第一篇：新编跨文化交际英语教程单元知识点梳理Unit1-3
Unit 1 Communication Across Cultures 1.The need for intercultural communication: New technology;
Innovative
communication
system;Globalization of the economy;Changes in immigration patterns 2.Three major socio-cultural elements influence communication are: cultural
values;
worldview(religion);
social organization(family and state).3.Nonverbal behavior: gestures, postures, facial expressions, eye contact and gaze, touch(Chinese people are reluctant to express their disproval openly for fear of making others lose face.)4.Six stumbling blocks in Intercultural communication
(1)Assumption of similarities
(2)Language differences
(3)Nonverbal misinterpretations
(4)Preconception and stereotypes先入之见 刻板印象
(5)Tendency to evaluate
(6)High anxiety Unit 2 Culture and Communication 1.Characteristics of Culture: Culture is learned;Culture is a set of shared interpretations;Culture involves Beliefs, Values, and Norms(规范，准则);Culture Affects Behaviors;Culture involves Large Groups of people 2.Cultural identity文化身份 refers to one’s sense of belonging to a particular culture or ethnic group.People consciously identify themselves with a group that has a shared system of symbols and meanings as well as norms for conduct.3.Characteristics of Cultural Identity：Cultural identity is central to a person’s sense of self.Cultural identity is dynamic（动态的）.Cultural identity is also multifaceted（多方面的）components of one’s self-concept.4.Intercultural communication defined: Intercultural communication refers to communication between people whose cultural perceptions and symbol systems are distinct enough to alter the communication event.5.Elements of communication: Context;Participants;Message;Channels;Noise;Feedback
Unit 3 Cultural Diversity 1.Define worldview and religion
Worldview: deals with a culture’s most fundamental beliefs about the place in the cosmos（宇宙）, beliefs about God, and beliefs about the nature of humanity and nature.Religion: refers to belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and a governor of the universe.Three major religions :
a.Christian Religions Groups（基督教的）
b.Islam（伊斯兰教）c.Buddhism（佛教）
2.Human nature:(1)is evil but perfectible
(2)is a mixture of good and evil
(3)good but corruptible(易腐化的)
3.Relationship of Man to Nature:(1)subjugation to nature
(2)harmony with nature
(3)
mastery with nature
4.Social Relationship：Hierarchy;Group;Individual 5.Cultual Dimensions: Hofstede identity 5 dimensions individualism vs collectivism;uncertainty avoidance;power distance;masculinity vs femininity;long-term vs short-term orientation 6.High-Context and Low-context Cultures A high-context(HC)—high-context cultures(Native Americans, Latin Americans, Japanese, Korean and Chinese): information is often provided through gesture, the use of the space, and even silence.Meaning is also conveyed through status(age, sex, education, family background, title, and affiliations)and through an individual’s informal friends and associates.A low-context(LC)—low-context cultures(German, Swiss as well as American)For example, the Asian mode of communication is often indirect and implicit, whereas Western communication tends to be direct and explicit—that is, everything needs to be stated.For example, members of low-context cultures expect messages to be detailed, clear-cut, and definite.The high-context people are apt to become impatient and irritated when low-context people insist on giving them information they don’t need.
第二篇：新编英语教程 5 Unit 11 教案
Unit 11 TEXT 1 CULTIVATING A HOBBY Winston Churchill
Objectives: to take notes as completely as possible in class.to present their interpretations of each paragraph.Section one Pre-reading questions:
(15 mins.)
1.What does ‘hobby’ mean?(refer to Lib.work)2.Do you have any hobbies? What are they? 3.Do your hobbies do you any good? In what ways? 4.Who is W.Churchill? What’s his hobby you know from what you have learned or from this text?(refer to Lib.work)
In-reading interpretation:
The teacher explains every sentence to the students while the latter try to take notes as quickly and completely as possible.After the text interpretation, the students are required to explain some sentences by their own.Para.1(15 mins.)
1.Worry is a spasm of emotion;the mind catches hold of something and will not let it go.spasm: an involuntary muscular contraction;here, a sudden violent spell(of);a sudden convulsive movement
Worry is a kind of feeling which catches you suddenly so that you can’t have any peace of mind.This feeling arises when you think about something without being able to discontinue thinking about it.Thus worry results.2.It is useless to argue with the mind in this condition.in this condition = when the mind catches hold of something and will not let it go
It is of no use trying to stop the troubled mind / the worry when it catches hold of something and will not let it go.i.e., when worry comes.3.The stronger the will, the more futile the task.(LW6-1)
The stronger your will(to argue with the mind, or to stop the worry)is, the more ineffective/unsuccessful/useless it will be for you to achieve this task of stopping the worry.The more you attempt to shake off your worry, the harder it will be for you to get rid of it / have it off your mind.Then what can we do to stop the worry? 4.One can gently insinuate something else into its convulsive grasp.insinuate = introduce indirectly and subtly
convulsive grasp = the worry
The only way is to have something else in mind so that it will not be grasped by worry / so as to replace the worry.What does ‘something else’ imply?
Something else implies the hobby.5.And if this something else is rightly chosen, if it is really attended by the illumination of another field of interest, gradually, and often quite swiftly, the old undue grip relaxes and the process of recuperation and repair begins.attend = accompanied(comp.3-2)
illumination = enlightenment, edification
another field of interest = hobby
the old undue grip = worry
recuperation and repair = not becoming worried any longer
If you choose the right thing to conquer your mind, if you have another field of interest to enlighten you, your worry, gradually or swiftly, will be relieved./ you will be released from the worry.6.This para.is about worry, which is repeatedly talked about.Instead of mentioning ‘worry’ again and again whenever it is talked about, Churchill uses some other phrases to refer to this annoying state of mind so as to avoid the monotony of expressions.Identify these phrases in the 1st paragraph.(comp.3-1)
a spasm of emotion, its convulsive grasp, the old undue grip
Para.2
(10 mins.)
1.The cultivation of a hobby and new forms of interest is therefore a policy of first importance to a public man.It is the most important for a public man to cultivate a hobby, because he is likely to have more worries in his work concerned with interrelationships with various kinds of people.2.But this is not a business that can be undertaken in a day or swiftly improvised by a mere command of the will.The growth of alternative mental interests is a long process.improvise = make or do without preparation, practice, sufficient material, etc.But a hobby cannot be cultivated and developed so quickly as you expect in your business.No matter how strong your will is, hobby cultivation has to undergo a long process.3.The seeds must be carefully chosen;they must fall on good ground;they must be sedulously tended, if the vivifying fruits are to be at hand when needed.(comp.3-3)This is a metaphor to describe the cultivation of a hobby.Explain it.The author compares ‘hobby’ to ‘seed’, ‘fitness(of a hobby)to an individual’ to ‘good ground’, and ‘the effect(in lessening one’s worry)’ to ‘fruit’ so that the reader can have something concrete to look at.This is certainly a more effective way to explain an idea, esp.an abstract or complex idea.(Analysis)
sedulously = diligently, carefully, assiduously
vivifying fruits = results that give one relaxation / refreshment
The cultivation of a hobby is compared to that of a plant.First of all, the right hobby(the seed of a plant)must be carefully chosen for a person(good ground);then the process of cultivating a hobby, like that of growing a plant, requires care and effort.Only in this way can one reap in due time the fruit of one’s laborfor them a new pleasure, a new excitement is only an additional satiation.(LW6-4)
command = have within reach, be master of, possess
gratify = give pleasure or satisfaction to, indulge
caprice = sudden wish to have, or do sth., whim
satiation = complete satisfaction, wearying oneself with too much
Since those very wealthy people can afford to get access to almost anything they may think of(those people can get whatever they want)and to turn the most fanciful ideas into reality(to turn whatever they dream or desire into reality), there is nothing in this world that can interest or excite them any more.To them, a new pleasure, a new excitement may very often make them even more bored about life.They are the unfortunate people.(comp.3-5)Why does Churchill classify as unfortunate those people who can command everything they want, gratify every caprice and lay their hands on almost every object of desire? Do you think Churchill’s attitude towards those people is really one of sympathy?
These people are simply hopeless;nothing works to relieve them of their boredom.Churchill does not really feel sympathetic towards them.Note the phrase ‘avenging boredom’.He seems to think that this is what they deserve.2.In vain they rush frantically round from place to place, trying to escape from avenging boredom by mere clatter and motion.frantically = widely excited(with joy, anxiety, pain, etc.)狂乱地
avenging boredom =(note 3)boredom that gives(them)no peace or that inflicts suffering(upon them)
clatter and motion =(note 4)This refers to the frantic rush from place to place of those who can command all they want.These kind of people rush frantically here and there(which implies, do this and that as their hobbies), talk this and that, intending to escape from the boredom they are deeply involved in, but their effort is in vain.3.For them discipline in one form or another is the most hopeful path.How do you understand ‘discipline’ here?(comp.3-6)
Regularity, a more regularized way of life
This sentence is a suggestion for this kind of people: to lead a regularized way of life.Only in this way can they escape from the boredom.Para.5
(15 mins.)1.It may also be said that rational, industrious, useful human beings are divided into two classes: first, those whose work is work and whose pleasure is pleasure;and secondly, those whose work and pleasure are one.Here another classification of human beings is made: 1)those who take work and pleasure as two distinguished things, 2)those who combine work and pleasure together, getting pleasure from the work.2.Of these the former are the majority.They have their compensations.The long hours in the office or the factory bring with them as their reward, not only the means of sustenance, but a keen appetite for pleasure even in its simplest and most modest forms.compensation = sth to make up for, here referring to the following sentence.sustenance =(flourishing quality of)food and drink 营养, 食物
Their long-hour work brings them bread, or they have to earn their living by working hard.After work, they relax themselves and enjoy themselves in a simple way.(comp.3-7)Can you suggest one or two of the simplest and most modest forms of pleasure?
