Self-reliance‏

The covered wagon rolls along the muddy

path. The gentle motion of the
wagon almost puts you to sleep. Then the wagon hits a bump in the road, and you're brought back to reality. It seems like years since you left your familiar neighborhood back East. You often worry that your family won't have enough to live on out West. But deep down you know that you have all you need. Along with all your supplies, you've got the most important quality of all: self-reliance.
遮著頂篷的馬車碾過泥濘的小路，它輕緩的移動幾乎要把你催入夢鄉。忽然馬車碰到
了路上隆起的土塊，你又被帶回了現實世界。自從你離開東部熟悉的故里，好像已經
過了很多年了。你經常擔心住在西部家人的生活會有困難，但在你內心深處，你卻明
白自己已擁有了所需要的一切。在你所擁有的一切當中，你已經得到了那最重要的
一項特質：獨立自主。
America is a funny place. lf you need a laugh, it's not far away. Just pick up a newspaper and scan the “funny pages” for your favorite comic strip. Or turn on the TV and watch a comedy show. Mail a smile to a friend by sending a humorous greeting card. And watch for amusing situations around you in real life. Telling stories about funny experiences is a great way to brighten up someone's day. Hey, did you hear about the time I...
美國是個很有趣的地方，你如果需要一笑，絕對不成問題。只要拿起報紙，瀏覽一下
遊戲版上你最喜歡的連環漫畫，或者打開電視看一齣喜劇。寄一張有趣的祝賀卡給朋
友，帶給他一個微笑。觀察周遭生活中一些有趣的情況，把一些有趣的經驗告訴別人
，這也是個讓人日子過得更開心的好方法。嘿，你有沒有聽說，有一次我...。
The American writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson expressed the American pioneer
spirit in his 1841 essay, “Self-Reliance.” In this essay, Emerson stated that people should be independent, not conforming to the opinions of others. Emerson believed that each person should be content and at peace within himself. This philosophy of self-reliance and individualism shaped the thinking of many Americans.
美國有一位作家與哲學家愛默生，在一八四一年所寫一篇題為「獨立自主」
的散文中，表達了這種美國的拓荒精神。愛默生在這篇文章裡說，人都應該
獨立自主，不要去附和別人的意見，愛默生認為每個人心中都應該感到滿足而
平安。這種獨立與個人主義的哲學影響了很多美國人的想法。
America's philosophy of self-reliance has produced a nation of do-it-yourselfers. Americans have long been proud of their ability to invent, build and fix things for themselves. For example, it's almost part of the “macho male” image for men to work on their own cars or build things with wood. Auto parts stores and home improvement centers offer them everything, they need to do the job right.
美國這種獨立自主的哲學造就了一個「自己動手做」的國家。美國人一向對他們能夠發明、
建造和修理東西的能力感到自豪。舉例來說，能幹的男子漢形象包括了男人自己動手修車或
做木工，汽車零件商店與家事工具店裡提供了他們所需要的各種工具，以便幫助他們把工作
做好。

Most bookstores in America include do-it-yourself books on topics ranging from repairing
washing machines to planting a garden. Of course, not all Americans are handymen

; some are all thumbs. But Americans like to believe they can do many things on their own.
美國大多數的書店都有「自己動手做」的書籍，內容五花八門，從修理洗衣機到闢一個
花園應有盡有。當然，並不是所有的美國人都能自己動手做，有些人還是笨手笨腳的。不過，
美國人喜歡相信，他們可以自己動手做很多的事。

Most bookstores in America include do-it-yourself books on topics ranging from repairing
washing machines to planting a garden. Of course, not all Americans are handymen

; some are all thumbs. But Americans like to believe they can do many things on their own.
美國大多數的書店都有「自己動手做」的書籍，內容五花八門，從修理洗衣機到闢一個
花園應有盡有。當然，並不是所有的美國人都能自己動手做，有些人還是笨手笨腳的。不過，
美國人喜歡相信，他們可以自己動手做很多的事。
One U.S. Congressman learned the lesson of self-reliance the hard way while he was in college. He studied hard for his first test, and he wanted to do his best. As he took the test, he was pleased to find that he knew the answer to every question. Confident that he would get an A, he was shocked to find a C at the top of his exam. The professor had written this note on the test in big red letters: “l know what l said. What do you think?” Learning self-reliance is not an easy lesson. But in America, it's a major part of the curriculum.
有一位美國國會議員，在他唸大學時，以慘痛的代價學到了獨立自主的功課。當時他
下了苦功準備他的第一門考試，想要有最好的表現。考試時，他很高興地發現自己知
道每一道考題的答案。他很有信心自己可以拿到A，結果卻很震驚地發現自己只拿了C
的成績。教授在考卷上用紅筆寫了大大幾個字：「我知道我上課講的東西，但你的想
法是什麼呢？」學會獨立自主不是一件容易的事，不過，在美國，它可是一門重要
的功課呢！

@Word Bank
self-reliance (n) 獨立自主
muddy (adj) 泥濘的
reality (n) 現實；真實
comic strip (n phr) 連環圖畫
conform (v) 使一致；遵從
individualism (n) 個人主義
d Bank

comic strip (n phr) 連環圖畫
macho male (adj phr) 像能幹的男子漢般的 

handyman (n) 很會動手做東西的人
all thumbs (adj phr) 笨手笨腳的 

handyman (n) 很會動手做東西的人
all thumbs (adj phr) 笨手笨腳的

curriculum (n) 功課；課程

@The Day's Phrase
Roger did not hold a grudge against the coworker who treated him rudely. He still invited him out to lunch.
羅傑並不懷恨那粗魯待他的同事，仍然邀他出來吃午飯。

Turning challenges into hope and opportunity
化挑戰為希望與契機

Becca is trying to save enough money to buy an island. Beth thinks that Becca is a total nut case.
貝嘉試圖要存下足夠的錢買座島嶼。貝絲認為貝嘉根本是個瘋子。
You had me at hello.
你一開口就征服我了

Get your imagination
going with these helpful
tips
善用這些有用的小撇步，讓
你的想像力動起來

Sam loves to travel around the world. He is always on the move.
杉福喜愛環遊世界，他總是馬不停蹄地四處跑。

Britain's capital city offers much to see and do
英國首都倫敦有很多好看又好玩的事物

Luke wasn't listening to his teacher. The lesson was going in one ear and out the other.
路克沒有聽他老師講課。課程都是左耳進右耳出。

Deciding the best way to travel
決定最理想的旅行方式

I have skirted around my school loans for six months. It's time for me to start making payments.
有六個月的時間我迴避助學貸款的事。現在該是開始償還的時候了。

Merry Christmas! What would you do to celebrate the day?
聖誕快樂！你打算怎麼慶祝這天呢？

If you have been home sick more than usual, stress may be the cause
如果你生病在家裡靜養的次數超乎尋常，壓力

Would you like to go to church with me today? It's Christmas!
你今天願意和我去教堂嗎？今天是聖誕節呢！