英语六级美文双语阅读
美文双语阅读：美国人的帮助方式
In America and around the world, Christmas offers many opportunities to spread "peace on earth, good will toward men". For example, Salvation Army bell ringers are a familiar slght to mostChristmas shoppers. They stand outside malls and stores collecting money for the needy. Many churches and other organizations collect toys and clothes as Christmas gifts for poor families. Going caroling is another traditional way to bring cheer to neiShbors-especially the elderly and people who can't get out much. The Christmas spirit encourages people to help each other in many large and small ways.
在美国及全世界各地，圣诞节提供了很多传扬“平安与世，善意与”的机会。例如，救世军的摇铃者对大多数为圣诞节购物的人们而言，是一个熟悉的景象。他们通常会站在购物中心和商店外面，为有需要的人募捐。很多教会和其他的机构会收集玩具和衣服，将其作为穷苦家庭的圣诞礼物上门唱圣诞颂歌是另钋一种能够将欢乐带给邻舍的传统方式，尤其是针对那些老人和无法常出门的人。圣诞节的精神鼓励人们在许多大大小小的事情上互相帮助。
The spirit of helping others isn't limited to Christmas ,however,Americans help others year-round. Civic clubs such as the Lion's Club, the Elk's Club and the Rotary Club take part in local community projects. Manyorganizations exist just to help others. The Make a Wish Foundation gives terminaIly ill childrena chance to have their dreams come true. Habitat for Humanity helps poor people build their own houses. And besides supporting worthy causes with their money, thousands ofAmericans donate their time by serving volunteers in hospitals, homeless shelters and schools.
然而，助人的精神并不只有在圣诞节才能发挥。美国人年到头都在帮助他人口像狮子会(Lion's Club)、角鹿社(Elk's Club)、扶轮社(Rotary Club)这样的市民会社，都参与了地方社区的计划活动。很多机构的设立就是为了要帮助他人。许愿基金会(Make a WishFoundation)给罹患末期疾病的儿童们一个美梦成真的机会;仁爱之家(Habitat for Humanity)则帮助穷苦的人们建盖属于他们自己的房子。成千上万的美国人除了以金钱支持一些有意义的事情之外，他们也献出自己的时间在医院、流浪者之家和学校作义工服务。
As the old saying goes, "Charity begins at home" - but it doesn't stop there. Americans are concerned about helping needy people in other countries, as weU. The U.S. is often one of the first countries to provide relief to areas of the world in severe need. Many American organizations reach out to suffering people in other countries. Some ofthem have programs by which
donors can sponsor needy children For a certain amount per month, people can provide these children with food, clothing and education.
正如一句古老的谚语所说：“仁爱从家里开始。_但它不是就停留在那里。美国人也很关心于帮助其他国家中有需要的人们。对于世界各地极需援助的地区，美国经常是首先提出救援的国家之一。很多美国机构向其他国家中的苦难人民伸出援助之手。捐献者可以通过某些机构中的一些援助计划去赞助有需要的儿童。人们每个月只要捐出某个特定的数目，就可以提供食物、衣服和教育给这些儿童们。
Americans not only give money to help people in other countries,often they give themselves, as well. Many people serve as volunteers with the Peace Corps for two years to provide assistance in some needy part of the world. They dig wells, help people improve farming techniques, build medical clinics and teach English. In addition, thousands of nussionaries from America and other countries have devoted their lives to helping people. They have built schools, hospitals, orphanages and churches in order to share God's love with those in need.
美国人不仅捐钱去帮助其他国家的人，他们常常也会奉献出自己。很多人志愿在“和平工作团”服务两年，去帮助世界上那些需要援助的地方。他们挖水井、帮助人们改善农业技术、盖医疗诊所以及教英文。除此之外，成千上万来自美国及其他国家的传教士，已将自己献身于帮助别人之中。他们盖学校、医院、孤儿院和教堂，将上帝的爱跟那些处在困境中的人分享。
As long as there are people in need, helping others will remain an important task. Americans are not the only ones who believe in helping others. People in every culture recognize that being helpful is one of the greatest virtues in life, as well as one of the sweetest joys. The Christmas season is a great time to renew our commitment to help people in need,We never know when we might need a little help ourselves.
只要有人需要援助，帮助别人就仍然是一件重要的事。美国人并不是唯一相信应该帮助别人的人。每一种文化中都会有人体会到，帮助别人是生命中最伟大的美德之一，也是最甜美的喜悦之一。圣诞节是一个绝佳的时机，可以让我们重新许下承诺去帮助有需要的人。我们永远不会知道，什么时候自己可能也需要—点帮助呢?
