摘要：可能并不是很多人都关心国家的刑事公正体系，然而作者就很不一样，他不仅关心国家的立法，而且有一些自己的想法和建议。
英语听力原文：
I'm interested in the criminal justice system of our country. It seems to me that something has to be done if we are to survive as a country. I certainly don't know what the answers to our problems are. Things certainly get complicated in a hurry when you get into them. But I wonder if something couldn't be done to deal with some of these problems.
我对我国的刑事公正感兴趣。对于我而言，我们国家生存下去就必须做些事。我当然不知道问题的答案。当你深入了解以后，问题自然会变得复杂。但是，我在想处理其中的一些问题时，是否有些事不能做。
One thing I'm concerned about is our pratice of putting offenders in jail who haven't harmed anyone. Why not work out some system whereby they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of incurring another debt by going to prison, and of course, coming under the inflluence of hardened criminals.
我考虑的事情之一是我们把一些罪犯关进监狱，但他们并没有伤害任何人。为什么不制定出一些体系，他们可以借此偿还欠社会的债，而不是由于被关进监狱，受到那些强硬的犯罪分子的影响而对社会欠下其他的债务。
I'm also concerned about the short prison sentences people are serving for serious crimes. Of course, one alternative to this is to restore capital punishment, but I'm not sure I would be for that. I'm not sure it's right to take an eye for eye. The alternative to capital punishment is longer sentences, but they would certainly cost the tax payers much money.
我还关心那些被判短期徒刑却犯有重罪的人们。当然，选择之一是恢复死刑，但是我不确定是否会支持该做法。我不坑定以牙还牙是否正确。代替死刑的另一选择是长期徒刑，但是这无疑将花去纳税人更多的钱。
I also think we must do something about the insanity plea. In my opinion, anyone who takes another person's life intentionally is insane; however, that does not mean that the person isn't guilty of the crime, or that he shouldn't pay society the debt he owes. It's sad, of course, that a person may have to spend rest of his life, or a large part of it in prison for acts that he committed while not in full control of his mind.
我还认为我们应该为无罪辩护做些什么。在我看来，任何人故意夺走别人的生命都是疯狂的；然而，这并不意味着这个人没有犯罪，或者说他不应该向社会偿还他所欠的债。当然，一个人要为他在意识失控的情况下所犯的罪在监狱中度过余生或生命中的大部分时光是令人难过的。
英语词汇整理：
1. criminal adj. 刑事的，犯罪的 n. 罪犯
eg: Her husband faces various criminal charges.
她丈夫面临多项刑事的指控。
短语：
war criminal 战犯
criminal lawyer 刑事律师
criminal activities 犯罪活动
criminal psychology 犯罪心理学
2. justice n. 公正，司法
eg: Marriage is, first of all, a contract which must be governed by justice.
婚姻首先是一种契约，它必须以公正为制约。
短语：
do oneself justice 发挥自己的能力
do justice to 公平对待；尽量利用
bring to justice 使归案受审
3. survive v. 继续存在，幸免于难
eg: No one survived the crash.
无人在这次撞击中幸免于难。
短语：
survive after 在……后余生
survive by (for) 比……多活
survive on 靠……活下来；靠……生存
4. wonder v.& n. 惊奇
eg: I wonder at your allowing her to buy the expensive clothes.
我对你答应她买这么贵的衣服感到吃惊。
短语：
wonder if 不知道；想知道是否
wonder about 对……感到奇怪；对……感到疑惑
wonder at 对……感到吃惊
in wonder 在惊奇中，惊讶地
no wonder 难怪,怪不得
wonder of the world 世界奇迹；世界奇观
to a wonder [古语] ……得令人惊叹，……得叫人惊异
for a wonder 说来奇怪
with wonder 惊奇地
work wonders 创造奇迹,取得惊人的效果
wonders will never cease 真是无奇不有
5. concerned adj. 关心的
eg: Please don't be concerned about me.
请不要为我担心。
短语：
be concerned for 挂念
as far as be concerned 就……而论
concerned with 关心；涉及；忙于；与……有关
concerned about 关心；担忧
be concerned in 与……有关
6. offender n. 冒犯者，罪犯
eg: The offender was sent to a correctional facility.
