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1、Lesson 53 In the public interest 为 了 公众的利益The Scandinavian countries are much admired all over the world for their enlightened social policies.Swedenhas evolved an excellent system for protecting the individual citizen from hieh-handed or incompetent publicofficers.The system has worked so well,that
2、 it has been adopted in other countries too.The Swedes were the first to recognize that public officials like civil servants,police officers,healthinspectors or tax-collectors can make mistakes or act over-zealously in the belief that they are serving thepublic.As long ago as 1809,the Swedish Parlia
3、ment introduced a scheme to safeguard the interest of theindividual.A parliamentary committee representing all political parties appoints a person who is suitablyqualified to investigate private grievances against the State.The official title of the person isJustiteombudsman?,but the Swedes commonly
4、 refer to him as the J.0/or Ombudsman.The Ombudsmanis not subject t。political pressure.He investigates complaints large and small that come to him from alllevels of society.As complaints must be made in writing,the Ombudsman receives an average of 1,200 lettersa year.He has eight lawyer assistants t
5、o help him and he examines every single letter in detail.There isnothing secretive about the Ombudsmans work,for his correspondence is open to public inspection.If acitizens complaint is justified,the Ombudsman will act on his behalf.The action he takes varies according tothe nature of the complaint
6、.He may gently reprimand an official or even suggest to parliament that a law bealtered.The following case is a typical example of the Ombudsmans work.A foreigner living in a Swedish village wrote to the Ombudsman complaining that he had been ill-treated bythe police,simply because he was a foreigne
7、r.The Ombudsman immediately wrote to the Chief of Police in thedistrict asking him to send a record of the case.There was nothing in the record to show that the foreignerscomplaint was justified and the Chief of Police strongly denied the accusation.It was impossible for theOmbudsman to take action,
8、but when he received a similar complaint from another foreigner in the samevillage,he immediately sent one of his lawyers to investigate the matter.The lawyer ascertained that apoliceman had indeed dealt roughly with foreigners on several occasions.The fact that the policeman wasprejudiced against f
9、oreigners could not be recorded in the official files.It was only possible for theOmbudsman to find this out by sending one of his representatives to check the facts.The policeman inquestion was severely reprimanded and was informed that if any further complaints were lodged against him,he would be
10、prosecuted.The Ombudsmans prompt action at once put an end to an unpleasant practicewhich might have gone unnoticed.斯堪的纳维亚半岛各国实行的开明的社会政策，受到全世界的推崇。在瑞典，已逐渐形成了-种完善的制度以保护每个公民不受专横的和不称职的政府官员的欺压。由于这种制度行之有效，已被其他国家采纳。是瑞典人首先认识到政府工作人员如文职人员、警官、卫生稽查员、税务人员等等也会犯错误或者自以为在为公众服务而把事情做过了头。早 在1809年，瑞典议会就建立了一个保护公民利益的制度。议会
11、内有一个代表各政党利益的委员会，由它委派一位称职的人选专门调查个人对国家的意见。此人官衔为“司法特派员”，但瑞典人一般都管他叫“J.O.”，即“司法特派员司法特派员不受任何政治压力的制约。他听取社会各阶层的各种大小意见，并进行调查。由于意见均需用书面形式提出，司法特派员每年平均收到1,200封信。他 有8位律帅做他的助手协助工作，每封信都详细批阅。司法特派员的工作没有什么秘密可言，他的信件是公开的，供公众监督。如果公民的意见正确，司法特派员便为他伸张正义。司法特派员采取的行动因意见的性质不同而有所不同。他可以善意地批评某位官员，也可以甚至向议会提议修改某项法律。下述事件是司法特派员工作的一个典
12、型例子。一个住在瑞典乡村的外国人写信给司法特派员，抱怨说他受到警察虐待，原因就是因为他是个外国人。司法特派员立即写信给当地的警察局长，请他寄送与此事有关的材料。材料中没有任何文字记载证明外国人所说的情况符合事实，警察局长矢口否认这一指控。司法特派员难以处理。但是，当他又收到住在同一村庄的另一个外国人写的一封内容类似的投诉信时，他立即派出一位律师前去调查。律师证实有个警察确实多次粗鲁地对待外国人。警察歧视外国人的事在官方档案中不可能加以记载，司法特派员只有派他的代表去核对事实才能了解真相。当事的警察受到严厉斥责，并被告知，如果再有人投诉他，他将受到起诉。司法特派员及时采取的行动，迅速制止了这一起
13、不愉快的事件，不然这件事可能因未得到人们注意而不了 了之。Lesson 54 Instinct or cleverness?是本能还是机智We have been brought up to fear insects.We regard them as unnecessary creatures that do more harm thangood.We continually wage war on them,for they contaminate our food,carry diseases,or devour our crops.They sting or bite without
14、provocation:they fly uninvited into our rooms on summer nights,or beat ageist ourlighted windows.We live in dread not only of unpleasant insects like spiders or wasps,but of quite harmlessone like moths.Reading about them increases our understanding without dispelling our fears.Knowing thatthe indus
