我的魔法生活

When I was younger I was entranced with stories of magic. I devoured books where wizards and warriors battled the powers of darkness in strange worlds. I rejoiced when they triumphed bringing peace and happiness to their lands. I guess like most of the readers of these stories I secretly wished for magical powers for myself. I wanted to be able to magically make my pain disappear, to make my problems go away, and to have power over this world that so often has power over us.

在我年轻的时候，我就对魔法故事深深着迷。我如饥似渴地阅读有关法师和战士在奇异的世界里与黑势力战斗的书。每当他们取得胜利并为他们生活的这片土地带来了和平和幸福时，我就倍感雀跃。我想，就像看这些故事的大多数读者一样，我也暗暗希望自己能拥有魔法：希望它能奇迹般地让我的痛苦消失，让困扰我的问题得到解决，并能让我掌握这个世界而不用屈从于它。

As I got older, however, I realized that there was no such thing as magic and the harsh reality of life set in. I struggled through a long period of poverty. I had daily pain from a back injury that never healed right. I felt sadness and sorrow when both of my sons were diagnosed with Autism. I still sometimes daydreamed of magic but in time even that faded away.

然而，当我逐渐长大，我开始意识到，根本就不存在魔法，生活的残酷现实开始袭来。我曾在一段漫长又贫苦的岁月中挣扎。我每天都会因为后背上的伤口而疼痛，这个伤口至今都未痊愈。当我的两个儿子都被诊断为自闭症时，伤感与悲痛从心底涌了出来。我有时还幻想我能拥有魔法，但这种想法很快也就消失了。

Then one day I am not sure when I began to discover a different kind of magic. This magic grew stronger in my heart, soul, and mind day by day and year by year. This magic was called LOVE. This magic connected me to God, because God is love. It also connected me to my own highest self and to all of the other souls in this world. It didn’t eliminate my poverty but it made every day of my life feel richer. It didn’t make my back pain go away but it helped me deal with it so much better. It didn’t cure my sons’ Autism, but it helped me see them as the beautiful, loving, eternal, and joyful souls that they truly are. It didn’t make me a wizard or a warrior but it helped me to dispel the darkness of this world with my own light.

然后有一天，我不知是何时开始发现了一种独特的魔法。这种魔法在我的心中、灵魂和思想里逐日发展壮大。这种魔法的名字叫爱。这种魔法将我与神联系起来，因为神就是爱。不仅如此，它还让我成为了最好的自己，并和世界上其他的灵魂心系在一起。它没有消除我的贫穷，却让我每一天的生活都很丰富；它没有使我的背部疼痛消失，但它帮助我更好地面对它；它没能治愈我儿子的自闭症，但它让我看到了他们美丽，有爱，永恒，和快乐的灵魂，这是他们真实的样子；它没有使我变成一个法师或战士，但它使我用自己的一点亮光，驱散了这个世界的黑暗。

There is such a thing as magic in this world. There is such a thing as magic in each one of us. This magic is called LOVE. May you choose it, share it, and live in it every single day of your life. May you use it to help others, to heal this world, and to build a bridge to Heaven.

在这个世界上，的确存在着一种魔法。而且我们每个人都拥有这样一种魔法。这种魔法就是爱。愿你可以选择爱，分享爱，并在充满爱的生活中度过每一天。愿你以爱助人，让这个世界更加美好，达到如天堂般的境地。
  收起阅读 »

It’s或its？

许多英语学习者都可能觉得因为加了撇号的原因，很难理解‘it’s’和‘its’这两个词之间的区别。

在英语当中，撇号可以被用来表示拥有，所有。例如‘my father’s pet’意思为宠物属于我的父亲。

然而，在使用‘it’的情况下，其所有格形式‘its’没有使用撇号。

"The airport had to cancel all its flights due to the bad weather."

由于恶劣天气机场不得不取消所有的航班。

"The plant has lost all of its flowers."

