寬容至上

四川 蔣建平

11 月16 日是國際寬容日，每年一次讓世界的目光聚焦于“寬容”這個主題。

主題語境：優秀品質 篇幅：370詞 建議用時：7分鐘

1There's a song by the great Jamaican singer Bob Marley calledSo Much Trouble in the World.Marley understood that part of the reason why there are so many problems in the world is the lack of tolerance between people.The UN understands this too—that's why it made Nov.16 International Day for Tolerance.

2But first of all, what is tolerance? French philosopher Voltaire can give us some help.According to him,tolerance is the result of humanity.We are all formed of frailty (脆弱) and error and let us pardon each other's folly—that is the first law of nature.Nobody's perfect.When we're going to criticize another person,we should perhaps remember our own imperfections first.

3Very often,people don't realize that they're intolerant.This is because intolerance has a lot to do with ignorance.For example,the UN's campaign is in part about the treatment of females by males.But often, the behavior of men toward women is intolerant because men don't put themselves in the shoes of women.

4It's worth thinking a little about the words“tolerance”and“intolerance”.Are they the best words to describe the evils of which we're speaking here?To agree to be“tolerant”of someone isn't necessarily a very respectful thing.When someone is tolerated, it implies that there's something wrong with them.

5But it seems wrong that people should agree to“tolerate”people with black skin, for example.And should women think they have received the respect they are due when men agree to“tolerate”them?

6Still, according to Voltaire, we humans are not perfect and this weakness is something that we all share.That's the reason why we should be tolerant.

7It's a little like generosity.We can give things to another person,and we can also give our forgiveness.Bob Marley understood this.In the song mentioned above, he advised,“All you got to do:give a little.”Or,as this older piece of wisdom says,“Write your love on a rock so it stays for eternity;write your hate in the sand so the waves will wash it away.”

Reading Check

1.Why isSo Much Trouble in the Worldmentioned in paragraph 1?

A.To show its popularity.

B.To guide people to deal with trouble.

C.To lead up to the topic of tolerance.

D.To prove that life is full of trouble.

2.Which belongs to tolerance according to Voltaire?

A.Expressing your love to your parents.

B.Overcoming your imperfections.

C.Giving a hand to the disabled.

D.Accepting others'weaknesses.

3.In what sense is“tolerance”similar to“generosity”?

A.Humans are advised to treat others better.

B.Humans tend to find faults in others.

C.Humans need to give something to others.

D.Humans will change their attitudes to others.

4.What does the underlined word“this”in paragraph 7 refer to?

A.Donating things to others.

B.Forgiving others.

C.The attitude toward love and hate.

D.The fact that humans are imperfect.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日積月累

criticizev.批判

imperfectionn.不完美

intolerantadj.不容忍的

campaignn.運動；活動

eternityn.永恒

The reason why...is that……的原因是……

lack of 缺乏

This is because 這是因為……

put oneself in the shoes of 設身處地

It's worth doing 值得做

That's the reason why 那就是……的原因

Ⅱ.完成句子

1.在你準備演講時，要設身處地地為聽眾著想。

____________________________as you prepare your speech.

2.他上學遲到的原因是他起床晚了。

_______ ______________he was late for school was that he got up late.

3.這是因為這個法案根本就不受人喜歡。

_____________________the bill is not much loved.

4.這個想法很值得考慮。

This idea is well ______________.

5.志愿者不乏其人。

There was no ______________volunteers.

