最新英语散文阅读：美国人的性格
Most Americans have great vigor and enthusiasm.They prefer to discipline themselves rather than be disciplined by others.They pride themselves on their independence, their right to make up their own minds.They are prepared to take the initiative, even when there is a risk in doing so. They have courage and do not give in easily.They will take any sort of job anywhere rather than be unemployed.They do not care to be looked after by the government.The average American changes his or her job nine or ten times during his or her working life.
Americans have a warmth and friendliness which is less superficial than many foreigners think.They are considered sentimental. When on ceremonial occasions they see a flag,or attend parades celebrating America’ glorious past, tears may come to their eyes.Reunions with family and friends tend to be emotional, too.They like to dress correctly, even if “correctly” means flamboyantly.They love to boast, though often with tongue in cheek.They can laugh at themselves and their country, and they can be very self-critical,while remaining always intensely patriotic. They have a wide knowledge of everyday things,and a keen interest in their particular city and state. Foreigners sometimes complain, however, that they have little
interest inor knowledge of the outside world.
The Americans have a passion for grandeur. Their skyscrapers, bridges and dams often have a splendor whichmatches in beauty and scale the country’s natural wonders.Is the sole aim of most Americans to make moneyand possess luxuries which could be called excessive?The
majority of Americans would certainly deny this,though most feel proud to amass wealth and possessions through hard work.In the USA, about 90% of the population is well enough off to expect a brighter future. The USA still has one of the highest standards of living in the world, although,at the present time, 10% are below what the Government considers to be the “poverty line.”While these underprivil
经典英语美文短篇：爱母亲甚于爱自己 说明和注解：丁克威 这是一篇动情之作，读完后掩卷而思：母亲的胸怀是博大的，母亲的心灵是至纯的，母亲的爱是无私的。然而我们对于母亲的报答又有多少？ 文章语言朴素简单，相信作为中学生的你能轻松地读下来。读到佳句妙语处，真希望你能把它记下来、背下来。 Those Childhood Days When you came into the world, she held you in her arms. ?hold somebody in one’s arms: 把某人抱在怀中 You thanked her by weeping your eyes out. ?weep one’s eyes out: 痛 哭；大哭 When you were 1 year old, she fed you and bathed you. ?注意bathe在此处用作及物动词，意为“给……洗澡”。 You thanked her by crying all night long. ?all night long：整夜；如 说“整天”则是all day long。 When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. ?可说teach somebody to do something（教某人做 某事） You thanked her by running away when she called. When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals with love. ?do something with love: 带着爱意/心做某事。 You thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor. ?toss: 抛投。When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons. ? crayon: 蜡笔。 You thanked her by coloring the dining room table. ?color在此句中用作动 词，表示“着色”。When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the holidays. ? dress: 给……穿衣。 You thanked her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud. ?plop: 扑通一声地掉下去。 When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school. ?注意walk在此处用作及物动词，意为“陪……一起走”。
高中英语读写校本课程----“英语美文阅读与欣赏”
Contents Part I Myths and Tales神话传说 Lesson 1 The Little Match Girl (2) Lesson 2 The Pied Piper of Hamelin (8) Lesson 3 Pangu Separates Sky fro m Earth (15) PartⅡFigure stories人物故事 Lesson 1自由斗士曼德拉 (17) Lesson 2 Pop Star and Songwriter: Han Hong (20) Lesson 3 Louis Armstrong (24)
Part ⅢSocial customs社会风情 Lesson 1 The Origin of Kiss (27) Lesson 2 International Left-hander’s Day (31) Lesson 3 Make Sports a Kind of Culture (34) Part ⅣLife attitudes and ambitions人生态度与理想 Lesson 1 You Are the World (39) Lesson 2 Facing Life Positively (44) Lesson 3 Honesty (49) PartⅤ History and Culture历史文化 Lesson 1 Studying difference (52) Lesson 2 Spring Festival’s Symbols (56) Lesson 3 Cleopatra, Queen (60) PartⅥScience and Economy科学与经济 Lesson 1 Greenhouse Effect Occurred 5,000 Years Ago (63) Lesson 2 China’s New “Four Great Inventions” (69) Lesson 3 China’s launching plans for Shenzhou 7 (73) Part I Myths and Tales神话传说
