在学英语的过程中，阅读非常重要，多读，多看，多背一些文章，对于语感的`形成，内容的积累，都非常关键。以下是英语经典美文（精选30篇），欢迎阅读。
Passage 1.Woodpecker
There are many apple trees in a garden. They’re good friends. One day an old tree is ill. There are many pests in the tree. Leaves of the tree turn yellow. The old tree feels very sad and unwell. Another tree sends for a doctor for him. At first, they send for a pigeon, but she has no idea about it. Then they send for an oriole, and she can’t treat the old tree well. Then they send for a woodpecker. She is a good doctor. She pecks a hole in the tree and eats lots of pests. At last the old tree becomes better and better. Leaves turn green and green.
Passage 2.A Busy Day
Today is Sunday! On Sundays, I usually play the flute.My father usually reads the newspaper. My motherusuallycleansthe house. Buttoday my mother is in bed. She is ill. My father has to do the housework. Now, he is cleaning the house. “Sam, can you help me?” “Yes, Dad!” Now, we’re washing the car. Where’s my sister, Amy? She is playing my flute. What a lucky girl!
Passage 3.The dog and his reflection
One day a dog with a piece of meat in his mouth was crossing a plank over a stream. As he walked along,helookedintowater,andhesawhis reflection. He thought this was another dog carrying
a piece of meat. And he felt he would like to have two pieces. So he snapped at the reflection in the water, and of course, as he opened his mouth, the piece of meat disappeared quickly.
Passage 4.An honest boy
Tony is seven years old. He is an honest and polite boy. One day, it was Sunday. Tony, his sister and his mother stayed at home. He was watching TV and his sister was reading books. His mother was washing clothes. Just then, his father came back with a bag
of pears. Tony likes pears very much and he wanted
to eat one. His mother gave him four and said, “Let’s sharethem.” “Whichpeardo youwant, Tony?” asked his mother. “The biggest one, mum.” “What?” said his mother, “You should be polite and want the smallest one.” “Should I tell a lie just to be polite, mum?”
Passage 5.A birthday party
Today is Susan’s birthday. She is nine years old. Her friends are in her home now. There is a birthday party in the evening. Look! Mary is listening to the music. And Tom is drinking orange juice. Jack and Sam are playing cards on the floor. Lily and Amy are watching TV. Someone is knocking at the door. It’s Henry. He brings a big teddy bear for Susan. The teddy bear is yellow. Susan is very happy. All the children are happy. They sing a birthday song for Susan.
Passage 6.The Farmer and the Snake
It was a cold winter day.A farmer found a snake on the ground. It was nearly dead by cold. The Farmer was a kind man. Hepicked up thesnake carefully and put it under the coat. Soon the snake Began to move and it raised its mouth and bit the farmer. “Oh, My god!” said the farmer, “I save your life, but you thank me in that way. You must die.” Then he killed the snake with a stick. At last he died, too.
Passage 7.Two Young Trees
Two young trees are standing on the top of the hill. Their names are Tim and Alan.
One day, it’s sunny and warm. Some birds are singing in the trees. The wind blows, and the trees are talking. “What do you want to be when you grow up?’’ asks Tim. “I’m not sure. I think I want to be a chair or a desk.” answers Alan, “Maybe I want to be
a toy box or a baseball bat. I like children.”“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asks Alan. “Me?” says Tim, “I just want to be a tree. I want to be
a house for birds and spiders. I want to have many apples. And when it’s sunny and hot, people and animals can stand under me.”
Passage 8.Hongkong is a nice place
Hong Kong is a nice place, especially in summer. JulyisahotmonthinHongKong.Butit’san excellent time for swimming. There is a beautiful beach at Repulse Bay (浅水湾). To get there, you can take a bus from Central. Lots of people go to the beach on Sundays and Saturdays. But if you go on a weekday, it is will be not so crowded.Visitors to Hongkong need passports. But people from many countries do not need visas. Hongkong is a nice place for holiday. There are many shops.