这株植物所有的花都凋谢了。

撇号同样可以在缩略词汇时使用。当我们缩略词汇时，我们可以用撇号使其变短，这通常在口语中使用。

‘It’s’是it is和it has的缩略形式。

"It's going to be a great holiday!" [where 'it's = 'it is']

这将是一个很棒的假期！[在这里，‘it’s’=‘it is’]

"It's been a long time since we went to the park." [where 'it's = 'it has']

从我们去公园起，已经过了好长时间了。[在这里‘it’s’=‘it has’]

注意，永远不要在its后面加撇号，这是错误的用法。在英语中是没有its’的。

Who和whom

‘Who’和‘whom’可能经常会引起人们的混淆，所以今天我们就来详解以下这两个词的区别。阅读文章了解更多吧。

‘Who’和‘whom’可以用来谈论人。

何时使用‘who’以及何时使用‘whom’可以依据回答该问题时是用he/she还是him/her来决定。

意思就是：

He/she 用来回答who提出的问题；  

Him/her 用来回答whom提出的问题。

例如：

A: "Whom should I vote for?"

A：我该投票给谁？

B: "You should vote for him."

B：你应该投票给他。

A: "Who was the last to leave the building?"

A：谁是最后一个离开大楼的？

B: "He was last."

B：他是最后一个。

Alternate的不同含义

如果你对于‘alternate’作为动词和形容词的不同含义感到困惑，阅读今天的英语点滴来学习更多吧！

‘Alternate’可以被用于动词，也可以作为形容词。

作为动词时，‘alternate’可以表示一件事在另一件事之后发生，二者交替重复。通常用于谈论某事在两件事物之间进行。

"She alternated between freestyle and backstroke during her swimming lesson today."

今天的游泳课上她在自由泳和仰泳之间交替练习。

"He has been alternating between his parents' place and his friend's place during the school break."

在学校假期期间，他在他的父母家和朋友家交替居住。

其他形式包括：‘alternating’和‘alternated’

‘Alternate’作为一个形容词可以表示每隔一个的意思。例如，如果我们谈论天数，这个词可以表示每隔一天。

"Cycling to the city is allowed only on alternate days."

每隔一天才可以骑自行车去市区。

"They go to the park every alternate Sunday."

他们每隔一周的周日，他们会去公园。 收起阅读 »

英语阅读想要提高，其实就是要不断地积累阅读素材，提高阅读素养。把一篇英语美文精读3遍，总比盲目地刷题一百遍来得强。精读一篇文章，我们可以认识本来不懂的新单词，也可以熟悉英语写作及手法的思维，培养语感，也为英语写作积累素材。
下面是一篇典型的英语精读阅读文章，我们可以按照这种方式进行阅读训练，希望帮到大家。
  收起阅读 »

马丁·路德·金（公元1929—1968年），美国黑人律师，著名黑人民权运动领袖．一生曾三次被捕，三次被行刺，1964年获诺贝尔和平奖．1968年被种族主义分子枪杀．他被誉为近百年来八大最具有说服力的演说家之一．1963年他领导25万人向华盛顿进军“大游行”，为黑人争取自由平等和就业．马丁·路德·金在游行集会上发表了这篇著名演说．

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

100年前，一位伟大的美国人——今天我们就站在他象征性的身影下——签署了《解放宣言》．这项重要法令的颁布，对于千百万灼烤于非正义残焰中的黑奴，犹如带来希望之光的硕大灯塔，恰似结束漫漫长夜禁锢的欢畅黎明．

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

然而，100年后，黑人依然没有获得自由．100年后，黑人依然悲惨地蹒跚于种族隔离和种族歧视的枷锁之下．100年后，黑人依然生活在物质繁荣翰海的贫困孤岛上．100年后，黑人依然在美国社会中间向隅而泣，依然感到自己在国土家园中流离漂泊．所以，我们今天来到这里，要把这骇人听闻的情况公诸于众．

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

从某种意义上说，我们来到国家的首都是为了兑现一张支票．我们共和国的缔造者在拟写宪法和独立宣言的辉煌篇章时，就签署了一张每一个美国人都能继承的期票．这张期票向所有人承诺——不论白人还是黑人——都享有不可让渡的生存权、自由权和追求幸福权．

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.

然而，今天美国显然对她的有色公民拖欠着这张期票．美国没有承兑这笔神圣的债务，而是开始给黑人一张空头支票——一张盖着“资金不足”的印戳被退回的支票．但是，我们决不相信正义的银行会破产．我们决不相信这个国家巨大的机会宝库会资金不足．

我们来到这块圣地还为了提醒美国：现在正是万分紧急的时刻．现在不是从容不迫悠然行事或服用渐进主义镇静剂的时候．现在是实现民主诺言的时候．现在是走出幽暗荒凉的种族隔离深谷，踏上种族平等的阳关大道的时候．现在是使我们国家走出种族不平等的流沙，踏上充满手足之情的磐石的时候．现在是使上帝所有孩子真正享有公正的时候．

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.

