雙語美文TheSenseofHumor幽默的意義

1、01、The Sense of Humor 幽默的意義The story goes that a certain court jester went too far one day and insulted his king. The king became so infuriated he sentenced the jester to be executed. His court preyed upon the king to have mercy for the man who had served him well for so many years. After a time, th

2、e king relented only enough to give the jester his choice as to how he would like to die.The jester replied," If it ' s all the same to you, my Lord, I' d liold age. Certainly in this case, a goochse of humor saved the man's life.這是關(guān)于一個宮廷小丑的故事.這天,他故事講的有點兒過頭, 得罪了國王.國王非常惱怒,下令將其處死.他的同伴

3、求情,希望國 王能夠饒過這個伺候他多年的人.后來,國王有些心軟了,但只是讓 他選擇如何死而已.小丑答復(fù)說：“陛下,如果您不反對的話,我愿 意老死.無庸質(zhì)疑,出色的幽默感救了這個人的性命.It' s true for us as well. We may not be faced with a situation where our wit will save us from an execution, but our sense of humor and the ability to laugh at things has proven health benefits that ext

4、end and improve our quality of life.對我們來說,幽默感同樣重要.我們可能不會遇到用智慧來使我們免于處死的情況,但是幽默感和笑對人生的水平卻可以促進身體健康,提升生活質(zhì)量.Norman Cousins, in his book ,Anatomy of an illness , wrote about how he cured himself of cancer by laughing a good part of each day. He rented films of comedies and watched them for hours on end in

5、 his hospital room. He had nothing to lose since he' d been diagnosed as terminal.諾曼庫辛在他的名為?解剖疾病?的書中記錄了他如何通過每 天大笑一段時間來治愈癌癥的故事,他租了一些喜劇電影,然后在病房里連續(xù)看上幾個小時.自從被診斷出癌癥晚期之后,他對死亡淡 然處之.His “experiment' turned out to be a classic example of the healing powers of laughter. If it worked for Cousins with a

6、 life-threatening illness, it can work for us to enhance and protect our health. We should laugh often and heartily. It's good for our body.他的這個“試驗成為證實大笑的治療作用的經(jīng)典例子.如 果 幽默對這位面臨著死亡危險的庫辛起作用的話,那么幽默也會促進和 保護我們的健康.我們應(yīng)該經(jīng)常大笑,而且是發(fā)自內(nèi)心地大笑,這對 我們的健康有好處.02、Find the Beauty Around You 學(xué)會發(fā)現(xiàn)身邊的美A very special teac

7、her in a high school had a husband who died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her thoughts with a class of students. As the late afternoon sunlight shined through the classroom windows, and when the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on her

8、 desk and sat down there.一個很特別的高中老師,其丈夫死于突發(fā)性心臟病.在他 死后大約一周,她便把她的一些所思所想講給全班學(xué)生.下午的陽光透過教室的窗戶照射進來,快要放學(xué)了,她把一些東西放在講桌上,坐了 下來.With a gentle look on her face, she paused and said； Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on ea

9、rth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. and none of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is a sign that we must make the most use of every singl她臉上帶著溫柔的表情,稍稍停頓了一下,便開始講話：在放學(xué)前,我想跟你們分享一種我認(rèn)為很重要的想法. 我們每個人都生 活在地球上,學(xué)習(xí)、分享、保護別

10、人,欣賞和付出自我,卻沒有一個 人知道這種美好的體驗什么時候就會結(jié)束了.它隨時都可能被帶走.也許這預(yù)示著我們必須最大限度地利用每一個日子.Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, “ So I would like you all to make me a promise: from now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn t have to be something you see - it cou

11、ld be a scent - perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone' s house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling; the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please, look for these things, and remember th

