【星火2010】15篇文章贯通六级词汇

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Preface前言Directions使用说明Unit1InAnotherWorm另一个世界Unit2Let'sDressUp-It'sHalloween万圣节——让我们盛装打扮起来Unit3Gardening园艺Unit4ACanadianFamilyStory一个加拿大家庭的故事Unit5TheFraud这个骗子Unit6ThePasture牧场Unit7TheDecision决定Unit8Chinese-AmericanRelations：AHistory（Ⅰ）中美关系史（一）Unit9Chinese-AmericanRelations：AHistory（Ⅱ）中美关系史（二）Unit10ASolitaryQuest独自寻访Unit11ActingTodayforTomorrow为了明天，今天就行动吧Unit12TheAmericanDream美国梦Unit13SexRoleStereotypes性别成规Unit14Dr．SunYat-sen：FatheroftheChineseRevolution中国革命之父孙中山先生Unitl5TheWorldTradeOrganization（WTO）andChinaWTO与中国Appendix附录Index索引50 UNIT1InAnotherWorldHereIam,inChina,halfwayaroundtheworldfromhome.AsIlookatmyclockandcalculatethetimebackhome.Irealizethathalfaworldawaypeoplearebusygettingreadyforawedding.Thebrideismyniece,apersonIfirstmetwhenshewasthreedaysold.IthinkbacktothefirsttimeIhadtheopportunitytobecomeacquaintedwith(adj.熟悉的,认识的,了解的,有知识的)myniece.Asmysistercradled(n.摇篮,发祥地,摇篮时代vt.放在摇篮内,抚育,收割)herinherarms,theinfant(n.婴儿,幼儿adj.婴儿的,初期的,幼稚的)girlclasped(n.扣子,钩,紧握v.扣紧,紧握,密切合作)hermother'soutstretched(adj.扩张的,伸长的)finger.Myintuition(n.直觉,直觉的知识)toldmethathertemperament(n.气质,性情)wouldbeasunnydisposition(n.性情,倾向,安排,处置,控制,[计算机]配置情况),ajoytopeoplearoundher.Asshegrew,thecute(adj.可爱的,聪明的,俐伶的n.智取敌方的策略/手段,灵巧)littlegirlhadaninfectious(adj.传染的,有感染力的)laughthatstartedasasmallgrin(v.露齿而笑,(以咧嘴笑来)表示n.露齿笑,咧嘴笑),thenbecameagiggleandgrewlouderandlouderuntilittriggered(adj.触发的,起动的)aresponsefromallthepeoplearoundherandtheyjoinedin.Asanadolescent(adj.青春期的,青少年的n.青少年),shestudiedhardandenjoyedwelldeserved(adj.理所当得的,理所当然的)successinsecondaryschoolassheinteracted(vi.相互作用,相互联系,相互影响)withherpeer(n.同辈,同等的人,贵族vi.凝视,窥视)group.Afterreceivingherhighschooldiploma,shechosenursingashercareer.Fromthebeginningoftheyoungcouple’sromanceitwasevident(adj.明白的,明显的)thattheywerecompatible(adj.一致的,兼容的,适合的n.兼容)andwerecompletelyintrigued(vt.欺骗,激起...的兴趣vi.密谋n.阴谋,私通,复杂的事)witheachother.Thecouplehadanengagement(n.约会,约定,订婚,婚约,雇用,交战)partywhenIwasathomeinCanadaafewmonthsago.Thepartywasintheform（形状,形态,外形,表格,形式）ofapicnic（野餐）inabeautifulrosegarden.Tocelebrateandtotoast(v.烤,烘v.为...祝酒n.祝酒,祝酒词,被祝酒的人,吐司,烤面包)theirfuture,wedrankchampagne(n.香槟酒,香槟色).Astheyposedunderanarchcoveredwithclimbingroses,wesnapped(v.劈啪作响,崩塌,砰然关上,猛咬,谩骂,拍摄n.啪嗒声,快照adj.突然的,匆忙的adv.劈啪作响地)picturesfortheirphotoalbum(n.唱片集,唱片,相册,集邮册,纪念册).Thecoupledecidedonafallwedding.Plansfortheweddingdaywereactivatedimmediately.Thedecisionsabouttheforthcoming(adj.即将到来的,现成的,乐意帮助的)eventweresharedbythewholefamily.Aclosefriendofthefamilywascontactedandinvitedtosingasolo(n.独奏,独唱adj.单独的adv.单独地v.放单飞,单独表演)justprior(adj.优先的,在前的,更重要的adv.居先,在前)totheceremony(n.仪式,礼节,典礼).Thedaybeforetheceremony,arehearsal(n.排练,彩排)wouldtakeplacesothattheremainder(n.剩余物,其余的人,[数]余数vt.廉价出售adj.剩余的)ofthedetails(n.细节,琐事,枝节vt.详述,详细说明)couldbelookedafterandattendedto.Theplanningthattakesplacebeforehandforoneoftheseeventsandalltheworkthatthebigdayentails(vt.使必需,带来,限定继承n.限定继承权),withmanypeoplecollaborating(adj.协作的)tomaketheeventrunsmoothly(adv.平滑地,流畅地),areimmense(adj.巨大的,广大的,<口>非常好的).Theconscientious(adj.认真的,谨慎的,负责的)attentiontodetailwillbeevidenttothespectators(n.观众,目击者)ofthisevent.Icanimaginetheexcitementandemotionsofthefamilytoday.Thetimeisnear.Theceremonywillbeginin3shorthours.Thebridewillberadiant(adj.发光的,明亮的,辐射的)asshecomesdowntheaisle(n.侧廊,(席位间的)通道)50 escorted(vt.护送,陪伴n.护送者,护航舰,陪伴者)byherfather.Shewillwearhergrandmother'spearls(n.珍珠v.(用珍珠)装饰,呈珍珠状adj.珍珠般的)asanaccessory(n.附件,配件,同谋adj.辅助的,附属的,同谋的).Herveil(n.面纱,面罩,掩饰物vt.使戴面纱,遮蔽vi.戴面纱)willbethesameoneashercousin(n.堂(或表)兄弟姐妹)worelastyear.Asiscustomary,underhergarments(n.衣服vt.给...披上衣服,覆上...)shewillwearabluegarter(n.吊袜带vt.用吊带系紧).AspartofthetraditionofCanadianweddings,shewillbewearingsomethingold(thepearls),somethingnew(hergown(n.长袍,长外衣)),somethingborrowed(theveil)andsomethingblue(thegarter).Asthefirstchords(n.弦,和弦,情绪)oftheweddingmarchareplayed(amelodyfamiliartoall),thecongregation(n.教堂会众,人群,（物）群,集合)willrise.Gasps(v.喘气,喘息,渴望n.喘气)willbeheardastheycatchaglimpse(n.一瞥,一闪,略微,隐约感觉v.瞥见)ofthebrideinhergorgeous(adj.华丽的,灿烂的,极好的)weddinggown.Themotherofthebridewillcalmly(adv.平静地,安静地,冷静地)viewthiswholeevent,thoughtearswillblur(v.弄脏,使...模糊n.污点,模糊)hervision.Shewillbeovercomewithsentiment(n.情绪,感情,观点,感伤)atherdaughter'sapparenthappiness.Thepicturewillbeonethatwillembody(vt.使具体化,包含,代表,使(精神)肉体化)hopeforthefutureofhumanity.Asthecoupleexchangeweddingvows(n.誓约v.发誓)theywillbeaffirming(vt.证实,断言,肯定)theirloveandmakingacommitment(n.承诺,保证,信奉,献身,委任,交押)toeachother.Allthespectatorsaretheretowishthemwell.Asthetimeapproaches,Ithinkbacktootherfamilyweddingsovermanyyears.MyoldersisterswereallmarriedinthesamechurchandasbridestheycarriedawhiteBible(n.圣经,有权威的书)decoratedwithtiny(adj.极小的,微小的)roses.Thereceptions(n.接待,反应,接待处,欢迎,接收,招待会)fortheirweddingswereallheldinthesamechurchbasement,astherewasnolargebanquet(n.宴会vi.参加宴会vt.宴请,设宴)hallinthelocalarea.Thefeast(n.宴会,酒席,节会v.享乐,款宴,请客)wasusuallycatered(v.提供饮食及服务,迎合,满足)byagroupofchurchmembers.Today'sweddingreceptionwillbeheldinanarena(n.竞技场)thatwillbedecoratedwithjusttherightamountoffallflowersinwonderfularrays部署,穿着,排列(n.数组)togiveitdignity(n.尊严,高贵,端庄)yetatouchofglamour(n.魔力,魅力v.迷住).Thetabledecorations(n.装饰品)willbeamasterpiece(n.杰作).Oneofthetabledecorationswillbesmallpumpkins,usedascontainersforflowersthatwerecollectedfromfamilygardens,surroundedbyalargewreath(n.花圈,花环,花冠)madefromlongstalks(n.茎,梗n.跟踪,高视阔步v.悄悄靠近,跟踪,蔓延,高视阔步地走)ofwheat.Therewillbeafewcolouredleavesplacedinsidethewreath.Maybetheywilluseoak(n.橡树,橡木)andmaple(n.枫树,槭树)leavestoshowthesplendour(n.光彩,显赫,辉煌,壮丽,华丽)oftheautumncolours.Thecolouroftheoutfits(n.配备,用具,机构vt.配备,供应vi.得到装备)thatthebridesmaids(n.女傧相)arewearingwillbefallcoloursaswell.Theingenious(adj.机灵的,精制的,有独创性的)decorationswillbeappreciated(vt.欣赏,赏识,感激vt.领会,充分意识vi.增值)bythemanyguestsattendingthefestivities(n.欢宴,欢庆).Ateachplacesettingtherewillbeaspecialpapernapkin(n.餐巾,一小块布或毛巾,卫生巾)withthebrideandgroom'snameprintedonitandthedateoftheirwedding.Itwillbecarefullyfoldedplacedontopandofalinen(n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的)napkin.Thiswillbeoneofthesouvenirs(n.纪念品)theguestswillhavetocommemorate(vt.纪念)thespecialweddingday.Alsoateachplacewillbeafewafterdinnermints(n.薄荷,造币厂,巨额vt.铸造,铸币,伪造adj.薄荷的,造币厂的,无损坏的)fortheguests.Aminiaturetreewillalsobeplacedateachpersonsplace.Theintent(adj.热切的,专心的,决心的n.意图,目的,意向,含义)isforthegueststotakethelittletreehomeandtransplantittoaspecialplace.Inthisway,ourenvironmentisalsoimprovedandthe50 treewillbecomealivingtributeto(n.贡品,称赞,敬意,礼物)theyoungcouple.Thegroomwillcarryheracrossthethreshold(n.门槛,开端,界限,入口)asiscustomaryforayoungcoupleastheybegintheirnewlifetogether.Thehoneymoon(n.蜜月vi.度蜜月)planswilltakethemtothewestcoastofCanada.Theywillhaveaweekofprivacy(n.隐居,隐私,秘密,私生活)farawayfromfriendsandfamily.Theywillinhabit(v.居住于,占据,栖息)acondominium(n.（独立产权的）公寓,共管,国际共管)inthetownofWhistler,BritishColumbia,intheRockyMountains.Theywillfeelasiftheyareroyalty(n.皇家,皇族n.版税)livinginamansion(n.大厦,宅邸,公寓)inthislittlebitofparadise(n.天堂)onearth.Thereafter,theywillreturnhometoOntariowheretheywillreside(vi.居住,属于,存在).Theiroriginalplantospendtheirhoneymoononboardayacht(n.游艇,快艇vi.驾快艇)intheMediterraneanSea(地中海)wasabandonedwhenworldcircumstancesdictated(vi.听写vt.口授,规定n.命令,指挥,指令)thatourcountryCanadawasasaferchoice.Earlierthismonth,asIthoughtabouttheforthcomingmarriage,andknewthatIwouldbeunabletoattend,Idecidedtowriteamessagetotheyoungcouple.Theintentwasthatthemessagewouldbereadaloudduringtheweddingreception.Inthemessage,Iwishedthemwellandurgedthemtocherisheachothereveryday.（1083words）50 UNIT2Let'sDressUp--It'sHalloweenFromearlychildhoodgettingdressedupisconnectedwithaspecialpastime（消遣,娱乐）inNorthAmerica,calledHalloween.HalloweeniscelebratedonthelastnightofOctober,whentheairiscrisp脆的,易碎的andsnowisnotfaroff.Everyyoungchildisacquaintedwiththisexcitingtradition.OnthelastdayofOctoberwhendinnerisfinished,childrenhurrytodressupinacostume.Darknesscomesearlyatthistimeofyearandcautionmustbepracticed,foremostbythechildrenwhoaregoingfromhousetohouse,“trickortreat”.Parentswarntheirchildrennottodart飞奔,投掷outinfrontofcars.Inalltheexcitementitiseasyforchildrentobecomedistracted心烦意乱的andignoresafetyrules.Planningwhatyourcostumewillbe,aheadoftime,ispartofthefunoftheevening.Manymotherswillspendtimefabricating制作,构成,捏造,伪造,虚构outfits用具,配备,机构,全套装配,fortheirlittlegirlswhosuddenlyturnintocircusclowns,beautifulballetdancersorweird怪异的,超自然的,神秘的,不可思议的,超乎事理之外的colorfulbugs.Fathersmayhelptheirsonsconstructacostumeoffoilarmor.LittleboysoftenenjoypretendingtheyareinthearmysoonHalloweenitispossibletoseesquadsoflieutenantsandsergeantsmarchingalonginthedark.Weaffiliate(使...)加入,接受为会员thiscelebrationwiththesupernaturalsosomechildrenmaychoosetowearaskeletoncostumebearingaskullandcrossbones,orevenamonster怪物,妖怪costume.Thechoiceofwardrobefortheeveningisreallylimitless.Witchescanbeseenridingonbroomsticksacrosswell-illuminatedintersections.Earlierintheeveningtheymayhaveconcoctedawitch'sbrewtoquenchtheirthirstfortheirarrivalhome.Ghostscanbeheardgroaningandmoaningwhiletheyglidealongcitystreets.Beautifulbutterfliesflutterbyontheirwaytoaparty.Piratescarryingswordsandpistolsroamabout,patchesoveroneeye.SmallalienssearchforanewhomehereonEarth.WearingacapeandmaskallowsachildtobecomeSupermanforafewhoursandentertheworldoffantasy.Anethnicflavorisintroducedasabandofgypsiesdancealongunderabrightfullmoon.OfcourseyoucanalwaysseeacertainnumberofNativeAmericancostumes,thebuckskinjacketsanddressesdecoratedwithfringeandbeads.Someyoungsterschoosetodecorateonlytheirfaceswithgreasepaintinsteadofwearingmasks.Inmanywaysthisissaferforachild,makingvisibilityclearer.Atthesametimeamaskallowsthemtoremainanonymoustoallbuttheirclosestfriends.Usually,onthenightbeforeHalloween,familymembersgathertogethertocarveapumpkin.OnHalloweennightthecandlelitfaceofthepumpkinshinesfromeachhomewelcomingthelittleghostsandgoblinstocall.Parentsusuallyescortsmallchildrenaroundtheirownneighborhoodhelpingtokeepthemsafe.Smallchildrenonlyvisitrandomhouses,theirparent'sfriendsmostly,whileolderchildrenknockateverydoor.Crowdingontothefrontporchofthehousethechildrenrapatthedoorandchanttherefrain50 “trickortreat”.Householdersdistributecandies,apples,peanuts,oranyedibletreatintodecoratedwoodensixquartbaskets,orplasticbags.Theymaybeaskedtoreciteapoemorsingasongbeforereceivingtheirtreat.Someluckychildrenmayreceivecookiesfromafreshlybakedbatchofchocolatechipcookies.Onarrivinghomethechildrenwilldumpallthejunkcandyoutontothefloortoexaminetheirloot.Usuallythereisagreatracketasbrothersandsisterscomparewhatgoodiestheyhavecollected.Adults,too,liketojoininHalloweencelebrationsbyattendingsmallhousepartiesorlargegroupgatheringsathallsorarenas.Theymayplaytheoldtraditionalgamessuchasbobbingforapples,whichfloatintubsofwater,tellingghoststoriesandvisitingahauntedhouse.Everyoneseemstogetenjoymentfrombeingslightlyafraid.IfyouliveinthecountrythehootingofanowloreventhehowlofawolfunderlinesthespookyatmosphereofHalloweenevening.Cloudsscuttleacrossthefaceofthemoonandtheflapofabird'swingscanbeheardasitsettlesonthebarebranchesofatree.Eyesgleaminthenightasablackcatcrossesyourpath.Batsswoopaboutinthedarkstartlingthosewhoarenervous.Onthiseveningitisnotnecessarytobeextravaganttohaveagoodtime.AlittleimaginationandasenseoffunwillcreateamemoryofHalloweennightformanyyears.（751words）50 UNIT3GardeningOneofthequietjoysoflifeinthesouthernpartofOntario,Canada,isgardening.Whetherpursuedasahobbyorsolelytoimprovetheestheticvalueofone'shome,thepleasurederivedisonlyexceededbythetherapeuticbenefit.Theexerciseinvolvedinworkinginagardenishelpfulinkeepingpeopleingoodphysicalcondition.Ithasbecomearitualforhomeownerstospendlatewinterweekendsbrowsingthroughseedcatalogueswhilesittingontheircouch.Theymakelistsofitemstheywishtopurchaseandoftenmakenotationsrightonthecatalogueastheymakedecisionsaboutthisyear'sgarden.Iftheyorderearly,thereisusuallyadiscountcoupon,allowingapercentageofthecosttobedeductedfromtheprice.Oftenthecouponneedstobedetachedfromthecatalogueandmailedtothecompanyalongwiththeorder.Thisisanextrabonusfortheconsumer.Theinvestmentcostrequiredisnominalwhentheamountofpleasuregeneratedisconsidered.Theseedcompanieswillusuallywarranttheplants,andoftenarefundisofferediftheplantsdonotthrive.Theshipmentfromtheseedcompany'swarehouseisawaitedwitheageranticipation.Itsappearancemeansthatspringwillsoonarrive.Theglossypagesofthecataloguesprovideapreviewofthevisualdelightsthatcanbegrown.Picturesshowanarrayofflowersthatdazzletheeye.Therearemonochromaticdisplaysaswellasothersthatareafusionofthecompletespectrumoftherainbow'scolors.Alsoincludedinthepublicationarepicturesanddescriptionsofvegetables,shrubs,andtrees.Avidgardenerssubscribetomagazinesthatspecializeinarticlesandadsaboutthisenjoyablepastimeandpeopleliterallyreadeachissuefromcovertocover.Descriptionsofplantsincludeimplicitinstructionsonwhethertoplanttheminsunorshade.Specificationastotheamountofirrigationrequiredisalsostated.Elaborateirrigationsystemsaresometimesinstalledoratrenchforimprovingthewaterflowisused.Controlsareneededonirrigationsystemsbecauseifthegroundbecomestoosaturatedthesoilinthegardenwillbetoomuddytoallowanyonetoworkinituntilitdriesout.Ifthereistoomuchwaterconstantly,thegardenwillbecomeaswampandimpossibletocultivate.