精美英文欣赏:生活是一首交响曲

The auditorium¹ is full of people conversing² in the audience. On the stage the performers are shuffling³ their music and tuning⁴ their instruments as they prepare for the performance. The conductor enters, takes a bow, and all is silent. He raises his baton⁵ and the symphony begins to play. All of the instruments have different sounds, and the parts they play blend and harmonize with one another. The music would not be as exciting if every part were the same. The symphony is a symbol for life, especially in a community. Diversity and the coming together of each instrument is what gives the symphony its unique and special sound. This is also true in life and the world we live in. Individuals bring in their own input⁶ that influences others.

A symphony orchestra is composed of a variety of brass⁷, woodwind, percussion⁸ and stringed instruments. Each of these instruments has its own unique sound but when played together they complement⁹ each other. Like a symphony and its instruments, the world is composed of many races and cultures. They are uniquely different but can have an influence on each other even if it is not intentional¹⁰. If you are walking down the street, for example, and move out of the way so as not to bump into someone, they are influencing your actions when you move inside.

Individuality is an important part of the symphony. Each player has his or her own part to perform. These parts can be played on their own but do not have the same effect as when they are combined with the other parts of the orchestra. They blend into a harmonious¹¹ piece of music. In other words, you can hear what each person has to contribute and how each performer works together. In life, each person has a talent that they are particularly good at. When they work together, it accentuates¹² their talent. A surgeon can be very gifted but is more capable of saving a life if he has a team of medical personnel assisting him.

In an essay called "The Gospel of Wealth," Andrew Carnegie discussed his views on wealth, the public good, and individualism. He described individualism as "a nobler ideal that man should labor¹³, not for himself alone, but in and for a brotherhood¹⁴ of his fellows, and share with them all in common." Carnegie felt that individuality was important, but should not be taken so far that it separates everyone from each other. Each person should contribute their own ideas that better help the community as a whole.

Another similarity between life and the symphony is that a performer may not always have the melody but will accompany someone who does. Or in another case, a performer will not always have a solo and the chance to be in the spotlight¹⁵. In life, everybody has their moments of glory although they may go unnoticed like the accompanist. This does not mean, however, that they are any less important than anyone else. The melody does not stay with one instrument for the whole song but moves throughout the orchestra. As in life, everyone eventually has their moment to shine and their chance to be in the spotlight.

When preparing for a concert, the musicians are reminded by their conductor to stagger their breathing. They can, of course, breathe when they need to but they have to try not to breathe at the same time as the person sitting next to them. If everyone breathed at the same time, there would be a noticeable moment of silence in the song. This is yet another example that can be applied¹⁶ to life. People have to breathe when they need to breathe and to do what they want to do. They have to be an individual and know that someone will be there to cover for them.

The orchestra continues to play. It moves together as a group yet separately, with each person contributing their own part. Each musician is an active member of the symphony. We more together in life, contributing what we have to offer from day to day as active members in our community. The orchestra plays their last note and the song is over. There is a moment of silence that is broken by the applause of the audience.

生活是一首交响曲

观众席上，观众都在相互交谈着；舞台上，表演者正在为演出做好调试乐器和设备的准备。指挥上台，鞠了一个躬，顿时全场鸦雀无声。他举起指挥棒，交响乐开始演奏了。所有的乐器都有不同的声音，乐器的各个部件演奏着，声音彼此混合，却又协调。如果乐器的每一个部件都是一样的，那么音乐就有可能令人乏味。交响乐是生命的一种符号,在团体中尤其如此。每种乐器的差异性混合在一起，使得交响乐的声音具有唯一和独特性，我们的生命和我们生活的这个世界都是如此。每个个体带来各自的不同，而这些不同又影响着其他个体。

交响乐队是由许多不同的铜乐器，木管乐器，打击乐器，弦乐器组成。每种乐器都具有它们各自特有的声音，但是当它们一起演奏的时候，他们却又彼此互为补充，类似于交响乐和交响乐器。这个世界也是由许多种族和社会构成的，它们是唯一的和不同的，但是却又无意间彼此相互影响着。例如，当你正在街道上散步，为了不撞上某个人，你绕过他们，其实当你移动的时候，他们正在影响你的行为。

每个人都是交响乐中重要的一部分。每个演奏者都有各自需要演奏的部分，这些部分，他们能够单独演奏，但是当他们同其他乐手合奏时，却有着不同的效果。混合在一起，能成为音乐中和谐的部分。换句话说，你能够听见每个人做了什么贡献，也知道每个演奏者是这样一起工作的。在生命中，每个人也有他自己擅长的本领。当他们在一起工作时。更能够强化他的强项。一个外科医生可能很有天赋，但如果让他加入一个医疗小组，而且有人协助他的情况下，他会更有能力拯救他人的生命。

在一篇名为《健康圣经》的散文中, 安德鲁.卡耐基研究过他对财富、公共财富和个人主义的观点。他把个人主义描述为“人应该为了他的家人，为了他的兄弟朋友，而不是为了他自己而劳动，并与他们一起分享，这是一种高贵的理想。” 卡内基认为个性是非常重要的，但个性不应该偏离太大，或者以至于导致和他人不和。每个人都应该贡献自己的思想，来更好地帮助整个社会。”

生活和交响乐另外一个类似的地方是，演奏者可能并不总是有悦耳的音符，但他还是要伴随着其他人的演奏。例如，演奏者并不总是有独奏的机会，或者有在聚灯光下成为众所瞩目展现自己的机会。在生活中，每个人都有着自己光辉的瞬间，虽然他们可能会与伴奏者一样不被人注目，但是，这并不意味着他们的重要程度会比其他人低。悦耳的音乐不是总是由一种乐器发出的，而是在整个乐队的组合下流动发出的。和生活一样，每个人最终都有他们光辉的瞬间，或者有在聚灯光下成为众所瞩目展现自己的机会。

准备一个音乐会时，指挥会提醒音乐家交错的呼吸。当然,他们可以在他们需要的时候呼吸，但是他们不会与邻座的同时呼吸。如果每个人同时呼吸的话，他们将会成为音乐中寂静时刻的焦点，这也一个是能够同生活类比的例子。人们不得不在他们需要的时候才呼吸。他们不得不成为一个个体,而且知道有人会代替他们。

管弦乐队接着演奏，他们虽然彼此个个分离，但却可以组成一个团体，每个人都贡献自己的一部分，一起前进。每个音乐家都是交响乐中活跃的一个分子。在生活中，我们更加团结，作为社会中积极的一员,我们每天贡献着我们能够贡献的力量。乐队演奏完他们最后一章，音乐也结束了。片刻的寂静后，是观众雷鸣般的掌声响起。

1 auditorium   

n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂

参考例句：

• The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
• The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出，伸入观众席。

2 conversing   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 shuffling   

adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

6 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。

7 brass   

n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器

参考例句：

• Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。

8 percussion   

n.打击乐器；冲突，撞击；震动，音响

参考例句：

• In an orchestra,people who play percussion instruments sit at the back.在管弦乐队中，演奏打击乐器的人会坐在后面。
• Percussion of the abdomen is often omitted.腹部叩诊常被省略。

9 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

10 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

11 harmonious   

adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的

参考例句：

• Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
• The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。

12 accentuates   

v.重读( accentuate的第三人称单数 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于

参考例句：

• The dark frame accentuates the brightness of the picture. 深色画框更显出画的明亮色彩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her sunburnt skin accentuates the fairness of her hair. 她那晒黑了的皮肤突出了她的一头金发。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

14 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

15 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

16 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。