大學英語自學教程上UNIT20

[00:06.09]You Can"t Do It Because It Hurts Nobody[00:09.77]不要以為不傷害別人就可以這樣做[00:13.45]Who do you think breaks the law in our society?[00:16.72]在我們的社會裡你認為誰違法呢？[00:19.98]If you believe that only tough guys commit crimes,you may have to think again[00:23.85]如果你認為只有粗野的傢伙才犯罪，你可能需要再考慮一下。[00:27.72]Answer the following questions honestly.[00:30.45]誠實地回答下列問題：[00:33.18]Has anyone you know ever driven drunk¹?[00:36.01]你認識的人中有沒有酒醉開車的？[00:38.84]Can you think of a friend who has used drugs?[00:42.23]你想想是不是有哪位朋友用過毒品？[00:45.61]Are you aware that your parents may not always tell the truth when they go through customs?[00:50.53]你有沒有覺得你父母在經過海關時不是總講真話？[00:55.46]Won"t some of your friends admit that they have stolen an item from a store?[00:59.69]沒有朋友向你承認他們偷過商店的東西嗎？[01:03.92]Have any of your friends ever copied a CD onto a tape for someone else?[01:08.31]有沒有朋友替別人將激光唱盤上的內容複製到磁帶上嗎？[01:12.70]In case you did not know, all of these acts are against the law.[01:16.97]如果你不知道，那麼我可以告訴你，所有這些行為都是違法的。[01:21.24]Now, among the people you know, how many have never broken the law?[01:24.87]今天在你認識的人中，有多少人從來沒有犯過法呢？[01:28.50]Does that mean that most members of our society should go to jail²?[01:32.29]這是不是意味著社會上絕大多數人都應該進監獄？[01:36.08]Unlike in the movies, we can"t divide the world into bad guysand model citizens.[01:40.31]我們不能像電影里那樣將世人區分為壞人和模範公民。[01:44.54]Real life is much more complex.[01:47.12]現實生活複雜得多。[01:49.69]In the same way that diseases³ range from the common cold to fatal⁴ forms of cancer,[01:53.92]如同疾病從普通的感冒到致命的癌症不等一樣，[01:58.15]crimes vary⁵ in degree.[02:00.44]犯罪的程度也不同。[02:02.72]For example, smoking in an elevator will inconvenience people but[02:06.20]臂如，在電梯里吸煙給人帶來麻煩，[02:09.67]much less than threatening them with a gun.[02:12.45]但遠不如用槍威脅他人那麼嚴重。[02:15.24]In addition to breaking the law themselves[02:18.03]除自己違法以外，[02:20.83]people tolerate⁶ various levels of crime.[02:23.40]人們容忍不同程度的罪行。[02:25.97]Why are we tolerant⁷ of some crimes?[02:29.00]這什麼我們容忍某些罪行呢？[02:32.03]It may be that, by seeing others do something, we accept it more easily.[02:35.91]也許因為看見別人犯罪，我們更容易接受。[02:39.79]We may even start committing that crime ourselves.[02:42.73]甚至我們自己可能犯同樣的罪。[02:45.67]For instance⁸, most people will find it easier to speed on a highway[02:49.00]例如，大多數人發現如果其他人都在超速駕車，[02:52.33]when everybody else is driving over the speed limit.[02:54.81]他們更容易在高速路上開快車。[02:57.29]When people celebrate a sports championship,[03:00.17]人們在慶祝奪得體育冠軍時，[03:03.04]if they see someone breaking store windows,[03:05.47]如果看見有人砸商店的窗戶，[03:07.90]they might start breaking windows themselves or even steal from the store.[03:11.69]他們自己也可能跟著去砸，甚至從商店裡偷東西。[03:15.47]So the people around us influence how much law-breaking we can tolerate.[03:19.11]我們對違法行為能容忍到什麼程度與周圍的人有很大關係。[03:22.74]We must also wonder whether seeing violence on television[03:26.37]我們一定也想知道，每天在電視上看到的暴力[03:30.00]or reading about it in the newspapers every day[03:32.57]或者在報紙上讀到的暴力[03:35.14]makes us tolerate crime more than we should.[03:37.77]是不是使我們更能容忍罪行。