初中英語(yǔ)美文短篇
經(jīng)典美文與英語(yǔ)寫作是兩項(xiàng)相對(duì)獨(dú)立但又相互依賴、相輔相成的關(guān)系,這一結(jié)論對(duì)寫作教學(xué)有很大啟發(fā)。學(xué)習(xí)啦小編整理了短篇初中英語(yǔ)美文，歡迎閱讀!
短篇初中英語(yǔ)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.
辦公室里的垂釣者
理查德.薩蒙
幾年前我開始用高倍望遠(yuǎn)鏡觀察星空，按自己的想法解釋天文學(xué)家撰寫的天文學(xué)入門讀物。很快我就迷上了觀星。
迄今為止人類對(duì)宇宙的探索表明太陽(yáng)不過(guò)是星云中極為普通的一顆燃燒著的恒星。銀河(我總想稱其為“星河”)里有許多顆地球的姊妹星球，大家都圍繞著同一個(gè)軸心旋轉(zhuǎn)，而這個(gè)軸心又在向某個(gè)我不知道的地方移動(dòng)。地球是銀河系里億萬(wàn)星球中的一顆，而銀河系不過(guò)是許多星系中的一個(gè)。宇宙中到底有多少星系，我也說(shuō)不清。
太陽(yáng)在宇宙中是那么微小，太陽(yáng)的孩子地球則更是微不足道，以至于我一想到地球的分量，就想起歐·亨利說(shuō)過(guò)的那句話——“無(wú)用的化身”。
我的存在有何意義?我也好，我的民族也好，我的世界也好，我們的存在能起什么作用呢?
我生命的旅程向何處延伸，這個(gè)問(wèn)題真的重要嗎?是誰(shuí)主宰著整個(gè)宇宙，他在想些什么呢?
這是我得思考的問(wèn)題……一切都那樣浩渺無(wú)邊、無(wú)法避免、無(wú)法掌控。當(dāng)我閉上雙眼思考這一切時(shí)，腦海里便浮現(xiàn)出一幅令人相當(dāng)悲觀的畫面。
有一天我在小樹林里看見(jiàn)一只長(zhǎng)著黑色斑點(diǎn)的英國(guó)種塞特獵犬，尾巴上纏著幾根酸模芒刺。這種情況像我這樣的人在森林里經(jīng)常碰到，每次我都會(huì)停下來(lái)把刺拔掉?？蛇@一次，不知道為什么，我突然意識(shí)到這只活蹦亂跳的獵狗身負(fù)著一個(gè)重要的使命：那就是把芒刺播撒到某個(gè)地方，這和司機(jī)讓陌生人搭個(gè)便車是同一道理。芳草花憑借風(fēng)力離開故土，飄向自己新的家園;而這幾根芒刺靠的就是這只獵犬的尾巴。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應(yīng)妥善處理自己的一切——這一原則隨著人口增加而越來(lái)越難實(shí)現(xiàn)。
多年前我初到紐約之時(shí)，發(fā)現(xiàn)大都市里的生活和辦事節(jié)奏遠(yuǎn)比小鎮(zhèn)上要快。人們必須如此，方可在激烈的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)中生存。
我一個(gè)星期要擠好幾次地鐵，滿眼所見(jiàn)盡是面目可憎的都市人。但當(dāng)我在溪邊釣鱒魚碰到一個(gè)城里人時(shí)，會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)他和其他人并無(wú)兩樣。他會(huì)饒有興致、甚至十分熱情地與我聊天，詢問(wèn)我的戰(zhàn)果，或是請(qǐng)教關(guān)于魚餌的問(wèn)題。我也會(huì)停下來(lái)，提醒他那塊黑蠓魚餌可能得掰小點(diǎn)兒。
