英语名篇诵读.doc

Memorable ProseGive Me Liberty, or Give Me Death2The Declaration of Independence4Gettysburg Address5Blood, Toil, Sweat and Tears7Companionship of books9Youth11If I Rest, I Rust13The Road to Success14Our Family Creed17Born to Win19To Be or Not to Be21The Delights of Books22On Idleness25Give Me Liberty, or Give Me DeathPatrick HenryThey tell us, sir, that we are weak, unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not week, if we make a proper use of means which the God of nature has placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight out battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no selection. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable-and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry peace, peace-but there is no peace. The war has actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!formidable /f:midbl/ 1 very powerful or impressive, and often frightening；2 difficult to deal with and needing a lot of effort or skill: formidable task/challengeirresolution/ i,rezlju:n/unable to decide what to do = uncertain; resoluteinaction /inkn/the fact that someone is not doing anythingdelusive /dilju:siv/1 uncountable and countable a false belief about yourself or the situation you are inunder a delusion (that) He is under the delusion that I am going to cheat him.2 delusions of grandeur the belief that you are much more important or powerful than you really arephantom /fntm/1 the image of a dead person or strange thing that someone thinks they see = ghost2 something that exists only in your imaginationinvincible /invinsbl/1 too strong to be destroyed or defeated: an invincible army; Young athletes think of themselves as invincible.2 an invincible belief, attitude etc is extremely strong and cannot be changedvigilant /vidilnt/giving careful attention to what is happening, so that you will notice any danger or illegal activity: Please remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious.clanking / klki/if a metal object clanks, it makes a loud heavy sound: A tram clanked past.clank also clanking noun countable the clanking of machineryextenuate /ekstenjueit/to make light of ;to make thin or emaciatedgale /geil/1 a very strong wind: a severe gale.its blowing a gale British English (=its very windy)2 a gale/gales of laughter a sudden loud sound of laughter: The bar erupted into gales of laughter.clash /kl/1 a short fight between two armies or groups - used in news reports: armed clashes along the borderclash between/with: violent clashes between police and demonstrators2 an argument between two people or groups because they have very different beliefs or opinions - used in news reportsclash between/with: The plans put oil companies in a head-on clash with environmentalists.personality/culture clash (=a situation in which two people or groups do not like each other)3 a sports match between two teams, players etc that is expected to be very exciting - used in sports reports: The heavyweight clash goes ahead in Las Vegas on 8 May.4 a situation in which two events happen at the same time in a way that is inconvenient: a scheduling clash on TV5 a loud sound made by two metal objects hitting each other: the clash of swords6 a combination of two colours, designs etc that look bad together: a color clash resoundingalmighty God expressions used to talk about God that emphasize His powerThe Declaration of IndependenceThomas JeffersonWhen in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws Nature and Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that they are among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.unalienable /,neiljnbl/an inalienable right, power etc cannot be taken from you: unalienable human rightsconsent / knsent /1 permission to do something2 agreement about somethingprudence /pru:dns/a sensible and careful attitude that makes you avoid unnecessary risks: financial prudenceusurpation /,ju:z:pein/to take someone elses power, position, job etc when you do not have the right toevince /ivins/to show a feeling or have a quality in a way that people can easily notice: She evinced no surprise at seeing them together.despotism /desptizm/rule by a despotrectitude /rektitju:d/behavior that is honest and morally correctsolemn /slm/1 very serious and not happy, for example because something bad has happened or because you are at an important occasion: a solemn expressionTheir faces suddenly grew solemn.a solemn procession of mourners2 a solemn promise is one that is made very seriously and with no intention of breaking it: a solemn vowIll never be unfaithful again. I give you my solemn word.3 performed in a very serious waysolemn ritual/ceremonyallegiance /li:dns/loyalty to a leader, country, belief etclevy /levi/to officially say that people must pay a tax or chargedivine /divain/coming from or relating to God or a godprovidence /prvidns/a force which is believed by some people to control what happens in our lives and to protect usGettysburg AddressAbraham LincolnFourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicatewe can not consecratewe can not hallowthis ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the earth.conceive /knsi:v/1 to imagine a particular situation or to think about something in a particular wayMany people cant conceive of a dinner without meat or fish.He could not