提名并被任命为美国第一位女性最高法院大法官。她任职期间，对很多问题，例如堕胎和妇女权利，都起到了极为关键的作用。

Many people simply say that they want something, but they do not expend the substantial effort required to achieve it. Many people let the threat of failure stop them from trying with all of their heart. The secret of success is based upon a burning inward desire - a robust, fierce will and focus - that fuels the determination to act, to keep preparing, to keep going even when we are tired and fail. As a wise saying goes: \times you fall down that matters. It's how many times you get back up that makes success!\

很多人只是嘴上说他们想要什么东西，但并不真正地付出大量努力去实现。很多人因为害怕失败而不敢全心尝试。而成功的秘诀在于内心燃烧的欲望——一种坚定不移的意志和专注力——从而激发行动的决心，即使疲惫，即使失败，也会继续准备，继续前进。正如一句箴言所说：“你摔倒了多少次并不要紧；你能多少次重新站起来对成功才至关重要！”

Focus on becoming more knowledgeable. Focus on gradual, consistent progress. Maintain the strong will to keep going - even when you are tired and want to slack or the odds seem too large. \\

dedication and preparation, you can transcend any handicap, accomplish any feat, and achieve success!

专注于汲取更多的知识，争取持之以恒地渐进，保持永不言退的坚强意志——即使在你疲惫想要松懈的时候，或者困难重重之时。“执著地追求成功！”“有志者，事竟成！”只要刻苦努力，意志坚决，专心投入，准备充分，你就能跨越一切障碍，完成所有壮举，取得成功！

课文B

Chance favors the prepared

机会偏爱有准备之人

Les Brown and his twin brother were adopted by Mamie Brown, a kitchen worker, shortly after their birth in a poverty-stricken Miami neighborhood.

莱斯·布朗和其孪生兄弟出生于迈阿密一个异常贫困的街区，出生后不久就一起被厨工玛米·布朗收养。

Because of his overactive behavior and nonstop talking as a child, Les was placed in special education classes for the learning disabled all the way through high school. Upon graduation, he became a garbage collector. The prospective opportunities for his future looked slim to others, but not to Les. He had a passion, a dream - a big dream that he was ready to work hard for. He was destined to be a disc jockey, also known as a \celebrities mixing music broadcasts for the whole city.

由于儿时过度好动，还爱不停地说话，莱斯被送到专为学习困难儿童而设的特殊教育班，并一直读到了高中。一毕业，他就成了一名垃圾清运工。大家都觉得他将来不会有什么好前途，但他自己却不这么想。他有激情，有梦想——一个让他为之奋斗的伟大梦想。他觉得自己一定会成为电台音乐唱片节目主持人，通常也叫“DJ”，那可是电台名人，专门为面向全市的广播制作音乐节目。

At night he would take a radio to bed so he could indulge his dream by listening to the local DJs. He created an imaginary radio station in his tiny bedroom. A hairbrush served as his microphone as he energetically practiced speaking his masterpieces to his imaginary listeners.

一到晚上，他就带着收音机上床睡觉，这样他就可以一边听着当地 DJ 的节目，一边沉浸在自己的梦想里。他在自己的小卧室里营造了一个假想电台。他把梳子当麦克风，劲头十足地对着想象中的听众练习自己的杰作。

He aggravated his friends with his constant practicing. They all told him that he didn't have a chance and he would never be a DJ. They scorned him

and said to stop dreaming and focus on the real world. Nonetheless, Les didn't let their negativity stop him. He kept his goals close to his heart and remained wrapped up in his own world, completely absorbed in preparing for his future, preparing to live his dream as a renowned DJ.

他无休止地练习让朋友们不胜其烦。他们都说他根本没有机会，永远都不可能成为 DJ。他们嘲弄他，告诉他别做白日梦，要面对现实。然而，这些负面影响并没有让莱斯停止追求。他心中一直铭记自己的目标，继续沉浸在自己的世界里，全身心投入到对未来的准备中，去实现他成为著名 DJ 的梦想。

One day Les decided to take the initiative and begin with this enterprise. He boldly went to the local radio station and told the station manager he understood the layout of the station and was ready to be a disc jockey.

一天，莱斯决定主动出击，开始自己的事业。他大胆地来到当地电台，告诉经理他熟悉电台布局环境，完全可以成为一名 DJ。 The manager looked dubiously at the untidy young man in overalls and a straw hat and inquired, \

经理满腹狐疑地看着这个一身工作服还戴着顶草帽的邋遢年轻人，问他：“你了解播音的专业知识吗？”

Les replied, \

莱斯回答说：“不，先生，我不了解。”

\bluntly. So, Les' first chance at success had been a complete bust.

“哦，孩子，那恐怕我们没法雇用你，”经理直截了当地回应。就这样，莱斯对成功的第一次尝试完全以失败告终。

Les was determined. He adored his adoptive mother, Mamie Brown, and was careful with his money to try and buy her nice things. Despite everyone's discouragement, she believed in him and had taught him to pursue his goals and persist in his dreams no matter what others said.

莱斯十分坚定。他很爱自己的养母玛米·布朗，还精打细算攒钱为她买喜欢的东西。尽管人人都打击他，但她却十分信任他，告诉他不管别人怎么说，都要追求自己的目标，坚持自己的梦想。

So, in spite of what the station manager had originally said, Les returned to the station every day for a week. His persistence was very persuasive, and the station manager finally gave in and took Les on to do small tasks - at no pay. Les brought coffee and food. He catered to their every need at work and worked overtime whenever necessary. Eventually, his enthusiasm won their confidence and they would send Les in their Cadillac to pick up celebrities, not knowing that he didn't even have a driver's license!

因此，不管电台经理之前怎么说，莱斯每天还是会去电台，这样持续了一周。他的坚持很能打动人，电台经理终于让了步，让他做一些小事情——不过没有报酬。莱斯负责给大家提供咖啡和吃的东西。他在工作中尽力满足大家的每一个要求，而且只要有需要，任何时候都可以加班。最后，他的工作热情赢得了大家的信任，他们让莱斯开着凯迪拉克去接送名人，居然不知道他连驾照都没有。

While hanging out with the station's real DJs, Les taught himself their posture and hand movements on the control panel. He stayed around the studio, soaking up whatever knowledge he could. He was disciplined; back in his bedroom at night, he faithfully practiced in anticipation of the opportunity he knew would come.

与电台真正的 DJ 相处时，莱斯自学他们操作调音台的姿势和手势。他徘徊在播音间，力所能及地汲取全部知识。他非常自律，晚上一回到房间，就满怀着期待不懈地练习，他知道机遇终会降临。

One afternoon at work, the DJ named Rock started to feel very sick while on the air. Les was the only person around, and he realized that Rock was coughing and losing his voice. Les stayed close in case there was some