自考英语二课后答案

自考英语二课后答案（精选5篇）

自考英语二课后答案篇1

1.附近有没有什么地方能买到本市的街道图（road map）？-Is there a place a road map is available near at hand? 2.那位著名的科学家从巴黎远道来到上海看望他最敬爱的导师。

-That famous scientist went all the way from Paris to Shanghai to visit his most respected teacher.3.为了是公司度过难关，这家人决定出售他们几个世纪以来一直珍藏着的名画

-To make the company tide over, the family decided to sell parts of famous pictures, which they have kept for several centuries.4.第一次去迪斯尼乐园时，孩子们充满了好奇。

-The first time when the children went to Disney land /world, they were bursting with surprise.5.女孩子们输了球感到很难过。她们觉得辜负了学校的期望。

-The girls felt bad when they lost the ball.They thought that they let their school down.6.伽利略毫不在乎同事们对他的议论，继续做他的试验。

-Galileo didn’t care a thing about what his colleagues were saying about him, and went on With his experiments.7.那家工厂决定压缩非生产性开支，集中资金开发高科技产品。（high-tech）

-That factory decided to cut the non-production to the bone, and concentrate to developing

High-tech production.8.在国外的这些年里，他牢记母亲的临别赠言（parting words）；无论在和除，你的祖国都在你的后面。

-During the years in foreign countries, he kept in mind his mother’s parting words: No matter where you are, your country is behind you.P174

Use miss, cut and charge.3）.Use miss, cut and charge 1.这个小男孩把苹果切成两半，给了妈妈一半。

-This little boy cut the apple in half and gave one to his mother.2.我告诉他我没有听懂他的笑话时，他看起来感到惊讶。-When I told him that I missed his joke, he looked surprised.3.如果你付现金，我们就免费送货。

-If you pay cash, we’ll deliver the goods free of charge.4.警察指控那位司机酒后驾车。

-The policeman charged that driver with driving after drinking.5.星期天他经常不吃早餐，而是来一顿早午合餐

-On Sunday, he usually misses the breakfast and has brunch..。6.我想念家乡的一切-风景，食物甚至夏日的炎热。

-I miss everything in my hometown-scenery food and even hot summer.7.我一路跑到车站，还是没赶上最后一班公共汽车-I run all the way to the station.But I missed the last bus.8.冬天的寒风像刀一样刺骨。

-The cold wind in winter cut like a knife to the bones.9.他们剪一次发要收10美元

-They charged $10 foe cutting hair.。

10.要做黄瓜色拉你得把黄瓜切成碎片。

-If you want to make cucumber salad, you have to cut the cucumber into slices.P182.Translate the following sentences into English(revision: the subjunctive mood)

1)乔治的车胎要是没爆的话，他肯定能按时参加会议。

-If George’s tyre hadn’t burst, he would have attended the meeting on time.2)如果那个女推销员坚持的话，约翰肯定会多付5%的钱买那个冰箱，因为他很喜欢它。-If the saleswoman had insisted, John would have overpaid 5% to buy that fridge, for he liked it very much.3)如果说这个世界上有一样东西对于他来说是不可缺少的话（do without）.那就是咖啡。

-If there was one thing in the world that he could do without, that should be coffee.4）要是这个男孩再晚一天被人们发现，他肯定就会饿死。

-If that boy had been found one day late, he would have hungered to death.5）有人对她说假如她是一个男孩，或者她的家更有钱，她的机遇可能会更好。

-Someone says to her if she was a boy or her family was richer, she would have better chance.6）我真希望我没有答应给他买那本书，它已绝版（out of print）,我上哪儿才能弄到一本呢？-I wish I didn’t promise him that book.It is out of print.Where can I get it? 7）在别的社会制度下，那样大的洪水一定会使许多人无家可归。

外贸英语函电课后答案篇2

21.我公司是该地区电子产品的主要进口商之一。我们借此机会与贵方接洽，希望与贵方建

立贸易关系。

We are one of the leading importers dealing in electronic products in the area and take this opportunity to approach you in the hope of establishing business relations.2.我公司经营机械设备的进出口业务已多年，我们的产品在许多国家享有盛誉。

We have been engaged in handling importing and exporting of machinery and equipment for many years, and our products have enjoyed great popularity in many countries.3.承我国驻北京大使馆商务参赞处介绍，得知你公司的名称、地址。

We owe your name and address to the Commercial Counselor’s office of our Embassy in Beijing.4.我们了解到你们是日用化学品制造商。我们有一客户想要购买贵国化妆品，如能立即航

寄目前所能供之货的目录及价格表，我们将不胜感激。

We are given to understand that you are a manufacturer of daily chemicals.One of our clients intends to buy cosmetics from your country.We will appreciate it highly if you airmail the catalogue and price list ofthe goods available at present.5.有关我们的资信情况，请向中国银行上海分行查询。

