2020新译林版高中英语选修第二册课文原文

UnitlBewareandtakecare

Reading

Fightingthehiddenenemy

—awarwemustwin

Anenemyappearedwithoutwarning,attackingitsunsuspectingvictimswith

efficiency.Thissilentandinvisibleenemymovedswiftlythroughcommunitiesand

secretlycrossedborders.TheworldsoonlearntthattheenemywefacedwasCovid-

19.

Covid-19iscausedbyanewstrainofcoronavirus.Onceenteringthebody,thevirus

multipliesinsidethecellquicklyandinfectsneighbouringcells.Commonsymptoms

canincludefever,tiredness,adrycough,aheadache,lossoftasteorsmell.However,

insomecases,theviruscausesthebody'sownimmunesystemtooverreact,resulting

inthebodykillingitsownhealthycells.Consequently,thediseasecanbecomeworse,

causingdamagetothebody'sorgansandtissues.

Covid-19isahighlyinfectiousdiseasethatcanbetransmittedeasilyandswiftlyfrom

persontoperson.Thistypicallyhappenswhenpeopletakeinrespiratorydropletsand

particlesfromaninfectedperson.TheycanalsocatchCovid-19bytouchingasurface

oranobjectcontaminatedwiththevirus,andthentouchingtheirownmouth,noseor

eyes.Researchshowsthattherearecertainsettingsthatallowthevirustospreadmore

easily.Forinstance,itfavourscool,dryconditionsandcrowdedindoorspaceswith

poorventilation.Whatmakesthisdiseaseevenmoredangerousisthatinfectedpeople

whoshownosymptomsmaybecomeunknowingcarriersandspreadersofthevirus.

Inearly2020,thethreatposedbyCovid-19cametobefullyrecognizedonaglobal

scale.Itspreadrapidlyacrosstheworld,affectingmillionsofpeople.More

dangerously,newandevenmoreinfectiousvariantsofthevirus,suchastheDeltaand

Omicronvariants,graduallybegantoevolveinvariouspartsoftheworld,presenting

anincreasedthreattothehealthoftheworld'spopulation.

Tobeatthissilentenemy,theworldpulledtogether.Governmentsjoinedforceswith

leadingpharmaceuticalandbiotechnologycompaniessothatvaccinescouldbe

produced,distributedandadministeredinrecordtime.Doctorsandnursesstepped

forwardtojointhefightandwentwherevertheywereneeded,riskingtheirownlives

totirelesslyserveandcareforpatients.Communityworkersandvolunteersworked

roundtheclocktodeliverfoodandmedicinestoresidents.Ordinarypeoplefromall

walksoflifeunitedinhelpingthoseaffectedbythepandemic.Simpleactsof

kindnessandgenerositywereeverywhere.InthedarkestdayswhenCovid-19was

doingitsworst,thehumanspiritshoneatitsbrightest.

WhilethefightagainstCovid-19isaglobaleffort,therearepreventivemeasuresthat

everyonecantaketohelpcontrolthespreadofthedisease.Firstly,personalhygieneis

key.Cleanyourhandswithsoapandwaterthoroughly.Useanalcohol-basedhand

sanitizerifsoapandwaterarenotavailable,andavoidtouchingyourmouth,noseand

eyeswithunwashedhands.Athomeoratwork,cleananddisinfectfrequently

touchedsurfacesandobjects.Secondly,wheninpublicplaces,remembertoweara

facemask,practisesocialdistancingandavoidlargecrowds.Thirdly,receivea

Covid-19vaccinetohelpyourbodybuildupimmunityagainstthevirus.Finally,seek

medicalattentionifyoushowanyofthesymptomsorhavereasontobelievethatyou

havebeenexposedtothevirus.Bystayingalertandfollowinggovernmentadviceand

regulations,wenotonlyprotectourselves,butalsohelpprotectourfellowcitizens.

OurfightagainstCovid-19hasshownusthatwearenowlivinginahuman

communitywithasharedfuture.Onlybyworkingtogether,whileacceptingour

individualresponsibilities,canwesolvebothnationalandglobalproblems.Weneed

tosupporteachothersothatwecanmarchconfidently,arminarm,intoabetterand

moresecurefuture.

