folds; and something of the miracle of Nature is revealed to me. Occ

31、asionally, if I am very fortunate, I place my hand gently in a small tree and feel the happy quiver of a bird in full song. I am delighted to have cool waters of a brook rush through my open fingers. To me a thick carpet of pine needles or soft grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian r

32、ug. To me the colorful seasons are a thrilling and unending drama, the action of which streams through my finger tips.At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things. If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight. Yet, those who have eyes apparently see little. The panorama of color and action which fills the world is taken for