最新现代大学英语精读2课文文本

最新现代大学英语精读2课文文本LessonOnePre-classWork  Readthetextathirdtime.Learnthenewwordsandexpressionslistedbelow.Glossaryaccomplishment  n.theactoffinishingsth.completelyandsuccessfully;achievementacquire  v.togain;togetforoneselfbyone'sownworkarrogantly  adv.behavinginaproudandself-importantwayaspirin  n.阿司匹林（解热镇痛药）assume  v.totakeasafact;tosupposeavailable  adj.abletobeusedoreasilyfoundbachelor  n.～'sdegree:thefirstuniversitydegreebeanpole  n.(infml)averytallandthinpersonbull  n.amalecowcertify  v.tostatethatsth.istrueorcorrect,esp.aftersomekindoftestcivilized  adj.educatedandrefined;havinganadvancedcultureclient  n.apersonwhopaysforhelporadvicefromapersonororganizationcontinuity  n.thestateofbeingcontinuouscyanide  n.氰化物democratic  adj.basedontheideathateveryoneshouldhaveequalrightsandshouldbeinvolvedinmakingimportantdecisions民主的disaster  n.asuddeneventsuchasaflood,storm,oraccidentwhichcausesgreatdamageorsuffering.Here:acompletefailuredrugstore  n.(AmE)ashopwhichsellsmedicine(andavarietyofotherthings)enroll  v.toofficiallyarrangetojoinaschooloruniversityexpertise  n.skillinaparticularfieldexpose  v.toenablesb.toseeorexperiencenewthingsorlearnaboutnewbeliefs,ideas,etc.faculty  n.(AmE)alltheteachersofauniversityorcollegefragment  n.asmallpieceofsth.generatev.toproducegrindv.tocrushintosmallpiecesorpowderbypressingbetweenhardsurfaceshipn.thefleshypartofeithersideofthehumanbodyabovethelegshumanityn.thequalitiesofbeinghumanimplicitlyadv.inanimpliedway含蓄地inevitableadj.certaintohappenandimpossibletoavoidliteraladj.inthebasicmeaningofawordmaintainv.tocontinuetohaveasbeforeNeanderthaln.anearlytypeofhumanbeingwholivedinEuropeduringtheStoneAgeneverthelessadv.inspiteofthat;yetpeculiaradj.belongingonlytoaparticularperson;special;oddpenetratingadj.showingtheabilitytounderstandthingsclearlyanddeeplypestn.(infml)anannoyingpersonpharmacyn.ashopwheremedicinesarepreparedandsold.Here:thestudyofpreparingdrugsormedicinesphilosophyn.thestudyofthenatureandmeaningofexistence,reality,etc.哲学pilln.asmallsolidpieceofmedicinethatyouswallowwholepresidev.tolead;tobeinchargeprofessionaladj.relatingtotheworkthatapersondoesforanoccupation,esp.workthatrequiresspecialtrainingpursuitn.theactoftryingtoachievesth.inadeterminedwaypush-buttonadj.usingcomputersorelectronicequipmentratherthantraditionalmethodsqualifiedadj.havingsuitableknowledgeorexperienceforaparticularjobrearv.tocareforapersonorananimaluntiltheyarefullygrownresourcesn.possessionsintheformofwealth,property,skills,etc.thatyouhave资源savagen.anuncivilizedhumanbeingscrolln.Here:acertificateofanacademicdegreesemestern.oneofthetwoperiodsintowhichtheyearisdividedinAmericanhighschoolsanduniversities(=terminBrE)sensitiveadj.abletounderstandorappreciateart,musicorliteratureshudderv.toshakeuncontrollablyforamomentspecializev.tolimitallormostofone'sstudytoparticularsubjects专修speciesn.