二十一世纪大学英语读写教程（第二册）学习笔记（原文）——7 - Thinking: A Neglected Art（思考—

Unit 7 - Thinking: A Neglected Art（思考——被忽视的艺术）

Thinking: A Neglected Art

Carolyn Kane

It is generally agreed that the American education system is in deep trouble. Everyone is aware of the horrible facts: school systems are running out of money, teachers can't spell, students can't read, high school graduates can't even find China on the map.

Most of us know, or think we know, who is to blame: liberal courts, spineless school boards, ridiculous government regulations. It's easy to select a bad guy.

But possibly the problem lies not so much in our institutions as in our attitudes. It is sad that although most of us claim that we believe in education, we place no value on intellectual activity.

We Americans are a charitable and humane people: We have institutions devoted to every good cause from rescuing homeless cats to preventing World War III. But what have we done to promote the art of thinking? Certainly we make no room for thought in our daily lives. Suppose a man were to say to his friends, "I'm not going to PTA tonight (or the baseball game, or whatever) because I need some time to myself, some time to think"? Such a man would be shunned by his neighbors; his family would be ashamed of him. What if a teenager were to say, "I'm not going to the dance tonight because I need some time to think"? His parents would immediately start looking in the Yellow Pages for a psychiatrist.

Several years ago a college administrator told me that if he wanted to do any serious thinking, he had to get up at 5:30 in the morning — I suppose because that was the only time when no one would interrupt him. More recently I heard a professor remark that when his friends catch him in the act of reading a book, they say, "My, it must be nice to have so much free time." And even though I am an English teacher — a person who should know better — I find myself feeling vaguely guilty whenever I sneak off to the library to read. It is a common belief that if a man is thinking or reading, he is doing nothing. Through our words and our actions, we express this attitude every day of our lives. Then we wonder why our children refuse to take their studies seriously and why they say to their teachers, "Why do I need to learn this stuff? It won't do me any good; I'll never need it."

It's easy to understand the reasons for this prejudice against thinking. One problem is that to most of us, thinking looks suspiciously like doing nothing. A human being in deep thought is an uninspiring sight. He leans back in his chair, props up his feet, puffs on his pipe and stares into space. He gives every appearance of wasting time. Besides, he's leaving all the hard work for us! We wish he would get up and do something useful — clean the house, maybe, or mow the lawn. Our resentment is natural.

But thinking is far different from laziness. Thinking is one of the most productive activities a human being can undertake. Every beautiful and useful thing we have created exists because somebody took the time and effort to think of it.

And thinking does require time and effort. It's a common misconception that if a person is "gifted" or "bright" or "talented," wonderful ideas will flash spontaneously into his mind. Unfortunately, the intellect doesn't work this way. Even Einstein had to study and think for months before he could formulate his theory of relativity. Those of us who are less intelligent find it a struggle to conceive even a moderately good idea, let alone a brilliant one.

Another reason why we distrust thinking is that it seems unnatural. Human beings are a social species, but thinking is an activity that people do best when they're alone. Consequently, we worry about people who like to think. It disturbs us to meet a person who deliberately chooses to sit alone and think instead of going to a party or a soccer match. We suspect that such a person needs counseling. In addition, such people can sometimes appear unfriendly — and that makes us deeply uneasy.

Our concern is misplaced. Intelligence is just as much a part of human nature as friendliness. It would certainly be unnatural for someone to totally isolate themselves. But it would be equally unnatural for a person to allow his mind to die of neglect.

If Americans ever became convinced of the importance of thought, we would probably find ways to solve the problems of our schools, problems that now seem impossible to overcome. But how can we revive interest in the art of thinking? The best place to start would be in the home. Family members should practice saying such things as," I'll wash the dishes tonight because I know you want to catch up on your thinking."

This may sound crazy. But if we are to survive as a free people, we will have to take some such course of action as soon as possible, because regardless of what some advertisers have led us to believe, this country does not run on oil. It runs on ideas.

