自考綜合英語二串講+歷年真題

綜合英語（二）

TwelveThingsIWishTheyTaughtatSchool

1.1attendedjuniorandseniorhighschool,publicinstitutioninNewYorkandNewJersey,justafterthe

SecondWorldWar.Itseemsalongtimeago.Thefacilitiesandskillsoftheteacherswereprobablywellabove

averagefortheUnitedStatesatthattime.Sincethen,i"velearnedagreatdeal.Oneofthemostimportantthing

i"velearnedishowmuchthereistolearn,andhowmuchIdonHtyetknow.SometimesIthinkhowgratefuli

wouldbetodayifIhadleainedmorebackthenaboutwhatreallymatter.Insomerespectseducationsisterribly

narrow；theonlythingIeverlearnedinschoolaboutNapoleonswasthattheUnitedStatesmadeaLouisianna

Purchasefromhim(Onaplanetwheresome95%oftheinhabitantsarenotAmericans,theonlyhistorythatwas

thoughtworthteachingwasAmericanhistory.)Inspelling,grammar,thefundamentalsofmath,andothervital

subjects,myteachersdidaprettygoodjob.Butthere”snomuchelseIwishthey"dtaughtus.

2.Perhapsallthedeficiencieshavesincebeenrectified.ltseemstometherearemanythings(oftenmorea

matterofattitudeandperceptionthanthesimplememorizationoffacts)thattheschoolsshouldteachthings

thattrulywouldbeusefulinlaterlife,usefulinmakingastrongercountryandabetterworld,butusefulalsoin

makingpeoplehappier.Humanbeingsenjoylearning.That'soneofthefewthingsthatwedobetterthanthe

otherspeciesonourplanet.Everystudentshouldregularyexperiencethe"Aha!”whensomethingyounever

understood,orsomethingyouneverknewwasmysterybecomesclear.

3.Soherensmylist：Pickadifficultthingandlearnitwell

4.TheGreekphilosopherSocratessaidthiswasoneofthegreatestofhumanjoys,anditis.Whileyoulearna

littlebitaboutmanysubjects,makesureyoulearnagreatdealaboutoneortwo.Ithardlymatterswhatthesubject

is,aslongasitdeeplyinterestsyou,andyouplaceitinitsbroaderhumancontext.Afteryouteachyourselfone

subject,youbecomemuchmoreconfidentaboutyourabilitytoteachyourselfanother.YougraduallyfindyouHve

acquiredakeyskill.Theworldischangingsorapidlythatyoumustcontinuetoteachyourselfthroughoutyour

life.Butdon"tgettrappedbythefirstsubjectthatinterestsyou,orthefirstthingyoufindyourselfgoodat.The

worldisfullofwonders,andsomeofthemwedonntdiscoveruntilwe'Yeallgrowup.Mostofthem,sadly,we

neverdiscover.

Don“tbeafraidtoask“stupid"questions.

5.Manyapparentlynaiveinquirieslikewhygrassisgreen,orwhytheSunisround,orwhyweneed55.000

nuclearweaponsintheworldarereallydeepquestions.Theanswerscanbeagatewaytorealinsights.It'*s

alsoimportanttoknow,aswellasyoucan,whatitisthatyoudonMtknow,andaskingquestionsistheway.Toask

“stupid”questionsrequirescourageonthepartoftheaskerandknowledgeandpatienceonthepartofthe

answerer.Anddon"tconfineyourlearningtoschoolwork.Discussideasindepthwithfriends.ItHsmuchbraverto

askquestionsevenwhenthereMsaprospectofridiculethantosuppressyourquestionsandbecomedeadenedto

theworldaroundyou.

Listencarefully.

6.Manyconversationsareakindofcompetitionthatrarelyleadstodiscoveryoneitherside.Whenpeopleare

talking,don"tspendthetimethinkingaboutwhatyou'Yegoingtosaynext.Instead,trytounderstandwhattheyHre

saying,whatexperienceisbehindtheirremarks,whatyoucanlearnfromoraboutthem.Olderpeoplehavegrown

upinaworldverydifferentfromyours,oneyoumaynotknowverywell.They.andpeoplefromotherpartsof

thecountryandfromothernations,haveimportantperspectivesthatcanenrichyourlife.

