英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）12a_PETS 考试

英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）12a

文章来源：文章作者：发布时间：2007-09-17 06:14 字体： [大中小]　进入论坛

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Passage Twelve (Religion and Rationality)
Yet the difference in tome and language must strike us, so soon as it is philosophy that speaks: that change should remind us that even if the function of religion and that of reason coincide, this function is performed in the two cases by very different organs. Religions are many, reason one. Religion consists of conscious ideas, hopes, enthusiasms, and objects of worship; it operates by grace and flourishes by prayer. Reason, on the other hand, is a mere¹ principle or potential order, on which indeed we may come to reflect but which exists in us ideally only, without variation or stress of any kind. We conform or do not conform to it; it does not urge or chide² us, not call for any emotions on our part other than those naturally aroused by the various objects which it unfolds in their true nature and proportion. Religion brings some order into life by weighting it with new materials. Reason adds to the natural materials only the perfect order which it introduces into them. Rationality is nothing but a form, an ideal constitution which experience may more or less embody³. Religion is a part of experience itself, a mass of sentiments and ideas. The one is an inviolate⁴ principle, the other a changing and struggling force. And yet this struggling and changing force of religion seems to direct man toward something eternal. It seems to make for an ultimate harmony within the soul and for an ultimate harmony between the soul and all that the soul depends upon. Religion, in its intent, is a more conscious and direct pursuit of the Life of Reason than is society, science, or art, for these approach and fill out the ideal life tentatively and piecemeal⁵, hardly regarding the foal or caring for the ultimate justification⁶ of the instinctive⁷ aims. Religion also has an instinctive and blind side and bubbles up in all manner of chance practices and intuitions; soon, however, it feels its way toward the heart of things, and from whatever quarter it may come, veers⁸ in the direction of the ultimate.
Nevertheless, we must confess that this religious pursuit of the Life of Reason has been singularly abortive¹⁰. Those within the pale of each religion may prevail upon themselves, to express satisfaction with its results, thanks to a fond partiality in reading the past and generous draughts¹¹ of hope for the future; but any one regarding the various religions at once and comparing their achievements with what reason requires, must feel how terrible is the disappointment which they have one and all prepared for mankind. Their chief anxiety has been to offer imaginary remedies for mortal ills, some of which are incurable¹² essentially¹³, while others might have been really cured by well-directed effort. The Greed oracles¹⁴, for instance, pretended to heal out natural ignorance, which has its appropriate though difficult cure, while the Christian¹⁵ vision of heaven pretended to be an antidote¹⁶ to our natural death-the inevitable¹⁷ correlate of birth and of a changing and conditioned existence. By methods of this sort little can be done for the real betterment of life. To confuse intelligence and dislocate sentiment by gratuitous¹⁸ fictions is a short-sighted way of pursuing happiness. Nature is soon avenged¹⁹. An unhealthy exaltation and a one-sided morality have to be followed by regrettable reactions. When these come. The real rewards of life may seem vain to a relaxed vitality²⁰, and the very name of virtue²¹ may irritate young spirits untrained in and natural excellence²². Thus religion too often debauches the morality it comes to sanction and impedes²³ the science it ought to fulfill²⁴.
What is the secret of this ineptitude²⁵? Why does religion, so near to rationality in its purpose, fall so short of it in its results? The answer is easy; religion pursues rationality through the imagination. When it explains events or assigns causes, it is an imaginative substitute for science. When it gives precepts²⁶, insinuates²⁷ ideals, or remoulds aspiration²⁸, it is an imaginative substitute for wisdom-I mean for the deliberate and impartial²⁹ pursuit of all food. The condition and the aims of life are both represented in religion poetically³⁰, but this poetry tends to arrogate³² to itself literal truth and moral authority, neither of which it possesses. Hence the depth and importance of religion becomes intelligible³³ no less than its contradictions and practical disasters. Its object is the same as that of reason, but its method is to proceed by intuition and by unchecked poetical³¹ conceits³⁴.

