大学生英语朗诵文章精选

大学生英语朗诵比赛诵读材料分级说明：为了便于参赛选手准备此次朗诵比赛，诵读篇目被划定了难度系数。难度系数为1、2、3三个等级。难度系数为1，最后得分为评委评分X100%；难度系数为2，最后得分为评委评分X105%；难度系数为3，最后得分为评委评分X110%。朗诵要求：参赛选手自行选择篇目，经反复练习，到达能脱稿朗诵的程度。朗诵比赛复赛和决赛时，一律脱稿朗诵，照稿朗诵不予评分。初赛由任课教师自行确定；复赛只有脱稿朗诵一个环节；决赛有脱稿朗诵和即兴答问两个环节。问题与朗诵篇目相关。Passage1〔难度系数：1〕OnLearningLearningisone’sownbusiness,whichcannotrelyonothers.Asweknow,learningisaprocessofaccumulatingknowledge.Itisone’slife-longtask,whichcannotbeaccomplishedinonemove.Asuccessfullearnerisanindependentonewhohasbothanindomitable(unyielding)willandamazingendurance.Hewilltrytodiscoverhisownwayoflearning.Insteadofwaitingfortheteacher’shelp,hewillmakeeffortstocreatefavorableconditionsonhisowninitiative.Itwillcertainlybeofgreathelp,ifthereisgoodenvironment,sufficientbooksandequipment,aswellasinstructionsfromteachersandbeneficialfriends.Butevenifonehasgotallthesefavorableconditions,onecannotbesuretosucceedinlearning.Sothemostimportantfactorinlearningconsistsinone’sowneffort.Tolearnisratherapainstakingandperseveringbusiness.Manyamanisafailurebecausehecannotbearsuchindispensablehardships.Unremitting(neverstopping)effortscancompensateforthelackoftalentsandthusenableonetogetconsiderableprogressinlearning.

Passage2〔难度系数：1〕ForallthewonderfulthingstheInternethasbroughtus,peoplestillcan’tdothesimplethingslikereachingoutandtouchingsomeoneelse.Orcanthey?WhentheInternetwasfirstintroduced,itwascompletelytextual.Wordscouldbetransmittedtooneanotherbutnothingmore.ButastheWorldWideWebcameonline,peoplecouldshareimagesofwhattheyweretalkingabout.Astechnologyprogressed,thoseimagesbecame“real-time〞intheformofweb-camerasandvideolinks.Alongwiththatcametheabilitytohearandcommunicatewithvoice.WhiletheInternethasmettheneedsofsightandsound,ithasnotreachedtouch,taste,andsmellyet.

Severalgroupsouttherearetryingtobreakthosebarriers.ImmersionisdevelopingasystemcalledTouchSense.Withtheplug-intheyprovideforfreeattheirsiteandthecorrecttypeofmouse,onecanactually“feel〞thesensationofrollingoverdifferentthingsonline.

Passage3〔难度系数：2〕AForeverFriend"Afriendwalksinwhentherestoftheworldwalksout."Sometimesinlife,Youfindaspecialfriend;Someonewhochangesyourlifejustbybeingpartofit.Someonewhomakesyoulaughuntilyoucan'tstop;Someonewhomakesyoubelievethattherereallyisgoodintheworld.Someonewhoconvincesyouthattherereallyisanunlockeddoorjustwaitingforyoutoopenit.ThisisForeverFriendship.whenyou'redown,andtheworldseemsdarkandempty,Yourforeverfriendliftsyouupinspiritsandmakesthatdarkandemptyworld

suddenlyseembrightandfull.Yourforeverfriendgetsyouthroughthehardtimes,thesadtimes,andtheconfusedtimes.Ifyouturnandwalkaway,Yourforeverfriendfollows,Ifyouloseyouway,Yourforeverfriendguidesyouandcheersyouon.Yourforeverfriendholdsyourhandandtellsyouthateverythingisgoingtobeokay.Andifyoufindsuchafriend,Youfeelhappyandcomplete,Becauseyouneednotworry,Youhaveaforeverfriendforlife,Andforeverhasnoend.

