学海无涯Unit1One way of summarizing the American position is to state that we value originality and independence more than the Chinese do. The contrast between our two cultures can also be seen in terms of the fears we both harbor. Chinese teachers teachers are are fearful that if skills skills are are not acquired acquired early, early, they may never be acquired; there is, on the other hand, no comparable hurry to promote creativity. American educators fear that unless creativity has been acquired early, it may never emerge; on the other hand, skills can be picked up later.However, I do not want to overstate my case. There is enormous creativity to be found in Chinese scientific, technological and artistic innovations past and present. And there is a danger of exaggerating creative breakthroughs in the West. When any innovation is examined closely, its reliance on previous achievements is all too apparent (the "standing on the shoulders of giants" phenomenon).But assuming that the contrast I have developed is valid, and that the fostering of skills and creativity are both worthwhile goals, the the important important important question becomes this: Can question becomes this: Can we gather, from the Chinese and American extremes, a superior way to approach education, perhaps striking a better balance between the poles of creativity and basic skills?Walton set up a college scholarship fund for employees'children, a disaster relief fund to rebuild employee homes damaged by fires, floods, tornadoes, and the like. He believed in cultivating ideas and rewarding success."He'd say, 'That fellow worked hard, let's give him a little extra,'" recalls recalls retired retired retired president president president Ferold F. Ferold F. Arend, who was stunned at such generosity after the stingy employer he left to join Wal-Mart. "I had to change my way of thinking when I came aboard.""The reason for our success," success," says says Walton, in a company handout, handout, "is our people "is our people and the way they're treated treated and and and the the way they feel about their company. They believe things are different here, but they deserve the credit."Adds company lawyer Jim Hendren: "I've never seen anyone yet who worked for him or was around him for any length of time who wasn't better off. And I don't mean just financially, although a lot of people are. It's just something about him -- coming into contact with Sam Walton just makes you a better person." Making the journey from log cabin to White House is part of the American Dream. But when Jimmy Carter was defeated in his attempt to gain a second term as President of the United States he found himself suddenly thrown out of the White House and back in his log cabin. cabin. This This is how he coped.SEAN: If that sort of thing happened only once in a while,it wouldn't be so bad. Overall, I wouldn't want to trade my dad for anyone else's. He loves us kids and Mom too. But I I think that's sometimes the think that's sometimes the problem. problem. He He He wants wants wants to to to do do do things things for us, things he thinks thinks are are good. But he needs needs to to give them more thought because:SEAN, HEIDI and DIANE: (In unison) Father knows better! (The lights quickly fade to black and then come up a second or two later. DIANE stands alone at the Down Right edge of the stage. HEIDI and SEAN enter Down Left and cross to the edge of the stage. )DIANE: Can you imagine how humiliated I was? An honor student, class president. And Father was out asking people to have their sons call and ask me to the prom! But that's dear old dad. Actually, he is a dear. He just doesn't stop to think. And it's not just one of us who've felt the heavy hand of interference. Oh, no, all three of us live in constant constant dread dread knowing that at any time disaster disaster can can strike because: Father knows better.I'd never realized how important daily routine is:dressing for work, sleeping normal hours. I'd never thought I relied so much on co-workers for company. I began to understand why long-term unemployment can be so damaging, why life without an externally supported daily plan can lead to higher rates of drug abuse, crime, suicide.To restore balance to my life, I force myself back into the real world. I call people, arrange to meet with the few remaining friends who haven't fled New York City. I try to at least least get get get to to to the the the gym, gym, gym, so so so as as to set set apart apart apart the the the weekend weekend weekend from from the rest of my week. I arrange interviews for stories, doctor's appointments -- anything to get me out of the house and connected with others.But sometimes being face to face is too much. I see a friend friend and and her ringing laughter laughter is is intolerable intolerable -- -- the noise of conversation in the restaurant, unbearable. I make my excuses and flee. I re-enter my apartment and run to the computer as though it were a place of safety.I click on the modem, the once-annoying sound of the connection now as pleasant as my favorite tune. I enter my password. The real world disappears.Thought you were safe sharing secrets with Internet friends? Wait for the doorbell...The runway felt different this time. It startled himfor a brief moment. Then it all hit him like a wet bale of hay. The bar was set at nine inches higher than his personal best. That's only one inch off the National record, he thought. The intensity of the moment filled his mind with anxiety. He began shaking the tension. It wasn't working. He became more tense. Why was this happening to him now, he thought. He began to get nervous. Afraid would be a more accurate accurate description. description. description. What was What was he he going to do? going to do? He He had never had never experienced these feelings. Then out of nowhere, and from the the deepest deepest deepest depths depths depths of his soul, of his soul, he he pictured pictured pictured his his his mother. Why mother. Why now? What was his mother doing in his thoughts at a time like this? It was simple. His mother always used to tell him when you felt tense, anxious or even scared, take deep breaths.So he did. Along with shaking the tension from his legs, he gently laid his pole at his feet. He began to stretch out his arms and upper body. The light breeze that was once there was now gone. He carefully picked up his pole. He felt his heart pounding. He was sure the crowd did, too. The silence was deafening. When he heard the singing of some distant birds in flight, he knew it was his time to fly.Racing Racing the the clock every day is such an exhausting exhausting effort effortthat when I actually have a few free moments, I tend to collapse. Mostly I sink into a chair and stare into space while I imagine how lovely life would be if only I possessed the organizational skills and the energy of my superheroines. In fact, I waste a good deal of my spare time just worrying about what other women are accomplishing in theirs. Sometimes I think that these modern fairy tales create as many problems for women as the old stories that had us biding our time for the day our prince would come.Yet superwomen tales continue to charm me. Despite my friend's warning against being taken in, despite everything I've learned, I find that I'm not only willing, but positively eager to buy that bridge she mentioned. Why? I suppose it has something to do with the appeal of an optimistic approach to life -- and the fact that extraordinary deeds have been accomplished by determined individuals who refused to believe believe that that "you can't" can't" was was the final word on their dreams. Men have generally been assured that achieving their heart's desires would would be a be a piece of cake. Women, Women, of of of course, course, have always believed that we can't have our cake and eat it too-the old low-dream diet. Perhaps becoming a superwoman is an impossible dream for me, but life without that kind of fantasy is as unappealing as a diet with no treats.1) The young woman described to the policemen the way the man ran up to her and grabbed the bag from her hand.2) All the people working for Sam Walton admire the way he manages Wal-Mart and the way he treats his employees.3) The neighbors were disgusted at the way he talked to his old father. 4) It's amazing the way the eight-year-old boy managed to stay so calm when he faced the emergency.1. You will find yourself penniless in a month.2. He found himself lying in a hospital ward.3. She found herself faced with the toughest job she had ever taken.4. Susan found herself in a trap from which she could not escape.1) Obviously what the speaker wanted to emphasize was the impact of these findings rather than the process that led to these findings.2) It seems that he is never bothered about what people would think about his behavior.3) The CEO never hesitates to let his employees know what he is planning for the company.4) The scientist will show the audience what a tele-operated robot can do for a family.5)Despite all this she manages to get her act together.1、She herself believed in freedom,so much so that she would rather die than live without it.2、Assuming the proposal is accepted,where are we going to get the money?3、Only by rewarding success can you bring out the best in your employess.4、It It’’s amazing the eight-year-old boy managed to stay so calm when he faced the emergency.5、Allen Allen should should should have have have known better known better than to lend such such a large a large sum of money to that untrustworthy cousin of his.。