12、em. 她的眼睛開始濕潤了,她接著說：“因此我想讓你們每個 人容許 我：從今以后,在你上學(xué)或者放學(xué)的路上,要發(fā)現(xiàn)一些美麗的事物. 它不一定是你看到的某個東西一一它可能是一種香味一一也許是新 鮮烤面包的味道從某一座房里飄出來,也許是微風(fēng)輕拂樹葉的聲音, 或者是晨光照射在輕輕飄落的秋葉上的方式.請你們尋找這些東西并且記住它們吧.“ For, although it may sound silly to some people, these things are the 'stuff' of life. The little things we are put here on ear

13、th to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time. it can all be tOren away.“由于,盡管聽起來有些傻氣,這些東西就是生活的內(nèi)容,是我 們活在世上要欣賞的一些小東西,這些東西我們經(jīng)常認(rèn)為是理所當(dāng) 然的.我們必須注意它們,這很重要,由于說不定在什么時候,它就 被帶走了.The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed o

14、ut of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.整

15、個教室里非常安靜.我們都收拾起課本,整理好,一個 個默 默地走出教室.那天下午,在放學(xué)回家的路上我注意到很多事物,比我以前整個學(xué)期發(fā)現(xiàn)的事物還要多.不時地,我會想到那位老師,回 憶起她給我們留下的深刻印象,我便會盡力去欣賞有時我們都忽略的東西.Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today.Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone

16、. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.今天中午吃飯的時候?qū)Ｗ⒁幌履闼吹降奶貏e事物.光著腳丫散散步.或在日落時分在沙灘上漫步.今晚在回家的路上,要駐足仔細(xì)品味一下冰淇淋蛋卷.由于隨著我們年齡的增長,并不是做過的事 情值得我們懊悔,而是那些沒有去做的事情.03、Compassion 憐憫之心My dad works for a food organization that travels to rural areas to o

17、ffer food, medical assistance as well as entertainment. Recently I went with him to one of their conventions. I was there simply to give people directions, hand them a flyer and send them on their way. It was hot and tiring, and I wasn't having much fun. Honestly, I didn' t really care, ende

18、d up doing it halfheartedly.我爸爸為一個食品組織工作.這個組織經(jīng)常到偏遠地區(qū)提供食品、醫(yī)療援助和娛樂效勞.最近,我跟他一起參加了他們的一次日常 工作.我在那兒只是簡單地給人指示方向、發(fā)傳單以及引路.那天天 氣酷熱,讓人十分疲憊,我一點興致都沒有.坦白地說 ,我并不是很 用心,最后只是敷衍了事.Then I saw two girls who had the same task I did, but were smiling and happy. They walked up to people who looked lost and asked them if th

19、ey needed help, instead of waiting for people to find them. An elderly woman wobbled over to one while the other approached a toothless, foul-smelling man with rags draped over his sickly body. I saw the first girl talking courteously to the old woman and then smile as she gave her a reassuring hug.

20、 Meanwhile the second girl said, “Hello,sir. Is there something I can help you with today?" SIR? SIR! She spoke to this manas though he were important! It seemed preposterous. Was I hearing her correctly? Why would she talk to a bum from the street as though he was a colonel in the army?然后,我看到兩

21、個女孩子干著跟我一樣的工作,但是卻面帶笑容,滿心歡喜.她們走到看似迷路的人面前,詢問他們是否需要幫助, 而不是等著別人來找她們.一個老婦人搖搖晃晃地走向其中一個女 孩,而另一個女孩那么走向一個掉了牙的滿身惡臭的男人,那人病恢恢的身子上搭著塊破布.我看到第一個女孩彬彬有禮地和那個老婦人交 談,然后笑著給她一個讓她安心的擁抱.與此同時,第二個女孩說道：“你好,先生.今天有什么事情我可以幫你的嗎?先生沈生!她跟這個男人說話的語氣就像他是個重要人物似的！那簡直太荒唐了.我沒聽錯吧為什么她跟一個街上的流浪漢說話就像他是個軍隊的上校 似的She showed compassion. Because she

