英文長篇美文3篇閱讀
語言學習與文化學習是交織在一起的，語言習得者要掌握好一門語言，尤其是第二語言，具備充足的文化背景知識是必不可少的。下面是本站小編帶來的英文長篇美文閱讀，歡迎閱讀!
Americans have any morals
Do Americans have any morals? That's a good question. Many people insist that ideas about right and wrong are merely personal opinions. Some voices, though, are calling Americans back to traditional moral values. William J. Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education, edited The Book of Virtues in 1993 to do just that. Bennett suggests that great moral stories can build character. The success of Bennett's book shows that many Americans still believe in moral values. But what are they?
美國人還有道德嗎?這是個好問題。許多人堅持對與錯乃是個人的意見。但是，還是有些人在呼喚美國人回到傳統的道德價值裏去。威廉。班奈特，前任美國教育部長，正是爲了此目的而在一九九三年編輯了「美德」這本書。班奈特認爲偉大的道德故事可以建造性格。班奈持這本書的成功顯示了許多美國人仍然相信道德的價值。但是它們到底爲何?
To begin with, moral values in America are like those in any culture. In fact, many aspects of morality are universal. But the stories and traditions that teach them are unique to each culture. Not only that, but culture influences how people show these virtues.
最開始，道德價值在美國就像在任何其它的文化一樣。事實上，許多道德的觀點是全球一致的。但是，不同的文化則有不同的故事和傳統來教導它們。不僅如此，文化也影響了人民如何表現這些美德。
One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend about George Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down his father's favorite cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet. When his father asked him about it, George said, “I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.” Instead of punishment, George received praise for telling the truth. Sometimes American honesty-being open and direct-can offend people. But Americans still believe that “honesty is the best policy.”
美國人最基本的道德價值之一是誠實。衆所周知的喬治。華盛頓砍櫻桃樹的故事，即將此道德教導地極爲清楚。小喬治在試他新斧頭時砍倒了爸爸最心愛的櫻桃樹。當爸爸問他的時候，喬治說，「我不能說謊，我用我的斧頭砍了它。」喬治非但未被懲罰，反而因爲誠實而被讚賞。有時候美國人仍然相信「誠實是最上策」
Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop's fable about the turtle and the rabbit that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won because he did not give up. Another story tells of a little train that had to climb a steep hill. The hill was so steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it. But the train just kept pulling, all the while saying, “I think I can, I think I can.” At last, the train was over the top of the hill. “I thought I could, I thought I could,” chugged the happy little train.
另外一個爲美國人所尊崇的美德爲堅忍。記得再龜兔賽跑這則伊索寓言嗎?兔子以爲牠可以贏的很輕鬆，便睡了個午覺，但是烏龜再最後終因不放棄而贏了這場比賽。另一個故事談到一個必須爬過陡峭山頭的小火車，山頭是這麼陡，以至於小火車很難爬上去，但是它仍不斷地爬，並不停地說：「我想我能做到，我能做到。」最後，火車終於爬過了山頭，「我就知道我可以。」這個快樂的小火車繼續往前去。
Compassion may be the queen of American virtues. The story of “The Good Samaritan” from the Bible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan man found a poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kind Samaritan, instead of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need. Compassion can even turn into a positive cycle. In fall 1992, people in Iowa sent truckloads of water to help Floridians hit by a hurricane. The next summer, during the Midwest flooding, Florida returned the favor. In less dramatic ways, millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindnesses shown to them.
同情心，可能是美國的道德之最了。聖經中的「好撒瑪利亞人」的故事，描述一個流露同情心的人。在這個撒瑪利亞人出發去某城市的途中，看到一個可憐的旅客躺在路旁。這旅客被鞭打、搶劫，這位仁慈的撒瑪利亞人非但沒有視而不見，反而停下來幫助這位有需要的人。同情心還可以變成一個正面循環，在一九九二年的秋天，愛荷華州的居民將好幾輛卡車的水送到受颶風侵襲的佛羅里達州;而就在第二年夏天，當中西部鬧水災的時候，佛州人便投挑報李。數以百萬計的美國人民正用較不醒目的方式回報人們向他們表達的善意。
In no way can this brief description cover all the moral values honored by Americans. Courage, responsibility, loyalty, gratitude and many others could be discussed. In fact, Bennett's bestseller-over 800 pages-highlights just 10 virtues. Even Bennett admits that he has only scratched the surface. But no matter how long or short the list, moral values are invaluable. They are the foundation of American culture-and any culture.