For our credit standing, please refer to the Bank of China, Shanghai Branch.Unit

31.请报你方最优惠的上海到岸价，包括我方3%佣金。

Please quote us your best price CIF Shanghai, inclusive of our 3% commission.2.如果你方价格有竞争力的话，我们打算订购30万码棉布。

Should your price be found competitive,we would intend to place with you an order for 300000 yards of Cotton Cloth.3.我方有一家客户对贵国琴岛海尔电冰箱感兴趣，请电开400台伦敦到岸价4月船期的报盘。One of our customers is now interested in the Qingdao Haier Refrigerator made in your country.Please offer CIF London for 400 sets to be delivered in April.4.为了便于你方了解我方的产品，我们立即航寄样品书两份。

To enable you to have a better understanding of our products, we are sending you 2 sample books by air.5.为答复你方4月28日询价，随函寄去我方最新价目单以供参考。

In reply to your enquiry dated April 28, we are now sending you our latest price list for your reference.Unit

41.我方正在仔细研究你方报盘，希望将此盘保留到月底有效。

We are studying the offer and hope that it will keep open till the end ofthe month.2.我方的产品质量好，价格合理，因此相信贵方能大量订货。

We believe that you will place a large order with us owing to the high quality and reasonable price of our products.3.如果你方能订购5000打或5000打以上，我们将给予10%的折扣。

We will allow you 10% discount if you purchase 5000 dozens or more.4.关于支付条件，我们通常要求保兑的、不可撤销的、凭即期汇票支付的信用证。

As to terms of payment, we often require a confirmed, irrevocable L/C payable by draft at sight.5.请接受此难得再有的报盘。最近可望有大笔订单自美国方面来，届时将导致价格猛涨。You are cordially invited to take advantage of this attractive offer.We are anticipating a large order from the USA, and that will cause a sharp rise in price.6.如果3月10日之前收到你方订单，我方将报5月上旬船期的实盘。

We will send you a firm offer with shipment available in the early May if your order reaches us before March,10.7.由于此货需求量甚大，所以该盘有效期不能超过5天。

Because there is a brisk demand for the goods, the offer will be open only for 5 days.8.兹报实盘，以我方时间7月10日星期二下午5时以前复到为有效。

We are giving you a firm offer , subject to your reply here by 5 p.m.our time, Tuesday, July 10.Unit

51.如果你方能给我方5%的佣金，我方将试购500台。

We shall place a trial order with you for 500 sets provided you will give us a 5% commission.2.我们正在执行你方678号订单。请相信我们定将在你方所规定的期限内安排装运。

We are working on your Order No.678 at present and please believe that we will effect the shipment within your stipulated time.3.由于大量承约，许多客户的订货都未发出，因此我们目前只能接受10月船期的订单。Owing to heavy commitments, many orders haven’t been made ,we can only accept orders for October shipment.4.因为存货售罄，我们不能接受新订单。但是一批新货源的到来，我们即去电与你方联系。Our stock is exhausted and we are not in a position to accept fresh orders.However, we will contact you by cable as soon as new supplies are available.5.该货须分三批装出，每月100吨，从8月份开始。

Shipment should be made during August to October in three lots, with 100 tons each.函电

（1）有意订购对方公司的某牌号录像机、录像带、微型收录两用机

（2）数量：录像机 1000台 Video Recorder

录像带 1000盒 Video Tape

微型收录两用机 5000台 Mini Radio Cassette Recorder

（3）价格：FOB新港，包括我方5%佣金Inclusive of our 5% commission

录像机：每台XX美元USD xx each

录像带：每盒XX美元

微型收录两用机：每台XX美元

（3）付款方式：90天期信用证装船前30天开立

L/C at 90 days’ sight to be opened 30 days before shipment

（4）包装：用标准出口箱包装 By standard export cases

（5）交货日期：一批或分二批8月底前交完

Before the end of August in one or two lots.1.你方3月10日订购500台绒线编织机的传真收悉，谢谢。

We are pleased to have received your Order by fax dated March 10 for 500 sets of knitting machinery.Thanks.2.我们已即刻与厂家取得了联系，但由于该货销路甚佳，已接的订货太多，况且原料紧缺，他们婉言拒绝。经过我方再三努力磋商，厂方答应接受订货，从明年1月起每月交100台。

We have immediately contacted the manufacturer.But they refused our request since the machine sells well, and there is a great shortage of raw materials and still a large number of orders.After our repeated negotiations, they finally promised to accept the order and to make delivery of 100 sets each month, beginning from next January.3.我们知道你方急需此货，不知上述交货时间你们是否同意？目前我们正在和其他地方的制造商联系，若有好消息，当即告知。

We are aware that you are in urgent need of the products, but uncertain whether you will agree on the above delivery date.We are making contact with manufacturers elsewhere and will let you know as soon as there are any favourable news.4.与此同时，我们附上我方目前可供货物的目录及价格表供你方参考，如有兴趣请即告知，我们自当迅速办理。

