英语背诵文选

杨辉

29. The Enchantment of Creeks (2)

Above all, a creek offers the mind a chance to penetrate the alien universe of water, of tadpoles and trout. What drifts in creek water is the possibility of other worlds inside and above our own. Poet Robert Frost wrote: “It flows between us, over us, and with us. And it is time, strength, tone, light, life, and love.
Creeks lead one on, like perfume on the wind. A creek is something that disappears around a bend, into the ground, into the next dimension. To follow a creek is to seek new acquaintance with life.
I still find myself following creeks. In high mountain meadows I’ll trace their course into the limegreen grass and deep glacial duff, marveling at the sparkle of quartz and mica. The pursuit liquefies my citified haste and lifts weight from my shoulders. Once, in the California desert, as hummingbirds darted from cactus blossoms, I heard the babble of rushing water. My ears led me over dusty hillsides and sown scabrous ravines to an unexpected ribbon of clear, cold water, leaping from rock to rock, filling little pools. The discovery seemed Biblical. It filled me with joy.

杨辉

30. “Why Measure Life in Heartbeats?”

If one realizes that our time on this earth is but a tiny fraction of that within the cosmos, then life calculation in years may not be as important as we think. Why measure life in heartbeats? When life is so dependent on such an unreliable function as the beating f the heart, then it is fragile indeed. The only thing that one can depend upon with absolute certainty is death.
I believe that death may be the most important part of life. I believe that life is infinitesimally brief in relation to the immensity of eternity. I believe, because of my religious faith, that I shall “return to the Father” in an afterlife that is beyond description. I believe that though my life was short in years, it was full in experience, joy, love and accomplishment; that my own immortality will reside in the memories of my loved ones left behind, mother, brother, wife, children, dear friends. I believe that I will die with loved ones close by and, one hopes, achieve that great gift of God—death in peace, and with dignity.

杨辉

31. If I were a Boy Again (1)

If I were a boy again, I would practise perseverance oftener, and never give up a thing because it was hard or inconvenient. If we want light, we must conquer darkness. Perseverance can sometimes equal genius in its results. “There are only two creatures,” says a proverb, “who can surmount the pyramids –the eagle and the snail.”
If I were a boy again, I would school myself into a habit of attention; I would let nothing come between me and the subject in hand. I would remember that a good skater never tries to skate in two directions at once. The habit of attention becomes part of our life, if we begin early enough. I often hear grown-up people say, “I could not fix my attention on the lecture or book, although I wished to do so,” and the reason is, the habit was not formed in youth.
If I were to live my life over again, I would pay more attention to the cultivation of the memory. I would strengthen that faculty by every possible means, and on every possible occasion. It takes a little hard work at first to remember things accurately; but memory soon helps itself, and gives very little trouble. It only needs early cultivation to become a power.

杨辉

32. If I were a Boy Again (2)

If I were a boy again, I would look on the cheerful side. Life is very much like a mirror: if you smile upon it, it smiles back upon you; but if you frown and look doubtful on it, you will get a similar look in return.
Inner sunshine warms not only the heart of the owner, but of all that come in contact with it. “Who shuts love out, in turn shall be shut from love.”
If I were a boy again, I would school myself to say “No” oftener. I might write pages on the importance of learning very early in life to gain that point where a young boy can stand erect, and decline doing an unworthy act because it is unworthy.
If I were a boy again, I would demand of myself more courtesy towards my companions and friends, and indeed towards strangers as well. The smallest courtesies along the rough roads of life are like the little birds that sing to us all winter long, and make that season of ice and snow more endurable.
Finally, instead of trying hard to happy, as if that were the sole purpose of life, I would, if I were a boy again, try still harder to make others happy.

杨辉

33. Ways of Communication

When you speak, write a letter, or make a telephone call, your words carry a message. People communicate with words. But do you know people also communicate without words? A smile on your face shows you are happy or friendly. Tears in your eyes tell others that you are sad. When you raise your hand in class, the teacher knows you want to say something or ask questions. You shake your head and people know you are saying “No”. You nod and people know your are saying “Yes”.
Other things can also carry messages. For example, a sign at the bus stop helps you to know which bus to take. A sign on the wall of your school helps you to find the library. Signs on the doors tell you where to go in or out. Have you ever noticed that there area lot of signs around you and that you receive messages from them all the time?
People can communicate in many other ways. An artist can use his drawings to tell about beautiful mountains, the blue seas and many other things. Books are written to tell you about all the wonderful things in the world and what other people are thinking about.

杨辉

34. Touchy Topics

Immediately after introductions are made there is usually a period of time in which impersonal or trivial subjects are discussed. This type of conversation, called “small talk”, is important because it often helps to keep conversations and can lead into interesting discussions.
Usually people start small talk by asking about things like family, work, school or sports. They ask each other questions like “do you live in this area?” “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” “Where do you work?” “What school do you go to?” and “do you like sports?” these are polite questions. They are not personal or private. But it is uncommon and considered impolite to ask questions about a person’s salary, such as “How much money do you make?” They don’t ask how much money someone paid for something, for example, “How much does your house cost?” It is OK to ask children how old they are, but it is not polite to ask old people about their age, especially women. It is not polite to ask people questions about politics or religion either unless you know them very well. People don’t ask unmarried people, “Why are you single?”, and they don’t ask a married couple with no children, “Why don’t you have any children?” these are generally considered too personal for first meetings.

杨辉

35. What Money Is For? (1)

Money is a blessing when it is used rightly. The same is true of all other good things. They bless id used well; they curse when abused. Many people do not seem to know what money is for. They want it above all things. But they want it to spend chiefly on themselves.
Some boys appear to think that money is to buy good clothes and foods, toys and amusements. Some also seem to think that money is to buy leisure with. They consider that the highest happiness is to live without work. But that is not at all what money id for. We should get nearer the truth than that.
Money is our circulating medium in trade. Families need it to buy things they must have. In this way society exists, and the world of traffic prospers. Money means food, clothing, dwelling schools, books, wise recreation,and the means of doing good.