Fear and its companion pain are two of the most useful things that men and animals possess, if they are properly used. If fire did not hurt when it burnt, children would play it until their hands were burnt away. Similarly, if pain existed but fear did not, a child would burn itself again and again, because fear would not warn it to keep away from the fire that had burnt it before. A really fearless soldier－ and some do exist－ is not a good soldier because he is soon killed; and a dead soldier is of no use to his army. Fear and pain are therefore two guards without which men and animals might soon die out.
In our first sentence we suggested that fear ought to be properly used. If, for example, you never go out of your house because of the danger of being knocked down and killed in the street by a car, you are letting fear rule you too much. Even in your house you are not absolutely safe an airplane may crash on your house, or ants may eat away some of the beams in your roof so that the latter falls on you, or you may get cancer!
The important thing is not to let fear rule you, but instead to use fear as your servant and guide. Fear will warn you of dangers; then you have to decide what action to take. In many cases, you can take quick and successful action to avoid the danger. For example, you see a car coming straight towards you, fear warns you, you jump out of the way, and all is well.
In some cases, however, you decide that there is nothing that you can do to avoid the danger. For example, you cannot prevent an airplane crashing onto your house. In this case, fear has given you its warning; you have examined it and decided on your course of action, so fear of this particular danger is no longer of any use to you, and you have to try to overcome it.
- Children would play with fire until their hands were burnt away if________
- they were given no warning beforehand B. they had never burnt themselves
- they had no sense of pain D. they were fearful of the fire
- A really fearless soldier __________
- is of little use to the army B. is without equal
- is nothing but a dead soldier D. easily gets killed in a battle
- Fear should be used properly because_________
- an airplane may crash on your house
- you may get cancer
- fear can only be used as a servant and guide
- men are now letting fear rule them too much
- People sometimes succeed in timely avoiding danger because _________
- they have gained experience B. they jump out of the way in time
- they are calm in face of danger D. they are warned of the danger and can take quick action
- Which of the following statements is implied but not stated
- Fear is always something helpful. B. Too much fear is harmful.
- Fear ought to be used as a servant and guide. D. Fear is something unprofitable.
核心词汇注释
companion n．同伴，共事者
fearless adj．不怕的，大胆的，勇敢的，无畏的
exist vi．存在，生存，生活，继续存在
knock v．敲，敲打，敲击；(使)碰撞 n．敲，击，敲打
absolutely adv．完全地，绝对地
airplane n．飞机
crash n．碰撞，坠落，坠毁；撞击声，爆裂声
v．碰撞，坠落，坠毁；(指商业公司，政府等)破产，垮台
beam n．梁，桁条；(光线的)束，柱，电波；横梁认播送
latter adj．后面的，(两者中)后者的，较后的，近来的
cancer n．癌，毒瘤
servant n．仆人
course n．过程，经过，进程，方针，路线，跑道，课程，一道菜，学业
v．追猎，急行，运行，流动
长难句剖析
similarly, if pain existed but fear did not，a child would bum itself again and again，because fear would not warn it to keep away from the fire that had burnt it before．
[结构分析]本句主干是if pain…a child．．．burn．．．because．a child．，．是主句，if引导条件状语，because引导原因状语，
[参考译文]如果只有痛苦而没有恐惧，一个孩子会一次又一次地用火烧自己，因为恐惧不会警告他远离曾经烧到自己的火。
Fear and pain are therefore two guards without which men and animals might soon die out．
[结构分析]本句主干是Fear and pain are therefore two guards，其中fear和pain是并列主语。without在从句中和which一起做条件状语，which引导的定语从句用来修饰two guards.