Extendedreading

Saynotodrugs

Goodmorning,everyone.Asapoliceofficerwhohasspentmanyyearsworkingin

thefrontlineofthefightagainstdrugs,Ihavewitnessed,alltoooften,thedestructive

impactthatdrugscanhaveonindividuals,familiesandthewidercommunity.Ihave

seenhowdrugscandestroypeople'sphysicalandmentalwell-beingandruinyoung

livesbeforetheyevenbegin.Ihaveseenhowfamiliesaretornapartafterafamily

memberhasbecomeaddictedtodrugs.Ihavealsoseenhowtirelesslytheforcesof

lawandorderworktogetherinfightingagainstdrugs.Iwillnotexaggeratethescale

oftheproblem,asthefactsspeakforthemselves.Accordingtothe2021WorldDrug

Report,itisestimatedthataround275millionpeopleuseddrugsworldwideandover

36millionpeoplesufferedfromdrugusedisordersinthelastyear.Theseshocking

figuresindicatethatdrugabuseisaveryseriousglobalproblem.Therefore,itis

everyone9sresponsibilitytosaynotodrugs.

Drugabusehurtsanindividualdruguserbothphysicallyandmentally.Themost

serioushealthconditionsassociatedwithdrugabuseincludeheartproblems,

respiratoryproblems,kidneyfailure,liverdamageandaweakenedimmunesystem,

increasingtheriskofillnessandinfection.Moreover,drugsinterferewithaperson's

abilitytomakesensibledecisions.Consequently,peopleundertheinfluenceofdrugs

arenolongerincontroloftheirownmindandlikelytoputthemselvesorothersin

greatdanger.Theyalsosufferfrommemorylossandmooddisorderslikedepression

oranxiety.

Apartfromitsharmtoindividuals,drugabusealsodestroysfamiliesandimpacts

societyasawhole.Druguserssometimeslieandstealtofueltheirhabit,while

ignoringtheresponsibilitiestheyhavetotheirfamilies.Thiscanleadtonotonly

financialhardshipbutalsothebreakdownofoncestrongfamilyrelationshipsandthe

lossofstabilitywithinthefamily.Theimpactdrugabusehasonsocietyisalso

enormous.Undertheinfluenceofdrugs,drugusersmayexhibitviolentbehaviourand

sometimesevencommitcriminalacts,threateningpublicsafety.Theyarewillingto

doanythingtogettheirhandsondrugs.Also,becausedrugusersneedaregular

supplyofdrugs,thecriminalunderworldquicklydevelops,eatingawayatthefabric

ofsociety.

Knowingtheseriousdamagethatcanbecausedthroughtheuseofdrugs,youmaybe

askingyourself:whywouldanybodybefoolishenoughtostarttakingdrugs?Thereis

nosimpleanswertothisquestion,buttherearewell-identifiedriskfactorsfordrug

abuse.Somepeopleexperimentwithdrugssimplyoutofcuriosity,someregarddrug

useasanescapefromthestressesofeverydaylife,andothersstarttousedrugsjust

becausepeoplearoundthemaredrugusers.

Fortunately,therearethingsyoucandotoprotectyourselffromdruguse.Firstofall,

drugeducationisofvitalimportance.Youshouldlearnmoreaboutdrugs,especially

newdesignerdrugs,whichareincrediblydangerous.Themoreyouknowaboutthe

terribleconsequencesoftakingdrugs,themorelikelyyouaretostayawayfromthem.

Secondly,youneedtochoosewhereyougoandwhoyouspendtimewithvery

carefully.Makesureyousurroundyourselfwithfriendswhoyoucanreallycounton

andturntoforsupport.Lastbutnotleast,shouldyouevercomeunderpressuretouse

drugs,youmustimmediatelyseekassistancefromanadultwhoyoulookupto,such

asafamilymember,ateacheroradoctor.

Inconclusion,Ihopemymessageisclear-saynotoanykindofdrug.Themost

effectivewaytoavoidalltheproblemscausedbytheuseofdrugsisnottousethem

inthefirstplace.

