新概念英语第四册 lesson 16 modern city

In the organization of industrial life the influence of the factory upon the physiological and mental state of the workers has been completely neglected. （工厂对工人身心的影响被完全忽视了）

Modern industry is based on the conception of the maximum production at lowest cost, in order that an individual or a group of individuals may earn as much money as possible. （现代工业基于以最低成本获得最大收益的理念，以便人们能挣尽可能多的钱）

It has expanded without any idea of the true nature of the human beings who run the machines, and without giving any consideration to the effects produced on the individuals and on their descendants by the artificial mode of existence imposed by the factory. （控诉：现代工业的发展根本没有考虑人类的本质，也没有考虑工厂带来的人为生存模式对个人以及后代产生的影响）

The great cities have been built with no regard for us. （总结：大城市没有考虑我们）

The shape and dimensions of the skyscrapers depend entirely on the necessity of obtaining the maximum income per square foot of ground, and of offering to the tenants offices and apartments that please them. （大厦的形状和大小完全建立在每平方英尺上获得最大的收益，以及给租户提供办公室和公寓的必要性上）

This caused the construction of gigantic buildings where too large masses of human beings are crowded together. （这就导致建造巨大的建筑物，大量的人们聚集于此）

Civilized men like such a way of living. （可惜：文明人喜欢这种生活方式）

While they enjoy the comfort and banal luxury of their dwelling, they do not realize that they are deprived of the necessities of life. （可悲：他们享受着舒适、庸俗又奢华的住所， 但他们意识不到被剥夺了生活的必需品）

The modern city consists of monstrous edifices and of dark, narrow streets full of petrol fumes and toxic gases, torn by the noise of the taxicabs, lorries and buses, and thronged ceaselessly by great crowds. （可怜：现代城市由大楼和黑暗狭窄的街道组成，被出租车、火车、公交的噪音撕扯，人群不断拥挤着）

Obviously, it has not been planned for the good of its inhabitants. （结论：很显然，现代城市并不是为了居住者而规划的）

思考：现代工业的发展忽视了对人类的身心造成的影响，过于注重效率和收益，现代城市变得寸土寸金，拥挤不堪。人们穿梭于高大的写字楼和狭小的公寓之间，忍受着拥挤的交通、刺耳的噪音、污浊的空气，现代城市真的适合人类生存吗？