美文雙語閱讀：美國人的幫助方式

　　In America and around the world, Christmas offers many opportunities to spread "peace on earth, good will toward men". For example, Salvation Army bell ringers are a familiar slght to mostChristmas shoppers. They stand outside malls and stores collecting money for the needy. Many churches and other organizations collect toys and clothes as Christmas gifts for poor families. Going caroling is another traditional way to bring cheer to neiShbors-especially the elderly and people who can't get out much. The Christmas spirit encourages people to help each other in many large and small ways.

　　在美國及全世界各地，圣誕節提供了很多傳揚“平安與世，善意與”的機會。例如，救世軍的搖鈴者對大多數為圣誕節購物的人們而言，是一個熟悉的景象。他們通常會站在購物中心和商店外面，為有需要的人募捐。很多教會和其他的機構會收集玩具和衣服，將其作為窮苦家庭的圣誕禮物上門唱圣誕頌歌是另釙一種能夠將歡樂帶給鄰舍的傳統方式，尤其是針對那些老人和無法常出門的人。圣誕節的精神鼓勵人們在許多大大小小的事情上互相幫助。

　　The spirit of helping others isn't limited to Christmas ,however,Americans help others year-round. Civic clubs such as the Lion's Club, the Elk's Club and the Rotary Club take part in local community projects. Manyorganizations exist just to help others. The Make a Wish Foundation gives terminaIly ill childrena chance to have their dreams come true. Habitat for Humanity helps poor people build their own houses. And besides supporting worthy causes with their money, thousands ofAmericans donate their time by serving volunteers in hospitals, homeless shelters and schools.

　　然而，助人的精神并不只有在圣誕節才能發揮。美國人年到頭都在幫助他人口像獅子會(Lion's Club)、角鹿社(Elk's Club)、扶輪社(Rotary Club)這樣的市民會社，都參與了地方社區的計劃活動。很多機構的設立就是為了要幫助他人。許愿基金會(Make a WishFoundation)給罹患末期疾病的兒童們一個美夢成真的機會;仁愛之家(Habitat for Humanity)則幫助窮苦的人們建蓋屬于他們自己的房子。成千上萬的美國人除了以金錢支持一些有意義的事情之外，他們也獻出自己的時間在醫院、流浪者之家和學校作義工服務。

　　As the old saying goes, "Charity begins at home" - but it doesn't stop there. Americans are concerned about helping needy people in other countries, as weU. The U.S. is often one of the first countries to provide relief to areas of the world in severe need. Many American organizations reach out to suffering people in other countries. Some ofthem have programs by which

　　donors can sponsor needy children For a certain amount per month, people can provide these children with food, clothing and education.

　　正如一句古老的諺語所說：“仁愛從家里開始。_但它不是就停留在那里。美國人也很關心于幫助其他國家中有需要的人們。對于世界各地極需援助的地區，美國經常是首先提出救援的國家之一。很多美國機構向其他國家中的苦難人民伸出援助之手。捐獻者可以通過某些機構中的一些援助計劃去贊助有需要的兒童。人們每個月只要捐出某個特定的數目，就可以提供食物、衣服和教育給這些兒童們。

　　Americans not only give money to help people in other countries,often they give themselves, as well. Many people serve as volunteers with the Peace Corps for two years to provide assistance in some needy part of the world. They dig wells, help people improve farming techniques, build medical clinics and teach English. In addition, thousands of nussionaries from America and other countries have devoted their lives to helping people. They have built schools, hospitals, orphanages and churches in order to share God's love with those in need.

　　美國人不僅捐錢去幫助其他國家的人，他們常常也會奉獻出自己。很多人志愿在“和平工作團”服務兩年，去幫助世界上那些需要援助的地方。他們挖水井、幫助人們改善農業技術、蓋醫療診所以及教英文。除此之外，成千上萬來自美國及其他國家的傳教士，已將自己獻身于幫助別人之中。他們蓋學校、醫院、孤兒院和教堂，將上帝的愛跟那些處在困境中的人分享。

　　As long as there are people in need, helping others will remain an important task. Americans are not the only ones who believe in helping others. People in every culture recognize that being helpful is one of the greatest virtues in life, as well as one of the sweetest joys. The Christmas season is a great time to renew our commitment to help people in need,We never know when we might need a little help ourselves.

　　只要有人需要援助，幫助別人就仍然是一件重要的事。美國人并不是唯一相信應該幫助別人的人。每一種文化中都會有人體會到，幫助別人是生命中最偉大的美德之一，也是最甜美的喜悅之一。圣誕節是一個絕佳的時機，可以讓我們重新許下承諾去幫助有需要的人。我們永遠不會知道，什么時候自己可能也需要—點幫助呢?

　　美文雙語閱讀：美國人的婚姻方式

　　“ I do." To Americans those two words carry great meaning. They can even change your life. Especially if you say them at your own wedding.Making wedding vows is like signing a contract. Now Americans don't really think marriage is a business deal. But marriage is serious business.

