英文五十篇美文賞析

五十篇美文賞析

Passage1

InternetMayCauseDepression

Internetuseappearstocauseadeclineinpsychologicalwell-being,accordingtoresearchatCarnegieMellonUniversity.

EvenpeoplewhospentjustafewhoursaweekontheInternetexperiencedmoredepressionandlonelinessthanthosewhologgedonlessfrequently,thetwo-yearstudyshowed.Anditwasn'tthatpeoplewhowerealreadyfeelingbadspentmoretimeontheInternet,butthatusingtheNetactuallyappearedtocausethebadfeelings.

Researchersarepuzzlingovertheresults,whichwerecompletelycontrarytotheirexpectations.TheyexpectedthattheNetwouldprovesociallyhealthierthantelevision,sincetheNetallowsuserstochoosetheirinformationandtocommunicatewithothers.

ThefactthatInternetusereducestimeavailableforfamilyandfriendsmayaccountforthedropinwell-being,researchershypothesized.Faceless,bodiless“virtual”relationshipsfOrmedthroughitmaybeshallower.AnotherpossibilityisthatexposuretothewiderworldviatheNetmakesuserslesssatisfiedwiththeirlives.

“Butit,simportanttorememberthisisnotaboutthetechnology;it,sabouthowitisused”,sayspsychologistChristineRileyofIntel,oneofthestudy,ssponsors.“Itreallypointstotheneedforconsideringsocialfactorsintermsofhowyoudesignapplicationsandservicesfortechnology.”

Passage2

MessagefromtheSea

In1956ayoungsailoratseawasfeelingveryfarfromhisfamilyandfriends.Hewroteanoteandputitintoabottle.Thenheclosedthebottleandthrewitintotheocean.Thenoteinthebottleaskedanyprettygirlwhofoundittowritetohim.

TwoyearslateramanwasfishingonashoreinSicily.Thefishermansawthesailor,sbottleandpickeditup.Asajoke,hegaveittohisprettydaughter.Stillasajoke,thegirlwrotethelonelysailoraletter.Moreletterswentbackandforth.SoonthesailorvisitedSicily.Heandthegirlweremarriedin1958.

Thisisjustoneofthemanystoriesaboutdriftingbottlesthathavechangedpeople,slives.

Strangeasitmayseem,asealedbottleisagoodtraveleratsea.Itcantravelsafelythroughstormsthatdestroyships.Andglasswelllastalmostforever.

Thespeedofadriftingbottlechangeswiththewindandtheoceancurrent.Abottledriftinginaquietplacemaynotmoveamileinamonth.Anotherbottlemaymove100milesinaday.

Butnoonecanbesurejustwhereabottlewillgo.Forexample,twobottlesofthesamesize,shapeandweightweredroppedatthesametimeintotheoceannearBrazil.Thefirstbottledriftedeastfor130days.ItwasfoundonashoreinAfrica.Thesecondbottlewentnorthwestfor196days,andwasfoundinNicaragua.Twootherbottles,whichwerethrownintomiddleoftheAtlanticOcean,landed350dayslaterinFrance,onlyafewyardsfromeachother.

Passage3

IdentifyingSupportingDetails

Aswehavenoted,themainideaisusuallystrengthenedbysuchdetailsasexamples,reasons,facts,andotherspecificdetails.Allofthesespecificdetailsarecalledsupportingdetails.Withoutthem,itwouldbedifficulttofullyunderstandthemoregeneralmainidea.

Toillustrate,imagineafriendsayingtoyou,“MyEnglishteacheristerrible.”YouwouldunderstandthegeneralideathatyourfrienddosenotlikehisEnglishteacher,butyouwouldn'tunderstandexactlywhy.Yourfriendmightthengoontoclarifywithsomesupportingdetails:“Heisalwayslateforclassandhenevercorrectsourhomework.What,smore,heisveryimportantwithusandtendstogetangryfornoreasonatall.”Thosesupportingdetailsclarifyyourfriend'sgeneralcomment,hisEnglishteacherisreallyterrible.

