GRE作文范文 Issue-4

"The study of history has value only to the extent that it is relevant to our daily lives."

嘉文博譯Sample Essay

To state that the study of history is only valuable if it is relevant to our daily lives is to ignore the value that history has beyond the day-to-day activities of human beings. It would seem to be a rather shallow statement that implies that humans only live just to survive rather than planning for the futures of their children and the environment.

First of all, to study history is to look at a road map of human behavior that has led us to where we are today in the world. For example, the lessons learned during all of the past wars can make for more effective wartime leadership by avoiding mistakes made by past commanders. From the ancient Chinese author Sun Tzu's book "The Art of War", today's military commanders and even business leaders gather valuable information that allows them to operate more efficiently and effectively. The study of this type of history has a value beyond the daily lives of people. It can lead to a military victory or the success of a business that directly affects what happens in the future, including the futures of those that are possibly not even born yet.

Another example is that by studying history, parents can help to improve the lives of their children in the future. Lessons learned by generations of their ancestors before them could help show them the way to properly raise a child. What worked for others can give guidance to the parents of today and tomorrow to make sure that children are prepared for their own futures beyond their daily lives.

Additionally, the study of medical advances made throughout history can be the foundation to build upon to make the medical advances of today and tomorrow to make people live longer and healthier lives. A researcher's daily life may not be enhanced by the study of the history of the AIDS pathogen, but it could certainly bring about a profound effect on the lives of others in the future if ways to control and cure the disease are found. The study of previous research over history has led to many amazing medical discoveries. To study history only to enrich one's daily life would here again seem to be incongruous with the truth.

A further example of the value of the study of history beyond its effect on daily life is the treatment of the environment and the earth as a whole. Looking back to the past to see the various effects of various human behaviors on the environment can show valuable lessons on what can happen if proper precautions are not taken. The nuclear accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl have been studied to ensure that they do not happen again. Certainly the study of the effects of nuclear materials on humans and the environment provides value beyond that of the day-to-day life of people. The study of oil spills and their effects on the environment gives similar guidance on how to avoid or at least minimize the damage of an oil spill on the environment. The study of the disintegration of the ozone layer over the poles of the earth has given birth to new laws and regulations on certain chemicals that help to preserve this valuable part of our atmosphere. All of these examples of studying history provide value far beyond its impact on the daily lives of people.

To be certain, there are people out there that believe that only what affects them right here and right now is important. For them, the study of history might seem to be a waste of time if it does not affect their day-to-day lives. But for countless other individuals and groups, the study of history leads to improvements in activities that have an effect reaching far into the future, beyond their daily lives. The futures of mankind and the environment depend on these types of people who have enough foresight to study history to make for a better future for everyone.

(690 words)

參考譯文

對歷史的研究只有與我們?nèi)粘Ｉ钕嚓P(guān)才有其價值

"史學(xué)研究只有與我們?nèi)粘Ｉ钕嚓P(guān)才有價值"這一陳述忽略了歷史在人類日?；顒又獾膬r值。這似乎是一種甚為淺薄的論點(diǎn)，其言下之意是，人類生活在這個世界上只是為了得以生存下去，而不是為著其孩子和環(huán)境的未來作規(guī)劃。

首先，研究歷史即是去審視一幀人類行為的"指路圖"，讓我們明白我們何以會處于目前的狀態(tài)。例如，從過去戰(zhàn)爭中所吸取的全部教訓(xùn)能夠通過幫助人們避免昔日指揮官們所犯的錯誤而促進(jìn)更為有效的戰(zhàn)時領(lǐng)導(dǎo)藝術(shù)。從中國古代的《孫子兵法》一書中，今天的軍事指揮官們甚至是商界領(lǐng)袖們得以獲取極有價值的信息，使他們能更有效地進(jìn)行戰(zhàn)爭或商業(yè)操控。這種歷史研究所具備的價值已超越了人們?nèi)粘Ｉ钸@一范疇。它所能導(dǎo)致的軍事勝利或商業(yè)成功可直接影響到未來所要發(fā)生的一切，包括尚未出生的人的未來。

另一個例子是通過研究歷史，父母們可以改善他們孩子在未來的生活。父輩之前的數(shù)代祖先們所學(xué)到的教訓(xùn)可以向父輩們表明什么才是撫養(yǎng)孩子的恰當(dāng)方法。于他人有效的東西可以為當(dāng)今和未來的父母們提供有益的指導(dǎo)，以確保孩子們可為其未來作好準(zhǔn)備。

此外，研究歷史上所取得的醫(yī)學(xué)進(jìn)步可以奠定一個基礎(chǔ)，為當(dāng)今和未來取得醫(yī)學(xué)進(jìn)步創(chuàng)造條件，使人們得以過上壽命更長且更為健康的生活。研究愛滋病病源體的歷史，或許并不能改善研究人員的日常生活，但它卻肯定能對其他人在未來的生活產(chǎn)生深遠(yuǎn)的影響，如果控制和治療這一疾病的方法能被找到。對歷史上昔日的研究進(jìn)行分析，已導(dǎo)致了許多令人驚喜的醫(yī)學(xué)發(fā)現(xiàn)。只為了豐富一個人日常生活而去研究歷史，在這里將再一次與事實(shí)真相不符。

歷史研究的價值能超越其對日常生活的直接影響，這方面的另一個案例是人類是如何對環(huán)境及整個地球的?；仡櫄v史，看清各種人類行為對環(huán)境所造成的各種影響，這樣做可以向人們昭示，如果不采取恰當(dāng)?shù)姆婪洞胧?，則后患無窮。發(fā)生在三英里島和切爾諾貝的核事故被研究，以便確保此類事故不再發(fā)生。就核物質(zhì)對人類及環(huán)境的影響展開研究，這無疑會提供超越人們?nèi)粘Ｉ畹膬r值。對原油泄漏及對環(huán)境影響進(jìn)行研究，可以提供類似的指導(dǎo)，讓人們懂得如何去避免或至少是減輕原油泄漏對環(huán)境產(chǎn)生的后果。對地球南北兩極臭氧層遭破壞進(jìn)行研究，促使人類就某些化學(xué)品制定出新的法規(guī)，從而有助于保護(hù)我們大氣層中的有價值的這一部分。所有這些研究歷史的實(shí)例所提供的價值無疑已超越了對人們?nèi)粘Ｉ钏a(chǎn)生的影響。

當(dāng)然了，社會上有些人相信，只有那些此時此地影響著他們的事情才是重要的。對他們而言，對歷史的研究如果不能夠影響到他們?nèi)粘Ｉ畹脑?，就純粹是在浪費(fèi)時間。但對于無數(shù)其他個人和群體來說，研究歷史可導(dǎo)致其所從事的活動的改善，這些活動所產(chǎn)生的影響會深入到未來，遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超越其日常生活。人類和環(huán)境的未來就有賴于這樣一些類型的人，他們高瞻遠(yuǎn)矚，從歷史中獲取有益的教訓(xùn)，以謀求為所有的人創(chuàng)造一個更為美好的未來。