新世纪大学英语综合教程4_课文A原文

Unit1ManintheRealmofNatureHumanbeingsliveintherealmofnature.Theyareconstantlysurroundedbyitandinteractwithit.Manisconstantlyawareoftheinfluenceofnatureintheformoftheairhebreathes,thewaterhedrinks,andthefoodheeats.Weareconnectedwithnatureby“bloodties”andwecannotliveoutsidenature.Manisnotonlyadwellerinnature,healsotransformsit.Humanityconvertsnature’swealthintothemeansofthecultural,historicallifeofsociety.Manhassubduedanddisciplinedelectricityandcompelledittoservetheinterestsofsociety.Notonlyhasmantransferredvariousspeciesofplantsandanimalstodifferentclimaticconditions,hehasalsochangedtheshapeandclimateofhisenvironmentandtransformedplantsandanimals.Associetydevelops,mantendstobecomelessdependentonnaturedirectly,whileindirectlyhisdependencegrows.Ourdistantancestorslivedinfearofnature’sdestructiveforces.Veryoftentheywereunabletoobtainthemerestdailynecessities.However,despitetheirimperfecttools,theyworkedtogether.stubbornly,collectively,andwereabletoattainresults.Naturewasalsochangedthroughinteractionwithman.Forestsweredestroyedandtheareaoffarmlandincreased.Naturewithitselementalforceswasregardedassomethinghostiletoman.Theforest,forexample,wassomethingwildandfrighteningandpeopletriedtoforceittoretreat.Thiswasalldoneinthenameofcivilization,whichmeanttheplaceswheremanhadmadehishome,wheretheearthwascultivated,wheretheforesthadbeencutdown.Butastimegoesonmankindbecomesincreasinglyconcernedwiththequestionofwhereandhowtoobtainirreplaceablenaturalresourcesfortheneedsofproduction.Scienceandman’spracticaltransformingactivitieshavemadehumanityawareoftheenormousgeologicalroleplayedbytheindustrialtransformationoftheearth.Atpresentthepreviousdynamicbalancebetweenmanandnatureandbetweennatureandsocietyasawhole,hasshownominoussignsofbreakingdown.Theproblemoftheso-calledreplaceableresourcesofthebiospherehasbecomeparticularlyacute.Itisgettingmoreandmoredifficulttosatisfytheneedsofhumanbeingsandsociety.evenforsuchasubstance,forexample,asfreshwater.Theproblemofeliminatingindustrialwasteisalsobecomingincreasinglycomplex.Moderntechnologyisdistinguishedbyanever-increasingabundanceofproducedandusedsyntheticgoods.Hundredsofthousandsofsyntheticmaterialsarebeingmade.Peopleincreasinglycovertheirbodiesfromheadtofootinnylonandothersynthetic,glitteringfabricsthatareobviouslynotgoodforthem.Youngpeoplemayhardlyfeelthis,andtheypaymoreattentiontoappearancethantohealth.Buttheybecomemoreawareofthisharmfulinfluenceastheygrowolder.Astimegoeson,thesyntheticoutputofproductionturnsintowaste,andthensubstancesthatintheiroriginalformwerenotverytoxicaretransformedinthecycleofnaturalprocessesintoaggressiveagents.Todaybothnaturalscientistsandphilosophersareaskingthemselvesthequestion:Isman’sdestructionofthebiosphereinevitable?Theman-naturerelation—thecrisisoftheecologicalsituation—isaglobalproblem.ItssolutionliesinrationalandwiseorganizationofbothproductionitselfandcareforMotherNature,notjustbyindividuals,enterprisesorcountries,butbyallhumanity.Oneofthewaystodealwiththecrisissituationinthe“man-nature”systemistousesuchresourcesassolarenergy,thepowerofwinds,therichesoftheseasandoceansandother,asyetunknownnaturalforcesoftheuniverse.Buttoreturntoourtheme,thebittertruthisthatthosehumanactionswhichviolatethelawsofnature,theharmonyofthebiosphere,threatentobringdisasterandthisdisastermayturnouttobeuniversal.HowaptthenarethewordsofancientOrientalwisdom:liveclosertonature,myfriends,anditseternallawswillprotectyou!Unit3TheRainbowofKnowledgeFormorethan¾ofmylife—39ofmy50years—I’veeitherstudiedortaughtinaschooloracollegeinNewYork.Youmightthink,then,thatafterallthistimeI’dhavesomegraspofthesituation,thatI’dactuallyknowthings—thatI’dhavesomepositivesenseofassurance,ofcertainty,aboutknowledgeandaboutlife.ButIdon’t.Infact,themoreIknow,themoreIknowIdon’tknow.TosaythatthemoreIknow,themoreIknowIdon’tknowis,ofcourse,contradictory.Butthen,modernphysicstellsusthatrealityitselfiscontradictory.Themorescientistslookintoourphysicalreality,themoreitslipsawayfromthem.Inaway,themoretheylearn,thelesstheyknow.Knowledgeitselfiscontradictory.Forexample,pictureyourknowledgeasadot,asperhapstheperiodattheendofthissentence.Noticethetinycircumferenceofthatperiod,andletthatrepresenttheinterfaceoftheknownwiththeunknown—inotherwords,yourawarenessofwhatyoudon’tknow.Butnowimaginethatlittleperiodgrowing,itsblacknessconsumingmoreandmoreofthepage.Asitgrows,sodoesitscircumference.Andifthatgrowingblacknessrepresentsknowledge,thenasitgrows,sodoestheawarenessofwhatremainsunknown.Inotherwords,themoreyouknow,themoreyouknowyoudon’tknow.Nodoubtyouhaveexperiencedthisyourselfinyourownpersonalquestsforknowledge.Atfirst,youdon’tevenknowafieldoflearningexists.It’sbeenthereallalong,ofcourse;youjusthaven’tnoticeditbefore.WhenIgotmyfirstcomputerin1988,Iwalkeddowntothemagazinestore,hopingtofindsomethingaboutcomputingandwasamazedatthenumberofchoices.Likewise,whenIluckedintoanopportunitytoteachfilmanalysis,Ifoundmyselfdazzledatthesheernumberofbooksdevotedtothesubject.Let’ssayyoudecidetolearnaboutthistopic.Youbuyoneofthesebooks,thebestandmostcompleteoneyoucanfind(orsoyouthink),orperhapsyouborrowitfromthelibrary.Butyouquicklyfindthatyourreading,ratherthanansweringquestions,onlycreatesmoreofthem.Earlierthisyear,forexample,InotonlyhadnoideathatIhadanyinterestatallintherelationshipoftechnologytofreedom;Ididn’tevenrealizethataconnectionbetweenthemmightexist.SoIstartedreadingbooksandbecamemoreandmoreawareoftherelationshipbetweentechnologyandfreedom.Then,ontheonehand,InowknowmuchmoreaboutthistopicthanIdidafewshortmonthsago.Butontheotherhand,allthisreadinghasmademeseehowlittleIreallyknowandhowmuchmoreIneedtoreadandthinkandwrite.OnceI’vefinishedreadingabook,IalwaysfeelthatIneedtoreadthreemoretogainabettergraspofthetopic.AndIthinkandwriteatthesametime.Infact,itismywritingthathasledmeintoit.Wethinkoftenthatonlypeoplewhoknowandwhoaresureofthemselveswrite.Forme,however,it’sjusttheopposite.Writingdoesn’tclosethingsoff—itopensthingsup.Foralongtime,I,asawriter,wasparalyzedbythisparadox—themoreIknow,themoreIknowIdon’tknow.IwasveryawareoftheteachingfromTaoismthatsaid“thosewhoknowdon’tspeak;thosewhospeakdon’tknow.”Iwasn’tsureIshouldwriteatall,and,evenifIdid,Ididn’tbelievethatIwasqualifiedtodoit.IalwaysfeltIhadtoknowmorefirst.Ittookmealongtimenottoletthisparadoxfreezemeandtobelievethatitwasmywritingthatwouldqualifymyknowledge,andnottheotherwayaround.Ithinkofmyworknotasarticlesorascolumnsbutasessays—awordfromFrench,meaning“totry”.Idonotknowtruth.Ionlytrytofindit.Idon’tmean,ofcourse,tosuggestthatweshouldnotlearn,orthatweshouldnotreadandwriteandthinkandtalk.Idonotmeantosuggestthatweshouldnottry.Aninfinitequestisnotahopelessone.Ionlysuggestthatanunderstandingwillinevitablyanddoubtlesslyleadusawayfromtheforceandrigidityofdogmatismandtowardtheflexibilityandfreedomoftheindividual.AsTaoismteaches,“thestiffandunbendingisthediscipleofdeath.Thegentleandyieldingisthediscipleoflife.”Wemusttemperourprideinknowingwiththehumilityofnotknowing.Thetruth,astheysay,isoutthere,but,maybe,liketherainbow,wecanneverreallygraspit,neverholditinourhandsandtrulyknowit.Wecanonly,asWilliamJamessaid,“livetodaybywhattruthwecangettodayandbereadytocallitfalsehoodtomorrow.”Unit5FameFameisverymuchlikeananimalchasingitsowntailwho,whenhecapturesit,doesnotknowwhatelsetodobuttocontinuechasingit.Fameandthepublicitythataccompaniesit,forcethefamouspersontoparticipateinhisorherowndestruction.Ironic,isn’tit?Thosewhogainfamemostoftengainitasaresultofpossessingasingletalentorskill:singing,dancing,painting,orwriting,etc.Thesuccessfulperformerdevelopsastylethatgainssomepopularity,anditisthispopularitythatusuallyconvincestheperformertocontinueperforminginthesamestyle,sincethatiswhatthepublicseemstowantandtoenjoy.Butintime,theperformerbecomesboredsingingthesamesongsinthesamewayyearafteryear,orthepainterbecomesboredpaintingsimilarscenesorportraits,ortheactoristiredofplayingthesamecharacterrepeatedly.Theartistbecomestheslaveofhisorherownsuccessbecauseofthepublicdemands.Iftheartistattemptstochangehisorherstyleofwritingordancingorsinging,etc.,theaudiencemayturnawayandlooktogivethemomentaryfametoanotherandthen,intime,toanother,andsoonandsoon.Famebringscelebrityandhighregardfromloyalfansineachfield.Aperformercaneasilycometobelievethatheorsheisasgoodashisorherpress.Butmostpeople,mostartistsdonotgainfameandfortune.Whataboutthoseperformerswhofail,oranyonewhofails?Curiouslyenough,failureoftenservesasitsownrewardformanypeople.Itbringssympathyfromotherswhoaredelightednottobeyou,anditallowsfamilyandfriendstolowertheirexpectationsofyousothatyouneednotcompetewiththosewhohavemoretalentandwhosucceed.Andtheyfindexcusesandexplanationsforyourinabilitytosucceedandbecomefamous:youaretoosensitive,youarenotinterestedinmoney,youarenotinterestedinthepowerthatfamebringsandyouarenotinterestedinthelossofprivacyitdemands,etc.—allexcuses,butcomfortingtothosewhofailandthosewhopretendnottonoticethefailure.Historyhassufficientlyproventhatsomefailureforsomepeopleatcertaintimesintheirlivesdoesindeedmotivatethemtostriveevenhardertosucceedandtocontinuebelievinginthemselves.ThomasWolfe,theAmericannovelist,hadhisfirstnovelLookHomeward,Angelrejected39timesbeforeitwasfinallypublishedandlaunchedhiscareerandcreatedhisfame.Beethovenovercamehiscruelandharshfatherandgrudgingacceptanceasamusiciantobecomethegreatest,mostfamousmusicianintheworld,andThomasEdisonwasthrownoutofschoolinfourthgrade,ataboutage10,becauseheseemedtotheteachertobequitedullandill-behaved.Manyothercasesmaybefoundofpeoplewhofailedandusedthefailuretomotivatethemtoachieve,tosucceed,andtobecomefamous.But,unfortunately,formostpeoplefailureistheendoftheirstruggle,notthebeginning.Therearefew,ifany,famousfailures.Wellthen,whydoesanyonewantfame?Doyou?Doyouwanttobeknowntomanypeopleandadmiredbythem?Doyouwantthemoneythatusuallycomeswithfame?Doyouwantthemediatonoticeeverythingyoudoorsaybothinpublicandinprivate?Insomeareasitisveryobviousthattobefamousistobethetargetofeveryonewhodisagreeswithyouaswellasofthemedia.Fameturnsallthelightsonandwhileitgivespowerandreputation,ittakestheyououtofyou:youmustbewhatthepublicthinksyouare,notwhatyoureallyareorcouldbe.Butwhydoesanyonewantfame?Severalreasonscometomind:todemonstrateexcellenceinsomefield;togaintheadmirationandloveofmanyothers;tobetheoneeveryonetalksabout;toshowfamilyandfriendsyouaremorethantheythoughtyouwere.Probablyyoucanlistsomeotherreasons,butIthinkthesearereasonablycommon.Isaytothosewhodesperatelyseekfameandfortune,celebrity:goodluck.Butwhatwillyoudowhenyouhavecaughtyourtail,yoursuccess,yourfame?Keepchasingit?Ifyoudocatchit,hangonfordearlife.Seeyousoonfamousandalmostfamous!Unit6TwoTruthstoLivebyTheartoflivingistoknowwhentoholdfastandwhentoletgo.Anancientmansaidlongago:“Amancomestothisworldwithhisfistclenched,butwhenhedies,hishandisopen.”Surelyweoughttoholdfasttolife,foritiswonderful,andfullofabeauty.Weknowthatthisisso,butalltoooftenwerecognizethistruthonlyinourbackwardglancewhenwerememberwhatitwasandthensuddenlyrealizethatitisnomore.Werememberabeautythatfaded,alovethatwithered.Butwerememberwithfargreaterpainthatwedidnotseethatbeautywhenitflowered,thatwefailedtorespondwithlovewhenitwastendered.Arecentexperiencere-taughtmethistruth.Iwashospitalizedfollowingasevereheartattackandhadbeeninintensivecareforseveraldays.Itwasnotapleasantplace.Onemorning,Ihadtohavesomeadditionaltests.Therequiredmachineswerelocatedinabuildingattheoppositeendofthehospital,soIhadtobewheeledacrossthecourtyardinachair.Asweemergedfromourunit,thesunlighthitme.That’salltherewastomyexperience.Justthelightofthesun.Andyethowbeautifulitwas—howwarming;howsparkling;howbrilliant!Ilookedtoseewhetheranyoneelserelishedthesun’sgoldenglow,buteveryonewashurryingtoandfro,mostwitheyesfixedontheground.ThenIrememberedhowoftenI,too,hadbeenindifferenttothegrandeurofeachday,toopreoccupiedwithpettyandsometimesevenmeanconcernstorespondtothegreatbeautyofitall.Theinsightgleanedfromthatexperienceisreallyascommonplaceaswastheexperienceitself:life’sgiftsareprecious—butwearetoocarelessofthem.Herethenisthefirstpoleoflife’sparadoxicaldemandsonus:Nevertoobusyforthewonderandtheaweoflife.Berespectfulbeforeeachdawningday.Embraceeachhour.Seizeeachgoldenminute.Holdfasttolife,butnotsofastthatyoucannotletgo.Thisisthesecondsideoflife’scoin,theoppositepoleofitsparadox:wemustacceptourlosses,andlearnhowtoletgo.Thisisnotaneasylessontolearn,especiallywhenweareyoungandthinkthattheworldisourstocommand,thatwhateverwedesirewiththefullforceofourpassioncan,andwillbeours.Butthenlifemovesalongtoconfrontuswithrealities,andslowlybutsurelythissecondtruthdawnsuponus.Ateverystageoflifewesustainlosses—andgrowintheprocess.Webeginourindependentlivesonlywhenwecometothisworld.Weenterschools,thenweleaveourmothersandfathersandourchildhoodhomes.Wegetmarriedandhavechildrenandthenhavetoletthemgo.Weconfrontthedeathofourparentsandourspouses.Wefacethegradualornotsogradualweakeningofourownstrength.Andultimately,wemustconfronttheinevitabilityofourowndeath,losingourselves,asitwere,allthatwewereordreamedtobe.Butwhyshouldwebereconciledtolife’scontradictorydemands?Whyfashionthingsofbeautywhenbeautyisshort-lived?Whygiveourheartinlovewhenthosewelovewillultimatelybetornfromourgrasp?Inordertoresolvethisparadox,wemustseekawiderperspective,viewingourlivesasthroughwindowsthatopenoneternity.Oncewedothat,werealizethatthoughourlivesarefinite,ourdeedsonearthweaveatimelesspattern.Lifeisneverjustbeing.Itisbecoming,arelentlessflowingon.Ourparentsliveonthroughus,andwewillliveonthroughourchildren.Theinstitutionswebuildendure,andwewillendurethroughthem.Thebeautywefashioncannotbedimmedbydeath.Ourfleshmayperish,ourhandswillwither,butthebeautyandgoodnessandtruththeycreateliveonforalltimetocome.Don’tspendandwasteyourlivesaccumulatingobjectsthatwillonlyturntodustandashes.Pursuenotsomuchthematerialastheideal,foridealsaloneinvestlifewithmeaningandareofenduringworth.Addlovetoahouseandyouhaveahome.Addrighteousnesstoacityandyouhaveacommunity.Addtruthtoapileofredbrickandyouhaveaschool.Addjusticetothefar-flungroundofhumanendeavorandyouhavecivilization.Putthemalltogether,elevatethemabovetheirpresentimperfections,addtothemthevisionofhumankindredeemed,foreverfreeofneedandconflictandyouhaveafuturelightedwiththeradiantcolorsofhope.Unit7StrippingDowntoBareHappiness“Whatwe’retalkingaboutissimplification,notdeprivation,”explainsSara,afriendofmine.“Itisn’tthatyoucan’tdoallthethingsyoulike,butyouchange.Youdon’tlikethemanymore.Someoftheoldhabitsseemsowastefulandunsatisfyingthatyoureallyloseyourtasteforthem.Soyoustillhaveeverythingyouwant—onlyonlessmoney.”WhenIfirstmetthem,SaraandMichaelwereatwo-careercouplewithahomeoftheirown,andalargeboatboughtwithalargeloan.Theybegantotakeaninterestintheconceptof“voluntarysimplicity”withthebirthoftheirdaughterwhomtheywantedtoraiseallbythemselves.Neitheroneofthem,itturnedout,waswillingtorestrictwhattheyconsideredtheir“reallife”intothebrieftimebeforeworkandthetiredhoursafterwards.“Alotofpeoplethinkthatastheyhavechildrenandthingsgetmoreexpensive,theonlyansweristoworkharderinordertoearnmoremoney.It’snottheonlyanswer,”insistsMichael.Thecouple’sdecisionwastotradetwofull-timecareersfortwohalf-timecareers,andtocurtailconsumption.Theydecidedtospendtheirmoneyonlyonthingsthatcontributedtotheirmajorgoal,theconstructionofaworldwherefamilyandfriendship,workandplay,wereallofapiece,aworld,moreover,whichdidnotmakewastefuluseoftheearth’sresources.Today,theyliveinthesamesuburbancommunityinahandsome,energy-efficienthometheydesignedthemselves.Smallbymoststandards,itiseasytoclean,furnish,maintainandheat.Thefirstfloor,onelargeroom,hasakitchenareaalongonewall,abirchtableandchairsfordining,alivingroomdefinedbyacomfortablecouchandawoodstove,andacornerworkarea.Upstairsistheirbedroom,anofficethatservesthemboth,andabathroom.Itisbrightandlightandinharmonywithitssurroundings.Soontherewillbeasolargreenhouseoutsidethefrontdoor.Howcanacouplewithtwopart-timefreelancejobsaffordtobuildtheirownhome,ownacar,andshareasmallboatwithanothercouple—allwithoutaloan?Howcantheymaintainahighstandardoflivingthatprovides“everything”theywant?Whatisittheyhavegivenupthattheydonotmiss?Foronething,theyhavegivenupalltheexpensiveclutter—medicinecabinetsfullofcosmeticsandover-the-counterdrugstheywillneveruse;kitchencabinetscrowdedwithitemstheywouldeventuallythrowaway.TheoneclothesclosetSarashareswithMichaeleasilycontainsthebasicitemsintheirwardrobes,manyofthemwell-madeclassicstylesfromL.L.Bean“I’mconstantlygivingthingsaway,”Saraexplains.Bysiftinganddiscarding,bykeepingtrackofwhattheyhave,SaraandMichaelhaveaclearideaofwhattheyreallyneed.Theydonothaveadishwasher.Thenumberofhand-thrownpotterydishestheyownwouldnotfillone.Theydonotownaclothesdryer;thewetclothes,dryingindoorsinwinter,eliminatetheneedforahumidifier.Sara’sdarkhairisshort.Shedoesnotneedahairdryer,electriccurlers,oracurlingiron.Theirfrontyardiswooded.Theydonotneedapowermowerorelectricclippers.TheydonotownaTV,andsotheyandtheirchildarenotconstantlysaturatedwithimagesofnewtoys,newthings,andnewtemptations.Theyhaveexchangedtheexpensesofworkinacommuterage—theextracar,thecostofgasoline,professionalwardrobes,lunchesandfrequentdinnersout,andbabysittingfees—forthetimetopayattentiontothequalityoftheirlives.Theyhavegivenuppaperproducts,processedfoods,expensivehobbies,first-runmovies,restaurants,andpayingfortheservicesofothers.Inreturn,theyenjoyhomecooking,mid-weekfamilypicnics,librarybooks,participationincommunityartsprograms,thriftshops,anddo-it-yourselfprojects.“Thatyearningfeelingthat’ssomuchapartofthisculturegoesonforever,”saysSara.“Butitdoesn’tmatterifyou’remaking$15,000or$50,000.There’llalwaysbethethingsyouwishyoucouldafford.Moneyreallywasn’tthereasonwechanged.Wediditforourownpersonalsatisfaction,andforanyonethinkingofsimplifyinglife,thereisonlyonebasicrule:Ifitisn’tsatisfying,don’tdoit.”SaraandMichaellentmetheircopyof99WaystoaSimpleLifestyle,ahandbookofpracticalsuggestionsthatcanbeappliedtoanyone’slivingsituation.Ireaditcarefully,givingmyselfhighmarksinsomeareas,surprisedatmysociallysanctionedirrationalbehaviorinothers.Thatnight,accompanyingmydaughteronashoppingtrip,Icameacrossaninexpensivehandtowelthatmatchedourkitchenwallpaper,andapairof“bargain”sandalstoohandsometoresist.WhenIstoodintheparkinglot,$11poorer,nohappieronleavingthestorethanIhadbeenenteringit,Ifeltlikeachild,helplessinthefaceofmyownimpulse.Itisaworldofillusion,thisshoppingmerry-go-roundweride,butwithalltheactionandexcitement,itissometimeshardtofindtheresolveandthecouragetodismount.Unit8TheStoryofanHourKnowingthatMrsMallardwasafflictedwithahearttrouble,greatcarewastakentobreaktoherasgentlyaspossiblethenewsofherhusband’sdeath.ItwashersisterJosephinewhotoldher,inbrokensentences,veiledhintsthatrevealedinhalfconcealing.Herhusband’sfriendRichardswasthere,too,nearher.Itwashewhohadbeeninthenewspaperofficewhenintelligenceoftherailroaddisasterwasreceived,withBrentlyMallard’snameleadingthelistof“killed”.Hehadonlytakenthetimetoassurehimselfofitstruthbyasecondtelegram,andhadhastenedtopreventanylesscareful,lesstenderfriendinbearingthesadmessage.Shedidnothearthestoryasmanywomenhaveheardthesame,withaparalyzedinabilitytoacceptitssignificance.Sheweptatonce,withsudden,wildabandonment,inhersister’sarms.Whenthestormofgriefhadspentitself,shewentawaytoherroomalone.Shewouldhavenoonefollowher.Therestood,facingtheopenwindow,acomfortable,roomyarmchair.Intothisshesank,presseddownbyaphysicalexhaustionthathauntedherbodyandseemedtoreachintohersoul.Shecouldseeintheopensquarebeforeherhousethetopsoftreesthatwereallfullofthenewspringlife.Thedeliciousbreathofrainwasintheair.Inthestreetbelowapeddlerwascryinghiswares.Thenotesofadistantsongreachedherfaintly,andcountlessbirdsweresinging.Therewerepatchesofblueskyshowinghereandtherethroughthecloudsthathadmetandpiledoneabovetheotherinthewestfacingherwindow.Shesatwithherheadthrownbackuponthecushionofthechair,quitemotionless,exceptwhenasobcameupintoherthroatandshookher,asachildwhohascrieditselftosleepcontinuestosobinitsdreams.Shewasyoung,withafair,calmface,whoselinesbetrayedrepressionandevenacertainstrength.Butnowtherewasadullstareinhereyes,whosegazewasfixedononeofthosepatchesofbluesky.Itwas