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现代大学英语精读(第2版)第三册:U11A Why Historians Disagree(6)

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Neither statement can be faulted on the grounds that it is inaccurate; at the same time, however, neither is sufficient as an explanation of the event being considered. The next question is obvious: Why did you oversleep, or why did relations between one state and the Federal government reach the point where differences had to be settled by War? In other words, we have to go beyond the proximate cause and probe further and further. But as we dig more deeply into the problem, the answer becomes more difficult and complex. In the end, you might argue that the ultimate cause of your being late was the fact that you were born, but obviously this goes too far back to be meaningful. That you were born is of course a necessary factor, but it is not a sufficient factor; it does not really tell enough to explain your behavior today. Similarly you could trace the cause of the Civil War back to the discovery of America, but again, that is a necessary but not a sufficient cause. The point at which causes are both necessary and sufficient is not self-evident. Therefore historians may again disagree about where to begin the analysis. By now students should see that the well-used phrase "let the facts speak for themselves" has no real meaning.

虽然这两种说法都不够准确,但是也无可指责。然而,两种说法都不能充分地解释正在讨论的事件。下一个问题显而易见:你为什么睡过头?还有:为什么一个州和联邦政府的关系紧张到如此地步,以至于只能通过战争才能解决?换句话说,我们必须超越事物的近因,进一步讨论其起因。但随着我们对问题的剖析更加深入,问题也变得更加困难和复杂了。最后,你可能同意这样的说法:你迟到的最终原因是因为你来到了人世间,但是,这显然偏离我们讨论的话题太远,已经没有实际意义了。你的出生当然是个必要条件,但它不是充分条件;它不足以说明你今天的行为。同样,你可以将美国南北战争的起因追溯到发现美洲大陆,但是同样,那也是必要而非充分条件。造成某件事情的充要条件并不是不言自明的。因此,历史学家会就从何处着手分析问题再次产生分歧。现在学生们应当发现“让事实说话”这一老生常谈实际上没有任何意义。

重点单词   查看全部解释    
phrase [freiz]

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n. 短语,习语,个人风格,乐句
vt. 措词

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analysis [ə'næləsis]

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n. 分析,解析

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sufficient [sə'fiʃənt]

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adj. 足够的,充分的

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explanation [.eksplə'neiʃən]

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n. 解释,说明

 
inaccurate [in'ækjurit]

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adj. 不准确的,错误的

 
probe [prəub]

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n. 探针,探测器,调查,查究
v. 用探针测

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factor ['fæktə]

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n. 因素,因子
vt. 把 ... 因素包括

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ultimate ['ʌltimit]

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n. 终极,根本,精华
adj. 终极的,根本

 
proximate ['prɔksimit]

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adj. 最接近的,直接的

 
trace [treis]

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n. 痕迹,踪迹,微量
vt. 追踪,找出根源

 

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