Passage 9.Water
Water is very important for living things. Without water, there must be no life on the earth. All the plants and animals need water to drink, to cook food and to clean ourselves. Water is needed in farms, factories, offices, schools, families and many other places.
Water is found in seas, rivers and lakes. It can be found everywhere in the world, and it also can be found in the air.
Passage 10.Twins’ Bedroom
This is the twins’ bedroom. It is a nice room. The two beds look the same. This bed is Lily’s and that one is Lucy’s. The twins have one desk and two chairs. Their clock, books and pencil-boxes are on the desk. Their schoolbags are behind the chairs. Some nice flowers are on the desk. Some nice pictures are on the wall. Is there a kite? Yes, it’s under Lily’s bed. The bedroom is very nice.
Passage 11.Dogs
One of the animals that help people a lot is the dog. In some countries, dogs pull wagons. In the cold north, dogs pull sleds.
There are other ways that dogs help us, too. Policemen use them to look for missing people. Soldiers use them to carry letters and medicine .On farms, dogs take care of sheep and keep them in the fields. At night, they take the sheep home. Dogs help the blind with work. Some dogs are good and kind. Some dogs are good at another skill.
Passage 12.The Best Job
Betty is a lazy girl. She doesn’t study hard, and she doesn’t help her mother with the housework, either. “What are you going to be when you grow up, Betty?” Mother asks. “You’re too lazy. No job will ever fit you.” “But I know one,” says the girl, “I’m going to be Father Christmas,” “You want to be Father Christmas?” Mother is surprised, “But why?” “Because he works only one day in a whole year.”
Passage 13.A Clever Monkey
A little monkey picks up a pumpkin and wants to takeithome.Butthepumpkinistoobig.The monkey can’t take it home.
Suddenly he sees a panda riding a bike towards him. He watches the bike. “l have a good idea. I can roll the pumpkin. It likes a wheel.”
So he rolls the pumpkin to his home. When his mother sees the big pumpkin, she is surprised and says, “How can you carry it home?” The little monkey answers proudly, “l can’t lift it, but l can roll it.” His mother smiles and says, “ What a clever boy!”
Passage14. What Are Stars Like?
Have you ever wondered about the stars? In some ways, stars are like people. They are born. They grow old. And they die. A star is born from dust and gas. Slowly the dust and gas make a ball. The ball gets very hot. Then it starts to give off light. The young star grows into a giant. Many years go by. The older star begins to get small again. At last its light goes out. The star’s life is over.
Passage 15.Radio and Television
Radio and television are very popular in the world today. Millions of people watch TV. Perhaps more people listen to the radio.
The TV is more useful than the radio. On TV we can see and hear what is happening in the world. However, radio isn’t lost. It is still with us. And listeners are becoming more. That’sbecause a transistor radio isn’t lost. It is still with us. It is very easy to carry. You can put one in your pocket and listen to it on the bus or your bike when you go to work.
Passage 16.It’s cool behind you
It’stwoo’clockintheafternoon.Thesunis shinning and it’s very hot. Nancy has to meet her mother at the train station.
Now she’s walking in the street. There are no trees and she’s fat. So she feels very hot. But she doesn’t find a boy walking just behind her. And she meets a friend and says “hello” to him. “Who’s the boy behind you？” asks the man . Now she sees the boy. She is angry and asks, “Why are you walking behind me, boy?” “There’snoshadeinthestreet, you know.” answers the boy. “It’s cool behind you, I think.”
Passage 17.Father’s Hobby
My dad works from Monday to Friday in a bank. he uses the computer to count money. His job is very important in the bank.
Dad is also busy at home. At weekends he cooks dinner. Usually he cooks Italian food. On Sundays he makesfive pieces of pizza. Sometimes hecooks chicken and makes Chinese food. My mum watches and helps him. I help my dad, too. I wash the dishes.
Many people think it is strange for a man to cook. But my dad enjoys his hobby. Cooking relaxes him. He is a weekend cook.
Passage 18.I don’t think so
Jack is a good boy but he doesn’t like to use his head. He often says something withou thinking.It makes others unhappy.