Everybodymakesmistakes

7.Everybodynsunderstandingisincomplete.Beopentocorrection,andlearntocorrectyourownmistakes.

Theonlyembarrassmentisinnotlearningfromyourmistakes.

Knowyourplanet

8.1tnstheonlyonewehave.Learnhowitworks.WeHrechangingtheatmosphere,thesurface,thewatersof

theEarth,oftenforsomeshort-termadvantagewhenthelong-termimplicationsareunknow.Thecitizensofany

countryshouldhaveatleastsomethingtosayaboutthedirectioninwhichwe"regoing.Ifwedon"tunderstandthe

issues,weabandonthefuture.

Scienceandtechnology.

9.Youcan"tknowyourplanetunlessyouknowsomethingaboutscienceandtechnology.Schoolscience

courses,Iremember,concentratedontheunimportantpartsofscience,leavingthemajorinsightsalmost

untouched.Thegreatdiscoveriesinmodernsciencearealsogreatdiscoveriesofthehumanspirit.Forexample,

Copernicusshowedthatfarfrombeingthecenteroftheuniverse,aboutwhichtheSun,theMoon,the

planets,andthestarsrevolvedinclockwisehomagetheEarthisjustoneofmanysmallworlds.Thisisa

deflationofourpretensions,tobesure,butitisalsotheopeninguptoourviewofavastandawesomeuniverse.

EveryhighschoolgraduateshouldhavesomeideaoftheinsightsofCopernicus,Newton,Darwin,Freud,and

Einstein.(EinsteinMsspecialtheoryofrelativity,farfrombeingobscureandexceptionallydifficult,canbe

understoodinitsbasicswithnomorethanfirst-yearalgebra,andthenotionofarowboatinarivergoingupstream

anddownstream.)

Don"tspendyourlifewatchingTV.

lO.YouknowwhatI"mTalkingabout.

Culture.

11.Gainsomeexposuretothegreatworksofliturature,artandmusic.Ifsuchaworkishundredsor

thousandsofyearsoldandisstilladmired,thereisprobablysomethingtoit.Likealldeepexperiences,itmay

takealittleworkonyourparttodiscoverwhatallthefussisabout.Butonceyoumaketheeffort,yourlifehas

changed；youuveacquiredasourceofenjoymentandexcitementfortherestofyourdays.Inaworldastightly

connectedasoursis,donMtrestrictyourattentiontoAmericanorwesternculture.Learnhowandwhatpeople

elsewherethink.Learnsomethingoftheirhistory,theirreligion,theirviewpoints.

Compassion

12.Manypeoplebelievethatweliveinanextraordinarilyselfishtime.Butthereisahollowness,aloneliness

thatcomesfromlivingonlyforyourself.Humansarecapableofgreatmutualcompassion,loveandtenderness.

Thesefeelings,however,needencouragementtogrow.

13.Lookatthedelightaone-ortwo-yearoldtakesinlearning,andyouseehowpowerfulisthehumanwill

tolearn.Ourpassiontounderstandtheuniverseandourcompassionforothersjointlyprovidethechiefhopefor

thehumanrace.

LessontwoIcons

HerosandCulturalIcons

GrayGoshgarian

IfyouwereaskedtolisttenAmericanheroesandheroines,youwouldprobablynamesomeorallofthe

following：GeorgeWashington,AbrahamLincoln,DanielBoone,MartinLutherKingJr.,AmeliaEarhart,

SusanB.Anthony,JacquelineKennedyOnassis,HelenKeller,ElizabethCadyStanton,andRosaParks.Ifnext

youwereaskedtolistpeoplewhoaregenerallyadmiredbysociety,whosomehowseembiggerthanlife,you

mightcomeupwithanentirelydifferentlist.Youmight,infact,namepeoplewhoarecelebratedfortheirwealth

andglamourratherthantheirachievementsandmoralstrengthofcharacter.Andyouwouldnotbealone,because

pollstershavefoundthatpeopletodaydonotchoosepoliticalleaderswhoshapehistoryfortheir4<MostAdmired”

list,butrathermovieandtelevisioncelebrities,fashionmodels,professionalathletes,andevencomicbookand

cartooncharacters.Inshortmediaicons.

