Tài liệu 120 bài luận mẫu tiếng anh - Phần 1 docx

1. HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

THAÄT THAØ LAØ MOÄT ÑÖÙC TÍNH TOÁT

OUTLINE

Introduction : - This is a worldly - minded proverb.

1. Honesty in business probably pays in the long run.

2. But dishonesty often leads to worldly success.

3. And honesty has often to worldly ruin

4. From a spiritual point of view, honesty pays best, because it is right.

This is an old and often repeated proverb1

: but is it true ? It has a suspiciously worldly

flavour2

, for it means that from a worldly point of view it pays3

to be honest. Now a

really honest man will not ask whether honesty pays or not. He feels he must be honest,

even if4

honesty brings him loss or suffering, simply because5

it is right to be honest and

wrong to be dishonest. This proverb is therefore of little use6

to sincerely honest people:

it is really meant only if for those unprincipled men7

who will be honest only if honesty

pays, and will be dishonest if they think dishonesty will pay them better.

Probably honesty does pay in the long run8

. In business, for example, a man who deals9

straight forwardly with the public, who sells at fair prices10, who gives good quality,

and can be relied upon11 not to cheat, will generally establish a reputation that will be a

fine business asset. People will be glad to deal with him : and though he may not make

a fortune12 he will have a sound and satisfactory business.

On the other hand13 there is no doubt that success is often due to14 trickery, and great

fortunes have been built up upon dishonesty. Too many successful rogues have proved

by experience that for them dishonesty had been the best policy. Of course some of

these people come to a bad end15, and lose all they have gained by their lies : but many

maintain their worldly success is more due to ability, lucky opportunities, and business

cunning, than to honesty.

And many examples could be given of men who, from a worldly point of view16, have

failed because they were honest. A martyr17 who prefers to be burned at the stake

rather than say what he believes to be false, may be a hero ; but in the eyes of a worldly

man, who thinks only of worldly success, he is a sad failure.

But if we look at such cases from the spiritual point of view - if we consider that truth

and righteousness are far more important than wealth and rank and prosperity - then, in

the highest sense, honesty is in the end18 the best policy. "For what it shall profit a man

if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul ?"

Moät caâu chaâm ngoân cuõ thöôøng ñöôïc nhaéc ñeán, nhöng lieäu noù coù ñuùng hay khoâng ? Caâu

chaâm ngoân khoâng coù chuùt gì veà muøi ñôøi vôùi nghóa raèng thaät thaø seõ ñöôïc lôïi theo quan

ñieåm chung. Baây giôø moät ngöôøi thaät thaø seõ khoâng hoûi thaät thaø coù lôïi hay khoâng maø anh ta

chæ thaáy raèng mình phaûi thaät thaäm chí thaät thaät ñem laïi söï thieät thoøi vaø ñau khoå. Chæ vì

thaät laø ñuùng, khoâng thaät coù nghóa laø sai. Do ñoù chaâm ngoân naøy chaúng coù ích chuùt naøo ñoái

vôùi ngöôøi thaät thaø. Noù thaät söï coù yù nghóa ñoái vôùi ngöôøi khoâng toân troïng nguyeân taéc, ngöôøi

chæ thaønh thaät khi thaät ñem laïi lôïi nhuaän, vaø khoâng thaät neáu hoï thaáy noù ñem laïi nhieàu lôïi

nhuaän hôn.

Coù leõ thaät thaø laø keá laâu daøi ñeå sinh lôïi. Trong kinh doanh, chaúng haïn, coù moät ngöôøi giao

dòch tröïc tieáp vôùi quaàn chuùng, baùn haøng vôùi giaù phaûi chaêng, coù chaát löôïng toát, coù theå tin

töôûng maø khoâng bò gaït thì trong töông lai ngöôøi ñoù seõ thieát laäp ñöôïc danh tieáng cho mình,

ñoù laø taøi saûn quí baùu trong kinh doanh. Moïi ngöôøi seõ haøi loøng khi mua haøng cuûa anh ta vaø

duø anh khoâng gaëp may maén, anh vaãn coù tieáng toát vaø coâng vieäc buoân baùn thoûa maõn.

Maët khaùc, khoâng coøn nghi ngôø gì nöõa raèng thaønh coâng thöôøng bôûi troø löøa ñaûo ñoàng thôøi

gaëp may ñaõ taïo neân tính löøa bòp. Kinh nghieäm cho thaáy nhieàu teân löøa bòp thaønh coâng xem

söï löøa ñaûo laø saùch löôïc toái öu. Taát nhieân laø seõ coù moät soá keát thuùc baèng söï ñoå vôõ, seõ nhanh

choùng maát taát caû nhöõng gì hoï coù ñöôïc nhôø noùi laùo. Nhöng coù nhieàu ngöôøi duy trì ñöôïc söï

thaønh coâng cuûa mình phaàn lôùn nhôø naêng löïc, vaän may vaø taøi kheùo leùo trong kinh doanh

hôn laø loøng chaân thaät.

Vaø cuõng khoâng ít nhöõng taám göông thaát baïi chæ vì hoï thaät thaø. Ngöôøi töû vì ñaïo thích ñöôïc

cheát thieâu hôn laø noùi nhöõng gì anh ta tin laø sai quaáy. Coù theå laø anh huøng ñaáy nhöng döôùi

con maét ngöôøi ñôøi, hoï chæ nghó ñeán thaønh coâng coù tieáng vang cho neân anh ta cho raèng

tröôøng hôïp anh aáy laø moät söï thaát baïi buoàn.

Nhöng neáu chuùng ta nhìn caùc tröôøng hôïp naøy theo quan ñieåm toân giaùo, neáu chuùng ta xem

söï thaät vaø tính ñuùng ñaén quan troïng hôn söï giaøu coù, ñòa vò vaø taøi saûn. Cuoái cuøng treân heát

taát caû, thaät thaø laø saùch löôïc ñeïp nhaát. "Ñieàu ñoù seõ ñem laïi lôïi nhuaän gì ñaây cho anh neáu

anh ta coù ñöôïc caû theá giôùi naøy ñoàng thôøi laøm maát ñi taâm hoàn cuûa chính ta."

