I must admit, I didn’t like Tom in the beginning. He lived in the house that was adjacent to mine, and I knew he was addicted to painkillers. He had injured his back while building adobe houses in the countryside for the local government administration. The painkillers numbed his back pain and allowed him to continue performing his heavy construction work. However, it wasn’t long before he got caught for failing to adhere to the drug laws.

　　I still recall what the judge told him shortly before he adjourned the court. “You’ll either have toadapt to a life without drugs or adjust to living in the prison that adjoins this courthouse.”

　　I was admittedly upset when the judge asked me to help administer Tom’s probation. I felt that the judge was making me an unwilling and unnecessary adjunct to the court system. But I had no choice. I thought to myself, “Adaptation is the key.” So I changed my attitude towards Tom and I soon learned that Tom was just as adaptable.

　　Tom heeded the judge’s warning. He quit his construction job and stopped using painkillers. He put all of his time and effort into inventing a new adhesive for constructing brick houses. His dedication was admirable. He became quite adept at chemistry and before long, he discovered a key additive that made his glue superior to all other adhesives.

　　Now, I greatly admire Tom and he has become a good friend. I guess adaptation really is the key!

　　adapt v. (使)适应，调整;改编

　　adaptable adj. 能适应的，适应性强的

　　adaptation n. 改编，改写;适应环境

　　addict vt. 使沉溺，使上瘾

　　addictive adj. 加法的; n. 添加剂

　　adept adj. 熟练的，擅长的，拿手的，有一手的

　　adhere vi. 黏附，粘牢;追随，坚持，遵守

　　adhesive n. 粘着物; adj. 粘着的

　　adjacent adj. 接近的，毗连的，临近的

　　adjoin vt. 相邻，毗邻

　　adjourn v. 延期，休会

　　adjunct n. 附件，附属，附庸

　　adjust vt. 调整，使适应于

　　administer vt. 管理

　　administration n. 管理，经营;当局，政府

　　admirable adj. 值得称赞的，令人钦佩的

　　admire vt. 钦佩，崇拜;欣赏

　　admit vt. 准许进入;承认

　　admittedly adv. 公认地;诚然地，无可否认地

　　adobe n. 泥砖，土坯房