Meanwhile, we are enclosing our catalogue covering all the articles available at present.If you are interested in any of the items, please inform us.We shall surely give prompt attention to your requirement.Unit6

2.(1)品质、数量和重量的异议与索赔：货到目的口岸后，买方如发现货物品质及/或数据/重量与合同规定不符，除属于保险公司及/或船公司的责任外，买方可以凭双方同意的检验机构出具的检验证明向卖方提出异议，品质异议须于货到目的口岸之日起30天内提出，数量/重量异议须于货到目的口岸之日起15天内提出。

Quality/Quantity/&Weight Discrepancy and Claim: If the buyer find the quality and /or quantity/weight of the goods are not in conformity with these stipulated in the contract after the arrival of the goods at the port of destination, aside from those losses within the responsibility of the insurance company and/or the shipping company, the buyer shall have the right to lodge claims against the seller on the strength of inspection certificate issued by the inspection organization

accepted by both parties.In case of quality discrepancy claim should be filed by the buyer within 30 days after the arrival of the goods at the port of destination.In case of quantity/weight discrepancy claim should be filed by the buyer within 15 days after the arrival of the goods at the port of destination.(2)仲裁：凡因执行本合同或与本合同有关事项所发生的一切争执，应由双方通过友好方式协商解决。如果不能取得协议时则在被告国家（地区）根据被告国（地区）仲裁机构的仲裁程序规则进行仲裁。仲裁决定是终局的，对双方具有同等约束力。仲裁费用除非仲裁机构另有决定外，均由败诉一方负担。

Arbitration: All disputes in connection with this contract or the execution thereof shall be settled by amicable negotiation between two parties.If no settlement can be reached, the case in dispute shall then be submitted for arbitration in the country(district)of defendant in accordance with the arbitration regulations of the arbitration organization of the defendant country(district).The decision made by the arbitration organization shall be taken as final and binding upon both parties.The arbitration expenses shall be borne by the losing party unless otherwise awarded by the arbitration organization.Unit7

(1)信用证345号，请修改：

Please amend L/C No.345 as follows:

① 长吨改为公吨

Adjust Long Ton as Metric Ton.② 目的港伦敦改为汉堡

The “Port of Destination”should read“Hamburg”instead of“London”.③展装运期到8月底并允许分运转船

Extend the shipment date of your L/C to “the end of August”, partial shipments and transhipment are allowed.(2)你方信用证3350号，数量与合同不符，总金额相差￡ 75.60，请速改。

Your L/C No.3350 does not conform to the relative contract in quantity, with a difference of ￡75.60.Please amend it as soon as possible.(3)信用证2345号，请来电取消“银行费用由受益人负担”的条款。

Please amend your L/C No.2345 by fax , so as to cancel the clause of “The expenses of the Bank are to be for the beneficiary’s account ”.(4)信用证3346号，金额不足，请按合同增加520磅（请按合同增至3125.00磅）

We have received your L/C No.3346 and found that the amount is insufficient.Please increase by ￡520.00(increase up to￡3125.00)as the contract stipulated.(5)请将你方信用证6789号的船期及有效期分别延展至10月15日及10月30日。

Please extend the shipment date and validity of your L/C No.6789 to October 15 and 30 respectively.Unit9

1.检验报告证明，箱子及货物受损系运输途中粗鲁搬运所致，而不是你们所说的因包装不善引起的。

The survey report indicates that the damage to the carton and goods was due to rough handling in transit, rather than poor packing as you stated.2.损坏是由于包装不良所致，这样又大又重的机器应在出口木箱内定位填塞。

The damage was caused by improper packing，such a big and heavy machine should have been fixed and stuffed in export wooden case.3.经检查，未发现有任何质量低劣或工艺不佳的迹象，所用染料是最优质的。

Upon examination , we found that there was no sign of poor quality and bad handicraft , and that the dye used is excellent.4.你方愿接受错发货物，致谢。我们可按发票减价8%，希望你方同意。

Thank you for your acceptance of the wrongly delivered goods.We will give you a discount of8% on invoice price.Please agree.5.请速传真告知你方9月15日以前能否发货，倘若不能，我方不得不撤销订单。