[参考译文]因此恐惧和痛苦是两位保镖，没有它们，人类和动物就会很快灭亡。
If，for example，you never go out of your house because of the danger of being knocked down and killed in the street by a car, you are letting fear rule you too much．
[结构分析]本句主干是If you．．．because of．．．you．…其中if引导的是条件状语，because of．．．是if从句中的原因状语，并不修饰主句。
[参考译文]如果因为害怕被车撞倒，横尸街头，而从不走出家门，那你就受到了恐惧过分的束缚。
全文参考译文
如果得到恰当的使用，恐惧和与之相伴的痛苦会是人类和动物所拥有的最有用的两样东西。如果孩子们没有疼痛感，他们会一直玩火直到烧掉双手。相同的道理，如果只有痛苦而没有恐惧，一个孩子会一次又一次地用火烧自己，因为恐惧不会警告他远离曾经烧到他自己的火。一个真正无畏的士兵——的确存在一些这样的人——不是一个好士兵，因为他很快就会被杀死，而一个死掉的士兵对他的军队没有任何用处。所以恐惧和痛苦是两位保镖，人类和动物没有它们就会很快灭亡。
在本文第一句当中我们提到恐惧应当得到恰当的使用。例如，若因为害怕被车撞倒，横尸街头，而从不走出家门，那你就受到了恐惧过分的束缚。即便在家中你也不是完全安全的：一架飞机可能会撞到你的房子，或者蚂蚁吃光了你家房顶大梁的某一部分，结果木头掉下来砸到你身上，或者你有可能得癌症!
重要的不是让恐惧控制你，而是要把恐惧当作你的仆人和向导来驾驭。恐惧会警告你危险，接下来你必须决定采取何种行动。你在多数情况下能够采取快速而又成功的行动，避免危险发生。比如，你看到一辆车向你直接开过来：恐惧警告你，你跳开了，则一切平安无事。
但你在有些情况下发现，对于危险你避免不了，无能为力。比如，你无法防止一架飞机撞上你家房子。在这种情况下，恐惧已经向你发出警告，你对此考虑后决定你要采取的一系列行动，所以因为这种特别的危险而产生的恐惧不再对你有任何用处，你必须尽力克服它。
题目答案与解析
1． 假如_______，孩子们会一直玩火到烧掉双手。 [答案]C
A．他们没有事先得到警告 B．他们永远不会烧到自己
C．他们没有疼痛感 D．他们怕火
[解析]本题的依据是文章第一段的第二句话If fire did not hurt when it burnt。从中可知C 项为正确答案。
2． 一个真正勇敢无畏的士兵______。 [答案]D
A．对军队没什么用 B．是无敌的
C．仅仅是一个死士兵而已 D．在战斗中很容易被打死
[解析]本题的依据是文章第一段倒数第二句话A really fearless soldier．．．is not a good soldier because he is soon killed，从中可知D项为正确答案。A项似乎很有道理，但只要与第一段倒数第二句话的后半部分仔细比较一下，就会发现A项的主语是A really fearless soldier，而原句后半部分的主语是a dead soldier。所以不能选择A项。
3． 应该合理利用恐惧，因为________。 [答案]C
A．飞机可能在你的房子上坠毁 B．你可能得癌症
C．恐惧只能用来作为仆人和向导 D．人类正在被恐惧紧紧束缚
[解析]本题的依据是文章第三段的第一句话The important thing is not to 1et fear rule you but instead to use fear as your servant and guide。从中可知C项是正确答案。
4． 有时人们能够成功逃脱危险，原因是_________。 [答案]D
A．他们获得了经验 B．他们及时跳离了道路
C．他们在危险面前保持平静 D．他们得到了危险警告并迅速做出反应
[解析]本题可参照第四段。从中可知D项为正确答案。
5． 本文中隐含但没有陈述的意思是哪一项 [答案]B
A．恐惧总是有帮助的 B．太多的恐惧有害。
C．恐惧应该被用来作为奴仆和向导。 D．恐惧是没用的东西。
[解析]综观全文，只有B项是文章隐含的意思，为本题正确答案。A项中有always这个副词，使该项所表达的意思走向极端，与原文“如果能正确对待恐惧的话”意思不符。C项是文章直接表达的思想，而不是隐含的意思。D项与文章的中心思想相反。