The Force of Habits
Habits, whether good or bad, are gradually formed. The more we do a thing, the more we tend to like doing it; and if we do not continue to do it, we feel uncomfortable. This is called the force of habits, and the force of habits should be fought against.
This applies even to such good things as work or rest. Some people form a bad habit of working too much, and others of idling too much. Bad habits, once formed, are difficult to get rid of.
The wise man always remembers to check any bad habits. He warns himself “I am now becoming idle” or “I like too many sweets” or “I smoke too much”. And then adds, “I will get myself out of this bad habit at once.”
On Test and Test Talking
The purpose of a test is to check how much we students have learned about a subject. It not only helps make our newly acquired(已獲得的) knowledge permanent(永久的), but also enables us to find out what needs to spend more time improving.
But some students do not deal with test correctly. Some of them are afraid of failing in a test. They cheat even at the risk of being caught on exams. Though cheating might give one “better grades”, it adds nothing to one’s knowledge. This dishonest behavior will do one more harm than good.
I think that we go to college in order to have our further studies, and prepare us to be qualified for the future job. Therefore, we should take a correct attitude towards test. As long as we study diligently and review our lessons regularly, we are sure to be used to serve its real purpose.
The Dictionary
The dictionary is a living teacher. Whenever you come across a new word, just consult(請教, 參考) it and you will get a clear definition. Every student, whether attending school or self-taught, should always have a dictionary at hand. As a study aid, it is convenient, inexpensive and almost omniscient(無所不知的).
Language skills will develop with your constant use of various dictionaries. The more you use them, the more familiar you will become with them. Sooner or later, you will be quite skilled in finding the page, scanning the entries and locating the exact meaning of the new words. But you should have one thing in mind. As a language student, you can never become too much attached to dictionaries; basic language skills do not come from dictionaries, but from your practice. Expose yourself to the language by listening, speaking, reading and writing more, and that is the only way to the mastery of a language.
Is Failure a Bad Thing
Failure is a common occurrence in our daily life. Whatever we do, there are always two possible result: success or failure. Although everyone wants to succeed in what he tries, sometimes failure can’t be avoided.
Different people hold different attitudes towards failure. When faced with it, some can stand up to it, draw a useful lesson from it and try their best to fulfill what they are determined to do. Others, however, lose heart and give in. They do nothing but complain about themselves and objective conditions.
As a popular saying goes, “Failure teaches success.” In my opinion, what really counts(有價值) is not the failure itself, but the proper attitude we should take after it. I trust that as long as we keep to what is right and correct what is wrong, that is to say, learn a lesson from failure, we will be certain to succeed. So I am of the opinion that failure is not a bad thing.
If 如果
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about,don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twiseted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothin in you
Except the Will which says to them:
Words to Live by 生活的忠告
I’ll give you some advice about life.
給妳生活的忠告
Eat more roughage;
多吃些粗糧；
Do more than others expect you to do and do it pains;
給別人比他們期望的更多，並用心去做；
Remember what life tells you;
熟記生活告訴妳的壹切；
Don’t take to heart every thing you hear. Don’t spend all that you have. Don’t sleep as long as you want;
不要輕信妳聽到的每件事，不要花光妳的所有，不要想睡多久就睡多久；
Whenever you say” I love you”, please say it honestly;
無論何時說“我愛妳”，請真心實意；
Whenever you say” I’m sorry”, please look into the other person’s eyes;
無論何時說“對不起”，請看對方的眼睛；
Fall in love at first sight;
相信壹見鐘情；
Don’t neglect dreams;
請不要忽視夢想；
Love deeply and ardently, even if there is pain, but this is the way to make your life complete;
深情熱烈地愛，也許會受傷，但這是使人生完整的唯壹方法；
Find a way to settle, not to dispute;
用壹種明確的方法解決爭議，不要冒犯；
Never judge people by their appearance;
永遠不要以貌取人；
Speak slowly, but think quickly;
慢慢地說，但要迅速地想；
When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and say, “Why do you want to know?”