自考英语二课后答案篇3

1.自从有了移动电话朋友写信了。He has no longer been writing to his friends ever since he got a mobile phone.2.尽管很忙..领域的最新动态。Even though he is very busy, he spends at least two hours every day surfing the Internet in order to find out about / learn about the latest developments in this field.3.李教授在毕业典在我的记忆中。Professor Li gave a short speech at the commencement.His words werestrongly impressed upon my memory.4.讲到期末考试..满脸都是自信。Talking about the final exams the students were not nervous at all.There was full confidence on every one’s face.5.在30分钟内写..是小菜一碟。To write a short passage of about 100 words in 30 minutes would be a snap to most students in their class.1.他的生活经历..着一个重要角色。His life experiences have always been playing a big role in his academic career.2.那家餐厅..了营业时间。The restaurant has recently extended its opening / business hours.3.我刚刚读完..的有趣的书。I’ve just read an interesting book which has a new approach to Shakespeare.4.随着电子邮件..的极大关注。With the wide use of email, the issue of spam / junk email has drawn much concern.5.传统教育比起网络..有着更多的限制。In traditional / conventional education there are more limitations in communication and interaction between teachers and students than there are in online education.1.这钢琴有些.无法说清楚。Something is wrong with the piano, but I can’t put my finger on what it is.2.这条裤子.夹克不相配。Apart from being too large, the trousers don’t match my jacket, either.3.不论理由.流行音乐。I love pop music, for whatever reasons.4.他对外国文化怀.寻找有用的信息。He has great interest in foreign cultures, often browsing through piles of books to look for any useful information.5.在是否要创.见很不一致。Opinions on whether we should start a new society vary a great deal.1.我已经把我的.未收到回复。I have faxed my resume and a cover letter to that company, but I haven’t received a reply yet.2.当别人遇到0.地提供帮助。John will not hesitate for a second to offer help when others are in trouble 3.我得承认我很0到签证不容易。I have to admit that I desire very much to work or study abroad for some time but I know it is not easy to get a visa.4.他到伦敦0找到一份工作。It was not until 2 years after he arrived in London that he found / took a job in an international bank.5.汤姆完成0回到美国的家。After finishing his teaching, Tom traveled throughout China for 2 months before returning home in America.1.这些观众一定是0予高度评价的。The audience must have missed their musical performance, or they would have spoken highly of it.2.尽管她远在他乡0的深切关怀。Somehow she could sense her mother’s deep concern though she was far away from home.3.这个接线员0花两个小时左右。The operator had to spend two hours or so on her way from her home to the workplace every day.4.他感激她的0这意味着许多。He appreciated her sympathy and understanding, which meant a lot to him during that time.5.她终于来0开始拨打巴黎。She finally arrived at a telephone booth and put in the coins before dialing Paris1.我不知道事情会变成这样。Little did I know that things would turn out like that.2.他并不想买车0他买了一辆。He wasn’t keen on buying a car, but I talked him into it.3.成为2008 年北京奥运会志愿队伍中的一员将会是我一生中难得的经历。Being a volunteer in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.4.吸烟是导致肺癌的主要因素。Cigarette smoking is a major factor contributing to lung cancer.5.这两所大学0举行艺术表演The two universities will unite to stage an art show next month.1.这次贸易谈判0特别大的好处。The trade negotiation is a big success, so it can be uniquely beneficial to both parties.2.我们班的0生会组织的活动。My classmates have been involved, one way or another, in the activities organized by the Student Union.3.对一个没有受0最理想的工作之一。It’s one of the most desirable jobs available to a person without higher education.4.从事科研0有效学习的能力。Undergraduate research can spur students’ independent thinking and effective learning.5.学费每年0很重的负担。The cost of tuition continues to climb each year, which has constituted a heavy burden upon students from poverty-stricken backgrounds..1.罗伯特·彭斯0比作玫瑰花。In his poem, Robert Burns compares the girl he loves to a rose.2.无论你多忙0加同学聚会。No matter how busy you are, you should try to make it back to the class reunion.3.离婚后她需0她安慰的人。After her divorce she needed a shoulder to cry on.4.毕业20年0以前的同学了。He graduated 20 years ago, so he could barely recognize his former classmates.5.什么都无法之间的友谊。Nothing can replace the friendship between intimate friends

