【真題原文】 
      external adj. 1 外部的, 客觀的, [醫(yī)]外用的2 外國的 n. 外部, 外面
      [同義] exterior ， outer， outside， surface
      [反義] internal adj. 內(nèi)在的, 國內(nèi)的

      measure n. 1尺寸, 量度器, 量度標(biāo)準(zhǔn)2 方法, 測量, 措施
      vt. 1 測量, 測度, 估量2 分派, 權(quán)衡, 調(diào)節(jié) vi. 量
      [例] 1 測量：The standard kilogram is maintained as a measure of mass. 標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的千克是測量質(zhì)量的量度
      2 較量She measured her power with that of a dangerous adversary. 她拿自己的力量和危險的敵手進行較量。
      [同義] appraise ，assess ，compare， estimate ，grade， rank ，rate ，size
      [固定搭配] measure up （常與to 連用）合格；符合（標(biāo)準(zhǔn)）

      contrast vt. 使與...對比, 使與...對照 vi. 和...形成對照 n. 對比, 對照, (對照中的)差異
      [例] My new school was a welcome contrast to the one before. 我的新學(xué)校比以前的好多了。
      [同義] compare， liken， match， measure

      definition n. 1 定義2 解說3 精確度, (輪廓影像等的)清晰度
     [例] Good photographs have definition. 好的照片都很清晰。
     [派生] define vt. 定義, 詳細(xì)說明 definite adj. 明確的, 一定的

      specific n. 1 特效藥2 細(xì)節(jié) adj. 1 詳細(xì)而精確的, 明確的2 特殊的, 特效的, [生物]種的
      [例] I want a specific answer.我想要一個明確的回答。
      [同義] definite ，fixed， particular ，precise， special
      [反義] general n. 1 普通2 將軍3 概要
      adj. 1 一般的, 普通的2 綜合的, 概括的, 全面的, 大體的 n. 常規(guī)
      [派生] specify vt. 1 指定2 詳細(xì)說明, 列入清單
      specification n. 詳述, 規(guī)格, 說明書, 規(guī)范

      signpost n. 路標(biāo)
      [例] We usually put up signposts on the highway for the drivers.我們經(jīng)常在高速公路上為司機們設(shè)立些路標(biāo)。
      landmark n. 1(航海)陸標(biāo), 地界標(biāo), 里程碑2 劃時代的事
      [例] The Potala Palace is Tibet's cardinal landmark and a structure that deserves a place as one of the wonders of eastern architecture. 布達拉宮是西藏標(biāo)志性的建筑，它能被認(rèn)為是東方建筑的奇跡之一。
      [同義] milestone ，point

       encounter v. 遭遇, 遇到, 相遇 n. 遭遇, 遭遇戰(zhàn)
      [例] The young scientists encountered many difficulties during their exploration.
      年輕的科學(xué)家們在探險期間遇到了許多困難。
      [同義] battle， collide， come across， confront ，meet， oppose

      obstacle n. 障礙, 妨害物
      [例] We combat obstacles in order to get repose? Henry Adams).
      "為了獲得歇息，我們與困難斗爭"（亨利?亞當(dāng)斯）。
      [同義] barrier， block， deterrent ，hindrance ，hitch， impediment obstruction，snag ，stoppage
      [反義] help n. 幫忙, 補救辦法, 助手, 治療, <美>傭工 vt. 幫助, 助長, 接濟, 治療, 款待
      vi. 有用, 救命, 招待

      essential adj. 1 本質(zhì)的, 實質(zhì)的, 基本的2 提煉的, 精華的 n. 1 本質(zhì), 實質(zhì)2 要素, 要點
      [例] What is the essential difference between these two economic systems? 這兩種經(jīng)濟體制的本質(zhì)區(qū)別是什么?
      [同義] basic, fundamental, important, necessary , needed, required , vital
      [派生] essence n. 基本, [哲]本質(zhì), 香精

      perceive vt. 察覺 v. 感知, 感到, 認(rèn)識到
      [例] I perceived that I could not make her change her mind. 我發(fā)覺我不能使她改變她的主意。
      [同義] detect, distinguish, experience, feel make out, observe, recognize sense
      [派生] perception n.理解, 感知, 感覺, DPS 公司出的數(shù)字影像壓縮卡
      perceptive adj. 有理解的

      tend vi . 趨向, 往往是 vt. 照管, 護理
      [例] People under stress tend to express their full range of potential.處于壓力下的人容易發(fā)揮自己全部的潛力。
      [同義] administer, attend , bend , care for, foster, help , incline
      [派生] tendency n. 趨向, 傾向