(infml)atype;asortspecimenn.Here:apersonwhoisunusualinsomewayandhasaqualityofaparticularkindspiritualadj.relatedtoyourspiritratherthantoyourbodyormindstorev.tokeepsufficev.tobeenoughProperNames: Aristotle亚里士多德Bach巴赫Chaucer乔叟Dante但丁Einstein爱因斯坦Hamlet哈姆雷特Homer荷马LaRochefoucauld拉罗什富科Shakespeare莎士比亚Virgil维吉尔AnotherSchoolYear—WhatForJohnCiardiReadthetextonceforthemainidea.Donotrefertothenotes,dictionariesortheglossaryyet.Letmetellyouoneoftheearliestdisastersinmycareerasateacher.ItwasJanuaryof1940andIwasfreshoutofgraduateschoolstartingmyfirstsemesterattheUniversityofKansasCity.Partofthestudentbodywasabeanpolewithhairontopwhocameintomyclass,satdown,foldedhisarms,andlookedatmeasiftosay"Allright,teachmesomething."TwoweekslaterwestartedHamlet.Threeweekslaterhecameintomyofficewithhishandsonhiships."Look,"hesaid,"Icameheretobeapharmacist.WhydoIhavetoreadthisstuff"Andnothavingabookofhisowntopointto,hepointedtominewhichwaslyingonthedesk.NewasIwastothefaculty,Icouldhavetoldthisspecimenanumberofthings.Icouldhavepointedoutthathehadenrolled,notinadrugstore-mechanicsschool,butinacollegeandthatattheendofhiscoursemeanttoreachforascrollthatreadBachelorofScience.Itwouldnotread:QualifiedPill-GrindingTechnician.Itwouldcertifythathehadspecializedinpharmacy,butitwouldfurthercertifythathehadbeenexposedtosomeoftheideasmankindhasgeneratedwithinitshistory.Thatistosay,hehadnotenteredatechnicaltrainingschoolbutauniversityandinuniversitiesstudentsenrollforbothtrainingandeducation.Icouldhavetoldhimallthis,butitwasfairlyobvioushewasn'tgoingtobearoundlongenoughforittomatter.Nevertheless,IwasyoungandIhadahighsenseofdutyandItriedtoputitthisway:"Fortherestofyourlife,"Isaid,"yourdaysaregoingtoaverageouttoabouttwenty-fourhours.Theywillbealittleshorterwhenyouareinlove,andalittlelongerwhenyouareoutoflove,buttheaveragewilltendtohold.Foreightofthesehours,moreorless,youwillbeasleep.""Thenforabouteighthoursofeachworkingdayyouwill,Ihope,beusefullyemployed.Assumeyouhavegonethroughpharmacyschool—orengineering,orlawschool,orwhatever—duringthoseeighthoursyouwillbeusingyourprofessionalskills.Youwillseetoitthatthecyanidestaysoutoftheaspirin,thatthebulldoesn'tjumpthefence,orthatyourclientdoesn'tgototheelectricchairasaresultofyourincompetence.Theseareallusefulpursuits.Theyinvolveskillseverymanmustrespect,andtheycanallbringyoubasicsatisfactions.Alongwitheverythingelse,theywillprobablybewhatputsfoodonyourtable,supportsyourwife,andrearsyourchildren.Theywillbeyourincome,andmayitalwayssuffice.""Buthavingfinishedtheday'swork,whatdoyoudowiththoseothereighthoursLet'ssayyougohometoyourfamily.WhatsortoffamilyareyouraisingWillthechildreneverbeexposedtoareasonablypenetratingideaathomeWillyoubepresidingoverafamilythatmaintainssomecontactwiththegreatdemocraticintellectWilltherebeabookinthehouseWilltherebeapaintingareasonablysensitivemancanlookatwithoutshudderingWillthekidsevergettohearBach"ThatisaboutwhatIsaid,butthisparticularpestwasnotinterested."Look,"hesaid,"youprofessorsraiseyourkidsyourway;I'lltakecareofmyown.Me,I'mouttomakemoney.""Ihopeyoumakealotofit,"Itoldhim,"becauseyou'regoingtobebadlystuckforsomethingtodowhenyou'renotsigningchecks."FourteenyearslaterIamstillteaching,andIamheretotellyouthatthebusinessofthecollegeisnotonlytotrainyou,buttoputyouintouchwithwhatthebesthumanmindshavethought.IfyouhavenotimeforShakespeare,forabasiclookatphilosophy,forthecontinuityofthefinearts,forthatlessonofman'sdevelopmentwecallhistory—thenyouhavenobusinessbeingincollege.Youareonyourwaytobeingthatnewspeciesofmechanizedsavage,thepush-buttonNeanderthal.Ourcollegesinevitablygraduateanumberofsuchlifeforms,butitcannotbesaidthattheywenttocollege;ratherthecollegewentthroughthem—withoutmakingcontact.Noonegetstobeahumanbeingunaided.Thereisnottimeenoughinasinglelifetimetoinventforoneselfeverythingoneneedstoknowinordertobeacivilizedhuman