英语小文章

　　She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth it has no time to flow down the spout.

　　We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others 4)irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

　　她和妈妈刚在沃尔玛购完物。这个天真的小女孩应该6岁大了，头发是美丽的棕色，脸上有雀斑。外面下着倾盆大雨。雨水溢满了檐槽，来不及排走，就迫不及待地涌向了大地。

　　我们都站在沃尔玛门口的遮篷下。大家在等待，有的人很耐心，也有人烦躁，因为老天在给他们本已忙碌的一天添乱。雨天总引起我的遐思。我出神地听着、看着老天洗刷冲走这世界的污垢和尘埃，孩时无忧无虑地在雨中奔跑玩水的记忆汹涌而至，暂时缓解了我这一天的焦虑。

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Economic downturns may not be good for your bottom line but they might be a boon to your health, according to a study on health trends during the 20 years around the Great Depression.

Researchers from the University of Michigan found U.S. life expectancy increased by 6 years between 1929 and 1932, from 57 to 63, with the increase occurring for both men and women and for whites and non-whites.

The number of deaths from disease, accidents and infant mortality during the Great Depression also fell.

"The finding is strong and counterintuitive," said researcher Jose Tapia Granados from the university's Institute for Social Research. "Most people assume that periods of high unemployment are harmful to health."

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As a young man, Al was a skilled artist, a potter. He had a wife and two fine sons. One night, his oldest son developed a severe stomachache. Thinking it was only some common intestinal disorder, neither Al nor his wife took the condition very seriously. But the malady was actually acute appendicitis, and the boy died suddenly that night.年轻时，Al 就已经是一个陶艺艺术家了。他有了妻室和两个健壮的儿子。但是一天夜里，他大儿子肚子疼得厉害，他想这也只不过是正常的小毛病，就没太在意，他妻子也是。然而那却是急性阑尾炎，那可怜的孩子那天夜里就这么死了。

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Three professors at the reilway station were deep in conversation.They didn't notice the train arrive.Then the guard shouted,＂Take your seat,please." The professors rushed for the train, and two of them managed to aboard before it moved.The third one was left behind. One of the professor's students happened do be at the station and he offered words of comfort. ＂Two out of three caught the train, Sir," he said. ＂That's not too bad."

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