自考英语二课后答案篇4

1.The offensive had already lasted three days, but we had not gained much ground.The division commander instructed our battalion to get around to the rear of the enemy at night and launch a surprise attack.To do so, however, we had to cross marshland and many of us were afraid we might get bogged down in the mud.Our battalion commander decided to take a gamble.Lucky enough, thanks to the severely cold weather which made the marshland freeze over, we arrived at our destination before dawn and began attacking the enemy from the rear.This turned the tide of the battle.The enemy, caught off guard, soon surrendered.2.Automobiles have, since their invention, revolutionized transportation, changing forever the way people live, travel, and do business.On the other hand, they have brought hazards, especially highway fatalities.However, today the application of computer technology and electronic sensors in designing and manufacturing cars makes it possible to eliminate most of traffic accidents.For example, electronic sensors mounted in your car can detect alcohol vapor in the air and refuse to start up the engine.They can also monitor road conditions by receiving radio signals sent out from orbiting satellites and greatly reduce.4.Globalization has great implications for young Chinese.For example, young farmers are moving on a large scale to urban areas to look for jobs.And for those young people who aspire to study abroad or work in foreign-invested enterprises, English has become increasingly important.At the same time, a considerable number of overseas Chinese students have returned home in recent years, for they hold an optimistic outlook for the long-term growth of the Chinese economy.The internet has strengthened the links between Chinese young people and those elsewhere.They follow the latest trend and copy foreign fashions.Some of them don’t seem to care for traditional Chinese virtues, let alone carry them forward, which has given rise to worries that the traditional Chinese culture might one day vanish.5.For my own part, I find that appearances are all too often deceptive.For instance, you might be wrong if you judged by appearances only people like Edward Hyde Burton.In appearance, he seemed a man all of a piece.He was a tiny little fellow with white hair and mild blue eyes, gentle and candid.Nevertheless, he turned out to be very cruel.He insulted and fooled Lenny who was down and out and made him commit himself to an insane venture.What was still more surprising was that he was completely indifferent to Lenny’s death.Without doubt, Burton was a man with a heart of stone.6.Today we are under constant pressure to work longer hours, to produce more, and to possess more.Lots of people hold the wrong perception that happiness lies in working hard and earning money.Many women today feel the same stress to work and get ahead and, at the same time, to nurture their offspring and shoulder the burden of domestic responsibilities.Research shows that workaholism tends to distance us from our immediate families.It forces us to toil longer and longer hours, leaving a minute fraction of our time to be physically and emotionally available to our loved ones.Intimacy among family members is doomed to die in the process.

自考英语二课后答案篇5

1听了一个有趣的故事会发笑、很开心，古今中外都一样。这一现象或许同语言本身一样悠久。那么，到底是什么东西会使一个故事或笑话让人感到滑稽可笑的呢？

2我是第一次辨识出幽默便喜欢上它的人，因此我曾试图跟学生议论和探讨幽默。这些学生文化差异很大，有来自拉丁美洲的，也有来自中国的。我还认真地思考过一些滑稽有趣的故事。这么做完全是出于自己的喜好。

3为什么听我讲完一个笑话后，班上有些学生会笑得前仰后合，而其他学生看上去就像刚听我读了天气预报一样呢？显然，有些人对幽默比别人更敏感。而且，我们也发现有的人很善于讲笑话，而有的人要想说一点有趣的事却要费好大的劲。我们都听人说过这样的话：“我喜欢笑话，但我讲不好，也总是记不住。”有些人比别人更有幽默感，就像有些人更具有音乐、数学之类的才能一样。一个真正风趣的人在任何场合都有笑话可讲，而且讲了一个笑话，就会从他记忆里引出一连串的笑话。一个缺乏幽默感的人不可能成为一群人中最受欢迎的人。一个真正有幽默感的人不仅受人喜爱，而且在任何聚会上也往往是人们注意的焦点。这么说是有道理的。

4甚至有些动物也具有幽默感。我岳母从前经常来我们家，并能住上很长一段时间。通常她不喜欢狗，但却很喜欢布利茨恩—我们养过的一条拉布拉多母猎犬。而且，她们的这种喜欢是相互的。布利茨恩在很小的时候就常常戏弄外祖母，当外祖母坐在起居室里她最喜欢的那张舒适的椅子上时，布利茨恩就故意把她卧室里的一只拖鞋叼到起居室，并在外祖母刚好够不到的地方蹦来跳去，一直逗到外祖母忍不住站起来去拿那只拖鞋。外祖母从椅子上一起来，布利茨恩就迅速跳上那椅子，从它那闪亮的棕色眼睛里掠过一丝拉布拉多式的微笑，无疑是在说：“啊哈，你又上了我的当。”

5典型的笑话或幽默故事由明显的三部分构成。第一部分是铺垫（即背景），接下来是主干部分（即故事情节），随后便是妙语（即一个出人意料或令人惊讶的结尾）。如果这个妙语含有一定的幽默成分，这个笑话便会很有趣。通常笑话都包含这三部分，而且每部分都必须交代清楚。如果讲故事或说笑话的人使用听众都熟悉的手势和语言，则有助于增强效果。6我们可以对幽默这种娱乐形式，进行分析，从而发现究竟是什么使一个有趣的故事或笑话令人发笑。举例来说，最常见的幽默有以下几种，包括了从最显而易见的幽默到比较微妙含蓄的幽默。“滑稽剧”是最明显的幽默。它语言简单、直截了当，常常以取笑他人为乐。说笑打闹这种形式过去是、现在仍然是滑稽说笑演员和小丑的惯用技巧。它为不同年龄、不同文化背景的人们所喜爱。几乎本世纪的每个讲英语的滑稽说笑演员都曾以这样或那样的方式说过下面这则笑话。一位男士问另一位男士：“昨晚我看到的那位和你在一起的贵妇是谁？”那位男士回答道：“那可不是什么贵妇，那是我老婆。”这个笑话的幽默之处在于第二位男士说他的妻子不是一位贵妇，也就是说她不是一个高雅的女人。这个笑话并没有因为经常讲而变得不再那么好笑。由于这是一个经典笑话，观众都知道要说什么，而且因为大家对这个笑话很熟悉而更加珍爱它。