TÖØ MÔÙI :

1. often repeated proverb : caâu chaâm ngoân thöôøng ñöôïc nhaéc tôùi

2. worldly flavour /w3:ldl1 'fle1v6/ : muøi vò cuûa ñôøi

3. to pay (v.i) /pe1/ : töï buø laïi ; kieám ra tieàn

4. even if (= even though)• /1v6n 1f/ (comj.) : duø, daãu raèng

ex : Even if he were my father, I would not obey him.

Daãu raèng oâng aáy laø boá toâi, toâi cuõng khoâng tuaân theo oâng aáy ñöôïc.

5. simply because (= merely because) /s1mpl1 b1'k0z/ : chæ vì

6. of little use /6v 'l1tl ju:s/ : chaúng ích lôïi gì laém

ex : Of no use : of great use ; etc.

voâ ích ; raát ích lôïi,v.v...

7. unprincipled men /^n'pr1ns6pld men/ (n) : ngöôøi khoâng toân troïng nguyeân taéc

8. in the long run : veà laâu veà daøi ; roài ra

ex : He will fail in the long run.

Roài oâng aáy seõ thaát baïi.

9. to deal with /d1:l w15/ (v) : ñoái phoù vôùi

10. at fair prices : vôùi giaù coâng baèng

11. to rely upon (or : on) /r1'a1 6'p4n/ (v) : tin töôûng vaøo

12. to make a fortune /me1k 6 'f0:t~u:n/ (v) : laøm giaøu lôùn

13. on the other hand : veà maët khaùc

14. due to /dju:tu/ (conj) : vì

ex : His sickness is due to over eating.

Beänh anh aáy laø do aên quaù nhieàu. (Anh aáy ñau vì boäi thöïc)

15. to come to an end : keát thuùc

16. point of view : quan ñieåm - viewpoint. : quan ñieåm

17. martyr /'m@:t6/ (n) : ngöôøi cheát vì ñaïo hay chuû nghóa

18. in the end = after all, ultimately : maõi sau, sau cuøng

2. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

KIEÁN THÖÙC MÔÙI HOAØN THIEÄN CON NGÖÔØI

OUTLINE

1. Knowledge gives man power over animals.

2. Knowledge gives civilised nations1

power over savage races.

3. Knowledge gave priests in the Middle Ages2

in Europe, and Brahmins3

in India, power

over kings and people.

4. The spread of education has given power in modern times to the people of Europe and

America.

In general it is true that the man who knows has an advantage over the man who does

not know. The educated classes4

have always been able to rule the ignorant5

. This can

be illustrated in various ways.

Phycically, man is one of the weakest of animals. Without the wonderful tools he has

invented, he cannot fly like the birds, he cannot run like the horse. He has no weapons

of defence like the tiger's fangs6

and claws, and he is no match for7

the lion and bear in

strength. Yet he conquers all these strong and fierce beasts, and forces some of them to

be his servants. His superior intelligence8

and knowledge make him the master of

creatures physically his superiors.

In the same way, and for the same reason, civilised nations dominate and enslave

ignorant savage races. A handful of9

Europeans in Africa controls millions of African

savages. It is their superior knowledge, and the weapons, organisation and character

which that knowledge has given them, that gives them power over these races which are

physically their equals.

In the Middle Ages in Europe, the only educated men were the priests. Great barons,

brave knights, ruling princes and kings very ofTen could not even read and write. In

consequence10 kings had to appoint priests as their ministers to carry on11 the

government of their country. Unless the king was a man of very strong character, the

power, nominally12 his, was in the hands of the clever and learned priests. The soldier,

the man of the sword, thought he was the master : but he was really in the hands of the

priest, the man of the pen14. the same was the case15 in India. The learned Brahmins

were for ages the real rulers in Indian states, and domonated all lower castes.

Today, in Europe and America, education is so universal16 that even the working

classes17 are educated people. As they have advanced in knowledge they have

advanced in power : so that now the people of these countries rule themselves, and are

no longer18 under the domination of priests19 and kings.

Söï thaät laø con ngöôøi coù öu theá hôn khi anh ta coù hieåu bieát veà vaán ñeà naøo ñoù. Ngöôøi coù hoïc

thöùc luoân laøm chuû ngöôøi ít hoïc. Đieàu naøy coù theå ñöôïc minh hoïa baèng nhieàu caùch.

Đöùng veà phöông dieän sinh lyù, con ngöôøi laø moät phaàn yeáu keùm nhaát cuûa ñoäng vaät. Con

ngöôøi seõ khoâng bieát bay neáu khoâng coù caùc coâng cuï ñaõ ñöôïc saùng cheá saün vaø khoâng theå

naøo chaïy nhö ngöïa phi. Con ngöôøi seõ khoâng coù vuõ khí choáng laïi nanh vuoát hoå, seõ thua xa

söùc maïnh cuûa sö töû vaø gaáu. Tuy nhieân, con ngöôøi coù khaû naêng chinh phuïc ñöôïc taát caû söùc

maïnh vaø nhöõng con thuù hung döõ nhaát, baét chuùng phuïc vuï con ngöôøi. Baèng trí thoâng minh

vaø kieán thöùc sieâu vieät, con ngöôøi ñaõ laøm chuû ñöôïc moïi sinh vaät treân traùi ñaát.

Cuøng moät nguyeân nhaân ñoù, caùc daân toäc vaên minh thoáng trò vaø laøm chuû nhöõng loaøi hoang

daõ, ngu doát. Moät nhoùm ngöôøi AÂu Chaâu ôû Chaâu Phi ñaõ kieåm soaùt haøng trieäu trieäu ngöôøi

daân Chaâu Phi. Ñoù chính laø tính sieâu vieät cuûa tri thöùc, laø vuõ khí, laø toå chöùc vaø laø ñaëc tính

maø tri thöùc ñaõ ñem laïi cho con ngöôøi. Tri thöùc ñem laïi söùc maïnh sinh lyù cho con ngöôøi.

