Passage 5

For most thinkers since the Greek philosophers，it was self-evident that there is something called human nature，something that constitutes the essence of man.There were various views about what constitutes it，but there was agreement that such an essence exists—that is to say，that there is something by virtue of which man is man.Thus man was defined as a rational being，as a social animal，an animal that can make tools，or a symbol-making animal.

More recently，this traditional view has begun to be questioned.One reason for this change was the increasing emphasis given to the historical approach to man.An examination of the history of humanity suggested that man in our epoch is so different from man in previous times that it seemed unrealistic to assume that men in every age have had in common something that can be called“human nature.”The historical approach was reinforced，particularly in the United States，by studies in the field of cultural anthropology（人类学）.The study of primitive peoples has discovered such a diversity of customs，values，feelings，and thoughts that many anthropologists arrived at the concept that man is born as a blank sheet of paper on which each culture writes its text.Another factor contributing to the tendency to deny the assumption of a fixed human nature was that the concept has so often been abused as a shield behind which the most inhuman acts are committed.In the name of human nature，for example，Aristotle and most thinkers up to the eighteenth century defended slavery.Or in order to prove the rationality and necessity of the capitalist form of society，scholars have tried to make a case for acquisitiveness，competitiveness，and selfishness as innate（天生的）human traits.Popularly，one refers cynically to“human nature”in accepting the inevitability of such undesirable human behavior as greed，murder，cheating and lying.

Another reason for skepticism about the concept of human nature probably lies in the influence of evolutionary thinking.Once man came to be seen as developing in the process of evolution，the idea of a substance which is contained in his essence seemed untenable.Yet I believe it is precisely from an evolutionary standpoint that we can expect new insight into the problem of the nature of man.

1.The traditional view of“human nature”was strongly challenged by______.

A.the emergence of the evolutionary theory

B.the historical approach to man

C.new insight into human behavior

D.the philosophical analysis of slavery

2.According to the passage，anthropologists believe that human beings______.

A.have some traits in common

B.are born with diverse cultures

C.are born without a fixed nature

D.change their characters as they grow up

3.The author mentioned Aristotle，a great ancient thinker，in order to______.

A.emphasize that he contributed a lot to defining the concept of“human nature”

B.show that the concept of“human nature”was used to justify social evils

C.prove that he had a profound influence on the concept of“human nature”

D.support the idea that some human traits are acquired

4.The word“untenable”（Line 3）in the last paragraph of the passage most probably means______.

A.invaluable

B.imaginable

C.changeable

D.indefensible

5.Most philosophers believed that human nature______.

A.is the quality distinguishing man from other animals

B.consists of competitiveness and selfishness

C.is something partly innate and partly acquired

D.consists of rationality and undesirable behavior

参考译文

对于从古希腊哲学家以来的大多数思想家而言，有一点是不言自明的，那就是人类天性的存在，它是人的本质。关于它的组成有许多不同的观点，但对于它的存在则是一种共识，也就是说存在着一种东西，人因此而得以成为人。所以人类被定义为一种理性的生命，一种社会动物，一种能制造工具和符号的动物。

近来，这种传统观点开始受到质疑。这种变化的一个原因是日益强调从历史角度研究人类。对人类历史的一项研究表明，我们这个时代的人与以前时代人的区别很大，所以认为任何时代的人都有一种被称为人类天性的东西是不现实的。文化人类学领域的研究更加强了这种历史的研究方法，特别是在美国。对原始人的研究发现，他们有着多样的习俗、价值观、感情和思想，所以许多人类学家都认为人类生来像一张白纸，每种文化都可以在上面书写自己的篇章。另一个否定人性固有属性的因素是人性这个概念常被滥用，已成为许多暴行的挡箭牌。比如，在人类天性的名义下，从亚里士多德到18世纪的大多数思想家都维护奴隶制。为了证明资本主义形式的合理性和必要性，学者们试图证明贪婪、竞争和自私是人类与生俱有的特性。人们甚至普遍地把“人类天性”讥讽地定义为接受类似贪婪、谋杀、欺骗和谎言这些难以忍受的人类行为是不可避免的。

