Text A Euthanasia : For and Against

For and against=For or against

　　Pro and(or) Con 赞成

　　课文简介

　　安乐死是否合法？对于这个问题，不同的国家有不同的观点。在欧洲，荷兰和比利时两个国家已经给予其合法化。

　　本文主要通过荷兰人齐思ooo范o万德尔o德o尤德要求医生对他执行安乐死的事例，对有关安乐死的种种问题进行了讨论：医生是否有权剥夺别人的生命？执行安乐死对身患绝症的人来说是一种解脱还是谋杀？对此存在着截然不同的两种观点。

　　Paras 1-4 The subject about euthanasia

　　Paras 5-10 There are opinions for and against the practice of euthanasia

　　practice=practice 实施，实践

　　New Words

1 euthanasia

n. 无痛楚的死亡；安乐死



2 weaken

vt./vi. 削弱，减弱



3 Dutchman

n. 荷兰人



4 deteriorate

vt./vi. （使）恶化



5 lethal

a. 致死的



6 injection

n. 注射；注射剂



7 nationwide

a./ad. 全国性的；在全国范围内



8 debate

vt./vi./n.. 争论，辩论



9 legal

a. 法律上的；合法的



10 Dutch

a./n. 荷兰人的；荷兰语



11 parliament

n. 议会，国会



12 prosecute

vt. 对… 起诉



13 request

n. 请求，要求



14 criterion

n.标准，准则



15 crowd

n./vi.群，人群



16 ensure

vt. 保证，担保



17 healthcare

n.保健



18 oppose

vt. 反对，反抗



19 tradition

n. 传统，惯例



20 hospice

n. （晚期病人）收容所



21 council

n. 理事会，委员会



22 founder

n. 创造者；缔造者



23 consideration

n. 考虑，体谅



24 elderly

a./n. 较老的，人过中年的



25 disabled

a. 伤残的；



26 burden

n./vt. 担子，负担；责任，义务



27 opt

vi. 抉择，选择



28 shorten

vt./vi. 缩短，缩小



29 vulnerable

a. 易受伤的，弱小的



30 prohibition

n. 禁止；禁令



31 individual

n./a. 个人，个体；个人的，个别的



32 paternalistic

a. 家长式的统治的



33 moving

a. 活动的，移动的



34 sensitive

a. 敏感的，灵敏的



　　词组：

1 to be affected with

患有…疾病



2 to debate on

关于… 进行辩论



3 to make request for

要求



4 be opposed to

反对



5 to open up

打开，开办，开辟，坦诚地或无拘束地谈话



6 to take … into account

考虑到



7 need for

对… 的需要



8 to opt out （of）

决定不参加… , 决定从… 退出



9 to have … at heart

对某事十分关心



　　词汇精讲：

　　1. weaken : v. 削弱；变弱；

　　She seems to be weakening.

　　They have never weakened their stand for human rights.

　　派生词：weak a. 虚弱的，软弱的

　　手写板00：07：41

　　类似的词有：

　　short, sharp, wide, dark, broad

　　同义词：Undermine

　　2. debate : 争论，辩论

　　用法：to debate on 对… 进行辩论；

　　Lincoln debated Douglas on this issue. 林肯与道格拉斯就这个问题进行了辩论。

　　Education is the current focus of public debate. 教育是当前公众争论的焦点。

　　同义词：dispute

　　3. legal : a.法律上的，合法的

　　派生词： illegal a. 不合法的

　　4. request : vt/n. 请求，要求

　　搭配：request for 要求… ; make a request for 要求；at sb's request 应…之要求；

　　例：He made a request for immediate help. 他要求立即给予帮助。

　　The singer gave one more song at our request. 歌唱家在我们的要求下又唱了一首歌。

　　They made a request to release the prisoners.他们要求释放犯人。

　　其他用法：request 后接that 从句时，从句的谓语动词用虚拟语气"should + 动词原形"的形式。例：He requested that he (should)stay for more days. 他请求再住一些天。

　　5. criterion : 标准，准则复数：criteria (批评、判断、决定的标准和准则)

　　例： What criteria do you use to judge a good wine? 你用什么标准判断酒的好坏？

　　同义词：standard 标准 （客观的、公正的标准，可用于比较、衡量事物）

　　例： The standard of living has improved greatly.生活的标准已经大大提高。

　　6. ensure : vt. 保证，保护；赋予

　　用法：ensure sb. that 确保…. ; ensure sth.

