Across the channel
Debbie Hart is going to swim across the English Channel tomorrow. She is going to set out from the French coast at five oclock in the morning. Debbie is only eleven years old and she hopes to set up a new world record. She is a strong swimmer and many people feel that she is sure to succeed. Debbies father will set out with her in a small boat. Mr. Hart has trained his daughter for years. Tomorrow he will be watching her anxiously as she swims the long distance to England. Debbie intends to take short rests every two hours. She will have something to drink but she will not eat any solid food. Most of Debbies school friends will be waiting for her on the English coast. Among them will be Debbies mother, who swam the Channel herself when she was a girl.
黛比.哈特准备明天横渡英吉利海峡.她打算早上5点钟从法国海岸出发.黛比只有11岁,她希望创一项新的世界纪录.她是一个游泳能手,很多人认为她一定能成功.黛比的父亲将乘一条小船同她一道出发.哈特先生训练她的女儿已经多年了,明天他将焦急地注视着女儿游过这段漫长的距离到达英国.黛比计划每两小时休息一下.她将喝些饮料,但不吃固体食物.黛比的大部分同学将在英国海岸等候她.他们当中还会有黛比的母亲,她本人还是个姑娘时,也曾横渡过英吉利海峡!
The dead return
A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan. 日本每年过一次“亡灵节”.
This festival is a cheerful occasion, 这个节日是个欢乐的日子,
for on this day, 因为在这一天,
the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living. 据说死去的人要回到他们的家里来,活着的人则对他们表示欢迎.
As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey,food is laid out for them. 因为预料到他们在经过长途旅行之后会感到饥饿,
Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way. 所以为他们摆放好了食品.特制的灯笼挂在各家的门外,为的是帮助亡灵看清道路.
All night long,people dance and sing. 整个夜晚人们载歌载舞.
In the early morning, 一大早,
the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it. 人们便把为死者摆放的食品扔进河中或海里,因为人们认为活着的人吃了这些东西是不吉利的.
In towns that are near the sea, 在靠海的城镇中,
the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before, 头天夜里街上挂着些小灯笼,
are placed into the water when the festival is over. 在节日后就放在了水里.
Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world. 成千上万只灯笼慢慢漂向大海,指引着亡灵返回另一个世界.
This is a moving spectacle, 这是一个感人的场面,
for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more. 人们成群地伫立在海岸上,注视着灯笼远去,直到再也看不见为止.
第二篇没找到中英文分开的.