1950s. Even with the prestige of her degree from Stanford, she was rejected from the entire law circuit as firms preferred to hire less qualified men rather than risk hiring a female lawyer, which was unprecedented. Yet Sandra Day O'Connor refused to give up on her dreams. Through sheer persistence she was eventually nominated and then appointed the first woman Supreme Court Justice of the United States of America. There, she acted as a crucial vote on issues like abortion and women's rights.

桑德拉·戴·奥康纳成长于既没自来水也没电的养牛场，她努力学习以使自己接受到最好的教育。 她的学习成绩在班上始终名列前茅，一路奋斗终于进入了斯坦福大学法学院，并以优异的成绩从法学院毕业。 尽管奥康纳勤奋刻苦，但在20世纪50年代，她仍然受到女人身份的制约。 即使斯坦福大学的学位有良好的声誉，她仍被整个法律界拒之门外，因为事务所宁愿聘请才干稍逊的男性，也不愿冒险破例雇佣一位女律师。 然而，桑德拉·戴·奥康纳并未放弃梦想。 她执著地坚持下去，终于得到提名并被任命为美国第一位女性最高法院大法官。 她任职期间，对很多问题，例如堕胎和妇女权利，都起到了极为关键的作用。

Many people simply say that they want something, but they do not expend the substantial effort required to achieve it. Many people let the threat of failure stop them from trying with all of their heart. The secret of success is based upon a burning inward desire — a robust, fierce will and focus — that fuels the determination to act, to keep preparing, to keep going even when we are tired and fail. As a wise saying goes: \how many times you fall down that matters. It's how many times you get back up that makes success!\

很多人只是嘴上说他们想要什么东西，但并不真正地付出大量努力去实现。 很多人因为害

怕失败而不敢全心尝试。 而成功的秘诀在于内心燃烧的欲望——一种坚定不移的意志和专注力——从而激发行动的决心，即使疲惫，即使失败，也会继续准备，继续前进。 正如一句箴言所说：“你摔倒了多少次并不要紧；你能多少次重新站起来对成功才至关重要！”

Focus on becoming more knowledgeable. Focus on gradual, consistent progress. Maintain the strong will to keep going — even when you are tired and want to slack or the odds seem too large. \With hard work, determination, dedication and preparation, you can transcend any handicap, accomplish any feat, and achieve success!

专注于汲取更多的知识，争取持之以恒地渐进，保持永不言退的坚强意志——即使在你疲惫想要松懈的时候，或者困难重重之时。 “执著地追求成功！” “有志者，事竟成！” 只要刻苦努力，意志坚决，专心投入，准备充分，你就能跨越一切障碍，完成所有壮举，取得成功！

（二）Word Bank

Where there is a will, there is a way. This proverb means that if you are really determined to do something, however difficult it might be, you will 1) eventually find a way to do it well. The 2) premier point is that you must have the will to achieve success.

Ninety percent of the failures that occur are due to the fact that there is no strong will involved. Many people simply say that they want something, but they do not make any 3) endeavor to achieve it. So, instead of getting it, they use the poorest excuse to explain the situation away.

On many occasions, people tend to 4) bypass every minute obstacle, making the

objective impossible to attain. In reality, if they have the will to succeed, they can get rid of the 5) handicaps and achieve their goals.

Only those with a(n) 6) committed and focused will and spirit can fight their way to final victory. Many a famous man has the same experience. They have 7) attained their prestige because they have had the will to 8) transcend apparently insuperable (无法克服的) obstacles. Many artists, statesmen, writers and inventors have manged to succeed because they possess a fierce will, which has helped them to accomplish major 9) feats.

Therefore, we can see that the main thing which one needs is a strong will. Weak-willed people never climb to the top. They collapse at the 10) slightest use of force against them. Strong-willed people, on the other hand will stand up against all odds and will make it a point to succeed.

（三）Translation

如今，很多年轻人不再选择\稳定\的工作，他们更愿意自主创业，依靠自己的智慧和奋斗去实现自我价值。青年创业（young entrepreneurship）是未来国家经济活力的来源，创业者的成功不但会创造财富、增加就业机会、改善大家的生活，从长远来看，对于国家更是一件好事，创业者正是让中国经济升级换代的力量。尤其是在当前，国家鼓励大众创业、万众创新，在政策上给予中小企业支持，这更加激发了年轻人的创业热情。

Nowadays, many young people no longer choose “stable” jobs. Instead, they prefer to start their own businesses and realize their self-value through their own wisdom and efforts. Young entrepreneurship is the source of national economic vitality in the future. The success of entrepreneurs not only creates fortune, increases job opportunities,

improves people’s life, but it is also good for the country in the long term. Entrepreneurs are a driving force in upgrading China’s economy. Especially for the time being, our country is encouraging people to start their own businesses and make innovations and giving policy support for medium and small businesses. This further arouses young people's enthusiasm to start their own businesses.

Unit 2 Beat your fear

（一）Text A：Swimming through fear游越恐惧

I was on a tour of France with my friends when our car pulled to a stop at the beach and we saw the Mediterranean Sea. Massive waves surged against large rocks that formed a waterproof jetty. People said this beach was known for its notorious rip currents. I shivered with fear. Nothing scared me as much as water.

当时我和朋友正在法国旅行，我们把汽车停在海滩，眼前就是地中海。 巨浪翻滚击打着构筑起防波堤的偌大岩石。 人们说这里的海滩以其可怕的裂流而著称。 恐惧让我不寒而栗。 没有什么比水让我更害怕了。

Just the sight of the sea made me sick to my stomach. 只是看到了海就已经让我觉得反胃。

I'd always loved water and been a good swimmer until last summer, when I'd decided to climb up to the highest diving board at the pool. I'd hopped from that height and hit the water with an incredible impact. The air was ousted from my lungs and I blacked out. The next thing I knew, my brother was pulling my feeble body out of the pool. From then on,