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 joyful 1. What could be blocking your realization 2 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 saga 3, 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 "Jack 4 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 judgment 5) 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 fixed 6 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 immediate 7 surroundings. When dealing 8 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 subconscious 9 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! Visualize 10 yourself and the world as a loving, peaceful, harmonious 11 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 remarkable 13 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 fully 12 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）