做自己的主人_掌握自己的命运-英语美文欣赏励志篇(双语)

时间:2024.3.27

做自己的主人,掌握自己的命运-英语美文欣赏励志篇(双语)

I will know that only those with inferior ability can always be at their best ,and I am not inferior.There will be days when I must IN THE WORLD constantly struggle against forces which would tear me down,Those such sa despair and sadness are simple to recognize but there are others which approach with a smile and the hand of friendship and they can slso destroy me.Against them,too.I must never relinquish control.

我将明白只有低能者才会江郎才尽,我并非低能者。我必须不断对抗那些企图摧垮我得力量。失望与悲伤一眼就会被识破,而其他许多敌人是不易察觉的,它们往往面带微笑,伸出友谊之手,却随时有可能将我们摧垮。对它们,我们永远不能放松警惕。

And with this new knowledge I will also understand and recognize the moods of him on whom i call, I will make allowances for his anger and irritation of today for he knows not the secret of controlling his mind.i can withstand him arrows and insults for now I know that tomorrow he will change and be a joy to approach.

有了这项新本领,我也更能体察别人的情绪变化。我宽容怒气冲冲的人,因为他尚未懂得控制自己的情绪,我可以忍受他的指责和辱骂,因为我知道明天他会改变,重新变得随和。

No longer will I judge a man on one meeting;no longer will i fail to call again tomorrow on he who meets me with hate today.this day he will not buy gold chariots for a penny,yet tomorrow he would exchange his home for a tree.My knowledge of this secret will be my key to great wealth.

我不再只凭一面之交来判断一个人,也不再因他今日的可恶而明日不给他打电话。今天不肯花一分钱买金蓬马车的人,明天他也许会用全部家当换一颗树苗。知道了这个秘密,我可以获得极大的财富。

Henceforth I will recognize and identify the mystery of moods in all mankind,and in me.From this moment I am prepared to control whatever personality awakes in me each day.I will master my moods through positive action and when I master my moods I will control my destiny.

我从此领悟到人类和我自己情绪变化的奥秘。对于自己千变万化的个性,我不在听之任之,我将积极主动的控制情绪,从而掌握自己的命运。

I will become master of myself.

我将成为自己的主人。

读后感:

这篇散文很简单也很朴实,但是翻译起来就变得有哲理了,我喜欢的是那句不做情绪的奴隶。现在的我以是从教4年的老师了,慢慢越发懂得教师这一职业的不容易和委屈,那事情发生了,我就要各种发脾气或者各种郁闷吗?不行,自己作为老师,作为班主任时常和小同学们说,凡事不能冲动,要理性思考不要做让自己后悔的事情。那如果,我自己也没能做到,学生们怎么会变成你想让他们变成的样子呢。所以,如果自己做好了,能够调节好自己的情绪,相信学生们也会做好,最后会有很融洽夫人师生关系。

以上是我在工作中,结合散文的感悟。在生活中,同样也是这样。现在的我年纪也不小了,但是个人问题却好没解决,那父母一定是很担心的,回家偶尔会问长问短的,但我并没有觉得烦,不会因此而想他们发火,反而很耐心的去安慰他们,结果他们确实也听进去了,也没有时常提起。和家人相处的氛围就是很温馨和快乐。有时,父母间有些小矛盾了。我也会沉淀下来去引导父母把心里话讲出来,并且告诉他们别做情绪的奴隶,讲出或做出伤害至亲的事情。小时候,是爸妈教我怎么做人,走路。现在,我长大了,他们一天天老去,是该我牵着他们走了。

控制好了自己的情绪,工作和生活都将给你带来惊喜,这不就是一种掌握命运的方式,甚至是改变命运的方式吧。


第二篇:美文赏析原文


英语美文欣赏 第 1 页 共 70 页

英语美文欣赏

目 录

1.Busy 忙 ________________________________________________________________________ 6 英语原文 ______________________________________________________________________________ 6 参考译文 ______________________________________________________________________________ 6 注意的生词 ____________________________________________________________________________ 6

2.Puppies for sale __________________________________________________________________ 7 英语原文 ______________________________________________________________________________ 7 参考译文 ______________________________________________________________________________ 8 注意的生词 ____________________________________________________________________________ 8

3.Learn a Lesson, Find the Gift ______________________________________________________ 9 英语原文 ______________________________________________________________________________ 9 参考译文 ______________________________________________________________________________ 9 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 10

4.The Day I Flunked out of Law School _______________________________________________ 10 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 10 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 11 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 12

5.The Power of Words _____________________________________________________________ 12 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 12 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 13 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 13

6.Gold and Diamond ______________________________________________________________ 14 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 14 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 14 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 15 相关格言 _____________________________________________________________________________ 15

7.The Green Banana ______________________________________________________________ 16 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 16 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 17 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 17

8.Easter in Jackson _______________________________________________________________ 18

英语美文欣赏

英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 18 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 19 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 20

9.Look around you ________________________________________________________________ 21 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 21 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 22 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 22 相关格言 _____________________________________________________________________________ 23

10.弱点还是强项 _________________________________________________________________ 23 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 23 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 24

11.Playing a Violin with Three Strings ________________________________________________ 25 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 25 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 26 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 27

12.What makes a teacher? __________________________________________________________ 27 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 27 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 28 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 29 相关格言 _____________________________________________________________________________ 29

13.David ________________________________________________________________________ 29 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 30 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 30 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 31

14.幽默的意义 ___________________________________________________________________ 31 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 32 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 32 注意的生词 ___________________________________________________________________________ 32

15.将爱放飞 _____________________________________________________________________ 33 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 33 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 34

16.人生的回音 ___________________________________________________________________ 34

英语美文欣赏

英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 34 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 35

17.Eagle in a Storm _______________________________________________________________ 35 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 35 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 36

18.Sweet-Pea Summers ____________________________________________________________ 36 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 36 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 37

19.Treasure Starfish_______________________________________________________________ 37 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 37 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 38

20.Keep Your Goals in Sight ________________________________________________________ 38 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 39 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 39

21.生命的拼搏 ___________________________________________________________________ 40 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 40 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 41

22.The Magic Pebbles _____________________________________________________________ 41 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 41 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 42

23.Shining Light in Dark Corners ___________________________________________________ 43 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 43 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 44

24.The Boy and the Tree ___________________________________________________________ 44 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 44 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 45

25.The Perfect Heart ______________________________________________________________ 46 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 46 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 46

26.Love and Time _________________________________________________________________ 47 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 47 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 48

英语美文欣赏

27.World of Smiles ________________________________________________________________ 48 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 49 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 49

28.The Best Teacher I Ever Had _____________________________________________________ 50 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 50 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 51

29. My First Poem ________________________________________________________________ 51 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 52 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 53

30.Look Out for No.2 ______________________________________________________________ 54 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 54 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 54

31.Friends _______________________________________________________________________ 54 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 55 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 56

32.A promise of spring _____________________________________________________________ 57 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 58 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 59

33.时间的价值 ___________________________________________________________________ 61 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 61 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 62

34.RESULTS AND ROSES _________________________________________________________ 62 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 62 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 63

35.My Forever Valentine ___________________________________________________________ 63 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 63 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 65

36.My Mother's Gift _______________________________________________________________ 66 英语原文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 66 参考译文 _____________________________________________________________________________ 68

英语美文欣赏

1.Busy 忙

英语原文 Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.

"Congratulations," the boss said. "Go on that way!"

Very motivated by the boss's words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The third he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

"I must be losing my strength," the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

"When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the boss asked.

"Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees..." 参考译文 忙

从前,有一个健壮的伐木工人到木材商那里找工作。他得到了一份工作,报酬非常高,而且工作条件也非常好。因此,伐木工决心要尽最大努力工作。

老板给了他一把斧头,并带他看了他的工作地点。

第一天,伐木工带回了18棵树。

“祝贺你!”老板说:“就这么干,继续!”

老板的话给了伐木工极大的鼓舞。第二天,他更加努力地干活,但却只带回了15棵树。第三天,他干得更起劲儿了,但是只带回了10棵树。日复一日,他带回的树越来越少。

伐木工想:“我一定是力量不够了。”他找到老板,怀着歉意说自己也不知道是怎么了。

老板问道:“你上一次是在什么时候磨的斧子?”

“磨斧子?我没有时候磨斧子。我一直忙着砍树呢。。。”

注意的生词

1.woodcutter n. 伐木工,樵夫

A man appeared at the castle gate in the guise of a woodcutter.

一个男子打扮成樵夫的模样出现在城堡的门口。

2.timber n. 木材,木料

英语美文欣赏

The firm's tender for the supply of timber has been accepted.

那家商号的供应木材投标已被接受。

3.apologize vi. 道歉,谢罪

It's imperative that you apologize to him immediately.

你必须立即向他道歉。

4.axe[?ks] n. 斧,乐器,突然去除 vt. 用斧砍,突然去除

The heavy axe was awkward to use.

这把重斧头不好用。

2.Puppies for sale

英语原文 A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.“Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer."I?ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" he said. "Sure," said the farmer.

Out from the doghouse ran a female dog followed by four little balls of fur.The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence.His eyes danced with delight.As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared; this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the smaller dog.The farmer knelt down at the boy?s side and said, "Son, you don?t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.

With that the little boy reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don?t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands.

英语美文欣赏

参考译文 待售的小狗

一个农场主要出售几只小狗,他在院墙上贴了一张告示,在钉最后一根钉子时,有人拉他的裤子。他低头看,看到一个小男孩的双眼。“先生,”他说,“我想买一只小狗。”“好啊,”农场主说,一边擦擦颈上的汗珠,“这些小狗品种很好,值一大笔钱。”

男孩想了一会儿,点点头。然后使劲伸进口袋里,他拿出一把零钱,交给农场主。“我有39美分,可以看一下吗?”“可以,”农场主说。

一只母狗从狗棚里走出来,后面跟着四只毛茸茸的小狗。小男孩把脸靠近铁丝网栅栏来看。他的眼睛一亮,当这群小狗走进栅栏时,男孩看到够棚里还有什么东西在折腾。

慢慢地,另一只毛茸茸的小东西出现了,这只显然要小些。它滑下斜坡,笨拙地蹒跚走向其他小狗,费力地抓住...

“我就要这只,”男孩说,他指着最小的那个。农场主在男孩身边蹲下,说,“孩子,这只狗不必买,它一辈子不会像其他的小家伙那样跑了。”

这时小男孩弯下腰,拉起左边的裤管,露出用以支撑双腿的金属支架。他抬头看看老板,轻声地说:“我自己也跑不快,这只小狗正好有个同病相怜的主人。”

这个世界上,人人都需要可以理解自己的人。

注意的生词

1.Puppy n. 小狗,人,东西

We heard him playing with his puppy.

我们听到了他在玩着他的小狗。

2.nail[neil] vt. 钉,使牢固,抓住

We nailed up the windows of the old house.

我们把这座旧房子的窗户都钉死了。

3.overalls n. [美]工装裤,工作裤

The carpenter was wearing a pair of blue overalls.

那木匠穿着蓝色的工装裤。

4.ramp[r?mp] n. 暴怒,斜坡,坡道

Drive the car up the ramp.

把汽车开到斜坡。

5.hobble v. 蹒跚,跛行 n. 蹒跚

The old man hobbled along (the road) with the aid of his stick.

那老汉拄著拐杖一瘸一拐地走著。

英语美文欣赏

3.Learn a Lesson, Find the Gift

英语原文 Tom Peterson worked for many years to build a solid business selling television sets, stereo systems, and home appliances. He gave people good value, a full satisfaction

guarantee, and friendly service. With the help of his wife Gloria, who handled the books, Tom developed an excellent reputation. He was proud of his high percentage of repeat customers.

About five years ago, Tom was approached by the owners of a competing company, Stereo Super Stores. They wanted him to buy them out. The price was very attractive. Everything looked good. Before making his final decision Tom asked Gloria what she thought about the purchase. She told him that even though the numbers looked good it didn't feel right to her. However, Tom was so self-confident and so convinced that this was a rare opportunity, he went ahead and made the purchase. Within months he discovered that he had made a big mistake. He had paid much too much for a dying company. He tried as hard as he could to make it work out, but he couldn't turn things around. He was forced into bankruptcy. He was about to lose everything, including his original business.

Tom was embarrassed, but he is a survivor. He looked at his situation. He decided to openly admit his mistake and, rather than getting bogged down in lawsuits, he would focus his energies on saving and rebuilding his original business. He saw also that he had made a mistake by not listening to his wife, and that he needed to learn from this

experience. Tom played up his mistake in judgment. He dealt with the crisis in a way that delighted many people and increased their respect for him. Old customers flocked into his store. He and Gloria adapted to changes in retailing and have built an even better business than before.

In the business world, it is natural for businessmen to gain and lose. Only those who regard their mistakes as gifts and learn from them attract endless profits

参考译文

吸取一个教训,赢得一份礼物

汤姆.彼得森苦干多年开创了一家公司,生意兴隆,主要销售电视机、立体声装置和家用器具。他向顾客出售的产品价格合理,保证顾客百分之百的满意度,并向他们提供热情周到的售后服务。他妻子格罗丽娅是个书商,在她的帮助下,汤姆赢得了极好的声誉。他为自己拥有高比例的回头客感到自豪。

大约五年前,汤姆的竞争对手——一家立体声超市的拥有者和汤姆进行了接洽,他们想让他把这家超市买下来。价格非常诱人,一切看起来都很合适。在作出最终决定之前,汤姆征求了格罗丽娅对这一购买的意见。格罗丽娅对他说,尽管数目看来合适,但她还是感觉这次购买不对劲。然而,汤姆太自信

英语美文欣赏

了,坚信这是一个难得的机会,于是他采取行动,将超市买下来。不出几个月,他发现他犯了一个大错误。他在一个奄奄一息的公司身上花费了太多的钱。他竭尽全力让公司运转起来,但未能得逞。他迫不得已破产。似乎所有的一切就要失去了,包括他原来的公司。

汤姆窘迫不已,但他是个幸存者。他审视他的处境,决心坦率地承认自己的错误,而不是陷入诉讼案件中去,他要将全部精力放在如何拯救和重建原来的公司上。他同时还明白他因为没有听取他妻子的意见才犯了这个错误,他得从中吸取教训。汤姆犯这个错误是因为判断失误。因此在处理这场危机时,他在取悦顾客和提高顾客对自己的尊敬度上下了一番功夫。老顾客蜂拥而至,他和格罗丽娅适应了零售方面的变化,又成立了一家公司,生意甚至比以前还红火。

在商界,胜败乃兵家常事。只有那些从自己犯的错误中吸取教训并将之作为礼物的人才能赚取无尽的利润。

注意的生词 1. buy out 买下…的全部产权

2. approach vt. 接洽,建议

3. bog down 陷入困境 , 停顿

4. lawsuit n. 诉讼

5. play up 强调

4.The Day I Flunked out of Law School

英语原文 The dean of the University of Colorado School of Law decided that I couldn?t return to classes next fall because my grades were too low. He said I would never make a lawyer.

Even today words cannot describe my upset. I?d never really failed at anything significant.

After all, the University of Colorado at Boulder was a Taj Mahal—the door to judicial clerkships and prestigious law firms.

But I decided to try again and went to see Clifford Mills, the dean of Westminster College of Law—a poor man?s school with no tenured professors or law review.

After reading my college transcript, Dean Mills let me enroll at Westminster, on one condition, that I repeat all my first-year classes, this time paying attention.

“I?ll be looking over your shoulder,” he said.

One door had closed. But others opened.

Given a second chance, I worked much harder, becoming fascinated by the law of evidence.

英语美文欣赏

In my second year the professor who taught the course passed away. I was asked to take over—inconceivable at a law school like Boulder.Evidence became a lifelong specialty, and for many years I taught classes on the subject for judges, law students and practicing lawyers throughout the country. Meanwhile I worked days in the Denver City Attorney?s office as a clerk. It was anything but glamorous. But it led to a job as an assistant city attorney after graduation. I became a county judge at age 28, one of Denver?s youngest.

Later I was elected as a district judge, and then appointed by the President to the federal judiciary as a U.S. district judge.And, ultimately, I did return to Boulder—to

receive the University of Colorado?s George Norlin Award, and an honorary doctorate of law.

Sooner or later everyone will fall short at something important to them—whether it be a job, a dream or a relationship.

Flunking out of law school, I believe, made me a better judge, it certainly taught me about the frailties of the human condition, and about the need to give people second chances. But failure also taught me that life is a road with unpredictable forks and

unexpected tomorrows.To take advantage of them, you can?t let yourself be destroyed by a defeat, or let others set the limits on your ability to achieve.

参考译文 我被法学院开除的日子

科罗拉多大学法学院的院长决定我从下个秋季学期起就不能去上课了,我的分数太低了。他说我永远也当不了律师。

即便到今天,也无法用言语描述我当时的失落。在大事上我从未真正失败过。

毕竟,玻尔得的科罗拉多大学是一座泰姬陵——一扇通向司法职业和大牌律师事务所的大门。 然而,我决定再试一下,去找威斯敏斯特法学院的的克利福德·米尔斯院长,威斯敏斯特学院则是一所技校——一个没有终身教授和法学刊物的穷人学校。

米尔斯看了我的大学成绩单,录取了我,但条件是:我得重修一年级的所有课程,并得用心学习。 “我会一直盯着你的。”他说。一扇门关闭了,但其他的门却敞开了。有了第二次机会,我学习努力了许多,并迷上了证据法。

第二年,教证据法的教授去世了。学校请我来上这门课——这在玻尔得那样的法学院是不可思议的。证据法成了我终生的专业,多年来我给全国各地的法官、法学院学生和挂牌律师讲授这门课。同时白天我在丹佛市检察官办公室当职员。工作没什么意思,但在那儿得到了锻炼,于是毕业之后我成了一名助理检察官。28岁时我成了丹佛市最年轻的县法官之一。

然后又当选为地区法官,之后由总统任命到联邦司法部担任美国地区法官。而最终呢,我确实又回到了玻尔得——去接受科罗拉多大学的乔治·诺林奖和荣誉法学博士学位。

英语美文欣赏

每个人迟早都会在一些人生重大事情上遇到挫折——无论它是工作、梦想,还是一份感情。我相信,被法学院开除使我成了一名更好的法官。它确实教我认识了人性的弱点,体会到给予人们第二次机会的必要性。

但失败也使我懂得,人生之路充满了未知的变数,要充分利用这些变数,你就不能让自己被一次挫折击垮,也不能让别人束缚你的手脚。

注意的生词 1.flunk n. 失败,不及格 v. (使)失败,(使) 考试不及格

Several students have been flunked out.