conceive that anything really serious could be worrying his friend.I can hardly conceive what it must be like here in winter.Language may be conceived of as a process which arises from social interaction.2 to think of a new idea, plan etc and develop it in your mind: Scientists first conceived the idea of the atomic bomb in the 1930s.3 to become pregnant: fertility treatment for women who have difficulty conceivingdedicate /dedikeit/1 to give all your attention and effort to one particular thingThe actress now dedicates herself to childrens charity work.2 to say at the beginning of a book or film, or before a piece of music, that it has been written, made, or performed for someone that you love or respectThe book was dedicated to her husband.3 to state in an official ceremony that a building will be given someones name in order to show respect for them4 to use a place, time, money etc only for a particular purposeThe company dedicated $50,000 for the study.consecrate /knsikreit/1 to officially state in a special religious ceremony that a place or building is holy and can be used for religious purposes: The bones will be reburied in consecrated ground.2 to officially state in a special religious ceremony that someone is now a priest, bishop etchallow /hlu/1 to make holy; sanctify; consecrate. 2 to honor as holy; consider sacred; venerate: to hallow a battlefieldresolve /rizlv/1 to find a satisfactory way of dealing with a problem or difficulty = solve; settleThe crisis was resolved by negotiations.Barnet was desperate for money to resolve his financial problems.2 to make a definite decision to do somethingAfter the divorce she resolved never to marry again.Mary resolved that she would stop smoking.3 to make a formal decision, especially by votingThe Senate resolved to accept the Presidents proposals.4 to separate something into its different parts: DNA samples were extracted and resolved.perish /peri/to die, especially in a terrible or sudden way: Hundreds perished when the ship went down.Blood, Toil, Sweat and TearsWinston ChurchillIn this crisis I think I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today, and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former colleagues who are affected by the political reconstruction will make all allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act.I say to the House as I said to Ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, sweat and tears. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering.You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word, it is victory. Victory at all costs-victory in spite of all terrors-victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.Let that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages, that mankind shall move forward toward his goal.I take up my task in buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men.I feel entitled at this juncture, at this time, to claim the aid of all and to say, Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.toil /til/1 hard unpleasant work done over a long period: a life of toil2the toils of something: if you are caught in the toils of an unpleasant feeling or situation, you are trapped by itordeal /:di:l/a terrible or painful experience that continues for a period of timegrievous /ri:vs/very serious and causing great pain or suffering: a grievous shortage of hospital bedswage /weid/to be involved in a war against someone, or a fight against somethingmonstrous /mnstrs/1 very wrong, immoral, or unfair: Its monstrous to charge that much for a hotel room.Such monstrous injustice is hard to understand.2 unusually large: a monstrous nose3 unnatural or ugly and frightening: a monstrous shadow on the stairstyranny /tirni/1 cruel or unfair control over other people: Gorky was often the victim of his grandfathers tyranny.the fight against tyranny2 cruel and unfair government: organizations which have criticized the tyrannies of the government3 tyranny of the majority: the idea that if everyone has the right to vote, they will make decisions which will harm the country4 something in your life that limits your freedom to do things the way you want to: the tyranny of the nine-to-five working daylamentable /lmntbl/very unsatisfactory or disappointingbuoyancy /binsi/1 the ability of an object to float2 the power of a liquid to make an object float: Salt water has more buoyancy than fresh water.3 a feeling of happiness and a belief that you can deal with problems easily4 the ability of prices, a business etc to quickly get back to a high level after a difficult periodCompanionship of booksSamuel Smiles (1812-1904)A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.Men often discover their affinity to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, Love me, and love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this:” Love me, love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them.A good book is often the best urn of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world of a mans life is, for the most part, but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, remembered and cherished, become our constant companions and comforters.Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their authors minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time has been to sift out the bad prod