Vol 5, Unit 3 Microsoft Word 文档
Lesson Three
Goods Move. People Move. Ideas Move. And Cultures Change.
一、课文导读
（一）内容梗概
马歇尔·迈克卢汉在30年前就提出了“地球村”这个词。当今世界与那时相比更像一个村庄。在这个村庄里，各式各样的交通工具使人员流动和商品流通越来越快，各种各样新的交流方式大大缩短了把世界隔离开来的时间和距离。有史以来不同文化背景的人还从未如此接近过。对全球化的将来人们有许多乐观的预测。然而，并不是人人都欢迎全球化进程。究其原因，主要是因为人们担心全球化会带来由西方主控的后殖民局面，而不发达国家的人民则会丢掉自己的传统和文化。
作者在文中先全面地分析了当今世界，然后表达了自己对全球化的肯定态度——各种文化不会变得更加一致，相反，由于世界文明有许多相通之处，新趋势和旧趋势则会相互转变。
作者从历史角度阐述全球化，并大量引用日常生活中的事件支持自己的论点。
（二）背景知识
1. Erla Zwingle
Former National Geographic editor, currently living in Venice, Italy．Her major works include The National Geographic Traveler: Venice (National Geographic Traveler Venice) and The Photographic Essay: William Albert Allard (American Photographer Master Series). 2．People have different views on what belief system will form the basis for the emerging global culture:
a. the western view of progress, with its enthusiasm for technological change and economic development and its image of a world in which the condition of life keep getting better for everybody;
b. the Marxist view of revolution and international socialism;
c. the Christian fundamentalist story about a return to a society governed on the basis of
Christian values and biblical belief;
d. the Islamic fundamentalist story about a return to a society governed on the basis of Islamic
values and beliefs from the Koran;
e. the Green story about rejecting the Myth of progress in favor of living according to
ecological values.
In reference to Anderson, Reality Isn’t What it Used to Be Harper & Row, 1990
二、词汇与短语
(一) 词汇
1. agenda／?'d?end?／n.
1) matters of business to be discussed at a meeting, etc. (会议的) 议程表
—What is the next item on the agenda? 议程表上的下一项是什么?
2) subjects that everyone has heard of and is talking about人们已听说并正在谈论的事项—Environmental issues are racing up the political agenda. 环境问题已上升到政治日程。2. ambiguity / ??mb?'ɡju:?t?／n.
1) [U] presence of more than one meaning不止一种意思；歧义
—Much British humor depends on ambiguity. 英国幽默有很多是靠一语双关而得。
2) [C] instance of this模棱两可的意思
—She was quick to notice the ambiguities in the article. 她很快就察觉出了文中的那些模棱两可的意思。
3. assault／?'s?:lt／n.
1) a military attack to take control of a place controlled by the enemy突袭
Our troop made an assault on the enemy lines yesterday. 昨天我军突袭敌军阵线。
2) sudden violent attack突然而猛烈的攻击
—The roar of city traffic is a steady assault on one’s nerves. 市区车辆的喧嚣声不停地刺激着神经。
4. blast／blɑ:st／v.
1) to destroy or break apart using explosives用炸药炸开
—The village was blasted by enemy bombs. 村子被敌人炸弹炸毁。
2) to damage or destroy by light, cold, heat, etc., to cause to wither (使)枯萎；(使)凋谢
—Buds had been blasted by frost overnight. 一夜之间，幼芽已被霜摧毁。
5. booster／'bu:st?(r)／n.
1) thing that boosts令人鼓舞的事物
—Mother’s smile was my booster when I failed the exam. 考试失败时，妈妈的微笑是对我的鼓舞。
2) device for increasing power of voltage增强动力或电压的装置
6. congregation／?kɑ?ɡr??ɡe??n／n.
1) group of people who gather together for religious worship (usu. excluding the priest and choir)参加宗教礼拜式的会众(通常不包括牧师和唱诗班)
2) group of people who regularly attend a particular church, etc. 教堂会众(定期参加某教会活动等的人群)
[派生] congregational adj. 会众的
7. degradation／?degr??de??n／n.
degrading or being degraded堕落；退化
—Being sent to prison was the final degradation．堕落到最后就是被关进监狱。
[词根] degrade v. 堕落；退化
8. detached／d??t?t?t／adj.
1) not involved by emotion, interests超然的；不受他人影响的
—We should take a detached view of the event. 对这件事我们应该持超然的看法。
2) (of a house) not joined to another or either side独立的；不相连的
—a semi-detached house一栋半独立式的房子
9. dislodge／d?s'l?d?／v.
1) to force or knock sth. out of its position移出；取出[同义] move
—There’s something between my teeth and I can’t dislodge it. 我牙缝里塞了点东西，就是弄不出来。
2) to make sb. leave a place or lose a position of power将某人逐出来；移开[同义] drive;
expel
… She became champion in 1982 and no one has been able to dislodge her. 她于1982年获得冠军，至今还没有人能把她从冠军宝座上拉下来。
[派生] dislodgement n. 移出；取出
10. dynamic／da??n?m?k／
1) force that produces change, action, or effects产生变化、行动或影响的力量
—There are so many factors in the inner dynamic of a social movement. 有许多内部因素影响社会运动。
2) adj. of power or forces that produce movement动力的
[派生] dynamically. adj. 动力地；精力充沛地
11. fanatic／f??n?t?k／
1) n. person filled with excessive enthusiasm狂热者
—food fanatics偏食者
2) adj. excessively enthusiastic狂热的
—fanatic beliefs狂热的信仰
[派生] fanaticism n. 狂热；盲信
12. inconsistency／??nk?n's?st?ns?／n.
1) [U] changes in someone’s behavior or reactions that make their ideas, wishes, etc. unclear
不一致；矛盾
—Inconsistency in management creates unnecessary anxieties among the workforce. 管理上的不一致在工人间会引起不必要的焦虑。
2) [C] two statements that cannot be both true不一致的事物、行为或话语
—There are several inconsistencies in his report. 他的报告里有几处说法相互矛盾。13. intone／?n't??n／v.
