英语四级美文下载

?英语四级美文下载：
　　第一篇

　　Right Beside You

　　The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the young woman with the white cane made her way1 carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and then, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, settled in to one. She placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.

　　It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. As the result of a medical accident she was sightless, suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. All she had to cling to2 was her husband Mark.

　　Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and he became determined to use every means possible to help his wife.

　　Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there She used to take the bus, but she was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to ride the bus with Susan each morning and evening until she got the hang of3 it. And that is exactly what happened.

　　For two weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to4 her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.

　　Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a taxi back to his office. Although that meant he had to travel through the city and the routine was costly and exhausting, Mark knew it was only a matter of① time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her.

　　Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived. Before she left, she embraced her husband tightly. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, and his love. She said good-bye and, for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday… Each day on her own went perfectly, and a wild gaiety5 took hold of Susan. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

　　On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was exiting the bus, the driver said, “Miss, I sure envy you.” Curious, Susan asked the driver why.

　　“You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a salute6 and walks away. You are one lucky lady,” the bus driver said.

　　Tears of happiness poured down Susans cheeks. She was so lucky for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didnt need to see to believe—the gift of love that can bring light where there is darkness.

　　第二篇

　　True Happiness

　　Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The authors of the American Declaration proclaimed happiness to be one of the essential rights that make life worth living. William James, the first American psychologist, echoed this emphasis on happiness: If we were to ask the question: What is human lifes chief concern One of the answers we should receive would be: It is happiness. Every philosophical and religious system has offered its pathway to happiness for the individual and the group. Happiness has been related to pleasure, refuge from pain, intellectual contemplation, union with God, friendship, children, wealth, honor, successful activity, and even state burial with statues! Today, scientists have joined the dialogue to seek answers about what contributes to happiness or, as they call it, subjective well-being.

　　If happiness is activity in accordance with excellence, it is reasonable that it should be in accordance with the highest excellence. – Aristotle The concept of happiness–while difficult to define– is obviously here to stay. But the desire for happiness can set up expectations that are often hard to fulfill. The right to pursue happiness was conceived of as an inalienable right; the entitlement that everyone be happy was never promised. As captured by Eric Hoffer, a misguided search we hope to provide a framework that will guide you in your personal pursuit of happiness.

　　第三篇

　　The trend in everyday conversation is to use grandiose words. Outstanding is new good, amazing is the new OK, and huge is the new big.

　　I was in a restaurant in D.C. last weekend and everything I asked was answered in superlatives.

　　Me: How s the salmon

　　Server: Fantastic!

　　Me: Does it come with rice

　　Server: Absolutely!

　　Would a good and a yes have been sufficient Undeniably!

　　At Starbucks, the smallest coffee you can order is a Tall. Tall would seem to indicate that there was also a short and medium, with Tall being the largest. But at Starbucks, Tall is small. Grande, which is both Italian and Spanish for large, is medium.

　　Likewise, at your local 7-Eleven you cannot buy a small: Your choices are Big Gulp, Super Gulp and Extremely Big Gulp. OldBananaNavyGap also did away with the small. You cannot buy anything from the chain stores that is really a small. My father is an average-sized man. He hasn t gained weight (or height, for that matter) for the past 30 years. Ergo, his size remains the same. But in the same amount of time, his T-shirt size has gone from small/medium to medium to large to extra large.

　　Upon reflection, the reason for all this colossal-speak is clear: We are bored with our fantastic, wonderful lives. We want the next-next thing now. Now!

　　And we also want others to think that we still care, that we can still be delighted, that we know that everything is just great. Even when deep inside we know it can t be. Everything can t be great. Hence, we live in a world where extreme is ordinary, where radical is quotidian; exceptional is pedestrian. And to not be overly delighted by the mundane is appalling. It s horrific. And, Dude, that s heinous.

　　I m not scientist, and my methods of proof leave a little to be desired, or a lot to be desired, or an immensity. An to be honest, I guess I d rather live in a world where people were overly excited than depressed.

　　But listen to the voices around you. Listen to your own voices. There is nothing on the news that is good or bad, only things that are wonderful or devastating. Even the weather is either beautiful or horrible.