　　I can ensure that he will come at 12 o'clock , 我能保证他将在12点钟来。

　　他的才能将保证他得到成功。 His ability will ensure his success.

　　7. oppose vt. 反对

　　派生词：opposition n. 反对；opponent n. 对手

　　用法：be opposed to 反对，

　　We are firmly opposed to this dirty political deal. 我们坚决反对这场肮脏的政治交易。

　　What he said was totally opposed to the facts. 他说的与事实完全相反。

　　He is very much opposed to my going abroad . 他非常反对我出国。

　　区别：oppose 与be opposed to

　　They opposed the plan. 他们反对此计划。（表示动作）

　　They were opposed to the plan 他们反对此计划。（表示态度）

　　8. disabled : 伤残的，使失去战斗力的

　　派生词：disable v. 使不能… ; able adj. 有能力的；enable v. 使能够…..；unable a. 不能的，没有能力的；

　　用法：

　　the disabled 残疾人

　　disable sb. from doing sth. 使某人不能干… , 使某人丧失能力；

　　一场事故使他再也不能打篮球了。 An accident disabled him from playing basketball.

　　enable sb. to do sth. 使某人能作某事

　　乘飞机使我们几个小时就能越过太平洋Flying enables us to go across the Pacific in a few hours.

　　be able to do sth. 能够做某事

　　我们能说英语。 We are able to speak English.

　　be unable to do sth. 不能做某事

　　我们不能在9点钟之前到。 We are unable to get there before 9 o'clock.

　　9. sensitive : adj. 敏感的，灵敏的

　　派生词：sense n. 感觉，感知；

　　用法：be sensitive to 对 …很敏感

　　Her reply showed that she was very sensitive to criticism. 她的回答表明她对批评非常敏感。

　　他对天气变化很敏感。He is sensitive to the change of weather.

　　词组精讲：

　　1. to debate on : 关于… 进行辩论

　　Lincoln debated Douglas on this issue. 林肯与道格拉斯就这个问题进行了辩论。

　　2. to make request for ：要求

　　He made a request for immediate help. 他要求立即给予帮助。

　　3. to opposed to : 反对

　　He is very much opposed to my going abroad .

　　4. to open up : 打开，开办，开辟

　　We shall open up the resources of the NW areas of our country.

　　我们将开发我国西北地区的资源。

　　They are preparing to open up a national debate. 他们正准备展开一场全国性的争论。

　　5 to take … into account : 考虑到；估计

　　We must take local conditions into account. 我们必须考虑到当地的条件。

　　You must take her inexperience into account. 你必须考虑到她无经验而予以体谅。

　　相关词汇：to take … into consideration 考虑到

　　6. need for : 对… 的需要

　　There's a growing need for cheap rented housing in the large cities.

　　大城市对廉租房的需求不断增加。

　　课文句子精讲

　　Text A

　　Euthanasia : For and Against

　　"We mustn't delay any longer ... swallowing is difficult ... and breathing, that's also difficult. Those muscles are weakening too ... we mustn't delay any longer."

　　第一部分： paras.1 --- paras 4

　　Para. 1

　　1. "We mustn't delay any longer…" 我们不可以再拖延了

　　mustn't 不应该，不可以

　　not any longer 不再，再也不 , no longer 不再

　　These were the words of Dutchman Cees van Wendel de Joode asking his doctor to help him die. Affected with a serious disease, van Wendel was no longer able to speak clearly and he knew there was no hope of recovery and that his condition was rapidly deteriorating.

　　Para.2

　　2. affected with a serious disease 为过去分词短语作原因状语；句中there was no hope of recovery and that his condition was rapidly deteriorating 是knew 的两个宾语从句。

　　本句的意思是：范o万德尔身患重病，再也不能清楚地说话。他知道他没有希望康复，身体状况正在急剧恶化。

　　Van Wendel's last three months of life before being given a final, lethal injection by his doctor were filmed and first shown on television last year in the Netherlands. The programme has since been bought by 20 countries and each time it is shown, it starts a nationwide debate on the subject.