Thesearetwokindsofsupportingdetails-majorandminor.Themainideaanditsmajorsupportingdetailsformthebasicframeworkofparagraphs.Themajordetailsaretheprimarypointsthatsupportthemainidea.Paragraphsoftencontainminordetailsaswell.Whilethemajordetailsexplainanddevelopthemainidea,they,inturn,areexpandeduponbytheminorsupportingdetails.Animportantreadingskillistheabilitytofindthesemajordetailsandtodistinguishthemfromtheminorones.Clearly,boththemajorandminordetailsareneededforthereadertoreallyunderstandthemainidea.

Passage4

CaringforaDog

Dogownersareresponsibleforfeedingandcleaningtheirpets.Theyshouldalsooverseethehealthoftheirdogs.It,sbesttoconsultaveterinarianatthefirstsignofadogailment.

Adogcanbefedthedrymeal,biscuit,semi-moistandcellophane-wrapped,orcannedtypeofdogfood.Whichevertypeisselectedmustcontainthecarbohydrates,fats,proteins,minerals,andvitaminsessentialfortheanimal,swell-being.Asarule,thecostoffeedingalargedogcanbekeptlowbygivingittheinexpensivedrymealtype.

Apuppyshouldbehousebrokenassoonaspossible.Whenthepuppytakesitsfirstwaterorfood,notehowlongittakesforthepuppytourinateordefecate.Whenyoudiscovertheschedule,takethepupoutsidewhentheprescribedtimehaselapsedafterfeedingordrinking.Soon,thepuppywillassociatetheoutdoorswithtoiletfunctionandwillnolongersoilthehouseorthenewspapersthathavebeenspreadarounditslivingarea.

Youngpuppiesshouldnotbeexcessivelygroomed.Adailybrushingwithasoftbrushissufficienttoremovesurfacedustanddirt.Someauthoritiesbelievethattoconserveitsnaturalskinoilsapupshouldnotbecompletelybatheduntilitsfirstbirthday.Mudanddeepdirtinitscoat,however,canberemovedwithadamp,warmwashrag.Afterward,thepuppyshouldbecompletelydriedwitharoughtowel.Adogcanthenhaveacompletebathwhenitisoldenough,butitmustbekeptinthehouseuntilthoroughlydry,especiallyduringwinter.

Passage5

Waterways

Despitetheroadimprovementsoftheturnpikeera(1790-1830),Americanscontinuedasincolonialtimestodependwhereverpossibleonwaterroutesfortravelandtransportation.Thelargerrivers,especiallytheMississippiandtheOhio,becameincreasinglyusefulassteamboatsgrewinnumberandimprovedindesign.

RiverboatscarriedtoNewOrleansthecornandothercropsofnorthwesternfarmers,thecottonandtobaccoofsouthwesternplanters.FromNewOrleans,shipstookthecargoesontoeasternseaports.Neitherthefarmersofthewestnorthemerchantoftheeastwerecompletelysatisfiedwiththispatternoftrade.Farmerscouldgetbetterpricesfortheircropsifthealternativeexistedofsendingthemdirectlyeastwardtomarket,andmerchantscouldselllargerquantitiesoftheirmanufacturedgoodsifthesecouldbetransportedmoredirectlyandmoreeconomicallytothewest.

Newwaterwayswereneeded.Sectionaljealousiesandconstitutionalscruplesstoodinthewayofactionbythefederalgovernment,andnecessaryexpendituresweretoogreatforprivateenterprise.Ifextensivecanalsweretobedug,thejobwouldbeuptothevariousstates.

NewYorkwasthefirsttoact.IthadthenaturaladvantageofacomparativelylevelroutebetweentheHudsonRiverandLakeErie,throughtheonlybreakintheentireAppalachianMountainchain.Yettheengineeringtaskswereimposing.Thedistancewasmorethan350miles,andtherewereridgestocrossandawildernessofwoodsandswampstopenetrate.TheErieCanal,begunin1817andcompletedin1825,wasbyfarthegreatestconstructionjobthatAmericanshadeverundertaken.Itquicklyprovedafinancialsuccessaswell.TheprosperityoftheErieencouragedthestatetoenlargeitscanalsystembybuildingseveralbranches.