(Manypeopleliketopreservethenaturalhabitatofbirdsandwildlifeinamarsh.Theseareasareusuallyprotectedbythegovernmentandalthoughimportanttoourenvironment,arenotconsideredgardens.)Geographiclocationisimportantforplants.Certainplantsareonlysuitableforpropagationclosetotheequator.Othersneedtobeseveraldegreesoflatitudeawayfromtheequator.Longitudeisalsoafactorandmostcompaniesclearlystatetheconditionsthatwillprovidetheoptimumchancesfortheplantssurvival.CanadiansgrowtulipsimportedfromHollandandtheydowellintheSouthernOntarioclimate.BecauseitislatespringbeforeplantscansurviveoutdoorsinSouthernOntario,itis50 commonforpeopletostarttheirplantsindoors.Seedsareplantedinsmallcontainersandcontinuetogrowindoorsuntiltheappropriatesizeisachieved.Sometimesultravioletlightisusedtoencourageplantgrowth.Whenthemercuryrisesandthedangeroffrostispast,theplantsarethentransplantedtothegardenortoaflowerbed.Plantsarenourishedfromthesoil,buttoprovideoptimumfood,fertilizercanbeappliedtoencouragevigorousgrowth.Sometimesfertilizerisdilutedwithwaterwhileotherkindsaredispersedwithaspreaderthatflingsthefertilizergranulesinasmallradiusaroundtheplants.Thewatersolublefertilizerwillthenbeabsorbedintothesoilthenexttimeitrains.Justaspeopleneedminerals,suchascalciumandzinc,tobehealthy,plantsalsoneedmineralsbutphosphorousandnitrogenarebetterfoodforthem.Somegardenersplantheirgardenwithmeticulousattentiontodetail.Theychoosecolorsthatwillcomplementeachotheranddesigntheirgardenasiftheywerepaintingonacanvas.Othersaremorespontaneousandsimplyvisitanurseryandpurchaseplantsthatappealtothem.Oftengardenershaveatrademarkplantthatistheirspecialty.Perhapstheyenjoythevelvettextureoftheleaves,ormaybetheflower'scolorattractsthem.Thevarietiesofgardensareendless.Terracegardeninghasbecomepopular.Withaherbalgarden,cooksenjoybeingabletousefreshherbsfromtheirgardentoaddzesttotheirfavoritedishes.Theysimplyvisittheirgardenandclipafewpiecesoftheherbtheywishtouse.Everygardenisasindividualasitsowner.Gardenscomeinallshapesandsizes.Someareintheshapeofarectangle,whileothersarecircularorirregularinshape.Somegardenersliketheappearanceofanasymmetricalshapewhileothersworktoachievesymmetryintheirgardens.Forvegetablegardens,themostpopularshapeisrectangularandvegetablesareusuallyplantedinalinearfashion.Thismethodmakesiteasiertocultivatebetweentherowsofplants.Youcouldmistakesomegardensforameadowwhenthegardenerchoosestoincludeonlywildflowersasachoiceofvegetation.Includingapondinagardenispopulartoo.Entrepreneursarealwayslookingforinnovationsandgadgetsthatwillattracttheattentionofdevotedgardenersandinducethemtospendtheirmoney.Ithasbecomeahugeindustryinthelastfewyears,asthebabyboomersreachretirementageandhavemoretimetopursuehobbiessuchasgardening.Therearenewproductspatentedeveryyeartotemptthegardener.Itispossibletobuyakitthatcontainsacompletesetoftoolsneededbythehomegardener.Unfortunately,oftenthequalityispoorandtheproductisafraud.Insteadofhavingsomethinggoodtoworkwith,thepurchaseturnsouttobejunk.Ifyouwanttoflatteragardener,andboosttheiregoatthesametime,summonupthecouragetosimplyaskifyoucanswapplants.Ofcourse,itwillgivethemathrillifyoualsocomplimentthemonthehardinessoftheirplantsascomparedtoyours.Theymighteventrytoconsoleyouonyourlackofcompetenceasagardenerbecauseyourplantsarenotassturdyastheirplants.50 Irrespectiveofthecompetenceofthegardener,anyonewhoaugmentsthenumberofplantsgrownishelpingtoconserveourplanetbyavertingerosion.Thispaysgreatdividendsforeveryoneasitalsoservestoprotecttheozonelayer.Somepeopleerectbarricadestokeepsmallanimalsfromattackingtheplants.Squirrelslovetodigupflowerbulbs.Theyfindthematastytreat.Itiscommontoseeceramicfixturesorfigurinesinagarden.Eventheuntrainedeyecantellthattheimitationsareafake,yetproperlyplaced,theyaddtotheintrinsicbeauty.Araingauge,attachedbyabrackettoafence,isacommonsightandisusedtoenablethegardenertodiagnosethemoisturelevelofthesoilaroundtheplantsanddetermineiftheyneedmorewater.Ifnaturedoesnotprovideenoughrain,thenthegardenerwilluseaplasticorrubberhosetoprovidemoreirrigation.Withatwistofaknob,orbymovingalever,thethirstoftheplantsformoisturecanbequenched.Whatgreaterpleasure,thantoworkinyourgardenandasyoucliptheovergrownplantsbacktosizeorprunebranchesoffruittrees,hearthebuzzofbees?Youknowthattheyareenjoyingyourgardenastheyextractthepollenfromtheblooms.Yourelishthefeelingthatyouareonewithnature.Thehumofinsectsastheysharethegardenismorepleasurablethanmusicfromastereoorasymphonytoadevotedgardener.Inaddition,thescentoftheflowersisanintegralpartofthejoyofspendingtimeworkinginagarden.Theironyofthesituationisthatnaturesometimesconspiresagainstthegardener,andahailstormcanriddlebeautifulplants,shreddingtheirleavesinminutes.HurricanescanuprooteventhelargesttreesalthoughthisisaneventthatseldomoccursinSouthernOntario.Tornadoesaremorelikelyinthisarea.Parasitescanattackplantsandthreatentheirsurvival.Anynumberofthingscanbecomeaplague.Itisoftendifficulttodiscernexactlywhatitisthatisdestroyingthepreciousplants.Anynumberofcomplicationscanshatterthegardener'sdreamofsurpassinglastyear'saccomplishment.Anauthenticgardenerwillnotbroodaboutthedisappointmentforlong.Evenasthedisasterisoccurring,youmightoverhearthegardenermurmur“There'salwaysnextyear.”（1459words）50 UNIT4ACanadianFamilyStoryMystorybeginsinNewfoundlandwheremybrotherandIwerebornduringtheSecondWorldWar.TheislandofNewfoundland,whichwasoriginallyaBritishcolony,becamethenewestprovinceofCanadain1949,thesameyearthatthePeople'sRepublicofChinawasborn.OurmotherwasbornandraisedinNewfoundland.DuringtheWar(WorldWarII),sheworkedinSt.John's,thecapitalcity,whereshemetayoungCanadiansailorfromOntario.HewasamemberofthecrewofaRoyalCanadianNavyshipthatwaspartofoneoftheconvoysthatescortedsupplyshipsacrosstheAtlanticOceantoEuropeduringthewar.Theyfellinloveandsubsequently,gotmarried.Therestishistory,sotospeak.OurfamilymovedtoOntarioinlate1945,justafterthewarended.In1999,actingonimpulse,mybrotherandIdecidedtotakeourmothertoNewfoundlandforavisit.Ithadbeenalmostfiftyyearssincewehadlastvisitedourmother'soutport(remoteorveryruralislandvillage)whereshegrewup.Itwasalsothe50thanniversaryofNewfoundland'sbecomingpartofCanada.In1950,Iwassixandmybrotherwasfivewhenwelastvisitedourmother'schildhoodhome.Atthattime,Ireland'sEyewasavibrant,quaintfishingvillagehuggingtherockyshoreofasmall,enclosedharbour.Therewasnoelectricity.Therewerenoroads,noautomobiles,andfewsignsofautomationofanytype.Therewereoillampsandwoodstovesinthehomesandmerefootpathsbetweentheaggregateofsmallcommunitiesonthehillyisland,alsonamedIreland'sEye.Wecanstillseeandheartheinboardmotorboats,puttputting(soundofengines)intotheharbour,haulingtheirday'scatchoffish.Theimageofhardyfishermenwithpitchforkshoistingandtossingthecodfishuptothestiltedplatformsfromthebowelsoftheboatsisstillquitevivid.Thearomaofsalted,dryingcodfish,lingersstill.WhatIrememberbest,ofalmosthalfacenturyago,wasgoingoutwithmyUncleFredinhisboattofish.Thatparticularday,wewerehuddledtogetherandlashedtootherboats,justoutsideoftheharbour.Icanstillhearthelivelygossipbetweenmyuncleandtheotherfishermen,abovetheripplingandsplashingofthewavesagainstthehullsoftheboats.Iremembertheboatsheavingperiodically,onthehugegentlyrollingwaves.MyUncleFredhadonlyonearm,butamazingly,hecoulddoeverythingasifhehadtwohands.Hecouldevenrollacigaretteandlightit.ThesearemymemoriesofthequaintNewfoundlandglorydaysgoneby.Itwasaveryhardlifeinthoseoutports,butaliferomanticallycherishedbymostofthosewholivedit.Ourmotherwasnotfeelinguptothetripatthetimewewerereadytoleave,butinsistedthatmybrotherandIgoonthisodyssey.Wewouldlaterprovideherwithpictures,awrittenaccount,andvideotapeofthetrip.AlthoughwetouredotherpartsofNewfoundland,includinganovernightstayontheFrenchIslandsofSt.PierreandMiquilon,justoffthesouthcoastofNewfoundland,ourmain50 objectivewastovisitIreland'sEye.Thisnecessitatedfindingwatertransportation.Wemanagedtoarrangeforaboattotakeusonthehalfhourtriptotheisland.Asitturnedout,themarriedcouplewhoferriedusovertotheislandwasactuallyacoupleofourdistantcousins,whomwehadnevermet.Wehadintendedtohaveourcousinsdropusoffontheislandandpickusupafewhourslater.However,eitherbecausewewerenewlyfoundcousins,ortheyweretypicallyhospitableNewfoundlanders,ortheythoughtthatmybrotherandIwouldgetlost,theywantedtostaywithus.Probablyallthreefactorsinfluencedtheirdecision.Theywereabsolutelyfabulous.TheygotcaughtupinwhatmybrotherandIweretryingtodo.Theywereveryknowledgeableabouttheislandandthepeoplewhohadoncelivedthere.Clutchinganarrativeoftheisland,writtenbyanotherofourcousins,theforgottenhistoryofthatspecialplacebecamemorecoherenttothefourofus.AsweenteredIreland'sEye'ssmallharbour,whichwasguarded,byafamilyofhawksinanesthighonarockypoint,aweirdsensationcameoverus.There,infrontofus,wastheplacewevisitedfiftyyearsbefore,andaboutwhichwehadheardandreadsomuchthroughoutouradultlives.Wethought,whatanaestheticallybreathtakingsight!Theglitteringsun,onthatday,gaveeverythingapicture-postcardimage.Thiswasindeedasliceofparadise.TheruinsofafewremainingbuildingsthatdottedthehillsidesandshorelineandtheoncedominantSt.GeorgesChurchonthehillattheendoftheharbour,arousedinusanexcitingsenseofhistoryandofourheritage.Lookingoutovertheharbourfromthehillbythechurchattheextinctcommunity,revivedmemoriesoffiftyyearsbefore.Withagreaterclarityoftheknowledgeofthearea,wewalkedfromthechurchalittlefartherinlandtowhatusedtobethepostofficeandtheschoolthatourmotherattended,theskeletalshellsofwhichwerestillstandingprecariously.Fromthere,stoppingperiodicallytoeatsomeedibleberries,westruggledbehindourcousinsthroughtheheavilybrushandshrubcoveredfootpathstoBlackDuckCovetovisitthecemeterywhereourgrandmother,whomweneverknew,wasburied.Thissacredgroundwasinverybadcondition,withmanybadlycorrodedgravestonesburiedunderbrushandlonggrass.Aftersearchingforafewminutesinthemidstoftangledvegetation,wefoundourgrandmother'srestingplacebesidewhichwepaidourrespects.Itwasagoodthingthatourcousinsstayedwithus,asthefootpathsthattraversedtheisland,wereovergrownwithbrush.Itwouldhavebeenvirtuallyimpossibleformybrotherandme,towalktotheothercommunitiesontheisland.Wemadeourwaybacktothechurchonthehillanddescendedtotheboatforahalfhourboatridetotheothersideoftheisland.Sailingthroughanumberofislets,wearrivedatwhatremainsofthesmallvillageofTraytown,whereourgrandparentshadlived.There,wemetsomemorelonglostrelativesatasmallcottage.One,abitofaneccentric,whonowlivesinTorontobuttakessummerrefugeinTraytown,showedustheremnantsofwhathadoncebeenourgrandparents’house.Besidetheseruins,wasthestillflourishingclusterofwildrosebushes,50 plantedtheremanyyearsagobyourstepgrandmother.Alotofpeople,manywhomweremorelostcousins,continuallydroppedinorgatheredontheporchoutside.Afteracupofteaandsomemorechitchat(smalltalk)andsomecomicrelief,wemadeourdepartureforthemainland.Ontheway,wepassedotherinletswithghostcommunitiesonIreland'sEye.Toaddtotheexcitementofthatspecialday,mybrotherspottedahumpbackwhalequiteclose,betweentheboatandtheisland.OurvisittoIreland'sEyewasabittersweetexperienceforus.Ontheonehand,therewasasenseofbeingattheveryplacewhereourrelativesandancestorshadlived,workedandplayed.Ontheotherhand,therewasasenseofagonizinglossofwhatwereoncethrivingcommunitiesontheisland.Itwasdifficulttoreconcilethepastwiththepresent,afteragapoffiftyyearsofchronicdegenerationofthecommunities.Today,theareaisnotoriousforsmuggling.However,ourmissionwasinvaluableinthatwewereabletofindoutmoreaboutourselves.TheentireexpeditiontoNewfoundlandwasamajorhighlightineachofourlives.Ittuggedatouremotionsateveryturn.ThepeopleofNewfoundland,especiallythoseofgeneticconnection,couldn'tdoenoughforus.Itwasreallylikecominghome,butthen,thathasalwaysbeenthenatureofNewfoundlandcourtesy,eventonon-Newfoundlanders.ItwasreassuringtoseethattheNewfoundlandcharmhastranscendedtime.IthasenduredsomanychangessinceConfederationin1949.MybrotherandI,eternally,willbeNewfoundlandersandhopetogodownhomemoreoftenintheyearstocome.（1442words）50 UNIT5TheFraudFlushedwithexcitement,Katesteppedintothespatialvestibuleandwasimmediatelydazzledbythescenebeforeher.Theinlaidmarblefloorpavedthewaytoacircularstaircaserisingthreelevelsaboveher.Inafountaininthecenteroftheentrywaystoodabronzedolphinbalancingonitstail,itssnoutpointedtotheloftydomed,stainedglassskylightfortyfeetabove.Amassivechandelier,luminousinthebrightsunlight,castrainbowfairiesdancingthroughthepink,green,andgoldfloralpatternsofthefloorandaroundthesnowywhitewalls.Beforeshecouldfullyappreciatethebeautyoftheintricateplasterworkdecoratingtheedgesoftheshallownichesinstalledinthewallstoframethenumerouspaintings,or,indeed,toappreciatethecanvasesthemselves,herhost,VictorStone,approached.SmallbyNorthAmericanstandards,hewasperfectlyproportioned.Slightlybaldingattheforehead,hissilverhaircurvedontothecollarofhispaleblueshirtatthenapeofhisneck.Laughingblueeyesstartledherwiththeirclarity.Astraight,aristocraticnoserosetomeethisslightlyarchedbrows.Hiscarefullymanicuredhandsboreasinglegoldpinkiering.Heheldouthishandtotakehers.“Thankyousomuchforcoming,Kate.Iamgladyoucouldmakeit,”hesaidcheerfully.Shehadnevermetthischarminglittlemanbeforeandknewhimbyreputationonly.Amonghiscontemporaries,hewasknownasashrewdentrepreneur,abletodiagnoseataglance,theprospectsofthoseseekinghisbacking.Shewasanxioustolearnwhyhehadinvitedhertocometomeethimathishome.“Thanksforaskingme.Niceplaceyouhavehere.“Shefeltstupidsayingsomethingsoabsurd,butshewas,atthatmoment,stumped.Heregowouldn'tletheradmitshe'dneverinherwholelife,beensoimpressedbyafoyer.Shehopedthathewouldrealizeshe'dhadlittleexperiencewiththeelite,takepityonher,andshowheraround.“Wouldyouliketoseemoreofthehouse?”heasked,politely.