卷子（九）Paper Nine

加薪与否?
A Pay Rise or Not?

        “除非我得到加薪，否则我要和老板亨利·曼利谈谈。”
        “Unless I get a rise,I'll have a talk with the boss, Henry Manley,”

乔治·斯特朗自言自语道。
George Strong said to himself.

乔治喜欢他的工作，也喜欢他住的小镇，
George liked his job and he liked the town he lived in,

但他的妻子一直告诉他，他的工资不足以满足这个家庭的需要
but his wife kept telling him that his pay was not enough to meet the needs of the family.

这就是为什么他在考虑到大约50英里外的附近城市伯明厄姆找份工作的原因。
That was why he was thinking of taking a job in Birmingham, a nearby city, about 50 miles away.

他在那里的一家工厂找到了一份工作，工资要高得多。
He had been offered a job in a factory there, and the pay was far better.


        乔治住在威福德，一个中等大小的城镇。
        George lived in Wyeford, a medium-sized town.

他真的很喜欢这个地方，不喜欢搬到其他地方，
He really liked the place and didn't like the idea of moving somewhere else,

但如果他接受了伯明翰的那份工作，他就必须把他的家人搬到那里去。
but if he took the job in Birmingham,he would have to move his family there.


        亨利·曼利是一家制造电动机的小公司的经理。
        Henry Manley was the manager of a small company manufacturing electric motors.

该公司深陷困境，原因之一是日本人以非常低的价格销售此类产品。
The company was in deep trouble because, among other reasons,the Japanese were selling such things at very low prices.

结果，曼利不得不降低自己的价格和利润。
As a result, Manley had to cut his own prices and profits as well.

否则他根本得不到任何订单。
Otherwise he would not get any orders at all.

即便如此，订单还是来得不够快，
Even then,orders were still not coming in fast enough,

所以没有钱给他的工人加薪。
so that there was no money for raises for his workers.

无论如何，他必须努力工作，同时留住最好的员工。
Somehow,he had to struggle along and keep his best workers as well.

他叹了口气。就在这时，电话铃响了。
He sighed. Just then the phone rang.


        他的秘书告诉他，乔治·斯特朗想尽快见他。
        His secretary told him that George Strong wanted to see him as soon as possible.

万利再次叹了口气。他能猜出是怎么回事。
Manley sighed again. He could guess what it was about.

乔治·斯特朗是一位非常年轻的工程师。
George Strong was a very young engineer.

这家公司如果不能吸引和留住像他这样的人，就没有前途。
The company had no future unless it could attract and keep men like him.

曼利揉了揉额头;他的问题似乎没完没了。
Manley rubbed his forehead; his problems seemed endless.

亨利·曼利已经债台高筑。
1. Henry Manley was already deeply in debt.
A. True
B. False
C.Not Given

在伯明翰给乔治的那份工作报酬更高。
2. The job that had been offered to George in Birmingham paid better.
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

如果乔治接受了伯明翰的工作，他将不得不离开威福德的家人。
3. If George took the job in Birmingham,he would have to leave his family at Wyeford.
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

亨利·曼利的公司陷入了大麻烦
4. Henry Manley's company was in deep trouble
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

亨利·曼利的公司的利润足以提高工人的工资
5. Henry Manley’s company was making enough profits to raise the workers' wages
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

亨利·曼利根本不知道乔治·斯特朗为什么要见他。
6. Henry Manley had no idea at all why George Strong wanted to see him.
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

乔治·斯特朗是亨利·曼利公司里最优秀的工程师。
7. George Strong was the best engineer in Henry Manley's company.
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

亨利·曼利公司生产的电动机比日本生产的便宜。
8. The electric motors produced by Henry Manley's company are cheaper than those made in Japan.
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

像乔治·斯特朗这样的人对公司的未来非常重要。
9. Men like George Strong are important to the future of the company.
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

最后，亨利·曼利有了一个解决问题的好办法。
10. In the end, Henry Manley had a good idea to solve the problem.
A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

睡眠的进化
Evolution of Sleep

        睡眠是非常古老的。
        Sleep is very ancient.

从脑电图上看，我们人类和所有灵长目动物以及几乎所有的哺乳动物和鸟类都一样需要睡眠;
In the electroencephalographic(脑电图仪的) sense we share it with all the primates(灵长类动物) and almost all the other mammals and birds:

甚至爬行类动物也有睡眠
it may extend back as far as the reptiles(爬行动物).


        有证据表明，有梦睡眠和无梦睡眠这两种类型取决于动物的生活方式，
        There is some evidence that the two types of sleep, dreaming and dreamless, depend on the life-style of the animal,

而且从统计上看，捕食者比被捕食者更有可能做梦，
and that predators(食肉动物) are statistically much more likely to dream than prey,

而被捕食者也更有可能无梦睡眠。
which are in turn much more likely to experience dreamless sleep.

动物在有梦睡眠时，被有效地解除动作能力，而且对外界刺激没有反应。
In dream sleep, the animal is powerfully immobilized(使固定不动) and remarkably unresponsive to external stimuli.

无梦睡眠则要浅得多。
Dreamless sleep is much shallower,

我们都看到过猫和狗在明显的酣睡中，有一点响动耳朵就会竖起来。
and we have all witnessed cats or dogs cocking their ears to a sound when apparently fast asleep.

被捕食动物很少有深度的有梦睡眠，这似乎显然是自然选择的结果。
The fact that deep dream sleep is rare among prey today seems clearly to be a product of natural selection,

而且这一点是有道理的
and it makes sense that today,

当睡眠高度进化以后，
when sleep is highly evolved,

愚蠢的动物比聪明的动物更少在深度睡眠中失去动作能力。
the stupid animals are less frequently immobilized by deep sleep than the smart ones.


        但是它们为什么要深度睡眠呢?
        But why should they sleep deeply at all?

为什么这样的静止状态会进化出来呢?
Why should a state of such deep immobilization ever have evolved?

海豚、鲸鱼以及水生哺乳动物睡眠都极少，这一事实可以给睡眠的原始功能提供有用的线索。
Perhaps one useful hint about the original function of sleep is to be found in the fact that dolphins and whales and aquatic mammals in general seem to sleep very little.

总的来说，海洋里没有藏身之处。
There is, by and large,no place to hide in the ocean.

会不会是这样，睡眠不但不增加动物受伤害的可能性，反而是减少了这种可能性呢?
Could it be that,rather than increasing an animal's vulnerability, the function of sleep is to decrease it?

佛罗里达大学的Wilse Webb和伦敦大学的Ray Meddis认为情况就是如此。
Wilse Webb of the University of Florida and Ray Meddis of London University have suggested this to be the case.

可以想象，在危险的时刻，那些由于太愚笨而不能自动保持安静的动物，
It is conceivable that animals who are too stupid to be quiet on their own initiative are,during periods of high risk,

会不由自主地变得动弹不得。
immobilized by the implacable arm of sleep.

这一点在食肉动物的幼仔身上显得尤为明显。
The point seems particularly clear for the young of predatory animals.

这是一个有趣的概念，可能至少部分正确。
This is an interesting notion and probably at least partly true.


作者说，在有梦睡眠时，动物也在睡觉
11. The author states that during dream sleep, the animal sleeps _____.
A. without moving 而并没有移动
B. shallowly 浅浅地
C. intermittently 间歇地
D. on its side 已经不复存在

从文章中可以推断出，被捕食的动物很少做梦睡觉，因为它们
12. It can be inferred from the passage that animals that are prey rarely experience dream sleep because they _____.
A. have evolved further than predators 比捕食者进化得更远
B. are particularly intelligent animals 都是非常聪明的动物
C. need less sleep than predators 比捕食者需要更少的睡眠
D. would be caught if deeply asleep 如果沉睡会被抓住

作者认为，因为在海洋中没有隐藏的地方，鲸鱼和海豚
13. The author suggests that, because there are no hiding places in the oceans, whales and dolphins _____.
A. sleep only when they are very young 只有在他们很小的时候才睡觉
B. cannot afford to sleep very much 不能睡得太多
C. usually dream while awake 通常在醒着的时候做梦
D. take turns to sleep 轮流睡觉

这篇文章主要是关于
14. The passage is mainly concerned with the _____.
A. types and function of sleep 睡眠的类型和功能
B. psychological role of dreams 梦的心理角色
C. history of reptilian sleep patterns 爬行动物睡眠模式的历史
D. influence of evolution on young animals 进化对幼小动物的影响

与无梦睡眠相比，深度有梦睡眠是
15. Compared with dreamless sleep,deep dream sleep is _____.
A. not the result of natural selection 不是自然选择的结果
B. less likely to appear to monkeys 不太可能出现在猴子面前
C. more protective to the animals 对动物更多保护
D. at a higher stage of evolution 进化的更高阶段

天上的电压
Volts From the Sky

自古以来，闪电就引起了人们的敬畏和惊奇。
1. Lightning has caused awe and wonder since old times.

