1. Difficult Sentences
1. (Para. 1) There seems to be a natural cause-and-effect relationship between optimism and success.
Can you analyze the cause-and-effect relationship between optimism and success?
(=If you expect good things to happen, they usually do.)
2. (Para. 2) Optimism and pessimism are with powerful forces, and each of us must choose which we want, so as to shape our outlook and our expectations.
Why should each of us choose between optimism and pessimism to shape our outlook and our expectations? (=Because there is enough good and bad in everyone’s life, which serves
as a rational basis for us to choose either optimism or pessimism.)
3. (Para. 2) There is enough good and bad in everyone’s life — ample
sorrow and happiness, sufficient joy and pain — to find a rational basis for either optimism or pessimism.
Translate this sentence into Chinese.
(=每个人的生命中都有足够的幸运与不幸——丰富的哀伤和喜悦、充足的欢
欣与痛苦——令我们找到或乐观或悲观的理由。)
4. (Para. 3) I choose to highlight the positive and slip right over the
negative.
What can we infer from this sentence?
(=The author chooses to be an optimist rather than a pessimist.)
5. (Para. 3) But when all is said and done, I find that the good in life is far greater and more important than the bad.
What is the implied meaning of this sentence?
(=Having experienced so many difficulties and crises, the author believes that the good in life is far greater and more important than the bad.)
Translate this sentence into Chinese.
（=但是，当一切尘埃落定，我发现生命中的美好远比丑恶多。）
6. (Para. 4) Conversely, negative thoughts, attitudes, and expectations
feed on themselves; they become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Why does the author say negative thoughts, attitudes, and
expectations become a self-fulfilling prophecy?
(=There seems to be a natural cause-and-effect relationship between
pessimism and failure. If you expect something to turn out bad, it probably will.)
Translate this sentence into Chinese.
(=反过来，悲观的想法、态度和期待也会自成因果：它们是能自我实现的预
言。)
7. (Para. 5) That seemed like an odd question, but I felt fine and told
him so.
What is the implied meaning of this sentence?
(=The author was feeling great on that beautiful day. Although he was
a bit surprised to hear the attendant’s question, he still tells him the fact. )
8. (Para. 9) Optimism doesn’t need to be naive.
What does this sentence imply?
(=To be optimistic doesn’t mean to be simple-minded or happy
blindly.)
9. (Para. 10) Optimism draws our attention away from negativism and
channels it into positive, constructive thinking.
Paraphrase this sentence.
(=If we take an optimistic attitude towards life, we will look on the positive side of the situation and gradually cultivate a positive and constructive way of thinking. )
Translate this sentence into Chinese.
(=乐观精神使我们的注意力从消极的否定态度转向积极的、建设性的思考。)
2. Words and Expressions
1. in reverse: in the opposite way to normal or to the previous situation US video recorders cannot play European tapes, and the same applies in reverse.
2. shape: v.
1) influence sth. such as a belief, opinion, etc. and make it develop
in a particular way
People’s political beliefs are shaped by what they see in the papers. It is true that a people’s character is, to a great extent, shaped by the environment they live in.
2) make sth. have a particular shape, especially by pressing it （插入图片bird nest）
The bird shaped its nest from mud and sticks.
Children shaped the sand into a mound on the beach. (插入声音文件shape)
(=We watched in amazement as she shaped the clay into a pot.) 3. (Para. 2) ample: adj. 1) more than enough
There is an ample supply of consumer goods.
The director of the company receives an ample salary.
2) (literary) large in a way that is attractive or pleasant 他胸怀广阔。
(=He’s got an ample bosom.)
4. (Para. 2) bless: v. ask God to protect sb. or sth.; have a special ability, good quality, etc. （插入图片Jesus）
They brought the children to Jesus and he blessed them. We were both blessed with good health. （插入声音文件） (=In some countries, the priest blesses the fields before seed is sown.) 愿上帝保佑你。
(=May God bless you.)
Pattern: be blessed with sth.
. 注意该词的词性变化，它的名词与形容词分别为：blessing和blessed。
5. (Para. 2) curse: 1. v.
1) say or think bad things about sb. or sth. because they have made you angry
He cursed (at) his bad luck.
She cursed him for ruining her life. 2) swear
Gilbert was cursing under his breath.
2. n.
1) a swear word or words that you say because you are very angry He muttered a curse under his breath.