Passage6

Cartoons

Millionsofpeoplestruggleoutofbedeachmorning,fumbleintosomeclothes,andmaketheirwaytoacupofcoffeeandthemorningnewspaper.Theyneedsomethingcheerfultoremindthemthattherestofthedaywillbelessdifficultthangettingup.Thisneedmaybethereasonthatmanyofthemturntheirhalf-openedeyestothecomicssectionofthenewspaperastheysiptheirfirstcupsofcoffeeoftheday.

Cartoonsreflectthetimesandthetroublesandworriesofpeople.Theygivepeopleanopportunitytolaughatthemselvesandatfamiliarsituations.Intimesofprosperity,forexample,cartoonsshowpeopleenjoyingthegoodeconomicsituation.Theyalsomakefunoftheproblemsthatpeoplemakeforthemselves—likemakingaproblemoutofwhichtypeofcartobuy.Inhardtimes-timesofeconomictroubles-peoplewantsomeoneorsomethingtoblametheirtroubleson.Cartoonsprovidescapegoats.Theyalsohelppeopletoseethehumorinanot-so-funnysituation.Forexample,acartoonmightsaythatgovernmentofacountryisresponsibleforthebadeconomyandalsoshowthegovernmentleadersasagroupofridiculouspeople.Beingabletousetheleadersasscapegoatsandtolaughattheleaderssomehowmakespeoplefeelbetterabouttheirsituation.

Cartoonsalsomakepeoplelaughattheirownpersonalworries.Youngpeoplewhoarenotalwayssureofhowtoactcansmileattheirawkwardness.Oldpeoplewhosegrownchildrenpaylittleattentiontothemcanchuckleattheirneglectandloneliness.Studentswhohavestudiedtoolittlebeforeexaminationcanlaughattheiranxiety.Everyone,sproblemsaremadebiggeFthan-lifeinthecomics.Perhapstheproblemsseemfunnybecausethereishumorinsomethingthatisrealbeingmadeunreal.

Passage7

ASocietyofEmployees

Ourshasbecomeasocietyofemployees.AhundredyearsorsoagoonlyoneoutofeveryfiveAmericansatworkwasemployed,i.e.,workedforsomebodyelse.Todayonlyoneoutoffiveisnotemployedbutworkingforhimself.Andwhenfiftyyearsago“beingemployed”meantworkingasafactorylaborerorasafarmhand,theemployeeoftodayisincreasinglyamiddle-classpersonwithasubstantialformaleducation,holdingaprofessionalormanagementjobrequiringintellectualandtechnicalskills.Indeed,twothingshavecharacterizedAmericansocietyduringtheselastfiftyyears:middle-classandupper-classemployeeshavebeenthefastest-growinggroupsinourworkingpopulation—growingsofastthattheindustrialworker,thatoldestchildoftheIndustrialRevolution,hasbeenlosinginnumericalimportancedespitetheexpansionofindustrialproduction.

Yetyouwillfindlittleifanythingwrittenonwhatitistobeanemployee.Youcanfindagreatdealofverydubiousadviceonhowtogetajoborhowtogetapromotion.Youcanalsofindagooddealofworkinachosenfield,whetheritbethemechanist,stradeorbookkeeping.Everyoneofthesetradesrequiresdifferentskills,setsdifferentstandards,andrequiresadifferentpreparation.Yettheyallhaveemployeeshipincommon.Andincreasingly,especiallyinthelargebusinessoringovernment,employeeshipismoreimportanttosuccessthanthespecialprofessionalknowledgeorskill.Certainlymorepeoplefailbecausetheydonotknowtherequirementsofbeinganemployeethanbecausetheydonotadequatelypossesstheskillsoftheirtrade;thehigheryouclimbtheladder,themoreyougetintoadministrativeorexecutivework,thegreatertheemphasisonabilitytoworkwithintheorganizationratherthanontechnicalabilitiesorprofessionalknowledge.

