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Text 3 Science is the never-ending struggle to find truth. You may dismiss this statement as th...
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EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.19
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.1
DomobilephonescauseexplosionsatpetrolstationsThatquestionhasjustbeenexhaustivelyansweredbyAdamBurgessaresearcherattheUniversityofKentinEngland.OddlyhoweverDrBurgessisnotaphysicistbutasociologist.Fortheconcernrestsnotonscientificevidenceofanydangerbutisinsteadtheresultofsociologicalfactors:itisanurbanmythsupportedandpropagatedbyofficialsourcesbutnolessamythforthat.DrBurgesspresentedhisfindingsthisweekattheannualconferenceoftheBritishSociologicalAssociation. Mobilephonesstartedtobecomewidespreadinthelate1980swhentheoilindustrywasinthemiddleofaconcertedsafetydriveDrBurgessnotes.ThiswasinlargepartaresponsetothePiperAlphadisasterin1988when167peoplediedinanexplosiononanoilplatformofftheScottishcoast.41.______Sonobodyquestionedtheprecautionarybanontheuseofmobilephonesatpetrolstations.Theworrywasthatanelectricalsparkmightigniteexplosivefumes. 42.______Butitwastoolate.Themythhadtakenhold. OneproblemsaysDrBurgessisthatthenumberofpetrol-stationfiresincreasedinthelate1990sjustasmobilephoneswereproliferating.RichardCoatesBP’sfire-safetyadviserinvestigatedmanyofthe243suchfiresthatoccurredaroundtheworldbetween1993and2004.Heconcludedthatmostwereindeedcausedbysparksignitingpetrolvapourbutthesparksthemselvesweretheresultofstaticelectricitynotelectricalequipment.Mostdriverswillhaveexperiencedamildelectricshockwhenclimbingoutoftheirvehicles.Itiscausedbyfrictionbetweendriverandseatwiththeresultthatbothendupelectricallycharged.Whenthedrivertouchesthemetalframeofthevehicletheresultissometimesaspark. 43.______ 44.______Onee-mailcontainedfictitiousexamplesofsuchexplosionssaidtohavehappenedinIndonesiaandAustralia.AnothersupposedlysentoutbyShellfounditswayontoaninternalwebsiteatExxonsaysDrBurgesswhereitwastreatedasauthoritativebyemployees.Suchmemosgenerallyexplainstaticfiresquiteaccuratelybutmistakenlyattributethemtomobilephones.OfficialdenialssaysDrBurgesssimplyinflamethesuspicionsofconspiracytheorists. 45.______Warningsigns.aboundinBritainAmericaCanadaandAustralia.ThecityofSaoPauloinBraziliatroducedabanlastyearAndearnertinsmonthamemberofConnecticut’s.senateproposedmakingtheuseofmobilephonesinpetrolstationsinthatstatepunishablebya$250fine. [A]Thesafetydrivedidnotapplymerelytooffshoreoperations:employeesatsomeBritishoil-companyofficesarenowrequiredtousehandrailswhilewalkingupanddownstairsforexample. [B]Asaresultthecompanyhadtopayahugeamountofcompensationtothefamiliesofthevictimsandlawsuitsconcerningthosefiresseemedtobeendless. [C]Afurthercomplicationwastheriseoftheinternetwherehoaxmemosmanyclaimingtooriginatefromoilcompanieswarnedofthedangerofusingmobilephonesinpetrolstations. [D]ThisisparticularlynoticeableinBritain.Thecountrythatledthewayinbanningmobilephonesatpetrolstationsisalsothecountrythathastakenthestrongestlineonthesafetyofmobile-phoneusebychildren. [E]Despitethelackofevidencethatmobilephonescancauseexplosionsbansremaininplacearoundtheworldthoughtherulesvarywidely. [F]Bythelate1990showeverphonemakers--havingconductedtheirownresearch—realizedthattherewasnodangerofphonescausingexplosionssincetheycouldnotgeneratetherequiredsparks. [G]Thisseemstohavebecomemorecommonasplasticcarinteriorssyntheticgarmentsandrubber-soledshoeshaveproliferated. 43
Mostofthepeoplewhoappearmostoftenandmostgloriouslyinthehistorybooksaregreatconquerorsandgeneralsandsoldierswhereasthepeoplewhoreallyhelpedcivilizationforwardareoftennevermentionedatall.Wedonotknowwhofirstsetabrokenlegorlaunchedaseaworthyboatorcalculatedthelengthoftheyearormanuredafield;butweknowallaboutthekillersanddestroyers.Peoplethinkagreatdealofthemsomuchsothatonallthehighestpillarsinthegreatcitiesoftheworldyouwillfindthefigureofaconquerororageneralorasoldier.AndIthinkmostpeoplebelievethatthegreatestcountriesarethosethathavebeateninbattlethegreatestnumberofothercountriesandruledoverthemasconquerors.Itisjustpossibletheyarebuttheyarenotthemostcivilized.Animalsfight;sodosavages;hencetobegoodatfightingistobegoodinthewayinwhichananimalorasavageisgoodbutitisnottobecivilized.Evenbeinggoodatgettingotherpeopletofightforyouandtellingthemhowtodoitmostefficiently—thisafteralliswhatconquerorsandgeneralshavedone—isnotbeingcivilized.Peoplefighttosettlequarrels.’FightingmeanskillingandcivilizedpeoplesoughttobeabletofindsomewayofsettlingtheirdisputesotherthanbyseeingwhichsidecankilloffthegreaternumberoftheothersideandthensayingthatthatsidewhichhaskilledmosthaswornAndnotonlyhaswonbutbecauseithaswonhasbeenintheright.Forthatiswhatgoingtowarmeans;itmeanssayingthatmightisright.Thatiswhatthestoryofmankindhasonthewholebeenlike.Evenourownagehasfoughtthetwogreatestwarsinhistoryinwhichmillionsofpeoplewerekilledormutilated.Andwhiletodayitistruethatpeopledonotfightandkilleachotherinthestreets—whilethatistosaywehavegottothestageofkeepingtherulesandbehavingproperlytoeachotherindailylife—nationsandcountrieshavenotlearnttodothisyetandstillbehavelikesavages.Butwemustnotexpecttoomuch.Afteralltheraceofmenhasonlyjuststarted.Fromthepointofviewofevolutionhumanbeingsareveryyoungchildrenindeedbabiesinfactofafewmonthsold.Scientistsreckonthattherehasbeenlifeofsomesortontheearthintheformofjellyfishandthatkindofcreatureforabouttwelvehundredmillionyears;buttherehavebeenmenforonlyonemillionyearsandtherehavebeencivilizedmenforabouteightthousandyearsattheoutside.Thesefiguresaredifficulttograsp;soletusscalethemdown.Supposethatwereckonthewholepastoflivingcreaturesontheearthasonehundredyears;thenthewholepastofmanworksoutataboutonemonthandduringthatmonththerehavebeencivilizationsforbetweensevenandeighthours.Soyouseetherehasbeenlittletimetolearninbuttherewillbeoceansoftimeinwhichtolearnbetter.Takingman’scivilizedpastataboutsevenoreighthourswemayestimatehisfuturethatistosaythewholeperiodbetweennowandwhenthesungrowstoocoldtomaintainlifeanylongerontheearthataboutonehundredthousandyears.ThusmankindisonlyatthebeginningofitscivilizedlifeandasIsaywemustnotexpecttoomuch.Thepastofmanhasbeenonthewholeaprettybeastlybusinessabusinessoffightingandbullyingandgorgingandgrabbingandhurting.Wemustnotexpectevencivilizedpeoplesnottohavedonethesethings.Allwecanaskisthattheywillsometimeshavedonesomethingelse.Intheauthor’sopinionthecountriesthatruledoveralargenumberofothercountriesare
