英文小文章

　　英語是國際經濟、技術、資訊等交流中應用最廣泛的語言，下面就是小編給大家整理的，希望大家喜歡。

　　：愛如鮮花盛開

　　I was nine when my father first sent me flowers. I had been taking tapdancing***踢踏舞*** lessons for six months, and the school was giving its yearly recital. As an excited member of the beginners' chorus line, I was aware of my lowly status.

　　So it was a surprise to have my name called out at the end of the show along with the lead dancers and to find my arms full of long-stemmed red roses. I can still feel myself standing on that stage, blushing furiously and gazing over the footlights to see my father's grin as he applauded loudly.

　　Those roses were the first in a series of large bouquets***花束，宴會*** that accompanied all the milestones in my life. They brought a sense of embarrassment. I enjoyed them, but was flustered by the extravagance.

　　Not my father. He did everything in a big way. If you sent him to the bakery for a cake, he came back with three. Once, when Mother told him I needed a new party dress, he brought home a dozen.

　　His behavior often left us without funds for other more important things. After the dress incident, there was no money for the winter coat I really needed--or the new ice skates I wanted.

　　Sometimes I would be angry with him, but not for long. Inevitably he would buy me something to make up with me. The gift was so apparently an offering of love he could not verbalize that I would throw my arms around him and kiss him--an act that undoubtedly perpetuated***保持*** his behavior.

　　Then came my 16th birthday. It was not a happy occasion. I was fat and had no boyfriend. And my well-meaning parents furthered my misery by giving me a party. As I entered the dining room, there on the table next to my cake was a huge bouquet of flowers, bigger than any before.

　　I wanted to hide. Now everyone would think my father had sent flowers because I had no boyfriend to do it. Sweet 16, and I felt like crying. I probably would have, but my best friend, Phyllis, whispered, "Boy, you're lucky to have a father like that.

　　As the years passed, other occasions--birthdays, recitals***朗誦***, awards, graduations--were marked with Dad's flowers. My emotions continued to seesaw between pleasure and embarrassment.

　　When I graduated from college, though, my days of ambivalence***矛盾情緒*** were over. I was embarking on a new career and was engaged to be married. Dad's flowers symbolized his pride, and my triumph. They evoked only great pleasure.

　　Now there were bright-orange mums for Thanksgiving and a huge pink poinsettia at Christmas. White lilies at Easter, and velvety red roses for birthdays. Seasonal flowers in mixed bouquets celebrated the births of my children and the move to our first house.

　　As my fortunes grew, my father's waned, but his gifts of flowers continued until he died of a heart attack a few months before his 70th birthday. Without embarrassment, I covered his coffin with the largest, reddest roses I could find.

　　Often in the dozen years since, I felt an urge to go out and buy a big bouquet to fill the living room, but I never did. Often in the dozen years since, I felt an urge to go out and buy a big bouquet to fill the living room, but I never did. I knew it would not be the same.

　　Then one birthday, the doorbell rang. I was feeling blue because I was alone. My husband was playing golf, and my two daughters were away. My 13-year-old son, Matt, had run out earlier with a "see you later," never mentioning my birthday. So I was surprised to see his large frame at the door. "Forgot my key," he said, shrugging. "Forgot your birthday too. Well, I hope you like flowers, Mum." He pulled a bunch of daisies from behind his back.

　　"Oh, Matt," I cried, hugging him hard. "I love flowers!"

　　：適應力的故事

　　Don't worry if you have problems!

　　Which is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one, I know.

　　But the only people I am aware of who don't have troubles are gathered in little neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We call them cemeteries***墓地***.

　　If you're breathing, you have difficulties. It's the way of life. And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be good for you! Let me explain.

　　Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef. On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question. "I notice that the lagoon***環礁湖*** side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful," a traveler observed. "Why is this?"

　　The guide gave an interesting answer: "The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms -- surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested, it changes and adapts. It grows healthy. It grows strong. And it reproduces." Then he added this telling note: "That's the way it is with every living organism."

　　That's how it is with people. Challenged and tested, we come alive! Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger. Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and resiliency. Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness. So, you have problems -- no problem! Just tell yourself, "Here I grow again "

　　：放棄是一種美麗

　　One of tests used by a company to enroll fresh blood helps you know whether you stand the trial from yourself.

　　In a stormy night, you drive your car through a stop where three people are waiting for a bus: a dying and poor old man, a doctor who is your benefactor***恩人*** because he saved your life so that you are eager to render back, and a woman or a man who is your dreamgirl or your dreamboy and likely dissapears from your life once you miss the chance. Unfortunately, there is just room for one person in your car. Which one would you pick up? Then give your reasons.

　　Think it over before looking at the following text.

　　I have no idea whether it is a characteristic test, because every answer has its reason. The dying old man should be first helped,however, his final destination is death. It's reasonable for you to pick up the doctor first--your benefactor and is a good chance to reciprocate***報答，互換*** what he did for you.

　　Meanwhile, some people think it available to render the doctor back in someday in future. And if you miss the chance, you will never meet such an attractive person.

　　Only one of two hundred people was hired. He wrote his answer without providing his reason: "Give the key of my car to the doctor, and let him take the old man to the hospital. But I wait in the stop for the bus with my dreamboat***夢中人，愛人*** together."

　　Every acquaintance of mine regarded it as the best answer but nobody ***including me*** realized it at first.

　　It is caused by our idea of not giving up the advantage ***the car key*** we have had? Sometimes, if we abandon some of our parochialism***狹隘***, advantages, and intransigence***不妥協***, we can get more.