新視野大學(xué)英語(yǔ)4讀寫教程第三版課文word版

.Unit1TextALoveandlogic:Thestoryofafallacy1IhadmyfirstdatewithPollyafterImadethetradewithmyroommateRob.Thatyeareveryguyoncampushadaleatherjacket,andRobcouldn'tstandtheideaofbeingtheonlyfootballplayerwhodidn't,sohemadeapactthathe'dgivemehisgirlinexchangeformyjacket.Hewasn'tthebrightestguy.Pollywasn'ttooshrewd,either.2Butshewaspretty,well-off,didn'tdyeherhairstrangecolorsorweartoomuchmakeup.Shehadtherightbackgroundtobethegirlfriendofadogged,brilliantlawyer.IfIcouldshowtheelitelawfirmsIappliedtothatIhadaradiant,well-spokencounterpartbymyside,Ijustmightedgepastthecompetition.3"Radiant"shewasalready.Icoulddispenseherenoughpearlsofwisdomtomakeher"well-spoken".4Afterabannerdayout,Idroveuntilweweresituatedunderabigoldoaktreeonahillofftheexpressway.WhatIhadinmindwasalittleeccentric.Ithoughtthevenuewithaperfectviewoftheluminouscitywouldlightenthemood.Westayedinthecar,andIturneddownthestereoandtookmyfootoffthebrakepedal."Whatarewegoingtotalkabout?"sheasked.5"Logic."6"Cool,"shesaidoverhergum.7"Thedoctrineoflogic,"Isaid,"isastapleofclearthinking.Failuresinlogicdistortthetruth,andsomeofthemarewellknown.Firstlet'slookatthefallacyDictoSimpliciter."8"Great,"sheagreed.9"DictoSimplicitermeansanunqualifiedgeneralization.Forexample:Exerciseisgood.Therefore,everybodyshouldexercise."10Shenoddedinagreement.11Icouldseeshewasstumped."Polly,"Iexplained,"it'stoosimpleageneralization.Ifyouhave,say,heartdiseaseorextremeobesity,exerciseisbad,notgood.Therefore,youmustsayexerciseisgoodformostpeople."12"NextisHastyGeneralization.Self-explanatory,right?Listencarefully:Youcan'tspeakFrench.Robcan'tspeakFrench.LookslikenobodyatthisschoolcanspeakFrench."13"Really?"saidPolly,amazed."Nobody?"14"Thisisalsoafallacy,"Isaid."Thegeneralizationisreachedtoohastily.Toofewinstancessupportsuchaconclusion."15Sheseemedtohaveagoodtime.Icouldsafelysaymyplanwasunderway.Itookherhomeandsetadateforanotherconversation.16SeatedundertheoakthenexteveningIsaid,"OurfirstfallacytonightiscalledAdMisericordiam."17Shenoddedwithdelight.18"Listenclosely,"Isaid."Amanappliesforajob.Whenthebossaskshimwhathisqualificationsare,hesayshehassixchildrentofeed."19"Oh,thisisawful,awful,"shewhisperedinachokedvoice.20"Yes,it'sawful,"Iagreed,"butit'snoargument.Themanneveransweredtheboss'squestion.Insteadheappealedtotheboss'ssympathy—AdMisericordiam."21Sheblinked,stilltryinghardtokeepbackhertears.22"Next,"Isaidcarefully,"wewilldiscussFalseAnalogy.Anexample,studentsshouldbeallowedtolookattheirtextbooksduringexams,becausesurgeonshaveX-raystoguidethemduringsurgery."精選doc

