三十多年前，我在学习《新概念英语》时，特别喜欢其中的一篇文章：A Puma At Large （一只美洲虎从动物园跑掉了）。

最近，我读英国文化协会前主席Gerald Lemos 去年出版的书：中国梦的终结（The Eng of The Chinese Dream)。其中两段，也许可以加到《新概念英语》里面。

其中一段描写他到重庆农村参观。当地政府"安排"了一户农家接待他，但是，那个安排太粗糙，一看就知道做假，做得太低级：床垫上的塑料包装尚未取下来，电视机和音箱都是尚未用过的。参观时，气氛太紧张了！他因为被骗，所以一言不发。....  终于，当地的陪同官员松了一口气：参观完毕了，吃饭的时间到了。好酒好菜由纳税人买单，怕什么？他写道：

The couple who had been instructed to say they lived there confirmed that they still farmed a small plot of land. They were also attending the skills training centre in the village. All in all, they claimed implausibly, they were quite happy with how things had turned out. My incredulity was expressed in uncharacteristic silence...(In their house,) an enormous television and a stereo with huge speakers looked similarly virgin...The plastic wrapping had not been removed from the mattress....(Finally,) the local officials were relieved that the visit had passed off uneventfully and delighted that they could now join in an excellent meal along with plenty of alcohol at official expense; paid for in other words by taxes on the universally poor local people.

第二段也很有趣。他讲中国人在酒席上频频举杯，许诺，山盟海誓，建立新的友谊，达成生意，该给领导进贡的就进贡，该巴结的就巴结。他精炼地写道：

Behind these closed doors business dinners and banquets take place out of sight of prying eyes. Relationships are established; promises made; Party officials wooed; bribes agreed; deals done.