英语短文

第一篇：英语短文

Knowledge and progress 知识和进步

Why does the idea of progress loom so large in the modern world? Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is becoming more and more manifest．Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge．

Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one inpidual could be communicated to another by means of speech．With the invention of writing, a great advance was made,for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also stored．Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn added to libraries: the growth of knowledge followed a kind of compound-interest law,which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing．All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science, the tempo was suddenly raised．Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan．The trickle became a stream;the stream has now become a torrent．

Moreover, as soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned to practical account．What is called‘modern civilization’is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life．The problem now facing humanity is: What is going to be done with all this knowledge? As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil．It is now being used indifferently for both．Could any spectacle, for instance, be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners using science to shatter men's bodies while, close at hand, surgeons use it to restore them? We have to ask ourselves very seriously what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge, with its ever-increasing power,continues.恨别

杜甫

洛城一别四千里，胡骑长驱五六年。草木变衰行剑外，兵戈阻绝老江边。思家步月清宵立，忆弟看云白日眠。闻道河阳近乘胜，司徒急为破幽燕。

《恨别》是唐代诗人杜甫上元元年（760）在成都写的一首七言律诗，抒发了杜甫流落他乡的感慨和对故园、骨肉的怀念，表达了杜甫希望早日平定叛乱的爱国思想。全诗情真语挚，沉郁顿挫，扣人心弦。

首联领起“恨别”，点明思家、忧国的题旨。“四千里”，恨离家之远;“五六年”，伤战乱之久。个人的困苦经历，国家的艰难遭遇，都在这些数量词中体现出来。诗人于759年(乾元二年)春告别了故乡洛阳，返回华州司功参军任所，不久弃官客居秦州、同谷，后来到了成都，辗转四千里。诗人写此诗时，距700年(天宝十四年)十一月安史之乱爆发已五六个年头。在这几年中，叛军铁蹄蹂躏中原各地，生灵涂炭，血流成河，这是诗人深为忧虑的事。

颔联两句描述诗人流落蜀中的情况。“草木变衰”，语出宋玉《九辩》中的“萧瑟兮草木摇落而变衰”。这里是指草木的盛衰变易，承上句的“五六年”，暗示入蜀已有多年，同时也与下一句的“老”相呼应，暗比诗人自己的飘零憔悴。诗人到成都，多亏亲友帮助，过着比较安定的草堂生活，但思乡恋亲之情是念念不忘的。由于“兵戈阻绝”，他不能重返故土，只好老于锦江之边了。“老江边”的“老”字，悲凉沉郁，寻味不尽。

颈联通过“宵立昼眠，忧而反常”(《杜少陵集详注》)的生活细节描写，曲折地表达了思家忆弟的深情。杜甫有四弟，名为杜颖、杜观、杜丰、杜占，其中杜颖、杜观、杜丰散在各地，只有杜占随杜甫入蜀。此二句中的“思家”、“忆弟”为互文。月夜，思不能寐，忽步忽立;白昼，卧看行云，倦极而眠。诗人这种坐卧不宁的举动，正委婉曲折地表现了怀念亲人的无限情思，突出了题意的“恨别”。沈德潜评论此联说：“若说如何思，如何忆，情事易尽。‘步月’、‘看云’，有不言神伤之妙。”(《唐诗别裁集》)这就是说，它不是抽象言情，而是用具体生动的形象说话，让读者自己去体会形象中所蕴含的忧伤之情。手法含蓄巧妙，诗味隽永，富有情致。

尾联回应次句，抒写诗人听到唐军连战皆捷的喜讯，盼望尽快破幽燕、平叛乱的急切心情。760年(上元元年)三月，检校司徒李光弼破安太清于怀州城下;四月，又破史思明于河阳西渚。这就是诗中“乘胜”的史实。当时李光弼又急欲直捣叛军老巢幽燕，以打破相持局面。杜甫盼望国家复兴，他自己亦可还乡，天下可喜可乐之事，没有比这个更好的了。这首诗以充满希望之句作结，感情由悲凉转为欢快，显示了诗人胸怀的开阔。

这首七律用简朴优美的语言叙事抒情，言近旨远，辞浅情深。诗人把个人的遭际和国家的命运结合起来写，每一句都蕴蓄着丰富的内涵，饱和着浓郁的诗情，值得读者反复吟味。

Education教育

Education is one of the key words of our time.A man without an education, many of us believe, is an unfortunate victim of adverse circumstances, deprived of one of the greatest twentieth-century opportunities.Convinced 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 text-books----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 tribal people 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 modern 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 1876, 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 savannahs know of no ‘juvenile delinquency’.No necessity of making a living away from home results in neglect of children, and no father is confronted with his inability to ‘buy’ an education for his child.梦天李贺