.23"Ilikethatidea,"shesaid.24"Polly,"Igroaned,"don'tderailthediscussion.Theinferenceiswrong.Doctorsaren'ttakingatesttoseehowmuchtheyhavelearned,butstudentsare.Thesituationsarealtogetherdifferent.Youcan'tmakeananalogybetweenthem."25"Istillthinkit'sagoodidea,"saidPolly.26Withfivenightsofdiligentwork,IactuallymadealogicianoutofPolly.Shewasananalyticalthinkeratlast.Thetimehadcomefortheconversionofourrelationshipfromacademictoromantic.27"Polly,"Isaidwhennextwesatunderouroak,"tonightwewon'tdiscussfallacies."28"Oh?"shesaid,alittledisappointed.29Favoringherwithagrin,Isaid,"Wehavenowspentfiveeveningstogether.Wegetalongprettywell.Wemakeaprettygoodcouple."30"HastyGeneralization,"saidPollybrightly."Orasanormalpersonmightsay,that'salittlepremature,don'tyouthink?"31Ilaughedwithamusement.She'dlearnedherlessonswell,farsurpassingmyexpectations."Sweetheart,"Isaid,pattingherhandinatolerantmanner,"fivedatesisplenty.Afterall,youdon'thavetoeatawholecaketoknowit'sgood."32"FalseAnalogy,"saidPollypromptly."Yourpremiseisthatdatingislikeeating.Butyou'renotacake.You'reaboy."33Ilaughedwithsomewhatlessamusement,hidingmydreadthatshe'dlearnedherlessonstoowell.Afewmorefalsestepswouldbemydoom.Idecidedtochangetacticsandtryflatteryinstead.34"Polly,Iloveyou.Pleasesayyou'llgooutwithme.I'mnothingwithoutyou."35"AdMisericordiam,"shesaid.36"Youcertainlycandiscernafallacywhenyouseeit,"Isaid,myhopesstartingtocrumble."Butdon'ttakethemsoliterally.Imeanthisisallacademic.Youknowthethingsyoulearninschooldon'thaveanythingtodowithreallife."37"DictoSimpliciter,"shesaid."Besides,youreallyshouldpracticewhatyoupreach."38Ileapedtomyfeet,mytemperflaringup."Willyouorwillyounotgooutwithme?"39"Notoyourproposition,"shereplied.40"Why?"Idemanded.41"I'mmoreinterestedinadifferentpetitioner—RobandIarebacktogether."42Withgreateffort,Isaidcalmly,"HowcouldyougivemetheaxeoverRob?Lookatme,aningeniousstudent,atremendousintellectual,amanwithanassuredfuture.LookatRob,amuscularidiot,aguywho'llneverknowwherehisnextmealiscomingfrom.Canyougivemeonegoodreasonwhyyoushouldbewithhim?"43"Wow,whatpresumption!I'llputitinawaysomeoneasbrilliantasyoucanunderstand,"retortedPolly,hervoicedrippingwithsarcasm."Fulldisclosure—IlikeRobinleather.Itoldhimtosayyestoyousohecouldhaveyourjacket!"精選doc