Passage8

SnoringKidsDoWorseinSchool

Childrenwhosnoreperformworseatschool,accordingtoanewstudybyGermanscientists.“Ourstudyclearlyshowedthatsnoringhasadetrimentaleffectonchildren,sperformanceinschool,”saidChristianPoets,headofajointstudybytheUniversityofTuebingenandtheHanoverMedicalSchool.Scientistsmonitoredthesleepingbehaviorof1,144schoolchildrenagedbetweeneighttoteninthewesterncityofHanover,measuringpulseratesandbloodoxygenlevels.Thestudyshowedthatchildrenwhosnoredcontinuallywerethreetofourtimesaslikelyasnon-snorerstogetpoormarksinmath,spellingandelementarysciences.Snorershadmorevariablepulserates,andPoetssuggestedthisledsnorerstowakeupmoretiredthanotherchildren,makingithardertoconcentrate.“Webelievetheinterruptionstosleepcausedbysnoringaffectschoolperformance,notanoccasionalreductioninthe(blood)oxygencontentsnoringcanproduce,”Poetstoldreporters.ThestudymatchedthefindingsofscientistsattheUniversityofLouisvilleintheUnitedStates,whopresentedresearchrecentlyshowingthatchildrenwhosnorearemorelikelytohaveproblemswithlearningandbehaviorthanthosewhodonot.

Passage9

MatchingProductsandMarkets

Marketinghasbeendefinedastheprocessofmatchinganorganization,sresourceswithcustomerneeds.Theresultofthisprocessisaproduct.Theneed,therefore,fortheorganizationtoremaindynamicisobviousbecausetheproductistheonlykeytotheorganization,ssolvencyandprofitability.Nomatterhowelsetheorganizationrunsitselfcost-effectivelyandsensibly,iftheproductisnotsellingwellthenthemoneysimplywillnotbecomingin,companyandconsumerareinterdependent.

Successfulproductmanagementdependsontheorganizationknowinghowandifthecurrentproductrangemeetsconsumerandorganizationalobjectives.Onewayofdoingthis,aspreviouslydescribed,istoconductdetailedbenefitanalysissegmentation.

Themostimportantattitudetowardsproductmanagementistoviewtheproductasonlyonepartofthemarketingmixwhichalsoincludesprice,placeandpromotion.Inthisway,theproductisviewedasavariablewhichcanbeadaptedorevenchangedradicallytomeetachangingmarket.Howitcanbechangedwilldependonseveralfactorswithinandoutsidetheorganization,includingtheorganization,sresources,marketconditionsandopportunitiesandcompetitivethreats.

Passage10

Work,PlayandRest

Hardworkoveralongperiodoftimebringsgenuinetiredness,towhichbodyandmindeventuallymakethenaturalresponseofsleep.Butlongbeforethispointisreachedweareoftenafflictedwithlassitude.Afteraday,swork,forinstance,wesettledowninaneasychairtowatchtelevision.Beforelongwefeeldrowsyandnodofftosleep;perhapswestayinfrontofthescreenallevening,intermittentlydozing,untilfinallywedecidethatourday,sworkwasexhaustingandweretiretobedearly.Onanotheroccasion,afterasimilarday,swork,wemayspendtheeveningplayingtennis,orbuildinganeededbookcase,ormappingoutaplannedadditiontothehouse,orindelightfulconversationwithcharmingfriends,withoutanyfeelingofexhaustionorweariness.Now,onthetelevisioneveningwerewegenuinelytiredornot?Andissuchaneveningrefreshingordebilitating?

Thereisaneedformuchmorecarefulstudyofthenatureofplay,rest,andfatigue,andtherelationshipbetweenthem.CyrilBurtcarriedoutanexperimentwithtwomatchedgroupsofchildrenwhowereverybackwardinarithmetic.Onegroupwasgivenanextraarithmeticlessoneveryafternoonwhiletheothergroupslept.Attheendofthetermthe“sleepers”hadimprovedinarithmeticmorethanthosespeciallycoached.Ofcourse,therearemanyvariablesthatmightbecausallyinvolvedhere,buttheresultsshouldmakeusquestiontheassumptionthat“work”istheproductivesphereand“play”theunproductivesphere.