Part I Reading comprehension Directions: There are some reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. you should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center. Education is one of the key words of our time. A man without an education, many of us believe, is an unfortunate victim(受害人) of unfortunate circumstances（状况）deprived of one of the greatest twenty-first century opportunities. Convinced（深信的）of the importance of education, modern states "invest" in institutions of learning to get back "interest" in the form of a large group of enlightened young men and women who are potential leaders. Education, with its cycles of instruction so carefully worked out, punctuated by textbooks ---those purchasable wells of wisdom ---what would civilization be like without its benefits? So much is certain: that we would have doctors and preachers, lawyers and defendants, marriages and births; but our spiritual outlook would be different. We would lay less stress on "facts and figures" and more on a good memory, on applied psychology, and on the capacity of a man to get along with his fellow citizens. If our educational system were fashioned after its bookless past we would have the most democratic form of "college" imaginable. Among the people whom we like to call savages all knowledge inherited by tradition is shared by all; it is taught to every member of the tribe so that in this respect everybody is equally equipped for life. It is the ideal condition of the "equal start" which only our most progressive forms of modem education try to regain. In primitive cultures the obligation to seek and to receive the traditional instruction is binding to all. There are no "illiterates" －if the term can be applied to peoples without a script---while our own compulsory school attendance became law in Germany in 1642, in France in 1806, and in England in 1967, and is still non- existent in a number of "civilized" nations. This shows how long it was before we deemed it necessary to make sure that all our children could share in the knowledge accumulated by the "happy few" during the past centuries. Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means. All are entitled to an equal start. There is none of the hurry which, in our society, often hampers the full development of a growing personality. There, a child grows up under the ever-present attention of his parents; therefore the jungles and the savages know of no "juvenile
The Personality of Americans Most Americans are energetic and passionate . They would rather be self-disciplined than be restricted by others. They are proud of being able to act independently and rightful to make their own decisions. They take an active way to solve problems without any hesitation, even though it is risky. They are courageous thusthey will not give in easily. In the meanwhile, they are willing to go to anywhere to do any job, as long as they’re employed all the time.（简洁化）They are averse to receive “Special care”given by（from）the government. Generally speaking, an American is likely to change his job for about nine or ten times in his life. Americans are warm and friendly. Which Their friendliness is more real than we imagined.(反义词翻译) People hold the belief that Americans are emotional. Sentimental）When they see the National flag of United State in a ceremony or join（attend a parade in celebrate of（celebrating the glorious history of America, there are probably tears in their eyes. Besides, （倒名词）they will be fairly excited when they get together with friends and relatives. They dress appropriately（decently, even if to do so is to show off. They are fond of boasting themselves, however, on most occasions, it is just saying. Sometimes they can will laugh at themselves and their motherland , and they feel extremely self-reproach critical) ,while but they always have a strong patriotism. They have a great command of the things surrounded, and they’re deeply concerning
【关于孝的英语美文欣赏】经典英语美文欣赏50篇 对父母亲的感恩就是对老人孝顺，孝敬有多种形式。吃好穿暖心情爽，精心照顾不添烦。自由生活无拘束，玩牌购物遂心愿。了关于孝的英语美文，欢迎阅读! “Enough! Enough!”I said when Father and Mother were still giving me more fish ad meat. My bowl was piled up like a little hill. “Don't study too late into the night. Do be careful of your health. Have you had any examinations recently?”Father asked me in great concern. My face turned red. I didn't dare to give Father an answer. I hadn't made any progress in my studies. I did badly in all subjects. I only got 60 for maths and failed in physics. “It doesn't matter. Try to find better study methods and to work harder. I am sure you can enter a college!”Hearing these words, I bent my head down. What a kind father! He didn't scold me, but encouraged me instead.