　　Para.3

　　3. Van Wendel's last three months of life … …were filmed

　　不可数名词前面有单位词修饰，谓语的数与单位词的数一致。

　　例：Two bottles of beer were served .

　　4. 句中"being given a final, lethal injection by his doctor"为被动结构的动名词短语，用作介词 "before"的宾语。句中"film" 用作动词，表示"将故事拍成电影"。

　　本句的意思：范o万德尔 生命的最后三个月，在接受医生给他打的最后致命一针之前，被拍成了电影并于去年首次在荷兰电视上播出。

　　5. 句中"since "为副词，表示"从那以后"； each time 引导的是时间状语从句。

　　本句译为："从那时起，已有20多个国家购买了这个节目，每次播放都引起对这个问题的全国性大辩论。

　　The Netherlands is the only country in Europe which permits euthanasia, although it is not technically legal there. However, doctors who carry out euthanasia under strict guidelines introduced by the Dutch Parliament two years ago are usually not prosecuted. The guidelines demand that the patient is experiencing extreme suffering , that there is no chance of a cure, and that the patient has made repeated requests for euthanasia .

　　permits=allows

　　Para.4

　　6. which引导定语从句修饰country , although 引导让步状语从句

　　it is not technically legal 根据法律是不合法的.

　　technically ad. 严格按法律意义地，严格遵循某些规章制度地

　　（备注：荷兰在2001年四月已立法）

　　本句译为："尽管它根据法律是不合法的，但是荷兰是欧洲唯一允许安乐死的国家。"

　　7. who carry out euthanasia under strict guidelines introduced by the Dutch parliament two years ago 是定语从句修饰doctors.而其中 " introduced …. ago" 为过去分词短语作定语，修饰guidelines。介词under 在此表示"根据，按照"。

　　主句： doctors … … are usually not prosecuted.

　　本句的意思是：不过，执行安乐死的医生如果遵守荷兰议会两年前制定的严格准则，通常不会遭起诉。

　　8. 三个that 引导的都是demand 的宾语从句，说明执行安乐死必须同时满足这三个条件。demand 在此表示"规定"，而不是"要求"的意思，因此，其后所接宾语从句也没有用（should）+ 动词原形的虚拟语气形式。

　　本句的意思是：这些准则要求，病人必须正在经受极大的痛苦，没有制愈的可能，并且病人一再恳求安乐死。

　　introduce：推行

　　In addition to this, a second doctor must confirm that these criteria have been met and the death must be reported to the police department.

　　9 a second doctor must confirm that these criteria have been met and the death must be reported to the police department.

　　a second doctor = another doctor 另外一名医生

　　第二部分 para.5 --- para.10

　　Should doctors be allowed to take the lives of others? Dr, Wilfred van Oijen, Cees van Wendel's doctor, explains how he looks at the question:

　　Para.5 提出问题 Should doctors be allowed to take the lives of others?

　　10 Cees van Wendel's doctor, 是 Dr, Wilfred van Oijen的同位语。此句的主语和谓语被同位语所分开。,谓语是 explains ， how he looks at the question:是宾语从句。

　　life的复数是lives

　　"Well, it's not as if I'm planning to murder a crowd of people with a machine gun. In that case, killing is the worst thing 1 can imagine. But that's entirely different from my work as a doctor. I care for people and I try to ensure that they don't suffer too much. That's a very different thing."

　　Para.6

　　11 as if = as though 仿佛，好像…似的

　　引导方式状语从句，一般用虚拟语气，如果与事实相符，也可用陈述语气。

　　12 In that case , 在那种情况下 case n. 情况，事例，案例，病例

　　killing is the worst thing 1 can imagine. 杀人是我能想象出的最残忍的事情

　　Para.7 、8（两位反对安乐死的人和他们的观点）

　　Many people, though, are totally against the practice of euthanasia, Dr. Andrew Ferguson, Chairman of the organization Healthcare Opposed to Euthanasia, says that "in the vast majority of euthanasia cases, what the patient is actually asking for is something else. They may want a health professional to open up communication for them with their loved ones or family — there's nearly always another question behind the question."

