1、英语100篇精读荟萃中级篇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 imposes his rule by
2、 brute force; there are countries where the black man protests by setting 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 o
3、ther. 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
4、 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 dismall
5、y 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 despised, mistrusted and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently outrageous things as law enfo
6、rcement. If half the energy that goes into violent acts were put to good use, 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 sapp
7、ed 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
8、 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 others problems. And to do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exercise in communication, in exchangi
9、ng information. Talk, talk, talk, the advocates of violence say, all you ever do is talk, and we are none the wiser. Its rather like the story of the famous barrister who painstakingly explained his case to the judge. After listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this tal
10、k, he was none the wiser. Possible, my lord, the barrister replied, none the wiser, 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
11、 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. Recorded history has taught usA violence never solves anything.B nothing.C the bloodshed means nothing.D everything.3.
12、It can be inferred that truly reasonable menA cant get a hearing.B are looked down upon.C are persecuted.D Have difficulty in advocating law enforcement.4. “He was none the wiser” means A he was not at all wise in listening.B He was not at all wiser than nothing before.C He gains nothing after liste
13、ning.D He makes no sense of the argument.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.Vocabulary1. 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 crunc
14、h = 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. mop 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。难句译注1. What is really frighteni
15、ng, 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
16、 up the mess that violence leaves in its wake.【结构简析】in the wake of 在之后。【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 was none the wiser.【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