　　“我愿意”這幾個字對美國人來說包含著深遠的意義，它甚至可以改變一個人的生活，特別是當你在自己的婚禮上說出這句話的時候。發出結婚誓言就如同簽訂契約一般。雖然今天美國人并不真正認為婚姻是一種商業交易，但婚姻確實是件嚴肅的事。

　　It all begins with engagement. Traditionally, a young man asks the father of his sweetheart for permission to marry her. If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise her by “ popping the question" in a romantic way. Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married. The man usually gives his ficancee diamond nng as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for weeks, months or even years. As the big day approaches, bridal showers and bachelor's parties provide many useful gifts. Today

　　many couples also receive counseling during engagement. This prepares them for the challenges of married life.

　　一切從訂婚開始。傳統上來說，年輕男子先要請求女朋友的父親允許自己娶她。如果女方的父親答應，然后男方才能向女方求婚。男方時常嘗試以羅曼蒂克的方式“蹦出這個問題竹，想給女方一個驚喜。有時雙方只是一起決定該是結婚的時候了。男方通常會送給未婚妻一只鉆石戒指作為訂婚的象征。訂婚期可以持續幾個星期、幾個月，甚至幾年。當大喜的日子臨近時，雙方各自的好友在婚前的派對上會贈送許多實用的禮物。今天，許多未婚夫妻在訂婚期間還聽取咨詢意見，以此為應付婚姻生活的挑戰作好準備。

　　At last it's time for the wedding. Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there's still room for American individualism. For example, the usual place for a wedding is in a church. But some people get married outdoors in a sceruc spot. A few even have the ceremony while sky-diving or riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They choose their own style of colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful, long white wedding dress. She traditionally wears "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue", The groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo. Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.

　　最后就該舉行婚禮了。雖然大多數的婚禮沿襲長期以來的傳統，但是仍有發揮美國人的個性主義的余地。例如，通常舉行婚禮的地點是在教堂，但是有些人卻在戶外的風景點舉行婚禮，少數人甚至在跳傘或騎馬時舉辦儀式!新人可以邀請幾百個客人，也可以只邀請幾個最要好的朋友。婚禮的色調風格、布置和音樂都由他們自己決定。.但有些事情很少會變化，新娘通常都穿一件漂亮的長長的白色結婚禮服。按傳統習慣，新娘的穿著要包括“一點舊的、一點新的、一點借來的和一點藍色的東西”。新郎則穿著一套正式的西裝或無尾晚禮服。幾位親密的朋友參與婚禮作為陪伴，包括伴郎和伴娘。

　　As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride's attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, they promise to love each other "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health". But sometimes the couple has composed their own vows. They give each other a gold to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment: "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride!"

　　婚禮開始時，新郎和他的陪伴同牧師站在一起，面對著來賓。當音樂響起時，新娘的陪伴入場，后面就跟著美麗的新娘。—對新人緊張地跟著說出他們的誓言。按傳統習慣，雙方許諾要彼此相愛，“不論情況是好是壞，不論家境是富是窮，不論生病還是健糜竹o但有時兩人也可以編一套自己的誓言。他們互贈金戒指象征婚姻的承諾。最后，牧師宣布重大時刻的到來：“我現在宣布你們成為夫妻。你可以親吻你的新娘!

　　At the wedding reception, the bride groom greet their guests.Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, punch and other treats. Later the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition says that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. reception, playful friends "decorate" the couple's car with tissue paper, tin cans and a "Just Mamed" sign.When the reception is over ,the newlyweds run to their "decorated" car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.

　　在結婚喜宴上，新娘和新郎向賓客表示歡迎。然后他們切開結婚蛋糕并互喂對方一口。來賓們一邊享受蛋糕、混合飲料和其他食物，一邊相互交談。之后，新娘將她的花束投向一群單身女孩。相傳抓到花束的女孩會成為下一個結婚的人。喜宴期間，愛鬧的朋友用薄紙、錫罐和寫著“新婚斗的標牌來“裝飾丹新人的小汽車。宴會結束后，新婚的小倆口就跑向他們“被裝飾好的竹小汽車，并迅速地開走。許多新人會去度蜜月，即一兩個星期的度假旅行，以慶祝他們的新婚。

　　Almost every culture has rituals to signal a change in one's life. Marriageis one of the most basic life changes for people of all cultures. So it's no Wise to find many traditions about getting married-even in America. Yet each couple follows the traditions in a way that is uniquely their own.

　　幾乎每一種文化都有儀式來標志一個人生活的變化。婚姻對于各種文化的人而言都是最基本的生活變化之一。因此發現關于結婚有許多傳統習俗，就不足為奇了—在美國也不例外。然而每對新人都會以自己獨持的方式來繼承傳統。