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像砒霜不同于马钱子碱一样。不同毒蛇产生的毒液产生的效果不同，一种毒液作用于神经，另一种毒液作用于血液。
产生神经毒液的蛇有一种非洲树眼镜蛇和眼镜蛇，它们的毒液称为神经毒素。蝰蛇（蝮蛇）和响尾蛇产生血液毒素，称为溶血性毒液。这两种毒液都很可怕，但溶血性毒液尤其厉害。据说，神经毒液在两种毒液中是较为原始的一种，而溶血性毒液，打个比方说，是根据改良配方生产的一种较新的产品。不过，神经毒辣液比溶血性毒液在人身上起作用快得多。但是，这没有什么关系，因为蛇有毒液不是用来对付人的，而是对付它的猎物，诸如鼠类，毒液对这些猎物会立刻起作用。
Lesson 21
William S。 Hart and
the early 'Western' film
威廉。S。 哈特和早期限的‘西部’影片
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
How did William Hart's childhood prepare him for his acting role in Western films？
William S。 hart was； perhaps； the greatest of all Western stars； fro unlike Gary Cooper and John Wayne he appeared in nothing but Westerns。 From 1914 to 1924 he was supreme and unchallenged。 It was Hart who created the basic formula of the Western film； and devised the protagonist he played in every film he made； the good…had man； the accidental…noble outlaw； or the honest…but…framed cowboy； or the sheriff made suspect by vicious gossip； in short； the individual in conflict with himself and his frontier environment。
Unlike most of his contemporaries in Hollywood； Hart actually knew something of the old West。 He had lived in it as a child when it was already disappearing； and his hero was firmly rooted in his memories and experiences； and in both the history and the mythology of the vanished frontier。 And although no period or place in American history has been more absurdly romanticized； myth and reality did join hands in at least one arena； the conflict between the individual and encroaching civilization。
Men accustomed to struggling for survival against the elements and Indians were bewildered by politicians； bankers and businessmen； and unhorsed by fences； laws and alien taboos。 Hart's good…bad man was always an outsider； always one of the disinherited； and if he found it necessary to shoot a sheriff or rob a bank along the way； his early audiences found it easy to understand and forgive； especially when it was Hart who； in the end； overcame the attacking Indians。
Audiences in the second decade of the twentieth century found it pleasant to escape to a time when life； though hard； was relatively simple。 We still do； living in a world in which undeclared aggression； war； hypocrisy； chicanery； anarchy and impending immolation are part of our daily lives； we all want a code to live by。
CARL FOREMAN Virtue and a Fast Gun from The Observer
New words and expressions 生词和短语
Supreme
adj。 首屈一指
protagonist
n。 主角
outlaw
n。 逃犯，亡命之徒
framed
adj。 遭到陷害的
vicious
adj。 恶毒的
mythology
n。 神话
vanished
adj。 消失了的
absurdly
adv。 荒诞地
arena
n。 竞技场在
encroaching
adj。 渐渐渗入的
Indian
n。 印第安人
bewilder
v。 使手足无措
alien
adj。 外来的
taboo
n。 戒律
disinherit
v。 剥夺。。。继承权
undeclared
adj。 未经宣布的
hypocrisy
n。 伪善
chicanery
n。 诈骗
impending
adj。 迫近的，近在眉睫的
immolation
n。 杀戮
code
n。 准则
参考译文
威廉。S。哈特大概是美国西部电影明星中的佼佼者。他和加里。古柏、约翰。韦恩不同，他只在西部电影中扮演角色。在1914年至1924年期间，他首屈一指，独霸影坛。正是他创造了西部电影的基调，即在他自己的拍摄的影片中他所塑造的主人公形象：被认为是坏人的好人，出人意料的高尚的逃犯，诚实却遭陷害的牛仔或因流言蜚语蒙受嫌疑的司法官。总之，主人公是一个自相矛盾，又与他的拓荒环境相矛盾的人物。
哈特与大部分同时代在好莱坞的演员不同，他确实了解西部早期拓荒生活的一些情况。作为一个孩子他曾在西部生活过，当时西部拓荒生活正在消失。他塑造的英雄人物深深地扎根于他本人的记忆和经历之中，也扎根于有关已经消失的拓荒生活的历史和神话之中。虽然在美国历史上没有任何时期或地区像西部拓荒时期那样被荒谬地浪漫主义化了，但神话和事实至少在某一个舞台上共存，也就是存在于个人与渐渐闯入的文明这两者的冲突之中。
习惯与大自然和印第安人作斗争以求生存的拓荒者被政客、银行家和商人搞得晕头转向，最后被圈地、尖律我外来的清规戒律所击败。哈特扮演的被误为坏人的好人总是一个局外人，总是一个被剥夺继承权的人。如果他认为在进行过程中有必要枪击一个司法官或抢劫一个银行，他的早期观众很容易接受，觉得应该原谅他，特别是当哈特最后战胜了前来进攻的印第安人时，观众更能原谅他。
生活在20世纪20年代的观众认为，逃到一个即使艰苦但比较简朴的时代中去是件愉快的事，我们今天仍有这种感觉。如今，不宣而战的侵略、战争、虚伪、诈骗、无政府状态以及即将临头的毁灭成了我们日常生活的一部分，我们都希望有一个赖以生存的行为准则。