另一个怀疑人类天性定义的原因可能是进化论的影响。一旦人类被认为是在进化过程中不断发展，一种物质具有其本质的想法是站不住脚的。但是我相信，正是从进化论的角度来看，我们可以期待对人类本性问题的新见解。

解题之路

1.选B。细节题。题干大意是：关于human nature的传统观点受到什么的强烈质疑。可在文章的第二段定位，即More recently，this traditional view has begun to be questioned.One reason for this change was the increasing emphasis given to the historical approach to man指出关于人性的这一传统观点最近受到质疑，其中一个原因是对人类的历史方法的研究得到了重视。

2.选C。本题问人类学家的观点是什么？根据anthropologist可以将问题定位到第二段many anthropologists arrived at the concept man is born as a blank sheet of paper on which each culture writes its text.根据语篇关键词human nature，可以确定答案为C.are born without a fixed nature人生来并没有一个固定的本性。

3.选B。本题问作者提到亚里士多德的目的是什么？明显的例证考点，答案指向该例子上面的作者观点句，也就是Another factor的内容，所以应该选B.show that the concept of“human nature”was used to justify social evils表明human nature这个概念用于替社会邪恶作辩护。A.emphasize that he contributed a lot to defining the concept of“human nature”和C.prove that he had a profound influence on the concept of“human nature”与原文无关；D.support the idea that some human traits are acquired支持某些人类特性是后天获得的观点，本选项的支持句是Or in order to…scholars have tried to….as innate human traits，但是偏离了考点，非本题所问的内容，注意本题是针对亚里士多德发问的。他利用了human nature来为slavery辩护，slavery属于social evils。

4.选D。本题要求考生推断生词的意思。文章第三段第一句说，另外一个对human nature怀疑的理由可能是因为进化论的影响。接着做了进一步阐述，一旦人类被看做是在进化的过程中发展的，那么人类具有某种本质性的东西的观点看起来就站不住脚了。文中a substance which is contained in his essence显然是指human nature。从这两句可以看出，作者认为从进化的角度来看，human nature应该被质疑。所以推断untenable的意思必定是否定的贬义词，对human nature这个概念提出了否定。由此选择D.indefensible不合理的，站不住脚的。纵观全文，作者对关于human nature的传统观点持否定态度。但A.invaluable无价的，B.imaginable可想象的，C.changeable可改变的，这三个选项都违背了作者否定的意思。

5.选A。本题问大部分哲学家对人类天性的看法。题目指向原文第一段第一句及其后的内容，文中的thinkers实际上指的就是本题的philosophers。第一段说大部分哲学家一致同意人类具有天性，因而人才成其为人，成为社会动物。言下之意，才和其他动物有所区别。所以应该选A.is the quality distinguishing man from other animals是一种将人类和其他动物区分开来的特性，解答这道题需要对原文经过一定的理解、推断。B.consists of competitiveness and selfishness和D.consists of rationality and undesirable behavior中的实词competitiveness，selfishness，rationality和undesirable behavior都是出自原文第二段第二层细节处，不是哲学家们的观点，应予排除。他们也没有说人类天性是部分天生、部分后天获得的，所以C.is something partly innate and partly acquired也不能选。