　　Listen the next time when someone asks you something and you agree, because when you could simply say yes, instead you will say absolutely or without doubt or Oh, yeah, unquestionably – absolutely without doubt.

　　Have people forgotten what it is like to be OK Simply OK with what they have and who they are

　　If everything is outstanding, if everything is the most amazing thing ever, is anything ever amazing at all

　　第四篇

　　Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.

　　All claimed that they were the best.

　　The most important.

　　The most useful.

　　The favorite.

　　Green said:

　　Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.

　　Blue interrupted:

　　You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.

　　Yellow chuckled:

　　You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.

　　Orange started next to blow her trumpet:

　　I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I dont hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.

　　Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:

　　I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood – lifes blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.

　　Purple rose up to his full height:

　　He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey.

　　Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:

　　Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.

　　And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

　　In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:

　　You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Dont you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different Join hands with one another and come to me.

　　Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.

　　The rain continued:

　　From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow. And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

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　　01 The Language of Music

　　A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall, and everyone can

　　see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is

　　performed. Professional singers and players have great responsibilities,

　　for the composer is utterly dependent on them. A student of music needs

　　as long and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical

　　student needs to become a doctor. Most training is concerned with

　　technique, for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of an

　　athlete or a ballet dancer. Singers practice breathing every day, as

　　their vocal chords would be inadequate without controlled muscular

　　support. String players practice moving the fingers of the left hand up

　　and down, while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm-two

　　entirely different movements.

　　Singers and instruments have to be able to get every note perfectly in

　　tune. Pianists are spared this particular anxiety, for the notes are

　　already there, waiting for them, and it is the piano tuner’s

　　responsibility to tune the instrument for them. But they have their own

　　difficulties; the hammers that hit the string have to be coaxed not to

　　sound like percussion, and each overlapping tone has to sound clear.

　　This problem of getting clear texture is one that confronts student

　　conductors: they have to learn to know every note of the music and how

　　it should sound, and they have to aim at controlling these sound with

　　fanatical but selfless authority.

　　Technique is of no use unless it is combined with musical knowledge and

　　understanding. Great artists are those who are so thoroughly at home in

　　the language of music that they can enjoy performing works written in

　　any century.

　　02 Schooling and Education

　　It is commonly believed in United States that school is where people go

　　to get an education. Nevertheless, it has been said that today children

　　interrupt their education to go to school. The distinction between

　　schooling and education implied by this remark is important.

　　Education is much more open-ended and all-inclusive than schooling.

　　Education knows no bounds. It can take place anywhere, whether in the

　　shower or in the job, whether in a kitchen or on a tractor. It includes

　　both the formal learning that takes place in schools and the whole

　　universe of informal learning. The agents of education can range from a

　　revered grandparent to the people debating politics on the radio, from a

　　child to a distinguished scientist. Whereas schooling has a certain

　　predictability, education quite often produces surprises. A chance

　　conversation with a stranger may lead a person to discover how little is

　　known of other religions. People are engaged in education from infancy

　　on. Education, then, is a very broad, inclusive term. It is a lifelong

　　process, a process that starts long before the start of school, and one

　　that should be an integral part of one’s entire life.

　　Schooling, on the other hand, is a specific, formalized process, whose

　　general pattern varies little from one setting to the next. Throughout a

　　country, children arrive at school at approximately the same time, take

　　assigned seats, are taught by an adult, use similar textbooks, do

　　homework, take exams, and so on. The slices of reality that are to be

　　learned, whether they are the alphabet or an understanding of the

　　working of government, have usually been limited by the boundaries of

　　the subject being taught. For example, high school students know that

　　there not likely to find out in their classes the truth about political

　　problems in their communities or what the newest filmmakers are

　　experimenting with. There are definite conditions surrounding the

　　formalized process of schooling.

　　03 The Definition of “Price”

　　Prices determine how resources are to be used. They are also the means

　　by which products and services that are in limited supply are rationed

　　among buyers. The price system of the United States is a complex network

　　composed of the prices of all the products bought and sold in the

　　economy as well as those of a myriad of services, including labor,

　　professional, transportation, and public-utility services. The

　　interrelationships of all these prices make up the “system” of prices.

