The Good Government_寓言故事

The Good Government

文章来源：文章作者：发布时间：2008-01-09 07:41 字体： [大中小]　进入论坛

(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

"WHAT a happy land you are!" said a Republican Form of Government
to a Sovereign State. "Be good enough to lie still while I walk
upon you, singing the praises of universal suffrage¹ and descanting
upon the blessings² of civil and religious liberty. In the meantime
you can relieve your feelings by cursing the one-man power and the
effete³ monarchies⁴ of Europe."

"My public servants have been fools and rogues⁵ from the date of
your accession to power," replied the State; "my legislative⁶
bodies, both State and municipal, are bands of thieves; my taxes
are insupportable; my courts are corrupt⁷; my cities are a disgrace
to civilisation⁸; my corporations have their hands at the throats of
every private interest - all my affairs are in disorder⁹ and
criminal confusion."

"That is all very true," said the Republican Form of Government,
putting on its hobnail shoes; "but consider how I thrill you every
Fourth of July."

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收听单词发音

1 suffrage
n.投票，选举权，参政权
参考例句：
The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance.妇女参政的问题使他们发生争执。 The voters gave their suffrage to him.投票人都投票选他。

2 blessings
n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福
参考例句：
Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。来自《简明英汉词典》 We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 effete
adj.无生产力的，虚弱的
参考例句：
People said the aristocracy was effete.人们说贵族阶级已是日薄西山了。 During the ages,Greek civilization declined and became effete.在中世纪期间，希腊文明开始衰落直至衰败。

4 monarchies
n. 君主政体, 君主国, 君主政治
参考例句：
It cleared away a number of monarchies. 它清除了好几个君主政体。 Nowadays, there are few monarchies left in the world. 现在世界上君主制的国家已经很少了。

5 rogues
n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽
参考例句：
'I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道，我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛 The rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑，但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

6 legislative
n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的
参考例句：
Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。 Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

7 corrupt
v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的
参考例句：
The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。 This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

8 civilisation
n.文明，文化，开化，教化
参考例句：
Energy and ideas are the twin bases of our civilisation.能源和思想是我们文明的两大基石。 This opera is one of the cultural totems of Western civilisation.这部歌剧是西方文明的文化标志物之一。

9 disorder
n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调
参考例句：
When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。 It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

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