Text2 "WefindthatthefleetingusesofthewordsK‘penis’‘vaginal’‘ass’‘bastard’and‘bitch’utteredinthecontextoftheprogramscitedinthecomplaintsdonotrenderthematerialpatentlyoffensiveundercontemporarycommunitystandardsforthebroadcastmedium."MakingdecisionslikethisisoneofthemorethanklesstasksofAmerica’smediaregulatortheFederalCommunicationsCommission.Since1927theFCChastriedtoprotectchildrenfrom"indecency"--sexualcontentandswearwords--onbroadcasttelevisionandradio. UnderpressurefromsocialconservativesAmerica’spoliticiansarenowthreateningtoextendindecencyregulationfurther.IftheygettheirwaynotjustbroadcasttelevisionandradiobutcableandsatelliteTVandpossiblysatelliteradiowouldbemonitoredbytheFCCforindecency.America’smediafirmshavebeenshakenbythisthreat. Everysocietyofcoursehastherighttoprotectchildrenfromadultmaterial.Butincreasingcensorshipbythecentralgovernmentisthewrongwaytogoaboutthis.Awisercoursewouldbetoeliminatethegovernment’sroleandrelymoreonparents.Fortunatelychangesintechnologyandthemediaindustryitselfnowmakethisapproachmorefeasiblethanever. Televisionhaschangedbeyondrecognitionsinceindecencyruleswerefirstimposed.In1978theSupremeCourtupheldtheFCC’srighttopunishindecencyonthegroundsthatbroadcastershadwhatitcalleda"uniquelypervasivepresenceinthelivesofallAmericans."Backthenthatwasaplausibleargument.Butwithtelevisionfragmentingintosomanyoutletssuchuniquepervasivenessnolongerprevails.Overfour-fifthsofAmericanhouseholdsforinstancesubscribetocableorsatellitetelevision.Theyarejustaslikelytobewatchingoneofthehundredsofcablechannelstheyhaveathomeasoneofthemainsixbroadcastnetworks.Withsomuchchoiceavoidingtheindecentiseasierthanitwas30yearsagowhenmostpeoplehadonlythreechannels. Atthesametimenewtechnologynowallowsfamiliestofilterthetelevisiontheyreceive.CableandsatelliteTVcomewithset-topboxesthatcanscreenoutindividualchannels.Digitalcableset-topboxesareparticularlypreciseandallowparentstoblockindividualprogrammesatthetouchofabuttonontheirremotecontrol.EverynewtelevisionsetsoldinAmericasince2000isequippedwitha"v-chip"ablockingdevicethatBillClintonforcedonthemediaindustryin1996.Itisonlythankstothev-chipandset-topboxesinfactthatchildrengetanyprotectionfromviolencesincetheFCCregulatesonlysexandbadlanguage.Americaistheonlycountrywhereblockingtechnologyisalreadyinthevastmajorityofhomesthankstotheubiquityofpaytelevision.Butitislikelysoontobeavailableelsewhereaswell. Theauthoraccordingtothetextseemsto
Text2 "WefindthatthefleetingusesofthewordsK‘penis’‘vaginal’‘ass’‘bastard’and‘bitch’utteredinthecontextoftheprogramscitedinthecomplaintsdonotrenderthematerialpatentlyoffensiveundercontemporarycommunitystandardsforthebroadcastmedium."MakingdecisionslikethisisoneofthemorethanklesstasksofAmerica’smediaregulatortheFederalCommunicationsCommission.Since1927theFCChastriedtoprotectchildrenfrom"indecency"--sexualcontentandswearwords--onbroadcasttelevisionandradio. UnderpressurefromsocialconservativesAmerica’spoliticiansarenowthreateningtoextendindecencyregulationfurther.IftheygettheirwaynotjustbroadcasttelevisionandradiobutcableandsatelliteTVandpossiblysatelliteradiowouldbemonitoredbytheFCCforindecency.America’smediafirmshavebeenshakenbythisthreat. Everysocietyofcoursehastherighttoprotectchildrenfromadultmaterial.Butincreasingcensorshipbythecentralgovernmentisthewrongwaytogoaboutthis.Awisercoursewouldbetoeliminatethegovernment’sroleandrelymoreonparents.Fortunatelychangesintechnologyandthemediaindustryitselfnowmakethisapproachmorefeasiblethanever. Televisionhaschangedbeyondrecognitionsinceindecencyruleswerefirstimposed.In1978theSupremeCourtupheldtheFCC’srighttopunishindecencyonthegroundsthatbroadcastershadwhatitcalleda"uniquelypervasivepresenceinthelivesofallAmericans."Backthenthatwasaplausibleargument.Butwithtelevisionfragmentingintosomanyoutletssuchuniquepervasivenessnolongerprevails.Overfour-fifthsofAmericanhouseholdsforinstancesubscribetocableorsatellitetelevision.Theyarejustaslikelytobewatchingoneofthehundredsofcablechannelstheyhaveathomeasoneofthemainsixbroadcastnetworks.Withsomuchchoiceavoidingtheindecentiseasierthanitwas30yearsagowhenmostpeoplehadonlythreechannels. Atthesametimenewtechnologynowallowsfamiliestofilterthetelevisiontheyreceive.CableandsatelliteTVcomewithset-topboxesthatcanscreenoutindividualchannels.Digitalcableset-topboxesareparticularlypreciseandallowparentstoblockindividualprogrammesatthetouchofabuttonontheirremotecontrol.EverynewtelevisionsetsoldinAmericasince2000isequippedwitha"v-chip"ablockingdevicethatBillClintonforcedonthemediaindustryin1996.Itisonlythankstothev-chipandset-topboxesinfactthatchildrengetanyprotectionfromviolencesincetheFCCregulatesonlysexandbadlanguage.Americaistheonlycountrywhereblockingtechnologyisalreadyinthevastmajorityofhomesthankstotheubiquityofpaytelevision.Butitislikelysoontobeavailableelsewhereaswell. ThescarcityofTVselectionaccordingtothetext
AprofessorfromAustraliawilldeliveralectureonAustraliansocietyandcultureandyouareaskedtowriteanoticeonbehalfoftheStudents’Union.Yournoticeshouldinclude: 1briefintroductionofthelecturer; 2outlineofthelecture; 3timeandplace.