8中国的相声是一种特殊的滑稽剧。相声中两名中国喜剧演员幽默地谈论诸如官僚主义者、家庭问题或其他一些有关个人的话题。相声随处都能听到，无论是在乡村的小舞台上，还是在北京最大的剧院里，抑或在广播、电视上。它显然是中国人家喻户晓的一种传统的幽

默形式。

9“俏皮话”不像滑稽剧那样浅显，它是因语言的误用或误解而引人发笑。我特别喜欢的一个例子是三位年长的绅士在英国乘火车旅行的故事。当火车慢慢停下来时，第一位绅士问道：“这是Wembley(温布利)吗？”“不，”第二位绅士说：“是Thursday(星期四)。”“我也是，”第三位说道，“让我们下车喝杯啤酒吧。”我们知道上了年纪的人往往耳背，因此会把Wembley（温布利）听成了Wednesday（星期三），把Thursday（星期四）听成了thirsty（渴了），这样一来就为第三位老人的妙语做好了铺垫。

10著名的中国漫画家和幽默家丁聪便是一位俏皮话大师。在他的一幅幽默漫画中，一位老师说：“你为什么一字不改地抄别人的作业？”那位年轻的学生回答道：“我没有一字不改地抄。我把作业上的名字改成自己的了。”在丁聪的另一幅经典漫画里，一位生气的父亲问道：“告诉我，1加2等于几？”儿子说：“我不知道。”这位不耐烦的父亲接着说道：“比方说，你、你妈妈和我，我们加起来一共是几个，傻瓜？”儿子得意地回答道：“是三个傻瓜。” 这些故事无论是漫画还是笑话，是由演滑稽剧的喜剧演员说还是由搭档的相声演员讲，都为各地人们所喜爱。人们喜爱这些有趣的故事，因为它们贴近现实生活，而且里面那些出人意料的妙语十分有趣。

11双关语是一种更微妙的俏皮话。它使用的技巧是利用发音相似的词或同一个词的不同意思。有些批评家认为双关语是最低级的幽默，但我不同意这种观点。双关语与其他形式的幽默相比需要更细微、更巧妙的语言技巧；然而，简单的双关语甚至很小的孩子也能利用。例如，谜语或脑筋急转弯问题常使用双关语做铺垫、制造故事情节，而且更多地是用在妙语部分。双关语是我最早懂得的幽默。记得大约在五岁时我听到了下面这个谜语。一个人问：“什么东西整个儿是黑的、白的和红的？”另外一个人通常猜不出来，于是问道：“我不猜了。是什么呀？”出谜语的人回答：“是报纸。”如果你知道在英语中“red（红色）”和“read（读）”的读音一样但意思完全不同，答案就很明显了。

12DOUBLE ENTENDRES（法语中的“一语双关”）是双关语的特殊形式,其中的词或短语有双重意思。两个意思往往很不相同，一个比较恰当，另一个往往比较粗俗—但并不总是这样。我喜欢那个关于一位中学教师和校长因看见学生在学校操场上接吻而感到担心的故事。故事并不过火。那位教师对学生们说；“我和校长已经决定停止在学校操场上接吻。”听到笑声，她意识到她没有把意思表达清楚，于是补充说：“我的意思是不能再在我们的鼻子下面发生接吻这样的事了。”当然，这个解释并没有纠正她的第一句话，反而使这个笑话的双重含义变得更加好笑。

13一些专业的幽默家认为如今的幽默大多缺乏智慧，不够巧妙。他们不喜欢在幽默中过多使用有色情意味或粗俗的语言，而且觉得大多数幽默家缺乏创造性。的确，现在有些幽默令人震惊，但我认为这不是幽默的过错。幽默本身是活泼健康的，它还会继续生存下去，只因为每天都有有趣的事情发生。一些有幽默感的人会看到听到这些有趣的事情，并把它们编成妙趣横生、令人开心的笑话和故事。

Unit 4关于创造力的培养——鼓励孩子思考

1教育界和商业界的专家们说,具有创造性是通向光明前程的关键。本文将介绍一下学校和家长如何才能鼓励孩子发展这一至关重要的能力。

2如果1925年迪克•德鲁听从了他老板的意见，也许我们就不会有遮护胶带这种用品了。现在我们几乎离不开它。德鲁当时就职于“明尼苏达制造和矿业公司”，通常称为3M公司。在工作中，他研制了一种用于胶带有黏性那面的物质，黏性很强，能使物体粘在一起。但是老板却不让他做进一步的研究。最后德鲁只好利用自己的时间改进了这种胶带。这种胶带现已被人们广泛使用。而他原来工作过的3M公司也从自己的失误中吸取了教训：现在该公司鼓励员工抽出15%的工作时间专门用来开动脑筋搞创新。

