2021年英语四级美文赏析：Paradox of Our Times思维导图

Wehavebiggerhousesandsmallerfamilies;moreconveniences,butlesstime;wehavemoredegrees,butlesscommonsenses;moreknowledge,butlessjudgment;moreexperts,butmoreproblems;moremedicine,butlesswellness.Wespendtoorecklessly,laughtoolittle,drivetoofast,gettoangrytooquickly,stayuptoolate,getuptootired,readtoolittle,watchTVtoooften,andpraytooseldom.

Wehavemultipliedourpossessions,butreducedourvalues.Wetalktoomuch,lovetoolittleandlietoooften.Wehavelearnedhowtomakealiving,butnotalife;we’veaddedyearstolife,notlifetoyears.Wehavetallerbuildings,butshortertempers;widerfreeways,butnarrowerviewpoints.Wespendmore,buthaveless;webuymore,butenjoyitless.

We’vebeenallthewaytothemoonandback,buthavetroublecrossingthestreettomeetthenewneighbor.Wehaveconqueredouterspace,butnotinnerspace.We’vesplittheatom,butnotourprejudice;wewritemore,butlearnless;planmore,butaccomplishless.Wehavelearnedtorush,butnottowait;wehavehigherincomes,butlowermorals.Webuildmorecomputerstoholdmoreinformation,toproducemorecopies,buthavelesscommunication.Wearelongonquantity,butshortonquality.

Thesearethetimesoffastfoodsandslowdigestion;tallmenandshortcharacter;steepprofitsandshallowrelationships.Moreleisureandlessfun;morekindsoffood,butlessnutrition;twoincomes,butmoredivorce;fancierhouses,butbrokenhomes.Thisisastrangeandconfusingage.Therearesomanyparadoxesinourtimethatwehardlyknowwhoweare,whereweare,andwheretogo.