Reading journal –The Gay Genius

20171212 Chapter 7 Experiment in State Capitalism

1 Outstanding Question

This chapter mainly talked about the reformof Wang Anshih and Su Tungpo’s opinion about it. Also, there are some commentsfrom Mr.Lin, the author.

Interesting Sentence 

It would not be doing business according to supply and demand but instead would make transactions on the merit of commissions, distributing favors and contracts according to personal connections

原本出发点好的政策，到了执行环节，尤其是执行到下层的时候，越是离出发点远了。因为有定量的考核，所以很多时候执行任务的被考核者，往往要为了达到这个标准而做出违反初心的事情。

就跟我们说应试教育一样，我们觉得这样不好，但要对这么多人进行考核，定型考核难免显得力不从心，定量考核在操作层面上比较易于执行并且相对公平。

My thoughts

读完这章脑海里出现一个词：爱屋及乌。不知道林先生是因为喜欢苏东坡而赞同他的观点，从而不喜欢王安石。还是因为本身就不喜欢王安石，加之苏东坡也不喜欢他，因此对苏东坡的喜欢又加深了。大概两者相辅相成吧。

三年前第一次读这章的时候觉得很震撼，怎么这跟历史书上讲的不一样啊？三年后重读，对传记和历史两种体裁本身的特点有了把握之后，没有那么激动了，就当看了另一个人眼中的世界，更加能懂得那句“一千个读者有一千个哈姆雷特“。

Words and expressions

1.discrepancy

原文：In the draftexemption tax also, there was a great discrepancy between officialintentions and actual practice.

释义：n. a difference between two amounts, details, reports etc that should be the same两个本该一样的数量、细节、报告等不一致

用法: discrepancy in

造句：Police found discrepancies in the twomen’s testimony.

2. in abeyance

原文：The Emperor was inclined to agree with Szema Kuang, and for a month or two the measures were held in abeyance.

释义：something such as a custom, rule, orsystem that is in abeyance is not being used at the present time.搁置、终止、暂缓

拓展: fall into abeyance = no longer be used

造句：This plan has actually fallen intoabeyance.

3. overweening (formal) (贬义)

原文：Given the earnest desire of an ambitious young ruler to make his country powerful and strong, and a premier who had an overweening confidence in his ownpolitical and financial theories.

释义：adj. too proud and confident – used toshow disapproval

同义词：arrogant

造句：The man is of overweening ambition.

4. look askance at

原文：…and others, who were inclined to look askance at any radical reforms and who commandedsufficient popular prestige to discourage any young man with newfangled ideas.

释义：If you look askance at someone or something,you do not approve of them orthink they are good.

例句：My grandpa always looks askance at myjeans.

5. forgery

释义：n. a document, painting, or piece ofpaper money that has been copied illegally

同义词：fake

例句：This picture was a very clever forgery.