就這樣，我努力妥善處理一切，在辦公室和自家院子里都像在溪邊垂釣時(shí)一樣，多與同事或鄰里交流，并常常靜下心來(lái)體味世間偉大的萬(wàn)物，諸如那幾根芒刺，又或是遙遠(yuǎn)的星辰。這樣做樂(lè)趣無(wú)窮，且讓我幸福，讓我滿足，讓我能求得內(nèi)心的寧?kù)o。
附注：
理查德·薩蒙：是一名藝術(shù)家兼作家。
短篇初中英語(yǔ)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
劍橋大學(xué)博士Nick Baylis
美實(shí)質(zhì)上是一種能量，任何美好的事物都能發(fā)出這種能量，比如美食、香氣或美景。實(shí)際上這種能量就是一種信息，好似自然界的“條形碼”，告訴我們事物的健康度，正是這些能促進(jìn)健康的事物使我們和我們的基因更好地繁衍下去，生生不息。
哈佛大學(xué)心理學(xué)家南希.艾特考夫指出，因?yàn)槲覀兎浅Ｇ宄陨线@點(diǎn)的重要性，我們的大腦就像一個(gè)高靈敏度的雷達(dá)在不斷地搜索著信號(hào)。比如把一張人物照放在我們眼前，我們會(huì)在不到1/5秒的時(shí)間內(nèi)對(duì)它的美丑做出判斷。
對(duì)這種能量的認(rèn)識(shí)是人類普遍具備的先天特質(zhì)。甚至3個(gè)月大的嬰兒也表現(xiàn)出對(duì)傳統(tǒng)意義上的漂亮的臉蛋的青睞。不同種族的成年人在判斷其他族人的容貌美丑問(wèn)題上也能達(dá)成共識(shí)。
研究表明，對(duì)稱、條例、比例和平衡是影響人們判斷美的重要因素。美的力量是巨大而不可忽視的。我們應(yīng)當(dāng)感謝美麗有那么多的表達(dá)方式，美的源泉是那么豐富多彩。說(shuō)到美，也許我們很容易想到通
過(guò)視覺(jué)、聽覺(jué)、味覺(jué)、觸覺(jué)和嗅覺(jué)這五種感官來(lái)體驗(yàn)它的能量，但其實(shí)還有其他更為有效的途徑，比如：“動(dòng)覺(jué)”--它可能是我們跳舞或運(yùn)動(dòng)時(shí)身體內(nèi)部的肌肉動(dòng)感，也可能是看到一件精湛的藝術(shù)品或工藝制品時(shí)的興奮和激動(dòng)不已。再想想我們又有多少可以被稱為“漂亮”的想法、見(jiàn)解和解決方案吧?？茖W(xué)家們不就對(duì)愛(ài)因斯坦“相對(duì)論”所蘊(yùn)涵的非凡之美一致地給予了高度贊賞么。
耶魯大學(xué)計(jì)算機(jī)科學(xué)教授大衛(wèi).格冷特用有力的實(shí)例說(shuō)明了“對(duì)美的強(qiáng)烈渴望”成就了一系列偉大的科技成就。他指出，米切爾設(shè)計(jì)的噴火式戰(zhàn)斗機(jī)正是憑借其采用的馬林引擎和獨(dú)特的機(jī)翼，在取得戰(zhàn)斗勝利的同時(shí)還能給人帶來(lái)視覺(jué)和聽覺(jué)的享受。
正如我們可以說(shuō)一起銀行搶劫、一座橋梁或是一個(gè)計(jì)算機(jī)程序的設(shè)計(jì)干得很“漂亮”，一個(gè)人的整體人格也可以是“漂亮”的。從對(duì)許多人的生平研究中發(fā)現(xiàn)，愛(ài)心、自信、友善和幽默是非常健康的品質(zhì)，擁有這些品質(zhì)的人是極具魅力的。
然而，就其帶給我們的美好感覺(jué)的度和量而言，美的最主要來(lái)源是我們與外界的美好關(guān)系，它們給我們的生活帶來(lái)源源不斷的感情--讓我們茁壯成長(zhǎng)，超越自我。這一有力的和諧關(guān)系可以存在于生物與生物之間，也可存在于人和某個(gè)地方之間，或是人和某項(xiàng)技能之間。當(dāng)我們能更好地認(rèn)識(shí)這些關(guān)系時(shí)，世界就會(huì)變得更加美麗。因此，我們?cè)谂嘤托蕾p美的同時(shí)，也會(huì)得到無(wú)窮的快樂(lè)。