      indecisive adj. 非決定性的
      [例] There are no indecisive boundaries between the two opinions. 這兩種意見界線分明。
      [反義] decisive adj. 決定性的

       timidity n. 膽怯
      [例] His timidity prevented him from asking her to the dance . 他由于膽怯沒敢邀請她去參加舞會。
      [派生] timid adj. 膽小的, 羞怯的

      hesitate v. 猶豫, 躊躇, 不愿
      [例] He hesitated before he answered because he didn't know what to say.
       他在回答之前猶豫了一下，因為他不知道說什么。
      [同義] falter， flounder， let up ，pause， rest， waver
      [反義] dare ，decide ，determine
      [派生] hesitation n. 猶豫, 躊躇

      cope vi. (善于)應(yīng)付, (善于)處理
      [例] She is not a competent driver and can't cope with driving in heavy traffic.
      "她不是個能干的司機,在交通擁擠時就開不好車。"
      [同義] face， put up ，struggle

      insecurity n. 不安全, 不安全感
      [例] The child's feeling of insecurity was caused by his mother's early death .
      這孩子無依無靠的感覺是由于他母親早死所造成的。
      [反義] security n. 安全
      [派生] secure adj. 安全的, 可靠的, 放心的, 無慮的 v. 保護

      unavoidable adj. 不能避免的, 不能取消的
      [例] an unavoidable accident 必然會發(fā)生的事故
      [同義] certain， inescapable， inevitable ， sure
      [反義] avoidable adj. 可避免的

     cease v. 停止, 終了
      [例] We worked without cease to get the project finished on time. 我們不停地生產(chǎn)以便按時完成計劃
      [同義] discontinue， end， halt， quit ，stop
      [反義] begin v. 開始, 首先
      [固定搭配] cease out 絕跡； cease to be 不再是；cease to be in force 失效； cease to be in effect 失效；

     【真題原文】

      There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process.People have generally viewed personal growth as an external result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language---all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
      By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they encounter new experiences and unexpected obstacles. In this process , the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept .
      In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to confront the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may "fail" at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow. Do we perceive ourselves as quick and curious? If so, then we tend to take more chances and to be more open to unfamiliar experiences. Do we think we're shy and indecisive? Then our sense of timidity can cause us to hesitate, to move slowly, and not to take a step until we know the ground is safe. Do we think we're slow to adapt to change or that we' re not smart enough to cope with a new challenge? Then we are likely to take a more passive role or not try at all.
      These feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not confront and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making .

【原文翻譯】

      對成長的看法基本上有兩種：一種把成長看成是結(jié)果，一種把它看成是過程。人們大多把個人成長看成是容易識別和衡量的外部結(jié)果。工人得到了晉升，學(xué)生的成績有了提高，外國人學(xué)會了一門新語言——所有這些都是取得了能顯示出他們努力的可衡量結(jié)果的例子。
       相比之下，個人成長的過程卻比較難以確定，因為從定義上可以看出，它是一個旅程，而不是旅程中特定的標(biāo)志或里程碑。這個過程指的并不是道路本身，而是人們在遭遇新的體驗和預(yù)料不到的挫折時的態(tài)度和情感，勇氣和憂慮。在這個過程中，這一旅程永遠(yuǎn)沒有終點，總是有新的體驗，新的嘗試和新的挑戰(zhàn)。
       為了實現(xiàn)個人成長，探索新道路，人們需要有愿意冒風(fēng)險的精神，人們要有勇于面對未知的世界的精神，人們要有敢于接受開始時也許就會失敗的可能性。我們在探索新路的時候如何看待自己，這對我們的成長能力是至關(guān)重要的。我們是否認(rèn)為自己頭腦靈活、好奇心強？如果是這樣，我們會更愿意冒風(fēng)險，更愿意嘗試不熟悉的體驗。我們是否認(rèn)為自己羞怯而缺乏主見？如果這樣，那么膽怯會使我們猶豫、行動緩慢，在邁出一步之前總是先要確定路況是否安全。我們是否認(rèn)為自己調(diào)整自我以適應(yīng)變化很慢，或我們是否認(rèn)為自己不夠聰明，無法迎接新的挑戰(zhàn)？這樣的話，我們可能會采取更加被動的態(tài)度，或者根本就不去嘗試新的事物。
      如果我們要去改變自我并成長的話，這些不安全感和自我懷疑都是不可避免的和必經(jīng)的。如果無法面對和克服這些內(nèi)心的恐懼和疑慮，如果我們對自己過分保護，那我們就會停止成長，我們就會作繭自縛。