　　13 Many people, though, are totally against the practice of euthanasia, 此句中的though = however

　　14 Chairman of the organization Healthcare Opposed to Euthanasia, 是Dr. Andrew Ferguson,的同位语。此句的主语和谓语被同位语所分开。

　　Britain also has a strong tradition of hospices — special hospitals which care only for the dying and their special needs. Cicely Saunders, President of the National Hospice Council and a founder member of the hospice movement, argues that euthanasia doesn't take into account that there are ways of caring for the dying. She is also concerned that allowing euthanasia would undermine the need for care and consideration of a wide range of people: "It's very easy in society now for the elderly, the disabled and the dependent to feel that they are burdens, and therefore that they ought to opt out. I think that anything that legally allows the shortening of life does make those people more vulnerable.

　　15 “president of the National Hospice Council and a founder member of the hospice movement” 是Cicely Saunders 的同位语。此句的主语和谓语被同位语所分开。

　　“ that euthanasia doesn’t take into account that there are ways of caring for the dying 是argue 的宾语从句；在宾语从句中，there are ways of caring for the dying 是take 的宾语从句。

　　此句的意思是：国家晚期病人收容所委员会主席和收容运动发起人茜西里?桑得斯认为安乐死没有考虑到总会有办法照顾临终病人。

　　16 “ that anything that legally allows the shortening of life does not make those people more vulnerable” 句中第一个that是think 的宾语从句的引导词，that legally allows the shortening of life 是定语从句，修饰anything 。

　　vulnerable 是形容词作宾语补语

　　Many find this prohibition of an individual's right to die paternalistic. Although they agree that life is important and should be respected, they feel that the quality of life should not be ignored. Dr. van Oijen believes that people have the fundamental right to choose for themselves if they want to die: "What those people who oppose euthanasia are telling me is that dying people haven't the right. And that when people are very ill, we are all afraid of their death. But there are situations where death is a friend. And in those cases, why not?" Para.9

　　17“what those people who oppose euthanasia are telling me” 是主语从句，that dying people haven’t the right 是表语从句；在主语从句中，who oppose euthanasia 是定语从句，修饰people. 本句的意思：那些反对安乐死的人告诉我的是临终之人没有这个权利。

　　and that （time） when …

　　18Why not 是一个省略句， 意思是：Why not help them die?

　　 Why not have euthanasia?

　　But "why not?" is a question which might cause strong emotion. The film showing Cees van Wendel's death was both moving and sensitive. His doctor was clearly a family friend; his wife had only her husband's interests at heart. Some, however, would argue that it would be dangerous to use this particular example to support the case for euthanasia. Not all patients would receive such a high level of individual care and attention.

　　Para.10

　　19Some, however, would argue that it would be dangerous to use this particular example to support the case for euthanasia.

　　that 引导宾语从句, 从句中 it 是形式主语，不定式 to use 是实际主语

　　20Not all patients would receive such a high level of individual care and attention.

　　并不是所有的病人都能得到如此高水平的个别护理和关照。

　　accept 是主动的接受

　　重点句

　　 Euthanasia : For and Against

　　"We mustn't delay any longer ... swallowing is difficult ... and breathing, that's also difficult. Those muscles are weakening too ... we mustn't delay any longer."

　　These were the words of Dutchman Cees van Wendel de Joode asking his doctor to help him die. Affected with a serious disease, van Wendel was no longer able to speak clearly and he knew there was no hope of recovery and that his condition was rapidly deteriorating.

　　Van Wendel's last three months of life before being given a final, lethal injection by his doctor were filmed and first shown on television last year in the Netherlands. The programme has since been bought by 20 countries and each time it is shown, it starts a nationwide debate on the subject.

　　The Netherlands is the only country in Europe which permits euthanasia, although it is not technically legal there. However, doctors who carry out euthanasia under strict guidelines introduced by the Dutch Parliament two years ago are usually not prosecuted. The guidelines demand that the patient is experiencing extreme suffering , that there is no chance of a cure, and that the patient has made repeated requests for euthanasia . In addition to this, a second doctor must confirm that these criteria have been met and the death must be reported to the police department.

