【導(dǎo)讀】mysterious?atthesametime.theprey'sspeed,direction,sizeandevenspecie!I'mhard-pressedtoimagine. thought.

　　

【正文】 re made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been fotten. The speaker claims that significant historical events and trends are made possible by groups of people rather than individuals, and that the study of history should emphasize the former instead of the latter. I tend to disagree with both aspects of this claim. To begin with, learning about key historical figures inspires us to achieve great things ourselvesfar more so than learning about the contributions of groups of people. Moreover, history informs us that it is almost always a key individual who provide the necessary impetus for what otherwise might be a group effort, as discussed below. 11 Admittedly, at times distinct groups of people have played a more pivotal role than key individuals in important historical developments. For example, history and art appreciate don courses that study the Middle Ages tend to focus on the artistic achievements of particular artists such as Fra Angelico, a Benedictine monk of that period. However, Western civilization owes its very existence not to a few famous painters but rather to a group of Benedictine nuns of that period. Just prior to and during the decline of the Roman Empire, many women fled to join Benedictine monasteries, bringing with them substantial dowries which they used to acquire artifacts, art works, and manuscripts. As a result, their monasteries became centers for the preservation of Western culture and knowledge which would otherwise have been lost forever with the fall of the Roman Empire. However, equally influential was Johannes Gutenberg, whose invention of the printing press several centuries later rendered Western knowledge and culture accessible to every class of people throughout the known world. Admittedly, Gutenberg was not single handedly responsible for the outes of his invention. Without the support of paper manufacturers, publishers, and distributors, and without a sufficient demand for printed books, Gutenberg would never have bee one of the famous few. However, I think any historian would agree that studying the groups of people who rode the wave of Gutenberg39。s invention is secondary in understanding history to learning about the root historical cause of that wave. Generally speaking, then, undue attention to the efforts and contributions of various groups tends to obscure the causeandeffect relationships with which the study of history is chiefly concerned. Gutenberg is just one example of an historical pattern in which it is individuals who have been ultimately responsible for the most significant developments in human history. Profound scientific inventions and discoveries of the past are nearly all attributable not to fettable groups of people but to certain key individualsfor example, Copernicus, Newton, Edison, Einstein, Curie, and of course Gutenberg. Moreover, when it es to seminal sociopolitical events, the speaker39。s claim finds even less support from the historical record. Admittedly, sweeping social changes and political reforms require the participation of large groups of people. However, I would be hardpressed to identify any watershed sociopolitical event attributable to a leaderless group. History informs us that groups rally only when incited and inspired by key individuals. The speaker might claim that important longterm sociological trends are often instigated not by key individuals but rather by the masses. I concede 12 that gradual shifts in demography, in cultural traditions and mores, and in societal attitudes and values can carry just as significant an historical impact as the words and deeds of the famous few. Yet, it seems that key individuals almost invariably provide the initial spark for those trends. For instance, prevailing attitudes about sexual morality stem from the ideas of key religious leaders。 and a culture39。s prevailing values concerning human life are often rooted in the policies and prejudices of political leaders. The speaker might also point out that history39。s greatest architectural and engineering featssuch as the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall came about only through the efforts of large groups of workers. However, it was the famous fewmonarchs in these cases whose whims and egos were the driving force behind these acplishments. To sum up, with few historical exceptions, history is shaped by key individuals, not by nameless, faceless groups. It is the famous few that provide visions of the future, visions which groups then bring to fruition. Perhaps the speaker39。s claim will have more merit at the close of the next millennium since politics and science are being conducted increasingly by consortiums and mittees. Yet, today it behooves us to continue drawing inspiration from the famous few, and to continue understanding history chiefly in terms of their influence. 第八類題材 Education Issue 214 Society should identify those children who have special talents and abilities and begin training them at an early age so that they can eventually excel in their areas of ability. Otherwise, these talents are likely to remain undeveloped. I agree that we should attempt to identify and cultivate our children39。s talents. However, in my view the statement goes too far, by suggesting that selected children receive special attention. If followed to the letter, this suggestion carries certain social, psychological, and humanrights implications that might turn out to be more harmful than beneficial not just to children but to the entire society. 13 At first blush the statement appears pelling. Although I am not a student of developmental psychology, my understanding is that unless certain innate talents are nurtured and cultivated during ea