阅读是人生的一种美好享受。阅读经典美文可以让学生的心灵得到滋润和净化,穿越时空与作者展开灵魂的交流,在不断提升的精神境界中让生命之树得以枝繁叶茂。我精心收集了高中英语短文,供大家欣赏学习!
The First Ball Games
最早的球类运动
The first interesting thing for sports use was the ball.
球是最早的有意思的体育用具。
In ancient Egypt, as in everywhere,
在古埃及,和其他地方一样,
throwing stones was a favorite children's game.
丢石块是孩子们最喜欢的游戏。
But a stone could hurt a child.
但是石块会伤到孩子。
Looking for something less dangerous to throw,
为了找到可以降低危险的玩具,
the people in Egypt made,perhaps,the first balls.
埃及人做出了第一个球
At first,balls were made of grass or leaves held together
起初,人们把草或树叶塞紧做成了球。
Later they made balls with animals' skin.
后来,他们用动物皮做球,
They put the pieces of animals' skin together with thread
他们用线把动物皮缝起来,
and put in some birds' feathers or grass.
再把鸟的羽毛或草塞进去。
This kind of ball was soft and not heavy.Everyone liked to play with it.
这种球又软又轻,人人都爱玩。
Although the people in Egypt liked fighting and wars,
尽管埃及人喜欢打架,征战,
they tried to save time for sports games.
但还是找时间参与体育游戏。
Before long they could play a lot of new ball games,each with its own rules.
不久他们能够玩很多新鲜的球类游戏,各个游戏有自己的规则。
Perhaps they thought
或许他们认为
the games were useful to help the young men run faster in wars.
这些游戏能使他们在战场上跑得更快。
Partying with Foreigners
与老外同乐
Partying is fun.But have you ever been invited to a party by a foreigner?
参加派对很有趣。可是,你曾被老外邀请去参加派对吗?
What should you wear?
你该穿什么样的衣服?
Should you bring anything?
你该带什么东西去吗?
If so,what?
如果要带的话,带什么?
Don't worry.
别担心。
Today we are going to give you some tips about partying with foreigners.
今天我们要给你一些提示,让你知道参加老外的派对时该怎么做。
First,you should ask if it is a formal or casual party.
首先,你得问清楚这是个正式的还是非正式的派对。
Then you will know what to wear.
那么你就知道该穿什么样的服装了。
It's as simple as that.
就是那么简单。
At a casual party, it is customary to bring a bottle of wine or some other refreshment.
若是非正式的派对,习惯上是要带瓶酒或其他点心。
It is not considered polite to bring someone along with you unless you first ask your host.
带某些未经邀请的人参加是不礼貌的,除非事先问过主人。
At more formal parties like birthdays,a small gift will be sufficient.
若是比较正式的派对,如生日派对等,送个小礼物就够了,
Giving money would cause some embarrassment.
送钱会令人尴尬。
Finally,never overstay your welcome.
最后要注意的是,千万别逗留过久而生厌。
When it's getting late,it's time to thank you host for a wonderful evening and say good night.
时候不早时,你就该向主人致谢并告诉你度过了一个美好的夜晚,然后说声晚安道别。
Valentine's Day
情人节
Valentine's Day is named for Saint Valentine,
瓦伦丁节(情人节)是为纪念圣.瓦伦丁而命名的。
an early Christian churchman who reportedly helped young lovers.
瓦伦丁是早期的一位基督教教士,传说曾经帮助过年轻的情侣们。
Valentine was executed for his Christian beliefs
瓦伦丁因信仰基督教被处死,
on February 14 more than 1700 years ago,
于1700多年前的2月14日。
but the day that has his name is even earlier than that.
但是情人节在他处死之前就以他的名字命名了。
More than 2000 years ago,the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers.
两千多年前,古罗马人为情侣们规定了一个节日。
As part of the celebration,
那天有一个活动是,
girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container
姑娘们把她们的名字写在纸片上,然后放在一个大匣子里。
Boys reached into the container and pulled one out.
小伙子从匣子里摸出一张纸片,
The girl whose name was written on the paper
名字写在那张纸上的姑娘,
became his lover of sweetheart for a year.
在一年内就是他的情人。
Lovers still put their names on pieces of paper
情人们至今仍将他们的名字写在纸片上,
and send each other Valentine's Day cards that tell of their love.
还相互寄送表达爱情的情人节卡片。
Sometimes they send gifts,like flowers or chocolate candy.
有时还寄赠礼物,如鲜花和巧克力糖片。
Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system.
美国人通过邮政系统寄送这些礼物和卡片,
But some use another way to send this message.
但有些人也用另一种方式传达他们的爱意。
They have it printed in a newspaper.The cost is usually a few dollars.
他们把表达爱意的词句登在报纸上,费用只需几美元。
Some of these messages are simple and short:
有些词语很简短,如:
"Jane,I love you very much.Peter."
"简,我非常爱你。彼得。"
Others say more.This one for example:"Dan Roses are red, violets are blue.
有些则说得多些.例如:"丹,玫瑰是红的,紫罗兰是蓝的,
I hope you love me as much as I love you.Forever,Mary."
但愿你爱我像我爱你一样.永远爱你的玛丽。"
Most of the news- papers that print such messages are local,
登载这些爱情寄语的大多是当地报纸,
but one,USA Today,
但是一份叫<今日美国>的报纸
is sold throughout the United States and 90 other countries as well.
在美国各地及其他90个国家发行。
This means someone can send a Valentine messages to a lover
这意味着人们可以在情人节将爱情寄语传到情人那里,
in far away city or town almost anywhere in the world.
传到世界上任何一个遥远城镇。
These massages cost$80 and more.
而费用需要80美元或更多。
An employee of the USA Today
<今日美国>的一个雇员
says readers can have a small heart or rose
说,现在读者可以把一个小小的红心和玫瑰,
printed along with their messages nowadays.
印在爱情寄语旁。
Will this kind of Valentine's Day message reach the one you love?
你所钟爱的人能收到这样的爱情寄语吗?
Well,just make sure he or she reads the newspaper.
噢,你得肯定他或她是看这份报纸的。