Lesson 22
Knowledge and progress
知识和进步
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
In what two areas have people made no 'progress' at all？
Why does the idea of progress loom so large in the modern world？ Surely progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is being more and more manifest。 Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality； it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge。 Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual could be municated to another by means of speech。 With the invention of writing； a great advance was made； for knowledge could then be not only municated but also stored。 Libraries made education possible； and education in its turn added to libraries： the growth of knowledge followed a kind of pound interest law； which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing。 All this was paratively slow until； with the ing of science； the tempo was suddenly raised。 Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan。 The trickle became a stream； the stream has now bee a torrent。 Moreover； as soon as new knowledge is acquired； it is now turned to practical account。 What is called 'modern civilization' is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature。 but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life。 The problem now facing humanity is： What is going to be done with all this knowledge？ As is so often pointed out； knowledge is a two…edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil。 It is now being used indifferently for both。 Could any spectacle； for instance； be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners ourselves very seriously what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge； with its ever…increasing power； continues。
G。N。M。TYRRELL The Personality of Man
New words and expressions 生词和短语
loom
v。 赫然耸起
manifest
adj。明显的
morality
n。 道德
municate
v。 交流，交际
pound
adj。 复合的
enhance
v。 增进
tempo
n。 速率
trickle
n。 涓涓细流
torrent
n。 滔滔洪流
humanity
n。 人类
indifferently
adv。 不在乎地
grimly
adv。 可怖地
whimsical
adj。 怪诞的
shatter
v。 毁坏
twofold
adj。 双重的
参考译文
为什么进步这个概念在现代世界显得如此突出？无疑是因为有一种特殊的进步实际上正在我们周围发生，而且变得越来越明显。虽然人类有智力和道德上没有得到普遍提高，但在知识积累方面却取得了巨大的进步。人一旦能用语言同别人交流思想，知识的积累便开始了。随着书写的发明，又迈进了一大步，因为这样一来，知识不仅能交流，而且能储存了。藏书使教育成为可能，而教育反过来又丰富了藏书，因为知识的增长遵循着一种“滚雪球”的规律。印刷术的发明又大大提高了知识增长的速度。所有这些发展都比较缓慢，而随着科学的到来，增长的速度才突然加快。于是，知识便开始有系统有计划地积累起来。涓涓细流汇成小溪，小溪现已变成了奔腾的江河。而且，新知识一旦获得，便得到实际应用。所谓“现代文明”并不是人的天性平衡发展的结果，而是积累起来的知识应用到实际生活中的结果。现在人类面临的问题是：用这些知识去做什么？正像人们常常指出的，知识是一把双刃刀，可以用于造福，也可以用来为害。人们现在正漫不经心地把知识用于这两个方面，例如：炮兵利用科学毁坏人的身体、而外科医生就在附近用科学抢救被炮兵毁坏的人体，还有什么情景比这更可怕、更怪诞的吗？我们不得不严肃地问问我们自己：随着日益增长的知识的力量，如果我们继续利用知识的这种双重性，将会发生什么样的情况呢？
Lesson 23
Bird flight
鸟的飞行方法
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What are the two main types of bird flight described by the author？
No two sorts of birds practise quite the same sort of flight； the varieties are infinite； but two classes may be roughly seen。 Any shi that crosses the Pacific is acpanied for many days by the smaller albatross； Which may keep pany with the vessel for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wing。 The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards； as well as in the line of its course； are enough to give the great bird with its immense wings sufficient sustenance and progress。 The albatross is the king of the gliders； the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose； but must yield to its opposition。 