Mr. Black teaches math in a school. He’s old now and he likes children.On the Friday Mr. Black doesn’t go to work, because he’s ill in a hospital. And Jack’s mother will see him after dinner. “I want to be there with you.” says Jack. “You’re a rude boy. I can’t take you there.’’ says his mother. “Don’t worry, mum. I won’t do that again. Please believe me. ” says Jack. In the hospital, Jack says nothing at first. When they’re leaving , he says to Mr. Black, “You look fine. The doctor says you’re going to die, but I don’t think so. ”
Passage 19.Seven days in a week
There are about fifty-two weeks in a year. And there are seven days in each week. The first day of a week is Sunday. The other days of a week between SundayandSaturdayare Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday. Monday is the second day, Tuesday is the third day, Wednesday is the fourth day, Thursday is the fifth day, and Friday is the sixth day. What’s the last day? Do you know?
Passage 20.My special Friend
I have a friend in the U.S. His name is Don Adams. I know him very well, but I have never met him. We write to each other all the time. My letters are very short. It is still hard for me to write in English. I received a letter from Don yesterday. It makes me very happy. He is coming to my country for a visit next summer. We are going to see each other for the first time.
Passage 21.A Day in My Life
My family lives on this street. In the morning, my father goes to work and all the children go to school. My mother takes us to school everyday. She does the housework. She always has her lunch at home, and sees her friends in the afternoon. In the evening all the children come home from school. They always get home early. My father goes home from work and he is often late. After supper my two brothers and I do our homework. We go to bed at ten.
Passage 22. The Sea
What do know about the sea? Some people have seen it but others haven’t. The sea looks beautiful on a fine sunny day and it can be very tough when there is a strong wind. What other things do you know about it? Of course, the sea is very large. In the world there is more sea than land. If you have swum in the sea, you know that the sea is salty. Rivers carry salt from the land into the sea. Some places of the sea are saltier than the other places. Do you know the Dead Sea? It is so salty that you can’t sink when you are in the water! And fish cannot live in it!
Passage 23.A Good Young Pioneer
Li Hua is a Yong Pioneer. He is going to the park. Now he is waiting for a bus. Suddenly he finds a watchon theground.He askssome people, “Whose watch is it?” But the watch isn’t theirs. So he gives the watch to a policeman.
Now Li Hua gets on the bus. He is sitting near the window. An old woman gets on the bus. She has no seat. So he stands up and says, “Here is a seat for you, Granny. Please sit here”
Passage 24.Sea horse
There are all kinds of horses in the world. But one of them you can’t ride. It doesn’t live on land, but in the sea. It looks like the head of horse. So the people call it sea horse. In fact, the sea horse is a small fish. It likes to live in warm water. A sea horse stands up in the water when it swims.
Father horse carries the eggs to keep them safe in its pouch. Whenthe eggsare hatched, the baby horses swim away.
Passage 25.A Cat and a Bird
There are three trees near the house. There is a big tree, and two small trees.
In the big tree there is a bird. Can the bird sing? Yes, it can. What’s under the big tree? It’s a cat.
“I want some food,” thinks the cat. “Bird, my good friend, Come here! It’s time to play games” says the cat.
“No today, thank you!” says the bird, “You can’t catch me! Goodbye!” Look! The bird is flying!
Passage 26.A Flying Fox
A flying fox is not a fox at all. It is a bat. But this bat looks like a fox. A flying fox is very big. It likes to eat fruit. Sometimes the flying fox is called fruit bat.
The flying fox flies into fruit trees. Then the bat eats all the fruit. So fruit farmers do not like the flying fox.
Passage 27.Flying Birds
Birds don’t fly high up in the sky. The air is too thin.
It is hard for birds to breathe in thin air. Thin air doesn’t hold them up.
Birds fly near the ground so that they can see where they are. The birds look for places they know. Then they do not get lost. Some birds fly so low over the ocean that the waves often hide them. Many birds fly a long distance in the spring and autumn.
