经典英语美文欣赏【实用4篇】

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英语美文美句摘抄【第一篇】

1、 We'd like to express our desire to establish business relationship with you on the basis of quality, mutually benefit and exchange of needed goods 。

我们希望在保证质量、互惠互利以及交易彼此需要的货物的基础上和你们建立业务关系。

2 。In order to extend our export business to your country we wish to enter direct business relations with you.

为了扩大我们在贵国的出口业务，我们希望和你们建立直接贸易关系。

3、 Our hope is to establish mutually beneficial trading relations between us 。

希望在我们之间能够建立互惠互利的贸易关系。

4、 We looking forward to further extensions of pleasant business relations.

我们期待进一步保持愉快的业务关系。

5、 It’s our hope to continue with considerable business dealing with you.

我们的希望是和你们保持可观的生意往来。

6、 We looking forward to receiving your quotation very soon.

我们期待尽快收到你们的报价单。

hope you see from the reduction that we are really doing our utmost.

我希望你能够看到我们事实上已经作出了最大程度的让价。

hope to discuss business with you at your earliest convenience.

我们希望在你方便的时候和你洽谈业务。

wish to express our desire to trade with you in leather shoes.

我们非常希望和你进行皮鞋的买卖生意。

look forward to your early reply and trust that through our mutually cooperation we shall be able to conclude this transaction with you in the near further.

我们期待您的及时反馈，并且相信通过互相之间的合作，我们会进行越来越多的交易。

hoped we can do business together and looking forward to hearing from you soon.

希望我们可以一起做生意，期待尽快得到您的回答。

hoped we can cooperate happily.

希望我们合作愉快。

13、 I hoped we can continue our cooperation.

希望我们能够继续合作。

14 。We sincerely hope that this transaction will turn out to the satisfaction of both parties.

我们真诚地希望本次交易双方都能满意。

hoped that this market trend will continue.

希望市场形势能够继续保持。

16 。It is hoped that you will seriously take this matter into consideration and let

us have your reply soon.

希望你慎重考虑一下这个事情，并且尽快给我们一个回复。

17 。We hoped that you will deal with our request honestly.

希望你们能公正地处理我们的请求。

18、 We hope to receive your immediate answer.

希望尽快得到你们的答复。

19、 We are looking forward to having your early reply to this matter.

我们期待你们的尽快答复。

20、 We hoped that this dispute can be settled through friendly negotiation without be submit for arbitration.

希望此次争端可以通过友好协商的方式解决，而不是通过仲裁的方式解决。

21、 We look forward to your settlement at early date 。

希望你们尽早进行结算。

22、 Your early settlement of this case will be appreciated.

感谢您的早日结算。

23、 We hoped you can settle the claim as quickly as possible.

希望尽快解决债权问题。

24、 We hoped that there will be no repetition of this kind of trouble in the future 。

希望以后不再会有这种麻烦。

25 。We expect that you will offer us a lower price as soon as possible.

我们期待你们能够尽快给我们一个比较低的价格。

26、 We hoped that the matter can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

我们希望这个事情能够得到满意的结果。

27、 I do hope this undesirable incident will not stand in the way of our future business.

我不希望这个令人不快的'意外不会妨碍我们以后的生意。

hope this matter will not effect our good relations and future dealings.

我们希望这件事不会影响我们良好的关系和以后的生意。

29、 I wished this business will bring benefit to both of us.

希望这个生意对我们双方都有益。

30、 We hoped this incident will not bring any harm to our pleasant relations.

希望这个意外不会伤害我们之间的良好关系。

31、 This model of typewriter is efficient and endurable ， economical and practical for middle school students.

此款打印机高效，耐用，经济特别适合与中学生使用。

32、 The computer we produced is characterized by its high quality, compact-sized, energy-saving and it’ also easy-to-learn and easy-to-operate.

我们生产的电脑以高品质，结构紧凑，节能，学习操作简易而著称。

are not only as low-priced as other makers, but they are distinctly superior in the following respects 。

我们的产品不仅与同等产品一样价位低廉，而且在以下一些方面更具有先进之处。

34、 You will get a 30% increasing production upon using this machine and also it allows one people to perform the task of three people.

使用这台机器可以使生产率提高30%，同样也可以使三个人所做的工作，由一个人就可以完成。

35、 This product will pay its own way in a year.

