这里有一个短篇故事，讲述了简单的人生哲学。阅读对话，在第一次读的时候，试着掌握大意，不要看后面的习语解释。第二次读的时候，第二次阅读时，可以利用后面的定义解释，来帮助你在学习新的习语的同时理解全文。在故事的末尾，有习语的定义解释以及一个表达的小测验。

　　A Little Life Philosophyrens

　　人生哲学

　　Here are some thoughts on how to live a reasonably balanced life.

　　下面是关于和谐生活的一些思考

　　These aren't any great insights, just everyday thoughts on how to be satisfied and relatively happy despite the curves that life throws us at times. First and foremost, it's important to find people that you like. That means finding someone who won't make you feel put upon. That's truly a horrible feeling! It's also a good idea to find people who aren't going to press your buttons too much. Friends will kid around, but good friends will hit a happy medium between joking and respecting each other. On the topic of friends, it's a good idea to treat your friends like you'd like them to treat you. It's simple, but put this advice into practice and you'll be surprised at what great friends you find.

　　面对生活时不时给我们带来的困难，怎样获得满足感和相对地幸福感，下面这些建议并不是多么伟大的见解，大事一些日常的思考。首要的是，找到你喜欢的人很重要。就是说，找到不会让你有种被欺骗的感觉的人。欺骗真的是一件糟糕的感觉!找到不会总是让你难堪的人也很重要。朋友之间免不了开玩笑，但是真正的好朋友会在开玩笑和相互尊重之间取得一个平衡点。说到朋友这个话题，我们应该设身处地地对待他们。虽然说起来很简单，但一旦你落实到行动中，你就会为自己拥有那么好的朋友而惊讶不已。

　　In these modern times, we all enjoy having the latest, greatest products such as smart phones and stylish clothing. Just remember that all that glitters is not gold. I find it helpful to always keep the presence of mind about me when I'm shopping.

　　在现代社会，我们都喜欢最新的、最棒的产品，例如智能手机和时装。你要记住，所有这些表面的繁华都不是真正珍贵的东西。我发现，购物时保持清醒的思考对自己十分有用。

　　Rather than fall into the trap of using your credit card too much, wait a day or two. Try this trick the next time your heart skips a beat because some beautiful piece of technology calls to you from the shop window. Once you've got this technique under your belt, you'd be surprised how much you will save.

　　比起掉进刷爆信用卡的陷阱，你不如静下心来等一等。等到下次你的心又因为橱窗里某个漂亮的产品而激动不已的时候，你可以试试这个窍门。一旦你有了这种经验，你会讶异于自己省下了一大笔钱。

　　Finally, when things do go wrong be careful and take it slowly. Take a few deep breaths, regain your composure, and then act. Unfortunately, we all get the short end of the stick at times. When this happens, know that life doesn't turn on a dime. Ups and downs are all part of the puzzle that is life. Taking this approach will make problems run like water off a duck's back. You'll need to straighten things out from time to time, but you'll know it's not the end of the world. Of course, it's also a good idea to cross bridges when you come to them rather than worry too much about everything that could go wrong in life!

　　最后，当困难出现的时候，你要谨慎一些，慢慢来。深呼吸几次，恢复冷静，然后再行动。不幸的是，有试过我们总是会处于劣势。每当这种时候，你要知道生活并不是毫无征兆的。人的一生就是充满了起起伏伏。这种方法可以使得问题不波及到别人。你可能时不时地得去解决问题，但你也要指导这并不是最终的结果。当然，比起为那些生活中可能出现的困难而过度焦虑，待到问题真的出现后再解决也是一个不错的办法。

　　Idioms and Expressions

　　习语和表达

　　all that glitters is not gold = not everything that looks good is good

　　不是所有的东西像表面上那么好

　　cross a bridge when one comes to it = deal with a situation when it happens, used when explaining that one shouldn't worry too much about possible problems

　　当问题出现后再去解决，通常用于表示，某人不应该杞人忧天。

　　fall into the trap = do something that something wants you to do in order to take advantage of you

　　因为正中某人的下怀做了某事，而被别人利用。

　　feel put-upon = feel like someone is forcing your to do something you don't want to do

　　感觉别人在强迫你做你不愿意的事。

　　get something under one's belt = experience something

　　经历某事

　　get the short end of the stick = lose in an arrangement of some sort, receive the smallest portion

　　处于劣势，没有分量。

　　have the heart skip a beat = be surprised by something

　　对某事感到惊讶

　　hit a happy medium = find balance between extremes

　　在两种极端之间找到平衡

　　kid around = have fun, joke

　　玩得开心，开玩笑。

　　presence of mind = the ability to calmly think about a situation and make the best decision rather than act on emotion

　　比起情绪化，冷静思考并作出最佳决定的能力。

　　push someone's buttons = know exactly what to say to anger another person

　　非常清楚怎样激怒某人

　　put something into practice = do something that you want to become a habit, often used when following advice

　　做你想做的事，常用于表示采纳建议。

　　regain one's composure = find balance after having becoming very emotional (anger, sadness, spite, etc.)

　　在情绪化(愤怒、悲伤、怨恨等等)之后，冷静下来。

　　run like water off a duck's back = not bother or affect someone

　　不要去打扰或影响某人

　　straighten something out = resolve a problem

　　解决问题

　　throw someone a curve = do something that surprises someone, often used when negative events happen

　　因做了某事使某人感到惊讶，通常是不好的事

　　turn on a dime = change without hesitation

　　毫不犹豫就改变

　　习语和表达测试

　　1. Jennifer feels ___________ by her boss at work. She's always asking her to stay and work overtime.

　　2. I wish you wouldn't ________________. This is serous business for serious people!

　　3. Luckily, Tom had the _________________ to bring all the equipment despite the crazy rush to leave this morning.

　　4. I'd like to get a climb of Mt. Hood _______________. It must be an amazing adventure.

　　5. I'm trying to put my philosophy __________________ every day. It's not always easy!

　　6. I wish you would stop pushing my _________________. I don't want to argue with you.

　　7. I've hit a ___________________ between work and free time.

　　8. My heart skipped __________ when I heart the news about their marriage.

　　9. He fell into _____________ when he agreed to give her lessons for free.

　　10. I'm afraid you've gotten ___________________________. Next time will be better!

　　答案

　　1. put-upon

　　2. kid around

　　3. presence of mind

　　4. under my belt

　　5. into practice

　　6. buttons

　　7. happy medium

　　8. a beat

　　9. a trap

　　10. the short end of the stick