Passage4〔难度系数：1〕NegotiationAnegotiationisagive-and-takeproposition.Forittoendinapositivemanneritmustbeawin-winsituationforbothparties.Itisnotagamewherethereisonlyawinnerandaloser.Thegoalofnegotiationsisnotadeadcompetitor.Thatisnottosaythatcompetitionisnotneededinnegotiations.Infact,competitionisaningredientforahealthynegotiation.Thatway,eachpartywillraiseitscompetencelevelandthefinalagreementwillbeamoremeaningfulone.Negotiationshavetobelookedonasacooperativeenterpriseinwhichbothpartiesfeelthattheyhavegained.Iftheoutcomeofanegotiationendsupinalopsided“victory〞foroneside,youcanrestassuredthatsuchsettlementwillnotstickandthosenegotiationswouldhavebeenfutile.Pushingyouropponenttotheropesmightnotbewise.Thereisapointwhereyouropponentwillsimplydecidethatthereisnogaininnegotiatingwithyouandabandonthewholeprocess.

Passage5〔难度系数：1〕KnowledgeandPowerKnowledgeandpowerarethetwothingsmostdesiredbyman.Thereiscloseconnectionbetweenthesetwothings.Theman,havingdonehisbestinacquiringknowledge,willeasilygetahighpositionandperformitsuccessfully.Powerdependsonknowledge.Knowledgetopowerisjustlikeacompasstoaship,bywhichhersailingismadesafelyacrossanunknownocean.Agreatstatesmanoralearnedscholarcanrender(give)hisgoodservicestohiscountryjustbecausehehasperfectandprofoundknowledge.Poweronlyfollowsknowledge.Amancannotdoanythingwellunlesshehassomeinformationashowtodoitwell.Amanwillsometimeslosehiswayinastrangeland;anapprenticecannotproduceanydelicatework.Whyaretheseso?Becausetheyareinwantofknowledge.Iftheapprenticewishestoproducegoodwork,hemustpayattentiontohisinstructor’sadvice.Weareallthefuturemastersofourcountry.Ourcountryneedsourservices.Howcanwefulfillourfuturetasks?Togetmoreknowledgeistheonlyanswer.

Passage6〔难度系数：1〕TrytoBeaGoodStudentPerhapsitisthedreamofeveryonetobeagoodstudentatschool,butquiteafewstudentsfeelatalossonhowtomakeit.Inmyopinionitisrathereasyifyoucanactonthefollowingpoints.Firstofall,makefulluseofyourtimeandworkhard.Don’tputofftilltomorrowwhatshouldbedonetoday,astimepastwillnevercomeback.Thefastdevelopingsocietyrequiresadequateknowledge,whichpressesustosparenoeffortstostudy.Ofcourse,yourhardworkwillberewardedoneday.Secondly,useyourownheadandpresentyourpointofview.Credulous〔轻信的〕attitudewillonlymakeyoutakeanythingforgranted.Withyourownjudgmentyouwillbeabletotellrightfromwrongandsetupyourowntheory.Thirdly,setasideenoughtimeforrelaxation,entertainment,etc.don’tignoretheharmofallworkandnoplay.Propersportswillbuildupyourbodyandimprovetheefficiencyofyourstudying.Tobeagoodstudentiseasiersaidthandone,foritneedsastudent’sconsistentefforts.Butnothingisdifficulttoamanifheputshisheartintoit.

Passage7〔难度系数：1〕AbilityandGookLooksOldpeopleusuallytelltheyoung,“Don’tjudgeapersonbyhisappearance.〞Meaningabilityismoreimportantthanappearance.Indeed,we’veseensomanybrilliantbutnotatallgood-lookingpeople.InthefilmMozart,anoperasingerreiterates(repeat)thisviewbysaying,“Forawomanoftaste,itisnotthelooks,butthetalentthatinterestsme.〞Forher,thepreferenceshowsone’staste.However,nowadays,withmoreandmoreinterviewersputtingmuchemphasisonthelooks,theappearanceofthejob-applicants,alotofpeoplecometotheconclusionthatappearanceismoreimportantthanabilitybecausemanybeautifulgirlsacquireverygoodpositionsalthoughtheydon’thavemuchtalent.Inmyopinion,abilityisdefinitelymuchmoreimportantthangoodlooks,becauseitdemonstratesone’sownself-cultivation.Itbespeaks(show)theeffortsandthegloryofacquiringsomethingthroughone’shardworkwhereasagoodlookbespeaksnostruggleoftheindividual.Goodlooksarepleasant,butIliketheabilitybecauseitreallyshowssomethingofmyownself.