.Unit2TextATheconfusingpursuitofbeauty1Ifyou'reaman,atsomepointawomanwillaskyouhowshelooks.2Youmustbecarefulhowyouanswerthisquestion.Thebesttechniqueistoformanhonestyetsensitiveresponse,thenpromptlyexcuseyourselfforsomekindofemergency.Trustme,thisistheeasiestwayout.Noamountofrehearsalwillhelpyoucomeupwiththerightanswer.3Theproblemisthatmendonotthinkoftheirlooksinthesamewaywomendo.Mostmenformanopinionofthemselvesinseventhgradeandsticktoitfortherestoftheirlives.Somementhinkthey'reirresistiblydesirable,andtheyrefusetochangethisopinionevenwhentheygrowbaldandtheirfacesvisiblywrinkleastheyage.4Mostmen,Ibelieve,arenotarrogantabouttheirlooks.Ifthetransientthoughtpassesthroughtheirmindsatall,theyliketothinkofthemselvesasaverage-looking.Beingaveragedoesn'tbotherthem;averageisfine.Theydon'taffixmuchvaluetotheirlooks,orthinkofthemintermsofaesthetics.Theirprimaryformofbeautycareistoshavethemselves,whichisessentiallythesamecaretheygivetotheirlawns.If,attheendofhisfour-minuteallotmentoftimeforgrooming,amanhasmanagedtowipemostoftheshavingcreamoutofthestrandsofhishairandisn'tbleedingtoobadly,hefeelshe'sdoneallhecan.5Womendonotlookatthemselvesthisway.IfIhadtoguesswhatmostwomenthinkabouttheirappearance,itwouldbe:"Notgoodenough."Nomatterhowattractiveawomanmaybe,herperceptionofherselfiseclipsedbythebeautyindustry.Shehastroublethinking"I'mbeautiful."Shemagnifiesthesmallestimperfectionsinherbodyandimaginesthemasglaringflawsthewholeworldwillnoticeandridicule.6Whydowomenconsidertheirlookssodeficient?Thischronicinsecurityisn'tinborn,butcreatedthroughtheinteractionofmanycomplexpsychologicalandsocietalfactors,beginningwiththedollswegivethemaschildren.Girlsgrowupplayingwithdollsproportionedsothat,iftheywerehuman,theywouldbesevenfeettallandweigh61pounds,withtinythighsandalargeupperbody.Thisisanabsurdstandardtoliveupto,especiallywhenyouconsiderthesizeofthedoll'swaist,arelativemeasurementphysicallyimpossibleforalivinghumantoachieve.Contrastthisabsurdstandardwiththatpresentedtolittleboyswiththeir"actionfigures".Mostofthetoysthatyoungboyshaveplayedwithwereweird-looking,liketheonecalledBuzz-Offthatwasparthuman,partflyinginsect.Thisguywasnotalooker,buthewasstillextremelyself-confident.Youcouldnotimaginehimsayingtotheothers,"Isthisaccessorytherightshadeofvioletforthisoutfit?"7ButwomengrowupthinkingtheyneedtolooklikeBarbiedollsorgirlsonmagazinecovers,whichformostwomenisimpossible.Nonetheless,themultibillion-dollarbeautyindustry,completewithitsownaisleinthegrocerystore,isdevotedtoconstantwarfareonfemaleself-esteem,convincingwomenthattheymustbuyallthenewestmoisturizingcreams,bronzingpowdersandappliancesthatpromiseto"stimulateandrestore"theirskin.IoncesawanOprahShowinwhichsupermodelCindyCrawforddispensedmakeuptipstothestudioaudience.Cindyhadallthesemiddle-agedwomenapplyclaymasksandother"wrinkle-removing"productstotheirfaces;shestressedhowimportantitwastoadheretotheguidelines,likeapplyingproductsviathetipsoftheirfingerstoprotectelasticity.Allthewomendutifullydidthis,eventhoughitwasobvioustoanyrationalobserverthat,nomatterhowcarefullytheyappliedtheseproducts,theywouldneverhaveCindyCrawford'sfaceorcomplexion.8I'mnotsayingthatmenaresuperior.I'mjustsayingthatyou'renotgoingtogetagroupofmiddle-agedmentoplastercosmeticstothemselvesundertheinstructionofBradPittinhopesoflookingmorelikehim.Mendon'tfacethesamesocietalfocuspurelyonphysicalbeauty,andthey'reencouragedtoreachouttoothercharacteristicstopromotetheirself-esteem.TheymightsaytoBrad:"Ohyeah?Well,whatdoyouknowabout精選doc

.lawncare,prettyboy?"精選doc

.9Ofcoursewomenarguethattheybecomeobsessedwithappearanceasareactiontopressurefrommen.Thetruthisthatmostmenthinkbeautyismorethanjustlipstickandperfumeandtakenonoticeoftheseextradetails.Ihaveneveronce,inmorethan40yearsoflisteningtomentalkaboutwomen,heardamansay,"Shehadgorgeousfingernails!"Tomostmen,littlethingslikefingernailsareallhomogeneousanyway,andonewoman'sflawlesspinkpolishisexactlyasinvisibleasanother'sbarenails.10Byparticipatinginthissystemofextremeconformity,womenareactuallyopeningthemselvesuptothescrutinyofotherwomen,theonlyonesqualifiedtojudgetheirefforts.Whatistherealbenefitofworkingthishardtoappeasemenwhodon'tnoticewhenitonlyexposeswomentoprosecutionfromotherwomen?11Anyway,togetbacktomyoriginalpoint:Ifyou'reaman,andawomanasksyouhowshelooks,youcan'tsayshelooksbadwithoutreceivingimmediateandwell-deservedoutrage.Butyoualsocan'tshowerherwithemptycomplimentsabouthowhershoescomplementherdressnicelybecauseshe'llknowyou'relying.ShehasspentcountlesshoursworryingaboutthedifferencesbetweenherlooksandCindyCrawford's.Also,shesuspectsthatyou'renotqualifiedtovoiceasubjectiveopiniononanybody'sappearance.Thismaybebecauseyouhaveshavingcreaminyourhairandinsidethefoldsofyourears.精選doc

