新概念英语第四册课文2

1、Lesson1Wecanreadofthingsthathappened5,000yearsagointheNearEast,wherepeoplefirstlearnedtowrite.Buttherearesomepartsoftheworldwhereevennowpeoplecannotwrite.Theonlywaythattheycanpreservetheirhistoryistorecountitassagas-legendshandeddownfromonegenerationofstory-tellerstoanother.Theselegendsareusefulbeca

2、usetheycantellussomethingaboutmigrationsofpeoplewholivedlongago,butnonecouldwritedownwhattheydid.AnthropologistswonderedwheretheremoteancestorsofthePolynesianpeoplesnowlivinginthePacificIslandscamefrom.ThesagasofthesepeopleexplainthatsomeofthemcamefromIndonesiaabout2,000yearsago.Butthefirstpeoplewho

3、werelikeourselveslivedsolongagothateventheirsagas,iftheyhadany,areforgotten.Soarchaeologistshaveneitherhistorynorlegendstohelpthemtofindoutwherethefirstmodernmencamefrom.Fortunately,however,ancientmenmadetoolsofstone,especiallyflint,becausethisiseasiertoshapethanotherkinds.Theymayalsohaveusedwoodand

4、skins,butthesehaverottedaway.Stonedoesnotdecay,andsothetoolsoflongagohaveremainedwheneventhebonesofthemenwhomadethemhavedisappearedwithouttrace.Lesson2Why,youmaywonder,shouldspidersbeourfriendsBecausetheydestroysomanyinsects,andinsectsincludesomeofthegreatestenemiesofthehumanrace.Insectswouldmakeiti

5、mpossibleforustoliveintheworld;theywoulddevourallourcropsandkillourflocksandherds,ifitwerenotfortheprotectionwegetfrominsect-eatinganimals.Weowealottothebirdsandbeastswhoeatinsectsbutallofthemputtogetherkillonlyafractionofthenumberdestroyedbyspiders.Moreover,unlikesomeoftheotherinsecteaters,spidersn

6、everdotheleastharmtousorourbelongings.Spidersarenotinsects,asmanypeoplethink,norevennearlyrelatedtothem.Onecantellthedifferencealmostataglanceforaspideralwayshaseightlegsandaninsectnevermorethansix.HowmanyspidersareengagedinthisworkonourbehalfOneauthorityonspidersmadeacensusofthespidersinagrassfield

7、inthesouthofEngland,andheestimatedthatthereweremorethan2,250,000inoneacre,thatissomethinglike6,000,000spidersofdifferentkindsonafootballpitch.Spidersarebusyforatleasthalftheyearinkillinginsects.Itisimpossibletomakemorethanthewildestguessathowmanytheykill,buttheyarehungrycreatures,notcontentwithonlyt

8、hreemealsaday.IthasbeenestimatedthattheweightofalltheinsectsdestroyedbyspidersinBritaininoneyearwouldbegreaterthanthetotalweightofallthehumanbeingsinthecountry.Lesson3Modernalpiniststrytoclimbmountainsbyaroutewhichwillgivethemgoodsport,andthemoredifficultitis,themorehighlyitisregarded.Inthepioneerin

9、gdays,however,thiswasnotthecaseatall.Theearlyclimberswerelookingfortheeasiestwaytothetopbecausethesummitwastheprizetheysought,especiallyifithadneverbeenattainedbefore.Itistruethatduringtheirexplorationstheyoftenfaceddifficultiesanddangersofthemostperilousnature,equippedinamannerwhichwouldmakeamodern

10、climbershudderatthethought,buttheydidnotgooutoftheirwaytocourtsuchexcitement.Theyhadasingleaim,asolitarygoal-thetop!Itishardforustorealizenowadayshowdifficultitwasforthepioneers.ExceptforoneortwoplacessuchasZermattandChamonix,whichhadrapidlybecomepopular,Alpinevillagestendedtobeimpoverishedsettlemen