此机器可以维持使用一年。

machine will pay back your investment in 6 month.

使用这台机器6个月就可收回投资成本。

new type of suitcase card designed by our engineers is very ingenious and practical.

我们的工程师设计的包装物卡片精致而实用。

kind of bicycle can be folded in half and handy to carry around ，especially useful during traveling and traffic jams.

这款自行车可以折叠成一半那么大，便于手提，特别适用与旅行或交通拥挤时。

maximum speed of this kind of variable speed bicycle is 30 K/H 。

这款赛车速度最快可达30公里每小时。

machines have few breakdowns and easy to maintain because of their simple

mechanical structure.

此机构设备结构简单，因此故障少，便于维护。

with other brands, this kind of tyre cost less per mile and wear much longer due to its topnotch rubber.

与其他品牌相比，这种轮胎使用高品质橡胶，磨损小，耐用。

42、 This kind of tyre is characteristic of nonskid stop on wet road.

此轮胎可在湿滑路面正常使用。

material has a durable and easy-to-clean surface.

这种材料便于清洗，且耐用。

kind of air-conditioning system is practical and economical for the needs of your company.

这种空调经济耐用，适用与公司，企业。

products are as superb quality as well as the typical oriental make-up.

我们的产品质量卓越，是典型的东方式设计风格。

silk garments are made of super pure silk material and by traditional skills.我们的真

丝衣物是由上等纯丝为材料，以传统手工技术制成。

47、 The garments are magnificent and tasteful and have long enjoyed great fame both at home and aboard.

这类衣物既华丽而且极具鉴赏价值，享誉国内外。

our typewriters are made of light and hard alloy they are both portable and endurable.

我们的打印机由轻质的硬质合金制成，携带方便，经久耐用。

hand bags we quoted are all made of the best leather and various the kinds and the styles in order to meet the requirements of all walks of life in your country.

我们向您推荐的这款手提包由最好的皮革制成，品种齐全，风格各异，以满足贵国各种人群

的不同需要。

our products have all the feature you need and 20% cheaper compared with that

Japanese made ，I strongly recommended to you.

我向您强烈推荐，我们的产品具备您所想要的全部特征，而且比同等日本产品便宜20%。

cleaners of this brand are competitive in the international market and are the best- selling products of their kind.

这个品牌的真空净化器是目前国际市场上最具有竞争力且销量最好的一款。

52、 “Forever” multiple speed racing bicycles are sure to be sella ble in your market.

“永久”牌变速赛车在您的市场中一定热销。

53、 Owning to its superior quality and reasonable price our silk has met with warm reception and quick sale in most European countries.

鉴于它的高品质和合理的价格，我们的真丝衣物在欧洲市场备受好评，销售很快。

feel that our product is the best kind in Asia and we can very well compete against Japan in price.

我们认为我们的产品是亚洲市场上最好的，可以在价格上与日货竞争。

55、 Our goods are greatly appreciated in other markets similar to your own.

我们的货物在其他市场上也备受好评。

virtue of its super quality ，this product is often sold out in many areas.

由于品质卓越，这款商品经常在一些地区脱销。

products are superior in quality and moderate in price and are sure to be sellable in your market.

我们的产品质量好，价格低廉，一定会在您的市场上热销。

items are most sellable in our market.

这些产品在我们的市场中有售。

have been a steady demand in our market for this kind of toy.

此类玩具在我们的市场中供货充足稳定。

have the pleasure in recommending you the goods similar to the sample you send.

我们很高兴向您推荐我们的产品，并为您提供样件。

Unit three 业务范围介绍

61) We wish to introduce ourselves to you as a sate-owned corporation dealing exclusively in light industrial goods.

很高兴向你介绍我司为一家专业生产灯具的国有企业。

62) We are introducing ourselves as one of the leading exporters of the same line of business

我司是一家同行业的领导性的出口企业

63) We have the pleasure of introducing ourselves to you as a state corporation specializing in the export of canned goods.

很高兴向你介绍我司为一家专业出口罐装货物的国有企业

64) We introduce ourselves as dealers in bicycles and spare parts. We have been in this line for over two decades.

我司为自行车及其配件的经销商，从事该行业20余年

65) Our corporation is specialized in handling the export business of textiles

我司致力于从事纺织品出口生意

66) The main products our corporation deals in are electrical appliances.