.Assume,forexample,thatyouwanttobeaphysicist.Youpassthegreatstonehallsof,say,M.I.T.,andtherecutintothestonearethenamesofthescientists.Thechancesarethatfew,ifany,ofyouwillleaveyournamestobecutintothosestones.Yetanyofyouwhomanagedtostayawakethroughpartofahighschoolcourseinphysics,knowsmoreaboutphysicsthandidmanyofthosegreatscholarsofthepast.Youknowmorebecausetheyleftyouwhattheyknew,becauseyoucanstartfromwhatthepastlearnedforyou.Andasthisistrueofthetechniquesofmankind,soitistrueofmankind'sspiritualresources.Mostoftheseresources,bothtechnicalandspiritual,arestoredinbooks.Booksareman'speculiaraccomplishment.Whenyouhavereadabook,youhaveaddedtoyourhumanexperience.ReadHomerandyourmindincludesapieceofHomer'smind.ThroughbooksyoucanacquireatleastfragmentsofthemindandexperienceofVirgil,Dante,Shakespeare—thelistisendless.Foragreatbookisnecessarilyagift;itoffersyoualifeyouhavenotthetimetoliveyourself,andittakesyouintoaworldyouhavenotthetimetotravelinliteraltime.Acivilizedmindis,inessence,onethatcontainsmanysuchlivesandmanysuchworlds.Ifyouaretoomuchinahurry,ortooarrogantlyproudofyourownlimitations,toacceptasagifttoyourhumanitysomepiecesofthemindsofAristotle,orChaucer,orEinstein,youareneitheradevelopedhumannorausefulcitizenofademocracy.IthinkitwasLaRochefoucauldwhosaidthatmostpeoplewouldneverfallinloveiftheyhadn'treadaboutit.Hemighthavesaidthatnoonewouldevermanagetobecomehumaniftheyhadn'treadaboutit.Ispeak,I'msure,forthefacultyoftheliberalartscollegeandforthefacultiesofthespecializedschoolsaswell,whenIsaythatauniversityhasnorealexistenceandnorealpurposeexceptasitsucceedsinputtingyouintouch,bothasspecialistsandashumans,withthosehumanmindsyourhumanmindneedstoinclude.Thefaculty,byitsveryexistence,saysimplicitly:"Wehavebeenaidedbymanypeople,andbymanybooks,inourattempttomakeourselvessomesortofstorehouseofhumanexperience.Weareheretomakeavailabletoyou,asbestwecan,thatexpertise."LessonTwoalertadj.watchfulandreadytomeetdangerbirchn.桦树boughn.amainbranchofatreecabinn.asmallroughlybuilthousechasev.todriveaway;tocausetoleavecreekn.alongnarrowstreamcrouchv.tolowerthebodyclosetothegroundbybendingthekneesandbackcubn.ayoungmeat-eatingwildanimallikebear,lion,tiger,wolf,etc.detainv.tokeepsb.fromleavingduringacertaintimedimv.tobecomelessbrightdocn.(infmlAmE)adoctordriftv.tobedrivenalongbywindflaken.averysmallflatthinpiecethatbreaksawayeasilyfromsth.else;snow～:雪花grasshoppern.蚱蜢howln.alongloudcry,esp.madebywolvesasinpain,anger,etc.leapv.tojumphighintotheairlickv.tomovethetongueacrossthesurfaceofsth.inordertoeatitorcleanitmantlen.alooseoutersleevelessgarment.Hereitisusedfiguratively.meadown.afieldwithwildgrassandflowersmischievousadj.eagertohavefunbyplayingharmlesstricksmuzzlen.thenoseandmouthofananimalsuchasadog,awolforahorsenumbadj.unabletofeelanythingbecauseofcoldnesspacen.asinglestepinrunningorwalkingpartnern.sb.whodoesthesameactivitywithyou伙伴pawn.ananimal'sfootthathasnailsorclawspiercev.tomakeaholeinorthrough(sth.)usingsth.withasharppointpinen.松树pokev.topushormovesth.throughaspaceoropeningpuppyn.ayoungdog("puppy-wool"herereferstothewoolofthewolfcub)realizev.tounderstandrestlessadj.unwillingorunabletostayquietandstillriflen.atypeofgunfiredfromtheshoulderrocketn.火箭roostern.(AmE)acockrumblen.adeepcontinuousrollingsoundshackn.asmallandnotverystrongbuildingshiverv.toshake,esp.fromcoldorfearslashv.tomakealongdeepcutwithsth.sharplikeaknifesmotherv.tocoverthicklysnarln.alowangrysoundwhileshowingtheteethsoakedadj.verywetwithsomeliquidspearv.