Jogging, taking a walk, listening to music on the radio, watching TV, gardening 3.But Fortune’s favored children belong to the second class.In what sense are the second class of people, i.e., those whose work and pleasure are one, ‘Fortune’s favored children’?(comp.3-8)or, why does the author call the 2nd class ‘fortune’s favored children’?
There is never a clash between work and pleasure.They are always happy to work.They are just like children who take everything as pleasure.4.Their life is a natural harmony.For them the working hours are never long enough.Each day is a holiday, and ordinary holidays when they come are grudged as enforced interruptions in an absorbing vocation.grudged = accepted with great reluctance(comp.3-9)
This class of people enjoy their work, and take it as a kind of pleasure.They enjoy every working day so much that they regard the weekends and the public holidays as the interruptions of their delightful work.They are quite reluctant to take any holidays.5.Yet to both classes the need of an alternative outlook, of a change of atmosphere, of a diversion of effort, is essential.An alternative outlook, a change of atmosphere, a diversion of effort all refer to ‘hobby’.So it is of the first importance / of the great necessity for both of the classes to cultivate a hobby.Everyone should have a hobby.6.Indeed, it may well be that those whose work is their pleasure are those who most need the means of banishing it at intervals from their minds.(comp.3-10)What does the word ‘it’ refer to?
their work
(comp.3-11)the means of banishing it at intervals from their minds refers to the notion of ‘hobby’.(LW6-5)In fact,(it is probably those whose work provides them with their enjoyment who are most in need of periodic distractions from it.i.e.,)the second class of people are most in need of cultivating a hobby.Homework assignment:
Read your own notes and consult others’ to make it complete in order to understand the text fully/thoroughly.Mark where you find difficult and raise your questions in the next class.Read O & D and try to answer the question.Section two 1.Pose your problems for discussion(20 mins.)2.Comp.1: the purpose of the writing(B)-to bring home to the reader the importance of cultivating a rightly chosen hobby.(5 mins.)3.Comp.2: True or false
(5 mins.)4.O & D: What Churchill argues for in this passage is obviously the significance of a good hobby for rational, industrious human beings.But the 1st para.is devoted to a definition of ‘worry’, and a large portion of the rest of the text to the classifications of human beings.How are they relevant to his argument?
(10 mins.)
Churchill’s concern here is the role hobbies play in relaxing the mind of rational, industrious, useful human beings.To explain how a hobby works, he must first of all explain what worry really is.But Churchill is not of the opinion that any given hobby can produce this soothing effect under all circumstances.To make this clear, he has to make the first classification.He then turns to classifying the majority of human beings into two further categories.The purpose of doing this is to emphasize the point that hobby is necessary for all including those who think they do not need one as a diversion from work;as a matter of fact, they are the ones for whom the cultivation of a hobby is even more necessary.4.Interaction activity:(LW7)Talk about how a hobby can sometimes help to release your worry.a.Brainstorming in the groups(10 mins.)
b.Air the opinions in class(15 mins.)
Section three TEXT 2 A DEBT TO DICKENS Pearl S.Buck
Read the text by the students themselves and retell it by using ‘I’ or ‘Pearl S.Buck’.Cues: a seven-year child, in a remote Chinese countryside, the valley, the Youngtze River;
the boat folk and the farm folk, lingered and saw the customs, the way of living, fishing and thrashing, the babies alive and dead;
foreign devil, yellow curls and blue eyes, alien and isolated, parents too busy to care for her;
an impossibly voracious reader, read everything she could get;
novels by Charles Dickens, deep in them, read them again and again, over and over for about ten years, feel herself at home, not alien, entered into her own heritage;
all the teaching she got from Dicken’s novels, love all sorts of people, hate hypocrisy, kindness and goodness, money grubbing, the good a little less undiluted and the evil a little more mixed, a zest for life, merry Christmas, those funny characters in the novels.
第三篇：新编英语教程 3 Unit 15 A Fable for Tomorrow
Unit 15 A Fable for Tomorrow I.Teaching Aims: In this unit students are required to: 1.Practice reading strategies such as predicting, skimming, guessing, etc.2.Grasp some new words and expressions to enrich student’s vocabulary;
3.Do some oral work such as pre-reading questions, role play and interaction activities to help to develop the students’ oral communicative abilities;
4.Appreciate the two texts in this unit and learn some writing skills and practice it along with letter writing;5.Do some other after-class exercise including listening and translation to improve students’ comprehensive skills.II.Teaching Emphasis:
1.The comprehension and appreciation of Text I;2.New words and expressions:
fable in the heart of(center)harmony(harmonious, harmonize)in the midst of checkerboard prosperous/ prosper/ prosperity clouds of bloom drift/ float/ flow a blaze of color flame/ fire/flicker
backdrop/ background delight/ delighted/ delightful feed /feed on an abundance of(in abundance/ abundant(supplies)blight evil spell malady a flock of chicken
a shadow of death at play/ at work moribund throb brood/ hatch litter(v./n)come into bloom pollination angler/fishermen eave and shingle granular witchcraft silence(v./n)grim spectre stark reality migrate, immigrate, emigrate & migrant, immigrant, emigrant hatch
III.Teaching Procedures 1.lead-in: When you see the title ―A fable for Tomorrow‖, what comes into your mind first? Why is this passage called a fable? What can this fable be about? What are some of the problems relating to the future most people are very concerned about?
A fable is an imaginary story told to teach a moral.―A Fable for Tomorrow‖ is a story invented by the writer which is meant to tell us a moral: if the sizable use of chemical insecticides can not be brought under control, the seemingly impossible tragedy will become a stark reality.World economy has been striding forward in the past century.However, this has been achieved at the cost of contaminating the environment we are living in, and human beings are now paying high prices for what they have done to nature.Meanwhile, many environmentalists are devoted to making more people realize the ecological consequences incurred in the process of modernization.Now environmental protection and sustainable development have become the two greatest concerns for the whole world.Types of Pollution The chief types of environmental pollution include air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, pollution caused by solid waste and hazardous waste, and noise pollution.Besides, pesticides have been regarded by many environmentalists as a type of pollution, too.It is believed that pesticides are poisons which should be used as a last resort and if used, then they should be used with extreme caution.1)Make a short speech, telling a story or describing a scene about the future world in one of the aspects such as medicine, environment, food, energy, housing, population, transportation, etc.Reference1:
Back from the Dead One morning in the year 2070, a man called Duane awakens.He looks up and sees a doctor in a white coat smiling at him.―Why am I in hospital?‖ he asks.―You’ve been sick.‖ The doctor replies.Then Duane notices a badge on the doctor’s coat.It reads ― Alcor Resuscitation.‖ Suddenly Duane remembers everything.He has come back to life, 70 years after he ―died‖.The reason this was possible is because, instead of being buried or cremated when he died, Duane’s body was preserved in a ―flask‖ of liquid nitrogen(at –196 degrees Celsius).And there it ― waited‖ until science had developed the technology to revive a frozen human being.Suddenly, a woman appears beside the doctor.It is Duane’s wife Jeannie, looking more beautiful than ever.For the past 70 years, she has been taking drugs that prevent her body from aging.Duane looks lovingly at her, and then at his own body.That , too, is in perfect condition.The couple look at each other apprehensively—after all, they haven’t seen each other for 70 years.―I guess we’ve got some stuff to talk about, huh?‖ Duane says to her.Reference 2:
The Magic of the Button
It is 7:30 in the morning, There goes the bell of the alarm clock.The curtain of the bedroom draw apart , and the shutter roll up automatically.In the kitchen, the coffeepot starts to grumble.The backdoor opens to let the dog out.On TV, emerge a series of flash , the presentation of news items today, including the latest developments in economy , politics, etc.After that there appears the morning mail.At this moment, the modern Alatin, lying comfortably in bed, presses a button on his bedside, and on the screen of the television appear the memos about business as well as private life.Then he gets up, and gets into the bathroom where the shower is on automatically.After that, he is reminded by a special sound and at the same time a blue flash on the screen that his boss is on the way to work.So he is dressed, and at leisure he walks towards his car, which is ready to go.After kissing good bye to her husband, Alice Alatin sits down in front of the screen, reading with concentration the price catalogs of department stores and markets in the locality.After face to face negotiation with the butcher, baker and grocery owner on the screen, she presses a button, ordering food items for the dinner.Then she presses a button on the terminal of the kitchen computer, retrieving her favorite recipe from the computer memory, and giving directions to the computer to calculate the different amounts of ingredients and the time to cook and the appropriate temperature.After that Alice takes part in a seminar on arts through the internet.Then she goes into the language lab, and picks up the earphone and learns that her son Alatin Junior gets an ―A‖ in Latin.2)Brainstorm the words or expressions describing natural environment, for example, flower, tree, water, soil, sky.Reference: Pleasant :(1)flower: fragrant, sweet, blooming，colourful，clouds of bloom(2)tree: green, evergreen, flourishing, thriving, a blaze of color(3)water: crystal clear, sweet(4)soil: fertile, rich, productive, land of milk and honey(5)sky: fresh air, blue, clear,(6)whole: beauty of nature, rich in natural resources, a variety of birds and animals, throbbing with chorus of birds, abundant, fairyland, harmonious, peaceful, idyllic and pastoral land, legendary land, spiritual purification Unpleasant:
(1)flower: stains on the petals, only blossoms but
no pollination
(2)tree: cut down, clearances in the forest, shrubs and bushes struggling to survive the dust and fumes(3)water: dry up, brown and black, dirtied, fouled
(4)other plants: browned and withered vegetation，shrink, wither, shrivel up
(5)soil: barren, sterile, washed away by floods, land pollution, erosion, pesticides and fertilizers(6)whole: a waste land, a prevailing silence and stillness, desert expansion, deforestation, the frequent occurrence of natural disaster, the epidemic of disease, the exhaustion of natural resources 2.the main idea(pair work)
This was a beautiful town in the heart of America, surrounded by prosperous farms and hillsides of orchards.Flowers bloomed everywhere and trees grew by the roadside.You could hear the singing of the birds and see the leisure walking of animals.Tourists were attracted to this place where everything lived in peace and harmony.However, one day all this changed: a blight had stricken this area.Animals and fowls got sickened and died.Mysterious illness spread in the village;there was no more chorus of the birds;no bees hovered among the trees … Silence was everywhere.The patches of white granular powder on the roof bespoke that mankind itself had caused this tragedy.Even though it is just an imagined town, it might be what happens to human beings tomorrow.Similar disasters are happening unnoticed and will become even more serious if nothing is done.It is urgent to preserve and protect the world.Otherwise the world would be ruined.Part 1(lines1-14): All life in harmony with its surroundings Part 2(lines15-34)The coming of a strange blight Part 3(lines35-39)The stricken world silence by people themselves Part 4(lines 40-44)Warning against a grim spectre/ stark reality 3.text analysis Para.1 1.harmony: agreement in feeling or opinion;accord
in harmony with:
由于国际社会和地区政府的共同努力，这一地区各族的人民和睦相处已达10年之久。Thanks to the concerted efforts of the international community and regional governments, the peoples of this area have been living in harmony with each other for a decade.keep … in harmony;out of harmony
The tune is out of harmony.Humor keep us in harmony with others.harmonize v.: to bring or come into agreement or harmony 你外套、帽子和围巾的色彩应该协调。
The colors of your coat, hat and muffler should harmonize.harmonious adj.: exhibiting accord in feeling or action The central government proposed making the country a harmonious society by 2020-the aim is a society in which people can enjoy a high quality of life, a good society and a balance between man and the natural environment.2.The town lay in the midst of a checkerboard of prosperous farms, with fields of grain and hillsides of orchards where in spring white clouds of bloom drifted above the green fields.In autumn, oak and maple and birch set up a blaze of color that flamed and flickered across a backdrop of pines.The town was situated among prosperous farms that looked like the squares in a checkerboard.In the fields grain was growing and along the hillsides there were orchards.In spring countless white flowers were floating above the green fields.In autumn, oak, maple and birch trees produced a very bright color that glowed and flared against a background of pines.in the mist of:1)in the middle position or part;the center;
在沙漠中间 in the midst of the desert 2)under the condition of being surrounded or beset by something;
我们被我们所遇到的问题所困扰 We are in the midst of all of our problems 3)in the middle of a period of time.在战争进行之中 in the midst of the war a poem: In The Midst Of All
In the midst of darkness, there is light.In the midst of evil, there is virtue.In the midst of war, there is peace.In the midst of agony, there is ecstasy.In the midst of night, there is day.In the midst of illness, there is health.In the midst of winter, there is summer.In the midst of hate, there is love.… …
3.prosperous: 1)flourishing繁荣的
一家成功的新公司 a prosperous new business 2)well-to-do 富裕的一家
a prosperous family 脱贫致富
Cast off poverty and become prosperous
衷心祝愿新年快乐，诸事顺遂!Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year!建设一个富强、民主、文明的国家
“Build a prosperous, strong, democratic and culturally advanced country” 保持香港的繁荣稳定是符合中国的切身利益的。
It is in China's vital interest to keep Hong Kong prosperous and stable.prosper v.: to be fortunate or successful, especially in terms of one's finances;thrive繁盛中国的发展蒸蒸日上。
China is prospering with each passing day.prosperity n.4.clouds of bloom: a great number of flowers
bloom: n.1)the condition of being in flower开花期
玫瑰花盛开 a rose in full bloom
2)a condition or time of vigor, freshness, and beauty;prime最盛期
希腊文明光辉灿烂的全盛时期 the radiant bloom of Greek genius
3）a fresh, rosy complexion 红润，清新，红润的面色 她身材娇小、丰满，皮肤白皙，面颊红润。
She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom.(Jane Austen)v.1)to bear a flower or flowers开花 这些花春天开放。
These flowers bloom in the spring.2)to cause to flourish 他们的友谊大有进展。Their friendship bloomed.心花怒放
One's heart bursts into bloom 5.drift/ float/ flow drift: v.1)to be carried along by currents of air or water流动 船骸漂向海岸。
The wreckage drifted toward shore.2)to move leisurely or sporadically from place to place, especially without purpose or regular employment 漂泊
他是一个临时工，从一个城镇漂泊到另一个城镇 He is a day laborer, drifting from town to town.n.大陆漂移学说
continental drift theory 花钱凭冲动,等于无底洞
Drift is as Bad as unthrift.flow: 1)to move or run smoothly with unbroken continuity, as in the manner characteristic of a fluid流，流动 江河流入海洋。Rivers flow into the sea.汽车在干道上不停地驶过。
The cars flowed in a steady stream along the main road.2)to stream copiously;flood泛滥；涨满了河水；淹没
Contributions flowed in from all parts of the country.从全国各地纷涌而至的捐助。
3)a continuous output不断的产出或涌出 不断涌现的想法
a flow of thought float: 1)to remain suspended within or on the surface of a fluid without sinking 浮，漂 木头漂浮在水上。Wood floats on water.为什么潜水艇既能浮在水面，又能潜入水底？ Why can a submarine float and sink? 2)Economics to find a level in relationship to other currencies solely in response to the law of supply and demand【经济学】（货币）浮动 汇率浮动的英镑 the floating pound 6.美国新英格兰地区的秋天格外美丽，风叶使整个大地披上金黄、火红的盛装。
The fall of New England in the United States is exceptionally beautiful, with the maple tree leaves setting the land in a blaze of yellow and red.7.flame/ fire/flicker
flame: 1)the zone of burning gases and fine suspended matter associated with rapid combustion;a hot, glowing mass of burning gas or vapor火焰
奥运圣火是什么？
What is the Olympic Flame?
星星之火，可以燎原。
From little spark may burst a mighty flame.2)to burn brightly;blaze燃烧：烧亮；发出火焰
3)to color or flash suddenly面红：突然脸红或闪光： 她因尴尬而变红的双颊。
Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment.fire: 1)A rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light and is accompanied by flame, especially the exothermic oxidation of a combustible substance.火 2)to cause to burn;ignite使燃烧 3)to become angry or annoyed生气 4)to shoot a weapon开枪： 他向目标瞄准并射击。He aimed and fired at the target.flicker: to burn unsteadily or fitfully（火焰）忽明忽暗 烛火摇曳着，随即熄灭了。
The candle flame flickered and went out.Para.2
1.What made the first settlers raise their houses, sink their wells and build their barns in that locality?
The locality was a place of beauty and immense attraction to would-be dwellers where a large variety of plants and flowers were prosperous through much of the year.There were countless birds in the countryside.The streams flowed clear and cold and abounded in fish.2.… delighted the traveler’s eye through much of the year.… gave great pleasure to the travelers during the greater part of the year.delight/ delighted/ delightful
delight: 1)great pleasure;joy高兴
take/ find delight in
2)to take great pleasure or joy感到高兴
我喜欢古典音乐。I delight in classical music.我不喜欢大惊小怪。
I didn't delight to make a fuss.delighted: adj.filled with delight充满欢乐的我的妻子高兴了，因为情况再一次恢复了正常。
My wife was delighted that things had returned to normal once more.听到你成功了的消息时我非常高兴。I was delighted to hear the news of your success.delightful: adj.greatly pleasing 令人高兴的 这消息使他喜出望外。
The news gave him a delightful surprise.3.feed /feed on
1)to give food to;supply with nourishment 给予食物；供给营养：
她给孩子们喂饭。She feeds the children.2)to provide as food or nourishment供以…为食：把…作为食物或营养供给： 他把鱼喂给了猫。He fed fish to the cat.3)to serve as food for作为食物供给： 那只火鸡大得足够十二个人吃。The turkey is large enough to feed a dozen.4)to be nourished or supported支持：得到滋养或支持： 奉承助长自负。Ego feeds on flattery.蚕靠吃桑叶维持生命。
Silkworms feed on the leaves of mulberry trees.4.The countryside was, in fact famous for the abundance and variety of its bird life, and when the flood of migrants was pouring through in spring and autumn people traveled from great distances to observe them.In fact, the countryside was well known for its richness and diversity of birds.In spring and autumn when migratory birds came in large numbers, people traveled from far away places to watch them.5.abundance: a great or plentiful amount大量
an abundance of: plenty of
in abundance 宴会上有丰盛的食品和饮料。
At the feast there was an abundance of food and drink.abundant: plentiful 她丰富的聪明才智 her abundant talent abound: to be great in number or amount丰富 充满花朵的花园
The garden abounds with flowers.6.migrate, immigrate, emigrate & migrant, immigrant, emigrant
Migrate can be used to refer to both things and people, immigrate and emigrate are used to refer to people, but immigrate means move into a place while emigrate means move out of a place.城市居民也因为市区内犯罪率的增长而谴责民工。
City residents also blame migrant workers for the sharp rise in the urban crime rate.美国有很多欧洲移民。
America has many immigrants from Europe.纳粹在德国执政以后，很多科学家移民了。
After the Nazis came to power in Germany, many scientists emigrated.Para.3
1.What are the different words that the writer uses to repeat the concept of blight in the third paragraph?
The words used to repeat the concept of blight in the third paragraph are many.Just to name some:
1)evil spell;
2)mysterious maladies;3)sickened and died;4)a shadow of death;2.What was the town like before the strange blight? 3.What did the blight do to the town? 4.Who cast the evil spell over the town with what?
