?Words that last a lifetime影響人一生的話

By Chris K./姜仲華（譯）

◆語篇導讀

人有時會因為某些因素的制約而導致發展暫時受到影響，然而或許又是在某個機遇中，某人的只言片語的鼓勵竟然會讓你改變一生，讓你在默默的打拼中得以走向事業的成功與輝煌。是的，這就是語言的力量。語言很重要，永遠不要懷疑它們的影響力。

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.

◆詞語積淀

average/'?v?r?d?/adj.平均的；普通的

make it獲得成功；渡過難關

anxiety/??'za??ti/n.焦慮；憂慮；擔心

career/k?'r??(r)/n.職業；生涯；事業

path/pɑ?θ/n.路線；成功的途徑；小路；小徑

sponsor/'sp?ns?(r)/vt.贊助；資助

inspire/?n'spa??(r)/vi.&vt.鼓舞；激勵

◆典句賞析

1.Not because I wasn't trying;it was just an experience that my small-town background hadn't prepared me for.不是因為我一直不努力；這只是一次人生經歷，我的小鎮背景此前沒有讓我為此做好準備。

這是一個并列句，“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。第二個分句中關系代詞that引導定語從句，修飾先行詞experience；在定語從句中作介詞for的賓語；短語prepare for sth意為“為某事做準備”。

【即時嘗試】我希望得到良好教育的，為此，我一直在努力為之準備。

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.我參加了這門課的第一次考試，沒指望成績會比其他課好得多。

這是一個簡單句，had taken和was not expecting為并列謂語。參加考試是在說話之前發生的，所以用過去完成時。received僅指過去發生的動作，其本身沒有比較，所以使用一般過去時；take the first exam for the class意為“第一次考（他上的）這門課”。for表示“局限于”等含義；expect sb.to do sth.為固定搭配，意為“指望/期待某人做某事”；“what I received in other classes”是賓語從句，作介詞than的賓語。

【即時嘗試】我們正期待下周參加英語第三單元考試。

3.Never doubt that the seed you are planting is bearing fruit.永遠不要懷疑你正在播種的種子正在結出果實。

本句為祈使句，由否定副詞never加動詞原形doubt構成句子主干，即主句；that引導的賓語從句the seed you are planting is bearing fruit中主語seed被定語從句you are planting修飾。doubt在這里作及物動詞，意為“懷疑”。

【即時嘗試】千萬不要忘記你正在幫助的人們也正在幫助你。

譯文助讀

我只是一個普通的高中生，所以在大學開始的一年半里我很努力地學習。不是因為我一直以來不努力；這只是一次人生經歷，我的小鎮背景此前沒有讓我為此做好準備。我想知道我是否能成功，未來會是個什么樣子。

在我二年級的最后一個學期，我上了一個以嚴厲著稱的老師的課。我參加了這門課的第一次考試，沒指望成績會比其他課好得多。我非常焦慮地等待著老師把我的試卷發給我，當他把試卷給我的時候，情況是這樣的：我看到試卷上有兩個單詞，我的大學生涯和今后的人生道路就是被這兩個單詞改變了——well done（干得好）。這兩個單詞對于我在這個世界來說有重要的影響。他們有助于我相信我能做到，有人關心我。

我有幸訪問了我在菲律賓贊助的一些青年。每次訪問期間，我都花時間和他們談論我的經歷，并且相信他們能做什么，他們能成功實現什么。我的話經常在他們的來信和我的回訪中被大家反復地說給我聽。它提醒我，語言很重要。永遠不要懷疑它們的影響力。他們能激勵人——為年輕人提供信念、鼓勵和希望，讓他們過上不同的生活。

永遠不要懷疑你正在播種的種子正在結出果實。它將以許多不同的方式展現出來。也許你會很幸運地分享它。有時候，只要幾句話就能改變人的一生。