美文双语阅读：美国人的婚姻方式
“ I do." To Americans those two words carry great meaning. They can even change your life. Especially if you say them at your own wedding.Making wedding vows is like signing a contract. Now Americans don't really think marriage is a business deal. But marriage is serious business.
“我愿意”这几个字对美国人来说包含着深远的意义，它甚至可以改变一个人的生活，特别是当你在自己的婚礼上说出这句话的时候。发出结婚誓言就如同签订契约一般。虽然今天美国人并不真正认为婚姻是一种商业交易，但婚姻确实是件严肃的事。
It all begins with engagement. Traditionally, a young man asks the father of his sweetheart for permission to marry her. If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise her by “ popping the question" in a romantic way. Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married. The man usually gives his ficancee diamond nng as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for weeks, months or even years. As the big day approaches, bridal showers and bachelor's parties provide many useful gifts. Today
many couples also receive counseling during engagement. This prepares them for the challenges of married life.
一切从订婚开始。传统上来说，年轻男子先要请求女朋友的父亲允许自己娶她。如果女方的父亲答应，然后男方才能向女方求婚。男方时常尝试以罗曼蒂克的方式“蹦出这个问题竹，想给女方一个惊喜。有时双方只是一起决定该是结婚的时候了。男方通常会送给未婚妻一只钻石戒指作为订婚的象征。订婚期可以持续几个星期、几个月，甚至几年。当大喜的日子临近时，双方各自的好友在婚前的派对上会赠送许多实用的礼物。今天，许多未婚夫妻在订婚期间还听取咨询意见，以此为应付婚姻生活的挑战作好准备。
At last it's time for the wedding. Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there's still room for American individualism. For example, the usual place for a wedding is in a church. But some people get married outdoors in a sceruc spot. A few even have the ceremony while sky-diving or riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They choose their own style of colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful, long white wedding dress. She traditionally wears "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue", The groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo. Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.
最后就该举行婚礼了。虽然大多数的婚礼沿袭长期以来的传统，但是仍有发挥美国人的个性主义的余地。例如，通常举行婚礼的地点是在教堂，但是有些人却在户外的风景点举行婚礼，少数人甚至在跳伞或骑马时举办仪式!新人可以邀请几百个客人，也可以只邀请几个最要好的朋友。婚礼的色调风格、布置和音乐都由他们自己决定。.但有些事情很少会变化，新娘通常都穿一件漂亮的长长的白色结婚礼服。按传统习惯，新娘的穿着要包括“一点旧的、一点新的、一点借来的和一点蓝色的东西”。新郎则穿着一套正式的西装或无尾晚礼服。几位亲密的朋友参与婚礼作为陪伴，包括伴郎和伴娘。
As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride's attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, they promise to love each other "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health". But sometimes the couple has composed their own vows. They give each other a gold to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment: "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride!"
婚礼开始时，新郎和他的陪伴同牧师站在一起，面对着来宾。当音乐响起时，新娘的陪伴入场，后面就跟着美丽的新娘。—对新人紧张地跟着说出他们的誓言。按传统习惯，双方许诺要彼此相爱，“不论情况是好是坏，不论家境是富是穷，不论生病还是健糜竹o但有时两人也可以编一套自己的誓言。他们互赠金戒指象征婚姻的承诺。最后，牧师宣布重大时刻的到来：“我现在宣布你们成为夫妻。你可以亲吻你的新娘!
At the wedding reception, the bride groom greet their guests.Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, punch and other treats. Later the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition says that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. reception, playful friends "decorate" the couple's car with tissue paper, tin cans and a "Just Mamed" sign.When the reception is over ,the newlyweds run to their "decorated" car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.
在结婚喜宴上，新娘和新郎向宾客表示欢迎。然后他们切开结婚蛋糕并互喂对方一口。来宾们一边享受蛋糕、混合饮料和其他食物，一边相互交谈。之后，新娘将她的花束投向一群单身女孩。相传抓到花束的女孩会成为下一个结婚的人。喜宴期间，爱闹的朋友用薄纸、锡罐和写着“新婚斗的标牌来“装饰丹新人的小汽车。宴会结束后，新婚的小俩口就跑向他们“被装饰好的竹小汽车，并迅速地开走。许多新人会去度蜜月，即一两个星期的度假旅行，以庆祝他们的新婚。
Almost every culture has rituals to signal a change in one's life. Marriageis one of the most basic life changes for people of all cultures. So it's no Wise to find many traditions about getting married-even in America. Yet each couple follows the traditions in a way that is uniquely their own.
几乎每一种文化都有仪式来标志一个人生活的变化。婚姻对于各种文化的人而言都是最基本的生活变化之一。因此发现关于结婚有许多传统习俗，就不足为奇了—在美国也不例外。然而每对新人都会以自己独持的方式来继承传统。