[03:40.40]We become used to seeing blood on the news on television,[03:43.73]我們已習慣於看電視上[03:47.06]or in full color in newspapers and magazines.[03:49.79]或者報紙雜誌上色彩斑斕的血腥場面。[03:52.52]Because we see thousands of dead people on TV,[03:55.55]正因為我們在電視上看見成千上萬的死人，[03:58.58]maybe we just try to ignore the situation behind the violence.[04:02.21]也許我們才企圖無視造成暴力的環境。 [04:05.84]If so many citizens tolerate violence and crime,[04:08.97]如果如此多的公民容忍暴力和罪行，[04:12.11]or even commit crimes themselves,it may simply be because of the human mind.[04:16.43]甚至自己犯罪，原因可能純粹是我們思想工作有問題。[04:20.75]Our minds may not care about specific laws.[04:24.23]我們的頭腦不關心具體的法律。[04:27.70]Instead,our minds may have a system of values[04:31.23]相反，頭腦里可能有一套價值觀體系總是阻止我們[04:34.76]that usually prevents us from hurting other people to improve our own lives[04:38.79]傷害他人，不斷完善自己的人生。[04:42.83]Yet, when it comes to respecting the rights of a mass of anonymous⁹ individuals,[04:47.70]然而，當涉及到尊重眾多不知姓名個人的權利時[04:52.57]we might not be so responsible.[04:55.30]我們也許就不那麼負責了。[04:58.03]While most people would not steal a wallet containing $50,[05:01.91]儘管大多數人不會去偷裝有50美元的錢包，[05:05.79]they may not mind cheating on taxes,[05:08.36]但他們可能並不在乎偷稅漏銳，[05:10.94]because cheating on taxesdoes not hurt any one person.[05:14.62]因為偷稅並不傷害任何他人[05:18.30]It hurts society,[05:20.29]它傷害 社會，[05:22.27]but "society" remains¹⁰ an abstract¹¹ ideathat is not as real as a neighbor[05:26.65]但「社會」是一個抽象概念，它不如鄰居[05:31.02]or a friend"s friend.[05:33.00]或者朋友的朋友那麼真實。[05:34.97]Perhaps this is why someone who robbers¹² few dollars by force from a comer store[05:38.69]也許這就是為什麼一個人在街角商店用暴力搶劫幾美元，[05:42.41]will often end up with a longer jail term than a fraud¹³ artist[05:46.29]其結局是比一個詐騙了成千上萬美元的冒牌藝術家[05:50.17]who swindles thousands of dollars:[05:52.65]在監獄裡服的刑期還要長。[05:55.13]threatening the life of an individual is not acceptable¹⁴ in our society.[05:58.71]因為威脅某個人生命在我們的社會是不可接受的。[06:02.29]When we look at the questions in the first paragraph[06:05.11]在我們看到第一段提出的問題，[06:07.93]and realize that many people have misconceptions about law-breaking,[06:11.66]認識到許多人對違法有誤解之後，[06:15.38]we could think it is surprising that only about 10% of Canadians[06:19.10]我們認為只有大約百分之十的加拿大人[06:22.82]have a criminal record.[06:25.11]有犯罪記錄令人吃驚。[06:27.40]How could we improve the level of honesty in our soeiety?[06:30.67]我們怎樣才能提高社會的誠實水平？[06:33.95]Would a larger police force keep everyone honest?[06:37.58]動用更多的警察能使每一個人誠實嗎？[06:41.21]Would severe laws help make our soeieiy better?[06:44.24]嚴厲的法規能使我們的社會變得更好嗎？[06:47.28]Probably not.[06:49.46]恐怕不能。[06:51.64]The police Would never be able to keep an eye on everyone,[06:55.02]警察無法盯住每一個人，[06:58.40]and people would still find ways to bend new laws.[07:01.94]人們還是會想辦法違犯新法。[07:05.48]Honesty will have to come from social pressure:[07:08.76]誠實應該來自社會壓力：[07:12.04]in the family,at school, on the job,[07:14.86]在家庭、在學校、在工作崗位上，[07:17.68]each and every one of us can enoourage honesty by showing[07:21.01]我們之中每個人通過示範什麼行為[07:24.34]which behaviors are unacceptable.[07:26.77]不可接受來倡導誠實。