用鱼叉刺spurtv.tocomeoutquicklyandsuddenlyinathin,powerfulstreamsquatv.tositwithyourkneesbentunderyou,yourbottomofftheground,andbalancingonyourfeet蹲；蹲坐squirreln.asmallanimalwithalongfurrytailthatclimbstreesandeatsnuts松鼠stirv.tomoveslightlythickenv.tobecomethickerthrillv.tofeelveryhappyandexcitedtolln.totakea～:tohaveaverybadeffectonsb.orsth.trappern.apersonwhocatcheswildanimalsfortheirfurunchainedadj.withoutachainwhimperv.tomakelowcryingsoundswigglev.(infml)tomoveinsmallmovementsfromsidetoside,orupanddownwolfn.awildanimalthatlookslikealargedogandlivesandhuntsingroupswooln.thesoftthickhairofsheepandsomegoats(Hereitreferstothehairofthewolf.)TextAMaheegunMyBrotherEricAclandTheyearIfoundMaheegun,springwaslateincoming.Thatday,IwasspearingfishwithmygrandfatherwhenIheardthefaintcryingandfoundtheshiveringwolfcub.AsIbentdown,hemovedweaklytowardme.Ipickedhimupandputhiminsidemyjacket.LittleMaheegungainedstrengthafterIgotthefirstfewdropsofwarmmilkinhim.Hewiggledandsoonhewasfullandwarm.Mygrandfatherfinallyagreedtoletmekeephim.Thatyear,whichwasmy14th,wasthehappiestofmylife.Notthatwedidn'thaveourtroubles.Maheegunwasthemostmischievouswolfcubever.Hewascurioustoo.LikelookingintoGrandma'ssewingbasket—whichheupset,scatteringthreadandbuttonsalloverthefloor.Atsuchtimes,shewouldchasehimoutwithabroomandMaheegunwouldpokehisheadaroundthecorner,waitingforthingstoquietdown.ThatsummerMaheegunandIbecamehuntingpartners.Wehuntedthegrasshoppersthatleapedaboutlikelittlerockets.Andinthefall,afterthefirstsnowourgamestookustothenearestmeadowsinsearchoffieldmice.Bythen,Maheegunwashalfgrown.Gonewasthepuppy-woolcoat.Initsplacewasahandsomeblackmantle.ThewintermonthsthatcamesoonafterwerethehappiestIcouldremember.TheybelongedonlytoMaheegunandmyself.Oftenwewouldmakeafireinthebushes.Maheegunwouldlayhisheadbetweenhisfrontpaws,withhiseyesonmeasItoldhimstories.ItallservedtofogmymindwithpleasuresothatIforgotmyGrandpa'srepeatedwarnings,andonenightleftMaheegununchained.ThefollowingmorninginsailedMrs.Yesno,wildwithanger,whodemandedMaheegunbeshotbecausehehadkilledherrooster.Thenextmorning,mygrandpaannouncedthatweweregoingtotakeMaheeguntothenorthshack.Bythetimewereachedthelakewherethetrapper'sshackstood,Maheegunseemedtohavebecomerestless.Oftenhewouldsitwithhisnosetothesky,turninghisheadthiswayandthatasiftocheckthewind.Thewarmthofthestovesoonbroughtsleeptome.Butsomethingcausedmetowakeupwithastart.Isatup,andinthemoon-floodedcabinwasmygrandfatherstandingbesideme."Comeandsee,son,"whisperedmygrandfather.Outsidethemoonwasfullandtheworldlookedallwhitewithsnow.Hepointedtoarockthatstoodhighattheedgeofthelake.Onthetopwastheclearoutlineofagreatwolfsittingstill,earspointed,alert,listening."Maheegun,"whisperedmygrandfather.Slowlythewolfraisedhismuzzle."Oooo-oo-wow-wowoo-oooo!"Thewholewhiteworldthrilledtothatwildcry.Thenafterawhile,fromthedistancecameasoftercallinreply.Maheegunstirred,withthedeeprumbleofpleasureinhisthroat.Heslippeddowntherockandheadedoutacrosstheice."He'sgone,"Isaid."Yes,he'sgonetothatyoungshe-wolf."Mygrandfatherslowlyfilledhispipe."Hewilltakeherforlife,huntforher,protecther.ThisisthewaytheCreatorplannedlife.Nomancanchangeit."Itriedtotellmyselfitwasallforthebest,butitwashardtolosemybrother.ForthenexttwoyearsIwasasbusyasasquirrelstoringnutsforthewinter.ButonceortwicewhenIheardwolfcriesfromdistanthills,IwouldstillwonderifMaheegun,inhisbattleforlife,foundtimetorememberme.ItwasnotlongafterthatIfoundtheanswer.EastercameearlythatyearandduringtheholidaysIwenttovisitmycousins.Myunclewastobringmehomeinhistruck.Buthewasdetainedbysomeurgentbusiness.SoIdecidedtocomebackhomeonmyown.AmiledowntheroadIslippedintomysnowshoesandturnedintothebush.Thestrongsunshinehaddimmed.Ihadnotgonefarbeforebigflakesofsnowbegandriftingdown.Thesnowthickenedfast.IcouldnotlocatethetallpinethatstoodonthenorthslopeofLittleMountain.Icircledtomyrightandstumbledintoasnow-filledcreekbed.Bythenthesnowhadmadeablanketofwhitedarkness,butIknewonlytoowellthereshouldhavebeennocreekthere.Itriedtotravelwestbutonlytohitthecreekagain.IknewIhadgoneinagreatcircleandIwaslost.Therewasonlyonethingtodo.Campforthenightandhopethatbymorningthestormwouldhaveblownitselfout.Iquicklymadeabedofboughsandstartedafirewiththebarkofanolddeadbirch.ThefirstnightIwascomfortableenough.ButwhenthefirstgraylightcameIrealizedthatIwasindeeptrouble.Thestormwasevenworse.Everythinghadbeensmotheredbythefiercewhiteness.Thelightofanotherdaystillsawnoendtothestorm.Ibegantogetconfused.Icouldn'trecallwhetherithadbeenstormingforthreeorfourdays.Thencamethecleardawn.Agreatwhitestillnesshadtakenoverandwithit,bitingcold.Mysupplyofwoodwasalmostgone.Theremustbemore.Slashingoffgreenbrancheswithmyknife,Icutmyhandandbloodspurtedfreelyfrommywound.Itwassometimebeforethebleedingstopped.IwrappedmyhandwithapieceofclothItoreofffrommyshirt.Aftersometime,myfingersgrewcoldandnumb,soItookthebandageoffandthrewitaway.HowlongIsquattedovermydyingfireIdon'tknow.ButthenIsawthegrayshadowbetweenthetrees.Itwasatimberwolf.Hehadfollowedthebloodspotsonthesnowtotheblood-soakedbandage."Yap...yap...yap...yoooo!"Thehowlseemedtofreezetheworldwithfear.Itwasthefoodcry.Hewascalling,"Come,brothers,Ihavefoundmeat."AndIwasthemeat!Soonhishuntingpartnercametojoinhim.Anytimenow,Ithought,theirteethwouldpiercemybones.Suddenlytheworldexplodedinsnarls.Iwasthrownagainstthebranchesoftheshelter.ButIfeltnopain.Andagreatsilencehadcome.SlowlyIworkedmywayoutofthesnowandraisedmyhead.There,about50feetaway,crouchedmytwoattackerswiththeirtailsbetweentheirlegs.ThenIheardanoisetomysideandturnedmyhead.Therestoodagiantblackwolf.ItwasMaheegun,andhehaddrivenofftheothers."Maheegun...Maheegun...,"Isobbed,asImovedthroughthesnowtowardhim."Mybrother,mybrother,"Isaid,givinghimmyhand.Hereachedoutandlickedatthedriedblood.Igotmylittlefiregoingagain,andasIsquattedbyit,Istartedtocry.Maybeitwasrelieforweaknessorboth—Idon'tknow.Maheegunwhimperedtoo.Maheegunstayedwithmethroughthelongnight,watchingmewiththosebigeyes.Thecoldandlossofbloodweretakingtheirtoll.ThesunwasmidwayacrosstheskywhenInoticedhowrestlessMaheegunhadbecome.Hewouldrunawayafewpaces—headup,listening—thenrunbacktome.ThenIheard.Itwasdogs.Itwasthesearchingparty!Iputthelastofmybirchbarkonthefireandfanneditintolife.Thesoundofthedogsgrewlouder.Thenthevoicesofmen.Suddenly,asifbymagic,thepolicedogteamcameupoutofthecreekbed,andamancamerunningtowardmyfire.Itwasmygrandfather.Theoldhunterstoppedsuddenlywhenhesawthewolf.Heraisedhisrifle."Don'tshoot!"Iscreamedandrantowardhim,fallingthroughthesnow."It'sMaheegun.Don'tshoot!"Heloweredhisrifle.ThenIfellforwardonmyface,intothesnow.Iwokeupinmybedroom.Itwasquitesometimebeforemyeyescameintofocusenoughtoseemygrandfathersittingbymybed."Youhavesleptthreedays,"hesaidsoftly."Thedocsaysyouwillbeallrightinaweekortwo.""AndMaheegun"Iaskedweakly."Heshouldbefine.Heiswithhisownkind."LessonThreeapprovaln.officialpermissionbondn.awrittendocumentinwhichagovernmentorcompanypromisestopaybackmoneythatithasborrowed,oftenwithinterest债券certaintyn.thestateofbeingcertaincommitv.todosth.wrongorillegalcontributionn.sth.yousayordoinordertohelpmakesth.successful贡献convictv.tofindsb.guiltyofacrime,esp.inacourtoflawn.apersonwhohasbeenfoundguiltyofacrimeandsenttoprisoncostlyadj.havingahighprice;expensivecourtn.aplacewherelegalmattersaredecidedbyajudgeandjurycurrentadj.belongingtothepresenttimedecaden.aperiodof10yearsdeterv.todiscourage;topersuadesb.nottodosth.,bymakinghimrealizeitwillbedifficultorwillhaveunpleasantresultsdismissv.to～acourtcase:tostopacourtcasebeforearesultisreachedeliteadj.consideredtobethebestoftheirkind属于精英的，最好的estimaten.acalculationofaquantityornumber估计evidencen.theinformationusedinacourtoflawtotrytoprovesth.executev.tokillsb.asalawfulpunishmentforaseriouscrimefeasibleadj.abletobecarriedoutordonefeaturen.atypicalpartorqualityillustratev.toshowsth.bygivingrelatedexamplesimprisonv.toputinprisoninmaten.onewhoiskeptinaprisonmaximumadj.thelargestnumberoramountnonethelessadv.inspiteofthat;yet;neverthelessnontrafficadj.notrelatedtotrafficobservationn.whatonehasnoticedoffendern.sb.whoisguiltyofacrime;acriminaloffensen.anillegalactionoracrimeperprep.foreachpersonneln.allthepeopleemployedinaparticularorganizationpreciselyadv.exactlyprioradj.happeningbeforepropertyn.belongings;possessionsprosecutev.tobringacriminalchargeagainstsb.inacourtoflawraten.thespeedatwhichsth.happensoveraperiodoftimerealityn.therealsituation;therealstateofaffairsrejectv.torefusetoacceptSaudiArabia沙特阿拉伯severityn.thestateofbeingseveresocialadj.relatingtosocietysolutionn.awayofsolvingaproblemordealingwithadifficultsituationstatisticsn.factsshowninnumbersteenageadj.agedbetween13and19theftn.thecrimeofstealingtoughadj.determinedandstrictvictimn.apersonwhosuffersasaresultofotherpeople'scriminalactions,etc.violencen.theuseofforcetohurtotherpeoplephysicallyvotern.apersonwhohasthelegalrighttovote,esp.inapoliticalelectionwitnessn.apersonwhotellsinacourtoflawwhathesaworwhatheknowsaboutacrimeProperNameAlcatraz阿尔卡特拉兹（美国圣弗兰西斯科湾——即旧金山湾——的小岛，1933—1963年为一座联邦监狱所在地。）TextAMoreCrimeandLessPunishmentRichardMoranIfyouarelookingforanexplanationofwhywedon'tgettoughwithcriminals,youneedonlylookatthenumbers.EachyearalmostathirdofthehouseholdsinAmericaarevictimsofviolenceortheft.Thisamountstomorethan41millioncrimes,manymorethanweareabletopunish.Therearealsotoomanycriminals.Thebestestimatessuggestthat36millionto40millionpeople(16to18percentoftheU.S.population)havearrestrecordsfornontrafficoffenses.Wealreadyhave2.4millionpeopleundersomeformofcorrectionalsupervision,412,000ofthemlockedawayinaprisoncell.Wedon'thaveroomforanymore!Thepainfulfactisthatthemorecrimethereisthelessweareabletopunishit.Thisiswhythecertaintyandseverityofpunishmentmustgodownwhenthecrimerategoesup.CountrieslikeSaudiArabiacanaffordtogiveoutharshpunishmentspreciselybecausetheyhavesolittlecrime.Butcanweaffordtocutoffthehandsofthosewhocommittedmorethan35millionpropertycrimeseachyearCanwesendthemtoprisonCanweexecutemorethan22,000murderers