5.What does the colon on line 16 signal to us?
It serves to introduce a series of specific instances to support the general statement ——
―Some evil spell had settled on the community‖.6.Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change.Some evil spell had settled on the community.Then a mysterious disease struck the area almost unnoticed and everything was affected.It was as if an evil magical power had befallen on the community.7.把这辆车作为我的生日礼物说明我姑母的爱心和慷慨。
This car, given to me as a birthday present, speaks of my aunt’s love and generosity.Para.4
1.What is the topic sentence of the fourth paragraph? Indicate the key term in that sentence and the words which echo it later in the paragraph.The topic sentence of paragraph 4 is the first sentence —— ―There was a strange stillness.‖
The key terms is ―a strange stillness‖.The words that echo the key term are ―without voices‖, ―no sound‖ and ―silence‖.2.自当地居民中发生了几起莫名其妙的死亡事件后，小镇变成了一座空城。
The small town was virtually deserted after the occurrence of several mysterious deaths to the local residents.3.moribund: 1)approaching death;about to die临近死亡的；快要死的 2)on the verge of becoming obsolete逐渐废弃的：处于过时边缘的 过时的风俗moribund customs;过时的生活方式a moribund way of life 3.On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound;…
On the mornings that used to be exciting with the singing in chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens and many other birds, no sound could be heard any more.Para.5 1.litter: 1)the offspring produced at one birth by a multiparous mammal 幼仔
一窝狗崽
a litter of puppies
2)to make untidy by discarding rubbish carelessly使杂乱：随意弃置垃圾而导致零乱：
自私的野餐者乱扔包装纸使漓江沿岸杂乱不堪
Selfish picnickers litter the bank of Li River with food wrappers.2.那个小女孩在轰炸中存活下来确实是个奇迹。
It was indeed a miracle that the little girl should have survived the bombing.Para.6 angler/ fisherman angler: one who fishes with a hook垂钓者
fisherman: one who fishes as an occupation or for sport渔民 Para.7 1.hatch: 1)(of a young bird or fish, etc)emerge from an egg
蛋未孵出莫数小鸡。
Don’t count the chickens before they are hatched.2)think out or produce ~ sth out/ up
E.g.What mischief are those children hatching up?
2.What is the implied meaning of ―… white granular powder still showed a few patches, …‖?
The implied meaning is that chemical fertilizers and pesticides had been used in such quantity and on such an extensive scale that even several weeks afterwards, traces could still be seen here and there.Para.8 silence: 1)to make silent or bring to silence使安静或使无言 总统做手势使人群安静下来。
The president silenced the crowd with a gesture.2)to curtail the expression of;suppress压制：制止…的表白；压制
压制所有的批评silence all criticism;压制他们的反对者silenced their opponents Para.9 1.英国的首相和美国的总统在职位方面并非完全相对应。
The Prime Minister of Britain is not exactly the counterpart of the President of the United States.2.人们喜欢到那家饭店吃午饭是因为那里的菜肴既丰盛又可口。
People like to go to that restaurant for lunch because the food served there is substantial and tasty.3.A grim spectre has crept upon us almost unnoticed, and this imagined tragedy may easily become a stark reality we all shall know.A frightful evil spirit has quietly come to us without being noticed, and this imaginary disaster may very likely become a harsh reality that will affect us all.4.我悄悄地走近他们，从树枝中偷看，只见他们正在愉快地享用野餐。
Creeping upon on them, I peered through the branches and saw them happily enjoying the picnic.5.人类必须共同对人为的污染打一场持久战，这是一个明摆着的不可再回避的事实。
That all human beings have to fight together a persistent war against man-made pollution is a stark reality that we can no longer afford to avoid.4.writing techniques 1)comparison and contrast 2)vivid, poetic language 5.post-reading activities 1)What can we learn from the text?
2)Do you think we have got similar places on the earth now? 3)Discuss in groups : As regards the unpleasant aspect of the environment, what should we do about it right now? Text II I.questions: 1.Which part of the globe, the north or the south, is more concerned about the problem of overpopulation? 2.What is the proper way, according to the author to stop overpopulation? 3.How do you understand the last sentence? 4.Do you think the prediction in the text have come true? II.Language points
1.reserve: put sth aside for a later or special use
All rights reserved;a nature reserve, a forest reserve;conserve: prevent sth from being changed, lost or damaged(谨慎合理的使用现有的东西，含一旦用完，很难再补充)
conserve one’s health, resources, water
preserve: keep or maintain in a perfect condition(强调保存珍贵的东西原样不变，有时甚至根本不用)preserve food, old building 2.make one’s hair stand on end: fill sb with fright or horror
Interaction 1.Group Discussion: Exchange ideas with your partner to make predictions about different aspects of life in the year 2050.You may hold either of the two attitudes: pessimism or optimism--transport and travel--food and drink--housing--family life--medicine--environment 2.Write a composition on the topic of ― If I lived in the year 2050‖.
第四篇：新编英语教程 6 Unit 6 教案
Unit Six TEXT I
DULL WORK Eric Hoffer
Objectives: To catch the central idea of each paragraph.To discuss that eventful life kills rather than stimulates a man’s instinct for creation./all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.Pre-class work:
Find out more about the figures mentioned in the text than those provided in the notes: Amos, Socrates, Omar, Jesus Christ, Albert Einstein, Niccolo Machiavelli, Immanuel Kant, John Keats, Sophocles, John Milton, Benvenuto Cellini.Pre-reading Questions: 1.Do you think you can achieve much if you live a plain, ordinary life? 2.Does monotonous, routine work dull one’s mind?
In-reading Comprehension Para.1 1.There seems to be general assumption that brilliant people cannot stand routine;that they need a varied, exciting life in order to do their best.to do their best: to achieve their potential creativeness;to best exercise their talent(comp.3-1)
It is generally believed that a colorless life can freeze a creative mind, and only a colorful life can inspire a man to creative work.2.Tell about this para.in your own words.There is an assumption that brilliant people cannot stand routine life, and they need a colorful life;while dull people are suited for dull work.The present-day young are more brilliant than the young of the past because they are better educated.Therefore they prefer a colorful life to a dull, routine one.3.What is the purpose of this para.?
This is an introductory para.to put forward an assumption(successful mendull, routine life)so as to raise a question: Is the assumption right or wrong? Para.2 1.What is the ‘opposite’ that H says is ‘nearer the truth’? What is the purpose of this para.?(comp.3-2)
As it goes in the 1st sentence, the successful men do not crave for(= long for)colorful life.The contrary is also true(反过来说): people who achieve much are often those content with the routine, uneventful life they live, or, the successful men are satisfied with the routine/uneventful/colorless life they are leading.This is the central idea of this para.and H supports it by citing examples of some well-reputed men who led a colorless routine life.2.Identify those great figures mentioned in this para.and say something about them.Amos the sheepherder: a minor prophet in the Old Testament 阿摩斯，旧约中１２个小先知中的第三名
Socrates the stonemason: Greek philosopher well known for his sophistry
Socrates of Athens, who flurished in the last half of the 5th century, was the 1st of the great trio of ancient Greekswho laid the philosophical foundations of Western culture.He was born in or about 470 BC.His father Sophroniscus was a sculptor, mother a midwife, 3 sons, one an infant.There were 2 counts in the accusation: ‘corruption of the young’ and ‘neglect of the gods whom the city worships and the practice of religious novelties.’ An escape was planned by his freind Crito, but S refused to hear of it, on the grounds that the verdict, though contrary to the fact, was that of a legitimate court and must therefore be obeyed.The story of his last day, with his drinking of the hemlock, has been perfectly told in the Phaedo of Plato.Though a good fighting man, his outward appearance was grotesque.Stout and not tall with prominent eyes, snub nose, broad nostrils, and wide mouth, he seemed a very Silenus.But as his freinds knew, he was ‘all glorious within,’ ‘the most upright man of that day.’(Plato)
Omar the tentmaker: Persian astronomer and poet
Jesus Christ: 上帝的独生子。大约罗马建城748年，在犹太的伯利恒，童贞女玛利亚由圣灵感孕生下耶酥，由约瑟抚养成人。出世不久，有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说是来拜生下来作犹太之王的人，因为他们在东方看到了他的星。犹太王希律听说后，心里十分不安，派人到处寻觅，找不着，便命把二周岁以内的男孩全部杀死。耶酥一家逃到埃及才得以幸免。耶酥回国来到拿撒勒作工匠，30多岁时施洗约翰在约旦河给他施洗，而后圣灵引他去接受魔鬼的试探，此后成为救世主。他召了12个门徒，和他们一起到犹太各地传教，要人们严守诫条。后来他的门徒加略人犹大为30块钱出卖了他，把他拘送到马总督彼拉多那里，他被钉死在十字架上。死后第三日复活，多次向门徒显现。复活后第一十日升天，第五十日差谴圣灵降临。众门徒领圣灵，开始传教。
Albert Einstein(1879-1955): German-American scientist and one of the greatest of all time, is best known as the special and general theories of relativity.From 1896-1900, he was a student at the Polytechnic Institute of Zurich, Switzerland.From 1902-1909, he was hired by the Swiss Patent Office at Berne as ‘Probationary technical expert, third class’.It was in 1905 that he published 4 papers of major importance in the journal Annalen der Physik, including his first memoirs on special relativity.Later it was revealed that, although it took him only 5 weeks to write his first paper on relativity despite working all day at the patent office, he had been mediating since he was 16 on the fundamental problem concerning the velocity of light that gave rise to this theory.Niccolo Machiavelli: Florentine statesman and political philosopher.His removal from political activity forced him to a retired life and to enter the career of a political writer.Immanuel Kant(1724-1804): German philosopher.His attempt to define precisely the domain of rational understanding is a landmark in Western thought.On the one hand, he opposed Hume’s skepticism, the idea that pure reason is of no real use in understanding the world, and on the other hand, he challenged Enlightenment faith in the unlimited scope of reason.The basic formulation of what is called his critical philosophy is contained in the Critique of Pure Reason(1781), the Critique of Practical Reason(1788), and the Critique of Judgment(1790).The quiet regularity of Kant’s everyday life in Konisberg, where he was a university professor(1770-1804), became proverbial.According to an anecdote of Heinrich Heine(1797-1856), German poet, satirist and journalist, the residents of the town set their watches by Kant’s daily walks.So, the purpose of this para.is to show that the lives of many truly great men are extremely ordinary.Or, people who achieve do not necessarily live eventful lives.Para.3 1.Tell what you know about John Keats and Sophocles.John Keats(1795-1821): probably the most talented of English romantic poets.Long poems as Isabella, Lamia, The Eve of St.Agnes, shorter poems as Ode on a Grecian Urn 希腊古瓮颂, Ode to Autumn, Ode to a Nightingale.Sophocles: 2nd of classical Athens’ 3 great writers of tragedycapacity for concentration, i.e.the curiosity of the immature to be interested;mature-inner resources to turn the dullness of work to good avail).This is why H put them into one category.2.Who are the really dull people, according to H? And why?(comp.3-8)
The adolescents.They lack the inner resources of the mature to turn the dullness of work to good avail, and the curiosity of the immature to be interested.3.What does this essay tell us?
