讀點好英文:The Difference a Teacher Can Make 老師改變了男孩的人生
The Difference a Teacher Can Make 老師改變了男孩的人生
·Anonymous·
Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever by the U. S.education system.RemarkabIy, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing.He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade.Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve-year-old, yet, Steve went unnoticed……until Miss White.
Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love！For the first time in his young life, he couldn't take his eyes off his teacher；yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White.His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable！Still, he did not study.
In the middle of the first semester of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things as the day wore on.His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home.No one checked on him to see if he was safe.No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober enough to care.Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school.
One day, Miss White's impatient voice broke into his daydreams.
“Steve！”Startled, he turned to look at her.
“Pay attention！”
Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration, as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.
“You all did pretty well，”she told the class，“except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but……”She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face.
“The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class！”
She just stared at Steve, as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.
After that, it was war！Steve still wouldn't do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe, he remained stubborn.
“Just try it！ONE WEEK！”He was unmoved.
“You're smart enough！You'll see a change！”Nothing fazed him.
“Give yourself a chance！Don't give up on your life！”Nothing.
“Steve！Please！I care about you！”
Wow！Suddenly, Steve got it！Someone cared about him?Someone, totally unattainable and perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM?！
Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around.Both parents were passed out, in various stages of undress, and the stench was overpowering！He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time……h(huán)is schoolbooks.Grim faced and determined, he headed for the woods.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles！God, she was beautiful！He yearned for her smile to turn on him.It did not.
Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper.With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper.Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over.Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding within his chest.As he sat down, he couldn't resist another look at the lovely woman.
Miss White's face was in total shock！She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile.The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test！