词汇精解

thinker n.思想者，思想家

Greek adj.希腊人的，希腊语的，希腊的

philosopher n.哲人，哲学家

constitute vt.制定（法律），建立，构成

essence n.本质，精髓

agreement n.一致，同意，协议，共识

increasing adj.渐增的，越来越多的

emphasis n.强调，重点

historical adj.历史的，有关历史的

approach n.接近，步骤，途径，方法

examination n.考试，检查，审查，审视

humanity n.人性，仁慈，人类

epoch n.新纪元，时期，时代

previous adj.在前的，早先的，以前的

unrealistic adj.不切实际的，不现实的

age n.年龄，成年，时代

primitive adj.远古的，原始的，粗糙的

people n.人，人类，民族

diversity n.差异，多样性

custom n.习惯，海关，风俗

anthropologist n.人类学者，人类学家

concept n.观念，概念

blank adj.空着的，空白的，没有表情的

factor n.要素，因素

tendency n.倾向，趋向

deny vt.拒绝，否认

assumption n.假定，设想，假说

abuse vt.辱骂，虐待，滥用

shield n.防护，盾牌，挡箭牌

commit vt.犯（罪），做（坏事）

rationality n.合理性

necessity n.需要，必要性，必需品

capitalist adj.资本主义的

acquisitiveness n.贪婪

competitiveness n.竞争，竞争性

selfishness n.自私，自私自利

innate adj.先天的，天生的

trait n.特点，特性

once conj.一旦

evolution n.进展，发展，演变，进化

substance n.物质，实质，主旨

contain vt.容纳，容忍，包含

untenable adj.不能维持的，站不住脚的

precisely adv.精确地，恰好，正好

evolutionary adj.进化的，进化论的

standpoint n.立场，观点

insight n.洞察力，见识，见解

难句解析

1.For most thinkers since the Greek philosophers，it was self-evident that there is something called human nature，something that constitutes the essence of man.

【参考译文】对于从古希腊哲学家以来的大多数思想家而言，有一点是不言自明的，那就是人类天性的存在，它是人的本质。

【结构分析】句子可以切分为：（For most thinkers//since the Greek philosophers//），（it was self-evident//that there is something called human nature//），（something//that constitutes the essence of man//）。第一部分是范围状语，since…philosophers是thinkers的后定语；第二部分是主干，即形式主语句，it指代后面that引导的从句，其中的过去分词短语called human nature是something的后定语；第三部分是一名词短语，作前面human nature的同位语，其中的that…man是something的后定语。

【知识链接】it is self-evident that……不言自明；human nature人性

2.But there was agreement that such an essence exists—that is to say，that there is something by virtue of which man is man.

【参考译文】但对于它的存在则是一种共识，也就是说存在着一种东西，人因此而得以成为人。

【结构分析】这是一个主从复合句，可以切分为：（But there was agreement）（that such an essence exists—//that is to say//，that there is something//by virtue of which man is man//）。第一部分是主句，即There be结构；第二部分的主干是两个并列从句，即that such an…that there is…，是前面agreement的同位语从句，其中的that is to say是插入语，by virtue of…is man是something的定语从句。

【知识链接】that is to say即，就是说；by virtue of借助，依靠

3.One reason for this change was the increasing emphasis given to the historical approach to man.

【参考译文】这种变化的一个原因是日益强调从历史角度研究人类。

【结构分析】这个句子的主干是：One reason…was the increasing emphasis，for this change是主语的后定语，过去分词短语given…man是emphasis的后定语，to man是approach的后定语。

【知识链接】approach to…对于……的看法

4.An examination of the history of humanity suggested that man in our epoch is so different from man in previous times that it seemed unrealistic to assume that men in every age have had in common something that can be called“human nature.”

【参考译文】对人类历史的一项研究表明，我们这个时代的人与以前时代人的区别很大，所以认为任何时代的人都有一种被称为人类天性的东西是不现实的。

【结构分析】这是一个比较复杂的句子，可以切分为：（An examination of the history of humanity suggested//that man in our epoch is so different from man in previous times//）（that it seemed unrealistic to assume//that men in every age have had in common something//）（that can be called“human nature.”）。第一部分是主干，其中that引导的从句是suggested的宾语，in our epoch是第一个man的后定语，in previous times是第二个man的后定语；第二部分是that引导的结果状语从句，与前面的so相互呼应，该从句的主语it指代后面的不定式to assume…“human nature”，assume之后that引导的从句是其宾语，该从句中的in every age是主语men的后定语，in common是宾语something的定语；第三部分是that引导的定语从句，修饰前面的something。

【知识链接】so…that…如此……以致……；be different from不同于；have…in common具有……的共性

5.The study of primitive peoples has discovered such a diversity of customs，values，feelings，and thoughts that many anthropologists arrived at the concept that man is born as a blank sheet of paper on which each culture writes its text.

