關於經典的英語短文閱讀

　　英語是一種語言工具，學習英語的最終目標就是能利用這種工具與別人自由流暢的交流。小編精心收集了關於經典的英語短文，供大家欣賞學習!

　　關於經典的英語短文：Dropout Problem in America

　　美國的輟學問題

　　Articles in magazines and newspapers and special reports on radio and television reflect the concern of many Americans about the increasing dropout rate in our junior and senior high schools.

　　報刊雜誌上的文章以及廣播電臺的特別報道反映了許多美國人對中學日益增長的輟學率的擔憂。

　　Coupled with this fact is the warning that soon we will no longer have workforce to fill the many jobs that require properly-educated personnel.

　　伴隨而來的警告是，我們很快將缺乏足夠的勞動力以滿足那些需要受過一定教育的人員所從事的工作。

　　The highest student dropout rate is not a recent development. Ten years ago, many urban schools were reporting dropout rates between 35 and 50 percent. Some administrators maintain that dropouts remain the single greatest problem in their schools. Consequently, much effort has been spent on identifying students with problems in order to give them more attention before they become failures.

　　不是最近才大道最高輟學率的。據報道10年前許多城市學校的輟學率就在35%到40%之間。有的管理者堅稱輟學仍然是他們學校僅有的最嚴重的問題。結果是，為了在學生失敗前給予更多的關注，學校花費了更多的努力找出有問題的學生。

　　Since the dropout problem doesn't only start in senior high school, special programs in junior high school focus on students who show promise but have a record of truancy, that is, staying away from school without permission. Under the guidance of counselors, these students are placed in classes with teachers who have had success in working with similar young people.

　　由於輟學問題不僅僅發生在高中，在初中，一些特殊專案也在開始關注那些有前途但卻有逃課記錄的學生，逃課也就是未經許可而缺課的行為。

　　Strategies to motivate students in high school include rewarding academic excellence by designating scholars of the month, or by issuing articles of clothing, such as school letter jackets formally given only to athletes.

　　按照諮詢師的建議，這些學生被放在某些教師的班級中，而那些教師曾有過成功教育類似青年的經驗。在高中，激勵學生的措施包括評選月度獎學金獲得者以作為對學生學術成果的回報，獎勵服裝類商品，如只把校服正式授予校運動員。

　　No one working with these students claims to know how to keep all students in school. Counselors, teachers, and administrators are in the frontlines of what seems at times to be a losing battle. Actually, this problem should be everyone's concern, since uneducated, unemployed citizens affect us all.

　　沒有一個和這些學生打交道的人宣稱知道如何把所有的學生留在學校。諮詢師、教師和行政管理人員衝在這場有時看似必輸的戰爭的前面。事實上，這是我們每個人都應該關心的問題，因為未接受教育的、無職業的公民會影響我們所有人。

　　關於經典的英語短文：埃及的社會結構和支付方式

　　Social Structure and Way of Payment in Egypt

　　Egyptian society had a strictly organized class structure. The majority of people consisted of farmers and craftsmen who were led by the land-owning elite of officials and priests.

　　埃及社會有一套嚴格組織起來的社會等級結構。大部分人都是農民和工匠，他們由擁有土地的官員和牧師所組成的精英階級所領導。

　　Everyone belonged to a group and worked in a team, usually in huge workshops, or "Storehouses", which were controlled by the king and the temples.

　　每個人都隸屬於一個群體，在團隊裡面勞作，工作常常是在國王和神殿掌控下的大型的作坊裡，或叫做“儲藏所”。

　　The organization of society was based on the master-servant principle: just as the king was the servant of the gods and was himself the master of his people, so was every Egyptian the master of one and the servant of another. At the top of this social ladder were the high officials, the intellectuals or "Scribes", and on the lowest rungs were those who did the simple but heavy work, such as kitchen staff and farm laborers. The heaviest work was done by prisoners-of-war and criminals.

