Lesson 45 The power of the press

Stories about people often attract far more public attention than political events.

常人軼事往往比政治事件更能引起公眾注意。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Though we may enjoy reading about the lives of others, it is extremely doubtful whether we would equally enjoy reading about ourselves.

我們都喜歡看關于別人生活的報道，但是否同樣喜歡看關于自己生活的報道，就很難說了。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Acting on the contention that facts are sacred, reporters can cause untold suffering to individuals by publishing details about their private lives.

記者按事實至上的論點行事，發表有關別人生活的細節，有時會給當事人造成極大的痛苦。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Newspapers exert such tremendous influence that they can not only bring about major changes to the lives of ordinary people but can even overthrow a government.

新聞具有巨大的威力。它們不僅可以給尋常人家的生活帶來重大的變化，甚至還能推翻一個政府。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

The story of a poor family that acquired fame and fortune overnight, dramatically illustrates the power of the press.

下面這戶窮人一夜之間出名發財的故事戲劇性地說明了新聞報道威力。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

The family lived in Aberdeen, a small town of 23,000 inhabitants in South Dakota.

這戶人家住在南達科他州一個人口為23，000 的小鎮上，鎮名為阿拜丁。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

As the parents had five children, life was a perpetual struggle against poverty.

家里已有5個孩子，全家人常年在貧困中掙扎。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

They were expecting their sixth child and were faced with even more pressing economic problems.

第6個孩子即將問世，他們面臨著更為嚴峻的經濟問題。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

If they had only had one more child, the fact would have passed unnoticed.

如果他們只添了1個孩子，這件事本來就不會引起任何人的注意。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

They would have continued to struggle against economic odds and would have lived in obscurity.

這家人會繼續為克服經濟上的拮據而奮斗，并默默無聞地活下去。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

But they suddenly became the parents of quintuplets,

但是他們出人意料生了個五胞胎，

Lesson 45 The power of the press

four girls and a boy, an event which radically changed their lives.

4女1男。這事使他們的生活發生了根本的變化。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

The day after the birth of the five children, an aeroplane arrived in Aberdeen bringing sixty reporters and photographers.

五胞胎降生第二天，一架飛機飛抵阿拜丁，隨機帶來60名記者與攝影師。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

The rise to fame was swift.

這一家迅速出了名。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Television cameras and newspapers carried the news to everyone in the country.

電視攝像機和報紙把消息傳送到全國。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Newspapers and magazines offered the family huge sums for the exclusive rights to publish stories and photographs.

報紙、雜志出高價向他們購買文字、圖片的獨家報道權。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Gifts poured in not only from unknown people, but room baby food and soap manufacturers who wished to advertise their products.

不但素昧平生的人寄來了大量的禮物，而且嬰兒食品、嬰兒肥皂制造廠商為了替自己產品做廣告也寄來了大量的禮物。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

The old farmhouse the family lived in was to be replaced by new $500,000 home.

這家人住的舊家舍將由一座價值50萬美元的新住宅所取代。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Reporters kept pressing for interviews so lawyers had to be employed to act as spokesmen for the family at press conferences.

由于記者紛紛要求會見，他們不得不請了律師充當他們家的發言人舉行記者招待會。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

While the five babies were babies were still quietly sleeping in oxygen tents in hospital nursery,

眼下，五胞胎還靜靜地躺在醫院嬰兒室的氧氣帳里，

Lesson 45 The power of the press

their parents were paying the price for fame.

他們的父母卻為這名聲付出了代價，

Lesson 45 The power of the press

It would never again be possible for them to lead normal lives.

他們再也無法過正常的生活。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

They had become the victims of commercialization, for their names had acquired a market value.

他們成了商業化的受害者，因為他們的名字具有了市場價值。

Lesson 45 The power of the press

Instead of being five new family members, these children had immediately become a commodity.

這些孩子立即成了商品，而不是5個新的家庭成員。

Lesson 46 Do it yourself

So great is our passion for doing things for ourselves, that we are becoming increasingly less dependent on specialized labour.

現在我們自己動手做事的熱情很高，結果對于專業工人的依賴越來越少了。

Lesson 46 Do it yourself

No one can plead ignorance of a subject any longer, for these are countless do-it-yourself publications.

由于出版了不計其數的教人自己動手做事的書報雜志，沒有人再能說對某事一無所知。

Lesson 46 Do it yourself

Armed with the right tools and materials, newlyweds gaily embark on the task of decorating their own homes.

新婚夫婦找來合適的工具和材料，喜氣洋洋地開始布置新房。

Lesson 46 Do it yourself

Men, particularly, spend hours of their leisure time installing their own fireplaces, laying out their own gardens; building garages and making furniture.

特別是男人，常利用空閑時間安裝壁爐、布置花園、建造車庫、制作家具。

Lesson 46 Do it yourself

Some really keen enthusiasts go so far as to build their own computers.

有些熱衷于自己動手的人甚至自己組裝電腦。

Lesson 46 Do it yourself

Shops cater for the do-it-yourself craze not only by running special advisory services for novices, but by offering consumers bits and pieces which they can assemble at home.

為了滿足自己動手熱的需要，商店不僅為初學者提供專門的咨詢服務，而且為顧客準備了各種零件，供他們買回家去安裝。