Unit2Buildingthefuture

Reading

Renewableenergy:agiftforthefuture

Therewasonceavillagesurroundedbyfertilefieldswithfarmerstendingtheircrops

andfarmanimalsgrazinglazilybelowamightymountain.Thencoalwasdiscovered,

andsoontitanic-sizedearth-diggingmachinescircledthevillage.Villagerseagerly

acceptedthehigh-paidjobstheminingcompanyprovided,bringingatemporary

economicboom.Meanwhile,themachinescutthrougheverythingintheirpathto

accessthecoalburiedbeneath.Manyyearslater,allthatremainedwasadeserted

villageandanenormoushole.

Thescenarioistragic,butitonlypartlydescribesthedamagingeffectsfossilfuels

haveontheenvironmentwhentheyaremined.Actually,onceburnt,theyproducea

largequantityofcarbondioxide,whichinturntrapsheatandcausesglobalwarming.

Humansareclearlyfacingacriticalmoment,soamovetowardsclean,renewable

energyisinevitable.Renewableenergysources,whichincludesolar,wind,

hydroelectric,tidal,biomassandgeothermalenergy,areperfectalternativestofossil

fuels.Oneofthereasonsisthattheircarbondioxideemissionstendtobelower.A

studyfoundthatrenewableenergysourcesemitabout50gorlessofcarbondioxide

perkilowatt-hourovertheirlifetime,comparedtoabout1,000gforcoal.Besides,

fossilfuelsarenon-renewable,whosereservesareestimatedtodryuponedayinthe

future.Incontrast,renewableenergysourcesarebasicallyinexhaustibleandwillbe

availabletousforafewbillionmoreyearsifourplanetremainssafeandhealthy.

Countriesaroundtheworldareracingtowardsalow-carbonfuturebyinvestingin

renewableenergysources.Renewableenergyisnowgraduallybeingintegratedinto

infrastructures,suchastransport,communicationandpowersupplysystems.Chinais

oneofthecountriesembracingtherenewableenergyrevolution.Chinamanufactures

state-of-the-artsolarpanelsandwindturbines,andisthegloballeaderinthe

productionofbatteriestopowerelectricvehiclesandstorerenewableenergyon

powergrids.Renewableenergyconsumptionaccountsformorethan20percentofits

totalenergyconsumption,andthisfigureisincreasing.Overthepastdecade,China

hasbeenaheadinthedevelopmentandapplicationofcleanenergytechnologies.

So,withtheseadvantagesanddevelopments,whynotcompletelyreplacefossilfuels

withrenewableenergy?Thetruthisthatproducingpowerfromrenewableenergy

sourcescanbechallenging.Renewableenergysourcesarenotavailableeverywhere

andatanygivenmoment.Forinstance,tidalenergyisonlyavailableincoastalareas;

solarandwindenergycannotproducepower24/7.Agreaterchallengeisstoringany

extraenergyinbatteriesforlateruse.Mostcurrentbatteriesdonothaveastorage

capacitylargeenoughtomeetourdailypowerdemands.Certainhigh-capacity

batteriespresentproblems,suchashighmanufacturingcostsandrelated

environmentaldamage.Forinstance,miningfortheraremetalsusedinthebatteriesis

expensive,andwhennotproperlyrecycled,thebatteriesleakdangerouschemicalsinto

theenvironment.

Withthesechallengesinmind,afuturewithrenewableenergymaybedifficultto

predict.However,itispossible.Renewableenergysourcesexistinallkindsofplaces,

includingspace.Space-basedsolarpowerprojectsaimtocollectsolarenergyinouter

spaceanddistributeiteverywhereitisneededontheEarth.Asolarcollectorwouldbe

placedinalocationwherethereisconstantsunlighttocapturehigherlevelsofsolar

energyforlongerperiods.Scientistsarealsoworkinghardtosolvetheenergystorage

problems.Thermalbatteries,forinstance,canstoretheextrarenewableenergyasheat

uptotheextremelyhightemperatureofl,000℃inaninexpensivestoragemedium

likesandorwater.Comparedwithcommonbatteries,thesethermalbatteriesare

considerablycheaper,andhavealongerlifeaswellasahigherstoragecapacity.