短篇初中英語(yǔ)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
安德魯.卡耐基
年輕人創(chuàng)業(yè)之初，應(yīng)該從最底層干起，這是件好事。匹茲堡有很多商業(yè)巨頭，在他們創(chuàng)業(yè)之初，都不情愿地肩負(fù)過(guò)“重任”。他們與掃帚相伴，以打掃辦公室的方式度過(guò)了他們?cè)谏虡I(yè)生涯中最初的日子。我注意到我們現(xiàn)在辦公室里都有工友，所以很可惜，年輕人就錯(cuò)過(guò)了商業(yè)教育中這個(gè)有益的環(huán)節(jié)。如果碰巧哪天上午，專職掃地的工友沒(méi)有來(lái)，某個(gè)具有未來(lái)合伙人氣質(zhì)的年輕人便會(huì)毫不猶豫地試著拿起掃帚。新來(lái)的員工在必要時(shí)，掃掃地也無(wú)妨，你并不會(huì)因此而有什么損失。我自己就曾經(jīng)掃過(guò)地......
加入你已經(jīng)找到工作，并且有了一個(gè)良好的開端，我對(duì)你的建議就是：要志存高遠(yuǎn)。一個(gè)年輕人，如果不曾把自己想象成是一家大公司未來(lái)的老板或是合伙人，那我就會(huì)對(duì)他不屑一顧。在任何企業(yè)，不管它的規(guī)模有多大，你的內(nèi)心都不要滿足于做一個(gè)首席助理、領(lǐng)班或者總經(jīng)理。要對(duì)自己說(shuō)：我要邁向頂尖!要做就做你夢(mèng)想之國(guó)里的國(guó)王。
成功的首要條件和最大秘訣就是：把你的精力、思想和資本全都集中在你正在從事的事業(yè)上。一旦開始從事某種職業(yè)，就要下定決心在那一領(lǐng)域闖出一片天地來(lái)：不斷提高自己，采用最優(yōu)良的設(shè)備，對(duì)專業(yè)知識(shí)熟稔于心。
過(guò)于分散自己資本的企業(yè)，注定會(huì)失敗，因?yàn)榉稚①Y本就意味著分散了他們的精力。他們向這方面投資，又向那方面投資;在這里投資，在那里投資，到處都投資。“不要把所有的雞蛋放在一個(gè)籃子里”的說(shuō)法其實(shí)大錯(cuò)特錯(cuò)。我要對(duì)你說(shuō)：“把所有的雞蛋都放在一個(gè)籃子里，然后小心地看好那個(gè)籃子。”看看你周圍，你會(huì)注意到：這么做的人其實(shí)很少失敗。提著一個(gè)籃子并看好它，并不太難。在我們國(guó)家，想同時(shí)提很多籃子的人往往打破的雞蛋最多。提三個(gè)籃子的人，必須把一個(gè)頂在頭上，而這個(gè)籃子很可能掉下來(lái)，把他自己絆倒。美國(guó)商人的一個(gè)錯(cuò)誤就是沒(méi)有集中自己的精力。
總結(jié)一下，我所說(shuō)的：要志存高遠(yuǎn);不要出入酒吧;要滴酒不沾，要喝也只在用餐時(shí)喝少許;不要投機(jī);不要寅吃卯糧;要把公司的利益當(dāng)作你自己的利益;要專注;把所有的雞蛋放在一個(gè)籃子里，然后小心地看好它;要量入為出;最后一點(diǎn)，要有耐心，就像艾默生所言：“除了你自己沒(méi)人能真正阻止你成功。”
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