Dull people cannot stand dull work so that they can hardly accomplish anything when at leisure or in solitary.They love eventful life life, but this kind of life exhausts them rather than stimulates.Only those who find dull life endurable can derive something from it(this is creativeness)and achieve something.So they may become successful.*** What is the purpose of H’s writing?(comp.1-D)
To convince that creativeness of a man’s mind is primary to what he can achieve.Post-reading discussion Step one: Organization and Development 1.The title of the essay ‘Dull Work’ only tells us what the author is going to focus on but not what he thinks of it.Can you find his thesis statement in the essay? If not, can you summarize in one sentence H’s view on dull work?(Org.& Devl.)
No.What a man achieves does not depend on the type of work he does, or the life experiences he has;rather, it depends on his ability to transmute what seems dull and routine into what is momentous.2.What is H’s main technique to demonstrate his thesis?
H cites numerous examples.3.How does he arrange the examples?
Well-reputed men are cited before his own experience.4.How does his argument go?
The possible harmful effect of an eventful life is illustrated only after he has made it clear that an eventful life is not a must for creative achievement.Step two: Comp.2 Step three: Discussion
Discuss that eventful life kills rather than stimulates a man’s instinct for creation./all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.(LW 8)
TEXT II
DOING CHORES August Heckscher
1.Read the text before class and prepare for the answers to the questions in the textbook.2.Go through the text within 2 minutes in class and discuss the questions.8
第五篇：新编英语教程6(_1---11单元译文)
第二单元
推迟的艺术
"今天能做的事情决不要推到明天。”切斯特菲尔德伯爵在1794年劝告儿子时说道，但是这位文雅的伯爵却从没有抽出时间来完成与孩子母亲的婚礼，也没有戒除让约翰逊博士此类名人在接待室久候的坏习惯，这足以证明，即使是有心人，也绝非毫无拖延，罗马的一位大将军昆塔斯 费边 马克西姆斯为了赢得尽可能多的喘息机会，推迟战斗时间，被冠以“拖延者”。摩西为了使自己向法老传递耶和华法令过程中的犹豫合理化，颓唐语言有缺陷，当然，哈姆雷特把延迟上升为一种艺术形式。
世界上的人基本上可以分成均匀的两半：拖延者和马上行动者。有些人二月份就准备好了个人所得税，预先偿还抵押借款，在常人难以忍受的6点半钟准时吃饭，而另外一些人则乐于在9点或10点钟时吃些剩菜剩饭，错放帐单和文件以期延长缴税的期限。他们非要等到警告声变成恐吓声才肯去支付信用卡的帐单。就象浮士德所遭遇的那样，他们推迟去理发店，看牙医或医生。
尽管延误会带来诸多不便，但延迟经常可以激发和唤醒具有创新意识的灵魂。写下许多成功小说和剧本的作家琼克尔说到，她要把厨房每个汤罐头和酱瓶子上的标签看上一遍后，才能安心坐在打字机旁。许多作家都关注着他们任务之外的大小琐事，譬如关注在缅因州法国人海湾和巴尔海港进行的海岸和土地测量，其中的地名，如古今斯暗礁、不伦特池塘、海鸥小山、伯恩特豪猪、朗豪猪、希波豪猪以及鲍尔德豪猪岛，都激起了他们的想象。
从“拖延者”年代到当今世纪，推迟的艺术实际上被军事（“赶快和等一下”）、外交和法律垄断了。在过去的年代里，英国殖民地总督可以手中拿着杯酒，安逸的思考民族叛乱的形势，他应该庆幸没有电传和打印机在一旁喋喋不休地传递着命令，一会儿是增加机关枪啊一会儿又是增派军队啊。直到二战时，美国将军还可以和敌方将军达成协议，休一天运动假，去掠夺村民的鸡和酒，明日再战。律师是世界上最上瘾的延误者。据一个来自贝弗利山的，号称从不拖延的推销员弗兰克.内森叙说，“没有留下遗嘱就去世的律师数不胜数。”
无志者，事也成。当然，慢性拖延和刻意拖延是有差别的，特别是在高层商业中。美国银行集团总裁理查德·曼德巴赫说，企业动态学鼓励谨慎行事，由此滋生了延迟。他提到，快速行动往往会进入尴尬的局面和付出沉重的代价，数据爆炸刺激了一些懒惰的人以此为借口——另一个报告等着读，另一个权威等着咨询。曼德巴赫说：“数据的充足和泛滥之间总有条微妙的分界线。”
他的观点广为接受。官僚化在政府负担日益加重和社会形势的日益复杂的温室中滋长。它旨在用条文主义、妥协和重新评估来包庇政策制定者——以此防止做出草率决定。水门事件时期的政府所表现出来的中央集权化已经蔓延至经济机构等等广阔的领域，使得拖延成为世界范围的一种生活方式。有关推迟的短语星罗棋布在各种语言中——从西班牙的manana（在将来某个不确定时间）到阿拉伯的bukrafilmishimash(字面意思是“明天的杏树”，其含义是“等到花儿也开了”。)
学术界也很尊崇拖延。南加利福尼亚大学社会学家伯纳德*斯克拉每天辛辛苦苦才写出三至五页的东西来。他坦称：“我很多朋友对着白纸是都感到很痛苦。我们有很多合理的理由;教学压力，家庭责任，查看新书，搜索注脚。”
心理学叫坚决认为女人是最坚持不懈的迟延者，虽然很多心理学家（每小时加收50美金）本人就非常拖拉。拉尔夫*格林森博士是加利福尼亚大学洛杉矶分校的临床精神病疗法的教授（他曾是玛丽莲*梦露的精神病医师），看待延迟时比较温和。他说：“很多人都在回避，逃避，拖延揭露真相的那一刻，直到最迟的极限为此。”但是佐治亚州心理学家乔恩*费根认为，迟延是潜意识用来区分事情重要性级别的一种方式。“当我拖延时，一般总是存在着某种缘由。”费根说，“我能感觉到它，但是我也说不出个之所以然。”
事实上，迟延有着悠久而光荣的历史，它意味着如果推迟些许时间，许多主意和决定就有可能得到改善，推迟做决定本身就是一个决定，这不无道理。议会过程的实质就是一个迟延和慎重的体系。就此而论，名画，乐章，书籍或者布兰西姆府邸的建筑物也是如此。布兰西姆府邸耗用了马尔伯勒公爵的建筑师及工人们15年的时间才建成。在这个过程中，设计可能不断成熟及完善。确实，仓促会葬送了雅致。《时之剑》的作者T*H*怀特曾写道，时间“并不是注定要一小时一小时，或者一天一天的耗费掉，而是应该细腻地、缓慢地、从容地品尝一番。”换句话说，我们应该这样说：今天不必要做的事，无论如何要推到明天来完成。
第三单元
墙壁与障碍
我父亲立即对位于纽约市第43大街和第5大道交汇处的银行大楼作出了明确反应。“你不会看见我把钱存在那的！”他断言，“不会存在那个玻璃箱子里的！”
