大学英语自学教程 unit 20

[00:00.00]Unit 20 text A [00:06.09]You Can't Do It Because It Hurts Nobody [00:09.77]不要以为不伤害别人就可以这样做 [00:13.45]Who do you think breaks the law in our society? [00:16.72]在我们的社会里你认为谁违法呢？ [00:19.98]If you believe that only tough guys commit crimes,you may have to think again [00:23.85]如果你认为只有粗野的家伙才犯罪，你可能需要再考虑一下。 [00:27.72]Answer the following questions honestly. [00:30.45]诚实地回答下列问题： [00:33.18]Has anyone you know ever driven drunk? [00:36.01]你认识的人中有没有酒醉开车的？ [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过毒品？ [00:45.61]Are you aware that your parents may not always tell the truth when they go through customs? [00:50.53]你有没有觉得你父母在经过海关时不是总讲真话？ [00:55.46]Won't some of your friends admit that they have stolen an item from a store? [00:59.69]没有朋友向你承认他们偷过商店的东西吗？ [01:03.92]Have any of your friends ever copied a CD onto a tape for someone else? [01:08.31]有没有朋友替别人将激光唱盘上的内容复制到磁带上吗？ [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，那么我可以告诉你，所有这些行为都是违法的。 [01:21.24]Now, among the people you know, how many have never broken the law? [01:24.87]今天在你认识的人中，有多少人从来没有犯过法呢？ [01:28.50]Does that mean that most members of our society should go to jail? [01:32.29]这是不是意味着社会上绝大多数人都应该进监狱？ [01:36.08]Unlike in the movies, we can't divide the world into bad guysand model citizens. [01:40.31]我们不能像电影里那样将世人区分为坏人和模范公民。 [01:44.54]Real life is much more complex. [01:47.12]现实生活复杂得多。 [01:49.69]In the same way that diseases range from the common cold to fatal forms of cancer, [01:53.92]如同疾病从普通的感冒到致命的癌症不等一样， [01:58.15]crimes vary 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，在电梯里吸烟给人带来麻烦， [02:09.67]much less than threatening them with a gun. [02:12.45]但远不如用枪威胁他人那么严重。 [02:15.24]In addition to breaking the law themselves [02:18.03]除自己违法以外， [02:20.83]people tolerate various levels of crime. [02:23.40]人们容忍不同程度的罪行。 [02:25.97]Why are we tolerant of some crimes? [02:29.00]这什么我们容忍某些罪行呢？ [02:32.03]It may be that, by seeing others do something, we accept it more easily. [02:35.91]也许因为看见别人犯罪，我们更容易接受。 [02:39.79]We may even start committing that crime ourselves. [02:42.73]甚至我们自己可能犯同样的罪。 [02:45.67]For instance, most people will find it easier to speed on a highway [02:49.00]例如，大多数人发现如果其他人都在超速驾车， [02:52.33]when everybody else is driving over the speed limit. [02:54.81]他们更容易在高速路上开快车。 [02:57.29]When people celebrate a sports championship, [03:00.17]人们在庆祝夺得体育冠军时， [03:03.04]if they see someone breaking store windows, [03:05.47]如果看见有人砸商店的窗户， [03:07.90]they might start breaking windows themselves or even steal from the store. [03:11.69]他们自己也可能跟着去砸，甚至从商店里偷东西。 [03:15.47]So the people around us influence how much law-breaking we can tolerate. [03:19.11]我们对违法行为能容忍到什么程度与周围的人有很大关系。 [03:22.74]We must also wonder whether seeing violence on television [03:26.37]我们一定也想知道，每天在电视上看到的暴力 [03:30.00]or reading about it in the newspapers every day [03:32.57]或者在报纸上读到的暴力 [03:35.14]makes us tolerate crime more than we should. [03:37.77]是不是使我们更能容忍罪行。 [03:40.40]We become used to seeing blood on the news on television, [03:43.73]我们已习惯于看电视上 [03:47.06]or in full color in newspapers and magazines. [03:49.79]或者报纸杂志上色彩斑斓的血腥场面。 [03:52.52]Because we see thousands of dead people on TV, [03:55.55]正因为我们在电视上看见成千上万的死人， [03:58.58]maybe we just try to ignore the situation behind the violence. [04:02.21]也许我们才企图无视造成暴力的环境。 [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，原因可能纯粹是我们思想工作有问题。 [04:20.75]Our minds may not care about specific laws. [04:24.23]我们的头脑不关心具体的法律。 [04:27.70]Instead,our minds may have a system of values [04:31.23]相反，头脑里可能有一套价值观体系总是阻止我们 [04:34.76]that usually prevents us from hurting other people to improve our own lives [04:38.79]伤害他人，不断完善自己的人生。 [04:42.83]Yet, when it comes to respecting the rights of a mass of anonymous individuals, [04:47.70]然而，当涉及到尊重众多不知姓名个人的权利时， [04:52.57]we might not be so responsible. [04:55.30]我们也许就不那么负责了。 [04:58.03]While most people would not steal a wallet containing $50, [05:01.91]尽管大多数人不会去偷装有50美元的钱包， [05:05.79]they may not mind cheating on taxes, [05:08.36]但他们可能并不在乎偷税漏锐， [05:10.94]because cheating on taxesdoes not hurt any one person. [05:14.62]因为偷税并不伤害任何他人 [05:18.30]It hurts society, [05:20.29]它伤害 社会， [05:22.27]but "society" remains an abstract ideathat is not as real as a neighbor [05:26.65]但“社会”是一个抽象概念，它不如邻居 [05:31.02]or a friend's friend. [05:33.00]或者朋友的朋友那么真实。 [05:34.97]Perhaps this is why someone who robbers few dollars by force from a comer store [05:38.69]也许这就是为什么一个人在街角商店用暴力抢劫几美元， [05:42.41]will often end up with a longer jail term than a fraud artist [05:46.29]其结局是比一个诈骗了成千上万美元的冒牌艺术家 [05:50.17]who swindles thousands of dollars: [05:52.65]在监狱里服的刑期还要长。 [05:55.13]threatening the life of an individual is not acceptable in our society. [05:58.71]因为威胁某个人生命在我们的社会是不可接受的。 [06:02.29]When we look at the questions in the first paragraph [06:05.11]在我们看到第一段提出的问题， [06:07.93]and realize that many people have misconceptions about law-breaking, [06:11.66]认识到许多人对违法有误解之后， [06:15.38]we could think it is surprising that only about 10% of Canadians [06:19.10]我们认为只有大约百分之十的加拿大人 [06:22.82]have a criminal record. [06:25.11]有犯罪记录令人吃惊。 [06:27.40]How could we improve the level of honesty in our soeiety? [06:30.67]我们怎样才能提高社会的诚实水平？ [06:33.95]Would a larger police force keep everyone honest? [06:37.58]动用更多的警察能使每一个人诚实吗？ [06:41.21]Would severe laws help make our soeieiy better? [06:44.24]严厉的法规能使我们的社会变得更好吗？ [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]警察无法盯住每一个人， [06:58.40]and people would still find ways to bend new laws. [07:01.94]人们还是会想办法违犯新法。 [07:05.48]Honesty will have to come from social pressure: [07:08.76]诚实应该来自社会压力： [07:12.04]in the family,at school, on the job, [07:14.86]在家庭、在学校、在工作岗位上， [07:17.68]each and every one of us can enoourage honesty by showing [07:21.01]我们之中每个人通过示范什么行为 [07:24.34]which behaviors are unacceptable. [07:26.77]不可接受来倡导诚实。 [07:29.20]Teaching respect should become everyone's responsibility. [07:33.73]教人尊重应该成为每个人的责任。 [07:38.27]Text B [07:42.11]Marriage in Iran and America: A Study in Contrasts [07:45.44]美伊婚俗：一项对比研究 [07:48.77]Though marriage is practiced in almost all countries of the world, [07:52.08]虽然结婚是世界上几乎所有的国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]但结婚的习俗却随文化而异。 [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]我对比较美国与我国的结婚习俗有兴趣。 [08:11.47]I've lived in the U.S.for four years now, [08:14.41]我在美国生活了四年， [08:17.35]but I'm still not comfortable with the customs here. [08:19.71]但是还是不习惯这里的习俗。 [08:22.07]In fact, what seems strange to me is that courting or dating [08:25.50]其实，令我看起来奇怪的是求爱或约会的目的 [08:28.92]is not always for the purpose of finding a husband or wife. [08:31.49]并非总是为了找丈夫或者妻子， [08:34.06]Some people seem to do it as a hobby. [08:36.18]有些人这样做好像仅仅是一种消遣。 [08:38.30]Here in the United States, [08:40.02]在美国这里， [08:41.74]I have noticed that courting is begun by the young couple themselves, [08:44.77]我发现求爱由年轻人自己提出来， [08:47.80]and they seem to have a lot of freedom to decide and do what they want. [08:50.99]他们似乎有很大的自由来决定自己想做的事，做自己想做的事。 [08:54.18]Both young men and women date a number of different people. [08:56.80]年轻男女都与好些异性约会， [08:59.43]They do it without the knowledge or help of their parents. [09:02.41]这样做既不让父母知道也不要父母的帮助。 [09:05.38]In fact,I have known several friends who got married [09:08.47]实际上，我就认识几位朋友结了婚 [09:11.55]with out even telling their parents or other family members. [09:14.08]也没有告诉父母或家里其他的人。 [09:16.62]At the actual wedding ceremony, [09:18.94]在婚礼仪式上， [09:21.27]the father of the bride symbolically gives his daughter to the groom. [09:24.14]新娘的父亲象征性地将自己的女儿交给新郎。 [09:27.01]It's only a custom, I think, [09:29.20]我认为这只是一个习俗， [09:31.38]because the bride and groomalready know each other quite well. [09:33.96]因为新娘，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]站在宗教神长或政府官员面前履行结婚仪式。 [09:45.95]The official reads from a short prepared speeh and then asks both the man and woman [09:50.13]官员朗读着一篇准备好的简短讲稿，然后询问男女双方是否愿意与对方结婚。 [09:54.31]if they are willing to be married to the other, [09:56.49]如果双方都说同意， [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]并且出席婚礼者没人站起来反对，就宣布也们为夫妻。 [10:10.87]It is interesting that the two families are asked [10:16.91]if there are any objections right during the ceremony. [10:19.53]有趣的是举行仪式时会询问双方家庭有没有反对意见， [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]这也许是因为家庭成员不像在伊朗那样参与婚礼的准备工作吧。 [10:32.48]Marriage is different in a number of ways in my country. [10:35.15]结婚在我们国家有几方面和美国不同。 [10:37.83]In Iran,courting is more serious [10:42.38]and is performed strictly for the purpose of marriage. [10:44.70]在伊朗，求爱更认真，求爱的目的的确是为了结婚， [10:47.03]It is definitely not a part of the fun-filled years of growing up [10:53.30]like it is here in American. [10:55.18]决不像美国这里它是成长期间浪漫年华的一部分。 [10:57.06]It is the mother of the young man [11:00.61]who initiates the process by visiting the home of a potential bride [11:03.48]整个过程从男方的母亲拜访未来新娘的家开始。 [11:06.36]She goes to inspect the girl, [11:08.19]母亲去相女孩， [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财产。 [11:15.06]If she is pleased, then she will return another day with her son. [11:18.07]如果母亲满意了，改天她带儿子再来。 [11:21.09]If her son is also pleased, [11:23.21]如果他的儿子也满意了， [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]双方家庭就聚在一起讨论嫁妆，婚礼，花钱请谁来操办婚礼及其他事情。 [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，真正的结婚仪式与我见过的美国仪式大不一样。 [11:46.93]The bride,dressed in white, with a veil over her face,sits in a room alone. [11:50.50]新娘身穿白色的礼服，脸上罩着面纱，独自一人坐在一间房里。 [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]她坐在一块别致的丝绸上，两边围满了长长的扁面包。 [12:04.77]Two mullahs stand outside the door to this room reading from the Koran. [12:08.19]两位毛拉站在门外朗诵《古兰经》。 [12:11.61]Twice the bride must remain silent to the questions of the mullahs. [12:15.33]新娘对毛拉提出的问题有两次不应作答， [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]然后新郎的母亲拿出一件金制的礼品表示她这一方很认真。 [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]在两位毛拉处理表正式结婚文件时， [12:39.75]The groom is allowed to go into the bride's room [12:42.32]允许新郎进入新娘的房间。 [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]美国和我们国家的婚俗之间的另一个差别是： [13:00.07]is that the bride does not immediately go to the home of her new husband. [13:02.80]新娘不会马上去她的丈夫家里。 [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]有数月之久，新娘一直呆在自己娘家准备着嫁妆，接受母亲的训导： [13:17.36]on how to be a good wife and mother. [13:19.19]如何做贤妻良母。 [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]几个月之后，新郎和他的亲戚来接新娘及其嫁妆回家。 [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]但是我还是喜欢自己国家的习俗， [13:49.68]I suppose that's because there is not so much guessing and uncertainty. [13:53.01]我想这是因为没有太多的猜测和不确定因素的原故吧。

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