英语美文欣赏50 Run Through the Rain 雨中奔跑 She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth, it has no time to flow down the spout. 她和妈妈刚在沃尔玛结束购物。这个天真的小女孩应该6岁大了，头发是 美丽的棕色，脸上有雀斑。外面下着倾盆大雨。雨水溢满了檐槽，来不及排走，就迫不及待地涌涨上地面。 We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We all waited, some patiently, others irritated, because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens w ashing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. 我们都站在沃尔玛门口的遮篷下。大家都在等待，有人很耐心，有人很烦 躁，因为老天在给他们本已忙碌的一天添乱。雨天总引起我的遐思。我出神地 听着、看着老天冲刷洗涤这世界的污垢和尘埃，孩时无忧无虑地在雨中奔跑玩 水的记忆汹涌而至，暂时缓解了我一天的焦虑。 Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, "Mom, let's run through the rain." she said. 小女孩甜美的声音打破了这令人昏昏欲睡的气氛，“妈妈，我们在雨里跑吧。”她说。 "What?" Mom asked. “什么？”母亲问。 "Let's run through the rain!" She repeated. “我们在雨里跑吧，”她重复。 "No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit." Mom replied. “不，亲爱的，我们等雨小一点再走。”母亲回答说。 This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain." 过了一会小女孩又说：“妈妈，我们跑出去吧。” "We'll get soaked if we do." Mom said. “这样的话我们会湿透的。”母亲说。 "No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm."
Andy's Hobbies Andy is always watching animal programs on TV．When he was a child his favorite books were Gerald Durrel's animal books．He also wrote down something about animals when he heard them — especially the ones that were about loving animals． He has always had pets．His first animal friends were pigs．And then he tried his best to persuade his parents to get a dog．For some reasons they did not seem to believe Andy would walk the dog three times a day，no matter how Andy promised he'd do it． He did his best to persuade them：he was good at drawing and left drawings of dogs all over the place．He ran to the library，borrowed all the dog books he could find，and left them lying around as well．His parents were quite used to his books lying around everywhere． Then Andy's mother was told a friend's cat had kittens and they could go and get one．At first Andy was a little disappointed．As time went by，he learned to love the cat so much he has had cats ever since． Cats let us know when it is time to change the sofa．Either when the fabric starts to look like Einstein's hair that has been combed with cat paws，thanks to the generous donation of cat hair． 安迪的爱好 安迪总是看电视节目上的动物频道。当他还是个孩子的时候，他最喜欢的书就是杰拉尔德·达雷尔写的有关动物的书籍。每当他听到一些关于动物的事情，尤其是那些有关爱护动物的故事，他都会记录下来。 他一直爱养宠物，他的第一个动物朋友是猪。后来他尽自己的最大努力去说服他父母为他买一只狗。由于某些原因，无论安迪怎样承诺，他们似乎并不相信安迪会每天出去遛狗三次。 他尽自己的最大努力说服他们：他擅长画画，到处都放着狗的素描。他跑到图书馆去借他能找到的所有关于狗的书籍，也把它们丢得到处都是。他的父母已经习惯他把书丢得到处都是了。 后来安迪的母亲得知一个朋友家的猫生了小猫，他们可以去抱一只回家。起初安迪感到有点失望，但自从有了猫之后，随着时间的推移他学会给猫很多爱护。 猫让我们知道什么时候该换沙发了，也就是当沙发织物开始看起来像用猫爪梳理过的爱因斯坦的头发时，这其实多亏有了慷慨捐赠的猫毛。 Larry Schwarz's Hobbies Larry Schwarz has played with toys all his life．As a child，he often pulled his toys apart，and then glued them back together．He made toy rockets，cars，and buildings out of boxes．Although he put his toys away long enough to become a lawyer，he never lost his childhood passion for toys．Schwarz dreamed up many toys while in school．Instead of taking notes in class，he filled 26 notebooks with toy sketches! Still，he managed to get his lawyer degree． Today，instead of working in a courtroom，Schwarz skateboards around his Rumpus's headquarters in New York City．In 1997，he started the Rumpus Toy company and invented all kind of crazy toys，like Gus Gutz，a doll with 12 spongy organs，and Sy Klops，a one-eyed doll．Even the boxes are playful．Printed instructions on Rumpus toy boxes
