Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 56 · The Goal I Wrote in Pencil
Audio track 56
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Listen once before opening the English passage.
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At the beginning of the term, our teacher asked us to write one goal. I wrote, "I will read one English story every week."
I wrote it in pencil, not pen. My friend asked why.
"Because I may need to change it," I said. "If it is too easy, I can make it harder. If it is too hard, I can make it smaller."
A goal is not a stone wall. It is more like a line on a map. It helps you move, but you can adjust the route.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
学期开始时，老师让我们写一个目标。我写的是：‘我每周读一篇英语故事。’
我用铅笔写，而不是用钢笔。朋友问我为什么。
我说：‘因为以后也许需要调整。如果太容易，我可以加大难度；如果太难，我可以把目标缩小一些。’
目标不是一道石墙，更像地图上的一条线。它指引你前进，路线却可以随情况调整。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- goal
- 目标；每周读一篇英语故事。
- in pencil
- 用铅笔；象征以后可以修改。
- not pen
- 不是钢笔；对照不能轻易擦改的笔迹。
- may need to
- 也许需要……；为调整留下余地。
- too easy
- 太容易；可以增加难度。
- make it harder
- 让它更难；提高目标要求。
- make it smaller
- 把它缩小；太难时减少任务量。
- stone wall
- 石墙；比喻固定不变的障碍。
- line on a map
- 地图上的线；比喻可调整的前进路线。
- adjust
- 调整；根据实际情况改变计划。
Background notes (Chinese)
铅笔字可以擦改，正好呼应‘目标能够调整’这一想法。修改难度并不等于放弃目标；它是根据实际进展，让计划保持可执行。