种子的神奇力量 The Power of Seed
杰克·伦敦/Jack London
Some one asked: what in the world has the greatest power? There came various answers. Some said elephant; some said lion; some even jokingly said that King Kang was the most powerful. How powerful is King Kang? Nobody knows, of course.
It turned out that none of these answers is correct, for the most powerful thing in the world is seed. The power exhibited by a seed can surpass almost everything.
Here comes another story.
The skull of human being is very compactly and solidly formed. Both physiologists and anatomists tried every possible means to separate the skull intact but failed. Then suddenly some one found a way: put some seeds into the skull that is to be anatomized. Given the right temperature and humidity, the seeds will begin shooting up. When shooting up, the seeds can separate the skull perfectly with an amazing power while all mechanical powers failed. Here, you can see the power of a plant's seed.
Perhaps this example is a little too particular, thus common people usually don't get it. Then, have you seen a grass growing up from under rubbles and stones? Yearning for sunlight and longing for life, the grass keeps shooting up to the ground, circuitously and persistently, despite how heavy the stones are over it and how narrow the space is between the stones. Its root deepens into the earth while its sprout pierces up to the ground. It has an irresistible force which can overturn the stones that stand in its way. Here, you can see the power of a seed.
Though no one would ever call a grass Hercules, the power of a grass is matchless in the world. The power is vitality which is invisible to common people. This power will emerge as long as there is life and the stones above cannot stop it from claiming its presence, for it's a "long-persisting" fighting force, flexible and tenacious.
A living seed will not feel pessimistic nor sigh if it falls into rubbles instead of fertile soil, because it believes that obstruction means trial. A tough grass is the one with fight from the beginning of its life. Only this kind of grass can laugh at the potted flowers nursed in glasshouses.
有人问：世界上什么东西的力气最大？答案种类繁多。有人说是象，有人说是狮子，甚至有人开玩笑似的说是金刚。金刚的力气到底有多大呢？当然，没有人知道。
结果，所有的答案都不正确，因为世界上气力最大的是植物的种子。一粒种子产生的力量，简直可以超越一切。
由此引出了另一个故事。
人的头盖骨结构非常致密、坚固。生理学家和解剖学家为了把头盖骨完整地分开，尝试了一切能用的方法，可是最终都没有成功。后来忽然有人想出了一个解决的方法：就是把一些植物的种子放在准备剖析的头盖骨里，保持适当的温度和湿度，让种子发芽。一发芽，这些种子便以惊人的力量，将所有机械力都不能分开的骨骼，完整地分开了。由此，你可以看出植物种子巨大的力量。
也许这个例子有些特殊，一般人不容易理解。那么，你见过一棵小草压在瓦砾和石块下面的成长过程吗？向往阳光，渴望成长，无论上面的石块有多重，石块与石块之间有多狭窄，小草总要曲曲折折地、顽强不屈地伸出地面。它的根深深地扎入土壤，它的芽则冲出地面。种子拥有一种不可抗拒的力量，可以掀翻阻止它的石块。由此我们认识到了一粒种子的力量。
尽管没有人将小草叫做大力士，可是它的力量之大，确实是无与伦比的。一般人看不见这种生命力。只要还有生命，就能显现出这种力量，上面的石块根本不可能阻挡它，因为这是一种“长期抗战”的力，有弹性，能屈能伸的力；有韧性，顽强的力。
如果一粒有生命的种子落在了瓦砾中而没有落在肥土中，它决不会悲观、叹气。因为它相信唯有阻力才有磨炼。坚强的小草是那种在生命开始的一瞬间就满怀斗志的草。也唯有这种草，才可以嗤笑那些玻璃棚中养育的盆花。
exhibit[ig?zibit]v.展现；陈列；表现；呈现
She exhibited great power of endurance during the climb.
她在攀登过程中表现出极大的耐力。
surpass[s?:?pɑ:s]v.超越；凌驾；胜过
A turtle in the right direction, can surpass a lost rabbit.
一只方向正确的乌龟，可以赛过一只迷失方向的兔子。
flexible[?fleks?bl]adj.灵活的；易弯曲的；柔韧的
I need to find a simple and flexible way to design such a complex interface.
我需要找到一种简单且灵活的方式来设计这样一个复杂的界面。
pessimistic[?pesi?mistik]adj.悲观的
Optimistic about the appearance, but the heart are pessimistic.
保持乐观的外表，但内心是悲观的。
一粒种子产生的力量，简直可以超越一切。
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只要还有生命，就能显现出这种力量，上面的石块根本不可能阻挡它，因为这是一种“长期抗战”的力，有弹性，能屈能伸的力；有韧性，顽强的力。
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坚强的小草是那种在生命开始的一瞬间就满怀斗志的草。
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It turned out that none of these answers is correct, for the most powerful thing in the world is seed.
turn out：制造；关灯；结果是；出席（某项活动）
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Given the right temperature and humidity, the seeds will begin shooting up.
shoot up：迅速成长；上升；猛增；耸立；射中
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