Weallneedtorest.Butinordertounderstandthekindofrestanorganismneeds,wemuststudythenatureoftheorganism.Thewayinwhichtheyrest,however,isbygraduallyrevertingtothenormalrhythmofbreathing,notbystopping.Thisisbecausetheyarebuiltforaction.Similarly,everythingintendedtoact,frommusclestominds,canfindrestinnaturalactionaswellasininertia.

Passage11

AGlimpseattheLifeofSeniorViennese

Likemanyothermetropolisesintheworld,Viennahasenteredanold-agesociety.Imustsay,inacountrywithhighsocialwelfarebenefitslikeAustria,agedpeopleneedn，tworryabouttheirprimaryneedsoflivelihood.Theall-embracingsocialwelfaresystemfacilitatespeopleintheiradvancedage.Inadditiontothesubsidiesandinsurancesofeverydescription,thereareotherfavourssuchastravelingbytrain,visitingmuseumsandattendingoperasatcutpricesallonaccountofyouroldage.

Yet,weallknowthatsupplyofprovisionsandclothingisonlyoneaspectoflife;man,sdemandonlifeismany-sided.Higherthecivilization,higherisman，spsychologicalaspiration.

Thisisespeciallytrueofoldfolks.Likeyoungpeople,theyhavetheneedofculturallife,theneedofrecreationandamusement,theneedofdignityandtheneedofaccomplishment.Besides,havingtraversedgreaterpartoftheirlivesandunwillingtoleavebehindtoomanyregrets,theywantto,intheirremainingyears,maketheirliveseasierandmoresubstantial.DuringmystayinVienna,IfoundthatalltheelderlypeopleImetwithseemedtoenjoytheirlivesenormously.Contagiously,Icouldn,thelpadmiringthemfortheirpositiveattitudetowardlife,especiallytheiroptimism.

Passage12

Scanning

Scanningisasearchforinformationwhichisofsomespecialinterest.Astudenthasfirsttoknowthearrangementforinformationbeforeheorshecanstarthisorhersearchefficiently.Muchofthereferencematerialisarrangedalphabetically.Adictionary,anencyclopedia,andindexofabook,oratelephonedirectoryisusuallyarrangedalphabeticallyforeasyandquicklocationofinformation.Butnotallmaterialisarrangedthisway.TVprograms,forinstance,arelistedbydayandtime.Historicaldataandtablesmaybelistedbymonthandyear.Andsportspagesofthenewspaperarearrangedbycategory:football,tennis,basketball,andsoon.

Attimesifyouaretryingtolocatespecificinformation,youusuallyneednotreadthewholematerialcarefully.Whatyouhavetodoistrytofindinwhichpartthatinformationislikelytobe,thenreadthispartwithmoreattention.Thisiscalled“scanning”.Scanning,initself,isnotacompletelynewthingtoyouthoughitisperhapsthefirsttimethatyouheardoftheterm.Itisatechniqueoftenusedwhenyoulookupawordinadictionary.Thepurposeinscanning,asyouknow,istosearchforspecificinformationquickly.Thus,ahighrateofspeedisessential.Onceyouhavelocatedtheappropriatepartofthematerial,youshouldtrytolearntheinformationintheleastamountoftime.Youaresupposednottobedistractedbywordsorideasunrelatedtothepurposeofscanning.

Meanwhile,accuracyisjustasessentialasspeedinscanning.Sinceyouarelookingforspecificinformation,itisimportantthatitbeaccurate.100percentaccuracy,alongwiththefirst-ratespeed,shouldbeyourgoalinscanningpractice.

