初中英语美文短篇
经典美文与英语写作是两项相对独立但又相互依赖、相辅相成的关系,这一结论对写作教学有很大启发。学习啦小编整理了短篇初中英语美文,欢迎阅读!
短篇初中英语美文篇一
I Do a Lot of Office Fishing
Some years ago, I started to look at the stars through high-powered binoculars and began reading books written by astronomers for people like me. I became an entranced stargazer for a while.
The men who have learned as much as we know about the universe point out that the sun is an insignificant, moderately hot star in a nebula where it is fixed. The Milky Way, which I have always wanted to spell “w-h-e-y,” is composed of our brothers and sisters, and we are all moving around a central hub. And the hub is moving toward some place, I don’t know where. My brothers and sisters are numbered in billions of billions, and our galaxy itself is one of many, many…how many, I don’t know.
Our sun is so small and our earth, its offspring, is so tiny that when I think of the magnitude, I think of what O. Henry described as a “Statue of What’s the Use.”
What difference does it make that I exist? What possible influence can I make, or my nation make, or a world make?
Where am I going on this ride and does it make any sense? Who’s the boss and what’s He got in mind?
That’s what I got to thinking…it’s all too big, too inevitable, too uncontrollable, and if I think about it with my eyes closed, it’s a pretty pessimistic picture.
Then one day I saw a hunting dog in the woods, an English setter flecked with black. His tail tangled with dock burs. This is a common occurrence to guys like me. I always want to stop and pull out the burs. But this time, out of nowhere, came the realization that this bounding, healthy dog was performing an important job: the job of transporting seeds that were constructed for the very purpose of hitchhiking. The fluff of milkweed sails on the wind to start a new colony miles from its original parent. This dog and its tangle of dock burs are all part of a plan. And so am I.
I believe the plan on this small, lonely earth is to make the best of it—a policy that is becoming increasingly more difficult as the number of human beings increases.
When I came to New York many years ago, I found that in big cities people live faster and decide things quicker than country folk. They have to, in order to survive in the struggle for existence.
Several times a week I slug it out with city dwellers for a place in the subway. They seem a bad lot. But when I pass a city dweller on a trout stream I find he’s just like other people. He’ll speak to me with interest, even warmth. He will ask me how many trout I’ve taken, what fly was successful. And I break down and tell him, and point out that perhaps the black gnat he’s using is too large.
I have tried to make the best of it by doing a lot of office fishing, some front porch fishing, and some quiet mulling about the magnificent things such as dock burs and remote stars. What’s more, I have found it fun; fun that has brought me a lot of happiness, a lot of contentment, and a lot of peace.
办公室里的垂钓者
理查德.萨蒙
几年前我开始用高倍望远镜观察星空,按自己的想法解释天文学家撰写的天文学入门读物。很快我就迷上了观星。
迄今为止人类对宇宙的探索表明太阳不过是星云中极为普通的一颗燃烧着的恒星。银河(我总想称其为“星河”)里有许多颗地球的姊妹星球,大家都围绕着同一个轴心旋转,而这个轴心又在向某个我不知道的地方移动。地球是银河系里亿万星球中的一颗,而银河系不过是许多星系中的一个。宇宙中到底有多少星系,我也说不清。
太阳在宇宙中是那么微小,太阳的孩子地球则更是微不足道,以至于我一想到地球的分量,就想起欧·亨利说过的那句话——“无用的化身”。
我的存在有何意义?我也好,我的民族也好,我的世界也好,我们的存在能起什么作用呢?
我生命的旅程向何处延伸,这个问题真的重要吗?是谁主宰着整个宇宙,他在想些什么呢?