Passage8〔难度系数：1〕TheDictionaryThedictionaryisalivingteacher.Wheneveryoucomeacrossanewword,justconsultitandyouwillgetacleardefinition.Everystudent,whetherattendingschoolorself-taught,shouldalwayshaveadictionaryathand.Asastudyaid,itisconvenient,inexpensiveandalmostomniscient(all-knowing).Languageskillswilldevelopwithyourconstantuseofvariousdictionaries.Themoreyouusethem,themorefamiliaryouwillbecomewiththem.Soonerorlater,youwillbequiteskilledinfindingthepage,scanningtheentriesandlocatingtheexactmeaningsofthenewwords.Butyoushouldhaveonethinginmind.Asalanguagestudent,youcanneverbecometoomuchattachedtodictionaries;basiclanguageskillsdonotcomefromdictionaries,butfromyourpractice.Exposeyourselftothelanguagebylistening,speaking,readingandwritingmore,andthatistheonlywaytothemasteryofalanguage.

Passage9〔难度系数：1〕Water“Water,whichisessentialforlife,costsnothing.Ontheotherhand,diamonds,whichareessentialfornothing,costalot.〞Unfortunately,theworldhaschangedconsiderablysincean18thcenturyeconomistmadethisremark.

Whatwastrueover200yearsagoiscertainlynolongertruenow.Inanumberofcountriespeoplepayasmuchforwaterintheirhomesastheydoforelectricity.

Whatisstilltrue,however,istheremarkmadebyBenjaminFranklinatthesametimeasthepreviousobservationwasmade.“Whenthewell’sdry,weknowtheworthofwater,〞heobserved.

Likehealth,weignorewaterwhenwehaveitunlesstherearefloods,ofcourse.Oncethereisathreattoourwatersupply,however,watercanquicklybecometheonlythingthatmatters.Weknowonlytoowellthat,withoutwater,therecanbenolife.

Thesituationisnowbecomingsobadthatenvironmentalistsfeelitmaybenecessarytoshocktheworldintosavingwaterinasimilarwaytotheshockcausedbytheoilcrisisinthe1970s.

Passage10〔难度系数：1〕WeHaveOnlyOneWorldWhenindustriesgrow,pollutionalsogrows.Todaytheproblemofenvironmenthasbecomemoreandmoreimportant.Theworldpopulationisrisingsoquicklythattheworldhasbecometoocrowded.Weareusingupournaturalresourcestooquicklyandatthesametimewearepollutingourenvironmentwithdangerouschemicals.Ifwedon’ttakeactionimmediately,thenwewilldestroyouronlyworld.Manhasmadegreatprogressinenvironmentprotection.Governmentofmanycountrieshasestablishedlawstoprotecttheforestandsearesourceandtostoptheenvironmentalpollution.Stillmoremeasuresshouldbetakentosolvetheproblem.First,weshouldstartbyeducatingthepublicaboutthehazardsofpollution.Thegovernmentonitspartshouldalsodesignstricterlaws.Thisisnotonlyforourowngenerationbutalsoforthefuturegenerationtocome.Itisnecessarytoprotectournatureenvironment.Wemustbeginnowtoprotectouronlyworld.

Passage11〔难度系数：2〕BeforeallthedifferenttypesofBarbiedollsforsalenow,therewasjustasingleBarbie.Actually,hernamewasBarbara.BarbaraHandlerwasthedaughterofElliotandRuthHandler,co-foundersoftheMattelToyCompany.RuthcameupwiththeideaforBarbieafterwatchingherdaughterplaywithpaperdolls.Thethree-dimensionalmodelforBarbiewasaGermandoll—ajokegiftforadultsdescribedashavingtheappearanceof“awomanwhosoldsex〞.Mattelrefashionedthedollintoadecent,all-American—althoughwithanexaggeratedbreastsize—versionandnameditafterBarbara,whowasthenateenager.Sinceherintroductionin1959,BarbiehasbecometheuniversallyrecognizedQueenoftheDolls.MattelsaystheaverageAmericangirlownstenBarbiedolls,andtwoaresoldsomewhereintheworldeverysecond.Nowmorethansixtyyearsold,Barbara—whodeclinesinterviewsbutissaidtohavelovedthedoll—maybethemostfamousunknownfigureontheplanet.Barbie’sboyfriend,Ken,wasintroducedin1961andnamedafterBarbara’sbrother.TherealKen,whodiedin1994,wasdisgustedbythedollthatmadehisfamilyfamous.“Idon’twantmychildrentoplaywithit,〞hesaidin1993.

