我们是海龟
2021-08-26朱子曜
朱子曜
海龟是一种动作缓慢、智力平平的动物。但2018年5月,中国留学生朱子曜关于“We are the turtles”的分享,却颠覆了我们对海龟的认知。这段轻松幽默而又励志的分享让我们重新认识了海龟精神:坚定、抗压、持之以恒,并最终到达终点。
愿心有目标、勇往直前的你,同样也具备这种精神,最终能达成心中所愿。

?文章词数 8分钟473 难度 ★★★ 建议用时
1Good afternoon,ladies and gentlemen.Our dean,faculty and staff,proud parents and above all,students of class 2018,congratulations!This is your day!
2I always have random(随意的)questions in my mind,but there was another question I had the first day I learned about UMD(University of Maryland):Why our mascot(吉祥物)is a turtle?Many other schools pick fierce animals or figures:Princeton has a tiger,University of Chicago has a phoenix,and Duke has the “blue devil”.This question was not solved until I came to UMD and met the people here.
3My first several months in Maryland were a nightmare.I had no friends here.I didn't know how to drive.So I could only lock myself in my room.I started to have a hair loss issue due to academic pressure since I had to spend 3 hours figuring out the most basic concept!Worst of all,I attached this label to myself:a slow learner and an underachiever,just like a slow and foolish turtle.
4It was Professor Zhang at the Smith School who helped me realize that the way to success is never easy.Under unimaginable pressure during her PhD life in Harvard,she had to get up at 4 every morning and every single day she doubted her ability,her choice and her future.Eventually she became the wonder woman in the field of statistics and inspires hundreds of students like me.Just like a turtle with a tough shell,bearing all the pressure and hardships,she still moves forward.
5Then I learned more from my classmates.Despite all difficulties,none of them raised the white flag easily.Now,many of them earned excellent grades and have already found satisfying jobs.Just like turtles,when the chaos of life surrounds them,they still know their directions.
6This experience made me realize what we are all made of.We are all turtles.Life is not a sprint(冲刺)or even a marathon.Life is a triathlon(铁人三项赛).We might be not as super talented as the lucky ones,but we don't belittle ourselves.We might start things slow and be constantly discouraged by setbacks,but we know we choose to do things not because they are easy,but because they are hard.We might not be the first ones crossing the finishing line,but we are surely the ones knowing where we are going and why.

7This is the turtle spirit,which could be explained by these 3 amazing letters that I will never forget:UMD,that is U Must be Determined.
8The steps you are taking today might seem small,but some day you will see the big picture,as long as you are moving forward fearlessly,be it fast or slow.And please remember,UMD will always be there for you.

Ⅰ.Choose the best answers according to the text.
Genre 1.What is the type of this article?
A.A letter. B.A lecture. C.A narration. D.An argumentation.
Detail 2.Which can best describe the author's first several months in Maryland?
A.Exciting. B.Pleasant. C.Frustrating. D.Embarrassing.
Inference 3.What kept the author moving on according to Para.4 and Para.5?
A.The expectation of parents. B.The pursuit of good grades.
C.The power of good examples. D.The encouragement of turtles.
Inference 4.What played a key role in the author's success according to the text?
A.Good luck. B.Intelligence.
C.Smart choices. D.Determination.
Ⅱ.Discussion
As a high school student,what should you do to pursue success apart from the spirit of turtles?

Ⅰ.Discover useful structures in the text
as long as...只要 be it...不管
The steps you are taking today might seem small,but some day you will see the big picture,as long as you are moving forward fearlessly,be it fast or slow.你今天迈出的步伐可能看起来很小,但总
有一天你会看到大局,只要你无畏地前进,不管是快还是慢。
Ⅱ.Memorize some text-centered chunks
above all首先;尤为重要的
academic pressure学业压力
raise the white flag认输;放弃
figure out理解;弄明白
bear all the pressure and hardships承受所有的压力和艰辛
big pictures大图景;大格局
主题应用·语库构建
常用语料
Ⅰ.高频表达
1.学习活动
discuss讨论
practice练习;实践
instruct v.指导;传授
instruction n.教诲;教导;指示
instructive adj.有教育意义的
praise赞扬;表扬
lively活泼的;活跃的
analyze分析
assessment评估
assignment作业
attain/obtain/gain/acquire获得
attend参加;出席
attention注意;专心;关心
comprehension理解
concentrate集中(注意力);聚精会神
effect效果;作用
inspire启发;鼓舞
improve提高;改进
presentation呈现;演示
revise/review复习
summarize概括;总结
2.学校人员
educator教育工作者;教育家
class-teacher班主任
instructor导师;教练;讲师
junior低年级学生
senior高年级学生
president/headmaster/principal校长
schoolmate校友
roommate室友
classmate同学
3.课程设置
Chinese语文
maths数学
English英语
physics物理
chemistry化学
biology生物
politics政治
history历史
geography地理
music音乐
PE体育
4.情绪表达
excited兴奋的
eager迫切的
delighted高兴的
hopeful满怀希望的
worried担心的
frustrated沮丧的
concerned忧虑的
depressed压抑的
disappointed失望的
anxious焦虑的
nervous紧张的
upset难过的
5.正能量
be serious about对……严肃/认真
spare no effort to do sth不遗余力去做某事
have a good command/knowledge of精通……
make progress in在……方面取得进步
lay a good foundation in在……方面打下良好
的基础
work hard at努力做……
do/try one's best尽力;尽最大的努力
make full use of/take advantage of充分利用
catch up with sb/keep up with sb赶上某人
get full marks得满分
gain scholarship获得奖学金
get good grades获得好成绩
speak highly of sb高度赞扬某人