Vaøo thôøi Trung Coå ôû Chaâu AÂu, chæ coù ngöôøi coù hoïc môùi ñöôïc laøm linh muïc. Nhöõng oâng

vua vó ñaïi, nhöõng hieäp só ñaày can ñaûm, nhöõng oâng hoaøng ñaày quyeàn uy thaäm chí thöôøng

khoâng bieát ñoïc, bieát vieát. Vì vaäy vua phaûi choïn caùc vò linh muïc laøm coá vaán nhaèm cai quaûn

ñaát nöôùc hoï. Caùc oâng vua thöôøng laø höõu danh voâ thöïc, trong tay nhöõng vò linh muïc khoân

ngoan trí thöùc töø khi vò vua ñoù laø moät ngöôøi coù tính caùch uy quyeàn maïnh meõ. Nhöõng ngöôøi

lính, ngöôøi cuûa göôm kieám laïi cho raèng anh ta laø chuû. Nhöng anh ta thaät söï ôû trong tay

caùc linh muïc. ÔÛ AÁn Ñoä cuõng coù moät tröôøng hôïp töông töï. Nhöõng ngöôøi Baø La Moân trí

thöùc laø nhöõng ngöôøi cai trò thöïc söï cuûa nhaø nöôùc AÁn trong nhieàu naêm vaø luoân ñaøn aùp caùc

ñaúng caáp döôùi.

Ngaøy nay, ôû Chaâu AÂu vaø Chaâu Myõ, hoïc vaán ñaõ ñöôïc phoå bieán roäng raõi ñeán cho ngöôøi lao

ñoäng. Vì tri thöùc ñem laïi söùc maïnh do ñoù nhöõng ngöôøi coù hoïc thöùc ôû nhöõng nöôùc naøy luoân

töï trò. Vaø ngaøy nay khoâng coøn hieän töôïng kieåm soaùt cuûa caùc linh muïc vaø caùc oâng vua !

TÖØ MÔÙI :

1. civilized nations /'s1v1la1zd 'ne1~nz/ : nhöõng quoác gia vaên minh

2. the Middle Age /'m1dl e1d2/ (n) : thôøi Trung Coå

3. Brahmin (Brahman) /br@:m1n/ (n) : tín ñoà ñaïo Baø la moân Ấn Đoä

4. the educated class /'edjuke1t1d kl@:s/ (n) : giai caáp hoïc thöùc

5. the ignorant /'i9n6r6nt/ (n) : keû ít hoïc

6. fang /f%7/ (n) : raêng nhoïn coù noäc ñoäc

7. no match for : khoâng ñuoåi kòp ; thua xa ; khoâng xöùng

8. superior intelligence /su:p16r16 1n'tel126ns/ (n) : söï thoâng minh sieâu vieät

9. a handful of /h%ndf$l/ (n) : moät naém , moät nhoùm , moät soá nhoû

ex : A handful of men.

moät nhoùm ngöôøi.

ex : A handful of rice.

moät tuùm gaïo.

10. in consequence = consequently /'k4ns1kw6ns/ (n) : bôûi vaäy , vì vaäy

11. to carry on /'k%r1 on/ (v) : tieáp tuïc ; thi haønh, tieán haønh

12. nominally /'n4mi6n6l1/ (adv) : coù danh thoâi ; höõu danh voâ thöïc

13. the man of the sword /s0:d/ (n) : con nhaø voõ

14. the man of the pen /pen/ (n) : con nhaø vaên

15. the same is the case /ke1s/ : tröôøng hôïp ñoù cuõng theá

16. universal /'jun1v6s6l/ (adj) : chæ veà hoaøn vuõ, chung caû vuõ truï

17. the working classes /'w3:k17 'kl@:s1z/ (n) : giai caáp lao ñoäng

18. no longer /no$ 'lo76/ (conj) : khoâng coøn.... nöõa

ex : He is no longer lazy.

Anh aáy khoâng coøn löôøi nöõa.

ex : I will no longer be here.

Toâi seõ khoâng coøn ôû ñaây nöõa.

3. ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY

THAØNH LA MAÕ KHOÂNG ÑÖÔÏC XAÂY DÖÏNG TRONG MOÄT NGAØY

OUTLINE

1. The proverb is for the impatient and discouraged.

2. Illustrations - from sport, and learning.

3. It must not be used as an excuse1

for laziness.

Anyone, who attempts a task of any magnitude2

, may be beset by two temptations,

namely, impatience and discouragement. He starts with hope and enthusiasm : but

finding that the task he has set himself will take much longer3

than he thought,

becomes impatient and scamps4

the work to get finished. Or, when he realises the

difficulties to be overcome, he becomes discouraged, relaxes5

his efforts, or abandons

the work as hopeless. As a check to impatience, and a word of cheer to discouragement,

comes this old proverb- " Rome was not built in a day." To build a great city like Rome,

many days, nay year and even centuries, were necessary. And no task that is really

worth doing6

can be done either quickly or easily. Slow progress must not make us

impatient, and difficulties must not discourage us.

A youth has an ambition to become a fine athlete. He thinks a little practice will soon

make him a first class bat or centre forward. But when he finds it will take many months

of practice and hard training, he becomes impatient and discouraged. To him the

proverb says, " Be patient : for Rome was not built in a day."

Another youth makes up his mind to become a scholar, and devotes7

himself in real

earnest to his studies. But the more8

he learns, the more he realises there is to be learnt.

The subject enlarges as he progresses, the difficulties become more formidable9

, and at

last he realises that it will take him years of hard mental toil before he can reach his

goal. And he becomes disheartened10. To him comes this word of cheer : " Be not

discouraged : for Rome was not built in a day."

But this proverb, meant to encourage, must not be used, as it sometimes is, as an excuse

for laziness and procrastination11. The idler when remonstrated with on his lack of

progress, may gaily reply, " Ah well ! What can you expect ? Rome was not built in a

day."

