出国留学首选一诺留学

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　　Good morning. There's been a good deal of interestin the exchanges in the House of Commonsyesterday when Jeremy Corbyn as the new labourleader asked questions of the prime minister for thefirst time. The ability of members of parliament toask oral or written questions of ministers is a vitalpart of British democracy. And such questioning is a day by day reality not confined to theweekly showpiece questioning of the prime minister. In the House of Lords, each day startswith a series of such questions and it's not uncommon for a minister in the face of this to gobeyond his or her departmental briefing and say something which can move policy forward. Thishalf an hours of questioning at the start of each day is arguably the most productive part ofthe day's work.

　　Of course the use of probing questioning to get at a hidden or underlying truth isn't aninvention of the British parliament, it's as old as civilization. The method of questioningdeveloped in Greece by Socrates some two and a half thousand years ago lay at the heart oflater ethical critical thinking and much of the scientific method of testing hypotheses. He'squoted as saying "I can't teach anybody anything, I can only make them think". This wasn'talways appreciated by those whose arguments were shown to be shallow by his relentlessquestioning. This may well have contributed to his condemnation and death.

　　Another teacher relying on the power of asking questions was Jesus from Nazareth. Thegospels credit him with asking 135 questions during his three year tour of teaching andhealing. Some of his questions were fundamental "What good will it be for a man if he gainsthe whole world. Yet forfeits his soul?" Some were challenging, "Why do you call me Lord,Lord, and do not do as I say?" "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother'seye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Some came out of his own personalagony, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

　　And Jesus skilfully asked rhetorical questions to emphasize a point in a powerful but noncombative manner. "Why does this generation seek for a sign?" communicates rather betterthan "You stubborn group of unbelieving people." Probing questions can be effective withoutbeing hectoring. Hopefully we will see more of this style of questioning and answering from allsides in the House of Commons in the months ahead.