3.Making The Grade(1361)

Passage Three 

This article comes from a small story in the author's autobiography, which tells a meaningful thing he experienced in college, telling us to calmly analyze and face difficulties with a positive attitude.

这篇文章出自作者的自传中的一个小故事，讲述了他在大学期间所经历的一件很有意义的事情，告诉我们在遇见困难时要冷静分析，以积极的态度面对。

Making The Grade

Varda One

【1】In 1951, I was eighteen and traveling with all the money I had in the world, fifty dollars. I was on a bus heading from Los Angeles to Berkeley. My dream of attending the university was coming true.I'd already paid tuition for the semester and for one month at the co-op residence. After that, I had to furnish the rest-my impoverished parents couldn't rescue me.

【2】I'd been on my own as a live-in mother's helper since I was fifteen, leaving high school at noon to care for children till midnight. All through high school and my first year of college, I'd longed to participate in extracurricular activities,but my job made that impossible. Now that I was transferring to Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship.

【3】That first week I found a waitress job,baby-sat and washed dishes at the coop as part of my rent. At the end of the semester, I had the B average I needed fora scholarship. All I had to do was achieve the B average next term.

【4】It didn't occur to me to take a snap course: I'd come to the university to learn something. I believed I could excel academically and take tough subjects.

【5】One such course was a survey of world literature. It was taught by Professor Sears Jayne, who roamed the stage of a huge auditorium, wearing a microphone while lecturing to packed rows. There was no text. Instead, we used paperbacks Budgetwise, this made it easier since could buy them as needed.

【6】I was fascinated with the concepts he presented. To many students, it was just a degree requirement, but to me, it was a feast of exciting ideas. My co-op friends who were also taking the course asked for my help. We formed a study group,which I led.

【7】When I took the first exam-all essay questions-I was sure I'd done well. On the ground floor, amid tables heaped with test booklets, I picked out mine. Therein red was my grade, a 77, C-plus. I was shocked. English was my best subject!To add insult to injury, I found that my studymates had received Bs. They thanked me for my coaching.

【8】I confronted the teaching assistant, who referred me to Professor Jayne, who listened to my impassioned arguments but remained unmoved.

【9】I'd never questioned a teacher about a grade before-never had to didn't occur to me to plead my need for a scholarship; I wanted justice, not pity. I was convinced that my answers merited a higher grade.

【10】I resolved to try harder, although I didn't know what that meant because school had always been easy for me.I'd used persistence in finding jobs or scrubbing floors, but not in pushing myself intellectually. Although I chose challenging courses, I was used to coasting toward As.

【11】I read the paperbacks more carefully, but my efforts yielded another 77. Again,C-plus for me and Bs and As for my pals, who thanked me profusely. Again,I returned to Dr. Jayne and questioned his judgment irreverently, Again, he listened patiently, discussed the material with me, but wouldn't budge the C-plus stood. He seemed fascinated by my ardors in discussing the course ideas,but my dreams of a scholarship and extracurricular activities were fading fast.

【12】One more test before the final. One more chance to redeem myself. Yet another hurdle loomed. The last book we studied.T. S. Eliot's The Wasteland, was available only in hardback. Too expensive for my budget.

【13】I borrowed it from the library. However, I knew I needed my own book to annotate.I couldn't afford a big library fine either.In 1951, there were no copying machines,so it seemed logical to haul out my trusty old Royal manual typewriter and start copying all 420 pages. In between waitressing, washing dishes, attending classes, baby-sitting, and tutoring the study group, I managed to pound them out.

【14】I redoubled my efforts for this third exam. For the first time, I learned the meaning of the word “thorough”. I'd never realized how hard other students struggled for what came easily to me.

【15】My efforts did absolutely no good.Everything, down to the dreaded 77, went as before. Back I marched into Dr. Jayne's office. I dragged out my dog-eared, note-blackened texts, arguing my points as I had done before. When I came to the sheaf of papers that were my typed copy of The Wasteland, he asked, “What's this?”

【16】“I had no money left to buy it, so I copied it.” I didn't think this unusual.Improvising’ was routine for me.

【17】Something changed in Dr. Jayne's usually jovial face. He was quiet for a long time.Then we returned to our regular lively debate on what these writers truly meant.When I left, I still had my third 77definitely not a lucky number for me and the humiliation of being a seminar leader, trailing far behind my ever-grateful students.

【18】The last hurdle was the final. No matter what grade I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the scholarship good-bye. Besides, what was the use? I could cram till my eyes teared,and the result would be a crushing 77.

