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At all ages and at all stages of life，fear presents a problem to almost everyone.“We are largely the playthings of our fears，”wrote the British author Horace Walpole many years ago.“To one，fear of the dark；to another，of physical pain；to a third，of public ridicule；to a fourth，of poverty；to a fifth，of loneliness—for all of us our particular creature waits in a hidden place.”
Fear is often a useful emotion.When you become frightened，many physical changes occur within your body.Your heartbeat and responses quicken；your pupils expand to admit more light；large quantities of energy-producing adrenaline are poured into your bloodstream.Confronted with a fire or accident，fear can fuel life-saving flight.Similarly，when a danger is psychological rather than physical，fear can force you to take self-protective measures.It is only when fear is disproportional to the danger at hand that it becomes a problem.
Some people are simply more vulnerable to fear than others.A visit to the newborn nursery of any large hospital will demonstrate that，from the moment of their births，a few fortunate infants respond calmly to sudden fear-producing situations such as a loudly slammed door.Yet a neighbor in the next bed may cry out with profound fright.From birth，he or she is more prone to learn fearful responses because he or she has inherited a tendency to be more sensitive.
Further，psychologists know that our early experiences and relationships strongly shape and determine our later fears.A young man named Bill，for example，grew up with a father who regarded each adversity as a temporary obstacle to be overcome with imagination and courage.Using his father as a model，Bill came to welcome adventure and to trust his own ability to solve problems.
Phil’s dad，however，spent most of his time trying to protect himself and his family.Afraid to risk the insecurity of a job change，he remained unhappy in one position.He avoided long vacations because“the car might break down”.Growing up in such a home，Phil naturally learned to become fearful and tense.
重点词汇：
present 现在；现在的；展示（n./adj./v.）
plaything 玩物（n.）
ridicul e愚弄（n./v.）
poverty 贫穷（n.）
emotion 情绪（n.）
adrenaline 肾上腺素（n.）
slam （砰地）关上（v.）
confront 面临，遭遇（v.）
flight 逃离（n.）
disproportional 不匀称的（adj.）
vulnerable 脆弱的（adj.）
demonstrate 展示，显示；说明（v.）
adversity 逆境（n.）
temporary 暂时的（adj.）
obstacle 障碍（n.）
adventure 冒险（n.）(https://www.daowen.com)
be prone to 倾向于
inherit 继承（v.）
tendency 倾向，趋势（n.）
vacation 节日，假期（n.）
tense 时态；紧张的（n./adj.）
难句解析：
①“We are largely the playthings of our fears，”wrote the British author Horace Walpole many years ago.“To one，fear of the dark；to another，of physical pain；to a third，of public ridicule；to a fourth，of poverty；to a fifth，of loneliness—for all of us our particular creature waits in a hidden place.
【结构分析】本句要注意前后照应。并列结构to one
to another
to a third
to a fourth
to a fifth
后的of介宾结构，变成完整结构应该是we are playthings of fear of the dark/physical pain/public ridicule/poverty/loneliness.
②It is only when fear is disproportional to the danger at hand that it becomes a problem.
【结构分析】本句为强调句，强调句型为“it is+被强调的部分+that+句子的其他部分”。如果去掉it is和that后句子结构仍然是完整的，那么可以判断此句为强调句。本句强调的是时间状语从句。要注意本句中disproportional to
的意思是“与……不匀称”，暗含“超过”或者“小于”的意思。
③A visit to the newborn nursery of any large hospital will demonstrate that，from the moment of their births，a few fortunate infants respond calmly to sudden fear-producing situations such as a loudly slammed door.
【结构分析】句子主干为a visit will demonstrate that
。that引导的宾语从句中主语为infants，谓语为respond，such as
是situation的后置定语。from the moment of their births是插入语。
④From birth，he or she is more prone to learn fearful responses because he or she has inherited a tendency to be more sensitive.
【结构分析】he or she是主语，谓语动词用单数形式，如果主语为he and she，谓语动词则用复数形式。be prone to的意思是“更易于，倾向于”，与have a tendency to 的含义相近。sensitive的意思是“敏感的”，与sensible“理智的”要区分开。
⑤A young man named Bill，for example，grew up with a father who regarded each adversity as a temporary obstacle to be overcome with imagination and courage.
【结构分析】young man是主语，named Bill是过去分词做后置定语，for example为插入语。grew up为谓语，who引导定语从句充当father的后置定语。定语从句中的谓语部分为固定搭配regard
as，to be overcome是动词不定式充当obstacle的宾语补足语。
全文翻译：
在人生的各个年龄和每个阶段，恐惧几乎是人人都要面临的问题。“在很大程度上我们是自身恐惧的玩偶，”英国作家贺瑞斯·沃波尔许多年前曾写道，“有人恐惧黑暗，有人恐惧肉体的病痛，有人恐惧被嘲弄，有人恐惧贫困，有人则恐惧孤独——对所有人来说，我们对某种事物特殊的恐惧就隐藏在某个地方。”
通常情况下，恐惧是一种有用的情绪。当受到惊吓的时候，你的体内会产生很多生理变化。如心跳加速、反应加快；瞳孔放大以吸收更多的光线；大量有助于产生能量的肾上腺素涌入血液。在面对火灾或突发事件时，恐惧能够使你快速逃离以自救。同样，当危险来自心理而非生理因素时，恐惧也能迫使你采取自我保护的措施。只有当恐惧与即将来临的危险不相称时，恐惧才会成为一个问题。
有些人就是会比其他人对恐惧更加敏感。参观任何大医院的新生儿保育室都能说明这个问题，从他们出生的那刻起，只有一些幸运的婴儿能冷静地回应那些突然产生的恐惧情境，比如关门的巨大声响。而邻床的婴儿可能会因为巨大的恐惧而大哭。从刚出生开始，他或她就比别人更倾向于（学习）对恐惧做出反应，因为他或她继承了一种较为敏感的心理倾向。
此外，心理学家们确信，我们早期的经历和社会关系强有力地塑造并决定了我们日后的恐惧情绪。例如，一位名叫比尔的年轻人跟着父亲长大，他的父亲将每次挫折都看作是用想象力和勇气就可以克服的暂时的困难。比尔将父亲当作榜样，逐渐变得敢于冒险，并相信自己解决问题的能力。
然而，菲尔的父亲把自己绝大部分时间都用在努力保护自己和家庭上。由于害怕变换工作而带来的不稳定因素，他始终坚守一个职位，却工作得不开心。他逃避长途旅行，因为“轿车可能会发生故障”。在这样的家庭环境里长大，菲尔自然变得易于恐惧和紧张。