Passage 28.Air
Air is all around us. It is around us as we walk and play. From the time we were born air is around us on every side. When we sit down, it is around us. When we go to bed, air is also around us. We live in air. We can live without food or water for a few days, but we cannot live for more than a few minutes without air. We take in air. When we are working or running we need more air. When we are asleep, we need less air. We live in air, but we cannot see it. We can only feel it when it is moving. Moving air is called wind. How can we make air move? Here is one way. Hold an open book in front of your face, close it quickly. What can you feel? What you feel is air.
Passage 29.Clocks
There are many clocks in the Brown’s house. They are in different rooms.A big clock stands in a corner of the sitting room. It is a very, very old clock, but it still keeps good time. Mr. Brown winds it once a week.
Passage 30. Swimming
Swimming is a good sport. It’s popular. People like swimming because the water makes people feel cool. But if they swim in a wrong place, it is very dangerous. These years, some people died when they were enjoying themselves in water and most of them were students. Summer holiday will be there again. I want to give you some advice. First, don’t get into the water when you are alone. Second, don’t get into the water if there is a No swimming sign. Third, you should be careful in the water. If you remember these, swimming will be safe and it’s good for your health.
摘抄是指从文刊、文件等
英语美文摘抄（一）
When Love Beckons You
When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you, yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you, believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to our roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
But if, in your fear, you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure, then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor, into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but it self and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not, nor would it be possessed, for love is sufficient unto love.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a payer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
爱的召唤
当爱召唤你时，请追随她，尽管爱的道路艰难险峻。当爱的羽翼拥抱你时，请顺从她，尽管隐藏在其羽翼之下的剑可能会伤到你。当爱向你诉说时，请相信她，尽管她的声音可能破你的梦想，就如北风吹落花园里所有的花瓣。
爱会给你戴上桂冠，也会折磨你。爱会助你成长，也会给你修枝。爱会上升到枝头，抚爱你在阳光下颤动力的嫩枝，也会下潜至根部，撼动力你紧抓泥土的根基。
但是，如果你在恐惧之中只想寻求爱的平和与快乐，那你就最好掩盖真实的自我，避开爱的考验，进入不分季节的世界，在那里你将欢笑，但并非开怀大笑，将哭泣，但并非尽情地哭。爱只将自己付出，也只得到自己。爱一无所有，也不会为谁所有，因为爱本身就已自足。
爱除啦实现自我别无他求。但是如果你爱而又不得不有所求，那就请期望：
将自己融化并像流的溪水一般向夜晚吟唱自己优美的曲调。
明啦过的温柔所带来的苦痛。
被自己对爱的理解所伤害；
并情愿快乐地悲伤。
在黎明带着轻快的心醒来并感谢又一个有家的日子；
在黄昏怀着感恩之心回家；
然后为内心所爱之人祈祷，吟唱赞美之歌，并带着祷告和歌声入眠。
英语美文摘抄（二）
Be Happy!
“The days that make us happy make us wise.”----John Masefield
when I first read this line by England’s Poet Laureate, it startled me. What did Masefield mean? Without thinking about it much, I had always assumed that the opposite was true.
But his sober assurance was arresting. I could not forget it.
Finally, I seemed to grasp his meaning and realized that here was a profound observation. The wisdom that happiness makes possible lies in clear perception, not fogged by anxiety nor dimmed by despair and boredom, and without the blind spots caused by fear.
Active happiness---not mere satisfaction or contentment ---often comes suddenly, like an April shower or the unfolding of a bud.
Then you discover what kind of wisdom has accompanied it. The grass is greener; bird songs are sweeter; the shortcomings of your friends are more understandable and more forgivable.
Happiness is like a pair of eyeglasses correcting your spiritual vision.
Nor are the insights of happiness limited to what is near around you. Unhappy, with your thoughts turned in upon your emotional woes, your vision is cut short as though by a wall.
Happy, the wall crumbles.
The long vista is there for the seeing. The ground at your feet, the world about you----people, thoughts, emotions, pressures---are now fitted into the larger scene.
Everything assumes a fairer proportion. And here is the beginning of wisdom.