“WouldI?Youbet!”Shewashappyhegavenoindicationthathethoughtshewasnotinhisbracket.Sheleftherbriefcaseonthesetteenearthedoorandfollowedhimthroughthefoyertoastairwaytoastairwayleadingtoalowerlevelofthehouse.Theybeganthetourinthewinecellar.Aheavy,doublethickdooropenedtorevealrowuponrowofgleamingglassbottlesofvintagewines,alllyingontheirsides,cradledbythesolidoakracks.Thesteadyhumofmachinerybrokethesilenceoftheinsulatedroom.Victorexplainedthatitwasnecessarytocontroltheventilation,temperatureandhumidityofthecellartoachieveoptimumconditionsforconservingtheflavorsoftheexpensivewines.Thesmallbutluxuriousaudio-visualtheaterwasadjacenttothewinecellar.Leatherupholsteredrecliningchairswerecasuallyarrayedabouttheroom,allwithanunimpairedviewof50 theretractablescreen.Thestereo,silentatthatmoment,wasstate-of-the-art,withspeakerstacticallyinstalledformaximizingsoundeffects.Blackwalnutwoodpanelingandabaffledceilingavertedthepossibilityofoverlyloudentertainmentdisturbingothersinthemansion.Slidingglassdoorsledfromthelowestlevelofthelivingareatotheenclosedkidney-shapedswimmingpool.Turquoiseandwhiteceramictilesoutlinedwithgoldcoveredthedeckarea.Pillarsofquartztoppedwithmilkglassspheresprovidedilluminationshouldanyonechoosetoswimafterdark.Achangingboothwasdiscretelyhiddenbehindascreenofornamentalfloorplantsandcascadingvines.Here,too,abaffledceilingpreventedthehollowresonanceofthepoolroomfromdisturbingothers.Atthemoment,thegamesroomwasarrangedforgambling.Anauthenticroulettewheel,acrapstablefordice,andvariouscardtablesweresetupforabenefiteveningthatwasbeingheldthefollowingnight.Checkers,chessandotherboardgamesaugmentedthegamesofchance.Comfortablefurnitureandsoftlightinglentaromanticatmospheretotheterracegarden.KatehadnoticedearlierthatVictorhadaslightlimp.Astheyprogressedontheirtour,sherealizedhewasquitelameontherightsideandneededtorest.Theysattochatforafewminutes.“Howmuchdoyouknowaboutme,Kate?”heasked.“OnlywhatI'veread.AndwhatIhavediscernedinthepasthalfhour.Ithinkyouareamanwhohasmadeyourhomeintoadiversionfromtherealworld.Yourtasteisimplicit,subtle.EverythingIhaveseenhasbeenchosenwithakeeneye,nottooverwhelm,buttoinvite.Ithinkyouchoosethingsfortheirintrinsicvalue,thingsthatareestheticallypleasingtoyou.Idon'tthinktherecouldbeanimitationorafakeiteminthiswholeplace.Youloveyourhomeandenjoysharingitwithothers.AmIright?”“Youareperceptive!Come.Let’sgotothesittingroomandhaveacocktail.“Heledthewaybackintothelibrarywithitsmahoganyshelvesfilledwithleatherboundmatchedsetsoffirsteditionsandvolumesofencyclopedia.Onasturdytableunderareadinglampanilluminatedmanuscriptwithgoldmetallicpageedgingwaslyingopentodisplayitsvibrantart.Katefeltcompelledtomentionthisbeautifulpiece.HesaidanobscuremonkduringtheRenaissancehadcopiedandillustratedtheBookofRevelations.Ithadbeenquiteshabbywhenitfirstcameintohispossessionbuthehaditrestoredandplannedtodonateittoamuseum.Thedoortoapowderroomstoodajar.InsideKatenoticed,again,thecarefulattentiontodetailmanifestintherestofthehouse.Thedoorknobwashandpaintedporcelain.Theivory-coloredfixtureswereshell-shapedandgold-trimmed.Alargebowlofsweetlyscentedflowerswascenteredonthevanity.Nexttotheflowerssatapieceofhand-carvedfossilizedebony.Katewasstunnedbythesizeofthespacioussittingroom.Severalgroupingsoffurniturelentthemselvestoseatingasfewastwoguestsorasmanyasten.Here,too,ornamentalplasterworkdecoratedthewallsandceilings.Theraspberrycoloredvelvetupholsterycoveringthecouchesandchairscomplementedthepalegreenorientalcarpetsandlightlytextureddraperies.Thegold-coloredlampswiththeircreamywhiteshades,thepaintingsintheirornatealcoves,andthe50 openfireplacewithfamilypicturesonthemantel,gaveKateanoverwhelmingfeelingofcomfortandpeace.Sherelishedthenoveltyandthrillofhavingbeensummonedtothisprestigiousman'shome.Thesheerbeautyoftheplacefarsurpassedherexpectations.However,shewasbecomingsuspiciousaboutthereasonforthisvisit.Nowthatshehadreceivedanorientationtohishome,andnotwithstandingherfirstimpressionsoftheman,shewasanxioustolearnwhyshewashere.Whatcouldamerereporterdoforthisrich,influentialman?Hebegantospeaksoberly,contradictinghisearlierspontaneity.“Iwilltellyouastoryyoumayhavedifficultybelieving,”hesaid,softly.“Iwasnotbornintothislifestyle.ItisironicthatthereissuchadiscrepancybetweenwhatIwasandwhatIam.MyfatherlefttheUnitedStateswhenIwasabouttwoyearsold.HeranajunkstoreintheslumsofWinnipegwhenIwasakid.Hewasavulgarmanbutheknewhowtofoolpeopleintothinkingtheywerebuyingsomethingrareorvaluable.ItwasunderhistutelagethatIlearnedtobeafraud.“Idecidedatanearlyagethatiftherewasashortcuttosuccess,Icouldbypassthecomplicationsofgettingtherebytheconventionalmethods.Iwaslikeahurricane,rushingforwardwithoutconsiderationfortherules.Ifit'sanyconsolation,Ididn'tintentionallyharmanyoneintheprocess.Iwasabletostaywithintheparametersofthelaw,butjustbarely.Iboughtandsoldusedfurniturebeforegoingintotheantiquebusiness.WhenIbought,Ialwayspaidafractionofthepotentialworthofthegoods.WhenIsold,Ialwaysmadeaprofit.Iwasabletoupgrademystockwithalmosteverytransaction.Intime,Ihadawarehousefullofmerchandise.Ididn'tflattermyselfbythinkingIhadn'tmuddiedthewatersabit.IknewIhadprobablysteppedonafewtoes,butIwasonaroll.Ihadthemomentumandrejoicedinmysuccess.Aslongasthemoneykeptcomingin,anythingwaspermissible.Oneday,Ireceivedavisitfromaratherimportantpatronofthearts.Hehadaninterestingpropositionforme.Heheldthepatentandtrademarkfortheprototypeofaninnovativewaytodeterminetheageofapaintingusingultravioletlight.HewouldsellthemtomeforthenominalfeeofanickelifIwouldreciprocatebydoinghimafavor.IwastoincludeoneofhispersonalpaintingsinmynextshipmentofantiquesgoingtoNewYork.Atfirst,Ithoughthewasmockingme,buthegavemehisoaththathejustwantedtoensurethepaintingwouldarriveatitsdestinationsafely,and,becauseitwouldbeapartofanantiqueshipment,itwouldbeexemptfromimportduty.Itwasaprovocativeoffer,andeventhoughIremainedskeptical,Iagreed.Afewdayslater,acratedpaintingarrivedandwasaddedtomygoodsreadyfordeliverytoNewYork.Ihadalwayssubscribedtothetheorythatifsomethingappearedtobetoogoodtobetrue,itprobablywas.However,mygreedprevailedandthepaintingwasonitsway.Iwasunawareatthetimethatmyfortuneswereabouttogointoadownwardspiral.Mybenefactor,itturnedout,wasamanwithagrudgeagainstme.IrrespectiveofthefactthatIfeltadealwehadmadeyearsbeforehadbeenfair,hefeltIhadcheatedhim.Iwasabouttobethe50 recipientofhiswrath.WhenmyagentinNewYorkwenttocustomstoretrievetheshipment,hewasgreetedbyasquadofpolicewaitingtodetainhimonchargesofsmugglingcocaine.ItappearedtherewasabitofadiscrepancybetweenwhatIwastoldwasinthecrateandtheactualcontents.Thedrugswereinahiddencompartmentinthecrate.IadmititwasnaiveofmetobelieveIhadnoenemies,butIdidn'tknowanyonewouldgotothisdegreetoprovehowmuchhedespisedme.Hitherto,Ihadgonethroughlifethinkingthatwhentwopeopleagreedtoadeal,ifoneofthemgotthebetteroftheother,itwasfair,becausetheydidagree.NowIwaslearningthatifyoutakeadvantageofsomepeople,evenwiththeirpermission,youaggravatethemtoseekrevenge.Ican'trefutemyrecklessness.Almostsevenyearshaveelapsedsincethattime.Myagenttookresponsibilityforthecrimeandwenttojailforfiveyears.Ifeltguiltyashell,butIcontinuedtopayhimbysendingthemoneytohisfamily.Ievenwithheldextrainabonusaccounttogivetohimwhenhewasreleased.Ialsogaveupmybusinessandbegantohelpothersstarttheirbusinesses.Intime,theguiltIfeltsubsided.IputmyenergiesintosteppingintothebreachtohelpthoselessfortunatethanI.Tomyamazement,myluckstartedtofluctuateupwardandIflourished.Allyouseeheretoday,Ihaveaccumulatedsincethattime.Now,itseems,myenemyhasdecidedtoreclaimhispoweroverme.Hehasreportedthecrimeandtheerroneousimprisonmentofmyagentandnamedmeasthepersonresponsiblefortheoffence.Ihadneverchangedmycitizenship,sotheF.B.I.wantsmedeportedsotheycanprosecutemeinNewYork.IhopeIcaninduceyou,throughyourcolumn,totellmystory.NextweekIhavetoappearbeforeamagistrateforthepreliminaryhearing.IfI'mnotmistaken,publicpressuremightenablemetoavoiddeportationatleast.Iammorelikelytogetafairtrialherethanthere.MyrecordasagoodcitizenmayoffsettheperceptionthatImaybeacriminal.Whatdoyouthink?Willyouhelp?Katehadlistenedtothissynopsisinsilencebutheroutragewasbuilding.Whilehisstoryseemedplausible,thispleaforherassistancedidn'tquitefit.Withhisfinancialresources,hecouldhirethebestlegalteaminthecountry.Sherealizedshehadtodetachherselffromherfirstimpressionsandextractfactfromfiction.Whydidn'tshebelievehim?Suddenly,itcametoher.ExpositionofthisversionofVictor'stalewouldnotonlygainhimpublicsympathy,itwouldinvalidateanytestimonyagainsthim.Nothingcouldconstrainherwhensherealizedshehadliterallybeentakeninbyhisstory.“Ifyouwereinnocent,whyweren'tyouthedefendant?Ifyouwereinnocentallthoseyearsago,whydidyouragentgotoprisonforyou?Whydidittakesolongforyourenemytoturnyouin?Thestatuteoflimitationsforthatoffencehasexpired.Ibelievethishasbeenapatheticattempttogetmetomediateyourcaseinthepress.Ithinkyouhavealwaysbeenanintegralplayerinthe50 criminalworldandyourpasthascaughtupwithyou.Mycardinalsinwasallowingmyselftobereeledinbyyourtalesofwhatamodelcitizenyouare.“Katecouldfeelherselfgettingdizzyandlight-headed,surprisedbytheaudacityshehad,talkingtoanyoneinthatmanner.Beforeshelostcompletecontrol,shewouldhavetogetoutofthere.Shestood,turned,andmarchedtowardthedoor.Asshebegantoopenthefrontdoor,shelookedback.Victorstoodbesidehischair,paleandshaken.“Youadmittedyouwereafraudinyouryouth.Youarestillafraud!Iwillwriteyourstory...myversion!Myguessisthattheeventualverdictwillbe‘guilty’!”（2402words）50 UNIT6ThePastureNightsettled,thickwiththeacridodorsofgunpowderandblood.Nomoonmeantfiringatmuzzleflashes,aninexactmethodbywhichtocombatone'sfoe,buttheenemyhadnoadvantageeither.Withartilleryfireblanketingthefieldofbattle,JackhadnoopportunitytogotoMike'said.HepokedhisheadovertherimofthetrenchtoseeifhecouldspotMike'scorpse.Heknewhewasdead.Hehadheardhisscreamofpainwhenhewashit.Hisagonizedmoanshadgrownweakerandlessfrequentandfinallyceasedabouttenminutesago.Theregimenthadbeenunderheavybombardmentfortwodays,withoutrespite.HehadbeentoolatetostopMikeashepropelledhimselfoutofthefoxholeandstaggeredashehitthemuddyterrain.Inhindsight,heshouldhaveseenitcoming.Mikehadstartedtobreakyesterday.Hewasbecomingbizarre,talkingabouthispatrioticdutytoexpeltheenemyfromtheseshores.Paradoxically,justbeforehehoppedovertheedgeofthetrenchhescornedthedayhehadheededthecalltoenlist.Itpainedhimtorealizethathisonefriendinthisungodlywarhadbetrayedhimbydying.Soldiersdon'toftenmakefriendswithoneanother,knowingtheymightdie.HeandMikeweredifferent.Theyhadknowneachothersincetheywerechildren.MikewasthebestmanwhenJackandLilywalkeddowntheaislejustaweekbeforetheyleftthedockandcrossedthechanneltoengagetheenemy.Cloudstumbledandoverlappedoneanotherasthewindbegantofreshen.Itwasgettingcoldernow.Theprospectofanothernightofrain,orperhapsevensnow,madeJackquiverwithdread.Bloodtingedwaterwasbeginningtocrustoverwithice.Hecouldfeelhistoesandfingersstiffenasthetemperaturedropped.MaybeMikewasbetteroffthanhe.Atleastthecoldwouldn'tbotherhimanymore.Suddenly,cometsoflightbegantostreakacrossthenightsky.Theywereusingflares!Theincreasedtempoofcannonfirecomingfromtheleftflank,shatteringtheeartharoundthem,couldonlymeantheenemyhadsensedtheirweakness,andwascominginforthekill.Theywereheadingstraightfortheunderbelly!Jack’sriflemisfired.Thewholecorpshadbeenissuednewgunsafewdaysbeforethiscampaignhadstarted.Itwasn'tlongbeforetheydiscoveredthatthealloyusedinthebarrelscouldn'tendureprolongedfiring,causingtheshellcasingstoadhereinthebore.Howcouldherepeltheenemywithoutaweapon?Jackfeltastabofpaininhisrightthigh.Thegroundaroundhimruptured.Jerkingfromsidetoside,hetriedtododgefallingrocksandtheclodsofdirtrainingdownuponhim.Heslumpedintoapronepostureashefelthimselfshovedfrombehindbyanunknownforcethatfeltasifitmighthavebeenaracinglocomotive.Thelastthingheheard,beforehisworldwasoverturned,50 wasachorusofscreams.“AmIdead?WhereamI?Whereiseverybody?”Cognitively,Jackrealizedhewasstillfunctioningphysiologicallysothatmeanthewasstillalive,butforhowlong?Hecouldn'tmove.Maybetheimpacthadfracturedhisspineandhewasparalyzed.Hetried，analytically，toassessthedamageincurredbymovinghislimbs,onebyone,inaclockwisedirection,startingwithhisrightarm.Everythingappearedabletobemobilizedbutforsomereasonhecouldn'tgetupofftheground.Everythingwentblackagain.Jackledhishorsebythereinsastheysteppedontotheoverpassbridgingthegapbetweentheplateaus.Inthedistance,hecouldseeatwelvepointbuckgrazinginthepasture,silhouettedagainstthewaningsunset.Outofnowhere,abullcamechargingacrossthemeadowtowardhim.Hetriedtorunbuthisfeetwerepeggedtothebridge.Driftinginandoutofconsciousness,Jacktriedtomakesenseofwhathadhappenedtohim.Heseemedtobeinacavityundertheground.Theearthwascompactedonhislegsbuthethoughthemightbeabletorotatehisbodyenoughtomakehimselfalittlemorecomfortable.Wasthatashaftoflighthecouldseethroughthegroovebetweenthefingersofhislefthandcoveringhiseyes?Hegropedtoclearatinybitmorespaceforhimself.Theshuttersofhisconsciousnessclosedagain.ThegalaxywasbeingprobedbylunarmodulesshuttlingbetweenEarthandtheotherplanets.Asamemberofafederationofgeologists,Jackandhisteamhadtofollowtheseamoforetoitssource,apastureonadistantasteroid.Onceagain,Jackregainedlucidity.