unions专四听力原文school听力原文专四
Challenges of School
Life is full of challenges.School has to be the most challenging obstacle in the lives of youthtoday.Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spentthere.There’s the challenge of coloring in the lines,a very real problem to any youngster.Orhow about the challenge of remembering to raise one’s hand before one speaks?
There are hundreds of rules and regulations that govern these young children.The one thingthat keeps these children in line is the hope of reward.Yes,this is the brass ring.The reward fora clean desk is an extra five minutes of recess!
The prize for having all homework done,a shiny-new pencil topper!These small wonders keepsmall people in line.
They make the children love challenge.Middle school is not so easy.It is not easy for thestude
nts,and it also isn’t easy for the teachers.The challenge of staying out of trouble,orwriting that research paper—these are the new confrontations of an older,wiser group.Thisclan has outgrown the recess and pencil-topper tricks.They know that their efforts have tobring them something really useful,so mom and pop are pulled onto the scene.How does five,ten dollars for each“A”sound?Or,how about no telephone if one doesn’t do good in school?Need I say more?By the time high school arrives,a student’s place in academic excellence orelse their unlikelihood to even graduate has been established.Little can be done now to makelife’s challenges seem interesting,especially where school comes in.The slothful are rewardedwith a nice job at a gas station,a pregnant girlfriend,and a fifteen-year-old Ford.The diligentare rewarded with an SAT score of over 1100,acceptance into Yale University,and a ticket tolife.By meeting the challenges of school,sticking it out,and pulling through,they are giventheir greatest reward:success.
Many people think that when they become rich and successful,happiness will naturally follow.Letme tell you that nothing is further from the truth.The world is full of very rich peoplewho are asmiserable as if they were living in hell.We have read stories about movie
stars who committedsuicide or died from drugs.Quite clearly,money is not the only answer to all problems.Wealthobtained through dishonest means does not bring happiness.Lottery winnings do not bringhappiness.Gamble winnings do not bring happiness.To my mind,the secret to happiness lies inyour successful work,There is no use sayingin your contribution towards others’happinessandin your wealth you have earned through your own honest effort.If you obtain wealth throughluck or dishonest means,you will know that it is ill earned money.If you get your money bytaking advantage of others or by hurting others,you will not be happy with it.You will think youare a base person.Long-term happiness is based on honesty,productive work,contribution,and self-esteem.Happiness is not an end;it is a process.It is a continuousprocess of honest,productive workwhich makes a real contribution to othersand makes youfeel you are a useful,worthy person.As Dr.Wayne wrote,“There is no way to happiness.Happiness is the way.”“Some day when I achieve these goals,when I get a car,build a houseand own my own business,then I will be really happy.”Life just does not work that way.If youwait for certain things to happenand depend on external circumstances of life to make youhappy,you will always feel unfulfilled.There will always be something missing.