8 The / Its method / way / value / wisdom s now being questioned / challenged by more and more people.

8.1 Throwing criminals in jail is an ancient and widespread method of punishment, but is it a wise one? It does seem reasonable to keep wrongdoers in a place where they find fewer opportunities to hurt innocent people, and where they might discover that crime doesn't pay. The system has long been considered fair and sound by those who want to see the guilty punished and society protected. Yet the value of this form of justice is now being questioned by more and more people.

把罪犯丢进监狱是个古老又被广泛采用的惩罚方法。但这个方法是否明智？把做坏事的人关在一个地方，使他们没有机会再损害无辜的人，使他们感到犯罪划不来，似乎确实有道理。这种制度一直被那些希望罪恶得到惩罚，社会得到保护的人视为公平而有效。但是这种司法形式的合理性现在正受到越来越多的人的质疑。

8.2 Required class attendance, like an old custom, is so common in in Chinese colleges and universities that many teachers and even students themselves simply assume it is a good thing. But is it a wise method? It does contribute to the rise in the number of students attending class. But is there any proven co-relation between attendance and performance in a course? The value of required attendance is now being questioned by more and more teachers and students.

上课点名制，如同一种古老习俗，在中国的大学里非常普遍，许多教师甚至学生自己都认为这种做法是对的。但这种方法是否明智？上课点名确实有助于学生出勤率的上升，但是到教室上课和这个学生在这门课上的学习表现，两者之间是否已证实有联系？上课点名制度的合理性已受到越来越多的教师和学生的怀疑。