【参考译文】对原始人的研究发现，他们有着多样的习俗、价值观、感情和思想，所以许多人类学家都认为人类生来像一张白纸，每种文化都可以在上面书写自己的篇章。

【结构分析】这个句子比较复杂，可以切分为：（The study of primitive peoples has discovered such a diversity of customs，values，feelings，and thoughts）（that many anthropologists arrived at the concept）（that man is born as a blank sheet of paper//on which each culture writes its text）。第一部分是主干，主语是The study，谓语是has discovered，宾语是such a…thoughts；第二部分是that引导的结果状语从句，与前面的such相呼应；第三部分是that引导的concept的同位语从句，as a blank sheet of paper是方式状语，分隔号内是on which引导的paper的定语从句。

【知识链接】a diversity of各种各样的；arrive at the concept that认为……；a sheet of一张（纸）

6.Another factor contributing to the tendency to deny the assumption of a fixed human nature was that the concept has so often been abused as a shield behind which the most inhuman acts are committed.

【参考译文】另一个否定人性固有属性的因素是人性这个概念常被滥用，已成为许多暴行的挡箭牌。

【结构分析】这是一个主从复合句，主干是：Another factor…was that…，即主系表结构，现在分词短语contributing to the tendency是factor的后定语，不定式to deny…nature是tendency的后定语，that引导的表语从句可以切分为：the concept has so often been abused//as a shield//behind which the most inhuman acts are committed//，介词短语as a shield是方式状语，behind which…are committed是shield的定语从句。

【知识链接】contribute to导致；tendency to…易于……

7.Or in order to prove the rationality and necessity of the capitalist form of society，scholars have tried to make a case for acquisitiveness，competitiveness，and selfishness as innate human traits.

【参考译文】为了证明资本主义形式的合理性和必要性，学者们试图证明贪婪、竞争和自私是人类与生俱来的特性。

【结构分析】这个句子可以切分为：（Or in order to prove the rationality and necessity of the capitalist form of society），（scholars have tried to make a case//for acquisitiveness，competitiveness，and selfishness//as innate human traits//）。第一部分是in order to引导的目的状语；第二部分是主干，主语是scholars，谓语是have tried to make，宾语是a case，for…selfishness是case的后定语，as…traits是case的宾语补足语。

【知识链接】in order to为了……；try to do试图……；human trait人性

8.Once man came to be seen as developing in the process of evolution，the idea of a substance which is contained in his essence seemed untenable.

【参考译文】一旦人类被认为是在进化过程中不断发展，一种物质具有其本质的想法是站不住脚的。

【结构分析】这是一个主从复合句，可以切分为：（Once man came to be seen//as developing in the process of evolution//），（the idea of a substance//which is contained in his essence//seemed untenable）。第一部分是Once引导的时间状语从句，as developing是主语man的补足语，in the process of evolution是时间状语；第二部分是主句，主语是the idea，谓语是seemed，表语是untenable，分隔号内是which引导的substance的定语从句。

【知识链接】come to do逐步……；be seen as被看做……；in the process of在……过程中

9.Yet I believe it is precisely from an evolutionary standpoint that we can expect new insight into the problem of the nature of man.

【参考译文】但是我相信，正是从进化论的角度来看，我们可以期待对人类本性问题的新见解。

【结构分析】这是一个主从复合句，可以切分为：Yet I believe（it is precisely from an evolutionary standpoint//that we can expect new insight into the problem of the nature of man//）。括号外是主句的主+谓结构，即I believe，括号内是believe的宾语从句，是一个强调结构，即it is…that…，被强调的是地点状语，分隔号内是该强调句的主干，主语是we，谓语是can expect，宾语是new insight，into…man是insight的后定语。

【知识链接】insight into…对于……的见解；the nature of man人性