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云的天空，凶猛的沙暴，比大峡谷还宽的裂缝，起码有一座山有珠穆朗玛峰的近两倍高。看起来，它很合适居住。
Lesson 36
The cost of government
政府的开支
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What is the most important factor； both in government or business； for keeping running costs low？
If a nation is essentially disunited； it is left to the government to hold it together。 This increases the expense of government； and reduces correspondingly the amount of economic resources that could be used for developing the country。 And it should not be forgotten how small those resources are in a poor and backward country。 Where the cost of government is high； resources for development are correspondingly low。
This may be illustrated by paring the position of a nation with that of a private business enterprise。 An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business。 For our purposes； we are concerned only with one kind of cost the cost of managing and administering the business。 Such administrative overheads in a business are analogous to the cost of government in a nation。 The administrative overheads of a business are low to the extent that everyone working in the business can be trusted to behave in a way that best promotes the interests of the firm。 If they can each be trusted to take such responsibilities。 and to exercise such initiative as falls within their sphere； then administrative overheads will be low。 It will be low because it will be necessary to have only one man looking after each job； then the business will require armies of administrators； checkers； and foremen and administrative overheads will rise correspondingly。 As administrative overheads rise； so the earnings of the business after meeting he expense of administration； will fall； and the business will have less money to distribute as dividends or invest directly in its future progress and development。
It is precisely the same with a nation。 To the extent that the people can be relied upon to behave in a loyal and responsible manner； the government does not require armies of police and civil servants to keep them in order。 But if a nation is disunited； the government cannot be sure that the actions of the people will be in the interests of the nation； and it will have to watch； check； and control the people accordingly。 A disunited nation therefore has to incur unduly high costs of government。
RAYMOND FROST The Backward Society
New words and expressions 生词和短语
disunited
adj。 分裂的
correspondingly
adv。 相应地
backward
adj。 落后的
incur
v。 承担
administer
v。 管理
adminstrative
adj。 行政管理的
analogous
adj。 类似的
overheads
n。 一般费用
initiative
n。 主动，积极性
checker
n。 检查人员
foreman
n。 监工
dividend
n。 红利
unduly
adv。 过度地
参考译文
如果一个国家实际上处于分裂状态，使之联合起来就是政府的事了。这样的一来就增加了政府的开支，从而相应地减少了可以用来了展国家的那部分经济资源。不应忘记，在一个贫穷落后的国家里，那部分财力是很有限的。凡是政府管理费用高的地方，用于发展国家经济的资金就会相应地减少。
把国家的状况同私人企业的状况加以比较，就可以看清这个问题。一个企业为了继续经营，不得不支出一定的费用和开销。就我们的目的而言，我们只关心一种费用 企业行政管理费。一家企业的行政管理开支类似于一个国家的政府管理所用的开支。如果企业中的每个人都在真诚地为提高企业利润而工作，那么企业的管理费用就会降低到相应的程度。如果企业的每个人都信得过，人人都认真负责，在各自的工作范围内发挥主动性，行政管理费用就会降低。行政管理费用的降低的原因是：每项工作只需要一个人去完成，用不着另外再有一个人检查工作。督促他遵守章程，或向有关人士汇报他的工作。但是，如果企业中谁也不可信赖会对工作尽忠守职，那公企业就会需大批的管理人员、检查人员和带班人员，管理费用就会相应在增加。管理费用增加了，那么在扣除管理费用后，企业的收入就降低了。因此用于分红的金额就用于将来开拓和发展的投资就相应地减少了。
一个国家的情况也完全相同。如果人民忠于职守，举止规矩，能受到政府的信赖，那么政府就不需要大批的警察和文职人员运去促使人民遵纪守法。但是，如果一个国家处于分裂状态，政府不能相信人民的行动有利于国家，那么政府就不得不对人民进行监督、检查和控制。因此，一个处于分裂的国家必须要支付过高的行政管理费用。
Lesson 37
The process of ageing
衰老过程
First listen and then answer the following question。
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What is one of the most unpleasant discoveries we make about ourselves as we get older？
At the age of twelve years； the human body is at its most vigorous。 It has yet to reach its full size and strength； and its owner his or her full intelligence； but at this age the likelihood of death is least。 Earlier； we were infants and young children； and consequently more vulnerable； later； we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which； though imperceptible at first； will finally bee so steep that we can live no longer； however well we look after ourselves； and however well society； and our doctors； look after us。 This decline in vigour with the passing of time is called ageing。 It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way； that if we escape wars； accidents and disease we shall eventually 'die of old age'； and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person； so that there are heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty…five and eighty。 Some of us will die sooner； a few will live longer on into a ninth or tenth decade。 But the chances are against it； and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive； however lucky and robust we are。
Normal people tend to forget this process unless and until they are reminded of it。 We are so familiar with the fact that man ages； that people have for years assumed that the process of losing vigour with time； of being more likely to die the older we get； was something self…evident； like the cooling of a hot kettle or the wearing…out of a pair of shoes。 They have also assumed that all animals； and probably other organisms such as trees； or even the universe itself； must in the nature of things 'wear out'。 Most animals we monly observe do in fact age as we do； if given the chance to live long enough； and mechanical systems like a wound watch； or the sun； do in fact run out of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics （whether the whole universe does so is a moot point at present）。 But these are not analogous to what happens when man ages。 A run…down watch is still a watch and can be rewound。 An old watch； by contrast； bees so worn and unreliable that it eventually is not worth mending。 But a watch could never repair itself it does not consist of living parts； only of metal； which wears away by friction。 We could； at one time； repair ourselves well enough； at least； to overe all but the most instantly fatal illnesses and accidents。 Between twelve and eighty years we gradually lose this power； an illness which at twelve would knock us over； at eighty can knock us out； and another 700 for the survivors to be reduced by half again。