陆友军

Have you ever been sad because you failed in something？ If so， please remember， often， achieving what you expect is not the most important thing. Here is a story to tell you why.

One day a little boy decided to dig a hole behind his house after watching a science programme. As he was working， a couple of boys stopped by to watch. “What are you doing？” asked one of them. “I want to dig a deep hole all the way through the earth！” the boy answered excitedly. ①The older boys began to laugh， telling him that it was impossible to do it. Then they left.

The little boy kept on digging and digging. Suddenly， a few small colorful stones caught his eyes. He collected them patiently and put them into a glass jar（瓶子，罐子）. ②Humming（哼） a song， he went on digging. The jar was full soon. Then he talked to himself calmly and proudly， “Maybe I can’t finish digging all the way through the earth， but look at what I have found in the process of digging ！”

The boy’s goal was too difficult， ③but finding the colourful stones did cause him to go on. ④In other words， it encouraged him to keep working！

Not every goal will be achieved. ⑤Not every job will end up with a success. Not every dream will come true. But when you can’t achieve your goal， maybe you can say， “yes， but look at what I’ve found along the way！ There are so many wonderful things that have come into my life because I tried to do something！”It is in the digging that life is lived. ⑥It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really has a meaning.

[精彩译文]

你有没有因为失败而伤心过？如果有的话，请记住，实现你的期望往往不是最重要的事情。这里有一个故事告诉你为什么。

一天，一个小男孩在看完一个科学节目后决定在房子后面挖一个洞。当他在挖的时候，几个男孩停下来看他。“你在干什么？”其中一个男孩问道。“我想在地球上挖一个深洞！”小男孩兴奋地回答。大一点的男孩开始笑，告诉他这是不可能的。然后他们离开了。

小男孩不停地挖啊挖。突然，几块五颜六色的小石头吸引了他的目光。他耐心地把它们收集起来，放进一个玻璃罐里。哼着歌，继续挖。罐子很快就满了。然后他平静而自豪地自言自语：“也许我一路挖不完，但看看我在挖的过程中所发现的东西！”

这个男孩的目标太难了，但找到那些五颜六色的石头确实促使他继续前进，换句话说，这鼓励了他继续努力！

不是每一个目标都能实现。不是每一项工作都能取得成功。不是每一个梦想都能实现。但是当你不能实现你的目标时，也许你可以说：“是的，但是看看我一路上发现了什么！因为我想做点什么，所以我的生活中出现了很多奇妙的事情！”生活是在“挖掘”中度过的，真正有意义的是旅途中意想不到的快乐。

[难点解读]

①The older boys began to laugh， telling him that it was impossible to do it.

句中的telling him是现在分词短语，在句中作伴随状语。

例如：We throw snowballs at each other， screaming and laughing.

我们向对方扔雪球，叫着、笑着。

②Humming（哼）a song， he went on digging.

go on doing sth. 表示“继续做原来没有做完的事”;go on to do sth. 表示“接着做另一件事”，即接下去做与原来不同的一件事。

例如：It is raining hard， but the farmers go on working on the farm.

虽然天在下大雨，但农民们继续在农场干活。

After reading the text， the students went on to do the exercises.

学生们读完课文后，接着做练习。

③...but finding the colourful stones did cause him to go on.

句中的did是助动词，后接动词原形，用来加强语气。

例如：She does look like her mother.

她确实看上去像她妈妈。

④in other words 换句话说

例如：He is honest. In other words， he never tells lies.

他很诚实。换句话说，他从不说谎。

⑤Not every job will end up with a success.

end up with... 以……结束

例如：Without your help， the experiment will end up with failure.

沒有你的帮助，实验将以失败告终。

⑥It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really has a meaning.

该句是一种强调句型，结构为：It is + 被强调的部分 + who/that + 原句其他部分，用于加强语气。

例如：It is you who shape your life and your future.

你的生活和你的未来都掌握在你的手中。

（作者单位：江苏省兴化市安丰初级中学）