The autumn rains had come in with two angry storms, and Lazy River was waking up. In a week school (31) be closed for Easter vacation. Dick and Turkey planned to have a trip to the inland by boat, (32) they collected maps and statistics of the entire inland river system. Water levels down Lazy River; levels down the Namoi; along the Darling and the Murray; all were (33) their fingertips. They were very happy because now (34) , it appeared, except the joy of voyaging lay (35) them and the Southern Ocean or Central Queensland. It was clear to them (36) Australia’s early explorers had (37) a big mistake toiling overland when they (38) have opened up the continent rapidly and pleasantly with paddle and pole. It was at this stage (39) Dick’s father put his foot down. "Now listen, you chap," he said quietly. "It begins to look like a wet autumn and the river is already (40) wild. A few days’ rain or a wicked storm or two (41) it’ 11 flood. I’m not going to (42) your mother worrying herself sick about you, Dick. I know you’ re (43) on the trip but floods aren’t (44) anyone can fool with. You can go for a camp if you like, but no further (45) six miles from home; and of course you’ll camp (46) the flood level." It was (47) a blow to their inter-state dreams, (48) the boys had’ to concede, on reflection, that what their father said was reasonable. (49) they told their classmate Fred Ingleton at school on Monday about their father’s suggestion, he became suddenly cheerful. "That’s (50) my dad said, "he grinned. "Now he might let me go with you. He reckons you made a decent swimmer of me!\ 39().
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Audi A3 Most of our drivers said the A3 was their definite favourite in this group. They described it as refined and comfortable with good handing characteristics and light, precise steering. All the seats were comfortable and the front ones were easy to adjust. Most drivers liked the driving position, helped by a good range of steering wheel and seat height adjustments. The main instruments were clear and dashboard controls were well positioned. Mirror coverage was excellent but our drivers complained that the view out of the rear was badly hindered by the high rear window line and thick pillars. Getting into the back seats was easy, thanks to a clever seat mechanism, which moves the seat up and forward as well as tilting the backrest. Rear legroom was reasonable but the rear seat was only barely wide enough for three adults. Luggage space was average for this class of car but you have to remove the rear head restraints to fold the rear seat. There were plenty of useful interior storage spaces. All A3s come with an alarm and immobilizer as standard. Our "thief" got in through the doors in 20 seconds. But the radio was a non-standard fit, which is probably to deter thieves. The hinges of the rear seats could release in an accident, allowing luggage to crash through into the passenger compartment. Also, the driver’s knees could be damaged by stiff structures under the dash. Some parts of the fuel system and electrics would be vulnerable to damage in a frontal collision. Honda Civic Honda says its special VTEC engine has a winning combination of economy and performance, but our drivers found it a bit of a curate’s egg. It was the most economical of the car on test, but drivers found it sluggish at low revs, and its acceleration in the fifth gear was slow, so overtaking normally meant having to shift down to the fourth gear. The driving position was acceptable, but our panel criticized the restricted rear visibility— the rear window was quite small. Drivers found the back rest supportive but it was not available to make fine adjustments to the angle. The ride comfort was acceptable, but it wasn’t as good as the Audi’s or Rover’s. The driver’s seat didn’t slide forward when it was tilted, making rear access awkwardly from this side. In the back, headroom and legroom was excellent but testers didn’t find the seats particularly comfortable. The luggage space was small for this class of car, especially with the rear seats in place. However, folding the rear seat to increase luggage space was easy. Other points proved by our panel included well-placed minor controls, good mirror coverage, but fiddly radio controls. All Civics come with an immobilizer but no alarm. You may want to consider paying extra for an alarm, as our "thief" broke into through the doors in 13 seconds, and into the engine bay in just five seconds. There were stiff structures under the dash which could damage the driver’s knees in an accident, though there was no problem on the passenger’s side. The handbook (like the Audi’s) provided suggestion on Using child restraints. Rover 216 The 1.6-litre engine had good power delivery at both high and low revs but some drivers complained that it was noisy at high revs. The brakes didn’t have very good progression, but drivers like their positive feel. Ride comfort and the handling were recommended. But drivers found it difficult to achieve a comfortable driving position, The driver’s seat was not height-adjustable, and there was only limited space to rest your clutch foot. Some testers also found the seat backrest uncomfortable. Visibility was married by the small mirrors. The rear view was also restricted by thick pillars and the small rear window, Getting into the back was tricky because the front seats did not slide forward when tilted. Once in the back, legroom and headroom were poor, and testers complained that their rear seat base was unsupportive. Luggage space was smaller than average for this class of car—this was compounded by a high boot sill and difficulties in folding the rear seat. But there were large pockets in the doors and rear side panels. The main radio controls were more convenient; they were mounted on the steering wheel so drivers didn’t have to take their hands off the wheel to use them. Our Rover 200s came with an alarm, though this isn’t standard on all versions. Our "thief" broke in through the doors in 15 seconds. Some of the electrics would be vulnerable in a frontal impact. The rear seat hinges could release in an accident, allowing luggage to crash through into the passenger compartment. Also, information in the handbook on using child restrains was not adequate. ·has a convenient way to extend the space for suitcases