1) to recite (a prayer, psalm, etc.) in a singing tone吟诵；吟唱(祈祷文、赞美诗等)
—The teacher asked the students to intone the poem tomorrow. 老师让同学们明天吟诵诗歌。
2) to say (sth.) in a solemn voice用庄重的语调说话
—The priest intoned the final prayer. 神父庄重地念了最后的祷文。
[派生] intonation n.吟诵；吟唱
14. jostle／'d??sl／v.
1) to push roughly against (sb.), usu. in a crowd推；挤(某人) (通常在人群中)
—The youths jostled (against) an old lady on the pavement. 那些青年人在人行道上推推搡搡挤着了一个老太太。
2) to compete with other people in a forceful manner in order to gain sth. 与他人争夺某物；
争论
—Advertisers jostle with each other for the public’s attention. 广告客户竞相吸引公众的注意力。
15. orthodox / ??:θ?d?ks／adj.
1) (having beliefs opinions, etc. that are) generally accepted or approved规范的；公认的
—Her ideas are very orthodox. 她的思想非常合乎规范。
2) following the order, more traditional, practices strictly正统的；传统的
—He is an orthodox Jews. 他是个正统的犹太教徒。
[派生] orthodoxy n. 规范性；正统性
16. ostensible／??stens?bl / adj.
concealing the real; apparent假装的；表面的
—The ostensible purpose of the war was to liberate a small nation from tyranny. 那场战争
的表面目的是从专制统治下解救一个小国。
17. penitence／?pen?t?ns／n.
sorrow or regret for having done sth. wrong悔过；悔罪
—He is showing penitence for his sins to the priest. 他正在向牧师忏悔他的罪过。
18. plunge／pl?nd?／v.
1) to extend far down in a revealing way (女衣领口)开得很低
—Clothes with plunging necklines are popular again. 低领的女式服装现在又流行了。
2) to put into (sth.) or go suddenly and with force投入(某物)；使陷入；突入
—The latest scandal has plunged the Administration into controversy. 最新丑闻使内阁引起了争议。
19. pocket / 'p?k?t / n.
1) small isolated group or area孤立的小的群体或范围
—Pockets of opposition to the new regime still remained. 反对新政权的某些势力仍然存在。
2) small bag sewn into or onto a garment and forming part of it, for carrying things in (衣服上
的) 口袋，袋子，兜儿；衣袋
—He stood under a tree with his hands in his pockets. 他双手插在口袋里站在树下。
20. populate／'p?pj?le?t／v.
1) to live in (an area) and form its population居住于(某地区)
—nomadic tribesmen populated by the deserts游牧部落居住的沙漠地区
2) to move to (an area) and fill it with people落户于，移居于(某地区)；向(某地区)移民
—The islands were gradually populated by settlers from Europe. 岛上逐渐迁入很多欧洲移民。
21. potential／p??ten?l／n.
1) possibility of being developed or used潜在性；可能性
—She recognized the potential for error in the method being used. 她意识到所采用的方法中可能出错。
2) qualities that exist and can be developed潜力；潜能
—She has artistic potential as an artist. 她有做艺术家的潜质。
22. predominant／pr??d?m?n?nt／adj.
1) having more power or influence than others有势力的；占优势的
—The Socialists were predominant in the last Parliament. 在上届同会中社会党人占优势。
2) most noticeable; prevailing极其显著的；盛行的
—Her predominant characteristic is honesty. 她最为突出的特点是诚实。
[派生] predominance n. 优势
23. resilient／r?'z?l??nt／adj.
1) (of an object or material) springing back to its original form after being bent, stretched,
crushed, etc. (指物体与材料) 能复原的；弹性的；有弹力的
—The ball becomes resilient slowly after being beaten. 球在被击打之后又慢慢复原了。
2) (of a person or character) quickly recovering from shock or depression(指人或性格)能迅速
恢复或重新振作的；适应性强的
—She is very resilient to change. 她对变化有很强的适应力。
24. resourceful／r??s?:sfl／adj.
clever at finding ways of doing things随机应变的
[派生] resourcefully adv. 随机应变地resourcefulness n. 随机应变
25. respondent／r??sp?nd?nt／n.
1) someone who answers questions (民意测验等的)调查对象；答卷人
—Most of the respondents of the survey are teenagers. 这次参加问卷调查的人大多数都是青少年。
2) (1aw) defendant, esp. in a divorce case (法律)被告(尤指离婚案的)
26. salubrious／s??lu:bri?s／adj.
(esp. of the climate) health-giving (尤指气候)有益健康的
—We should breathe more salubrious mountain air. 我们应该多呼吸一些有益健康的山间空气。
[派生] salubriousness adv. 有益健康
27. seedy／'si:d?／adj.
1) shabby, run-down破旧的；衣衫褴褛的
—a seedy boarding-house破旧的寄宿舍
2) (infml) unwell (口)不舒服的；不适的
[派生] seedily adv. 破旧地；不舒服地seediness n. 破旧；不舒服
28. throes／θr??z／n.
severe pains剧痛
—Seeing her mother’s death throes, the little girl can’t help crying. 看到妈妈临终时的痛苦,小女孩禁不住哭起来。
29. unleash／?n'li:?／v.
1) to set sth. free from a leash or restraint解开带子或去掉限制以放开(某事物)
—The solider unleashed the guard dogs. 士兵解开带子放开了警犬。
2) (fig) to set sth. free from control; to release sth. in a powerful attack (on sb.／sth.) 使某物
不受控制；放出某物对(某人／某物) 进行强有力的攻击
—He unleashed a torrent of abuse against the unfortunate shop assistant. 他对那倒霉的店员骂不绝口。
（二）短语
1. an assortment of
collection of different things or of different types of the same thing; mixture各类物品或同类物品的聚集；混合物
2. to aspire to
to have arnbition for sth. 对某事物有雄心或野心
—He aspired to become an author when he was a child. 很小的时候，他就热望成为作家。
3. to hang out
to visit a place often; to have one’s home常去某处；居住
—Where does he hang out these days?他这些日子里都在什么地方来着?