有几名学生因考试不及格而被迫退学。

2.clerkship n. 书记的职位

3.tenure n. 享有,保有时间

4.glamorous adj. 富有魅力的,迷人的

My job is not a very glamorous one but it does have its moment.

我的工作虽不算十分吸引人,但也自有其乐趣所在。

5.judiciary n. 司法部,司法制度,法官 adj. 司法的,法院的,法官的

6.doctorate n. 博士学位

I am going to start my doctorate in biochemistry next year.

我准备明年开始攻读生物化学博士学位。

7.frailty['freilti] n. 脆弱,意志薄弱,虚弱,弱点

One of the frailties of human nature is laziness.

人性的弱点之一是懒惰。

5.The Power of Words

英语原文

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed of what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was a little deaf.

英语美文欣赏

He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches us two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.

Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way.

Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

参考译文 语言的力量

一群青蛙在穿越树林,其中两只掉进了一个深坑。当其他的青蛙看到那个坑那么深,他们告诉那两只青蛙他们和死了一样,没希望逃出来了。两只青蛙没听他们的话,使尽全身力气想跳出来。其他的青蛙一直对他们说停下来吧,不可能跳出来了。最后,其中一只青蛙听取了其他青蛙的说法,放弃了。他掉落了下去,死了。

另外一只青蛙继续全力地跳着。再一次的,上面的青蛙群对他喊,别那么痛苦了,放弃吧。而他却跳得更有劲了,最后竟然跳了出来。他出来以后,其他青蛙问,“你没听见我们说什么嘛?”这只青蛙解释说,他是聋的。

他以为他们从始至终一直在鼓励他! 这个故事给了我们两个启迪:

1,你的话有决定生死的力量。一句鼓励的话可以让落魄的人重新振作,让他们重新面对生活。 2,而一句消极的话足以杀掉一个消沉的人。

温馨提示:注意你所说的话。对你身边的人说鼓励的话。语言的力量...有时难以想象一句鼓励的话会有如此深远的影响。

任何人都能说出夺去他人战胜困境的勇气和意志的话,而只有愿意花时间去鼓励别人的人才是最特别的。

注意的生词

1.pit[pit] n. 坑

The children were playing in the sand pit.

孩子们在沙坑中玩耍。

2.might[mait] n. 力量,威力

Might overcomes right.

强权压倒公理。

英语美文欣赏

6.Gold and Diamond

英语原文 A long time ago, in Egypt lived a famous mystical person named Zun-Nun. A young man came to visit him and asked,"Teacher, I do not understand why people like you when you dress in such a simple way?"

The mystic only smiled and took his ring from one of his fingers, and said:"Young friend, I will answer your question, but first do one thing for me, take this ring and go to the market across this street, can you sell this for one chip of gold?"

Looking at Zun-Nun's dirty ring, the young man became doubtful, "One chip of gold? I am not sure this ring could be sold at that price."

The young man went to the market quickly. He offered the ring to the textile,

vegetable, meat, fish traders, and the others. The fact is that no body was willing to pay for a chip of Gold. He went back to Zun-Nun's residence and reported,"Teacher, nobody's brave enough to offer more than one chip of silver."

With a wise smile Zun-Nun said,"Now go to the Gold Shop at the back of this street and show this to the owner or to the gold trader. Don't give your price; just listen how much he will pay for this ring."

The young man went to the shop mentioned and returned with a different expression on his face. He then reported,"Teacher, the traders in the market really didn't know the value of this ring, the gold trader offered this ring for one thousand of gold, and the value of this ring was one thousands times from what the traders in the market offered."

Zun-Nun just smiled subtly and spoke softly," That was the answer of your question, my friend. Someone cannot be valued only from his dress. The traders in the market give value like that but not for 'the gold trader'."

The gold and diamond inside someone only could be seen and valued if you could look at the inner soul. It needs heart to see, and it needs a process. We cannot see it from the words or attitude. Many a time what we think is a gold, is only a brass but a brass is a gold. 参考译文

黄金与钻石

很久以前,在埃及生活着一位著名的神秘人物,他的名字叫做祖南。有一个年轻人前去拜访他,问道:“老师,我不明白为什么人们喜欢穿着简单的您?”

哲人笑而不答,从他的手指上取下戒指,说:“我的朋友,我会回答你的问题的,但是,你得先替我做件事情。把这只戒指拿到街对面的市场上,看看能不能卖上一块金子。”

年轻人看了看祖南那枚不太干净的戒指,心中充满怀疑:“卖块金子?这枚戒指能卖到那个价钱

英语美文欣赏

吗?”

年轻人很快就来到了市场。他把这枚戒指介绍给卖布的、卖菜的、卖肉的,卖鱼的商人和一些其他的人。事实上没有一个人愿意花金子来买这枚戒指。年轻人回到了祖南的住处,说:“老师,这枚戒指连一块银子也没有人愿意买。”

祖南睿智地笑了,说:“现在你把它拿到街后面的金店,给黄金商人看看。你不要给价钱,看看黄金商人会出多少钱。”

年轻人去了金店,回来时表情与刚才大不相同。他说:“老师,市场上的那些商人真的不知道这枚戒指的价值,黄金商人出价一千枚金币,这个价是那些市场上的人的一千倍。”

祖南微笑着说:“这就是我给你的答案。我们不能只凭一个人的衣着来判断他的价值,市场上的商人就是这样,只凭东西的表面样子来定价,而那些黄金商人则恰恰相反。”

只有当你接近一个人的心灵的时候,才能看见这个人内在的“黄金”与“钻石”。这需要用心去观察,而且也需要一个过程。我们不能通过一个人的言语和态度来判断一个人的价值。有许多时候我们认为是金子的东西,只是黄铜而已;而我们认为是黄铜的东西,恰恰是金子。 注意的生词

1.chip n. 薄片,片屑,芯片 v. 屑,切(成碎片),形成(缺口)

The entire content of a book will be located on a single silicon chip.

整本书的内容只用一片硅芯片就可以装下。

2.textile['tekstail] n. 纺织品

Their main exports are textiles, especially silk and cotton.

他们的主要出口货物是纺织品,特别是丝绸和棉布。

3.subtly adv. 敏锐地,巧妙地,精细地

4.inner adj. 内部的,里面的,内心的 n. 里面

He has no inner resources and hates being alone.

他没有内在的精神寄托,因而害怕孤独。

5.brass[brɑ:s] n. 黄铜(制品), 铜管(乐器) adj. 黄铜的

相关格言

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

黄铜是铜和锌的合金。

Never judge a man by his appearance because a man can easily change his appearance but can hard change his soul.

不要以一个人的外表来判断一个人,因为一个人很容易改变他的外表却很难改变他的灵魂。

Not all the people can enjoy your value for someone judges the others by appearance. Thus, you need not to doubt yourself and remember the gold will shine.

英语美文欣赏

并不是每个人都会欣赏你的价值,因为有些人是以貌取人的。因此,你没必要怀疑自己,是金子总会发光的。

7.The Green Banana

英语原文 My encounter with the green banana started on a steep mountain road in Brazil. My ancient jeep was zigzagging when the radiator began to leak. I stopped at the next village, where people gathered to look. Three fine streams of hot water spouted from holes in the radiator.

“That?s easy to fix,” a man said. He sent a boy running for some green bananas. We exchanged pleasantries while I mulled over the green banana. Asking questions would seems silly, so I remarked on the beauty of the mountain.

“Do you see that tall one right over there?” asked my benefactor, pointing to a

particular tall, slender pinnacle of dark rock. “That rock marks the center of the world.”

I looked to see if he were teasing me, but his face was serious. He in turn inspected me carefully to be sure I grasped the significance of his statement. The occasion demanded some show of recognition on my part. “The center of the world?” I repeated, trying to convey interest if not complete acceptance.

He nodded. “The absolute center.”

At that moment the boy returned with my green bananas. The man sliced one in half and pressed the cut end against the radiator. The banana melted into a glue against the hot metal, plugging the leaks instantly.

Everyone laughed at my astonishment. As a product of American higher education, I had never paid the slightest attention to the green banana. Suddenly on that mountain road, its time and my need had converged.

This chance encounter showed me the special genius of those people, and the special potential of the green banana. I had been wondering for some time about what educators like to call “learning moments”, and I now knew I had just experienced two of them at once.

The importance of the rock marking the center of the world took a while to filter through. I had initially doubted their claim, knowing for a fact that the center was located

somewhere in New England. After all, my grandfather had come from there. But gradually I realized they had a valid belief, a universal concept, and I agreed with them. We tend to define the center as that special place where we are known, where we know others, where

英语美文欣赏

things mean much to us, and where we ourselves have both identity and meaning: family, school, town and local region.

参考译文 青香蕉

我遇到青香蕉是在巴西中部的一条陡峭山路上,我那辆老吉普车在美丽的乡村艰难穿行时,水箱开始漏水。我在下一个村子停下来。村民们走过来看发生了什么事。三小股热水从水箱外壳的洞里涌出来。

“这很容易修”,一个人边说边派一个男孩去取一些青香蕉。我们随意地聊起天来,同时我一直在想他们怎么用青香蕉修理我的水箱,然而我没有问他们,因为那会显得无知。所以我只谈了谈眼前这座美丽的大山。

“看到那块高耸的岩石了吗?”那人指着一块特别高且顶部线条柔和的黑岩石问道,“那块岩石标志着世界的中心。”

我盯着他看,看他是不是在骗我,但他表情严肃认真。而他,反过来也审视着我,好像要确认我是否理解他话中的真谛。这种情形需要我表示出对他的话的认可。“世界的中心?”我又问了一遍,在完全接受他的观点之前努力显出兴趣。

他点点头。“一个绝对的中心。”

这时候,男孩带回来了青香蕉。男人将一支香蕉切成两半,把切口处压在水箱表面。香蕉立即熔成糊状堵住了金属壳的裂缝,止住了漏水。

看到这一切我太惊讶了。在美国教育的“造就”下,我一点也没注意过青香蕉。突然间,在那条山路上,青香蕉被用来修补我的水箱的时机到了。

我开始欣赏那些人特别的智慧和青香蕉潜在的独特价值。好长一段时间我一直在想教育者们所说的“瞬间领悟到的东西”,我知道我刚刚一下子感受到了两样东西:青香蕉的特殊用途和有关世界中心的说法。

我花了更长一点的时间来理解村民们所信仰的标志着世界中心的岩石。刚开始我怀疑他们的话,因为事实上世界的中心在新英格兰。毕竟,我祖父来自那儿。但渐渐地,我发现村民们的信念很有道理,我认同他们。我们倾向于把某个特殊的地方看作是世界的中心,在那里我们被他人所了解,并了解其他人,那地方对我们很重要,在那里我们拥有认同感和生活的意义。比如家庭、学校、城镇,还有地方区域,都会成为我们心目中的世界的中心。

注意的生词

1.zigzag['zigz?g] vi. 曲折前行

The path zigzags up the hill.

这条小道向山顶蜿蜒而上。

2.spout[spaut] n. 喷口,水管,(鲸等的)喷水口 v. 喷出,滔滔不绝地说

Water is spouting out of the pipe.

水正从管子里喷出来。

英语美文欣赏

3.radiator n. 暖气片,散热器,辐射体

This car has a fan-cooled radiator.

这部汽车有一个由风扇散热的冷却器。

4.pleasantry['plezntri] n. 幽默,开玩笑,客气话

The children smiled politely at the visitor's pleasantries.

孩子听了客人说的幽默话,都斯文地笑了。

5.pinnacle n. 小尖塔,尖峰 vt. 造小尖塔,放置高处

He has reached the pinnacle of his career.

他已经登上事业的顶峰。

6.converge vi. 聚合,集中于一点 vt. 使集合

The roads converge just before the station.

四面八方的道路会聚在火车站前。

8.Easter in Jackson

英语原文 The pounding rain began in the middle of the night. The people of Jackson, Ohio awoke to the sound then went back to sleep. The next day the rain continued, and the water began to rise. Statistics said Jackson floods once every one hundred years, but no one believed this would be the flood of the century. People were evacuated from their homes to higher ground, leaving everything behind. Buildings in the low-lying areas were immersed in water. People watched as dogs, cats, cows and other animals were swept away. Cars and trucks were carried miles from their homes. The people felt helpless as they watched Mother Nature show her power.

Susan returned to her sixth-grade student-teaching experience the following Monday. She told the story to her students and showed them pictures from the newspaper. Her inspired and compassionate students took action. They stopped raising money for their trip to Camp Kern and began raising money for the flood victims. They sold lollipops, wrote letters to the community asking for donations and collected their own money. Even first-graders donated money. Mountains of clothes,furniture and food piled up. Susan's class made Easter baskets from shoe-boxes and filled them with candy and toys as well as toothpaste,soap,toothbrushes and shampoo.

She and I loaded her mom's black Chevy Beretta to the ceiling with the Easter baskets. On the trip there,I wondered what I would see;I couldn't imagine losing almost everything. Dusk was beginning to set in,and I felt nervous when we arrived. My stomach dropped

英语美文欣赏

when I saw some houses reduced to the railroad ties that had been their foundation. The smell of river water permeated the air. No carpet,furniture,plumbing or appliances remained. Knowing that only days ago this had been someone's home pained my heart. How many children had grown up here?What kind of memories lingered?Would the house ever be rebuilt?The monster flood had dulled its roar and retreated,but its impact would be long-lasting. We drove from house to house,knocking on doors,ready to begin our mission. I was filled with trepidation. Would families who had been devastated by floodwater want an Easter basket?The gesture was beginning to seem useless. "Hello,I'm Susan Moore,and this is my friend,Allison. My sixth-graders at Pennyroyal Elementary made Easter baskets for you when they heard about the flooding because they wanted to help. "

Their faces lit up as they opened their gifts. As we entered one home,a husband and wife were crouched over their floor with hammer and nails. When he opened the box,he began to cry. "I can't believe those kids did this. Let me give you some money for their school. "As I glanced at what was left of his home,I could not believe his generous spirit.

He eventually conceded to write a thank-you note instead. One woman ran out to find us after opening her box,tears rolling down her face. "I collected bunny rabbits,and I lost them all in the flood. There was a small pink rabbit in my box. I can start my collection again. Thank you. "The burly man standing next to her also had tears in his eyes.

My heart was warmed as I played the small role of messenger in this tribute to the good in the human spirit. So often we hear of the shortcomings of our youth,but these youngsters answered a cry for help and gave proof that generosity and love prevail. 参考译文

杰克逊的复活节

半夜时分,下起了瓢泼大雨。俄亥俄州杰克逊的人们被雨声惊醒,但很快地又进入了梦乡。第二天,雨未停,水开始上涨了。据统计,杰克逊每100年发一次水灾,但谁也没有想到这次大雨导致了这场世纪之灾。人们顾不上携带财物,匆匆从家里撤离,逃向高地。洼地里的建筑浸泡在水中。人们眼睁睁地看着狗、猫、牛和其他动物被大水冲走,连汽车和卡车也被冲到离家几英里外的地方。看着老天爷发威,人们束手无策。

苏珊在接下来的周一回到她在六年级的教学实习中。她给学生讲了这件事,并给他们看报纸上的照片,这些富有同情心的学生得到了鼓舞,立即采取行动。他们停止了为坎普克恩之旅筹资,而开始为洪水的受难者募集。他们去卖棒棒糖,写信给社区寻求捐助,还捐出了自己的积蓄。甚至一年级学生也参与了捐助活动。衣服、家具和食品堆得像小山一样。苏珊班里的同学们还用鞋盒子做成复活节礼筐,里面装上糖果、玩具、牙膏、肥皂、牙刷和洗发液等。

我和苏珊把她妈妈的黑色贝里塔车装满了复活节礼筐。在去那里的途中,我思忖着将会看到什么:我想

英语美文欣赏

象不到几乎失去一切的景象。夜幕开始降临了,到达的时候,我感到有些紧张。原来盖在铁路路基上的房屋被大水冲走,又露出了路基。看到这种情况,我的心情陡然沉重起来。空气中河水的味道弥漫。毛毯、家具、管道或器具都荡然无存。一想到几天前这还是某人的家时,我就感到心痛。在这儿曾有多少孩子长大成人?会留下什么样的记忆?这房子会重修吗?洪魔已无力咆哮,开始撤退,但他的影响将持续下去。

我们驱车挨门逐户拜访,一家一家地敲门,准备开始我们的任务。我心中有些忧虑。这些被洪水毁坏了的家庭会接收复活节礼筐吗?这些举措显得有些苍白无力了。"你好,我是苏珊·摩尔,这是我的朋友艾利逊。我们潘尼罗耶小学六年级的学生听说这儿发了洪水,特意为您制作了复活节礼筐,因为他们想提供帮助。"

人们打开礼物时都露出欣喜之情。我们走入一户人家,丈夫和妻子正蹲伏在地上,手里拿着锤子和钉子。丈夫打开盒子后,哭了起来。"我真不敢相信这些孩子会这样做。让我拿些钱带给他们学校。"我扫视了一下室内,大水过后,家中财产所省无几,他的慷慨之举,令人难以置信。经我们劝说,他最终同意不再捐钱,只写了一封感谢信表达他的谢意。一位妇女在打开盒子后连忙追了出来,脸上流着泪:"我收集了许多小兔子,但在洪水中全丢了。你们送我的盒子里有一只小粉兔,我又可以开始收集了。谢谢你们!"站在她身边那个魁伟的男人眼里也含着泪。

此次,我不过是尽人性之善的使者,微不足道,但能尽微薄之力倍感温謦。经常听到人们指责我们这代年轻人的缺点,但正是这些年轻人在天灾之时,回应了人们的求助,证实了人世间充满了慷慨和爱心。

注意的生词 1.immerse vt. 浸,陷入

He immersed himself totally in his work.