Baát kyø ai khi coá gaéng laøm vieäc ôû baát kyø möùc ñoä naøo coù theå cuøng luùc bò bao vaây bôûi hai

caùm doã - noân noùng vaø thieáu can ñaûm. Anh ta baét tay vaøo vieäc vôùi loøng say meâ traøn ñaày hy

voïng. Nhöng daàn roài caûm thaáy coâng vieäc maát nhieàu thôøi gian hôn anh nghó, anh ta trôû neân

noân noùng haáp taáp muoán cho xong vieäc. Hay anh ta nhaän thaáy khoù khaên khoù vöôït qua

khieán anh nhuït chí khoâng coøn cam ñaûm, buoâng xuoâi hoaëc töø boû coâng vieäc dôû dang khoâng

coøn hy voïng. Nhö moät söï kieåm tra loøng kieân nhaãn vaø tính can ñaûm neân môùi coù caâu chaâm

ngoân "Thaønh La Maõ khoâng theå xaây trong moät ngaøy". Muoán xaây moät thaønh phoá lôùn nhö

thaønh phoá Rome phaûi caàn coù thôøi gian, coù theå laø nhieàu ngaøy, nhieàu naêm vaø thaäm chí haøng

theá kyû môùi xaây neân ñöôïc. Khoâng coù moät coâng trình thaät söï ñaùng laøm naøo ñöôïc laøm xong

nhanh choùng vaø deã daøng. Ñöøng ñeå tieán trình chaäm laøm maát loøng kieân nhaãn vaø cuõng ñöøng

ñeå khoù khaên laøm maát loøng duõng caûm !

Moät thanh nieân coù hoaøi baõo muoán trôû thaønh moät vaän ñoäng vieân cöø. Anh ta cho raèng luyeän

taäp ít seõ nhanh choùng laøm anh trôû thaønh moät tay vôït ñöùng ñaàu lôùp hay trung taâm ñieåm.

Nhöng khi anh nhaän thaáy seõ phaûi maát nhieàu thaùng taäp luyeän khoù khaên, anh trôû neân noâng

noùng vaø nhuït chí. Ñoái vôùi anh caâu chaâm ngoân coù noùi, "Haõy kieân nhaãn baïn aï ? Ñoái vôùi

thaønh La Maõ thì khoâng theå xaây trong 1 ngaøy ñöôïc !".

Moät thanh nieân khaùc quyeát ñònh trôû thaønh moät hoïc giaû vaø anh daønh toaøn boä soá tieàn kieám

ñöôïc vaøo vieäc nghieân cöùu. Nhöng caøng hoïc, anh caøng nhaän thöùc roõ caàn phaûi hieåu. Chuû ñeà

caøng môû roäng khi anh coù tieán boä khoù khaên caøng lôùn vaø cuoái cuøng anh nhaän thöùc ñöôïc

raèng anh seõ phaûi maát haøng naêm trôøi laøm vieäc caëm cuïi baèng trí oùc môùi coù theå ñaït ñeán muïc

ñích cuûa mình. Vaø anh trôû neân naûn chí. Ñoái vôùi anh coù moät lôøi noùi vui. "Xin ñöøng naûn chí!

Thaønh La Maõ khoâng theå xaây xong trong 1 ngaøy !"

Caâu chaâm ngoân coù nghóa ñoäng vieân coå vuõ. Khoâng neân duøng noù nhö moät lyù do thoaùi thaùc

troán laùnh vì löôøi nhaùc vaø trì hoaõn. Moät ngöôøi löôøi bieáng khi bò quôû traùch veà vieäc khoâng

tieán boä, coù theå laëp laïi lôøi noùi naøy moät caùch haøo höùng "a, ñöôïc roài ! Baïn mong muoán gì

ñaây ? Thaønh La Maõ khoâng theå xaây xong trong 1 ngaøy baïn aï !".

TÖØ MÔÙI :

1. excuse /ik'skju:s/ (n) : côù, lyù do ñeå thoaùi thaùc

2. magnitude /'m%9n1tju:d/ (n) : taàm lôùn lao, vó ñaïi

3. to take much longer /te1k m^t~ l476/ (v) : caàn laâu hôn nhieàu

ex : It takes us forty-five minutes to go from Saigon to Bieân Hoøa by Diesel train.

4. to scamp /sk%mp/ (v) : laøm voäi vaõ cho xong (= to perform in a hasty, neglectful, or

imperfect manner)

5. to relax /r1'l%ks/ (v) : nghæ ngôi, saû hôi

6. worth doing /w3:8/ : ñaùng laøm, boõ laøm

ex. This book is worth reading. The picture is worth seeing.

7. to devote oneself to /d1'v6$t/ (v) : chuyeân taâm vaøo

ex : John devoted himself to the study of astronomy.

(thieân vaên hoïc).

8. the comparative degree... the comparative degree : caøng... caøng...

ex : The more you clearn, the more eagerly you want to learn. The more haste, the less

speed.

(giuïc toác baát ñaït).

9. formidable /'f4:m1d6bl/ (adj) : lôùn lao, ñoà soä ; kyø dò

10. to dishearten /d1s'h@:tn/ (v) : laøm naûn loøng, laøm naûn chí

11. Procrastination /pr6$,kr%st1ne1~n/ (n) : söï khaát laàn, trì hoaõn

ex : Procrastination is the thief of time.

12. to remonstrate with (a person) on (a thing) /'rem4ntre1t/ (v) : traùch ai veà moät ñieàu gì

ex : I remonstrate with him on his behavior.

ex : To remonstrate with (a person) against (a thing).

khaùng nghò ai veà moät ñieàu gì.

ex : I remonstrated with Vuõ against his proposal.

Toâi phaûn ñoái anh Vuõ veà ñeà nghò cuûa anh aáy.