4. to have／get／struggle for the upper hand (over)
to have／get／struggle for the advantage or control (over) 胜过；占优势；占上风
— Police have got the upper hand over the drug dealers in the area. 警察控制了当地的毒贩子。
5. to have the eye
to have a special knack or intuition有眼光；有鉴赏力
—He has the eye of a painter. 他有画家的鉴赏力。
6. in place of sb.／sth.
instead of sb.／sth. 代替某人／某事物
—In place of our advertised program, we will be showing a film. 我们要播映一部电影来取代已公告的节目。
7. in the throes of doing sth.
struggling with the task of sth.／of doing sth. 为完成某事而拼搏；苦干
—At the beginning of new terms, students are in the throes of moving house. 新学期伊始，同学们都在为搬家而辛劳。
8. shot through with sth.
containing much of (a quality); suffused with sth. 很有(某特质)；充满着
—a conversation shot through with humor富于幽默的交谈
9. to take sb. in hand
to take control of sb. in order to improve his behavior管教某人
—Those dreadful children need to be taken in hand. 那些讨厌的孩子需要加以管教。
三、课文注释
1. In place of the old wants we find new wants, requiring for their satisfaction the products of distant lands and climes… (Para 1)
Instead of the traditional needs, we find new needs, demanding goods from distant and far-off places to meet these felt needs.
2. Their statement now describes an ordinary fact of life. (Para 1)
Their statement describes what is happening now.
3. How people feel about this depends a great deal on where they live and how much money they have. (Para 2)
The attitude of the people toward globalization is to a great extent determined by whether they are in the developed countries or not and whether they are among the haves or the have-nots.
4. Yet globalization, as one report stated, “is a reality, not a choice”. (Para 2)
However, globalization, as one report stated, is not something that you can accept or reject, it is already a matter of life which you will encounter and have to respond to every day.
5. Humans have been weaving commercial and cultural connections since before the first camel caravan ventured afield. (Para 2)
People in the world have been making commercial and cultural contacts long before merchants on camelbacks took the risk to travel to places far away from home.
6. Telegraph, telephone, radio, and television tied tighter and more intricate knots between individuals and the wider world. Now computers, the Internet, cellular phones, cable TV, and cheaper jet transportation have accelerated and complicated these connections. (Para 2) Telegraph, telephone, radio, and television made the connection between individuals and the outside world closer but at the same time the connection was more complex, less direct, not so easy to see or detect. Now computers, the Internet, cellular phones, cable TV, and cheaper jet transportation have quickened and complicated these connections.
7. Some Western social scientists and anthropologists, and not a few foreign politicians, believe that a sort of cultural cloning will result from what they regard as the “cultural assault” of McDonald?s, Coca-Cola, Disney, Nike, MTV, and the English language itself —
more than a fifth of all the people in the world now speak English to some degree. (Para 4) Some Western scientists and anthropologists, and many foreign politicians, believe that a kind of cultural imitation will appear from what they regard as the “cultural assault”of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Disney, Nike, MTV, and the English language itself —more than a fifth of all the people in the world now speak English to some degree.
8. Whatever their backgrounds or agendas, these critics are convinced that Western —often equated with American —influences will flatten every cultural crease, producing, as one observer terms it, one big “McWorld”. (Para 4)
No matter what their backgrounds and programs are, these critics are convinced that Western —often equated with American — influences will overwhelm all other non-western cultures, make them lose their own unique characteristics and in the end there exists only one westernized or Americanized world or culture.
9. Popular factions sprout to exploit nationalist anxieties. (Para 5)
Political groups with broad support have come into being to take advantage of existing worries and uneasiness among the people about foreign “cultural assault”.
10. In China, where xenophobia and economic ambition have often struggled for the upper hand, a recent book called China Can Say No became a best-seller by attacking what it considers the Chinese willingness to believe blindly in foreign things, advising Chinese travelers not to fly on a Boeing 777 and suggesting that Hollywood be burned. (Para 5)
In China, where the two trends of closed-door and open-door policies have long been struggling for dominance, a recent book called China Can Say No became a best-seller by attacking what it considers the Chinese willingness to believe blindly in foreign things, advising Chinese travelers not to fly on a Boeing 777 and suggesting that Hollywood movies be burned.
11. Those people out there should continue to live in a museum which we will have showers that work. (Para 6)
The Chinese people should continue to live a backward life while we live comfortably with all modern conveniences.
12. Westernization, I discovered over months of study and travel, is a phenomenon shot through with inconsistencies and populated by very strange bedfellows. (Para 7)
After months of research and travel, I found that Westernization is a concept full of self- contradiction and held by people of very different backgrounds or views.
inconsistencies: not uniform, inharmonious or self-contradictory factors
bedfellows: an associate, ally, confederate. etc.
13. Critics of Western culture blast Coke and Hollywood but not organ transplants and computers. Boosters of Western culture can point to increased efforts to preserve and protect the environment. Yet they make no mention of some less salubrious aspects of Western culture, such as cigarettes and automobiles, which, even as they are being eagerly adopted in the developing world, are having disastrous effects. (Para 7)
Critics of Western culture attack sharply Coke and Hollywood but they do not attack organ transplants and computers. Enthusiastic supporters of Western culture emphasize environmental protection but make no mention of cigarettes and automobiles, which bring damage to health and the environment and are being earnestly adopted in the developing world.
14. Apparently westernization is not a straight road to hell, or to paradise either. (Para 7) Obviously westernization is neither terribly bad nor extremely good.