在這麼一篇短短的文章裏，無論如何也不能將美國人所尊崇的道德述盡。勇氣、責任心、忠誠、感激之心還有許多其它可以討論的。事實上，班奈特最暢銷的書──超過八百頁──只談到了十種美德。即使班奈特也承認他只談到了皮毛而已。但是不論這張道德表是多長或短，道德價值都是無價的。他們是美國文化──和任何其它國家的文化之基礎
英文長篇美文閱讀篇二SALLY RIDE
In the 1950s， little girls in America could grow up to be nurses， teachers or mothers. Most parents didn't think about encouraging their daughters to try other fields. But the Ride home was different. Sally Ride's parents let her and her sister go ahead and try anything that interested them.
Sally's mother once said， "Sally would probably be teaching English literature if I believed in molding children. But I don't." instead， Sally reached for the stars. In 1983， she became the first American woman to fly in space.
Sally Kristen Ride was born May 26， 1951， in Encino， California. She grew up playing baseball and football with the neighborhood boys. At age 12， sally told her parents she planned to become a professional football player. That one time， sally's parents steered her in another direction. They encouraged her love of tennis instead， and she became an excellent player. As a result， she got a scholarship to attend a prominent girl's high school. There， she discovered a love for science.
After Sally graduated， she entered a Pennsylvania college planning to study physics. But she felt torn between tennis and college. After three semesters， she quit school to play professional tennis. She practiced Hard for just three months. Then she decided that she would never be good enough to become a top player.
After giving up her tennis dreams， she entered Stanford University in 1970. there she earned two degrees， one in English and one in physics. She got two degrees because both Shakespeare and lasers interested her.
Sally continued her education in graduate school at Stanford and studied astrophysics. After earning her Ph. D.， she planned on more study. But one day in 1977， a newspaper article caught her attention. The article talked about how NASA wanted young scientists for future missions.
Sally applied for the space program but did not expect to be chosen. Over 8000 men and women applied to NASA and just 35 were selected. Sally was one of them. She entered astronaut training in 1978 with five other women.
Sally went into the astronaut program because she wanted to fly in space. But getting the chance to de that didn't come easily. Sally spent a year in a very difficult training program. She learned parachute jumping， water survival， radio communications and earned her pilot's license. Flying then became one of her havorite hobbies.
Sally served as the communicator between astronauts and ground control in November 1981 and March 1982. Then on June 18， 1983， Sally got her chance to fly into space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.
When Sally returned to Earth， she said， "The thing I'll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact， I'm sure it was the most fun that I'll ever have in my life."
When challenger blew up in 1986， the President chose Sally to be part of the grout that investigated the disaster. Sally retied from NASA in 1987. today， she is a physics professor and a spokesperson for U. S. space efforts. She also writes children's books， encouraging today's kids to reach for the stars.
