A&Q
1. What does “you are always choosing”? Can you define it and give an example?
As we read from the previous chapter, our life is full of problems. Our happiness emerges from solving problems. We can’t control what happened to us, but we can always control how we interpret what happens to us ,as well how we respond. We are always interpreting the meaning of every moment and every occurrence. We are always choosing the values by which we live and the metrics by which we measure everything that happens to us .
For example, I choose to join the reading club and spend some of my winter holiday time on reading English because I think learning makes me fulfilled. So I am responsible for this choice .Every day I spare some time to write my note and sometimes it really need time to finish it. This is my choice and I am willing to do it.
2. What’s the point of telling William James’s story?
William James’s story tell us no matter what the external circumstances are, we are responsible for everything happened in our lives.
3.Any responsibility problems you had with your boyfriend/girlfriend or parents? If any, please tell us your story.
I have responsibility problems with my students. I have been an English teacher for several years in a rural county. The English level of my students is rather low compared with the students in urban areas. Teaching English in this place is really a headache. I always complain about their laziness, their lack of interest in English, their unawareness of the importance of English, their misbehavior in the class, etc. sometimes I indeed thought about changing my teaching methods, but it didn’t make any great difference. so I just let it go and told myself it wasn’t my fault and I had tried to save their English. But this semester, I chose to seek solution to this situation. I gradually find that I also take some responsibility in their failure in English. I never tried to understand them. They are not lazy, they just don’t know how to do with English, they are afraid of it. They have no confidence in it because no matter how hard they tried, they failed again and again. And my class is lame and I am not strict with them. Now I seldom blame them for their poor English and strive to well-prepare every lesson to make it lively.
熟词生义
1…he promptly contracted smallpox and nearly died in the jungle.
Contract: v, be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness 感染疾病，患病
Eg: He contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion.
2.He was educated,interesting,and good-looking-a good catch ,in principle…
Catch:,n, [ usually singular 一般用单数] a hidden problem or difficulty informal 陷阱，隐患，圈套，诡计
Eg: This deal looks too good to be true – there must be a catch somewhere.
a (good) catch
someone who is a good person to have a relationship with or to marry because they are rich, attractive etc – often used humorously 理想的对象，理想的配偶〔指富有、漂亮的对象，常为幽默用法〕
new wards :
3.They quickly implemented their Muslim extreme agenda.
Implement: V&n,,if you implement something such as a plan, you ensure that what has been planned is done. 实施; 执行
Eg: How do you implement this practice?
4,By the time, he was emaciated and starved from the smallpox…
emaciate:v, cause to grow thin or weak 使消瘦；使衰弱；使贫瘠
eg: The treatment emaciated him.