书城外语每天都是精彩:英语诵读美文240篇(英汉对照)
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第4章

Outdo Yourself

Guidance for Reciting

Success is not final and failure is not fatal:it is the courage to continue that counts.

Never cease to outdo yourself. There are no limits to the success you can acquire when you have an uncontrollable drive to achieve. Any obstacles you encounter along the way are life's test to establish strength and perseverance. If you continually possess determination and self-confidence throughout any situation,you will prevail.

超越自我

诵读导言

成功不是终点,失败也不是终结,只有勇气才是永恒。

超越你自己,永远不要停止。当你拥有无法遏制的获胜冲动,你的成功将不可限量。前进路上的任何障碍都是用以确立力量和毅力的人生考验。倘若你在任何情况下都始终拥有决心和信心,你将会无往不胜。

口语点津

本篇中出现了“There are no limits to the success”(成功不可限量)。口语里人们常说“前途无量”,用英语表达即是“the sky's the limit”。从字面意思看,“the sky's the limit”即“天空是你的界限”。在古人的印象中,天是很高很远的,所以如果把天作为界限,那跟没有界限也差不多了。后来,这种说法被引申到很多其他领域,意思就是“the possibilities are endless:一切皆有可能”。例如:For people who work hard at this company,the sky's the limit.(在这家公司努力工作的人会前途无量。)我们除了可以用它来祝愿别人前途无量,也可以用在消费的时候,表示“随便买东西,不用考虑钱”。看下面例句:Order anything on the menu―the sky's the limit. (随便点菜,不用在乎价钱。)