[07:29.20]Teaching respect should become everyone"s responsibility.[07:33.73]教人尊重應該成為每個人的責任。[07:38.27]Text B[07:42.11]Marriage in Iran and America: A Study in Contrasts[07:45.44]美伊婚俗：一項對比研究[07:48.77]Though marriage is practiced in almost all countries of the world,[07:52.08]雖然結婚是世界上幾乎所有的國家的人都在做的事情，[07:55.40]the customs are quite different from one culture to another.[07:57.88]但結婚的習俗卻隨文化而異。[08:00.37]It is interesting for me to compare the customs of marriage in the United States[08:07.31]with those in my country.[08:09.39]我對比較美國與我國的結婚習俗有興趣。[08:11.47]I"ve lived in the U.S.for four years now,[08:14.41]我在美國生活了四年，[08:17.35]but I"m still not comfortable with the customs here.[08:19.71]但是還是不習慣這裡的習俗。[08:22.07]In fact, what seems strange to me is that courting or dating[08:25.50]其實，令我看起來奇怪的是求愛或約會的目的 [08:28.92]is not always for the purpose of finding¹⁵ a husband or wife.[08:31.49]並非總是為了找丈夫或者妻子，[08:34.06]Some people seem to do it as a hobby.[08:36.18]有些人這樣做好像僅僅是一種消遣。[08:38.30]Here in the United States,[08:40.02]在美國這裡，[08:41.74]I have noticed that courting is begun by the young couple themselves,[08:44.77]我發現求愛由年輕人自己提出來，[08:47.80]and they seem to have a lot of freedom to decide and do what they want.[08:50.99]他們似乎有很大的自由來決定自己想做的事，做自己想做的事。[08:54.18]Both young men and women date a number of different people.[08:56.80]年輕男女都與好些異性約會，[08:59.43]They do it without the knowledge or help of their parents.[09:02.41]這樣做既不讓父母知道也不要父母的幫助。[09:05.38]In fact,I have known several friends who got married[09:08.47]實際上，我就認識幾位朋友結了婚[09:11.55]with out even telling their parents or other family members.[09:14.08]也沒有告訴父母或家裡其他的人。[09:16.62]At the actual wedding ceremony,[09:18.94]在婚禮儀式上，[09:21.27]the father of the bride symbolically¹⁶ gives his daughter to the groom¹⁷.[09:24.14]新娘的父親象徵性地將自己的女兒交給新郎。[09:27.01]It"s only a custom, I think,[09:29.20]我認為這只是一個習俗，[09:31.38]because the bride and groomalready know each other quite well[09:33.96]因為新娘，新郎已彼此很了解。[09:36.55]The bride and groom stand together[09:38.38]新娘，新郎一起[09:40.21]in front of the religious leaderor govemment official to be married.[09:43.08]站在宗教神長或政府官員面前履行結婚儀式。[09:45.95]The official reads from a short prepared speeh and then asks both the man and woman[09:50.13]官員朗讀著一篇準備好的簡短講稿，然後詢問男女雙方是否願意與對方結婚。[09:54.31]if they are willing to be married to the other,[09:56.49]如果雙方都說同意，[09:58.67]If they both say "yes,"and nobody attending the wedding stands up to object[10:06.43]they are declared "man and wife."[10:08.65]並且出席婚禮者沒人站起來反對，就宣布也們為夫妻。[10:10.87]It is interesting that the two families are asked[10:16.91]if there are any objections¹⁸ right during the ceremony.[10:19.53]有趣的是舉行儀式時會詢問雙方家庭有沒有反對意見，[10:22.16]Perhaps it is because the family members[10:26.42]are not as involved in the wedding preparations as they are in Iran.[10:29.45]這也許是因為家庭成員不像在伊朗那樣參與婚禮的準備工作吧。[10:32.48]Marriage is different in a number of ways in my country.[10:35.15]結婚在我們國家有幾方面和美國不同。[10:37.83]In Iran,courting is more serious[10:42.38]and is performed strictly¹⁹ for the purpose of marriage.