英语高级口语教程(10)

8. Pets Eat Better Than People!

"My mouth watered as I imagined the lovely soup I could make from some bones in the butcher's window. There was a lot of meat on them, too. So I went in and bought some. `Certainly, one pound of bones for your dog, madam, " said the butcher brightly. My next stop was at the fish shop, where I asked for some cheap fish. "For your cat ? " asked the assistant. As you may have guessed, neither bones nor fish were for pets-they were for me, a pensioner. But it made me think that many animals eat better meals than people!

9. A Birthday Present for a Dog!

"We have a friend who works in a Dog Parlour where they sell coats for dogs. A customer, choosing a coat, tried to describe her dog and the saleswoman suggested she bring the dog in so that they could fit him. Horrified, the customer replied that she couldn't do that as it was for the dog's birthday present and she didn't want him to see it! "

Lesson 3

Should the Brain Drain Be Stopped by Restrictions?

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Brain Drain

It is said that Shanghai's musicians abroad could form a world class symphony orchestra. But the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra once failed to find a qualified conductor for a whole year!

A similar situation exists in science, medicine and sports circles.

Stopping the outflow of talent depends on creating a sound domestic environment rather than simply setting up barriers for those who wish to go abroad.

A handful of people go abroad to seek a comfortable life. But most Chinese intellectuals

emigrate because they cannot bring their talent into full play in their motherland.

Many conductors trained by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music have gone abroad either because they cannot find jobs in symphony orchestras due to the competition for places, or because they cannot develop themselves in orchestras where promotion comes only by way of seniority.

We face a keen shortage of talent, but one batch of gifted people after another have

gone abroad". The situation is grim.

It is impossible to improve the conditions for all intellectuals by a wide margin. But it is possible for governments at all levels to create a better environment for their development.

The outflow of talent is a loss to our nation as well as a pressure forcing us to optimize the environment for the talented.