Section_ⅠIntroduction & Reading - Pre­reading

　　Philosophers of Ancient China

　　Ancient China was a place where states were often at war with①each other②. But it was also a time③ when there were many great philosophers④. Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC) is the philosopher whose influence has been the greatest⑤. He stressed⑥ the importance of kindness, duty and order⑦ in society. Chinese society was influenced by these ideas for more than 2,000 years.

　　Mencius was a thinker whose teachings were very similar to⑧ those⑨ of Confucius. Mencius was born in 372 BC. His father died when he was young, and he was brought up⑩ by his mother. He became a student of Confucius's ideas, and was then given an important position\s\up1(11(11) in the government of a state. However, when he saw that the ruler was not following his advice⑫， he resigned⑬. For many years he travelled from state to state, teaching⑭ the principles\s\up1(15(15)of Confucius. He then became an adviser⑯ to another ruler. He spent his last years preparing a book of his teachings called The Book of Mencius⑰. Mencius believed that the reason why man is different from animals is that man is good. He taught that if the government was kind, then people would be good. He believed that people were more important than rulers, and hated the state when it treated people badly.

　　①be at war with "与......交战"，表示处于战争的状态。

　　②where states were often at war with each other 是 where 引导的定语从句，修饰 a place, where 在从句中作地点状语。

　　③a time 一个时期，一段时间

　　④when there were many great philosophers 是 when 引导的定语从句，修饰 a time, when 在从句中作时间状语。

　　⑤whose influence has been the greatest 是 whose 引导的定语从句， whose 在从句中作定语。该定语从句使用了现在完成时态。

⑥stress/stres/vt.强调