I. Please read the passage aloud.

    If I were a boy again

1 If I were a boy again, I would practice perseverance more often and never give up a thing easily because it was hard or inconvenient. Perseverance can sometimes equal genius in its results. “There are only two creatures who can get to the top of the pyramid: the eagle and the snail,” says a proverb.

2 If I were a boy again, I would develop my concentration. I would let nothing come between me and the matter in hand. I would remember that a good skater never tries to skate in two directions at once. The habit of concentration can become part of our life, if we begin early enough. I often hear grown-ups say, “I could not concentrate on the book although I wanted to.” The reason is that the habit was not formed when they were young.

3 If I were a boy again, I would pay more attention to the cultivation of memory. I would strengthen that ability by every possible means, and on every possible occasion. It takes a little hard work at first to remember things exactly, but memory soon helps itself, and gives very little trouble. It only needs early cultivation to become a power.

4 If I were a boy again, I would cultivate courage. “Nothing is so mild and gentle as courage, nothing so cruel and pitiless as cowardice,” says a wise writer. Life is full of dangers, but courage will often conquer the worst of them. Be prepared for the future, and there is nothing to be feared.

5 If I were a boy again, I would try to be more optimistic. Life is very much like a mirror: If you smile at it, it smiles back at you. But if you frown at it, you will get the same in return. Inner sunshine warms not only the heart of the owner, but all those who come into contact with it.

6 If I were a boy again, I would say “No” more often. I might write pages on the importance of learning very early in life to gain that point where a young boy can firmly refuse to do an unworthy act because it is unworthy.

7 If I were a boy again, I would be more courteous and respectful toward my companions and friends, and indeed toward strangers as well. Courtesy along the rough roads of life is like the birds that sing to us all winter long, and makes that season of ice and snow more endurable.

8 Finally, instead of trying hard to be happy, as if that were the only purpose of life, I would, if I were a boy again, try still harder to make others happy.

II. Text analysis 

III. Test

  If I were a boy again

1 If I were a boy again, I would practice perseverance more often and never give up a thing easily because it was hard or inconvenient. Perseverance can sometimes equal genius in its results. “There are only two creatures who can get to the top of the pyramid: the eagle and the snail,” says a proverb.

2 If I were a boy again, I would develop my concentration. I would let nothing come between me and the matter in hand. I would remember that a good skater never tries to skate in two directions at once. The habit of concentration can become part of our life, if we begin early enough. I often hear grown-ups say, “I could not concentrate on the book although I wanted to.” The reason is that the habit was not formed when they were young.

     3 If I were a boy again, I would pay more attention to the cultivation of memory. I would strengthen that ability by every possible means, and on every possible occasion. It takes a little hard work at first to remember things exactly, but memory soon helps itself, and gives very little trouble. It only needs early cultivation to become a power.

4 If I were a boy again, I would cultivate courage. “Nothing is so mild and gentle as courage, nothing so cruel and pitiless as cowardice,” says a wise writer. Life is full of dangers, but courage will often conquer the worst of them. Be prepared for the future, and there is nothing to be feared.

5 If I were a boy again, I would try to be more optimistic. Life is very much like a mirror: If you smile at it, it smiles back at you. But if you frown at it, you will get the same in return. Inner sunshine warms not only the heart of the owner, but all those who come into contact with it.

6 If I were a boy again, I would say “No” more often. I might write pages on the importance of learning very early in life to gain that point where a young boy can firmly refuse to do an unworthy act because it is unworthy.

7 If I were a boy again, I would be more courteous and respectful toward my companions and friends, and indeed toward strangers as well. Courtesy along the rough roads of life is like the birds that sing to us all winter long, and makes that season of ice and snow more endurable.

8 Finally, instead of trying hard to be happy, as if that were the only purpose of life, I would, if I were a boy again, try still harder to make others happy.