.Unit3TextAFredSmithandFedEx:Thevisionthatchangedtheworld1Everynightseveralhundredplanesbearingapurple,white,andorangedesigntouchdownatMemphisAirport,inTennessee.Whatprecedesthislandingarepackagepick-upsfromlocationsallovertheUnitedStatesearlierintheday.Crewsunloadtheplanes'cargoofmorethanhalfamillionparcelsandletters.Therectangularpackagesandenvelopesarerapidlyreshuffledandsortedaccordingtoaddress,thenloadedontootheraircraft,andflowntotheirdestinationstobedispersedbyhand—manywithin24hoursofleavingtheirsenders.ThisistheculminationofadreamofFrederickW.Smith,thefounder,president,chiefexecutiveofficer,andchairmanoftheboardoftheFedExCorp.—knownoriginallyasFederalExpress—thelargestandmostsuccessfulovernightdeliveryserviceintheworld.Conceivedwhenhewasincollegeandnowinits28thyearofoperation,Smith'sexquisitebrainchildhasbecomethestandardfordoor-to-doorpackagedelivery.2Recognizedasanoutstandingentrepreneurwithanagreeableandwinningpersonality,Smithisheldinhighregardbyhiscompetitorsaswellashisemployeesandstockholders.FredSmithwasjust27whenhefoundedFedEx.Now,somanyyearslater,he'sstillthe"captainoftheship".Heattributesthesuccessofthecompanysimplytoleadership,somethinghededucedfromhisyearsinthemilitary,andfromhisfamily.3FrederickWallaceSmithwasbornintoawealthyfamilyclanonAugust11,1944inMississippi.Hisfatherdiedwhenhewasjustfouryearsold.Asajuvenile,Smithwasaninvalid,sufferingfromadiseasethatlefthimunabletowalknormally.Hewaspickedonbybullies,andhelearnedtodefendhimselfbyswingingatthemwithhisalloywalkingstick.Curedofthediseasebytheageofl0,hebecameastarathleteinhighschool,playingfootball,basketball,andbaseball.4Smith'spassionwasflying.At15,hewasoperatingacrop-dusterovertheskylineoftheMississippiDelta,aterrainsoflatthattherewaslittleneedforradarnavigation.AsastudentatYaleUniversity,hehelpedrevivetheYaleflyingclub;itsalumnihadpopulatednavalaviationhistory,includingthefamous"Millionaires'Unit"inWorldWarI.Smithadministratedtheclub'sbusinessendandranasmallcharteroperationinNewHaven.5Withhisstudytimedisruptedbyflying,hisacademicperformancesuffered,butSmithneverstoppedlookingforhisown"bigidea".Hethoughthehadfounditwhenhewroteatermpaperforaneconomicsclass.Hedraftedaprototypeforatransportationcompanythatwouldguaranteeovernightdeliveryofsmall,time-sensitivegoods,suchasreplacementpartsandmedicalsupplies,tomajorUSregions.Theprofessorwasn'timpressedandtoldSmithhecouldn'tquantifytheideaandclearlyitwasn'tfeasible.6However,Smithwascertainhewasontosomething,eventhoughseveralmoreyearselapsedbeforehecouldturnhisideaintoreality.Intheinterim,hegraduatedfromYalein1966,justasAmerica'sinvolvementintheVietnamWarwasdeepening.Sincehewasapatriotandhadattendedofficers'trainingclasses,hejoinedtheMarines.7SmithcompletedtwotoursinVietnam,eventuallyflyingmorethan200missions."Inthemilitary,leadershipmeansgettingagroupofpeopletosubordinatetheirindividualdesiresandambitionsfortheachievementof精選doc

.organizationalgoals,"Smithsays,fusingtogetherhismilitaryandbusinessexperiences."Andgoodleadershiphasverymeasurableeffectsonacompany'sbottomline."精選doc

