新概念英語85年上外美音版第四冊第40課：ThemesandVariations

1、新概念英語 85 年上外美音版第四冊 第 40 課：Themes and VariationsLesson 40 Themes and Variations 主旋律與變奏曲Populations increase and decrease relatively not only to one another, but also to natural resources. In most parts of the world, the relation between population and resources is already unfavourable and will probab

2、ly become even more unfavourable in the future. This growing poverty in the midst of growing poverty constitutes a permanent menace to peace. And not only to peace, but also to democratic institutions and personal liberty. For overpopulation is not compatib1e with freedom. An unfavourable relationsh

3、ip between numbers and resources tends to make the earning of a living almost intolerably difficult. Labour is more abundant than goods, and the individual is compelled to work long hours for little pay. No surplus of accumulated purchasing power stands between him and the tyrannies of unfriendly na

4、ture or of the equally unfriendly wielders of political and economic power. Democracy is, among other things, the ability to say 'no' to the boss. But a man cannot say 'no' to the boss, unless he is sure of being able to eat when the boss's favour has been withdrawn. And he canno

5、t be certain of his next meal unless he owns the means of producing enough wealth, for his family to live on, or has been able to accumulate a surplus out of past wages, or has a chance of moving to virgin territories, where he can make a fresh start. In an overcrowded country, very few people own e

6、nough to make them financially independent; very few are in a position to accumulatepurchasing power; and there is no free land. Moreover, in any country where population presses hard upon natural resources, the general economic situation is apt to be so precarious that government control of capital

7、 and labour, production and consumption, becomes inevitable. It is no accident that the twentieth century should be the century of highly centralized governments and totalitarian dictatorships; it had to be so for the simple reason that the twentieth century is the century of planetary overcrowding.

8、precarious a. 不穩(wěn)定的 perilous 山勢險惡的，危險的 poverty n. 貧困I live in poverty. / I' m poverty -stricken. / My familyis poverty-stricken.constitute vt. 構(gòu)成 constitute a menace 構(gòu)成威脅compatible with 和處的來incompatibleThe meal is tolerable. 這飯還說的過去。The meal is intolerable 這飯真差。處女virgin work 處女作 virgin soil 處女地 v

9、irgin voyage 航 Virgin Mary 圣母瑪利亞apt a. 易于 apt to / be apt to theme song主題歌populations 表示各地的人口to one another 相互之間相關(guān)系the growing poverty in the midst of growing poverty=people become poorer and poorere.g. The growing prosperity in the midst of growing prosperity enables men to travel worldwide.permane

10、nt=long time, enduring 長期的，永久的 （lasting） permanent love 永久的愛 / permanent friendship 持久的友誼 / permanent member 永久會員And not only to peace, but also to democratic institutions and personal liberty. （ 無謂句 ）liberty 自由度，個人自由I love my sister, my brother also my gran dmother.（ 強調(diào) grandmother） 強調(diào)句 , constitutes a permanent menace to peace, also to democratic institutions and personal liberty.（語氣較弱 ）freedom 用途很廣 I enjoy freedom. 今天我休息。liberty 政治上的自由 Statue of Liberty 自由女神像 numbers=population