上外版大学英语写作精选第六册(8)

    Much of science fiction celebrates this spirit. Very few science fiction stories picture humanity as a passive species， allowing the tidal forces of nature to flow unperturbed. The heroes of science fiction stories —— the gods of the new mythology —— struggle manfully against the darkness， whether it's geological doom for the whole planet or the evil of grasping politicians. They may not always win. But they always try.

    Perhaps， however， the most important aspect of science fiction's role in the modern world is best summed up in a single word： change.

    After all， science fiction is the literature of change. Each and every story preaches from the same gospel： tomorrow will be different from today， violently different perhaps.

    Science fiction very clearly shows that changes —— whether good or bad —— are an inherent part of the universe. Resistance to change is an archaic， and nowadays dangerous， habit of thought. The world will change. It is changing constantly. Humanity's most fruitful course of action is to determine how to shape these changes， how to influence them and produce an environment where the changes that occur are those we want.

    Perhaps this is the ultimate role of science fiction： to act as an interpreter of science to humanity. This is a two-edged weapon， of course. It is necessary to warn as well as evangelize. Science can kill as well as create； technology can deaden the human spirit or life it to the farthermost corners of our imaginations. Only knowledgeable people can wisely decide how to use science and technology for humankind's benefit. In the end， this is the ultimate role of all art： to show ourselves to ourselves， to help us to understand our own humanity.

    Phrases & Expression

    come out be published

    bit by bit gradually； little by little

    lean on choose， esp. for support； depend on

    feel for sympathize with

    in one's hands under one's control； be taken care of

    one the grounds that for the reason that

    think out consider， examine carefully

    back up support， esp. in an argument

    tuck away store in a safe place

    take thought perform the actions connected with thinking； think

    Proper Names Ben Bova本。博瓦

    MIT （Massachusetts Institute of Technology）

    麻省理工学院

    Abraham亚伯拉罕

    Paris帕里斯

    Troy特洛伊

    Hamlet哈姆雷特

    Claudius克劳狄斯

    Faust浮士德

    New Scientist《新科学家》周刊

    Robert Graves罗伯特。格雷夫斯

    James Clerk Maxwell詹姆斯。克拉克。马克斯韦尔