30篇英语短文
编/后/排：离舍
前记：
整体较简单，文章中有很多好词好句，日常向
bgm分为两部分：
前三首是纯音乐（无人声，单曲循环就行，垫个背景音乐，三首自助
最后是英音版本（可跟读，至于为什么没有美音版本，因为喜欢英音。ps：第七篇最后一句音频缺失，不影响整体阅读
PASSAGE 1: Success in Life
Success means different things for different people. Some may equate it with fame, some with wealth and still some with accomplishments.
For me, it means fulfilling one's dreams. Whatever your dreams are, you have a goal there and then focus all your attention on it.
Dreams bring you hope and happiness. In the process of struggling for it, you cry, sweat, complain or even curse, but the joy of harvesting makes you forget all the pains and troubles you have gone through. So an old proverb says that the sweetest fruit is one that has undergone the bitterest ordeal.
There are several keys to success. First, your goal must be practical and practicable. If you set your goal too high, chances are that you will never attain it. Next, you have to make a plan of doing it. You can take some steps to realize it. Since the process is quite tough, you need to be diligent, patient and persevering.
Even if you meet with some difficulties or frustrations, just take them in your stride. You can always tell yourself that there is nothing insurmountable. With this will and determination, success is sure to wait for you at the end of the tunnel!
PASSAGE 2: Learning: a Lifelong Career
As food is to the body, so is learning to the mind. Our bodies grow and muscles develop with the intake of food. Likewise, we should keep learning day by day to maintain our mental power and expand our intellectual capacity.
Constant learning supplies us with fuel for driving us to sharpen our power of reasoning, analysis, and judgement. Continuous learning is the best way to keep pace with the times in the information age.
It is a common misunderstanding to regard school as the only place for the acquisition of knowledge. On the contrary, learning should be an endless process, from the cradle to the grave. With the world changing so fast, to stop learning for just a few days will make a person lag behind.
Lack of learning will inevitably lead to the stagnation of the mind, or even worse, its fossilization. Therefore, to stay mentally young, we have to take learning as a lifelong career.
PASSAGE 3: JOGGING
Every day, in all kinds of weather, thousands of men and women go jogging. Why has jogging—running slowly for long distances—become so popular? Most joggers like it because they have heard it is a very good exercise. Jogging makes the heart stronger and helps people lose weight. It can also help them feel better about themselves.
How fast should you go? Jog with a friend and talk to each other as you run. If you have difficulty talking, you are going too fast. How far should you jog? Remember not to go too far too soon. In fact you should walk, not run, the first few times. Then do some short jogs, but no more than what you can do comfortably.
After that, increase your distance a quarter or half of a mile every two weeks or so. Maybe in a few years, you, too, can run in a marathon like thousands of other people do.
PASSAGE 4: Body Language
Americans feel that physical contact can be important in breaking down barriers between people. Such physical acts as hugging, shaking hands and kissing in public are seen as displays of affection. In China, on the other hand, this is not common because physical contact is not the custom. Interestingly enough, most Chinese who spend some time in America come to like hugging; they learn that Americans use body language to express feelings. It is a way of saying “I like you and I care about you.” Shaking hands is another traditional way of greeting someone in America. Shaking hands is a more formal way of greeting than hugging. Whereas hugging shows closeness, shaking hands means that there is a little more formality in the relationship. Western people usually shake hands when meeting someone for the first time, or when they see someone again after a certain amount of time has passed. In Japan, people traditionally bow as a form of greeting. Other countries have different customs, like patting someone on the back or kissing.
PASSAGE 5: Sleep
Scientists suggest that today, most adults get up to two hours' less sleep than they need. As a result, those lacking in sleep are forgetful, tired, less productive and grumpy. Sleep is the time when our bodies and minds are rested and restored.
There are two types of sleep: Rapid Eye Movement and Non-REM. We need both types to be healthy. Rapid Eye Movement sleep is when we dream. Our brains are active, and our eyes have fast short movements, as if watching something. This type of sleep helps restore our mind.
Non-REM sleep is when our brain and body slow down. Our heart rate slows and our breathing is regular. This type of sleep helps restore our body. We have twice as much Non-REM sleep as Rapid Eye Movement sleep each night. To get better sleep, have a regular time for sleeping and a routine before you go to bed.
This will give your body the signal that it is time to sleep. Make sure the bed and bedroom are quiet and comfortable. If your bed is too hard or too soft, if you are too cold or too hot, you will not sleep well. For two hours before going to bed do not drink coffee or alcohol, or do not smoke or exercise. All these activities stimulate your body and make sleep difficult.
PASSAGE 6: Swimming
Swimming is a competitive sport played around the world and on many different levels, including the Olympics. It's also an easy sport to do on your own， both for fun and for exercise. Many doctors and athletes agree that swimming is one of the best workouts you can give your body, because it works almost on all of your major muscle groups at the same time.
