2024年英語美文閱讀欣賞

英語美文閱讀欣賞

英語閱讀:FortheLoveofMyFather

Overtheyears,Ineverthoughtofmyfatherasbeingveryemotional,andhenever

was,atleastnotinfrontofme.Eventhoughhewas68yearsoldandonlyfive-foot-nine,

whileIwassixfeetand260pounds,heseemedhugetome.Ialwayssawhimasbeing

thatstaunchdisciplinarianwhorarelycrackedasmile.Myfathernevertoldmeheloved

mewhenIwasachild,andIneverhelditagainsthim.IthinkthatallIreallywantecwas

formydadtobeproudofme.Inmyyouth,MomalwaysshoweredmewithHIlove

you*s"everyday.SoIreallyneverthoughtaboutnothearingitfrommydad.Iguess

deepdownIknewthathelovedme,hejustneversaidit.Cometothinkofit,Idon't

thinkIevertoldhimthatIlovedhim,either.IneverreallythoughtaboutitmuchuntilI

facedtherealityofdeath.

OnNovember9th,1990,IreceivedwordthatrryNationalGuardunitwasbeing

activatedforOperationDesertShield.WewouldconvoytoFortBenHarrison,Indiana,

andthendirectlytoSaudiArabia.IhadbeenintheGuardfor10yearsandnever

dreamedthatwewouldbeactivatedforawar,eventhoughIknewitwaswhatwe

trainedfor.Iwenttomyfatherandgavehimthenews.Icouldsensehewasuneasy

aboutmegoing.Weneverdiscusseditmuchmore,andeightdayslaterIwasgone.

Ihaveseveralcloserelativeswhohavebeeninthemilitaryduringwartime.My

fatherandunclewereinWorldWarII,andtwobrothersandasisterservedinVietnam.

WhileIwasextremelyuneasyaboutleavingmyfamilytoservemycountryinawar

zone,IknewitwaswhatIhadtodo.Iprayedthatthiswouldmakemyfatherproudof

me.MyfatherisveryinvolvedintheVeteransofForeignWarsorganizationandhas

alwaysbeenforastrongmilitary.IwasnoteligibletojointheVeteransofForeignWars

becauseIhadnotbeeninawarzone—afactthatalwaysmademefeellikeIdidn't

measureupinmyfather*seyes.ButnowhereIwas,hisyoungestson,beingshipped

offtoaforeignland9,000milesaway,tofightawarinacountrywehadbarelyheardof

before.

OnNovember17,1990,ourconvoyofmilitaryvehiclesrolledoutofruralGreenville,

Michigan.Thestreetswerefilledwithfamiliesandwell-wisherstoseeusoff.Aswe

approachedtheedgeoftown,Ilookedoutthewindowofmytruckandsawmywife,

Kim,mychildren,andMomandDad.Theywereallwavingandcrying,exceptformy

father.Hejuststoodthere,almostlikeastonestatue.Helookedincrediblyoldatthat

moment.Idon*tknowwhy,hejustdid.

IwasgoneforthatThanksgivingandmissedourfamily,sdinner.Therewas

alwaysacrowd,withtwoofmysisters,theirhusbandsandchildren,plusmywifeand

ourfamily.ItdisturbedmegreatlythatIcouldn*tbethere.Afewdaysafter

ThanksgivingIwasabletocallmywife,andshetoldmesomethingthathasmademe

lookatmyfatherinadifferentwayeversince.

Mywifeknewhowmyfatherwasabouthisemotions,andIcouldhearhervoice

quaverasshespoketome.ShetoldmethatmyfatherrecitedhisusualThanksgiving

prayer.Butthistimehecddedonelastsentence.Ashisvoicestartedtocrackandatear

randownhischeek,hesaid,“DearLord,pleasewatchoverandguidemyson,Rick,

withyourhandinhistimeofneedasheserveshiscountry,andbringhimhometous

safely."Atthatpointheburstintotears.Ihadneverseenmyfathercry,andwhenI

heardthis,Icouldn,thelpbutstarttocrymyself.Mywifeaskedmewhatwaswrong.

Afterregainingmycomposure,Isaid,"Iguessmyfatherreallydoesloveme.”

英語閱讀：AnEmptyBox

Onceuponatime,amanpunishedhis5-year-olddaughterforusingupthe

family'sonlyrollofexpensivegoldwrappingpaper.Moneywastight,andhe

becameevenmoreupsetwhenonChristmasEve,hesawthatthechildhadpastedthe

goldpapersoastodecorateashoeboxtoputundertheChristmastree.

Nevertheless,thenextmorningthelittlegirl,filledwithexcitement,broughtthe

giftboxtoherfatherandsaid,Thisisforyou,Daddy!

Asheopenedthebox,thefatherwasembarrassedbyhisearlieroverreaction.

Butwhenheopenedit,hefounditwasemptyandagainhisangerflared.