Passage13

SeaLion'sLongMemoriesShakeupBiologists

ACaliforniasealioncalledRiohasastoundedhertrainersandmayshakeuptheworldofanimalscienceafterrememberingacomplicatedtrickfor10yearswithouteverpracticing,researcherssay.Showncardswithdesignsonthem,Rio—at16agoodageforasealionincaptivity——pickedoutmatchingpairswithouthesitation,inreturnforarewardofafish.Shefirstlearnttorecognizepairswhenshewassix,butspentthenexttenyearslearningnewtasks,withoutasinglereminderofthisolderone.Scientistshavedonelittleresearchintothelong-termmemoryofanimals,andmanyassumeditisrelativelylimited.ButresearcherssaidRio,sastonishingresponsemayforcearethinkofhowanimalmindsfunction.“Itwasmind-boggling.Wethoughtshewouldlosesomethingbecauseshewasnotexposedtoanyofthismaterialfortenyears,”RonSchusterman,oneofthetwoscientistswhotrainedRio,toldreportersinaninterview.Aswellasshakingupwhatbiologiststhinkaboutlong-termanimalmemory,Schustermansaidtheirresultsarealsoimportantbecausetheyhelpproveanimalscanthinkeventhoughtheycannotexpresstheirthoughtsinlanguageandmaygivecluestohowlanguagedevelopedinhumanbeings.

Passage14

MakeWritingClearandComplete

Inwriting,nothingcanbemoreirritatingandsometimesfrustratingthantheomissionofessentialdetail.Suppose,forexample,theshirtsyoumanufacturecomeinseveralstyles,colors,andsizes,buttheorderyouhavereceivedinthemailgivesnospecifications.Orsomeonewritesdownatelephonemessagefromyourout-of-townfriends,tellingyouthey,regoingtobeinthecityandwilldropintoseeyou;butthemessagecontainsnodate,notime,andnothingtoindicatewhethertheyarecomingaloneorwiththeirchildren.Andtherearetheinstructionsforsettingupyourhi-fiphonographandtaperecorderwhichtakeforgrantedthatyouknowwhata“patchcord”is.

Unquestionablythereisvirtueinbrevity,butastheseexamplesshow,youmustneverassumethatyourreaderisasexpertorasknowledgeableasyouareaboutwhateveryouarewriting.Brevityisnotanexcuseforlackofclarity.Andclarity,aboveall,isessentialtowhatyouhavetosayonpaper.

Clarity,precision,conciseness-eachisofutmostimportancetoeffectivewriting.Butwhatofstyle,thewayinwhichyoupenyourcorrespondence,businessorsocial?Certainlyyouwanttoavoidstiffnessandrigidityinanykindofwritingyoudo.Atthesametime,youwouldn,twriteareportonthemarketconditionsinHongKonginthe“chummy”mannerofalettertoacousininDuluthortothatcollegeroommatewhohasjustbecomepresidentofsomegiant,andcompetitive,organization.

Thesimplestandbestapproachtowarddevelopingyourownparticularstyleinwritingistowriteasyouspeak.Thiswouldseemtobejustaboutaseasyataskasyoucouldsetyourself一butinrealityitisn,t.Thatoldmystiquewhichhoversoverthewrittenwordseemstogetintotheway;evenwhenweuseadictaphonetobridgethegapbetweenwhatwewishtosayandwhatweputtopaper,thesubliminaldiscomfortstilllingers.

Passage15

IsTVaPlusoraMinus?

TVisnotonlyaconvenientandcheapserviceofentertainment,butalsoasplendidmassmediumofcommunication.PeopleonlyhavetopayoncetobuytheTVset,thentheycansitathomeenjoyingtheitemsonTV.Alltheyhavetodoistopushabuttonorturnaknob,andtheycanseeplays,films,operasandshowsofeverykind.TVkeepsuswellinformedaboutthecurrenteventsathomeandabroadandthelatestdevelopmentinscienceandtechnology.Themostdistantcountriesandthestrangestcustomsarebroughtrightintoourroom.OnTVeverythingismuchmorelivingandmuchmorereal.Asamatteroffact,ithasbecomesomuchapartofhumanlifethatamodernworldwithouttelevisionisunimaginable.Somepeopleevensaythatlifewithouttelevisionisnotworthliving.