22、 cared about this man and wanted him to feel loved and important, she showed respect. He raised his chin just a tad when she called him " Sir. Rolling his shoulders back, he felt her reaching out to him in that simple phrase, and his tired, wrinkled face sparkled. As for the old woman1 stood in

23、 awe. Neverin my life had I seen a moment that displayed such care and love. Yes, this is what compassion is all about.她表現(xiàn)出的是憐憫之心.由于她關(guān)心這個男人,希望他感覺到被人保護并且覺得自己很重要.她表現(xiàn)出了尊重.當(dāng)她叫他“先生 的時候,那男人只是微微抬起下巴.他把肩膀轉(zhuǎn)回去的同時,從那個 簡單的詞中感受到她向他伸出援手,而他疲倦的皺紋滿布的面孔溢出 榮耀.至于老婦人呢-我站在那里肅然起敬.在我的生命中,從沒有 過一個時刻,讓我看到這樣的關(guān)心和保護.沒錯,這就是憐憫之心的

24、全部含義.To love another is not only to recognize the need, but also to express warm sympathy toward that need. It is giving people what they need even when they are too afraid to ask. After seeing the compassion those girls so freely expressed, I knew I could do my job better.關(guān)愛別人并不僅僅是明白他她的需要,還要對這種需 要表

25、示 出溫暖的憐憫之心.關(guān)愛別人就是給有需要的人提供所需一一甚至在他們太害怕而不敢提出的時候.看到那兩個 女孩如此直率地展示 她們的憐憫之心,我知道我可以做得更 好.A little girl walked over to me, holding her mother' s hand. I smiled, because! cared. I cared about what she needed and wanted, about her sorrows and disappointments. I truly cared! It gave me happiness and a glow

26、 that can only be felt when you do something right. Happiness grew to perseverance to keep going because I could do something to impact another. And so I not only experienced the glow, but also kept it burning in my heart.一個小女孩牽著她媽媽的手向我走來.我面帶微笑,由于 我關(guān) 心.我關(guān)心她的需要和希望,她的悲傷和失望.我真的關(guān)心 ！那樣做 讓我感到喜悅與暖意一一那是只有你做

27、了正確的事才會感受得到的, 喜悅讓人堅持不懈一一繼續(xù)干下去,由于我可以做出影響其他人的事 情來.也由于這樣,我不但體驗到了這份暖意,而且還使之在我心中 繼續(xù)燃燒.Taking time to show compassion in my life has made a difference in my character and who I am. It is definitely the ultimate principle to live by. Compassion is the key. Holding it, I open every room to let the sunshine

28、flow in.在生活中我花些時間來展現(xiàn)憐憫之心,讓我的性格和自我價值發(fā)生了改變.那絕對是我一生要遵循的根本準(zhǔn)那么.憐憫 之心是其中核 心所在.秉持這份憐憫之情,我翻開每一間小 屋,讓陽光都傾瀉進 來.04、A Lesson of Life 生活的一課a Everything happens for the best, "my mother said whenever I faced disappointment. "Ifyou can carry on, one day something good will happen. And you ' ll realiz

29、e that it wouldn' t have happened if not for thaprevious disappointment. 每當(dāng)我遇到挫折時,母親就會說：“一切都會好的.如果你 堅持 下去,總有一天會有好事發(fā)生.你會熟悉到,如果沒有以前的挫折就 不會有現(xiàn)在的一切.Mother was right, as I discovered after graduating from college in1932.I had decided to try for a job in radio, then work my way up to sports announcer.I

30、 hitchhiked to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station - and got turned down every time.母親是對的,發(fā)現(xiàn)這個是在1932年,我剛從大學(xué)畢業(yè).我 已決定試著在電臺找個事兒做,然后爭取做體育節(jié)目的播音員.我搭便車到了芝加哥,挨個電臺地敲門推銷自己一一但每次都被拒絕了.In one studio, a kind lady told me that big stations couldn' t riskhiring inexperienced person. "Go out in