Passage12〔难度系数：2〕Fourteen-year-oldSamWilsonranawayfromhometojoinhisfatherandolderbrothersinthefighttoliberatetheAmericancoloniesfromtheBritishduringtheAmericanRevolution.Atage23,hestartedameat-packingbusinessandearnedareputationforbeinghonestandhard-working.Duringalaterwarin1812,WilsongainedapositioninspectingmeatforUSArmyforces,workingwithamanwhohadsignedacontractwiththegovernmenttoprovidemeattothearmy.Barrelsofmeatsuppliedtothearmywerestamped“EA-US〞,identifyingthecompany(EA)andthecountryoforigin(US).Accordingtoonestory,whenagovernmentofficialvisitedtheplantandaskedabouttheletters,acreativeemployeetoldhim“US〞wasshortfor“UncleSam〞Wilson.SoonsoldiersweresayingallArmysupplieswerefrom“UncleSam〞.Afterthewar,acharactercalledUncleSambeganappearinginpoliticalcartoons,hisformevolvingfromanearliercartooncharactercalledBrotherJonathanthatwaspopularduringtheAmericanRevolution.UncleSamsoonreplacedBrotherJonathanasAmerican’smostpopularsymbol.ThemostenduringportraitofUncleSamwascreatedbyartistJamesMontgomeryFlagginhisfamousarmyrecruitingpostersofWorldWarsIandII.Thatversion—atallmanwithwhitehairandasmallwhitebeardonhischin,adarkbluecoatandatallhatwithstarsonit—wasaself-portraitofFlagg.

Passage13〔难度系数：2〕Ideally,peoplewouldliketoknowwhenanearthquakeisgoingtohappenandhowbaditwillbe.InbothJapanandChina,peoplehavelongbelievedthatearthquakescanbeforecast.InJapan,scientistshavewiredtheEarthandseatodetectmovements.TheChinesehavetraditionallywatchedanimalsandplantsforwarningsignsofearthquakes.Forexample,theChinesehavenotedthatbeforeanearthquake,hens’behaviorchanges—theyrefusetoentertheircagesatnight.Theyhavealsonoticedthatsnakescomeoutofthegroundtofreezetodeathandthatdogsbarkalot,evennormallyquietdogs.BeforetheHanshinearthquakeinJapan,therewerereportsoflargeschoolsoffishswimmingnearthesurfaceofthewater.Certainbirds,likepigeons,alsoseemedtobeespeciallynoisy,andwerereportedtobeflyinginunusualpatternsbeforetheearthquake.Perhapsmostinteresting,andmosteasilymeasured,isachemicalchangeingroundwaterbeforeaquake.Experimentaldataseemtoindicatethattheamountofradon(Rn)inthewaterunderthesurfaceoftheEarthwaxesbeforeanearthquake.Peoplewouldalsoliketobeabletopreventthegreatdestructionofpropertycausedbyearthquakes.Afterall,mostofthepeoplewhodieinearthquakesarekilledbyfallingbuildings.Therefore,buildingstructuresthatcanwithstandthepowerofearthquakesisamajorconcern.

