Lesson Eight “We’re Only Human” 现代大学英语电子课件book 3.ppt

“We’re Only Human” 1) When some people say that they are only human, what do they mean? 2) Is human behavior biologically determined ( or genes-determined)? About the author Dr. Laura C. Schlessinger was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1947. She has a Ph.D. in physiology from Columbia University and a post-doctoral certification in marriage, family and child counseling from the University of Southern California, where, upon graduation, she became a faculty member and taught for five years. Dr. Laura Schlessinger is the recipient of many national awards and the author of many New York Times best-sellers, including: Parenthood by Proxy: Don’t Have Them if You Won’t Raise Them(2000); Ten Stupid Things Men Do to Mess up Their Lives(1994); and How Could You Do That?! The Abdication of Character, Courage and Conscience(1996), a book based on Schlessinger’s conversations with her radio callers. The present text is an excerpt taken from the last book listed here, with some adaptations. About the background Katharine Hepburn, the winner of more acting awards than any other actress in history, is a very dynamic woman. She was born in Hartford Connecticut, on May 12, 1907. She was the daughter of a doctor and a suffragette, both of whom always encouraged her to speak her mind, develop it fully, and exercise her body to its full potential. She was very shy around girls her age, and was About the background Largely schooled at home. She attended Bryn Mawr College, however, and it was here that she decided to become an actress, appearing in many of their productions. About the text About the text To start with, the author lists the clashing definitions of humanity, then she put forward her viewpoint as to this, pointing out and illustrating the quality a true man needs to achieve: the 3C’s-character,courage, and conscience. In the end, she concludes that one should beware the pleasure principle, and believe that a good conscience will have its due benefits. Lang