31、 the Sticks and find a smallstation that'll give you a chance she said.在一個播音室里,一位好心的女士告訴我,大的播送電臺 是不 會冒險雇用沒經(jīng)驗的新手的.“去鄉(xiāng)下找一家給你時機的小電臺吧她 說.I thumbed home to Dixon, Illinois. While there was no radio-announcing jobs in Dixon, my father said Montgomery Ward had opened a store and wanted a local athlete

32、to manage its sports department. Since Dixon was where I had played high school football, I applied. The job sounded just right for me. But I wasn't hired.我搭車來到我的家鄉(xiāng),那是伊利諾斯州的迪克森.在迪克 森當(dāng) 時還沒有電臺播音員這樣的工作,父親說,蒙哥馬利沃德開了一家 新商店,想雇請一個本地的運發(fā)動治理店里的體育部.我中學(xué)時曾在迪克森打過橄欖球,出于這個原因我去申請了這份工作.工作聽起來挺適合我的,但是我沒被聘用.My disap

33、pointment must have shown. " Everything happens for the best," Mom reminded me. Dad offered me the car to hunt for a job. I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The program director, a wonderful Scotsman named Peter MacArthur, told me they had already hired an announcer.我的沮喪心情一定表現(xiàn)出來了.“一切總會好

34、的,母親提 醒我說.爸爸給我買了一輛汽車找工作用.我試著到愛荷華州達文波特的WOC電臺去求職.那里的電臺節(jié)目總監(jiān)是一個很棒的蘇格蘭人,名叫彼得麥克阿瑟,他告訴我他們已經(jīng)雇到播音員了.As I left his office , my frustration boiled over. I asked aloud, “How can a fellow get to be a sport announcer if he can't get a job in a radio station? 離開他辦公室時,我的挫折感到達了極點.我大聲地說：“一個連在電臺都找不到工作的家伙又怎么能成為體育節(jié)目

35、的播音員呢I was waiting for the elevator when I heard MacArthur calling, “What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about football? "Then he stood me before a microphone and asked me to broadcast an imaginary game.等電梯時,我聽到麥克阿瑟喊道：“你說什么體育你懂橄 攬球 嗎 接著他讓我站到麥克風(fēng)前面,請我解說一場想象中的比賽八On my way hom

36、e, as I have many times since, I thought of my mother, s words: "if you carry on, one day something good will happen.Something wouldn't have happened if not for that previous disappointment, I often wonder what direction my life might have takenif Ictenthe job at Montgomery Ward.在回家的路上一一以后也

37、有很屢次, 我思考著母親的那句話：“如果你堅持下去,總要一天會有好事發(fā)生.如果沒有以前的挫折 ,就不 會有現(xiàn)在的一切."我常想,如果當(dāng)年我得到蒙哥馬利.沃德的那份工 作,我的人生之路又會怎樣走呢05、Keep Your Goals in Sight 莫讓目標(biāo)太遙遠Then she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb. She had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours.佛羅倫斯查德威克向前方望去,除了綿延無

38、盡的大霧,她 什 么也看不到.她一直在游泳,已經(jīng)游了幾乎16個小時,身體都麻木了.Already she was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. Now, at age 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.在那之前,她已經(jīng)是第一位從兩個方向游過英吉利海峽的女子.現(xiàn)在,她已經(jīng)34歲了,她的目標(biāo)是要成為第一個從卡達琳納島游到 加利福尼亞海岸的女子.O

39、n that Fourth of July morning in 1952, the sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense she could hardly see her support boats. Sharks cruised toward her lonely figure, only to be driven away by rifle shots. Against the frigid grip of the sea, she struggled on - hour after hour 一 while millions watched on national television.1952年7月4日的那個早晨,大海就像一個冰浴盆,霧是那么 濃,她甚至連救援她的船只都看不到.鯊魚