他埋头于工作。

2.compassionate adj. 有同情心的 vt. 同情

If he is compassionate towards the afflictions of others, it shows that his heart is like the noble tree, that is wounded itself, when it gives the balm.

如果他对其他人的痛苦不幸有同情之心,那他的心必定十分美好,犹如那能流出汁液为人治伤痛的珍贵树木。

3.lollipop n. 棒棒糖

4.permeate v. 弥漫,渗透,普及

Water has permeated (through) the soil.

水已渗遍那片土壤。

5.plumb n. 铅锤,垂直

6.retreat[ri'tri:t] n. 休息寓所,撤退,隐居 v. 撤退,向后倾

The troop made good their retreat from the occupied city.

部队从沦陷的城市安全撤出。

英语美文欣赏

7.trepidation n. 恐惧,惊惶,忧虑

The threat of an epidemic caused great alarm and trepidation.

流行病猖獗因而人心惶惶。

8.crouch v. 蹲下,蜷著,屈膝 n. 蹲伏,蜷缩

He crouched down among the tangled foliage.

他蹲下把身子藏在紊乱的叶丛中。

9.tribute['tribju:t] n. 贡品,颂词,称赞,(表示敬意的)礼物

The musician gave full tribute to his former teacher.

这位音乐家盛赞了他过去的老师。

9.Look around you

英语原文

A very special teacher in a high school had a husband who died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her thoughts with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight shined through the classroom windows, and when the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look on her face, she paused and said,"Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves...and none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is a sign that we must make the most out of every single day."

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on,"So I would like you all to make me a promise...from now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see---it could be a scent---perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these things, and remember them.

"For, although it may sound silly to some people, these things are the 'stuff' of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time...it can all be taken away."

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an

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impression she made on all us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.

参考译文 看看你周围

一个很特别的高中老师,其丈夫死于突发性心脏病。在他死后大约一周,她便把她的一些所思所想讲给全班学生。下午的阳光透过教室的窗户照射进来,快要放学了,她把一些东西放在讲桌上,坐了下来。

她脸上带着温柔的表情,稍稍停顿了一下,便开始讲话:“在放学前,我想跟你们分享一种我认为很重要的想法。我们每个人都生活在地球上,学习、分享、爱护别人、欣赏和付出自我,却没有一个人知道这种美好的体验什么时候就会结束了。它随时都可能被带走。也许这预示着我们必须最大限度地利用每一个日子。”

她的眼睛开始湿润了,她接着说:“因此我想让你们每个人答应我:从今以后,在你上学或者放学的路上,要发现一些美丽的事物。它不一定是你看到的某个东西----它可能是一种香味----也许是新鲜烤面包的味道从某一座房里飘出来,也许是微风轻拂树叶的声音,或者是晨光照射在轻轻飘落的秋叶上的方式。请你们寻找这些东西并且记住它们吧。”

“因为,尽管听起来有些傻气,这些东西却就是生活的内容,是我们活在世上要欣赏的一些小东西。这些东西我们经常认为是理所当然的。我们必须注意它们,这很重要,因为说不定在什么时候,它就被带走了。”

整个教室里非常安静。我们都收拾起课本,整理好,一个个默默地走出教室。那天下午,在放学回家的路上我注意到很多事物,比我以前整个学期发现的事物还要多。不时地,我会想到那位老师,回忆起她给我们留下的深刻印象,我便会尽力去欣赏有时我们都忽略的东西。

今天中午吃饭的时候专注一下你所看到的特别事物。光着脚丫散散步。或在日落时分在沙滩上漫步。今晚在回家的路上,要驻足仔细品味一下冰淇淋蛋卷。因为随着我们年龄的增长,并不是做过的事情值得我们后悔,而是那些没有去做的事情。

注意的生词

1.appreciate 赏识,鉴赏,感激

2.give of 奉献,贡献

3.fantastic 美好的,幻想的,奇异的

4. waft吹送,飘荡

5.rustle 发出沙沙声

英语美文欣赏

6.file out 鱼贯而出

7.barefoot 赤脚的

8.stop off 中途停留

9.cone 圆锥体,锥形物

相关格言 Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

享受生命中的小事情,因为有一天你回首往事,也许会发现它们其实是很重要的事情。

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.

如果看见蓝天会使你快乐,如果从地里拱出的小草会给你以感动,如果你能明白自然中简单的事物所传达的信息,那么你就该欢欣喜悦,因为你的灵魂还活着。

Learn to appreciate: A song that takes you away, for there are those who cannot hear. The beauty of a sunset, for there are those who cannot see. The warmth and safety of your home, for there are those who are homeless. Time spent with good friends for there are those who are lonely. The little things are what life is all about.

学会欣赏一首使你着迷的歌,因为还有人听不到;学会欣赏日落的美景,因为还有人看不到;学会享受家庭的温暖与安全,因为还有人无家可归;学会享受与朋友共度的时光,因为还有人感到孤独。这些点点滴滴的小事其实就是生活的全部。

10.弱点还是强项

编者按:

每个人都会有自己的弱点或缺陷,不同的是看待这些弱点的方法。面对自己的弱点,人们往往变得谦卑或者沮丧,却不知道强和弱本是相对的概念,可以辩证地转化。世界上没有十全十美的人,除了不懈的努力,最重要的是明白自己的弱点,并去克服它,化弱点为强项。

英语原文

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, for

example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well,

英语美文欣赏

so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.

"Sensei," the boy finally said, "shouldn't I be learning more moves?"

"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament.

Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a timeout. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

"No," the sensei insisted, "let him continue."

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a big mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy gathered the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

"Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?"

"You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."

The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

参考译文

弱点还是强项

你最大的弱点有时可以变成最大的优势。我们就拿一个10岁男孩的故事来举个例子吧。尽管在一次严重车祸中失去了左臂,他还是决定去学习柔道。

他师从一位德高望重的日本柔道大师。男孩学得不错,但他弄不明白在三个月的训练中,大师为什么只传授他一招。

“师傅,”男孩终于问道,“我可以学些别的招数吗?”

“这是你知道的惟一的一招,但有这一招就够了。”师傅回答道。

虽然懵懵懂懂,但男孩信任他的师傅,便继续练了下去。

几个月后,男孩被师傅领着首次参加锦标赛。

让男孩自己都感惊讶的是,他轻而易举地赢了头两场比赛。第三场比赛就没那么轻松了,可

英语美文欣赏

是一段时间后,他的对手沉不住气了,发起进攻,男孩巧妙接招,一招制敌。尽管对自己的成功仍百思不得其解,男孩已经杀入决赛了。

这次他的对手高大强壮,经验老到。一时间,男孩看上去要被打败。担心男孩可能会受伤,裁判赶紧喊“暂停”。裁判正打算宣布终止比赛,男孩的师傅出面了。

“不,”师傅坚持道,“让他继续。”

比赛重新开始不久,他的对手犯了一个致命错误:他疏于防守,门户大开。男孩以迅雷不及掩耳之势,用他那一招将对方摔倒在地。男孩赢得了比赛,夺得了锦标赛的冠军。

回家的路上,男孩和师傅回顾起每场比赛的每一个动作。然后,男孩鼓起勇气,向师傅提出了他苦思不解的问题。

“师傅,我怎么会只用一招就赢得了锦标赛的胜利呢?”

“你赢有两个原因,”师傅回答说。“首先,你已经基本掌握了整个柔道中难度最高的一种摔跤动作。第二,目前已知破解此招惟一的方法就是对手去抓你的左臂。”

男孩最大的弱点变成了他最大的优势。

11.Playing a Violin with Three Strings

编者按:

在生命的舞台上,我们尽情表演。但有些时候,命运喜欢和你开玩笑,喜欢把你事先早已准备好的一切打乱。就如同演讲的时候,你突然忘了词儿;拉小提琴的时候,突然断了根弦。不用紧张,尽情表演好了,你会发现你同样会表现得很好。

英语原文

On Nov.18,1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert. If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small

achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he walks with the aid of two crutches.

The audience sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair and begins his play. But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. We thought that he would have to stop the concert. But he didn't. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again.

The orchestra began and he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before.

Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a harmonious work with just three strings. I know that, and you know that, but that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that. When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the

英语美文欣赏

auditorium.

He smiled, wiped the sweat from this brow and then he said---not boastfully, but in a quiet, sacred tone---"You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left."

This powerful line has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the definition of life---not just for artists but for all of us.

He has prepared all his life to make music on a violin of your strings, but all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, he finds himself with only three strings; so he makes music with three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable, than any that he had ever made before, when he had four strings.

So, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left.

参考译文 断弦的小提琴

19xx年11月18日,小提琴家伊扎克·帕尔曼将要举办一场音乐会。如果你曾经听过帕尔曼的音乐会,你就知道对他来说走上舞台可不是一件容易的事情。他小的时候患过小儿麻痹症,所以他需要靠双拐走路。

观众在静静地等待着他穿过舞台坐在椅子上开始表演。但是这一次出了点儿问题。当他刚刚演奏完前面几小节的时候,一根琴弦断了。我们以为他不得不结束这场演奏会,然而他没有。他停了一下,闭上眼睛,然后向指挥示意重新开始。

乐队再一次开始演奏,他用前所未有的激情、力量和内心的纯净演奏着。

当然,我们每个人都知道仅用三根琴弦是无法演奏出和谐的乐曲的。你我都明白这一事实,但是那一晚伊扎克·帕尔曼就是拒绝承认。

当演奏结束的时候,大厅里一阵可怕的沉寂。接着,人们从座位上站起并欢呼起来,从观众席的每一个角落都爆发出热烈的掌声。

他微笑着,檫去额头的汗珠,没有一点骄傲,他用平静的、虔诚的语气说道:“有些时候音乐家要明白用不完整的乐器,你还能演奏出怎样的音乐。”

从那天起,这句有力的话一直留在我的心里。要知道,也许这就是对生命的解释----不仅是对音乐家,而是对所有的人。

伊扎克·帕尔曼一生都在做着用四弦的小提琴演奏音乐的准备,然而,突然间,就在音乐会上,他发现他只剩下三根琴弦,于是他用三根琴弦演奏。那一晚他用三根琴弦演奏的音乐比他以往用四根琴弦演奏的音乐更美妙,更神圣,更难忘。

英语美文欣赏

我们要学会在这个动荡多变充满迷惑的世界里演奏音乐,也许开始的时候倾尽所有来演奏,当有些东西不再拥有的时候,就用我们所剩下的来演奏音乐。

注意的生词 1.polio 小儿麻痹症

He failed many times but he finally broke through to find a successful polio vaccine. 他失败了许多次,但终于发现了有效的预防小儿麻痹症的疫苗。

2.crutch 拐杖 Religion was her crutch in times of sorrow.

宗教是她忧伤时依赖的支柱。

3.bar 小节(音乐)

4.orchestra 管弦乐队

The orchestra has several concert engagements.

这管弦乐队已安排好几场音乐会。

5.boastfully 自负地,夸耀地

12.What makes a teacher?

编者按:

她被解雇了,或许也该如此,因为她没有教好书本上的基础知识。这些基础知识是必须掌握的。但她却留给我们追求真知的热情,点燃了我永不泯灭的好奇心。我做不出简单的算术题,但她却让我领悟到抽象的数学就像音乐一样有其内在的韵律。 当她被解雇时,我们都沉浸在忧伤之中,但是她点燃的智慧之光并未熄灭。

英语原文

It is customary for adults to forget how hard and dull and long school is. The learning by memory of all the basic things one must know is a most incredible and unending effort.

Learning to read is probably the most difficult and revolutionary thing that happens to the human brain and if you don't believe that,watch an illiterate adult try to do it.

School is not easy and it is not for the most part very much fun,but then,if you are very lucky,you may find a real teacher. Three real teachers in a lifetime is the very best of my luck. My first was a science and math teacher in high school, my second , a professor of creative writing at Stanford , and my third was my friend and partner, Ed Ricketts.

I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. It might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.

英语美文欣赏

My three had these things in common:they all loved what they were doing. They did not tell, they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and unknown became knowledge. But most important of all ,the truth,that dangerous stuff,became beautiful and precious.

I shall speak only of my first teacher because in addition to the other things, she brought discovery.

She aroused us to shouting,book-waving discussion. She had the noisiest class in school and she didn't even seem to know it . We could never stick to the subject. Our speculation ranged the world.

She breathed curiosity into us so that we brought in facts or truths shielded in our hands like captured fireflies.

She was fired and perhaps rightly so, for failing to teach fundamentals. Such things must be learned. But she left a passion in us for the pure knowable world and she inflamed me with a curiosity which has never left . I could not do simple arithmetic but through her I sensed that abstract mathematics was very much like music. When she was relieved, a sadness came over us but the light did not go out.

参考译文 为师之道

成年人常常会忘记在学校上学时的艰辛、单调和漫长。凭借记忆去学习必须了解的基本常识是一件最不可思议并需要不懈努力的事。学会阅读大概是人的大脑活动中最困难的、最具创新性的一项任务。

你如果不信的话,可以去观察一个成年文盲的尝试过程。上学不容易,而且大部分时光也确实枯燥无味。 但如果你很幸运的话,你会遇见一位优秀的教师。我所遇到的三位真正的教师是我一生中最大的幸运:第一位是我在高中时任教的自然科学兼数学教师;第二位是斯坦福大学教创造性写作的教授;最后一位是我的朋友,同时又是我的搭档埃德·理克茨。

我坚信杰出的教师就像杰出的艺术家。这样的教师和其它任何杰出的艺术家一样罕见。 正因良师所传授的是人类的思想和精神,这使得教育甚至可能是最伟大的艺术。

我的三位老师的共同之处是:他们都热爱自己的职业。他们从不说教,而是激发学生强烈的求知欲。在他们的熏陶下,学生们开阔了视野,驱散了恐惧,消除了疑问,不懂的知识也迎刃而解。但最重要的是,我们所寻求的真知不再是令人望而却步的东西,而是变得美妙而珍贵了。

我只想谈谈我的第一位老师,因为她除了教授书本知识,还教会我们如何去发现。

她激发我们手挥书本、高声嚷叫地进行讨论。她的课堂是学校最吵闹的,而她似乎没有觉察到。我们从不局限于一个主题。我们的视野扩大到整个世界。她把好奇心注入我们心中,使我们懂得事实与真理,把它们像捕捉萤火虫一样掌握在手中。

她被解雇了,或许也该如此,因为她没有教好书本上的基础知识。这些基础知识是必须掌握的。但她却留给我们追求真知的热情,点燃了我永不泯灭的好奇心。我做不出简单的算术题,但她却让我领悟

英语美文欣赏

到抽象的数学就像音乐一样有其内在的韵律。 当她被解雇时,我们都沉浸在忧伤之中,但是她点燃的智慧之光并未熄灭。

注意的生词 1.incredible 难以置信的

That's the most incredible coincidence I've ever heard of!

那是我听说过的最难以置信的巧合!

2.illiterate 不识字的,没受过教育的

You must be an illiterate if you've never heard of Marx. 要是连马克思也没听说过,那你一定是个文盲。

3.catalyze 催化,刺激

4.speculation 思索

They have much speculation over the cause of the air crash.

他们对飞机坠毁原因有多方推测。

5.breathe 注入,灌输

His enthusiasm breathed new life into the company.

他的热情给公司注入了新的生命。

6.firefly萤火虫

相关格言

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.

教师的影响永远持续,他也说不清这种影响何时会停止。

A teacher must believe in the value and interest of his subject as a doctor believes in health.

教师必须坚信自己所教的科目有价值,有乐趣,正如医生深信健康有价值。

13.David

编者按:

也许我给予大卫的某种东西,至少我从他哪里学到了很多。我懂得了时间如何使人克服看上去无法逾越的痛苦,我学会了帮助需要我帮助的人。大卫还使我明白,一个人怎样才能不通过语言而去帮助他人。所需的只是一个拥抱,一个痛哭时可以依偎的肩头,一次友好抚慰,一种同情的本性,以及一双聆听的耳朵。

英语美文欣赏

英语原文 Years ago,when I was working as a psychologist at a children's institution in England , an adolescent boy showed up in the waiting room ,It was David.

David wore a black raincoat that was buttoned all the way up to his neck. His face was pale,and he stared at his feet while wringing his hands nervously.He had lost his father as an infant,and had lived together with his mother and grandfather since. But when David turned 13,his grandfather died and his mother as killed in a car accident . He was very depressed,refusing to talk to others.

The first two times we met,David didn't say a word. He sat in the chair and only looked up at the children's drawings on the wall. As he was about to leave after the second visit,I put my hand on his shoulder.He didn't shrink back,but he didn't look at me eigher.

"Come back next week,"I hesitated a bit. Then I said,"I know it hurts."