11、tscutofffromcivilizationbythehighmountains.Suchinnsastherewereweregenerallydirtyandflea-ridden;thefoodsimplylocalcheeseaccompaniedbybreadoftentwelvemonthsold,allwasheddownwithcoarsewine.Oftenavalleyboastednoinnatall,andclimbersfoundshelterwherevertheycould-sometimeswiththelocalpriest(whowasusuallyas

12、poorashisparishioners),sometimeswithshepherdsorcheese-makers.Invariablythebackgroundwasthesame:dirtandpoverty,andveryuncomfortable.Formenaccustomedtoeatingseven-coursedinnersandsleepingbetweenfinelinensheetsathome,thechangetotheAlpsmusthavebeenveryhardindeed.Lesson4IntheSovietUnionseveralcaseshavebe

13、enreportedrecentlyofpeoplewhocanreadanddetectcolourswiththeirfingers,andevenseethroughsoliddoorsandwalls.Onecaseconcernsaneleven-year-oldschoolgirl,VeraPetrova,whohasnormalvisionbutwhocanalsoperceivethingswithdifferentpartsofherskin,andthroughsolidwalls.Thisabilitywasfirstnoticedbyherfather.Onedaysh

14、ecameintohisofficeandhappenedtoputherhandsonthedoorofalockedsafe.Suddenlysheaskedherfatherwhyhekeptsomanyoldnewspaperslockedawaythere,andevendescribedthewaytheyweredoneupinbundles.VerascurioustalentwasbroughttothenoticeofascientificresearchinstituteinthetownofUIyanovsk,nearwhereshelives,andinAprilsh

15、ewasgivenaseriesoftestsbyaspecialcommissionoftheMinistryofHealthoftheRussianFederalRepublic.Duringthesetestsshewasabletoreadanewspaperthroughanopaquescreenand,strangerstill,bymovingherelbowoverachildsgameofLottoshewasabletodescribethefiguresandcoloursprintedonit;and,inanotherinstance,wearingstocking

16、sandslippers,tomakeoutwithherfoottheoutlinesandcoloursofapicturehiddenunderacarpet.Otherexperimentsshowedthatherkneesandshouldershadasimilarsensitivity.DuringallthesetestsVerawasblindfold;and,indeed,exceptwhenblindfoldshelackedtheabilitytoperceivethingswithherskin.Itwasalsofoundthatalthoughshecouldp

17、erceivethingswithherfingersthisabilityceasedthemomentherhandswerewet.Lesson5ThegorillaissomethingofaparadoxintheAfricanscene.Onethinksoneknowshimverywell.Forahundredyearsormorehehasbeenkilled,captured,andimprisoned,inzoos.Hisboneshavebeenmountedinnaturalhistorymuseumseverywhere,andhehasalwaysexerted

18、astrongfascinationuponscientistsandromanticsalike.Heisthestereotypedmonsterofthehorrorfilmsandtheadventurebooks,andanobvious(thoughnotperhapsstrictlyscientific)linkwithourancestralpast.Yetthefactisweknowverylittleaboutgorillas.Noreallysatisfactoryphotographhaseverbeentakenofoneinawildstate,nozoologi

19、st,howeverintrepid,hasbeenabletokeeptheanimalundercloseandconstantobservationinthedarkjunglesinwhichhelives.CarlAkeley,theAmericannaturalist,ledtwoexpeditionsinthenineteen-twenties,andnowliesburiedamongtheanimalshelovedsowell.Butevenhewasunabletodiscoverhowlongthegorillalives,orhoworwhyitdies,norwas

20、heabletodefinetheexactsocialpatternofthefamilygroups,orindicatethefinalextentoftheirintelligence.AllthisandmanyotherthingsremainalmostasmuchamysteryastheywerewhentheFrenchexplorerDuChaillufirstdescribedtheanimaltothecivilizedworldacenturyago.TheAbominableSnowmanwhohauntstheimaginationofclimbersinthe