New Words

spineless

a. 1. lacking courage and determination 没有骨气的

2. 无脊椎的

spine

n. 脊柱；脊椎

ridiculous

a. deserving to be laughed at; absurd 可笑的；荒谬的，荒唐的

regulation

n. a rule or restriction 规章；规则

regulate

v. l. 调节，调校，调整

2. 控制，管理

regulator

n. 调节器，校准器

guy

n. (infml., esp. AmE) a man; fellow （主美）男人；人

chartable

a. 1. generous in giving money, food, etc. to other people 慷慨施舍的，慈善的

2. kind in one's attitude to others 仁慈的，慈爱的

humane

a. having or showing sympathy, kindness and understanding 富于同情心的；仁慈的

promote

vt. help the progress of; encourage or support 促进；提倡

shun

vt. keep away from; avoid 避开，回避；避免

psychiatrist

n. 精神科医生，精神病专家

psychiatric

a. 精神病的

psychic

a. 1. 精神的，心灵的

2. 超自然的

administrator

n. a person responsible for managing public or business affairs 行政官员；管理人

administration

n. 1. the control or direction of affairs, as of a country or business 行政；管理；经营

2. the supervision group of a company or institution; the national government 行政机关；政府

vaguely

ad. not precisely, not distinctly, more or less 含糊地；模糊地；多少

vague

a. 1. not clearly described, expressed, felt or understood 含糊的；不清楚的

2. not clear in shape or form 模糊的

sneak

vi. go somewhere quietly and/or secretly 潜行，溜

stuff

n. 1. （无用的）东西

2. material of which sth. is made 原料；材料

suspiciously

ad. 猜疑地；可疑地

suspicious

a. 1. (of) not trusting 猜疑的，疑心的

2. causing sb. to think that there is sth. wrong 容易引起怀疑的；可疑的

prop

vt. (up) support 架起，支起

appearance

n. 1. the outward form sb. or sth. has 外表，外观

2. 出现，露面

mow

vt. 刈（草坪等处）的草

lawn

n. an area of short, regularly cut grass in the garden of a house or in a public park 草坪

resentment

n. a feeling of anger because one feels that he is treated badly or unfairly and cannot do anything about it 忿恨，怨愤

misconception

n. an idea which is wrong or untrue 错误想法，误解

flash

vi. 1. move or pass very quickly 闪现；突现

2. give or produce a bright light 闪光；闪烁

spontaneously

ad. 自动地；自发地

spontaneous

a. done out of natural feelings or causes without planning or arrangement 自发的；不由自主的

Intellect

n. 1. the ability to understand or deal with ideas and information 智力，才智

2. a person of high intelligence and reasoning power 有才智的人

formulate

vt. 1. express (a thought, idea, etc.) clearly and exactly using particular words 确切地阐述（或表达），阐发

2. develop (a plan, policy, etc.) 制订（计划、政策等）

relativity

n. 相对性；相对论

moderately

ad. not extremely; to some extent 适度地；一般地

moderate

a. 1. of middle degree, power, or rate; neither large or small, high or low, fast or slow, etc. 中等的；普通的；一般的

2. (done or kept) within sensible limits 适度的，不过分的；有节制的

3. (of political opinions or policies) not extreme and concerned with slow or small changes in the system 不激进的，稳健的

v. (cause to) become less extreme and violent or more acceptable （使）和缓；减弱

species

n. ［单复同］物种

deliberately

ad. intentionally, on purpose 有意地，故意地

soccer

n. (AmE) football （美）英式足球

counsel

v. give (usually professional) advice to sb. who has a problem 提出建议（或劝告）

isolate

vt. (often pass.) 1. cause to be alone or separated from others ［常被动］使孤立；使脱离

2. keep apart from other people so that a disease will not spread 使隔离

regardless

a. (of) without worrying (about), despite 不顾；不论

Phrases and Expressions

be in trouble

having difficulties or problems 处于困境中，有麻烦

run out (of sth.)

have no more (of sth.); use all (of sth.) 用完；耗尽

lie in

exist in; be found in 在于

believe in

have faith or trust in; consider to be true, valuable, important, etc. 信任；信赖；相信…的真实性

make (no) room for

find (no) space or time for （不）给…让出地方或时间

sneak off to

go somewhere secretly 偷偷溜往

prop up

support from falling 支撑；支持

puff on

draw smoke through (a pipe, cigarette, etc.) （一口一口地）抽（烟斗、香烟等）

give every appearance of

show (a certain result) from what can be seen or known 显示出…的迹象

let alone

not to mention, not to speak of 更别提，更不用说

become /be convinced of sth.

become/feel certain that sth. is true 确信某事是真实的

catch up on

spend time doing (sth.) which has been left undone or neglected 弥补（耽搁下来的工作、睡眠等），赶完

regardless of

without acknowledging; despite, in spite of 不顾；不论

Proper Names

Carolyn Kane

卡罗琳·凯恩

PTA = (Parent-Teacher Association)

家长教师联谊会

Yellow Pages

黄页电话簿（专载公司、厂商等电话用户的名称及号码并附有广告的电话号簿）

参考资料：

21世纪大学英语读写教程第二册 Unit07_大学教材听力 - 可可英语

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