The American Character 美国人的性格(Bradford Smith 布拉德福德·史密斯) The following is part of an essay taken from Bradford Smith's book, Why We Behave Like Americans. Success as a goal and materialism, according to Smith, are among the underlying factors that make up the American character. 以下节选自布拉德福德所著《为什么我们的举止象美国人》里的一篇文章。据布拉德福德所说，目标为成功和物质享乐主义，构成美国人性格的内在因素。 没 When visitors from abroad undertake to describe the American Character, the results are frequently puzzling to Americans. "All Americans are Puritans; that's what's wrong with them," says one. "They're always thinking about enjoying themselves," says another. "They spend too much time at work," a distinguished visitor tells us. "They don't know how to play." "Americans don't know what work is, " retorts another." Their machines do it all." "American women are shameless sirens." －"No, they're prudes." "The children here are wonderful －outgoing and natural." －"Natural as little beasts. They have no manners, no respect for their elders." 要是让国外来客描述美国人的性格，结果常常令美国人感到奇怪。一个人说：“所有的美国人都是清教徒；所以他们与众不同。”另一个人说：“他们总是想方设法让自己开心。”一位尊贵的客人告诉我们：“他们花在工作上的时间太多。他们不懂如何玩乐。”另一个人反驳说：“他们不懂什么是工作。因为机器替他们做了一切。”“美国女人是不知廉耻的，妖艳而危险的女人。”--“不，她们假正经。”“这里的孩子真好－－外向，自然。”----“象小小的野兽一样自然。他们没礼貌，不尊敬长辈。” There is, of course, no single pattern of American character any more than there is a single English or Turkish or Chinese character. Personality in America is further complicated by our diverse racial and cultural origins, by successive waves of immigration from all parts of the world, by our regional diversities. It is complicated by several hundred varieties of religious belief with their varying impact on the believers. It is further diversified by the generation to which the person belongs －first generation immigrant, second generation child of immigrants, and on down the line. 当然，世上既没有单一模式的美国人性格，也没有单一的英国人性格或土耳其人性格或是中国人性格。个性的定义在美国变得更为复杂，因为我们有不同的种族和文化背景，因为来自世界各地连续不断的移民浪潮，因为我们区域的多样性。个性的定义变得复杂，因为几百种不同的宗教信仰及其对各自的信奉者的影响不同。个性的定义也由于每个人所处的年代不同而趋多样化－－第一代是移民，第二代是移民的孩子，一直照此延续下去。 The temptation is strong to lump all Americans together. Yet those who look a little deeper are puzzled by the seeming contradictions in American life. It is true that Americans as a whole work hard. But they also play hard. They spend more time and money in traveling, camping, hunting, watching sports, drinking, smoking, going to movies, watching television and reading newspapers and magazines than any other people in the world. Yet they also spend more money on churches, social services, hospitals and all kinds of charities. They are always in a hurry, yet they spend more time relaxing. They are at the same time sensitive to the rights of the individual and habitual conformist. They worship bigness yet idealize the little man, whether he be the small business man as opposed to the
Fall in Love with English 爱上英语 Hiding behind the loose dusty curtain, a teenager packed up his overcoat into the suitcase. He planned to leave home at dusk though there was thunder and lightning outdoors. He had got to do this because he was tired of his parents’ nagging about his English study and did not want to go through it any longer. He couldn’t get along well with English and disliked joining in English classes because he thought his teacher ignored him on purpose. As a result, his score in each exam never added up to over 60. His partner was concerned about him very much. She understood exactly what he was suffering from, but entirely disagreed with his idea. In order to calm him down and settle his problem, she talked with him face to face and swapped a series of learning tips with him. The items she set down helped him find the highway to studying English well. The teenager was grateful and got great power from his friend’s words. Now, he has recovered from being upset and has fallen in love with English. 