Since you're floating in the water and not in contact with any hard surfaces, there's less pressure on your joints and bones. You're less likely to suffer injuries than with other sports.
There are many ways to push yourself and get better as a swimmer. If you're into speed, you can race the clock and see how long it takes you to do a certain number of laps. If you're into endurance, you can slow down and see how many laps you can do before you have to take a rest.
Many teenagers like swimming best. One of the students says, “The best part about swimming is when you beat your time. It doesn't even matter if you lose the race as long as you tried your best; you can walk away with a smile on your face. When you're in the water you forget that people may be watching and all you care about is getting to the other side of the pool and touching the wall. You can just let go and fly.”
PASSAGE 7: Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of three major Chinese holidays, along with the Spring and Moon Festivals. Of the three, it is possibly the oldest, dating back to the Warring States Period in 227 B.C. The festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a minister in the service of the Chu Emperor.
Despairing over corruption at court, Qu threw himself into a river. Townspeople jumped into their boats and tried in vain to save him. Then, hoping to distract hungry fish from his body, the people scattered rice on the water.
Over the years, the story of Qu’s demise transformed into the traditions of racing dragon boats and eating zongzi–a kind of rice wrapped in bamboo leaves. The races have certainly captured the imagination of people from all over the world.
Every spring there are nearly 60 dragon boat races held outside of China in cities from Vancouver to Sydney. Canada alone has nearly 50 dragon boat teams and Germany has nearly 30.
So what is it about the Dragon Boat Festival that appeals to foreigners? “It’s an unusual sport,” says one racer from Germany. “It’s not like everybody’s doing it. That’s one of the reasons that there’s such great team spirit in a dragon boat team–everybody feels like we’re doing something special.” And what about the zongzi? “Ehhh, they’ re not bad, I guess,” he says. “Something of an acquired taste. I just haven’t really acquired it yet.”
PASSAGE 8 The Government of the United States
These days, the American President is one of the most powerful men in the world. He can make war, or peace. He can touch the lives of millions in many different countries, but the President cannot do just what he wants. The Congress must agree first.
In some ways, the United States is like fifty small countries and not one large one. Every state has its own governor, its own police, and its own laws. For example, in some states you can buy an alcoholic drink when you are 18. In others, you must wait until you are 21.
The government of the whole country (the 'federal' government) works from Washington, the capital city. This is where Congress is based. Congress has two parts, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
There are 100 members of the Senate (called Senators), two from each state. The President cannot act without the Senate's agreement. The House of Representatives has 435 members. Like the senators, they can make new laws. Americans choose a new President every four years. The election is a great occasion. It is serious business, of course, but the Americans make sure that it is fun too.
PASSAGE 9 Globalization
In the years after World War Il, the world greatly changed. Much of this was due to new technology. For instance, the jet was developed. This increased the speed that people could travel. There were also advances in telecommunications. Computers and the Internet were invented. It became much easier for people to communicate with others all around the world. This has led to the spread of globalization.
Basically, the world is becoming a smaller place. In the past, what happened in one country rarely affected other countries. Or it took a long time for any effects to occur. But the world is different today. Because of globalization, what happens in one part of the world can affect places all around it.
Thanks to globalization, people can now do business more easily with those in other countries. When you go to the supermarket, you can see various foods from all of the different countries. This happens because of globalization. Also, people are learning more about other countries these days. This leads to more understanding about other countries. In the age of globalization, there has not been a single world war. And the world is becoming richer. Globalization has surely been good for the world.
PASSAGE 10 Resources
There are many kinds of resources on the Earth. Four of them are very important. They are renewable, nonrenewable, human, and capital resources.
Renewable resources can be used again and again. They can be replaced within a short time. Some energy resources are renewable. The energy from the sun, tides, water, and wind is renewable. Also, trees and animals are renewable. But humans still need to take good care of them. We should not waste them at all.
Nonrenewable resources are limited in supply. Once we use them, they disappear forever. They can’t be replaced. Many energy resources are like this. Coal, gas, and oil are nonrenewable.
Human resources are people and the skills they have. This also includes the knowledge and information that humans have.
People make products using renewable and nonrenewable resources. Machines are often used to produce goods. The machines and tools that are used to produce goods are called capital resources.
PASSAGE 11 Caring for the Five Senses
Everyone has five senses. The five senses are sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. We use different body parts for different senses. We need to take care of the parts of our bodies that let us use our senses.
For example, you use your eyes for seeing. You should protect your eyes and have a doctor regularly check your eyesight. Don't sit too close to the TV or computer monitor, and don't read in the dark or in dim light. Never look directly at the sun or at very bright lights.