基础综合英语-1b.doc

Text B Essence of Education (14 paras.)(It points out that the essence of education lies in students acquisition of facts and reasoning skills)Essence of Education Robery W. Tracinki1. The essence of education is the teaching of facts and reasoning skills to our children, so that they learn to think.2. Yet almost a century, our schools have been under assault by an approach to education that elevates feelings over facts. Under the influence of Progressive Education - It is now more important than getting him in touch with the facts of history, mathematics or geography.Note:elevate v. to make more important or to improve e.g. They want to elevate the status of teachers.3. Creative spelling- in which students are encouraged to spell words in whatever way they feel is correct - is more important than the rules of language. Urging children to feel good about themselves is more important than ensuring that they acquire the knowledge necessary for living successfully.4. This emotion-centered, anti-reason assault on education has found a new ally: those who believe the literal words of the Bible. The Kansas Board of Education has just excised the theory of evolution from the states official science standards. Several other states have enacted similar anti-evolution policies, thereby elevating the feeling of religious fundamentalists over the accumulated evidence of the entire science of biology.Note:Ally n. a person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity.Excise v. to remove as if by cutting e.g. The official censors have excised the controversial sections of the report.5. These policies do not actually ban the teaching of evolution, nor do they mandate the teaching of “Creationism” -biblical claim that the Earth and all life on it were created in six days. They simply drop evolution from the required curriculum. The goal of the religious activities is to keep students ignorant of the theory of evolution, or to encourage the teaching of evolution and Creationism side-by-side, as two competing theories.命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离Note:Mandate v. To make mandatory, as by law; decree or require:批准：制订一个训令，如通过法律；发布命令或要求：e.g. mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离 .g. Our delegates have been mandated to vote against the proposal at the conference.n. A command or an authorization given by a political electorate to its representative.授权：某政治代表机构给它的代表发出的命令或委任e.g. The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。e.g. After protracted consideration the national government had decided to ask a mandate from the people.国家政府经过长期考虑后, 决定征求民意。6. Consider what this latter would mean in the classroom. On the one side, teachers would present the theory of evolution, supported by countless observations, all integrated into a comprehensive explanation of virtually every fact in its field.7. On the other side, teachers would present - what? All that the Creationist view offers is the assertion by would-be authorities that an ancient religious text reveals that 10,000 years ago God created the world in six days.Note：would-be: wanting or trying to be 想要成为，自称自诩。 e.g. Hollywood was full of would-be starlets.译文：特创论信奉者的观点只是自诩为权威的人的断言，即一部古老的宗教文本揭示了10,000年以前，上帝在六天内创造了世界。8. Some of these religious activists claim that they reject the teaching of evolution because it is unproven, since it lacks sufficient evidence.9. Yet their arguments systematically reject the need for proof and evidence. Scientists can point to a billion-year-long fossil record of continuous changes across a11 species as they develop from more-primitive to present-day forms. They can point to the natural variations among members of a species, variations that change from one climate to another as species adapt to their environment. But the Creationist categorically dismisses the evidence - because it contradicts biblical dogma.Note:Categorically adv. 绝对地, 明确地, e.g. One interesting fact is that even people who state categorically they do not believe in mind over matter have themselves been cured by using a placebo. 有趣的是，即使那些明确宣称根本就不相信意识支配物质 的人自己也采用过安慰剂并得到康复。dogma n. An authoritative principle, belief, or statement of ideas or opinion, especially one considered to be absolutely true.信条：有权威的原理、信仰或观念意见的陈述，尤指人们认为绝对正确e.g. “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present”(Abraham Lincoln)“平静的过去时代的那些信条，不适用于暴风骤雨式的现代社会了”(亚伯拉罕林肯)e.g. This is a action born of dogma rather than good sense.10. The central issue is not whether there is enough scientific evidence to validate a particular conclusion - but whether science as such, rather than faith, is the basis for arriving at conclusions. There can be no scientific debate between these two positions. There can be no rational argument between a view that rests on observation and reason, and one that rests on blind faith - i.e., on its adherents desire to believe something, irrespective of logic.Validate vt. 证实; 证明正确 使生效, 使有法律效力; 批准, 确认e.g. validate a passport 使护照生效(在护照上签字)Time validated our suspicion. 时间证实了我们的怀疑。as such：表示上文所指明的事或人.；本身e.g. He is a child, and must be treated as such. 他是个孩子，必须被当作孩子对待。adherent n. 追随者, 拥护者, 信徒; 胶粘体e.g. the adherents of materialism 唯物主义拥护者adherent to the Communist Party 共产党拥护者11. If the Creationist approach were taken seriously, what would remain of education? If evidence and reasoning are to be balanced by faith or feeling - what, then, would not belong in the curriculum? Even the theory that the Earth is flat has proponents who feel it is true. More to the point, what is to stop teachers from presenting any other nonrational view of the origin of man? Why not give equal time to, say, the Nazi claim the white race descended from the superior Aryans?to the point：Concerning or with relevance to the matter at hand:切题的，切中的：有关正在讨论的事件的，或与正在讨论的事件有关的：e.g. remarks that were to the point; 和本题相关的话； rambled and would not speak to the point. 随便地乱讲却不讲与本题相关的Aryan n. 亚利安语亚利安人 (在纳粹德国指犹太人以外的白种人, 尤指北欧的)12. The most ominous implication of the Creationist position is its belief that, in judging the truth of an idea, one can simply ignore rational evidence - if it clashes with ones desire to believe otherwise. This is a disastrous methodology to inculcate in our children - and it is even more dangerous to back it up with the ruling of a government body.Inculcate v 1) To impress (something) upon the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill:反复灌输：通过不断的说明或重复以加深（某事）在别人心中的印象；灌输：e.g. inculcating sound principles. 反复灌输正确的原则2)