Mostofthepeoplewhoappearmostoftenandmostgloriouslyinthehistorybooksaregreatconquerorsandgeneralsandsoldierswhereasthepeoplewhoreallyhelpedcivilizationforwardareoftennevermentionedatall.Wedonotknowwhofirstsetabrokenlegorlaunchedaseaworthyboatorcalculatedthelengthoftheyearormanuredafield;butweknowallaboutthekillersanddestroyers.Peoplethinkagreatdealofthemsomuchsothatonallthehighestpillarsinthegreatcitiesoftheworldyouwillfindthefigureofaconquerororageneralorasoldier.AndIthinkmostpeoplebelievethatthegreatestcountriesarethosethathavebeateninbattlethegreatestnumberofothercountriesandruledoverthemasconquerors.Itisjustpossibletheyarebuttheyarenotthemostcivilized.Animalsfight;sodosavages;hencetobegoodatfightingistobegoodinthewayinwhichananimalorasavageisgoodbutitisnottobecivilized.Evenbeinggoodatgettingotherpeopletofightforyouandtellingthemhowtodoitmostefficiently—thisafteralliswhatconquerorsandgeneralshavedone—isnotbeingcivilized.Peoplefighttosettlequarrels.’FightingmeanskillingandcivilizedpeoplesoughttobeabletofindsomewayofsettlingtheirdisputesotherthanbyseeingwhichsidecankilloffthegreaternumberoftheothersideandthensayingthatthatsidewhichhaskilledmosthaswornAndnotonlyhaswonbutbecauseithaswonhasbeenintheright.Forthatiswhatgoingtowarmeans;itmeanssayingthatmightisright.Thatiswhatthestoryofmankindhasonthewholebeenlike.Evenourownagehasfoughtthetwogreatestwarsinhistoryinwhichmillionsofpeoplewerekilledormutilated.Andwhiletodayitistruethatpeopledonotfightandkilleachotherinthestreets—whilethatistosaywehavegottothestageofkeepingtherulesandbehavingproperlytoeachotherindailylife—nationsandcountrieshavenotlearnttodothisyetandstillbehavelikesavages.Butwemustnotexpecttoomuch.Afteralltheraceofmenhasonlyjuststarted.Fromthepointofviewofevolutionhumanbeingsareveryyoungchildrenindeedbabiesinfactofafewmonthsold.Scientistsreckonthattherehasbeenlifeofsomesortontheearthintheformofjellyfishandthatkindofcreatureforabouttwelvehundredmillionyears;buttherehavebeenmenforonlyonemillionyearsandtherehavebeencivilizedmenforabouteightthousandyearsattheoutside.Thesefiguresaredifficulttograsp;soletusscalethemdown.Supposethatwereckonthewholepastoflivingcreaturesontheearthasonehundredyears;thenthewholepastofmanworksoutataboutonemonthandduringthatmonththerehavebeencivilizationsforbetweensevenandeighthours.Soyouseetherehasbeenlittletimetolearninbuttherewillbeoceansoftimeinwhichtolearnbetter.Takingman’scivilizedpastataboutsevenoreighthourswemayestimatehisfuturethatistosaythewholeperiodbetweennowandwhenthesungrowstoocoldtomaintainlifeanylongerontheearthataboutonehundredthousandyears.ThusmankindisonlyatthebeginningofitscivilizedlifeandasIsaywemustnotexpecttoomuch.Thepastofmanhasbeenonthewholeaprettybeastlybusinessabusinessoffightingandbullyingandgorgingandgrabbingandhurting.Wemustnotexpectevencivilizedpeoplesnottohavedonethesethings.Allwecanaskisthattheywillsometimeshavedonesomethingelse.Thefirstsentenceoftheopeningparagraphindicatesthat
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.11
Text1 Atlastweekend’sconsumer-electronicsshowinLasVegasdigitalconvergencearrivedwithavengeance.Amongtheavalancheofnewproductswerelotsofmobilephones.Thosefittedwithdigitalcamerasandcamcordersarehardlynewbuttheynowtakeevenbetterpictures.Otherscanbeusedtoplaythree-dimensionalvideogames.DownloadmovieswatchliveTVandrecorditduringanincomingcalloperatehome-securitysystemsandlistentomusicfilesdownloadedfromtheinternet.Moremarvelsareontheway.Inthemidstofthisfrenzyofnewandunfamiliargizmosproductfeatureswouldseemtocountforeverything.Butcompaniesinthehypercompetitiveelectronicsindustryarediscoveringsomethingunexpectedandcurious:brandsmatteralmostasmuchasdazzlingnewtechnology. OneoftheclearestdemonstrationsofthisisSouthKorea’sSamsungElectronicswhichmadeabigsplashthisyearinLasVegas.Samsungwasoncebestknownformakingthingslikecheapmicrowaveovens.Inthepastfewyearsithastransformeditselfintooneofthe"coolest"brandsaroundandissuccessfullysellingstylishflat-screenTVsdigitalcamerasandmobilephones.Afterarecord-breakingyearitispoisedtoovertakeMotorolaastheworld’ssecond-biggestmakerofmobilephones.AnditissnappingattheheelsofJapan’sSonyforleadershipintheconsumer-electronicsbusiness. Thiswouldhaveseemedinconceivableadecadeago.ButSamsunghasprovedthatacombinationofcleverbrand-buildingandwell-designedinnovativeproductscanworkmiracles.Insuchacompetitivemarketabrandwithoutgoodproductswillquicklyfade.Buttherealsurpriseisthattheoppositeisalsotrue.Themarketiscrowdedwithfirmswithafewsnazzyproductsbutweekbrands.TothriveandgrowonthescaleSamsunghasachievedrequiresastrongbrandaswellasinnovativeproducts. YearsagowhenproductsdidnotchangemuchandcompanieslargelystucktotheirknittingAmericanandEuropeanconsumersfaithfullyboughtcamerasfromKodaktelevisionsfromRCAandradiosfromBushbecausethosebrandsrepresentedaguaranteeofquality.ThentheJapanesegotbetteratwhattheymade.NowtheSouthKoreansaredoingthesame.AndyetwithmanyAmericanandEuropeanelectronicscompaniesmakingtheirgadgetsinthesameplacesevensometimesthesamefactoriesastheirAsiancompetitorsthegeographyofproductionhasbecomelessimportant.Manyconsumersarenowlookingforaguidethroughabewilderingarrayofchoices.Astrongbrandofferssuchguidance. ThewordgizmosLine7Paragraph1mostprobablymeans
Text3 Womenaccountforalmosthalftheworkforceinwesterncountriesandthelowerranksofmanybigcompaniesreflectthatratio.Butatthetopofthecorporateladderitisadifferentstory.Foreverytenmenintheexecutivesuitethereisonewomanaratiothathaschangedlittlesincetheterm"theglassceiling"wascoinedtwodecadesagotodescribethebarrierthatallowswomentoseethetopofthecorporateladderbutseemstostopthemfromreachingit.Despitemuchdiscussionandeffortsbybothwomen’sandbusinessgroupstobreakthatbarrierdowntheworld’sbiggestcompaniesarestillalmostexclusivelyrun’bymen. Yetatthesametimeagrowingnumberofthosecompanieshavebecomeconvincedthatitmakesgoodbusinesssensetohavemorewomenintheirexecutivesuite.HardnosedmalebastionssuchasABBBPandGeneralElectrichaverenewedtheireffortstohelpwomenreachthehigherlevelsnotoutofanysenseofcorporatesocialresponsibilitybutbecausetheygenuinelybelievethatitisgoodfortheirprofits.ResearchfromAmericaBritainandScandinaviasupportstheirviewshowingastrongcorrelationbetweenshareholderreturnsandth6proportionofwomeninthehigherexecutiveechelons.Whilethisdoesnotestablishacausalrelationshipitdoessuggestthatacorporateculturewhichfosterswomen’scareerscanalsofosterprofitability. Manyfirmsareworriedaboutthecomingdemographicsqueezethatthreatenstoreducethesupplyofqualifiedmen.Afewthinkthatwomenhaveauniquecontributiontomakeinrunningmodernfirms.Theyareoftenbetteratteam-buildingandcommunicationsforexampleanadvantageinacorporateworldthatistodayincreasinglycharacterizedmorebyinformalnetworksthanbyorderedcohorts. IBMisconvincedthatitranintotroubleintheearly1990spartlybecauseitsbluesuitedlike-mindedtopmaleexecutivesfailedtoseetheimplicationsofchangesinthecomputerindustry.Ithassoughttodiversifyitsworkforceatalllevelseversinceandpromotingwomenhasbeenabigpartofthiseffort.Diversegroupsareacknowledgedtobebetteratspottingthreatscomingfromunlikelydirection.Someofthemostenthusiasticpromotersofwomen--Hewlett-PackardandAlcanaswellasIBM--havehadconsiderablesuccessinachievingthisinarelativelyshortperiodoftime.Butthevastmajorityoffirmshavenot.Whatcantheydo Itcanbeinferredfromtheopeningparagraphthat