我司从事的主要产品是电子产品

67) Our company is mainly engaged in agricultural products.

我司主要致力于家业产品业务

68) We specialize in the export of table-cloths.

我们主要从事台布出口业务

69) Our company mainly deals with the export business of silk goods.

我司主要从事丝织品出口业务

70) Our specialization is the exportation of Chinese silk garments

我司专门从事中国丝绸衣服出口

71) We are engaged in the import and export of machinery.

我们从事机械进出口业务

72) We are now doing a large import business in fruits from Southeast Asia.

我们现从事东南亚水果进口生意

73) We specialize in handling clocks and watches of all sorts.

我们主要从事各类钟表及手表生意

74) We also take on a variety of silk piece goods

我们也做各类丝织品生意

75) Our activities cover a wide range of commodities, such as ties, belts and shirts.

我们的业务范围为日用品，比如领带，腰带和衬衫

76) We are in a very good position to supply most grades of canned fish at competitive prices and for good delivery

我们在供应最高级罐装鱼方面具有竞争性的价格和及时的交货期的优势

77) We are in a position to accept orders against customers samples specifying design, specifications and packaging requirements.

我们可以接受顾客对于样品个性设计、规格及包装要求的订单

78) We are now exporting straw and willow products, embroideries, porcelain wares, jade carvings, antiques, Chinese paintings, silk flowers and various kinds of toys and gifts.

我们出口稻草类和柳制品、刺绣品、瓷陶器、翡翠饰品、古董、中国油画、丝花和各种玩具和礼品

79) Our corporation is a major producer of technically advanced machinery and chemicals for industry and agriculture.

我司是一家从事工农业方面的先进技术的机械和化学制品的厂家

80) Electronic products fall within the scope of our business activities

电子产品在我司业务范围内

81) We also do export business of hand made woven articles.

我们也出口手工丝制业务

82) We have been engaged in the glass business with many Asian countries for many years

我们已经和许多亚洲国家从事多年的玻璃生意

83) Our company is mainly in the line of exporting Chinese art objects to European markets.

我司主要是将中国产品销往欧洲市场

84) We also do import and export business in chemicals and agricultural products

我们也从事化工和农业产品的进出口业务

85) We have been importing and exporting all kinds of metals and minerals for 30 years and have many customers and friends in over 80 countries and regions

我们有30多年的金属和矿石进出口历史，已有80余个国家的客户和朋友

86) Our corporation is a group enterprise integrating scientific research, business, production and service.

我司是一家集科研、贸易、生产和服务为一体的集团性公司

87) As a joint venture, our corporation has won a prominent position in the fields of home electronics, computers and telecommunications in China

作为一家合资企业，我们在中国家电、计算机和电讯领域获得卓越的地位

88) We are prepared to accept orders for goods with customers’ own trade marks or brand names

我们正准备接受来自客户自有商标和品牌商品的订单

89) We have been handling leather shoes and gloves for more than 20 years

我们已经从事皮鞋和手套20余年

90) We have been engaged for two decades in the manufacture of such equipment.

我们已从事设备制造20余年

Unite four 承诺

assure you that such things will not happen again in our future deliveries.

我们保证这类事情在将来的交付中不再发生

’d like to avail ourselves this opportunity to assure you of our broad attention in handling your future order.

我们十分珍惜这次机会，保证在将来的订单中更加注意

products are always good as the samples we send ，I can promise there will be not debasement of quality.

我们的产品一直如我们发给你的样品那样好，我能保证将不会降低质量

guarantee that there is not difference in quality between the products we send you next month and what’s samples you saw just now.

我保证在质量上，我们下月发给你的货物和刚才你看到的样品是一样的

can promise you that the product we send you will be of A-one quality.

我能保证我们将发给你的产品属于A级

products are surely of standard quality.

确信我们产品质量一流

give you my word that the payment will be made not later than the end of June.

我保证付款将不迟于六月末

promise I will check into these problems and find out if they were our fault.

我保证我将检查这些问题并确认是否我们的过错

can make sure that goods avoid been damaged during the transit.

我们能确信货物在运输过程中避免受损

will provide a fresh guarantee for the protection of the equipments repaired.

我们将重新保证设备维修的保护

经典的英语优秀美文【第二篇】

why Measure Life in Heartbeats?