“Wow,”hethought,“thatwaslikeabadpaperbacknovelaboutastronomy!”Hesniffedtheair.Itwasfoulwiththesmellofdeathbutqualitativelyabletosustainlife.Whywasitsoquiet?Washedeaf?Wasthebattleover?Waseveryonedead?Theweightonhislegswasbecomingoppressive.Lilylaybackinthesoft,greengrassofthepasture.Whitedaisies,goldenbrown-eyedSusans,pricklyblueviper'sbugloss,andfrillyQueenAnne'slacesurroundedher.Shebeckonedtohimfromwhatseemedlikemilesaway.Hehikedthroughthegrasscallinghername.Shebegantostrollawayfromhimintothedistance.Hehadtoreachher!Helovedherso!Iftheycouldn'tmarry,hewouldmakeherhismistress!Nothingcouldextinguishtheflameofhislove!Hewouldclingtothatuntilhisdyingday.LyingstationarywastakingitstollonJack'scirculation.Hisfeetandhandswerenumb.Somethingwasticklinghisnose.Hemanagedtotiltawayfromtheirritant,whateveritwas.Hewassothirsty!Hetriedtolubricatehislipswithsalivabuthadnone.Hisbladderfeltlikeaseparateentitythatwouldoverflow.Hecouldstalltheurgetovoidnolongerandallowedtheurinetoflowoutofhim.Whatdiditmatternow?Hewasasgoodasdeadanyway.Thefortstoodinthecenterofthepasture.Amoatfilledwithsharksprotecteditswallsfromanypossibleintruders.Jackpedaledhisbicycleasfastashecould.Thesharkswhippedbackand50 forthsoquicklytheycreatedfoamonthesurfaceofthewater.Hehadtocrossthedrawbridgebeforeitwasraised,segregatinghimfromhisregimentandhispregnantwife,Lily.Shesawhimapproachingandskippedontothebridgetogreethim.Thebridgewasrising.Thesharkswereinfrenzy!Herodeasifthehoundsofhellwereafterhim.Hehadtoreachher!Hisrightarmwaswedgedagainstarock.Nomatterhowhardhetried,hecouldn'twrenchitfree.Thiswasgettingtiresome.Hefeltastitchinhisrightside.That'sallheneedednowtodiefromarupturedappendix!Hehadwriggledenoughtoincreasethesizeoftheslotinwhichhewastrapped.Werethosevoiceshewashearing?Hewasn'tdeaf!Whenhefoughthiswaytothesurfaceofconsciousnessonceagain,hewasbeingcarriedonalitterovertheinvertedbattlefield.Bodieswerestrewneverywhere.Thestretcher-bearersstumbledovertheroughgroundbutmaintainedcontroloftheirhumancargoastheymadetheirwaytothefieldhospital.ThefuseleadingtothedynamiteinthesternoftheoiltankerburnedsorapidlythatJackknewtheshipwouldexplodebeforehecouldreachthehatchtoextinguishtheflame.Theolivegreenshipwasalmostwithinhisreachwhenitblewup.Hefeltasifhewereonagrill.Hisfacewasaflame.Hisbodyfeltasiftheskinhadbeenrippedfromit.Hewantedtodiebeforethepaingrewworse.Hisforeheadfeltcool.Heopenedhiseyesslowly,painfully.Awhite-cladnursespongedhisfacegently.Asshebecameawareofhisgaze,shestoppedherministrationsandofferedhimasipofwater.“Takeiteasy,”shewhispered.“Youmustn'tdrinktooquickly.Toomuch,toofastwillgiveyounastycramps.“Jackwasawareofbandagesonhismusculararmsandcastsonbothlegs.Intravenoustubingcarriedaclearfluidintohisveins.Consciousnesswasstilltransient.Dreamsofastrangepasturemingledwithrealityandcontinuedtohaunthissleep.Heunderstoodhewasonahospitalward,butwhere?Andhowdidhegethere?Theprettyyoungnursewasback.“Wecabledyourwife.Sheknowsyouwereinjuredbutareonthemend.“Howdidtheyfindme?”Jackasked.“Apatrollookingforsurvivorsfoundyouburiedinthefoxhole.Youwerecalling‘Lily!’Theystarteddiggingandthereyouwere.Youwerestabilizedatthefieldhospitalbeforetheycouldbringyouhere.WescrubbedyouupandstartedtoyouwithI.V.therapy.Youwereverydehydratedandsufferingfromurinaryretentionandrenalfailure.Yourkidneysmayneverfunctionnormallyagain.Thegoodnewsisthatyousurvived,”sheexplained.AstraystrandofhairfellacrossJack'scheekhidingthetearsthatcreptfromhiseyes.Hewasgratefultohavehislifeback.Hesilentlysalutedhisfriend.Mikehadn'tbeensolucky.ThecablefromLilyarrivedthenextday.“WehaveasonstopBorn05Dec.stopHealthy50 stopNamedhimMichaelstopIloveyou.LilystopP.S.DadboughtthepastureanddeededittoMichael.”（1630words）50 UNIT7TheDecisionDr.Samsaidtome:“Idon'tknowhowtosaythis,excepttocomerightoutwithit,Miriam.Thetestswedidlastweekshowthatthereareabnormalitieswiththefetus.Irecommendyouconsideranabortion.”Isat,handsfoldedtogetherinmylap,numbedbyhiswords.”TheworldaroundmedisappearedasIstrovetoabsorbthedreadfulnewsDr.Samwasgivingme.Hisvoicecametomeasifspokeninatunnel,hollowandechoing.Couldthisbetrue?Thebabyinsideme,themiraclecreatedbylove,wasn'tperfect!“YourbabyhasaconditionknownasDown'sSyndrome.Theproblemsyouwillfaceifyoudon'tterminatethispregnancycouldbeoverwhelming,especiallynowthatPaulisnolongerwithyou.“HereIwas,thirtynineyearsold,pregnantforthefirsttime,andmydoctor,mytrustedfriend,wastellingmeIshouldkillthisinnocentlifeinmywomb.IknewIhadtorespondbutwordsescapedme.Finally,Iwasabletospeak.“Ineedsometimetoconsidermyoptions.”Withallthathashappenedinthepastmonthandahalf,Idon'twanttodoanythingwithoutknowingallIcanaboutthis.“Youdon'thavelong,Miriam.”Youareelevenweeksalongandit'sdangeroustoperformanabortionaftertwelveweeks,trynottoprolongyourdecision.“It'stoomuchformetogetmyheadaroundrightnow.”Ineedtothink.IpromiseI’llgetbacktoyouinadayorso.“Ilefttheofficeinadaze.”WhatwasIgoingtodo?WherewouldIbegin?Who,besidesDr.Sam,wouldbeabletoadviseme?Myparentswereontheothersideoftheworld,teachinginChina.IfeltthatifIcouldtalktoMom,heldinhercomfortingarms,shewouldgivemesomeofherwisdom.IfIcouldbeface-to-facewithDad,hewouldgivemestrength.TheywereallIhadleftinmyworld.Myhusband,Paul,hadbeenkilledinatrafficaccidentsixweeksago.MomandDadhadgonebacktoChinaaweekafterthefuneral,whentheythoughtIwasabletocopewithmyloss.Therewasnowheretoturn.Ihadtofacereality.ThiswasadecisionIwouldmakeonmyown.IneededtogatheralltheinformationIcouldaboutDown'ssyndrome.Iwastednotime.Iwenttothelibrarytobeginmyresearch.Thestepstothefuturewereinmyhands.ThefirstmedicaljournalIchoseexplainedthecausesofDown'ssyndrome.Normally,eacheggandspermcellcontains23chromosomes,and,whentheyunite,23pairsor46intotal.Occasionally,anaccidentoccurswhentheeggorspermcellisforming,creatinganextrachromosomenumber21.ThisextrachromosomeresultsinthefeaturesofDown'ssyndrome.Inthepast,thisdisorderwascalled“Mongolism”becauseofthefacialcharacteristicsincludingslantedeyesandasmall,flattenednasalbridge.Itisacommongeneticbirthdefectaffectingaboutonein800to1000birthswhenthemotheris30yearsofage.TheoddsofmyhavingaDown50 syndromeincreasedtoonein100becauseIwasinmyfortiethyear.Thereisnocureforthisdisorder.Neitheristhereanyprevention.Mychildwouldbedevelopmentallyandphysicallyretardedtoagreaterorlesserdegree.Shecouldhavenumeroushealthproblems.Itwasunlikelyshewouldevermarryandherhavingchildrenwasoutofthequestion.Herlifeexpectancycouldbeaslittleas55years.PaulandIhadbeenmarriedfortenyearsandhadalwaysregrettedthefactthatIhadbeenunabletoconceive.Afterhedied,Iattributedmynausea,vomitingandlethargytomygrief,neversuspectingthatImightbepregnant.PoorPaulwouldneverknowthatwewouldhaveachildtogether.ThisthoughtalonewaswhatmademerealizethatIwouldn'tbeabletohaveanabortion,nomatterwhatobstaclesmightbeaheadofus.IwaitedadaybeforecallingDr.Samtoinformhimofmydecision.Ihadtobesure!“Miriam,IthinkIknowwhyyouwanttogothroughwiththispregnancy,butareyouawareoftherisks?”“Iknowmybabywillbedifferent.Iknowshemaybementallyandphysicallyretarded.Shemayhavedevelopmentaldifficultiesandproblemswithsocialacceptance.IdorecognizethatIamgoingtohavetoamendalmosteveryfacetofmylife.Iampreparedtodothat.ThisismyfinalgiftfromPaulandIamdeterminedtogothroughwiththis!”“Ithoughtyouwouldfeelthatway.Youhavemyutmostadmirationandsupport.IwillfollowyourpregnancycarefullybutIwantyoutoseeaspecialistinbirthdefects.IwillreferyoutoDr.Brownandwouldlikeyoutomakeanappointmentwithherassoonaspossible,”hesaid.IknewthenthatIhadmadetherightchoice.Mypregnancywasnotwithoutitshardships,frommorningsicknesstoswollenankles,butIhadnodoubtsaboutthedecisionIhadmade.Myparents,whenItoldthemwhatwasgoingonwithme,expressedtheirconcernsbutalsotheirconfidenceinmydecisionandassuredmetheywouldbetherewhenIdeliveredmybaby.Paulawasbornonabright,cloudless,warmTuesdaymorninginMay.Iwaspreparedtoseeared,wrinkled,squallinginfant.Instead,Isawverylittle.Becauseoftherisksinvolved,PaulawasdeliveredbyCaesariansection.ThedoctorsandnursesrushedherintoanincubatortoassessherbeforeIcaughtaglimpseofher.Icouldseemyparentsontheothersideoftheoperatingroomwindow,questionsintheireyes.Whatwasgoingon?Thenurseskeptmecomfortableandtriedtoalleviatemyfearsbuthalfanhourpassedbeforeourquestionswereanswered.Mydaughterhadasevereheartdefect.Itcouldbecorrectedthroughsurgerybutnotuntilshegainedalittleweightandstrength.Iunderstoodinthatmomentthatmylifehadchangedforever.Idemandedtoseeherimmediately,andassoonasIdid,Ifellinlove.Thismostpreciousofallgiftswasgoingtosurvivetheobstaclesaheadofherwithmyhelp.Iknewinaninstantthatall50 mystrength,love,andmonetaryresourceswereathercommand.Nothingshewanted,needed,orevendreamedof,wouldeverbedenied.Theheartsurgerytocorrectaflawedvalvewasaresoundingsuccess.Fortunately,thecommondefectsoccurringinamajorityofDown'ssyndromechildrenwereabsentinPaula.Shehasnointestinalmalformations,hearingimpairment,orseverevisualproblems.Wearetrulyblessed.Myparentsadorethisexceptionalgrandchild.Theirexpertiseinteaching,nurturing,andparentinghasbeensowelcome.Ialwaysknewtheywerethereforme;nowtheyarethereforus.Iamawareofthesympatheticlooksfromstrangerswhodon'tknoworunderstandthedisorderafflictingmychild.Theirpity,forwhattheyascertainasmyplight,ismisplacedbutunderstandable.IamsurethatI,too,feltsorryforparentsofwhatIthoughtofasimperfectchildren.Paulaisadelightfulchild.Herphysicaldefectsareapparent;thereisnodoubtsheisdifferentfromotherchildren.However,shegoestoschoolwithotherchildrenherage;shetakeslongertolearnthingsandhastoworkharder,butsheisachievingallthemilestonesofgrowingchildren.Raisingherisachallenge,asistheraisingofanychild.Itisn'teasyanditwon'tgeteasier.Asshegrowsanddevelops,therewillbequestionstoanswer,hurdlestocross,andgoalstoreach.Paulaisdifferent.Sheisawarethatsheis.Itdoesn'tdismayher.Shegreetseachdaywithasmileonherlipsandasparkleinhereye.DoIeverhavedoubtsaboutmydecision?No!MyonlyregretisthatPaulisn'theretosharemyjoyinourwonderfuldaughter.（1391words）50 UNIT8Chinese-AmericanRelations:AHistory(I)TheNineteenthCenturytoWorldWarIITheNineteenthCenturyInthe19thcentury,theUnitedStateswasarelativenewcomertotheareaofinternationalaffairs.RelationswithChinareallybegan,notsosubtly,inthe19thcenturywithitsdiscriminatoryimmigrationpolicyagainstChina.TheGoldRushof1849inCalifornia,thebuildingofrailroads,andtheAmericanindustrialrevolutionofthesecondhalfofthe19thcentury,attractedmanyChineseimmigrantswithdreamsofthegoodlifeinAmerica.Atthattime,itwasperceivedbymostoftheworld,thatAmericawasthelandofopportunity,success,andwealth.AstheChinesepopulationintheUnitedStatesgrewinsize,pressurestolimitthenumberofthesecomingintotheUnitedStatesbecamestrong.Laws,suchasplacingapolicetaxonChinesepeopleinCaliforniain1862andTheChineseExclusionActpassedin1882,officiallytestifiedtoblatantdiscriminationagainstChinesepeople.Thelatterfeltforcedtocongregateinareasofbigcities,suchasSanFrancisco,NewYork,andBoston.ChinatownsoonbecamepartofAmericanurbanvocabulary.ItseemedthatthetimidChineseweresusceptibletobeingpushedaround.ItappearedthatChineseandotherOrientalimmigrantswerenotwelcomewithopenarms,butwerewelcomeonlywhenhardlabourwasneededtodothetoughestjobs,especiallyinrailroadconstructionandinthenewindustriesthatwerefastdevelopingatthetime.Itwouldbewellintothe20thcenturybeforesuchdiscriminatorylawswouldbesuspended.TheEarlyTwentiethCenturyDuringthesecondhalfofthe19thcentury,theUnitedStateswaspreoccupiedwithacivilwarandapostcivilwarindustrialrevolution.AmericanforeignpolicywithChinadidnotreallytakeformuntil1899and1900.Bytheturnofthecentury,theUnitedStateswasascendingasamajorplayerininternationalaffairs,especiallyinthewesternhemisphere.Americanforeignpolicy,atthetime,focusedmostlyonLatinAmerica.However,in1899,theAmericanssaweconomicopportunitiesinanalreadypoliticallysuppressedChina.Fordecades,Europeancountrieshadbeenreapingtheeconomicbenefitsbyexploitingofthecountry'sresourcesandmarketswhileclaimingchunksofterritoryastheirown.Ithadbecomeaclosedclubofthecountriesalreadyestablishedthere.TheUnitedStates,fearingthatChinawasabouttoofficiallypartitioned,wantedaccesstothoselucrativeassetsaswell.AmericanSecretaryofState,JohnHay,perhapsusingsomeBigStickandgunboattactics,popularAmericanstrategiesatthetime,waswellpositionedtogettheestablishedforeignnationsinChinatoconformtoanagreementcalledtheOpenDoorpolicyforChina.ThisbenchmarkinterventionbytheUnitedStates,conferredonallcountries,equalandimpartialtradewithallpartsofChina,whilepreservingtheterritorialandadministrativeintegrityofthecountry.TheAmericanapproachdidlittletorespectChina'scustomaryoppositiontoforeignintrusion.ToChina,theUnitedStateswasonlyonemorecountrytobullyit,toexploitits50 