15. In Los Angeles, the ostensible fountainhead of world cultural degradation, I saw more diversity than I could ever have supposed —at Hollywood High School the student body represents 32 different languages. (Para 8)
In Los Angeles, the city which, many people consider as a source of devaluing world cultures, I saw more variety than l could ever supposed —in the place where Hollywood is located I found
a school with 32 languages spoken.
16. In India, where there ale mole than 400 languages and several very strict religions, McDonald?s serves mutton instead of beef and offers a vegetarian menu acceptable to even the most orthodox Hindu. (Para 8)
In India, where there are more than 400 languages and several very strict religions, McDonald’s serves mutton instead of beef and offers a vegetarian menu which can be accepted even by the most rigid Hindu. Beef can’t be eaten in India by those who believe in Hinduism because the religion regards the cow as sacred.
17. But I do know that rap music, which sprang from the inner-city ghettos, began making big money only when rebellious white teenagers started buying it. (Para 9)
But I do know that rap music, which developed from the place where the blacks lived, began making big profit only when rebellious white teenagers started accepting it and buying it.
rap music:a style of black popular music with a pronounced beat to which words are recited rather than sung说唱乐
18. “The funny thing about my work is that you don?t have to be cool to do it,” she says. “You just have to have the eye.” (Para 10)
“In trying to find out what will be the future trend, you do not need to he fashionable yourself.”“She says. All you need is awareness, that is to say, you need to be on the alert, to be observant. That is the interesting point of my work.”
19. We go to a smallish? 50s-style diner in a slightly seedy pocket east of Hollywood that has just become trendy. (Para 11)
We go to a small restaurant built in the style of the 1950s in a somewhat run clown area east of Hollywood which has just become a fashionable area.
20. “If it?s not going to be affordable,”Amanda remarks, “it?s never going to catch on.”(Para 11)
“If the trend is too expensive and cannot be followed by people, it will not become popular.”
21. This being America, he has found a way to marry these two passions and sell the result. (Para 14)
Since this is America, an open and technologically advanced country with a large market for unusual things, Tom Sloper found the necessary conditions to design a software program combining computer technology with the rules of mah-jongg. And he was able to sell his product. this being America: an independent element, functioning as an adverbial clause of cause Metaphor is used in the sentence, comparing the combination of two passions to a marriage. 22. This ancient Chinese game involves both strategy and luck, and it is still played all over Asia in small rooms that are full of smoke and the ceaseless click of the chunky plastic tiles and the fierce concentration of the players. It is also played by rich society women at country clubs in Beverly Hills and in apartments on Manhattan?s Upper West Side. (Para 14)
The author uses several rhetorical devices in these sentences: contrast, onomatopoeia and antonomasia [换称: 英语修辞中的换称(Antonomasia)宗教历史文学中的换称 (Antonomasia):
一个专有名词，如果具有某些家喻户晓的特点，它就可以成为某种象征。] . The small rooms in Asia stand for lower-middle-class people in Asia while the country clubs in Beverly Hills stand for rich people in the United States. A country club admits only members of the club. It is expensive and exclusive. Click, a slight and sharp sound, is used as an onomatopoeia which imitates the natural sound associated with the object or action involved. The author here contrasts a number of things: Asia vs. the U.S., lower-middle-class people vs. upper-class people-, men vs. society women.
By mentioning the country clubs in Beverly Hills and apartments on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the author wants to show that mah jongg is played by rich ladies at social gatherings as well as at home.
23. Actually, he only appeared to be alone. (Para 15)
Tom was alone in the office building but he was playing a game with three other people in three different places. In that sense, he was not alone.
24. “I?ve learned about 11 different styles of mah-jongg,”he told me with that detached friendliness of those whose true connection is with machines. (Para 16)
… he told me in a friendly way but this friendliness lacks emotion because his interest is in the computer, in those people who are connected with him through computer.
detached: not involved by emotion, interests, etc.
25. He, an American playing a Chinese game with people in Germany, Wales, Ohio, and Minnesota, was up in the cybersphere far above the level of time zones. (Para 19)
He was moving around, playing a game through the internet, with people living in different time zones, thus their activity on the computer broke down time zone limit.
26. It is a realm populated by individuals he?s never met who may be more real to him than the people who live next door. (Para 19)
It is a region inhabited by individuals he has never met personally, but he knows them well. They are more real to him than his neighbors are because he carries conversations with them by typing short comments to them.
27. If it seems that life in the West has become a fast-forward blur, consider China. (Para 20) If it seems that life in the West has moved so fast that we cannot see it clearly, then have a look at China.
fast-forward blur: moving so fast into the future that outlines are blurred as if a video tape being played on fast forward
28. Potential: This is largely a Western concept. (Para 25)
Potential is a concept used in physics and electricity which are subjects first studied in the West. potential: the capacity for use or development
29. … it?s clear that the truly great leap forward here is at the level of ideas. (Para 25)
… it is clear that the real progress, the progress that matters most, lies in the change of ideas.
30. Early on I realized that I was going to need some type of compass to guide me through the wilds of global culture. (Para 29)
From the very beginning I knew I need some theory or guideline to help me in my study of global culture or globalization, to guide me through such a great variety of cultural phenomena. Metaphors are used in the sentence, comparing some theory or guideline to compass, and a great variety of cultural phenomena to wilds.
wilds: a wilderness or wasteland
31. We now know that order grows out of chaos. (Para 30)
We now know that significant changes come as a result of conflict.
32. “…Not conflicts between East and West, or North and South, but …wave?conflicts between industrially dominant countries and predominantly agrarian countries, or conflicts within countries making a transition from one to the other.” (Para 30)
“The current conflicts are not conflicts between East and West, nor North and South but between dominantly industrial countries and dominantly agrarian countries plus internal conflicts within countries that are partly one and partly the other.”
Toffler hold that the present world order is a trisection order. According to him, the agrarian nations are at the bottom, knowledge-based economics on the top, with industrialized countries in between.