【19】I skipped studying. I felt I knew the material as well as I ever would. Hadn't I reread the books many times and explained them to my buddies? Wasn't The Wasteland resounding in my brain?The night before the final, I treated myself to a movie.

【20】I sauntered into the auditorium and decided that for once I'd have fun with a test. I marooned all the writers we'd studied on an island and wrote a debate in which they argued their positions. It was silly, befitting my nothing-to-lose mood.The words flowed-all that sparring with Dr. Jayne made it effortless.

【21】A week later, I strolled down to the ground floor (ground zero for me) and unearthed my test from the heaps of exams. There, in red ink on the blue cover.was an A. I couldn't believe my eyes.

【22】I hurried to Dr. Jayne's office. He seemed to be expecting me, although I didn't have an appointment. I launched into righteous indignation. How come l received a C-plus every time I slaved and now, when I'd written a spoofs, I earned an A?

【23】“I knew that if I gave you the As you deserved, you wouldn't continue to work as hard.”

I stared at him, realizing that his analysis and strategy were correct. I had worked my head off, as I had never done before.

He rose and pulled a book from his crowded shelves. “This is for you.”

【24】It was a hardback copy of The Wasteland.On the flyleaf was an inscription tome. For once in my talkative life, I was speechless.

I was speechless again when my course grade arrived: A-plus. I believe it was the only A-plus given.

【25】Next year, when I received my scholarship,I co-wrote, acted, sang and danced in an original musical comedy produced by the Associated Students. It played in the largest auditorium to standing-room only houses.

【26】I reviewed theater for the Daily Cal, the student campus newspaper.

I wrote a one-act play, among the first to debut at the new campus theater.

I acted in plays produced by the drama department.

【27】The creative spark that had been buried under dishes, diapers and drudgery now flamed into life. I don't recall much of what I learned in those courses of long ago, but I'll never forget the fun I had writing and acting.

【28】And I've always remembered Dr. Jayne's lesson. Know that you have untapped powers within you. That you must use them, even if you can get by without trying. That you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

提高成绩

【1】1951年，我18岁，带着我在世界上所有的钱，50美元，去旅行。我在一辆从洛杉矶开往伯克利的公交车上。我上大学的梦想快要实现了。我已经付了这学期的学费和在合作公寓住一个月的学费。在那之后，我必须提供其余的费用，我贫穷的父母无法帮助我。

【2】从十五岁起，我就一个人给住在家里的母亲当帮手，中午离开高中照顾孩子，一直到午夜。从高中到大学一年级，我一直渴望参加课外活动，但我的工作让我无法如愿。既然我要转到伯克利，我希望能获得奖学金。

【3】第一周我找到了一份服务员的工作。在鸡舍里照看孩子和洗碗是我房租的一部分。学期结束时，我的平均成绩是B，这是获得奖学金的条件。我所要做的就是下学期取得平均成绩B。

【4】我没想过要去上速成课，我来大学是为了学点东西。我相信我能在学业上取得优异成绩，并选修一些难学的课程。

【5】其中一门课是世界文学概览。这门课是由西尔斯·杰恩教授讲授的，他在一个巨大的礼堂的舞台上走来走去，戴着麦克风，对着拥挤的人群讲课。没有文本。相反，我们使用了平装书，这使得我们可以根据需要购买它们。

【6】我被他提出的概念迷住了。对许多学生来说，这只是一个学位要求，但对我来说，这是一场令人兴奋的思想盛宴。我合租公寓的朋友也在上这门课，他们向我寻求帮助。我们组成了一个学习小组，由我领导。

【7】当我参加第一次考试时，所有的题目都是写作，我确信我考得很好。在一楼，在堆满试卷的桌子中间，我挑出了自己的试卷。红色的是我的成绩，77分，c +。我很震惊。英语是我最好的科目!雪上加霜的是，我发现我的同学都得了b。他们感谢我的指导。

【8】我质问助教，他让我去找杰恩教授。杰恩教授听了我热情洋溢的辩论，但不为所动。

【9】我以前从来没有问过老师关于成绩的问题，从来没有必要。我没有想到要为我需要奖学金而辩解;我要的是正义，不是怜悯。我确信我的答案配得更高的分数。

【10】我决心更加努力，虽然我不知道这意味着什么，因为上学对我来说一直很容易。我在找工作或擦地板时一直坚持不懈，但在智力上却没有坚持不懈。虽然我选择了具有挑战性的课程，但我习惯了轻松地获得a。