4. MAN IS A TOOL USING ANIMAL

NGÖÔØI LAØ LOAØI VAÄT BIEÁT DUØNG DUÏNG CUÏ

OUTLINE

1. Man is distinguished from all the animals by the fact that he invents and uses tools.

2. Illustrations.

Man is an animal ; for his bodily organs do not differ essentially from those of other

mammals1

such as the sheep, cow, horse or dog : but he is the only animal that has

invented and can use tools. This is only another way of saying that, while a man is

physically like many other animals, mentally he is quite different. Other animals can use

only the weapons or tools with which nature has endowed them and which are part of

their bodies teeth, claws, stings2

, legs, wings, fins, etc. But man, whose natural weapons

teeth, nails, etc.) are feeble compared with3

those of many animals, has the intelligence

and genius4

to invent tools and weapons, which have made him the master of the brute

creation.

For example, man cannot run very fast or far, as compared to deer, horses, or ostriches5

.

But he has discovered the power of steam and invented the steam engine ; and by its

means he can travel sixty miles an hour. Man's teeth, as cutting instruments6

, are weak,

and his nails feeble, as compared to the teeth of the tiger or the claws of the lion. But he

has used steel and made himself knives and swords and spears. Man's arm and fist are

feeble weapons compared to the arms of the bear, the hoof of the horse, or the trunk7

of

the elephant. But he has discovered gunpowder, and made himself guns and cannon8

, so

that he can kill at a thousand yards, and blow up a ship fourteen miles a way with a

shell. Man cannot swim fast or far, but he has invented the rowing boat, the sailing ship,

the steamer, and the submarine9

, so that he can cross the water faster than the swiftest

fish. Man has no wings ; but he has invented the aeroplane, and can fly now faster than

the fastest bird. His eyes are weak compared to the eagle's ; but he has invented the

microscope10 and the telescope11. His voice is feeble compared to the roar of the lion,

or the trumpeting of the elephant ; but he has invented the telephone, and wireless

broadcasting12, and can now speak to his fellows thousands of miles away.other animal

uses tools. so it is just definition to descrobe man as "a toolusing animal."

Con ngöôøi laø moät loaøi ñoäng vaät bôûi caùc cô quan cuûa cô theå khoâng khaùc vôùi caùc cô quan

cuûa ñoäng vaät coù vuù, nhö cöøu, boø, ngöïa, choù. Tuy nhieân con ngöôøi laø ñoäng vaät duy nhaát

bieát cheá taïo ñoàng thôøi bieát söû duïng coâng cuï. Hay noùi moät caùch khaùc trong khi con ngöôøi

gioáng ñoäng vaät veà maët vaät lyù coøn veà taâm sinh lyù con ngöôøi hoaøn toaøn khaùc. Caùc loaøi ñoäng

vaät khaùc chæ bieát söû duïng vuõ khí vaø coâng cuï töï nhieân, saün coù vaø thuoäc veà cô theå cuûa chuùng

nhö raêng, vuoát, chaân, caùnh, vaây... Nhöng con ngöôøi vôùi vuõ khí töï nhieân yeáu hôn so vôùi

nhieàu loaøi ñoäng vaät, con ngöôøi coù trí thoâng minh vaø khaû naêng saùng taïo neân duïng cuï vaø vuõ

khí giuùp con ngöôøi laøm chuû loaøi sinh vaät hung döõ

Ví duï con ngöôøi khoâng theå chaïy nhanh vaø xa baèng nai, ngöïa hay ñaø ñieåu. Tuy nhieân con

ngöôøi ñaõ khaùm phaù ra söùc maïnh cuûa hôi nöôùc vaø cheá taïo ñaàu maùy hôi nöôùc giuùp con

ngöôøi du lòch 60 daëm 1 giôø. Raêng ngöôøi - coâng cuï caét, nghieán raát yeáu cuõng vaäy, moùng tay

moùng chaân laïi raát meàm so vôùi raêng cuûa hoå vaø vuoát cuûa sö töû. Nhöng con ngöôøi laïi söû

duïng thieác, töï laøm thaønh dao, kieám cuõng nhö göôm. Caùnh tay vaø quaû ñaám cuûa con ngöôøi

laø caùc loaïi khí giôùi yeáu hôn so vôùi caúng chaân cuûa gaáu moùng vuoát ngöïa hay voøi voi. Tuy

nhieân con ngöôøi cheá ra thuoác suùng, töï laøm suùng vaø khaåu ñaïi baùc vì vaäy con ngöôøi coù theå

baén cheát caùch xa 1 ngaøn yard coù theå thoåi chieác taøu xa 14 daëm baèng moät phaùt ñaïn phaùo.

Con ngöôøi khoâng theå bôi nhanh vaø xa nhöng con ngöôøi phaùt minh ra chieác thuyeàn, taøu

thuûy, maùy hôi nöôùc, taøu ngaàm vì theá con ngöôøi baêng qua doøng nöôùc nhanh hôn loaøi caù bôi

nhanh nhaát. Con ngöôøi cuõng khoâng coù caùch theá nhöng anh ta coù khaû naêng saùng cheá neân

maùy bay vaø ngaøy nay bay nhanh hôn loaøi chim bay nhanh nhaát. So vôùi maét chim phöôïng

hoaøng maét ngöôøi keùm hôn, nhöng con ngöôøi laïi coù khaû naêng phaùt minh ra kính vieãn voïng

vaø kính thieân vaên. So vôùi tieáng gaàm vang cuûa sö töû hay tieáng roáng cuûa voi, gioïng noùi cuûa

con ngöôøi nhoû hôn nhieàu theá maø con ngöôøi laïi coù theå phaùt minh ra maùy ñieän thoaïi, maùy

phaùt thanh voâ tuyeát ñieän. Ngaøy nay anh ta coù theå noùi chuyeän vôùi baïn beø caùch xa haøng

ngaøy daëm.

Khoâng coù loaøi ñoäng vaät naøo söû duïng coâng cuï ngoaïi tröø con ngöôøi. Vì vaäy ñeå xaùc ñònh roõ

raøng coù theå moâ taû con ngöôøi nhö "moät loaøi ñoäng vaät söû duïng coâng cuï"!.

