在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.navigator 领航员 2.engages in 从事 3.mischief 恶作剧 4.fence 栅栏 5.moral 道德的 原文 Samuel Clemens，or Mark Twain Mark Twain was the author of some of the greatest works of American English literature，such as Tom Sawyer，Life on the Mississippi，and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Longhorn Clemens. He used Mark Twain as his“pen name”. Samuel Clemens was born in the American state of Missouri in 1835. As a child he enjoyed many outdoor activities，such as swimming and fishing. When Samuel was eleven years old，his father died，and he began to work to support his family. As a young man，Samuel Clemens began to write stories for newspapers. However，he took a job working as a navigator on the steamboats that travelled up and down the Mississippi River. Clemens greatly enjoyed this period of his life，during which time he gained much knowledge about life on the river. He also leaned much about human behavior by observing the many people on the boats and along the river. It was as a result of this time that Clemens began using his pen name，Mark Twain. This name was taken from a term that was used by the men who worked on the river. It is used to describe the water that is just deep enough to be navigated safely. The earliest Mark Twain's famous novels was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This novel describes a boy who engages in much mischief，but who has a kind heart. The story contains several scenes that are quite funny. In one of these，Tom is working at the boring task of painting a fence. He persuades some other boys to help him，by pretending that painting the fence is a fun and enjoyable activity. Another famous novel by Mark Twain was Life on the Mississippi. This book describes many interesting characters similar to those that Mark Twain actually observed while working on a steamboat. This story gives the reader a vivid image of the people who lived and worked along the Mississippi River. Probably the best novel by Mark Twain was The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. This novel tells a story of a boy who runs away from his violent father. The boy，whose name is Huckleberry Finn，is joined in his escape by a man named Jim. Jim is a slave who has decided to run away from his owners. Huck and Jim travel north along the Mississippi，hoping to reach the areas where slavery is not allowed. In this story，the reader can experience the moral sense of Huckleberry，who must make several important decisions during the escape. Mark Twain died in 1910，after writing many more novels and many stories of his travels around the world. Twain's works are still widely read today. His books are appreciated for their humor，for their interesting descriptions of life in nineteenth century America，and for showing both the good and evil that people can do. Many critics consider Twain to have been the greatest American writer.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.clerk 文书 2.workhouse 济贫院 3.court 法院 4.parliament 议会 5.carol 颂歌 6.stingy 吝啬的 7.donate 捐献 8.tale 历险记 9.upheaval 剧变 10.sacrifice 牺牲 11.assembled 集合 原文 Charles Dickens Charles Dickens is considered one of the greatest writer in the history of English literature. Dickens wrote his many novels during the nineteenth century，but those novels remain popular even today. Literary experts admire his genius at describing lives and personalities of the many characters in his books. Charles Dickens was born in England in 1812. His father was a clerk who worked for the Navy. Unfortunately，his father was not good at managing money，and the family soon went deeply into debt. In those days ，people who owed money were sent to prison，and his families were sent to places called“workhouses”. When Charles's father was unable to pay the debts，Charles was sent to a workhouse，where he had to work for long hours，and Charles's father was sent to prison. After a few years，the families regained its freedom，but the experience had a lasting effect upon Charles. As a young man，Charles Dickens worked as a journalist in the law courts and in Parliament. But he soon began writing stories for newspapers. These stories were very popular with the readers. Soon，Dickens began writing entire novels for the newspapers. Each month，newspaper would publish another chapter of Dickens's latest novel One of Dickens's most famous early novels is called Oliver Twist. This is the story of a young man who is poor and alone in the city of London，and becomes involved in criminal activities to support himself. The characters in this novel have a very wide range of personalities，but seem very real to the reader. This book exposed the conditions that faced the poor people of London，and helped to encourage reforms aimed at improving those conditions. Perhaps Dickens's most popular novel is A Christmas Carol. In this story，a rich but stingy old man，Ebenezer Scrooge，refuses to give his employee a day off work at Christmas，and refuses to donate his money to help the poor. But，while sleeping，Scrooge is visiting by ghosts from his past，present and future These ghosts show Scrooge how badly he has