2 Different Countries Have Different Kinds of Englishes 不同的国家有不同的英语 Voyages of people from England play an important part in spreading the English language. At present, English is frequently spoken as an official or common language in many countries, such as America, Singapore, Malaysia and some African countries. All based on British English, the English spoken in these countries can be well understood by native English speakers. But actually, these Englishes have been gradually changing in accents, spellings, expressions and the usage of vocabulary. Because of this fact, you can make use of the differences to tell which country the foreigners of your block are from. For example, if a boss fluently commands his driver, “Come up straight to my apartment by elevator and take some gas for my trucks and cabs”, instead of requesting, “Please come to my flat by lift and take some petrol for my lorries and taxis”, you can recognize his American identity, while the latter suggests that he is British .3.A Hard Trip一次辛苦的旅行 My sister was fond of traveling. Ever since graduating, she had been determined to organize a trip to an old temple. Since transporting fare was expensive, she decided to use a bicycle to cycle there not caring about the disadvantages. Her stubborn attitude was always her shortcoming. Once she made up her mind to do something, no one could persuade her to change her mind. Finally, we gave in as usual though we preferred to take a train. After we prepared everything, including the schedule, reliable weather forecast and
美联英语提供：英语阅读：英语美文欣赏 两分钟做个小测试，看看你的英语水平 https://www.doczj.com/doc/7718999473.html,/test/kuaisu.aspx?tid=16-73675-0 英语美文欣赏 There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real! 在一生有多少这样的时刻：我们对一个人朝思暮想,只想一把把他们从梦中拉出来,真切的拥抱一回! When the door of happiness closes,another opens,but how many times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us. 一扇通往幸福的门关闭了,另一扇幸福之门打开了,可有多少次啊,我们徘徊在那扇关闭的门前,却忽略了那扇早已为我们开启的新的幸福之门. Don't go for looks; they can deceive.Don't go for wealth; even that fades away.Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.Find the one that makes your heart smile. 不要以貌取人,外貌可能会欺骗你;不要追逐财富,财富会消失的.去寻找那个让你笑口常开的人吧,一个微笑就可以使暗淡的日子豁然开朗.去追寻那个令你心灵愉悦的人吧! Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be,because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. 做你想做的梦,去你想去的地方,成为你想成为的人,因为你只有一次生命和一次机
《经典英语美文阅读论阅读和书籍》英文翻译 导读：Any important book should immediately be read twice. 每一本重要的书籍都必须被一气呵成连续读上两遍。 partly because one grasps the matter in its entirety1 only the second time, and only really understands the beginning when one knows the end; and partly because one’s temper and mood inevitably change, so that one gets a different impression the second time, and sees the matter in another light. 原因之一在于一个人在阅读第二遍时，会更好地理解书中内容的整体关联，而只有知道了书的结尾才会明白书的开头；原因之二在于一个人的心境和情绪在第二次阅读时不可避免地与第一次有所不同，这样一来，第二次阅读获得的印象也会不同，能够从另一角度看待书中内容。 Works are the quintessence of a mind, and are therefore always of far greater value than conversation, even conversation with the greatest of minds. A man’s works far surpass his conversation. Even the writings of an ordinary man may be worth reading, both instructive and entertaining, for the simple reason that they are the quintessence — that is to say, the result and fruit of his whole thought and study; while