　　Should doctors be allowed to take the lives of others? Dr, Wilfred van Oijen, Cees van Wendel's doctor, explains how he looks at the question:

　　"Well, it's not as if I'm planning to murder a crowd of people with a machine gun. In that case, killing is the worst thing 1 can imagine. But that's entirely different from my work as a doctor. I care for people and I try to ensure that they don't suffer too much. That's a very different thing."

　　Many people, though, are totally against the practice of euthanasia, Dr. Andrew Ferguson, Chairman of the organization Healthcare Opposed to Euthanasia, says that "in the vast majority of euthanasia cases, what the patient is actually asking for is something else. They may want a health professional to open up communication for them with their loved ones or family — there's nearly always another question behind the question."

　　Britain also has a strong tradition of hospices — special hospitals which care only for the dying and their special needs. Cicely Saunders, President of the National Hospice Council and a founder member of the hospice movement, argues that euthanasia doesn't take into account that there are ways of caring for the dying. She is also concerned that allowing euthanasia would undermine the need for care and consideration of a wide range of people: "It's very easy in society now for the elderly, the disabled and the dependent to feel that they are burdens, and therefore that they ought to opt out. I think that anything that legally allows the shortening of life does make those people more vulnerable.

　　Many find this prohibition of an individual's right to die paternalistic. Although they agree that life is important and should be respected, they feel that the quality of life should not be ignored. Dr. van Oijen believes that people have the fundamental right to choose for themselves if they want to die: "What those people who oppose euthanasia are telling me is that dying people haven't the right. And that when people are very ill, we are all afraid of their death. But there are situations where death is a friend. And in those cases, why not?"

　　But "why not?" is a question which might cause strong emotion. The film showing Cees van Wendel's death was both moving and sensitive. His doctor was clearly a family friend; his wife had only her husband's interests at heart. Some, however, would argue that it would be dangerous to use this particular example to support the case for euthanasia. Not all patients would receive such a high level of individual care and attention.

Text B Advantage Unfair





New Words

　　1 conspiracy n.　　1.阴谋，密谋；2.阴谋集团，阴谋帮派

　　2 old-boy n.　　　 1.老同学；2.(招呼用)老朋友，老弟，老兄

　　3 network n.　　 　1.[纺]网眼织物；2.网状物，网络

　　4 escalator n.　 　自动扶梯

　　5 privilege n.　 　特权

　　　　　　　　vt.　 　给予…特权

　　6 profession n.　　职业(尤指脑力劳动或受过专业训练的)

　　7 graduate vi.　 　大学毕业，[美]毕业

　　　　　　　　vt.　　 [主美]准予…毕业

　　　　　　　　a.　　　1.毕业的；2.研究生的

　　　　　　　　n.　　　大学毕业生；[美]毕业生

　　8 unfair a.　　　　不公平的，不公正的

　　9 employment n.　　1.使用；2.雇佣；3.职业，工作

　　10 publish vt.　 　1.出版，刊印；2.公布，发表

　　11 senior a.　　 　1.年长的，年纪较大的；

　　　　　　　　　　　　2.地位较高的，资历较深的；

　　　　　　　　　　　　3.[英](大学)高年级的，[美]大学四年级的

　　　　　　　n.　　　　1.年长者，2.资历深者，上级

　　12 appoint vt.　 　1.任命，委任(as)；2.约定，指定(时间，地点)

　　13 private a.　　　1.私人的，私有的；2.私营的，私立的；3.秘密的，私下的

　　14 headmaster n.　　(中学或小学的)校长

　　15 leading a.　　　1.领导的，指导的；2.最重要的，主要的

　　16 bias n.　　　　 偏见

　　　　 　　v.　　　　[常用被动语态]有偏见(against， towards)