老兔寒蟾泣天色，云楼半开壁斜白。玉轮轧露湿团光，鸳佩相逢桂香陌。黄尘清水三山下，变更千年如走马。遥望齐州九点烟，一泓海水杯中泻。

在这首诗中，诗人梦中上天，下望人间，也许是有过这种梦境，也许纯然是浪漫主义的构想。开头四句，描写梦中上天。第一句“老兔寒蟾泣天色”是说，古代传说，月里住着玉兔和蟾蜍。句中的“老兔寒蟾”指的便是月亮。幽冷的月夜，阴云四合，空中飘洒下来一阵冻雨，仿佛是月里玉兔寒蟾在哭泣似的。第二句“云楼半开壁斜白”是说，雨飘洒了一阵，又停住了，云层裂开，幻成了一座高耸的楼阁；月亮从云缝里穿出来，光芒射在云块上，显出了白色的轮廓，有如屋墙受到月光斜射一样。第三句“玉轮轧露湿团光”是说，下雨以后，水气未散，天空充满了很小的水点子。玉轮似的月亮在水汽上面辗过，它所发出的一团光都给打湿了。以上三句，都是诗人梦里漫游天空所见的景色。第四句则写诗人自己进入了月宫。“鸾佩”是雕着鸾凤的玉佩，这里代指仙女。这句是说：在桂花飘香的月宫小路上，诗人和一群仙女遇上了。这四句，开头是看见了月亮；转眼就是云雾四合，细雨飘飘；然后又看到云层裂开，月色皎洁；然后诗人飘然走进了月宫；层次分明，步步深入。下面四句，又可以分作两段。“黄尘清水三山下，更变千年如走马。”是写诗人同仙女的谈话。这两句可能就是仙女说出来的。“黄尘清水”，换句常见的话就是“沧海桑田”：“三山”原来有一段典故。葛洪的《神仙传》记载说：仙女麻姑有一回对王方平说：“接待以来，已见东海三为桑田；向到蓬莱，水又浅于往日会时略半耳。岂将复为陵陆乎？”这就是说，人间的沧海桑田，变化很快。“山中方七日，世上已千年”，古人往往以为“神仙境界”就是这样，所以诗人以为，人们到了月宫，回过头来看人世，就会看出“千年如走马”的迅速变化了。最后两句，是诗人“回头下望人寰处”所见的景色。“齐州”指中国。中国古代分为九州，所以诗人感觉得大地上的九州犹如九点“烟尘”。“一泓”等于一汪水，这是形容东海之小如同一杯水被打翻了一样。这四句，诗人尽情驰骋幻想，仿佛他真已飞入月宫，看到大地上的时间流逝和景物的渺小。浪漫主义的色彩是很浓厚的。李贺在这首诗里，通过梦游月宫，描写天上仙境，以排遣个人苦闷。天上众多仙女在清幽的环境中，你来我往，过着一种宁静的生活。而俯视人间，时间是那样短促，空间是那样渺小，寄寓了诗人对人事沧桑的深沉感慨，表现出冷眼看待现实的态度。想象丰富，构思奇妙，用比新颖，体现了李贺诗歌变幻怪谲的艺术特色。

第二篇：英语短文

TOWN CRIER:

How do you 'get'' the news?Do you watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio?Do you read online newspapers or news blogs?Or do you get a pod cast delivered to your email inbox?News has never before been available to so many people in so many different forms and so convenient, so immediate.How do you 'get' the news? Do you watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio? Do you read online newspapers or news blogs? Or do you get a pod cast delivered to your email inbox? News has never before been available to so many people in so many different forms and so convenient, so immediate.TOWN CRIER:

However, getting the news didn't always use to be so easy.Oyez!However, getting the news didn't always use to be so easy.Oyez!NEWSCASTER:

In medieval times, many governments and town councils relied on a man with a loud voice to deliver news to the general public.This person was called the 'Town Crier'.The English Town Crier would call out,'OyezOyez''Which doesn't actually mean 'Oh yes', but derives from the Anglo Norman word for 'listen'.Of course, this method of delivering the news had its drawbacks.In medieval times, many governments and town councils relied on a man with a loud voice to deliver news to the general public.This person was called the 'Town Crier'.The English Town Crier would call out, 'Oyez!Oyez!' Which doesn't actually mean 'Oh yes', but derives from the Anglo Norman word for 'listen'.Of course, this method of delivering the news had its drawbacks.NEWSCASTER:

The main thing it was lacking was a wide audience.Furthermore, the information delivered was strictly controlled by the local council or government.This all changed with the advent of the newspaper.Around the beginning of the seventeenth century, the first mass printed

newspapers appeared in northern European countries such as Germany and Holland.Newspapers were in many ways revolutionary.The main thing it was lacking was a wide audience.Furthermore, the information delivered was strictly controlled by the local council or government.This all changed with the advent of the newspaper.Around the

beginning of the seventeenth century, the first mass printed newspapers appeared in northern European countries such as Germany and Holland.Newspapers were in many ways revolutionary.NEWSCASTER:

They could reach a huge audience.They could be written and printed by anyone, as long as they had access to a printing press and enough money to fund the publication.And what they didn't necessarily have to do was reflect the government opinion of the day.In other words, to some extent, newspapers and freedom of thought, opinion and expression went hand in hand.Fast forward to the twentieth century, and newspaper sales have fallen drastically.They could reach a huge audience.They could be written and printed by anyone, as long as they had access to a printing press and enough money to fund the publication.And what they didn't necessarily have to do was reflect the government opinion of the day.In other words, to some extent, newspapers and freedom of thought, opinion and expression went hand in hand.Fast forward to the twentieth century, and newspaper sales have fallen drastically.NEWSCASTER:

The reason?Television.In some ways, television has much more in common with the Town Crier than it does with newspapers.News reports are shorter, more visual, and delivered orally rather than via the printed word.Furthermore, in most countries, television news channels are controlled by a small number of powerful people.The reason? Television.In some ways, television has much more in common with the Town Crier than it does with newspapers.News reports are shorter, more visual, and delivered orally rather than via the printed word.Furthermore, in most countries, television news channels are controlled by a small number of powerful people.NEWSCASTER:

In a sense, they tell us what to believe.Think about it.How many people have the money and influence to be able to buy all the necessary equipment and start their own television news channel?Unless you're a millionaire with the right contacts, it's almost impossible.Of course, the Internet has changed all that.In a sense, they tell us what to believe.Think about it.How many people have the money and influence to be able to buy all the necessary equipment and start their own television news channel? Unless you're a millionaire

with the right contacts, it's almost impossible.Of course, the Internet has changed all that.NEWSCASTER:

In this new era of instant information, anyone with a computer and online access can write a news report and publish it online to a potential audience of billions.Indeed, you can even video yourself and broadcast your own news report by posting it on a video sharing website!Like never before, ordinary people are now able to report what's really going on in their area, and enter into discussion and debate about it.From the Town Crier, to the printed newspaper, to TV broadcast news, and now the Internet, the history of news has swung full circle a number of times.Right now, though, perhaps we're witnessing the beginning of a new age: the age of news written by the people, for the people.In this new era of instant information, anyone with a computer and online access can write a news report and publish it online to a potential audience of billions.Indeed, you can even video yourself and broadcast your own news report by posting it on a video sharing website!Like never before, ordinary people are now able to report what's really going on in their area, and enter into discussion and debate about it.从街头公告到报纸，到电视广播，再到当今的互联网，新闻的历史已经发生了数次巨变。Right now, though, perhaps we're witnessing the beginning of a new age: the age of news written by the people, for the people.

第三篇：英语经典短文

The Importance of Keeping Optimistic

保持乐观的重要性

Honourable judges, ladies and gentlemen, 尊敬的评委、女士们、先生们：Good afternoon!Today I would like to talk about the importance ofkeeping optimistic.When we encounter difficulties in life, we notice thatsome of us choose to bury their heads in the sand.Unfortunately, however,this attitude will do you no good, because if you will have no courageeven to face them, how can you conquer them? Thus, be optimistic, ladiesand gentlemen, as it can give you confidence and help you see yourselfthrough the hard times, just as Winston Churchill once said, “An optimistsees an opportunity in every calamity;a pessimist sees a calamity inevery opportunity.”下午好！今天我想谈一谈保持乐观的重要性。