　　The price of any particular product or service is linked to a broad,

　　complicated system of prices in which everything seems to depend more or

　　less upon everything else.

　　If one were to ask a group of randomly selected individuals to define

　　“price”, many would reply that price is an amount of money paid by the

　　buyer to the seller of a product or service or, in other words that

　　price is the money values of a product or service as agreed upon in a

　　market transaction. This definition is, of course, valid as far as it

　　goes. For a complete understanding of a price in any particular

　　transaction, much more than the amount of money involved must be known.

　　Both the buyer and the seller should be familiar with not only the money

　　amount, but with the amount and quality of the product or service to be

　　exchanged, the time and place at which the exchange will take place and

　　payment will be made, the form of money to be used, the credit terms and

　　discounts that apply to the transaction, guarantees on the product or

　　service, delivery terms, return privileges, and other factors. In other

　　words, both buyer and seller should be fully aware of all the factors

　　that comprise the total “package” being exchanged for the asked-for

　　amount of money in order that they may evaluate a given price.

　　04 Electricity

　　The modern age is an age of electricity. People are so used to electric

　　lights, radio, televisions, and telephones that it is hard to imagine

　　what life would be like without them. When there is a power failure,

　　people grope about in flickering candlelight, cars hesitate in the

　　streets because there are no traffic lights to guide them, and food

　　spoils in silent refrigerators.

　　Yet, people began to understand how electricity works only a little more

　　than two centuries ago. Nature has apparently been experimenting in this

　　field for million of years. Scientists are discovering more and more

　　that the living world may hold many interesting secrets of electricity

　　that could benefit humanity.

　　All living cell send out tiny pulses of electricity. As the heart beats,

　　it sends out pulses of record; they form an electrocardiogram, which a

　　doctor can study to determine how well the heart is working. The brain,

　　too, sends out brain waves of electricity, which can be recorded in an

　　electroencephalogram. The electric currents generated by most living

　　cells are extremely small – often so small that sensitive instruments

　　are needed to record them. But in some animals, certain muscle cells

　　have become so specialized as electrical generators that they do not

　　work as muscle cells at all. When large numbers of these cell are linked

　　together, the effects can be astonishing.

　　The electric eel is an amazing storage battery. It can seed a jolt of as

　　much as eight hundred volts of electricity through the water in which it

　　live. ( An electric house current is only one hundred twenty volts.) As

　　many as four-fifths of all the cells in the electric eel’s body are

　　specialized for generating electricity, and the strength of the shock it

　　can deliver corresponds roughly to length of its body.

　　05 The Beginning of Drama

　　There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece.

　　The on most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama

　　evolved from ritual. The argument for this view goes as follows. In the

　　beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world-even the

　　seasonal changes-as unpredictable, and they sought through various means

　　to control these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which

　　appeared to bring the desired results were then retained and repeated

　　until they hardened into fixed rituals. Eventually stories arose which

　　explained or veiled the mysteries of the rites. As time passed some

　　rituals were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, persisted

　　and provided material for art and drama.

　　Those who believe that drama evolved out of ritual also argue that those

　　rites contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and

　　costumes were almost always used, Furthermore, a suitable site had to be

　　provided for performances and when the entire community did not

　　participate, a clear division was usually made between the acting area

　　and the auditorium. In addition, there were performers, and, since

　　considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the

　　enactment of rites, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing

　　masks and costumes, they often impersonated other people, animals, or

　　supernatural beings, and mimed the desired effect-success in hunt or

　　battle, the coming rain, the revival of the Sun-as an actor might.

　　Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious

　　activities.

　　Another theory traces the theaters origin from the human interest in

　　storytelling. According to this vies tales (about the hunt, war, or

　　other feats) are gradually elaborated, at first through the use of

　　impersonation, action, and dialogue by a narrator and then through the

　　assumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related

　　theory traces theater to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and

　　gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.

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　　12月四级考前秘押作文四：大学的简短介绍

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write A Brief Introduction to the University. You should write at least 120 words according to the following guidelines:

　　假设你是一名学生志愿者，要给来你们学校参观的外国朋友介绍学校情况。内容应包括学校历史、规模、教学现状以及未来目标等。

　　A Brief Introduction to the University

　　Distinguished guests,

　　Welcome to our university. Before you start to look around, allow me to give you a brief account of the school.