尽管本杰明·富兰克林早在200多年前就证明了闪电是一种巨大的放电现象，
Although Benjamin Franklin demonstrated lightning as enormous electrical discharge more than 200 years ago,

但围绕着这种强大的现象仍有许多谜题。
many puzzles still surround this powerful phenomenon.


闪电在云里是一闪即逝的。
2. Lightning is senexae wnen eessssa esasssaas ain clouds.

尽管这些过程仍然没有被完全理解。
thoueh processes are still not fully understood.

通常情况下，云层顶部会形成正电荷，而底部则会形成负电荷。
Typically, positive charges build at the cloud top, while the bottom becomes negatively charged.

在大多数云对地面闪电的情况下，
In most instances of cloud-to-ground lightning,

云下部带负电的部分排斥地面上带负电的粒子，
the negatively charged lower portion of the cloud repels negatively charged particles on the ground's surfaces,

使其变成带正电的。
making it become positively charged.

地上的正电荷在高处聚集。
The positive charge on the ground gathers at elevated points.

电子流开始于云和地球之间。
A flow of electrons begins between the cloud and earth.

当电荷的电压足够大时，
When the voltage charge becomes large enough,

它就会突破空气的绝缘屏障，
it breaks through the insulating barrier of air,

电子就会曲折地向地球移动。
and electrons zigzag earthward.

我们把放电看成闪电
We see the discharge as lightning.


闪电可以发生在云内、云间、云与地面之间。
3. Lightning can occur within a cloud,between clouds,or between clouds and the ground.

第一种是云内闪电，是最常见的，但我们通常看不到。
The first variety ,intra-cloud lightning,is the most frequent but is often hidden from our view.

云对地面闪电占闪电放电的20%，是我们经常看到的。
Cloud-to-ground lightning, making up about 20 percent of lightning discharges, is what we usually see.

闪电有多种形式，包括片状、带状和球状。
Lightning comes in several forms, including sheet,ribbon,and ball.

云内闪电可以照亮一片云，使它看起来像一张白色的床单，因此得名。
Intra-cloud lightning can illuminate a cloud so it looks like a white sheet, hence its name.

当云对地闪电在强风中发生时，
When cloud-to-ground lightning occurs during strong winds,

它们可以将闪电通道侧向移动，
they can shift the lightning channel sideways,

所以看起来像一条缎带。
so it looks like a ribbon.

雷击的平均长度超过3英里，速度是光速的十分之一。
The average lightning strike is more than 3 miles long and can travel at a tenth of the speed of light.

球状闪电是最罕见和最神秘的形式，
Ball lightning, the rarest and most mysterious form,

它的名字来自于出现在撞击点附近、水平移动并持续几秒钟的小型发光球。
derives its name from the small luminous ball that appears near the impact point, moves horizontally, and lasts for several seconds.


雷是由闪电放电中释放的巨大热量产生的。
4. Thunder is generated by the tremendous heat released in a lightning discharge.

放电附近的温度可以在千分之一秒内达到50,000华氏度。
Temperatures near the discharge can reach as high as 50, 00 F within thousandths of a second.

这种突然的加热产生了爆炸，产生了我们听到的雷鸣般的冲击波。
This sudden heating acts as an explosion, generating shock waves we hear as thunder.


世界上每时每刻都有大约2000次雷暴发生，
5. About 2,000 thunderstorms are occurring in the world at any tie,

每秒钟约产生100次雷击，
generating about 100 lighting strikes every second,

即每天产生800万次雷击。
or 8 million daily.

在美国，估计每年被雷击2000万次，约每天2.2万次。
Within the United States,lightning strikes are estimated at 20 million a year, or about 22,000 per day.

你一生中被闪电击中的几率是60万分之一。
You have a 1-in-600,000 chance of being struck by lightning during your lifetime.

闪电可以在同一地点击中两次或两次以上。
Lightning can strike twice or more in the same spot.

纽约的帝国大厦每年大约被闪电击中二十多次。
The Empire State Building in New York is struck by lightning about two dozen times annually.