Bydefinition,heroesandheroinesaremenandwomendistinguishedbyuncommoncourage,achievements,

andself-sacrificemademostoftemforthebenefitofothersthenarepeopleagainstwhomwemeasureothers.

Theyaremenandwomenrecognizedforshapingournation'sconsciousnessanddevelopmentaswellasthelives

ofthosewhoadmirethem.Yet,somepeoplesaythatoursisanagewheretrueheroesandheroinesarehardto

comeby,wheretheveryidealofheroismissomethingbeyondusanartifactofthepast.Somemaintainthat

becausetheColdWarisoverandbecauseAmericaisatpeaceourageisessentiallyandunheroicone.

Furthermore,theoverallcrimerateisdown,povertyhasbeeneasedbyastrongandgrowingeconomy,and

advancescontinuetobemadeinmedicalscience.Consequently,bereftofculturalheroes,wehavelatchedonto

culturalicons-mediasuperstarssuchasactors,actresses,sportscelebrities,televisionpersonalities,andpeople

whoaresimplyfamousforbeingfamous.

Culturaliconsarehardertodefine,butweknowthemwhenweseethem.Theyarepeoplewhomanageto

transcendcelebrity,whoarelegendary,whosomehowmanagetobecomemythic.Butwhatmakessomefigures

iconsandothersmerecelebrities?That'shardtoanswer.Inpart,theirliveshavethequalityofastory.For

instance,thebeautifulyoungDianaSpencerwhoat19marriedaprince,boreaking,renouncedmarriageandthe

throne,anddiedatthemomentshefoundtruelove.Goodlookscertainlyhelp.Sodoesaspecialindefinable

charisma,withthehelpofthemedia.Butnothingbecomesaniconmorethanatragicandearlydeathsuchas

MartinLutherKingJr.,JohnF.Kennedy,andPrincessDiana.

BeingSomebody

DonnaWoolfolkCross

Onehundredyearsago,peoplebecamefamousforwhattheyhadachieved.MenlikeJ.P.Morgan,E.H.

HarrimanandJayGouldwereallnotableachievers.SowereThomasEdison,MarkTwain,andSusanB.

Anthony.

Theiraccomplishmentsarestillevidentinourownday.Today'scelebrities,however,oftendonotbecome

knownforanyenduringachievement.Thepeoplewemostadmiretodayareusuallythosewhoaremosthighly

publicizedbythemedia.

In1981,aGalluppollrevealedthatNancyReaganwasthenation's"mostadmiredwoman"。Theyear

before,thatdistinctionwenttopresidentCarter'swife,Rosalynn.Infact,thewifeofthecurrentpresidentis

alwaysoneofthenation'smostadmiredwomen.Today'scelebrities,asthewriterDanielBoorstinsays,are

“peoplewell-knownfortheirwell-knownness.n

Tobecomesuchacelebrity,oneneedsluck,notaccomplishment.AsBoorstinsays,“Theherowas

distinguishedbyhisaccomplishment；thecelebritybyhisimageortrademark.Theherocreatedhimself；the

celebrityiscreatedbythemedia.Theherowasabigman；thecelebrityisabigname.^^

Thereisanotherdistinction：heroesinspirerespect；celebritiesinspireenvy.Fewofusbelievewecouldbe

anotherJonasSalkorEleanorRoosevelt,butwecouldbeanotherTVstarlikeTellySavalasorSuzanneSomers.

Exceptfortheattentiontheygetfromthemedia,thesepeopleareexactlylikeus.

Theshiftfromhero-worshiptocelebrity-worshipoccurredaroundtheturnofthecentury.Itwascloselytied

totheriseofnewformsofmedia-firstphotography,andlatermovingpictures,radioandtelevision.Forthefirst

time,Americanscouldseeandrecognizetheirheroes.Previously,menlikeGouldandHarriman,whosenames

everyoneknew,couldeasilyhavepassedthroughacrowdwithoutbeingrecognized.Thereproductionofphotos

innewspapersturnedfamouspeopleintocelebritieswhosedress,appearance,andpersonalhabitswerewidely

commentedupon.Slowly,thefocusofpublicattentionbegantoshiftawayfromknowingwhatsuchpeopledidto

knowingwhattheylookedlike.

