Lesson 36 The cost of government

This increases the expense of government,

這樣一來就增加了政府的開支，

Lesson 36 The cost of government

and reduces correspondingly the amount of economic resources that could be used for developing the country.

從而相應地減少了那部分可以用來發展國家的經濟資源。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

And it should not be forgotten how small those resources are in a poor and backward country.

不應忘記，在一個貧窮落后的國家里，那部分財力是很有限的。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

Where the cost of government is high, resources for development are correspondingly low.

凡是政府管理費用高的地方，用于發展國家經濟的資金就會相應地減少。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

This may be illustrated by comparing the position of a nation with that of a private business enterprise.

把國家的狀況同私人企業的狀況加以比較，就可以看清這個問題。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.

一個企業為了繼續經營，不得不支出一定的費用和開銷。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

For our purposes, we are concerned only with one kind of cost----

就我們的目的而言，我們只關心一種費用-

Lesson 36 The cost of government

the cost of managing and administering the business.

企業行政管理費。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

Such administrative overheads in a business are analogous to the cost of government in a nation.

一家企業的這種行政管理開支類似于一個國家的政府管理所用的開支。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

The administrative overheads of a business are low to the extent that everyone working in the business can be trusted to behave in a way that best promotes the interests of the firm.

如果企業中的每個人都在真誠地為提高企業利潤而工作，那么企業的管理費用就會降低到相應的程度。

Lesson 36 The cost of government

If they can each be trusted to take such responsibilities.

如果企業的每個人都信得過，人人都認真負責，

Lesson 36 The cost of government

and to exercise such initiative as falls within their sphere,

在各自的工作范圍內發揮主動性，

Lesson 36 The cost of government

then administrative overheads will be low.

行政管理費用就會降低。

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous.

人體在12歲時是生命力最旺盛的時期。

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

It has yet to reach its full size and strength,

雖然在這個時期人的身材、體力

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

and its owner his or her full intelligence;

和智力還有待發展和完善，

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

but at this age the likelihood of death is least.

但在這個年齡死亡的可能性最小。

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

Earlier, we were infants and young children, and consequently more vulnerable;

再早一些，我們是幼兒和小孩子，身體較脆弱；

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which, though imperceptible at first,

再遲一些，我們就要經歷生命力和抵抗力逐步衰退的過程。雖然這個過程起初難以覺察，

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

will finally become so steep that we can live no longer,

但最終會急轉直下，我們也無法再活下去了。

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

however well we look after ourselves,

不管我們怎樣精心照料我們自己，

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

and however well society, and our doctors, look after us.

不管社會和醫生怎樣對我們進行精心照顧，

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

This decline in vigour with the passing of time is called ageing.

生命力隨時間的流失而衰退叫做衰老。

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way,

人人必然會衰老。

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

that if we escape wars, accidents and diseases we shall eventually 'die of old age',

既使我們能避開戰爭、意外的事故和各種疾病，我們最終也會"老死；

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person,

衰老的速度在人與人之間相差甚微，

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

so that there are heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty.

我們最可能死亡的年齡在65至80歲之間，

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

Some of us will die sooner, a few will live longer----on into a ninth or tenth decade.

有些人會死得早一些，少數人壽命會長一些--活到八十幾歲或九十幾歲，

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

But the chances are against it,

但這種可能性很小。

Lesson 37 The process of ageing

and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive,

我們所希望的長壽實際上是有限度的。