任务 1
Task 1

16. Paragraph __1__. A. Lightening Causes Puzzles to People 闪电给人们带来谜题

17. Paragraph __2__. C. Causes of Lightning 闪电的原因

18. Paragraph __3__. B. Types of Lightning 闪电的类型

19. Paragraph __4__. F. Shock Waves as Thunder 震波如雷

20. Paragraph __5__. E. Frequencies of Thunderstorms Occurring in the World and the U.S. 世界和美国雷暴的频率

A. Lightening Causes Puzzles to People 闪电给人们带来谜题
B. Types of Lightning 闪电的类型
C. Causes of Lightning 闪电的原因
D. Differences Between Thunder and Thunderstorm 雷与雷雨的区别
E. Frequencies of Thunderstorms Occurring in the World and the U.S. 世界和美国雷暴的频率
F. Shock Waves as Thunder 震波如雷

任务 2
Task 2

在云对地闪电的大多数情况下，地面表面是带正电荷的
21. In most cases of cloud-to-ground lightning, the ground's surface __is positively charged__.

球状闪电是最不常见的一种闪电
22. One form of lightning that __occurs most infrequently__ is ball lightning.

云闪电看起来像一条缎带，当它的照明通道被强风移到一边
23. Cloud lightning looks like a ribbon when its lighting channel __is shifted sideways by strong winds__.

虽然不完全了解闪电的过程，但人类对闪电的各种形式有很好的了解
24. Although not fully understanding processes of lightning, man __is equipped with a good knowledge of various forms of__.

闪电可以在同一地点击中两次或两次以上
25. Lightening can __strike twice or more in the same spot__.

A. occurs most infrequently 最不常见的
B. is shifted sideways by strong winds 被强风吹歪了
C. strike twice or more in the same spot 在同一个地方击打两次或更多
D. is equipped with a good knowledge of various forms of 对闪电的各种形式有很好的了解
E. is estimated at 20 million a year 估计每年有两千万
F. is positively charged 是带正电的

美国的选举
Elections

        惊奇常常是在箱子里出现:
        Surprises often come in boxes,

包在彩色包装纸里面的生日礼物…
such as birthday presents wrapped in colorful paper,

朋友寄来牛皮纸包的包裹…
brown paper packages mailed from a friend.

不管是什么样的箱子，人们喜欢打开来看看里面是什么。
No matter what kind of box it is, people like to open it up and see what's inside.

在美国以及其他许多国家，
In America, and in many other countries,

有一种特殊的盒子关乎未来。
one special kind of box contains the future.

这叫做投票箱。
It’s called a ballot box.

人们在选举日投在箱子里的东西可以改变历史的进程。
What people put into the box on Election Day can change the course of history.


        选举是民主的命脉。
        Elections are the lifeblood of a democracy.

民主这个字照字面的意思是人民统治。
The word democracy literally means “the people rule”.

这是美国历史上一个重要的概念。
__26 F. That is an important concept in American history.__

18世纪中期，英国开始通过一些令美国殖民地愤怒的法律。
Inthe mid-1700s,England began passing laws that made the American colonies angry.

殖民地居民必须付越来越多的税，享受越来越少的自由。
The colonists had to pay more and more taxes and enjoyed less and less freedom.

他们觉得英国政府没有代表他们的利益。
__27 B. They felt the govermment of England didn't represent their interests.__

1776年7月4日，殖民地宣布脱离英国独立。
On July 4 1776,the colonies declared their independence from England.

他们希望建立民主制度，使人民在政府中有发言权。
They wanted to establish a democracy where people could have a voice in government.


        有效的民主制度定期举行选举。
        An effective democracy holds regular elections.

在美国，每两年选举一次国会议员。
__28 In America,elections are held every two years for members of Congress.__

在这些选举中，人们可以争取所有的众议院席位和三分之一的参议院席位。
In these elections,all seats in the House of Representatives and one third of the Senate seats are up for grabs.

除此之外，选民每四年去投票所选举国家的总统和副总统。
In addition,every four years, voters go to the polls to elect the nation's president and vice-president.

选民还定期投票选举州政府和市政府领导人以及当地学校董事会成员。
Voters also regularly cast their ballots for state and city government leaders and local school board members.

有时，他们也必须对提议的法律进行投票。
Sometimes they also have to vote on a proposed law.


        在美国的选举制度中，人们并不直接投票给总统候选人。
        In the American electoral system, people don't really vote for presidential candidates.

相反，选民投票给支持每个候选人的选举人。
__29 C. Instead, voters cast their ballots for “electors” who support each candidate.__

每个州的选举人人数和该州在国会的代表人数一样多。
Each state has as many electors as the total number of its representatives in Congress.

这等于每一州有两位参议员，加上众议院的众议员人数(以各州的人口为基准)。
This equals two senators per state plus the number of its representatives in the House (which is based on the state's population).