忽视这一时刻的紧迫性，对于国家将会是致命的．自由平等的朗朗秋日不到来，黑人顺情合理哀怨的酷暑就不会过去．1963年不是一个结束，而是一个开端．

Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

如果国家依然我行我素，那些希望黑人只需出出气就会心满意足的人将大失所望．在黑人得到公民权之前，美国既不会安宁，也不会平静．反抗的旋风将继续震撼我们国家的基石，直至光辉灿烂的正义之日来临．

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

但是，对于站在通向正义之宫艰险门槛上的人们，有一些话我必须要说．在我们争取合法地位的过程中，切不要错误行事导致犯罪．我们切不要吞饮仇恨辛酸的苦酒，来解除对于自由的饮渴．

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

我们应该永远得体地、纪律严明地进行斗争．我们不能容许我们富有创造性的抗议沦为暴力行动．我们应该不断升华到用灵魂力量对付肉体力量的崇高境界．

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

席卷黑人社会的新的奇迹般的战斗精神，不应导致我们对所有白人的不信任——因为许多白人兄弟已经认识到：他们的命运同我们的命运紧密相连，他们的自由同我们的自由休戚相关．他们今天来到这里参加集会就是明证．

We cannot walk alone.And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

我们不能单独行动．当我们行动时，我们必须保证勇往直前．我们不能后退．有人问热心民权运动的人：“你们什么时候会感到满意？”只要黑人依然是不堪形容的警察

So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

因此，我们来兑现这张支票．这张支票将给我们以宝贵的自由和正义的保障．

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

暴行恐怖的牺牲品，我们就决不会满意．只要我们在旅途劳顿后，却被公路旁汽车游客旅社和城市旅馆拒之门外，我们就决不会满意．只要黑人的基本活动范围只限于从狭小的黑人居住区到较大的黑人居住区，我们就决不会满意．只要我们的孩子被“仅供白人”的牌子剥夺个性，损毁尊严，我们就决不会满意．只要密西西比州的黑人不能参加选举，纽约州的黑人认为他们与选举毫不相干，我们就决不会满意．不，不，我们不会满意，直至公正似水奔流，正义如泉喷涌． 收起阅读 »

感恩节前夕，候任总统唐纳德•特朗普发表讲话，呼吁美国民众弥合分歧。在视频中，特朗普号召国民在持续数周对总统选举团进行抗议和请愿之后能够再一次团结起来。
川普说：“我们非常有幸能称这个国家为我们的家。这就是美国：她是我们的家。我们在这里成家立业、照顾亲人、关心邻里、实现梦想。我在这个感恩节祈祷，我们开始弥合分歧，带着共同的目标和决心，团结一致，让国家向前迈进，更加强大。”

We are very blessed to call this nation our home. And that is what America is: it is our home. It’s where we raise our families, care for our loved ones, look out for our neighbors, and live out our dreams.

我们很幸运地称这个国家为家园，这就是美国，这是我们的家园。我们在这里安家、关心我们所爱之人、照顾友邻，并活出我们的梦想。

It is my prayer, that on this Thanksgiving, we begin to heal our divisions and move forward as one country, strengthened by a shared purpose and very, very common resolve.

我祷告在今年的感恩节，我们开始弥合分歧，以一个国家的姿态继续前进，拥有共同目的和共同的决心。

In declaring this national holiday, President Lincoln called upon Americans to speak with “one voice and one heart.” That’s just what we have to do.

宣布这个国家节日时，林肯总统呼吁美国人齐力发声，并团结一心，我们就该如此。（这里川普引用了林肯1864年的感恩节讲话，当时美国正值内战时期，林肯宣布将感恩节定为全国性节日。）

We have just finished a long and bruising political campaign. Emotions are raw and tensions just don’t heal overnight. It doesn’t go quickly, unfortunately, but we have before us the chance now to make history together to bring real change to Washington, real safety to our cities, and real prosperity to our communities, including our inner cities. So important to me, and so important to our country. But to succeed, we must enlist the effort of our entire nation.

