【正文】 quality of his mind showed much insight. The phrase “photographic memory” falls too easily from the tongue and is rarely accurate, but what can be said with certainty of Richard Nixon is that he was blessed with a very good memory. For various reasons it has often suited him during his career to downplay this remarkable gift. During his life he preferred to brush aside discussion of this talent with the ment, “My memory is very good only for a simple reason — I worked at it.” However he acquired it, there is little doubt that this capacity for remembering information of every description, from names, facts and figures to speeches and documents, was fundamental to his later political success. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Next Previous “He was a very quiet child and rarely ever smiled or laughed”, recalled his schoolteacher Miss Gee. “I have no recollection of him playing with others in the playground, which undoubtedly he did … like other youngsters in mild weather Richard always came barefoot. Every day he wore a freshly cleaned white shirt with a big black bow tie and knee pants. He always looked like his mother had scrubbed him from head to toe. The funny thing is, I can never remember him ever getting dirty.” Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Next Previous The one person who could bring Richard out of his shell was his elder brother Harold, the oldest son in the family. Harold was a daredevil, a charmer, an outgoing risktaker who loved danger, excitement, rough and tumble. Richard heroworshipped his elder brother. Never quickmoving himself, he found it difficult to match the pace set by Harold as they raced off together into adventures. Their physical inequality was painfully apparent. Richard would tumble down, cut his knees, run out of breath, yet never quit in his struggles to keep up with his stronger brother. The first signs that Richard was going to be a great petitor and a great trier were displayed in his childhood relationship with Harold. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Next Previous One other close relative who had a major impact on Richard was his grandmother, Almira Milhous. She had strong passions for history, for poetry, for racial equality and especially for educating the young. This last interest made her a good municator with her thirtytwo grandchildren. Having been a schoolteacher before her marriage, Almira had a good eye for the brightest child in the class and she quickly spotted that of all her descendants, Richard Nixon had the most talent for absorbing knowledge. She was the first person ever to say, “That boy will one day be a leader.” Although she tried to be careful not to single him out for special treatment at family gatherings, it was nevertheless noticed that Almira was “especially attached to Richard.” Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Next Previous At her knee he read her history books, absorbed her firm belief in Republicanism, and came to share her admiration for Ghandi, Lincoln and other peacemakers whose biographies she gave to him. Above all, Richard absorbed from his grandmother certain key values that stayed with him throughout his life. “A passion for peace and a passion for privacy” was his summary of his Milhous heritage. He could well have added “a passion for hard work”. Richard Nixon grew up to be an industrious as well as a clever boy. The old saying that genius is one per cent inspiration and niynine per cent perspiration was applicable to him. When he was ten, Grandmother Almira gave Richard a poem. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Next Previous Work! Thank God for the might of it The ardor, the urge, the delight of it Work that springs from the heart’s desire Setting the brain and the soul on fire Abridged from Nixon, A Life by Jonathan Aithken first published in 1993. Approximately 1,200 words. Text Analysis Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Previous Words to Know ensure [in5FuE] vt. 確保，保證 =to make sure or certain。 insure . We can ensure that the work shall be done in the right way. 我們可以保證把工作做好。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to Know proficient [prE5fIFEnt] adj. 精通的 = having or marked by an advanced degree of petence . She is proficient at figure skating. 她精于花樣滑冰。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to Know infant [5InfEnt] n. 幼兒，嬰兒 =baby . Infant mortality has been dramatically reduced because of modern medicine. 由于現(xiàn)代醫(yī)學嬰兒死亡率已經(jīng)極大地降低了。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to Know awaken [E5weIkEn] vt. 激發(fā)，引起 =to cause to wake up . People must be awakened to the danger of these chemical weapons. (喻 ) 一定要喚起人們清楚地認識這些化學武器的危險性。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to Know encyclopedia [ensaIklEJ5pi:dIE] n. 百科全書 = a prehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects . A dictionary explains words and an encyclopedia explains facts. 詞典解釋詞義 ,百科全書解釋事物。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to Know periodical [pIErI5RdIkEl] n. 期刊 =magazine . His article was published in a learned periodical. 他的文章在學術(shù)期刊上發(fā)表了。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to Know recite [rI5saIt] vt. 背誦，朗誦 =memorize . The child can recite poems at the age of five. 這個孩子五歲時就會背詩了。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to Know expand [Ik5spAnd] vt. 擴大，發(fā)展 = enlarge . The business has expanded from having one office to having twelve. 這個公司已從一個分公司發(fā)展到擁有 12個分公司了。 Distant Education College, Jilin University Return Words to