Lesson 12 Text A Confessions of a Mis-educated Man
P288
ill in the blanks in the following
sentences to see whether you have grasped the main ideas of the article.

" '  
" 1. woman rock climber; rescue; severely injured        
" 2. nurse; Colorado; a climbing school; rock climbing; experienced and disciplined
" 3. spring; Rocky Mountains; cliffs; an accident; on her left leg
" 4. missing; attached; muscle; bleed         
" 5. in his arms; tremendous ; the accident; stabilize
" 6. professional; helicopter; save her leg; examination; hope
" 7. a smooth one; more than four months; painful experiences; one precious thing
Confessions of a Miseducated Man

" Today everybody agrees that the world is getting smaller and smaller. International community, world village, global integration, globalization, world market, etc. have become some of the most frequently used words in the English language. What impact will all this have on us?

" What must we do to adapt ourselves to these changed conditions? This essay attempts to address this issue. The author's central idea is that to prepare ourselves for this new world we must all be re-educated so that we will be able to understand that there are more similarities than differences among peoples. The differences are superficial and insignificant whereas the similarities are essential and fundamental. These similarities enable all of us to be equal members in this global village and to live happily together with mutual respect.
The author's basic arguments are:
" First, life is a rare occurrence, and human existence even more so. Therefore we should have the greatest respect for all humanity;
" second, however different peoples may be in little details, they are united in their humanness, in their basic human faculties and gifts;
" third, they are also united in their needs, because today none of the most important problems we are faced with can be resolved without global cooperation.
" These views of course are not original. Many people have been thinking along the same line. Today, more and more people agree that in the long run, nobody can be completely happy unless everybody else is happy, and nobody will be completely free unless everybody else is free.
In this article, in order to emphasize the importance of understanding the similarities among peoples, the author deliberately plays down the importance of understanding their differences.
" This really is not necessary. In fact mutual understanding of these differences is absolutely vital for mutual respect. Only with a clear understanding of such differences can we learn to put them in proper context and benefit from each others’ accomplishments.
" Differences do not divide us. It's the wrong attitude toward the differences that divides us. The author’s condemnation of tribalism in all its forms as the cause of our misconceptions is very eloquent. The danger of doing terrible wrongs in the name of nationalism or patriotism cannot be underestimated.

" But there is also the danger of using globalization as an excuse to encroach upon other countries’ sovereign rights. The existence of modern nations is a historical fact. It has to be redefined, yes. But in a world where many nations are still fighting for their basic rights, and indeed, where many peoples still do not have their own nations, to talk about limiting national sovereignty is risky.
Non-violence
" .
1. These notes are in the nature of a confession. It is the confession of a miseducated man.
" These notes: These lines I have written down here; These-short statements of views and com璵ents.
" in the nature of a confession: a kind of confession; statements of my past misconceptions or wrong thinking.
" More words with the prefix "mis-": misjudge, misleading, misguide, misuse, misinform, misspell, mispronounce, misprint, misinterpret, etc.
2. ... am I prepared to live and comprehend a world in which there are 3 billion people ?
" See Note 3, Notes to the Text in the textbook.
3. And the best place to apply that test is outside the country...

" And the best place to carry out that test is to go and live in a foreign country.

" 4. Not that my education was a complete failure
" =It was not that my education was a complete failure. I did not mean that my education was completely useless. 
5. a bird's-eye view of the world

" = a very general view of the world, a view that lacks depth and subtlety.

" 6. Comparative culture had instructed me in the differences of background and group interests.
" comparative culture: an academic discipline; a study that involves comparing cultures of different countries.         
" Other comparative studies include; comparative literature, comparative linguistics, comparative government, comparative religion, etc
7.
"  I was not surprised at the fact that ... ; or that some used wood for fuel and others dung; or that some enjoyed music with a five-note scale and others with twelve; or that some people were vegetarian by religion and others by preference.
"  some used wood for fuel and others (used ) dung (for fuel). .. ... some people were vegetarian by religion and others (were vegetarian) by preference.
" a five-note scale: "Note" here means a particular sound or pitch and "scale",
" a series of musical notes moving upwards or downwards in pitch.
8
" the principal significance of such differences was that they were largely ' without significance. Para-4.

" principal: adjective [before noun]
" =first in order of importance:
– main, chief, major, the most important
" principal (PERSON) noun [C] US
– the person in charge of a school or college for children aged between approximately 11 and 18

" principle
principle (BASIC IDEA)
" noun [C]
– a basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works:
" the principles of the criminal justice system
" The country is run on socialist principles.
" The organization works on the principle that all members have the same rights.

in principle

– If you agree with or believe something in principle, you agree with the idea in general, although you might not support it in reality or in every situation:
" In principle I agree with the idea, but in practice it's not always possible.
" They have approved the changes in principle.

principle (MORAL RULE)
" noun [C or U] APPROVING
– a moral rule or standard of good behaviour:
" She doesn't have any principles.
" He was a man of principle.
" Anyway, I can't deceive him - it's against all my principles.
" I never gamble, as a matter of principle (= because I believe it is wrong).
principled
" adjective FORMAL
"  1.always behaving in an honest and moral way:
" She was a very principled woman.

"  2. based on moral rules:
" The Church is taking a principled stand against the conflict.