Challenges of School
?佚名 / Anonymous
Life is full of challenges. School has to be the most challenging obstacle in the lives of youth today.
Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spent there. There’s the challenge of coloring in the lines, a very real problem to any youngster. Or how about the challenge of remembering to raise one’s hand before one speaks? There are hundreds of rules and regulations that govern these young children. The one thing that keeps these children in line is the hope of reward. Yes, this is the brass ring. The reward for a clean desk is an extra five minutes of recess! The prize for having all homework done, a shiny-new pencil topper! These small wonders keep small people in line. They make the children love challenge.
Middle school is not so easy. It is not easy for the students, and it also isn’t easy for the teachers. The challenge of staying out of trouble, or writing that research paper—these are the new confrontations of an older, wiser group. This clan has outgrown the recess and pencil-topper tricks. They know that their efforts have to bring them something really useful, so morn and pop are pulled onto the scene. How does five, ten dollars for each “A” sound? Or, how about no telephone if one doesn’t do good in school? Need I say more?
By the time high school arrives, a student’s place in academic excellence or else their unlikelihood to even graduate has been established. Little can be done now to make life’s challenges seem interesting, especially where school comes in. The slothful are rewarded with a nice job at a gas station, and a fifteen-year-old Ford. The diligent are rewarded with a SAT score of over 1100, acceptance into Yale University, and a ticket to life. By meeting the challenges of school, sticking it out, and pulling through, they are given their greatest reward: success.
生活中处处有挑战。如今，年轻人所面临的最大挑战莫过于学校。
小学期间的挑战充满那个时代的气息。对于每个孩子来说，给各种线条上色，无疑如临大敌。还有，发言前记得要举手的挑战容易应对吗？为管教这些小家伙，学校制定了无数清规戒律。要让孩子们好好表现，就要给他们获奖的希望。的确，表现好就有得奖的机会。保持课桌干净，可多得五分钟休息时间；完成全部家庭作业，可获得一个崭新的铅笔帽！这些不起眼的惊喜可使那些小家伙循规蹈矩。同时，可以让他们爱上挑战！
中学生活并不容易。做学生不容易，当老师同样也不容易。对于年龄较大、更懂事的学生来说，他们不再因多得到几分钟休息时间或一个铅笔帽而感到满足，他们面临的新挑战是少惹事，学习写论文。他们很清楚，他们的努力应换来一些真正实用的东西，所以父母亲也被牵涉进来。作业获得A等，是不是该得到五美元或十美元，在学校表现不好回家不许打电话又该怎么办？类似的例子，我无须多言。
到了高中，一个学生的学业是否优秀，或能否顺利毕业，已是一目了然。这时，让生活中的挑战变得有意思已经不太可能了，尤其是学业。对于懒惰的学生，学业给予他的是一份加油站的差事，一辆跑了15年的老福特；然而，对于勤奋刻苦的学生，学业给予他的是一张耶鲁大学的通行证（他的入学考分1100多），他由此踏上生活的阳光大道。后者在学校时面对挑战坚忍不拔，过关斩将，终于得到生活的馈赠，成就斐然。
1. There are hundreds of_______and regulations that govern these young _______. The one thing that keeps these children in_______is the hope of reward. Yes, this is the brass_______. The reward for a clean desk is an_______ five minutes of recess!
2. Middle_______is not so easy. It is not easy for the students, and it also isn’t_______for the teachers. The challenge of staying_______of trouble, or writing that research_______—these are the new confrontations of an_______, wiser group. This clan_______outgrown the recess and pencil-topper tricks.
1. 生活中处处有挑战。如今，年轻人所面临的最大挑战莫过于学校。
2. 小学期间的挑战充满那个时代的气息。
3. 对于懒惰的学生，学业给予他的是一份加油站的差事，一辆跑了15年的老福特；对于勤奋刻苦的学生，学业给予他的是一张耶鲁大学的通行证。
1. Life is full of challenges.
be full of：充满；装满
2. Elementary school brings about a few challenges characteristic of those years spent there.
bring about：带来；产生