behaved. When Scrooge wakes up，he becomes a kind and generous man who fully appreciates the spirit of the Christmas holiday. Another famous novel of Dickens's is A Tale of Two Cities. This is a story of the violence and upheaval during the French Revolution. The story is famous for the heroic act of sacrifice that is made by one character for the benefit of the others. Dickens was famous as a public speaker，and large crows assembled to hear his performances. When he died in 1870，he was a very famous man. The novels of Charles Dickens allow readers to experience the life of nineteenth century London，showing the poverty and injustice that were so common. The characters of these novels show the range of human behavior，from cruelty and selfishness to kindness and love. It is no surprise that Dickens is viewed as one of the great figures of English literature.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.democratic elections 民主选举 2.widow 寡妇 3.assumed 假定 4.behalf 利益 5.possess 拥有 6.discipline 纪律 7.suffrage 选举权 原文 Women and the Right to Vote In most countries today，people think it is obvious that all adults should have the right to vote in democratic elections. But it was not as so long ago that women did not have this right. Only after a long struggle did women gain the right to vote. By the early nineteenth century，modern democratic forms of government were appearing in the United States，Great Britain，and some European countries. In these countries，most adult men have the right to vote in democratic elections. Some men were denied this right if they were poor or if they were belong to a racial minority group，but gradually this right was extended to all men. It took much longer for women to gain this right to vote. Only in special cases，such as that of a widow who owned land，could a women be allowed to vote. Many men believed that it was not necessary for women to vote，because they assumed that the husband should decide on behalf of his wife. Some men believed that women did not possess the intelligence or the discipline to vote carefully. Some women also believed that women should not be involved in politics，but many others wanted the right to vote. By about the year of 1850，some women began to organize in an effort to change the laws regarding women and the vote. This movement was known as the“women suffrage”movement，because the word“suffrage”means voting. Leaders such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton brought attention to this issue，and persuaded many people that women should vote. The first part of the United States to recognize women's right to vote was Wyoming，in the year 1869. During the following decades，many other states recognized women's right to vote，particularly in the western part of the country，where the women had a high social statues. However，the United States was not the first country to recognize the women's right to vote at the national level. The first country to recognize the women's right to vote was New Zealand，in 1893. Soon after，Australia also allowed women to vote，and so did the Scandinavia countries of northern Europe. But in countries such as the United States，Canada，and Great Britain，women could not yet vote. Women in those countries struggled to gain the vote. For example，in Great Britain，Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters participated in hunger strikes. During World War One（1914-1918），women's work efforts were very important to winning the war，and people's attitudes increasingly in favor of women having the right to vote. Women then gained the right to vote in Canada，the United States，and Great Britain. Gradually，other democracies around the world also recognized women's right to vote. Today，it seems difficult to believed that women were not allowed to vote only a few generations ago. But there is still a progress to be made. In many countries，women are under-represented among political leaders. Perhaps the day will soon come when women are elected as often as men.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.glamorous 迷人的 2.derived 获得 3.hub 重心 4.shores 海岸 5.minor trading post 小型贸易战 6.lamp 灯 7.atmosphere 气氛 8.notorious 臭名昭著的 9.prohibition 禁令 10.mobsters 匪徒 11.smuggling 走私 12.liquor 烈酒 13.rival gangs 敌对帮派 14.poverty 贫穷 15.racial conflict 种族冲突 16.prospered 繁荣的 17.institute 机构 18.aquarium 水族馆 19.district 地区 原文 Chicago Chicago is one of the most famous American cities. Some cities in the United States-such as New York，Los Angeles，and San Francisco-may be more glamorous，but many people agree that Chicago is the city that best represents the United States. Located in the middle of North America，Chicago has derived much benefit from its geography. The city's central location has made its O'Hare International Airport the“hub”for most airlines in the United States. Its location on the shores of Lake Michigan has made it a major port and business center，where the agricultural and industrial products of the American Midwest are shipped overseas. Until about the 1830s，Chicago was a minor trading post. But then it grew rapidly as the most important town in the rapidly developing areas of the Midwest United