　　17 entry n.　　　　1.进入，入场(权)，入会权；2.入口；3.登记，条目，帐目

　　18 merit n.　　　　1.优点，长处；2.功绩，功劳

　　19 fiercely ad.　　1.凶猛地，凶残地；2.猛烈地

　　20 competitive a.　竞争的；比赛的

　　21 entrance n.　　 1.进入；2.入口，门口；3.入场，入会，入学

　　22 additional a.　 附加的，追加的；另外的

　　23 abolish vt.　 　废除(法律，习惯等)；取消

　　24 applicant n.　　申请人，请求者

　　25 performance n.　1.执行，完成；2.表现，工作性能；3.演出，演奏

　　26 accessible a.　 1.易接近的，能进去的；2.易受影响的(to)；3.可理解的(to)

　　27 elite n.　　　　[集合名词]精英，杰出人物

　　　　　　　a. 　　　 杰出的，精英的

　　28 academic a.　　　1.(高等)专科院校的，研究院的，学会的；2.学术的

　　29 excellence n.　　优秀，杰出

　　30 recruit vt./vi.　1.征募(新兵)，吸收(新成员)；2.聘用，补充

　　　　　　　　　n.　　 新兵；新成员

　　31 equivalent a.　　1.相等的，相同的(to)；2.等价的，等量的，等效的

　　　　　　　　　 n.　　1.等价(物)，等量(物)；2.对应词(或对应语)

　　32 ivy n. 常青藤

　　33 replicate vt. 重复；复制

　　34 elitist n.　　1.杰出人物；2.杰出人物统治论者

　　　　　　　　a.　　1.杰出人物的；2.杰出人物统治论的

　　35 remedial a.　　1.治疗的，治疗上用的；2.补救的

　　36 prime a.　　1.最初的，基本的；2.首要的，主要的；3.第一流的，最好的

　　37 vision n.　　1.想像力，幻觉；2.视力，视觉；3.眼光

　　38 classless a.　　1.无阶级的；2.不属于任何阶级的

　　Phrases and Expressions

　　1 to amount to 　　　　1.达到，总计；2.相当于，等于

　　2 on average(on an average或 on the average) 平均

　　3 to blame … for　　　为… 责备某人

　　4 by nature　　　　　　生来，天生，就其本性而言

　　5 be worth doing　　　 值得做…

　　Proper Names

　　Walter Ellis　　沃尔特.埃利斯

　　Oxbridge　　　　牛津大学和剑桥大学

　　Oxford 　　　　 牛津，牛津大学

　　Cambridge　　　 剑桥，剑桥大学

　　John Rae　　　　约翰.雷

　　Westminster 　　威斯敏斯特

　　France 　　　　 法兰西，法国

　　Ivy League　　　常春藤联合会

　　Harvard　　　　 哈佛大学

　　Yale　　　　　　耶鲁大学

　　Princeton　　　 普林斯顿大学

　　Stanford　　　　斯坦福大学

　　Berkeley　　　　伯克利

　　John Major　　　约翰.梅杰

　　escalator

　　电梯：elevator, lift

　　profession

　　career 事业，职业（终身所从事的职业）

　　vocation 指帮助人的职业，如医生，护士，教师

　　occupation （比较正式）职业

　　job 工作，职业

　　work 工作，职业

　　TextB 重点词汇：

　　1. appoint : 任命，委任

　　appointment

　　He's just been appointed as director of the publishing division. 他刚被任命为出版社的主任。

　　2. accessible : adj. 易接近的，能进去的，

　　The problem with some of these drugs is that they are so very accessible . 毒品的问题在于毒品太易得到了。

　　She has made some attempt to make opera accessible to a wider public. 她曾尝试着让歌剧走进更广大的大众。

　　派生词：access n. 通路，入口，接近（或进入）的机会

　　3. to amount to : 达到，总计；相当于

　　The cost amounts to $3,000 . 费用总计3000 美元。

　　Her words amount to a refusal. 她的话无异于拒绝。

　　4. to blame sb. for : 为… 责备某人

　　Public opinion blames Mrs. Smith for leading the girl astray .

　　舆论责怪史密斯夫人把那位姑娘引入歧途。

　　You can't really blame Helen for not wanting to get involved .