Betterstill,theyarecompletelyrecyclable.

Withoutdoubt,renewableenergywillformabigpartofourfuture.Lookingforward,

weshouldinvestinnewtechnologiesandinnovativethinkingthatopenthedoortoa

wholenewworldwherewedecreaserelianceonfossilfuels.Renewableenergy一a

welcomegiftforourfuture—willhelpusbuildagreenerandhealthierworld.

Extendedreading

Globalwarming:islandsinhotwater

ThePacificOceancoversaroundonethirdoftheEarth'ssurface.Scatteredacrossthis

oceanarethousandsofislands.Inrecentyears,thepeopleoftheseislandshave

noticedtidesgettinghigherandstormsgettingworse.Andtheywonder-istheir

worldabouttochange?Sadly,thefactisthattheislandsinthePacific,especially

low-lyingcoralones,aresufferingtheseriouseffectsofglobalwarming.

Asglobaltemperaturesincrease,sodosealevels.Increasingtemperaturescausesice

sheetsandglaciersattheNorthandSouthPolestomelt,releasingadditionalwater

intotheocean.Warmwateralsotakesupmoreroomthancoolwater,soastheocean

warms,sealevelsrisefurther.Scientistsexpectsealevelsworldwidemayriseby0.6

to1.1metresormoreby2100iftheplanetcontinuestowarm.OnthePacificislands,

themostobvioussignofrisingsealevelsisthatathightide,watermovesfurther

inlandtoflowintohousesandoverroads.Infact,beachesorevenwholeislandsare

disappearing:fiveoftheSolomonIslandshavealreadyvanishedbeneaththewaves

since1947!Increasingsealevelsalsocontaminatetheislands'freshwatersupplies.

Whensaltyseawaterseepsthroughthegroundandgetsintowells,thewaterbecomes

uselessfordrinkingandirrigation.Besides,growingsealevelsinterferewithsome

islands9naturalreshapingprocesses.Usually,wavesgraduallyremovesandfromone

sideofanislandanddumpnewsandontheotherside.Unfortunately,however,rising

wavesacceleratetheprocess,andthiscertainlycausesproblemsforanyonewholives

onthesidethatisbeingwashedaway.

Meanwhile,increasingglobaltemperaturescanhavedisastrousconsequencesinother

ways.Extremetemperaturesgenerateextremerainfallpatterns.Consequently,the

islandsgowithoutlife-sustainingrainfallformonths,leadingtocropfailureand

reducedfreshwaterreserves.Thensuddenlytoomuchcomesatonce,andprecious

soilandhomesarewashedawaybythefloods.Forexample,onthehillyCook

Islands,stormshavegivenrisetolandslidesthatcarryislanders9homesdownthe

hillsides.Additionally,theannualtropicalcyclonesarebecomingstrongerand

happeningmorefrequently,resultinginmoreseverefloodingandlandslides.Whatis

more,astheoceanwarms,manycoralreefs,whichactasnaturalbarrierandarehome

toarichdiversityofoceanspecies,aredying.Heatandextracarbondioxideinthe

atmospherehurtthecoralsthatbuildthereefs.Withouthealthyreefs,fishmoveaway,

andtheislandershavelesstoeat.

Despitethechallenges,theislandersarenotgivingupwithoutafight.Formany

islandcommunities,fightingclimatechangeisnotachoice;itisamatterofsurvival.

Theyareworkingwithscientistsandlearningtoprotecttheirhomesfromflooding

andstormsurgesbybuildingseawallsfromoldbitsofcoralreefs.Theyarecutting

downfewertrees,sincetreesholdontosoil.Theyarealsoplantingmangrovetreesto

protectthecoastalareas.Tokeepthedamagingsaltawayfromtheircrops,theyare

growingcropsincontainers.Theyarelookingforcropsthatdonotmindsaltywater.

Hopefully,theycanfindawaytostayontheirislands,atleastforawhile.