He came,and I suggested we play a game of chess.He nodded,After that we played chess very Wednesday afternoon----in complete silence and without making any eye contact. It's not wasy to cheat in chess,but I admit that I made sure David won once or weice.

It seemed as if he enjoyed my company. But why did he never look at me ?"Perhaps he senses that I respect his suffering." I kept wondering and playing with him,until some months later, suddenly,he looked up at me ,"It's your turn," he said.

After that day ,David started talking.He got friends in school and joined a bicycle

club.Hw wrote to me a few times , the letters stopped. Now he had really started to live his own life.

Maybe I gave David something.At least I learned a lot from him. I learned how time makes it possible to voercome what seems to be an insuperable pain. I learned to be there for people who need me. And David showed me how one --without any words--can reach out to another person. All it takes is a hug,a shoulder to cry on ,a friendly touch ,a sympathetic nature--and a ear that listens.

参考译文

拯救大卫

许多年前,我是英国一所儿童机构的心理医生,有一天,一个十几岁的男孩出现在候诊室,他叫大卫。

大卫穿着一件黑色的雨衣,扣子一直扣到脖颈。他脸色苍白,眼睛紧盯着自己的双脚,同时还紧张地扭搓着双手。大卫很小的时候就失去了父亲,一直同母亲和祖父生活在一起。在13岁那年的时候,他的祖父去节了,母亲也在一次车祸中丧生。他情绪低落,不跟任何人说话。

英语美文欣赏

在我们头两次见面时大卫一句话也没说。他坐在椅子上,抬起头时也只是看着我身后墙上孩子们画的画。他第二次来后,在他将要离开的时候,我将手放在他的肩上,他没有退缩着躲开,也没有看我一眼。

“如果愿意,下周还来吧。”我犹豫了一下说,“我知道你很难过。”

他的确来了,我提议两人下象棋,他点头同意了。之后,我们每周三下午下棋---但都不说话,他也从不和我对视。下棋时作弊并不容易,不过我得承认,我的确有意让大卫赢过一两次。

看上去他很喜欢和我在一起,但是为什么他从不看我一眼呢?“也许他只是需要有人为他分担痛苦,”我想,“也许他只是需要有人为他分担痛苦,”我想,“也许他觉得我尊重他的苦楚。”与他下棋时我一直带着这样的疑问,直到几个月后,突然,大卫抬头看着我,说道:“该你了。”

自那天起,大卫开始说话了。他在学校里有了朋友,并加入了一个自行车俱乐部。他给我写过几次信,在信中他还告诉我他将设法去上大学。一段时间之后,他就不再写信了。现在他已经真正开始了自己的生活。

也许我给予大卫的某种东西,至少我从他哪里学到了很多。我懂得了时间如何使人克服看上去无法逾越的痛苦,我学会了帮助需要我帮助的人。大卫还使我明白,一个人怎样才能不通过语言而去帮助他人。所需的只是一个拥抱,一个痛哭时可以依偎的肩头,一次友好抚慰,一种同情的本性,以及一双聆听的耳朵。

注意的生词

psychologist:心理医生

adolescent:青春期的,青少年的

wring :搓

infant:婴儿,幼儿

shrink:畏缩,本能地退却

hesitate:犹豫

insuperable:无法逾越的

reach out to sb.高某人伸出手,帮助某人

sympathetic:同情的,表示同情的

14.幽默的意义

编者按:

我们喜欢和有幽默感的人在一起,幽默感似乎成了睿智的代名词。幽默不仅是讲几个笑话,它是智慧的体现,是生活的沉淀。幽默可以让你开怀,可以让你健康,可以化解你与他人的矛盾。做个幽默的人吧,给别人带来欢笑,也给自己带来快乐!

英语美文欣赏

英语原文 The story goes that a certain court jester went too far one day and insulted his king. The king became so infuriated he sentenced the jester to be executed. His court prayed upon the king to have mercy for thes man who had served him well for so many years. After a time, the king relented only enough to give the jester his choice as to how he would like to die. The jester replied,"If it's all the same to you, my Lord, I'd like to die of old age." Certainly in this case, a good sense of humor saved the man's life.

It's true for us as well. We may not be faced with a situation where our wit will save us from an execution, but our sense of humor and the ability to laugh at things has proven health benefits that extend and improve our quality of life. Norman Cousins, in his book Anatomy of an Illness, wrote about how he cured himself of cancer by laughing a good part of each day. He rented films of comedies and watched them for hours on end in his hospital room. He had nothing to lose since he'd been diagnosed as terminal. His "experiment" turned out to be a classic example of the healing powers of laughter. If it worked for Cousins with a life-threatening illness, it can work for us to enhance and protect our good health. We should laugh often and heartily. It's good for our body. Besides, life's too important to take seriously.

参考译文

幽默的意义

这是关于一个宫廷小丑的故事。这天,他故事讲的有点儿过头,得罪了国王。国王非常恼怒,下令将其处死。他的同伴求情,希望国王能够饶过这个服侍他多年的人。后来,国王有些心软了,但只是让他选择如何死而已。小丑回答说:“陛下,如果您不反对的话,我愿意老死。”无庸质疑,出色的幽默感救了这个人的性命。

对我们来说,幽默感同样重要。我们可能不会遇到用智慧来使我们免于处死的情况,但是幽默感和笑对人生的能力却可以促进身体健康,提高生活质量。诺曼·库辛在他的名为《解剖疾病》的书中记录了他如何通过每天大笑一段时间来治愈癌症的故事。他租了一些喜剧电影然后在病房里连续看上几个小时。自从被诊断出癌症晚期之后,他对死亡淡然处之。他的这个“试验”成为证明大笑的治疗作用的经典例子。如果幽默对这位面临着死亡危险的库辛起作用的话,那么幽默也会促进和保护我们的健康。我们应该经常大笑,而且是发自内心地大笑,这对我们的健康有好处。除此之外,生命如此重要,我们要认真对待。 注意的生词

1.jester 小丑,讲笑话的人

The cap of a jester, decorated to resemble the comb of a rooster.

小丑的帽子小丑的帽子,装饰得像公鸡的肉冠

2.infuriated 狂怒的

英语美文欣赏

She was infuriated by his presumption in making the travel arrangements without first consulting her.

他事先没有和她商量便作好旅行安排,她对他自作主张很生气。

3.healing 有治疗功用的 Please take your time. The body has a marvelous healing process, but it sometimes works more slowly than we'd like.

别着急,人体有一个奇妙的痊愈系统,只是有时比我们希望的要来得慢些。

4.relent 变宽厚,变温和,动怜悯之心

At first she threatened to dismiss us all, but later she relented.

起初她威胁要解雇我们所有的人,但是后来她态度软化了。

5.on end 接连地,连续地

It has been raining for days on end.

一连好几天连续下雨。

15.将爱放飞

编者按:

真正的爱不是要占有,而是要让对方感觉到自由,保留着独立成长的空间。要给爱情充裕的时间,让它去旅行,让它去翱翔。如果没有了自由,爱情也就失去了活力,最终只能凋谢。 英语原文

There was once a lonely girl who longed so much for love. One day while she was walking in the woods she found two starving songbirds. She took them home and put them in a small cage. She cared them with love and the birds grew strong. Every morning they greeted her with a wonderful song. The girl felt great love for the birds.

One day the girl left the door to the cage open. The larger and stronger of the two birds flew from the cage. The girl was so frightened that he would fly away. As he flew close, she grasped him wildly. Her heart felt glad at her success in capturing him. Suddenly she felt the bird go limp. She opened her hand and stared in horror at the dead bird. Her desperate love had killed him.

She noticed the other bird moving back and forth on the edge of the cage. She could feel his great need for freedom. He needed to soar into the clear, blue sky. She lifted him from the cage and tossed him softly into the air. The bird circled once, twice, three times. The girl watched delightedly at the bird's enjoyment. Her heart was no longer

concerned with her loss. She wanted the bird to be happy. Suddenly the bird flew closer and landed softly on her shoulder. It sang the sweetest melody that she had ever heard.

英语美文欣赏

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on it too tight; the best way to keep love is to give it WINGS!

参考译文 将爱放飞

从前,有个寂寞的女孩非常渴望爱。一天,她走在丛林中,发现两只快要饿死的鸣鸟。她把小鸟带回家,放入一个小笼子。经她悉心照料,鸟儿一天天地强壮起来。每天早晨,鸟儿都要用美妙的歌声向她问候。女孩不由得爱上了这两只小鸟。

一天,女孩敞开了鸟笼的门。那只较大较壮的鸟儿飞出了鸟笼。女孩非常害怕鸟儿会飞走。鸟儿飞近时,她死命地将它抓住。她十分高兴,终于又把它捉了回来。突然间,她感觉到鸟儿四肢无力。她张开手,惊恐地盯着手中的死鸟。她不顾一切的爱害死了鸟儿。

女孩注意到另一只鸟儿在笼边来来回回地走个不停。她可以感觉到它对自由的无限向往。它渴望冲向明净的蓝天。女孩将它从笼内取出,高高举起,然后轻轻抛向空中。鸟儿盘旋了一圈,两圈,三圈。

看到鸟儿快乐的样子,女孩很高兴。她的内心不再计较自己的得失。她希望鸟儿幸福。突然,鸟儿飞近了,轻轻落在她的肩上,唱起了她从未听过的最动人的歌。

失去爱的方法,最快莫过于将其牢牢地抓在手心;令爱长驻的方法,最好莫过于赋予它一双翅膀---将爱放飞!

16.人生的回音

编者按:

我们常把生活比作镜子,它折射出你对生活的态度,当你微笑时,镜中的人也会对你微笑;当你苦恼时,镜中的人也会和你一起苦恼;当你生气时,镜中的人也会生气。对生活微笑吧,生活也会给你带来微笑!

英语原文

A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams, "AAAhhhh!!!"To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating,

somewhere in the mountain," AAAhhhh!!!" Curious, he yells," Who are you?" He receives the answer,"Who are you?" Angered at the response, he scream,"Coward!" He receives the answer,"Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks,"What's going on?" The father smiles and says,"My son, pay attention." And then he screams to the mountain, "I admire you!" The voice answers," I admire you!" Again the man screams,"You are a champion!" The voice answers,"You are a champion!" The boy is surprised, but does not understand.

Then the father explains,"People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back

英语美文欣赏

everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in you team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life. Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

参考译文 人生的回音

有一个小男孩和他的父亲走在山中。突然,孩子不小心跌倒了,痛得大叫了一声:“哎呀……”但是令他吃惊的是,他听到了一个声音从山中的某处传出来,重复着他的喊声:“哎呀……”他很好奇,大声喊道:“你是谁?”结果他得到的回答也是:“你是谁?”小男孩听了很生气,大声喊道:“胆小鬼!”结果他得到的回答也是:“胆小鬼!”他看着父亲问道:“到底是怎么回事?”父亲笑着说:“儿子,注意听。”父亲对着山大喊了一声:“我佩服你!”结果传回来的声音也是:“我佩服你!”父亲再一次大声地喊:“你是冠军!”那个声音也回答道:“你是冠军!”小孩子很惊讶,但是不明白其中的原因。

这时父亲解释说:“人们称这为?回音?,但实际上这就是?人生?。你说的每一句话,做的每一件事都会回应到你身上。我们的人生只不过是我们所作所为的反映。如果你要这个世界有更多的爱,那么你就要在你的心中创造更多的爱;如果你想让你的团队更优秀,那么先让你自己更优秀。这种关系对任何事情都是适用的,它适用于人生的方方面面。你给予人生的一切它都会回应给你。”

17.Eagle in a Storm

编者按:

在生活中,我们可以驾驶那些带来疾病、灾难、失败、失望的暴风雨.我们可以翱翔在暴风雨之上。 请记住,把你压垮的不是生活中的重担,而是你的态度。

英语原文

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us—and all of us will experience them—we can rise above them by setting our belief that we can make it. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow our inner power to lift us above them.

We can enable ourselves to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

英语美文欣赏

参考译文 风雨中的雄鹰

你知道吗?鹰在暴风雨爆发之前就知道暴风雨就要来了。

鹰会飞到一个很高的地方,等待着暴风雨的来临。当暴风雨来临的时候,它会展开翅膀,这样暴风就可以把它拖起,将它置于暴雨之上。当暴风雨肆虐的时候,鹰已经翱翔于暴雨之上了。

鹰没有逃避暴风雨,它只是利用暴风雨让它飞得更高,它翱游于带来暴风雨的飓风之上。

当生活中的暴风雨降临的时候--这是我们每个人都要经历的--我们可以坚定我们的必胜信念,这样我们就可以凌驾于暴风雨之上.暴风雨并不一定会摧毁我们,我们内部的能量可以让我们超越暴风雨。

在生活中,我们可以驾驶那些带来疾病、灾难、失败、失望的暴风雨.我们可以翱翔在暴风雨之上。 请记住,把你压垮的不是生活中的重担,而是你的态度。

18.Sweet-Pea Summers

编者按:

乐观、豁达是每个人都应该具备的品质。生活中会有一些挫折,可既然你还活着,也许就是上天给你最好的恩赐。与死神檫肩而过之后,留下的一点点伤痛又算得了什么呢?

英语原文

Each summer in the late 1960s, my two sisters and I would ride the Greyhound bus from Arizona to Arkansas to stay with our father.

A World WarⅡ veteran, Dad had many medical problems, any one of which could cause many people to lose more than their sense of humor, but not him.

I have vivid memories of Dad waking us up in the morning. Before he'd put on his legs for the day (he had lost his legs after his discharge), his wheelchair was his mobility.

Holding his cane, which was his extended arm, he would roll through the house yelling, "Up, up, up! Get up and face the day! It's a beautiful day! Rise and Shine!" If we didn't get up right away, he would repeat his song in rhythm with his cane hitting the end of our beds. This was no performance put on for our benefit; every day was truly a beautiful day to him.

Back in the sixties, there was no handicapped parking or wheelchair-accessible ramps like there are now, so even a trip to the grocery store was a difficult task. Dad wanted no assistance from anyone. He would climb stairs slowly but surely, whistling all the way. As a teenager, I found this embarrassing, but if Dad noticed, he didn't let me help.

Those summers always ended too soon. He would drive us back to Arizona every year, stopping at the checkpoint for fruit and vegetables at the New Mexico-Arizona border. When asked if he had any fruits or vegetables, he would reply,"Just three sweet peas."

英语美文欣赏

Our father has been gone for a long time now, but not the lesson that he taught us: You are only as handicapped as you let yourself be.

参考译文 甜豌豆的夏天

二十世纪六十年代末的时候,每个夏天我和我的两个姐妹都会乘坐从亚里桑那州到阿肯色州的“灰狗”长途汽车,去和爸爸住一段时间。

爸爸是二战的退伍老兵,有很多的疾病。这些病中的任何一种都会让人失去幽默感,但是爸爸却没有。

我清晰地记得爸爸早上叫我们起床的情景。在他戴上假腿之前(在开炮的时候,他失去了双腿),轮椅就是他的移动工具。他拿着拐杖,那是他胳膊的延伸,在房间里走来走去,喊唱着:“起床了,起床了!新的一天开始了!今天真美好,快起来晒太阳吧!”如果我们不马上起床,他就会重复着他的歌,合着拐杖敲打我们床尾的节拍。这不是为我们而进行的表演,对于爸爸来说每一天真的都是美好的。

六十年代的时候,没有像现在这样的残疾人停车场或者是可以让轮椅通过的坡道,因此,即使是去杂货店也是件非常麻烦的事。爸爸不想接受任何人的帮助。他会自己慢慢地但是稳稳当当地爬上台阶,一路上发出吱吱的响声。那时我还是个小孩子,对这件事觉得有些尴尬。但是即使爸爸注意到我的尴尬,他也不会让我帮忙。

那些夏天总是很快就结束了。爸爸每年都会把我们送回亚里桑那州。我们会在新墨西哥州和亚里桑那州的交界处的水果和蔬菜检查站停下来接受检查。当被问到携带了什么水果和蔬菜的时候,他总会说:“只有三颗甜豌豆。”

爸爸现在已经离开我们多年了,但是他教给我们的道理依然留在我们心中:只有你把自己当成残疾人的时候,你才是残疾人。

19.Treasure Starfish

编者按:

我们身边每一个人都有特别的地方,我们都被赋予了发挥某些作用的能力。如果我们能意识到那种天赋,我们就会通过我们的想象力,获得改变未来的力量。我们必须找到我们的海星,如果我们明智而恰当地把我们的海星扔进了海里,那么这个世界就得到了祝福。

英语原文

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing,

英语美文欣赏

but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it? You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely, then bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said,"It made a difference for that one."

There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future. We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.

参考译文 珍贵的海星 从前,有一位哲人常到海边去写作。他有一个习惯,就是在开始之前要到海边散步。有一天,他正沿着岸边走。当顺着海边向远处看时,他看到一个人,那人的动作看起来像是一位舞蹈演员在跳舞。他很高兴,以为今天正好能看到有人跳舞。于是,他加快步伐,以免错过。

当靠近之后,他才看清这是一个年轻人,他不是在跳舞,而是弯下腰来,从海滩上捡着什么,轻轻地扔到海里。

他走近了大声说:“早上好!你在做什么?”

这个年轻人停了下来,抬起头回答道:“把海星扔进海里。”

“我想我问的是,为什么你要把海星扔进海里?”

“太阳升起来了,潮就要退了,如果不把它们扔进海里,它们将会死去。”

“但是年轻人,难道你没有看到这长长的海滩上面布满了海星。你起不到什么作用的!”

