精读2lesson11a

1.The differences were all but wiped out by the similarities. (Para. 4)
all but :almost; nearly
wiped out :to destroy or remove completely
The differences became so insignificant compared with the similarities, they were almost completely pushed aside and forgotten.
2.And the simplest reality of all was that the human community was one—greater than any of its parts, greater than the separateness imposed by nations, greater than the different faiths and loyalties or the depth and color of varying cultures. (Para. 4)
And the simplest fact was that the human community was one organic whole, and the whole is always bigger and more important than the parts. Today the world is divided into nations which force the world to become separate parts. But no single nation is more important than the whole humanity, and differences in their religious faiths, political or national loyalties, or their cultures should not be allowed to blind us to the basic things they all share.
3.This larger unity was the most important
central fact of our time—something on which
people could build at a time when hope
seemed misty, almost unreal. (Para. 4)
This larger unity was :the human community as a whole
something on which people could build :something people could use as a basis for further development
4.It turned out that my ability to get along with
other peoples depended not so much upon my
comprehension of the uniqueness of their way
of life as my comprehension of the things we
had in common. (Para. 5)
not so much upon :not one thing but rather sth. else
The fact that, I could adjust myself well to other nations was not because of my understanding of the differences between us but because of my understanding of the similarities we shared.
5.But to stop there was like clearing the ground without any idea of what was to be built on it. (Para. 5)
clearing the ground:to get the land ready for construction by removing irrelevant things from it
If we only respect differences but pay no attention to similarities, it will be aimless/unconstructive.
6.It was the mark of a rounded man to be well traveled. (Para. 6)
a rounded man :someone who has received a
well-rounded education (通才教育),
not one-sided, but complete and varied
be well traveled:to have been to many countries
7.… the universe itself does not hold life cheaply. Life is a rare occurrence… (Para. 8)
not hold life cheaply:to think that sth. is important
occurrence:event; happening
The earth is the only place where life can be found, so the universe seems to favor life more/ take life seriously. And the respect of life is the very basis on which we must build the future world community.
8.Of all these countless forms of life, only one, the human species, possesses certain faculties in combination that give it supreme advantages over all the others. (Para. 8)
possesses certain faculties:has certain abilities and powers
in combination :when put together
advantages

over :something that may help one to be successful or to gain a favorable result
9.Viewed in global perspective, what counts is not that… but that… (Para. 9)
Viewed in global perspective:past participle
When we look at it from the global point of view
what counts :what is important
not that… but that:parallelism
10.Leadership on this higher level does not require mountains of gold or thundering propaganda. (Para. 11)
higher level :spiritual or moral level
thundering :very loud or noisy propaganda
Leadership on the spiritual/moral level is not based on money or propaganda.