TÖØ MÔÙI :

1. mammal /'m%m6l/ (n) : loaøi vaät coù vuù

2. sting /st17/ : söï chích (ñoát) cuûa coân truøng - to sting (n) : ñoát

3. to compare with /k6mp'36/ : so saùnh - to comprared to (v) : so saùnh (ví vôùi)

ex : This book cannot be compared with that one. Life is compared to a voyage.

4. genius /’d21:ny6s/ (n) : ngöôøi coù taøi

5. ostrich /'4str1t~/ (n) : con chim ñaø ñieåu

6. instrument /'1nstr$m6nt/ (n) : duïng cuï

implement, tool : khí cuï, duïng cuï ; utensil : ñoà duøng

7. trunk /tr^nk/ (n) : voøi voi

8. cannon /'k%n6n/ (n) : suùng ñaïi baùc

9. submarine /'s^bm6r1:n/ (n) : taøu ngaàm, tieàm thuûy ñình

10. telescope /’tel1skr6$p/ (n) : oáng nhoøm, vieãn voïng kính

11. microscope /'ma1kr6sk6$p/ (n) : kính hieån vi

12. Wireless broadcasting /'wa16l1s 'br4:dk@:st17/ (n) : söï phaùt thanh voâ tuyeán ñieän

5. THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

CUOÄC CHINH PHUÏC KHOÂNG TRUNG

OUTLINE

Introduction : - The dream of flying.

1. The balloon.

2. The airship, or dirigible balloon1

.

3. The aeroplane.

4. Air services2

.

Many ancient legends3

and fairy stories show that even long ago man dreamt of flying ;

but it is only in our own times that this dream has been realised.

The first practical step that was taken towards aerial navigation, was the invention of the

baloon towards the end of the 18th century, closely following the discovery of hydrogen

gas4

. Navigation of the air by balloons might be compared to the navigation of the sea

by sailing vessels5

before the invention of the steam-boat ; for balloons were the sport

of the winds as for over a hundred years after their introduction no method of

propelling6

or guiding a balloon was discovered. They were not " flying " machines, but

only " floating " machines.

The next step was the invention of the dirigible balloon, or air ship, which Count

Zeppelin proved to be practicable at the beginning of this century. The " Zeppelin,"7

as

it was called, was really a huge cigarshaped balloon propelled by a motor engine and

steered8

like a ship. The Germans expected great things from their Zeppelins in the

Great War, but they proved to be rather a disappointment : and, although they are used

as passenger air-ships, the future is probably with the aeroplane.

The aeroplane has a different history, and flies according to9

quite a different principle.

The balloon and the airship are "lighter than air"10 craft11, and are lifted and

maintained in the air by hydrogen gas ; but the aeroplane, or "heavier than air"12 craft,

rises and flies by the resistance of the air itself. Just as a piece of card board13, when

thrown edge wise14, will skim15 through the air a long way, so the " planes " of the

aeroplane, when forced forward by the motor driven screw, will raise and maintain the

whole machine in the air. This is the real " flying machine," and it has now reached a

high state of perfection, although only a recent invention. Airmen now think no more of

rising up thousands of feet and flying hunderds of miles in the air than of travelling over

good roads in a motor car. Man's ancient dream of flying dah come true.

Already the Atlantic Ocean17 has been crossed by aeroplanes, and aeroplanes have

flown round the world. Already there are regular air services, carrying mails and

passengers, as between London and Paris. In a few years all the countries of the world

will be linked together by regular air-services as they are now by steamboats and

railways.

Nhieàu chuyeän thaàn thoaïi cuõng nhö truyeän thaàn tieân cho thaáy raèng caùch ñaây laâu roài con

ngöôøi ñaõ mô töôûng ñeán bay. Nhöng maõi ñeán thôøi ñaïi cuûa chuùng ta öôùc mô ñoù môùi ñöôïc

thöïc hieän.

Böôùc ñaàu tieân ñaõ thöïc hieän ñöôïc laø ngaønh haøng haûi, keá ñeán laø phaùt minh cuûa khinh khí

caàu vaøo cuoái theá kyû 18. Tieáp theo sau laø söï khaùm phaù ra hôi hyñroâ. Ngaønh haøng khoâng coù

khinh khí caàu ñöôïc saùnh vôùi ngaønh haøng haûi vôùi thuyeàn buoàm ñaõ ra ñôøi tröôùc phaùt minh

ra thuyeàn chaïy baèng hôi nöôùc ; vì khinh khí caàu laø moân theå thao bay baèng gioù ñaõ coù tröôùc

ñaây 100 naêm sau söï xuaát hieän cuûa loaïi khinh khí caàu ñaåy baèng xoaùy chaân vòt. Nhöõng loaïi

khinh khí caàu naøy khoâng phaûi laø maùy "bay" maø chæ laø maùy "noåi".

Böôùc tieáp ñeán laø phaùt minh loaïi khinh khí caàu laùi ñöôïc hay con taøu bay treân khoâng trung

maø Count Zeppelin ngay töø ñaàu theá kyû naøy ñaõ chöùng minh ñöôïc tính thöïc tieãn cuûa noù.

Khinh khí caàu naøy coù teân goïi laø "Zeppelin" quaû thaät laø moät khinh khí caàu hình ñieáu thuoác

khoång loà ñöôïc thuùc ñaåy bôûi moät ñaàu moâ-toâ ñoàng thôøi ñöôïc ñieàu khieån nhö moät con taøu.

Trong thôøi ñaïi theá chieán ngöôøi Ñöùc mong muoán nhöõng moùn haøng vó ñaïi cuûa Zeppelin. Tuy

vaäy hoï ñaõ chöùng toû hôi thaát voïng vaø maëc ñaàu chuùng ñöôïc söû duïng nhö nhöõng con thuyeàn

chôû haønh khaùch treân khoâng thì töông lai vaãn coù theå laø maùy bay thöïc söï.