　　海伦不想被卷入其中，你确实不能为此责备她。

　　5. by nature : 生来，天生，

　　He is an optimist by nature . 他生来一个乐天派。

　　He was , by nature , a man of few words. 他是天生沉默寡言的人。

　　a few+可数名词

　　a little + 不可数名词

　　Text B 重点句子：

　　Advantage Unfair

　　According to the write Walter Ellis, author of a book called the Oxbridge Conspiracy, Britain is still dominated by the old-boy network: it isn’t what you know that matters, but who you know .He claims that at Oxford and Cambridge Universities （Oxbridge for short） a few select people start on an escalator ride which, over the years, carries them to the tops of British privilege and power. His research revealed that the top professions all continue to be dominated, if not 90 percent, then 60 or 65per cent, by Oxbridge graduates.

　　And yet, says Ellis, Oxbridge graduates make up only two percent of the total number of students who graduate from Britain’s universities. Other researches also seem to support his belief that Oxbridge graduates start with an unfair advantage in the employment market. In the law, a recently published report showed that out of 26 senior judges appointed to the High Court last year ,all of them went to private schools and 21 of them went to Oxbridge.

　　But can this be said to amount to a conspiracy? Not according to Dr.John Rae, a former headmaster of one of Britain’s leading private school ,Westminster:

　　“I would accept that there was a bias in some key areas of British life , but that bias has now gone .Some time ago—in the 60s and before —entry to Oxford and Cambridge was not entirely on merit .Now, there’s absolutely no question in any objective observer’s mind that entry to Oxford and Cambridge is fiercely competitive.”

　　However many would disagree with this. For, although over three—quarters of British pupils are educated in state schools, over half the students that go to Oxbridge have been to private, over half the students that go to Oxbridge have been to private, or “public” school .Is this because pupils from Britain’s private schools are more intelligent than those from state schools, or are they simply better prepared?

　　On average ,about ￡5,000 a year is spent on each private school pupil, more than twice the amount spent on state school pupils .So how can the state schools be expected to compete with the private schools when they have far fewer resources? And how can they prepare their pupils for the special entrance exam to Oxford University, which requires extra preparation, and for which many public school pupils traditionally stay at school and do an additional term ?

　　Until recently, many blamed Oxford for this bias because of the university’s special entrance exam （Cam bridge abolished its entrance exam in 1986） But last February ,Oxford University decided to abolish the exam to encourage more state school applicants .From autumn 1996, Oxford University applicants, like applicants to other universities , will be judged only on their A level results and on their performance at interviews , although some departments might still set special tests.

　　However, some argue that there’s nothing wrong in having elite laces of learning ,and by their very nature ,these places should not be easily accessible. Most countries are run by an elite and have centers of academic excellence from which the elite are recruited. Walter Ellis accepts that this is true:

　　“But in France, for example, there are something like 40equivalents of university, which provide this elite through a much broader base ,In America you’ve got the Ivy League, centred on Harvard and Yale .with Princeton ad Stanford and others. But again, those universities together—the elite universities—are about ten or fifteen in number ,and are being pushed aling from behind by other great universities like ,for example, Chicago and Berkeley, So you don’t have just this narrow concentration of two universities providing a constantly replicating elite.”

　　When it comes to Oxford and Cambridge being elitist becarse orf he number of private school pupils they accept , Professor Stone of Oxford University argues that there is a simple fact he and his associates cannot ignore:

“If certain schools so better than others then we just have to accept it . We cannot be a place for remedial education. It’s not what Ocford is there to do .”

　　However, since academic excellence does appear to be related to the amount of money spent per pupil ,this does seem to imply that Prime Minister John Major’s vision of Britain as a classless society is still a long way off. And it may be worth remembering that while John Major didn’t himself go to Oxbridge most of his ministers did.

　　1. Britain is still dominated by the old- boy network; it isn’t what you know that matters, but who you know.

　　强调句，不是你懂得知识重要，而是你认识谁重要

　　2. He claims that at Oxford and Cambridge Universities （Oxbridge for short） a few select people start on an escalator ride which, over the years, carries them to the tops of British privilege and power. 比喻少数精选出来的人，进了牛津或剑桥，就像坐上了电梯一样，很快就会爬上英国权力的顶峰。

　　3. On average, about ￡5,000 a year is spent on each private school pupil, more than twice the amount spent on state school pupils.

