Words are the building blocks of language, and acquiring a rich vocabulary is essential for communication, reading comprehension, and academic success. As we grow and develop, our vocabulary expands, allowing us to express ourselves with greater accuracy and precision.
词汇是语言的基石，掌握丰富的词汇对于沟通、阅读理解和学术成功至关重要。我们在成长发展过程中，词汇不断扩充，使我们能够更加准确、精确地表达自己。
The study of words is an ongoing process that begins in childhood and continues throughout our lives. As children, we learn new words through exposure to language and through explicit instruction from parents and teachers. As we become adults, we continue to expand our vocabulary through reading, writing, and conversation.
学习词汇是一个持续的过程，从童年开始一直延续到我们的一生。孩子们通过接触语言和父母、老师的明确教导学习新单词。当我们成为成年人时，我们通过阅读、写作和交谈继续扩展我们的词汇量。
A large vocabulary not only enhances our ability to communicate effectively, but it also improves our critical thinking skills and enables us to better understand the world around us. When we have a strong grasp of language, we are able to articulate our thoughts and ideas with greater clarity and subtlety, and we are better equipped to analyze and evaluate complex information.
丰富的词汇量不仅增强了我们有效沟通的能力，而且提高了我们的批判性思维能力，使我们更好地理解周围的世界。当我们对语言有一个牢固的掌握时，我们能够更清晰、更微妙地表达我们的想法和观点，并且更好地分析和评价复杂的信息。
In addition, a strong vocabulary is essential for academic success. Students who have a broad range of vocabulary are better able to understand and analyze complex texts, and they are able to express themselves more effectively in both oral and written communication.
此外，强大的词汇量对于学术成功至关重要。拥有广泛的词汇量的学生能够更好地理解和分析复杂的文本，并能够在口头和书面交流中更有效地表达自己。
Therefore, the study of words should be given a high priority in our education system. Teachers should make a concerted effort to explicitly teach new vocabulary, and students should be encouraged to read widely and independently in order to expand their knowledge of language.
因此，在我们的教育体系中，应该优先考虑学习词汇。老师应该努力明确地教授新单词，鼓励学生广泛而独立地阅读，以扩展他们对语言的知识。
In conclusion, the study of words is essential for effective communication, critical thinking, and academic success. By expanding our vocabulary, we are able to deepen our understanding of the world and express ourselves with greater precision and sophistication.
总之，学习词汇对于有效沟通、批判性思维和学术成功至关重要。通过扩展我们的词汇量，我们能够加深我们对世界的理解，以更精确、更复杂的方式表达自己。
That if your vocabulary is limited your chances of success are limited.
That one of the easiest and quickest ways to get ahead is by consciously building up your knowledge of words.
That the vocabulary of the average person almost stops growing by the middle twenties. And that from then on it is necessary to have an intelligent plan if progress is to be made. No haphazard hit-or-miss methods will do.
...
The study of words is not merely something that has to do with literature. Words are your tools of thought. You can't even think at all without them. Try it. If you are planning to go downtown this afternoon you will find that you are saying to yourself: "I think I will go downtown this afternoon." You can't make such a simple decision as this without using words.
Without words you could make no decisions and form no judgments whatsoever. A pianist may have the most beautiful tunes in his head, but if he had only five keys on his piano he would never get more than a fraction of these tunes out.
Your words are your keys for your thoughts. And the more words you have at your command, the deeper, clearer and more accurate will be your thinking.
A command of English will not only improve the processes of your mind. It will give you assurance; build your self-confidence; lend color to your personality; increase your popularity. Your words are your personality. Your vocabulary is you.
Your words are all that we, your friends, have to know and judge you by. You have no other medium for telling us your thoughts—for convincing us, persuading us, giving us orders.
Excerpt From Give Us 15 Minutes a Day
By Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis
［参考译文］
学习词汇的重要性
威尔弗雷德·芬克，诺曼·刘易斯
如果你的词汇量不大，你成功的机会也就不多。
最简单而又最迅捷的领先方法之一就是有意识地扩大你的词汇知识。
普通人的词汇量到了二十五六岁左右几乎就不再增加了。从那以后要想继续增加词汇量就必须有一个精心设计的计划。随意安排的、漫无目的计划是不起作用的。
……
词汇学习并非只是某种与文学有关的事情。词汇是思维的工具。缺乏词汇你甚至根本无法思考。你可以试一试。如果你打算今天下午进城，你会发现你在自言自语：“我想今天下午我要进趟城。”不借助词语的话，你就连这样一个简单的决定也作不了。
没有了词汇你什么决定也作不了，什么判断也作不成。一位钢琴家的脑子里可能想到了一首非常美妙的曲子，但是如果他的钢琴上只有五个音键的话，他永远也只能演奏出这首曲子的一些破碎的片段。
你的词汇是你思维的关键。你所掌握的词汇越多，你的思想就越深邃、越清晰、越准确。
掌握英语不仅可以改进你的思维方式，它还给你信心，令你自信，带给你鲜明的个性，使你更受欢迎。你的用词反映了你的个性。所谓词如其人。
作为你的朋友，我们大家都是从你的言辞中来了解和评价你的。除此以外，你无法用别的什么交际手段来告诉我们你的想法——无法使我们信服，无法劝服我们，无法给我们下命令。
［注释］
-literature [ˈlɪtərəʧə(r)] n. 文学（作品），文艺，著作，文献
-convince [kənˈvɪns] v. 使确信，使信服 to bring by the use of argument or evidence to firm belief or a course of action
［作者简介］
威尔弗雷德·芬克（Wilfred Funk），词典编纂家、出版家、作家；诺曼·刘易斯（Norman Lewis），纽约州立大学的英语指导教师，1942年与芬克合作出版《三十天获取更强大词汇量》（Thirty Days to A More Powerful Vocabulary）一书。该书是美国出版史上最为畅销的“自学手册”之一。