Text3 Womenaccountforalmosthalftheworkforceinwesterncountriesandthelowerranksofmanybigcompaniesreflectthatratio.Butatthetopofthecorporateladderitisadifferentstory.Foreverytenmenintheexecutivesuitethereisonewomanaratiothathaschangedlittlesincetheterm"theglassceiling"wascoinedtwodecadesagotodescribethebarrierthatallowswomentoseethetopofthecorporateladderbutseemstostopthemfromreachingit.Despitemuchdiscussionandeffortsbybothwomen’sandbusinessgroupstobreakthatbarrierdowntheworld’sbiggestcompaniesarestillalmostexclusivelyrun’bymen. Yetatthesametimeagrowingnumberofthosecompanieshavebecomeconvincedthatitmakesgoodbusinesssensetohavemorewomenintheirexecutivesuite.HardnosedmalebastionssuchasABBBPandGeneralElectrichaverenewedtheireffortstohelpwomenreachthehigherlevelsnotoutofanysenseofcorporatesocialresponsibilitybutbecausetheygenuinelybelievethatitisgoodfortheirprofits.ResearchfromAmericaBritainandScandinaviasupportstheirviewshowingastrongcorrelationbetweenshareholderreturnsandth6proportionofwomeninthehigherexecutiveechelons.Whilethisdoesnotestablishacausalrelationshipitdoessuggestthatacorporateculturewhichfosterswomen’scareerscanalsofosterprofitability. Manyfirmsareworriedaboutthecomingdemographicsqueezethatthreatenstoreducethesupplyofqualifiedmen.Afewthinkthatwomenhaveauniquecontributiontomakeinrunningmodernfirms.Theyareoftenbetteratteam-buildingandcommunicationsforexampleanadvantageinacorporateworldthatistodayincreasinglycharacterizedmorebyinformalnetworksthanbyorderedcohorts. IBMisconvincedthatitranintotroubleintheearly1990spartlybecauseitsbluesuitedlike-mindedtopmaleexecutivesfailedtoseetheimplicationsofchangesinthecomputerindustry.Ithassoughttodiversifyitsworkforceatalllevelseversinceandpromotingwomenhasbeenabigpartofthiseffort.Diversegroupsareacknowledgedtobebetteratspottingthreatscomingfromunlikelydirection.Someofthemostenthusiasticpromotersofwomen--Hewlett-PackardandAlcanaswellasIBM--havehadconsiderablesuccessinachievingthisinarelativelyshortperiodoftime.Butthevastmajorityoffirmshavenot.Whatcantheydo Theattemptstofosterwomen'scareermadebyGeneralElectricaremotivatedby
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.3
PlatoaskedWhatismanandStAugustineaskedWhoamI’Anewbreedofcriminalshasanovelanswer:Iamyou!Althoughimpostorshaveexistedforagesthegrowingfrequencyandcostofidentitytheftisworrisome.Around10mAmericansarevictimsannuallyanditistheleadingconsumer-fraudcomplaintoverthepastfiveyears.Thecosttobusinesseswasalmost$50billionandtoconsumers$5billionin2002themostrecentyearthatAmerica’sFederalTradeCommissioncollectedfigures.Aftertworecentbigprivacydisasterspeopleandpoliticiansarecallingforaction.InFebruaryChoicePointalargedata-collectionagencybegansendingoutletterswarning145000AmericansthatithadwronglyprovidedfraudsterswiththeirpersonaldetailsincludingSocialSecuritynumbers.Around750peoplehavealreadyspottedfraudulentactivity.AndonFebruary25thBankofAmericarevealedthatitlostdatatapesthatcontainpersonalinformationonoverlmgovernmentemployeesincludingsomeSenators.Althoughaccidentandnotillegalityissuspectedallmusttakeprecautionsagainstidentitytheft.Facedwithsuchincidentsstateandnationallawmakersarecallingfornewregulationsincludingovercompaniesthatcollectandsellpersonalinformation.Asanindustrythefirms—suchasChoicePointAcxiomLexisNexisandWestlaw—arelargelyunregulated.Theyhavealsogrownenormous.ForexampleChoicePointwasfoundedin1997andhasacquirednearly60firmstoamassdatabaseswith19billionrecordsonpeople.Itisusedbyinsurancefirmslandlordsandevenpoliceagencies.Californiaistheonlystatewithalawrequiringcompaniestonotifyindividualswhentheirpersonalinformationhasbeencompromised—whichmadeChoicePointrevealthefraudalbeitfivemonthsafteritwasnoticedandafteritstoptwobossesexercisedstockoptions.Legislationtomaketherequirementafederallawisunderconsideration.Moreoverlawmakerssaytheywillproposethatrulesgoverningcreditbureausandmedicalcompaniesareextendedtodata-collectionfirms.Andalongsidelegislationthereisalwayslitigation.AlreadyChoicePointhasbeensuedforfailingtosafeguardindividuals’data.YetthelegalremedieswouldstillbefarlooserthaninEuropewhereidentitytheftisalsoamenacethoughlessfrequentandcostly.TheEuropeanDataProtectionDirectiveimplementedin1998givespeopletherighttoaccesstheirinformationchangeinaccuraciesanddenypermissionforittobeshared.Moreoveritplacesthecostofmistakesonthecompaniesthatcollectthedatanotonindividuals.WhenthelawwasputinforceAmericanpolicymakersgroanedthatitwasbadforbusiness.ButnowtheyseemtobereconsideringitAccordingtoparagraph2whichofthefollowingistrue
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.9
PlatoaskedWhatismanandStAugustineaskedWhoamI’Anewbreedofcriminalshasanovelanswer:Iamyou!Althoughimpostorshaveexistedforagesthegrowingfrequencyandcostofidentitytheftisworrisome.Around10mAmericansarevictimsannuallyanditistheleadingconsumer-fraudcomplaintoverthepastfiveyears.Thecosttobusinesseswasalmost$50billionandtoconsumers$5billionin2002themostrecentyearthatAmerica’sFederalTradeCommissioncollectedfigures.Aftertworecentbigprivacydisasterspeopleandpoliticiansarecallingforaction.InFebruaryChoicePointalargedata-collectionagencybegansendingoutletterswarning145000AmericansthatithadwronglyprovidedfraudsterswiththeirpersonaldetailsincludingSocialSecuritynumbers.Around750peoplehavealreadyspottedfraudulentactivity.AndonFebruary25thBankofAmericarevealedthatitlostdatatapesthatcontainpersonalinformationonoverlmgovernmentemployeesincludingsomeSenators.Althoughaccidentandnotillegalityissuspectedallmusttakeprecautionsagainstidentitytheft.Facedwithsuchincidentsstateandnationallawmakersarecallingfornewregulationsincludingovercompaniesthatcollectandsellpersonalinformation.Asanindustrythefirms—suchasChoicePointAcxiomLexisNexisandWestlaw—arelargelyunregulated.Theyhavealsogrownenormous.ForexampleChoicePointwasfoundedin1997andhasacquirednearly60firmstoamassdatabaseswith19billionrecordsonpeople.Itisusedbyinsurancefirmslandlordsandevenpoliceagencies.Californiaistheonlystatewithalawrequiringcompaniestonotifyindividualswhentheirpersonalinformationhasbeencompromised—whichmadeChoicePointrevealthefraudalbeitfivemonthsafteritwasnoticedandafteritstoptwobossesexercisedstockoptions.Legislationtomaketherequirementafederallawisunderconsideration.Moreoverlawmakerssaytheywillproposethatrulesgoverningcreditbureausandmedicalcompaniesareextendedtodata-collectionfirms.Andalongsidelegislationthereisalwayslitigation.AlreadyChoicePointhasbeensuedforfailingtosafeguardindividuals’data.YetthelegalremedieswouldstillbefarlooserthaninEuropewhereidentitytheftisalsoamenacethoughlessfrequentandcostly.TheEuropeanDataProtectionDirectiveimplementedin1998givespeopletherighttoaccesstheirinformationchangeinaccuraciesanddenypermissionforittobeshared.Moreoveritplacesthecostofmistakesonthecompaniesthatcollectthedatanotonindividuals.WhenthelawwasputinforceAmericanpolicymakersgroanedthatitwasbadforbusiness.ButnowtheyseemtobereconsideringitChoicePointrevealedthefraudbecause
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.7
Text1 Atlastweekend’sconsumer-electronicsshowinLasVegasdigitalconvergencearrivedwithavengeance.Amongtheavalancheofnewproductswerelotsofmobilephones.Thosefittedwithdigitalcamerasandcamcordersarehardlynewbuttheynowtakeevenbetterpictures.Otherscanbeusedtoplaythree-dimensionalvideogames.DownloadmovieswatchliveTVandrecorditduringanincomingcalloperatehome-securitysystemsandlistentomusicfilesdownloadedfromtheinternet.Moremarvelsareontheway.Inthemidstofthisfrenzyofnewandunfamiliargizmosproductfeatureswouldseemtocountforeverything.Butcompaniesinthehypercompetitiveelectronicsindustryarediscoveringsomethingunexpectedandcurious:brandsmatteralmostasmuchasdazzlingnewtechnology. OneoftheclearestdemonstrationsofthisisSouthKorea’sSamsungElectronicswhichmadeabigsplashthisyearinLasVegas.Samsungwasoncebestknownformakingthingslikecheapmicrowaveovens.Inthepastfewyearsithastransformeditselfintooneofthe"coolest"brandsaroundandissuccessfullysellingstylishflat-screenTVsdigitalcamerasandmobilephones.Afterarecord-breakingyearitispoisedtoovertakeMotorolaastheworld’ssecond-biggestmakerofmobilephones.AnditissnappingattheheelsofJapan’sSonyforleadershipintheconsumer-electronicsbusiness. Thiswouldhaveseemedinconceivableadecadeago.ButSamsunghasprovedthatacombinationofcleverbrand-buildingandwell-designedinnovativeproductscanworkmiracles.Insuchacompetitivemarketabrandwithoutgoodproductswillquicklyfade.Buttherealsurpriseisthattheoppositeisalsotrue.Themarketiscrowdedwithfirmswithafewsnazzyproductsbutweekbrands.TothriveandgrowonthescaleSamsunghasachievedrequiresastrongbrandaswellasinnovativeproducts. YearsagowhenproductsdidnotchangemuchandcompanieslargelystucktotheirknittingAmericanandEuropeanconsumersfaithfullyboughtcamerasfromKodaktelevisionsfromRCAandradiosfromBushbecausethosebrandsrepresentedaguaranteeofquality.ThentheJapanesegotbetteratwhattheymade.NowtheSouthKoreansaredoingthesame.AndyetwithmanyAmericanandEuropeanelectronicscompaniesmakingtheirgadgetsinthesameplacesevensometimesthesamefactoriesastheirAsiancompetitorsthegeographyofproductionhasbecomelessimportant.Manyconsumersarenowlookingforaguidethroughabewilderingarrayofchoices.Astrongbrandofferssuchguidance. ThecaseofSamsungElectronicsdemonstratesthat
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.15
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.17
Astechnologycontinuestoadvancecountriesmustdecidehowtheywilldealwiththeissueofhumancloningforreproductionorresearch.Sofarseveralnationshaveplacedstrongrestrictionsonhealingcloning;othersaremovingtowardssuchrestrictionsandafewhavestakedoutpositionsinfavorofcurativecloning.AftermonthsofbitterdebatetheUniteStatesmustdecidewhatitwilldo. Alllegislatorscanagreethatitwouldbewrongnowtomakeawalkingtalkingreallifehumanclone.TheNationalAcademyofSciencesalsosupportsthatposition.ButitsinstituteofMedicinehasrightlysaidthatitsobjectionstothesafetyofreproductivecloningdonotapplytoresearchcloning.Indeed’somescientistssaythatresearchcloningcouldyieldstemcellsthatcouldbeusedtogrowhealingtissuesforpatientswithdiseasessuchasParkinson’s.47Theyalsosaythatstudyingstemcellsmadefromthecellsofdiseasedpatientscouldhelpusunderstandwhypeoplewiththesamegeneticmake-upgetsickorstaywell. Opponentsofresearchcloningsaythereisnoproofthatitwillyieldanycures.Theyalsosaythatadultstemcellsaremorepromisingandlesscontroversial.TheyhavegainedCongressionalandpublicsupportbybeatingintowidespreadfearsaboutbiotechnologywhichsomeworryiswindingquicklydownaslipperyslopetowardsthecommodificationofthehumanspecies.48Butsuchfearsdonotrepresentasensiblebasisforabanonresearchcloningwhichislikelytogiveinsightsintotheprocessesthatcauseahostofdevastatingdiseases. TheSenateisnowmovingtowardsaslowdownontheissue.Twobillshavebeenintroduced.SenatorSamBrownbackintroducedabillthatwouldbancloningforanypurpose.HisrivalsledbySenatorDianneFeinsteinhaveintroducedcompetinglegislationthatwouldalllowscientiststocloseembryosforresearch.Andsenatorseagertoairtheirviewsontheissueforavoteonthematterinthenextfewweeks.49Brownbackissaidtohavenearly50supportersbutfortechnicalreasonsabillisunlikelytobepassedunless60senatorssupportit. AdvocatesofhealingcloninghaveoutlinedsituationsthatwouldmaketheSenatemorelikelytopassabillthatwouldallowresearchcloningsuchasamendingtheBrownbackbilltoallowresearch.InthiswaysenatorscouldsavefacebysimultaneouslyvotingforBrownbackandforresearch. HoweveranybillthatdoespasstheSenatemustbereconciledwiththeHousebillinaconferenceTheBrownbackbillisvirtuallyidenticaltoaHousecloningbanthatwaspassedlastJuly.Soitwouldspeedthroughtheconferencecommittee.ButSenateandHousenegotiatorsareunlikelytocompromiseiftheSenatevotestoallowhealingcloning50Sotheresultofthismonth’sSenatedebateislikelytobeeitherthatPresidentBushsignsabillthatbanscloningforanypurposeorthathedoesnotsignanycloningbillatall.TheissuecouldalsospilloverintotheappropriationsprocessthisautumnwhensenatorstrytoforcerulesthroughtheCongressbyattachingthemtothenecessaryspendingbills. TheCongresshasstronglysupportedtheNationalInstituteofHealthinrecentyearsbecauseitwantstheUnitedStatestobeaworldleaderinbiomedicalresearch.TheSenateshouldcontinueitsstrongsupportofbiomedicalscienceandactinthenationalinterestbyrefusingtopassabanonresearchcloning. Brownbackissaidtohavenearly50supportersbutfortechnicalreasonsabillisunlikelytobepassedunless60senatorssupportit.