我的父亲当然是一名守旧的绅士，对他们那代人来说，大量现代的建筑都会让人身心交疲。但是我怀疑—我不只是怀疑，我确信—他之所以会做出消极反应，与其说是因为建筑物，倒不如说是人们侵犯了他对金钱本质的看法。
他们那一代人把金钱看成是像金条、钞票和硬币这样有形的物品，可以拿起，可以携带，也可以被人偷走。因此，为了吸引明智的人经常存钱，银行必须要建有厚重的墙壁、装了栅栏的窗户和青铜制成的大门，以便证明金钱存在银行里面是安全的的这一情况，而不管这个情况是多么不真实。如果一座大楼的设计在表面上看起来固若金汤，那么这一机构必然安全，厚重的墙壁作为一种建筑象征，其意义就在于它表示了人们对金钱的普遍态度，而不在于它在美学理论上展现出来的美感。
但是那样一种看待金钱的态度当然已经改变了，除了零用钱之外，人们现在几乎不用任何形式的现金。金钱作为一种有形物品在很大程度上被信用这种簿记银行业务的东西代替了。巨大的扩展伴随着经济赤字，让我们认为金钱是创造性想象的产物。银行家不再为我们提供一种服务，其中最为重要的东西就是干劲和发明巨大数目的创造力。考虑到他们态度上的这一改变。我们正在见证拥有厚重墙壁的银行小时也就根本不足为奇了。我父亲非常不信任制造商信托银行，因为它是一个巨大的立方体玻璃笼子。虽然其内部灯火通明，甚至可与朗朗晴日相媲美，但是它根本就没有把其通往金库的门道隔离起来，也没有派人把守，相反却把它装饰成了一个展示的橱窗。
就像先前的银行断言自己牢不可破一样，这家银行也以其建筑具有想象力而感到自豪。从这一点来说，人们很难说清楚建筑在什么地方结束，人类的断言在什么地方开始。事实上，两者没有这样的分界线，它们合二为一，是相同的。
新的建筑批判主义把建筑理解成为表达人类态度、偏见、禁忌和想法的一种媒介。这正是它与古典美学的不同之处。后者依赖纯粹的比例和布局等这些因素来作为其艺术判断的基础，在一个社会和心理学的时代，墙壁已不仅仅是墙壁，它们还是人类大脑当中障碍的一种物质象征。
例如，在原始社会，人们把世界想象成为一个巨大无边、令人恐惧、怀有恶意、人类无法控制的东西。因此他们用巨大的石头建起了厚重的墙壁。只有呆在墙壁的后面，他们才会感觉到自己置身于一个可以控制、安全可靠的限定空间之内。这些厚重的墙壁表明，人们害怕外部的世界，不管保护措施是多么的虚无飘渺，人们也需要找到它，有人可能会争辩说，当时的技术尚未发展起来，人们无法建筑更为精巧的墙壁。这当然也很正确。但是，首先仍然是对世界的害怕这一态度而非技术使得人们想要建筑墙壁。恐惧越大，墙壁就越厚。我们甚至发现，古代的国王的陵墓实际上全部都是由墙壁构成的，其最大的恐惧就是害怕腐烂。
接着就有了隐私这个问题，因为它已经变得很易受到质疑。在地中海的某些文化当中，值得人们那么害怕的不是自然世界而是人类世界。人类肮脏龌龊、好打听是非、卑鄙下流、且充满危险、即使人们有钱四处走动也会穿戴着各种乱七八糟的东西用来护体，妇女很少四处走动，如果她们想要走动一下的话，也会戴着厚厚的面纱，人们的房子四周围着墙壁，房子不是向外面是向里面朝着天井这表明人们普遍坚信，只有通过向里看，只有通过从事个人的私人生活而不是参加公众生活才能发现生活当中的优点和价值，当时的哲学强调沉思冥想，装饰艺术也非常的复杂，这跟墙壁本身一样也阐明了上述态度。
我们今天的感觉就不同了，首先，我们更为强烈地依赖对人类敌对行为的控制，更为依赖法律法规和社会习俗及随叫随到的机动警察，而不是有形的障碍，我们不像我们的祖先那样珍视隐私。我们的女人被他们看见，并被赞美，我们会感到骄傲，说到我们的家庭，情况也是一样。我们不会寻求孤独。事实上，如果我们一旦发现自己孤独一人的时候，我们就会轻轻地打开开关，通过电视屏幕把整个世界都请进家门。因此，我们废弃围在四周的厚重墙壁，用薄薄金属片和玻璃建造起膜状隔挡物也就不是那么让人惊奇了。
今天，墙壁的主要功能就是把外面可能令人不快的空气与我们在里面创造的受到控制的温度和湿度条件隔离开来。虽然明显还是有很多人会对高度透明的条件下吃饭、睡觉、穿衣心存不安，要求墙壁至少给予他们一种适当屏蔽的感觉，但是玻璃仍可实现上述的功能。像他们这样害羞的人的数目正在减少，虽然康涅狄格州菲利普·约翰逊房屋受到多人的赞美，在很多地方都被模仿，但是它四周却用的是玻璃墙壁，盥洗室才是唯一能够找到真正隐私的地方，其装饰方面的忌讳至少在康涅狄格州仍未被打破。
在强调一遍，我们关于自己与世界的关系看法真正发生改变，正是这些正在改变的看法而不是先进技术决定了我们会修建什么样的墙壁。玻璃墙表明人们坚信它能够而且的的确确掌握了自然和社会。“开放的计划”和一览无遗的景色与其通过不断丰硕的科学成就来最终解决各种问题的信念是一致的。这可能就是为什么我们当中水平最高，最具远见的人们会在玻璃屋子里面生活、工作的原因了吧。甚至我们害怕人造石块的原因也被分析出来了。
第六单元
乏味的工作
似乎人们普遍认为杰出之人无法忍受循规蹈矩：为了做到最好，他们需要一种多姿多彩、兴奋不已的生活。同时，人们认为无趣之人特别适合做乏味的工作。我们知道，当今年轻一代非常反对工厂工作的枯燥无味，原因是与过去的年轻人相比，他们不仅得到了更好的教育，也变得更加聪明。
事实上并没有证据证明富有成就的人希望繁忙充实的生活，更不用说他们正在过这样的生活，而事实却几乎适得其反。人们可以想象牧羊人阿摩司，石匠苏格拉底，帐篷制作者欧玛尔。或许耶稣在做单调的木工时就有了他的第一次发现；爱因斯坦在瑞士一家专利局当职员时就得出了相对论；在一个小乡镇的枯燥生活中，马基雅弗利所仅有的乐趣只是与客栈里的骡夫玩玩牌，而就在这样的生活中他却写出了《王子》和《论述》两本著作；伊曼纽尔·康德天天过着一成不变的生活------当加里宁格勒的家庭主妇们看到他去大学校园路过时，他们就调整时钟，因为不论晴雨，他每天上午都会取其道而行，他从加里宁格勒到学校的最远距离就是六十英里。
人类创造性的典型特征表现为可以把细微的刺激转化为巨大的成果，人类的伟大在于能够处理细小的苦楚于快乐，能够处理好普通的生理压力和欲望。“当有些烦恼时，”济慈写道：“在五分钟内就转化成索福克勒斯的题材。”对于富有创造性的个体来说，所有经验都有可创性———所有事件都有源于新见解和新洞察力的等同属性——人的超凡特性可以使平凡和普通的事物转化成非凡的事物。
繁忙充实的生活往往在消耗而不是在刺激.1640年,弥尔顿曾是一位前途无量的诗人,他在清教革命变故的环境中度过了20年毫无建树的岁月.革命失败后,他在屈辱中实现了自己的伟大前程.切利尼在振奋人心的生活当中失去了本该成为伟大艺术家的机会.毫无疑问,如果马基雅弗利被允许继续从事弗洛伦萨的外交工作,继续执行令人生趣的使命,那么他就不可能写出那些伟大的著作.通常情况下,往往是平庸的诗人,作家等等才会专注于激发事件以释放他们的创造源泉.可以这样认为,生产线的工作拙其才能,乏其思想,唯一可取的良药是更高的工资,更少的工作时间.然而,在作为一名普通工人的五十年时间里,我发现循规蹈矩的工作可以与活跃的思想并存.在码头做枯燥重复的工作期间,在与工友们谈天的同时,我可以在脑海深处构思篇章语句.我过去从中得到快乐,至今仍回味无穷,过去的生活似乎很愉快。如果工作能让我饶有兴趣，就不可能在上班时间或甚至在下班后的自由时间有机会去做任何思考和创作。
如果发现难以忍受乏味的工作，这样的人经常是那些在闲暇时不知所措的人。儿童和成年人能从循规蹈矩的事情中获得新生，而青少年则因失去了儿时的专注精神，并且缺乏成年人的内在因素，所以需要用刺激和新奇来消除其厌倦心理。7美
美之于古希腊人是一种德性，一种美德。今天看来，他们就是我们如今所谓的“全面的人”，虽然这个称呼有点不理直气壮，并且带有嫉妒之意。倘若让古希腊人区分一个人的“内在”和“外在”，他们仍期望内在美是需要与其他种类之美相匹配的。那些聚集在苏格拉底身边的雅典青年人发现自己的偶像是如此得聪慧、勇敢、正直、充满诱惑力，而同时又那么得丑，这是多么自相矛盾啊。而苏格拉底主要的教学手段之一即为“丑”，告诉这些天真却拥有毋庸置疑般美貌的门生，真正的人生是充满悖论的。
他们或许能够抗拒苏格拉底的学说。而我们做不到。几千年以后，美的魅惑使我们更加疲惫。我们不仅仅用最容易的方式将“内在”（性格，心智）和“外在”（外貌）割离开来，同时我们也对那些既有美貌亦有智慧天赋之人，感到诧异。
美在古典时期是理想的人类美德，而将其从这中心位置赶走的首要原因来自基督教的影响。通过美德（拉丁语为virtus）的概念限定到仅仅指伦理道德的范畴，基督教放逐了“美”—— 它成为一种异化的，武断的，肤浅的诱惑。同时美不断丢失了它原本的名声。到二世纪末的时候，美成为一种既定概念，仅用于修饰两性之的一个性别：这个性别虽然是悦目的，但却处于第二位。将美与女性联系起来，使得美的概念在道德层面上更加脆弱。