.8HomefromVietnam,Smithbecamefascinatedbythenotionthatifyouconnectedallthepointsofanetworkthroughanintermediaryhub,thestreamlinedefficiencycouldbeenormouscomparedtootherdisjointed,decentralizedbusinesses,whetherthesysteminvolvedmovingpackagesandlettersorpeopleandplanes.Hedecidedtotakeastabatstartinghisownbusiness.Withaninvestmentfromhisfather'scompany,aswellasachunkofhisowninheritance,Smithboughthisfirstdeliveryplanesandin1971formedtheFederalExpress.9Theearlydayswereunderscoredbyextremefrugalityandfinanciallosses.ItwasnotuncommonforFedExdriverstopayforgasolinefortheirvansoutoftheirownpockets.Butdespitesuchproblems,Smithshowedconcernforthewelfareofhisemployees.Justasherecalled,evenwhentheydidn'thavethemoney,evenwhenthereweren'tcouchesintheofficeandelectrictypewriters,theystillsettheprecedenttoensureagoodmedicalanddentalplanfortheirpeople.10Alongtheway,FedExpioneeredcentralizationandthe"hubandspoke"system,whichhassincebeenadoptedbyalmostallmajorairlines.ThephraseFedExithasbecomeafixtureinourlanguageasmuchasXeroxorGoogle.11Smithsayssuccessinbusinessboilsdowntothreethings.First,youneedtohaveappealingproductorserviceandacompellingstrategy.Thenyouneedtohaveanefficientmanagementsystem.Assumingyouhavethosethings,leadingateamisthesinglemostimportantissueinrunninganorganizationtoday.12AlthoughSmithavoidsthemediaandthetrappingsofpubliclife,heissaidtobeafriendlyandaccessibleemployer.Hevalueshispeopleandnevertakesthemforgranted.HereportedlyvisitsFedEx'sMemphissiteatnightfromtimetotimeandaddressessortersbyname.Foryearsheextendedanoffertoanycourierwith10yearsofservicetocometoMemphisforan"anniversarybreakfast".ThatembodiesFredSmith'sphilosophy:People,Service,Profit(P-S-P).Smithsays,"TheP-S-Pphilosophyislikeanunbrokencircleorchain.Therearenoclearlydefinablepointsofentryorexit.Eachlinkupholdstheothersandis,inturn,supportedbythem."Inarticulatingthisphilosophyandinpersonallyinvolvinghimselfinitsimplementation,FrederickSmithistheforerunnerofthenewsphereofleadershipthatsuccessinthefuturewilldemand.精選doc