DomobilephonescauseexplosionsatpetrolstationsThatquestionhasjustbeenexhaustivelyansweredbyAdamBurgessaresearcherattheUniversityofKentinEngland.OddlyhoweverDrBurgessisnotaphysicistbutasociologist.Fortheconcernrestsnotonscientificevidenceofanydangerbutisinsteadtheresultofsociologicalfactors:itisanurbanmythsupportedandpropagatedbyofficialsourcesbutnolessamythforthat.DrBurgesspresentedhisfindingsthisweekattheannualconferenceoftheBritishSociologicalAssociation. Mobilephonesstartedtobecomewidespreadinthelate1980swhentheoilindustrywasinthemiddleofaconcertedsafetydriveDrBurgessnotes.ThiswasinlargepartaresponsetothePiperAlphadisasterin1988when167peoplediedinanexplosiononanoilplatformofftheScottishcoast.41.______Sonobodyquestionedtheprecautionarybanontheuseofmobilephonesatpetrolstations.Theworrywasthatanelectricalsparkmightigniteexplosivefumes. 42.______Butitwastoolate.Themythhadtakenhold. OneproblemsaysDrBurgessisthatthenumberofpetrol-stationfiresincreasedinthelate1990sjustasmobilephoneswereproliferating.RichardCoatesBP’sfire-safetyadviserinvestigatedmanyofthe243suchfiresthatoccurredaroundtheworldbetween1993and2004.Heconcludedthatmostwereindeedcausedbysparksignitingpetrolvapourbutthesparksthemselvesweretheresultofstaticelectricitynotelectricalequipment.Mostdriverswillhaveexperiencedamildelectricshockwhenclimbingoutoftheirvehicles.Itiscausedbyfrictionbetweendriverandseatwiththeresultthatbothendupelectricallycharged.Whenthedrivertouchesthemetalframeofthevehicletheresultissometimesaspark. 43.______ 44.______Onee-mailcontainedfictitiousexamplesofsuchexplosionssaidtohavehappenedinIndonesiaandAustralia.AnothersupposedlysentoutbyShellfounditswayontoaninternalwebsiteatExxonsaysDrBurgesswhereitwastreatedasauthoritativebyemployees.Suchmemosgenerallyexplainstaticfiresquiteaccuratelybutmistakenlyattributethemtomobilephones.OfficialdenialssaysDrBurgesssimplyinflamethesuspicionsofconspiracytheorists. 45.______Warningsigns.aboundinBritainAmericaCanadaandAustralia.ThecityofSaoPauloinBraziliatroducedabanlastyearAndearnertinsmonthamemberofConnecticut’s.senateproposedmakingtheuseofmobilephonesinpetrolstationsinthatstatepunishablebya$250fine. [A]Thesafetydrivedidnotapplymerelytooffshoreoperations:employeesatsomeBritishoil-companyofficesarenowrequiredtousehandrailswhilewalkingupanddownstairsforexample. [B]Asaresultthecompanyhadtopayahugeamountofcompensationtothefamiliesofthevictimsandlawsuitsconcerningthosefiresseemedtobeendless. [C]Afurthercomplicationwastheriseoftheinternetwherehoaxmemosmanyclaimingtooriginatefromoilcompanieswarnedofthedangerofusingmobilephonesinpetrolstations. [D]ThisisparticularlynoticeableinBritain.Thecountrythatledthewayinbanningmobilephonesatpetrolstationsisalsothecountrythathastakenthestrongestlineonthesafetyofmobile-phoneusebychildren. [E]Despitethelackofevidencethatmobilephonescancauseexplosionsbansremaininplacearoundtheworldthoughtherulesvarywidely. [F]Bythelate1990showeverphonemakers--havingconductedtheirownresearch—realizedthattherewasnodangerofphonescausingexplosionssincetheycouldnotgeneratetherequiredsparks. [G]Thisseemstohavebecomemorecommonasplasticcarinteriorssyntheticgarmentsandrubber-soledshoeshaveproliferated. 45
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.13
Text1 Atlastweekend’sconsumer-electronicsshowinLasVegasdigitalconvergencearrivedwithavengeance.Amongtheavalancheofnewproductswerelotsofmobilephones.Thosefittedwithdigitalcamerasandcamcordersarehardlynewbuttheynowtakeevenbetterpictures.Otherscanbeusedtoplaythree-dimensionalvideogames.DownloadmovieswatchliveTVandrecorditduringanincomingcalloperatehome-securitysystemsandlistentomusicfilesdownloadedfromtheinternet.Moremarvelsareontheway.Inthemidstofthisfrenzyofnewandunfamiliargizmosproductfeatureswouldseemtocountforeverything.Butcompaniesinthehypercompetitiveelectronicsindustryarediscoveringsomethingunexpectedandcurious:brandsmatteralmostasmuchasdazzlingnewtechnology. OneoftheclearestdemonstrationsofthisisSouthKorea’sSamsungElectronicswhichmadeabigsplashthisyearinLasVegas.Samsungwasoncebestknownformakingthingslikecheapmicrowaveovens.Inthepastfewyearsithastransformeditselfintooneofthe"coolest"brandsaroundandissuccessfullysellingstylishflat-screenTVsdigitalcamerasandmobilephones.Afterarecord-breakingyearitispoisedtoovertakeMotorolaastheworld’ssecond-biggestmakerofmobilephones.AnditissnappingattheheelsofJapan’sSonyforleadershipintheconsumer-electronicsbusiness. Thiswouldhaveseemedinconceivableadecadeago.ButSamsunghasprovedthatacombinationofcleverbrand-buildingandwell-designedinnovativeproductscanworkmiracles.Insuchacompetitivemarketabrandwithoutgoodproductswillquicklyfade.Buttherealsurpriseisthattheoppositeisalsotrue.Themarketiscrowdedwithfirmswithafewsnazzyproductsbutweekbrands.TothriveandgrowonthescaleSamsunghasachievedrequiresastrongbrandaswellasinnovativeproducts. YearsagowhenproductsdidnotchangemuchandcompanieslargelystucktotheirknittingAmericanandEuropeanconsumersfaithfullyboughtcamerasfromKodaktelevisionsfromRCAandradiosfromBushbecausethosebrandsrepresentedaguaranteeofquality.ThentheJapanesegotbetteratwhattheymade.NowtheSouthKoreansaredoingthesame.AndyetwithmanyAmericanandEuropeanelectronicscompaniesmakingtheirgadgetsinthesameplacesevensometimesthesamefactoriesastheirAsiancompetitorsthegeographyofproductionhasbecomelessimportant.Manyconsumersarenowlookingforaguidethroughabewilderingarrayofchoices.Astrongbrandofferssuchguidance. Accordingtothetextawell-establishedbrandcanserveas
Astechnologycontinuestoadvancecountriesmustdecidehowtheywilldealwiththeissueofhumancloningforreproductionorresearch.Sofarseveralnationshaveplacedstrongrestrictionsonhealingcloning;othersaremovingtowardssuchrestrictionsandafewhavestakedoutpositionsinfavorofcurativecloning.AftermonthsofbitterdebatetheUniteStatesmustdecidewhatitwilldo. Alllegislatorscanagreethatitwouldbewrongnowtomakeawalkingtalkingreallifehumanclone.TheNationalAcademyofSciencesalsosupportsthatposition.ButitsinstituteofMedicinehasrightlysaidthatitsobjectionstothesafetyofreproductivecloningdonotapplytoresearchcloning.Indeed’somescientistssaythatresearchcloningcouldyieldstemcellsthatcouldbeusedtogrowhealingtissuesforpatientswithdiseasessuchasParkinson’s.47Theyalsosaythatstudyingstemcellsmadefromthecellsofdiseasedpatientscouldhelpusunderstandwhypeoplewiththesamegeneticmake-upgetsickorstaywell. Opponentsofresearchcloningsaythereisnoproofthatitwillyieldanycures.Theyalsosaythatadultstemcellsaremorepromisingandlesscontroversial.TheyhavegainedCongressionalandpublicsupportbybeatingintowidespreadfearsaboutbiotechnologywhichsomeworryiswindingquicklydownaslipperyslopetowardsthecommodificationofthehumanspecies.48Butsuchfearsdonotrepresentasensiblebasisforabanonresearchcloningwhichislikelytogiveinsightsintotheprocessesthatcauseahostofdevastatingdiseases. TheSenateisnowmovingtowardsaslowdownontheissue.Twobillshavebeenintroduced.SenatorSamBrownbackintroducedabillthatwouldbancloningforanypurpose.HisrivalsledbySenatorDianneFeinsteinhaveintroducedcompetinglegislationthatwouldalllowscientiststocloseembryosforresearch.Andsenatorseagertoairtheirviewsontheissueforavoteonthematterinthenextfewweeks.49Brownbackissaidtohavenearly50supportersbutfortechnicalreasonsabillisunlikelytobepassedunless60senatorssupportit. AdvocatesofhealingcloninghaveoutlinedsituationsthatwouldmaketheSenatemorelikelytopassabillthatwouldallowresearchcloningsuchasamendingtheBrownbackbilltoallowresearch.InthiswaysenatorscouldsavefacebysimultaneouslyvotingforBrownbackandforresearch. HoweveranybillthatdoespasstheSenatemustbereconciledwiththeHousebillinaconferenceTheBrownbackbillisvirtuallyidenticaltoaHousecloningbanthatwaspassedlastJuly.Soitwouldspeedthroughtheconferencecommittee.ButSenateandHousenegotiatorsareunlikelytocompromiseiftheSenatevotestoallowhealingcloning50Sotheresultofthismonth’sSenatedebateislikelytobeeitherthatPresidentBushsignsabillthatbanscloningforanypurposeorthathedoesnotsignanycloningbillatall.TheissuecouldalsospilloverintotheappropriationsprocessthisautumnwhensenatorstrytoforcerulesthroughtheCongressbyattachingthemtothenecessaryspendingbills. TheCongresshasstronglysupportedtheNationalInstituteofHealthinrecentyearsbecauseitwantstheUnitedStatestobeaworldleaderinbiomedicalresearch.TheSenateshouldcontinueitsstrongsupportofbiomedicalscienceandactinthenationalinterestbyrefusingtopassabanonresearchcloning. Theyalsosaythatstudyingstemcellsmadefromthecellsofdiseasedpatientscouldhelpusunderstandwhypeoplewiththesamegeneticmake-upgetsickorstaywell.
