佚名/Anonymous
Life is full of challenges. School has to be the most challenging obstacle in the lives of youth today.
Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spent there. There's the challenge of coloring in the lines, a very real problem to any youngster. Or how 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 thing that keeps these children in line is the hope of reward. Yes, this is the brass ring. The reward for a clean desk is an extra five minutes of recess! The prize for having all homework done, a shiny-new pencil topper! These small wonders keep small people in line. They make the children love challenge.
Middle school is not so easy. It is not easy for the students, and it also isn't easy for the teachers. The challenge of staying out of trouble, or writing that research paper—these are the new confrontations of an older, wiser group. This clan has outgrown the recess and pencil-topper tricks. They know that their efforts have to bring them something really useful, so morn 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 or else their unlikelihood to even graduate has been established. Little can be done now to make life's challenges seem interesting, especially where school comes in. The slothful are rewarded with a nice job at a gas station, and a fifteen-year-old Ford. The diligent are rewarded with an SAT score of over 1100, acceptance into Yale University, and a ticket to life. By meeting the challenges of school, sticking it out, and pulling through, they are given their greatest reward: success.
生活中處處有挑戰。如今，年輕人所麵臨的最大挑戰莫過於學校。
小學期間的挑戰充滿那個時代的氣息。對於每個孩子來說，給各種線條上色，無疑如臨大敵。還有，發言前記得要舉手的挑戰容易應對嗎？為管教這些小家夥，學校製定了無數清規戒律。要讓孩子們好好表現，就要給他們獲獎的希望。的確，表現好就有得獎的機會。保持課桌幹淨，可多得五分鍾休息時間；完成全部家庭作業，可獲得一個嶄新的鉛筆帽！這些不起眼的驚喜可使那些小家夥循規蹈矩。同時，可使他們愛上挑戰！
中學生活並不容易。做學生不容易，當老師也同樣不容易。對於年齡較大、更懂事的學生來說，他們不再因多得到幾分鍾休息時間或一個鉛筆帽而感到滿足，他們麵臨的新挑戰是少惹事，學習寫論文。他們很清楚，他們的努力應換來一些真正實用的東西，所以父母親也被牽涉進來。作業獲得A等，是不是該得到五美元或十美元，在學校表現不好回家不許打電話又該怎麽辦？類似的例子，我無須多言。
到了高中，一個學生的學業是否優秀，或能否順利畢業，已是一目了然。這時，讓生活中的挑戰變得有意思已經不太可能了，尤其是學業。對於懶惰的學生，學業給予他一份加油站的差事，一輛跑了15年的老福特；然而，學業給予勤奮刻苦的學生一張耶魯大學的通行證（他的入學考分1100多），從而踏上生活的陽光大道。後者在學校時麵對挑戰堅忍不拔，過關斬將，終於得到生活的饋贈，成就斐然。
所謂命運，不過是自己選擇的結果。盡管人們的追求不同、喜好各異，但無疑每個人都想在短暫的生命旅途中享受愉悅、收獲幸福。學校是夢想起飛的地方，如果你不想在將來收獲的季節空手歎息，那麽在一開始就請播下飽滿的種子——積極、勤奮、理智。
characteristic[?k?rikt??ristik]adj.特有的；典型的
Urban inhabitants have to live with the characteristic noises of cities.
城市居民不得不忍受都市特有的喧囂。
regulation[?reɡju?lei??n]n.規章；規則；章程；法規
He was fined for breaking traffic regulations.
他因違反交通規則而被罰款。
govern[?ɡ?v?n]v.管理；治理
One can't completely govern one's thoughts at all times.
人不能始終控製得住自己的思想。
confrontation[?k?nfr?n?tei??n]n.對抗；對抗的事物；對峙；衝突
We value plurality, but discourage open confrontation.
我們重視多元，但避免衝突。
生活中處處有挑戰。如今，年輕人所麵臨的最大挑戰莫過於學校。
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小學期間的挑戰充滿那個時代的氣息。
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對於懶惰的學生，學業給予他一份加油站的差事，一輛跑了15年的老福特；然而，學業給予勤奮刻苦的學生一張耶魯大學的通行證。
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Life is full of challenges.
be full of：充滿；裝滿
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Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spent there.
bring about：帶來；產生
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