这是我得思考的问题……一切都那样浩渺无边、无法避免、无法掌控。当我闭上双眼思考这一切时,脑海里便浮现出一幅令人相当悲观的画面。
有一天我在小树林里看见一只长着黑色斑点的英国种塞特猎犬,尾巴上缠着几根酸模芒刺。这种情况像我这样的人在森林里经常碰到,每次我都会停下来把刺拔掉。可这一次,不知道为什么,我突然意识到这只活蹦乱跳的猎狗身负着一个重要的使命:那就是把芒刺播撒到某个地方,这和司机让陌生人搭个便车是同一道理。芳草花凭借风力离开故土,飘向自己新的家园;而这几根芒刺靠的就是这只猎犬的尾巴。一切在冥冥中自有安排,我也是如此。
我相信微小而孤寂的地球应妥善处理自己的一切——这一原则随着人口增加而越来越难实现。
多年前我初到纽约之时,发现大都市里的生活和办事节奏远比小镇上要快。人们必须如此,方可在激烈的竞争中生存。
我一个星期要挤好几次地铁,满眼所见尽是面目可憎的都市人。但当我在溪边钓鳟鱼碰到一个城里人时,会发现他和其他人并无两样。他会饶有兴致、甚至十分热情地与我聊天,询问我的战果,或是请教关于鱼饵的问题。我也会停下来,提醒他那块黑蠓鱼饵可能得掰小点儿。
就这样,我努力妥善处理一切,在办公室和自家院子里都像在溪边垂钓时一样,多与同事或邻里交流,并常常静下心来体味世间伟大的万物,诸如那几根芒刺,又或是遥远的星辰。这样做乐趣无穷,且让我幸福,让我满足,让我能求得内心的宁静。
附注:
理查德·萨蒙:是一名艺术家兼作家。
短篇初中英语美文篇二
The power of beauty
Beauty is essentially a form of energy, something that radiates from a fine example ofabsolutely anything, whether a delightful taste or smell, or a gorgeous sight. This energy is ineffect a form of information, nature's bar code telling us how healthy that attitude is, becausehealth-bringing things increase the likelihood that we and our genes will survive.
Harvard phychologist Nancy Etcoff observes that, with this vital equation very much in mind,our brains behave like a highly sensitive radar constantly hunting a signal. If we're shown thephotograph of a face, it takes us less than a fifth of a second to make a judgement of itsbeauty.
Much of the language of this energy is hard-wired and universal. Even three month-old babieshave been shown to prefer gazing at conventionally beautiful faces, and adults from diverseethnic cultures can all agree on who is exactly how good-looking in other populations.
Experimental studies have also established that the active ingredients include symmetry,order, proportion and balance. Since beauty is so powerful and important, we can be thankfulthat there are many ways to be beautiful, and very many sources. And though we most readilythink of experiencing that energy through our five physical senses of sight, sound, taste, touchand smell, other dimensions are even more potent. For example, there is movement-which canbe the internal, kinaesthetic sense of our own bodies in dance or sport; or the thrill of seeingan art or craft well performed. Consider, too, how ideas, insights, and solutions, can bedeemed beautiful. Among scientists, Einstein's Theory of Relativity is unanimously praised for itsextraordinary beauty.
Yale's David Gelernter, a professor of computer science, has argued convincingly that "lust forbeauty" has driven the great technological discoveries. It is no accient, he would claim, thatMitchell's Spitfire, with its Merlin engines and distinctive wings, could help win a war while alsoseeming wonderful to the eye and ear.
And just as the plan for a bank robbery, a bridge, or a computer program can all workbeautifully, so can a whole personality. We know from the studies of many lifetimes thathumans find a balance of loving and confidence and kindness and humour to be highlyattractive and very healthy qualities.
Yet, the greatest source of beauty, for the sheer intensity and volume of positive emotion itbrings to our lives, is the beautiful relationship--the one in which we can thrive and flourishand grow beyond ourselves. This fertile bond can exist between two living things, or a personand a place, or a person and a skill, and the world becomes only more beautiful the more deeplywe understand it. Therefore, we will find profound happiness in narturing and appreciatingdiverse beauties in whatever ways we can.
美的力量
剑桥大学博士Nick Baylis
美实质上是一种能量,任何美好的事物都能发出这种能量,比如美食、香气或美景。实际上这种能量就是一种信息,好似自然界的“条形码”,告诉我们事物的健康度,正是这些能促进健康的事物使我们和我们的基因更好地繁衍下去,生生不息。
哈佛大学心理学家南希.艾特考夫指出,因为我们非常清楚以上这点的重要性,我们的大脑就像一个高灵敏度的雷达在不断地搜索着信号。比如把一张人物照放在我们眼前,我们会在不到1/5秒的时间内对它的美丑做出判断。