However,someislandershavemadealife-changingdecision一movingawayfromthe

ocean.Itisbynomeanseasyastheoceanhasbeenpartoftheirlivesforgenerations.

AnentirevillageontheislandofVanuaLevuinFijiabandonedtheircoastalhomesto

moveupintothehills.Fortunately,theycouldbeginanewlife:buyingland,building

newhousesandgrowingpineapples.Somemisstheiroldlifebythesea,butatleast

thehillsproviderefugefromtherisingsea,andtheyarestilltogether.Manyofthose

whoseislandshavenohillsarelookingforhomesonnewislands,oreveninnew

countries.Mostdonotwanttoleave,butwiththeoceanmovingin,theyfeelthey

havenochoice.

Nomatterwhatsolutionstheislandersdevelop,theirislandsarestillinhotwater.

Globalwarmingrequiresnotonlyislanderstofightback.Afterall,wearelivingina

humancommunitywithasharedfuture.Maybewecantakealessonfromtheoceans.

MeltingiceintheArcticmakeshigherwavesinFijibecausealltheoceansare

connected一therearenowallsbetweenthem.Changeone,changeall.Ifweneedto

tackletheproblemofclimatechange,wewillhavetoworktogetherasone.

Unit3Helpingpeople

Reading

TheUnitedNations—bringingpeopletogether

In1945,theworldwasonitsknees.Citieslayinruins,economiesweredestroyed,

tensofmillionsofpeoplewerekilled,andfamiliesacrosstheglobewerehomeless

andmourningthelossoflovedones.WorldWarII,thedeadliesthumanconflictofall

time,hadshatteredpeople'sliveseverywhere.Fromtheashesofthisutterdestruction

rosetheorganizationthatwenowknowastheUnitedNations(UN),offeringhopeto

aworlddesperateforlastingpeaceandsecurity.Itismyprivilegeandpleasureto

standbeforeyoutodayandsharewithyoualittlebitaboutthiswonderful

organization.

TheUNwasofficiallyestablishedon24October1945,whentheUNCharter,the

foundingdocumentoftheorganization,cameintoforce.Thefollowingyear,thefirst

meetingoftheUNwasheldinLondonandwasattendedbyrepresentativesof51

countries.Currently,theUNismadeupofover190MemberStates.Allofthemwork

togethertomaintaininternationalpeaceandsecurity,protecthumanrights,deliver

humanitarianaid,promotesustainabledevelopmentandupholdinternationallaw.

Overtheyears,theUNhasbeencommittedtofulfillingitsambitionofbeingtheone

placewherealltheworld'snationscangathertogether,discusscommonproblems,

andfindsharedsolutionsthatbenefitallofhumanity.InthewordsoftheUN

Secretary-GeneralAntonioGuterres,“Wheninternationalcooperationworks,the

worldwins."TheUNbelievesthatinternationalcooperationplaysanessentialrolein

addressingmanyissues,suchascleanwater,povertyandeducation.

Canyoubelievethatnearlyonethirdofthepopulationaroundtheworlddidnothave

accesstosafedrinkingwateraboutadecadeago?TheUNhasrecognizedthecritical

importanceoffreshwatertolifeonourplanetandrecommendedthateveryhuman

beingshouldhavebetween50and100litresofwaterperday,forbothpersonaland

domesticuses.Withthisendinview,theUNhascalledfortransboundarywater

cooperationthroughalegalframeworkforwaterresourcesmanagement.Moreover,

variouswaterprojectsmanagedbytheUNanditspartnersaimtoprovidecleanwater

forneedycommunities.Therehasbeenremarkableprogressoverthepastyears.

Accordingtoa2021UNreport,thepercentageoftheglobalpopulationwitheasy

accesstosafelymanageddrinkingwaterservicesincreasedto74.3%,Increaseshave

beenseeninbothruralandurbanareas,motivatingtheUNtocontinueitstireless

workofprovidingcleandrinkingwatertothosewhoneedit.