　　Founded in 1927, our university is one of this city’s earliest universities of liberal arts. It is staffed with an excellent faculty, and has a total enrollment of over 10,000 students. In the past years, it has turned out numerous well-qualified students and found its graduates active in professions of all walks of life.

　　Since its establishment, the university has always steered itself toward the objective that its students have an overall healthy development. Not only does it provide the students with basic academic courses, but it manages to expose them to the up-to-date knowledge. Besides, students are free to participate in colorful campus activities and social practice, which are intended for broadening their mind and developing their potential talent.

　　Currently, both our faculty and students are making every effort to improve the quality of our education in the direction of a first-rate university. Thank you.

　　点评：近几年，随着我国顺利加入世贸组织以及经济全球化步伐的加快，许多国内高校纷纷与国外大学合作办学，教育走向国际化成为人们关注的热点，也是大学生门比较关心的热点问题。本预测题为热议校园生活话题，与2004年旅游景点介绍2006年考查的名校校园开放如出一辙。

　　12月四级考前秘押作文四：大学的简短介绍

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write A Brief Introduction to the University. You should write at least 120 words according to the following guidelines:

　　假设你是一名学生志愿者，要给来你们学校参观的外国朋友介绍学校情况。内容应包括学校历史、规模、教学现状以及未来目标等。

　　A Brief Introduction to the University

　　Distinguished guests,

　　Welcome to our university. Before you start to look around, allow me to give you a brief account of the school.

　　Founded in 1927, our university is one of this city’s earliest universities of liberal arts. It is staffed with an excellent faculty, and has a total enrollment of over 10,000 students. In the past years, it has turned out numerous well-qualified students and found its graduates active in professions of all walks of life.

　　Since its establishment, the university has always steered itself toward the objective that its students have an overall healthy development. Not only does it provide the students with basic academic courses, but it manages to expose them to the up-to-date knowledge. Besides, students are free to participate in colorful campus activities and social practice, which are intended for broadening their mind and developing their potential talent.

　　Currently, both our faculty and students are making every effort to improve the quality of our education in the direction of a first-rate university. Thank you.

　　点评：近几年，随着我国顺利加入世贸组织以及经济全球化步伐的加快，许多国内高校纷纷与国外大学合作办学，教育走向国际化成为人们关注的热点，也是大学生门比较关心的热点问题。本预测题为热议校园生活话题，与2004年旅游景点介绍2006年考查的名校校园开放如出一辙。

　　12月四级考前秘押作文六：大学里的生活

　　For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: Living alone or Living with Roommates You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese.

　　1. 有人认为大学里应独自生活

　　2. 另一些认为大学里应与别人同住

　　3. 你的看法

　　Living alone or Living with Roommates

　　Nowadays, there has appeared a heated discussion among the college students as to whether they should live alone outside the campus or live together with other roommates in the students’ dormitory. Opinions are divided over the matter.

　　Those who are in favor of Living alone maintain that it is very convenient to live by themselves. They can enjoy absolute freedom in a room of their own. They can have their own timetable without disturbing others. They are also free to equip the room with a personal computer so that they can have easy access to the Internet.

　　But others argue that living with roommates has attractions of its own. With several students sharing the same room, each person’s experiences can be greatly enriched. They can learn a lot from talking to one another. By learning to tolerate the differences between individuals, they can become more mature.

　　As far as I’m concerned, I prefer to live with roommates because I love the feeling of belonging. Besides, it is a lot cheaper to live in a dorm than to rent a apartment outside the campus.

　　点评：本文与校园生活密切相关，也是近年来出现的现象，人们对此的看法各异，2003年后，四级作文考查加大了学校生活类题目的考查，因为这类题材不存在地域的差异，不同地域的同学都有话可说。本预测题即为校园生活类话题，与刚考完的四级作文话题类似，符合命题者出题思路，值得引起重视。

　　12月四级考前秘押作文七：手机用户图表

　　Direction: For this part you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic :Cell Phones .You should write no less than 120 words and base your composition on the outline below:

　　1. 描述上图所示的手机用户数的变化情况

　　2. 出现这种情况的原因

　　3. 对此现象作出评价

　　Cell Phones

　　As is shown in the chart, cell phones are becoming increasingly popular within China. In 1999, the number of cell phones in use was only 2 million, but in 2002, the number reaches 5 million. And in the year 2005, the number has suddenly soared to 9 million.