From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed.He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it！He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life.Steve began to excel！And he continued this course throughout his school life.
After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful miIitary career. During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude.During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves.Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct professor in a nearby college.
Miss White left a great Iegacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives.I know, because I am the love of his life.
You see, it's simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.
逸 名
史蒂夫是一個12歲的小男孩，父母嗜酒成性，他面臨著輟學(xué)的危險。誠然，他識字，只是學(xué)習(xí)成績不盡如人意。從一年級到現(xiàn)在，年年如此。史蒂夫個子高大，看上去似乎比同齡的孩子要大得多，可他一直都被人忽視，直到懷特小姐的出現(xiàn)。
懷特小姐總是面帶笑容，她年輕，還有一頭亮麗的紅頭發(fā)。史蒂夫就喜歡她這種類型的。生平第一次，他無法將視線從老師身上移開，可是他的成績還是不及格。他從不寫作業(yè)，總是給懷特小姐添麻煩。她刻薄的言辭讓他心碎，每當(dāng)因沒有完成作業(yè)而受罰時，他都非常痛苦，但他還是不學(xué)習(xí)。
第一學(xué)期期中，整個七年級都要進行基礎(chǔ)技能測驗。史蒂夫草草地將測驗應(yīng)付完，便繼續(xù)幻想其他的事，時間就這樣過去了。他的心根本不在學(xué)校，而是在樹林中。他經(jīng)常獨自躲藏在那里，以期避開酒鬼之家的場景、吵鬧聲和令人作嘔的氣味。所有的人都無暇顧及他，沒有人關(guān)心他是否安全，也沒人清楚地知道他已經(jīng)離開。奇怪的是，即便如此，史蒂夫卻從沒曠過一天課。
一天，懷特小姐不耐煩的聲音把他從白日夢中驚醒了。
“史蒂夫！”他震驚地轉(zhuǎn)過頭看著她。
“不要開小差！”
懷特小姐公布七年級的測驗結(jié)果時，史蒂夫用青春期男孩特有的那種愛慕的眼光盯著她。
“你們都考得不錯，”她對學(xué)生們說，“除了一個男生。這令我很傷心，但是……”她猶豫了，犀利的目光鎖定在史蒂夫身上，打量著他的臉。
“我們七年級最聰明的學(xué)生，竟然沒及格！”
她緊盯著史蒂夫，全班同學(xué)都轉(zhuǎn)過頭看著他。史蒂夫羞愧地低著頭，盯著指尖。
此后，“戰(zhàn)爭”仍在繼續(xù)！史蒂夫還是不愿寫作業(yè)。即便懲罰再嚴(yán)厲，他也依然我行我素。
“努力試一下！堅持一周也好??！”可他就是無動于衷。
“你很聰明！如果你努力，一定會有可喜的變化！”沒有什么話語可以打動他。
“給自己一個機會！不要輕言放棄。”仍無濟于事。
“史蒂夫，求你了，我那么關(guān)心你！”
哦！史蒂夫突然恍然大悟！真的有人關(guān)心他？簡直不可思議，竟然有人關(guān)心他？！
那天下午，史蒂夫滿腹思緒地回家了。進了家門，他掃視了一下屋內(nèi)，看到父母裸露著身子睡著了。屋內(nèi)臭氣熏天，簡直讓人無法忍受。他快速找齊“露營”裝備：一瓶花生醬、一塊面包、一瓶水，這次他還把課本帶上了。他堅定地走向了樹林。
緊接著的那個周一早上，他按時來到學(xué)校，期待著懷特小姐步入教室。她面帶微笑、神采飛揚地走進來了。天哪！她真是太美了！他希望看到她對他微笑，但她沒有。
懷特小姐突然決定測試周末的家庭作業(yè)。史蒂夫很快就做完了，并第一個遞交了答卷。懷特小姐滿臉驚奇地接過他的卷子，她開始批閱試卷時的疑惑溢于言表。史蒂夫回到座位上，心怦怦地狂跳不止。坐下之后，他情不自禁地又瞄了一眼這位漂亮的女子。
懷特小姐臉上滿是震驚的神情，她瞟了一眼史蒂夫，又低下頭去，然后再次抬起頭來。突然，她臉上綻放出燦爛的笑容。七年級最聰明的男孩終于首次通過了測試。
從那時起，史蒂夫就好像換了個人。雖然家庭生活依舊，但他的生活確實發(fā)生了變化。他發(fā)覺自己不僅能學(xué)習(xí)，而且還能學(xué)得很好！他發(fā)現(xiàn)自己能理解并牢記所學(xué)的知識，并能學(xué)以致用。史蒂夫開始變得優(yōu)秀了，而且他在整個求學(xué)生涯中，一直都保持著優(yōu)秀。
高中畢業(yè)后，史蒂夫應(yīng)征加入了海軍，他的軍旅生涯也很成功。其間，他結(jié)識了他的愛人，組建了家庭，并從Magna Cum Laude大學(xué)畢業(yè)。他在海軍服役期間，曾鼓勵過許多年輕人。假如沒有他，這些人或許不可能建立自信。從海軍退役后，史蒂夫開始了他的第二份工作——在附近的一所大學(xué)擔(dān)任助理教授，繼續(xù)鼓舞他人。
懷特小姐留下了一份寶貴遺產(chǎn)，她挽救了一個男孩，這個男孩使許多人的生命發(fā)生了變化。我對這一切都很了解，因為我就是他的愛人。
你看，事情就這么簡單。一個男孩的內(nèi)心世界，只因一個老師的關(guān)心，就發(fā)生了如此大的變化。
Practising&Exercise 實戰(zhàn)提升篇
核心單詞
remarkabIy[ri'ma：k?bli]adv.引人注目地；明顯地；非常地
sharp[?a：p]adj.鋒利的；尖的；陡的；機警的
entire[in'tai?]adj.全部的，整個的
impatient[im'pei??nt]adj.無耐心的，不耐煩的；無法忍受的
hesitate['heziteit]v.躊躇；有疑慮；不愿意
severe[si'vi?]adj.嚴(yán)重的；劇烈的；嚴(yán)厲的；苛刻的
retain[ri'tein]v.保留，保持
miIitary['milit?ri]adj.軍事的；軍用的
Iegacy['leg?si]n.遺產(chǎn)；遺贈
實用句型
As he sat down, he couIdn't resist another Iook at the IoveIy woman.坐下之后，他情不自禁地又瞄了一眼這位漂亮的女子。
①as在這里作連詞，引導(dǎo)時間狀語從句。
②look at看。類似的表達還有l(wèi)ook over仔細檢查；look forward to盼望；look into研究，調(diào)查。
翻譯練習(xí)
1.盡管遇到很多挫折，他仍堅持做實驗。（in spite of）
2.他的夢想是成為一名飛行員。（dream of）
3.籃球賽何時舉行？（take place）