Hemingway once wrote that courage is grace under pressure. But I wouldrather think with the 18th-century Italian dramatist, Vittorio Alfieri, that"often the test of courage is not to die but t0 1ive." For living with cancerengenders more than pressure; it begets terror. To live with it, to face up toit-that's courage.

Hope is our most effective "drug" in treating cancer. There is almost nocancer (at any stage) that cannot be treated. By instilling hope in a patient,we can help develop a positive; combative attitude to his disease. Illogical,unproven? Perhaps. But many doaors believe that this must become a partof cancer therapy if the therapy is to be effective.

I have had the joy of two beautiful and wonderful wives, the happiness ofparenthood and the love of eight children. My work was constantly chal-lenging and fulfilling. I have always loved music and books, ballet and thetheater. I was addicted to fitness, tennis, golf, curling, hunting and fishing.

Good food and wine graced my table. My home was a warm and happyplace.

But when I became aware of my imminent mortality, my attitudes changed.

There was real meaning to the words, "This is the first day of the rest ofyour life." There was a heightened awareness of each sunny day, the beautyof flowers, the song of a bird. How often do we reflect on the joy of breath.

ing easily, of swallowing without effort and discomfort, of walking withoutpain, of a complete and peaceful night's sleep?

After I became ill, I embarked upon many things I had been putting offbefore. I read the books Ihad set aside for retirement and wrote one myself,entitled TheArt of Surgery. My wife Madeleine and I took more holidays.

We played tennis regularly and curled avidly; we took the boys fishing. WhenI review these past few years, it seems in many ways that I have lived alifetime since I acquired cancer. On my last holiday in the Bahamas, as Iwalked along the beach feeling the gentle waves wash over my feet, I felt apart of tlie universe, even if only a minuscule one,like a grain of sand on thebeach.

Although I had to restrict the size of my practice, I felt closer empathy withmy patients. When I walked into the Intensive Care Unit there was an awe-some feeling knowing I, too, had been a patient there. It was a special satis-faction to comfort my patients with cancer, knowing that it is possible toenjoy life after the anguish of that diagnosis. It gave me a warm feeling tosee the sparkle in one patient's eyes-a man with a totallaryngectomy-when I asked if he would enjoy a cold beer and went to get him one.

If one realizes that our time on this earth is but a tiny fraction of that withinthe cosmos, then life calculated in years may not be as important as wethink. Why measure life in heartbeats? When life is so dependent on such anunreliable function as the beating of the heart, then it is fragile indeed. Theonly thing that one can depend upon with absolute certainty is death.

I believe that death may be the most important part of life. I believe that lifeis infinitesinially brief in relation to the immensity of eternity. I believe,because of my religious faith, that I shall "return to the Father"in an afterlifethat is beyond description. I believe that though my life was short in years, itwas fullin experience, joy, love and accomplishment; that my owriimmor-tality will reside in the memories of my loved ones left behind, mother,brother, wife, children, dear friends. I believe that I will die with loved onesclose by and, one hopes, achieve that great gift of God-ileath in peace, andwith dignity.

何必以心跳定生死？

海明威曾经写过，勇气就是临危不惧。不过，我更赞同18世纪意大利戏剧家维多利奥·阿尔菲利的观点：“对勇气的考验往往不是去死，而是要活。”身患癌症，不仅带来痛苦，而且引起恐惧。抱病生活，并敢于正视这一现实，这就是勇气。

希望是我们治疗癌症最有效的“药物”。几乎没有任何癌症(无论发展到哪一期)是不能医治的。把希望灌输到病人心里，我们就可以帮助他树立起积极与疾病作斗争的观念。也许此话不合逻辑，言之无据，是吗？然而，许多医生认为，要想使疗法有效，这必须成为癌症治疗的一部分。

我有幸先后拥有两位美丽贤惠的妻子所带来的欢欣，体验过为人之父的乐趣，并得到八个子女的爱。过去，我的工作一直富有挑战性，令人有成就感。我一向喜欢听音乐和读书，酷爱芭蕾舞和戏剧。我曾经醉心于健身运动、网球、高尔夫球、冰上溜石、打猎和垂钓。我的餐桌摆满美酒佳肴。我的家温馨而又幸福。

可是，当我知道自己大限将至时，生活态度就变了。“这是您余生的开始。”这句话对我有了实实在在的含义。对每一个晴天丽日，对鸟语花香，我的感触倍加强烈。平日呼吸轻松，吞食自如，走路毫不费劲，一夜安寝到天明，我们几曾回味过其中的'乐趣？