【11】我更仔细地阅读了平装书，但我的努力换来了另外77分。再一次，我得了c +，我的朋友得了b和a，他们非常感谢我。”我又一次回到杰恩博士那里，无礼地质疑他的判断。”他又一次耐心地听着，和我讨论材料，但丝毫不动。他似乎被我在讨论课程理念时的热情所吸引，但我获得奖学金和参加课外活动的梦想正在迅速消退。

【12】期末考试前还有一次考试。一个救赎自己的机会。然而，另一个障碍隐现。我们学习的最后一本书。艾略特的《荒原》只有精装本。对我的预算来说太贵了。

【13】我从图书馆借了一本。然而，我知道我需要自己的书来注释。我也付不起图书馆的巨额罚款。1951年，还没有复印机，所以我拿出我那台值得信赖的老式皇家手动打字机，开始复印所有420页，这似乎是合乎逻辑的。在当服务员、洗碗、上课、看孩子和辅导学习小组的间隙，我设法把它们敲出来。

【14】为了第三次考试，我加倍努力。我第一次明白了“彻底”这个词的含义。我从来没有意识到其他学生是如何努力争取对我来说很容易得到的东西。

【15】我的努力完全无效果。一切，包括可怕的77，都和以前一样。我大步走进杰恩博士的办公室。我拿出我那卷卷角的、涂黑了笔记的课文，像以前一样论证我的观点。当我拿出一叠打印出来的《荒原》时，他问:“这是什么?”

【16】“我没钱买了，所以我就抄了。”我不认为这有什么不寻常。“即兴创作”对我来说是家常便饭。

【17】杰恩博士平日快活的脸上有些变化。他沉默了很长时间。然后，我们又回到我们平常的热烈辩论上来，讨论这些作家的真正意思。当我离开的时候，我还有我的第三个77，对我来说这绝对不是一个幸运数字，而且我还在承受着作为一个研讨会负责人的耻辱，远远落后于我那些感激不尽的学生们。

【18】最后的障碍是期末。不管我得多少分，都不会抵消3个c +。我还是跟奖学金说拜拜吧。再说，有什么用呢?我可以死记硬背，直到热泪盈眶，而结果将是令人惨痛的77分。

【19】我逃学了，我觉得我像以前一样了解这些材料。我不是把这些书重读了很多遍，并向我的伙伴们解释过吗?《荒原》不是一直在我脑海里回响吗?期末考试的前一天晚上，我看了一场电影。

【20】我慢悠悠地走进礼堂，决定这一次我要从考试中获得乐趣。我把我们研究过的所有作家都放逐到一个岛上，写了一篇辩论，他们在其中阐述了自己的立场。这很愚蠢，符合我“一无所有”的心情。话如流水，和杰恩博士的争吵让一切变得毫不费力。

【21】一周后，我漫步到一楼(对我来说是归零地)，从一堆试卷中拿出我的试卷。在那里，用红墨水写在蓝色的封面上。我简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。

【22】我匆忙杰恩博士的办公室。他似乎在等我，虽然我没有预约。我义愤填膺。为什么我每次苦读都得c +，而现在，我写了一篇恶搞文章，却得了a ?

【23】“我知道如果我给了你应得的a，你就不会再这么努力了。”

我盯着他，意识到他的分析和策略是正确的。我拼命工作，这是我以前从未做过的。

他站起来，从拥挤的书架上抽出一本书。“这是给你的。”

【24】是一本精装本的《荒原》。扉页上有一本题词书。在我健谈的一生中，我第一次说不出话来。

当我的课程成绩到了:a +时，我又无语了。我相信这是唯一的a +。

【25】第二年，当我获得奖学金时，我参与了学生联合会制作的一部原创音乐喜剧的创作、表演、唱歌和跳舞。它在最大的礼堂里演出，座无虚席。

【26】我为校报《Cal日报》评论戏剧。

我写了一部独幕剧，是第一批在新校园剧院首次亮相的戏剧之一。

我在戏剧系制作的戏剧中扮演角色。

【27】曾经被埋在碗碟、尿布和苦差事下的创意火花，现在燃起了生命的火焰。我不太记得很久以前在那些课程中学到的东西，但我永远不会忘记我在写作和表演中获得的乐趣。

【28】我一直记着杰恩博士的训诫。要知道你内心有未开发的力量。你必须使用它们，即使你不需要尝试。只有你自己才能设定自己的卓越标准。