Jimmy: Expressions of Choice 插画家几米:向左走?向右走?<br><br> One spring afternoon five years ago, Jimmy Liao sat crying in the lobby of Taipei’s Sherwood Hotel. Life seemed horribly unfair. The laughing people who walked past took their health for granted, just as he used to himself. Now, however, he felt helpless—and he couldn’t even express his frustration through painting. <br><br> As he had always been one to take life into his own hands, Jimmy found his helplessness unnatural. Seeking more personally satisfying work, he had recently left a successful career as a commercial artist. It seemed that fate had played a cruel trick when he developed cancer and was unable to work. But that moment in the hotel was a turning point for Jimmy. He became conscious of the fact that there is no such thing as fate, only choice. <br><br> According to Jimmy, you are what you choose to be. You can give up and be a loser, or you can work to be a happier person. Jimmy realized that, while the world sometimes seems unfair, your choices can change your perceptions.<br><br> 五年前一个春天的午后,几米(编者按:本名廖福彬)坐在台北西华饭店的大厅里痛哭失声。生活对他似乎极不公平。那些走过他身边的谈笑风生的人,就像以前的他一样,将健康视为理所当然。然而,当时的他感觉很无助——甚至无法通过绘画来表达他的沮丧。<br><br> 由于几米一向是个把命运掌握在自己手里的人,他发现他的无助就更不寻常。为了追求更能使自己满意的作品,他刚刚放弃了一份作为商业美术家的成功事业。命运似乎对他开了一个残酷的玩笑:他患了癌症,无法继续工作。但在饭店的那一刻,却是几米人生的转折点。他认识到一个事实,那就是没有命运,只有选择。<br><br> 几米相信,你的选择决定你的人生。你可以放弃,当个失败者,你也可以努力工作,让自己成为更快乐的人。几米认识到,这个世界有时候或许并不公平,但你所做的选择会改变你的看法。<br><br> Vocabulary <br>1. lobby n. a large, open area just inside the entrance to public buildings 前厅;大厅<br>The theater’s lobby was crowded with people waiting to buy tickets to the show. <br><!-- music_n_start --><param name="BACKGROUNDCOLOR" <br /><embed src="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_01.rm" align="baseline" border="0" width="275" height="40" type="audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin" console="MusicCliphttp://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_01.rm" controls="ControlPanel" autostart="false"><br><a href="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_01.rm" target="_blank">--- 右击鼠标,然后保存 ---</a><!-- music_n_end --><br><br>2. unfair adj. without justice 不公平的<br>When his sister got a larger scoop of ice cream than him, Johnny cried that it was unfair. <br><!-- music_n_start --><param name="BACKGROUNDCOLOR" <br /><embed src="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_02.rm" align="baseline" border="0" width="275" height="40" type="audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin" console="MusicCliphttp://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_02.rm" controls="ControlPanel" autostart="false"><br><a href="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_02.rm" target="_blank">--- 右击鼠标,然后保存 ---</a><!-- music_n_end --><br><br>3. helpless adj. without an ability to act to help oneself; feeling without hope 无助的<br>Not knowing how to change the flat tire on his car, Jim was helpless as he waited by the side of the road.<br><!-- music_n_start --><param name="BACKGROUNDCOLOR" <br /><embed src="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_03.rm" align="baseline" border="0" width="275" height="40" type="audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin" console="MusicCliphttp://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_03.rm" controls="ControlPanel" autostart="false"><br><a href="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_03.rm" target="_blank">--- 右击鼠标,然后保存 ---</a><!-- music_n_end --><br><br>4. frustration n. feelings of anger, despair or hopelessness over a situation that one cannot change 沮丧;受挫<br>Neil kicked the vending machine in frustration after it took his money but didn’t give him his soda.<br><!-- music_n_start --><param name="BACKGROUNDCOLOR" <br /><embed src="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_04.rm" align="baseline" border="0" width="275" height="40" type="audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin" console="MusicCliphttp://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_04.rm" controls="ControlPanel" autostart="false"><br><a href="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_04.rm" target="_blank">--- 右击鼠标,然后保存 ---</a><!-- music_n_end --><br><br>5. trick n. sth. done unexpectedly and without explanation 捉弄;玩笑<br>Mark played a trick on his sister by switching the salt on the table with sugar. <br><!-- music_n_start --><param name="BACKGROUNDCOLOR" <br /><embed src="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_05.rm" align="baseline" border="0" width="275" height="40" type="audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin" console="MusicCliphttp://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_05.rm" controls="ControlPanel" autostart="false"><br><a href="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_05.rm" target="_blank">--- 右击鼠标,然后保存 ---</a><!-- music_n_end --><br><br>6. turning point n. an event or moment in time in which a situation changes a lot (usually for the better) 转折点<br>The turning point in the movie Titanic is when Rose realizes that her fiancé is a terrible man<br><!-- music_n_start --><param name="BACKGROUNDCOLOR" <br /><embed src="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_06.rm" align="baseline" border="0" width="275" height="40" type="audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin" console="MusicCliphttp://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_06.rm" controls="ControlPanel" autostart="false"><br><a href="http://cimg.163.com/education/0306/20/20_v_06.rm" target="_blank">--- 右击鼠标,然后保存 ---</a><!-- music_n_end --> |