33. For the Japanese, this is an entirely new way of thinking. (Para 35)
We can induce from the statement the old way of thinking of the Japanese. The Japanese are very traditional in their thinking. That is why you find lifelong service in one Japanese firm and the employees are proud of such an agreement. Loyalty to the firm is constantly stressed. The idea that one’s fate is in one’s own hands is alien to Japanese corporate culture, but appropriate to American culture with its emphasis on individualism.
34. The late philosopher Isaiah Berlin believed that, rather than aspire to some utopian ideal,
a society should strive for something else… (Para 36)
The late philosopher Isaiah Berlin thought that a society should not pursue certain unrealistic good but should aim at achieving something more practical, more down-to-earth.
Isaiah Berlin was pointing out that we should not pursue uniformity but we should cultivate tolerance towards diversity.
35. The penitence may have been Jewish, but the aspiration was universal. (Para 39)
The way of showing repentance might be peculiar to the Jews, but the strong desire of gaining forgiveness from God is common, shared by all.
36. Linking is humanity?s natural impulse, its common destiny. (Para 40)
Linking is a natural desire of mankind, and a fate shared by all.
四、课文译文
商品流通、人员流动、观念转变、文化变迁
埃拉·兹温格尔
1．今天我们正经历着一种世界范围文化巨变的阵痛，一种习俗与追求的结构性变化，用社会学家奇特的词汇来称呼这种变化，就叫“全球化”。对于政治、商贸、保健及娱乐领域的巨大变化，这个词并不贴切。“现代工业已建立了世界市场。已建立的所有旧的国民工业被其产品不仅在国内而且在世界各地范围内销售的新兴工业所取代。人们用新的需求取代原有的需求，用外地的产品满足自己的需求。”卡尔·马克思和弗雷德里希·恩格斯早在150年前就在《共产党宣言》中写下了这些。他们那时的陈述描绘了现在生活中的普遍事实。2．对此人们有何感受很大程度上取决于他们的生活所在地和所拥有的金钱数。然而，正如某篇报道所述，全球化“是一种事实，而不是一种选择”。早在第一批骆驼商队冒险出外经商前至今，人们一直在编织着商贸和文化相互间的交往。在19世纪，邮政服务、报纸、横跨大陆的铁路及巨大的蒸汽轮船带来了根本变化。电报、电话、收音机和电视把个人和外部世界更紧密地连在一起，这种联系更为复杂、不那么直接也不易察觉。现在，计算机、互联
网、移动电话、有线电视和相对便宜的喷气式飞机空运加速了这种联系并使这种联系更加复杂。
3．然而，产生这种变化的动力是一致的：商品流通、人员流动、观念转变、文化变迁。不同的是这些变化的速度和范围。电视机拥有5000万用户用了13年时间，互联网只用了5年时间。
4．对这种变化并不是人人满意。一些西方社会学家、人类学家和为数不少的外国政治家认为文化克隆是他们所认为的麦当劳、可口可乐、迪斯尼、耐克和MTV“文化轰炸”的结果，也是英语语言本身的结果，因为现在全球多于五分之一人口都或多或少地讲英语。不管他们的背景和纲领如何，这些对全球化持反对态度的人深信西方的影响——往往等同于美国的影响——会把文化上的差异一一压平，就像一位观察家所说的，最终产生一个麦当劳世界，一个充斥美国货和体现美国值观的世界。
5．反映公众情绪(或得到公众支持)的派别不断滋生以便利用持此观点的国民的焦虑和不安。在闭关锁国和发展经济两种政策并存并争取其主控地位的中国，《中国可以说不》这本新书成为畅销书，这本书对中国人的盲目崇洋媚外心理进行了批驳，建议中国游客不要乘坐波音777飞机，还建议烧掉进口的好莱坞大片。