1.    As used in the passage, the author would define “wisdom” as
[A]. the pursuit of rationality through imagination.
[B]. an unemotional search for the truth.
[C]. a purposeful and unbiased quest for what is best.
[D]. a short-sighted way of pursuing happiness
2.    Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
[A]. Religion seeks the truth through imagination, reason, in its search, utilizes³⁵ the emotions.
[B]. Religion has proved an ineffective tool in solving man’s problems.
[C]. Science seeks a piece meal solution to man’s questions.
[D]. The functions of philosophy and reason are the same.
3.    According to the author, science differs from religion in that
[A]. it is unaware³⁶ of ultimate goals. [B]. it is unimaginative.
[C]. its findings are exact and final. [D]. it resembles society and art.
4.    The author states that religion differs from rationality in that
[A]. it relies on intuition rather than reasoning .
[B]. it is not concerned with the ultimate justification of its instinctive aims.
[C]. it has disappointed mankind.
[D]. it has inspired mankind.
5.    According to the author, the pursuit of religion has proved to be
[A]. imaginative. [B]. a provider of hope for the future.
[C]. a highly intellectual activity [D]. ineffectual.

Vocabulary
1. grace 恩赐，仁慈，感化，感思祷告
2. chide 责备
3. sentiment 情感
4. inviolate 不受侵犯的，纯洁的
5. intent 意义，含义
6. piecemeal 一件件，逐渐的，零碎的
7. bubble up 起泡，沸腾，兴奋
8. veer⁹ 改变方向，转向
9. abortive 夭折的，失败的，中断的，流产的。
10. pale 范围，界限
11. draught 要求

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收听单词发音

1 mere
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。 It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

2 chide
v.叱责；谴责
参考例句：
However,they will chide you if you try to speak French.然而，如果你试图讲法语，就会遭到他们的责骂。 He thereupon privately chide his wife for her forwardness in the matter.于是他私下责备他的妻子，因为她对这种事热心。

3 embody
vt.具体表达，使具体化；包含，收录
参考例句：
The latest locomotives embody many new features. 这些最新的机车具有许多新的特色。 Hemingway's characters plainly embody his own values and view of life.海明威笔下的角色明确反映出他自己的价值观与人生观。

4 inviolate
adj.未亵渎的，未受侵犯的
参考例句：
The constitution proclaims that public property shall be inviolate.宪法宣告公共财产不可侵犯。 They considered themselves inviolate from attack.他们认为自己是不可侵犯的。

5 piecemeal
adj.零碎的；n.片，块；adv.逐渐地；v.弄成碎块
参考例句：
A lack of narrative drive leaves the reader with piecemeal vignettes.叙述缺乏吸引力，读者读到的只是一些支离破碎的片段。 Let's settle the matter at one stroke,not piecemeal.把这事一气儿解决了吧，别零敲碎打了。

6 justification
n.正当的理由；辩解的理由
参考例句：
There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。 In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

7 instinctive
adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的
参考例句：
He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。 Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。

8 veers
v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的第三人称单数 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风）（在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转
参考例句：
The car veers out of control. 这辆车失去了控制。来自辞典例句 His fondness for his characters sometimes veers towards the sentimental. 他对那位主人公的偏爱有时也稍显矫情。来自互联网

9 veer
vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向
参考例句：
He is unlikely to veer from his boss's strongly held views.他不可能背离他老板的强硬立场。 If you fall asleep while driving,you'll probably veer off the road.假如你开车时打瞌睡，可能会驶离道路。

10 abortive
adj.不成功的，发育不全的
参考例句：
We had to abandon our abortive attempts.我们的尝试没有成功，不得不放弃。 Somehow the whole abortive affair got into the FBI files.这件早已夭折的案子不知怎么就进了联邦调查局的档案。

11 draughts
n. <英>国际跳棋
参考例句：
Seal (up) the window to prevent draughts. 把窗户封起来以防风。 I will play at draughts with him. 我跟他下一盘棋吧！

12 incurable
adj.不能医治的，不能矫正的，无救的；n.不治的病人，无救的人
参考例句：
All three babies were born with an incurable heart condition.三个婴儿都有不可治瘉的先天性心脏病。 He has an incurable and widespread nepotism.他们有不可救药的，到处蔓延的裙带主义。

13 essentially
adv.本质上，实质上，基本上
参考例句：
Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。 She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

14 oracles
神示所( oracle的名词复数 )；神谕；圣贤；哲人
参考例句：
Do all oracles tell the truth? 是否所有的神谕都揭示真理？来自哲学部分 The ancient oracles were often vague and equivocal. 古代的神谕常是意义模糊和模棱两可的。