Passage14〔难度系数：2〕Suzannetriestolecturemeaboutrepairstomywheelchair,whichisalwaysbreakingdownbecausewelfarewon’tspendthemoneymaintainingitproperly.“Youknow,Mr.Callahan,I’veheardthatyouputalotmoremilesonthatwheelchairthanaverage.〞OfcourseIdo.I’manactiveworker,notavegetable.Iliveneardowntown,soIcangetaroundinawheelchair.Iwonderwhatshe’dthinkifshesuddenlybrokeherhipandhadtocrawltowork.Governmentcutsinwelfarehaveresultedinhungerandsufferingforalotofpeople,notjustme.Butpeoplewithspinalcordinjuriesfeltthecutsinauniqueway:Thegovernmentstoppedtakingcareofourchairs.Eachtimeminebrokedown,lostascrew,neededanewrollerbearing,thebrakewouldn’twork,etc.,andIcalledSuzanne,Ihadtoendurealittlelecture.Finally,she’dsay,“Well,ifIcanfindtimetoday,I’llcallthemedicalworker.〞

Shewassupposedtonotifythemedicalworker,whowouldcertifythattherewasaproblem.Thenthemedicalworkercalledthewheelchairrepaircompaniestogetthecheapestbid.Thenthemedicalworkeralertedthemainwelfareofficeatthestatecapital.TheyconsideredthematterfordayswhileIlayinbed,unabletomove.Finally,ifIwaslucky,theycalledbackandapprovedtherepair.

Passage15〔难度系数：2〕

IftheevolutionarypressuresofthemarketplacearemakingEQ,notIQ,thehotticketforbusinesssuccess,itseemslikelythatindividualswillwanttoknowhowtocultivateit.Ihaveamodestproposal:Embraceahighlypersonalpracticeaimedatimprovingthesefouradaptiveskills:

Raisingconsciousness.Ithinkofthisasthinkingdifferentlyonpurpose.It’saboutnoticingwhatyouarefeelingandthinkingandescapingtheconditionedconfinesofyourpast.Raiseyourconsciousnessbycatchingyourselfintheactofthinkingasoftenaspossible.Routinelytakenoteofyouremotionsandaskifyou’refacingfactsoravoidingthem.Usingimagery.ThisiswhatyouseeOlympicskiracersdoingbeforeenteringthestartinggate.Withtheireyesclosedandbodiesswaying,theyrunthecourseintheirmindsfirst,whichimprovestheirperformance.Youcandothesamebysettingasidetimeeachdaytodreamwithpassionaboutwhatyouwanttoachieve.Consideringandreconsideringeventstochoosethemostcreativeresponsetothem.WhenaGreekphilosophersaid2,000yearsagothatitisn’teventsthatmatterbutouropinionofthem,thisiswhathewastalkingabout.Everytimesomethingimportanthappens,assignasmanyinterpretationstoitaspossible,evencrazyones.Thengowiththeinterpretationmostsupportiveofyourdreams.

Integratingtheperspectivesofothers.Brainresearchshowsthatourviewoftheworldislimitedbyourgenesandtheexperienceswe’vehad.Learningtoincorporatetheusefulperspectivesofothersisnothinglessthanaformofenlargingyoursenses.Thenexttimesomeoneinterpretssomethingdifferentlyfromyou—say,acontroversialpoliticalevent—pausetoreflectontheroleoflifeexperienceandconsideritagiftofperception.

Passage16〔难度系数：2〕Mrs.Barodawasalittleannoyedtolearnthatherhusbandexpectedhisfriend,Gouvernail,uptospendaweekortwoontheplantation.Gouvernail'squietpersonalitypuzzledMrs.Baroda.Afterafewdayswithhim,shecouldunderstandhimnobetterthanatfirst.Sheleftherhusbandandhisguest,forthemostpart,alonetogether,onlytofindthatGouvernailhardlynoticedherabsence.Thensheimposedhercompanyuponhim,accompanyinghiminhisidlewalkstothemilltopressherattempttopenetratethesilenceinwhichhehadunconsciouslycoveredhimself.Butithardlyworked."Whenishegoing—yourfriend?"sheonedayaskedherhusband."Formypart,Ifindhimaterriblenuisance.""Notforaweekyet,dear.Ican'tunderstand;hegivesyounotrouble.""No.Ishouldlikehimbetterifhedid—ifheweremorelikeothers,andIhadtoplansomewhatforhiscomfortandenjoyment."Gastonpulledthesleeveofhiswife'sdress,gatheredhisarmsaroundherwaistandlookedmerrilyintohertroubledeyes."Youarefullofsurprises,"hesaidtoher."EvenIcannevercountuponhowyouaregoingtoactundergivenconditions.Hereyouare,"hewenton,"takingpoorGouvernailseriouslyandmakingafussabouthim,thelastthinghewoulddesireorexpect.""Fuss!"shehotlyreplied."Nonsense!Howcanyousaysuchathing!Fuss,indeed!But,youknow,yousaidhewasclever.""Soheis.Butthepoorfellowisrundownbytoomuchworknow.That'swhyIaskedhimheretotakearest."

