One day, King Solomon had a dream, in which an immortal told him one sentence, hoping he would always remember it because it covered all human wisdom. But the next morning when he woke up, King Solomon couldn't think what it was, so he summoned the ministers and ordered them to think it up with him.
One of the ministers asked him, “Your Majesty, did the immortal ever tell you what use that sentence was? Do you remember?”
“Yes,” King Solomon answered, “he told me it covered all human wisdom and could make people not forget themselves in happiness, extricate themselves in sadness, and always keep industrious, placid, cautious and conscientious from youth to old age.”
“Oh, Your Majesty, in this case, please give us a little time to think,” the minister requested.
“Okay,” Solomon the king consented and ordered his attendant to fetch a big diamond ring to the minister, “When you think it out, you must engrave it on the face of the ring. By the time, I will wear it on my hand every day so that I remind myself.”
A few days later, the chief minister respectfully offered King Solomon the ring, on whose face was carved a very simple sentence, “This will also be past.”
先逐字读一遍短文，不认识的不着急查词典，读完一遍，不熟悉的生词大约心中有数了，再回头仔细读一遍，有生词的部分，细读，根据上下文猜测一下意思。如果手头有纸笔不妨写下来。最好通读三遍，文章的大约意思估计也就明白八九不离十了。再逐字查阅生词，最后再对照译文，通读一两遍。还有疑难不解的地方做好笔记请教他人。
immortal
英 [ɪ'mɔːt(ə)l]美 [ɪ'mɔrtl]
adj. 不朽的；神仙的；长生的
n. 神仙；不朽人物
助记提示
1. im- "not, opposite of" mort- -al.
2. => deathless, undying.
中文词源
immortal 不死的，神仙
im-,不，非，mortal,凡人，终有一死的。
The heroes of the people are immortal.
人民英雄永垂不朽!
mortal
英 ['mɔːt(ə)l]美 ['mɔrtl]
adj. 凡人的；致死的；终有一死的；不共戴天的
n. 人类，凡人
来自拉丁语mors,死亡，词源同murder,morbid.引申词义死亡的，终有一死的，后该词用于指凡人。比较immortal.
wisdom
英 ['wɪzdəm]美 ['wɪzdəm]
n. 智慧，才智；明智；学识；至理名言
wis-,智慧，词源同wise,-dom,抽象名词后缀。
With knowledge and wisdom, evil could be vanquished on this earth.
拥有了知识和智慧就能够把恶势力从这个世界上铲除。
summon
英 ['sʌmən]美 ['sʌmən]
vt. 召唤；召集；鼓起；振作
sum-,在下，-mon,警告，词源同 monitor,admonish.即给予警告，后引申词义传唤，召唤等。
The oddest events will summon up memories.
那些非常稀奇古怪的事情会唤起人们的记忆。
extricate
英 ['ekstrɪkeɪt]美 ['ɛkstrɪket]
vt. 使解脱；解救；使游离
助记提示
1. ex- "out of, out from" tric- "perplexity" -ate.
2. => out of entangle, out from perplex, disentangle.
ex-, 向外。-tric, 烦琐，琐事，词源同trick, intricate. 即脱离琐事。
He had managed to extricate himself from most of his official duties.
他终于摆脱了大部分公务。
industrious
英 [ɪn'dʌstrɪəs]美 [ɪn'dʌstrɪəs]
adj. 勤勉的
We Chinese people are brave and industrious.
我们中国人是勇敢勤劳的.
placid
英 ['plæsɪd]美 ['plæsɪd]
adj. 平静的；温和的；沉着的
来自拉丁语placate,安抚，安慰，词源同please,placate.引申词义安抚的，平静的。
The waters darkly glistened ; at times feeding fish broke the placid surface.
湖水在黑暗中发光,水面上时时有鱼的唼喋声.
conscientious
英 [,kɒnʃɪ'enʃəs]美 ['kɑnʃɪ'ɛnʃəs]
adj. 认真的；尽责的；本着良心的；小心谨慎的
The conscientious researcher is careful to avoid up the pole and omission.
那位一丝不苟的研究人员总是小心谨慎地避免错误或疏漏.
in this case
英[ɪn ðɪs keɪs]
美[ɪn ðɪs keɪs]
既然是这样;
In this case, there is an urgent need for people in developing countries to have access to clean water to improve their health.
在这种情况下,发展中国家的人民迫切需要获得清洁的水来改善他们的健康。
consented
英[kənˈsentɪd]
美[kənˈsentɪd]
v.同意;准许;允许;
consent的过去分词和过去式;
This information must not be disclosed without prior written consent.
未事先征得书面许可，此消息不得泄露。
attendant
英 [ə'tend(ə)nt]美 [ə'tɛndənt]
adj. 伴随的；侍候的
n. 服务员，侍者；随员，陪从
助记提示
1. at- "to" tend- -ant.
2. literally "stretch toward".
3. => give attention to, expect, wait for, pay attention, take care of, wait upon.
4. The notion is of "stretching" one's mind toward something.
The girl attendant has set about cleaning the room.
那位女服务员已开始打扫房间.
fetch
英 [fetʃ]美 [fɛtʃ]
vt. 取来；接来；到达；吸引
vi. 拿；取物；卖得
n. 取得；诡计
fet, 同foot, 脚。即跑腿。
He sent his driver to fetch him a strawberry shake.
他让司机去给他买一杯草莓奶昔。
engrave
英 [ɪn'greɪv; en-]美 [ɪn'ɡrev]
vt. 雕刻；铭记
en-, 进入，使。grave, 雕刻。
The jeweller will engrave the inside of the ring with her name.
珠宝匠将在戒指的内表面上刻上她的名字.
respectful
英 [rɪ'spek(t)fʊl; -f(ə)l]美 [rɪ'spɛktfəl]
adj. 恭敬的；有礼貌的
He was always so polite and respectful.
他总是彬彬有礼，尊敬他人。
carved
英[kɑːvd]
美[kɑːrvd]
v.雕刻;刻;把(熟肉)切成块;
carve的过去分词和过去式;
It was common practice for prisoners to carve objects from animal bones to pass the time.
用动物骨头雕刻物品是犯人打发时间的一种常见做法。
有一天，所罗门王做了一个梦，梦里有位神仙告诉他一句话，希望他能永远记住，因为这句话涵盖了所有的人类智慧。可是第二天早上醒来时，所罗门王怎么也想不起来这句话了，于是他召集大臣们，命令大家和他一起想。
一位大臣问道：“陛下，神仙有没有说那句话有什么用处？您还记得吗？”
“记得，”所罗门王回答：“他说这句话包含了所有的人类智慧，能提醒人们幸福时不要忘乎所以，痛苦时不要妄自沉沦，从青年到老年能一直勤勤恳恳、平和知足、小心谨慎、兢兢业业地过。”
哦，陛下，这样的话，请给我们点儿时间想想看。”大臣请求道。
“可以，”所罗门王同意了，命令随从取来一枚大钻石戒指交给大臣：“等你想出来的时候，就把那句话刻在戒指的正面。到时候，我就能戴在手上，每天提醒自己了。”
几天后，宰相恭敬地向所罗门王献上戒指，只见戒指正面刻着一句非常简短的话：“这也将成为过去。”
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