我们才刚刚结束了一场漫长又激烈的政治竞选，人民情绪强烈，紧张局势不会在一夜之间消除。不幸的是，这一切不会马上消失。但现在在我们眼前有一起创造历史的机会，为美国带来真正的改变，为各大城市带来真正的安全，为内陆城市等各群体带来真正的繁荣。这对我和我们的国家而言，都非常重要。但是要成功，我们必须争取全国上下共同努力。

This historic political campaign is now over. Now begins a great national campaign to rebuild our country and to restore the full promise of America for all of our people.

如今这个历史性的政治竞选结束了，但现在重建我们国家的伟大运动开始了，并恢复美国对所有人民的承诺。

I am asking you to join me in this effort. It is time to restore the bonds of trust between citizens. Because when America is unified, there is nothing beyond our reach, and I mean absolutely nothing.

我希望你们加入我，共同努力。是时候恢复公民之间信任的纽带了。因为只要美国人民团结一致，没有我们做不到的事儿——我是指任何事儿。

Let us give thanks for all that we have, and let us boldly face the exciting new frontiers that lie ahead.

让我们感恩所拥有的一切，让我们大胆面对前方令人兴奋的新领域。

Thank you. God Bless You and God Bless America.

感谢你们，上帝保佑你们，天佑美国。
收起阅读 »

 

史蒂文•斯皮尔伯格是一名富有传奇色彩的好莱坞导演，其代表作有家喻户晓的大白鲨，E.T，侏罗纪公园，辛德勒名单等。2013年时代杂志将其列入世纪百大人物之一；斯皮尔伯格，在最近为哈佛的毕业典礼带来了一番精彩的演说，博古通今将电影制作和灵感做了深刻而风趣的解说。

斯皮尔伯格的演讲以自嘲开场——这位今年已70岁的大导演说，自己直到2002年（已56岁）才大学毕业，因为年轻时在大学期间早早就确信了自己想要做的事，所以就辍学了。 后来，因为他总是对自己的7个孩子强调大学教育的重要性，但自己却没有身体力行，所以决定在五十多岁时重返大学获得了学位。 收起阅读 »

感恩节来了，这对于懂得感恩的我们，一定都有很多话想对一直为我们付出的人们说。平时含蓄的你，可能总不会吧感谢的话语挂在嘴边，但这一天，感恩成为了最自然不过的事情。就趁今天，你也可以尝试用英语说出你的感恩之情。
今天小编为大家整理了一些感恩节的俚语和表达感谢的方式，当学当用，就用它们跟你要感恩的人说出感激之情吧！ 收起阅读 »

主持人直播睡着了 同事笑而不语
A sleep-deprived Tucker Carlson caught grief from his co-hosts when he dozed off during a live broadcast of Fox & Friends.
美国主持人塔克•卡尔森有些睡眠不足，他在节目《Fox & Friends》直播现场居然睡着了，与他一起制作节目的同事目睹了全过程。
 
Carlson, one of the three regular hosts of the Fox News morning show, claimed he had a good excuse - he was up late filling for Sean Hannity on the 9pm broadcast of his show. The conservative pundit's co-hosts didn't let him off the hook with that excuse, though.
卡尔森是福克斯早间直播节目三位常驻主持人之一，他自认为有个很充分的理由来解释这一状况：前一天晚上9点顶替Sean Hannity主持脱口秀节目，他睡得太晚了。但这位保守派评论员的同行却不让他用这个借口开脱。
 
As Carlson stretched awake after rousting himself from his slumber, Clayton Morris teased, 'Good to see you! Welcome to Fox & Friends.'
当卡尔森从沉睡中醒过来，舒展身体时，克莱顿•莫里森还开玩笑说：“见到你真高兴，欢迎回到《Fox & Friends》。”
 
Later he added: 'In 15 years of doing this program, I don't think that's ever happened.' Alisyn Camerota helpfully handed Carlson a venti cup of Starbucks coffee.
后来他还说：“我做这个节目15年了，从没想过会发生这种事。” 艾莉森•卡梅洛塔还递给卡尔森一大杯星巴克咖啡。
 
The host pleaded for sympathy. 'You know what it is, I sat in for Sean Hannity last night. It went late,' he said. And, all of a sudden I was sitting there and I was having these happy thoughts and I just dozed off.
这位主持人还恳请他人理解同情一下自己。他说：“你们知道吗，我昨天晚上就在做《Sean Hannity》节目，直到很晚才结束。然后一恍惚我就突然坐在这里了，接着头脑里闪过许多愉快的想法，然后就睡过去了。”
 
