The Power of Words

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods，and two of them fell into a deep pit ．All the other frogs gathered around the pit．When they saw how deep the pit was，they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead．The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all of their might．The other frogs kept telling them to stop，that they were as good as dead．

Finally，one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up．He fell down and died．The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could．Once again，the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die．He jumped even harder and finally made it out．When he got out，the other frogs said，“Did you not hear us？”The frog explained to them that he was deaf．He thought they were encouraging him the entire time．This story teaches us two lessons：

1．There is power of life and death in the tongue．An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day．

2．A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill him or her．

Be careful of what you say．Speak life to those who cross your path．The power of word…It is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way．Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times．Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another．Be special to others．

Words and Expressions

- pit n．井，深坑，深洞

as good as几乎，实际上

- heed n．留心，注意

life and death生死攸关

lift up举起，提起；鼓舞

make it成功

Read the following sentences：

This story teaches us two lessons：

1．There is power of life and death in the tongue．An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day．

2．A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill him or her．

Be careful of what you say．Speak life to those who cross your path．The power of word…It is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way．Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times．Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another．Be special to others．

Translate the sentences into Chinese and remember them：

（1）An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day．

对失败者一句__________的话可以__________并帮助他们__________。

（2）A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill him or her．

对不如意者一句__________的话，甚至可以__________。

（3）Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another．Be special to others．

那些__________别人的人是特别的，做一个__________的人吧！

参考译文

语言的力量

一群青蛙途经一片树林，有两只不慎掉入一个深坑。其余所有青蛙都围在坑的四周，他们一看坑那么深，就告诉那两只青蛙：他们死定了。两只青蛙浑然不顾，仍然全力想跳出深坑。其他青蛙还是不停地劝他们别跳了，等死算了。

终于其中一只青蛙听信了其他青蛙的劝告，放弃了努力，倒下死了。另一只青蛙仍在全力以赴地跳啊跳，上面的青蛙们再一次向他吼叫，别白费力气了，死了得了。他跳得更努力了，终于跳出了深坑。出来后，其他的青蛙问他：“你没有听到我们的话吗？”这只青蛙解释道，他是个聋子，他一直以为他们在鼓励他呢。

这个故事讲了两个道理：

1．言语有时具有生杀的力量，对失败者一句鼓励的话可以给他们向上的动力，助他们度过艰难的时光。

2．对不如意者一句打击的话，甚至可以成为杀死他们的最后一击。

说话要谨慎。对那些与我们生命相遇的人们，告之以生的语言吧！话语的力量……有时很难理解一句激励的话能有如此大的力量，那些剥夺身陷困境者自强精神的话语，谁都可以脱口而出的。那些不厌其烦地去鼓励别人的人是特别的，做一个对他人特别的人吧！