　　On average = On the average 平均

　　每个在私立学校读书的学生平均每年要花费约5000英镑，是每个国立学校学生花费的两倍多。

　　4. And how can they prepare their pupils for the special entrance exam to Oxford University, which requires extra preparation, and for which many public school pupils traditionally stay at school and do an additional term?

　　which 和for which都是引导定语从句修饰exam

　　5. When it comes to Oxford and Cambridge being elitist because of the number of private school pupils they accept, professor Stone of Oxford University argues that there is a simple fact he and his associates cannot ignore:

　　When it comes to … “当谈及，涉及…时”

　　例如：When it comes to our children taking the exam, I almost know nothing.

　　当谈到孩子们的考试，我一无所知。

　　6. And it may be worth remembering that while John Major didn’t himself go to Oxbridge, most of his ministers did.

　　be worth + 动名词 用主动式表示被动含义

　　例如：This book is worth reading.这本书值得一读

　　 The film is worth seeing. 此电影值得一看。

　　Unit 3 练习

　　1.词汇英译汉

　　. weaken . deteriorate .debate . legal. request . criterion . ensure . oppose tradition consideration disabled . burden vulnerable prohibition sensitive

　　词组：. to debate on . to make request for be opposed to . to take … into account

　　2.句子英译汉（重点句）

　　Affected with a serious disease, van Wendal was no longer able to speak clearly and he knew there was no hope of recovery and that his condition was rapidly deteriorating.

　　Van Wendel’s last three months of life before being given a final, lethal injection by his doctor were filmed and first shown on television last year in the Netherlands.

　　The programme has since been bought by 20 countries and each time it is shown, it starts a nationwide debate on the subject.

　　What those people who oppose euthanasia are telling me is that dying people haven’t the right.

　　 The guidelines demand that the patient is experiencing extreme suffering , that there is no chance of a cure, and that the patient has made repeated requests for euthanasia .

　　I think that anything that legally allows the shortening of life does make those people more vulnerable.

　　3.句子汉译英 P.59

　　安乐死的确能解除临终病人的痛苦。

　　Euthanasia can really help rid the dying patients of extreme suffering .

　　Euthanasia does release the dying people from their suffering .

　　你知道不知道荷兰是欧洲唯一允许安乐死的国家?

　　Do you know that the Netherlands is the only country in Europe that permits euthanasia ?

　　支持这一观点的医生并不意味着他们不关心病人。

　　Those doctors who support the idea never mean they don’t care about / for patients .

　　在第一个医生诊断疾病之后，必须由另外一名医生确认病情。

　　After the first doctor has diagnosed the illness , a second doctor must confirm the case .

　　反对者认为病人并不一定真正希望结束生命，可能请求之后另有他求。

　　Opponents think patients may not really want to end their lives, and probably there is another request behind the request .

　　历年考题：

　　1. The film ______（show） Cees Van Wendel’s death was both moving and sensitive. （99.10）

　　答案： showing . 考点：showing 是现在分词作定语修饰the film .

　　2. Each time the programmer of Van Wendal’s last days before euthanasia was showed on TV, it starts a nationwide debate ______ the subject. （99.10）

　　A. for

　　B. against

　　C. on

　　D. of

　　答案： C . 考点：词组debate on 对… 的争论。

　　3. 汉译英：每次播放这个节目，都引起对此话题的全国性大辩论。（99.10）

　　答案： Each time it is shown , this program starts a nationwide debate on the subject.

　　4. 汉译英 ： 据说那个病人曾要求医生助他一死。（00.10）

　　答案： The patient is said to have asked the doctor to help him die.

　　 （ 或者： It is said that the patient has asked the doctor to help him die .）

　　语法：一致关系

　　一致关系是指句子成分之间须在人称、数、性等方面保持一致。在英语中最主要的一致关系是主语和谓语动词之间数的一致，即主谓一致。其次，人称代词和它们所指的对象之间也要保此一致。

　　一、主谓一致

　　在现代英语中主谓一致基本遵循如下原则：

　　语法一致原则、意义一致原则和就近原则。

　　二、代词一致

　　代词一致是指句子中代词应在数、性、人称等方面保持一致，或代词和它所指代的名词词组在某些方面保此一致。

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