EventheSaudis--orratherthesmallnumberofmenwhoactuallyruletheirtroubledcountry--aregivinggroundinthestruggleforwomen’srights.Forsuretherecommendations1thisweektoCrownPrinceAbdullahattheendofan2roundof"nationaldialogue"concentratingontheroleofwomenwerefairlytame.Inthereformers-versus-reactionaries3testofwhetherwomenshouldbeallowedtodrivecarsatpresenttheycannotdosointhekingdomnorcantheytravelunaccompaniedbywhatever4ofmotionthekingwasmerelyaskedto"5abodytostudyapublictransportsystemforwomentofacilitatemobility".6mentionofcourseoftherighttovote--butthenthathasbeen7tomentoothoughlocalelectionsonanapparentlyuniversalfranchisearesupposedtobeheldinOctober.Insumitisatortoise’sprogress.Buttheveryfactofthedebatehappeningatallis8--andhopeful. ItisnotjustinSaudiArabiathatmorerightsforwomenarebeingdemanded9acrossthewholeoftheArabandMuslimworld.ThepushyAmericanshavemadewomen’srightspartoftheirappealforgreaterdemocracyin10theynowofficiallycallthe"broaderMiddleEast"toincludenon-ArabMuslimcountriessuchasIranTurkeyandevenAfghanistan.ManyArabshavecautionedtheAmericansagainstseekingto11theirownvaluesonsocietieswithsuchdifferenttraditionsand12ManyleadingMuslimshave13theculturallyimperiousAmericansofseekingto14Islam.The15formoredemocracyintheMuslimworldissuedbyleadersoftheeightbiggestindustrialcountrieswaswatereddownforfearofgiving16YetdespitetheArabs’pricklinesstheAmericanshavehelpedpepupadebatethatisnowbubblingfiercelyintheArabworldeven17manyArableadersnoneofwhomisdirectlyelectedbythepeopleareunderstandably18ofreformsthatcouldleadtotheirowntoppling.Neverbeforehavewomen’srightsintheArabworldbeenso19debated.That20iscausetorejoice. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonAnswerSheet1.5
DomobilephonescauseexplosionsatpetrolstationsThatquestionhasjustbeenexhaustivelyansweredbyAdamBurgessaresearcherattheUniversityofKentinEngland.OddlyhoweverDrBurgessisnotaphysicistbutasociologist.Fortheconcernrestsnotonscientificevidenceofanydangerbutisinsteadtheresultofsociologicalfactors:itisanurbanmythsupportedandpropagatedbyofficialsourcesbutnolessamythforthat.DrBurgesspresentedhisfindingsthisweekattheannualconferenceoftheBritishSociologicalAssociation. Mobilephonesstartedtobecomewidespreadinthelate1980swhentheoilindustrywasinthemiddleofaconcertedsafetydriveDrBurgessnotes.ThiswasinlargepartaresponsetothePiperAlphadisasterin1988when167peoplediedinanexplosiononanoilplatformofftheScottishcoast.41.______Sonobodyquestionedtheprecautionarybanontheuseofmobilephonesatpetrolstations.Theworrywasthatanelectricalsparkmightigniteexplosivefumes. 42.______Butitwastoolate.Themythhadtakenhold. OneproblemsaysDrBurgessisthatthenumberofpetrol-stationfiresincreasedinthelate1990sjustasmobilephoneswereproliferating.RichardCoatesBP’sfire-safetyadviserinvestigatedmanyofthe243suchfiresthatoccurredaroundtheworldbetween1993and2004.Heconcludedthatmostwereindeedcausedbysparksignitingpetrolvapourbutthesparksthemselvesweretheresultofstaticelectricitynotelectricalequipment.Mostdriverswillhaveexperiencedamildelectricshockwhenclimbingoutoftheirvehicles.Itiscausedbyfrictionbetweendriverandseatwiththeresultthatbothendupelectricallycharged.Whenthedrivertouchesthemetalframeofthevehicletheresultissometimesaspark. 43.______ 44.______Onee-mailcontainedfictitiousexamplesofsuchexplosionssaidtohavehappenedinIndonesiaandAustralia.AnothersupposedlysentoutbyShellfounditswayontoaninternalwebsiteatExxonsaysDrBurgesswhereitwastreatedasauthoritativebyemployees.Suchmemosgenerallyexplainstaticfiresquiteaccuratelybutmistakenlyattributethemtomobilephones.OfficialdenialssaysDrBurgesssimplyinflamethesuspicionsofconspiracytheorists. 45.______Warningsigns.aboundinBritainAmericaCanadaandAustralia.ThecityofSaoPauloinBraziliatroducedabanlastyearAndearnertinsmonthamemberofConnecticut’s.senateproposedmakingtheuseofmobilephonesinpetrolstationsinthatstatepunishablebya$250fine. [A]Thesafetydrivedidnotapplymerelytooffshoreoperations:employeesatsomeBritishoil-companyofficesarenowrequiredtousehandrailswhilewalkingupanddownstairsforexample. [B]Asaresultthecompanyhadtopayahugeamountofcompensationtothefamiliesofthevictimsandlawsuitsconcerningthosefiresseemedtobeendless. [C]Afurthercomplicationwastheriseoftheinternetwherehoaxmemosmanyclaimingtooriginatefromoilcompanieswarnedofthedangerofusingmobilephonesinpetrolstations. [D]ThisisparticularlynoticeableinBritain.Thecountrythatledthewayinbanningmobilephonesatpetrolstationsisalsothecountrythathastakenthestrongestlineonthesafetyofmobile-phoneusebychildren. [E]Despitethelackofevidencethatmobilephonescancauseexplosionsbansremaininplacearoundtheworldthoughtherulesvarywidely. [F]Bythelate1990showeverphonemakers--havingconductedtheirownresearch—realizedthattherewasnodangerofphonescausingexplosionssincetheycouldnotgeneratetherequiredsparks. [G]Thisseemstohavebecomemorecommonasplasticcarinteriorssyntheticgarmentsandrubber-soledshoeshaveproliferated. 41
Thehistoryofmodempollutionproblemsshowsthatmosthaveresultedfromnegligenceandignorance.Wehaveanappallingtendencytointerferewithnaturebeforeallofthepossibleconsequencesofouractionshavebeenstudiedindepth.Weproduceanddistributeradioactivesubstancessyntheticchemicalsandmanyotherpotentcompoundsbeforefullycomprehendingtheireffectsonlivingorganisms.Oureducationisdangerouslyincomplete.Itwillbearguedthatthepurposeofscienceistomoveintounknownterritorytoexploreandtodiscover.Itcanbesaidthatsimilarriskshavebeentakenbeforeandthattheserisksarenecessarytotechnologicalprogress.Theseargumentsoverlookanimportantelement.Inthepastriskstakeninthenameofscientificprogresswererestrictedtoasmallplaceandbriefperiodoftime.Theeffectsoftheprocesseswenowstrivetomasterareneitherlocalizednorbrief.Airpollutioncoversvasturbanareas.Oceanpollutantshavebeendiscoveredinnearlyeverypartoftheworld.Syntheticchemicalsspreadoverhugestretchesofforestandfarmlandmayremaininthesoilfordecadesandyearstocome.Radioactivepollutantswillbefoundinthebiosphereforgenerations.Thesizeandpersistenceoftheseproblemshavegrownwiththeexpandingpowerofmodernscience.Onemightalsoarguethatthehazardsofmodempollutantsaresmallcomparedwiththedangersassociatedwithotherhumanactivity.Noestimateoftheactualharmdonebysmogfalloutorchemicalresiduescanobscuretherealitythattherisksarebeingtakenbeforebeingfullyunderstood.Theimportanceoftheseissuesliesinthefailureofsciencetopredictandcontrolhumaninterventionintonaturalprocesses.Thetruemeasureofthedangerisrepresentedbythehazardswewillencounterifweenterthenewageoftechnologywithoutfirstevaluatingourresponsibilitytoenvironment.Asusedinthesecondsentenceofthefirstparagraphthephraseindepthmeans