This book is an attempt to introduce the reader to the United States. It intends to give a concise but fairly well rounded overview of present day American so dety; not only a picture of surface phenomena, but insights into American culture and insights about the American people.Various aspects of American life are presented through articles written mainly by Americans themselves, or by westerners familiar with the United States. Most were written by scholars or specialists on the topic of the field. A number of articles were written by sociologists. This gives a perspective that goes beyond the common articles written for the average tourist, for the person with passing curiosity, or for the ordinary man-in-the-street. A number of articles were also selected with the idea of presenting different, sometimes conflicting, points of view about the same topic. This it is hoped, will help the reader to gain better understanding and to help him draw his own conclusions.It should be stressed that the viewpoints of the various authors are not necessarily those of the compilers of this book. We may agree with all of some articles, only partially with others and possibly disagree considerably with a few of the selections. To allow the reader to use his own judgement, we have generally kept the articles in their original form. If changes were made they were to make the language easier or to make the articles more manageable for the reader.Most of the articles in this book were selected on the basis of the following criteria:1. Their suitability for giving accurate information about a topic or some aspect of the topic. These articles should help present a well-rounded picture of the whole. In this respect, we have sometimes given preference to an earlier article rather than a later one if the former gives a more insightful or more comprehensive treatment of the subject.2. Their appeal to the ordinary reader. These articles should be authoritative and reliable, yet not too elementary. The contents should be of interest to most readers.3. Their linguistic quality and degree of difficulty. The level for which these articles are intended is college students of English, other college students with a fairly good command of English, and the general reader interested in the U. S. and with fairly good comprehension of the language.4. Their general relevance to Chinese readers or Chinese society. These articles should have some general significance to China, either present or future, and not be totally irrelevant.Obviously no one book can give a completely comprehensive picture of description of such a vast and complex nation. Many readers may disagree with our choice of topics; most likely a number will say we have left out important ones. Many may feel we did not use our best judgment in selecting the articles. We must admit that we did not always agree among ourselves. We were further restricted by the limited amount of materials to choose from. Needless to say, we welcome suggestions and criticisms from our readers. And in spite of all its shortcomings, if the book has helped the reader to gain some insight and understanding about the United States and its people and has stimulated the reader to go further, and to study more, then in a modest way this book will have accomplished much of what if was intended to do. What type of students is the book mainly compiled for
Not every President is a leader, but every time we elect a President we hope for one, especially in times of doubt and crisis. In easy times we are ambivalent -- the leader, after all, makes demands, challenges the status quo, shakes things up.Leadership is as much a question of timing as anything else.(67) And when he comes, he must offer a simple, eloquent message.Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who cut through argument, debate and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand and remember. Churchill warned the British to expect "blood, toil, tears and sweat"; FDR told Americans that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"; Lenin promised the war-weary Russians peace, land and bread. Straightforward but potent messages.We have an image of what a leader ought to be. We even recognize the physical signs: Leaders may not necessarily be tall, but they must have bigger-than-life, commanding features--LBJ’s nose and ear lobes, Ike’s broad grin. A trademark also comes in handy: Lincoln’s stovepipe hat, JFK’s rocker. We expect our leaders to stand out a little, not to be like ordinary men. Half of President Ford’s trouble lay in the fact that, if you closed your eyes for a moment, you couldn’t remember his face, figure or clothes. A leader should have an unforgettable identity, instantly and permanently fixed in people’s minds.It also helps for a leader to be able to do something most of us can’ t: FDR overcame polio; Mao swam the Yangtze River at the age of 72. We don’t want our leaders to be "just like us". We want them to be like us but better, special, more so.(68) Even television, which comes in for a lot of knocks as an image-builder that magnifies form over substance, doesn’t altogether obscure the qualities of leadership we recognize, or their absence. Television exposed Nixon’s insecurity, Humphrey’s fatal infatuation with his own voice.A leader must know how to use power, but he also has to have a way of showing that he does. He has to be able to project firmness-- no physical clumsiness(like Ford., no rapid eye movements(like Carter).A Chinese philosopher once remarked that a leader must have the grace of a good dancer, and there is a great deal of wisdom to this.(69) He should be able, like Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Ike and JFK, to give a good, hearty, belly laugh, instead of the sickly grin that passes for good humor in Nixon or Carter. Ronald Reagan’s training as an actor showed to good effect in the debate with Carter, when by his easy manner and apparent affability, he managed to convey the impression that in fact he was the President and Carter the challenger.If we know what we’ re looking for, why is it so difficult to find The answer lies in a very simple truth about leadership. People can only be led where they want to go. The leader follows, though a step ahead.(70) The British believed that they could still win the war after the defeats of 1940, and Churchill told them they were right.A leader rides the waves, moves with the tides, understands the deepest yearnings of his people. He cannot make a nation that wants peace at any price go to war, or stop a nation determined to fight from doing so. His purpose must match the national mood. His task is to focus the people’s energies and desires, to define them in simple terms, to inspire, and make what people already want seem attainable, important, within their grasp.(71) Winston Churchill managed, by sheer rhetoric, to turn the British defeat and the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 into a major victory. FDR’s words turned the sinking of the American fleet at Pearl Harbor into a national rallying cry instead of a humiliating national scandal. A leader must stir our blood, not appeal to our reason...A great leader must have a certain irrational quality, a stubborn refusal to face facts, infectious optimism, the ability to convince us that all is not lost even when we’re afraid it is. Confucius suggested that, while the advisers of a great leader should be as cold as ice, the leader himself should have fire, a spark of divine madness.A. Yet if they are too different, we reject them. Adlai Stevenson was too cerebral. Nelson Rockefeller, too rich.B. The leader must appear on the scene at a moment when people are looking for leadership, as Churchill did in 1940, as Roosevelt did in 1933, as Lenin did in 1917.C. Americans wanted to climb out of the Depression and needed someone to tell them they could do it, and FDR did.D. Our strength makes him strong; our determination makes him determined; our courage makes him a hero. He is the symbol of the best in us.E. Above all, he must dignify our desires, convince us that we are taking part in the making of great history, give us a sense of glory about ourselves.F. A leader should know how to appear relaxed and confident. His walk should be firm and purposeful. 70().
