英文批判性閱讀課文----為精英人才成長設計的英語學習教程(PartOne)CriticalReadingTextsAMONKANDABUTCHERAmonkandabutchersharedarentedhouse.Earlyeverymorning,theybothstruggledtoriseandgotdowntotheirownwork.Thebutcherkilledpigsformeatandthemonkchantedsutra(^誦經(jīng)文).Theybothagreedonadealtowakeeachotherupincasetheyoverslept.Manyyearslater,theybothdiedanaturaldeath.ButthemonkfoundhimselfinthehellwhilethebutcherwasinHeaven.WhatwasthereasonGoddidthattothem?Amongmanyotherexplanations,hereisoneworthmentioning.SomepeoplesaythemonkhadlosthimselfintounforgivablegreatsinbycallingupthebutchereverymorningtodothekillingsothathewassentdowntothehellbyGod.Andthebutcherdidmuchgoodinhislifetimebywakingupeverymorningthemonktochantsutras.AndhedeservedHeaven.Makeyourcriticaljudgmentofthestatementabove.PossibleVersion:Therecannotbea100percentcorrectanswer,oraso-calledstandardone,tosuchaquestion.Differentexplanationsmaycomeoutofdifferentperspectiveswherewelookintosuchaproblem.Ourthinkinggrowsandwisdomgetspolishedwhenwelearntolookatitfromvariousanglesandattempttoadoptlogicofhigherlevelsintoourreasoning.Thegivenexplanationaboveisacceptableinsomeway,butitislimitedinvisionandblindtosomefactualfactors.Wecannotdenythefactthatthemonkjustmeanttoholdontohispromisetowakethebutcherupeverymorningtostarthiswork.Althoughhewasawareofwhatthebutcher,sjobwas,hewasnottheone,oratleasttheonlyonetoblameforthekilling.Meanwhile,thebutcherwasjustlivinguptohispromisetowakeupthemonk.Hewasnottheoneorattheleasttheonlyonetoberewardedforthegoodnessofchantingsutraeverymorning.AGreatJokeInthefirstyearsafterthefoundationofPRC,manywesterncountrieswerehostiletothenewcountry,andwesternmedianevertriedtohidetheirhostilitytowardChinesediplomatsandwouldnotmissanychancetoperformtheiraggression.OnceanAmericanjournalist,whileinterviewingPremierZhouEnlaiinhisoffice,sawanAmerica-madepenonthedesk.Somethingdirtyoccurredtohimandheaskedscornfully,“Mr.Zhou,mayIask,whyareChinesepeopleusingpenslikeyours,whicharemadeinAmerica?”PremierZhoulookedupfromthedeskattheAmericanjournalistandresponded,“It/salongstory,actually,butIcansimplyputitthisway.AfriendofminefromKoreathoughtitmeantsomuchtohimasitwascapturedinthewarandheinsistedonhispresentingittomeasagreatgift,youknow.”TheAmericanaskedfortheshame,indeed.HowdidPremierZhouformhissharpthinkingtostrikeback?THECATTLEMANURECASEThiswasacaseamongtheonesthathaveshapedthefundamentalbaseofAmericanLaw.Yet,itisnottobepresentedheretointroduceatopicinlegalscienceasIamnotqualifiedinthefieldnorareweinacourseoftheprofession.Thecaseitselfsoundedsimpleanyway.ItwasoneoftheearlyyearsafterthefoundationoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Mostpeopleinthecountrywerestrugglinghardforaliving.Oneday,afarmersawsomescatteredcattlemanurealongtheroadwhilehewasmakinghiswaybackhome.Hethoughtthecattlemanurewouldmakeverygoodfertilizerinhisfarmland.Themomenthegotback,heorderedseveralofhismentogoandgatherthecattlemanurealongtheroad.Ittooktheworkersquiteawhiletogatherthemanureintoacoupleofbigpilesontheroad.Theydecidedtofirsttakeashortrestbackhomeandthengetbackwithacartforthepilesofmanure.Rightatthemomentwhennobodywastherenexttothepilesofmanure,anothermanonhisreturntripofadeliverysawthemandgotthepilesontohiscartandwenthome.Thefarmercametothecartdrivertodeclarehisownershipofthecattlemanurebuthisclaimwasdenied.Hecametothecourtandaskedforthejudge,sruling.Yet,thingsgotmorecomplicatedastheownerofthecattlealsomadehispresenceontothecourttoclaimtheownershipofthemanure.Placeyourselfintothepositionofthejudge.Whomwouldyousentencetheownershipofthemanureto,theownerofthecattle,thefarmerwhosemengatheredthemanureintopiles,orthecartdriverwhotookthemanurehome?Andprovideyourreasonforyourdecision!Explanation:Itisequallypossibleforuscommonpeopletomakeanyofthethreedifferentdecisionsandputforwardsomereasoningthatsoundsfairlyconvincing.Somemaysayitwasthecattlethatleftthemanurealongtheroadandthatthemanurehadtobelongtotheownerofthecattle.Othersmaysayitcostthefarmersomeamountoflabortogatherthemanurescatteredalongtheroadandthatthemanurehadtogotothefarmer,sownership.Stillsomesaythecartdrivejusttookhomethepiledmanurewhichwasnotclaimedandleftscatteredthereandthatitwasnotheftorrobbery.ActualRulingofthejudgeonthecourtthen:Thejudgeinchargeofthecasefinallyruledthattheownershipofthemanureshouldgotothefarmerandhepresentedhisreasoningasfollows:Justiceandfairnesswaswhatlawwasmeantforandtoguardbutitwasnottheonlyortheultimategoal.Law,alongsidewithothersocialrules,wastohelpbuildupasocietywherethingswouldchangeforbetterfortheeverybody.Andlawwasfirsttoguaranteethatsocietywouldbeledontoapathalongwhichpeople,hardworkfortheirwell-beingwasguardedandrewarded.Lawwouldneverservejusticewithignoranceoftrulylabororencourageanykindofopportunisticacts.Theownerofthecattlehadleftthemanurelyingscatteredalongtheroadasitwasandthishadtobetakenforhisgivinguphisownershipofit.Thefarmerfoundthemanureandinvestedtrulylaborintogatheringitupsohislaborwonhimselftheownershipofthemanure.Thecartdriverjusttookitbychanceandhehadtoreturnittothefarmeruponrequest.FurtherInspiration:TheUnitedStatesofAmericaowesitsrapidgrowthafteritsfoundationanditsprosperitythathaslastedforalmost100yearstomanyofitsearlygreatleadersandmanyotherwisepioneers,thejudgeinchargeoftheManureCaseincluded.Theyservedtheirnationheartandsoulwiththeirwisdomanddiligence.Weareatthecriticalmomentofournation,srevival,andweneedmoreandmoreofouryoungergenerationtoworkandthinklikethejudge.Mostsadly,manyofourjudgesarenotyetdoingso,astheoneinchargeofPengyuCase.PengyuCaseOnedaybackaround10yearsago,onastreetofNanjingCity,anoldladywasknockeddownbyapassingcar,seriouslyinjured.AyoungmannamedPengyutooktheoldgrannytoanearbyhospital.Pengyuhandedintherequiredsumofmoneyinorderthattheoldgrannycouldreceiveneededtreatmentsasquicklyaspossible.Theoldwomanwassaved.Thingsbegangettinghurtingandbittersoonafterwards.NotonlydidboththeoldgrannyandherrelativesrefusetodeliveranygratitudetoPengyu,buttheytookPengyutothecourt,accusinghimofbeingtheaccidentmakeranddemandingahugesumofcompensationmoney.Onthecourt,Pengyudeniedthefamily,saccusation,claiminghewasjustdrivingalongwhenhesawtheoldwomanlyingontheroad,thathestoppedhiscartoseewhethertheoldgrannyneededhelpandthathedecidedtotakehertohospitalafterhehadcheckedtheoldwoman'sinjury.ThefamilyrefusedtobelievewhatPengyupresentedonthecourt,sayingthattherecouldn'tbeanyreasonforhimtotaketheiroldmothertohospitalifhedidnothurtherintheaccident.Pengyufailedtofindanywitnesstoprovehisinnocenceintheaccidentandthecourtwasunabletofindanycluetouncoverthetruthastherewerenotasmanysurveillancecamerasinpublicplacesastherearetoday.The/great/judgeinchargeofthecase,inthenameofguardingjusticeandprotectingtheweakeventuallyruledthatPengyulostthecaseandwouldhavetopaythesumofcompensationmoney.The'great'judge,abrilliant,highlypraisedPH.Dfromthebestlawschoolofthecountry,notonlyroseinfamenationwidebutalsostartedabrandnew'industry'inthecountry---TouchingPorcelain.Kindactsofofferingahelpinghandtoothersintroublehavebecomehighlyriskyeversince.Whatabastardjudgeandwhatacursedruling!ComprehensionExerciseWhichofthedescriptionsbelowaboutthecaseistotallyunacceptable?ThereweregoodchancesthattheperpetratoroftheaccidenthadfledandPengyuwasindeedakindguymeaningtorescuethewounded.TherewerealsogoodchancesthatPengyuwastheperpetratoroftheaccident.TheoldgrannyandherfamilywerereallyperformingthetrickofTouchingProcelain.Pengyuregrettedperformingtherescueworkwhetherhecausedtheaccidentornot.Thejudgeinchargeofthecasemusttakeintoconsiderationthefollowingpossibilitiesbeforeheruledexcept.Iftheoldgrannyandherfamily,sdemandonthecourtwasmetinthecaseoftheirlackofsolidproofofPengyu,sguilt,peopleofillnaturewouldfollowthemtoblackmailinnocentpeopleformoneyandmorewouldliketochoosetobeillinnature.IffinalrulingofthecaseacceptedPengyu,innocence,moreperpetratorsoffutureaccidentswouldpretendthattheywerejustkind-heartedguystoofferthemselvesthere.Somecluetothetruthmaybediscoveredsomedayanditmayoverturnhisruling.Otherjudgesinchargeoffuturecasesrelatedtocaraccidentswillmuchlikelyfollowhisruling.Pleasepresentyourreasoningonthefoolishnessthe'great'Chinesejudge'shone'uponinhisruling.PossibleVersion:(PengyuCase)The'distinguished'judgewasapparently(obviously)superiortoothersinseekingbrilliantsolutionstoproblemsifhehadbeentakinganexam,butappearedsoweakinadoptinghislearnedknowledgeintosocialsituationsaccordingly.Hefailedtolookbeyondwhatbookshadtaughthim.Justiceandcarefortheweakiscertainlywhatthelawandjudgeshavetostickto.Yetthereissomethingbeyondandbehind.Whatlawencouragesanddiscourageshastobetakenintoconsiderationanyway.Plus,atwhatcostdoweachievetheexpectedjustice?Aswiththecase,therehadnotbeenevidencetotellwhetherPengyuwasinnocent.Theredidbeagoodchancethathelied.Yetequally,therehadnotbeenanysolidproofagainsthim.Itwastheoldgrannyfamily'srighttochoosetheirdisbelieftoPengyu'sdeclaration.Thejudgehadtolookfarforwardtoseewhateffectsarelikelytocomeoutofhisruling.SupposehehadchosentobelievePengyuandsentencedhiswinningofthecase.Theworstexpectedoutcomewouldbethatperpetratorsinfutureaccidentswouldpretend,onconditionthatthereisnowitnessandnocluesfromsurveillancecameras,thattheywerejustpassers-byandreadilyofferedtheirkindhandtothoseinneed.Whatelse?Anythingworse?IfthejudgechosetodenyPengyu'sinnocence---heactuallydidso,hisrulingwasannouncingtothepublicthatlawhaschosentostandbythosewhodenykindnessfromothersandtoletanykindact,ifnotsupportedbysolidevidence,payafatprice.Themoralvaluesofthepublicthentookaturnfortheworse,aslegally,kindnesscoststoomuchandblackmailingkindnessisrewardedsoheavily.Herewemaybewarnedofsomethingthatourschooleducationisshortof.Bealerted,anyway!!Wehavetobeconsciousthatlearningknowledgeisjustthestartinglineoflearningtobewiseandcapableandthatlearningtothinkoutoftheboxandtolookbeyondisfarmoreimportantthanknowledgeitself.BrusselsRobberyCaseThereoccurredaratheroddcriminalcaseinthecapitalcityofBelgium,Brusselsinthemiddleofthe80soflastcentury.Aladyfelloffthebalconyofherhouseonthesecondfloor,severelyinjured.Amanpassingbysawherandapproachedtotakeallthevaluablethingshefoundfromthelady.Shewastooweaktofightbackoreventoletoutacryforhelp.Atthemomentheturnedtoleave,themanfelttheladywasreallydying.Hecalledupthepolicebeforehefledfromthescene.Theladywassaved,thankGod!Thepolicewereabletocapturethemansoonlaterwiththehelpofasurveillancecameranearby.Hewaschargedwithguiltofrobberyonthecourt.Thecasewasfinallyclosedafterfierceargumentbetweenlawyersfromtheprosecutionandthedefense.ComprehensionExercise1.Whichofthefollowingplacesanobjectivejudgmentonthemanrobbingthehurtladyofherpreciousthings?Hewasaheinousguywhocruellyrobbedabadlyinjuredwoman.Hewasamandeservingpeople,srespectforhiskindnessinrescuingthedying,hedidsomethingdirtymeanwhile,though.Insomeway,hewasabadguyseekingfordirtyfortunesbuthestillhadsomeofhishumanityrootedwithinhim,shining.Hedeservedthevaluablethingsfromtheladyashesavedherlife.ThinkandDecideSupposethejudgeinchargeoftheCattleManureCasehadbeenappointedtotheBrusselsRobberyCase,whatarulingdoyouthinkwouldhavecomeout?AndwhataboutthejudgeinchargeofPengyuCase?Putdownyourreasoningindetail.PossibleVersionIftheBrusselsRobberyCasehadbeenappointedtobeinthechargeofthejudgeintheCattleManureCase,hewouldhavebeenwiseenoughtothinktwicebeforehemadehisfinaldecision.Hewouldhaveforeseentheseriousside-effectsifhesimplyandwoodenlyappliedrelatedlegaltermsintothecasetorulethatrequiredlegalpunishmentwouldbeplacedontotheman,guiltofrobbery.Futurecriminalswouldchoosetoholdbacktheirrespectandmercyforlifewhentheywerecommittingarobberyorsomeothercrime.Whatisworse,theymightbeforcedtokillsinceleavingarobberyvictimaliveexpandstheirchancesofbeingcorneredwhenthepolicearechasingthem.Hewouldhavealsobeenawarethathissentenceofinnocenceforthemaninthecasewouldactuallyletarealcriminalofrobberywalkoutclean,buteverybodyunderstandthatithadbeenpaidatthepriceofsavingalife.Itwouldbequiteeasyforthejudgereachhisdecisionofthelatteraftercountingthecostbetweenthetwo.ThejudgeinchargeofPengyuCase,ifappointedtotheBrusselsRobberyCase,wouldhavesurelyfoundthe/perfect,applicationoflegaltermsandsentthemanintoprison.Thefactualrulingofthecasewasthatthemanwhohadreallycommittedthecrimeofrobberywassetfreeonthecourt.ConclusiveSpeechIthastakenthewisdomofmanybrilliantandsharpmindsofoldergenerationstohavebuiltupmoderncivilization,laws,socialrulesandpoliticalsystemsincluded.Rulesandregulationsaretoguaranteethatgreaterproductivityiscomingoutofpeople'scooperationtoachievebetterlivesforallcooperativepeopleandthattheworldisadvancingintherightdirection,changingforthebetteralltheway.Rulesaredeafandblindbutmindsarelivingandactive.Oldrulesneedupdatingandreshapingwhentheworldhasapproachedanewera,wherenewconflictshasoccurredandsit