Passage One (Violence Can Do Nothing to Diminish Race Prejudice)
In some countries where racial prejudice is acute, violence has so come to be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned. There are countries where the white man impos his rule by brute force; there are countries where the black man protests by tting fire to cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both sides, who would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence – as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all. We may wear collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not learnt that violence never solves a problem but makes it more acute. The sheer horror, the bloodshed, the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and wonder what hit us.
The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie are finding it harder and herder to get a hearing. They are despid, mistrusted and even percuted by their own kind becau they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enforcement. If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good u, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the slums and ghettos, at improving living-standards and providing education and employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our strength is sapped by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the ideals of a stable social programme. The benefits that can be derived from constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around us. Genuine and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the framework of the law.
Before we can even begin to contemplate peaceful co-existence between the races, we must appreciate each other’s problems. And to do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exerci in communication, in exchanging information. ‘Talk, talk, talk,’ the advocates of violence say, ‘all you ever do is talk, and we are none the wir.’ It’s rather li
ke the story of the famous barrister who painstakingly explained his ca to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk, he was none the wir. ‘Possible, my lord,’ the barrister replied, ‘none the wir, but surely far better informed.’ Knowledge is the necessary prerequisite to wisdom: the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to solve.
1. What is the best title for this passage?
[A] Advocating Violence.
[B] Violence Can Do Nothing to Diminish Race Prejudice.
[C] Important People on Both Sides See Violence As a Legitimate Solution.
[D] The Instincts of Human Race Are Thirsty for Violence.
2. beamformingRecorded history has taught us
[A] violence never solves anything.
[B] nothing.
[C] the bloodshed means nothing.
[D] everything.
3. It can be inferred that truly reasonable men
[A] can’t get a hearing.
[B] are looked down upon.
[C] are percuted.illustrate
[D] have difficulty in advocating law enforcement.
4. “He was none the wir” means
[A] he was not at all wi in listening.
[B] he was not at all wir than nothing before.
[C] he gains nothing after listening.
[D] he makes no n of the argument.
好老师
5. According the author the best way to solve race prejudice is
[A] law enforcement.
[B] knowledge.
[C] nonviolence.
[D] mopping up the violent mess.经典英语故事
Vocabulary
gudrun
1. acute 严重的，剧烈的，敏锐的
2. loot v.抢劫，掠夺；n.赃物
3. pillage v.抢劫，掠夺
4. crunch v.吱嘎吱嘎咬或嚼某物；n.碎裂声
when it comes to the crunch = if/when the decisive moment comes. 当关键时刻来到时。
5. war-paint 出战前涂于身上的颜料。（美印第安战士用）
6. come to light = become known 显露，为人所知
7. sap 剥削，使伤元气，破坏
I was sapped by months of hospital treatment. 我住院治疗几个月，大伤元气。
8. continuousmop up 擦去，对付，处理
9. wake 船迹，航迹
in the wake of sth. = come after 随某事之后到来。
happymarriage难句译注
1. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair is the realization that when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all.
【结构简析】when it comes to the crunch = when / if the decisive moment comes.当关键时刻来到时。
【参考译文】真正令人可怖的，令人绝望的是，在关键时刻，人们意识到我们一点儿也没有进步/前进。
2. Our strength is sapped by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its wake.bet
【结构简析】in the wake of 在…之后。
3367【参考译文】由于我们不得不清理掉暴力之后所留下的烂摊子，我们的力量因此削弱了。
3. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk, he wa
s none the wir.
【结构简析】none + the + 比较级。固定用法，义：not at all 一点儿也不。EX: After the treatment, he is none the better.治疗后，他并没有因此见好，（一点儿也不见好）。
【参考译文】听了律师的长篇解释，法官抱怨说他一无所获，并不因此变得聪明些。
