136. Individualism was unheard of a short 30-odd years ago during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution . Things have changed today , however ,with color returning to the streets of Chinese streets , people gaining a greater degree of self-determination and reform yielding monumental changes in traditional practices .

　　人们在三十多年前混乱的文化大革命时期没有听说过个人主义。然而，今天的情况不同了，中国的街道上又恢复了色彩，人们获得了更大的自主，改革带来了传统方式的巨变。

　　137. Social inequities of the past are rapidly giving way to expanded social consciousness .

　　过去社会的不公平正在被扩大的社会觉悟迅速取代。

　　138. Many claim that the world's highly developed countries bear sole responsibility for the plight of less-developed nations . I seriously doubt their contentions will bear the brunt of close scrutiny .

　　许多人声称世界上最发达的国家应该对欠发达国家的困境承担全权责任。我非常怀疑他们的观点能经受住仔细审查的冲击。

　　139. Although media reports expound on the volume of scientific and technological achievements , recent surveys indicate that the rapidity of transforming same into productive forces leaves much to be desired .

　　虽然媒体详细报道大量的科技成就，但是，最近的调查显示，把它们迅速转化为生产力还需要做出很多努力。

　　140. The popular belief in the invincibility of man is constantly rebuked by revaluations of man's fallibility .

　　认为人类无敌的普遍看法经常遭到重新评价人类易犯错误的特点的非难。

(责任编辑：田学江)