Maùy bay coù moät neàn lòch söû khaùc haún. Noù bay hoaøn toaøn theo nguyeân lí khaùc nhau. Khinh

khí caàu vaø taøu bay thì nheï hôn maùy bay, coù theå naâng leân, giöõ laïi treân khoâng baèng hôi

hyñroâ. Đoái vôùi may bay naëng hôn khoâng khí khi caát caùnh bay theo chieàu höôùng ñaõ ñònh

cuûa noù. Noù cuõng nhö maûnh giaáy caùc-toâng khí neùm ñi, noù seõ löôùt ñi trong khoâng khí. Maùy

bay khi bay coù löïc ñaåy veà phía tröôùc bôûi ñinh oác cuûa moâtô laøm maùy bay bay leân vaø giöõ

thaêng baèng trong khoâng khí. Ñaây thaät söï laø loaïi maùy bay. Ngaøy nay, maùy bay ñaõ ñaït ñeán

möùc ñoäc cao cuûa söï hoaøn haûo, daãu raèng chæ coù moät phaùt minh gaàn ñaây phi coâng ngaøy nay

khoâng cho raèng bay cao haøng ngaøy boä vaø bay xa haøng traêm daëm trong khoâng khí hôn laø

ñi treân nhöõng con ñöôøng toát treân xe hôi. Giaác mô ngaøy xöa cuûa loaøi ngöôøi ngaøy nay trôû

thaønh söï thaät.

Ngöôøi ta ñaõ bay qua Ñaïi Taây Döông. Maùy bay ñaõ bay khaép theá giôùi cuõng ñaõ coù caùc dòch

vuï haøng khoâng thöôøng xuyeân mang thö chôû khaùch töø Luaân Ñoân ñeán Pari. Trong vaøi naêm

nöõa, caùc nöôùc treân theá giôùi seõ ñöôïc lieân keát baèng dòch vuï haøng khoâng nhö chuùng ngaøy nay

ñöôïc noái keát baèng taøu thuyeàn vaø ñöôøng ray.

TÖØ MÔÙI :

1. dirigible balloon /'d1r1d26bl ba'lu:n/ (n) : khinh khí caàu laùi ñöôïc

2. air services /e6's3:v1s1z/ (n) : nhöõng dòch vuï haøng khoâng

3. legend /'led26nd/ (n) : truyeän tích, truyeän kyù, thaàn thoaïi

4. hydrogen gas /'ha1dr6$ 9%s/ (n) : hôi hy troâ

5. sail vessels /se1l 'veslz/ (n) : thuyeàn (taøu) buoàm

6. to propel /pr6'pel/ (v) : thuùc ñi (baèng xoaùy chaân vòt)

7. Zepplin /’zepl1n/ (n) : teân ngöôøi (Ferdinand von Zepplin, 1838 - 1917)

8. to steer /st16r/ (v) : laùi, ñieàu khieån

9. according to /-6'k4:d17 tu/ (conj) : theo, chieáu theo (= in accordance with)

10. lighter than air /la1t6/ : nheï hôn khoâng khí

11. craft /kraft/ (n) : maùy bay

12. heavier than air /hev16/ : naëng hôn khoâng khí

13. card board /'k@:db4:d/ (n) : giaáy caùc toâng

14. edge wise (or : edgeways) /ed2wa1z/ (adv) : ôû beân bôø, beân meùp ; men beân leà

15. to skim /sk1m/ (v) : ñoïc hay nhìn löôùt qua, ñi löôùt qua

16. to think no more of something : khoâng nghó tôùi... nöõa

17. the Atlantic Ocean /6t'l%nt1k '6$~n/ (n) : Ñaïi Taây Döông

6. TAKE CARE OF THE PENCE, AND THE POUNDS WILL TAKE CARE OF

THEMSELVES

TÍCH TIEÅU THAØNH ÑAÏI

OUTLINE

1. Large sums of money disappear in casual1

petty axpenditures.

2. Expenditure must be systematic, and then money can be saved.

3. To live beyond one's income2

means misery.

Everv one knows how mysteriously money dribbles3

away in netty expenditure. Once

break a ten rupee4

note and how quickly it disappears ! We cannot remember how spent

it, and we have little or nothing to show for it : but it is gone. We forget that sixteen

annas5

make a rupee, and fifteen rupees make a pound, and that small spendings mount

up, and quite large sums of money have slipped through our fingers before we realise6

it. We did not take care of the pence, petty expenditures, and they mounted up to

pounds, which have taken wings and flown away. This is bound to7

be the case if we

don't watch our expenses, and if we carry our money abouT with us as loose cash in our

pockets.

People with small incomes are sure to get into8

financial difficulties if they have no

system in their expenditure. When the monthly pay comes in, a monthly budget9

should

be drawn up, and certain fixed sums allotted10 to meet necessary expenses such as

houserent, food fuel, clothes, travelling, etc. Then, before anything is assigned to11

luxuries, as much as can be afforded should be set aside as saved, and put into the post

office saving's12 bank. Then a certain amount should be kept in hand13 for extras14 and

unforescen expenses ; in fact it is generally found that these " extras " in the end run

away with a considerable sum15. Only when all this has been done, and if there is

anything , left, can expenditure on luxuries be allowed. Any one who adopts some such

system, and faithfully sticks to it16, will be able to live within his income17, and save

into the bargain18. He takes care in spending the pennies, and finds he has saved

pounds.

But when there is no system, and all the expenditure is casual, expenditure is sure to

exceed income, and the result will be constant money worries, unpaid bills, and

chronic19 debt. One of Dickens20 characters says that if your income is twenty shillings,

and you spend only nineteen shillings and six pence, that means happiness ; but if you

spend twenty shillings and six pence, it means misery.

