A Strange PresentOne day, when I was 14, my uncle sent me a pink T-shirt from ST. Louis,Missouri as my birthday present. On a beautiful Sunday morning, I worethis pink T-shirt and walked gently to the market. On the way, some boyswhistled at me. I became very nervous, so I walked faster and moreproperly with more decorum, but more and more boys whistled at melater. Therefore, I couldnt help but become more agitated. Suddenly, Iturned back and run to my home. I asked my mother, “Why did the boyswhistled at me?” My mother looked at my T-shirt with a smile and saidnothing. Then I turned to my father. “Why did the boys whistle at me?”My father looked at my beautiful new T-shirt and then laughingly asked,“Are you lonely?” Suddenly, I realized why the boys were whistling atme. The message on my pink T-shirt was“I am lonely”.注释：whistle: a small wind instrument for making whistling sounds by means of the breath 口哨properly: characterized by appropriateness or suitability; fitting 恰当的decorum: the conventions of polite behavior 礼貌agitated: 激动的，表现不安的Vacations in SpaceWant a ride in a spaceship? It will cost you about 20 million US dollars.At least thats what Dennis Tito recently paid for a trip to theInternational Space Station. What if you arent rich, but still want totravel in space? Dont worry. Research supported by NASA might makeyour dream come true. Scientists are refining a process that, if successful,will enable rockets to take off from the back of an airplane. If people doend up taking vacations in space, dont worry about finding somewhere tostay. Businessmen like British Richard Branson are already thinkingabout building hotels out there.注释：NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (美国)国家航空航天局；美国航天及太空总署end up: 结束；告终 Keeping PleasantIn these grim times, weighed down with tension and pressure from therealities of life, many people have lost their sense of humor. They tend tokeep a straight face all day long and fail to keep life in perspective. Theyforget how to smile and finally become physical and mental wrecks. Theyregard life as a burden, and tend to look on the dark side of things.Well goes a saying, “Laugh, and grow fat.” Laughter releases tension,and smiling helps create a pleasant social atmosphere. And, thus, in a way,a sense of humor is an elixir that helps cure mental diseases. Somepatients even improve their physical and mental health by readinghumorous stories or watching funny movies. This proves that a sense ofhumor helps us look at the world in a true and healthy light and makesour life worth living. 注释：grim: rigid 无情的，严酷的tension: uneasy suspense 紧张( 状态)，不安perspective: subjective evaluation of relative significance; a point of view 观点，评价； indim bimbo 又笨又坏的女人The Man I Respect MostMy father is the man I respect most. Stern as he may be, he never fails toshow his care and consideration. Once I broke a neighbors window.Seeing nobody around, I ran away immediately. When Dad came home,he noticed my uneasiness and asked me what had happened.I could only tell him the truth. Rather than scold me, he praised myhonesty and then encouraged me to apologize to our neighbor. I learnedfrom this episode that not only does Dad take care of our health but healso teaches us how to be good citizens. How lucky I am to have such agood father! 注释：stern : severe, strict 严厉的consideration : careful thought; deliberation 体谅，考虑uneasiness : 不安episode : an incident or event that is part of a progression or a larger sequence 插My Time of Happiness Each DayAs a student, most of my time is spent on school work and otherschool-related activities. Consequently, my time of happiness each day isvery limited.However, this is not to say that I am not happy every day. In fact, Ireally enjoy coming home from school each evening and having dinnerwith my family. After dinner, I read or watch some TV with my family.This is a happy time for me every day. But my happiest time of a day is just before I fall asleep. Lying inbed, I think about all I achieved that day, and it makes me happy to knowthat the day was full.注释：consequently : therefore 从而，因此 achieve : to perform or carry out with success; accomplish 完成，达到Stopping by Woods on a SnowyEvening风雪夜 林边停是一首著名的诗歌。写的是雪夜美景？写的是守诺如一？写的是人生不得不向前行？不同的读者会有完全不同的理解。这大概就是文学批评中所说的“接受美学”的观点吧。Whose woods these are I think I know,His house is in the village though.He will not see me stopping here,To watch his woods fill up with snow.My little horse must think it queer,To stop without a farmhouse near,Between the woods and frozen lake,The darkest evening of the year.He gives his harness bells a shake,To ask if there is some mistake.The only other sounds the sweep,英语晨读精华87Of easy wind and downy flake.The woods are lovely, dark and deep,But I have promises to keep,And miles to go before I sleep,And miles to go before I sleep. Robert Frost 注释：queer : deviating from the expected or normal; strange 奇怪的fa