对这种能量的认识是人类普遍具备的先天特质。甚至3个月大的婴儿也表现出对传统意义上的漂亮的脸蛋的青睐。不同种族的成年人在判断其他族人的容貌美丑问题上也能达成共识。
研究表明,对称、条例、比例和平衡是影响人们判断美的重要因素。美的力量是巨大而不可忽视的。我们应当感谢美丽有那么多的表达方式,美的源泉是那么丰富多彩。说到美,也许我们很容易想到通
过视觉、听觉、味觉、触觉和嗅觉这五种感官来体验它的能量,但其实还有其他更为有效的途径,比如:“动觉”--它可能是我们跳舞或运动时身体内部的肌肉动感,也可能是看到一件精湛的艺术品或工艺制品时的兴奋和激动不已。再想想我们又有多少可以被称为“漂亮”的想法、见解和解决方案吧。科学家们不就对爱因斯坦“相对论”所蕴涵的非凡之美一致地给予了高度赞赏么。
耶鲁大学计算机科学教授大卫.格冷特用有力的实例说明了“对美的强烈渴望”成就了一系列伟大的科技成就。他指出,米切尔设计的喷火式战斗机正是凭借其采用的马林引擎和独特的机翼,在取得战斗胜利的同时还能给人带来视觉和听觉的享受。
正如我们可以说一起银行抢劫、一座桥梁或是一个计算机程序的设计干得很“漂亮”,一个人的整体人格也可以是“漂亮”的。从对许多人的生平研究中发现,爱心、自信、友善和幽默是非常健康的品质,拥有这些品质的人是极具魅力的。
然而,就其带给我们的美好感觉的度和量而言,美的最主要来源是我们与外界的美好关系,它们给我们的生活带来源源不断的感情--让我们茁壮成长,超越自我。这一有力的和谐关系可以存在于生物与生物之间,也可存在于人和某个地方之间,或是人和某项技能之间。当我们能更好地认识这些关系时,世界就会变得更加美丽。因此,我们在培育和欣赏美的同时,也会得到无穷的快乐。
短篇初中英语美文篇三
The Road to Success
It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrustupon them at the very threshold of their career. They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of business education. But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, the boy who has the genius of the future partner in him will not hesitate to try his hand at the broom. It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.
Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is “aim high”. I would not give a fig for the young man who does not already see himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest content for a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager in any concern, no matter how extensive. Say to yourself, “My place is at the top.” Be king in your dreams.
And here is the prime condition of success, the great secret: concentrate your energy, thought, and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun in one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the most about it.
The concerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which means that they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, or that, or the other, here there, and everywhere. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” is all wrong. I tell you to “put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket.” Look round you and take notice, men who do that not often fail. It is easy to watch and carry the one basket. It is trying to carry too many baskets that breaks most eggs in this country. He who carries three baskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up. One fault of the American businessman is lack of concentration.
To summarize what I have said: aim for the highest; never enter a bar room; do not touchliquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, for as Emerson says, “no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves.”
成功之路
安德鲁.卡耐基
年轻人创业之初,应该从最底层干起,这是件好事。匹兹堡有很多商业巨头,在他们创业之初,都不情愿地肩负过“重任”。他们与扫帚相伴,以打扫办公室的方式度过了他们在商业生涯中最初的日子。我注意到我们现在办公室里都有工友,所以很可惜,年轻人就错过了商业教育中这个有益的环节。如果碰巧哪天上午,专职扫地的工友没有来,某个具有未来合伙人气质的年轻人便会毫不犹豫地试着拿起扫帚。新来的员工在必要时,扫扫地也无妨,你并不会因此而有什么损失。我自己就曾经扫过地......
加入你已经找到工作,并且有了一个良好的开端,我对你的建议就是:要志存高远。一个年轻人,如果不曾把自己想象成是一家大公司未来的老板或是合伙人,那我就会对他不屑一顾。在任何企业,不管它的规模有多大,你的内心都不要满足于做一个首席助理、领班或者总经理。要对自己说:我要迈向顶尖!要做就做你梦想之国里的国王。
成功的首要条件和最大秘诀就是:把你的精力、思想和资本全都集中在你正在从事的事业上。一旦开始从事某种职业,就要下定决心在那一领域闯出一片天地来:不断提高自己,采用最优良的设备,对专业知识熟稔于心。
过于分散自己资本的企业,注定会失败,因为分散资本就意味着分散了他们的精力。他们向这方面投资,又向那方面投资;在这里投资,在那里投资,到处都投资。“不要把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里”的说法其实大错特错。我要对你说:“把所有的鸡蛋都放在一个篮子里,然后小心地看好那个篮子。”看看你周围,你会注意到:这么做的人其实很少失败。提着一个篮子并看好它,并不太难。在我们国家,想同时提很多篮子的人往往打破的鸡蛋最多。提三个篮子的人,必须把一个顶在头上,而这个篮子很可能掉下来,把他自己绊倒。美国商人的一个错误就是没有集中自己的精力。
总结一下,我所说的:要志存高远;不要出入酒吧;要滴酒不沾,要喝也只在用餐时喝少许;不要投机;不要寅吃卯粮;要把公司的利益当作你自己的利益;要专注;把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里,然后小心地看好它;要量入为出;最后一点,要有耐心,就像艾默生所言:“除了你自己没人能真正阻止你成功。”
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