LESSON 161 AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK ON LIFE
As a child, Tom was very much oriented towards botanical studies. Anything organic, and particularly plant life, was of enormous interest to him, from the smallest to the largest organisms. When he was not frolicking in his grandparents’ orchard, he would go out into the woods, looking for wild orchids. This curiosity never quite left him, even though he changed his orientation when he entered university. He opted foe a major in oriental studies, of all things, while choosing film-making as his optional subject. In his free time, he played the trumpet in the university orchestra.
Tom always had an optimistic outlook on life. Depression, to Tom, was definitely not an option. While others would consult an oracle from time to time, in order to learn what they could do about their future, this was not Tom’s at all.
His studies, combined with his extramural activities, gradually brought him into quite a different social orbit from the one he grew up in, which led to quite an enrichment of his life experience. Unlike many of his classmates who struggled to keep up with the program of studies, university was no ordeal to Tom at all. He felt in no way restricted by the increasing number of ordinances that were being issued by various authorities, either. Rather, he felt as though, his oral prowess increased by leaps and bounds during his time at university, as a result of which he was asked to give the oration on graduation. To tell you the truth, he was exhilarated, almost as if he was orbiting the earth. And that was what he had always wanted: an orbital experience!
WORDS:
oracle n.神谕，先知
oral adj.口头的
oration n.正式演说
orbit n.轨道 v.绕…轨道而行
orbital adj.轨道的
orchard n.果园
orchard n.管弦乐队
orchid n.兰花
ordeal n.严峻考验，痛苦的经历
ordinance n.法令，条例
ore n.矿石
organic adj.有机的
organism n.生物，有机物
orientation n.定向，熟悉情况
orient v.使适应，确定方向
oriental adj.亚洲的，东方的 |