我们注意到，当在生活中遇到困难时，我们中的有些人选择逃避它们。但令人遗憾的是，这样的态度对你没有任何好处，因为如果你连面对它们的勇气都没有的话，你怎么去征服它们呢？因此，乐观起来吧，女士们、先生们，因为它会带给你信心，帮助你渡过难关。正如温斯顿·丘吉尔所说，“乐观者在每次灾难中都看到机遇；悲观者在每次机遇中都看到灾难”。

Ladies and Gentlemen, keeping optimistic, you will be able to realize,in spite of some hardship, there’s always hope waiting for you, which willlead you to the ultimate success.Historically as well as currently, thereare too many optimists of this kind to enumerate.You see, Thomas Edisonis optimistic;if not, the light of hope in his heart could not illuminatethe whole world.Alfred Nobel is optimistic;if not, the explosives andthe prestigious Nobel Prize would not have come into being.And Lance

Armstrong is also optimistic;if not, the world would not see a 5-time winner of the Tour De France.女士们，先生们，困难是存在的，但如果你保持乐观，你就会意识到永远有希望在等着你，它会把你领向最终的成功。不管是历史上还是现实中，这样的乐观者总是不胜枚举。你看，托马斯·爱迪生是乐观的，如果不是的话，他心中那希望的明灯就不能照亮整个世界；阿尔弗雷德·诺贝尔是乐观的，如果不是的话，那炸药和享有很高声望的诺贝尔奖就不会诞生；兰斯·阿姆斯特朗也是乐观的，如果不是的话，这个世界就会少了一位五届环法自行车赛冠军得主.A rose may be beautiful, or maybe not;that depends on your attitudeonly, and so does success, so does life.Hindrances and difficulties doexist, but if you are optimistic, then they are only episodes on your longway to the throne of success;they are more bridges than obstacles!Now Iprefer to end my speech with the great British poet Shelley’s lines: “Ifwinter comes, can spring be far behind?” Thank you!

玫瑰花可能很美，也可能不美，这，仅仅取决于你的态度；而成功也如此，人生也如此。困难和阻碍的确存在，但是如果你很乐观的话，那它们就仅仅是我们通向胜利之冠的漫长

道路上的小插曲；与其说它们是障碍，不如说它们是桥梁！此刻，我想以伟大的英国诗人雪莱的一句诗来作为我的结尾：“冬天来了，春天还会远吗?”谢谢！

Youth青春

Samuel Ullman塞缪尔·厄尔曼

Youth is not a time of life;it is a state of mind;it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees;it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions;it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.人生匆匆，青春不是易逝的一段。青春应是一种永恒的心态。满脸红光，嘴唇红润，腿脚灵活，这些都不是青春的全部。真正的青春啊，它是一种坚强的意志，是一种想象力的高品位，是感情充沛饱满，是生命之泉的清澈常新。

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the

appetite for adventure over the love of ease.This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20.Nobody grows old merely by a number of years.We grow old by deserting our ideals.青春意味着勇敢战胜怯懦，青春意味着进取战胜安逸，年月的轮回就一定导致衰老吗？要知道呵，老态龙钟是因为放弃了对真理的追求。

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.无情岁月的流逝，留下了深深的皱纹，而热忱的丧失，会在深处打下烙印。焦虑、恐惧、自卑，终会使心情沮丧，意志消亡。

Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder,the unfailing childlike appetite for what’s next and the joy of the game of living.In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station: so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long as you are young.60也罢，16也罢，每个人的心田都应保持着不泯的意志，去探索新鲜的事物，去追求人生乐趣。我们的心中都应有座无线电台，只要不断地接受来自人类和上帝的美感、希望、勇气和力量，我们就会永葆青春。

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80.倘若你收起天线，使自己的心灵蒙上玩世不恭的霜雪和悲观厌世的冰凌，即使你年方20，你已垂垂老矣；倘若你已经80高龄，临于辞世，若竖起天线去收听乐观进取的电波，你仍会青春焕发。

让“宽恕的风”把仇恨抹去

The story goes that two friends were walking through the desert.During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.两个朋友结伴穿越沙漠，旅途中二人突然吵了起来，其中一个掴了对方一记耳光。The one who got slapped felt hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “Today my bestfriend slapped me in the face.”被打的人感到自己受了伤害，但什么也没有说，只是在沙地上写下了这样一句话：“今天我最好的朋友掴了我耳光。

