机器猫TJ
语文学教学不应局限于英美文学,应研究和评介各英语国家的优秀作家和作品。下面是我带来的英语长篇美文阅读，欢迎阅读!
Just two for breakfast 两个人的早餐
When my husband and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary at our favorite restaurant, Lenny, the piano player, asked, "How did you do it?"
I knew there was no simple answer, but as the weekend approached, I wondered if one reason might be our ritual of breakfast in bed every Saturday and Sunday.
It all started with the breakfast tray my mother gave us as a wedding gift. It had a glass top and slatted wooden side pockets for the morning paper the kind you used to see in the movies. Mother loved her movies, and although she rarely had breakfast in bed, she held high hopes for her daughter. My adoring bridegroom took the message to heart.
Feeling guilty, I suggested we take turns. Despite grumblings -- "hate crumbs in my bed" ---Sunday morning found my spouse eagerly awaiting his tray. Soon these weekend breakfasts became such a part of our lives that I never even thought about them. I only knew we treasured this separate, blissful time read, relax, forget the things we should remember.
Sifting through the years, I recalled how our weekends changed, but that we still preserved the ritual. We started our family (as new parents, we slept after breakfast more than we read), but we always found our way back to where we started, just two for breakfast, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
When we had more time, my tray became more festive. First it was fruit slices placed in geometric pattern; then came flowers from our garden .This arranger of mine had developed a flair for decorating, using everything from amaryllis to the buds of a maple tree. My husband said my cooking inspired him. Mother would have approved. Perhaps it was the Saturday when the big strawberry wore a daisy hat that I began to think, how can I top this? One dark winter night I woke with a vision of a snowman on a tray. That Sunday I scooped a handful of snow and in no time had my man made. With a flourish I put a miniature pinecone on his head.
As I delivered the tray, complete with a nicely frozen snowman, I waited for a reaction. There was none but as I headed down the stairs I heard a whoop of laughter and then, "You've won! Yes, sir, you've won the prize!"
Put time where love is 舍得为爱付出时间
During my 25 years as a marital therapist, I have seen hundreds of people disappointed over unfulfilling relationships. I have seen passion turn to poison. I have grieved with patients for the love they lost or never found.
"We seemed to love so much, but now it's gone," one woman lamented to me. "Why do I feel so lonely every night even when he is right there beside me? Why can't marriage be more than this?"
It can. I was once invited to the 60th-anniversary celebration of a remarkable couple. I asked the husband, Peter, if he ever felt lonely and wondered where the love between him and Lita had gone. Peter laughed and said, "If you wonder where your love went, you forgot that you are the one who makes it. Love is not out there; it's in here between Lita and me."
I know we can love deeply, tenderly and lastingly. I have seen such love, and I have felt such love myself. Here are the law I have discovered for such lasting and loving relationships---put time where love is.
A fulfilling marriage begins when two people make time together their No.1 priority. If we hope to find love, we must first find time for loving.
Unfortunately, current psychology rests on the model of the independent ego. To make a lasting marriage we have to overcome self-centeredness. We must go beyond what psychologist Abraham Maslow called "self-actualization" to "us-actualization". We have to learn to put time where love is.
Many couples have experienced a tragic moment that taught them to value their time together. One husband related how he sat trapped in his car after a crash. His wife was outside, crying and banging on the window. "I thought I was going to die before we had enough time together." He told me. "Right then I promised to make the time to love my wife. Our time is our own now, and those hours are sacred."
I am nature's greatest miracle. 我是自然界最伟大的奇迹
I am nature's greatest miracle.
Although I am of the animal kingdom, animal rewards alone will not satisfy me. Within me burns a flame, which has been passed from generations uncounted and its heat is a constant irritation to my spirit to become better than I am, and I will. I will fan this flame of dissatisfaction and proclaim my uniqueness to the world.
None can duplicate my brush strokes, none can make my chisel marks, none can duplicate my handwriting, none can produce my child, and, in truth, none has the ability to sell exactly as I. Henceforth, I will capitalize on this difference for it is an asset to be promoted to the fullest.
I am nature's greatest miracle.
Vain attempts to imitate others no longer will I make. Instead will I place my uniqueness on display in the market place. I will proclaim it, yea, I will sell it. I will begin now to accent my differences; hide my similarities. So too will I apply this principle to the goods I sell. Salesman and goods, different from all others, and proud of the difference.
I am a unique creature of nature.
I am rare, and there is value in all rarity; therefore, I am valuable. I am the end product of thousands of years of evolution; therefore, I am better equipped in both mind and body than all the emperors and wise men who preceded me.
But my skills, my mind, my heart, and my body will stagnate, rot, and die lest I put them to good use. I have unlimited potential. Only a small portion of my brain do I employ; only a paltry amount of my muscles do I flex. A hundredfold or more can I increase my accomplishments of yesterday and this I will do, beginning today.
Nevermore will I be satisfied with yesterday's accomplishments nor will I indulge, anymore, in self-praise for deeds which in reality are too small to even acknowledge. I can accomplish far more than I have, and I will, for why should the miracle which produced me end with my birth? Why can I not extend that miracle to my deeds of today?
