英语标准美文100篇 085

Happy birthday and birthday cakes

The song " Happy birthday to you" is sung all over the world just before the birthday boy or girl blows out the candles on the cake. It is so simple in melody and lyric¹ that children as young as three can sing it without hesitation². The song， with its original title " Good Morning to You" ， was written in 1893 by the two sisters， Mildred and Patty Smith Hill. They were the daughters of a progressive Kentucky couple， who believed in female education at a time——the mid-nineteenth century—— when it was still a novel idea and who trained their two daughters to be school teachers. They were long involved in elementary education， and Patty， in particular. She achieved considerable prominence4 as a pioneer in kindergarten education， and for several decades a major spokesperson for preschool education. She taught at Columbia University's Teachers College from 1905 to 1935，and at her retirement³ became one of the first women to be named a professor emeritus⁴ by Columbia.

　　A birthday cake with burning candles is also indispensable at one's birthday party. It may derive⁵， distantly， from the ancient Greek practice of offering to Artemis， goddess of the hunt and of the moon， a round honey cake into which a candle was stuck. After German bakers⁶ invented the modern birthday cake in the Middle Ages， a similar custom was adopted for the invocation of good spirits at birthdays. The cake， ready by morning， would be surrounded by burning candles， in a kind of protective fire circle， and they would be kept lit all day， until dessert time at the evening meal.

　　The candle-blowing-out custom may be associated with candles' dual⁷ meaning at birthdays. Some people believe that each birthday is another step toward the end， and what we celebrate at birthday gatherings⁸ is not only our growth， but our transience.Thus，candles at birthdays are symbols of duality，life and death，hopes and fears， increase and loss， and so on.

1 lyric   

n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的

参考例句：

• This is a good example of Shelley's lyric poetry.这首诗是雪莱抒情诗的范例。
• His earlier work announced a lyric talent of the first order.他的早期作品显露了一流的抒情才华。

2 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

3 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

4 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

5 derive   

v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

6 bakers   

n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三

参考例句：

• The Bakers have invited us out for a meal tonight. 贝克一家今晚请我们到外面去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bakers specialize in catering for large parties. 那些面包师专门负责为大型宴会提供食品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

8 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。