Shake it off and take a step up!

   生活不断地往你身上撒各种脏土。成功的秘诀就是抖落身上的土，，每一个困难都是我们的垫脚石。只要我们从不停止努力，永不放弃，我们就能从哪怕是最深的井里出来。

    One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well(井n.).The animal cried piteously(可怜地adv.) as the farmer tried to figure out (想出，弄明白v.)what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn’t worth(值得v.) it to retrieve(救)the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed（抓，拿v.）a shovel(铲子n.) and began to shovel（铲.v.）dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized(认识到v.)what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement(让大家惊奇的是), he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished(惊讶的) at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up（往上登一步）. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon（不久，很快）, everyone was amazed（惊奇的） as the donkey stepped up over the edge（边n.）of the well and ran off!

    Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick（秘诀，窍门n.）to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Do remember, “Shake it off and take a step up!”

   词汇：

    piteously可怜地 retrieve救

    neighbor邻居 grabbed抓，拿

    shovel铲子；铲realized认识到

    horribly害怕地 amazement惊奇

    astonished惊讶的trick秘诀，窍门

    短语

    1. fell down into a well掉进井里

    2. tried to figure out 试图弄明白 

    3. cover up 覆盖

    4. to everyone’s amazement让大家惊奇的是

    5. quieted down安静下来

    6. take a step up往上登一步