21、Himalayasishardlymoreelusive.Lesson6Peoplearealwaystalkingabouttheproblemofyouth.IfthereisonewhichItakeleavetodoubt-thenitisolderpeoplewhocreateit,nottheyoungthemselves.Letusgetdowntofundamentalsandagreethattheyoungareafterallhumanbeings-peoplejustliketheirelders.Thereisonlyonedifferencebetweenanold

22、manandayoungone:theyoungmanhasagloriousfuturebeforehimandtheoldonehasasplendidfuturebehindhim:andmaybethatiswheretherubis.WhenIwasateenager,IfeltthatIwasjustyounganduncertain-thatIwasanewboyinahugeschool,andIwouldhavebeenverypleasedtoberegardedassomethingsointerestingasaproblem.Foronething,beingapro

23、blemgivesyouacertainidentity,andthatisoneofthethingstheyoungarebusilyengagedinseeking.Ifindyoungpeopleexciting.Theyhaveanairoffreedom,andtheyhavenotadrearycommitmenttomeanambitionsorloveofcomfort.Theyarenotanxioussocialclimbers,andtheyhavenodevotiontomaterialthings.Allthisseemstometolinkthemwithlife

24、,andtheoriginsofthings.Itsasiftheywereinsomesensecosmicbeingsinviolentanlovelycontrastwithussuburbancreatures.AllthatisinmymindwhenImeetayoungperson.Hemaybeconceited,ill-mannered,presumptuousoffatuous,butIdonotturnforprotectiontodrearyclichesaboutrespectforelders-asifmereagewereareasonforrespect.Iac

25、ceptthatweareequals,andIwillarguewithhim,asanequal,ifIthinkheiswrong.Lesson7IamalwaysamazedwhenIhearpeoplesayingthatsportcreatesgoodwillbetweenthenations,andthatifonlythecommonpeoplesoftheworldcouldmeetoneanotheratfootballorcricket,theywouldhavenoinclinationtomeetonthebattlefield.Evenifonedidntknowf

26、romconcreteexamples(the1936OlympicGames,forinstance)thatinternationalsportingcontestsleadtoorgiesofhatred,onecoulddeduceitfromgeneralprinciples.Nearlyallthesportspractisednowadaysarecompetitive.Youplaytowin,andthegamehaslittlemeaningunlessyoudoyourutmosttowin.Onthevillagegreen,whereyoupickupsidesand

27、nofeelingoflocalpatriotismisinvolved,itispossibletoplaysimplyforthefunandexercise:butassoonasthequestionofprestigearises,assoonasyoufeelthatyouandsomelargerunitwillbedisgracedifyoulose,themostsavagecombativeinstinctsarearoused.Anyonewhohasplayedeveninaschoolfootballmatchknowsthis.Attheinternationall

28、evelsportisfranklymimicwarfare.Butthesignificantthingisnotthebehaviouroftheplayersbuttheattitudeofthespectators:and,behindthespectators,ofthenations.whoworkthemselvesintofuriesovertheseabsurdcontests,andseriouslybelieve-atanyrateforshortperiods-thatrunning,jumpingandkickingaballaretestsofnationalvir

29、tue.Lesson8Parentshavetodomuchlessfortheirchildrentodaythantheyusedtodo,andhomehasbecomemuchlessofaworkshop.Clothescanbeboughtreadymade,washingcangotothelaundry,foodcanbeboughtcooked,cannedorpreserved,breadisbakedanddeliveredbythebaker,milkarrivesonthedoorstep,mealscanbehadattherestaurant,theworksca

30、nteen,andtheschooldining-room.economicadvantagesaccrue,butchildrenlosesomethingofgreatvalueifmothersemploymentpreventsherfrombeinghometogreetthemwhentheyreturnfromschool.Lesson9Notallsoundsmadebyanimalsserveaslanguage,andwehaveonlytoturntothatextraordinarydiscoveryofecho-locationinbatstoseeacaseinwh