resourcesandsovereigntyand,further,todenyitofitsautonomy,integrity,anddignity.Thiscollectiveforeignpresence,boostedbyAmericaninterests,diffusedanyhopeforChinatobreakthechainsofhumiliatingforeignoccupation.TheChinesewerevirtuallycaptivesorprisonersintheirowncountry.TheUnitedStatesdidnotdeviatefarfromthiseconomicpolicytowardChina,untilthecommunisttakeoverin1949.OnecouldonlyimaginehowtheChinesemusthavefeltattheturnofthecentury.CouldanyAmericanimagineascenariooftheshoebeingontheotherfoot(puttingthemselvesintheplaceoftheChinese)?HowwouldAmericanshavefeltifChinesegunboatspatrolledtheMississippiRiveruptoSt.Louis,amajorcityintheheartofAmerica?WhatiftheChinesecouldcomeandgoanywhereintheUnitedStates,beingcompletelyimmunetoallAmericanlaws.CouldAmericansacceptChinatowninBostonofSanFranciscobeingunderChineselaw,anddisplayingsignswithsuchcaptionsas“NoAmericansordogsallowed”?WhatifManhattanIslandandCaliforniawereannexedbyChina?WouldAmericanstoleratetheirownofficialsbeingincollusionwith,andbeingbribedbyChineseauthorities,toletallofabovetotakeplace?Onewouldthinknot.IsitanywonderthatimperialismhadbecomesuchanabominabletermtotheChinesepeople?TheChinesehavemadesomeconscientiousattemptstofightback,ineffortstodefyforeignpresenceinChina,butwithoutmuchsupportduringtheslackreignoftheQingEmperorandtheDowagerEmpress.TheImperialfamily,forsolong,hadbeenextremelyself-indulgent.ItpaidlittleattentiontotherealitiesofwhatwashappeninginsideChina.Forsolong,thenation'spoliciesrevolvedaroundthewhimsoftheImperialFamily.Withrelianceonitsownresources,asecretsociety,calledtheOrderofLiteraryPatrioticHarmoniousFists,madeonelastdesperateattemptatrevenge,toridthecountryofforeigners.In1900,theseBoxersastheywerecalled,stubbornlyengagedtheforeignpowersinconflict.Theformertoreuprailwaytracks,attackedChineseChristians,besiegedforeigndelegations,andeventuallyslaughteredoverthreehundredforeigners.TheAmericanscollaboratedwiththeJapanese,consolidatedforcesandeasilyoverwhelmedtheBoxers.Thelattercrumbledunderthepressureofforeignsuperiorityanditsowndeficienciesinequipmentandorganization.ThevictorsplacedseverecontrolsonthecrippledChineseGovernmentandimposedheavyindemnitiesofbillionsofdollars.Thefactthattheforeignerswereinterested,onlyinprotectingtheirowninterests,wasabundantlyclear.AsidefromdiscriminatoryimmigrationpolicyagainstChinese,theU.S.hadnoofficialdirectpoliticalordiplomaticrelationswithChinauntiltheSecondWorldWar.TheUnitedStatestookonamuchcherishedisolationistapproachtoworldaffairsfollowingtheFirstWorldWar,afterhavingestablisheditselfasamajorworldpower.TheUnitedStatesdidnotevenbecomearepresentativeoftheLeagueofNations,essentiallythecreationofitsownthenPresident,WoodrowWilson.Thisorganizationwassetupin1919tocurbinternationalconflict,whichcould,50 potentially,throwtheworldintoawaragain.Theabsenceofthispowerfulnationwasoneofthemajorweaknessesofthisorganizationand,consequently,apossiblefactorthatactuallyfacilitatedtheresumptionofworldconflictin1939.TheSecondWorldWarDuringtheSecondWorldWar,theUnitedStatesandChinawerealliesagainstthecommonenemy,Japan.AcoalitionoftheUnitedStates,BritishCommonwealthcountries,andotheralliesdispatchedsuppliesandothersupporttoChinabywayoftheBurmaRoadandbyairoverthehump(mountains),tocloseinonJapanfromtherear.Whenwarbrokeoutin1939,Chinawasexperiencingacivilwar,theNationalistsversustheCommunists.ThiscivilwarwasputonholdwhileboththeNationalistsandCommunistsjoinedforcestoconvergeonJapan,whichhad,intermittently,hoveredoverChinaasamenace,orasanimperialistthorninitsside,foragoodcenturybeforethewar.ThewarbroughttheUnitedStatesoutofitssplendidofficialisolation.Oncethewarwasover,turbulenttimescontinuedtostalkChina.Thecivilwarpickedupwhereitleftoff.TheAmericanslentitsmoralsupporttotheNationalistsintheirstruggleagainsttheCommunists,wherebytheUnitedStatesbegantoformulateitsColdWarpolicyof“Containment”(ContainingthespreadofCommunism).（1224words）50 UNIT9Chinese-AmericanRelations:AHistory(II)TheColdWartothePresentTheColdWarAfterthewar,anewwarofinternationaltension,intrigueandpoliticalposturing,calledtheColdWar,forcedtheU.S.toscrapanythoughtsofthefalsecomfortsofofficialisolation.ItjoinedtheUnitedNations(UN)andotherinternationalorganizations,suchastheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO),theInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF),andtheGeneralAgreementonTariffandTrade(GATT).Itwasdeterminedtoplayamajor,ifnotdominantrole,inpostwarinternationalaffairs.TheworldwasthestageforintenserivalrybetweentheCommunists,ononeside,anddemocraticCapitalistsontheother.Itfosteredclosescrutinyofeachother,aswellasabriskinterchangeofoftenfabricatedanddistortedpropagandabetweenthepolarizedsides.Itinjectedthefearthatifonesideblinked,anuclearwarwouldbetriggered.Theworld,seemingly,wasalwaysonthevergeofwarfare.ThisenvironmentplacedtheUnitedStatesandChinaonoppositesidesoncetheCommuniststookpowerinChinain1949.Thisconstantfrictionjeopardizedchancesformeaningfulpoliticalinteractionandintercourse.Thisatmosphereofdistrustandfearleftlittleincentiveforthedifferentsidestotalkseriously.BytheendoftheSecondWorldWar,orduringthelastyearortwoofthewar,theworldstagewasbeingsetfortheColdWar.PresidentTruman'sattitudetowardChinahardened.AmericanpolicywasexplicitthatonlyoneChina,NationalistChinaledbyChiangKai-shek,ontheislandofTaiwan,wastheofficialChina.TheAmericansmadeitabundantlyclear,thatMaoTsetung'sCommunistRegime,onmainlandChina,wouldnotoccupyChina'spermanentseatintheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil.TheoutbreakofwarontheKoreanPeninsulabroughtaboutanabruptchangeoffocusinAmericanforeignpolicy.ThenewAmericanstrategywastomilitarilyisolateoralienateChinainAsia.Toaccomplishthis,theUnitedStatesestablishedbasesinEastAsiaandmutualdefensetreatiesinEastAsia.TreatieswerenegotiatedwithJapan,thePhilippines,Australia,andNewZealand.AmericanPresidentEisenhowerlaterexpandedthesetoincludeSouthKorea,Pakistan,andThailand.Tocapoffthisanti-Chinastrategy,theUSstrengthenedtieswithTaiwanorNationalistChina,withwhichtheformerhadofficialdiplomaticties.Inthe1950s,AmericanpowerandcredibilitydeterioratedsomewhatintheColdWar.Itsownpeople,whobegantoopposeMcCarthyismandthebluntanti-communistpoliciesofJohnFosterDulles,theAmericanSecretaryofStateintheEisenhowerAdministration,helpedtounderminednationalprestige.In1953,JosefStalin,theSovietleader,died.TheseeventshelpedtobringaboutashiftindirectioninAmericanforeignpolicy.TheUnitedStatesbegantolookmoretoAsianeventsas50 majorthreatstoAmerica'snationalsecurity.TheIronCurtainwasfirmlyestablishedinEurope,andNATOforcesprovidedsecureprotectiononthewesternsideofthecurtain.Forthetimebeing,thingslookedfairlystableinEurope.IntheEast,becauseoftheendoftheKoreanWarandtheexodusoftheFrenchfromIndo-China,thingswerenotasstable.TheAmericanpoliticalelitecontendedthattheforemostproblemwasthevacuumleftbytheFrenchwithdrawalfromIndo-China.ToofficialsintheUnitedStates,thisvoidmustnotbefilledbyanothercommunistregime.Therealizationofobjectivesofthedominotheory(theessenceofwhichwas,thatifnotchecked,countriesinagivenareawillallgraduallyfalltocommunistrule)couldnotbeallowedtoperpetuate.TheChineseRevolutionhadestablishedacommunistregimeinthemostpopulouscountryintheworld,andthetensionsbetweenNorthandSouthKoreawerenotgoingtogoawayovernight.SuccessofthedominotheorylookedmorelikelyinAsiathaninEurope.TheUnitedStatesfeltthatitneededtoconcentrateitsenergiesandresourcesinAsia.Americanpolicies,duringthe1960sandearly1970s,essentiallyweretopreventcommunisttakeoversinAsia,inparticular,particularlyinSouthVietnamandTaiwan.Americanpolicywastocontaincommunismwhereitalreadyexisted,whilesimultaneouslycoexistingpeacefullywithitscoldwarcommunistrivals.Militaryexpendituresincreasedasdefensebudgetswentskyhighwithdemocraticandcommunistbureaucraciesbuildinghugearsenalsorinventoriesofhighvelocity,evensupersonicdestructivenuclearweapons,inaveryfragilepolarizedworld.EvenChinatestedathermalnuclearweaponintheearly60s.ThawingoftheColdWar--the1970'sto2001AmericanColdWarpolicyensueduntiltheearly1970's,whensomemajorchangesinthinkingwereinaugurated.CommunistChina'sentrytotheUnitedNationswasasetbackfortheUnitedStates.TheVietnamWarwasnotgoingwell.Intheearly70s,AmericanPresidentNixon,thearch-conservativeandanti-communistpresident,uptothatpoint,waspreparingtovisitChinaandtheSovietUnion.WhywouldanAmericanpresidentvisittheseenemies?TheAmericanscametotherealizationthatthedevelopmentofgoodrelationswithitscounterpartsinthecommunistworldwasnecessary.Aforthcoming,morepragmaticapproachtoforeignpolicywithChinawastobeadeparturefromtheadverseideologicalapproach.TheUnitedStateshadlostsolidbackingfromtraditionalsupporters,asillustratedbyCommunistChina'sentryintotheUnitedNations.ThequestionastowhetherNationalistChinaorthePeople'sRepublicofChinashouldholdChina'spermanentSecurityCouncilseat,wasatopicofmuchdiscussionanddebateforyears.Formanycountries,theideaofignoringonethirdoftheworld'spopulationattheUNwasdifficulttorationalize.Thisdebateensueduntil1971,whenthePeople’sRepublicofChinafinallydisplacedNationalistChinaattheUnitedNations,includingthepermanentseat,originallyheldbyNationalistChinaintheSecurityCouncil.AbaffledUnitedStatescouldnolongerpersuadenorintimidatethemajorityofthecountriesintheUNGeneralAssemblytokeepCommunistChinaoutoftheUN.TheUnitedStateshadlittlechoicebuttoeventuallyextendofficialrecognitiontothePeople’sRepublicofChina.50 Thewar-wearyAmericanpeoplewerenolongersupportingthewarinVietnamandnolongereagerlysupportingtraditionalforeignpolicy.Amajorscandal(Watergate),thatwouldrocktheNixonAdministrationtotheresultantresignationofthepresident,wasabouttobedisclosed.Practicalsolutionswereneededforpracticalproblems.Peacefulcoexistencemeantfindingsomecommongroundonwhichtoactivateinternationaltrustandcooperation.Nixon'sconsecutivepredecessors,Truman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,andJohnsonwouldhaverolledoverintheirgravesiftheycouldhaveseenthesechanges.Thesechangeswouldhaveappearedalien,contradictoryorevencontrived,tothemandtheircontemporaries.PresidentsFord,Reagan,Bush,andClintonsawtheneedtokeepcommunicationchannelsopenwithChina.Americansfinallyrealizedthattheycouldnolongerkeepdownasleepinggiant.NolongeraPaperTiger,Chinawasareality,andwasentitledtoanimportantplaceinworlddecision-makingvenues.Inthe1980'sfollowingtheCulturalRevolutionandthedeathofMaoTsetung,China'soutlookontheworldchangeddramatically.DengXiaopeng'sreformsweretobringChinaclosertobeingamajorworldpartnerininternationaltradeandthedevelopmentofworldmarkets.ThiswascappedwithitsadmissiontotheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)inDecember2001.ChinahasbeenmostwillingtocomplywithalloftheregulationsoftheWTO.Americanshaveonlyhalf-heartedlyopposedChina'sentry,byunfairlyusing“humanrights”asadistractiontoperhapsdisguiseotherinternationalpressures.However,theUnitedStates,foracoupleofdecades,alreadyhadmajor,politicallydiscreet,vestedeconomicinterestsinChinathatitcouldnotaffordtodenyorjeopardize.In1998,ChinasignedaPermanentNormalTradingRelationsagreementwiththeUnitedStates,thepreludetotheformer'sentryintotheWTO.PresidentClinton,whovisitedChinain1998,hadessentiallypaidlipservicetoCongressionalpressuretopushthehumanrightsissueswithChina.Exceptfortheoccasionalirritatingcrisisinrecentyears,suchasthespyplaneincidentofftheislandofHainaninApril2001,Sino-Americanrelationshavebeencordialbutcautious.Theconsensusseemstobe,thatChina'sdestinyasamajorinternationalforceinthe21stcentury,seemsreasonablyassured.（1367words）50 UNIT10ASolitaryQuestFrommysuiteofroomsatoptheHolidayInnIsurveyedthenarrowalleysbelowme.OnlyyesterdayhadIleftmyfranticNorthAmericanlifebehind,toavailmyselfofanopportunitytotraveltoChina.IwishedtospendtimeresearchingmaterialformythesispertainingtoEasternreligions.Thehotelwasincloseproximitytotheheartoftheolddowntown.Innumerableactivitieswerehappeningbelowme.Peoplesurgedalongthestreetsometimesstoppingtobargainwithstreetvendors.Cucumbers,tomatoes,apples,orangesandgrapeswereheapedonhandcarts.Thevarietyoffruitavailableprovidedavirtualfeastfortheeyes.Deliverymenjoggedalongpullingenormousloadsofcardboard.ToaWesterner'seyescarsmergedunbelievablywithoutincident.Itappearedtobeadubiousprocesstonegotiatethetrafficandevencrossthestreet.However,ratherthanloungingindoors,Idecidedtoventureoutsidetoexplorethecolorfulworldbelow.Iwasinterestedinlocatingachurchtoattend,astodaywasSunday.OnthestreetImadetentativeenquiriesaboutlocatingaChristianchapel.Attimesthecongestionofpeoplehamperedmyprogress.Staresfrompassers-bymademefeelconspicuous.Theweatherwashotandhumidandtherewassomepossibilityofatyphoonreachingthecitylaterintheday.AfterseveralfalseleadsIfoundmyselfstandinginfrontofaveryoldChristianChurch,establishedbymissionariesduringthelastdynastyandatthebeginningofthelastcentury.Withtheonsetofalightsprinkle,Imadeahastyretreattoshelterinthedoorwayofthechurch.Thefamiliarrefrainofwell-knownhymnsrangoutwithinthechurch.Ifeltdrawninsidetojointhefellowshipinaforeignland.Eventhoughourlanguagesdiffered,mygracioushostsnonetheless,maderoomforme,andmademefeelwelcome.SittinginthisoldchurchinChinaledmetocontemplateaboutthelivesofmenandtheirspouseswholiveddecadesago,whentheytraveledtothisdistantlandintheEasternHemisphere.ManyoftheseChristianministersandlaymenlefttheircomfortablechurches,evencathedralstopreachtheirideologytoforeigners.TheyestablishedsmallchapelswherepeoplecouldjoininChristianfellowshipandwheresomeChinesepeopleacceptedconversiontoanewfaith.TheycametoalandwherethepredominatefaithwasBuddhism.Eventhoughtheirwordswereeloquentthemessageattimesmusthaveseemedformidableandgloomy.Eventheforeigners'clothingstyleswouldhaveappearedqueer.DuringthiscolonialtimeperiodmissionariesimmigratedtoallareasofChina,visitingsmallvillages,distributingBibles,offeringdivinesalvationandpreachingthewordofGod.AunanimousdecisionwasmadebymanyfaithstoattempttoenrichthelivesofothersandtopresenttheeloquentmessageofChristianity.Somemissionariesworkedinthemedicalfieldasdoctors,surgeons,nursesanddentists.50 Agriculturespecialistshelpedthefarmerselevatetheircropperformancetoprovidebetternutritionforthepeople.Finallytherewereteacherswhoranthemissionschools.Allhadtobeveryversatileattheirwork.Thesepeopleprovedtobeaninspirationforotherstofollowintheirfootsteps.Earningsfromalltheseareaswouldgobackintofurthermissionworktofulfilltheirmandate.Inretrospect,myfascinationwiththishistoricaleramayhavebeenkindledinchildhood.Whilevisitingmygrandparent'shomeeveryThanksgiving,IwasallowedtoexaminethefascinatingornamentsfromtheOrient.Thereweredelicateelephantsculpturescarvedfromivory,lacysandalwoodfansandanimposingbrassBuddha.Bestofall,Iwasallowedtodonanexquisitesilkembroideredjacketandplaywithablueandtanparasolwhichwasadornedwithspraysofplumblossomsandtinybuds.ItwasthenIwasintroducedtoanexoticnewworld.Maybethistoo,ispartlywhatluredmetothiscountry.UnderanewregimeinChina,governmentstatesmenquestionedwhatjustificationtheseforeignministershadintheircountry.Subsequently,themoralityoftheinstructionwasquestioned.Thependulumswungtheotherwayandchurchpeoplewouldnolongerbewelcometoimparttheirmessage.Apleatoreconsiderthedecisionwasunsuccessful.Diplomatsalsowouldberequiredtoleavethecountry.Itwouldbealongtimebeforevisaswouldbeissuedtoforeignpeople,toagainliveinChina.AndsohereIam!Theclearanceformyvisitor'svisahadbeenadministeredswiftly.Mysurroundingsarousedinmeasenseofheritage.Today,sittingherepondering,allowedmetobeaparticipantratherthanjustaspectatorinanewchapterofChina'shistory.