2021年英语四级听力美文第77篇:No More Heroes?思维导图

Manyarticleshaveappearedinrecentyears,claimingthattherearenomoreheroesintheWesternworld.

Theauthorssaythat,particularlyinEuropeandNorthAmerica,theyoungnowrefusetoadmireanyone;thatweaarelivinginaworldtoowellinformed,toocuriousandcriticalforheroworship.

Thepress,books,andtelevisionkeepshowingusthefaultsofthepublicfigureswhocouldbecometoday’sstars,untilwelosefaithandstartlookingfordefectsinanypersonwhoseemsworthyofrespect.

Inaneighbororastatesman,wetrytodiscovertheweaknesses,failures,oruglymotivesthataresurelyhidingbehindhisnoblestactions.

Isittruethatweknowtoomuch?

Wereourancestorsluckytobeonlypartlyinformed?

ThosewhoreadthefirstbiographiesofCharlemagne,GeorgeWashington,JoanofArc,orothergreatmenandwomenofthepastwerenottoldthattheirherohadbadbreathordislikedhismother;theyonlyfoundadescriptionofhisgreataccomplishmentsandtheiradmirationwasstrengthened.

Infact,earlybiographersdidn’thesitatetomakeupanadmirablestoryortwoabouttheirhero.

ThemanwhowrotethefirstbiographyofWashington,forinstance,inventedthecherrytree;headmittedlaterthattherewasnotruthinit,buthesaidthatitwasincharacterandthatitwouldgiveyoungmenagoodexampletofollow.

Hisreadersdidn’tseemtoobject;thebookwasreprintedeightytimes—atremendoussuccessinthosedays.

Modernbiographersdonotinventsuchstories,theyrespectthefacts,asindeedtheyshould.

Butwepayapricefortheirtruthfulness,forintheireffortstoshow“thewholeperson,”theytellusmorethanwereallyneedtoknowaboutprivatelives,familysecrets,andhumanweaknesses.

Thetruegreatnessofafinemanisoftenforgotteninthedisplay;andpeoplelosenotonlytheiradmirationforhim,buttheirwillingnesstotrustanyother“star”completely.