2018年6月英语四级听力美文第26篇:Encouragement

英语自学网

　　英语四级听力美文第26篇:Encouragement
        　　Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was
allowed to sit upin his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid
from his lungs. His bed was next tothe room’s only window. The other man had to
spend all his time flat on his back. Everyafternoon when the man in the bed by
the window could sit up, he would pass the time bydescribing to his roommate all
the things he could see outside the window. The man in theother bed began to
live for those onehour periods where his world would be broadened andenlivened
by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park
with alovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed
their model boats. Younglovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color
of the rainbow. Grand old trees gracedthe landscape, and a fine view of the city
skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man bythe window described all
this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room wouldclose his
eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. Days and weeks passed. One morning,
theday nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless
body of the man by thewindow, who had died peacefully in his sleep. When all was
arranged, the other asked if hecould be moved next to the window. The nurse made
the switch. Slowly, painfully, he proppedhimself up on one elbow to take his
first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have thejoy of seeing it for
himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
Itfaced a blank wall. The nurse said: “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage
you.”