States. In the 1871，the city was destroyed by a fire. It is often said that the fire started when a cow knocked over an oil lamp. It took about 20 years for the city to be completely rebuilt，but it continued to expand. In 1882，the first skyscraper was built in Chicago. Around the turn of the century，the population of Chicago was growing quickly. Many African-American people moved to Chicago from southern United States，and many immigrants from Eastern Europe also arrived in Chicago during this time Because of the busy and active atmosphere of the city，an American poet described Chicago as“the city of broad shoulders”. Chicago became notorious for organized crime during the Prohibition Era of the 1920s，when the sale of alcohol was illegal. Mobsters such as AI Capone became rich by smuggling liquor，and many people were killed in conflicts between rival gangs of criminals. But the influence of organized crime later became weaker. In the decades following World War Two，Chicago experienced some problems with crime，poverty，and racial conflict. However，the city has recently prospered，and social conditions have improved for many people in Chicago. Compared with other large cities，Chicago is viewed an affordable place to live，with a high quality of life. The city has an efficient transportation，and many beautiful parks along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Chicago is famous for its many attractions，including the Art Institute of Chicago，the Field Museum of Natural History，the Shedd Aquarium，the Sears Tower，and the“Miracle Mile”shopping district. Indeed，Chicago is one of the most interesting cities in the United States.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.borders 国界 2.Belgium 比利时 3.humanitarian assistance 人道援助 4.ethnicity 民族 5.famines 饥荒 6.surgeons 外科医生 7.anesthists 麻醉师 8.logistics 后勤 9.participating 参与 10.abide 遵守 11.ethics 伦理 12.duration 持续时间 13.insured 投保 14.vaccination 接种疫苗 15.sanitation 卫生 原文 Doctors Without Borders In 1999，the Nobel Prize for Peace was won by the organization known as“Doctors Without Borders”. This is the English name of the organization，based in Belgium，which won the prize for its humanitarian assistance to people around the world，in areas that have been struck by disaster. The fundamental ideas of Doctors Without Borders is that people who suffer from a disaster have the right to receive the professional help as soon as possible. The organization helps people regardless of their national，race，religion，ethnicity，sex，or political opinions. Also，the assistance provided by Doctors Without Borders is given in response to all kinds of disasters，such as famines，earthquakes，and wars. The people who belong to Doctors Without Borders are experienced medical workers who volunteer their time，effort，and skills in an attempt to help people who are in need. These volunteers include doctors，nurses，surgeons，anesthetists，laboratory technicians，and other medical workers. There are also some non-medical volunteers who work for Doctors Without Borders in position of administration or logistics. Volunteers must first take a course before participating in a humanitarian mission. They promise to abide a code of professional ethics，and they promise to remain neutral in any conflicts within a disaster area. A mission typically last about six months，but the duration varies. The volunteers are insured by the organization，but they are not paid in any way for their work. When Doctors Without Borders began in 1971，it consisted of only a few French doctors who wanted to provide humanitarian aid to people in disaster areas. Over years，it grew rapidly，and by 2001，Doctors Without Borders had 2500 volunteers and working in 80 countries around the world. They have helped people by providing emergency health care，vaccinations，medicine，water，and basic food，and also by developing improved water and sanitation systems. In many areas，Doctors Without Borders has also helped to provide basic medical training to local people. Although Doctors Without Borders remain neutral in any conflicts within a disaster area，the organization dose speak out against abuses of human rights. By remaining independent of the influence of governments and corporations，Doctors Without Borders is able to criticize the people and organizations who cause suffering. The volunteers are witnesses who tell the world about the cruelty that is conflicted upon innocent people. Obviously，the work of Doctors Without Borders is extremely important. The volunteers of this organization are brave and selfless people whose efforts have received the suffering of millions of people.