The Value of Life Lessons

陳亞娜

During my elementary school years， I used to compare my mom with my best friend Tiffanys mom.

Tiffanys mom always gave her lots of money to buy the most fashionable clothes and favorite food.

Her mom allowed her to do anything she liked. I really admired Tiffany. My mom didnt give me much pocket money and she always told me that I should behave myself. I was annoyed with her.

Whenever I didnt get what I wanted， I would complain to my mom， Tiffanys mom would give her that！ I wish she were my mom. Every time， my mom would calmly say “Poor Tiffany”. I couldnt understand her. “She shouldnt be feeling sorry for Tiffany！” I thought， “She should be feeling sorry for me.”

One day， I couldnt help saying to Mom， “Poor Tiffany？ Lucky Tiffany！ She gets everything she wants！Why do you feel sorry for her？” I burst into tears.

My mom sat down next to me and said softly， “Yes， I do feel sorry for her. I have been teaching you a lesson that she will never be taught.”

I looked up at her， “What are you talking about？”

Mom said with care， “One day she will really want something. Maybe shell find out that she cant have it. Her mother wont always be around to give her money， and whats more， money cant buy everything.”

She continued， “I have taught you valuable lessons by not giving you everything you want. Youll know how to look for bargains and save money， but she wont. Youll understand that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she wont. When Tiffany is a grown woman， shell wake up one day and she will be wishing that she had a mom like the one youve got. Life lessons are more important than modern clothes and delicious food.”

It took some time， but I eventually understood my moms words. Now I am a happy and successful woman.

【難句解析】

1. Whenever I didnt get what I wanted， I would complain to my mom， Tiffanys mom would give her that！

釋義：無論什么時候，我得不到我想要的，我就向媽媽抱怨：“Tiffany的媽媽將會給她的?！?/p>

點撥：what I wanted作get的賓語，在賓語從句中，what作want的賓語。what作為連接代詞，承擔兩重任務：連接句子和代替從句缺少的成分（可以代替從句主語、賓語或表語）。例如：

What I want for the moment is a car. （在主語從句中，what是want的賓語）我此刻想要的是一輛汽車。

What surprises me most is that she doesnt even know where the differences between the two things are. （在主語從句中，what是主語）使我感到最吃驚的事情是，她甚至還不知道這二者的區別在哪里。

2. I wish she were my mom.

釋義：我多么希望她是我的媽媽。

點撥：在wish后的賓語從句中要使用虛擬語氣。對現在情況的虛擬，從句動詞用一般過去時;對過去情況的虛擬，從句動詞常用過去完成時;對未來情況的虛擬，從句動詞形式為?? would / could+動詞原形。在虛擬語氣中，條件狀語從句中的謂語動詞如果是be的過去形式，一般用 were。例如：

I wish I were not so busy. 但愿我不那樣忙碌。

She wished she had stayed at home. 她后悔的是她當時要是留在家里就好了。

I wish you would go with us tomorrow. 要是你明天同我們一起去就好了。

3. Yes， I do feel sorry for her.

釋義：是的，我確實為她感到難過。

點撥：do在此句中起強調作用。當句子中沒有其他的助動詞時，我們可以在動詞前使用助動詞do表示對該動詞的強調。用于表示強調的do可以有時態的變化，但其后的動詞要用原形。例如：

I do hope youll stay for lunch. 我真地希望你留下吃午飯。

She did write to say thank you. 她的確寫信向你道謝了。

4. Youll understand that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she wont.

釋義：你將明白你需要努力工作，才能得到你想要的東西，而她不能。

點撥：that you need to work hard to get the things that you want but she wont作understand的賓語從句，不定式to get the things作結果狀語，that you want作定語從句，修飾先行詞things。例如：

I think that you should go over your lessons seriously to pass the examinations that are important. 我認為你應該認真復習你的功課，才能通過很重要的考試。

【閱讀鏈接】

I. Choose the right answer.

1. During the authors elementary school years， she _______.

A. wished that her mom were as good as Tiffanys

B. went to school with Tiffany every day

C. usually compared her lesson with Tiffanys

D. sometimes gave lots of money to Tiffany

2. Why did the authors mom always say “Poor Tiffany”？

A. She felt sorry for Tiffany because Tiffany was poor.

B. She wanted to tell a lie to comfort the author.

C. She thought that Tiffany was spoiled by her mother.

D. She told the author this and wanted her to help Tiffany.

3. What do we learn about the authors mother？

A. She was strict and taught the author to be independent.

B. She cared for other peoples children more than her own.

C. She thought that life lessons were as important as money.

D. She was so poor that she couldnt give the author much money.

4. What can we infer from the passage？

A. The author was quite annoyed with her mother in the past.

B. The authors mother felt sorry for Tiffany.

C. Tiffanys mother took the authors mothers advice.

D. The author is thankful to her mother now.

II. Fill in the blanks.

1. They dont ____ ____ ____ ____ （允許我們游泳） at this beach.

2. If they ____ ____ ____ （朝上看） the sky， they could see the beautiful clear moon.

3. He ____ ____ （確實來過） but soon went back.

4. ____ ____ （所發生的事情） just now was interesting.

5. I wish you ____ ____ （來） to my birthday party yesterday.

6. Treat your keyboard ____ ____ （小心） and it should last for years.