在一个州里拥有最多票数的候选人就赢得了那一州所有选举人的票数。
The candidate who has the most votes in a state wins all of the state's electors.

要赢得总统选举，候选人必须获得总计538张选举人票中的至少270张。
To win the presidential election,a candidate must gain at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes.

多年来，美国在选举方面进行了一些改革。
Over the years, the U.S. has made a number of election reforms.

早期的一些改革禁止了作弊、行贿和威胁选民。
Some early reforms outlawed cheating, giving bribes and threatening voters.

他们还限制了候选人从捐赠者那里获得的资金并用于竞选的资金。
__30 E. They also limited the amount of money candidates could receive from donors and spend on their campaigns.__


        11月，美国人将再次选出在政府中代表他们的人。
        In November, Americans will again elect those who will represent them in government.

尽管有些公民甚至不是登记的选民,
Although some citizens aren't even registered to vote,

有些登记的选民懒得去投票,
and some registered voters don't bother to go to the polls,

大多数美国人都会行使他们投票的权利。
most Americans exercise their right to vote.

他们知道他们的未来包在一个特殊的包裹里——投票箱。
They realize that their future is wrapped up in a special package--the ballot box.

它实在是一个必须要小心处理的箱子
It's a package that must definitely be “handled with care”


A. In 1971,the voting age was lowered to 18. 1971年，投票年龄降至18岁。
B. They felt the govermment of England didn't represent their interests. 他们觉得英国政府没有代表他们的利益。
C. Instead, voters cast their ballots for “electors” who support each candidate. 相反，选民投票给支持每个候选人的选举人。
D. In America,elections are held every two years for members of Congress. 在美国，每两年选举一次国会议员。
E. They also limited the amount of money candidates could receive from donors and spend on their campaigns. 他们还限制了候选人从捐赠者那里获得的资金并用于竞选的资金。
F. That is an important concept in American history. 这是美国历史上一个重要的概念。

超市
Supermarket

        大多数超市需要非常大的地板面积，
        Most supermarkets need a very large floor area,

有时至少是一个普通商店的十倍大。
sometimes at least ten times as big as that of an ordinary shop.

通常有两扇门，一扇是入口，另一扇是出口。
There are usually two doors,one as an entrance and the other as an __31 exit__.

面对街道的其余部分主要是平板玻璃，
The rest of the side facing the street is largely of plate glass,

展示商品或广告材料。
with goods or advertising material displayed.

其他三面墙通常用浅色装饰，
The other three walls are __32 normally__ decorated in light colors,

给人一种干净明亮的印象。
giving an __33 impression__ of cleanliness and brightness.


        与窗户成直角的是6英尺高的长结构，每边都有一些架子。
        At right angles to the window stretch long structures about six feet __34 high__ with a number of shelves on each side.

类似的货架或冷冻食品容器延伸到墙的四周。
Similar shelf units or frozen food containers extend round the walls.

搁板单元之间的宽阔通道和它们与窗户之间的充足空间，以及远墙为许多人的流通提供了空间。
Broad aisles(通道) between the shelf units and ample(足够的) space between them and the window and also the far wall __35 allow__ room for the circulation of many people.

各种装在罐头、袋子、盒子或其他容器里的商品一组组地堆放在货架上，
__36 various__ commodities(商品),in tins, bags, boxes or other containers, are stacked(堆放) in groups on the shelves,

每一组都贴上了价格标签。
and each group is __37 labeled__with a price ticket.

入口附近的金属篮子由购物者拿着，
Metal baskets near the entrance are taken by the shoppers

他们从货架上挑选商品。
who collect the goods that they __38 select__ from the shelves.


        在架子和窗户之间有几个大约三英尺高的小角落。
        Between the shelf units and the windows are a number of small corners about three feet high.

每个人旁边都坐着一位收银员，
Beside each __39 sits__ a cashier,

他操作一台机器来计算每位顾客购物的总成本。
who operates a machine for the totaling cost of each customer's purchases.

顾客把篮子放在柜台的一端，
The customer places the basket at one end of the counter so

这样收银员就可以一个一个地记录商品的价格来清空篮子，
that it can be emptied by the cashier who records the price of the commodities one by one,

然后把篮子放在柜台顶部的一个移动区域上。
before putting each on a moving section of the counter top.

收银员最后将一张打印好的记录所有价格的收据交给顾客，
The cashier finally hands a printed slip recording all prices to the __40 customer__,

顾客付完款，接过袋子，然后离开。
who pays the total, collects the bag and leaves.