SomepeopleargueagainstTV.TheythinktheTVviewersneeddonothing.Theviewerdoesnotevenhavetousehislegsifhehasaremotecontrol.ManypeoplearegluedtoseatstolookatthemovementsonTV.Theybecomesodependentonitspicturesthatitbeginstocontroltheirlives.Asaresult,TVistakinguptoomuchofaperson,slifeandmakinghimlazy,nottomentionitsharmfulinfluenceuponhim,suchastheitemsofviolenceandpornographyontelevisioninsomecountries.

Onthewhole,therearemoreadvantagesthandisadvantagesintheuseofTV.YetdifferentpeoplemayhavedifferentattitudetowardTV.Butwemustrealizethattelevisioninitselfisneithergoodnorbad.Itsvaluetopeopleandsocietydependsonhowwelookatit.

Passage16

MaleandFemaleRoles

Onceitwaspossibletodefinemaleandfemaleroleseasilybythedivisionoflabor.Menworkedoutsidethehomeandearnedtheincometosupporttheirfamilies,whilewomencookedthemealsandtookcareofthehomeandthechildren.Theseroleswerefirmlyfixedformostpeople,andtherewasnotmuchopportunitiesformenorwomentoexchangetheirroles.Butbythemiddleofthiscentury,men,sandwomen,sroleswerebecominglessfirmlyfixed.

Inthe1950s,economicandsocialsuccesswasthegoalofthetypicalAmerican.Butinthe1960sanewforcedevelopedcalledthecounterculture.Thepeopleinvolvedinthismovementdidnotvaluethemiddle-classAmericangoals.Thecounterculturepresentedmenandwomenwithnewrolechoices.Takingmoreinterestinchildcare,menbegantosharechild-risingtaskswiththeirwives.Infact,someyoungmenandwomenmovedtocommunalhomesorfarmswhereeconomicandchildcareresponsibilitiesweresharedequallybybothsexes.Inaddition,manyAmericansdidnotvaluethetraditionalmaleroleofsoldier.SomeyoungmenrefusedtobedraftedassoldierstofightinthewarinVietnam.

Inthe1970s,thefeministmovement,orwomen,sliberation,producedadditionaleconomicandsocialchanges.Womenofallagesandatalllevelsofsocietywereenteringtheworkforceingreaternumbers.Mostofthemstilltooktraditionalwomen,sjobssuchaspublicschoolteaching,nursing,andsecretarialwork.Butsomewomenbegantoentertraditionallymaleoccupations:policework,banking,dentistry,andconstructionwork.Womenwereaskingforequalwork,andequalopportunitiesforpromotion.

Todaytheexpertsgenerallyagreethatimportantchangesaretakingplaceintherolesofmenandwomen.Naturally,therearedifficultiesinadjustingtothesechanges.

Passage17

PackagingaPerson

Aperson,likeacommodity,needspackaging.Butgoingtoofarisabsolutelyundesirable.Alittleexaggeration,however,doesnoharmwhenitshowstheperson'suniquequalitiestotheiradvantage.Todisplaypersonalcharminacasualandnaturalway,itisimportantforonetohaveaclearknowledgeofoneself.Amasterpackagerknowshowtointegrateartandnaturewithoutanytracesofembellishment,sothatthepersonsopackagedisnocommoditybutahumanbeing,livelyandlovely.

Ayoungperson,especiallyafemale,radiantwithbeautyandfulloflife,hasallthefavorgrantedbyGod.Anyattempttomakeupwouldbeself-defeating.Youth,however,comesandgoesinamomentofdoze.

Packagingforthemiddle-agedisprimarilytoconcealthefurrowsploughedbytime.Ifyoustillenjoylife'sexuberanceenoughtoretainself-confidenceandpursuepioneeringwork,youareuniqueinyournaturalqualities,andyourcharmandgracewillremain.

Elderlypeoplearebeautifuliftheirriveroflifehasbeen,throughplains,mountainsandjungles,runningitscourseasitshould.Youhavereallylivedyourlifewhichnowarrivesatacomplacentstageofserenityindifferenttofameorwealth.Thereisnoneedtoresorttohair-dyeing—thesnow