1."If at first you dont succeed, try, try again, "said the pessimistic comedian, W.C. Fields

 then quit."(Para 1)

 Meaning: In the first part of the sentence, Fields encourages people to keep trying even

 they failed to succeed at the beginning. But then he said if you don't succeed after trying

 and trying again, you can give up. Therefore Fields is pessimistic

2 .There’s no point in being a damn fool about it. (Para 1)

 Meaning: There is no sense in keeping trying if you don't succeed after trying and trying

 again, or you will be a fool In saying this Fields is advising people to give up and not to

 be a fool about it.

Note: There’s no point in doing sth.是常用句型，意为“做…没有意义/没有用”。类似的句型还有 There’s no sense/ use in doing sth.。如

 There’s no point in arguing with him和他争论没有意义。

 There’s no sense in getting upset about it now.现在没有必要为这件事苦恼。

3.Well, yes, up to a point, but.(Para 2)

 Meaning: What W. C Fields said is correct to some degree

4. our children have been bombarded with messages about the value of determinat

 in the face of adversity.( Para 3)

 Meaning: We have taught our children a lot about the value of determination when facing

 Difficulty.

5.This never-say-die spirit is best represented by.(Para 3)

 never-say-die spirit: the spirit of never giving upThis is a humorous story about a man called George, who imagines the possible inconveniences of travel and decides not to- it is easier to just read travel books and travel in his imagination. The style combines description with voicing the main character’s thoughts and speculations. The humour is mainly in the idea that George's imagination is double-edged: It tells him how wonderful his planned journey might be, but it also tells him that the actual visit may not match the wonderful things he has imagined about the south of France. So his imagination prevents his journey to Provence.

6..you succeed in the long term.(Para 4)

 in the long middle/ short term: after a long, middle-length, or short period of time 长期/中期/短期来看

 The investment will pay off in the/ ong term.从长期看，该投资是会有回报的。

7.and now that they have arrived, are they happy and healthy?(Para 4)

 Meaning: Since they have achieved the target they set for themselves in their life, are they happy and healthv?

 now that: because of something or as a result of something既然;由于

 Now that we know each other a little better，we get along fine.

由于彼此之间有了进一步的了解，我们相处得不错

 Now that you have decided to carry out your plan， do not care what other people say

既然你已经决定实施你的计划，就别介意别人怎么说了。

8. Can being too persistent have a negative effect on your health?(Para 5)

Note: have an effect on sb/sth的意思为对产生影响”。在 effect前常用 positive、

 beneficial、 negative、 adverse、some、Iite等修饰词。如

 The establishment of the free trade area will have positive effects on the economy.

自贸区的设立将对经济产生积极影响。

9. So why do Bulldogs finally say, "Enough is enough"?(Para 8)

 Enough is enough: an expression used when you think something should not continue any longer. It is more emphatic than simply saying"Enough

10. In fact, it appears that their physical recovery comes through melancholy.(Para 8）

melancholy:n.[ U] a feeling d sadness and of being without hope抑郁;忧郁

 All at once/ fell into a state of profound melancholy.我突然陷入无限的愁思之中。

11. Melancholy can actually help most of us to give up on the Olympic gold medal and

 preserve the human species. (Para 8)

 Meaning: Melancholy can help us put aside unrealistic goals(for the majority of people

 getting an Olympic gold medal is just not a realistic possibility) and evaluate our situation

 more realistically to see what we can actually achieve. If people only try to reach unrealistic goals, the human species would get nothing done.

12. For young people, it's part of creating an individual identity in the world.(Para 9)

 Meaning: Setting goals is part of the identity of young people because, in part, we become what we set out to achieve in life. In a sense, as particular individuals, we are what aim at in our life, or at least this influences the direction of our development

13. So while we may grow out of our dreams, at the same time, we grow up.(Para 9

 Meaning: By adjusting goals in a realistic manner(for example, giving up unrealistic

 goals), we can become more mature

 grow out of: If someone grows out of a habit, they stop doing it, because they get older or

wser因长大而放弃;因年龄增长而不再做(某事):长大不再有做(某事)的习惯

 Peter finally seems to be growing out of his rebelliousness.

被得长大后好像终于改掉了叛逆的性格。