大学英语自学教程 上册 un20

[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