Text3 Womenaccountforalmosthalftheworkforceinwesterncountriesandthelowerranksofmanybigcompaniesreflectthatratio.Butatthetopofthecorporateladderitisadifferentstory.Foreverytenmenintheexecutivesuitethereisonewomanaratiothathaschangedlittlesincetheterm"theglassceiling"wascoinedtwodecadesagotodescribethebarrierthatallowswomentoseethetopofthecorporateladderbutseemstostopthemfromreachingit.Despitemuchdiscussionandeffortsbybothwomen’sandbusinessgroupstobreakthatbarrierdowntheworld’sbiggestcompaniesarestillalmostexclusivelyrun’bymen. Yetatthesametimeagrowingnumberofthosecompanieshavebecomeconvincedthatitmakesgoodbusinesssensetohavemorewomenintheirexecutivesuite.HardnosedmalebastionssuchasABBBPandGeneralElectrichaverenewedtheireffortstohelpwomenreachthehigherlevelsnotoutofanysenseofcorporatesocialresponsibilitybutbecausetheygenuinelybelievethatitisgoodfortheirprofits.ResearchfromAmericaBritainandScandinaviasupportstheirviewshowingastrongcorrelationbetweenshareholderreturnsandth6proportionofwomeninthehigherexecutiveechelons.Whilethisdoesnotestablishacausalrelationshipitdoessuggestthatacorporateculturewhichfosterswomen’scareerscanalsofosterprofitability. Manyfirmsareworriedaboutthecomingdemographicsqueezethatthreatenstoreducethesupplyofqualifiedmen.Afewthinkthatwomenhaveauniquecontributiontomakeinrunningmodernfirms.Theyareoftenbetteratteam-buildingandcommunicationsforexampleanadvantageinacorporateworldthatistodayincreasinglycharacterizedmorebyinformalnetworksthanbyorderedcohorts. IBMisconvincedthatitranintotroubleintheearly1990spartlybecauseitsbluesuitedlike-mindedtopmaleexecutivesfailedtoseetheimplicationsofchangesinthecomputerindustry.Ithassoughttodiversifyitsworkforceatalllevelseversinceandpromotingwomenhasbeenabigpartofthiseffort.Diversegroupsareacknowledgedtobebetteratspottingthreatscomingfromunlikelydirection.Someofthemostenthusiasticpromotersofwomen--Hewlett-PackardandAlcanaswellasIBM--havehadconsiderablesuccessinachievingthisinarelativelyshortperiodoftime.Butthevastmajorityoffirmshavenot.Whatcantheydo ThetermechelonsLine7Paragraph2mostprobablymeans
Mostofthepeoplewhoappearmostoftenandmostgloriouslyinthehistorybooksaregreatconquerorsandgeneralsandsoldierswhereasthepeoplewhoreallyhelpedcivilizationforwardareoftennevermentionedatall.Wedonotknowwhofirstsetabrokenlegorlaunchedaseaworthyboatorcalculatedthelengthoftheyearormanuredafield;butweknowallaboutthekillersanddestroyers.Peoplethinkagreatdealofthemsomuchsothatonallthehighestpillarsinthegreatcitiesoftheworldyouwillfindthefigureofaconquerororageneralorasoldier.AndIthinkmostpeoplebelievethatthegreatestcountriesarethosethathavebeateninbattlethegreatestnumberofothercountriesandruledoverthemasconquerors.Itisjustpossibletheyarebuttheyarenotthemostcivilized.Animalsfight;sodosavages;hencetobegoodatfightingistobegoodinthewayinwhichananimalorasavageisgoodbutitisnottobecivilized.Evenbeinggoodatgettingotherpeopletofightforyouandtellingthemhowtodoitmostefficiently—thisafteralliswhatconquerorsandgeneralshavedone—isnotbeingcivilized.Peoplefighttosettlequarrels.’FightingmeanskillingandcivilizedpeoplesoughttobeabletofindsomewayofsettlingtheirdisputesotherthanbyseeingwhichsidecankilloffthegreaternumberoftheothersideandthensayingthatthatsidewhichhaskilledmosthaswornAndnotonlyhaswonbutbecauseithaswonhasbeenintheright.Forthatiswhatgoingtowarmeans;itmeanssayingthatmightisright.Thatiswhatthestoryofmankindhasonthewholebeenlike.Evenourownagehasfoughtthetwogreatestwarsinhistoryinwhichmillionsofpeoplewerekilledormutilated.Andwhiletodayitistruethatpeopledonotfightandkilleachotherinthestreets—whilethatistosaywehavegottothestageofkeepingtherulesandbehavingproperlytoeachotherindailylife—nationsandcountrieshavenotlearnttodothisyetandstillbehavelikesavages.Butwemustnotexpecttoomuch.Afteralltheraceofmenhasonlyjuststarted.Fromthepointofviewofevolutionhumanbeingsareveryyoungchildrenindeedbabiesinfactofafewmonthsold.Scientistsreckonthattherehasbeenlifeofsomesortontheearthintheformofjellyfishandthatkindofcreatureforabouttwelvehundredmillionyears;buttherehavebeenmenforonlyonemillionyearsandtherehavebeencivilizedmenforabouteightthousandyearsattheoutside.Thesefiguresaredifficulttograsp;soletusscalethemdown.Supposethatwereckonthewholepastoflivingcreaturesontheearthasonehundredyears;thenthewholepastofmanworksoutataboutonemonthandduringthatmonththerehavebeencivilizationsforbetweensevenandeighthours.Soyouseetherehasbeenlittletimetolearninbuttherewillbeoceansoftimeinwhichtolearnbetter.Takingman’scivilizedpastataboutsevenoreighthourswemayestimatehisfuturethatistosaythewholeperiodbetweennowandwhenthesungrowstoocoldtomaintainlifeanylongerontheearthataboutonehundredthousandyears.ThusmankindisonlyatthebeginningofitscivilizedlifeandasIsaywemustnotexpecttoomuch.Thepastofmanhasbeenonthewholeaprettybeastlybusinessabusinessoffightingandbullyingandgorgingandgrabbingandhurting.Wemustnotexpectevencivilizedpeoplesnottohavedonethesethings.Allwecanaskisthattheywillsometimeshavedonesomethingelse.Itcanbeinferredfromthelastthreesentencesthat
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