A. sits 坐
B. high 高的
C. exit 出口
D. customer 顾客
E. various 各种各样的
F. small 少的
G. tall 高的
H. normally 通常地
I. allow 给予
J. impression 印象
K. labeled 贴标签于
L. select 选择

如何应对压力?
How to Deal With Pressure?

        在当前全球不确定性和经济衰退的情绪下，
        With the current mood of global __41 uncertainty__(certain) and an __42 economic__(economy) recession,

人们可能会承受更多的压力、抑郁和焦虑。
people are likely to suffer from increased stress, depression and anxiety.

这些心理症状，是对“精神高于物质”这句老话的一个新的曲解，
These __43 psychological__(psychology) symptoms, in a new twist to the old saying of “mind over matter",

可以导致实际的物理问题。
can lead to actual physical problems.


        大脑和身体是一个完整的系统。
        The mind and the body are __44 integrated__(integrate) system.

它就像一张网。如果一个部分受到干扰，它将直接或间接地影响到另一个部分。
It's like a web.If one part is __45 disturbed__(disturb), it will directly or indirectly,affect another part.

因此，心理和情绪反应会触发身体反应。
Hence,psychological and emotional reactions will trigger physical responses.


        当一个人感到自己的健康受到威胁时，大脑会释放化学物质作出反应。
        When a person feels a threat to his well-being, the brain reacts by __46 releasing__(release) chemicals.

例如，大脑中的肾上腺可能会释放肾上腺素，
For example, the adrenal gland(肾上腺) in the brain may release adrenaline(肾上腺素)

让身体准备好应对身体威胁。
which prepares the body to respond to physical threats.

大脑的神经化学程序让人以一种经典的方式做出反应:
The brain's neuro-chemistry programs a person to react in one of the classic ways:

战斗、逃跑或恐惧。
fight,flight or fright.


        你睡得好吗? 你吃得好吗? 你工作好还是学习好?
        Are you sleeping well? Are you eating well? Are you working or studying well?

任何精神健康问题都会影响这三个方面的行为。
Any mental health problem would affect these three areas of behavior.

有些人通过求助于宗教来缓解压力和焦虑，
Some people deal with stress and __47 anxiety__(anxious) by turning to __48 religion__(religious),

有些人则通过与朋友和家人交谈来缓解。
others by talking to friends and family.

但还有其他选择吗?锻炼是一种很好的发泄方式。
But are there other options? Exercise is a good outlet.

玩一个游戏。慢跑。你将专注于做某事。
Play a game. Go jogging. You will be __49 concentrating__(concentrate) on doing something.

有一个目标要实现，并且会占据你的思想。
There is a target to be __50 achieved__(achieve) and will occupy your mind.

和朋友去唱卡拉ok、跳舞。
Go Karaoke singing and dancing with friends.

最糟糕的事情就是坐在家里思考。
The worst thing to do is to sit at home and think.

自信的价值
The Value of Self-confidence

我的朋友经常问我，乔，你为什么总是无忧无虑?”
My friends often ask me, “Joe, why are you so carefree all the time?"

答案很简单。
The answer is quite simple.

我之所以有这种无忧无虑的态度，是因为我自信。
I owe my light-hearted attitude to self-confidence.

我记得我第一次参加英语竞赛的情景。
iten I remember the first time I participated in an English competition.

三年前，我的同学选择我在我们学校的英语比赛中发言。
Three years ago, my classmates chose me to speak in an English competition at our school.

当我上台的时候，我心里七上八下的。
When I went onstage, I had butterflies in my stomach.

突然，我想起了母亲的话:
Suddenly, my mother's words came back to me:

如果你想做一件事，只需要付出自信的代价。
If you want to do something, it costs nothing but self-confidence.

”既然我被选中了，那就意味着我必须有成功的能力。
"Since I was chosen to be there, it meant I must have the ability to succeed."

“放轻松”，我默默地说。
Take it easy", I said silently. "

你为这次比赛准备了三个月。你是最好的。
You have prepared for this competition for three months. You are the best”.

奇怪的是，在我自信地自言自语之后，我的紧张感消失了。
Strangely, my nervousness vanished after I spoke to myself with such confidence.

我开始流利地在台上讲话——那种感觉太棒了。
I began to speak onstage fluently--the feeling was wonderful.

全场观众随后都鼓起掌来。
The whole audience applauded afterwards.

我是成功的!
I was successful!

所以，我的朋友们，要自信
So, my friends, be confident!