全新版大学英语培训教案第二单元A Life Full of Riches.docVIP

A Life Full of Riches 富足的一生 It was early December 2003, my first season as a Salvation Army bell ringer, when I was confronted with the question. I was standing just outside the doorway of a Wal-Mart, offering a thank you and a smile to each person who dropped a donation into my red kettle. A neatly dressed woman and her young son walked up to the kettle stand. While she searched her purse for some cash, the boy looked up at me. I can still see the confusion and curiosity in his eyes as he asked, Are you poor? 首次面对这个问题,是在2003年12月初,我第一次为救世军摇铃募捐的时候。当时我就站在沃尔玛商场入口处门外,对每一位向我的红壶里投入捐款的人都报以一声“谢谢”和一个微笑。一位穿着整洁的妇人牵着她的幼子向放壶的台子走过来。她在钱包里摸着找钱时,孩子抬头看了我一眼, 问我:“你穷吗?”当时他眼里充满疑惑和好奇,时至今日仍历历在目。 Well, I stammered, trying to think, I have more than some people, but not as much as others. His mother scolded him for the social no-no, and they hurried off to do their shopping. His question, however, did not leave me. “嗯,”我结结巴巴,边想边回答,“我比有些人拥有的多,但比其他人拥有的少。”母亲因为孩子问了一个在社交上不该问的问题,训斥了他一顿,他俩便匆匆的赶去购物。但是孩子的问题却一直留在我的心头挥之不去。 Ive never thought of myself as poor, but I cant deny certain facts. Every time I fill out my 1040 form, I fall into one of the lowest income brackets. In the past 35 years, Ive taken just one vacation trip. My TV is a black-and-white set that someone gave me eight years ago. 我从不认为自己“穷”,但有些事实我不可否认。每当我填1040税务申报表时,我都属于收入最低的档次之一。在过去的三十五年中,我只出去度过一次假。我的电视机是黑白的,还是八年前别人送给我的。 Yet I feel nothing more than a passing whim to attain the material things so many other people have. My 1999 car shows the wear and tear of 105,000 miles. But it is still dependable. My apartment is modest, but quiet and relaxing. My clothes are well suited to my work, which is primarily outdoors. My minimal computer needs can be met at the library 然而,想要得到其他那么多人都有的物质的东西,对我来说,只不过是转瞬即逝的念头而已。我的汽车是1999年的产品,到现在开了十万五千英里,已经很破很旧了,但是它依然可靠。我的住房不大,但是很安静,住着挺舒心。我的衣服很适合于我的工作,主要都在户外。我对计算机的很少的需求,可以在图书馆得到解决。 In spite of what I dont have, I dont feel poor. Why? Ive enjoyed exceptionally good health for 53 years. Its not j