I am nature's greatest miracle.
I am not on this earth by chance. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.
I will increase my knowledge of mankind, myself, and the goods I sell, thus my sales will multiply. I will practice, and improve, and polish the words I utter to sell my goods, for this is the foundation on which I will build my career and never will I forget that many have attained great wealth and success with only one sales talk, delivered with excellence. Also will I seek constantly to improve my manners and graces, for they are the sugar to which all are attracted.
I am nature's greatest miracle.
I will concentrate my energy on the challenge of the moment and my actions will help me forget all else. The problems of my home will be left in my home. I will think naught of my family when I am in the market place for this will cloud my thoughts. So too will the problems of the market place be left in the market place and I will think naught of my profession when I am in my home for this will dampen my love.
There is no room in the market place for my family, nor is there room in my home for the market. Each I will divorce from the other and thus will I remain wedded to both. Separate must they remain or my career will die. This is a paradox of the ages.
I am nature's greatest miracle.
I have been given eyes to see and a mind to think and now I know a great secret of life for I perceive, at last, that all my problems, discouragements, and heartaches are, in truth, great opportunities in disguise. I will no longer be fooled by the garments they wear for mine eyes are open. I will look beyond the cloth and I will not be deceived.
I am nature's greatest miracle.
No beast, no plant, no wind, no rain, no rock, no lake had the same beginning as I, for I was conceived in love and brought forth with a purpose. In the past I have not considered this fact but it will henceforth shape and guide my life.
I am nature's greatest miracle.
And nature knows not defeat. Eventually, she emerges victorious and so will I, and with each victory the next struggle becomes less difficult.
I will win, and I will become a great salesman, for I am unique.
I am nature's greatest miracle.
好心坏丫头
英语阅读 是中学生英语 教育 中的一项重要基本内容，也是学生学好英语的重要手段。然而，在现实中能熟练掌握英语阅读技能的学生并不多。下面是我带来的英语美文小短文欣赏，欢迎阅读!英语美文小短文欣赏篇一 还在进行演讲呢 A judge in a small city was hearing a drunk-driving case and the defendant, who had both a record and a reputation for driving under the influence, demanded a jury trial. It was nearly 4 p. m. and getting a jury would take time, so the judge called a recess and went out in the hall looking to impanel anyone available for jury duty. He found a dozen lawyers in the main lobby and told them that they were a jury. 在一个小城市，一位法官正在审理一起酒后驾车案件。被告不仅有过酒后驾车的记录，而且声誉也不是太好，现在只是缺少一个陪审团作出裁决。因为已经接近下午四点，找个陪审团来会耽误很多时间。因此，法官宣布休庭后，就到外面随便挑选了一些人来充当陪审团。刚一出门，他就发现大厅刚好有12个律师，便请求他们充当陪审团。 The lawyers thought this would be a novel experience and so followed the judge back to the courtroom. The trial was over in duanwenw.com about 10 minutes and it was very clear that the defendant was guilty. The jury went into the jury-room, the judge started getting ready to go home, and everyone waited. 听了法官的话，这些律师们认为这将会是一次新奇的经历，因此，便跟随法官回到了法庭。不到10分钟，案子就已接近尾声，因为被告明显是有罪的。陪审团回到陪审室进行商议，法官就等着宣布结果，马上回家。每个人都在等待着最后的判决。 After nearly three hours, the judge was totally out of patience and sent the bailiff into the jury-room to see what was holding up the verdict. When the bailiff returned, the judge said, “Well have they got a verdict yet?” 大概过了3个小时，法官已经彻底失去了耐心，便派法警去看看判决为什么耽误了这么久。当法警回来后，法官问他：“怎么样?他们是否作出了最后的判决? The bailiff shook his head and said, “Verdict? Hell, they’re still doing nominating speeches for the foreman’s position!” 法警摇摇头说：“判决?天啊，他们为了推选陪审团主席，还在进行演讲呢!” 英语美文小短文欣赏篇二 光棍节 的来源 An old story goes that once there were four single men, leading very boring lives. none of them were married, or had lovers, or did anything exciting. they just sat around all day and played mahjong. 故事 从四个过着单调生活的单身汉说起。他们没有人结婚，连女朋友都没有，日子过得无精打采，终日打 麻将 度过。 