.Unit4TextAAchievingsustainableenvironmentalism1Environmentalsensitivityisnowasrequiredanattitudeinpolitesocietyasis,say,beliefindemocracyordisapprovalofplasticsurgery.ButnowthateveryonefromTedTurnertoGeorgeH.W.BushhasclaimedloveforMotherEarth,howarewetochooseamongthedozensofconflictingproposals,regulationsandlawsadvancedbycongressmenandconstituentsalikeinthenameoftheenvironment?Clearly,noteverythingwithanenvironmentalclaimisworthdoing.Howdowesegregatethebestoptionsandconsolidateourvaryinginterestsintoasingle,soundpolicy?2Thereisasimpleway.First,differentiatebetweenenvironmentalluxuriesandenvironmentalnecessities.Luxuriesarethosethingsthatwouldbenicetohaveifcostless.Necessitiesarethosethingswemusthaveregardless.Callthisdistinctionthedefinitiveruleofsaneenvironmentalism,whichstipulatesthatcombatingecologicalchangethatdirectlythreatensthehealthandsafetyofpeopleisanenvironmentalnecessity.Allelseisluxury.3Forexample,preservingtheatmosphere—stoppingozonedepletionandthegreenhouseeffect—isanenvironmentalnecessity.Recently,scientistsreportedthatozonedamageisfarworsethanpreviouslythought.Ozonedepletionhasacorrelationnotonlywithskincancerandeyeproblems,italsodestroystheocean'secology,thebeginningofthefoodchainatopwhichwehumanssit.4Thepossiblethermalconsequencesofthegreenhouseeffectarefardeadlier:meltingicecaps,floodedcoastlines,disruptedclimate,dryplainsand,ultimately,emptybreadbaskets.TheAmericanMidwestfeedspeopleatallcornersoftheatlas.Withtheplanetaryclimatechanges,arewepreparedtoseeIowatakeonNewMexico'sdesertclimate,orSiberiatakeonIowa'smoderateclimate?5Ozonedepletionandthegreenhouseeffectarehumandisasters,andtheyareurgentbecausetheydirectlythreatenhumanityandarenoteasilyreversible.Asaneenvironmentalism,theonlykindofenvironmentalismthatwillstrikeachordwiththegeneralpublic,beginsbyopenlydeclaringthatnatureisheretoservehumanbeings.Asaneenvironmentalismisentirelyahumanfocusedregime:Itcallsuponhumanitytopreservenature,butmerelywithintheparametersofself-survival.6Ofcourse,thishumanfocusrunsagainstthegrainofacontemporaryenvironmentalismthatindulgesinovertearthworship.Somepeopleevenallegethattheearthisalivingorganism.Thiskindofenvironmentalismlikestoconsideritselfspiritual.Itisnothingmorethansentimental.Ittakes,forexample,ahighlyselectiveviewofthekindnessofnature,onethatisincompatiblewiththerealityofnaturaldisasters.MynatureworshipstopswiththetwisterthatcamethroughKansasorthedreadfulrainsinBangladeshthateradicatedwholevillagesandleftmillionshomeless.7Anon-sentimentalenvironmentalismisonefoundedonProtagoras'sideathat"Manisthemeasureofallthings."Inestablishingthesovereigntyofman,suchaprinciplehelpsusthroughthedenseforestofenvironmentalarguments.TakethecurrentdebateragingoveroildrillinginacorneroftheArcticNational精選doc

.WildlifeRefuge(ANWR).Environmentalistcoalitions,mobilizingagainstalegislativeactionworkingitswaythroughtheUSCongressforthelegalizationofsuchexploration,propagatethatAmericansshouldbepreservingandeconomizingenergyinsteadofdrillingforit.Thisisafalseeither-orproposition.TheUSdoesneedasizableenergytaxtoreduceconsumption.Butitneedsmoreproductiontoo.Governmentestimatesindicateanearlyfifty-fiftychancethatundertheANWRrestsoneofthefivelargestoilfieldseverdiscoveredinAmerica.ItseemsillogicalthatwearenotfindingsafewaystodrillforoilintheANWR.精選doc

.8TheUShasjustcomethroughawarfoughtinpartoveroil.EnergydependencecostsAmericansnotjustdollarsbutlives.ItisabizarresentimentalismthatwoulddenyoilthatispeacefullyattainablebecauseitrisksdisruptingthebirthinggroundsofArcticcaribou.9Ilikethecaribouasmuchasthenextperson.AndIwouldberathersorryiftheirmatingpatternsweredisturbed.Butyoucan'thaveyourcakeandeatittoo.Andinthestandoffofthewelfareofcaribouversusreducinganoilreliancethatgetspeoplekilledinwars,Ichoosepeopleovercariboueverytime.10IfeelsimilarlyaboutthespottedowlinOregon.Iamnoenemyoftheowl.Ifitcouldbepreservedatanegligiblecost,Iwouldagreethatitshouldbe—biodiversityisafterallnecessarytotheecosystem.Butwemustrememberthatnoteveryspeciesisneededtokeepthatdiversity.Sometimesaestheticaspectsoflifehavetobesacrificedtomorefundamentalones.Ifthecostofpreservingthespottedowlisthelossoflivelihoodfor30,000loggingfamilies,Ichoosethefamilies(withtheirsawsandchoppedtimber)overtheowl.11Theimportantdistinctionisbetweenthoseenvironmentalgoodsthatarefundamentalandthosethatarenot.Natureisourward,notourmaster.Itistoberespectedandevencultivated.Butwhenhumanshavetochoosebetweentheirownwell-beingandthatofnature,naturewillhavetoaccommodate.12Humanityshouldaccommodateonlywhenitsfateandthatofnatureareinseparablyboundup.Themosturgentmaneuvermustbeundertakenwhentheveryintegrityofhumanity'shabitat,e.g.,theatmosphereortheessentialgeologythatsustainsthecoreoftheearth,isthreatened.Whenthethreattohumanityislowerinthehierarchyofnecessity,amoremodestaccommodationthatbalanceseconomicagainsthealthconcernsisinorder.Butineithercasetheprincipleisthesame:protecttheenvironment—becauseitishumanity'senvironment.13Thesentimentalenvironmentalistswillcallthissavingnaturewithatotallywrongframeofmind.Exactly.Asaneandintelligibleenvironmentalismdoesitnotfornature'ssakebutforourown.精選doc

