2015年ESL之日常生活 17 Forms of Government

Forms of Government 

Margaret: Okay, the teacher said that we should set up an ideal form of government for our imaginary country and then work out detailed¹ plans for governance. 

Tony: I think the simplest is a dictatorship. I’ll make all of the decisions. 

Margaret: You’re sounding like a fascist². This is supposed to be a partnership³, remember? 

Tony: Okay then, let’s make it a monarchy⁴. I can be king and you can be queen. 

Margaret: You’ll probably still make all of the decisions as king. Maybe we should consider an oligarchy⁵. Your family and mine can rule equally. 

Tony: That’s fine with me, but you’re the communist, or at least socialist⁶. Don’t you think an oligarchy would be too elitist? I would think you would prefer a meritocracy of some sort. 

Margaret: This isn’t about my personal politics. It’s about what’s best for our imaginary nation. How about a simple democracy? 

Tony: There’s nothing simple about a democracy. How about no government at all? 

Margaret: You mean anarchy⁷? 

Tony: Sure, that would be the simplest. 

Margaret: Why do I get the feeling that you’re making suggestions based on the amount of work this assignment will take, rather than political considerations? 

Tony: That’s because you’re very perceptive⁸. I have a big weekend planned! 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

2 fascist   

adj.法西斯主义的；法西斯党的；n.法西斯主义者，法西斯分子

参考例句：

• The strikers were roughed up by the fascist cops.罢工工人遭到法西斯警察的殴打。
• They succeeded in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship.他们成功推翻了法西斯独裁统治。

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

5 oligarchy   

n.寡头政治

参考例句：

• The only secure basis for oligarchy is collectivism.寡头政体的唯一可靠基础是集体主义。
• Insecure and fearful of its own people,the oligarchy preserves itself through tyranny.由于担心和害怕自己的人民，统治集团只能靠实行暴政来维护其统治。

6 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

7 anarchy   

n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• There would be anarchy if we had no police.要是没有警察，社会就会无法无天。
• The country was thrown into a state of anarchy.这国家那时一下子陷入无政府状态。

8 perceptive   

adj.知觉的，有洞察力的，感知的

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• He is very perceptive and nothing can be hidden from him.他耳聪目明，什么事都很难瞒住他。