The Romans – for centuries is the masters of war and
polities across Europe, Northern Africa and Asia Minor – have often been criticized
for producing few original thinker outside the realm of positive. This
criticism, while in many ways true, is not without its problems. It was, after
all the conquest of Greece that provided Rome with its greatest influx of
educated subjects. Two of the great disasters intellectual history – the murder
of Archimedes and the burning the Alexandria’s library – both occurred under
Rome’s watch. Nevertheless, a city that was able to conquer so much of the
known world could not have been devoid of the creativity that characterizes so
many other ancient emprises.
Engineering is one endeavor in which the Romans showed
themselves capable. Their aqueducts carried water hundreds of miles along the
tops of vast arcades. Roman roads built for the rapid deployment of troops,
criss-cross Europe and still form the basis of numerous modern highways that
provide quick access prominence to Rome’s economic and political influence.
Many of these major cities lie for beyond Rome’s original
province, and Latin-derived languages are spoken in most Southern European
nations. Again a result of military influence the popularity of Latin and its
off spring is difficult to overestimate. During the centuries of ignorance and
violence that followed Rome’s decline, the Latin language was the glue that
held together the identity of an entire continent. While seldom spoken today,
it is still studied widely, if only so that such master or rhetoric as Cicero
can be read in the original.
It is Cicero and his like who are perhaps the most
overlooked legacy of Rome. While far from being a democracy, Rome did leave
behind useful political tool that serve the American republic today. “Republic”
itself is Latin for “the people’s business,” a notion cherished in democracies
worldwide. Senators owe their name to Rome’s class of elders; Representatives
owe theirs to the Tributes who seized popular prerogatives from the Senatorial
class. The veto was a Roman notion adopted by the historically aware framers of
the Constitution, who often assumed pen names from the lexicon of Latin life.
These accomplishments, as monumental as any highway or coliseum, remain
prominent features of the Western landscape.
Which of the following is Not described in the passage as a part of ancient Roman life that left a lasting legacy?
Educational planning should aim at meeting the educational
needs of the entire population of all age groups. While the traditional
structure of education as a three layer hierarchy from the primary stage to the
university represents the core, we should not overlook the periphery which is
equally important. Under modern conditions, workers need to rewind, or renew their
professor. The retired and the aged have their needs as well. Educational planning,
in their words, should take care of the needs of everyone.
Our structures of education have been built up on the
assumption that there is a terminal point to education. This basic defect has
become all the more harmful today. A UNESCO report, titled “Learning to be”
prepared by Edgar Faure and others in 1973 asserts that the education of
children must prepare the future adult for various forms of self-learning. A viable
education system of the future should consist of modules with different kinds
of functions serving a diversity of constituents. And performance, not the
period of study, should be the basis for credentials. The writing is already on
the wall.
In view of the fact that the significance of a commitment of
lifelong learning and lifetime education is being discussed only in recent
years even in educationally advanced countries, the possibility of the idea
becoming an integral part of educational thinking seems to be a far cry. For,
to move in that direction means much more than some simple rearrangement of the
present organization of education. But a good beginning can be made by
developing Open University programs for older learners of different categories
and introducing extension services in the conventional colleges and schools. Also,
these institutions should learn to cooperate with numerous community
organizations such as libraries, museums, municipal recreational programs,
health services etc.
Q: What is the main thrust of the author?
Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected their government to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is obvious that a sprirt of self-denial and moderation on the part of those who hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men are more interested in freedom and security than in an equal distribution of wealth. The extent to which Government must interfere with business, therefore, is not exactly measured by the extent to which economic power is concentrated into a few hands. The required degree of government inference depends mainly on whether economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.
However, with necessity of meeting all these dangers and threats to liberty, the powers of government are unavoidably increased, regardless of the political party in power. The growth of government is a necessary result of the growth of technology and of the problems that go with the use of machines and science. Since the government must take on more powers to meet the problems of the nations, there is no way to preserve freedom except by making democracy more powerful.
Q: 'Era of good feeling' in the paragraph refers to
Democratic societies from the earliest times have expected
their government to protect the weak against the strong. No ‘era of good
feeling’ can justify discharging the police force or giving up the idea of
public control over concentrated private wealth. On the other hand, it is
obvious that a sprirt of self-denial and moderation on the part of those who
hold economic power will greatly soften the demand for absolute equality. Men
are more interested in freedom and security than in an equal distribution of
wealth. The extent to which Government must interfere with business, therefore,
is not exactly measured by the extent to which economic power is concentrated
into a few hands. The required degree of government inference depends mainly on
whether economic powers are oppressively used, and on the necessity of keeping
economic factors in a tolerable state of balance.
However, with necessity of meeting all these dangers and
threats to liberty, the powers of government are unavoidably increased,
regardless of the political party in power. The growth of government is a necessary
result of the growth of technology and of the problems that go with the use of
machines and science. Since the government must take on more powers to meet the
problems of the nations, there is no way to preserve freedom except by making
democracy more powerful.
Q: The advent of science and technology has increased the