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath.The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.他们继续前行，看见到处绿洲，他们正打算在那里洗澡时，刚才被打的人不小心陷入了泥潭，开始深陷，他的朋友救了他.After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: “Today my best friend saved my life.”等他从几近淹死的边缘苏醒过来后，他在石头上刻下：“今天我最好的朋友救了我的命。”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now you write on a stone.Why?” 他的朋友问：“为什么我伤你之后，你在沙子上写字，现在却把字刻在石头上？”

The other friend replied: “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away.But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.” 他回答道：“当有人伤害了我们，我们应该把它写进沙里，宽恕的风会把仇恨抹去。而当有人为我们做了好事，我们应当把它刻在石头上，没有风可以将它抹去。”

Try to Remember the Good Things 回忆美好

当你身陷困境的时候，回想你生命中快乐和幸福的时刻。回想它是如何使你快乐，你便有了走出困境的勇气。从你的生活中多抽出点时间去梦想，重振你的精力，你会完全准备好又去迎接新的一天。

When times become difficult(and you know they sometimes will), remember a

moment in your life that was filled with joy and happiness.Remember how it made you feel, and you will have the strength you need to get through any trial.当你身陷困境的时候（你有时会），回想你生命中快乐和幸福的时刻。回想它是如何使你快乐，你便有了走出困境的勇气。

When life throws you one more obstacle than you think you can handle, remember something you achieved through perseverance and by struggling to the end.In doing so, you'll find you have the ability to overcome each obstacle brought your way.当面对重重困难，你感觉举步维艰的时候，回想你以前是如何坚持到底战胜困难的最后时刻的。这样，你就会发现你有能力克服每个障碍。

When you find yourself drained and depleted of energy, remember to find a place of sanctuary and rest.Take the necessary time in your own life to dream your dreams and renew your energy, so you'll be ready to face each new day.当你觉得精疲力尽的时候，暂时离开，让自己稍作休息。从你的生活中多抽出点时间去梦想，重振你的精力，你会完全准备好又去迎接新的一天。

When you feel tension building, find something fun to do.You'll find that the stress you feel will dissipate and your thoughts will become clearer.当你感觉到紧张的压力，做一些有乐趣的事吧。你会发现压力在渐渐消逝，你的想法也渐渐明朗了。

You're listening to Faith Radio Online-Simply to Relax, I'm Faith.When you're faced with so many negative and draining situations, realize how minuscule problems will seem when you view your life as a whole--and remember the positive things.这里是Faith主持的Faith轻松电台节目。当你面对重重困难的时候，要意识到相对于你的整个生命，这些难题其实是微不足道的，请铭记你生命中美好的东西。

The Bridge桥

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on neighboring farms fell into conflict.从前有兄弟二人，生活在相领的农场中，他们之间发生了冲突。

One morning there was a knock on John’s door.He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox.一天早上，有人敲约翰的门。他打开门，发现外边站着一位背着木工箱的人。

“I’m looking for a few days’ work,” he said.“Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with?” “我想找几天活干，”他说。“你这里是否有些零活需要我做？”

“Yes,” said the elder brother.“I do have a job for you.Look across the creek at that farm.That’s my neighbor;in fact, it’s my younger brother’s.Last week there was a meadow between us, but he took his bulldozer to the river levee, and now there is a creek between us.See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence—an 8-foot fence—so I won’t need to see his face any more.” “是的，”作为兄长的约翰说。“我的确有件活让你做。你看小溪那边的农场。那是我的邻居，其实就是我弟弟的农场。上周我们之间还有一片牧场，但他用推土机把河堤推掉了，如今横在我们面前的是一条小溪。看到畜舍旁边的那堆木材了吗？我想让你为我修建一道篱笆——一道8英尺高的篱笆——这样我就用不着看他的脸色了。”

The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation.I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.” 木匠说，“我明白了。我的活保证让您满意。”

The elder brother had to go to town on business, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready, and then he was off.About sunset when John returned, the

carpenter had just finished his job.John’s eyes opened wide.There was no fence there at all.哥哥有事必须去镇上，因此他帮木匠备好料后就走了。大约在太阳落山的时候约翰回来了，木匠也刚刚干完活。约翰的眼睛睁得大大的。那根本没有篱笆。

It was a bridge—a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other!A fine piece of work, handrails and all and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.有一座桥——一座横跨小溪的桥！这是一座非常完美的桥，栏杆和所有的一切都很精美，那位邻居，也就是他弟弟，正走过来，并向前伸出手。“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking

each other’s hand, then embracing each other.“在我说了过头的话和做了过头的事之后，你这样做太令我感动了。”兄弟二人分别站在桥的两端，然后他们在桥中间相遇了，握住对方的手，然后拥抱在一起。