“快乐的日子使人睿智。”
——约翰·梅斯菲尔德
第一次读到英国桂冠诗人梅斯菲尔德的这行诗时，我感到十分震惊。他想表达什么意思？我以前从未对此仔细考虑，总是认定这行诗反过来才正确。但他冷静而又胸有成竹的表达引起啦我的注意，令我无法忘怀。
终于，我似乎领会啦他的意思并意识到这行诗意义深远。快乐带来的.睿智存在于敏锐的洞察力之间，不会因忧虑而含混迷惑，也不会因绝望和厌倦而黯然模糊，更不会因恐惧而造成盲点。
积极的快乐 – 并非单纯的满意或知足 – 通常不期而至，就像四月里突然下起的春雨，或是花蕾的突然绽放。然后，你就会发觉与快乐结伴而来的究竟是种智慧。草地更为青翠，鸟吟更为甜美，朋友的缺点也变得更能让人理解，宽容。快乐就像是一副眼镜，可以矫正你的精神视力。
快乐的视野并不限于你周围的事物。当你不快乐时，你的思维陷入情感上的悲哀，你的眼界就像是被一道墙给阻隔啦，而当你快乐时，这道墙就会砰然倒塌。
你的眼界变得为宽广。你脚下的大地，你身边的世界，包括人，思想，情感和压力，现在都融入啦更为广阔的景象之中，其间每件事物 的比例都更加合理。而这就是睿智的起始。
英语美文摘抄（三）
The Goodness of Life
Though there is much to be concerned about, there is far, far more for which to be thankful. Though life’s goodness can at times be overshadowed, it is never outweighed.
For every single act that is senselessly destructive, there are thousands more small, quiet acts of love, kindness and compassion.
For every person who seeks to hurt, there are many, many more who devote their lives to helping and to healing.
There is goodness to life that cannot be denied.
In the most magnificent vistas and in the smallest details, look closely, for that goodness always comes shining through.
There si no limit to the goodness of life. It grows more abundant with each new encounter. The more you experience and appreciate the goodness of life, the more there is to be lived.
Even when the cold winds blow and the world seems to be cov ered in foggy shadows, the goodness of life lives on. Open your eyes, open your heart, and you will see that goodness is everywhere.
Though the goodness of life seems at times to suffer setbacks, it always endures. For in the darkest moment it becomes vividly clear that life is a priceless treasure.
And so the goodness of life is made even stronger by the very things that would oppose it.
Time and time again when you feared it was gone forever you found that the goodness of life was really only a moment away.
Around the next corner, inside every moment, the goodness of life is there to surprise and delight you.
Take a moment to let the goodness of life touch your spirit and calm your thoughts. Then, share your good fortune with another.
For the goodness of life grows more and more magnificent each time it is given away.
Though the problems constantly scream for attention and the conflicts appear to rage ever stronger, the goodness of life grows stronger still, quietly, peacefully, with more purpose and meaning than ever before.
生命的美好
尽管有很多事让人忧虑，但相比而言，值得感激的事要多得多。尽管生命的美好有时被蒙上阴影，但它却永远不会被埋没。
相对于每一个无谓的破坏行为而言，都有更多数千计更为微小的，包含着爱，友善和同情的举动静静地上演着。相对于每一个试图伤害他人的人而言，都有更多的人致于帮助他人，治愈他人的创伤。
生命的美好不能否认。
在最为壮观的前景和最为琐碎的细节中，请仔细观察，因为美好的事物总是散发着耀眼的光芒闪亮登场。
生命的美好没有界限。每一次相遇都会使这美好变得越发丰富。你经历得越多，越能欣赏生命的美好，生命中的美好就会变得越多。
即使当寒风袭来，整个世界似乎被雾气掩盖之时，生命的美好仍会存在。睁开双眼，打开心扉，你就会发现这美好无处不在。
尽管生命的美好有时似乎遭受挫折，但它总会挺过来。因为，在最黑暗的时刻，有一点变得格外清楚，那就是，生命是无价的财富。因此，下正是与生命的美好相对立事物使其越强大。
无数次地，当你担心这美好已经远离之时，你会发现命的美好其实只与你相隔须臾。它就在下一角落，存在于每个时刻之间，等着给你惊喜。
花些时间让生命的美好感动自己的灵魂，放松自己的思绪。然后，把你的幸运与他人分享。因为生命的美好会在每次给予之间变得越来越壮观。
尽管总是有问题让你去关注，冲突也似乎愈演愈烈，但生命的美好却总是静静地，平和地，带着比以往更强的意志和更多的价值变得更加强大。
篇一：英语美文摘抄
On beauty
美
Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be your way and your guide? And how shall you speak of her except she be the weaver of your speech?