3现在这种策略已被越来越多的公司所采用，而且全国各地的专家认为，对待孩子也应仿效这种做法，无论是在家里还是在学校。他们认为，如果我们教育孩子进行创造性思维，他们就能在明天的社会中更好地发挥作用。

4受益于创造性的不只限于音乐和艺术领域。能取得成功的学生和成人都是那些会寻求各种办法解决问题的人。

5创造性并非与生俱来，也不一定就是高智慧的特征。一个人智力高并不意味着他必然能创造性地发挥才智。创造性是指能利用已有的资源想出新点子，而这些点子有助于解决某方面的问题。

6遗憾的是，学校还没有想到要促使学生发挥创造性。许多教育者十分看重考试分数，强调阅读、写作和数学能力，往往因追求正确的答案而牺牲了对创造性的培养。其结果是，孩子们能够反馈所学的知识，却不知道如何灵活地应用知识。比如，他们可能熟记乘法表，却不会用它来解决数学应用题。

7然而，在有些学校里，教育者们正逐渐认识到这一问题，并致力于研究能启发学生创造性的新的教学方法。一些教师把基础知识和要求学生发挥想象力的活动结合起来。比如，教师不再简单地问学生哥伦布何时发现了新大陆，他们可能让学生思考如果哥伦布首先到达的不是加勒比地区而是纽约，情况会是如何。要回答这一问题，学生必须应用自己掌握的关于哥伦布、纽约和加勒比地区的知识。教师们认为即便学生的回答会很可笑，也毫无关系，这也许是通向创造性的重要一步。专家认为，在课堂以及在家里，必须允许孩子们有些荒唐的念头。家长和教师们则有责任和孩子共同努力，使那些念头成为切实可行的建议。最好的办法是通过提问来鼓励孩子，同时对他们的想法和新点子表示赞赏。专家认为必须创造一个可以自由发挥创造力的氛围，一个尊重和赞赏而不是鄙视或不理会荒诞想法的环境。

8在家里，家长可以做一些鼓励孩子发挥创造力的事情。如果遇到合适的问题，家长可以就该问题征求孩子的意见，让他们参与决策。家长可以帮助孩子了解不同的决策将会带来的各种后果。家长还应鼓励孩子大声谈论他们正在做的事情。思维能力和语言能力是紧密相关的。大声地谈论有助于提高语言能力和思维能力。

9具有幽默感对于开发孩子的创造力也非常重要。当家长表现出幽默时，孩子们就看到了最地道的创造性。从本质上看，幽默跨越了常规界限，打破了固有模式。要创造往往也得如此。给孩子一些选择的余地也很重要。应该允许孩子自己做决定并清楚其后果，要让孩子从尽可能早的年龄开始这样做。做决定有助于培养思维能力，即便只是在午餐的两种食物的选择上做决定也行。随着孩子慢慢长大，家长应让孩子自己做主支配时间或金钱；当他们作出错误的决定时，不要不假思索地给予过多的帮助。这种做法可能会使孩子迷惑不解，但这没有关系。因为富有创造力的人有很强的动力，使他们能够从混乱中创造秩序。这是他们的一个最重要的特点。