Withregardtopoverty,theUNestimatesthataround10%oftheworld'spopulation,

includingoneinsixchildren,liveinextremepoverty,unabletofulfiltheirmostbasic

needs.Thesefiguresarebothdepressinganddistressing.Notsurprisingly,therefore,

endingpovertyistheUN'snumberoneSustainableDevelopmentGoal.Toeffectively

fightpoverty,theUNfocusesonunderstandinghowpeopleexperiencepovertyin

otherwaysbesidesincome.Health,educationandstandardoflivingarethreekey

dimensionsthatcanreflectwhetherpeoplearebeingleftbehind.Thesedimensions

comprisetenindicators,suchasnutrition,yearsofschoolingandhousing.Withthis

data,theUNcanidentifytherootcausesofpovertyandworkwithgovernmentsand

communitiestoensurethatthosecausesareefficientlyaddressed.

ItisthebeliefoftheUNthateducationisthemostbasicbuildingblockofevery

societyandthesinglebestinvestmentcountriescanmaketobuildprosperous,healthy

andfairsocieties.However,duetovariouscircumstanceslikeinadequatelearning

materialsorpoorschoolfacilities,learningisoftendifficultformanychildren.The

UnitedNationsChildren'sFund(UNICEF),whichisapartoftheUNsystem,has

manyongoingeducationprogrammes.Oneofthese,theReimagineEducation

initiative,usestechnologytocreateonlinelearningopportunities,whichare

accessibletochildrenanywhereandanytime.Additionally,UNICEFsparesnoeffort

toensuremorechildrenhaveaccesstotheireducationprogrammes.These

programmeshelpremovelong-standingbarrierstolearning,supportingeverychild's

righttolearn.

Toconclude,IdohopeyouhavefoundthisbriefinsightintotheworkoftheUNboth

inspiringandstimulating.WhiletheUNisahugeglobalorganization,everyoneofus

candosomethingtomakeapositivedifference.Toquotethefamoushistorianand

philosopherHowardZinn,“Smallacts,whenmultipliedbymillionsofpeople,can

transformtheworld."SoIurgeyoualltofindoutmoreabouthowyoucanmakea

differencetooneperson,onesocietyortheworld,nomatterhowsmall.

Extendedreading

Thechainofkindness

Therainwascomingdownsohardthateachdropseemedtoexplodeasithittheroof

ofthecar.Tomstrainedhiseyesandlookedoutintothecoal-blacknight,struggling

desperatelytokeephiscarontheroad.Thewindscreenwipersworkedfuriouslyto

cleartheglass,buttheywerenotdoingmuchgood.Therainbeatdowncontinuously,

itwascompletelydarkoutside,andtheroadwasdesertedexceptforhimandhiscar.

Tomglancedinhisrear-viewmirror.Hecouldseehiswheelchairinthebackseatand

quicklylookeddownathisthin,brokenlegs.Hecouldfeelafamiliarwaveofdespair

starttowashoverhim.Therainwasstillpoundingontheroofofthecarandhefeltas

ifhehadbeentrappedinsideadrum.Astheworldoutsidebegantocloseinonhim,

Tomgaspedforbreath.Suddenly,aloudnoiseshookTomoutofhismomentof

hopelessnessasthecarbegantobumpdowntheroad."Great,“hethought,“aflat

tyre.”

Withaheavysigh,Tombroughtthecartoastop,restinghisheadonthesteering

wheel,defeated!Afterafewseconds,helookedupandpeeredoutofthewindow.The

rainseemedtohaveeasedalittle,andinthedistance,hecouldseealighttwinklingin

theblackness.Withasenseofhopefulanticipation,Tomgentlyeasedthecartowards

thelight.Ashegotcloser,hecouldseealongdrivewayleadingtoasolitaryhouse.

WhenTomapproachedthehouse,ayounggirlaroundtenyearsoldwasstandingin

thedoorway.Hepulledupascloseashecouldandrolleddownthewindow."Are

yourparentsathome?^^heshoutedoverthewindandrain."IhaveaflattyreandI

needhelpJTomadded.

“Waitaminute,“thegirlreplied.Sheturnedandwentintothehouse.Afewminutes

later,shereturnedwithanoldman.Thegirlheldhisarmandsmiledlovinglyupat

him.