　　整個社會的組織結構是建立在主僕原則上的：正如國王是諸神的僕人同時又是他的臣民的主人，每個埃及人都同時是一個人的主人又是另一個人的僕人。在這個社會等級結構頂端的是高階官員們、知識分子或者“抄書吏”，最底層的則是那些做著簡單卻繁重的工作的人們，比如在廚房裡幹活的人們和農場的勞工。最重的活兒是由戰俘和罪犯來做的。

　　A working week lasted nine days and was followed by one day of rest. There was no work for almost half of the year, since nobody worked on festival days to honor the gods ***and there were a lot of those in Egypt***, or other special occasions.

　　一個工作周持續9天，休息一天之後另一個工作周又開始了。一年中大部分的時間都不用工作，因為不會有人在敬神的節日裡***在埃及有許多這樣的節日***或其他特殊場合裡工作。

　　Barter, rather than circulated money, was the means of payment. A basket cost so much grain, a stone coffin so many cows or other goods. Taxes were paid in products and grain, but also in work, such as compulsory work for the king. Economic depressions, often caused by famine, could result in social unrest and even strikes.

　　在埃及，支付方式是以物易物，而不是使用流通的貨幣。一個籃子值這麼多的穀子，一座石棺值那麼多的母牛或者別的貨物。賦稅是用產品和穀物繳的，但也可以用勞務來繳稅，比如強制為國王幹活。通常因饑荒而引起的經濟不景氣會引發社會***甚至罷工。

　　關於經典的英語短文：American Way of Life

　　美國人的生活方式

　　Throughout their history, Americans have been people on the move. The early immigrants had to travel to get to the New World. Once they arrived, they settled along the East Coast. But they weren't content to stay there. Explorers and traders journeyed to the unknown western territories. Later, settlers moved west to develop these new areas.

　　縱觀整個歷史，美國一直是個遷移的民族。早期的移民者必須長途跋涉才能抵達新大陸，他們到達後就會沿著東岸定居，但卻不滿於長居此地，冒險家和商人旅行至未知的西部地區。稍後，移民者也向西遷移去開發這些新地區。

　　As a result of this westward migration, Americans eventually occupied the whole continent-from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Even today, Americans seem unable to stay put. Research says that the average American moves every five years.

　　由於向西遷移，美國人最後佔據了整塊新大陸——從大西洋到太平洋。即使到今天，美國人似乎仍然無法在一地久居。根據研究，美國人平均每五年要搬一次家。

　　Besides their habit of changing addresses, Americans are used to traveling. Some people make long-distance commutes to work daily. Their jobs may even require them to take frequent business trips. Most companies provide an annual vacation for their employees, and people often use that time to travel.

　　除了搬家的習慣以外，美國人也很習慣旅行。有些人每天上下班得做長距離的通勤，工作上甚至經常需要因公旅行。大部分的公司每年會提供年假給員工，人們通常會利用這段時間去旅行。

　　Some people just visit friends or relatives in distant states. Others go on low-budget weekend excursions and stay in economy motels. Those with more expensive tastes choose luxurious resorts and hotels. Camping out in the great outdoors appeals to adventurous types. Some travel in recreational vehicles ***RVs*** to camp out in comfort, while others "rough it" by sleeping in tents.

　　有些人去遠一點的其他州拜訪朋友或親戚，有些則在週末有個經濟的小假期，並住在花費不高的旅館裡。品位較昂貴的人選擇豪華的度假地點和飯店;絕佳的戶外露營則吸引冒險型的人。有些人開著旅行車出遊，以舒適的方式露營;有些人則睡帳篷嘗試野外生活。

　　Most Americans prefer to travel within their nation's borders. Why? For one thing, it's cheaper than traveling abroad, and there's no language problem. But besides that, the vast American territory offers numerous tourist attractions.

　　大部分美國人比較喜歡在國內旅遊，為什麼呢?其中一個原因是，國內旅遊比國外旅遊便宜，也沒有語言交流的問題。但除此原因以外，佔地極廣的美國國土提供了許多能吸引遊客的地點。

　　Nations lovers can enjoy beaches, mountains, canyons, lakes and a wealth of natural wonders. Major cities offer visitors a multitude of urban delights. The convenience of modern freeways, railways and airplanes makes travel in America as easy as pie.

　　愛好大自然的人可以到海灘、山上、峽谷、湖泊和很多大自然奇景地區遊覽。大城市也提供給遊客們很多都市形態的娛樂。現代高速公路、鐵路和飛機使得在美國旅行很容易。