患病后，我着手做以前搁置下来的许多事情。我阅读了本来留到退休后才读的书，而且还写了一本题为《外科术》的书。我与夫人马德琳度假更加频繁。我们经常去打网球，劲头十足地在冰上溜石，还带儿子们去钓鱼。回顾过去几年，从许多方面来看，自从得了癌症以后，我似乎已经活了一辈子。上次到巴哈马度假期间，我沿着海滩漫步，海浪轻轻抚揉着我的双脚，此时此刻我蓦然觉得自己与整个宇宙融为一体，尽管我微不足道，就像海滩上的一粒沙子。

虽然我不得不限制自己的医务工作量，我感到与病人更加心灵相通。当我走进特别护理室时，一种敬畏之感油然而生，因为我知道自己也曾是这里的病人。我明白，在经历了被确诊为癌症的极度痛苦之后，仍有可能享受生活，因此，安慰癌症患者成了一种特别的乐事。一位病人做了喉部切除手术，我问他是否想喝冻啤酒，而且为他拿来了一杯，这时我看到他眼里闪现出了火花，一股暖流顿时涌上我的心头。

倘若人们意识到人生在世只不过是宇宙的时间长河中转瞬即逝的一刹那，那么以岁月计算的生命就不会像我们所想的那样重要了。何必以心跳来定生死呢？当生命依赖于心跳这样一种不可靠的功能时，它的确脆弱不堪。而只有死亡才是人们唯一可以绝对依赖的。

我认为死亡可能是人生中最重要的一环。我认为与那漫长的永生相比，生命是极其短暂的。基于我的宗教信仰，我相信在我身后那难以描绘的时光里，我将回归圣父。我相信，我的生命以年月计算，虽然是短暂的，但经历丰富，充满了欢乐、爱情和成就；我将永远活在我所爱的人，即我的母亲、兄弟、儿女和密友的记忆中。我相信，在弥留之际，我的亲朋好友将陪伴在我身旁：我希望得到上帝的恩赐——带着尊严，安详地告别人间。

经典的英语优秀美文【第三篇】

Excellence is not an act, but a habit

Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny,” the maxim goes.

人的品德基本上是由习惯组成的。 俗语说；思想决定行动，行动决定习惯，习惯决定品德，品德决定命运。

Habits are powerful factors in our lives. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness or ineffectiveness.

习惯对我们的生活有绝大的影响，因为它们是一贯的。 在不知不觉中， 经年累月影响着我们的品德，暴露出我们的本性，左右着我们的成败。

As Horace Mann, the great educator, once said, “habits are like a cable. We weave a strand of it every day and soon it cannot be broken.” I personally do not agree with the last part of his expression. I know habits can be learned and unlearned. But is also know it isn’t a quick fix. It involves a process and a tremendous commitment.

美国著名教育家曼恩曾说：“习惯就仿佛是一条缆绳，我们每天为他缠上一股新索，不要多久就会变得牢不可破。”这句话的后半段我不敢苟同，我相信习惯可以养成，也可以打破，但绝不是一蹴而就，而是需要长期的努力和无比的毅力。

Those of us who watched the lunar voyage of Apollo 11 were transfixed as we saw the first men walk on the moon and return to earth. But to get there, those astronauts literally had to break out of the tremendous gravity pull of the earth. More energy was spent in the first few minutes of lift-off, in the first few miles of travel, than was used over the next several days to travel half a million miles.

宇航员搭乘阿波罗11号太空船，首次登陆月球的刹那，的确令人叹为观止。但宇航员得先摆脱地球强大的引力，才能飞往月球。由此在刚发射的几分钟，也就是整个任务一开始的几英里之内，是最艰难的时刻，所耗的力量往往超越往后的几十万英里。

Habits, too, have tremendous gravity pull- more than most people realize or would admit. Breaking deeply imbedded habitual tendencies such as procrastination, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness that violate basic principles of human effectiveness involves more than a little willpower and a few minor changes in our lives. “Lift off” takes a tremendous effort, but once we break out of the gravity pull, our freedom takes on a whole new dimension.