Ai cuõng bieát tieàn seõ rôi loït ñi nhanh choùng trong vieäc chi tieâu khoâng tính toaùn. Moät khi laáy

ñoàng 10 ñoàng chi tieâu thì chaúng maáy choác noù seõ heát ! Chuùng ta khoâng theå nhôù ñaõ chi tieâu

nhö theá naøo vaø haàu nhö khoâng coù baèng chöùng cho vieäc ñoù, maø tieàn ñaõ tieâu roài ! Chuùng ta

ñaõ queân raèng 16 xu (AÁn) laø 1 ñoàng, 15 ñoàng baèng 1 baûng Anh, nhöõng chi tieâu vaët seõ lôùn

daàn leân vaø roài moùn tieàn lôùn ñoù seõ tuoät khoûi tay chuùng ta tröôùc khi chuùng ta bieát ñöôïc ñieàu

ñoù. Chuùng ta khoâng quan taâm ñeán nhöõng ñoàng xu, nhöõng chi tieâu vaët, roài chính nhöõng

ñoàng xu, vaët vaõnh naøy seõ lôùn daàn thaønh nhöõng ñoàng baûng Anh vuoät khoûi maát. Ñieàu naøy

buoäc phaûi nhö vaäy neáu baïn khoâng quan taâm ñeán vieäc chi tieàn. Neáu chuùng ta ñem tieàn theo

beân mình nhö laø boû tieàn maët trong tuùi vaäy !.

Ngöôøi vôùi nhöõng thu nhaäp ít oûi chaéc chaén seõ gaëp khoù khaên veà taøi chaùnh neáu hoï khoâng coù

moät cheá ñoä chi tieâu phuø hôïp. Khi tieàn löông haøng thaùng ñeán, ngaân saùch haøng thaùng buoäc

phaûi vaïch ra. Moät moùn tieàn coá ñònh ñöôïc daønh cho vieäc chi tieâu caàn thieát nhö tieàn thueâ

nhaø, nhieân lieäu naáu aên, quaàn aùo, du lòch... Sau ñoù trích ra moät phaàn coù theå coù ñeå tieát kieäm

vaø göûi vaøo ngaân haøng quyõ tieát kieäm do Nha Böu ñieän toå chöùc tröôùc khi coù yù ñònh chi tieâu

phung phí. Luùc ñoù baïn ñaõ naém giöõ moät soá tieàn trong tay nhö laø soá tieàn thaëng dö ñeå phoøng

vieäc chi tieâu ngoaøi döï kieán. Thöïc teá cho thaáy raèng moùn tieàn dö ra ñaùng keå naøy cuoái cuøng

cuõng heát saïch luoân. Chæ khi taát caû vieäc naøy ñöôïc laøm saün vaø neáu coù ñieàu gì baát traéc, coù

theå daønh vaøo vieäc laõng phí. Nhöõng ai aùp duïng cheá ñoä chi tieâu nhö vaäy vaø trung thaønh baùm

vaøo ñoù, anh ta coù theå soáng vôùi khoaûng thu nhaäp cuûa mình ñoàng thôøi tieát kieäm ñöôïc. Töï

anh kieåm tra laáy nhöõng ñoàng xu vaø nhöõng ñoàng baûng seõ töï kieåm tra laáy !.

Tuy vaäy neáu khoâng coù cheá ñoä chi tieâu naøo, vaø taát caû vieäc chi tieâu ñeàu caåu thaû. Chaéc chaén

raèng vieäc chi tieâu cuûa baïn seõ vöôït quaù möùc thu nhaäp. Keát quaû seõ laø noãi baên khoaên veà tieàn

baïc, nhöõng phieáu thanh toaùn nôï naàn vaø moùn nôï trôû thaønh laâu naêm khoâng traû ñöôïc. Moät

trong nhöõng lôøi noùi ñaëc saéc cuûa Dickens raèng neáu thu nhaäp cuûa baïn laø 20 ñoàng si-linh vaø

baïn chi ra chæ coù 19 si-linh vaø 6 xu. Đieàu ñoù coù nghóa laø nieàm haïnh phuùc ; nhöng neáu baïn

chi ra 20 silinh vaø 6 xu coù nghóa raèng khoå ñau !

TÖØ MÔÙI :

1. casual /'k%2u6l/ (adj) : ngaãu nhieân, khoâng quan taâm

2. beyond one's income /'17k^m/ quaù soá lôïi töùc cuûa ta

3. to dribble /dr1bl/ (v) : rôi, loït, ñi

4. rupee /'ru:p1:/ (n) : ñoàng baïc AÁn Ñoä

5. anna /'%n6/ (n) : ñoàng xu AÁn Ñoä

6. to realise /'r16la1z/ (v) : bieát, nhaän thöùc ra

7. to be bound to /ba$nd/ (v) : buoäc phaûi

8. to get into (difficulties, trouble, etc.) /9et '1nt$/ (v) : gaëp (khoù khaên, chuyeän raéc roái...)

9. budget /'b^d21t/ (n) : ngaân saùch

10. to allot /6'l4t/ (n) : daønh cho ; phaân phoái cho - allotment

11. to assign to /6'sa1n/ (v) : chæ ñònh ; chæ phaùt

12. postoffice savings : Quyõ tieát kieäm do Nhaø Böu Ñieän toå chöùc.

13. in hand /1n h%nd/ coù trong tay, coù saün

14. extras /’ekstr6z/ (n) : soá thaëng dö, thöøa ra

15. a considerable sum : moùn tieàn ñaùng keå

16. to stick to /st1ck/ (v) : baùm vaøo

17. to live within one's income : soáng trong phaïm vi lôïi töùc cuûa mình.

18. into the bargain /'b@:91n/ (n) : vaøo moùn haøng ñoù, vaøo cuoäc thöông löôïng maäu dòch ñoù

ex : She gave two hundred dollars into the bargain.

Baø aáy ñaõ traû 200 ñoàng veà moùn haøng ñoù.

19. chronic /’kr4n1k/ (adj) : kinh nieân ; coù laâu naêm

20. Dickens : Charles Dickens 1812 - 1870 /’d1kenz/ (v) : (teân vaên só löøng danh cuûa nöôùc Anh)