罪犯被送到教养院。
短语：
sex offender 性犯罪者
criminal offender 罪犯；犯罪者
minor offender 未成年罪犯
7. whereby conj. 凭借
eg: The company operates an arrangement whereby employees may select any 8-hour period between 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. to go to work.
该公司做出了一种安排，据此员工可以在上午6点到晚上8点之间任意选择8个小时去上班。
whereby 还可以用作副词，意思是“凭什么，借以”
eg: Whereby shall we find fault with him?
我们凭什么指责他呢？
8. incur v. 招致，遭受
eg: He incurred a heavy loss through you.
他因为你而遭受重大损失。
短语：
incur sb's anger 惹某人生气
incur danger 遭受危险
9. alternative n. 供选择的东西
eg: I had no alternative but to accept the offer.
我除了接受该项提议之外，别无选择。
短语：
alternative form 代替方式；替换制度
have no alternative but 别无选择；只得；唯一的办法是
have no alternative 没有别的办法了；没有其他选择
alternative to ……的替换物
alternative to sb's plan 可以代替某人计划的方案
词语辨析：
election, preference, choice, alternative, selection, option 这组词都有“选择”的意思，其区别是：
1）election 强调目的和达到目的判断能力。
2）preference 侧重因偏见、爱好或判断等而进行选择。
3）choice 侧重指自由选择的权利或特权。
4）alternative 指在相互排斥的两者之间作严格的选择，也可指在两者以上中进行选择。
5）selection 指作广泛的选择，着重选择者的识别力或鉴赏力。
6）option 着重特别给予的选择权利或权力，所选物常常相互排斥。
10. insanity n. 荒唐，精神错乱
eg: There was a streak of insanity in the family.
这个家族有精神错乱的倾向。
短语：
adolescent insanity 青少年期精神错乱
surgical insanity 手术后精神病
consecutive insanity 继发性精神病
11. plea n. 请求，恳求
eg: Mr. Nicholas made his emotional plea for help in solving the killing.
尼古拉斯先生发出了令人感动的呼吁，恳求帮助破解这桩杀人案。
短语：
plea bargaining [法]认罪求情协议
plea for 恳求，请求
on the plea of 借口
cop a plea [美国俚语]承认有罪以求轻判
make a plea for 主张；请求
on the plea of something (因未做某事或做错某事而作的)辩解；借口，托词
12. intentionally adv. 有意地，故意地
eg: Or you can choose to accelerate your growth and intentionally devour life and all it offers.
又或许你可以选择加速自的身成长，故意地挥霍生活及其提供的一切。
短语：
if intentionally 假如有意
intentionally omit 故意不告知
You intentionally 你故意的
13. insane adj. 荒唐的，精神错乱的
eg: Are you insane?
你疯了吗？
短语：
go insane 发疯
insane asylum 精神病院
14. guilty adj. 有罪的，内疚的
eg: I feel so guilty, leaving all this to you.
把所有这一切都留给了你，我觉得很内疚。
短语：
guilty about 内疚
guilty of a serious blunder 犯大错
be found guilty 被认定有罪
guilty of 有……之过错；对……感到内疚
词语辨析：
criminal, guilty这组词都有“犯罪的”的意思，其区别是：
1）criminal 侧重指某种行为是违犯法律的，因而应受到惩罚。
2）guilty 主要指某种行为违反道德标准，也可指违犯法律。
15. commit v. 犯罪，委托
eg: The old man committed his will to the care of the lawyer.
老人把他的遗嘱委托律师保管。
短语：
commit for 把(某人)押送至,送交……
commit on 把自己对(某事物或某人)的看法公之于众
commit oneself 承诺，答应负责
commit to 把……送交,托付给……
commit oneself to 受……的约束,专心致志于,献身于
commit sb to the care of 把……托给……照顾
commit sb to prison 关进监狱
佳句采摘：
Why not work out some system whereby they can pay back the debts they owe society instead of incurring another debt by going to prison, and of course, coming under the inflluence of hardened criminals.
为什么不制定出一些体系，他们可以借此偿还欠社会的债，而不是由于被关进监狱，受到那些强硬的犯罪分子的影响而对社会欠下其他的债务。 |