习惯也是一样，它具有极大的引力，只是许多人不加注意或不肯承认了。想要革除因循苟且，缺乏耐心，吹毛求疵或自私自利等不良习性，若是缺乏意志力，不能大刀阔斧的改革，便难以实现目标。“起飞”需要极大的努力，然而一旦脱离重力的牵绊，我们便可享受前所未有的自由。

1. maxim ['mksm] 座右铭

2. Our character, basically, is a composite of our habits.

人的品德基本上是由习惯组成的。

composite[kɑm'pɑzt] n. 组合，组成物，adj 组合而成的

composite material 复合材料

China is a great composite of various nationalities.

3. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns

因为它们是一贯的。

consistent[kn'sstnt] adj. 始终如一的， 坚持的， 一致的

Running is my only consistent habit.

Losing weight is her consistent slogan.

4. It involves a process and a tremendous commitment.

tremendous[tr'mnds]adj.极好的， 极大的， 惊人的

The city has taken place a tremendous change these years.

commitment [k'mtmnt]n. 承诺， 保证， 承担承诺， 献身

Don't offer any commitment if you can't fulfill it.

5. Those astronauts literally had to break out of the tremendous gravity pull of the earth.

gravity['ɡrvti]最喜欢的一首歌《Defying Gravity》 没听过的一定要去听哦！

deeplyimbeddedhabitual tendencies such as procrastination, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness.

想要革除拖延，缺乏耐心，吹毛求疵或自私自利等顽固地不良习性。

imbedded[m'bdId] adj 嵌入的

My whole life is imbedded in teaching English.

经典的英语优秀美文【第四篇】

Why do leaves change color in the fall? asks Patricia Brown, of New York City.

Autumn's cool days are trimmed with deep blue skies and golden light, and brilliant leaves of yellow, orange and red. Leaves changing color in the fall are a tree's way of preparing for long winter, rather like we put up storm windows and pull warm clothes and blankets out of storage.

In summer, the leaves on trees like pin oaks and sugar maples are green because they are chock-full of the green pigment chlorophyll.

Trees need sunlight to produce chlorophyll. In turn, chlorophyll uses sunlight's energy to split water （H2O） into hydrogen and oxygen. Meanwhile, leaves also absorb carbon dioxide gas from the air. The end products of leaf chemistry: carbohydrates （homemade plant food for the tree）， and oxygen, released into the air （the gas we need to breathe）。 The whole process is called photosynthesis.

Along with green chlorophyll, most leaves also contain yellow, orange and red-orange pigments celled carotenoids. Trees don't need light to make carotenoids. Botanists call them "helper pigments," because carotenoids absorb some sunlight and （nicely） pass the energy along to chlorophyll. We don't see much of these deputy pigments （carotene, lycopene, and xanthophyll） in summer, because they are masked by abundant green chlorophyll.

But the ever-shortening days of fall mean less daylight and colder weather. The average tree is rushing to save all the nutrients it can for its winter hibernation. Nitrogen and phosphorus are pulled from leaves for storage in branches. A layer of corky cells grows between the leaves' stems and their branches, reducing the leaves' supply of nutrients and water.

With diminished sunlight, water, and nutrients, chlorophyll synthesis slows. Old, worn-out chlorophyll breaks down at the usual rate--ironically, sunlight destroys it--so each leaf's stock gradually dwindles. And as the green fades, yellow and orange emerge from hiding.

Unlike the green and yellow pigments, red and purple pigments （anthocyanins, part of the flavonoid class） actually form in leaves in the autumn, tinting leaves scarlet and burgundy.

Botanists have long wondered why some trees are genetically programmed to manufacture anthocyanins in the fall. New research indicates that anthocyanins may be a tree's own sunscreen.

Anthocyanins are made in a leaf's sugary sap, with the help of lots of sun and cool temperatures. Botanists think that anthocyanins shield the leaves' fading photosynthesis factories from too much sunlight, rather like the pigment melanin protects our skin from the sun. While the red pigments act as a shield, the tree feverishly breaks down and pulls nutrients out of leaves and into its limbs and trunk before leaves drop or die.

Anthocyanins may also act like Vitamin C or E, scavenging so-called "free radicals" before they can do oxidizing damage to a fall leaf's fragile structure.

Upper and outer leaves tend to be reddest, since they are most exposed to sunlight and cold. In some trees, like sugar maples, the reds of the anthocyanins combined with the yellows of the carotenoids make especially brilliant orange leaves.