年轻人有礼貌地听着,然后弯下腰,又捡起一只海星扔进了海里,穿过滚涌的波浪走了过来,他说道:“对于那一只就起作用了。”

我们身边每一个人都有特别的地方,我们都被赋予了发挥某些作用的能力。如果我们能意识到那种天赋,我们就会通过我们的想象力,获得改变未来的力量。我们必须找到我们的海星,如果我们明智而恰当地把我们的海星扔进了海里,那么这个世界就得到了祝福。

20.Keep Your Goals in Sight

编者按:

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我们在为事业奋斗时,总需要制定一定的目标;它就像海上的指向灯为我们引航指路。看不到这盏灯,我们前进的路程中就会觉得暗淡无光,分不清方向,甚至迷失。所以要让目标之光照亮你的眼睛。

英语原文 When she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb.She had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours.

Already she was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. Now, at age 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast. On that Fourth of July morning in 1952, the sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense she could hardly see her support boats. Sharks cruised toward her lone figure, only to be driven away by rifle shots. Against the frigid grip of the sea, she struggled on—hour after hour— while millions watched on national television.

Alongside Florence in one of the boats, her mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her it wasn?t much farther. But all she could see was fog. They urged her not to quit. She never had . . . until then. With only a half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out.

Still thawing her chilled body several hours later, she told a reporter, "Look, I?m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land I might have made it." It was not fatigue or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog. She was unable to see her goal.

Two months later, she tried again. This time, despite the same dense fog, she swam with her faith intact and her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind that fog was land and this time she made it! Florence Chadwick became the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel, eclipsing the men?s record by two hours!

参考译文 莫让目标太遥远

佛罗伦斯·查德威克向前方望去,除了绵延无尽的大雾,她什么也看不到。她一直在游泳,已经游了几乎16个小时,身体都麻木了。

在那之前,她已经是第一位从两个方向游过英吉利海峡的女子。现在,她已34岁,她的目标是要成为第一个从卡达琳纳岛游到加利福尼亚海岸的女子。

19xx年7月4日的那个早晨,大海就像一个冰浴盆,雾是那么浓,她甚至连救援她的船只都看不到。鲨鱼游向她孤单的身躯,只能靠来复枪来击退。她迎向冰冷的海水,努力向前游,就这样一小时一小时过去了;无数观众则坐在电视机前观看这一情景。

在佛罗伦斯旁边的一艘船里,她母亲和她的教练不断地鼓励她。他们告诉她离海岸已经不远了,然而除雾以外,她却什么也看不到。他们激励她不要放弃,事实上,她一直在坚持,然而在距离目的地只有半英里的时候,她却要求,将她拖出水面。

几个小时后,她一边暖着身体,一边对着记者说:“怎么说呢,我不是为自己找借口,但如果我能看见陆

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地的话,我会成功的。”瞧,在这次游泳中,击败她的不是劳累和冰冷的海水,而是雾。因为有雾,她根本看不到自己的目标。

两个月后,她又试着游了一次。这一次,尽管雾还是那样浓,但她始终带着必胜的信念,头脑中始终有一个清楚的目标,她知道雾后面的某个地方就是陆地,这一次她成功了!佛罗伦斯·查德威克最终成为第一个游过卡达琳纳海峡的女子,并且以快两个小时的速度打破了男子游过该海峡的记录,这让男子记录黯然失色。

21.生命的拼搏

编者按:

有时候,挣扎正是我们生活中所需要的。如果我们能得以毫无障碍地走过一生,这会使我们软弱。我们就不可能变得强壮。

英语原文 Once upon a time in a land far far away, there was a wonderful old man who loved everything. Animals, spiders, insects...

One day while walking through the woods the nice old man found a cocoon of a butterfly. He took it home.

A few days later, a small opening appeared; he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily.

But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were Nature's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were allowed to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

And we could never fly.

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参考译文 生命的拼搏

从前,在一个非常非常遥远的国度,有一位心地善良的老人。他喜爱一切东西,动物啦、蜘蛛啦、昆虫啦。 一天,这位善良的老人在树林里散步的时候,发现了一个蝴蝶的茧。他把茧带回了家。 几天后,茧裂开了一道小缝。老人几小时地坐在那里,看着蝴蝶挣扎着让自己的身体从小缝中挤出来。后来,蝴蝶破茧好象停了下来,没有什么进展了。看来蝴蝶好象是撑到了最后,再也不可能前进了。

看到这里,老人决定帮助蝴蝶。于是他找出一把剪刀,把茧剩余的部分剪破了。

这样,蝴蝶就轻易地从茧中脱出来了。

但是,蝴蝶的身子肿胀着,翅膀又小又皱。老人继续观察着蝴蝶,因为他期望着这样一个时刻的到来:蝴蝶的翅膀会变大,大到能支持它的身体,而蝴蝶的身体届时也会缩小。可是什么也没有发生。事实上,这只蝴蝶的余生中就只能拖着臃肿的身体和萎缩的翅膀爬来爬去了。

它永远也不能飞起来了。 在好心和匆忙间,老人并不理解,蝴蝶破茧而出时需要的那种束缚和挣扎其实是大自然用来将蝴蝶的体液挤到翅膀中的方法,这样,蝴蝶一旦能从茧中脱出,就能准备好飞翔了。

有时候,挣扎正是我们生活中所需要的。如果我们能得以毫无障碍地走过一生,这会使我们软弱。我们就不可能变得强壮。

重要的是,我们就不可能腾飞。

22.The Magic Pebbles

编者按:

在艾伦当初听到这句格言的时候,他还只是一颗鹅卵石。但是当他面临危机,需要指引的那一刻,他就变成了钻石。所以,尽量多地收集些鹅卵石,那么有朝一日你就会拥有一个钻石般的未来。

英语原文

"Why do we have to learn all of this dumb stuff?" Of all the complaints and questions I have heard from my students during my years in the classroom,this was the one most frequentlyuttered.I would answer it by recounting the following legend.

One night a group of nomads were going to sleep when suddenly they were surrounded by a great light.They knew they were in the presenceof God.A voice spoke finally,"Gather as many pebbles as you can.Put them in your saddle bags.Travel a day's journey and tomorrow night will find you glad and it will find you sad."

The nomads were disappointed and angry-the task made no sense to them at all.However,the memory of the brilliance of their visitor caused each one to pick up a few pebbles.

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They traveled a day's journey.At night they searched their saddle bags and discovered every pebble had become a diamond.They were glad they had diamonds.They were sad they not gathered more.

It was an experience I had with a student,Alan.

When Alan was in the eighth grade,his master's in "trouble".He had studied how to be a bully and was getting his master's in "thievery".

Every day I had my students memorize a quotation from a great thinker.No one complained about this daily routinemore than Alan- right up to the day he was expelled and I lost touch with him.Then one day,he called.

He told me that after being sent to juvenile hall,he had because so disgusted with himself that he had cue his wrists.

He said,"As I lay there with my life running out of my body,I suddenly remembered that dumb quote you mad me write 20 times one day.'There is no failure except in no longer trying.'Then it suddenly made sense to me.As long as I was alive,I wasn't a failure,but if I allowed myself to die,I called for help and started a new life."

When he had heard the quotation,it was a pebble.When he needed guidance in a moment of crisis,it became a diamond.So,gather all the pebbles you can,and you can count on a future filled with diamonds.

参考译文 神奇的鹅卵石

“为什么我们非要学这些没用的东西呢?”这是在我多年教书生涯中听得最多的学生们的抱怨与质疑。 然后我就会给他们讲下面这个故事。

有一天晚上,一群游牧民正要睡去的时候,忽然北一全要颜色光芒所包围。他们知道神就要出现了。

神终于说话了:“尽量多捡一些鹅卵石,放在你们的马褡子里。再走一天,到明天晚上,你们将同时体会到快乐和沮丧。”

神消失后,牧民们有失望又愤怒,议论纷纷。神让他们去做的事竟如此无聊.但是不管怎样,方才神现身的灵光令人敬畏,他们仍旧各自捡了一些鹅卵石。

他们又走了一天。当夜幕降临,他们查看自己的马褡子,发现每一颗鹅卵石都变成了钻石。得到钻石他们很高兴,同时也懊悔没有捡更多的鹅卵石。

我和一个名叫艾伦的学生就有过这样的经历。

那时,艾伦正读8年级,他调皮捣蛋,不仅常常欺凌弱小,更是个偷窃高手。

我每天让学生记一条名人名言。在我所有的学生中,没有谁比艾伦更爱抱怨这每日的例行作业了——直到他被勒令退学。此后,我再也没有得到他的消息。但是有一天,他来电话了。

他说,他被送进青年看守所后,对自己感到十分厌恶,曾经割腕自杀。

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他说:“当我躺在那儿,感觉着生命正逐渐离我远去,我忽然想到有一天你曾经叫我写了20遍的那句无聊格言:?没有所谓失败,除非你不再尝试。?那一刻,我突然明白了他的含义。只要我活着,就不能算失败;但是如果我让自己死了,那么我就真的永远失败地死去了。于是我竭尽残存的力气求救,并且开始了新生活。” 在艾伦当初听到这句格言的时候,他还只是一颗鹅卵石。但是当他面临危机,需要指引的那一刻,他就变成了钻石。所以,尽量多地收集些鹅卵石,那么有朝一日你就会拥有一个钻石般的未来。

23.Shining Light in Dark Corners

编者按:

“我是一面镜子的一块碎片,我不知道整面镜子的样式和形状。不过,我倾尽所有,能够把光线反射进这个世界漆黑的地方,反射进人们心灵的阴暗处,给他们带来某些改变。也许其他人看到后,也会仿效着做。这就是我之为我,这就是我人生的意义。”

英语原文 "Dr.Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?"

The usual laughter followed, and people stirred to go.

Papaderos held up his hand and stilled the room and looked at me for a long time, asking with his eyes if I was serious and seeing from my eyes that I was.

"I will answer your question."

Taking his wallet out of his hip pocket, he fished into a leather billfold and brought out a very small round mirror, about the size of a quarter.

And what he said went like this: "When I was a small child, during the war, we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day, on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror.

A German motorcycle had been wrecked in that place.

"I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece. This one, and, by scratching it on a stone, I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine---in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find.

"I kept the little mirror, and, as I went about my growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child's game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light---truth, understanding, knowledge---is there, and it will shine in many dark places only if I reflect it.

"I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know.

Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world---into the

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black places in the hearts of men---and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life."

参考译文 照亮黑暗角落的光芒

“帕帕德罗斯博士,人生的意义是什么呢?”

问题照例引来了人们的笑声,人们骚动着要离开了。

帕帕德罗斯举手示意,让教室里的人安静下来。接着,他久久地注视着我,用眼神询问我是不是认真的,并从我的眼神中得到了肯定。

“我来回答你的问题。”

他从裤子后袋里掏出钱包,在这个皮夹子里摸索着,然后拿出一片二角五分硬币大小的小圆镜。 接着,他说了下面一段话:

“我小时候,家里很穷,住在一个偏僻的小村庄。那时正是战争时期。一天,我在公路上发现了一些镜子碎片。一辆德国摩托车在那里失事了。”

“我试图找到所有的碎片,把它们拼起来,但这是不可能的,所以我只把最大的一块留了下来。就是这块,我把它在石头上磨圆了。我开始把它当成玩具,十分着迷,因为我能把光线反射到太阳永远照不到的漆黑之处,深洞啊、裂缝或者漆黑的壁橱。对我来说,把光线反射到我所能找到的最隐秘的地方,成了一种游戏。”

“我一直保存着这块小镜子,随着年龄的增长,我周游四方,还会在闲暇时分把它拿出来,继续着这带有挑战性的游戏。等我长大成人后,我渐渐懂得了这不仅仅是一个小孩的游戏,而且象征着一种人生观。我意识到我既不是光也不是光源,可光(真理、理解和知识)就在那儿,只要我反射它,它就会照亮许多漆黑的地方。“

“我是一面镜子的一块碎片,我不知道整面镜子的样式和形状。不过,我倾尽所有,能够把光线反射进这个世界漆黑的地方,反射进人们心灵的阴暗处,给他们带来某些改变。也许其他人看到后,也会仿效着做。这就是我之为我,这就是我人生的意义。”

24.The Boy and the Tree

编者按:

这是一个发生在每一个人身上的故事。那棵树就像我们的父母。我们小的时候,喜欢和爸爸妈妈玩……长大后,便离开他们,只有在我们需要父母亲,或是遇到了困难的时候,才会回去找他们。尽管如此,父母却总是有求必应,为了我们的幸福,无私地奉献自己的一切。你也许觉得那个男孩很残忍,但我们何尝不是这样呢?

英语原文

A long time ago, there was a huge tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.

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Time went by…The little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree.

One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. “Come and play with me,” The tree said. “I don?t have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for a shelter. Can you help me?” “Sorry, but I don?t have a house. But you can cut off my branches to build your house.” So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy, but the boy didn?t appear since then.

The tree was lonely and sad. One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. “Come and play with me!” the tree said.“I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?” “Use my trunk to build the boat. You can sail and be happy.” So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and did not show up for a long time.

Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years.“Sorry, my boy, but I don?t have anything for you anymore. The only thing left is my dying roots.”The tree said with tears. “I don?t need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years.” The boy replied. “Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest. Come here, please sit down with me and have a rest.” The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

This is a story of everyone. The tree is our parent. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad… When we grow up, we leave them, and only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could to make you happy. You may think that the boy is cruel to the tree but that?s how all of us are treating our parents.

参考译文 男孩和苹果树

很久以前有一棵苹果树。一个小男孩每天都喜欢来到树旁玩耍。他爱这棵树,树也爱和他一起玩。 随着时间的流逝,小男孩长大了。他不再到树旁玩耍了。

一天,男孩回来了,树非常兴奋。“来和我玩吧。”树说。“我没有时间玩。我得为我的家庭工作。我们需要一个房子来遮风挡雨,你能帮我吗?”很遗憾,我没有房子。但是,你可以砍下我的树枝来建房。“因此,男孩砍下所有的树枝,高高兴兴地离开了。看到他高兴,树也很高兴。但是,自从那时起男孩没再出现。

突然,在一个夏日,男孩回到树旁,树很高兴。“来和我玩吧!”树说。“我很伤心,我开始老了。我想去航海放松自己。你能不能给我一条船?” “用我的树干去造一条船,你就能航海了,你会高兴的。”于是,男孩砍倒树干去造船。他航海去了,很长一段时间未露面。

许多年后男孩终于回来了。“很遗憾,我的孩子,我再也没有任何东西可以给你了。我唯一剩下的东西是快要死去的树墩。” 树含着眼泪说。“现在,我不需要什么东西,只需要一个地方来休息。经过了这些年我太累了。”男孩答到。 “太好了!老树墩就是倚着休息的最好地方。过来,和我一起坐下休息吧。” 男孩坐下了,树很高兴,含泪而笑……

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这是一个发生在每一个人身上的故事。那棵树就像我们的父母。我们小的时候,喜欢和爸爸妈妈玩……长大后,便离开他们,只有在我们需要父母亲,或是遇到了困难的时候,才会回去找他们。尽管如此,父母却总是有求必应,为了我们的幸福,无私地奉献自己的一切。你也许觉得那个男孩很残忍,但我们何尝不是这样呢?

25.The Perfect Heart

编者按:

带着一个从未感动过的心生活会是多么令人悲哀呀!

英语原文 One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley.There was not a mark or a flaw in it. A large gathering crowd all agreed that it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.

Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said,“Why, your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine.”

The crowd and the young man looked at the old man?s heart. It was beating strongly, but full of scars. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.

The young man laughed, saying,“You must be joking. Compare your heart with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears”.

“Yes”, said the old man,“Yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love—I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren?t exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared. Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn?t returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges—giving love is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too. So now do you see what true beauty is?” The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He ripped a piece of his perfect young and beautiful heart and offered it to the old man with trembling hands.

The old man took his offering, and then took a piece of his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man?s heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges. The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man?s heart flowed into his.They embraced and walked away side by side. 参考译文

完美之心

英语美文欣赏

一天,一个年轻人站在城镇的中央,宣称他拥有整个流域最美的心。一大群人聚拢过来,对此羡慕不已,因为它确实完美无暇。突然一个老人出现了,他说:“哎呀,你的心可不如我的美啊!”

大家都向老人的心看去,却只见它伤痕累累,到处是拼凑过的痕迹,而且拼凑得很不合适,有好多边边角角,还有好几处是不曾修补过的空洞。

年轻人笑道:“比比就知道,你的心满是伤疤,我的心才美。”

“不错”老人说道:“你的心看上去很完美,但我永远不会和你交换。你瞧,这上面每处伤疤都代表我曾经爱过的人。从我的心上撕下一片给了他们,他们也常撕下一片补在我的心上。”

“但这些碎片的大小不是很合适,它就有了很多毛边,我格外珍惜,它们使我想起我们曾经的爱。” “有时我把很多片给出去了,别人却一片也不曾还回来,所以这里有好多空洞等待修补。”

尽管这些空洞使我痛苦,它们依旧张开着,使我想起曾经付出的那些爱。可我还是等待着,希望有一天他们能回来修补它。这才是真正的美,你现在知道它是什么样的了吧?”

年轻人走上前去,伸手抓住他自己那颗完美的心,撕下一片出来,把它递给老人。

老人接过来放在自己的心上,接着从他那颗旧伤累累的心上也撕下一片来放在年轻人的心的伤口上。它大小合适,但不完美,因为有好多毛边。

年轻人看着自己的心,不再完整但比以往更加美了,因为有爱从老人的心田流入他的心田。他们彼此拥抱了一下,肩并肩地离开了。

26.Love and Time

编者按:

智慧微笑着,充满睿智地答道:“因为爱情的价值只有时间才能理解!”

英语原文

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness,

Knowledge and all of the others, including Love. One day, it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left, except for Love.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment. When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Lovesaid, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered. Sadness was closed by, so Love asked, "Sadness, Let me go with you." "Oh... Love, I am so sad that I need to be myself!"

英语美文欣赏

Happiness passed by Love, too. But she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own away.

Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?"

"It was Time," Knowledge answered.

"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."

参考译文 爱情与时间 很久以前,一个小岛上住着快乐、悲伤等各种情感,还有智慧以及其它,当然还有爱情。某天,这座小岛突然被宣布即将沉没,所有的情感都造好了自己的船离开,除了爱情。

爱情是唯一一个留下来的人,他希望能够坚持到最后一刻!

当小岛即将没顶之际,爱情决定寻求帮助。

财富开着一条大船经过。爱情问,“财富,你可以带上我吗?”财富答道:“不,不行。我的船上装满了金银财宝,装不下你了。”

爱情决定问开着漂亮的船从旁边经过的虚荣。“虚荣,请你救救我吧!”“我不能帮你,爱情,你浑身湿透了,你会弄脏我的船的!”

悲伤也在附近,于是爱情问:“悲伤,带我一起走吧。” “噢,爱情,我是那么的痛苦,痛苦的只想一个人呆着。”

快乐也经过了爱情,可是她快乐过头了,没听见爱情在呼唤她。

突然,一个声音响起,“来吧,爱情,我来帮你。”那是一个智者。爱情非常高兴,高兴的甚至忘了问他们要去哪儿。当他们抵达陆地时,老人独自离开了。

爱情意识到自己欠了老人很多,于是问身边的另一个智者智慧,“帮我的那个人是谁?”

智慧老人答道,“是时间。”

“时间?可是他为什么要帮助我?”爱情不解。

智慧微笑着,充满睿智地答道:“因为爱情的价值只有时间才能理解!”

27.World of Smiles

编者按:

英语美文欣赏

就在那一霎那间,她的身体缺陷消失了,我看到的只是一个美丽的女孩儿,她的笑容使我融化,并几乎立刻使我对人生有了一种新的认识。她把我这个贫穷而不幸的大学生带进了她的世界,一个充满微笑、爱和温暖的世界。

英语原文 About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college, I was working as an intern at my University's Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair.

As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots.

As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink. As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the cutest, largest smile I have ever seen.

All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles, love and warmth.

That was ten years ago. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me.

参考译文 充满微笑的世界

十年前我还是一名在校大学生,那时我在学校的自然历史博物馆实习。一天,在礼品店的收银机那儿工作时,我看到一对老年夫妇推着一个坐轮椅的小女孩走了进来。

近看这个小女孩时,我注意到她几乎是完全被放在轮椅里,意识到她没有胳膊和腿,只剩下了头部、脖子以及躯干了。她穿着一件小白裙,上面还有红色的圆点花纹。

当这对夫妇推着她走到我身边时,我低头看了看清单。转头看到小女孩,于是我对她眨了眨眼睛。从她爷爷奶奶手中接钱的时候,我又看了一眼小女孩,她正向我展示我所见过的最可爱、最宽大的笑容。

就在那一霎那间,她的身体缺陷消失了,我看到的只是一个美丽的女孩儿,她的笑容使我融化,并几乎立刻使我对人生有了一种新的认识。她把我这个贫穷而不幸的大学生带进了她的世界,一个充满微笑、爱和温暖的世界。

那已经是十年前的事情了。现在我已经成为一名成功的商人。无论何时当我感到沮丧,回想到世界上的烦恼时,我就会想起那个小女孩以及她教给我的那堂不寻常的课。

英语美文欣赏

28.The Best Teacher I Ever Had 编者按:

如果有人问我如何解决学校面临的危机时,那就是惠特森先生的教学方法。我没有任何伟大的科学发现,但是惠特森先生的课给我和同学们一样重要的启示:我们要正视别人的眼睛,勇敢地告诉他们,他们错了。他也同样指出我们的不足,这会获得无穷的乐趣。

英语原文 Mr.Whitson taught sixth-grade science. On the first day of class, he gave us a lecture about an animal called the Cattywampus, an ill-adapted nocturnal animal that was wiped out during the Ice Age, he passed around a skull as he talked. We all took notes and later had a quiz. When he returned my paper, I was shocked. There was a big red “X” through each of my answers. I had failed. There had to be some mistakes! I had written down exactly what Mr.Whitson said.

Then I realized that everyone in the class had failed. What had happened? Very simple,

Mr.Whitson explained. He had made up all that story about the Cattywampus. There had never been any such animal. The information in our notes was, therefore, incorrect. Did we expect credit for incorrect answers?

Needless to say, we were outraged. What kind of text was this? And what kind of teacher is? We should have figured it out, Mr.Whitson said. After all, at the very moment he was passing around the Cattywampus skull (in truth, a cat?s), hadn?t he been telling us that no trace of the animal remained? He had described its amazing night vision, the color of its fur and any number of other facts he couldn?t have known, he had given the animal a ridiculous name, and we still hadn?t been suspicious. The zeroes on our papers would be recorded in his grade book, he said. And they were.

Mr.Whitson said he hoped we would learn something from this experience. Teachers and

textbooks are not always right. In fact, no one is. He told us not to let our minds go to sleep, and to speak up if we ever thought he or the textbook was wrong.

Every class was an adventure with Mr.Whitson I can still remember some science periods almost from beginning to end. One day he told us that his Volkswagen was a living organism. It took us two full days to put together a refutation he would accept. He didn?t let us off the hook until we had proved not only that we knew what an organism was but also that we had the fortitude to stand up for the truth.

We carded our brand-new skepticism into all our classes. This caused problems for the other teachers, who weren?t used to being challenged. Our history teacher would be lecturing about something, and then there would be clearings of the throat and someone would say

英语美文欣赏

“Cattywampus”.

If I?m ever asked to propose a solution to the crisis in our schools, it will be Mr.Whitson. I haven?t made any great scientific discoveries, but Mr.Whitson?s class gave me and my

classmates something just as important: the courage to look people in the eye and tell them they are wrong. He also showed us that you ca have fun doing it.

参考译文 我最好的老师

惠特森先生教六年级自然科学。第一天上课时,他给我们讲了一种叫卡蒂万波斯的动物,这种动物夜间活动,在冰河时期,因不适应自然环境而灭绝了。他边说边递过一个头颅让我们传看。我们做了笔记,而后进行了测试。

试卷发下来时,我震惊了,我的每个答案后面都打了一个大大的红“X”,我没及格。一定是弄错了!我写的明明都是惠特森先生讲的。

后来我发现班上同学都没及格。怎么回事?很简单,惠特森先生解释说,所有这些有关卡蒂万波斯的事都是他编造的。这种动物根本就不存在。我们笔记本上记录的当然是错误的。错误的答案难道还想得分吗? 不必说,我们都很愤怒。这是什么测试?什么老师呀?

我们应该想到这一点,惠特森先生说,毕竟,在他拿出卡蒂万波斯的颅骨(实际上是猫的颅骨)让我们传看时,不是说这种动物一点儿遗迹都没留下吗?他描绘了它夜间惊人的视觉,皮毛的颜色,和他不可能知道的许多情况。他还给这只动物取了个可笑的名字,我们仍未察觉。他说我们测试得零分会记在记分册上,他真的这样做了。

惠特森先生说,他希望我们能从这件事中汲取教训:老师和书本并还一定绝对正确。事实上,谁都不可能绝对正确。他让我们开动脑筋,认为他或书本错了,就大胆地说出来。

惠特森先生的每堂课都像是一次历险,他的几堂自然科学课我现在仍记忆犹新。一天,他对我们说,他的大众汽车是一种有生命的生物体。我们花了整整两天的时间,整理他认为可以接受的材料进行反驳,直到我们证明自己不仅懂得什么是生物体,还能不屈不挠地坚持真理时,他才善罢甘休。

我们持怀疑的态度走入课堂,这给其他老师带来了许多麻烦,他们不习惯受到这样的质疑。历史老师讲课时,下面就会有同学故意咳嗽,然后有人说:“卡帝万波斯。”

如果有人问我如何解决学校面临的危机时,那就是惠特森先生的教学方法。我没有任何伟大的科学发现,但是惠特森先生的课给我和同学们一样重要的启示:我们要正视别人的眼睛,勇敢地告诉他们,他们错了。他也同样指出我们的不足,这会获得无穷的乐趣。

29. My First Poem

编者按:

但是直到多年以后我才渐渐地明白那些痛苦的“第一首诗”的经历的真正意义。当我成为一名专业作家以后,我才越来越明白自己曾多么幸运。我有一位说“巴蒂,这当真是你写的吗?我觉得写得真棒”的母亲,还有

英语美文欣赏

一位摇头否定说“我认为写得很糟”使我流泪的父亲。一个作家——实际上我们生活中的每个人——都需要爱的力量作为一切创作的动力,但是仅仅有爱的力量是不完整的,甚至是误导的,平衡的爱应该是告诫对方“观察、倾听、总结、提高。”

英语原文 When I was eight , I wrote my first poem.

My mother read the little poem and poured out her praise. Why, this poem was nothing short of genius!

This evening when my father came in, my mother began to tell him, "Ben, Buddy has written his first poem! And it's beautiful,absolutely amazing--"

"If you don't mind, I'd like to decide for myself," Father said.

I kept my face lowered to my plate as he read that poem. It was only ten lines. But it seemed to take hours.

"I think it's lousy," he said.

I coundn't look up. My eyes were getting wet.

"Ben, sometimes I don't understand you," my mother was saying."This is just a little boy. These are the first lines of poetry he's ever written. He needs encouragement."

"I don't know why." My father held his ground. "isn't there enough lousy poetry in the world already? No law says Buddy has to become a poet."

A few years later I took A second look at the first poem; it was a pretty lousy poem. After a while, I worked up the courage to show him something new, a short story. My father thought it was overwrittenbut not hopeless. I was learning to rewrite. And my mother was learning that she could criticize me without crushing me. You might say we were all learning.

But it wasn't until years later that the true meaning of that painful "first poem" experience dawned on me. As I became a professional writer, it becane clearer and clearer to me how fortunate I had a mother who said,"Buddy,did you really write this? I think it's wonderful!" and a father who shook his head no and drove me to tears with "I think it's lousy." A writer--in fact every one of us in life--needs that loving force frome which all creation flows. Yet along that force is incomplete, even misleading; balance of the force cautions,"Watch. Listen. Review. Improve."

Sometimes you find these opposing force in associate friends, loved ones. But finally you must balance these opposites within yourself.

Those conflicting but complementary voice of my childhood echo down through the

years--wonderful...lousy...wonderful...lousy--like two opposing winds battering me. I try to navigate my craft so as not capsize before either.

英语美文欣赏

参考译文 我写的第一首诗

在我八九岁时,我写下了生平第一首诗, 得到了母亲的高度赞扬,却受到了父亲的严厉批评。多年以后,我成了一名作家,我认识到仅仅有赞扬是不够的。

当我八九岁的时候,写了生平第一首诗。

那时,父亲是派拉蒙电影制片厂的厂长,母亲从事文化事业。

母亲读完这首小诗后喊道:“巴蒂,你不会写出这么美、这么美的诗的!”

我结结巴巴地说是我写的。她大大地表扬了我一番。天啊,这首诗整个是一个天才的杰作。

我脸上现出愉快的表情。“爸爸什么时候回来?”我问道,我迫不及待地想给他看看。

整个下午的大部分时间我都在为父亲的到来做着准备。我先用花体字抄写了一遍,然后用彩色笔画了一圈儿精美的花边儿,让它与内容相配。当七点将近的时候,我满怀信心地把它摆在餐桌上父亲的餐盘里。

但是七点钟父亲没有回来,我不能耐受这种心悬的感觉。我崇拜父亲,他是以作家的身份开始他的电影生涯的。他会比母亲更能欣赏我优美的诗的。

这天晚上,父亲突然闯进家门,他的情绪比往常要暴躁得多。他虽然比通常吃晚饭的时间晚回来一小时,但他坐不下来,而是手拿酒杯围着长餐桌转圈圈,咒骂他的员工。

他走着走着转过身停了下来,盯着他的餐盘。屋里静悄悄的,我的心悬了起来。“这是什么?”他伸手去拿我的诗。

“本,发生了一件了不起的事,”母亲开始说话了,“巴蒂写了他的第一首诗,而且写得很好,绝对出乎意料——” “如果你不介意,我想自己来判断,”父亲说。

他读诗时,我一直低垂着头,盯着盘子。短短十行诗似乎用了好几个小时,我记得当时不明白他为什么用了这么长的时间。我能听见我父亲的呼吸,接着听见他把诗放回到桌子上,到了做出结论的时候了。 “我认为写得很糟,”他说。

我不能抬起头来,两眼开始潮湿起来。

“本,有时,我真不理解你,”母亲说道,“他只是个小孩子。这是他平生写的第一首诗,他需要鼓励。” “我不明白为什么。”父亲仍坚持自己的观点,“难道世界上这样糟糕的诗还不多吗?没有法律说巴蒂必须成为诗人不可。”

他们为此争吵起来,我再也无法忍受了,哭着跑出餐厅,到楼上我的房间,扑倒在床上抽泣起来。

这件轶事好象已经过去了,但是它对我的深远意义却没有终结。照往常一样,家庭的创伤已经愈合,母亲又开始与父亲说话了,我也继续写诗,但是我没敢拿给父亲看。

几年以后,当我再读我的第一首诗时,发现它的确写得很糟糕。过了一阵子,我鼓起勇气给他看一个新作品,一个短篇小说。父亲认为写得太累赘,但并不是一无是处。我学着重新写。而母亲也开始学着批评我但又不使我有挫折感。你会说我们都在学习,我一直坚持到我12岁的时候。

但是直到多年以后我才渐渐地明白那些痛苦的“第一首诗”的经历的真正意义。当我成为一名专业作家以后,我才越来越明白自己曾多么幸运。我有一位说“巴蒂,这当真是你写的吗?我觉得写得真棒”的母亲,还有一位摇头否定说“我认为写得很糟”使我流泪的父亲。一个作家——实际上我们生活中的每个人——都需要爱的

英语美文欣赏

力量作为一切创作的动力,但是仅仅有爱的力量是不完整的,甚至是误导的,平衡的爱应该是告诫对方“观察、倾听、总结、提高。”

有时你会遭遇来自同事、朋友及所热爱的人的反对的压力,但是最终你必须自己平衡这种反对意见:首先要满怀信心向前走,去做该做的事情,去成为想成为的人;其次,调节你的自满情绪,冷静地、现实地评价自己。

那些儿时听到的对立的而又相互补充的声音多年以来一直在我耳畔回响——妙极了…糟透了…妙极了…槽透了,它们好象两股对立的风吹打在我的身上。我努力驾使着我的航船,不让他被任何一股风颠覆。

30.Look Out for No.2

编者按:

如果你争斗为了你自己,你只赢了爱人,而你斗争为了你的婚姻,你俩才都是赢家。

英语原文

There is a powerful healing energy that emanates from loving.Lasting love can learn to sense it,send it and make it grow. We are energized by love if we put our energy into loving.

Bad energy springs from conflicts that arise when two egos collide. When I watch husbands and wives argue with each other, I want to shout:"Grow up,stop fighting,start loving!"It is bettter to learn how to love than how to fight. Dont't try to win in your marriage, win for your marriage. Marriage is designed primarily for giving rather than taking, It is meant to be a permanent union of two unselfish people. As one husband told me,"The old saying was "Look out for

Number one",But we 've learned to "Look out for Number two."If you fight for yourself,only you can win. When you fight for your marriage, you both win.

参考译文 爱能释放出一种强大到起治疗康复作用的能量。持续长久的爱能让人学会去感知,释放并加强增长这种能量。如果我们付出能量给爱,我们就会体验到这种能量使我们充满激情而活力四射。

相反的恶能也会从两个自私自我的人的争吵和矛盾冲突中迸发出来。每当我看到夫妻彼此争吵不休时仅不住想大吼:“成熟点吧,别再闹了,开始爱吧!”学会爱吧而不是学会怎样去争论和争吵。千万别努力去争取成为你婚姻中赢的一方。而要努力成为为你婚姻而努力的赢家。

婚姻原本是给予而不是索取,它意味着两个没有私心的人永久的联合。有个做丈夫的曾对我说:“俗话说人都要先为自己着想,”但是我们学会了“为他人着想照顾爱人的利益”。如果你争斗为了你自己,你只赢了爱人,而你斗争为了你的婚姻,你俩才都是赢家。

31.Friends

编者按:

英语美文欣赏

一个朋友说过:“我若是灯,我就要用我的光明来照彻黑暗。”

我不配做一盏明灯。那么就让我做一块木柴罢。我愿意把我从太阳那里受到的热放散出来,我愿意把自己烧得粉身碎骨给人间添一点点温暖。

英语原文 On my recent travels, I came to realize still more fully the significance of the word “friend”. Seven or eight days ago, I said to a friend whom I had just come to know, “I can?t help feeling embarrassed before my friends. You?re all so nice to me. I simply don?t know how to repay your kindness,” I did not make this remark out of mere modesty and courtesy. I truly meant what I said. The next day, I said goodbye to this friend, not knowing if I could ever see him again. But the little warmth that he gave me has been keeping my heart throbbing with gratitude.

The length of my days will not be unlimited. However, whenever I look back on brief past life, I find a beacon illuminating my soul and thereby lending a little brightness to my being. That beacon is friendship. I should be grateful to it because it has helped me keep alive up to now and clear away the shadow left on me by me old family.

