21世纪大学英语读写基础教程 Unit2

Unit 2

Text A

In the following text, the writer tells us how we can manage to face each day happily. She suggests that we should have a correct attitude towards ourselves, others and the world. By following her suggestions we can probably find that our lives are indeed quite happy and colorful.

It's a New Day!

Marie T. Russell

Every day is a new day. That is an indisputable fact. Every day when we awake, it is a different day than the one before. Another brand-new 24-hour day to explore and experience! By accepting each new day with a fresh, enthusiastic attitude, you can make your life more joyful¹. What could be blocking your realization² of a new day? It stems from your ideas about yourself, others and the world around you.
Let's start with you. Do you see life as one unending saga³, each day like the one before? You know, "Same day, same old stuff?" Do you have beliefs about yourself such as, "Oh, I can't sing. I'm tone-deaf," or "I can't draw. I'm no artist," or "I'm so clumsy. I have two left thumbs. I'm so stupid!" These words reflect inward beliefs that lock us into a frame of mind and a particular behavior pattern. All of these statements demonstrate a belief you have chosen and accepted about yourself. They are also beliefs that serve to close doors to any new experiences or new days.
Let's look at relationships. When I use the term relationships I refer not only to intimate ones, but to everyone in your life... co-workers, family, people you see in the store, the other drivers in traffic... everybody! Many of us classify people as, "friendly", "intelligent", "stupid", "clumsy", etc. We form opinions about them, "Oh! him! He's so lazy," or "Jack⁴ is such a good artist—too bad his daughter just can't draw."
Take a look at how most children are raised. At some point in the child's existence, someone decides (or rather makes a judgment⁵) that little Sarah can't sing, is clumsy, laughs too loud, or is intelligent, or whatever. No matter what the judgment is, these statements get repeated in front of friends, family, strangers and, unfortunately, little Sarah. She then accepts this as her reality... after all it is coming from the mouth of a "godly" parent or adult.
All of these statements and opinions support someone's view of reality. When you make it your own it locks you into a mode where you have certain fixed⁶ expectations. They do not allow room for change; and since life is all about change, these beliefs leave no room for miracles.
How does one live each day anew? First, one must release all pre-conceptions and beliefs about everyone and everything. Begin by looking at yourself and the people in your immediate⁷ surroundings. When dealing⁸ with yourself, there are two things you can change—your beliefs and your behavior. If you believe that you are always late (and want to change that), then stop saying that you are always late. When you tell yourself "I'm always late," the body and mind take that as an instruction. In the same fashion, if you start affirming "I'm always on time," that is taken as a directive and your subconscious⁹ and conscious mind will work at creating your new reality.
So if you want to be a better person, start by changing your beliefs and your expectations. Then change your actions. Behave more lovingly. Expect the best! Visualize¹⁰ yourself and the world as a loving, peaceful, harmonious¹¹ place. It's all possible! After all, it is a new day. Treat yourself to a new perspective every day. Start to expect miracles and they will happen!
(562 words)

New Words

indisputable
a. too certain to be questioned; beyond doubt 无可争辩

brand-new
a. completely new and unused 崭新的，未用过的

* enthusiastic
a. having or showing great interest 热情的，热忱的；充满兴趣的

attitude
n. a way of feeling or thinking about sb. or sth. 态度

joyful
a. full of or causing happiness 快乐的，令人高兴的

realization
n. 1. the act or state of becoming real 实现
2. the act of becoming aware of sth. 认识；领会

stem
vi. originate, develop or grow (from) 起源于；基于，由…造成
n. a central part (of sth.) from which other parts can develop or grow 主干

unending
a. (esp. of sth. not pleasant) continuing without end （尤指不愉快的事情）无尽的；不断的

saga
n. 英雄传奇；长篇故事；一长串事件

stuff
n. matter; material 东西；材料

belief
n. opinion that sb. feels sure about 信念，看法

tone-deaf
a. unable to tell the difference between different musical notes 不会辨别音调的

artist
n. a person who produces works of art, esp. paintings or drawings 艺术家；美术家

clumsy
a. careless and awkward when moving or handing things 笨拙的，笨手笨脚的

thumb
n. 拇指

reflect
vt. express, make clear, or be a sign of; show 反映，表明；显示

inward
a. of the mind or spirit; moving towards the inside 内心的；精神的；向里边的

frame
n. 框架

particular
n. special, unusual; different from others 特别的；特殊的；特有的；特定的

pattern
n. 1. the way in which sth. happens or develops （事物发生或发展的）方式；模式；
2. 图案

behavior
n. the way sb. acts in general; manners 行为；举止

statement
n. sth. that is said in a fairly formal way 陈述；声明

demonstrate
vt. show clearly 表明；示范

relationship
n. the way in which two people or groups of people act toward each other and feel toward each other 关系