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.literature 文学 2.draining 流 3.silt 淤 4.boundary 分界 5.halves 一半（half的复数） 6.claim 宣称 7.paddle 桨 8.gateway 入口 9.arch 拱门 10.monument 纪念碑 11.Mardi Gras 狂欢节 原文 The Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the longest river within the United States，and the fourth longest river in the world. This river holds a special place in American history and literature，and in the imagination of the ordinary Americans. The Mississippi River begins in the hill of northern Minnesota，near the Canadian border，and flows southward about 3700 kilometers，through ten states，before draining its water and silt into the Gulf of Mexico. Traditionally，the river is viewed as a natural boundary between the eastern and western halves of the United States. Until the year of 1803，the areas to the west of the Mississippi River，and the areas around the mouth of the river，were claimed by Spain and by France. In that year，the French emperor，Napoleon，decided to sell this land to the United States of America. This sale，which was called the Louisiana Purchase，was very important for the United States. By controlling the Mississippi River，the Americans would be able to use it for transporting goods and people in this rapidly developing area. For many years ，river-boats were the main method of long distance transportation for the people living near the Mississippi. Steam-power boats，with large“paddle-wheels”that pushed the boats forward，were very popular in the time before cars and airplanes. One of the most famous cities along the Mississippi River is St. Louis. This city is known as the“gateway to the west”. During the nineteenth century，St. Louis was the last large town that people would pass through on their way to the new farmland to farther west. Today，St. Louis is famous for the“Gateway Arch”，a tall monument that welcomes people to the west. St. Louis is also known as the city where the music known as“the Blues”began Near the mouth of the Mississippi River is another famous city，New Orleans.. In terms of the style of the buildings，New Orleans is said to be the most unusual American city，because it is influenced so strongly by Spanish and French traditions. Even today，the traditional festival of“Mardi Gras”is celebrated in New Orleans each year. New Orleans and the surrounding areas of the state of the Louisiana are famous for spicy“Cajun”food. This style of cooking was developed by the French-speaking settlers of Louisiana The Mississippi River is famous for many stories of American literature. For example，The Adventure of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn，which were written by the author Mark Twain，are both set along the Mississippi River. Today，the federal and government of the United States are working to preserve the natural environment along the Mississippi River. People recognize the importance of keeping this river healthy and clean.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.permissive 放任的 2.sexual intercourse 性交 3.prostitution 卖淫 4.contraceptive 避孕 5.norms 标准 6.promiscuous 淫乱的 7.reversed 翻转 8.conservative 保守的 9.monogamous 单配的 10.exclusively 唯一地 11.spouse 配偶 12.commit adultery 通奸 原文 Sexual Attitudes and Behavior During the past several decades，there have been major changes within most Western countries in people's attitudes toward sex，and in sexual behavior. For people who have lived throughout this period，the changes have seemed quite remarkable. Until the early twentieth century，people in most Western countries did not have permissive attitude regarding sexuality. For the most part，young people were expected to wait until marriage before having sexual intercourse. Of course，some premarital sexual did occur，and prostitution was not rare However，sexual behavior was relatively restricted. As the twentieth century progressed，there was a gradual trend toward liberalization of attitudes toward sex. However，this trend was greatly speeded after 1960，when the first birth control pills became available. These contraceptive pills made it possible for women to engage in sexual intercourse without much risk of an unwanted pregnancy. As a result，many women were more willing to have premarital sex than was previously the case. Also during the 1960s，Western countries were reaching high levels of wealth and education. A new and very large generation of young people was approaching adulthood，and there was a mood of rebellion against traditional norms. There was an increase in the number of people who engaged in sex before marriage，and also a greater openness about such behavior. By the 1970s，sexual attitudes had became quite liberal，and many young people were very promiscuous in their sexual behavior. However，this pattern reversed somewhat during the 1980s. There was increased concern about sexual transmitted diseases，including AIDS；moreover，many young women had been uncomfortable with the idea of unrestricted sexual behavior. As a result，sexual attitudes became slightly more conservative during the 1980s and 1990s although they remained much more liberal than in previous decades. In the early twenty-first century，most young people in Western countries begin having sex during their high school years，although some people waited until they are considerably older. Some young people are promiscuous，but most engage in monogamous relationships that typically last for a period several months or a few years. When one relationship ends，another usually begins soon after. This pattern usually continues until marriage. After marriage，most people have sex exclusively with their spouse；however，some people do commit adultery. Sexuality has changed a great deal in recent decades. It will be very interesting to see how people's sexual attitudes and behavior will change in the future.