15、trious ant lives in a highly organized society does nothing to prevent us from beinq filled withrevulsion when we find hordes of them crawling over a carefully prepared picnic lunch.No matter how muchwe like honey,or how much we have read about the uncanny sense of direction which bees possess,we ha
16、ve ahorror of being stunR.Most of our fears are unreasonable,but they are impossible to erase.At the same time,however,insects are strangely fascinating.We enjoy reading about them,especially when we find that,like thepraying mantis,they lead perfectly horrible lives.We enjoy staring at them,entranc
17、ed as they go about theirbusiness,unaware(we hope)of our presence.Who has not stood in awe at the sight of a spider pouncing on afly,or a column of ants triumphantly bearing home an enormous dead beetle?Last summer I spent days in the garden watching thousands of ants crawling up the trunk of my pri
18、ze peachtree.The tree has grown against a warm wall on a sheltered side of the house.I am especially proud of it,notonly because it has survived several severe winters,but because it occasionally produces luscious peaches.During the summer,I noticed that the leaves of the tree were beginning to with
19、er.Clusters of tiny insectscalled aphides were to be found on the underside of the leaves.They were visited by a large colony of antswhich obtained a sort of honey from them.I immediately embarked on an experiment which,even though iffailed to get rid of the ants,kept me fascinated for twenty-four h
20、ours.I bound the base of the tree with stickytape,making it impossible for the ants to reach the aphides.The tape was so stick that they did not dare tocross it.For a long time.I watched them scurrying around the base of the tree in bewilderment.I even wentout at midnight with a torch and noted with
21、 satisfaction(and surprise)that the ants were still swarming aroundthe sticky tape without being able to do anything about it.I got up early next muniinq hopinq to find that theants had Riven up in despair.Instead,I saw that they had discovered a new route.They were climbing up thewall of the house
22、and then on to the leaves of the tree.I realized sadly that I had been completely defeated bytheir ingenuity.The ants had been quick to find an answer to my thoroughly unscientific methods!我们自幼就在对昆虫的惧怕中长大。我们把昆虫当作害多益少的无用东西。人类不断同昆虫斗争，因为昆虫弄脏我们的食物，传播疾病，吞噬庄稼。它们无缘无故地又叮又咬；夏天的晚上，它们未经邀请便飞到我们房间里，或者对着露出亮光的窗户乱扑
23、乱撞。我们在日常生活中，不但憎恶如蜘蛛、黄蜂之类令人讨厌的昆虫，而且憎恶并无大害的飞蛾等。阅读有关昆虫的书能增加我们对它们的了解，却不能消除我们的恐惧的心理。即使知道勤奋的蚂蚁生活具有高度组织性的社会里，当看到大群蚂蚁在我们精心准备的午间野餐上爬行时，我们也无法抑制对它们的反感。不管我们多么爱吃蜂蜜，或读过多少关于蜜蜂具有神秘的识别方向的灵感的书，我们仍然十分害怕被蜂螯。我们的恐惧大部分是没有道理的，但去无法消除。同 时 一，不知为什么昆虫又是迷人的。我们喜欢看有关昆虫的书，尤其是当我们了解螳螂等过着一种令人生畏的生活时，就更加爱读有关昆虫的书了。我们喜欢入迷地看它们做事，它们不知道(但愿如此
24、)我们就在它们身边。当看到蜘蛛扑向一只苍蝇时，一队蚂蚁抬着一只巨大的死甲虫凯旋归时，谁能不感到敬畏呢？去年夏天，我花了好几天时间站在花园里观察成千只蚂蚁爬上我那棵心爱的桃树的树干。那棵树是靠着房子有遮挡的一面暖墙生长的。我为这棵树感到特别自豪，不仅因为它度过了几个寒冬终于活了下来，而且还因为它有时结出些甘甜的桃子来。到了夏天，我发现树叶开始枯萎，结果在树叶背面找到成串的叫作蛎虫小虫子。蚣虫遭到一窝蚂蚁的攻击，蚂蚁从它们身上可以获得一种蜜。我当即动手作了一项试验，这项试验尽管没有使我摆脱这些蚂蚁，却使我着迷了 24小时。我用一条胶带把桃树底部包上，不让蚂蚁接近蛇虫。胶带极粘，蚂蚁不敢从上面爬过。
25、在很长一段时间里，我看见蚂蚁围着大树底部来回转悠，不知所措。半夜，我还拿着电筒来到花园里，满 意 地（同时惊奇地）发现那些蚂蚁还围着胶带团团转。无能为力。第二天早上，我起床后希望看见蚂蚁已因无望而放弃了尝试，结果却发现它们又找到一条新的路径。它们正在顺着房子的外墙往上爬，然后爬上树叶。我懊丧地感到败在了足智多谋的蚂蚁的手下。蚂蚁已很快找到了相应的对策，来对付我那套完全不科学的办法！lesson 59 Collecting 收藏People tend to amass possessions,sometimes without being aware of doing so.Indeed the
26、y can have adelightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned.Those who neverhave to move house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter.They leaveunwanted objects in drawers,cupboards and attics for years,in the belief that they
27、may one day need just thosevery things.As they grow old,people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons,lack of physical andmental energy,both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away,and sentiment.Things ownedfor a lonq time are fUll of associations with the past,perhaps with
28、 relatives who are dead,and so theygradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste.Among these I would liststring and brown paper,kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened,to save buying these tworequisites.
