這里有一個短篇故事，講述了簡單的人生哲學。閱讀對話，在第一次讀的時候，試著掌握大意，不要看后面的習語解釋。第二次讀的時候，第二次閱讀時，可以利用后面的定義解釋，來幫助你在學習新的習語的同時理解全文。在故事的末尾，有習語的定義解釋以及一個表達的小測驗。
A Little Life Philosophyrens
人生哲學
Here are some thoughts on how to live a reasonably balanced life.
下面是關于和諧生活的一些思考
These aren’t any great insights, just everyday thoughts on how to be satisfied and relatively happy despite the curves that life throws us at times. First and foremost, it’s important to find people that you like. That means finding someone who won’t make you feel put upon. That’s truly a horrible feeling! It’s also a good idea to find people who aren’t going to press your buttons too much. Friends will kid around, but good friends will hit a happy medium between joking and respecting each other. On the topic of friends, it’s a good idea to treat your friends like you’d like them to treat you. It’s simple, but put this advice into practice and you’ll be surprised at what great friends you find.
面對生活時不時給我們帶來的困難，怎樣獲得滿足感和相對地幸福感，下面這些建議并不是多么偉大的見解，大事一些日常的思考。首要的是，找到你喜歡的人很重要。就是說，找到不會讓你有種被欺騙的感覺的人。欺騙真的是一件糟糕的感覺!找到不會總是讓你難堪的人也很重要。朋友之間免不了開玩笑，但是真正的好朋友會在開玩笑和相互尊重之間取得一個平衡點。說到朋友這個話題，我們應該設身處地地對待他們。雖然說起來很簡單，但一旦你落實到行動中，你就會為自己擁有那么好的朋友而驚訝不已。
In these modern times, we all enjoy having the latest, greatest products such as smart phones and stylish clothing. Just remember that all that glitters is not gold. I find it helpful to always keep the presence of mind about me when I’m shopping.
在現代社會，我們都喜歡最新的、最棒的產品，例如智能手機和時裝。你要記住，所有這些表面的繁華都不是真正珍貴的東西。我發現，購物時保持清醒的思考對自己十分有用。
Rather than fall into the trap of using your credit card too much, wait a day or two. Try this trick the next time your heart skips a beat because some beautiful piece of technology calls to you from the shop window. Once you’ve got this technique under your belt, you’d be surprised how much you will save.
比起掉進刷爆信用卡的陷阱，你不如靜下心來等一等。等到下次你的心又因為櫥窗里某個漂亮的產品而激動不已的時候，你可以試試這個竅門。一旦你有了這種經驗，你會訝異于自己省下了一大筆錢。
Finally, when things do go wrong be careful and take it slowly. Take a few deep breaths, regain your composure, and then act. Unfortunately, we all get the short end of the stick at times. When this happens, know that life doesn’t turn on a dime. Ups and downs are all part of the puzzle that is life. Taking this approach will make problems run like water off a duck’s back. You’ll need to straighten things out from time to time, but you’ll know it’s not the end of the world. Of course, it’s also a good idea to cross bridges when you come to them rather than worry too much about everything that could go wrong in life!
最后，當困難出現的時候，你要謹慎一些，慢慢來。深呼吸幾次，恢復冷靜，然后再行動。不幸的是，有試過我們總是會處于劣勢。每當這種時候，你要知道生活并不是毫無征兆的。人的一生就是充滿了起起伏伏。這種方法可以使得問題不波及到別人。你可能時不時地得去解決問題，但你也要指導這并不是最終的結果。當然，比起為那些生活中可能出現的困難而過度焦慮，待到問題真的出現后再解決也是一個不錯的辦法。
Idioms and Expressions
習語和表達
all that glitters is not gold = not everything that looks good is good
不是所有的東西像表面上那么好
cross a bridge when one comes to it = deal with a situation when it happens, used when explaining that one shouldn’t worry too much about possible problems
當問題出現后再去解決，通常用于表示，某人不應該杞人憂天。
fall into the trap = do something that something wants you to do in order to take advantage of you
因為正中某人的下懷做了某事，而被別人利用。
feel put-upon = feel like someone is forcing your to do something you don’t want to do
感覺別人在強迫你做你不愿意的事。
get something under one’s belt = experience something
經歷某事
get the short end of the stick = lose in an arrangement of some sort, receive the smallest portion
處于劣勢，沒有分量。
have the heart skip a beat = be surprised by something
對某事感到驚訝
hit a happy medium = find balance between extremes
在兩種極端之間找到平衡
kid around = have fun, joke
玩得開心，開玩笑。
presence of mind = the ability to calmly think about a situation and make the best decision rather than act on emotion
比起情緒化，冷靜思考并作出最佳決定的能力。
push someone’s buttons = know exactly what to say to anger another person
非常清楚怎樣激怒某人
put something into practice = do something that you want to become a habit, often used when following advice
做你想做的事，常用于表示采納建議。
regain one’s composure = find balance after having becoming very emotional (anger, sadness, spite, etc.)
在情緒化(憤怒、悲傷、怨恨等等)之后，冷靜下來。
run like water off a duck’s back = not bother or affect someone
不要去打擾或影響某人
straighten something out = resolve a problem
解決問題
throw someone a curve = do something that surprises someone, often used when negative events happen
因做了某事使某人感到驚訝，通常是不好的事
turn on a dime = change without hesitation
毫不猶豫就改變
習語和表達測試
1. Jennifer feels ___________ by her boss at work. She’s always asking her to stay and work overtime.
2. I wish you wouldn’t ________________. This is serous business for serious people!
3. Luckily, Tom had the _________________ to bring all the equipment despite the crazy rush to leave this morning.
4. I’d like to get a climb of Mt. Hood _______________. It must be an amazing adventure.
5. I’m trying to put my philosophy __________________ every day. It’s not always easy!
6. I wish you would stop pushing my _________________. I don’t want to argue with you.
7. I’ve hit a ___________________ between work and free time.
8. My heart skipped __________ when I heart the news about their marriage.
9. He fell into _____________ when he agreed to give her lessons for free.
10. I’m afraid you’ve gotten ___________________________. Next time will be better!
答案
1. put-upon
2. kid around
3. presence of mind
4. under my belt
5. into practice
6. buttons
7. happy medium
8. a beat
9. a trap
10. the short end of the stick