They turned to see the carpenter raise his toolbox on his shoulder.“No, wait!Stay a few days.I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said John.“I’d love to stay on.” The carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.”他们转过身，看到木匠把他的木工箱扛到了肩膀上。“不，等一下！请再呆几天。我还有很多其它活儿需要你做，”约翰说。“我很想呆下去，”木匠说，“但还有更多的桥等着我去修建呢。”

第四篇：英语经典短文

中小学课外辅导专家

英语经典短文

一、How to use an English-Chinese dictionary? When you are reading something in English, you may often come across a new word.What’s the best way to know it? You may look it up in an English-Chinese dictionary.It will tell you a lot about the word: the pronunciation, the Chinese meaning and also how to use this word.But how can you know where the word is in thousands of English words? How to find it in the dictionary both quickly and correctly? First, all the English words are arranged in the alphabetical order.In the dictionary you can first see the words beginning with the Ietter A, then B,C,D,E…That means if there are two words “desert”and “pull”,” “desert”will be certainly before“pull”.Then if there,are two words both beginning with the same letter,you may look at the second letter.Then the third, the fourth…For example, “pardon”is before “plough”, “judge”is before “just”,etc.Do you understand how to look up a word in a dictionary? The dictionary will be your good friend,I hope you’ll use it as often as possible in your English learning.二、Travel by bike

If you go to visit London, you’ll see a lot of buses and cars on the road.You’ll also see a lot of bikes because more people travel by bike.There are a lot of reasons for this.First, it is very cheap to buy a bike, and it is quick, too.You often have to wait for a bus for half an hour.When the bus comes, there are so many other buses and cars on the roads that the bus moves very slowly.I traveled to work by bus for about four years.I often arrived at work late and tired.Then one day, about two years ago, a friend of mine said, “ I go to work by bike.Why don’t we travel together?”

“Because my bike is old.” I answered, “And there are so many buses and cars on the roads.I’ll feel frightened

“You needn’t feel frightened!” said my friend.“If you follow me and we ride slowly, you’ll be fine.”

The next day I brought myself a new bike.Although we went slowly, we arrived ai work quickly.It took 40 minutes to go to work by bus, but only half an hour by bike!Now I don’t feel afraid.I love going go work by bike.I take a different road every day.I arrived at work very quickly.I’ve got a little more money now, and more important, I feel healthy.Many people think in the same way as I do.That’s why you see a lot of bikes on the road.Next year you’ll see more, I am sure.Perhaps in the future we will have roads for bikes only.I hope so.三、American food habits

Generally speaking, American food is rather bland and inspired.Salads are popular and are served all the year round.Many American people are “calorie” conscious.This is evident in menus offering “low calorie” or “weight watchers” meals.In markets one can find “No Cal” drinks(meaning without calories)such as ginger ale or cola.“Diet” foods without sugar or salt are also available in food stores.Waiters in American restaurants tend to assume that everyone drinks coffee.If a waiter suddenly asks “Now or later?” what he means is “Do you want coffee with your meal now or later?” Many American drinks

Coffee with their meal.When dining out in the US we can ask for tea, milk,coke,bear and so on, if we prefer these to coffee, American restaurants cannot serve beer, wine, or liquor unless they are licensed to do so.The main course in American meals is usually meat, fowl, or fish, but rarely is more than one of these