“HowcanIhelp?”theoldmanaskedwithasmileonhisface.

Tomexplainedtheproblemandadded,"Ineedhelpbecausemylegsareparalysed/9

Thewordscameoutflat.Buthedidn'tknowhowelsehecouldconveythefactthat

heneededhelpfromthisweakoldmaninthemiddleoftherainstorm.Theoldman

simplynoddedhisheadandaskedTomtoopenthebootofhiscar.Withthehelpof

hisyoungassistant,theoldmanquicklygottowork.Occasionally,Tomleanedoutof

thewindowtoseehowtheyweredoingwiththerepairs.Thetwowereconcentrating

ontheirwork,andtherainwassoakingthem.Onceagain,Tomcouldn'thelpbutfeel

hewasuseless.

Soontheoldmansteppedtothewindow."You'reallset,“hesaid.Tomhadmoney

readyandhandedittotheman,buthemadenomovetotakeit.

Finally,theyounggirlsaid,"Grandfatherisblind.^^

Tomdidn'tknowwhattosay.Hejustgesturedtowardsthegirlandtheoldman

helplesslyashestumbledthroughanexplanationthathewouldliketopaythemfor

theirhelp.

Thegrandfatherwavedahandinfrontofhisfaceandsaid,"Thereisnoneed.Justbe

carefulaboutgettinghomeandcontinuethechainofkindness/9

Tomeasedhiscardownthedrivewayandbackontotheroad.Therainwasnowonly

alightmist,revealingtheroadahead.Ashedrovethroughthenight,hefoundhimself

lookingforwardtothejourneyahead.

WhenTomeventuallyarrivedhome,heparkedhiscarinfrontofthehouseasusual.

Helookedatthewheelchairrampthatledtohisfrontdoor.Beforetoday,thatramp

hadbeenaconstantreminderofhisowndisability,andeveryday,hecouldfeelit

laughingathim.However,achanceencounteronarainynightandanactofkindness

fromacompletestrangercametomakeTomseeeverythingdifferently.

Overthenextfewdays,hekeptreplayingtheincidentoverandoverinhismind.

Inspiredbythis,hecontactedhisdoctortoseeiftherewassomethinghecoulddoto

increasehismobility,hepursuedhislong-lostdreamofbecomingateacher,andhe

reconnectedwithhisfamily.PerhapsTomwasdisabledinoneway,buthedecided

thathewouldnotletthisdefinewhohewasorwhathecouldaccomplish.Most

importantly,hebegantolookforwardtoeachnewdayandviewitasanopportunity

tohelpotherssothathecouldcontinuethechainofkindness.

Unit4Lawandorder

Reading

Therulesoflaw

Haveyoueverwonderedwhenandwherethelaworiginated?Around12,000years

agointheMiddleEast,smallpermanentfarmingcommunitieswere

established,changingtraditionalnomadichunter-gathererlifestyles.Differentgroups

werecloselylivingtogetheranddealingwithunfamiliarbehaviours,beliefsand

attitudes.Topreventchaosandresolveconflicts,therulesofconductand

consequencesforunacceptablebehaviourswerecreated.Hence,theconceptoflaw

wasborn.

ManyancientcivilizationsaroseintheMiddleEast,soitisnotsurprisingthatlaw

codesfirstappearedthere.Theoldestdiscovered,theCodeofUr-Nammu,datesback

toabout4,000yearsago.Thecodepresentedlawsinthecause-and-effectformat,a

styleusedinnearlyalllatercodes.Anotheronediscovered,theCodeofHammurabi,

wascomposedaround300yearslater,whichisoneofthelongest,best-organizedand

best-preservedlegaltexts.Thiscodewasamongthefirsttoimplementtheconcept

“innocentuntilprovenguilty”.Bothcodeshavefeaturesincommon.Forinstance,

theytreatedavarietyofmatters,butoftenignoredsomeimportantrules,becausesuch

rulesweredeeplygroundedincustom.

Overtime,lawsevolvetobecomemoresophisticatedandwide-ranging.Soci