refer
v. 提到，谈到；指称；适用

intimate
a. associated in a very close relationship 亲密的

co-worker
n. a fellow worker 同事

driver
n. 驾驶员

traffic
n. 交通；流动的车辆与行人

classify
vt. divide into groups according to types 把…分类

intelligent
a. having or showing the ability to learn things quickly and well 有智慧的，聪明的

etc.
ad. and others; and so on 及其他；等等

existence
n. the state of being real, alive, or actual 生存；存在

judgment
n. an opinion that you have or give after careful thinking 判断

unfortunately
ad. unluckily, regretfully 遗憾的是，可惜的是

reality
n. 现实，事实

godly
a. coming from God; divine 神圣的

adult
n. 成人

view
n. 1. a personal opinion, belief, idea, etc., about sth. 看法，意见，观点
2. sth. seen from a particular place 景色，风景

mode
n. a particular way of behaving, living, etc. 方式

expectation
n. a strong belief that sth. is likely to happen 期待，预期

miracle
n. a wonderful happening that is beyond the known laws of nature; any remarkable¹³ occurrence 奇迹

anew
ad. in a new or different way; again 重新；再度

release
vt. stop holding sth. back and allow it to move or to be moved freely 释放；松开；放弃

pre-conception
n. an opinion formed in advance, without actual knowledge 先入之见

immediate
a. 1. nearest in time, space or degree （时间、空间或程度）最接近的
2. done or needed at once 立即的；即刻的

surroundings
n. 环境

instruction
n. (usu. pl.) ［常用复数］命令

fashion
n. 1. the way in which sth. happens or is done 方式
2. a style that is popular at a particular time 时尚

* affirm
vt. say that sth, is true 肯定，确认

directive
n. an official order or instruction 指示；命令

subconscious
a. (of thoughts, feelings, etc.) not fully¹² known or understood by the conscious mind 下意识的，潜意识的

conscious
a. having all one's senses working and able to understand what is happening 有意识的，有知觉的

create
vt. cause sth. new to happen or come into existence 创造

action
n. the doing of sth. ; an act or thing done 行动，活动

behave
vi. act in a particular way; act properly 表现；举止得当

lovingly
ad. 钟爱地；亲切地

* visualize
vt. imagine or form a mental picture of (sb. or sth.) 使形象化；想像

loving
a. showing or expressing love 钟爱的，表示爱意的

peaceful
a. quiet and calm 宁静的

harmonious
a. having or showing agreement in feeling, attitude, or action 和谐的，协调的

perspective
n. 视角；远景

Phrases and Expressions

start with
begin by having or doing sth. 以…开始

have two left thumbs (or feet)
be very clumsy 非常笨拙

close the door to/on
make impossible 使没有可能

after all
in spite of everything 毕竟，终究

allow/leave room for (sfh.)
给…留出余地

deal with
take action about (sb. or sth.) 对付，应付，处理

take... as
将…作为

treat sb. to sth.
buy or give (sb.) sth. special, as a friendly act 以…款待某人

Proper names

Marie Russell
玛丽·罗素（人名）

Jack
杰克（男子名）

Sarah
莎拉（女子名）

1 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

2 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

3 saga   

n.(尤指中世纪北欧海盗的)故事，英雄传奇

参考例句：

• The saga of Flight 19 is probably the most repeated story about the Bermuda Triangle.飞行19中队的传说或许是有关百慕大三角最重复的故事。
• The novel depicts the saga of a family.小说描绘了一个家族的传奇故事。

4 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

5 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

6 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

8 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

9 subconscious   

n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的)

参考例句：

• Nail biting is often a subconscious reaction to tension.咬指甲通常是紧张时的下意识反映。
• My answer seemed to come from the subconscious.我的回答似乎出自下意识。

10 visualize   

vt.使看得见，使具体化，想象，设想

参考例句：

• I remember meeting the man before but I can't visualize him.我记得以前见过那个人，但他的样子我想不起来了。
• She couldn't visualize flying through space.她无法想像在太空中飞行的景象。

11 harmonious   

adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的

参考例句：

• Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
• The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。

12 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

13 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。