.Unit5TextASpeakingChineseinAmerica1Once,atadinnerontheMontereyPeninsula,California,mymotherwhisperedtomeconfidentially:"Sau-sau(brother'swife)pretendstoohardtobeapoliterecipient!Whybotherwithsuchnominalcourtesy?Intheend,shealwaystakeseverything."2Mymotheractedlikeawaixiao,anemigrant,nolongerpatientwitholdtaboosandcourtesies.Toproveherpoint,shereachedacrossthetabletooffermyelderlyauntfromBeijingthelastscallopfromthegarlicseafooddish,alongwiththeflanksteakandthecucumbersalad.3Sau-saufrowned."B'yao,zhenb'yao!"shecried,pattinghersubstantialstomach.Idon'twantit,reallyIdon't.4"Takeit!Takeit!"mymotherscoldedinChinese,aspredictablyasthelunarcycles.5"Full,I'malreadyfull,"Sau-saumutteredweakly,eyingthescallop.6"Ai!"exclaimedmymother."Nobodywantsit.Itwillonlyrot!"7Sau-sausighed,actingasifsheweredoingmymotherafavorbytakingthescrapoffthetrayandsparingusthetroubleofwrappingtheleftoversinfoil.8Mymotherturnedtoherbrother,anexperiencedChinesemagistrate,visitingusforthefirsttime."InAmerica,aChinesepersoncouldstarvetodeath.Ifyoudon'tbreachtheoldrulesofetiquetteandsayyouwantit,theywon'taskyouagain."9Myunclenoddedandsaidheunderstoodfully:Americanstakethingsquicklybecausetheyhavenotimetobepolite.10IreadanarticleinTheNewYorkTimesMagazineonchangesinNewYork'slittleculturalcolonyofChinatown,wheretheauthormentionedthattheinterwovenconfigurationofChineselanguageandculturerendersitsspeechindirectandpolite.Chinesepeopleareso"discreetandmodest",thearticlestarted,thattherearen'tevenwordsfor"yes"and"no".11Whydopeoplekeepfabricatingtheserumors?Ithought.TheydescribeusasthoughwewereatribeofthoselittledollssoldinChinatowntouristshops,headsmovingupanddownincontentedagreement!12Asanychildofimmigrantparentsknows,thereisaspecialkindofdoublebindattachedtoknowingtwolanguages.Myparents,forexample,spoketomeinbothChineseandEnglish;IspokebacktotheminEnglish.精選doc

.13"Amy-ah!"they'dscoldme.14"What?"I'danswerback.15"Donotquestionuswhenwecall,"they'dscoldinChinese."It'snotrespectful."16"Whatdoyoumean?"17"Ai!Didn'twejusttellyounottoquestion?"18IfIconsidermyupbringingcarefully,IfindtherewasnothingdiscreetabouttheChineselanguageIgrewupwith,nocensorshipforthesakeofpoliteness.Myparentsmadeeverythingabundantlyclearintheirconsecutivedemands:"Ofcourseyouwillbecomeafamousaerospaceengineer,"theyprodded."Andyes,aconcertpianistontheside."19ItseemsthatthemoreforcefulproceedingsalwaysspilledoverintoChinese:"Notthatway!Youmustwashricesonotasinglegrainislost."20HavinglistenedtobothChineseandEnglish,I'msuspiciousofcomparisonsbetweenthetwolanguages,asInoticethereciprocalchallengestheyeachpresent.EnglishspeakerssayChineseisextremelydifficultbecausedifferentwordscanbedenotedbyverysubtlevariationsintone.Englishisoftenbracketedwiththelabelofinconsistency,alanguageoftoomanybroken