（774words）50 UNIT11ActingTodayforTomorrowProtectingthenaturalenvironment,theecologyofacountry,isamajorconcernforeverycountrythesedays.Itismandatorynottominimizetheimportanceofcleanair,cleanwater,andcleanland.Itisasadcommentaryontoday'ssocietythatindustrieshavebeenpermittedtocontaminateournaturalsurroundings.Adreadfuldiscrepancyexistsbetweentheimportanceplacedoneconomicdevelopmentandtheprotectionoftheenvironment'sheritage.Ifallowedtoproceedunchecked,thepublicwilleventuallyinheritamajorcatastrophe.Evencountrieswhopracticestrictpollutioncontrolmeasuresmaystillbeaffectedbycountriesadjacenttooradjoiningthem,whenairpollutionpermeatestheair.Itisimportantformediacoveragetocompileaccuratedatatoenablethepublictoboycottincreasedirresponsibleindustrialization.Todisguisethepeople'ssafetycallingitprogresswilleventuallyleadtomanycasualties.Canadahasalandandwatermassof9970610km2,withapopulationof30millionpeople.Thisisacountrywheretheratioofpeoplecomparedtothemassofthelandisverylow.Canyouconceivethatinsuchagiganticlandthatagarbageproblemexists?IwishthatIcouldreassureyouthattheanswerisinthenegative.Thecommoditymostneededtoaddressthisproblemisspace.However,asurbanareasgrow,theabundanceofwastealsoincreases.Whereonceampledisposalsiteswereavailable,noweverymunicipalgovernmentisscramblingtocomplywithandupholdlocalandnationalhealthregulations.Largemetropolitancitiesarehavinganespeciallydifficulttime.Localrecyclingprogramshavebeenauthorizedinmanylocalitiestosafeguardthecountry'secology.Evenaftertheestablishmentofsuchtokenmeasures,reportsfromfiveconsecutiveyearshaveindicatedonlynegligibleprogressinsolvingthisveryperplexingproblem.Ifwearetoseriouslyaddresstheproblemwewillneedtominimizetheamountofrefusewedisposeof.Newareaswillneedtobeallocatedforthispurpose.Thedatabaseofinformationcollectedshouldbedetailedenoughtoresponsiblydirectourfutureactions.Everycommunity,whetherlargeorsmall,issearchingforasolutiontothisproblem.Municipalities,inattemptingtoappraisethesituation,havespentcountlessyearsinresearch,expendingbothtimeandmoney,lookingforahomogeneousanswer.Thepublic,hopingtoavoidthetragicconsequencesofamanipulateddecision,refusestogiveenthusiasticsupporttomostproposals.Solicitorsarehiredtoprepareconfidentialreportstoconvincethepublictoacceptthemunicipalitiessuggestions.Thechoiceofaspecificpieceoffarmlandasalandfillsiteoftencausesaninstantaneoushystericalreaction.Atlocalmeetingscitizensreproachgovernmentofficialsyellingtheirdisapprovalatthechoiceofaspecificsite.Theyventtheirangerbutarenotalwaysabletomobilizesufficientpublicsupporttoeffectawiseandacceptabledecision.Eventhoughresearchersclaimthatlinedpitswillnotcauseadrainageproblem,theroomfor50 errorismarginal.Oneflawintheplancouldberesponsibleforanepidemicorworse,causingmultipledeaths.Anyleachingfromalandfillpitwillcreaterecurringdifficultiesinpollutingafarmer'swellandthegroundwater.Pollutedwaterflowingintolakeswillaffectfishandwildlifeandwillhinderthesportsman'spleasures.Toarticulatetheirconcernsbeforehand,willhopefullyavoidgriefinthefuture.Aveiledthreattopublichealthimmediatelycreatesabiastowardsprotectingthepeople'ssafetyandinterestsandestablishinganeducatedsuspicion.Thechoiceofusingremotebarrenlandremovedfromhighlypopulatedareas,virgingroundsotospeak,presentsitsownproblems.Thetransportationofdangerouschemicalsinsealedcapsulesovermajorarteriesincreasesthepossibilityofspillsandcontamination.Recurringexcerptsinnationalandlocalnewspaperswarnofthedangersconfrontingtheordinarycitizen.Thepretextofprotectingthepublicinterestmustbequestioned.Accidentsandpoorplanningleadtotheerosionofpublicfaith.Withcertainty,wecanreportthattheairwebreatheisbecomingmorepolluteddaily.Forthoseresidentsoflargecitieswhoareafflictedwitharespiratoryconditionitbecomesimperativeforofficialstoclampdownonsmogconditions.Toprotecttheirhealth,citizensmaydeemitnecessarytochecksmoglevelsbeforehandwhentheyareplanningstrenuousoutdooractivity.Todisregardthisproblemwillsurelyincreasethenumberofprematuredeathsandserioushealthproblems.Directactionbygovernmentsshouldhelpalleviatesomeoftherisksfortheelderlyandthosepeoplewithheartandlungdisease.Onebreakthroughoccurredwhenthegovernmentsignedapacttocheckpollutantemissionsonallmotorvehicles.Somecontinuityofpolicyisdesirablenotonlybetweenprovincesbutamongnationstomonitorairquality.OnaglobalscalethedeforestationoftherainforestsofBraziliscausinggraveworldwideconcern.Thepresentdayregimethatisencouragingthebuildingofroads,allowingforeasiertravelhaslaidsiegetooneoftheworld'smostvaluablenaturalresources.Thishasbecomeanobscenerapeoftheland,aslashandburnapproach.Anaerialviewofthisareashowsterriblefires,enormousblazeseveryday,resultinginconsequentairpollution.TheBraziliangovernmenthowever,isreluctanttoabolishthispracticethatwouldmeanlessincomeforthepoorofBrazil.Sadly,ontheotherhand,nativesmustevacuatetheirhomes,becomingexiles.Aworldforumonthismatterhasleftpeopleallovertheworldwithsomeindefiniteanswers.Bothgovernmentsandindividualscanvoluntarilyhelpachievegoalsforacleanersaferenvironmentbyincorporatingsomeofthefollowingideasintotheirdailylives.Theycanascribetotheideaofparticipatinginlocalrecyclingprograms.Aswell,theycancutbackontheuseofmotorvehicles.Walkingmorewillimproveeveryone'shealth,aswellasimprovingtheenvironment.Usingalternativestoherbicidesonlawnsandgardenswillimprovewaterquality.Somegeneraladvicemightbetodifferentiatebetweenwhatweneedandwhatwewant.Ifwearegoingtopassonahealthyworldtoourchildrenandgrandchildrenwemustremaindiligentandmaintainabalancebetweenourenvironmentalandsocialresponsibilitiesandoureconomicgoals.50 It'sourworldandhowweleaveitforthenextgenerationdependsonwhatwedotoday.(1047words)50 UNIT12TheAmericanDreamThedreamtoconstructabuildingtohouseeveryoneandeverythingconnectedwithworldtradebeganintheearly1960's.Aftermuchdeliberation,MinoruYamasakiwascommissionedovermorethanadozenotherarchitectstoworkwiththefirmofEmeryRothandSonstodesignthismassiveedifice.Histaskwasevident:thebuildingmusthavetwelvemillionsquarefeetoffloorspaceonasixteenacreparcelofland,accommodatethenewfacilitiesfortheHudsontubesandsubwayconnections,andbedonewithinthe500milliondollarbudget.Therelativelysmallsitecombinedwiththevastspaceneedsmeantthattheonlywaytogowasup.ThedevelopmentwoulddwarfitsneighborsandchangetheNewYorklandscapeandskylineatthebottomofManhattan.Inordertoaccommodatetheninemillionsquarefeetofofficespace,Yamasakimadethedecisionthatatwo-towerdevelopmentwouldbebest.Thiswouldservethedualpurposeofgivingsufficientofficeareaoneachfloorandallowingamanageablestructuralsystemwhiletakingadvantageofthesuperbviews.Thetwintowerswouldbe110floorseach,risingtoaheightof1,353feet(412meters).Fromtheobservationdecksatthetopsofthetowersitwouldbepossibletosee45milesineverydirection.Whenaskedwhyhedesignedtwo110-storeybuildingsinsteadofone220-storeybuilding,hereplied,flippantly,“Ididn’twanttolosethehumantouch.”Thefirstactintheconstructionprocesswastheexcavation.The1.2millioncubicyardsofearthandrockthatwereremovedwereusedtocreate23acresoffillintheHudsonRiveradjacenttotheW.T.C.site.ThislandfillprojectwassubsequentlydevelopedasBatteryPark.Theexcavation,besidesprovidingthefoundationforthisenormousconstruction,wouldhouseparkinggarages,subwayterminalsandtubes,andshoppingconcourses.Yamasakibelievedthatallbuildingsmustbestronginthecontextofbeingdominant.Hefeltthateachbuildingshould“beamonumenttothevirilityofoursociety”.Thestructuralsystem,whilepossessingthisstrength,isalsoimpressivelysimple.The208-footfrontwallisessentiallyapre-assembledsteelweb,withcolumnson39-inchcenters,providingthewindbracingnecessaryforabuildingofthisheight,allowingthecentralcoretotakeonlythegravityloads.Thisverylight,economicalconfigurationwouldresultinkeepingthewindbracinginthemostefficientplace,theoutsideshellofthebuilding.Inthisway,thewindforcewouldnotbetransferredthroughthefloormembranetothecore.Thirty-threeinchdeepfloorsmadeofprefabricatedsteeltrusseswouldactassupportstostiffentheoutsidewallsagainstthebucklingforcesofthewind-loadpressures.Therewouldbenointeriorcolumnsintheofficespaces,anamazingfeatastherewouldbe40000squarefeetofofficespaceoneachoftheupperfloors.Intotal,therewouldbesevenbuildingsinthecomplex;thetwintowersstanding110stories50 high,foursmallertowers,andacentralplaza.Also,therewouldbesevenundergroundlevelscontainingservices,shopping,parkinggaragesandasubwaystation.Whencompleted,therewouldbetenmillionsquarefeetofleasablespace,oranacreofrentablespaceoneachfloorofeachtower.Theelevatorsystemwasintendedtobefast,efficient,andspacesaving.Expresselevatorsopeningontotheforty-firstandseventy-fourthfloorswouldservetheskylobbies.Fromthesefloorsandfromtheplaza,fourbanksofelevatorswouldcarrypassengerstoeachofthethreezones.Tendersposted,contractorshired,andthepreliminarymaterialspurchased,thegroundbreakingceremonywasheldonAugust5,1966.Someofficeswerereadyforoccupancyin1970buttheribboncuttingceremonywasn'thelduntilApril4,1973.Finalcost750milliondollars.TheinstitutionoftheW.T.C.wouldbecomeasymbolofcommerceandeconomicsuperioritytotheworld.Internationalbusinessesrecognizedthatitwouldbeadvantageoustohaveofficesthere.Thus,theworkingpopulationoftheW.T.C.wouldincorporateacross-sectionofnationalities,notjustAmericans.Thebuildingswouldbeoccupiedbyasmanyasfiftythousandpeopledailyduringtheweek.Additionally,thousandsoftouristscouldbeinthecenteratanygiventime,visitingtherestaurant,WindowsontheWorld,atopOneW.T.C.,theindoorandoutdoorobservationdecksonTwoW.T.C.,aswellastheshops,exhibitionpavilions,andthe250roomhotel.Acomplexofthissizeisnotwithoutsomeproblems,includingfire.NumeroussmallfiresandonemajoroneonFebruary13,1975occurredovertheyears.However,onFebruary26,1993,aterroristattackontheW.T.C.causedthelargestincidenteverhandledbytheCityofNewYork'sFireDepartment.Theblaze,resultingfromtheignitionofanitroureabomb,withhydrogencylinderstoaddimpact,andlocatedintheparkinggarage,requiredtheresponseof84enginecompanies,60truckcompanies,andhundredsofpersonnel.Firefightersmaintainedapresenceatthesitefor28days,guardingagainstthepossibilityoffurtherfirescausedbytheblast.Sixpeoplediedand1042wereinjured.Thetowerssurvived.AfterthisviolentincidentfailedinitsintendedpurposeofdestroyingtheW.T.C.,whocouldhaveenvisagedanassaultasdisastrousastheoneinflictedonitandtheUnitedStatesonSeptember11,2001?Whocouldhaveconceivedanattacksoviciousitwouldeclipsealmosteveryman-madecatastrophe?WhocouldhaveforeseenthattheAmericandreamwouldblurintoaterriblenightmare?At8;45a.m.NewYorklocaltime,ahijacked767commercialairlinerwithafullloadofjetfuelforatranscontinentalflightcollidedwithOneW.T.C..Thenorthtower,withenoughimpetustocarryitthroughtotheoppositeside.Initially,terrorismwasnotaconsiderationinthemindofthepublic.Thiswasmerelyadreadfulaccident.50 Asabewilderedpublicendeavoredtoassimilatethisoverwhelmingevent,at9:03a.m.,asecondhijackedjetcrashedintoTwoW.T.C.Millionsofpeoplearoundtheworld,havingbeenalertedtotheincidentandnowwatchingtheterrorunfoldontheirtelevisions,watchedinshockasthesecondplane,intheblinkofaneye,enteredthesouthtoweratapproximatelytheseventy-secondfloorandpartiallyexitedtheoppositewall.Fireandpolicedepartmentsweremobilizedimmediately.Rapidevacuationofthebuildingswascrucial.Manyworkersonupperfloors,knowingtherewasnoescape,committedsuicidebyhurlingthemselvesoutofwindowstotheirdeaths.Then,62minutesafterithadbeencrashedinto,thesouthtowercrumbledintothestreetsinagiganticcloudofdustanddebris.HundredsofpoliceandfirefightersintentontheirrescuemissionlosttheirlivesasTwoW.T.C.collapsed.Driversandattendantsofemergencyvehicles,unabletoabandontheirposts,diedwheretheyhadstoppedtogiveaidandassistance.Employeesfromthetwotowers,rushingtoescapetheragingfires,werecaughtinthewreckage.Pedestrians,uncertainofwhichwaytoturn,andnotconvincedoftheneedforurgency,foundthemselvestrappedinanavalancheofconcrete.Membersofthemedia,ontheirwaytocoverthebreakingnewsofthedisaster,becamevictimsofit.Hundredsofcommuters,ontheirwaytoworkviasubway,weretrappedbelowgroundwithnoescapepossible.Hospitalemergencydepartments,havingbeennotifiedoftheexplosions,quicklypreparedforthearrivalofcasualties.Whentheexpectedinfluxfailedtomaterialize,itcouldonlymeanthattherewerefewsurvivors.OneW.T.C.collapsedat10:30a.m.,105minutesafterbeinghit,addingtothemassconfusioninthestreets.SevenW.T.C.,alateradditiontothecomplex,wasdamaged,caughtfire,andcollapsedlaterthatafternoon.Notoneoftheadjoiningstructureswasleftintact.Intheaftermathofthisincrediblemisfortune,thepiecesofthepuzzlebegantobeputinplace.Shortlybefore8:00a.m.onSeptember11,2001,threecommercialairlinerswerehijackedfromLoganAirportinBoston,Massachusetts.AllweretranscontinentalflightswithpassengersdestinedforCaliforniaandtheirfullfueltanksprovidedtheammunitioncriticaltothemissionofthehijackers.Authoritiesspeculatethatthepilotswereassassinatedandtheirplacestakenbytheterroristswhohadhadflighttraining.Inall,therewere157passengersandcrewonthetwoplanes.ThethirdplanecrashedinPennsylvaniakilling45passengersandcrew.Anumberofthehostagesmanagedtousetheircellulartelephonestocalltheirfamiliestosaygoodbye.Everythingoccurredinsuchashortperiodoftimethat,otherthanalertingahandfulofpeoplethatthereweresomehijackings,noonehadanyideawhy.Thedilemmawasthattherewerenowarnings,nodemandsforransom,andnohintsthatthisbright,sunnySeptembermorningwasabouttobecomeadaythatwillliveforeverinthemindsofthosewhowitnessedthetragedy.Itwillbeyearsbeforethefinaltollofdamagewillbeknown.Toconsolidateinformation,computethefinanciallosses,designateamonetaryvalueforlossoflife,fillthevoidleftonthe50 