One day they played mahjong from 11 in the morning until 11 at night. during the game, no matter who won, the winning card was always the "four columns" card (the card shows four independent, parallel columns in two lines). even more of a coincidence, it was nov 11, or 11/11. in order to commemorate the day, they nicknamed it singles day. 有一天他们打麻将从早上11点打到了晚上11点。奇妙的是，不管谁赢，都赢在了“四条”上。更加巧合的是，这一天正是11月11号。为了纪念这一天，他们给它命名为“光棍节”。 Singles day was first celebrated at various universities in nanjing, capital city of jiangsu province during the 1990s. it got the name singles day because the date is comprised of four "ones". these college students have since graduated, and carried their university tradition into society. singles day is now a special day for all fashionable youths. 光棍节最先在90年代的江苏南京各大高校兴起。之所以叫“光棍节”是因为这一天的日子有四个光棍一样的“1”。大学生们 毕业 了，把这个传统带到了社会上，光棍节就成了时尚青年们的一个特殊节日。 The main way to celebrate singles day is to have dinner with your single friends, but it's important that each person pay their own way to show their independence. people also hold "blind date" parties in an attempt to bid goodbye to their single lives. 主流的庆祝方式就是和光棍朋友们一起搓一顿，而且一定要实行aa制。为了脱离单身，人们也会举办相亲会，介绍单身男女认识。 英语美文小短文欣赏篇三 寿司的来源 Sushi has a very interesting origin that has lasted for centuries and continues to be a very popular food today. sushi is made with a combination of shellfish, cooked or raw fish, vegetables, and seasoned rice. although sushi is most commonly linked to the japanese heritage, it actually began in china during the 7th century. 寿司有着非常有趣的起源，它流传了数百年，直到如今仍然是非常受欢迎的美食。寿司是由贝类、熟鱼或生鱼、蔬菜以及调过味的米饭混合而成的佳肴。尽管寿司大都被认为与日本有着千丝万缕的渊源，但实际上早在7世纪时，它起源于中国。 At that time, any fish caught had to be preserved. the only method possible was by fermentation. raw fish was cleaned, filleted, and then pressed between layers of heavy salt and usually weighted down with some type of stone. the fish would remain this way for weeks at which the stone would be removed and then replaced with some type of light cover. the fish would stay in the salt layers for a couple of months until the fermentation process was complete. 在那个年代，所有捕来的鱼都要被贮存起来，唯一可能的贮存 方法 就是发酵。生鱼被清洗干净、切成片，然后用一层层厚重的盐给压起来，通常再压上某种石头。生鱼会以这种方式被保存数周，之后，石头被移走，转而压上一些较轻的覆盖物。接着生鱼在盐层中被保留数月，直到发酵的过程完成为止。 Over time, a discovery was made that by rolling the fish in rice that had been soaked in vinegar the fish was fermented in a matter of days rather than months. the rice was then tossed out and the fish eaten. however, with drought and a food shortage, people began consuming the rice as well as the fish and thus, sushi as we know it today was born. 随着时间的推移，人们发现可以把鱼肉卷在醋浸过的米饭中，和以往那种发酵几个月的方式比起来，这种方法仅用数天就可以发酵完。米饭则被扔掉，留下鱼肉食用。然而，由于旱灾和食物短缺，人们在吃鱼的同时也开始连同把米饭都吃掉，于是，我们今天所熟知的寿司便诞生了。 However, in the 1800s, a famous chef by the name of yohei was planning a large dinner party. finding that he had not set out enough fish to serve his guests, he took a piece of fish from the freezer that had not been fermented and decided to take his chances in serving it. what he found was that frozen fish actually retained their flavor and any bacterium was killed. from this discovery, yohei created two styles of sushi —one called edo, and the second, osaka, for the city. 但到了19世纪，一位名叫洋平的著名日本厨师正在筹办大型的晚宴时，发现自己没有准备出足够多的鱼来招待客人们，于是他便从冷藏库里取出一方未经发酵过的鱼肉，决定碰碰运气，就用它来招待客人。他发现冷冻过的鱼肉居然保留住了其本身的味道，而细菌则都被杀死了。基于这一发现，洋平发明了两种寿司：一种叫做江户寿司，另一种叫做大阪寿司，因大阪这座城市而得名。 Sushi is usually consumed with hot green tea. gari (thin slices of vinegar pickled ginger root) is offered free and eaten between bites to freshen the palate. two kinds of sauces are usually available: one is soy sauce, which is poured on most kinds of sushi; the other is a thick sweet sauce used on eel. wasabe (hot, green japanese horseradish) can be added to make it spicier. 寿司往往和热乎乎的绿茶一起搭配食用。(餐馆)会供应免费的gari(即细条、醋腌的生姜)，在每口之间食用，用来提鲜。一般有两种酱汁佐用：一种是酱油，可以倒在大多数种类的寿司上调味;另一种是浓稠的甜汁，用于搭配鳗鱼寿司食用。山葵(一种绿色的日本辣芥末)可以使寿司的味道更辛辣。 Sushi has taken the world by storm and today is a multi-billion dollar industry. the popularity of sushi continues to rise in that people are looking for healthy food that is quick and easy to make. 如今，寿司已经风靡全球，更成为了一个销售额达数十亿的产业。寿司因其健康以及易做的特性而受到越来越多的人的追捧。 With such incredible popularity as well as the health benefits of eating sushi, it is likely that this food will continue to be a part of everyday life for many more centuries to come. 由于寿司的大受欢迎和食用它所带来的健康益处，这种食物可能会在将来的数百年里继续风行下去，成为人们日常饮食的一部分。
