1、【导读】每个人在这个世界上都占有独一无二的位置。无论别人说什么,你都是特别的,你都不会被取代。You Are Irreplaceable This Lifetime(Excerpt)As a teenager,I felt I was always letting people down.I was rebellious outside,but I wanted to be liked inside.Once I left home to hitchhike to California with my friend Penelope.The trip wasnt easy,and there
2、were many times I didnt feel safe.One situation in particular kept me grateful for still being alive.When I returned home,I was different,not so outwardly sure of myself.I was happy to be home.But then I noticed that Penelope,who was staying with us,was wearing my clothes.And my family seemed to lik
3、e her better than me.I wondered if I would be missed if I werent there.I told my mom,and she explained that though Penelope was a lovely girl,no one could replace me.I pointed out,“She is more patient and is neater than I have ever been.” My mom said these were wonderful qualities,but I was the only
4、 person who could fill my own role.She made me realize that even with my faultsand there were manyI was a loved member of the family and couldnt be replaced.I became a searcher,wanting to find out who I was and what made me unique.My view of myself was changing.I wanted a solid base to start from.I
5、started to resist pressure to act in ways that I didnt like any more,and I was delighted by who I really was.I came to feel much more sure that no one can ever take my place.今生你已不可取代(节选)当我还是个青少年的时候,觉得自己总是让人失望。从外表上看,我是叛逆的,但是在内心深处,我想被人喜欢。有一次我离开家和我的朋友Penelope搭便车去加利福尼亚州。这次旅行并不容易,而且有很多次我感到不安全。尤其是一次突发状况让我
6、一直庆幸自己还活着。回到家后,我变了,表面看上去不那么自信了。我很高兴能回到家,但后来我注意到一直和我们一起的Penelope穿着我的衣服,而且我家人看上去更喜欢她,我想知道如果我不在家的话他们是否会想念我。我把我的想法告诉了母亲,她说尽管Penelope是个可爱的女孩,但她并不能取代我。我指出:“她比我有耐心,而且她看上去比我要整洁。”母亲说这些都是好品质,但我却是唯一一个能扮演好自己角色的人。母亲让我意识到即使我有缺点而且还很多但是我是这个家庭里的一位被爱着的成员,谁也无法取代。我成了一个探寻者,想要弄清楚自己是谁,又是什么让我变得独一无二。我看待自己的方式在改变。我想下定决心(重新)开始
7、。我开始忍受压力,不再以自己不喜欢的方式做事。而且我为真实的自己感到高兴。渐渐地我越发肯定自己无可替代。知识积累1rebellious adj.反叛的,叛逆的2hitchhike v. 免费搭便车,搭顺风车3outwardly adv. 外表上,表面上4quality n. (尤指好的)人品,素质,品德5unique adj. 独一无二的6resist v. 抵抗;忍住文化链接加利福尼亚州(California),名称取自西班牙传说中的一个小岛的名称,是美国西部太平洋沿岸的一个州。州花是金罂粟(Golden Poppy)。州鸟是加州鹑(California Valley Quail)。州树是加州红杉(California Redwood)。别名是黄金之州(Golden State)。