當別人問妳不想回答的問題時，笑著說：“妳為什麽想知道？”
Remember that the man who can shoulder the most risk will gain the deepest love and the supreme accomplishment;
記住：那些敢於承擔最大風險的人才能得到最深的愛和最大的成就；
Call you mother on the phone. If you can’t, you may think of her in your heart;
給媽媽打電話，如果不行，至少在心裏想著她；
When someone sneezes say, “God bless you”;
當別人打噴嚏時，說壹聲“上帝保佑”；
If you fail, don’t forget to learn your lesson;
如果妳失敗了，千萬別忘了汲取教訓；
Remember the three “ respects” .Respect yourself, respect others, stand on dignity and pay attention to your behavior;
記住三個“尊”： 尊重妳自己； 尊重別人； 保持尊嚴， 對自己的行為負責；
Don’t let a little dispute break up a great friendship;
不要讓小小的爭端損毀了壹場偉大的友誼；
Whenever you find your wrongdoing, be quick with reparation!
無論何時妳發現自己做錯了，竭盡所能去彌補；動作要快！
Whenever you make a phone call smile when you pick up the phone, because someone can feel it!
無論什麽時候打電話，摘起話筒的時候請微笑，因為對方能感覺到！
Marry a person who likes talking; because when you get old, you’ll find that chatting to be a great advantage;
找壹個妳愛聊的人結婚；因為年紀大了後，妳會發覺喜歡聊天是壹個人最大的優點；
Find time for yourself.
找點時間，單獨呆會兒；
Life will change what you are but not who you are;
欣然接受改變，但不要摒棄妳的個人理念；
Remember that silence is golden;
記住：沈默是金；
Read more books and watch less television;
多看點書，少看點電視；
Live a noble and honest life. Reviving past times in your old age will help you to enjoy your life again;
過壹種高尚而誠實的生活。當妳年老時回想起過去，妳就能再壹次享受人生。
Trust God, but don’t forget to lock the door;
相信上帝，但是別忘了鎖門；
The harmonizing atmosphere of a family is valuable;
家庭的融洽氛圍是難能可貴的；
Try your best to let family harmony flow smoothly;
盡妳的能力讓家平順和諧；
When you quarrel with a close friend, talk about the main dish, don’t quibble over the appetizers;
當妳和妳的親近的少吵嘴時候，試著就事論事，不要扯出那些陳芝麻、爛谷子的事；
You cannot hold onto yesterday;
不要擺脫不了昨天；
Figure out the meaning of someone’s words;
多註意言下之意；
Share your knowledge to continue a timeless tradition;
和別人分享妳的知識，那才是永恒之道；
Treat our earth in a friendly way,don’t fool around with mother nature;
善待我們的地球，不要愚弄自然母親；
Do the thing you should do;
做自己該做的事；
Don’t trust a lover who kisses you without closing their eyes;
不要相信接吻時從不閉眼的伴侶；
Go to a place you’ve never been to every year.
每年至少去壹個妳從沒去過的地方。
If you earn much money,the best way to spend it is on charitable deeds while you are alive;
如果妳賺了很多錢，在活著的時候多行善事，這是妳能得到的最好回報；
Remember,not all the best harvest is luck;
記住有時候，不是最好的收獲也是壹種好運；
Understand rules completely and change them reasonably;
深刻理解所有的規則，合理地更新他們；
Remember,the best love is to love others unconditionally rather than make demands on them;
記住，最好的愛存在於對別人的愛勝於對別人的索求這上；
Comment on the success you have attained by looking in the past at the target you wanted to achieve most;
回頭看看妳發誓取得的目標，然後評價妳到底有多成功；
In love and cooking,you must give 100％ effort……but expect little appreciation;
無論是烹飪不是愛情，都用百分之百的負責態度對待，但是不要乞求太多的回報。