Don'tyouknow,younglady,hesaidharshly,whenyougivesomeoneapresent

there'ssupposedtobesomethinginsidethepackage!

Thelittlegirllookedupathimwithtearsrollingfromhereyesandsaid:Daddy,

it'snotempty.Iblewkissesintoituntilitwasallfull.

Thefatherwascrushed.Hefellonhiskneesandputhisarmsaroundhisprecious

littlegirl.Hebeggedhertoforgivehimforhisunnecessaryanger.

Anaccidenttookthelifeofthechildonlyashorttimelater.Itistoldthatthefather

keptthatlittlegoldboxbyhisbedforalltheyearsofhislife.Wheneverhewas

discouragedorfaceddifficultproblemshewouldopenthebox,takeoutanimaginary

kiss,andremembertheloveofthisbeautifulchildwhohadputitthere.

Inaveryrealsense,eachofusashumanbeingshavebeengivenaninvisible

goldenboxfilledwithunconditionalloveandkissesfromourchildren,family,friends

andGod.

Thereisnomorepreciouspossessionanyonecouldhold.

英語閱讀：HappinessEquateswithFun?

IliveinHollywood.Youmaythinkpeopleinsuchaglamorous,fun-filledplaceare

happierthanothers.Ifso,youhavesomemistakenideasaboutthenatureofhappiness.

Manyintelligentpeoplestillequatehappinesswithfun.Thetruthisthatfunand

happinesshavelittleornothingincommon.Funiswhatweexperienceduringanact.

Happinessiswhatweexperienceafteranact.Itisadeeper,moreabidingemotion.

Goingtoanamusementparkorballgame,watchingamovieortelevision,arefun

activitiesthathelpusrelax,temporarilyforgetourproblemsandmaybeevenlaugh.But

theydonotbringhappiness,becausetheirpositiveeffectsendwhenthefunends.

IhaveoftenthoughtthatifHollywoodstarshavearoletoplay,itistoteachusthat

happinesshasnothingtodowithfun.Theserich,beautifulinpidualshaveconstant

accesstoglamorousparties,fancycars,expensivehomes,everythingthatspells

happiness.

Butinmemoiraftermemoir,celebritiesrevealtheunhappinesshiddenbeneathall

theirfun:depression,alcoholism,drugaddiction,brokenmarriages,troubledchildren,

profoundloneliness.

Thewaypeopleclingtothebeliefthatafun-filled,pain-freelifeequateshappiness

actuallydiminishestheirchancesofeverattainingrealhappiness.Iffunandpleasure

areequatedwithhappiness,thenpainmustbeequatedwithunhappiness.But,infact,

theoppositeistrue:Moretimesthannot,thingsthatleadtohappinessinvolvesome

pain.

Asaresultmanypeopleavoidtheveryendeavorsthatarethesourceoftrue

happiness.Theyfearthepaininevitablybroughtbysuchthingsasmarriage,raising

children,professionalachievement,religiouscommitment,civicorcharitablework,and

self-improvement.

英語閱讀：TodayisaGift

Twomen,bothseriouslyill,occupiedthesamehospitalroom.Onemanwas

allowedtositupinhisbedforanhoureachafternoontohelpdrainthefluidfromhis

lungs.Hisbedwasnexttotheroom'sonlywindow.Theothermanhadtospendall

histimeflatonhisback.Thementalkedforhoursonend.

Theyspokeoftheirwivesandfamilies,theirhomes,theirjobs,theirinvolvementin

themilitaryservice,wheretheyhadbeenonvacation.Andeveryafternoonwhenthe

maninthebedbythewndowcouldsitup,hewouldpassthetimebydescribingtohis

roommateallthethingshecouldseeoutsidethewindow.Themanintheotherbed

begantoliveforthoseone-hourperiodswherehisworldwouldbebroadenedand

enlivenedbyalltheactivityandcoloroftheworldoutside.

Thewindowoverlookedaparkwithalovelylake.Ducksandswansplayedonthe

waterwhilechildrensailadtheirmodelboats.Youngloverswalkedarminarmamidst

flowersofeverycoloroftherainbow.Grandoldtreesgracedthelandscape,andafine

viewofthecityskylinecouldbeseeninthedistance.Asthemanbythewindow

describedallthisinexquisitedetail,themanontheothersideoftheroomwouldclose

hiseyesandimaginethepicturesquescene.

Onewarmafternoonthemanbythewindowdescribedaparadepassingby.

Althoughtheothermancouldn'theartheband-hecouldseeitinhismind*seyeas

thegentlemanbythewindowportrayeditwithdescriptivewords.

Daysandweekspassed.Onemorning,thedaynursearrivedtobringwaterfortheir

bathsonlytofindthelifelessbodyofthemanbythewindow,whohaddiedpeacefully

inhissleep.Shewassaddenedandcalledthehospitalattendantstotakethebody

away.