如果美不以自身为途径，为向导，你们又到哪里去找她，又怎么能找到她呢？如果她不是你们言语的编织者，你们又如何能谈论她呢？
The aggrieved and the injured say, "Beauty is kind and gentle. Like a young mother half-shy of her own glory she walks among us."
伤心痛苦者说：“美是善良而温柔的。她像一位因自己的荣耀而半含羞涩的年轻母亲，走在我们的身边。”
And the passionate say, "Nay, beauty is a thing of might and dread. Like the tempest she shakes the earth beneath us and the sky above us."
热情奔放者说：“不，美是强烈而令人惊畏的。她如暴风雨般震动我们脚下的大地，摇撼我们头上的天空。”
The tired and the weary say, "Beauty is of soft whisperings. She speaks in our spirit. Her voice yields to our silences like a faint light that quivers in fear of the shadow."
疲惫怠倦者说：“美是温柔的低语，她在我们的心中诉说。她的声音波动在我们的沉默中，犹如一道微弱的光在对阴影的恐惧中颤抖。”
But the restless say, "We have heard her shouting among the mountains, and with her cries came the sound of hoofs, and the beating of wings and the roaring of lions."
但活泼好动者说：“我们曾听到她在山谷中大声呼叫，随其呐喊而来的是足蹄踏地、翅膀拍击和雄狮怒吼的声音。”
At night the watchmen of the city say, "Beauty shall rise with the dawn from the east."
夜晚，城市的守夜人说：“美将与晨光一同从东方升起。”
And at noon-time the toilers and the wayfarers say, "We have seen her leaning over the earth from the windows of the sunset."
正午，辛勤劳作者和长途跋涉者说：“我们曾看到她透过黄昏之窗眺望大地。”
In winter say the snow-bound, "She shall come with the spring leaping upon the hills."
严冬，困在风雪中的人说：“她将与春同至，雀跃于山峦之间。”
And in the summer heat the reapers say, "We have seen her dancing with the autumn leaves, and we saw a drift of snow in her hair."
酷暑，收割庄稼的人说：“我们曾看到她与秋叶共舞，雪花点缀于她的发梢。”
All these things have you said of beauty, yet in truth you spoke not of her but of needs unsatisfied, and beauty is not a need but an ecstasy. It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth, but rather a heart enflamed and a soul enchanted. It is not the image you would see nor the song you would hear, but rather an image you see though you close your eyes and a song you hear though you shut your ears. It is not the sap within the furrowed bark, nor a wing attached to a claw, but rather a garden for ever in bloom and a flock of angels for ever in flight.
你们谈到关于美的所有这些，实际并非关于她本身，而是关于你们未被满足的'需求，但美并不是一种需求，而是 心醉神迷的欣喜。她不是焦渴的唇，也不是伸出的空空的手，而是一颗燃烧的心，一个充满喜悦的灵魂。她不是你们想看到的形象，也不是你们想听到的歌声，而是 你们闭上眼睛看到的形象，堵住耳朵听到的歌声。她不是伤残树皮下的树液，也不是悬在利爪下的翅膀。而是一座鲜花永远盛开的花园，一群永远在天空飞翔的天使。
Beauty is life when life unveils her holy face.
当生命摘去遮盖她圣洁面容的面纱时，美就是生命。
篇二：英语美文摘抄
During a research experiment a marine biologist placed a shark into a large holding tank and then released several small bait fish into the tank.