terrain,tomakesenseofthismisfortuneintendedtounderminethefoundationofAmericaisaformidableassignment.WedoknowthatdestructionoftheWorldTradeCentercostthelivesofmorethanthreethousandinnocentpeopleinthebuildings,inthehijackedairplanes,andinthesurroundingstreets.Whocanerasethementalimagesofthoseplanessmashingintothetwintowers?Whoisunabletovisualizethespectacleofterrifiedmenandwomenjumpingtotheirdoom?Howcanthoseofuswhoobservedthecollapseofthebuildingsfailtodwellonthelossoflifecausedbymen,cowards,wholackedthefortitudetoproclaimwarontheirallegedenemy?Today,October22,2001,ninemorecorpseswerediscoveredintherubble,thefirstsuchdiscoveryinseveralweeks.Thismayseemtrivialwhenoneconsidersthemultitudeofpeoplewhodied.However,thefatalitiesaren'ttheonlyvictimsofthistragicevent.Theirfamilies,friends,andcolleaguesneedclosure.Theyneedtoknowwithcertaintythattheirlovedonesaredeadandtheyneedtoburytheremains.Unfortunately,mostofthecasualtieswillprobablyneverbefoundbecausetheheatproducedbytheignitionofjetfuelandthedamageincurredbytheimpactwouldhaveinstantaneouslyvaporizedeverythingandeveryoneintheimmediatevicinity.Others,inthebuildingsoronthestreetsasthetowerscollapsedareundersomuchdebristhattheirbodiesmaynotbefoundformonths.ThelistofbuildingscollapsedanddamagedincludesallsevenbuildingsoftheW.T.C.complexcomprisingW.T.C.6,theU.S.CustomsHousetothenorth;W.T.C.3,the22storyMarriottWorldTradeCenterHoteljustwestofTowerTwo;W.T.C.4and5,thePlazaBuildings,andOneLibertyPlaza,a54story,743foothighbuildingtotheeast.Firefightersandrecoveryworkersremainonthescene.Thefiresstillsmolderbeneaththeruins.TheAmericanspirithasbeenbruisedandthelandhasbeenscarred.Thecitizensofthispowerfulnationnowrealizejusthowfragileandvulnerabletheircountryis.Nevertheless,theyaredefiant.Theydonotconsiderthemselveseasypreyforterrorists.Theyarestilloptimisticabouttheirplaceintoday'sworld.Theyassertthatthenightmarevisiteduponthemwillbevisitedupontheperpetratorsofthiscowardlyact.TheWorldTradeCenterisnomore.Thedreamofaninternationalaxisofbusiness,onceareality,willberevised.Maybehavingoneplacethatissoprominentwillalsoberethought.Whatevertheoutcome,thismassacrehasservedtostrengthentheresolveofamightynation.Thedreamanddreamerswillsurvive.(2007words)50 UNIT13SexRoleStereotypesDuringmycareerasaCanadianfemaleteacher,Iobservedmanyinstancesofsexrolestereotypingthroughoutthewesternculture.Iwasalwaysamazedhowquicklyyoungchildrenadoptedtheculturalvalues.Thetopicisoneofmajorconcernsinthewesternworld,yettherearethosepeoplewhowouldaskyoutobelievethatitisnotamajorissue.Peoplewhowishtoignorethesituationdonotwelcomediscussionsonthetopicofgenderbias.Thistypeofpersonevokesananalogyofanostrichthatburiesitsheadinthesandtoignoreaproblembyavoidingit.Althoughmanyofmycommentsmayseemcynical,Igiveyouassurancethattheyarebasedonmyobservationofwesternsocietyforanumberofyears.Itmightbeinterestingandinformativetocomparethewesternworldinthisrespectwitheasterncultures.Manystudieshavebeendoneandthebreakdownofreasonsexaminedtodeterminewhygenderrolesplayanimportantpartintheselectionofsuccessfulcandidatesforpositionsinmanyvocations.Thesestudieshavemadelittleimpactondiminishingtheprevalenceofcandidatesbeingselectedmorefortheirgenderthantheirqualifications.Sincethepeopleresponsibleforhiringpeopletoworkwiththem,oftenhirepeoplesimilartothemselves,itseemsliketheyarelookingforacloneoraduplicateofthemselves.Femalesoftenbecomequiteindignantwhenpositionsthattheyarewellsuitedforareawardedtomalesandambiguousreasonsgiventoexplainwhy.Isitanywonderthatattemptstosuecorporationsforusingunfairhiringandpromotionpracticesareapplauded?Ontheotherhand,companieswhoexhibitfairhiringpracticesneedtobecommendedfordoingso.Ithasbeencommoninthewesternworldforpeopletopresumethatcertainprofessionsbelongalmostexclusivelytoonegenderortheother.Theworkofanelectrician,orworkwithelectronics,orrepairingofair-conditioningequipment,mightbeconsideredtobemasculinefieldsofemployment.Nursingandchildcarevocationsareconsideredfeminineoccupations.Aviationisanotherfieldwherepeoplewouldusuallyassumethatthepilotwouldbemaleandtheflightattendantwouldbefemale,apremisethatmanytimeswillbeinvalid.Itwillbeamajorbreakthroughwhenbothgendersareequallyrepresentedintheworkforceespeciallyinhigherlevelpositions.Someindividualswouldleadyoutobelievethatitwouldresultinthebreakdownofsociety,asweknowittoday.Attimesanattempttopreventsubjectiveviewsbeingusedtoprecludeonlymalesbeinghiredbymaleshasbeenattempted.Lawsorpolicythatattempttorectifythesituationhavenotbeensuccessfulindiminishingtheproblem.Anattempttonumericallycontrolthenumberofpositionsinacorporationbyusingaquotasystemtorequireequalnumbersofmalesandfemalestobehiredusuallymeetswithlittlesuccessiftheattitudesofthepeopledoingthehiringaresubjectiveandprecludethepossibilityoffairpractisesbeingused.Theempiricalevidenceshownbythenumbersmakesiteasytoshowwhichcompaniesexemplifyfairnessandwouldhinderthosewhoonlymakeafeebleattempttodoso.If50 acompanydoesendeavourtoincorporatefairnessintheirhiringpractises,theyshouldbeeligibleforcommendation.Adiligentattempttochoosethebestpersonforthepositionregardlessoftheirgenderisonlyinherentinthosecompaniesthatcanenvisageafuturewiththebestpossibleworkforce.Advertisementsdepictgenderbiaswhilepromotingproducts.Lookingatmerchandisedisplaysinanymallwillrevealthatapictureofajuvenileladwouldbenearconstructionequipmentwhileanadforperfumewouldlikelyshowafemale.Thedrawbackofthisseeminglyinnocentwayofdisplayingmerchandiseisthattheytendtoaffirmthebiasoftheindividualswhodesignthem.Thisisaseriousflaw.Maybetheintentwasnottobeexclusivebutthatistheendresultofthemessagethatisevoked,whethersubliminalorovert.Analternatewayofviewingtheworld,witheitherbothgendersportrayedorneitherwiththeitems,mayseembizarrebutmarketingspecialistshavebeenapplaudedformakingtheefforttodoso.Thehypothesishasbeensuggestedthatifthispractisewerewidespreaditwouldfacilitateachangeforthebetterinthevaluesthatareembeddedinoursociety.Whenyoureadabiographyinanewspaperinametropolitanarea,youwillfindthatdifferentwordsareusedtodescribemalesandfemales.Inalmostanyliterarywork,personalappearanceisseldommentionedwhendescribingmales,butcommonlyusedwhenafemaleisthesubjectofthearticle.Formsofaddressthatareconsideredpropertousearealsodiscriminatory.MalesarealwaysreferredtoasMr.(exceptaveryyoungladmightbeaddressedasMaster).Thereareseveralformsofabbreviationstousebeforethenameofafemale.ItispermissibletouseMrs.,Miss,orMs.Thechoiceofabbreviationisbypersonalpreferenceofthepersonbeingaddressedbuttheyhavedifferentmeanings.Mrs.isusedtosignifyamarriedwoman.Missmeansanunmarriedorsinglewoman.Ms.couldmeaneitherandisthechoiceofmanywomenbecauseitdoesnotrevealtheirmaritalstatus.Howstrangethatsocietyfeelsitisnecessarytobeabletodeduceawoman'smaritalstatusfromhernamebyprovidingthisformofdefinitiveidentification.Amancouldbemarriedorcouldbeabachelorandoneisnotabletoascertainhismaritalstatusfromhisname.Why,then,isitnecessarytodifferentiatebetweenawomanwhoismarriedandonewhoisnot?Manyofthecasesofsexualharassmentthataredealtwithincorporationsarearesultofstereotyping.Usuallythepersonwhoistheallegedharasserisamalewhosupervisesfemales.Maleshavebeentaughtbysocietythattheyaretheprivilegedgenderandhavepoweroveranyfemale.Thisisthebasisbehindmostincidentsofharassment.Howstrangethatintelligentmenfeelentitledtotakeadvantageoffemalesinasubordinateposition.Toheightenawareness,forumsorsymposiumsareheldtoenlightenpeopleabouttheimportanceofusinginclusivelanguagebutmaypeoplestillresistchanging.Somepeoplearedeterminedthatthewordmanalsoincludeswoman.Sometimesthemeaningdoesincorporatewomenandsometimesitdoesn’t.However,manywomeninsistthattheyareneverquitesureofthemeaningandsuggestthatthewordhumanityshouldbeusedinsteadwhentheintended50 meaningisbothmenandwomenandthentherewouldbenoconfusion.Itisincomprehensibletootherswhytheyrefusetochange.Abookletorpamphletisavailableforreferenceinmostworkplacestohelppeopleuseinclusivelanguageinanywritingintheworkplace.Somegovernmentofficeshaveproducedaleafletthatcanbeusedbycompaniesthatdonothavetheimpetusortheresourcestodesigntheirown.Studiesaboutgenderdifferenceshavesuggestedahypothesisthatfemaleshavebetterverbalskills,whilemalesexcelattasksrequiringtheabilitytovisualize.Conclusionsofmanyofthestudieshaveproveditinvalidandfoundinsteadthedifferencesbetweenthegenderstobealmostnil.Thereare,however,notabledifferencesbetweenindividualsregardlessoftheirgender.Theabsurdcriterionforjudgingaperson'sabilitybasedontheirgenderneedstobeabolished.Untilthisisseenasbeingabnormal,theattempttoupdatedattitudeswithoutremovingtheunderlyingcauseofthesocietalvalueswillbeuseless.(1273words)50 UNIT14Dr.SunYat-sen:FatheroftheChineseRevolutionDr.SunYat-senheldofficialpoliticalofficeforatotalofonlyafewmonthsinChina,yethehadanimpactsoprofoundthatitearnedhimthedesignationofFatheroftheChineseRevolution.HewasamanwhoisstillmuchreveredinChina.HisportraitcanbeseeninTiananmenSquareinBeijing.Sunwasbornin1866inGuangdongProvince.Hisancestorswereclansoffarmersandshepherds.Duringhisadolescentyears,heattendedschoolinHonoluluandHongKong.Inthelattercity,hestudiedmedicine,receivingan“A”ineverysubjectintheprogram,anunprecedentedfeatatHongKongMedicalCollege(later,theUniversityofHongKong).WhileinHongKong,SunundertookconversiontoRomanCatholicism.Earlyinlife,SundevelopedcontemptforthecorruptionoftheQing(Manchu)Dynasty.HewasalsovocalindenouncingforeignintrusionsandaggressionagainstChinaduringthe19thcentury.Theopiumwarof1839to1842wasamajortestimonytoChina'sinabilitytodefenditselfagainstoutsideaggression.Bythisperiod,Britainhaddevelopedastrongmonopolyinthetradeofmanygoods,includingtea,salt,opium,andothercommodities.ThismonopolywasexercisedmostlythroughtheBritishEastIndiaCompany.BritainhadbeenimportingmuchfromChina,butwasexportinglittle.ThisresultedinayearlybalanceofpaymentsdeficitwithChina.Tocorrectthisimbalanceintrade,andthefactthatopiumwasahighlyaddictivedrug,thearrogantBritishforcedtheexportofopiumonChina,eventhoughopiumwasdeclaredillegalbythelatter.China'sattempttoresisttheseaggressivetradepracticesprecipitatedthebloodyOpiumWarof1839to1842.ThousandsweremassacredasChinalostmiserablyagainstsuperiorforces.TheTreatyofNankingin1842dictatedthatChinapayhugecompensationtoBritainanditforcedChinatoopenfiveofitsportstoBritishtrade.BritainalsodemandedandreceivedimmunityfromChineselaws,thereforegainingBritishsovereigntyoversmallpartsofaforeignland.HongKongwascededtoBritainaswell.TheChineseenduredrepressionandhumiliationformanydecades.In1896,theUnitedStates,relativenewcomerstotheclubofworldimperialists,declaredanOpenDoorpolicyfortradingwithChina.NoforeigncountrywastohaveamonopolyoftradewithChina.Duringthe19thcentury,manyforeigncountriessuccessfullycarvedoutpiecesofChinaforthemselves.Geographically,by1911,Chinawasasignificantlysmallercountrythanitwasin1800.Inthemiddleofthe19thcentury,Chinawasalsogoingthroughsomeverygrimtimes,economically.Therewerefamines,floods,anddroughts.Therewasmuchsufferinganddeprivation,especiallyinthesouthernareasofChina.TheQingdynastydidverylittletorelieve50 thepeopleoftheirplight.Theseconditions,alongwiththehumiliatingconcessionsbeingforcedonthembyforeignpowers,culminatedinamassofviolenteruptionsanddisturbancesagainsttheQingDynasty,whichbecameknownastheTaipingRebellionfrom1851to1864.TheOpiumWars,theTaipingRebellion,andlater,in1900,theBoxerRebellion,wereconstantremindersofgovernmentcorruptionandChina'sweaknessagainstforeignintrusionandmanipulation.WiththesetragicmisfortunesinrecentmodernChinesehistoryonhismind,SuncametotheconclusionthattheonlywaythatChinacouldtrulybecomeastrongunifiedcountryonceagain,wasbyfull-scalerevolution.ThisshouldbeginwithcapturingtheQingthrone,terminatingmillenniaofimperialruleinChina.Healsorealizedthatamoremilitantapproachwasneededifhewasgoingtoachievehisgoals.BlunderinginthefirstattempttooverthrowtheManchusin1895,SunfledfromChinaandembarkeduponanunexpected16yearsofworldtravelandrefection.ThisperiodprovedinstrumentalinSun'sdevelopmentofrevolutionarystrategyandtheory.HeenrolledsupportfromChinesepeoplelivinginothercountries.HevisitedHawaii,theUnitedStates,Britain,andJapan.Heelicitedhelpwhereverhecould.HereadsomeofworksofKarlMarxandthoseofHenryGeorge.GeorgewasanAmericaneconomistandsocialphilosopherwhosawtheinjusticeoflandpolicyduringthebuildingofrailroadsintotheAmericanwestinthesecondhalfofthe19thcentury.Georgeobservedthatmostpeoplewhomovedwestremainedpoororgotpoorer,whiletherelativelyfewlanddevelopersgotricherandricher.Theadvertisement“Gowestyoungmanandprosper”meant,inreality,thatonlyaveryfewwouldprosper.Georgesuggested,withoutsuccess,thataheavylandtaxbeleviedtotapsomeofthiswealthinordertodevelopasolidinfrastructurefromwhichallpeopleinthewest,notjusttherich,couldbenefit.SunalsohadtheopportunitytostudyrepublicanformsofgovernmentsuchasthatoftheUnitedStates.HebecameevenmoreconvincedthatChinahadtobreakawayfromthemillennia-oldimperialgovernmentsystem,concludingthatarepublicansystemwastheanswerforChina.HewasimpressedwithMontesquieu'sprincipleoftheseparationofgovernmentpowers.Thistheorystatedthatthethreebranchesofgovernment,theexecutive,legislative,andjudicial,functionseparately.Hesawthisinpractice,particularlyintheUnitedStates.HelaterconcludedthatforChina,twoadditionalseparatedpowers,examinationandcensorialwouldbenecessary.WhileinLondon,Sunreceivedanunexpectedboosttohiseffortsofelicitinghelpforhiscause.Whileonhiswaythere,in1896,hewaskidnappedandheldintheChinese(Qing)Embassy.Hemanagedtosneakamessagetoafriendwhotalkedtothepress.ThiscreatedanembarrassingsituationfortheChinesegovernment,whichconsequently,releasedSun.TheChineseportrayedSunasinsaneorasanidiot.Thisincident,alongwithapopularbookthathewroteabouttheexperience,magnifiedhisreputationinternationally.InJapan,shortlyafter,hewaswelcomedasaninternationalcelebrity.50 