The True Historian To be "historically minded" is to see things in relation and in perspec

The True Historian

To be "historically minded" is to see things in relation and in perspective, and to judge tolerantly. We must remember how differently men have thought and acted in different time. We must always keep an open mind, ready to receive and weigh new evidence. If we grasp this idea, we will never think that a historian(历史学家) is someone who can remember dates. That childish idea is like calling a man a statesman (政治家) because be can remember the names of voters in his district. A waiter could remember more names and a telephone operator more numbers than the greatest historian.

The true historian is not content to take all his facts from other historians. Today he makes sure his statements are based on sound "documents" or "sources" which go back to the time of the facts themselves.

But the historian needs always to be in his guard not to be misled by his sources. A document may not be a real one. Its author may be lying on purpose for some reason. He may be so greatly influenced by national, religious, party, or personal backgrounds as to be totally unfair to the other side. If honest, he may be misinformed as to the facts and mistaken in his inferences.

Anyone who reads the accounts published in the different countries concerning the causes and results of wars will realize that the historian needs caution and training in handling these sources. The trained historian asks first: "Did this writer mean to tell the truth？" and second: "Was he in a position or frame. of mind to tell the truth even if he wants to？" Every statement must be patiently weighed and tested and combined with all other available information in order to get at the truth.

A "historically minded" researcher ______.

A．always keeps an open mind to history

B．looks at one historical event without relating it to another

C．sees things from a single point of view

D．refuses to accept new evidence