31、ichthevoiceplaysastrictlyutilitarianrole.bottomtolocatingashoaloffish.Withexperience,andwithimprovedapparatus,itisnowpossiblenotonlytolocateashoalbuttotellifitisherring,cod,orotherwell-knownfish,bythepatternofitsecho.Afewyearsagoitwasfoundthatcertainbatsemitsqueaksandbyreceivingtheechoestheycouldloc

32、ateandsteerclearofobstacles-orlocateflyinginsectsonwhichtheyfeed.Thisecho-locationinbatsisoftencomparedwithradar,theprincipleofwhichissimilar.Lesson10Inournewsocietythereisagrowingdislikeoforiginal,creativemen.Themanipulateddonotunderstandthem;themanipulatorsfearthem.Thetidycommitteemenregardthemwit

33、hhorror,knowingthatnopigeonholescanbefoundforthem.Wecoulddowithafeworiginal,creativemeninourpoliticallifeifonlytocreatesomeenthusiasm,releasesomeenergy-butwherearetheyWeareaskedtochoosebetweenvariousshadesofthenegative.Theengineisfallingtopieceswhilethejointownersofthecararguewhetherthefootbrakeorth

34、ehandbrakeshouldbeapplied.Noticehowthecold,colourlessmen,withoutideasandwithnootherpassionbutacravingforsuccess,getoninthissociety,capturingoneplumafteranotherandtakingthejuiceandtasteoutofthem.Sometimesyoumightthinkthemachinesweworshipmakeallthechiefappointments,promotingthehumanbeingswhoseemcloses

35、ttothem.Betweenmid-nightanddawn,whensleepwillnotcomeandalltheoldwoundsbegintoache,Ioftenhaveanightmarevisionofafutureworldinwhichtherearebillionsofpeople,allnumberedandregistered,withnotagleamofgeniusanywhere,notanoriginalmind,arichpersonality,onthewholepackedglobe.Thetwinidealsofourtime,organizatio

36、nandquantity,willhavewonforever.Lesson11AlfredtheGreatactedashisownspy,visitingDanishcampsdisguisedasaminstrel.Inthosedayswanderingminstrelswerewelcomeeverywhere.Theywerenotfightingmen,andtheirharpwastheirpassport.Alfredhadlearnedmanyoftheirballadsinhisyouth,andcouldvaryhisprogrammewithacrobatictric

37、ksandsimpleconjuring.WhileAlfredslittlearmyslowlybegantogatheratAthelney,thekinghimselfsetouttopenetratethecampofGuthrum,thecommanderoftheDanishinvaders.ThesehadsettleddownforthewinteratChippenham:thitherAlfredwent.Henoticedatoncethatdisciplinewasslack:theDaneshadtheself-confidenceofconquerors,andth

38、eirsecurityprecautionswerecasual.Theylivedwell,ontheproceedsofraidsonneighbouringregions.Theretheycollectedwomenaswellasfoodanddrink,andalifeofeasehadmadethemsoft.AlfredstayedinthecampaweekbeforehereturnedtoAthelney.TheforcethereassembledwastrivialcomparedwiththeDanishhorde.ButAlfredhaddeducedthatth

39、eDaneswerenolongerfitforprolongedbattle:andthattheircommissariathadnoorganization,butdependedonirregularraids.So,facedwiththeDanishadvance,Alfreddidnotriskopenbattlebutharriedtheenemy.Hewasconstantlyonthemove,drawingtheDanesafterhim.Hispatrolshaltedtheraidingparties:hungerassailedtheDanisharmy.NowAl

40、fredbeganalongseriesofskirmishes-andwithinamonththeDaneshadsurrendered.Theepisodecouldreasonablyserveasauniqueepicofroyalespionage!Lesson12WhatcharacterizesalmostallHollywoodpicturesistheirinneremptiness.Thisiscompensatedforbyanouterimpressiveness.Suchimpressivenessusuallytakestheformoftrulygrandios

