新视野大学英语视听说教程 4 Unit 8-14

 

Task3:  A Drunkard’s Argument
Script
Here’s drunkard’s argument in favor of heavy drinking.
We would learn more about human bihavior if we paid closer attention to the laws at work in the animal kingdom.
“Only the fittest survive” is a law that is apparent everywhere in the natural world. Human beings could certainly benefit from a close study of how this law operates among, for example, the wild buffalo¹.
A herd² of buffalo moves only as fast as the slowest buffalo. When the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest animals at the back that are killed first. This is natural selection, and it is good for the herd. The general speed and health of the group keeps improving with regular killing³ of the weaker memebers.
The same process of survival of the fittest is to be observed by looking closely at the human brain, which can operate only as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive consumption of alcohol, as we all know, kills brain cells. Just like the less vigorous buffalo at the back of the herd, the weakest and slowest brain cells are destroyed first.
In this way the principles of natural selection become evident. Regular consumption of large amounts of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. It is therefore not suprising that one also feels smarter after drinking several glasses of beer.
 

1 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

2 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。