主題應用·語庫構建

Ⅰ.主題詞匯

moral 道德的

virtue 美德；優秀品質

dilemma 進退兩難的窘境；困境

faint 昏厥；不清楚的；微弱的

precious 珍貴的；寶貴的

marriage 結婚；婚姻

majority 大部分；大多數

complain 抱怨；發牢騷

respond 回答；回復

union 協會；聯合會

scholarship 獎學金

hire 聘任；雇用；租用

colleague 同事；同僚

reject 拒絕接受；不錄用

appoint 任命；委任

clinic 診所；門診部

election 選舉；推選；當選

tend 照顧；照料；傾向；趨于

publish 發表；出版

staff 全體職工

retire 退休；退職

saving 節省物；節省；節約［pl.］儲蓄金；存款

kindergarten 學前班；幼兒園

principle 道德原則；法則；原則

passive 被動的；消極的

insurance 保險；保險業

energetic 精力充沛的

replace 接替；取代

accident 事故

operation 手術；經營

fable 寓言

court（網球等的）球場；法院；法庭

flexible 靈活的；可變通的

tension 緊張局勢；緊張；矛盾

friendly 友好的

warm-hearted 熱心腸的

hard-working 勤勞的

generous 慷慨的

devoted 奉獻的

helpful 有幫助的

sympathetic 有同情心的

honesty 誠實

bravery 勇敢

goodness 善良

brightness 亮度；機智；聰明

humility 謙虛

sight 視力；視覺

foresight 預見；先見之明

insight 洞察力；洞悉；領悟

inspire 鼓舞

Ⅱ.主題短語

moral dilemma 道德困境

carry sb through sth 幫助某人渡過某事

tuition fees 學費

first aid 急救

pass away 去世

in memory of 紀念……

in tears 流著淚；含著淚

in despair 處于絕望中

a great deal(of)大量

trip over 被……絆倒

lie in 在于

complain about 抱怨……

in need of 需要

play a key role in 在……中起關鍵作用

hold an important position 擔任重要的職位

be responsible for 對……負責

treat...as...把……看作是……

show interest in 對……表現出興趣

Ⅲ.主題美句

1.I'm more than delighted to introduce my favourite fable to you, whose name isThe Stone On The Road.我非常高興地向你們介紹我最喜歡的寓言，它的名字為《路上的石頭》。

2.I think the fable is well worth reading, which mirrors the living conditions of those young people.我認為這則寓言非常值得一讀，它反映了那些年輕人的生活現狀。

3.We hold the strong belief that failure is the mother of success.我們堅信失敗是成功之母。

4.The fable tells us that hard work never fails to pay off.Thus we should be diligent in order to have a better future.這則寓言告訴我們，努力工作終會獲得回報。因此，為了擁有一個更好的未來，我們應該努力。

5.The fable is intended to tell people that where there is a will,there is a way.這則寓言是為了告訴人們：有志者，事竟成。

6.Life is filled with challenges.It is those challenges that make me who I am.人生充滿了挑戰，正是那些挑戰成就了今天的我。

7.Such a positive attitude towards life can be of help in lifting your spirits.這樣積極的生活態度有助于使你快樂。

8.I am always grateful to my parents.They not only gave me life, but also brought me up with selfless love and support, feeling so proud of my every tiny bit of progress.我一直很感激我的父母。他們不僅給了我生命，而且用無私的關愛和支持撫養我，因我微小的進步而感到非常自豪。

9.Thank you again for your generosity and kindness and I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.再次感謝您的慷慨與善良，希望不久之后我能再見到您。

10.He is generous with his time in offering help to us,for which we feel grateful.他毫不吝嗇自己的時間，主動為我們提供幫助，為此我們都感激不盡。

11.It is also a virtue to forgive, especially in such a competitive and stressful society.寬恕也是一種美德，尤其是在這樣一個充滿競爭和壓力的社會里。

12.In my opinion, this relationship should be filled with love, care, understanding, and respect, so we can exchange ideas freely and get along well with each other.我認為，這種關系應該充滿愛、關心、理解和尊重，這樣我們才能夠自由地交換觀點，彼此融洽相處。

Ⅳ.主題寫作

你校英文報正在舉行征文比賽，主題為“The most memorable help”，請你寫一篇文章投稿，內容包括：

1.詳細敘述你幫助他人或接受他人幫助的事情；

2.你的感想。

注意：

1.詞數80左右；

2.可以適當增加細節，以使行文連貫。

The most memorable help

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V.主題測評

見P62～P73 自測園地“美德，伴我成長”內容。