[10:44.70]在伊朗，求愛更認真，求愛的目的的確是為了結婚，[10:47.03]It is definitely²⁰ not a part of the fun-filled years of growing up[10:53.30]like it is here in American.[10:55.18]決不像美國這裡它是成長期間浪漫年華的一部分。[10:57.06]It is the mother of the young man[11:00.61]who initiates²¹ the process by visiting the home of a potential bride[11:03.48]整個過程從男方的母親拜訪未來新娘的家開始。[11:06.36]She goes to inspect the girl,[11:08.19]母親去相女孩，[11:10.01]and discover the position and wealth of the girl" s family.[11:12.54]了解女方家庭的地位和財產。[11:15.06]If she is pleased, then she will return another day with her son.[11:18.07]如果母親滿意了，改天她帶兒子再來。[11:21.09]If her son is also pleased,[11:23.21]如果他的兒子也滿意了，[11:25.32]then the two families get together to talk,about the dowry, the wedding ceremony,[11:32.27]who they will hire to perform the marriage and other matters.[11:34.65]雙方家庭就聚在一起討論嫁妝，婚禮，花錢請誰來操辦婚禮及其他事情。[11:37.03]The actual marriage ceremony is quite different,[11:42.67]however from the American wedding ceremonies I have seen.[11:44.80]可是，真正的結婚儀式與我見過的美國儀式大不一樣。[11:46.93]The bride,dressed in white, with a veil²² over her face,sits in a room alone.[11:50.50]新娘身穿白色的禮服，臉上罩著面紗，獨自一人坐在一間房裡。[11:54.08]She sets on a special piece of silk[11:58.52] which is surrounded on two sides by very long pieces of flat bread. [12:01.65]她坐在一塊別緻的絲綢上，兩邊圍滿了長長的扁麵包。[12:04.77]Two mullahs stand outside the door to this room reading from the Koran.[12:08.19]兩位毛拉站在門外朗誦《古蘭經》。[12:11.61]Twice the bride must remain silent to the questions of the mullahs.[12:15.33]新娘對毛拉提出的問題有兩次不應作答，[12:19.06]The groom" s mother then presents a gift of gold[12:24.52]to show that her side of the family is serious.[12:26.88]然後新郎的母親拿出一件金制的禮品表示她這一方很認真。[12:29.24]The bride then responds to the mullahs[12:33.97]in much the same manneras do Americans when they say "I do.".[12:36.86]在兩位毛拉處理表正式結婚文件時，[12:39.75]The groom is allowed to go into the bride"s room[12:42.32]允許新郎進入新娘的房間。[12:44.89]while the mullahs take care of the offidal marriage papers.[12:50.35]One more difference between the marriage iage customs of the United States[12:57.01]and my country[12:58.54]美國和我們國家的婚俗之間的另一個差別是：[13:00.07]is that the bride does not immediately go to the home of her new husband.[13:02.80]新娘不會馬上去她的丈夫家裡。[13:05.53]For several months,she continues to stay at her own home[13:11.48]preparing her dowry and receiving instructions from her mother[13:14.42]有數月之久，新娘一直呆在自己娘家準備著嫁妝，接受母親的訓導：[13:17.36]on how to be a good wife and mother.[13:19.19]如何做賢妻良母。[13:21.02] After a few months, the groom and his relatives come for the bride[13:27.78]and take her to his home along with the dowry.[13:30.00]幾個月之後，新郎和他的親戚來接新娘及其嫁妝回家。[13:32.23]Though I can certainly see the advantages of the freedom that is given[13:38.76]to American youths to choose whom they will marry and when,[13:44.03]I think I still prefer the customs of my home country.[13:46.85]但是我還是喜歡自己國家的習俗，[13:49.68]I suppose that"s because there is not so much guessing and uncertainty²³.[13:53.01]我想這是因為沒有太多的猜測和不確定因素的原故吧
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