Audi A3 Most of our drivers said the A3 was their definite favourite in this group. They described it as refined and comfortable with good handing characteristics and light, precise steering. All the seats were comfortable and the front ones were easy to adjust. Most drivers liked the driving position, helped by a good range of steering wheel and seat height adjustments. The main instruments were clear and dashboard controls were well positioned. Mirror coverage was excellent but our drivers complained that the view out of the rear was badly hindered by the high rear window line and thick pillars. Getting into the back seats was easy, thanks to a clever seat mechanism, which moves the seat up and forward as well as tilting the backrest. Rear legroom was reasonable but the rear seat was only barely wide enough for three adults. Luggage space was average for this class of car but you have to remove the rear head restraints to fold the rear seat. There were plenty of useful interior storage spaces. All A3s come with an alarm and immobilizer as standard. Our "thief" got in through the doors in 20 seconds. But the radio was a non-standard fit, which is probably to deter thieves. The hinges of the rear seats could release in an accident, allowing luggage to crash through into the passenger compartment. Also, the driver’s knees could be damaged by stiff structures under the dash. Some parts of the fuel system and electrics would be vulnerable to damage in a frontal collision. Honda Civic Honda says its special VTEC engine has a winning combination of economy and performance, but our drivers found it a bit of a curate’s egg. It was the most economical of the car on test, but drivers found it sluggish at low revs, and its acceleration in the fifth gear was slow, so overtaking normally meant having to shift down to the fourth gear. The driving position was acceptable, but our panel criticized the restricted rear visibility— the rear window was quite small. Drivers found the back rest supportive but it was not available to make fine adjustments to the angle. The ride comfort was acceptable, but it wasn’t as good as the Audi’s or Rover’s. The driver’s seat didn’t slide forward when it was tilted, making rear access awkwardly from this side. In the back, headroom and legroom was excellent but testers didn’t find the seats particularly comfortable. The luggage space was small for this class of car, especially with the rear seats in place. However, folding the rear seat to increase luggage space was easy. Other points proved by our panel included well-placed minor controls, good mirror coverage, but fiddly radio controls. All Civics come with an immobilizer but no alarm. You may want to consider paying extra for an alarm, as our "thief" broke into through the doors in 13 seconds, and into the engine bay in just five seconds. There were stiff structures under the dash which could damage the driver’s knees in an accident, though there was no problem on the passenger’s side. The handbook (like the Audi’s) provided suggestion on Using child restraints. Rover 216 The 1.6-litre engine had good power delivery at both high and low revs but some drivers complained that it was noisy at high revs. The brakes didn’t have very good progression, but drivers like their positive feel. Ride comfort and the handling were recommended. But drivers found it difficult to achieve a comfortable driving position, The driver’s seat was not height-adjustable, and there was only limited space to rest your clutch foot. Some testers also found the seat backrest uncomfortable. Visibility was married by the small mirrors. The rear view was also restricted by thick pillars and the small rear window, Getting into the back was tricky because the front seats did not slide forward when tilted. Once in the back, legroom and headroom were poor, and testers complained that their rear seat base was unsupportive. Luggage space was smaller than average for this class of car—this was compounded by a high boot sill and difficulties in folding the rear seat. But there were large pockets in the doors and rear side panels. The main radio controls were more convenient; they were mounted on the steering wheel so drivers didn’t have to take their hands off the wheel to use them. Our Rover 200s came with an alarm, though this isn’t standard on all versions. Our "thief" broke in through the doors in 15 seconds. Some of the electrics would be vulnerable in a frontal impact. The rear seat hinges could release in an accident, allowing luggage to crash through into the passenger compartment. Also, information in the handbook on using child restrains was not adequate. ·gives the most space for tall passengers in the back