在一个研究实验中，一个海洋生物学家把一条鲨鱼放进一个大的水箱中，然后投放了一些小的诱饵鱼进去。
As you would expect, the shark quickly swam around the tank, attacked and ate the smaller fish.
你可能已经预料到了，鲨鱼快速地在水箱里四处游动，攻击并吃掉了那些较小的鱼。
The marine biologist then ed a strong piece of clear fiberglass into the tank, creating two separate partitions. She then put the shark on one side of the fiberglass and a new set of bait fish on the other.
然后海洋生物学家将一面强韧的透明纤维玻璃插入到容器中，创建了两个单独的分区。然后，她把鲨鱼放在纤维玻璃的一边，另一边是一组新的诱饵鱼。
Again, the shark quickly attacked. This time, however, the shark slammed into the fiberglass divider and bounced off. Undeterred, the shark kept repeating this behavior every few minutes to no avail. Meanwhile, the bait fish swam around unharmed in the second partition. Eventually, about an hour into the experiment, the shark gave up.
再次，鲨鱼迅速攻击。然而，这一次，鲨鱼撞上了玻璃纤维隔板并被弹了回来。每隔几分钟，鲨鱼就不信邪地重复这徒劳的行为。同时，那些作为诱饵的鱼在另一个区域里毫发无伤地游来游去。最后，经过大约一个小时的实验，鲨鱼放弃了。
This experiment was repeated several dozen times over the next few weeks. Each time, the shark got less aggressive and made fewer attempts to attack the bait fish, until eventually the shark got tired of hitting the fiberglass divider and simply stopped attacking altogether.
在接下来的几个星期里，这个实验重复了几十次。每一次，鲨鱼的攻击性都变得更弱，并较少尝试攻击诱饵鱼，直到最终鲨鱼厌倦了冲击纤维玻璃隔板，并完全停止攻击。
The marine biologist then removed the fiberglass divider, but the shark didn’t attack. The shark was trained to believe a barrier existed between it and the bait fish, so the bait fish swam wherever they wished, free from harm.
海洋生物学家然后拿走了纤维玻璃隔板，但鲨鱼没有攻击。鲨鱼被训练得相信了它和诱饵之间存在一道屏障，所以鱼儿游到任何地方，都不会受伤害。
The moral: Many of us, after experiencing setbacks and failures, emotionally give up and stop trying. Like the shark in the story, we believe that because we were unsuccessful in the past, we will always be unsuccessful. In other words, we continue to see a barrier in our heads, even when no ‘real’ barrier exists between where we are and where we want to go.
寓意：我们中的许多人，在经历挫折和失败后，会从情感上选择放弃，并停止尝试。好比这个故事中的鲨鱼，因为过去失败过，所以就觉得永远不会成功。换句话说，我们经常会在我们的脑中看到一个障碍，即使我们所在的位置和我们想要达到的位置之间并没有“真正的”障碍。
篇三：英语美文摘抄
How To Make Friends And Connect With People In Challenging Times
在逆境中如何与人交朋友并建立牢固的关系。
It can be difficult to make friends living in a big city, especially when you don’t know many people.
生活在一个大城市里是很难交到朋友的，尤其是当你还不认识很多人的时候。
Over years of experience and studying social skills, I discovered that it’s possible to make friends without even trying. There are just a few strategies that you have to use on a consistent basis.
根据多年的经验以及对社交技能的研究，我发现其实你甚至能毫不费力地交到朋友。这里有一些你一直可以用得上的策略。
That’s what I’ll outline a few simple steps.
在这里我将列出几个简单的步骤。
Be seen without trying to get attention.
不刻意地引人注意也能获得他人的注意。
You don’t have to say anything witty or interesting to get people’s attention, all you have to do is place yourself in environments where people will see you.
你不必说诙谐或有趣的事情来吸引人们的注意，你所要做的只是将你自己置于人们能注意到的地方。
This can be done anywhere you go, such as the supermarket or your yoga studio.
这可以在你去的任何地方奏效，比如超市或是瑜伽馆。
Use the power of listening.