Passage17〔难度系数：2〕Myexperiencewithaforeignlanguagebeganinjuniormiddleschool,whenItookmyfirstEnglishclass.Ihadakindandpatientteacherwhooftenpraisedallofthestudents.Becauseofthispositivemethod,IeagerlyansweredallthequestionsIcould,neverworryingmuchaboutmakingmistakes.Iwasatthetopofmyclassfortwoyears.WhenIwenttoseniormiddleschool,IwaseagertocontinuestudyingEnglish;however,myexperienceinseniorschoolwasverydifferentfrombefore.Whilemyformerteacherhadbeenpatientwithallthestudents,mynewteacherquicklypunishedthosewhogaveincorrectanswers.Wheneverweansweredincorrectly,shepointedalongstickatusand,shakingitupanddown,shouted,"No!No!No!"Itdidn'ttakemelongtolosemyeagernesstoanswerquestions.NotonlydidIlosemyjoyinansweringquestions,butalsoItotallylostmydesiretosayanythingatallinEnglish.However,thatstatedidn'tlastlong.WhenIwenttocollege,IlearnedthatallstudentswererequiredtotakeanEnglishcourse.Unlikemyseniormiddleschoolteacher,mycollegeEnglishteacherswerepatientandkind,andnoneofthemcarriedlong,pointedsticks!However,thesituationwasfarfromperfect.Asourclasseswereverylarge,Iwasonlyabletoansweracoupleofquestionsineachclassperiod.Also,afterafewweeksofclasses,InoticedthereweremanystudentswhospokemuchbetterthanIdid.Ibegantofeelintimidated.So,onceagain,althoughfordifferentreasons,Iwasafraidtospeak.ItseemedmyEnglishwasgoingtostayatthesamelevelforever.

Passage18〔难度系数：2〕Americansbelievenoonestandsstill.Ifyouarenotmovingahead,youarefallingbehind.Thisattituderesultsinanationofpeoplecommittedtoresearching,experimentingandexploring.TimeisoneofthetwoelementsthatAmericanssavecarefully,theotherbeinglabor.

"Weareslavestonothingbuttheclock,〞ithasbeensaid.Timeistreatedasifitweresomethingalmostreal.Webudgetit,saveit,wasteit,stealit,killit,cutit,accountforit;wealsochargeforit.Itisapreciousresource.Manypeoplehavearatheracutesenseoftheshortnessofeachlifetime.Oncethesandshaverunoutofaperson’shourglass,theycannotbereplaced.Wewanteveryminutetocount.Aforeigner’sfirstimpressionoftheU.S.islikelytobethateveryoneisinarush--oftenunderpressure.Citypeoplealwaysappeartobehurryingtogetwheretheyaregoing,restlesslyseekingattentioninastore,orelbowingothersastheytrytocompletetheirshopping.Racingthroughdaytimemealsispartofthepaceoflifeinthiscountry.Workingtimeisconsideredprecious.Othersinpubliceating-placesarewaitingforyoutofinishsothey,too,canbeservedandgetbacktoworkwithinthetimeallowed.Youalsofinddriverswillbeabruptandpeoplewillpushpastyou.Youwillmisssmiles,briefconversations,andsmallexchangeswithstrangers.Don’ttakeitpersonally.Thisisbecausepeoplevaluetimehighly,andtheyresentsomeoneelse“wasting〞itbeyondacertainappropriatepoint.