In the contrary school； the duck is supreme。 It es nearer to the engines with which man has 'conquered' the air； as he boasts。 Duck； and like them the pigeons； are endowed with such…like muscles； that are a good part of the weight of the bird； and these will ply the short wings with such irresistible power that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale before exhaustion follows。 Their humbler followers； such as partridges； have a like power of strong propulsion； but soon tire。 You may pick them up in utter exhaustion； if wind over the sea has driven them to a long journey。 The swallow shares the virtues of both schools in highest measure。 It tires not； nor does it boast of its power； but belongs to the air； travelling it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home； feeding its flown young as it flies； and slipping through we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that； and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good…morning。
WILLIAM BEACH THOMAS A Countryman's Creed
New words and expressions 生词和短语
albatross
n。 信天翁
sustenance
n。 支撑力
glider
n。 滑翔者
harness
v。 利用
endow
v。 赋有
ply
v。 不断地供给
gale
n。 大风
partridge
n。 鹧鸪
like
adj。 类似的
propulsion
n。 推进力
utter
adj。 完全的
slip
v。 滑行
adverse
adj。 逆的，相反的
omen
n。 预兆
参考译文
没有任何两种鸟的飞行方式是相同的。鸟的飞行方式千差万别，但大体上可分为两类。任何一艘横度太平洋的轮船都会有一种小信天翁伴随飞行许多天。它们随船飞行一小时也难得见其扇动一下翅膀。沿船体的上升的气流和沿航线向前的气流给这种巨翼大鸟以足够的浮力和推力。信天翁是滑翔飞行的鸟类之王，它能自如地驾驭空气，但必须顺气流飞行。与滑翔鸟相对的另一类鸟中，数野鸭本领最高。它更近乎于人类自夸的“征服”了空气的发动机。野鸭及它们相似的鸽子有天赋的钢铁般的肌肉，占了体重的很大一部分。这些肌肉以巨大的力量扇动短小的翅膀，使这类鸟能顶着大风飞行很远的路才会疲劳。次于野鸭和鸽子的鸟，如鹧鸪，有相似的巨大推动力，但很快会疲劳。如果海风驱使它们飞行很长距离，你可以捡到一些因筋疲力尽而摔下来的鹧鸪。燕子充分兼有这两类鸟的长处，它既不疲劳，也不炫耀自己的飞翔力；在空中十分自如，可以飞行6，000英里，可以飞往北方做窝的老家，再从老家飞回；一边飞一边喂养会飞的雏燕，甚至在顶风时也能在气流中滑翔，似乎气流在帮它前进。这些鸟对我们是有益的，虽然我们不再从它们的飞翔姿态来占卜吉凶，连最迷信的村民也不再对喜鹊脱帽行礼，祝它早安了。
Lesson 24
Beatuy
美
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What do glimpses of beauty； either in nature or art； often suggest to the human mind？
A young man sees a sunset and； unable to understand or to express the emotion that it rouses in him； concludes that it must be the gateway to world that lies beyond。 It is difficult for any of us in moments of intense aesthetic experience to resist the suggestion that we are catching a glimpse of a light that shines down to us from a different realm of existence； different and； because the experience is intensely moving； in some way higher。 And； though the gleams blind and dazzle； yet do they convey a hint of beauty and serenity greater than we have known or imagined。 Greater too than we can describe； for language； which was invented to convey the meanings of this world； cannot readily be fitted to the uses of another。
That all great has this power of suggesting a world beyond is undeniable。 In some moods； Nature shares it。 There is no sky in June so blue that it does not point forward to a bluer； no sunset so beautiful that it does not waken the vision of a greater beauty； a vision which passes before it is fully glimpsed； and in passing leaves and indefinable longing and regret。 But； if this world is not merely a bad joke； life a vulgar flare amid the cool radiance of the stars； and existence an empty laugh braying across the mysteries； if these intimations of a something behind and beyond are not evil humour born of indigestion； or whimsies sent by the devil to mock and madden us。 if； in a word； beauty means something； yet we must not seek to interpret the meaning。 If we glimpse the unutterable； it is unwise to try to ut