29、Collecting small items can easily become a mania.I know someone who always cuts sketches outfrom newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy,if she had the money.As she is not rich,thechances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote;but she is never sufficientlystron
30、gminded to be able to stop the practice.It is a harmless habit,but it litters up her desk to such an extentthat every time she opens it;loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages.It provides relaxation for leisurehours,as
31、just looking at ones treasures is always a joy.One does not have to go outside for amusement,sincethe collection is housed at home.Whatever it consists of,stamps,records,first editions of books,china,glass,antique furniture,pictures,model cars,stuffed birds,toy animals,there is always something to d
32、o inconnection with it,from finding the right place for the latest addition,to verifying facts in reference books.This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject,but also in general matters which have some bearingon it.There are also other benefits.One wants to meet like-niinded collectors,to
33、 get advice,to compare notes,to exchange articles,to show off the latest find.So ones circle of friends grows.Soon the hobby leads to travel,perhaps to a meeting in another town,possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen,for collectors are notconfined to any one country.Over the years,one m
34、ay well become an authority on ones hobby and will veryprobably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then,if successful,to larger audiences.In thisway self-confidence grows,first from mastering a subject,then from being able to talk about it.Collecting,byoccupying spare time so c
35、onstructively,makes a person contented,with no time for boredom.人们喜欢收藏东西，有时并没有意识到自己在这样做。确实，一旦无意之中从自己的收藏品中找到某件有用的东西时，可以给人一种惊喜的感觉。那些从来不必搬家的人们成了一种无所不容的收藏家。他们专门收臧那些只能被称作杂货的东西。他们在抽屉里、碗柜中、阁楼上堆放着一些不用的东西，一放就是好几年，相信总有一天需要的正好是那些东西。人们年老之后也喜欢收臧东西，不过是出于两个不同的原因：一是体力、精力均告不佳，这二者是清除无用的东西必不可少的因素；另一个原因是感情因素。东西搁得时间久了，便
36、会充满着与过去岁月的联系，比方说与死去的亲戚有关。因此这些东西慢慢获得了一种超出它本身的价值。居家度日，有目的地收藏某些东西是为了防止浪费。这些东西中我想举出线绳和包装纸为例。节俭的人们打开包裹后便把这两样必备的东西收藏起来，省得日后去买。收集小玩艺儿很容易着迷。我认识一个人，她总喜欢从报纸上剪下流行服装的图样，等以后有钱时去买服装。由于她并不富裕，她买得起这些服装的可能性十分渺茫。但她又缺乏足够坚强的意志把这一收集活动停下来。这种习惯无害，只是把写字台里堆得满满当当，以致每次打开抽屉总能带出许多纸片四处飞扬。作为一种严肃的业余爱好的收藏活动完全是另外一回事，它具有许多益处。它可以使人在闲暇中
37、得到休息，因为欣赏自己收藏的珍品总会充满了乐趣。人们不必走到户外去寻求娱乐，因为收藏品都是存放在家中。不管收藏品是什么，邮票、唱片、头版书籍、瓷器、玻璃杯、老式家具、绘画、模型汽车、鸟类标本，还是玩具动物，从为新增添的收藏品寻找摆放位置到核对参考书中的事实，总归有事可做。这种爱好不仅能使人从选择的专题中受到教育，而且也能从与之有关的一般事物中获得长进。除此之外，还有其他的益处。收藏者要会见情趣相投的收藏者，以获取教益、交流经验、交换收藏品、炫耀自己的最新收藏。朋友的圈子就这样不断扩太。用不了多久，有这种爱好的人便开始旅行，也许是去另一个城市参加会议，也可能是出国寻找一件珍品，因为收藏家是不分国
38、籍的。一人积了多年经验会成为自己这种爱好的权威，很可能应邀在小型集会上作非正式的讲话。如果讲得好，可能向更多的人发表演说。这样，你自信心不断增强，先是因为掌握了一门学问，接下来是因为能够就此发表见解。收藏活动通过富有建设性地利用业余时间使人感到心满意足，不再有无聊之日。Lesson 60 Too early and too late 太早和太晚Punctuality is a necessary habit in all public affairs in civilized society.Without it,nothing could ever bebrought to a conclu
39、sion;everything would be in a state of chaos.Only in a sparsely-populated ruralcommunity is it possible to disregard it.In ordinary living,there can be some tolerance of unpunctuality.Theintellectual,who is working on some abstruse problem,has everything coordinated and organized for thematter in ha