Assoonasitseemedappropriate,theothermanaskedifhecouldbemovednext

tothewindow.Thenursewashappytomaketheswitch,andaftermakingsurehewas

comfortable,shelefthimalone.Slowlyandpainfully,heproppedhimselfuponone

elbowtotakehisfirstlookattheworldoutside.Finally,hewouldhavethejoyofseeing

itforhimself.Hestrainedtoslowlyturntolookoutthewindowbesidethebed.Itfaced

ablankwall.

Themanaskedthenursewhatcouldhavecompelledhisdeceasedroommatewho

haddescribedsuchwonderfulthingsoutsidethiswindow.Thenurserespondedthat

themanwasblindandcouldnotevenseethewall.Shesaid,Perhapshejustwantedto

encourageyou.

英語閱讀：IsPackingImportanttoYou?

Ayoungmanwasgettingreadytograduatefromcollege.Formanymonthshehad

admiredabeautifulspcrtscarinadealer'sshowroom,andknowinghisfather

couldwellaffordit,hetoldhimthatwasallhewanted.

AsGraduationDayapproached,theyoungmanawaitedsignsthathisfatherhad

purchasedthecar.Finally,onthemorningofhisgraduation,hisfathercalledhiminto

hisprivatestudy.Hisfathertoldhimhowproudhewastohavesuchafineson,andtold

himhowmuchhelovedhim.Hehandedhissonabeautifulwrappedgiftbox.Curious,

butsomewhatdisappointed,theyoungmanopenedtheboxandfoundalovely,

leather-boundBible,withtheyoungman'snameembossedingold.

Angrily,heraisedhisvoicetohisfatherandsaid,Withallyourmoneyyougiveme

aBible?Hethenstormedoutofthehouse,leavingtheBible.

Manyyearspassedandtheyoungmanwasx/erysuccessfulinbusiness.Hehada

beautifulhomeandawonderfulfamily,butrealizinghisfatherwasveryold,hethought

perhapsheshouldgotoseehim.Hehadnotseenhimsincethatgraduationday.

Beforehecouldmakethearrangements,hereceivedatelegramtellinghimhisfather

hadpassedaway,andwilledallofhispossessionstohisson.Heneededtocomehome

immediatelyandtakecareofthings.

Whenhearrivedathisfather'shouse,suddensadnessandregretfilledhis

heart.Hebegantosearchthroughhisfather'simportantpapersandsawthestill

newBible,justashehadleftityearsago.

Withtears,heopenedtheBibleandbegantoturnthepages.Ashewasreading,a

carkeydroppedfromthebackoftheBible.Ithadatagwiththedealer'sname,

thesamedealerwhohadthesportscarhehaddesired.Onthetagwasthedateofhis

graduation,andthewords...PAIDINFULL

Howmanytimesdowemissblessingsbecausetheyarenotpackagedaswe

expected?Itrustyouenjoyedthis.Donotspoilwhatyouhavebydesiringwhatyou

havenot;butrememberthatwhatyounowhavewasonceamongthethingsyouonly

hopedfor.Sometimeswedon'trealizethegoodfortunewehaveorwecould

havebecauseweexpectthepackagingtobedifferent.Whatmayappearasbad

fortunemayinfactbethedoorthatisjustwaitingtobeopened.

英語閱讀：TheBabyEagle

Onceuponatimetherewasababyeaglelivinginanestperchedonacliff

overlookingabeautifulvalleywithwaterfallsandstreams,treesandlotsoflittleanimals,

scurryingaboutenjoyingtheirlives.

Thebabyeaglelikedthenest.Itwastheonlyworldhehadeverknown.Itwasv/arm

andcomfortable,hadagreatview,andevenbetter,hehadallthefoodandloveand

attentionthatagreatmothereaglecouldprovide.Manytimeseachdaythemother

wouldswoopdownfromtheskyandlandinthenestandfeedthebabyeagledelicious

morselsoffood.Shewaslikeagodtohim,hehadnoideawhereshecamefromorhow

sheworkedhermagic.

Thebabyeaglewashungryallthetime,butthemothereaglewouldalwayscome

justintimewiththefoodandloveandattentionhecraved.Thebabyeaglegrewstrong.

Hisvisiongrewverysharp.Hefeltgoodallthetime.

Untiloneday,themotherstoppedcomingtothenest.

Thebabyeaglewashungry.I'msuretodie,saidthebabyeagle,allthetime.

Verysoon,deathiscoming,hecried,withtearsstreamingdownhisface.Overand

over.Buttherewasnoonetheretohearhim.

Thenonedaythemothereagleappearedatthetopofthemountaincliff,withabig

bowlofdeliciousfoodandshelookeddownatherbaby.Thebabylookedupatthe

motherandcriedWhydidyouabandonme?I'mgoingtodieanyminute.How

couldyoudothistome?

Themothersaid,Hereissomeverytastyandnourishing