Unit 6风险与你

1在说不定的某个时候，我们大家都曾充当过疑病症患者的角色,只凭一些轻微的症状便怀疑自己得了某种可怕的病。有的人只要一听说一种新的疾病，就会去检查，看自己是否可能患了这种病。然而，对疾病的恐惧并非我们唯一的恐惧。同样，患病的危险也并非我们唯一会遇上的危险。现代生活中充满了各种各样的威胁，诸如对我们生命的威胁，对我们平和心境的威胁，对我们家人的威胁，对我们未来的威胁。从而产生了好些问题，我们不得不问自己：我买的食品安全吗？给孩子们的玩具会伤害他们吗？我们家的人是不是不该吃熏肉？我度假时会不会遭抢劫？我们的疑虑就无休止地增加。对生活中风险的担忧与疑病症有相似之处；二者的恐惧或忧虑皆起因于信息不全面。但二者之间也存在一个明显的差别。疑病症患者通常可以求助于医生，以便澄清疑虑——要么你得了你所怀疑的疾病，要么你没得。但当涉及到其它形式的风险时，事情就要困难得多，因为对许多风险来说，情况并不那么简单。风险几乎总是一个可能性的问题而无确定性可言。你也许会问：“我该不该系安全带？”如果你坐的车要与其它车正面相撞，那当然该系安全带。倘若你的车侧面被撞，结果你被困在车里，又因安全带装置遭破坏而无法挣脱，那怎么办呢？这是否意味着你该再花些钱在车内安一个保险气袋呢？同样，在正面相撞的情况下，保险气袋完全可以救你一命。但是，万一正当你在高速公路上开车时，保险气袋突然意外充气膨胀，从而导致了本来绝不会发生的事故，那又该如何是好？上面说的这一切，只是从另一角度说明我们所做的事没有一件是百分之百安全的。有些风险——常常是潜在的重大风险——与我们的每个业余爱好、所做的每项工作、所吃的每种食物有关，换句话说，与所进行的任何活动有关。但我们又不能，也不该因危险存在于我们将要做的每件事，而变成战战兢兢的神经症患者。有些活动是比其它活动更危险。关键在于要让自己了解相应的风险，然后相机行事。例如，两车相撞时，大车总的说来要比小车安全些。可究竟能安全多少呢？答案是这样：在一起严重的车祸中坐小车丧生的可能性是坐大车的两倍左右。然而，大车通常比小车贵（并且消耗更多的汽油，由此给环境带来了更大的风险！）。那么我们该怎样确定什么时候值得为降低风险增加花费呢？例如，避免风险最保险的做法也许是去买一辆坦克或装甲车，从而把撞车时死亡或受伤的风险降到最小。然而，即便你买得起，这笔额外的费用以及忍受坦克或装甲车所带来的不便是否值得呢？在我们尚不知所涉及的风险程度之前，我们还无法回答这些问题。那么，我们该如何去衡量风险程度呢？有些人似乎认为答案只不过是一个简单的数字。例如，我们知道每年大约有25,000人死于车祸。相比之下，每年只有大约300人死于矿山事故和灾难。这难道就意味着乘坐汽车要比采矿危险得多吗？未必。事实是，在美国每年大约有两亿人经常性地以车代步；而大概只有70万人从事采矿作业。我们评估一种风险时，所需要的有关数字是一个比率或分数。该分数的分子告诉我们在某个特定时期由于从事某种特定活动而丧生或受伤的人数；其分母告诉我们在这一时期从事这种活动的总人数。这样，所有的风险程度都是由比率或分数表示，其大小介于0（无风险）到1（完全风险）之间。通过把所有风险都简化为这种比率或分数，我们便可以开始比较不同种类的风险，如比较

采矿与乘坐汽车。这个比率越大，也就是说它越接近1，那么有关活动的风险就越大。在刚才讨论的例子中，我们可以用每一活动中死亡的人数除以参与该活动的总人数，从而找出汽车旅行与采煤的相对安全性。此处，我们可以很清楚地看到，乘坐汽车旅行的风险是每一万人中大约有一人丧生；而就采矿而言，其危险程度是每一万矿工中大约有四人死亡。所以，尽管在车祸中丧生的人远比采矿要多，其实后者的风险是前者的四倍。这些比率使我们能够对毫不相干的活动或情形的危险性加以比较，即便差别如苹果与橘子那样大也能比较。如果你反对冒险，你就会选择风险比率较小的活动。如果你无所畏惧，那么你往往会对高比率不太在乎，除非它们大得令人难以承受。我们一旦明白了风险是永远无法从任何情况中完全去除的，因而就没有绝对安全的事，我们也就会明白问题的关键不是要彻底避免风险，而是要理智地管理风险。风险管理需要两大要素：常识以及与我们可能要承担的风险的性质和程度相关的信息。

unit7

我们这些教师对于在你们身上取得的教育成就一点都不感到自豪。

我们培养你们去适应的是一个根本不存在的世界——事实上也是不可能存在的。在这里度过的四年时间里，你们一直以为失败是不会留下任何记录的。

要是学得不好，一个最省事的办法就是中途退出（不修这门课），在布朗大学你们学会了这一点。

但是，从现在开始，在你们要涉足的世界里，失败是要给你留下疤痕的。

知难而退也会使你变成另一个人。走出布朗，知难而退的人绝不是英雄。

你们可以跟我们争辩，说服我们为什么你们的错误不是错误，为什么平庸的作业是优秀的，为什么你们会对普普通通并不出色的课堂报告感到骄傲。

回想一下，毕竟你们中的大多数人在你们所学的大部分课程中都得了高分。

因此，在这里分数并不能作为区分优秀学生与学业平平的学生的依据。

但是，今后，在你们所要去的世界里，你们最好不要为自己的错误辩护，而应该从中吸取教训。

假如你们要求得到你们不该得到的表扬，诋毁那些不给你们表扬的人，这是不明智的做法。多年来，我们创造了一个完全宽容的世界。这里所要求于你们的仅仅是一点微不足道的努力。当你们没有按约定的时间赴约时，我们就再约时间。当你们没有按期交作业时，我们装作不在乎。

更糟糕的是，当你们的言谈枯燥无味时，我们却装作你们说的是重要的事情；当你们喋喋不休、不知所云时，我们认真倾听，似乎你们说的东西事关重大；