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manifest。 Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality; it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge。 Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual could be municated to another by means of speech。 With the invention of writing; a great advance was made; for knowledge could then be not only municated but also stored。 Libraries made education possible; and education in its turn added to libraries: the growth of knowledge followed a kind of pound interest law; which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing。 All this was paratively slow until; with the ing of science; the tempo was suddenly raised。 Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan。 The trickle became a stream; the stream has now bee a torrent。 Moreover; as soon as new knowledge is acquired; it is now turned to practical account。 What is called 'modern civilization' is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature。 but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life。 The problem now facing humanity is: What is going to be done with all this knowledge? As is so often pointed out; knowledge is a two…edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil。 It is now being used indifferently for both。 Could any spectacle; for instance; be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners ourselves very seriously what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge; with its ever…increasing power; continues。
G。N。M。TYRRELL The Personality of Man
New words and expressions 生词和短语
loom
v。 赫然耸起
manifest
adj。明显的
morality
n。 道德
municate
v。 交流,交际
pound
adj。 复合的
enhance
v。 增进
tempo
n。 速率
trickle
n。 涓涓细流
torrent
n。 滔滔洪流
humanity
n。 人类
indifferently
adv。 不在乎地
grimly
adv。 可怖地
whimsical
adj。 怪诞的
shatter
v。 毁坏
twofold
adj。 双重的
参考译文
为什么进步这个概念在现代世界显得如此突出?无疑是因为有一种特殊的进步实际上正在我们周围发生,而且变得越来越明显。虽然人类有智力和道德上没有得到普遍提高,但在知识积累方面却取得了巨大的进步。人一旦能用语言同别人交流思想,知识的积累便开始了。随着书写的发明,又迈进了一大步,因为这样一来,知识不仅能交流,而且能储存了。藏书使教育成为可能,而教育反过来又丰富了藏书,因为知识的增长遵循着一种“滚雪球”的规律。印刷术的发明又大大提高了知识增长的速度。所有这些发展都比较缓慢,而随着科学的到来,增长的速度才突然加快。于是,知识便开始有系统有计划地积累起来。涓涓细流汇成小溪,小溪现已变成了奔腾的江河。而且,新知识一旦获得,便得到实际应用。所谓“现代文明”并不是人的天性平衡发展的结果,而是积累起来的知识应用到实际生活中的结果。现在人类面临的问题是:用这些知识去做什么?正像人们常常指出的,知识是一把双刃刀,可以用于造福,也可以用来为害。人们现在正漫不经心地把知识用于这两个方面,例如:炮兵利用科学毁坏人的身体、而外科医生就在附近用科学抢救被炮兵毁坏的人体,还有什么情景比这更可怕、更怪诞的吗?我们不得不严肃地问问我们自己:随着日益增长的知识的力量,如果我们继续利用知识的这种双重性,将会发生什么样的情况呢?
Lesson 23
Bird flight
鸟的飞行方法
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音,然后回答以下问题。
What are the two main types of bird flight described by the author?
No two sorts of birds practise quite the same sort of flight; the varieties are infinite; but two classes may be roughly seen。 Any shi that crosses the Pacific is acpanied for many days by the smaller albatross; Which may keep pany with the vessel for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wing。 The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards; as well as in the line of its course; are enough to give the great bird with its immense wings sufficient sustenance and progress。 The albatross is the king of the gliders; the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose; but must yield to its opposition。 In the contrary school; the duck is supreme。 It es nearer to the engines with which man has 'conquered' the air; as he boasts。 Duck; and like them the pigeons; are endowed with such…like muscles; that are a good part of the weight of the bird; and these will ply the short wings with such irresistible power that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale before exhaustion follows。 Their humbler followers; such as partridges; have a like power of strong propulsion; but soon tire。 You may pick them up in utter exhaustion; if wind over the sea has driven them to a long journey。 The swallow shares the virtues of both schools in highest measure。 It tires not; nor does it boast of its power; but belongs to the air; travelling it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home; feeding its flown young as it flies; and slipping through we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that; and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good…morning。
WILLIAM BEACH THOMAS A Countryman's Creed
New words and expressions 生词和短语
albatross
n。 信天翁
sustenance
n。 支撑力
glider
n。 滑翔者
harness
v。 利用
endow
v。 赋有
ply
v。 不断地供给
gale
n。 大风
partridge
n。 鹧鸪
like
adj。 类似的
propulsion
n。 推进力
utter
adj。 完全的
slip
v。 滑行
adverse
adj。 逆的,相反的
omen
n。 预兆
参考译文
没有任何两种鸟的飞行方式是相同的。鸟的飞行方式千差万别,但大体上可分为两类。任何一艘横度太平洋的轮船都会有一种小信天翁伴随飞行许多天。它们随船飞行一小时也难得见其扇动一下翅膀。沿船体的上升的气流和沿航线向前的气流给这种巨翼大鸟以足够的浮力和推力。信天翁是滑翔飞行的鸟类之王,它能自如地驾驭空气,但必须顺气流飞行。与滑翔鸟相对的另一类鸟中,数野鸭本领最高。它更近乎于人类自夸的“征服”了空气的发动机。野鸭及它们相似的鸽子有天赋的钢铁般的肌肉,占了体重的很大一部分。这些肌肉以巨大的力量扇动短小的翅膀,使这类鸟能顶着大风飞行很远的路才会疲劳。次于野鸭和鸽子的鸟,如鹧鸪,有相似的巨大推动力,但很快会疲劳。如果海风驱使它们飞行很长距离,你可以捡到一些因筋疲力尽而摔下来的鹧鸪。燕子充分兼有这两类鸟的长处,它既不疲劳,也不炫耀自己的飞翔力;在空中十分自如,可以飞行6,000英里,可以飞往北方做窝的老家,再从老家飞回;一边飞一边喂养会飞的雏燕,甚至在顶风时也能在气流中滑翔,似乎气流在帮它前进。这些鸟对我们是有益的,虽然我们不再从它们的飞翔姿态来占卜吉凶,连最迷信的村民也不再对喜鹊脱帽行礼,祝它早安了。
Lesson 24
Beatuy
美
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音,然后回答以下问题。
What do glimpses of beauty; either in nature or art; often suggest to the human mind?
A young man sees a sunset and; unable to understand or to express the emotion that it rouses in him; concludes that it must be the gateway to world that lies beyond。 It is difficult for any of us in moments of intense aesthetic experience to resist the suggestion that we are catching a glimpse of a light that shines down to us from a different realm of existence; different and; because the experience is intensely moving; in some way higher。 And; though the gleams blind and dazzle; yet do they convey a hint of beauty and sere