Theshiftwasacceleratedbythearrivalofmovingpictures.Between1901and1914,74percentofthe

magazinearticlesaboutfamouspeoplewereaboutpoliticalleaders,inventors,professionalsandbusinessmen.

After1922,however,mostarticleswereaboutmoviestars.

Withthearrivaloftelevision,thefacesofthestarsbecameasfamiliarasthosewesawacrossthebreakfast

table.Wecametoknowmoreaboutthelivesofthecelebritiesthanwedidaboutmostofthepeopleweknow

personally.Lessthanseventyyearsaftertheappearanceofthefirstmovingpictures,theshiftfromhero-worship

tocelebrity-worshipwascomplete.

Todayanappearanceonatelevisiontalkshowistheultimateproofof“makingit“inAmerica.Actually,the

term“talkshow“ismisleading.Celebritiesdonotappearonsuchaprogrambecauseofanactualdesireor

abilitytotalk,butsimplytogainrecognition,andprove,merelybyshowingup,thattheyare“somebody.”

Beingaguestonatalkshowdoesnotrequirequalitiesofwit,eloquence,brilliance,insight,orintelligence.

Aformertalentcoordinatorfor"theTonightShow”,saysthatwhenhewouldaskascheduledguest,“Whatwould

youliketotalktothehostabout?”thereplyhegotoftenwas,“Havehimaskmeanything."This,hesays,

usuallymeant.UIamatypicalHollywoodactor,soIhaveneverhadanoriginalthoughtandIhavenothingtosay

ofanyinteresttoanyoneanywhere.”

Mosthostsaregratefuljusttogetsomeonewhowillfilltheroomwithsound.Onetalkshowcoordinator

comments.4<welookfortheguestwhoissuretotalknomatterwhat.Tensecondsofsilenceappearsvery

awkwardontelevision；thirtysecondsisdisastrous.Aguestwho'sgottostoptothinkabouteverythinghesays

beforetheopenshismouthisaratingsnightmare.^^

Thiskindofattituderewardssmooth,insinceretalk,andmakeshesitancylooklikestupidity.

“wewouldn'thaveusedGeorgeWashingtononourshowlsaysonetalentcoordinator.4themighthavebeen

firstintheheartsofhiscountrymen,buttodayhe'dbedragginghisbottomintheratings.^^

Iesson3GoGoAmericansGo-GoAmericans

AlisonR.Lanier

1.Americansbelievenoonestandsstill.Ifyouarenotmovingahead,youarefallingbehind.Thisattitudeof

timeresultsinanationofpeoplecommittedtoresearching,experimentingandexploring.Timeisoneofthetwo

elmentsAmericanssavecarefully,theotherbeinglabor.

2"Weareslavestonothingbuttheclock."ithasbeensaid.Timeistratedasifitweresomethingalmost

tangible.Webudgetit,saveit,wasteit,stealit,killit,cutit,accountforit,wealsochargeforit.ltisaprecious

commodity.Manypeoplehavearatheraccutesenceoftheshortnessofeachlifetime.Oncethesandshaverunout

ofaperson'shourglass,theycannotbereplaced.Wewanteveryminutetocount.

3.Aforeigner'sfirstimpressiontotheU.Sislikelytobethateveryoneisinarushoftenunder

pressure.Citypeopleappearalwaystobehurryingtogetwheretheyaregoing,restlesslyseekingattentionina

store,elbowingothersastheytrytocompletetheirerrands.Racingthroughdaytimemealsisconsidered

precious.Othersinpubliceatingplacesarewaitingforyoutofinishsotheytoocanbeservedandgetbackto

workwithinthetimeallowed.Eachpersonhurriestomakeroomfbrthenextperson.Ifyoudon'twaiterswillhurry

you.

4.Youalsofinddriverswillbeabruptandthatpeoplewillpushpastyou.Youwillmisssmiles,brief

conversations,smallcontactswithstrangers.Don'ttakeitpersonally.Thisisbecausepeoplevaluetimehighly,and

theyresentsomeoneelse“wasting“itbeyondacertaincourtesypoint.

