人生之求13-两粒橡子

[00:00.00]Two Acorns² 两粒橡子
[00:05.74]If you want to understand adversity,
[00:08.90]take two identical acorns from the same oak tree
[00:12.96]and plant them in two different locations.
[00:15.91]Plant the first in the middle of a dense³ forest,
[00:19.18]and the other on a hill by itself.
[00:21.60]Here’s what will happen.
[00:24.02]The oak standing⁴ on a hillside is exposed to every storm and gale⁵.
[00:29.90]As a result its roots plunge⁶ deep into the earth
[00:34.19]and spread in every direction,
[00:36.14]even wrapping themselves around giant boulders⁷.
[00:39.96]At times it may seem the tree isn’t growing fast enough—
[00:44.66]but the growth is happening under ground.
[00:47.85]It’s as if the roots know they must protect the tree
[00:52.00]from the threatening elements.
[00:53.98]What about the acorn¹ planted in the forest?
[00:58.02]It becomes a weak,
[00:59.76]frail sapling having to compete with giant oaks for nutrients⁸ and space.
[01:05.99]And since it is protected by its neighbors,
[01:09.29]the little oak doesn’t sense the need to spread its roots for support.
[01:14.54]Don’t be afraid of adversity.
[01:17.93]Welcome it!
[01:19.24]That’s your sure-fire route to ultimate success.

1 acorn   

n.橡实，橡子

参考例句：

• The oak is implicit in the acorn.橡树孕育于橡子之中。
• The tree grew from a small acorn.橡树从一粒小橡子生长而来。

2 acorns   

n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Great oaks from little acorns grow. 万丈高楼平地起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Welcome to my new website!It may not look much at the moment, but great oaks from little acorns grow! 欢迎来到我的新网站。它现在可能微不足道，不过万丈高楼平地起嘛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 gale   

n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等）

参考例句：

• We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
• According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报，明天有大风。

6 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

7 boulders   

n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾

参考例句：

• Seals basked on boulders in a flat calm. 海面风平浪静，海豹在巨石上晒太阳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The river takes a headlong plunge into a maelstrom of rocks and boulders. 河水急流而下，入一个漂砾的漩涡中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》