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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 serenity greater than we have known or imagined。 Greater too than we can describe； for language； which was invented to convey the meanings of this world； cannot readily be fitted to the uses of another。
That all great has this power of suggesting a world beyond is undeniable。 In some moods； Nature shares it。 There is no sky in June so blue that it does not point forward to a bluer； no sunset so beautiful that it does not waken the vision of a greater beauty； a vision which passes before it is fully glimpsed； and in passing leaves and indefinable longing and regret。 But； if this world is not merely a bad joke； life a vulgar flare amid the cool radiance of the stars； and existence an empty laugh braying across the mysteries； if these intimations of a something behind and beyond are not evil humour born of indigestion； or whimsies sent by the devil to mock and madden us。 if； in a word； beauty means something； yet we must not seek to interpret the meaning。 If we glimpse the unutterable； it is unwise to try to utter it； nor should we seek to invest with significance that which we cannot grasp。 Beauty in terms of our human meanings is meaningless。
C。E。M。JOAD Pieces of Mind
New words and expressions 生词和短语
intense
adj。 强烈的
aesthetic
adj。 审美的
realm
n。 世界
serenity
n。 静谧
undeniable
adj。 不可否认的
indefinable
adj。 模糊不清的
vulgar
adj。 平庸的
radiance
n。 发光
intimation
n。 暗示
unutterable
adj。 不可言传的
invest
v。 赋予
参考译文
一个年轻人看到日落，由于无法理解和表达日落在他心中唤起的激情，便得出结论：日落处想必是通往遥远世界的大门。无论是谁，在强烈感受到美的时刻，心中都不禁油生一种遐想：我们似乎瞥见从另一个世界射向我们的一线光芒，那个世界不仅不同于我们这个世界，而且由于美感的强烈感染，在某些方面比我们这个世界更美好。虽然这光芒令人眼花缭乱，但它确实给予我们一种不曾经历和无法想象的美感和静谧的启示。这种美感和静谧是我们无法描述的，因为我们发明的语言是用来描述这个世界的含义，不能随便拿来去描述另一个世界。
不可否认，一切伟大的艺术都具有使人遐想到进入天外世界的魅力。在某种状态下，大自然也有这种魅力。六月蔚蓝的天空总使人遥想一个更加蔚蓝的苍穹；美丽的落日总会引起一个更加绚丽的景象未及饱览便一闪即逝，并在消逝中给人留下不可名状的渴望和惆怅。如果这个世界不只是一个拙劣的恶作剧，如果人生不只是群星寒光中平凡的一闪，如果存在不只是对神秘事物的一种空虚的笑声，如果某种玄妙事物的暗示不是消化不良引起的邪恶情绪，也不是魔鬼为了捉弄我们，使我们发狂而送给我们的邪念，一句话，如果美有某种意义的话，我闪千万不要去阐明它的意义。如果我瞥见了只可意会不可言传的事物，企图把它说出来，那上不明智的；对于我们不理解的事物，我们也不应该去赋予它某种意义。用对我们人类有意义的词解释美是没有意义的。
Lesson 25
Non…auditory effects of noise
噪音的非听觉效应
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What conclusion does the author draw about noise and health in this piece？
May people in industry and the Services； who have practical experience of noise； regard any investigation of this question as a waste of time； they are not prepared even to admit the possibility that noise affects people。 On the other hand； those who dislike noise will sometimes use most inadequate evidence to support their pleas for a quieter society。 This is a pity； because noise abatement really is a good cause； and it is likely to be discredited if it gets to be associated with had science。
One allegation often made is that noise produces mental illness。 A recent article in a weekly newspaper； for instance； was headed with a striking illustration of a lady in a state of considerable distress； with the caption 'She was yet another victim； reduced to a screaming wreck'。 On turning eagerly to the text； one learns that the lady was a typist who found the sound of office typewriters worried her more and more until eventually she had to go into a mental hospital。 Now the snag in this sort of anecdote is of course that one