Here's ______ that's important, and the older I get, the more important I think it is.When I can do something, and somebody wants me to do it, I have to do it. The great ______ is not to be needed. As long as you are able and willing to do things for people, you will be needed. Of course you are able; and if so, you can't say no.My mother is seventy-seven. In seventy-seven years she has never said no. Today she is so much ______ by thirteen grandchildren and countless neighbors that ______ is eagerly contended for. When I want to see her I have to pretend ______.
【答案】 1. a rule of thumb大拇指规则；经验法则rule表示“规则”；thumb表示“大拇指”。关于这个短语的来源有两个说法：一个是说来源于木工工人 ，他们不用尺子，而是伸出拇指来测量木材的长度或者宽度。另一个是说农业播种时，为了达到合适的种子深度，拇指经常被用来快速地测量种子掩埋的深浅。2. tragedy of life人生悲剧tragedy表示“悲剧”，顺便学下 “喜剧”：comedy.3. in demand需求大的sb is in demand表示“某人很抢手的，很受欢迎的”。4. her presence她的出现；她的在场presence是名词，“在场，出席”；其动词形式为present.5. emergency紧急事件其形容词为emergent，“紧急的”。
【原文及翻译】Here's a rule thumb that's important, and the older I get, the more important I think it is.有一条经验法则非常重要。我年龄越大，越认识到它的重要性。When I can do something, and somebody wants me to do it, I have to do it. The great tragedy of life is not to be needed. As long as you are able and willing to do things for people, you will be needed. Of course you are able; and if so, you can't say no.当我有能力做一件事，有人也希望我做时，我就必须去做。不为人所需是人生中最大的悲剧。只要你有能力并愿意为人们做一些事，人们就会需要你。你肯定能够做到，那就不要推辞。My mother is seventy-seven. In seventy-seven years she has never said no. Today she is so much in demand by thirteen grandchildren and countless neighbors that her presence is eagerly contended for. When I want to see her I have to pretend emergency.我的母亲已经77岁了。但77年来她从未说过“不”字。如今，她的13个孙儿和无数的邻居依然很需要她，希望她能在身边。因此当我想见她时，还需要不得不假装有紧急的事情。