Passage19〔难度系数：2〕It'sarelieftoknowthatlifeeventuallygaveCharlieChaplinthestablehappinessithadearlierdeniedhim.InOonaO'NeillChaplin,hefoundapartnerwhosestabilityandaffectionspannedthe37yearsagedifferencebetweenthemthathadseemedsothreateningthatwhentheofficialwhowasmarryingthemin1942,turnedtothebeautifulgirlof17who'dgivennoticeoftheirweddingdateandsaid,"Andwhereistheyoungman?"—Chaplin,then54,hadcautiouslywaitedoutside.AsOonaherselfwasthechildofalargefamilywithitsownproblems,shewaswell-preparedforthebattlethatChaplin'slifebecameasunfoundedrumorsofMarxistsympathiessurroundedthemboth—and,lateron,shewasthecenterofrestinthequarrelsthatChaplinsometimessparkedintheirownlargefamilyoftalentedchildren.ChaplindiedonChristmasDay1977.Afewmonthslater,acoupleofalmostcomicbody-thievesstolehisbodyfromthefamilyburialchamberandhelditformoney:thepolicerecovereditwithmoreefficiencythanMackSennett'sclumsyKeystoneCopswouldhavedone.Butonecan'thelpfeelingChaplinwouldhaveregardedthisstrangeincidentasafittingmemorial—hiswayofhavingthelastlaughonaworldtowhichhehadgivensomany.

Passage20〔难度系数：2〕Mydaughtersmokes.Whilesheisdoingherhomework,herfeetonthebenchinfrontofherandhercalculatorclickingoutanswerstohergeometryproblems,Iamlookingatthehalf-emptypackageofCamelstossedcarelesslycloseathand.Ipickthemup,takethemintothekitchen,wherethelightisbetter,andstudythem--theyarefiltered,forwhichIamgrateful.Myheartfeelsterrible.Iwanttoweep.Infact,Idoweepalittle,standingtherebythestoveholdingoneoftheinstruments,sowhite,sopreciselyrolled,thatcouldcausemydaughter'sdeath.WhenshesmokedMarlborosandPlayersIhardenedmyselfagainstfeelingsobad;nobodyIkneweversmokedthesebrands.

Shedoesn'tknowthis,butitwasCamelsthatmyfather,hergrandfather,smoked.Butbeforehesmokedcigarettesmadebymanufacturers--whenhewasveryyoungandverypoor,withglowingeyes--hesmokedPrinceAlberttobaccoincigarettesherolledhimself.Irememberthebright-redtobaccotin,withapictureofQueenVictoria'spartner,PrinceAlbert,dressedinablackdresscoatandcarryingacane.Bythelatefortiesandearlyfiftiesnoonerolledhisownanymore(andfewwomensmoked)inmyhometownofEatonton,Georgia.Thetobaccoindustry,coupledwithHollywoodmoviesinwhichbothmaleandfemaleheroessmokedlikechimneys,completelywonoverpeoplelikemyfather,whowerehopelesslyhookedbycigarettes.Heneverlookedasfashionableas

Passage21〔难度系数：2〕TheDoubleLifeofAlfredBloggsThesedays,peoplewhodomanualworkoftenreceivefarmoremoneythanpeoplewhoworkinoffices.Peoplewhoworkinofficesarefrequentlyreferredtoas"white-collarworkers'forthesimplereasonthattheyusuallywearacollarandtietogotowork.Suchishumannature,thatagreatmanypeopleareoftenwillingtosacrificehigherpayfortheprivilegeofbecomingwhite-collarworkers.Thiscangiverisetocurioussituations,asitdidinthecaseofAlfredBloggswhoworkedasadustmanfortheEllesmereCorporation.Whenhegotmarried,Alfwastooembarrassedtosayanythingtohiswifeabouthisjob.HesimplytoldherthatheworkedfortheCorporation.Everymorning,helefthomedressedinasmartblacksuit.Hethenchangedintooverallsandspentthenexteighthoursasadustman.Beforereturninghomeatnight.Hetookashowerandchangedbackintohissuit.AlfdidthisforovertwoyearsandhisfellowdustmenkepthissecretAlf'swifehasneverdiscoveredthatshemarriedadustmanandsheneverwill,forAlfhasjustfoundanotherjob.Hewillsoonbeworkinginanoffice.Hewillbeearningonlyhalfasmuchasheusedto,buthefeelsthathisriseinstatusiswellworththelossofmoney.Fromnowon,hewillwearasuitalldayandotherswillcallhim'Mr.Bloggs',not'Alf'.

Passage22〔难度系数：2〕ANobleGangsterTherewasatimewhentheownersofshopsandbusinessesinChicagohadtopaylargesumsofmoneytogangstersinreturnfor'protection.'Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly,thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessbydestroyinghi