大學(xué)英語unitTrue-Height原文與翻譯大學(xué)英語unitTrue-Height原文與翻譯/大學(xué)英語unitTrue-Height原文與翻譯TrueHeightLookatthefollowingtwosayingsandthenseeifthestoryofMichaelStonebearsoutthepointstheymake.Thegreatertheobstacle,themoregloryinovercomingit.--MolièreWhenitisdarkenough,youcanseethestars.--CharlesA.Beard讀一讀以下兩則名言,想一想邁克爾·斯通的故事是否印證了其間的道理。障礙越是巨大,逾越它也就越感自豪。——莫里哀只有天空漆黑時,你才可以看到星星?！闋査埂·比爾德DavidNaster1Hispalmsweresweating.Heneededatoweltodryhisgrip.ThesunwasashotasthecompetitionhefacedtodayattheNationalJuniorOlympics.Thepolewassetat17feet.Thatwasthreeincheshigherthanhispersonalbest.MichaelStoneconfrontedthemostchallengingdayofhispole-vaultingcareer.真正的高度大衛(wèi)·納史特他手心在出汗。他需要用毛巾把握竿的手擦干。太陽火辣辣的,與他今天在全國少年奧林匹克運動會上所面臨的競爭一樣熱烈。橫桿升到了17英尺。比他個人的最高紀(jì)錄高出3英寸。邁克爾·斯通面臨的是其撐竿跳高生涯中最具挑戰(zhàn)性的一天。2Thestandswerestillfilledwithabout20,000people,eventhoughthefinalracehadendedanhourearlier.Thepolevaultistrulythehighlightofanytrackandfieldcompetition.Itcombinesthegraceofagymnastwiththestrengthofabodybuilder.Italsohastheelementofflying,andthethoughtofflyingashighasatwo-storybuildingisamerefantasytoanyonewatchingsuchanevent.盡管賽跑決賽一小時前就已經(jīng)結(jié)束,看臺上仍然觀眾滿座,足有20,000人上下。撐竿跳高確實是所有田徑比賽中最精彩的項目。它融合了體操運動員的優(yōu)雅與健美運動員的力量。它還具有飛翔的特征,對觀看該項目比賽的觀眾來說,飛躍兩層樓的高度簡直是一件不可思議的事情。3AslongasMichaelcouldrememberhehadalwaysdreamedofflying.Michael'smotherreadhimnumerousstoriesaboutflyingwhenhewasgrowingup.Herstorieswerealwaysonesthatdescribedthelandfromabird's-eyeview.HerexcitementandpassionfordetailsmadeMichael'sdreamsfullofcolorandbeauty.Michaelhadthisonerecurringdream.Hewouldberunningdownacountryroad.Asheracedbetweengoldenwheatfields,hewouldalwaysoutrunthelocomotivespassingby.Itwasattheexactmomenthetookadeepbreaththathebegantoliftofftheground.Hewouldbeginsoaringlikeaneagle.邁克爾自從能記事起就一直夢想著飛翔。從小到大,母親給邁克爾念過無數(shù)關(guān)于飛翔的故事。她的故事總是從高空俯瞰描述大地。她對細(xì)節(jié)的激情和熱愛使得邁克爾的夢境色彩繽紛、絢麗無比。邁克爾總是重復(fù)做著一個夢。他在鄉(xiāng)間大路上飛奔。當(dāng)他奔跑在金色的麥田之間時,總是把開過的機(jī)車一路甩在身后。就在他深深吸上一口氣的瞬間,他開始從地面一躍而起,就像一頭雄鷹那樣開始翱翔。4Whereheflewwouldalwayscoincidewithhismother'sstories.Whereverheflewwaswithakeeneyefordetailandthefreespiritofhismother'slove.Hisdad,ontheotherhand,wasnotadreamer.BertStonewasahard-corerealist.Hebelievedinhardworkandsweat.Hismotto:Ifyouwantsomething,workforit!他飛越的都是母親故事里描述的地方。無論他飛向何方,他都懷著母愛所賜予他的自由精神,用敏銳的目光觀察入微?？伤母赣H卻不是個夢想家。伯特·斯通是個徹頭徹尾的現(xiàn)實主義者。他信奉的是努力與苦干。他的格言是:要想有所收獲,就得努力工作!5Fromtheageof14,Michaeldidjustthat.Hebeganaverycarefultrainingprogram.Heworkedouteveryotherdaywithweightlifting,withsomekindofrunningworkonalternatedays.TheprogramwascarefullymonitoredbyMichael'scoach,trainerandfather.Michael'sdedication,determinationanddisciplinewasacoach'sdream.Besidesbeinganhonorstudentandonlychild,MichaelStonecontinuedtohelphisparentswiththeirfarmchores.MildredStone,Michael'smother,wishedhecouldrelaxabitmoreandbethat"freedreaming"littleboy.Ononeoccasionsheattemptedtotalktohimandhisfatheraboutthis,buthisdadquicklyinterrupted,smiledandsaid,"Youwantsomething,workforit!"從14歲起,邁克爾就是這么做的。他開始按非常周密的計劃訓(xùn)練。他每隔一天進(jìn)行舉重訓(xùn)練,其它的日子做些跑步訓(xùn)練。訓(xùn)練計劃由邁克爾的教練、訓(xùn)練員兼父親嚴(yán)加督導(dǎo)。邁克爾的投入、執(zhí)著、自律正是每一個教練所夢寐以求的。邁克爾在學(xué)校是位優(yōu)秀生,在家是個獨生子,但他仍幫助父母在自家的農(nóng)場上干些雜活。邁克爾的母親米爾德里德·斯通希望他能更放松些,還是做那個"自由幻想"的小男孩。有一次,她試圖跟他與其父親好好談一下,可當(dāng)父親的馬上就打斷了她,笑著說:"要想有所收獲,就得努力工作!"6AllofMichael'svaultstodayseemedtobetherewardforhishardwork.IfMichaelStonewassurprised,excitedorvainaboutclearingthebarat17feet,youcouldn'ttell.Assoonashelandedontheinflatedlandingmat,andwiththecrowdonitsfeet,Michaelimmediatelybeganpreparingforhisnextattemptatflight.Heseemedunawareofthefactthathehadjustbeatenhispersonalbestbythreeinchesandthathewasoneofthefinaltwocompetitorsinthepole-vaultingeventattheNationalJuniorOlympics.邁克爾今天躍過的所有高度顯然都是對他刻苦努力的回報。邁克爾·斯通在成功躍過17英尺的橫桿時是感到驚訝、激動還是得意,人們無從知曉。邁克爾身體剛剛落在充氣墊上,觀眾還沒坐下,他馬上就開始準(zhǔn)備下一次飛躍。他似乎并未意識到自己剛剛把個人最好成績提高了3英寸,已經(jīng)是全國少年奧林匹克運動會撐竿跳高項目最后兩名決賽者之一。7WhenMichaelclearedthebarat17feet2inchesand17feet4inches,againheshowednoemotion.Ashelayonhisbackandheardthecrowdgroan,heknewtheothervaulterhadmissedhisfinaljump.Heknewitwastimeforhisfinaljump.Sincetheothervaulterhadfewermisses,Michaelneededtoclearthisvaulttowin.Amisswouldgethimsecondplace.Nothingtobeashamedof,butMichaelwouldnotallowhimselfthethoughtofnotwinningfirstplace.當(dāng)邁克爾成功躍過17英尺2英寸和17英尺4英寸高度的橫桿時,他仍沒有流露出絲毫感情。他仰面躺著,聽到觀眾在嘆息,他知道另一位撐竿跳運動員最后一跳沒有成功。他知道自己最后一跳的時刻到了。由于那位運動員失敗次數(shù)較少,邁克爾這一跳只有成功才能獲勝。這一次跳不過就會使自己落到第二名。那也絲毫無愧,但邁克爾決不讓自己產(chǎn)生哪怕一絲與冠軍無緣的念頭。8Herolledoveranddidhisroutineofthreefinger-tippedpush-ups.Hefoundhispole,stoodandsteppedontherunwaythatledtothemostchallengingeventofhis17-year-oldlife.他翻了個身,照例指尖撐地做了三下俯臥撐。他找著了撐竿,站起身,踏上那引向其17年生命中最具挑戰(zhàn)性的一躍的跑道。9Therunwayfeltdifferentthistime.Itstartledhimforabriefmoment.Thenitallhithimlikeawetbaleofhay.Thebarwassetatnineincheshigherthanhispersonalbest.That'sonlyoneinchofftheNationalrecord,hethought.Theintensityofthemomentfilledhismindwithanxiety.Hebeganshakingthetension.Itwasn'tworking.Hebecamemoretense.Whywasthishappeningtohimnow,hethought.Hebegantogetnervous.Afraidwouldbeamoreaccuratedescription.WhatwashegoingtodoHehadneverexperiencedthesefeelings.Thenoutofnowhere,andfromthedeepestdepthsofhissoul,hepicturedhismother.WhynowWhatwashismotherdoinginhisthoughtsatatimelikethisItwassimple.Hismotheralwaysusedtotellhimwhenyoufelttense,anxiousorevenscared,takedeepbreaths.這一回,那跑道顯得有些異樣。剎那間,他感到一陣驚嚇。一種惶惑不安的感覺向他襲來。橫桿升在高出他個人最高紀(jì)錄9英寸的高度。他想,這一高度與全國紀(jì)錄只差1英寸了。這一刻緊張異常,他感到焦慮不安。他想擺脫緊張情緒。沒有用。他更緊張了。在這種時刻怎么會這樣呢,他暗暗思忖著。他有點膽怯起來。說是恐懼也許更為恰當(dāng)。怎么辦?他以前從來不曾有過這種感覺。這時,不知不覺地,在內(nèi)心最深處,出現(xiàn)了他母親的身影。為什么是在這一刻?記憶中,母親在這種時刻會怎樣做呢?很簡單。母親過去總跟他說,當(dāng)你覺得緊張、焦慮、甚至害怕的時候,就深深地吸氣。10Sohedid.Alongwithshakingthetensionfromhislegs,hegentlylaidhispoleathisfeet.Hebegantostretchouthisarmsandupperbody.Thelightbreezethatwasoncetherewasnowgone.Hecarefullypickeduphispole.Hefelthisheartpounding.Hewassurethecrowddid,too.Thesilencewasdeafening.Whenheheardthesingingofsomedistantbirdsinflight,heknewitwashistimetofly.于是他深深吸了一口氣。在擺脫腿部肌肉緊張的同時,他輕輕地把撐竿放在腳邊。他開始舒展雙臂和上身。剛才飄過一陣輕風(fēng),此刻消失了。他小心翼翼地拿起撐竿,只覺得心怦怦在跳。他相信觀眾們的心也在怦怦跳動。場上鴉雀無聲,令人透不過氣來。當(dāng)他聽見遠(yuǎn)處飛鳥啼鳴時,他知道,自己飛身起躍的時刻到了。11Ashebegansprintingdowntherunway,somethingfeltwonderfullydifferent,yetfamiliar.Thesurfacebelowhimfeltlikethecountryroadheusedtodreamabout.Visionsofthegoldenwheatfieldsseemedtofillhisthoughts.Whenhetookadeepbreath,ithappened.Hebegantofly.Histake-offwaseffortless.MichaelStonewasnowflying,justlikeinhischildhooddreams.Onlythistimeheknewhewasn'tdreaming.Thiswasreal.Everythingseemedtobemovinginslowmotion.Theairaroundhimwasthepurestandfreshesthehadeversensed.Michaelwassoaringlikeaneagle.他沿著跑道起跑沖刺,那感覺奇特?zé)o比,妙不可言,而又似曾相識。腳下的地面就好似過去常常夢見的鄉(xiāng)間大路。金色麥田的景象映現(xiàn)在他的腦海中。他深深吸了一口氣,于是奇跡發(fā)生了。他飛起來了。他的起跳輕松自如。邁克爾·斯通此刻就像兒時夢境中的那般在飛行。不過這一次他知道自己不是在做夢。這一次他真的在飛。周圍一切都似乎在緩緩移動。他感到周圍空氣從未像這樣純凈清新。如同一頭雄鷹,邁克爾在翱翔。12ItwaseithertheeruptionofthepeopleinthestandsorthethumpofhislandingthatbroughtMichaelbacktoearth.Onhisbackwiththatwonderfulhotsunonhisface,heknewhecouldonlyseeinhismind'seyethesmileonhismother'sface.Heknewhisdadwasprobablysmilingtoo,evenlaughing.Whathedidn'tknowwasthathisdadwashugginghiswifeandcrying.That'sright:Bert"IfYouWantIt,WorkForIt"Stonewascryinglikeababyinhiswife'sarms.HewascryingharderthanMildredhadeverseenbefore.Shealsoknewhewascryingthegreatesttearsofall:tearsofpride.Michaelwasimmediatelysurroundedbypeoplehuggingandcongratulatinghimonthegreatestaccomplishmentofhislife.Helaterwentonthatdaytoclear17feet6inches:aNationalandInternationalJuniorOlympicsrecord.或許是看臺上人們爆發(fā)出的歡呼聲,或許是他著地時嘭的一聲響使邁克爾回到現(xiàn)實之中。他仰面躺著,明媚的驕陽映照著他的臉。他知道自己只能想象母親的笑靨,他知道爸爸或許也在微笑,甚或歡聲大笑。他不知道的是,他爸爸正與妻子相擁而泣。沒錯,這位"要想有所收獲,就得努力工作"的伯特·斯通在妻子懷里孩子似地淚流滿面。米爾德里德從沒見他那樣哭過。她也知道,他流淌的是最難得的淚水:驕傲的淚水。邁克爾一下子被圍住了,人們擁抱他,祝賀他所取得的一生中最輝煌的成就。那天稍后,他接著越過了17英尺6英寸半,創(chuàng)下了全國和世界少年奧林匹克撐桿跳高的新紀(jì)錄。13Withallthemediaattentionandsponsorshippossibilities,Michael'slifewouldneverbethesameagain.Itwasn'tjustbecausehewontheNationalJuniorOlympicsandsetanewworldrecord.Anditwasn'tbecausehehadjustincreasedhispersonalbestby9inches.ItwassimplybecauseMichaelStoneisblind.隨著媒體的關(guān)注以與可能隨之而來的各種贊助,邁克爾的生活肯定會不同以往。這不僅僅是因為他獲得了全國少年奧林匹克冠軍并刷新了一項世界紀(jì)錄,也不是因為他將自己的最高紀(jì)錄提高了9英寸半,而是因為邁克爾·斯通是個盲人。Achanceencountercansometimesmakeallthedifferencetowhetherhardshipbringsoutthebestinusortheworst.磨難到底是能讓我們顯出內(nèi)在的美德還是暴露出自身的缺陷,有時一次偶然的遭遇可能會起到?jīng)Q定性的作用。FourteenStepsHalManwaring1Theysayacathasninelives,andIaminclinedtothinkthatpossiblesinceIamnowlivingmythirdlifeandI'mnotevenacat.十四級臺階哈爾·馬納林人們都說貓有九條命,我也覺得這完全可能,因為我現(xiàn)在經(jīng)歷的是自己的第三次人生,而我還不是貓呢。2Myfirstlifebeganonaclear,colddayinNovember,1904,whenIarrivedasthesixthofeightchildrenofafarmingfamily.MyfatherdiedwhenIwas15,andwehadahardstruggletomakealiving.IhadtowaituntiltheearlyyearsofmymarriagebeforeIreallybegantoenjoymyfirstlife.ButthenIwasveryhappy,inexcellenthealth,andquiteagoodathlete.MywifeandIbecametheparentsoftwolovelygirls.IhadagoodjobinSanJoseandabeautifulhomeinSanCarlos.我的第一次人生始于1904年11月一個晴朗、寒冷的日子,我來到世上,在一戶農(nóng)家8個孩子中排行第6。我15歲那年父親去世,為了生存,我們苦苦掙扎。我不得不等到成家后才真正開始享受自己的第一次人生。那時我非常幸福,體格健壯,還是個運動好手。我和妻子生有兩個可愛的女孩。我在圣何塞有一份很好的工作,在圣卡洛斯有個溫馨的家。3Lifewasapleasantdream.那時的生活就像是一場美夢。4Thenthedreamendedandbecameoneofthosehorriblenightmaresthatcauseyoutowakeinacoldsweatinthemiddleofthenight.Ibegantosufferfromaslowlyprogressivediseaseofthemotornerves,affectingfirstmyrightarmandleg,andthenmyotherside.接著美夢終止,變成了一場可怕的噩夢,令你夜半驚醒,出一身冷汗。我得了一種逐漸惡化的進(jìn)行性運動神經(jīng)元病,一開始影響我的右臂右腿,后來又侵入身體的另一側(cè)。5Thusbeganmysecondlife就這樣我的第二次人生開始了……6InspiteofmydiseaseIstilldrovetoandfromworkeachday,withtheaidofspecialequipmentinstalledinmycar.AndImanagedtokeephealthyandoptimistic,toadegree,becauseof14steps.盡管疾病纏身,我還是借助車上安裝的特殊設(shè)備每天開車上下班。在某種程度上,我是由于14級臺階才得以保持健康的心態(tài)與樂觀的情緒的。7CrazyNotatall.無稽之談?一點也不。8Ourhomewasasplit-levelaffairwith14stepsleadingupfromthegaragetothekitchendoor.Thosestepsweremyyardstick,mychallengetocontinueliving.(1)IfeltthatifthedayarrivedwhenIwasunabletoliftonefootuponestepandthendragtheotherpainfullyafterit--repeatingtheprocess14timesuntil,utterlyspent,Iwouldbethrough--Icouldthenadmitdefeatandliedownanddie.我們家住的是錯層式的房子,從汽車間通往廚房門有14級臺階。這些臺階是我衡量自己的尺度,是我活下去的一個挑戰(zhàn)。我覺得如果有一天我無法再抬起一只腳邁上一個臺階,再痛苦地拖起另一只腳——將這個過程重復(fù)14遍,直到精疲力竭爬上去——到那時我就會服輸并躺下死去。9SoIkeptonworking,keptonclimbingthosesteps.Andtimepassed.Thegirlswenttocollegeandwerehappilymarried,andmywifeandIwerealoneinourbeautifulhomewiththe14steps.因此我堅持上班,堅持爬那些臺階。時光流逝。兩個女兒上了大學(xué),建立了美滿的家庭,只剩我和妻子守在我們那個有著14級臺階的溫馨的家里。10Youmightthinkthatherewalkedamanofcourageandstrength.Notso.Herehobbledabitterlydisillusionedcripple,amanwhoheldontohissanityandhiswifeandhishomeandhisjobbecauseof14miserablestepsleadinguptothebackdoorfromhisgarage.你或許會以為,這里生活著一個勇敢堅強(qiáng)的男子漢。事實并非如此。這里一瘸一拐走著的是一個幻想破滅、內(nèi)心痛苦的跛子,一個靠著從汽車間通往后門的那14級可憐的臺階才沒有失去理智、沒有丟下妻室并堅持工作的男人。11AsIbecameolder,Ibecamemoredisillusionedandfrustrated.I'msurethatmywifeandfriendshadsomeunhappytimeswhenIchosetotalkaboutmyphilosophyoflife.(2)IbelievedthatinthiswholeworldIalonehadbeenchosentosuffer.IhadcarriedmycrossnowfornineyearsandprobablywouldbearitforaslongasIcouldclimbthose14steps.隨著年歲的增長,我變得日益失望和沮喪。我想,當(dāng)我執(zhí)意談?wù)撟约旱娜松軐W(xué)時,我的妻子和朋友一定都很難受。我認(rèn)為在這整個世界里,就我一個人被選中去受苦受難。我已經(jīng)背了9年的十字架,只要我還能爬上那14級臺階,很可能我就要一路背負(fù)下去。12ThenonadarknightinAugust,1971,Ibeganmythirdlife.ItwasrainingwhenIstartedhomethatnight,beatingdownhardonthecarasIdroveslowlydownoneoftheless-traveledroads.Suddenlythesteeringwheeljumpedinmyhandsasoneofthetiresburstwithabang.Ifoughtthecartoastopandsatthereastheterriblenatureofthesituationsweptoverme.Itwasimpossibleformetochangethattire!Utterlyimpossible!后來,1971年8月一個漆黑的夜晚,我開始了自己的第三次人生。那天夜里我回家時天正在下雨,我慢慢地開著車走在一條車輛稀少的路上,雨水嘩嘩拍打著車身。突然,方向盤在我手里猛地一跳,一只車胎啪地一聲爆了。我奮力停下車,呆坐著,心想,這下子麻煩可大了。我沒法自己去換輪胎!根本不可能!13Athoughtthatapassingmotoristmightstopwasdismissedatonce.WhyshouldanyoneIknewIwouldn't!ThenIrememberedthatashortdistanceupalittlesideroadwasahouse.IstartedtheengineanddroveslowlyalonguntilIcametothehouse.LightedwindowswelcomedmeasIpulledintothedrivewayandhonkedthehorn.開車路過的人會停下幫忙嗎?我馬上就把這個念頭打消了。為什么別人要停下幫忙呢?我知道我自己就不會。這時我想起前面不遠(yuǎn)處的一條小路上有幢房子。我發(fā)動了引擎,慢慢地開到了那幢房子跟前。接著我把車開上了宅旁車道,按了按喇叭,迎接我的是窗口亮起的燈光。14Thedooropenedandalittlegirlstoodthere,peeringatme.IrolleddownthewindowandcalledoutthatIhadaflatandneededsomeonetochangeitformebecauseIhadacrutchandcouldn'tdoitmyself.門開了,一個小女孩站在那兒朝我張望。我搖下車窗,大聲說道,我有個輪胎爆了,需要有人幫忙替我換一下,因為我要靠拐杖走路,自己干不了。15Shewentintothehouseandamomentlatercameoutbundledinraincoatandhat,followedbyamanwhocalledacheerfulgreeting.她回到屋內(nèi),稍后裹著雨衣、戴著帽子又出來了,身后跟著個男的,愉快地跟我打招呼。16Isattherecomfortableanddry,andfeltabitsorryforthemanandthelittlegirlworkingsohardinthestorm.Well,Iwouldpaythemforit.Therainseemedtobeeasingabitnow,andIrolleddownthewindowtowatch.ItseemedtomethattheywereawfullyslowandIwasbeginningtobecomeimpatient.Iheardthelittlegirl'svoicefromthebackofthecar."Here'sthejack-handle,Grandpa."Shewasansweredbythemurmuroftheman'slowervoiceandtheslowtiltingofthecarasitwasjackedup.我坐在車?yán)?舒舒服服,淋不著一滴雨,而那男人和小女孩卻在暴雨里干得則辛苦,我覺得有點過意不去。得了,我會酬謝他們的。這時,雨似乎小了一些,我搖下車窗看著。我只覺得兩人動作慢得出奇,我都開始有點不耐煩了。我聽到車后傳來小女孩的聲音。"千斤頂?shù)谋?爺爺,拿好了。"那人輕輕地應(yīng)了一聲,車微微傾斜著被頂了起來。17Therefollowedalongintervalofnoisesandlowconversationfromthebackofthecar,butfinallyitwasdone.Ifeltthecarbumpasthejackwasremoved,andIheardtheslamofthetrunklid,andthentheywerestandingatmycarwindow.接著有好一會兒,我聽到車后的響聲和輕輕的說話聲,最后總算換好了。我感覺到千斤頂移開時車顛了一下,又聽到后車廂蓋啪地關(guān)上,接著兩人就站在了我的車窗前。18Hewasanoldman,bentandslightlybuilt.Thelittlegirlwasabouteightorten,Ijudged,withamerryfaceandawidesmileasshelookedupatme.那是位老人,身材瘦小,背有些彎。我看小女孩大約8歲或10歲,神情愉快,她抬頭望著我,滿臉的笑容。19Hesaid,"Thisisabadnightforcartrouble,butyou'reallsetnow."他說:"這種天氣又是夜里,車出了問題可真夠嗆,不過現(xiàn)在都給你修好了。"20"Thanks,"Isaid,"thanks.HowmuchdoIoweyou""多謝了,"我說,"多謝。我該付你們多少呢?"21Heshookhishead."Nothing.Cynthiatoldmeyouwereoncrutches.Gladtobeofhelp.Iknowyou'ddothesameforme.There'snocharge,friend."他搖搖頭。"什么也不要付。辛西婭跟我說你靠拐杖走路。很高興能幫上忙。我知道如果是我遇到這種情況你也會這樣幫我的。不要錢,朋友。"22Iheldoutafive-dollarbill."No!Iliketopaymyway."我拿出一張5美元的鈔票。"那不行!我不喜歡欠人家的情。