上海宝茁教育济南学习中心

中小学课外辅导专家

七、Insects We often think of insects as being harmful.This is not quite true.Many insects are harmful.For example, flies carry disease.Other insects carry disease, too.Farmers are at war with insects most of the time.Hungry insects kill plants in the fields.Farmers spray the fields to get rid of these insects.Does this mean that all insects are harmful? No.Many are of great help to man.Bees make honey.Without bees and other insects, many trees would have no fruit.Silkworms make silk.Some insects eat other insects that kill fruit trees.Have you ever seen a praying mantis? People who do not know about the praying mantis sometimes kill it.They think it is harmful.But this insect is of great help to farmers and gardeners.It eats insects that kill plants.Long ago, many people thought of most insects as enemies.Today, we know the difference between harmful insects and those that help us.八、Special language Can you see the rabbit’s tail? When a rabbit sees something dangerous, it runs away.Its tail is white and moves up and down as it runs.Other rabbits see the tail moving, and they run, too.They know that there is something danger.The rabbit has told them something without making a sound.It has given them a signal.Many other animals use this kind of language.When a cobra is angry, it raises its hood and makes itself look fierce.This warns other animals.When a bee has found some food, it goes back to its home.It cannot tell the other bees where the food is by speaking to them, but it does a little dance in the air.This tells the others where the food is.Some animals say things by making sounds.Sometimes we humans speak in the same way.But we have something that no animal has-a large number of words.No animal has the wonderful power of language.People living in different countries make different kinds of words.Today there are about fifteen hundred different languages in the world.The words you know are called your vocabulary.You should try to make your vocabulary bigger.Read as many books as you can.When you meet a new word, find it in your dictionary.Your dictionary is your most useful book.九、A good idea Mike and Tom had studied in the same class.After they had finished middle school, Mike went to college but Tom found work in a factory.The young man likes smoking very much and it’s bad for his health.Now he coughs day and night and he’s too weak to work.So he was sent away.He spent all money on smoking and sometimes he has little food to eat.Once Tom met Mike in the street.Mike finished college and began to work in a post office and was paid much.When Tom knew about it, he asked Mike to lend two hundred dollars to him.Mike found it was difficult to refuse and agreed.A year later Mike was going go marry and needed a lot of money.He told Tom about it.Tom said he would pay off the debt the next month.But three months passed and Tom did not pay off his debt.And one day Mike went to his house again and said, “Haven’t you found any ideas to pay off your debt?”

“Yes, I have.” Answered Tom.“ If you help me, I’ll pay off my debt at once.” “what’s it?”

“Please lend me five hundred dollars again.” Said the man.“I shall pay you back two hundred dollars, and I’ll pay Mr.White back two hundred dollars, and I’ll spend one hundred dollars on some bread and a newer coat.上海宝茁教育济南学习中心

第五篇：英语短文

A Wolf in sheep's clothing

（披着羊皮的狼）

A wolf wanted to eat the sheep, but he was afraid of the vigilant

shepherd and his dogs.One day the wolf found the skin of a sheep.He put it on and walked among the sheep.A lamb thought that the

wolf was its mother because his skin looked like hers.So it

followed the wolf.Soon after they had left the dogs, the wolf came

at the lamb and ate it up.For some time he succeeded in deceiving

the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.披着羊皮的狼

狼想吃羊，但是他害怕警惕的牧羊人和牧羊犬。有一天狼发现了一块羊皮，便披着它混入羊群。一只小羊羔把这只披着羊皮的狼误认为自己的妈妈，被领出了羊群。狼成功地欺骗了羊群，吃掉了小羊羔。

寓意：事物的外表有时候会掩盖它的本质，所以我们不能只凭表面现象就作判断。

good boy(好孩子)

Little Robert asked his mother for two cents.“What did you do

with the money I gave you yesterday?”

“I gave it to a poor old woman,” he answered.“You're a good boy,” said the mother proudly.“Here are two cents more.But why are you so interested in the

old woman?”

“She is the one who sells the candy.”

小罗伯特向妈妈要两分钱。“昨天给你的钱干什么了？”

“我给了一个可怜的老太婆，”他回答说。

“你真是个好孩子，”妈妈骄傲地说。

“再给你两分钱。可你为什么对那位老太太那么感兴趣呢？” “她是个卖糖果的。” Naughty monkey(调皮的猴子)

It’s very hot.An old man is asleep on the chair.A fly comes and sits on the end of the man’s nose.The old man has a naughty monkey.He chases the fly.The fly comes back again and sits on the old man’s nose again.The

monkey chases it away again and again.This happens five or six times.The monkey is very angry.He

jumps up, runs to the garden and picks up a large stone.When the fly sits on the old man’s nose again, the monkey hits it

hard with the stone.He kills the fly and breaks the old man’s nose.天气很热。一位老人在椅子上睡着了。一只苍蝇飞来落在老人的鼻子上。老人有一只顽皮的猴子。猴子在追打苍蝇。苍蝇再次飞落在老人的鼻子上，猴子一再追打苍蝇。这样往返了五六次，猴子很生气。他跳着跑到花园，捡起一块大石头。当苍蝇再次落在老人的鼻子上时，猴子用石头击中老人的鼻子上的苍蝇。他砸死了苍蝇也打破了老人的鼻子.