'And then I heard one of our evil cameramen cackling in the background. I know which one of you it is.'
“后来我听见后面摄制组里的一个员工笑声不止。我可听得出那个声音是谁的。”
 
Carlson also thought he was fine to take a nap because the show was on a commercial break. Unfortunately, it appears he snoozed through the commercials. He was still nodded off in his seat when the cameras cut back to him.
卡尔森觉得小睡一下也无所谓，因为正好是节目的广告时间。但不走运的是他好像还在插播广告的时候打起了呼噜。等镜头切回演播室后，他还坐在座位上垂头睡觉。
 
'I know we're not on television, so it doesn't bother me,' he said. But, as it dawned on him that he was indeed on air, he gets a little red-faced.
卡尔森说：“我知道这段时间不用上电视，所以对我也没啥影响。”但当他发现自己身在直播过程中时，便显得又有些脸红。
 
'Wait, are we honestly live?' he asks. His co-hosts simply laugh.
他问到：“诶，等等，我们已经开始直播了？”此时他的同事们只得笑而不语。
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独特的幽默感，高超的足球技巧，早餐麦片，皇室情结……这是大多数人眼中的英国，但其实有很多关于英国的冷知识，可能会震惊到你哦！

Special humor and good football, morning porridge and royalty buzz – may any facts about England surprise you? Well, just give me a try…
独特的幽默感、高超的足球技巧、早餐麦片、皇室情结……有哪些关于英国的小知识会让你震惊吗？且听我道来。 收起阅读 »

   英语四级是中国大学生必考的认证，英语四级写作更是得高分的分水岭，但其实，只要摸清他的套路，想通过其实真的不难。今天小编总结了以下在英语四级考试中常用的句型与模板，赶紧积累起来，并学着运用，下一个英语学习成功的人就是你哦！
 
6．表示重要、必要、困难、方便、可能 

1）It is important（necessary，difficult，convenient， possible）for sb．to do sth． 
2）We think it necessary to do sth． 
3）It plays an important role in our life． 

例： Computers are now being used everywhere，whether in the government，in schools or in business．Soon， computers will be found in every home，too．We have good reason to say that computers are playing an increasingly important role in our life and we have stepped into the Computer Age． 
 
7．表示看法 

1）People have（take，adopt，assume）different attitudes towards sth． 
2）People have different opinions on this problem． 
3）People take different views of（on）the question． 
4）Some people believe that．．．Others argue that．．． 

例： People have different attitudes towards failure．Some believe that failure leads to success． 

Every failure they experience translates into a greater chance of success at their renewed endeavor．However， others are easily discouraged by failures and put themselves into the category of losers． 
 
 
8．表示变化 

1）Some changes have taken place in the past five years． 
2）A great change will certainly be produced in the world’s communications． 
3）The computer has brought about many changes in education． 

例： Some changes have taken place in people’s diet in the past five years．The major reasons for these changes are not far to seek．Nowadays，more and more people are switching from grain to meat for protein，and from fruit and vegetable to milk for vitamins． 
 
9．表示事实、现状 

1）We cannot ignore the fact that．．． 
2）No one can deny the fact that．．． 
3）There is no denying the fact that．．．
4）This is a phenomenon that many people are interested in． 
5）However，that’s not the case． 

例： We cannot ignore the fact that industrialization brings with it the problems of pollution．To solve these problems， we can start by educating the public about the hazards of pollution．The government on its part should also design stricter laws to promote a cleaner environment． 
 
10．表示原因 

1）There are three reasons for this． 
2）The reasons for this are as follows． 
3）The reason for this is obvious． 
4）The reason for this is not far to seek． 
5）The reason for this is that．．． 
6）We have good reason to believe that．．． 

例： There are three reasons for the changes that have taken place in our life．Firstly，people’s living standard has been greatly improved．Secondly，most people are well paid， and they can afford what they need or like．Last but not least，more and more people prefer to enjoy modern life． 
 注：如考生写第一个句子没有把握，可将其改写成两个句子。如：Great changes have taken place in our life． There are three reasons for this．这样写可以避免套用中的表达失误。 
 
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