全新版大学英语综合教程2背诵课文.docx
12Unit1One way of summarizing the American position is to state that wevalue originality and independence more than the Chinese do. Thecontrast between our two cultures can also be seen in terms of the fearswe both harbor. Chinese teachers are fearful that if skills are not acquiredearly, they may never be acquired; there is, on the other hand, nocomparable hurry to promote creativity. American educators fear thatunless creativity has been acquired early, it may never emerge; on the other hand, skills can be picked up later.13However, I do not want to overstate my case. There is enormouscreativity to be found in Chinese scientific, technological and artisticinnovations past and present. And there is a danger of exaggeratingcreative breakthroughs in the West. When any innovation is examinedclosely, its reliance on previous achievements is all too apparent (the "standing on the shoulders of giants" phenomenon).14But assuming that the contrast I have developed is valid, and thatthe fostering of skills and creativity are both worthwhile goals, theimportant question becomes this: Can we gather, from the Chinese andAmerican extremes, a superior way to approach education, perhapsstriking a better balance between the poles of creativity and basic skills?1 / 7UNIT219 Walton set up a college scholarship fund for employees children, adisaster relief fund to rebuild employee homes damaged by fires, floods,tornadoes, and the like. He believed in cultivating ideas and rewarding success.20 Hed say, That fellow worked hard, lets give him a little extra,"recalls retired president Ferold F. Arend, who was stunned at suchgenerosity after the stingy employer he left to join Wal-Mart. "I had to change my way of thinking when I came aboard."21“The reason for our success," says Walton, in a company handout,"is our people and the way theyre treated and the way they feel abouttheir company. They believe things are different here, but they deserve the credit."22 Adds company lawyer Jim Hendren: "Ive never seen anyone yet whoworked for him or was around him for any length of time who wasntbetter off. And I dont mean just financially, although a lot of people are.Its just something about him coming into contact with Sam Walton just makes you a better person."2 / 7Unit3(60_64)SEAN:If that sort of thing happened only once in a while, itwouldnt be so bad. Overall, I wouldnt want to trade my dad for anyoneelses. He loves us kids and Mom too. But I think thats sometimes theproblem. He wants to do things for us, things he thinks are good. But he needs to give them more thought because(163_168)DIANE:Can you imagine how humiliated I was? An honorstudent, class president. And Father was out asking people to have theirsons call and ask me to the prom! But thats dear old dad. Actually, he is adear. He just doesnt stop to think. And its not just one of us whove feltthe heavy hand of interference. Oh, no, all three of us live in constant dread knowing that at any time disaster can strike becauseUnit410Id never realized how important daily routine is: dressing for work,sleeping normal hours. Id never thought I relied so much on co-workersfor company. I began to understand why long-term unemployment can beso damaging, why life without an externally supported daily plan can lead to higher rates of drug abuse, crime, suicide.11To restore balance to my life, I force myself back into the real world.3 / 7I call people, arrange to meet with the few remaining friends who haventfled New York City. I try to at least get to the gym, so as to set apart theweekend from the rest of my week. I arrange interviews for stories,doctors appointments - anything to get me out of the house and connected with others.12But sometimes being face to face is too much. I see a friend andher ringing laughter is intolerable - the noise of conversation in therestaurant, unbearable. I make my excuses and flee. I re-enter myapartment and run to the computer as though it were a place of safety.13I click on the modem, the once-annoying sound of the connectionnow as pleasant as my favorite tune. I enter my password. The real world disappears.9Unit5The runway felt different this time. It startled him for a briefmoment. Then it all hit him like a wet bale of hay. The bar was set at nineinches higher than his personal best. Thats only one inch off the Nationalrecord, he thought. The intensity of the moment filled his mind withanxiety. He began shaking the tension. It wasnt working. He becamemore tense. Why was this happening to him now, he thought. He began to4 / 7get nervous. Afraid would be a more accurate description. What was hegoing to do? He had never experienced these feelings. Then out ofnowhere, and from the deepest depths of his soul, he pictured his mother.Why now? What was his mother doing in his thoughts at a time like this?It was simple. His mother always used to tell him when you felt tense, anxious or even scared, take deep breaths.10 So he did. Along with shaking the tension from his legs, he gentlylaid his pole at his feet. He began to stretch out his arms and upper body.The light breeze that was once there was now gone. He carefully pickedup his pole. He felt his heart pounding. He was sure the crowd did, too.The silence was deafening. When he heard the singing of some distant birds in flight, he knew it was his time to fly.11Unit 6Racing the clock every day is such an exhausting effort that when Iactually have a few free moments, I tend to collapse. Mostly I sink into achair and stare into space while I imagine how lovely life would be ifonly I possessed the organizational skills and the energy of mysuperheroines. In fact, I waste a good deal of my spare time just worryingabout what other women are accomplishing in theirs. Sometimes I thinkthat these modern fairy tales create as many problems for women as the5 / 7old stories that had us biding our time for the day our prince would come.12Yet superwomen tales continue to charm me. Despite my friendswarning against being taken in, despite everything Ive learned, I find thatIm not only willing, but positively eager to buy that bridge shementioned. Why? I suppose it has something to do with the appeal of anoptimistic approach to life and the fact that extraordinary deeds havebeen accomplished by determined individuals who refused to believe that "you cant" was the final word on their dreams.13Men have generally been assured that achieving their heartsdesires would be a piece of cake. Women, of course, have alwaysbelieved that we cant have our cake and eat it too the old low-dreamdiet. Perhaps becoming a superwoman is an impossible dream for me, butlife without that kind of fantasy is as unappealing as a diet with no treats.6 / 7Unit717 That tolerance for change also represents deeply rooted ideasof freedom. Danish scholar Otto Jespersen wrote in 1905, "TheEnglish language would not have been what it is if the English hadnot been for centuries great respecters of the liberties of eachindividual and if everybody had not been free to strike out new paths for himself."18 I like that idea. Consider that the same cultural soil producingthe English language also nourished the great principles of freedomand rights of man in the modern world. The first shoots sprang up inEngland, and they grew stronger in America. The English-speakingpeoples have defeated all efforts to build fences around their language.19 Indeed, the English language is not the special preserve ofgrammarians, language police, teachers, writers or the intellectualelite. English is, and always has been, the tongue of the common man.7 / 7