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.profoundly 深刻地 2.ignition 点火装置 3.ignites 点火 4.vapor 蒸汽 5.cylinder 气缸 6.piston 活塞 7.shaft 轴 8.fumes 烟雾 9.paved 铺 10.emission 排放物 原文 The Automobile，or Car In many ways，the automobile has been one of the most important inventions of the modern age. People have been able to travel much more freely，and across much greater distances，than was possible in the past. The automobile，which most people refer to as the“car”，has also had some harmful consequences，such as pollution and accidents. However，it is clear that life has changed profoundly as a result of the car. Modern cars are very complicated，but the basic idea of how a car works can be described briefly. When the keys are turn in the ignition of the car，this creates a spark that ignites some gasoline vapor inside a cylinder. Then，the rapid expansion of the vapor pushes against a part called a piston. The movement of the piston then causes a turning motion in a shaft that is connected to the wheels. The wheels turn，and the car moves. The invention of the car，and the engines used by cars，happened gradually in the late nineteenth century，mainly in France and Germany. In the early twentieth century，an American engineer named Henry Ford developed a new way of making cars. Instead of having one worker produced an entire car，he had each worker perform one part of the production of many different cars. This system was very efficient and allowed the mass production of cars. The first car to be produced in large numbers was called the“Model T”. The Model T Ford and other cars that were soon produced in large numbers were cheap enough that many people could afford to buy them. Many new roads were built and paved throughout North America to allow car to be driven from town to town. People were able to travel much more easily and to visit places that had previously been difficult to reach. Some problems also came with the widespread use of cars. One of these problems was air pollution，because car engines burn gasoline，which produces poisonous exhaust fumes. Gradually，new laws and new technology have led to reductions in the air pollution that is caused by cars. Moreover，cars today are much more “fuel efficient”than they were in the past，requiring less gasoline to travel a given distance. However，this pollution is still a problem because of the many millions of cars that are used each day. Another problem has been car accidents，which have caused many thousands of deaths each year. During the 1960s，some journalist brought attention to the unsafe features of many cars. As a result，the safety of the cars has been greatly improved. In addition，the use of seat belt is now required by law. However，car accidents continue to be a serious problem. The future is likely to bring many interesting new changes to the car. Improvements in the safety of cars，in fuel efficiency，and in the cleanliness of car emissions are continuing to be made. Also，the increasing use of the car in economically developing countries will probably have important effect upon people's lives around the world.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.dedicated 敬业的 2.eager 渴望的 3.severe 严重的 4.frustrated 挫败的 5.inability 无力 6.temper tantrums 发脾气 7.tutor 家庭教师 8.outbursts 爆发 9.Braille alphabet 盲文字母表 10.bumps 凸块 11.interpreter 口译译员 原文 Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller The story of Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller is the story of a dedicated teacher and an eager student. This story is very remarkable and inspiring because the teaching was done without sight and without sound. Helen Keller was born in the American state of Alabama in 1880. She was a happy and healthy baby，but before she reached the age of two，she was struck by a severe fever. As a result of this fever，she became both deaf and blind. After her illness，the young Helen Keller learned to use her other senses. For example，she touched other people's hands to figure out what they were doing. In this way，she also learned that people could communicate by moving their lips . Helen could not talk；instead，she communicated with her family by making sign movements with her hands and body. However，Helen became very frustrated by her inability to see，hear and talk. She often became very angry and had many“temper tantrums”. When Helen Keller was 6 years old，her family took her to see Dr. Alexander Graham Bell，who was an expert on educating deaf children. This man was also famous for inventing the telephone. As a result of this visit，Helen's parents hired a tutor for their daughter. The tutor was a very intelligent deaf woman named Anne Sullivan. At first，it was difficult to teach Helen because she still made many angry outbursts. Gradually，Anne Sullivan gained Helen's trust. One day，Anne began to teach Helen to communicate. Anne took Helen to a well and pumped some water onto Helen's hand. Then，Anne used her finger to write the letters w-a-t-e-r onto Helen's hand. By repeating this，Anne was able to teach Helen