15 Christian
adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒
参考例句：
They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。 His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

16 antidote
n.解毒药，解毒剂
参考例句：
There is no known antidote for this poison.这种毒药没有解药。 Chinese physicians used it as an antidote for snake poison.中医师用它来解蛇毒。

17 inevitable
adj.不可避免的，必然发生的
参考例句：
Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。 The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

18 gratuitous
adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的
参考例句：
His criticism is quite gratuitous.他的批评完全没有根据。 There's too much crime and gratuitous violence on TV.电视里充斥着犯罪和无端的暴力。

19 avenged
v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复
参考例句：
She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。来自《简明英汉词典》 The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。来自《简明英汉词典》

20 vitality
n.活力，生命力，效力
参考例句：
He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。 He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

21 virtue
n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力
参考例句：
He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。 You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

22 excellence
n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德
参考例句：
His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。 My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

23 impedes
阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
High packing density greatly impedes the cooling of the array. 高存贮密度很不利于阵列的散热。 The inflexibility of the country's labor market seriously impedes its economic recovery. 该国劳工市场缺乏灵活性，这严重阻碍了它的经济恢复。

24 fulfill
vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意
参考例句：
If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。 This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

25 ineptitude
n.不适当；愚笨，愚昧的言行
参考例句：
History testifies to the ineptitude of coalitions in waging war.历史昭示我们，多数国家联合作战，其进行甚为困难。 They joked about his ineptitude.他们取笑他的笨拙。

26 precepts
n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 )
参考例句：
They accept the Prophet's precepts but reject some of his strictures. 他们接受先知的教训，但拒绝他的种种约束。来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The legal philosopher's concern is to ascertain the true nature of all the precepts and norms. 法哲学家的兴趣在于探寻所有规范和准则的性质。来自辞典例句

27 insinuates
n.暗示( insinuate的名词复数 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入v.暗示( insinuate的第三人称单数 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入
参考例句：
Slang insinuates itself into the language. 俚语慢慢地渗入语言中。来自辞典例句 But the division of labor slowly insinuates itself into this process of production. 但是，分工慢慢地侵入了这种生产过程。来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

28 aspiration
n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出
参考例句：
Man's aspiration should be as lofty as the stars.人的志气应当象天上的星星那么高。 Young Addison had a strong aspiration to be an inventor.年幼的爱迪生渴望成为一名发明家。

29 impartial
adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的
参考例句：
He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。 Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

30 poetically
adv.有诗意地，用韵文
参考例句：
Life is poetically compared to the morning dew. 在诗歌中，人生被比喻为朝露。来自辞典例句 Poetically, Midsummer's Eve begins in flowers and ends in fire. 仲夏节是富有诗意的节日，它以鲜花领航，在篝火旁完美落幕。来自互联网

31 poetical
adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的
参考例句：
This is a poetical picture of the landscape. 这是一幅富有诗意的风景画。来自《简明英汉词典》 John is making a periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion. 约翰正在对陈腐的诗风做迂回冗长的研究。来自辞典例句

32 arrogate
v.冒称具有...权利，霸占
参考例句：
Don't arrogate evil motives to me.不要栽脏给我。 Do not arrogate wrong intentions to your friends.不要硬说你的朋友存心不良。

33 intelligible
adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的
参考例句：
This report would be intelligible only to an expert in computing.只有计算机运算专家才能看懂这份报告。 His argument was barely intelligible.他的论点不易理解。

34 conceits
高傲( conceit的名词复数 )；自以为；巧妙的词语；别出心裁的比喻
参考例句：
He jotted down the conceits of his idle hours. 他记下了闲暇时想到的一些看法。 The most grotesque fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night. 夜晚躺在床上的时候，各种离奇怪诞的幻想纷至沓来。

35 utilizes
v.利用，使用( utilize的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
One highly successful approach utilizes a triplet aspheric lens array. 一种很成功的方法是利用一个三合非球面透镜阵列。来自辞典例句 The first utilizes a blend of finely ground ceramic powders. 第一种用的是一种磨细的陶瓷粉末混合物。来自辞典例句

36 unaware
a.不知道的，未意识到的
参考例句：
They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。 I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

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