[背景了解]
　　文章取自于2004年1月的閱讀真題，是關于人性論的文章，選段有點長，希望耐心看下，自己先猜下劃線部分單詞的意思吧
　　[文章部分]
　　Another factor contributing to the tendency to deny the assumption of a fixed human nature was that the concept has so often been abused as a shield behind which the most inhuman acts are committed. In the name of human nature, for example, Aristotle and most thinkers up to the eighteenth century defended slavery. Or in order to prove the rationality and necessity of the capitalist form of society, scholars have tried to make a case for acquisitiveness, competitiveness, and selfishness as innate (天生的) human traits.
　　[單詞學習]
　　tendency n.趨向, 傾向
　　shield n.防護物, 護罩, 盾, 盾狀物 vt.(from) 保護, 防護 v.遮蔽
　　rationality n.合理性, 唯理性
　　acquisitive adj渴望得到的；貪得無厭的，一味追求的（尤指物質方面）
　　trait n.顯著的特點, 特性
　　[課后作業]
　　今天的作業就是翻譯下面幾個句子,來試下吧
　　1.Prices continue to show an upward tendency.
　　2.The car polish is an effective shield against rust.
　　3.He is an acquisitive collector.
　　4.One of his less attractive traits is criticizing his wife in public.
　　答案：
　　1.物價呈現持續上漲的趨勢。
　　2.這種汽車上光蠟很有防銹作用。
　　3.他是個貪得無厭的收藏家。
　　4.他有個不大討人喜歡的特點，就是愛當眾責備妻子。