在英语里，我们说一位女子是美丽的。但是我们却说一位男子是英俊的。“英俊”是其阳性的等同词，同时拒绝一种带有某些贬义暗示的赞扬，而这种赞扬是仅用于女性的。在法语和意大利语里，人们可以称男子是“美丽的”，这暗示着这些天主教国家依旧保留了前基督教时期欣赏“美”的痕迹，而这些痕迹在新教国家中已经荡然无存。但即使存在，差别也只是程度不同而已。在任何一个基督教或者后基督教国家里，女性就是那个美丽的性别——既损害了美这个概念，也损害了女性这个概念。
被称为“美”意味着要列举出一些对女性来说必要的特征和她们所关心的事物。（和男性不同，他们的核心是强壮、有效率，或者有能力。）那些拥有超前女性意识的人将很容易就能感受到，让女性和“美”联系起来，会助长她们孤芳自赏的态度，也会让她们更加有依赖性且不成熟。所有人（女性和男性）都认识到这点。因为“所有人”，整个社会，都很明确，作为女性就应该关心长相。（作为男性则不同：他们身份的确认是关注于某人是谁，做什么的，而长相即使并非一无是处，至少也是其次的。）有了这些老套的看法，我们就不难明白，即使从最好的方面来看，为什么“美”也有着褒贬不一的名声。
当然，对美的崇拜并没有什么错，错就错在认为美是一种义务，并且试图想要变美。作为她们性别的一种讨好的理想化状态，大多数女性都可以接受的方式是，让她们觉得自己比实际情况来的差劲。因为美的理想境界就是受制于一种自我对立的状态。人们教导女性要从各部分区看待她们的身体，并且要分别评价每一个部分。胸部、腿、臀部、腰、颈、眼睛、鼻子、肤色、头发等等——每一部分都需要一番焦虑、苦恼，甚至绝望的审查。即使有些部分符合要求，但总有地方永远是希望更好一些的。只有完美无瑕了，才能无可挑剔。
在男人之中，好的外表是一个整体，是那种一眼扫过的东西。并不需要通过测量身体每个部分来做出最后的确认。没有人会鼓励男性去一部分一部分地细查自己的外貌。至于完美，那是被认为无关紧要的，并且几乎是不男性化的。的确，对于一些理想中的美男子，一点小瑕疵反而是让人喜欢的。有一位电影评论家（女性），她是Robert Redford的影迷，她觉得正是因为其脸颊一侧有一颗肉色的痣，才使得Redford不被仅仅认为有一张“漂亮的脸蛋”。想想这个评价里既暗示了对女性的贬低，也暗示了对“美”的贬低。
Cocteau曾说：“美的特权是无限的。”毫无疑问，美是一种力量形式，并且理因如此。但遗憾的是，如今人们只鼓励大多数的女性去追求这种力量。这种力量的制造总是和男性联系起来。这力量不是去做什么，而是去吸引什么的。这种力量否定了自身。因为这种力量并不是一个人所能自我选择的，至少不是女性可以自我选择的，或者说如果她们声称要放弃这种力量的话，是要受到社会谴责的。
对女性来说，梳妆打扮不仅仅是一份乐趣，更是一种责任，是她的工作。如果一位女士做着实际的工作，乃至她在政治、法律、医学、商界或别的什么领域爬到了领导层位置，她也总是背负着压力，时刻要确保她在工作的时候还保持着吸引人的魅力。但只要她仍然是“悦目的性别”中的一员，那她就一直要受到质疑——是否有能力保持客观、专业、权威和缜密。如果真成为了那样的人，那这样的女人真糟透了！如果她们不是这样，那也糟透了！
比起那种无止境的喜忧参半的故事，即女性的苦闷而言，我们几乎不太能从将人区分成“内在”和“外在”的做法中找到更多证据来说明其危险性。一开始就将女性定义成只对外表关注的人，然后就说她们是“肤浅”的，这是多么容易的事情啊！这个粗鄙的陷阱已经存在太久了。但是要从这个陷阱里逃脱出来，就要求女性与美的好处与特权保持严格的距离，并且要有足够的距离去了解“美”这个概念本身有多少被删节了，用以支撑起“女性”这个神话。我们应该有一种方式将“美”从女性那里解救出来，也将“美”为了女性本身而解救出来。第八单元
食欲
人生的一大主要快乐就是食欲，保存食欲也是我们主要责任之一。它意味着对生活的热爱。它是感官之一，这感官告诉你，你仍想活下去，仍然受到强烈渴望的激励，希望进入世界，品尝人间百味和酸甜苦辣。
我所说食欲当然不仅仅是指对事物的强烈愿望，而是指各种各样不能满足的愿望，强烈的愿望。这证明，你希望获取更多，生命尚有价值。王尔德说过，他为那些从来没有实现心愿的人们难过，但是更为那些实现了心愿的人们惋惜。我虽然只曾实现过一次心愿，但它几乎置我于死地，从那以后，我总是更衷情于渴望而非获得。
对我来说，食欲就是这种渴望的状态，这使得人们的期望之火永不熄灭。我记得自己很久以前还是孩提的时候就学到这一课。那时几乎没有什么款待和宴会，我发现，最幸福的事情并非在于真的吃太妃糖，而是事先盯着糖看。刚开始吃那几口味道确实很美妙，但是一旦太妃糖吃完了，什么都没有了，即没有了太妃糖，也没有了渴望。此外，吃完太妃糖这一不雅的举动中，太妃糖的所有吸引力在不知不觉中消失了。不，最美好的感觉就是想要得到它，就是坐在那看着它，只有这样，人们就能体会到无穷无尽的各种滋味。
所以，对我来说，食欲所带来的最强烈的乐趣之一仍然在于渴望，而不是满足。在于想要一个桃子，或者一杯威士忌酒，或者特殊的特征或是声音，或者想要跟一位特别的朋友呆在一起。因为我当然知道，在这种情形之下，渴望得到的东西总是最为完美无缺的，这就是我为什么会，我将保存食欲的程度带至有意的禁食，只不过是因为我认为食欲太美好了而不容丢失，太宝贵了而不能因饱食和过饱而被逼进无感觉的境况。
就此而言，我并非真的想要一天三顿的美食——我想要的是一顿巨大、美味、狂欢的丰富盛宴餐，比如说每四天来一次，之后就不能确定下一顿会在哪。禁食一天对我来说不仅仅是一种清教徒式的剥夺人们乐趣的方法，而更是一种期待少有的极度满足时刻的方式。
禁食是对食欲权威表示敬意的行为。所以我认为，我们应该定期计划放弃乐趣——食物、朋友、情人——为了保存它们基于的强烈感觉，以及重新得到乐趣的时刻。因为这一时刻使自己和所钟爱之物焕然一新，精神奋发，我想，不但水手和游客曾经享受过这样的时刻，而且猎人也是如此。对现代生活厌烦的部分原因是我们之间的距离太近，娱乐和饮食太有规律性。饥饿曾经把我们与食物和家人分隔开来，于是我们才学会珍惜它们。男人外出打猎，狗随着他们一起去；女人和孩子向他们挥手告别。洞穴里面连续数天没有男人。没人有吃的东西或者知道该做什么。女人蜷缩在火堆旁边，泪眼朦胧。小孩在嚎啕痛哭，每个人饥肠辘辘。然后在一天晚上，山上传来了呼喊声和狗吠声。男人们满载着猎物回来了。这是个大团圆的时刻，每个人都狼吞虎咽地吃着，食欲显示了其真正的价值，盼望已久的这一顿饭成为了值得记忆的盛宴，它几乎是一种人生的圣典。现在我们前往办公室上班，然后晚上回家吃便宜的鸡肉和冷藏的豌豆，那么香，但是太多了，太容易了，太常见了，不需要费劲就可以得到，也没有了渴望。我们吃着东西，很幸运，长得油光水滑，但我们再也无法知道饥饿时的愉快了。
任何东西太多了——太多音乐。太多娱乐。幸福快餐，或者花太多时间与朋友呆在一起——都会造成某种生活上的无能，人们再也不能听见，品尝不出味道，看不到，爱不了，记不了。生命短暂而弥足珍贵，食欲是人生旅途的护卫者之一，所以如果我们想要享受这一短暂的生命，我们就应该尊重食欲之神，保持渴望的状态，而不要让它过于迟钝。
我曾经体验过枯焦的嘴唇接触一杯冷水时所引发的狂喜已有很长一段时间了，泉水仍然等着人们去享用——而人们所需要的只是一种原始的渴望。
第九单元 对藐视法律者的警告
遵纪守法是美国历史上最为悠久的政治问题，也可能是人们最喜爱探讨的政治问题。数百万美国人从来不认为自己曾经违法，更不用说犯罪了，这一显而易见的事实令人厌烦心痛。虽然人们制定了法规来保护社会并促进其发展，但是上述美国人却享有了越来越多的自由。事实上，当今社会充斥着非法乱丢垃圾、骗税、非法制造噪音和机动车秩序混乱的现象，以致于藐视法律的行为有时候让人看起来代表了未来发展的潮流。哈佛大学的社会学家戴维·里斯曼察觉到，大部分美国人会草率地认为，触犯一些据称微小的错误是理所当然的事情。他早先说，美国社会的伦理道德正面临着逐渐沦落为“傻子才会遵守规则”这种危险的情况。
支持里斯曼这一说法的证据是再明显不过的了，藐视法律者以各种各样的方式存在，其数目令人吃惊。喜欢涂鸦的人把公共场所变成了视觉垃圾，骑自行车的人经常把车骑得好像两轮的交通工具不受所有的交通法规约束一样。喜欢乱丢垃圾的人把自己的社区变成了垃圾堆。一阵一阵的法规虽然到处都是 来势汹汹，但是却无法把高分贝的便携式无线电广播电台从公共场所清除出去，这就像早先的法律无法消灭因啤酒饮用过度而导致骚扰众多公园的流氓行为一样。令人绝望的是，吸食烟草上瘾的人仍对“禁止吸烟”的标记熟视无睹。穿着体面的吸食大麻的人再也不会为了分发烟卷而劳烦自己，巧妙的避开公众的视线，公然使用可卡因这一丑行正在中上阶层人生活当中逐渐恶化。此外还有〔一边说“各位好”一边行走〕乱穿马路的人。