Inordertocarryoutasuccessfulrevolution,herealizedthathisagendarequiredthesupportofintellectuals.Toenrollthesupportofthelatter,heneededawellthought-outplanortheory.Fromthisrealization,thedoctrineofTheThreePrinciplesofthePeoplewasdisclosed.Thethreewerenationalism,democracy,andthepeople'slivelihood.Nationalismwasinterpretedinitiallytomeananti-Manchu,whiledemocracymeantarepublicanformofgovernment.Thepeople'slivelihoodwasperceivedasstateownershipofproperty.Thiswouldbethesolutiontoavoidtheproblemsofeconomicinequalitiesexperiencedinthewest.Givenhisknowledgeofthewest'sexperience,SunsawthisapproachforChinaasmorepracticalandreliable.Hisplanforrevolutionsuggestedthreestages:militaryrule,politicaltutelage,andconstitutionalgovernment.HesawthatmilitaryrulewasneededforaperiodoftimetoridChinaoflingeringcorruptionfromtheQingperiod,andtocreateanenvironmentofstabilitytocreatethenewChinesesociety.Politicaltutelageguardianship,forperhapsthreeyears,wasneededtograduallydevelopastronger,morepermanentpoliticalsystem,andtoacclimatizetheChinesepeopletothesepoliticalchanges.Aftersixyears,Chinamightbereadyforapermanentconstitutionalrepublicangovernment.HesincerelyhopedthathisplanwouldpermeateChinawithwidespreadacceptance.In1905,whileinJapan,SunwasinstrumentalinsettinguptheUnitedLeagueofChina.TheWuchang(Wuhan)Revolt,inOctoberof1911,broughtSunYat-sentoShanghai.ShortlyafterthesuccessfuloverthrowoftheQingDynasty,SunwaselectedInterimPresidentofthenewRepublicofChinainNanking,thecapital.Thisgovernmentimmediatelysetouttodevelopaprovisional(temporary)constitution.However,byFebruaryof1912,SunresignedaspresidenttogivewaytoYuanShikai,whobroughtwithhimalotofsupportfromthenorth,whichprovidedtheopportunitytounifygreaterpartsofChina.Alsoin1912,theUnitedLeagueofChinasetuptheKuomingtang(KMT),theNationalPartyofChina.YuanShikai,inthemeantimebetrayedtherepublicandSun'strust,byattemptingtosethimselfupasadictator.SunimmediatelyproceededinpursuitofYuanbutwasunsuccessfulandhadtogointoexileinJapan.In1924,theKuomingtangconvenedatGuangzhoutoestablishthreeprinciplestosolidifyandstrengthentherepublicandtounifytherestofChina.TheseprinciplesincludeddevelopinganalliancewithRussia,helpingfarmers,workers,andbourgeoisie,andrecommendinganationalconferencetoendthebrutal,unequaltreatiesimposedbyforeignnations.Theresultwas“theDeclarationofBeijing”,thelastofficialactofDr.SunYat-senbeforelivercancertookhislifeinMarchof1925.SunYat-senwaswidelymournedastributescameinfromallover.ManyintellectualssawSunasamanofaction,apragmatist,andnotasagreatintellectual.Throughouthislife,hewasnotabovecontradictinghisownprinciples,ortoleratingopposingviewsorpartiestofurtherhiscause.ForSun,duringtheseturbulenttimes,theendsometimesdidseemtojustifythemeans.Hisphilosophychanged,overtime,tomeetchangingneeds.Formanyacademics,Sun'scareerwasnotseenasthemakingofamyth,butasarealmandealingwithrealcomplexrealitiesofhistime.Hispresence,insideandoutsideofChina,dominatedChinesehistoryduringthelate19thand50 early20thcenturies.HeadoptedandtailoredwesternideastotheChineseexperience,inordertocreatehisvisionofanewChina.ManyacademicsalsofeltthatSun'swesternexperiencesgreatlyinfluencedhisworkandcontributedtohispredominantplaceinChineseandworldhistory.Beforehedied,hestatedthatthewholenationhadtobeawakenedandunitedwiththosewhotreatedthemequally,andfightsidebysidewiththem.SunYat-senhadreceivedtherespectofpeoplethroughouttheworld,evenfromnon-communistsources.InChina,hebecamealegend.WhentheKuomingtangandtheCommunistssplitin1927,bothclaimedtobeheirsofhiswork.NoonecandenySunYat-senhisrightfulplace,notonlyinChinesehistorybutalsoinworldhistory.HetrulydeservesthetitleandhonourofFatheroftheChineseRevolution.(1704words)50 UNIT15TheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)andChinaAsChinahasbeenadmittedtotheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO),itisveryaptatthistimetocompilesomeimportantdataaboutthisinternationalorganization.TheconceptionoftheWTOtookplaceduringthe1995UruguayroundoftalksoftheGeneralAgreementonTariffsandTrade(GATT).TheWTOactuallyreplacedGATT.Thislatterorganization,acompositeofmanycountries,wasformedaftertheSecondWorldWartopresideoverthestabilizationoftradeamongnations.Theneworganization,theWTO,isdedicatedtoallocatingtheresourcesoftheworldbyusingfairertradepracticesandprovidingeconomicsecurityforthemorevulnerable,lessdevelopednations.TheWTOprovidestheapparatusformakingthishappenthroughincreasedcooperationamongmembercountries.TheexecutionofsuchagreementswillbeinstrumentalinenhancingtheesteemoflessdevelopedmembersandwillprovideamorestableinfrastructureforprofitabletradeformembersoftheWTO.Isthereawaytodescribeinsimpletermswhatthisisallabout?Whatunderliesthisinternationalpursuitoffreetradeamongnations?StudentsofintroductoryEconomicswouldrecognizethetheoryof“comparativeadvantage”.Briefly,thiseconomictheorystatesthatacountrycanproduceallormostgoodsandservicesmoreefficientlythanmostorallothercountries,butstillgainfromspecializinginproductionandtradingwithothernations.Theynotonlyreceiveeconomicbenefitsforthemselves,butalsohelpothercountriesachievesimilarbenefitsintheprocess.Let'slookatasimpleexample.Assumethattherearetwocountries,AlphaandBeta,thatproducethesametwoproducts,bananasandofficedesks,andnothingelse.Wewillassumethateachcountryhas200unitsofproductiveresources(resourcessuchasland,labourandcapital,usedintheproductionofbananasanddesks).Inthiscasewewilluselabour.Beforetradingeachcountry,usingtheproductiveresourceseachhasavailable,mightproducethefollowingcombinations:Bananas（tons）DesksAlpha300(100unitsoflabour)100(100units)Beta100(100units)25(100units)Totals400125Assumingthateachcountryusedthesameamountofproductiveresourcesintheproductionofbothbananasanddesks,youwillnoticethatAlphaproducedmorebananasandmoredesksthanBetabutproduceddesksmoreefficiently(higherratio4:1)thanbananas(3:1).AlphaproducedfourtimesasmanydesksasBetagivenequalunitsofresources(100units)andthreetimesasmanybananasasBeta.Alphahasacomparativeadvantageinproducingdesksandthereforecouldmakeeconomicgainsbytransferringsomeofitslabourresourcesintotheproductionofdesks.Ifthetwocountrieswereagreeabletospecializeandtradewitheachother,50 thefollowingmightbepossible:Bananas（tons）DesksAlpha210(70units)130(130units)Beta200(200units)0(0units)Totals410130Thisexampleshowsthat,byspecializationbyeachpartner,totalproductionofbananaswouldincreasefrom400tonsto410tonsandtheproductionofdeskswouldincreasefrom125to130desks.Thismeansthatmoreofeachproductwouldbeavailabletobothcountriestosharethroughspecializationandtrade.Thismaybeanoversimplificationoftheconceptofcomparativeadvantage,butitistheeconomicprinciplewhichexplainswhycountrieswantmorefreetrade,andwhyChinawantstojointheWTO.ItalsoexplainstheUnitedState'sambitiouspursuitoffreertradearrangementsthroughouttheworld.Immersedformorethanadecadeinnegotiations,theclimaxhasbeenreachedforChina.ItsofficialmembershipintheWTOcommencedinDecember2001.Ithasnotbeenaneasyroadtoreachthisgoalandthecountrywillnowembarkuponaneventougherroadofmoreformidablechallenges.ManyissuessurroundingChina'sbidarenotonlyeconomic,butalsosocialinnature.Forexample,theUnitedStateshasamplifiedtheissueofhumanrightsindiscussionsbetweenitselfandChina.Thereasonsforthisobsessionoverhumanrightsarenotreadilyevident,butinsomequarterssuggestionsforithavebeenoffered.SincetheendoftheColdWar,andthedemise(orfall)oftheSovietUnion,theUnitedStateshashadnoclearopponenttojustifytheworkofitsmanyagenciesthatwereoriginallyassimilatedtodealwithformerColdWaropponents.Thepromotionofinternationalhumanrightsallegedlyhasfilledpartofthisvoid,tobecomethemajortargetofthenewdirectioninAmericanforeignpolicy,andithasbecomecommonplaceforChinainparticular.ItshouldbenotedthattherearesomecurrentmembersoftheWTOthathaveworsehumanrightsrecordsthanthatofChinabutwerenottreatedinthesamemanner.Also,itiserroneoustosuggestthattheUnitedStatesitselfiscompletelyinnocentofhumanrightsviolations.ThisisamajorcontradictionincurrentAmericanforeignpolicy.ItisalsosuggestedthattherealthreattotheUnitedStatesisthatChinaisahugecountrywitharobusteconomythathasbeengrowingbyleapsandboundsoverthelasttwentyyears.Henceforth,afearisgrowingthatthepotentialeconomicstrengthofChinawillthreatentheprevalentpositionoftheUnitedStatesinworldaffairs.Morerecently,duringthespyplaneincidentoverHainan,AmericanPresidentBushchangedtheAmericanpositiontowardChinafromthatofbeingaworldpartner(theapproachofthe50 ClintonAdministration),tothatofbeingacompetitororanopponentininternationalaffairs.This“bashing”propagandaaboutChinaisconsideredbymanypeopleacover-up(orasmokescreen)forgrowingAmericaninsecurityininternationalaffairsandthisdistortionisaccumulativeinthebrain-washedmindsoftheAmericanpeople.Itisalsodegradingtosaytheleast.Itislikeachampionfootballteamthatdoesnotwanttoplayfairlyanymorebecauseitisafraidoflosing.Itisthefearofbeingbeatenfairlyanddecisivelyonthefield,accordingtoanagreeduponsetofrules.ThisobsessionwithhumanrightshasflaredupinmanyareasofAmericanforeignpolicyinrecentmonths.Thisrash,sometimesgraphicChina-Bashingattitudeisprobablydriven,inpart,bypowerfuleconomicinterestsintheUnitedStates.ThepositionsofthesepowerfulinterestswillbeseriouslythreatenedbyChina'sentryintotheWTO.Theseindustries,iftheyareforcedtofacestrongercompetition,fearlosingtheirsharesoftheirrespectivemarkets.Thesesameinterestsalsoheavilysupportpoliticalpartiesfinanciallyandthereforehavesomeindirectinfluenceovergovernmentpolicies.ChinahasenoughballotstogetintotheWTO.TheUnitedStatesalonecannotvetoChina'sentry,butcanmakethingsdifficult.BothChinaandtheUnitedStateswillhavetoadjustthemselvestoraiseeconomicefficiencies,afactthatnormallyresultsfromgreatercompetition.However,whatmustclearlybeseenarethecomparativeadvantages,whichwillbenefitalltradingpartners.Withthereductionoftradebarriers,moreefficientuseoftheworld'sproductiveresourceswillemergethroughgreaterspecializationbythevariouscountriesinvolved.Intheshort-run,(inthefirstfewyears)therewillbedislocationsofproductiveresources,particularlyoflabour.Forsomeindustries,thefuturewillbebleak.Therewillbeshortrununemploymentinsomesectorsofeachcountry.Itisimportantthatthesecountriesdevelopplans,suchasretrainingandincreasedtechnology,tomakeadjustmentseasierasproductiveresourcesshiftfromonesectortoanother.Withgreatersharingofinternationalexpertise,thesetransitionsshouldbecomeeasier.Thelong-rangeresultwillmeanmorebenefitsforallcountries;meaninghigherstandardsoflivingallround.Chinahasalreadymadepersistentstridesinthisdirectionthroughitspartnershiparrangementswithforeigncorporationsoverthelasttwentyyears,sincethereformsattheendoftheCulturalRevolution.Chinahasnoalternativebuttomoveforwardintotheinternationalmarketsandinotherareasofglobalizationofthetwenty-firstcentury.Nottodosowouldmeaninevitabledeteriorationor,perhaps,evencompleteevaporationofChina'sstrongeconomy.Somesacrificesinsocialisteconomicandpoliticalphilosophiesandpoliciesareimperativeifthesegoalsaretobeachieved.ThebigadvantagethatChinahashadovertheformerSovietUnionisthatofcautiousgradualismineconomicpolicy.China'spoliticalhierarchyisslowlyembracingthetheoriesandpracticesofanewsocialistmarketsystem.TheknowledgeandskillsgainedfromthisapproachplacesChinainanexcellentpositiontosucceed.Thecountryseesquiteclearlythatapurecommandeconomicsystemwillnotenduretotheendundertheinertiaofthisepochofbriskglobalization.Intheend,Chinaisdestinedtosucceed.MuchofwhatChinawillfaceintheWTOwillbethecoincidenceofinternalpoliciesthat50 havebeenformulatedinrecentyears,althoughsomereconfigurationwillbenecessary.TosuggestimmediatesuccessforChinamaybeprematureatthispoint,butthereareprecedentsthatarefavourabletoChina'saspirations.Suchsuccessisdifficulttoquantifyorgeneralize,astherearesomanyfactorsthatareconstantlychanging.Itisagamble.Worldrecessions,strongeconomicgrowthperiods,anddisasterssuchastheSeptember11th,2001terroristattacks,candrasticallycreateeconomiccasualtiesovernightfollowedbythe“trickledown”negativeimpacts.Allthesebeingsaid,itwouldbeamistaketounderestimateChina'slegitimatepresenceinthisperiodofglobalization.Itisindicative,aswellasfitting,thatalmostallcountriesoftheworldwillbenefitfromthepotentialcontributionsthatChinacanmakeintheyearstocome.TheWTO'ssuccesshingesoninternationalcooperationandceaselesspursuitofpositivecommongoalsratherthanfocusingonnegativeissuesthatcouldonlyhandicapgoodeconomicandsocialrelationsalongwithprogressininternationaltrade.ItishopedthatsuchbarriersbetweenChinaandothercountrieswilldissipatenowthatitsmembershiphasfinallybeencertified.(1661words)50