how to write the word“water”. As soon as Helen learned that things could be named in this way，she wanted to learned the named of many other objects and actions. She was curious about many things，and learned a great number of words. She also learned to read by using the Braille alphabet. This alphabet allows the reader to feel letters and words，which are represented by bumps on a paper. Also，Helen learned to talk，by feeling and coping the movements of people's mouths. When Helen Keller was 16 years old，Anne Sullivan went with her to college. Anne acted as Helen's interpreter，and Helen was very successful in her studies. After her graduation，Helen dedicated her life to improve the conditions for the blind，the deaf，and the poor. Anne Sullivan died in 1936 and remembered as the“Miracle Worker”for her triumph in educating Helen Keller. After Anne's death，Helen continued to give lectures in countries around the world，and was active in many political causes. She met with presidents and prime ministers to improve conditions for people who were deaf and blind. At the time of her death，in 1968Helen Keller was one of the most admired people in the world.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.chunnel 海底隧道 2.separate 单独的 3.suspension 悬浮的 4.withstand 承受 5.signal 信号 原文 Modern Engineering Wonders During the twentieth centuries，there were great improvements in engineering technology. These new developments allowed the construction of many amazing tunnels，bridges，towers and office buildings. For centuries，people had dreamed about the possibility of connecting the island of Great Britain to the mainland of Europe. However，it was only in 1994 that such a link was completed，when a tunnel was dug under the English Channel，between England and France. The Channel Tunnel，also was known as the“Chunnel”，actually consist of three separate railway tunnels. These tunnels are about 15 kilometers long. They are located about 150 meters below the bottom of the sea. Obviously，this was an extremely challenging project to undertake. As a result of the Chunnel，it was now possible to travel between London and Paris by train. And the trip takes only 3 hours，of which only 20 minutes are spent inside the tunnel！ A suspension bridge is a bridge that is supported by strong wires that hang from tall towers. The world's longest suspension bridge is the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge，near the city of Kobe，Japan. This bridge is nearly 4 kilometers long，and two towers near the middle of the bridge about 2 kilometers apart！ It took almost 20 years to design this bridge，and 10 years to build it. This bridge was designed to withstand extremely strong winds，because Japan often experiences wind storms called typhoons. The bridge was also designed to withstand powerful earthquakes，which sometimes hit Japan. At the beginning of the twenty-first century，the world's tallest free-standing tower was the Canadian National Tower，or the CN Tower. The CN Tower is 553 meters tall. It is located in the city of Toronto，within the Canadian province of Ontario. This structure was built in 1975 as a television and radio tower. Before the CN Tower was built，TV and radio reception in the Toronto area was poor. This was because the TV and radio signals were blocked by the buildings of downtown Toronto. When the CN tower was built，this problem was resolved. Of course，the CN tower is also a famous tourist attraction. People can ride the very fast elevators that take them to the observation areas，which are at 350 and 450 meters above the ground. Although the CN tower is the world's tallest tower，it is not an office building. The tallest office building in the world are the Petronas Towers，in the city of Kuala Lumpur，Malaysia，and the Sears Tower，in the American city of Chicago. The Sears Tower，which is 442 meters tall，was completed in 1972. In has 110 floors，and its top floor is the highest office floor in the world. However，the Petronas Towers reach slightly higher，to a height of 452 meters The Petronas Towers were completed in 1998. Obviously，the late twentieth century witnessed some amazing achievements of engineering. It will be very interesting to see what new wonders will be constructed in the twenty-first century！

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.the Protestant Reformation 新教改革 2.Catholic 天主教 3.theologian 神学家 4.committing 犯罪 5.sins 罪恶 6.freedom 特权 7.acknowledge the authority 承认权威 8.heretic 异教徒 9.celibate 独身的 10.interpret 解释 原文 The Protestant Reformation Until about 500 years ago，there was only one Christian church in western and central Europe. People from Portugal and Poland all belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. However，soon after the year 1500，people in many parts of Europe broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and began their own churches instead. This was known as the Protestant Reformation. The leader of the early Protestant movement was a German theologian named Martin Luther. Luther believed that many of the priests of the Roman Catholic Church had became too concerned about wealth and luxury. Also，he disapproved of some practices in the Church. One such practice was that priests allowed people to pay money to the Church in exchange for committing various sins. Luther believed that it was wrong to allow people to buy the freedom to commit acts that were against the teaching of the Church. Luther began to criticize the Roman Catholic Church in public，and he refused to acknowledge the authority of the Church. He said that instead he would follow the teachings of the Bible as he understood them. The officials of the Church declared that Luther was a heretic. However，the local German rulers did not punish Luther. Many of them resented the power of the Church and welcomed his ideas. Luther and other Protestant leaders disagreed with the Church on several important issues. The Protestants believed that priests should be allowed to marry，whereas the Roman Catholic Church believed priests should remain celibate. The Protestants believed that people should read the Bible for themselves，whereas the Roman Catholic Church believed that the priests should interpret the Bible for the people. During the decades that follow Luther，the Protestant movement spread throughout much of Europe. Over time，many Protestant churches were formed. During this period，many wars were fought between local rulers who were favored Protestantism，and other local rulers who supported the Roman Catholic Church. In the end，many parts of Europe became Protestant，such as Scandinavia，England，and parts of Germany，Holland and Switzerland. However，the people and rulers of many other areas of Europe preferred remain in the Roman Catholic Church. These areas included most of southern Europe，such as Poland and Ireland. The Roman Catholic Church changed a few of its practices in response to Protestant Criticism，but kept its most important beliefs. In recent times，relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the various Protestant churches have become much more friendly. Some discussions have been held between Catholic and Protestant officials，in order to resolve some of their disagreements.

在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕 关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频 词汇提示 1.individualism 个人主义 2.collectivism 集体主义 3.ethnic 民族的 4.obligation 义务的 5.inclination 倾斜 6.versus 对抗 原文 Cultural Differences：Individualism and Collectivism The many cultures of the world differ in a great variety of ways. One of the most interesting ways in which cultures vary in the extent to which they are“individualistic”or“collectivistic”. An individualist society and collectivist society are different in many ways. In an individualistic culture，each person tends to think himself or herself in terms of his or her characteristics and preferences the things that make the person unique and different from others. In a collectivistic culture，each person tends to think himself or herself in terms of his or her social relationships and roles the things that make the person a part of a larger group，such as an extended family or an ethic group. Another difference between individualist and collectivist cultures involves the tendency to help others. In an individualist society，people feel some obligation to help persons who share some group identity such as their distant relatives，or persons from the same town，but obligation is not as nearly as strong as in collectivist cultures. On the other hand，people in collectivist cultures tend to feel very little inclination to help other people who are not belong to their groups，whereas people in individualist cultures are more often willing to help others even if they are not belong to the same group. Another difference between individualist and collectivist cultures involves the relationship between people and the groups to which they belong. In an individualist culture，people usually join or leave group when it is in their personal interest to do so. In a collectivist culture，people usually stay with one group for a long time. For example，people in individualist societies are more willing to quit their job，and take a new job at another company. People in collectivist societies usually prefer to stay with one company throughout their career. Similarly，people in individualist countries usually get married for reasons of personal choice，and are more likely to get divorced. However，people in collectivist societies usually get married according the wishes of their relatives，and are less likely to get divorced. Western countries，such as west Europe and North America，are usually considered to be very individualist. However，not all individualist countries are similar in every way. For example，the individualism of the United States is viewed as more“competitive”，than that of socialist countries，such as Sweden. In contrast of Western countries，the countries of most parts of Asia and Africa are usually considered to be very collectivist. Collectivist countries also differ from each other in many ways. The idea of individualism versus collectivism is an interesting way to understand some of differences between cultures. By learning about ideas like this，one can better appreciate the customs of other peoples.