Many people forsake their friends in favor of their own families, or at least draw l line of demarcation between families and friends, considering the former to be many times more important than the latter. That seems to be a matter of course. I have also seen with my own eyes how some people abandon their friends as will as their own careers soon after they get married…

Friends are transient whereas families are lasting—that is the tenet, as I know, guiding the behavior of many people. To me, that is utterly inconceivable. Without friends, I would have been reduced to I don?t know what a miserable creature.

Friends are my saviors. They give me things which it is beyond my family to give me. Thanks to their fraternal love, assistance and encouragement, I have time and again been saved from falling into an abyss while on its verge. They have been enormously generous towards me. There was a time when my life was miserable and gloom. My friend then gave me in large quantities sympathy, love, joy, and tears—things essential for existence. It is due to their bountiful free gifts that I also have my share of warmth and happiness in my life. I accepted their kindnesses quietly without ever saying a word of thank and without ever doing anything in return. In spite of that, my friend never used the epithet “self-centered” when referring to me. They are only too generous towards me.

I visited many new places and met many new friends on my recent trip. My time was mostly taken up by looking around, listening, talking and walking. But I never ran into any trouble because my friends had done their utmost to make sure that I would be short of nothing.

英语美文欣赏

Whatever new places I called at, I always felt at home as if I were back in my old residence in shanghai which had already been raged to the ground by Japanese troops.

No matter how hard up and frugal my friends themselves were, they would unstintingly share with me whatever they had, although they knew I would not be able to repay them for their kindness. Some, whom I did not even know by name, showed concern over my health and went about inquiring after me. It was not until they saw my suntanned face and arms that they began to smile a smile of relief. All that was enough to move one to rears.

Some people believe that, without writing, I would lose my livelihood. One of my sympathizers in an article published two months ago in the Guangzhou republic daily supplement gives a full account of the conditions of my life. He also says that I would have nothing to live on once I should lay down my pen. That is not true at all. It has already been proved by my recent travels that my friend would never let me suffer from cold and hunger ever if I should go without writing a single word. There are a great many kind-hearted people in the world who never attach undue importance to themselves and their own families and who never place themselves and their families above anything else. It is owing to them that I still survive and shall continue to survive for a long time to come.

I owe my friends many, many kindness. How can I repay them? But, I understand, they don?t need me to do that.

Recently I came across the following words in a book by a French philosopher:

One condition of life is consumption….survival in this world is inseparable from tithing. We mist put forth flowers. Moral integrity and unselfishness are the flowers of life.

Now so many flowers of life are in full bloom before my eyes. When can my life put forth flowers? Am I already dried-up from within?

A friend of mine says, “if I were a lamp, I would illuminate darkness with my light.”

I, however, don?t qualify for a bright lamp. Lat me be a piece of firewood instead. I?ll radiate the heat that I have absorbed from the sun. I?ll burn myself to ashes t provide this human world with a little warmth.

参考译文

朋友--巴金

这一次的旅行使我更了解一个名词的意义,这个名词就是:朋友。

七八天以前我曾对一个初次见面的朋友说:“在朋友们面前我只感到惭愧。你们待我太好了,我简直没法报答你们。”这并不是谦虚的客气话,这是事实。说过这些话,我第二天就离开了那个朋友,并不知道以后还有没有机会再看见他。但是他给我的那一点点温暖至今还使我的心颤动。

英语美文欣赏

我的生命大概不会很长久罢。然而在短促的过去的回顾中却有一盏明灯,照彻了我的灵魂和黑暗,使我的生存有一点光彩。这盏灯就是友情。我应该感谢它。因为靠了它我才能够活到现在;而且把旧家庭给我留下的阴影扫除了的也正是它。

世间有不少的人为了家庭抛弃朋友,至少也会在家庭和朋友之间划一个界限,把家庭看得比朋友重过若干倍。这似乎是很自然的事情。我也曾亲眼看见一些人结婚以后就离开朋友,离开事业……

朋友是暂时的,家庭是永久的。在好些人的行为里我发现了这个信条。这个信条在我实在是不可理解的。对于我,要是没有朋友,我现在会变成怎样可怜的东西,我自己也不知道。

然而朋友们把我救了。他们给了我家庭所不能给的东西。他们的友爱,他们的帮助,他们的鼓励,几次把我从深渊的边沿救回来。他们对我表示了无限的慷慨。

我的生活曾经是悲苦的,黑暗的。然而朋友们把多量的同情,多量的爱,多量的欢乐,多量的眼泪分了给我,这些东西都是生存所必需的。这些不要报答的慷慨的施舍,使我的生活里也有了温暖,有了幸福。我默默地接受了它们。我并不曾说过一句感激的话,我也没有做过一件报答的行为。但是朋友们却不把自私的形容词加到我的身上。对于我,他们太慷慨了。 这一次我走了许多新地方,看见了许多新朋友。我的生活是忙碌的:忙着看,忙着听,忙着说,忙着走。但是我不曾遇到一点困难,朋友们给我准备好了一切,使我不会缺少甚么。我每走到一个新地方,我就像回到我那个在上海被日本兵毁掉的旧居一样。

每一个朋友,不管他自己的生活是怎样苦,怎样简单,也要慷慨地分一些东西给我,虽然明知道我不能够报答他。有些朋友,连他们的名字我以前也不知道,他们却关心我的健康,处处打听我的“病况”,直到他们看见了我那被日光晒黑了的脸和膀子,他们才放心地微笑了。这种情形的确值得人掉眼泪。

有人相信我不写文章就不能够生活。两个月以前,一个同情我的上海朋友寄稿到广州《民国日报》的副刊,说了许多关于我的生活的话。他也说我一天不写文章第二天就没有饭吃。这是不确实的。这次旅行就给我证明:即使我不再写一个字,朋友们也不肯让我冻馁。世间还有许多慷慨的人,他们并不把自己个人和家庭看得异常重要,超过一切。靠了他们我才能够活到现在,而且靠了他们我还要活下去。

朋友们给我的东西是太多、太多了。我将怎样报答他们呢?但是我知道他们是不需要报答的。

最近我在法国哲学家居友的书里读到了这样的话:“生命的一个条件就是消费……世间有一种不能跟生存分开的慷慨,要是没有了它,我们就会死,就会从内部干枯。我们必须开花。道德、无私心就是人生的花。” 在我的眼前开放着这么多的人生的花朵了。我的生命要到甚么时候才会开花?难道我已经是“内部干枯”了么? 一个朋友说过:“我若是灯,我就要用我的光明来照彻黑暗。”

我不配做一盏明灯。那么就让我做一块木柴罢。我愿意把我从太阳那里受到的热放散出来,我愿意把自己烧得粉身碎骨给人间添一点点温暖。

32.A promise of spring

编者按:

在爷爷去世后的十月,我种了一些郁金香、水仙、雪花莲、番红花及蓝铃花。每一个花苞对我来说都是一种安慰,都是给爷爷的一份爱,都是春天的一份承诺。

英语美文欣赏

英语原文 Early in the spring, about a month before my grandpa's stroke, I began walking for an hour every afternoon. Some days I would walk four blocks south to see Grandma and Grandpa. At eighty-six, Grandpa was still quite a gardener, so I always watched for his earliest blooms and each new wave of spring flowers.

I was especially interested in flowers that year because I was planning to landscape my own yard and I was eager to get Grandpa's advice. I thought I knew pretty much what I wanted — a yard full of bushes and plants that would bloom from May till November.

It was right after the first rush of purple violets in the lawns and the sudden blaze of forsythia that spring that Grandpa had a stroke. It left him without speech and with no movement on his left side. The whole family rallied to Grandpa. We all spent many hours by his side. Some days his eyes were eloquent — laughing at our reported mishaps, listening alertly, revealing painful awareness of his inability to care for himself. There were days, too, when he slept most of the time, overcome with the weight of his approaching death.

As the months passed, I watched the growing earth with Grandpa's eyes. Each time I was with him, I gave him a garden report. He listened, gripping my hand with the sure strength and calm he had always had. But he could not answer my questions. The new flowers would blaze, peak, fade, and die before I knew their names.

Grandpa's illness held him through the spring and on, week by week, through summer. I began spending hours at the local nursery, studying and choosing seeds and plants. It gave me special joy to buy plants I had seen in Grandpa's garden and give them humble starts in my own garden. I discovered Sweet William, which I had admired for years in Grandpa's garden without knowing its name. And I planted it in his honor.

As I waited and watched in the garden and by Grandpa's side, some quiet truths emerged. I realized that Grandpa loved flowers that were always bloom; he kept a full bed of roses in his garden. But I noticed that Grandpa left plenty of room for the brief highlights. Not every nook of his garden was constantly in bloom. There was always a treasured surprise tucked somewhere.

I came to see, too, that Grandpa's garden mirrored his life. He was a hard worker who

understood the law of the harvest. But along with his hard work, Grandpa knew how to enjoy each season, each change. We often teased him about his life history. He had written two paragraphs summarizing fifty years of work, and a full nine pages about every trip and vacation he'd ever taken.

In July, Grandpa worsened. One hot afternoon arrived when no one else was at his bedside. He was glad to have me there, and reached out his hand to pull me close.

英语美文欣赏

I told Grandpa what I had learned — that few flowers last from April to November. Some of the most beautiful bloom for only a month at most. To really enjoy a garden, you have to plant corners and drifts and rows of flowers that will bloom and grace the garden, each in its own season.

His eyes listened to every word. Then, another discovery: "If I want a garden like yours, Grandpa, I'm going to have to work." His grin laughed at me, and his eyes teased me. "Grandpa, in your life right now the chrysanthemums are in bloom. Chrysanthemums and roses." Tears clouded both our eyes. Neither of us feared this last flower of fall, but the wait for spring seems longest in November. We knew how much we would miss each other.

Sitting there, I suddenly felt that the best gift I could give Grandpa would be to give voice to the testimony inside both of us. He had never spoken of his testimony to me, but it was such a part of his life that I had never questioned if Grandpa knew. I knew he knew.

"Grandpa," I began — and his grip tightened as if he knew what I was going to say — "I want you to know that I have a testimony. I know the Savior lives. I bear witness to you that Joseph Smith is a prophet. I love the Restoration and joy in it." The steadiness in Grandpa's eyes told how much he felt it too. "I bear witness that President Kimball is a prophet. I know the Book of Mormon is true, Grandpa. Every part of me bears this witness."

"Grandpa," I added quietly, "I know our Father in Heaven loves you." Unbidden, unexpected, the Spirit bore comforting, poignant testimony to me of our Father's love for my humble, quiet Grandpa.

A tangible sense of Heavenly Father's compassionate awareness of Grandpa's suffering

surrounded us and held us. It was so personal and powerful that no words were left to me — only tears of gratitude and humility, tears of comfort.

Grandpa and I wept together.

It was the end of August when Grandpa died, the end of summer. As we were choosing flowers from the florist for Grandpa's funeral, I slipped away to Grandpa's garden and walked with my memories of columbine and Sweet William. Only the tall lavender and white phlox were in bloom now, and some baby's breath in another corner.

On impulse, I cut the prettiest strands of phlox and baby's breath and made one more

arrangement for the funeral. When they saw it, friends and family all smiled to see Grandpa's flowers there. We all felt how much Grandpa would have liked that.

The October after Grandpa's death, I planted tulip and daffodil bulbs, snowdrops, crocuses, and bluebells. Each bulb was a comfort to me, a love sent to Grandpa, a promise of spring. 参考译文

春天的承诺

英语美文欣赏

早春时节,大约在爷爷中风前的一个月,我开始每天下午散步一个小时。有些日子,我会步行向南穿过四个街区去看望爷爷奶奶。八十六岁的爷爷仍然是一个杰出的花匠,因此我总是观察着他最早盛开的花,以及一片又一片春的花海。

那年,我打算把自己的小院美化一下,因此对花特别感兴趣,期望能够得到爷爷的指导。我以为自己知道究竟需要什么——满院子花草树木,从五月一直开到十一月。

那年春天,就是在草坪里第一丛紫罗兰和突然盛开的鲜艳连翘出现后,爷爷得了中风。他嘴巴不能说话了,身体的左半部分也不能动。家里所有人都来看望爷爷,我们都花了大量的时间陪在他身边。有几天,他眼睛很有神——笑我们所汇报来的不幸,听我们说话也很机警,并说他不能料理自己心里感觉很痛苦。有时候,他一整天都出在睡眠的状态,而且体重也有所增加,随时可能有生命危险。

随着时间的推移,几个月过去了。我像爷爷一样望着地上长出来的东西。每次我和他在一起,我都要向他汇报一下花园的情况。他一边听着,一边用平静地用他一贯的力量紧握着我的手。然而,他无法回答我的问题。因此,很多花朵绽放、憔悴、凋谢和死亡,我甚至都不知道他们的名字。

从春季开始,爷爷就一直受疾病的折磨,一直持续到夏季。我开始料理当地的苗圃,研究选择种子和植株。我买了些曾在爷爷的花园里见过的树木,尽心尽力地种在了我自己的花园里,这给我带来很特别的快乐。我在爷爷的花园里发现了我喜欢多年的美洲石竹,以前一直不知道它的名字,现在我以爷爷的名誉栽下了它。 当我守护在爷爷身边的时候,一些真理静静地涌现。我知道爷爷深爱着那些繁盛的花草;在他的花园里,他种了一苗圃的玫瑰。不过,我也发现爷爷留了很多空地方,只为了能够让光线照进来。花园里并不是每个角落都经常有花开放,但总有一个接一个的惊喜从某个地方冒出来。

我也发现爷爷的花园是他一生的真实写照。他是一个勤劳的工人,他理解收获的规律。但是说起他的辛勤劳动,他又是一个知道如何享受四季和变化的人,我们经常拿他的过去开玩笑。他写了两段文字概述了他五十年的工作。其中,足足有九页文字记载的是他的每次旅行和假期。

七月,爷爷的病情恶化了。有一天下午天气很炎热,没有人在爷爷身边。只有我在,他很高兴,就伸出他的手把我抱得紧紧的。

我把我所学到的告诉了爷爷——很少有花能从五月开到十一月,绝大多部分花最多开一个月。为了真正达到欣赏花园的目的,你必须在每个角落都种上花,丛丛花儿开放,把花园装扮得非常漂亮,每个角落都有四季。 他用眼睛认真地倾听着我的每句话,另一个发现是:“爷爷,如果我想要我的花园像你的花园话,我必须去工作。”他对着我笑,漏出了牙齿,眼神也在嬉笑我。

“爷爷,现在菊花正在开放,菊花和玫瑰花都在开放。”我们俩的眼里都盈满了泪花,我们都不害怕最后一朵花凋谢,但在十一月等待春天未免有点太长了,我们都知道我们会非常想念对方的。

我坐在那里,突然感到我能给爷爷的最好礼物是说出我们之间的承诺。他从来没有对我说起他的承诺,但我从来没有质疑过的就是他人生中的这一部分,如果爷爷知道的话。我知道他所知道的。

“爷爷,”我开始说——他嘴唇紧闭,好像知道我要说什么似的——“我想要你知道我有一个承诺。我知道救世主是存在的,我向你作证约瑟夫?史密斯是个预言家。我爱王政复辟时代,也很希望能加入它。”爷爷坚定的眼神也告诉了我他也有如此强烈的感受。“我向你作证金博尔总统是一个预言家。爷爷,我知道《魔门经》是真的,我拿整个人来向你作证。”

英语美文欣赏

“爷爷,”我语气平和地又说了一句,“我知道我们的上帝是爱你的。”我爷爷地位卑微,但人很平和,我不假思索地意外地想到这种精神给我带来了上帝对爷爷的热爱。

上帝对爷爷所遭受的苦难表示了很大的同情,这种意识一直环绕和支持着我们。这种自我意识是如此有力,以至我无法用语言将其描述——只有感恩和谦恭,还有安慰的泪水。

爷爷和我都流下了眼泪。

八月底,也是夏季即将过去的时候,爷爷还是走了。当大家在花店为爷爷的葬礼选择葬花时,我悄悄地离开来到爷爷的花园。走在花园里,回忆着那些耧斗菜和美洲石竹,现在只有熏衣草和白色夹竹桃在开花,另一个角落里还开放着一些满天星。

一时心血来潮,我把最漂亮的几束夹竹桃和满天星剪了下来,给爷爷葬礼增添了一份装扮。看到这些花的时候,亲友们都因为看到爷爷的花而露出微笑。我们都知道爷爷一定会很喜欢那些花儿的。

在爷爷去世后的十月,我种了一些郁金香、水仙、雪花莲、番红花及蓝铃花。每一个花苞对我来说都是一种安慰,都是给爷爷的一份爱,都是春天的一份承诺。

33.时间的价值

编者按:

洗手的时候,日子从水盆里过去;吃饭的时候,日子从饭碗里过去;默默时,便从凝然的双眼前过去。我觉察他去的匆匆了,伸出手遮挽时,他又从遮挽着的手边过去,天黑时,我躺在床上,他便伶伶俐俐地从我身上跨过,从我脚边飞去了。等我睁开眼和太阳再见,这算又溜走了一日。我掩着面叹息。但是新来的日子的影儿又开始在叹息里闪过了。 英语原文

To realize the value of one year:

Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of one month:

Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week:

Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour:

Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute:

Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one second:

Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realaize the value of one millisecond:

Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

英语美文欣赏

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

参考译文 时间的价值

凯瑟琳.桑

要想知道一年的价值 就去问期末考试不及格的同学

要想知道一个月的价值

就去问生那早产儿的母亲

要想知道一周的价值

就去问问周报的编辑

要想知道一小时的价值

就去问等待相会的恋人

要想知道一分钟的价值

那就去问问误了火车汽车或飞机的人 要想知道一秒的价值

就去问大难不死的人

要想知道一毫秒的价值

就去问问奥运会获得银牌的人

时间不等人

你拥有的每一分每一秒都要珍惜

34.RESULTS AND ROSES 编者按

要想有个美丽花园, 面积大小姑且不管,

要想园中长满鲜花, 就必须把汗水挥洒。

英语原文

Edgar Albert Guest

The man who wants a garden fair,

Or small or very big,

With flowers growing here and there,

Must bend his back and dig.