使用倾听的力量。
There’s an interesting phenomenon that occurs when you listen to other people, they’ll keep talking. Just keep giving them good eye contact and show with your body language that you care.
有一个有趣的现象，当你听别人说话时，他们会一直说话。只要和他们保持良好的眼神接触，并用你的身体语言显示出你对他们的关心。
Listening is a mechanism to build trust and likeability.
倾听是一种建立信任和魅力的途径。
Think about what you can give to the other people.
想想你能给别人什么。
So often we think about what we can get out of others when we try to make friends, but that thinking needs to be flipped around.
当我们试图交朋友的时候，我们经常会考虑我们能从别人那里得到什么，但是我们需要扭转这种想法。
Try offering a piece of helpful advice or invite someone you just met to grab coffee or lunch with you the following week.
试着提供一个有用的建议或邀请你刚才遇到的人来喝杯咖啡或者邀请他在接下来的一周和你一起共进午餐。
Always have 3 good stories to tell other people.
总是有3个好故事来告诉别人。
When you have at least a few stories to share with others, you’ll never run out of things to talk about.
当你至少有几个故事与他人分享时，你将永远有谈不尽的话题。
Smile like there’s no tomorrow.
尽情微笑。
It may not be natural for some of us to smile, but a smile is one of the most attractive things that someone can display when they’re meeting new people.
对有些人来说，微笑可能是件不自然的事情，但是微笑是最有吸引力的事情之一。当结识新人时，人们可以传递他们的微笑。
Think about these 5 strategies as tools. They’re always available if you want to connect with people instantly and develop true lasting friendships.
我们可以把这5种策略作为工具。如果你想与人立即建立关系，并且发展成真正长久的友谊，它们总是有用的。
篇四：英语美文摘抄
It was a beautiful letter， but there was no way， except for the name Michael， to identify the owner. Maybe if I called information， the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope. The operator suggested I speak with her supervisor， who hesitated for a moment， then said， "Well， there is a phone listing at that address， but I can't give you the number. " She said as a courtesy， she would call that number， explain my story and ask whoever answered if the person wanted her to connect me.
这是一封精美的信，但是除了迈克尔的名字以外，没有其他办法确定皮夹的主人。或许询问信息台，话务员可以通过信封上的住址查到电话。话务员建议我和她的负责人说，那位负责人犹豫了一会儿，然后说：嗯，“有那个住址的电话号码，但我不能给你。”她说出于礼貌，她可以打那个电话，说明我的情况后，看接电话的人是否愿意让她再与我联系。
I waited a few minutes and then the supervisor was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you. " I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped. " Oh！ We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was thirty years ago！" "Would you know where that family could be located now?"
I asked. "I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago， "the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them， they might be able to track down the daughter. "She gave me the name of the nursing home， and I called the number. The woman on the phone told me the old lady had passed away some years ago， but the nursing home did have a phone number for where the daughter might be living. I thanked the person at the nursing home and phoned the number she gave me. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home. This whole thing is stupid， I thought to myself. Why am I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that has only three dollars and a letter that is almost sixty years old?
我等候了几分钟，然后那位负责人回到线上：“有一位女士将会和你说。”我问电话另一端的女士，她是否认识一个叫汉娜的人。她吃惊地说：“哦！我们从一户人家买来这栋房子，他们家的女儿叫汉娜。但已经是30年前的事了！”“你知道那户人家现在可能住在哪里吗？”
我追问。“我记得汉娜数年以前将她的母亲送到一家养老院，”女人说，“如果你和他们联系，他们可能会找到她女儿。”她给了我养老院的名字，我拨通了电话。电话中的女人告诉我老妇人数年前就已经过世，但是养老院确实有个电话号码，老妇人的女儿可能住在那里。我谢过养老院的人并按她给我的号码去了电话。接电话的女人解释说现在汉娜自己也是住在一家养老院内。我想这整件事真是太傻了，为什么我费这么大的劲去找只有３美元和一封信的钱夹主人，而那封信差不多已有60年了？