英文長篇美文閱讀篇三marriage is serious business
“I do.” To Americans those two words carry great meaning. They can even change your life. Especially if you say them at your own wedding. Making wedding vows is like signing a contract. Now Americans don't really think marriage is a business deal. But marriage is serious business.「我願意」這句話對美國人而言具有重大意義，它甚至可以改變你的生命，特別是當你在自己的婚禮上說出這句話時，在婚禮中所發的誓言就如同簽訂契約一樣，美國人並不是真把婚姻當作商業交易，但是，結婚確實是件嚴肅的事情。
It all begins with engagement. Traditionally, a young man asks the father of his sweetheart for permission to marry her. If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise her by “popping the question” in a romantic way.結婚是從訂婚開始，在傳統上，年輕人會請求他的女朋友的父親允許他娶她，如果女方的父親答應，之後方可向女方求婚。通常男方會試着以羅曼蒂克的方式「提出這個問題」以帶給女方驚喜。
Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married. The man usually gives his fiancee a diamond ring as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for weeks, months or even years. As the big day approaches, bridal showers and bachelor's parties provide many useful gifts. Today many couples also receive counseling during engagement. This prepares them for the challenges of married life.有時候雙方會覺得現在結婚正是時候，於是男方通常會送女方鑽戒做爲互訂終身的象徵。他們可能訂婚幾個星期、幾個月，甚至幾年，當大喜的日子接近時，賀禮贈送會和單身漢俱樂部都會贈送許多實用的禮物。今天有許多訂婚的男女在訂婚期間接受諮詢服務，這是爲了讓他們有準備接受婚姻生活的挑戰。
At last it's time for the wedding. Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there's still room for American individualism. For example, the usual place for a wedding is in a church. But some people get married outdoors in a scenic spot. A few even have the ceremony while skydiving or riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They choose their own style of colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful, long white wedding dress. She traditionally wears “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” The groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo. Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.
最後就是婚禮了，雖然大多的婚禮仍沿襲長久以來的傳統，但是美國人的個人主義仍有其空間，例如，通常婚禮的地點是在教堂，但是有些人卻是到戶外的風景區結婚，有些人甚至是跳傘或騎馬結婚!雙方可能邀請上百人或者只是一些熟朋友，婚禮的顏色風格，佈置和音樂都由他們自己決定，但有些事是不太會變的;新娘通常都穿著美麗的白色結婚禮服，按照傳統她必須穿的衣服上包括了：一些舊的，一些新的，一些借來的，及一些藍色的東西。新郎則穿着正式的西裝或燕尾晚禮服，幾位熟朋友參加婚禮並協助幫忙，包括了伴郎和伴娘。
As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride's attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, they promise to love each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” But sometimes the couple has composed their own vows. They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment： “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride!”當典禮開始時，新郎和伴郎和牧師站在一起，面對觀衆，音樂一起，表示伴娘入場，後面就跟着美麗的新娘。年輕的男女雙方緊張地跟着說出他們的誓言，傳統上而言，他們會承諾要彼此相愛，「不論好、壞、貧、富、生病時或健康時」，但是有時候，他們也可能自己編一套自己的誓言，他們互贈金戒指以此表示結婚的承諾，最後牧師宣佈這重大的時刻：「我現在宣佈你們成爲夫妻，你可以親吻你的新娘!」
At the wedding reception, the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, punch and other treats. Later the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition says that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. During the reception, playful friends “decorate” the couple's car with tissue paper, tin cans and a “Just Married” sign. When the reception is over, the newlyweds run to their “decorated” car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.在結婚宴會上，新娘新郎向賓客問候。然後切結婚蛋糕並互相喂對方一口。賓客們在享受蛋糕、飲料及其他的食物時就混在一起交談。之後新娘將捧花投向一羣單身女孩，傳統說接到捧花的女孩會成爲下一位新娘。在婚宴上，愛鬧的朋友用面紙、鋁罐和「新婚」標誌「裝飾」禮車，宴會結束後，新婚的小倆口就跑向他們「裝飾完成」的禮車，迅速地離開，許多夫妻會去渡蜜月，就是一至二星期的假期以慶祝他們的新婚。
Almost every culture has rituals to signal a change in one's life. Marriage is one of the most basic life changes for people of all cultures. So it's no surprise to find many traditions about getting married . . . even in America. Yet each couple follows the traditions in a way that is uniquely their own.幾乎每一種文化都有儀式來表示一個人生命中的改變。結婚對於所有文化的人而言是一生中最重要的大事之一，所以會有這麼多婚禮的習俗就不足爲奇了，美國也不例外。然而每對新人都以自己認爲獨特的方式來跟隨傳統
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