The things are mighty few on earth,

That wishes can attain,

英语美文欣赏

Whatever we want of any worth,

Weve got to work to gain.

It matters not what goal you seek,

Its secret here reposes:

Youve got to dig from week to week,

To get results or roses.

参考译文 硕果和玫瑰

埃德加·阿尔贝特·格斯特

要想有个美丽花园,

面积大小姑且不管,

要想园中长满鲜花,

就必须把汗水挥洒。

有愿望就能实现,

这样的事还真是少见,

只要想要的东西有价值,

就得靠努力去创造。

目标是什么并不重要,

秘诀终归只有一条:

周复一周不怕劳累,

才能收获硕果或者玫瑰。

35.My Forever Valentine

编者按:

他最后一次送给我的这张贺卡如今仍保存在我的记事牌上。它提醒我父亲是多么地不同寻常,以及这些年来对我是多么地重要,我知道我有这样一位父亲,他以慷慨的胸怀、朴素的理解和一生中向他的亲人表达祝福的能力,来保持着爱的传统。

英语原文

The traditional holidays in our house when I was a child were spent timing elaborate meals around football games. My father tried to make pleasant chitchat and eat as much as he could during halftime. At Christmas he found time to have a cup or two of holiday cheer and do his holly-shaped bow tie. But he didn't truly shine until Valentine's Day.

I don't know whether it was because work at the office slowed during February or because

英语美文欣赏

the football season was over. But Valentine's Day was the time my father chose to show his love for the special people in his life. Over the years I fondly thought of him as my " Valentine Man." My first recollection of the magic he could bring to Valentine's Day came when I was six. For several days I had been cutting out valentines for my classmates. Each of us was to decorate a " mailbox " and put it on our desk for others to give us cards. That box and its contents ushered in a succession of bittersweet memories of my entrance into a world of popularity contests marked by the number of cards received, the teasing about boyfriends/girlfriends and the tender care I gave to the card from the cutest boy in class.

That morning at the breakfast table I found a card and a gift-wrapped package at my chair. The card was signed " Love, Dad" , and the gift was a ring with a small piece of red glass to represent my birthstone, a ruby. There is little difference between red glass and rubies to a child of six, and I remember wearing that ring with a pride that all the cards in the world could not surpass.

As I grew older, the gifts gave way to heart-shaped boxes filled with my favorite chocolates and always included a special card signed " Love, Dad" .In those years my " thank-yous" became more of a perfunctory response.The cards seemed less important, and I took for granted the valentine that would always be there. Long past the days of having a " mailbox" on my desk, I had placed my hopes and dreams in receiving cards and gifts from " significant others" , and " Love, Dad" just didn't seem quite enough.

If my father knew then that he had been replaced, he never let it show. If he sensed any disappointment over valentines that didn't arrive for me, he just tried that much harder to create a positive atmosphere, giving me an extra hug and doing what he could to make my day a little brighter.

My mailbox eventually had a rural address, and the job of hand-delivering candy and cards was relegated to the U.S.Postal Service. Never in ten years was my father's package late--nor was it on the Valentine's Day eight years ago when I reached into the mailbox to find a card addressed to me in my mother's handwriting.

It was the kind of card that comes in an inexpensive assortment box sold by a child going door-to-door to try to earn money for a school project. It was the kind of card that you used to get from a grandmother or an aging aunt or, in this case, a dying father. It was the kind of card that put a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes because you knew the person no longer was able to go out and buy a real valentine. It was a card that signaled this would be the last you receive from him.

The card had a photograph of tulips on the outside, and on the inside my mother had printed " Happy Valentine's Day" . Beneath it, scrawled in barely legible handwriting, was " Love, Dad" .

英语美文欣赏

His final card remains on my bulletin board today. It's a reminder of how special fathers can be and how important it had been to me over the years to know that I had a father who continued a tradition of love with a generosity of spirit, simple acts of understanding and an ability to express happiness over the people in his life.

Those things never die, nor does the memory of a man who never stopped being my valentine. 参考译文 永远的情人节

当我还是小孩子的时候,我们家过传统节日时总是把精心准备的节日餐安排在足球赛时间。我父亲在中场休息时尽量聊些愉快的事儿并尽可能多吃东西。在圣诞节他会找时间为庆祝节日干上一两杯,然后戴上他那冬青叶形状的领结。但父亲真正光彩熠熠的时候是情人节。

我不知道这是否是因为他班上的工作在二月份不那么紧了,还是由于足球赛季结束了。但情人节这天,是父亲用来向在他生活中占有特殊位置的人表达爱心的日子。多少年来,我天真地把他看作是我"最思念的人"。

在我6岁那年的情人节,他给我带来了第一次美妙的回忆。一连好几天我都忙于为我的同学制作情人节礼物。我们每个人都要装饰一个"信箱",然后把它放在书桌上,这样别人就可以投放贺卡。这个信箱和里面的东西带来了一连串苦乐参半的回忆:我进入了一个"人缘竞赛"的世界,所收卡片的多少则显示了比赛结果,对于男朋友和女朋友的揶揄,以及我对班里最聪明男孩给我的贺卡的精心爱护。

那天早上吃早饭时,我在餐桌上发现了一张贺卡,并且在我的椅子上发现了一个礼品包装纸的包裹。卡片上写有"爱你的,爸爸",礼物是一个戒指,上面镶着一片红色的玻璃来象征我的诞生石--红宝石。对一个6岁的孩子来说,红玻璃和红宝石并没有什么区别;我还记得我骄傲地戴着它,感到我的信箱终于有了一个乡下的地址;原来亲手赠送糖果和贺卡的工作都归了美国邮政局管。在这10年里爸爸给我寄的包裹从来不会晚--8年前的情人节父亲给我的贺卡依然准时到达,只是那张贺卡上是我母亲的笔迹。

这张贺卡是一盒整套买的那种,价格便宜,是由为了给学校的某个项目筹款的小男孩挨家挨户推销的那种。这是一种你过去经常从祖母或年迈的姑妈那里收到的那种贺卡,而这次却从不久于人世的父亲那儿收到了。这种贺卡使你嗓子哽咽,双眼噙泪,因为你知道给你寄贺卡的人已无法外出去买一个真正的情人节礼物了。这张贺卡预示着这将是你最后一次从他那儿收到情人节礼物。

这张贺卡的封面是一张郁金香花的照片,里面我母亲工整地写着"情人节快乐",在下面是父亲歪歪扭扭难以辨认的字迹"爱你的,爸爸"。

他最后一次送给我的这张贺卡如今仍保存在我的记事牌上。它提醒我父亲是多么地不同寻常,以及这些年来对我是多么地重要,我知道我有这样一位父亲,他以慷慨的胸怀、朴素的理解和一生中向他的亲人表达祝福的能力,来保持着爱的传统。

这些事情永远也不会消失,我将永远记着他,他是我永远最思念的人。

英语美文欣赏

36.My Mother's Gift 编者按:

母亲答道,"很高兴我也有过工作。可是工作好比开了口的气球,你只有不停地充气,它才能鼓着劲。可是一个孩子就是一粒种子,你浇灌了它,全心全意地爱护它,然后,它就会独立自主地开出美丽的花朵来。"此时此刻,我凝望着我的母亲,脑海里又浮现出儿时的我和母亲一起坐在饭桌旁的情景,也明白了为什么我还珍藏着夹在我们家里那本旧字典中的那朵用两小块皱皱巴巴的纸巾压平的蒲公英。

英语原文 I grew up in a small town where the elementary school was a ten-minute walk from my house and in an age , not so long ago , when children could go home for lunch and find their mothers waiting.

At the time, I did not consider this a luxury, although today it certainly would be. I took it for granted that mothers were the sandwich-makers, the finger-painting appreciators and the homework monitors. I never questioned that this ambitious, intelligent woman, who had had a career before I was born and would eventually return to a career, would spend almost every lunch hour throughout my elementary school years just with me.

I only knew that when the noon bell rang, I would race breathlessly home. My mother would be standing at the top of the stairs, smiling down at me with a look that suggested I was the only important thing she had on her mind. For this, I am forever grateful.

Some sounds bring it all back: the highpitched squeal of my mother's teakettle, the rumble of the washing machine in the basement and the jangle of my dog's license tags as she bounded down the stairs to greet me. Our time together seemed devoid of the gerrymandered schedules that now pervade my life.

One lunchtime when I was in the third grade will stay with me always. I had been picked to be the princess in the school play, and for weeks my mother had painstakingly rehearsed my lines with me. But no matter how easily I delivered them at home, as soon as I stepped onstage, every word disappeared from my head.

Finally, my teacher took me aside. She explained that she had written a narrator's part to the play, and asked me to switch roles. Her word, kindly delivered, still stung, especially when I saw my part go to another girl.

I didn't tell my mother what had happened when I went home for lunch that day. But she sensed my unease, and instead of suggesting we practice my lines, she asked If I wanted to walk in the yard.

It was a lovely spring day and the rose vine on the trellis was turning green. Under the huge elm trees, we could see yellow dandelions popping through the grass in bunches, as if a painter had

英语美文欣赏

touched our landscape with dabs of gold .I watched my mother casually bend down by one of the clumps. "I think I'm going to dig up all these weeds, "she said, yanking a blossom up by its roots. "From now on, we'll have only roses in this garden. "

"But I like dandelions, " I protested. "All flowers are beautiful-even dandelions. "My mother looked at me seriously. "Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn't it?" She asked thoughtfully. I nodded, pleased that I had won her over. "And that is true of people too, " she added. "Not everyone can be a princess, but there is no shame in that.

Relieved that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry as I told her what had happened. She listened and smiled reassuringly.

"But you will be a beautiful narrator, " she said , reminding me of how much I loved to read stories aloud to her . "The narrator's part is every bit as important as the part of a princess. " Over the next few weeks, with her constant encouragement, I learned to take pride in the role. Lunchtimes were spent reading over my lines and talking abut what I would wear.

Backstage the night of the performance, I felt nervous. A few minutes before the play, my teacher came over to me. "Your mother asked me to give this to you, " she said, handing me a dandelion. Its edges were already beginning to curl and it flopped lazily from its stem. But just looking at it, knowing my mother was out there and thinking of our lunchtime talk, made me proud .

After the play , I took home the flower I had stuffed in the apron of my costume . My mother pressed it between two sheets of paper toweling in a dictionary , laughing as she did it that we were perhaps the only people who would press such a sorry-looking weed .

I often look back on our lunchtimes together , bathed in the soft midday light . They were the commas in my childhood , the pauses that told me life is not savored in premeasured increment , but in the sum of daily rituals and small pleasures we casually share with loved ones . Over peanut-butter sandwiches and chocolate-chip cookies , I learned that love , first and foremost , means being there for the little things .

A few months ago , my mother came to visit , I took off a day from work and treated her to lunch. The restaurant bustled with noontime activity as businesspeople made deals and

glanced at their watches . In the middle of all this sat my mother , now retired , and I . From her face I could see that she relished the pace of the work world .

"Mom , you must have been terribly bored staying at home when I was a child , " I said . "Bored? Housework is boring . But you were never boring . "

I didn't believe her , so I pressed . "Surely children are not as stimulating as a career. "

"A career is stimulating , " she said . "I'm glad I had one . But a career is like an open balloon. It remains inflated only as long as you keep pumping . A child is a seed .

英语美文欣赏

You water it . You care for it the best you can . And then it grows all by itself into a beautiful flower . "

Just then , looking at her , I could picture us sitting at her kitchen table once again , and I understood why I kept that flaky brown dandelion in our old family dictionary pressed between two crumpled bits of paper towel.

参考译文 母亲的礼物

我是在一个小镇上长大的,从镇上的小学校到我家, 只需步行10分钟。离当前不算太太久远的那个时代 , 小学生可以回家吃午饭,而他们的母亲,则会老早在家等候着。

这一切对如今的孩子来说,无疑是一种奢望了,可是那时的我,却并不以为然。 我觉得做母亲的给她的孩子制作三明治,鉴赏指画,检查他们的家庭作业,都是理所当然的事。我从来没有想过:像我母亲这样一个颇有抱负又很聪明的女人,在我降生之前,她有一份工作,而且后来她又谋了份差事,可是,在我上小学那几年,她却几乎天天陪着我吃午饭,一同打发午餐时的每一分钟。

只记得,每当午时铃声一响,我就一口气地往家里跑。母亲总是站在门前台阶的最高层,笑盈盈地望着我--那神情分明表示:我便是母亲心目中唯一最重要的东西了。为此,我一辈子都要感谢我的母亲。

如今,每当我听到一些声音,像母亲那把茶壶水开时发出的尖叫声,地下室洗衣机的隆隆声,还有, 我那条狗蹦下台阶冲我摇头摆尾时它脖子上那牌照发出的撞击声,便会勾起我对往事的回忆。和母亲在一起的岁月,全然没有充斥于我的生活中的、事先排定的虚情假意的日程表。我永远忘不了在我上三年级时的那一顿午饭。在那天之前,我被学校选中,要在一个即将演出的小剧中扮演公主的角色。

一连好几个礼拜,母亲总是不辞辛劳地陪着我,一起背诵台词。可是,不管在家里怎么背得滚瓜烂熟,只要一上舞台,我的脑子里就成了一片空白。终于,老师把我叫到了一边。她说剧中旁白这个角色的台词已写好了,想把我替换下来当旁白。尽管老师这些话说得和和气气,可还是刺痛了我的心,特别是当我发觉自己扮演的公主角色让另外一个女孩顶替时,更是如此。那天回家吃午饭时我没有把这事告诉母亲。然而,母亲见我心神不定,因此没有再提练习背台词的事儿,而是问我愿意不愿意到院子里散散步。那真是一个可爱的春日,棚架上蔷薇的藤蔓正在转青。在一些高大的榆树下面,我们可以看到,一丛丛黄色的蒲公英冒出草坪,仿佛是一位画家为了给眼前的美景增色而着意加上的点点金色。我看到母亲在一簇花丛旁漫不经心地弯下身来。"我看得把这些野草都拨了,"她说着,一边使劲把一丛蒲公英连根拨出。"往后咱这园子里只让长蔷薇花。""可是我喜欢蒲公英,"我不满地说,"凡是花都好看--蒲公英也不例外。"

母亲严肃地看着我。"噢,这么说,每朵花都自有它令人赏心悦目的地方喽?"她若有所思地问道。我点了点头,总算说服了母亲,这使我很得意。"可是人也一样呀,"母亲接着又发话,"不见得人人都能当公主,但当不了公主并不丢脸。"母亲猜到了我的苦恼,这使我的情绪安定下来。我哭了起来,把事情的经过讲给母亲听。母亲专注地听着,脸上带着安详的微笑。"但你会成为一名顶呱呱的解说员,"母亲又说。她说平常我是多么喜欢朗诵故事给她听,还说"从哪方面看,旁白这个角色都和公主那个角色一样重要"。往后的几个星期,在母亲的一再鼓励下,我渐渐地以担任旁白的角色感到骄傲。利用午饭时间,我们又一起念台词,议论到时候我该穿什么样的演出服装。

英语美文欣赏

到了演出那个晚上,当我登上后台,心里还感到紧张。离演出还有几分钟的时候,老师朝我走了过来。"你母亲让我把这个交给你,"说着她递过来了一朵蒲公英。那花儿四周已开始打蔫,花瓣儿从梗上向下有气无力地耷拉着。可是,只要看一眼,知道母亲就在外面呆着,回想起和母亲用午饭时说的那些话,我就感到胸有成竹。演出结束后,我把塞在演出服围裙里的那朵蒲公英拿回了家。母亲将花接了过去,用两张纸巾将它压平,夹在了一本字典里。她一边忙碌着,一边笑,想到也许只有我们俩会珍藏这么一朵打了蔫的野草花。我常常回想起和母亲在一起度过的那些沐浴在和煦阳光之中的午餐时光。它们是我孩提时代的一个个小插曲,告诉我一个道理:人生的滋味,就在于和我们所爱的人在一起不经意地共度的日常生活、分享的点点滴滴的欢乐,而不在于某种事先测量好的"添加剂"。在享用母亲做的花生酱、三明治和巧克力碎末小甜饼的时候,我懂得了,爱就体现在这些细微这处。

几个月前,母亲又来看我。我特意请了天假,陪母亲吃午饭。中午,饭馆里熙熙壤攘,做生意的人忙不迭地从事交易活动,他们不时地看看手表。如今已经退休的母亲和我就坐在这群人中间。从母亲的表情中,我看得出,母亲打心眼里喜欢上班族这种生活的节奏。"妈,我小的时候,您老呆在家里一定觉得很烦吧?"我说。"烦?做家务是令人心烦,不过,你从来没使我感到心烦过。"我不相信这是实话,于是我又想法子套她的话。"看孩子哪会像工作那样富有刺激性呢?""工作是富有刺激性的,"母亲答道,"很高兴我也有过工作。可是工作好比开了口的气球,你只有不停地充气,它才能鼓着劲。可是一个孩子就是一粒种子,你浇灌了它,全心全意地爱护它,然后,它就会独立自主地开出美丽的花朵来。"此时此刻,我凝望着我的母亲,脑海里又浮现出儿时的我和母亲一起坐在饭桌旁的情景,也明白了为什么我还珍藏着夹在我们家里那本旧字典中的那朵用

英语美文欣赏

两小块皱皱巴巴的纸巾压平的蒲公英。

美文赏析原文

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