　　There are many factors contributing to this development. Firstly, a cell phone has no wires and can be carried everywhere easily. Secondly, a cell phone is something wonderful that we can have fun with news, games, music and chat through sending short messages. Thirdly, the drop in price and the simultaneous improvement in the functions have made it possible for an average person to make use of cell phone.

　　The wide use of cell phones has make them more and more indispensable in people’s daily life. The many functions of the cell phone have made certain people reluctant to separate themselves from their cell phone.

　　点评：随着我国经济的快速发展，人民的生活水平不断改善，通讯业的日新月异的发展，使得手机使用普及化，成为人们日常生活的必需品，对此的利弊人们看法各异。本预测题为热点话题，同样是年轻人较熟悉和经常讨论的话题，值得关注。

　　12月四级考前秘押作文八：广告

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the topic

　　Advertisement. You should write at least 120 words following the outline given below in Chinese:

　　1. 广告的作用

　　2. 广告的形式多样

　　3. 广告的夸张性。

　　Advertisement

　　Advertisements are forcing their way into people’s lives. People refer to advertisements in their daily lives because they are consumers. The advertisers are usually manufacturers, retailers and salesmen. Their merchandise needs to be advertised to bring it to the attention to the customers. Thus nearly every product is advertised in some way. To a large extent, good advertising leads to success while bad advertising can mean failure.

　　There are many ways to advertise and ‘ads’ come in different forms. Newspapers carry advertisements. Some products are publicized on TV and radio which bring them into notice of a wide audience. Billboards also carry advertising. Advertising is a big industry now and many agencies have been set up to furnish a variety of forms..

　　However, advertising is not always truthful. A product is often misrepresented. The advertiser exaggerates the benefits of the merchandise he wants to sell. Thus, he misrepresents the truth. The consumer falls victim to such advertising. Millions of people have bought advertised products and have been dissatisfied with them。

　　点评：这是一篇说明文，用说明的表达方式来解说事物，阐明事理。写好说明文，不仅要抓住特征，注意条理，而且要巧妙运用说明方法，像下定义、举例子、作比较、分类别、列数字、打比方等

　　12月四级考前秘押作文九：写给校长的信

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic: A Letter to the President of the University about Improving the Sports Facilities on Campus. You should write no more than 120 words, and base your composition on the outline given below in Chinese:

　　假设你是李明，请你写一封信给校长，建议改善本校体育设施状况，内容应涉及体育设施对大学生的重要性，对目前学校体育设施的状况可以表扬，可以提出批评建议，也可以兼而有之。

　　A Letter to the President of the University

　　Dear Mr. President,

　　I am writing this letter to you to express my concern about the sports facilities on campus. I have noticed that our university has very limited resources in terms of opportunities to participate in sports, especially given that the number of students on campus is increasing every year.

　　As we both know, sports are very important for the sound growth of young people. If they have access to quality sports facilities, young people are able to choose a healthier lifestyle, to boost self-esteem and confidence, and to build a positive outlook and sense of achievement.

　　My proposal is to build a new sports area. It should be designed with soccer players, basketball players, and ping-pong players in mind. It should have a different section for each activity and be available to students all year round. I believe such facilities will meet our sporting needs.

　　Thank you for your reading this letter.

　　Yours faithfully,

　　Li Ming

　　点评：本预测题仿真度颇高，为校园生活话题，与在校大学生日常生活密切相关，是最近几年侧重考查的题材。2002年1月考查了就本校食堂状况给校长写一封信。

　　12月四级考前秘押作文十：博客

　　Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Blog. You should write at least 120 words based on the chart and outline given below:

　　去新东方在线注册一个账号，有足够的酷币就可以下载他们论坛里面的资料。很全很丰富。四级版块里有你要的晨读美文。酷币是通过登录网站和回帖增加的。