5.Thisviewoftimeaffectstheimportanceweattachtopatience.IntheAmericansystemofvalues,patienceis

notahighpriority.Manyofushavewhatmightbecalled“ashortfuse."Webegintomoverestlesslyaboutifwe

feeltimeisslippingawaywithoutsomereturnbethisintermsofpleasure,workvalue,orrest.Thosecoming

fromlandswheretimeislookedupondifferenetlymayfindthismatterofpacetobeoneoftheirmostdifficult

adjustmentsinbothbusinessanddailylife.

6.Manynewcomerstothestateswillmisstheopeningcourtitesiesofabusinesscall,forexample.Theywill

misstheritualsocializingthatgoeswithawelcomingcupofteaorcoffeethatmaybetraditionalintheirown

country.Theymaymissleisurelybusinesschatsinacafeorcoffeehouse.Normally,Americansdon'taccesstheir

visitorsinsuchrelaxedsurroundingsoverprolongedsmalltalk；muchlessdotheytakethemoutfbrdinner,or

aroundonthegolfcoursewhiletheydevelopasenseoftrustandrapportoRapporttousislessimportantthen

performance.Weseekoutevidenceof

pastperformancethenevaluteabusinesscollegethroughsocialcourtesies.Sincewegenerallyacessand

probeprefessionallyratherthansocially,westarttalkingbusinessveryquickly.

7.MostAmericansliveaccordingtotimesegmentslaidoutinengagementcalendars.Thesecalendarsmaybe

bedevidedintointervalsasshortasfifteenminutes.Weoftengiveapersontwoorthree(ormore)segmentsof

mycalendar,butinthebusinessworldwealmostalwayshaveotherappointmentsfollowinghardontheheelsof

whateverwearedoingnow.Timeisthereforealwaystickinginourinnerear.

8.Asaresultweworkhardatthetaskofsavingtime.Weproduceasteadyflowoflabor-savingdevices；we

communicaterappidlythroughtelexes,phonecallsormemosratherthanthroughpersonalcontacts,whichthough

pleasant,takelongerespeciallygivenourtraffic-filledstreets.Wethereforesavemostpersonalvisitingforafter

workhoursorforsocialweekendgatherings.

9.Toustheimpersonalityofelectroniccommunicationhaslittleornorelationtotheimportanceofthematter

athand,Insomecountriesnomajorbusinessiscarriedonwithouteyecontact,requiringfacetofaceconversation.

InAmerica,too,afinalagreementwillnormallybesignedinperson.Howeverpeoplearemeetingincreasinglyon

televisionscreens,conducting“teleconferences"tosetlieproblemsnotonlyinthiscountrybutalsoby

satelliteinternationally.Anincreasinglyhighpercentageofnormalbusinessisbeingdonethesedaysbyvoice

andelectronicdevide.Mailisslowanduncertainandisgrowingevermoreexpensive.

lO.TheU.S.isdefinedatelephonecountry.Almosteveryoneusesthetelephonetoconductbusiness,tochat

withfriends,tomakeorbreaksocialengagements,tosaytheir4fcThankyou's.^^toshopandtoobtaionallkindsof

informations.Telephonessaveyourfeetandendlessamountsoftime.Thisisduepartlytothefactthatthe

telephoneserviceisgoodhere,whereasthepostalserviceislessefficient.Furmore,thecostsofsecretariallabor

printing,andstampsareallsoaring.Thetelephoneisquick.Welikeit.Wecandoourbusinessandgetananswer

inamatterofmoments.Furthermore,severalpeoplecanconfertogetherwithoutmovingfromtheirdesks,evenin

widelyscatteredlocations.Inabigcountrythat,too,isimportant.

1l.Somenewarrivalswillcomefromcultureswhereitisconsideredimpolitetoworktooquickly.Unlessa

certainamountoftimeisallowedtoelapse,itseemsintheireyesasifthetaskbeingconsideredwere

insignificant,notworthyofproperrespect.Assighmentsarethusfelttobegivenaddedweightbythepassageof

time.IntheU.S.,howeveritistakenasasignofcompetencetosolveaproblem,orfullfillajobsuccesfully,with

rapideity.Usually,themoreimportantataskis,themorecapital,energy,andattentionwillbepouredintoit

ininorderto“getitmoving.”

Iesson4uTakeOver,Bon*s!”