41、erealism.Nothingissparedtomakethesetting,thecostumes,allofthesurfacedetailscorrect.Theseeffortshelptomasktheessentialemptinessofthecharacterization,andtheabsurditiesandtrivialitiesoftheplots.Thehouseslooklikehouses,thestreetslooklikestreets;thepeoplelookandtalklikepeople;buttheyareemptyofhumanity,cr

42、edibility,andmotivation.Needlesstosay,thedisgracefulcensorshipcodeisanimportantfactorinpredeterminingthecontentofthesepictures.Butthecodedoesnotdisturbtheprofits,northeentertainmentvalueofthefilms;itmerelyhelpstopreventthemfrombeingcredible.Itisnttooheavyaburdenfortheindustrytobear.Inadditiontotheim

43、pressivenessofthesettings,thereisauseofthecamera,whichattimesseemsmagical.Butofwhathumanimportisallthisskill,allthiseffort,allthisenergyintheproductionofeffects,whenthestory,therepresentationoflifeishollow,stupid,banal,childishLesson13Oxfordhasbeenruinedbythemotorindustry.ThepeacewhichOxfordonceknew

44、,andwhichagreatuniversitycityshouldalwayshave,hasbeensweptruthlesslyaway;andnobenefactionsandresearchendowmentscanmakeupforthechangeincharacterwhichthecityhassuffered.AtsixinthemorningtheoldcourtsshaketotheroarofbusestakingthenextshifttoCowleyandPressedSteel,greatlorrieswithadoubledeckcargoofcarsfor

45、exportlumberpastMagdalenandtheUniversityChurch.Loadsofmotor-enginesarehurriedhitherandthitherandthestreetsarethrongedwithapopulationwhichhasnointerestinlearningandknowsnostudiesbeyondservo-systemsanddistributors,compressionratiosandcamshafts.Theoreticallythemarriageofanoldseatoflearningandtraditionw

46、ithanewandwealthyindustrymightbeexpectedtoproducesomeinterestingchildren.Itmighthavebeenthoughtthatthecultureoftheuniversitywouldradiateoutandtransformthelivesoftheworkers.Thatthishasnothappenedmaybethefaultoftheuniversity,foratbothOxfordandCambridgethecollegestendtoliveinanerawhichiscertainlynotoft

47、hetwentiethcentury,anduponaplanetwhichbearslittleresemblancetothewar-tornEarth.WhereverthefaultmayliethefactremainsthatitisthetheatreatOxfordandnotatCambridgewhichisonthevergeofextinction,andtheonlyfruitofthecombinationofindustryandtherarefiedatmosphereoflearningisthedustinthestreets,andapatheticsen

48、seofbeinglostwhichhangsoversomeofthecolleges.Lesson14battlemayjustifiablyfeelbitterinthethoughtthattheyhavebeencheatedofthebestthingsthatlifehastooffer.Butinanoldmanwhohasknownhumanjoysandsorrows,andhasachievedwhateverworkitwasinhimtodo,thefearofdeathissomewhatabjectandignoble.Thebestwaytoovercomeit

49、-soatleastitseemstome-istomakeyourinterestsgraduallywiderandmoreimpersonal,untilbitbybitthewallsoftheegorecede,andyourlifebecomesincreasinglymergedintheuniversallife.Anindividualhumanexistenceshouldbelikeariver-smallatfirst,narrowlycontainedwithinitsbanks,andrushingpassionatelypastbouldersandoverwat

50、erfalls.Graduallytherivergrowswider,thebanksrecede,thewatersflowmorequietly,andintheend,withoutanyvisiblebreak,theybecomemergedinthesea,andpainlesslylosetheirindividualbeing.Themanwho,inoldage,canseehislifeinthisway,willnotsufferfromthefearofdeath,sincethethingshecaresforwillcontinue.Andit,withthede