6．对西方文化影响持斥责态度的人中有许多西方人，而哈佛人类学家詹姆斯·沃森并不是其中一员。他说：“我知道现在中国农村人的生活比30年前的好多了。中国越来越开放，部分原因是出于中国老百姓的要求。他们想成为世界的一部分——我要说全球观念在中国是民主的重要动力。人们需要冰箱、音响和CD机。‘远在中国的那些人应该继续过着落后的生活，而我们却可以使用淋浴器，过着舒适的现代生活’。我认为不说这种话是一种道义。”7．经过几个多月的研究和旅行，我发现西方化是一种内部充满矛盾的现象，在特别怪异之人中占有一席之地。西方文化批评家斥责可乐和好莱坞，却不斥责器官移植和计算机。西方文化支持者指出继续努力保护环境，但他们不提西方文化中不那么健康的一面，譬如香烟和汽车。就在发展中国家急切地接纳这些东西时，它们已带来很坏的后果。显然，西方化既不会直达地狱，也不会直通天堂。
8．不过我也发现文化就如同构成文化的民族一样，善于随机应变，富有弹性而且不可预测。在洛杉矶，世界文化堕落明显的源头，我看到的差异要比我想像的多——在好莱坞高中学生说32种完全不同的语言。在上海，我发现“芝麻街”这一电视节目已被中国教育家重新改组，用以传授中国人的价值观和传统习惯。一位教育家对我说：“我们借用美国盒子，装进去的是中国内容。”在有400多种语言和几种纪律严明的宗教的印度，麦当劳供应的是羊肉汉堡而不是牛肉汉堡，还为那些最正统的印度人提供素食菜谱。
9．许多既有时间又有钱的青少年——全世界共有8亿——是融合全球文化的关键及主要力量之一。孩子们爱旅行、闲逛，重要的是他们买东西。很遗憾我没能发现哪个青少年第一个倒戴垒球帽，哪个青少年第一个模仿他，但是我确实知道最先出现在市内黑人区的说唱乐就是在有叛逆精神的白人青少年开始买票观看时才开始赚大钱的。然而，人们又会如何预测孩子们需要什么呢?许多公司迫切想要了解孩子们的需要，因此出现了顾问，他们预测将来的趋势，被称之为“猎酷者”。阿曼达·弗里德曼一天上午向我讲述了其中的奥秘。
10．阿曼达22岁，在其基地设在纽约的一家叫作“青年情报”的公司工作，她到洛杉矶进行调查，调查的结果要通报给公司很多重要的客户。她留着披肩的棕发，穿着一条长及膝盖的织锦短裙。在我看来，阿曼达打扮得很酷，但她自己并不这样认为。她说：“我的工作有趣之处就在于做此工作你不必扮酷，你得有眼光。”
11．我们去了一家小一点的、50年代式样的餐馆，这家餐馆位于好莱坞东面一个比较破落的区域，这个区域刚刚成为时尚聚集点。然后我们去逛了几家旧货店。阿曼达说：“如果人们买不起，那它就不会流行起来。”
12．现在她看到将要形成的流行趋势了吗?“家正在成为一个社交的地方。眼下旅行正热——人们到某地去，买回来许多东西。”
13．她最后说：“现今创新极为困难，因此最容易的办法就是把现存的东西捏在一起，拿出一个新玩意儿来。融合将会成为人人都要使用的大词，将来会有越来越多的毫不相关的东西融合在一起，如西班牙乐和蓬克乐。”
14．洛杉矶是融合中心，各种文化在这里交汇并有所改变。以汤姆·斯洛珀和麻将为例：汤姆是个计算机怪才，同时还是个麻将迷。由于这是美国，所以他找到了把这两种爱好结合在一起的方式并把自己的成果出售。他设计了一个人们可以在互联网上玩麻将的软件程序，这个程序叫做“上海：帝国”。玩这种老式中国麻将既需要技巧又需要运气。亚洲人仍然在小屋子里玩麻将，屋子里弥漫着烟雾，到处都能听到麻将牌相互撞击所发出的不绝于耳的喀哒声。玩家们精神高度集中。居住在比弗利山(美国加利福尼亚州西南部城市，好莱坞影星集居地)和曼哈顿上西城公寓里的有钱女人们也在俱乐部里玩麻将。然而，一天晚上，在洛杉矶，50岁的汤姆一个人坐在办公桌旁，在寂静、空旷的办公大楼里玩麻将。
15．事实上，他只是看上去是一个人。他那亮着的计算机屏幕表明麻将已经玩起来了，其他几个参与者都是老牌友。他们是德国人“蓝鲸”、俄亥俄州的拉斯和住在明尼苏达州的美籍华人弗雷迪。我们一边谈着话。汤姆一边毫不费力地在玩麻将。
16．汤姆对我的态度很友好，但那是那种超然的友好，他的兴趣在连线的计算机上。他对我说：“我已掌握了11种麻将的玩法。在美国有几种不同麻将的玩法。我们常打中国式麻将。”17．我看着小小麻将牌像纸牌一样在屏幕上弹来弹去。汤姆边玩边打字，和牌友简短交流牌局情况。
18．他和真人打过麻将吗?他回答说：“打过。一周一次，晚上在办公室，周四中午。”这时，屏幕上出现一个新名字。“是弗雷迪的母亲。不可能是，他们在维加斯。噢!一定是他姐姐。TJ也在线，她是威尔士人，一个真正的夜猫子。她快结婚了，现在与她未婚夫一起生活。有时她未婚夫起床对她说：‘离开那讨厌的电脑!’”
19．汤姆继续玩，一直到深夜。至少我所在的地方是深夜。他——一个美国人，和德国人、威尔士人、俄亥俄人还有明尼苏达人一起玩中国游戏，他在网络世界活动，这种活动超越时区。这是他从未谋面的那些人的王国，对他来说，那些人要远比他的左邻右舍更真实。20．如果说西方的生活太超前了，已经看不清轮廓了，那么就看看中国。从1978年经济改革搞活市场至今的20年时间，许多中国城市居民的生活有了极大的改善。最近对12个主要城市进行了调查，数据显示97％的调查对象拥有电视机，88％拥有电冰箱和洗衣机。另一项调查显示农民每年的食肉量增加了48％，水果增加了400％。26万中国妇女每个月都在阅读《时尚》杂志，那些开领袒胸的画页及其他内容。
21．我到上海去调查在世界人口最多国家的最大城市里文化趋势如何出现。上海也是对西方开放最久的城市，譬如通用汽车公司早在1929年就在上海设立。如今，通用汽车投资1.5亿美元在上海建立了中国最大的中美合资新厂。
22．上海曾是一座建有雅致的别墅和庄严的办公大楼的城市，但现在却是一座带状城市。10年中，几十座闪闪发亮的新的高层建筑拔地而起，挤压空问，使人张目不能远眺，使原本狭窄弯曲的街道更显压抑，而这些高耸大楼的存在也使公园和空地感到憋闷。即使是在多车道的高架桥上，车辆也在爬行。然而，街上的妇女着装色彩艳丽，特别是在街道两边布满精品店和时装店的南京路上，许多妇女手里拎着多个购物袋。在刚开业的两周时问里，古奇专卖店的营业额为十万美元，令人惊讶不已。
23．法国时装杂志Elle中国版的总编吴颖说：“也许现在的年轻女性不了解过去。10年前我决不会想到我会穿这样的衬衫(那是一件红向相间的紧身圆点花纹衬衫)。那时人们买衣服时考虑的是它能穿多久，家庭主妇把每月的工资主要用来买食品。而现在买食品只需一小部分
工资，因此她会考虑着装和旅行。现在有冰箱，我们也不必天天买食品。”
24．至于由此可能带来的文化错位问题，一位年轻的德国商人说：“上海人认为这不是问题。中国人是很善于应对多种可能性的。人们接受了它。‘很难，但还可以。那有什么?’”25．潜力：这主要是西方概念。不谈古奇专卖店和摩天大楼，真正的巨大飞跃体现在观念上。我只有在亲眼目睹了澳门的休考克戏剧协会在当地上演的莎士比亚戏剧《麦克白》时才真正领会了这一点。
26．在上海戏剧学院，我和来自全中国文学与戏剧专业的大约30名教授和学生一起坐在折叠椅上观看演出，演小场地大约有半个垒球场那么大。翻译张芳小声对我说：“我帮不了什么忙，我不懂广东话，这里许多人都不懂。”
27．我原以为自己能看个八九不离十，结果却只能辨认出三个女巫。这几个人用了近一个小时的时间转圈、跳来跳去、用长棍子相互威胁打来打去。灯光集中在鬼影上，常常夹着闪电。语言不是问题，因为演员主要是在咆哮和尖叫。后来他们背对观众，一些人用广东话叫喊着。灯光熄灭，有一阵子，黑暗中惟一的声音就是一部价格昂贵的照相机自动倒卷时所发出的声音。
28．这是中国吗?这可以是西方的任何一所大学校园。这样的表演即使是现在也难以想像。令人难以想像的是就是在这个国家，20年前人们最想要的三种奢侈品是手表、自行车和缝纫机。
29．许久以来我认识到我需要某种指南针来指引我穿越全球文化的荒原。因此在洛杉矶时，我找到阿尔文·托夫勒，1970年他的《未来的冲击》一书出版。此后近30年，他提出并完善了一些有趣的想法，他在与夫人海蒂合著的《第三次浪潮》一书中详述了这些想法。30．我问他人们对以前并不知道的将来现在又了解多少呢?他马上就做出了回答：“人们都知道秩序产生于混乱。没有冲突就不可能有大的改变，尤其是在俄罗斯或中国这样的国家。不是东方和西方的冲突，也不是南北之间的冲突，而是以工业为主和以农业为主的国家间的冲突，或处在转型期的国家间的冲突。”
31．他进一步解释说，浪潮就是文明的重大变化。第一次浪潮指的是农业发展，第二次指工业。今天我们正处在第三次浪潮之中，主要指信息业。1956年开始产生新事物．就是出现了新文明。托夫勒说：“就是在那一年美国服务业和信息业的工人超过了蓝领工人。1957年苏联人造地球卫星升空。随后航空商业化、电视普及、计算机开始被广泛应用，随之而来的就是文化变迁。”
32．他继续说到：“现在世界权利正在发生三等分变化。农业国在底层，工业国在中间，发展知识经济的国家在上面。”在有些国家，如巴西，三种文明并存，相互冲撞。
33．托夫勒说：“我们会看到文化上有很大变化。你一打开电视，就能收看用母语播放的尼日利亚和斐济电视节目。”一些专家还预测未来电视有500个有线频道，少数群体可以用这种电视发展自己独立的、与众不同的文化和语言。
34．托夫勒还说：“人们要问‘我们会经历第三次浪潮并继续保持中国特色吗?’会的，会有由自己核心文化构成的独特文化，但那是未来的中国文化，而不是过去的中国文化。”35．相互联系：全球文化传播最终就意味着相互联系。商品会继续流动——从1987年到1995年，加利福尼亚州经济部门多出口了200％的产品，爱达荷商业部多出口了375％。人员流动：从国外引进商业雇员比在国内培训工人便宜。观念转变：在日本，玩互动电子游戏长大的一代至少在网络世界体验到了新的可能性。大前研一在一本书中写道：“玩这种游戏向人们传递着一个模糊的信息，就是人们有可能主动操纵自己的处境，因此就会改变自己的命运。对日本人来说，这完全是一种新的思维方式。”
36．变化：变化是一个事实，而不是一种选择。那么真正的驱动力是什么呢?各种文化并没有更加一致；相反，新趋势和旧趋势相互转变。已故的哲学家以赛亚·柏林认为一个社会应
该追求一些别的东西，而不是某种乌托邦式的理想。他在自传中写道：“不是我们持一致意见，而是我们相互理解。”
37．10月的某个晚上，在上海，我和一群人在一间又小又闷的宾馆会议室里相聚。那是犹太赎罪日前夜。参加聚会的有许多西方国家的外交官、教师和商人，还有携带可爱孩子的漂亮女士、单身男士和年轻的父亲。夏勒姆·格林伯格是位年轻的以色列犹太人，娶了个美国太太。他是第一次作为拉比(犹太教中负责执行教规、律法并主持宗教仪式的人)主持这种刚刚开始定期举行的新年宗教集会。
38．格林伯格拉比说：“犹太人遍布世界各地，这是犹太历史的一部分。他们从当地文化吸收了不少东西，但仍然保持了自己的本色。”
39．庄严的礼拜仪式在继续，经过几千年和上百种外国文化的影响都未曾改变。他吟诵：“啊，上帝啊! 给我一颗纯净的心，恢复我健康的心灵!”我既不是犹太人也不是中国人，但坐在这里我一点都不觉得陌生，感觉就像在家里一样。忏悔可能具有犹太特色，但是渴望得到上帝的原谅却是普遍的。
40．全球文化并不仅仅意味着拥有更多的电视机和耐克鞋。相互联系是人类自然的欲望，是其共同的命运。但是连接全球人类的纽带并不只是技术或商业，这种连接靠的是强有力的心灵的纽带。
五、练习答察及详解
I. Vocabulary
A. Look up the following words and phrases. Select the meaning that best suits the sentence in which each appears.
1. in the act of struggling with (a problem, decision, task, ete.)
2. a force producing motion or change
3. program of things to be done
4. have a lot of, as if full of holes after a shotgun blast
5. a large number of young people who are decisive
6. to spend much of one’s time; frequent
7. to control someone, as to show him how to behave or act
8. an isolated area of a specified type
9. to became popular
10. extending far down in a revealing way
Ⅳ. Questions on Appreciation
A. Organization
1. The author begins the article with the statement “Today we are in the throes of a worldwide reforma tion of cultures” which is called globalization. Here the author points out that globalization is a world movement and a movement of reformation of cultures. She does not say merging of cultures but reformation of cultures, indicating the cultures in the world will continue to exist but they will not be the same. She quotes Marx and Engels to prove her point. According to polls, Marx and Engels are rated among most important people in the past thousand years. The author’s intention is two-fold: on one hand she wants to show that globalization is the result of modern industry and world market, on the other hand she wants to stress that it is a process and a historical process at that.
2. The author uses Tom Sloper and mah-jongg as an example to illustrate the mixing of cultures. It
is a typical example because it is a fusion of computers, a Western high technology, and mah-jongg, a traditional Chinese game — a fusion of East and West, of technology and entertainment. In short, a fusion of things previously unrelated.
3. English has become a universal language. If you go on the Internet, the overwhelming amount of information is in English. In international business, the prevalent means of communication is English. That’s why these critics include the English language as part of the “cu lt ural assault”.
4. This is an example the author uses to illustrate the transformation of cultures. She wants to use the incident to prove different cultures can coexist and learn from each other while maintaining their own identity. A Jewish gathering on the eve of Yon Kipper, a Jewish Holy Day, in Shanghai, a Chinese city is evidence of cultural coexistence. That the author, neither Chinese nor Jewish, felt at home at the Jewish gathering is another example. The author’s conclusion is: there are things in one culture which are shared by other cultures. In other words, there are things in common in all cultures. This is the basis for mutual understanding and co-existence.
5. In Para 4, the author puts “xenophobia” and “economic ambition” as a pair in contrast. In Para 7, the author first contrasts the critics and the boosters. Then she contrasts the inconsistencies with each group. The critics blast Coke and Hollywood but not organ transplant and computers, indicating their critique is selective. The boosters emphasize environmental protection but make no mention of cigarettes and automobiles, indicating that they deliberately overlook those things that bring damage to health and the environment. In Para 14, the author contrasts a number of things: Asia vs. the U. S., lower-middle class people vs. upper-class people, men vs. society women. In Para 22, the author contrasts “old Shanghai’’ and “new Shanghai”.
6. In the conclusion remark, the author makes clear her view of globalization. She points out the reason why globalization is inevitable linking is humanity’s natural impulse. Here two words are worthy of our attention. The author is not talking about merging or fusion but linking and she says linking is a natural human desire. In other words, it is not something imposed on humanity. From this careful choice of words we get to know that there will not be a McWorld but a coexistence of transformed cultures, and these cultures are brought together not just by technology or business but more importantly by common aspiration and shared values. The concluding paragraph is short, consisting of four sentences. But they bring out important ideas which, in turn, are linked with the Shanghai experience. Therefore, the development of ideas and the conclusion emerge naturally and logically.
7. Th e writer’s argument is effective because she cites facts from historical perspective. She uses the inductive approach in this journalistic writing. She argues from facts, along with personal opinions and appeals to common knowledge. The essay is informal and subjective in tone. The writer also makes full use of the rhetorical devices of metaphor and contrast.
B. Comment on the style of writing of the following statements, paying special attention to structure, diction, tone, rhetorical devices, etc.
1. tectonic: metaphor
2. cloning: metaphor
3. fountainhead: metaphor
4. pocket: is used figuratively
5. marry: metaphor
6. The rhetorical device of antonomasia is used here. The small rooms in Asia stand for
lower-middle-class people in Asia.
7. Metonymy is used in the sentence. The place names stand for social and economic status.
8. A contrast is made between old Shanghai and Shanghai in the 1990s.
9. compass and wilds: metaphor
V. Explain the following in your own words, bringing out any implied meanings.
1. Yet globalization is not something that you can accept or reject, it is already a matter of life which you will encounter and have to respond to every day.
2. Political groups with broad support have come into being to take advantage of existing worries and uneasiness among the people about foreign “cultural assault”.
3. … in China, the two trends of closed-door and open-door policies have long been struggling for dominance.
4. The Chinese people should continue to live a backward life while we live comfortably with all modern conveniences.
5. …westernization is a concept full of self-contradiction and held by people of very different backgrounds or views.
6. In trying to find out what will be the future trend, you do not need to be fashionable yourself. All you need is awareness, that is to say, you need to be on the alert, to be observant.
7. He was moving around, playing a game through the Internet, with people living in different time zones, thus their activity on the computer broke down time zone limit.
8. The Gucci store did not expect that in the first two weeks of its opening in Shanghai business could be so good.
9. From the very beginning I know I need some theory as guideline to help me in my study of global culture as globalization, to guide me through such a great variety of cultural phenomena.
10. The way of showing repentance might be peculiar to the Jews, but the strong desire of gaining
forgiveness from God is common, shared by all.
VI. Translate the following into Chinese.
1．今天我们正经历着一种世界范围文化巨变的阵痛，一种习俗与追求的结构性变化，用社会科学家奇特的词汇来称呼这种变化，就叫“全球化”。
2．不管他们的背景和纲领如何，这些对全球化持反对态度的人深信西方的影响——往往等同于美国的影响——会把文化上的差异一一压平．就像一位观察家所说的，最终产生一个麦当劳世界，一个充斥美国货和体现美国价值观的世界。
3．不过我也发现文化就如同构成文化的民族一样，善于随机应变，富有弹性而且不可预测。4．现今创新极为困难。因此，最容易的办法就是把现存的东西捏在一起，拿出一个新玩意儿来。
5．26万中国妇女每个月都在阅读《时尚》杂志。那些开领低胸的画页及其他内容。
6．灯光熄灭，有一阵子，黑暗中惟一的声音就是一部价格昂贵的照相机自动倒卷时所发出的声音。
7．他们从当地文化吸收了不少东西，但仍然保持了自己的本色。
8．相互联系是人类自然的欲望，是其共同的命运。
9．这种连接靠的是强有力的心灵的纽带。