藐视法律这种行为所带来的危险在不同情况下相差很大。在人行道上吐痰的人虽然令人讨厌，但是就对他人构成的危险来说明显要小于在未经批准的地方非法掩埋危险的化学废弃物的公司。在地铁里面袭击乘客的人所构成的生命危险要小于漠视防火安全法规的房东。在危险的藐视法律的行为中，最为直接且最容易计算的也碰巧是人们最容易看得见的。其罪魁祸首就是美国的司机，他们当今的违法行为累计起来构成了对公众安全的巨大损害。其危险从日常的双行停车堵塞城市街道到酒后驾车每年令25000人丧生、至少650000人受伤，不一而足。开阔公路上违反法律超速驾驶的情况又怎样呢？新近的调查显示，在一些州际公路上，83%的司机通常对联邦政府制定的每小时55英里的时速限制视而不见。
在所以上述现象中，最为公然的藐视法律的人当属擅闯红灯者。波士顿藐视停止信号的情况相当严重，当地居民流传的一则趣闻说有位出租车司机坚决认为红灯“只是作装饰用的。”红灯控制交通的力量似乎在各个地方都在削减。在洛杉矶，闯红灯可能已经成为这座城市最为普通的违反交通的现象。在纽约，通过十字路口就像玩俄罗斯轮盘赌一样。罗伯特.麦吉里警长承认：“关于人们是否会在红灯前面停下来，当今的几率是一边对一半。”然而，他所在的警察机构在很大程度上对违法现象不理不睬。
闯红灯一直被人们列为小错，因此它可能属于个别现象。当这一违反法规的行为习惯性地、广泛地、连续不断地出现的时候，那它就远不止一个交通管理问题了。这蔑视基本道路规则的行为严重地伤害社会各界的情感，无辜的司机和行人反复的为此付出代价，他们承受着各种挫折、不便和伤害，更不用说通过合理方式感受到的致命的危险。如果说伪善是送给恶行的礼物，那么鬼鬼祟祟的行为就是违法者尊敬法治力量的真正表示。然而，闯红灯的人根本不尊重社会规则，社会不可避免地会受到反复厚颜无耻地藐视基本秩序的行为的伤害。
藐视法律的态度到处存在。有些学校发展，小孩常常在入学的时候并不懂得一些与他人共处的基本规则。他们发现上述情况真的不足为奇。尽管当今各种藐视法律的现象有着这样那样的不同，但他们作为基本的社会道德败坏现象，其症状却是互相一致的，即个人失去了为照顾他人利益而控制自己行为的能力。
公共的礼仪规范有可能会倒塌崩溃，这已经不仅仅是一个礼节上的问题了，社会首先担忧的事情虽然仍将是重大的犯罪，但是在休斯顿发生的一切显示了野蛮行为的严重迹象。休斯顿高速公路上的司机越来越倾向于用突发的暴力行为替代道路规则来解决问题。以下是休斯顿警察部门最近关于高速公路交通暴力的统计分类事件：1）司机朝插到自己前面的小汽车闪烁着远光灯，而小汽车里面的人却向他的挡风玻璃用力投掷一个啤酒罐，踢掉了他的尾灯，把他打得缝了八针。2）自动卸货司机出于耽搁而气愤，砸坏前面停的车俩的后行李箱和用钢锁簧连连猛打那个司机。3）急速行驶的十八轮卡车的司机故意从后面撞上一辆小汽车，而这辆小汽车的司机正试图保持在每小时55英里这以限制速度之内。幸运的是，休斯顿综合症尚未蔓延的到处都是。问题是它会蔓延得到处都是吗？
美国人习惯于认为法治主要受到已成陈规的暴力犯罪的威胁。然而，美国法律的基础遭到撼动，却实际上总是因为普通的守法公民开始回避法律。一个主要的例子就是禁酒令。唐纳德巴尔奇德塞在戒酒与否这个节目中回忆说：“事实证明，违法并不痛苦，甚至不能算作不舒服，相反它会给人带来轻微的哦爽快感觉。”人们最终废除了禁酒令，不仅因为酒本身这个问题，而是因为藐视法律的行为正在严重削弱政府的权威与合法性。具有讽刺意味的是，当今藐视法律者所具有的精神，无论其源头怎样受到削弱，但是政府却无意间在很多层面上对此给予鼓励。警察无力执行某些法律，这只是问题的表面现象，毕竟他们是从自己服务的官员和选民那里接受命令。更糟的是，大部分的州立法机构帮助公众违反联邦政府制定的每小时55英里限速的法律，其中一些立法机构对违法现象等闲处之，只进行很少数目的罚款。从更高层面来说，华盛顿政府机关简直就是在反对而不是支持某些根据法院指令作出的废止种族歧视的判决，这突显了其废弃公民权利法律的愿望。用荒野杂志的话说，保护环境的团体理由充足地指责政府机关“无力执行环境法，他们正在破坏环境法。”这一变异就是最高层的藐视法律现象。
关于藐视法律的这种态度，最为令人忧虑的东西就是它具有极端的传染性。只有愚蠢到了极点的社会才会对此坐视不理，任它无限期的蔓延下去。
第十一单元
磁盘代替原稿，档案被人遗忘
手稿是作者创作过程的极其重要的记录，它们现正濒于灭绝。文字处理程序得以出现，其成本相对较低，且日渐变的简单容易起来。所有这一切意味着，甚至那些穷困潦倒、未发表过东西﹑以作家自诩（以及那些名列最畅销书排行榜前几位的人士），也回向王氏﹑IBM和苹果等各种品牌的电脑求助，安装Wordstar﹑Scriptsit和Apple Writer程序，开始忙于写作﹑编辑﹑审校其创作成果。结果是什么呢？只是一张软盘而已！
我们应该对手稿的消失感到痛惜。任何人，不管他是学生还时学者，又如何能从软盘了解创作过程呢？这种摇摇晃晃的塑胶又如何能够展现出（如威廉?巴特勒?叶芝写的）绝望当中产出的美丽，夜灯煎熬出智慧吗？手稿是这些创作痛苦的记录，它们经常被汗水玷污，被咖啡泼溅或者被香烟烧焦。手稿告诉我们作家的心灵活动，在创作痛苦的过程中的感受。埃德娜.圣文森特.米莱日以继夜，怀疑能否见到成果。但是，她的初稿成成为了后世各代的珍宝。
试想一下，如果叶芝用文字处理程序来写作那些抒情诗，歌颂他对莫德.冈娜的得不到回报的爱情！软盘是不可能揭示他那深深的伤痛。几乎在一个世纪之后，他在都柏林国家图书馆的手稿仍然洋溢着激情的力量。它告诉年轻人，他们的情感、希望、绝望、爱情和失败实际上已成为永恒。假设雷.布雷德伯里用王氏电脑来写作《华氏451》。如果他的各种草稿像他痛惜的书籍那样付之一炬，小时在储存器里，会是那么适宜，甚至具有讽刺意味呀。
幸运的是，任何从事写作的学生都能够在加利福尼亚洲立大学福勒敦分院特别收集图书馆里查阅上诉草稿。初学者和专业人员都可以研究简短故事，《消防队员》是如何发展成为未出版发行的中短篇小说《着火啦，着火啦！》，随后又发展成为更长篇的小说《炉床与火蛇》，也没出版。最后副本（因为是作者自己打印，偶尔有打印错误）待审。在这些手稿中，布雷德伯里自己用生动鲜明的动词代替了软弱无力的动词，改变一两个句子，加强或是有时取消一个形容词，替换上一个更好的名词。手稿极好地展现了写作中的作家，我们绝不可能从软盘上看到这种发展或是最终的润色。
此外，把大量手稿放在一起，那么你就有了一个档案。备忘录，日记，期刊，便条，第一稿，第二稿和第三稿的草稿——这些档案文件对我们所有人来说都相当重要。城市的档案文件通常收集了潦潦草草写成的纸片、关于边界线的有针对性的涂鸦或者是关于结婚、离婚、契约、出生、死亡各种事件的大量手写记录，所有这些东西都散发着霉味，我国的各类档案文件是无价之宝的遗产。国家档案馆堆满了破旧的文件。保存着供历史学家详细研究的资料。
手稿告诉我们托马斯·杰斐逊在起草《独立宣言》的时候，他是如何思考的。一封写给耶鲁大学校长的著名信件告诉我们本杰明·富兰克林对宗教的真实感情。我们从日记，文件，信件和讲道词当中了解到关于制定《宪法》的人们的大量情况。如果她们在软盘上完成所有工作，我们能够了解这么多情况吗？这是绝对不可能的！
同样，如果名人男女的信件是从点阵打印机里涌出，它们会像亲笔信原件那样具有同样的魅力吗？如果某个白宫底层生产的，机器签署，大量生产的信件会有公民罗德纳·里根于1965年邮寄的亲笔信，信封上写的地址，贴着已取消的五分值邮票,同样的感情影响或是会有同等的价值吗？几乎是不可能的。
詹姆斯·乔伊斯曾经写道，艺术家的错误是创造的泉源。不幸的是，如果干净整洁，完美无瑕和毫无错误的软盘代替了破烂，钢笔乱涂，剪贴，夹带装订，纸张发黄，重写，重打印的手稿的话，那么我们永远不会知道那些错误。图书馆保它们，学生们学习它们。拍卖人以惊人的价格拍卖它们，拥有者珍爱它们，然而文字处理器则完全排除它们，我们的损失真是不可估量。
手稿是我们赋予社会的巨大财富。我们没有权利仅仅因为我们发现文字处理程序更加方便就剥夺了后世各代了解我们作品过程中的思想和情感。只有通过耐心修改过的手稿而非软盘，能够告诉初学写作的人员或者将来的历史学家，写作是一项艰辛的工作，它需要思考和再思考——它应该在纸张上，而不是电子屏幕上完成。
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