'TakeOver,Bon's!”

l.HourafterafterIkeptthegunpointedattheothernineman.Fromthelifeboat'sstem,whereI'dsatmostof

thetwentydaysofourdrifting,!couldkeepthemallcovered.Ifihadtoshootatsuchclosequarters,!wouldn't

miss.Theyrealizedthat.Nobodyjumpedatme.Butinthewaytheyallglaredicouldseehowthey'dcometohate

myguts.

2.EspeciaIIyBarratte,who'dbeenbos'n'smate；Barrettsaidinhisharsh,crakedvoice,“You'rea

fooLSnyder.Y-youcan'tholdoutforever1You'rehalfasleepnow!”

3.1didn'tanswer.Hewasright.Howlongcanamanstayawake?Ihadn'tdaretoshutmyeyesinmaybe

seventy-twohours.Verysoonnowi'ddozeoff,andtheinstantthathappenedthey'djumponthelitllewaterthat

wasleft.

4.Thelastcanteenlayundermylegs.Therewasn'tmuchinitaftertwentydays.Maybeapint.Enoughtogive

eachofthemafewdrops.YetIcouldseeintheirbloodshoteyesthatthey'dgladlykillmeforthosefewdrops.As

amanIdidn'tcountanymore.IwasnolongerthirdofficerofthewreckedMontala.1wasjustagunthatkeptthem

awayfromthewatertheycraved.Andwiththeirtongueswollenandtheircheekssunken,theywerehalfcrazy.

5.ThewayIjudgedit,wemustbesometwohundredmileseastofAscension.Nowthatthestormswere

over,theAtlanticswellswerelongandeasy,andthemorningsunwashotsohotitscochedyourskin.Myown

tonguewasthickenoughtostopmythroat.rdhavegiventherestofmylifeforasinglegulpofwater.

6.ButIwasthemanwiththegun-theonlyauthorityintheboatandIknewthis：oncethewater

wasgonewe'dhavenothingtolookforwardtobutdeath.Aslongaswecouldlookforwardtogettingadrink

later,therewassomethingtolivefor.Wehadtomakeitlastaslongaspossible.IfTdgivenintothecurses,wefd

haveemptiedthelastcanteendaysago.Bynowwe'dallbedead.

7.Themenweren'tpullingontheoars.They'dstoppedthatlongago,tooweaktogoon.Thenineofthem

facingmewereapackofbearded,ragged,half-nakedanimals,andIprobablylookedasbadastherest.Some

sprawledoverthegunwales,dozing.TherestwatchedmeasBarrettdid,readytospringtheinstantirelaxed.

8.Whentheyweren'tlookingatmyfacetheylookedatthecanteenundermylegs.

9.JeffBarrettwasthenearestone.Aconstantthreat.Thebos'n'smatewasaheavyman,bald.withascarred

andbrutalface.He'dbeeninahundredfights,andthey'dlefttheirmarksonhim.

10.Barretthadbeenabletosleep-infact,he*dsleptthroughmostofthenightandIenviedhim

that.Hiseyeswouldn'tclose.Theykeptwatchingme,narrowanddangerous.

11.Everynowandthenhejeeredatmeinthathoarse,brokenvoice：

12.“Whydon'tyouquit?Youcan'tholdout!”

13.'Tonight,”Isaid/'We'llrationtherestofthewatertonight.^^

14.“Bytonightsomeofus'llbedead!Wewantitnow!”

15?TonighCIsaid.

Ib.CouIdn'theunderstandthatifwewaiteduntilnightthefewdropswouldn'tbesweatedoutofussofast?

ButBarrettwasbeyondallreasoning.Hismindhadalreadycrackedwiththirst.Isawhimbegintorise,a

calculatinglookinhiseyes.Iaimedthegunathischestandhesatdownagain.

17.rdgrabbedmygunoninstinct,twentydaysagojustbeforerunningforthelifeboat.Nothingelsewould

havekeptBarrettandtherestawayfromthewater.

18.Thesefoolscouldn'ttheyseeIwantedadrinkasbadlyasanyofthem?ButIwasincommand

herethatwasthedifference.!wasthemanwiththegun,themanwhohadtothink.Eachoftheotherscould

offordtothinkonlyofhimself；Ihadtothinkofthemall.

19.Barrett'seyeskeptwatchingme,waiting.Ihatehim.Ihateedhimallthemorebecausehehadslept.Asthe

boatroseandfellonthelongswells,!couldfeelsleepcreepingovermelikeparalysis.Ibentmyhead.ltfilledmy

brainlikeacloud.Iwasgoing,going

2O.Barrettstoodoverme,andIcouldn'tevenliftthegun.InavaguewayIcouldguesswhatwould

happen.He'dgrabthewaterfirstandtakehisdrop.Bythattimetheotherswouldbescreamingandtearingat

him,andhehadtoyieldthecanteen.Well,therewasnothingmoreIcoulddoaboutit.

21.1whispered,'Takeover,bos'n"。

22.ThenIfellfacedowninthebottomoftheboat.IwasasleepbeforeIstoppmoving

23.Whenahandshookmyshoulder,!couldhardlyraisemyhead.JeffBerrett'shoarsevoicesaid,44Here!

Takeyourshareo'thewater!”

24.SomehowIpropedmyselfonmyarms,dizzyandweak.Ilookedatthemen,andIthoughtmyeyeswere

going.Theirfiguresweredim,shadowy；butthenIrealizeditwasnotbecauseofmyeyes.ltwasnight.Thesea

wasblack；therewerestarsoverhead.rdsleptthedayaway.

25.Sowewereinourtwenty-firstnightadriftthenightinwhichthetrampCrotonfinallypickedus

upbutnow,asIturnedmyheadtoBarretttherewasnosighofanyship.Hekneltbesideme,holdingoutthe

canteen,hisotherhandwiththegunsteadyonthemen.

26.1staredatthecanteenasifitwereamirage.Hadn'ttheyfinishedthatpintofwaterthismorning?WhenI

lookedupatBarrett'suglyface,itwasgrim.Hemusthaveguessedmythoughts.

27."Yousaid,'Tkeover,bos'n,'didn'tyou?”hegrowled."I'vebeenholdingofftheseapesallday.”Helifted

theguninhishand.44whenyou'reboss-man,headded,44incommandandresponsibleforthe

restyouyousuregettoseethingsdifferent,don'tyou?”

lesson5AreYouGivingYourKidsTooMuch?

AreYouGivingYourKidsTooMuch?

BenjaminSpock

1.Whiletravelingforvariousspeakingengagements,!frequentlystayovernightinthehomeofafamilyand

amassignedtooneofthechildren'sbedrooms.Initjotenfindsomanyplaythingsthatthere'salmostno

roomformysmalltoiletket.AndtheclosetisususallysotightlypackedwithclothesthatIcanbarelysqueeze

inmyjacket.

2.1'mnotcomplaining,onlymakingapoint.!thinkthatthetendencytogivechildrenanoverabundanceof

toysandclothesisquitecommoninAmericanfamilies,andIthinkthatinfartoomanyfamiliesnotonlydo

childrencometotaketheirparents*generosityforgranted,butalsotheeffectsofthiscanactuallybesomewhat

harmfultochildren.

3.Ofcourse,Fmnotonlythinkingofthematerialpossessionschildrenaregiven.Childrencanalsobe

overindulgedwithtoomanyprivilegesforexample,whenparentssendachildtoanexpensivesummercamp

thattheparentscan'treallyafford.

4.Whyparentsgivetheirchildrentoomuch,orgivethingstheycan'tafford?Ibelievethereareseveral

reasons.

5.Onefairlycommonreasonisthatparentsoverindulgetheirchildrenoutofasenseofguilt.Parentswho

bothholddownfull-timejobsmayfeelguiltyabouttheamountoftimetheyspendawayfromtheirchildrenand

mayattempttocompensatebyshoweringthemwithmaterialpossessions.

6.Otherparentsoverindulgebecausetheywanttheirchildrentohaveeverythingtheyhaddwhilegrowing

up,alongwiththosethingstheparentsyearnedfbrbutdidn*tget.Stillothersareafraidtosaynototheirchildren's

endlessrequestsfortoysfbrfearthattheirchildrenwillfeelunlovedorwillberidiculediftheydon'thavethe

sameplaythingstheirfriendshave.

7.Overindulgence