Bloom where you are planted

精彩导读

20世纪80年代初，作者在一所联合学院教幼儿发展课程时认识了立志扎根乡村教育的Dorothy，通过和她的接触，作者了解到虽然她在偏远山区，从事着平凡的工作，但正是她的付出和关爱，铸就了孩子们的成功之路，极大地诠释了她的人生价值。

文章词数 3 6 2 建议用时 7′ 难度系数 ★★★

In my living room，there is a plaque（匾）that advises me to“Bloom（开花）where you are planted.”It reminds me ofDorothy.I got to know Dorothyin the early 1980s，when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program with Union College in Barbourville， Kentucky. The job responsibilities required occasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program.Dorothystands outin my memory as one who “bloomed” in her remote area.

Dorothy taught in a school In Harlan County，Kentucky，Appalachian Mountain area.To get to her school from the town of Harlan，I followed a road winding around the mountain.In the eight-mile journey， I crossed the same railroad track five times，giving the possibility of getting caught by the same train five times.Rather thanfeeling excited by this drive through the mountains，I found it depressing.The poverty level was shocking and the small shabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of hopelessness.

From the moment of my arrival at the little school， all gloom （忧郁） disappeared.Upon arrivingat Dorothy's classroom.I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen.The children had prepared to show me their latest projects.Dorothy told me with a big smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread for “dinner” （lunch）.In caseyou don't know，poke greens are a weed-type plant that grows wild，especially on poor ground.

Dorothy neverran out ofreports of exciting activities of her students.Her enthusiasm never cooled down.When it was time to sit for the testing and interviewing required to receive herChild Development Associate Certification，Dorothy was ready.She came to the assessment and passed in all areas.Afterwards，sheinvited me tothe one-andonly steak house in the area to celebrate her victory，as ifshe had received her Ph.D.degree.After the meal，she placed a little box containing an old pen in my hand.She said it was a family heirloom（传家宝），but to me it is a treasured symbol,appreciation and pride that cannot be matched.

阅读扫障

Ⅰ.热词积累

1.advise sb to do sth建议某人做某事

2.remind sb of...使某人想起……

3.in the early 1980s在20世纪80年代初期

4.stand out突出；显眼；杰出

5.rather than而不是；而不愿

6.on/upon doing sth一……就……

7.run out of用完；耗尽

8.invite sb to...邀请某人去……

9.as if好像

10.in case假使；万一

Ⅱ.难句分析

1.In my living room，there is a plaque that advises me to “Bloom where you are planted.”

翻译：_________________________________________

【点石成金】句中that引导定语从句，where引导地点状语从句。

此句不用定语从句，把that定语从句改写成doing作定语：__________________________________________.

2.To get to her school from the town of Harlan，I followed a road winding around the mountain.为了从哈兰镇到她的学校，我沿着一条蜿蜒的环山路走。

【点石成金】句中todo作目的状语，翻译成 “为了”，wind是动词，表示“蜿蜒”，在句中用作非谓语动词，作定语，修饰road，与被修饰的名词是主动关系。

此句把目的状语放在主句之后不用逗号，表达成___________________________________.

译文助读

在我的起居室里，有一块牌匾，它告诉我“要在落地之处绽放”。这让我想起了Dorothy。20世纪80年代初，我认识了Dorothy，当时我正在肯塔基州巴伯维尔的联合学院教幼儿发展课程。工作职责要求每一位教师偶尔到教室参观。在我的记忆中，我清晰地记得Dorothy是一个在偏远地区扎根的人。

Dorothy在阿巴拉契亚山区肯塔基州哈兰县的一所学校任教。为了从哈兰镇到她的学校，我沿着一条蜿蜒的环山路走。在八英里的旅程中，我五次穿过同一条铁轨，有可能被同一列火车赶上五次。我发现它令人沮丧，而不是被穿越山区的兴奋驱使着。贫困程度令人震惊，这些破旧的小房子给了我最强烈的绝望感。

从我到达那所小学校的那一刻起，所有的忧郁就不见了。一到Dorothy的教室。我受到了笑脸的欢迎，受到了女王般的对待。孩子们已经准备好展现他们最新的节目。Dorothy微笑着告诉我，他们正在为“晚餐”（午餐）供应蔬菜沙拉和玉米面包。你知道吗，刺菜是一种杂草类型的植物，生长在野外，特别是在贫瘠的土地上。

Dorothy从来没有报道过她学生的精彩活动。她的热情从来没有冷却过。到了参加测试和面试的时候，她需要获得儿童发展助理证书，Dorothy已经做好了准备。她参加了评估，在所有方面都通过了考试。之后，她邀请我去这个地区唯一的牛排店庆祝她的胜利，就好像她获得了博士学位一样。饭后，她在我手里放了一个小盒子，里面装着一支旧钢笔。她说这是一个传家宝，但对我来说，这是一个珍贵的象征，欣赏和骄傲，是无法与之相匹配的。