英语名篇诵读 选择

Choices

选择

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have

responsibilities to fulfill¹ today. I am important.

My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is

getting watered for free .

Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances

encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble² about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament³ over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can

feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark⁴ upon a quest to

discover new relationships.

Today I can whine⁵ because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job

to do.

Today I can murmur⁶ dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored

because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor⁷ who gets to

do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

我今天醒得早，很兴奋，因为时钟在子夜敲响之前我有许多事情要做。我有责任让全

天过得充实。我很重要。

我的工作就是选择今天怎样过。

今天，我可以抱怨阴雨绵绵，也可以感激草地无需费力浇灌。

今天，我可以为无余钱而伤心，也可以欣喜，因为手头不宽余，我得理性消费，避免

浪费。

今天，我可以为身体状况满腹牢骚，也可以为活着而满心欢喜。

今天，我可以为儿时父母给得太少而悲叹，也可以为他们赋予了生命而感恩。

今天，我可以为玫瑰有刺而哭泣，也可以为刺茎上有玫瑰花而庆贺。

今天，我可以为缺少朋友而哀伤，也可以为能去发掘新的友情而兴奋。

今天，我可以为上班而抱怨，也可以为有工作可做而欢呼。

今天，我可以为做家务而咕哝，也可以为上帝赐予的身心避风港而深感荣幸。

今天在我前面伸展，等待着我来塑造。我就是雕刻师，得去做雕塑工作。

今天会怎么样，全由我决定。今天怎样过，全由我选择！

1 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

2 grumble   

vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声

参考例句：

• I don't want to hear another grumble from you.我不愿再听到你的抱怨。
• He could do nothing but grumble over the situation.他除了埋怨局势之外别无他法。

3 lament   

n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹

参考例句：

• Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
• We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。

4 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

5 whine   

v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣

参考例句：

• You are getting paid to think,not to whine.支付给你工资是让你思考而不是哀怨的。
• The bullet hit a rock and rocketed with a sharp whine.子弹打在一块岩石上，一声尖厉的呼啸，跳飞开去。

6 murmur   

n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言

参考例句：

• They paid the extra taxes without a murmur.他们毫无怨言地交了附加税。
• There was a low murmur of conversation in the hall.大厅里有窃窃私语声。

7 sculptor   

n.雕刻家，雕刻家

参考例句：

• A sculptor forms her material.雕塑家把材料塑造成雕塑品。
• The sculptor rounded the clay into a sphere.那位雕塑家把黏土做成了一个球状。