51、cayofvitality,wearinessincreases,thethoughtofrestwillbenotunwelcome.Ishouldwishtodiewhilestillatwork,knowingthatotherswillcarryonwhatIcannolongerdo,andcontentinthethoughtthatwhatwaspossiblehasbeendone.Lesson15Whenanyoneopensacurrentaccountatabank,heislendingthebankmoney,repaymentofwhichhemaydemandat

52、anytime,eitherincashorbydrawingachequeinfavourofanotherperson.Primarily,thebanker-customerrelationshipisthatofdebtorandcreditor-whoiswhichdependingonwhetherthecustomersaccountisincreditorisoverdrawn.But,inadditiontothatbasicallysimpleconcept,thebankanditscustomerowealargenumberofobligationstooneanot

53、her.Manyoftheseobligationscangiverisetoproblemsandcomplicationsbutabankcustomer,unlike,say,abuyerofgoods,cannotcomplainthatthelawisloadedagainsthim.Thebankmustobeyitscustomersinstructions,andnotthoseofanyoneelse.When,forexample,acustomerfirstopensanaccount,heinstructsthebanktodebithisaccountonlyinre

54、spectofchequesdrawnbyhimself.Hegivesthebankspecimensofhissignature,andthereisaveryfirmrulethatthebankhasnorightorauthoritytopayoutacustomersmoneyonachequeonwhichitscustomerssignaturehasbeenforged.Itmakesnodifferencethattheforgerymayhavebeenaveryskilfulone:thebankmustrecognizeitscustomerssignature.Fo

55、rthisreasonthereisnorisktothecustomerinthemodernpractice,adoptedbysomebanks,ofprintingthecustomersnameonhischeques.Ifthisfacilitatesforgeryitisthebankwhichwilllose,notthecustomer.Lesson16Thedeepestholesofallaremadeforoil,andtheygodowntoasmuchas25,000feet.Butwedonotneedtosendmendowntogettheoilout,asw

56、emustwithothermineraldeposits.Theholesareonlyborings,lessthanafootindiameter.Myparticularexperienceislargelyinoil,andthesearchforoilhasdonemoretoimprovedeepdrillingthananyotherminingactivity.Whenithasbeendecidedwherewearegoingtodrill,weputupatthesurfaceanoilderrick.Ithastobetallbecauseitislikeagiant

57、blockandtackle,andwehavetolowerintothegroundandhauloutofthegroundgreatlengthsofdrillpipewhicharerotatedbyanengineatthetopandarefittedwithacuttingbitatthebottom.Thegeologistneedstoknowwhatrocksthedrillhasreached,soeverysooftenasampleisobtainedwithacoringbit.Itcutsacleancylinderofrock,fromwhichcanbese

58、enhestratathedrillhasbeencuttingthrough.Oncewegetdowntotheoil,itusuallyflowstothesurfacebecausegreatpressure,eitherfromgasorwater,ispushingit.Thispressuremustbeundercontrol,andwecontrolitbymeansofthemudwhichwecirculatedownthedrillpipe.Weendeavourtoavoidtheold,romanticideaofagusher,whichwastesoilandg

59、as.Wewantittostaydowntheholeuntilwecanleaditoffinacontrolledmanner.Lesson17Thefactthatwearenotsurewhatintelligenceis,norwhatispassedon,doesnotpreventusfromfindingitaveryusefulworkingconcept,andplacingacertainamountofrelianceontestswhichmeasureit.Inanintelligencetestwetakeasampleofanindividualsabilit

60、ytosolvepuzzlesandproblemsofvariouskinds,andifwehavetakenarepresentativesampleitwillallowustopredictsuccessfullythelevelofperformancehewillreachinawidevarietyofoccupations.Thisbecameofparticularimportancewhen,asaresultofthe1944EducationAct,secondaryschoolingforallbecamelaw,andgrammarschools,withthee