40、nd.He is therefore forgiven,if late fbr a dinner party.But people are often reproached forunpunctuality when their only fault is cutting things fine.It is hard for energetic,quick-minded people towaste time,so they are often tempted to finish a job before setting out to keep an appointment.If noacci
41、dents occur on the way,like punctured tyres,diversions of traffic,sudden descent of fog,they will be ontime.They are often more industrious,useful citizens than those who are never late.The overpunctual can beas much a trial to others as the unpunctual.The guest who arrives half an hour too soon is
42、the greatestnuisance.Some friends of my family had this irritating habit.The only thinn to do was ask them to comehalf an hour later than the other guests.Then they anived just when we wanted them.If you are catching a train,it is always better to be comfortably early than even a fraction of a minut
43、e too late.Although being early may mean wasting a little time,this will be less than if you miss the train and have towait an hour or more for the next one;and you avoid the frustration of arriving at the very moment when thetrain is drawing out of the station and being unable to get on it.An even
44、harder situation is to be on theplatform in good time for a train and still to see it go off without you.Such an experience befell a certainyoung girl the first time she was travelling alone.She entered the station twenty minutes before the train was due,since her parents had impressed upon her that
45、it would be unforgivable to miss it and cause the friends with whom she was going to stay to make twojourneys to meet her.She gave her luggage to a porter and showed him her ticket.To her horror he said thatshe was two hours too soon.She felt in her handbag for the piece of paper on which her father
46、 had writtendown all the details of the journey and gave it to the porter.He agreed that a train did come into the station atthe time on the paper and that it did stop,but only to take on mail,not passengers.The girl asked to see atimetable,feeling sure that her father could not have made such a mis
47、take.The porter went to fetch one andarrived back with the station master,who produced it with a flourish and pointed out a microscopic o besidethe time of the arrival of the train at his station;this little o indicated that the train only stopped for mail.Justas that moment the train came into the
48、station.The girl,tears streaming down her face,begged to be allowedto slip into the guards van.But the station master was adamant:rules could not be broken.And she had towatch that train disappear towards her destination while she was lef behind.准时是文明社会中进行一切社交活动时必须养成的习惯。不准时将一事无成，事事都会陷入混乱不堪的境地。只有在人口稀
49、少的农村，才可以忽视准时的习惯。在日常生活中人们可以容忍一定程度的不准时。一个专心钻研某个复杂问题的知识分子，为了搞好手头的研究，要把一切都协调一致、组织周密。因此,他要是赴宴迟到了会得到谅解。但有些人不准时常常是因为掐钟点所致，他们常常会受到责备。精力充沛、头脑敏捷的人极不愿意浪费时间，因此他们常想做完一件事后再去赴约。要是路上没有发生如爆胎、改道、突然起雾等意外事故，他们是决不会迟到的。他们与那些从不迟到的人相比，常常是更勤奋有用的公民。早到的人同迟到的人一样令人讨厌。客人提前半小时到达是最令人讨厌的。我家有几个朋友就有这种令人恼火的习惯。唯一的办法就是请他们比别的客人晚来半小时。这样，他
50、们可以恰好在我们要求的时间到达。如果赶火车，早到总比晚到好，哪怕早到一会儿也好。虽然早到可能意味着浪费一点时间，但这比误了火车、等上一个多小时坐下一班车浪费的时间要少，而且可以避免那种正好在火车驶出站时赶到车站，因上不去车而感到的沮丧。更难堪的情况是虽然及时赶到站台上，却眼睁睁地看着那趟火车启动，把你抛下。一个小姑娘第一次单独出门就碰到了这种情况。在火车进站20分钟前她就进了车站。因为她的父母再三跟她说，如果误了这趟车，她的东道主朋友就得接她两趟，这是不应该的。她把行李交给搬运工并给他看了车票。搬运工说她早到了两个小时，她听后大吃一惊。她从钱包里摸出一张纸条，那上面有她父亲对这次旅行的详细说明