首页
试卷库
试题库
当前位置：
X题卡
>
所有题目
>
题目详情
The word ’culture’ is probably the single most central concept in twentieth- century anthropology...
查看本题答案
包含此试题的试卷
国家统考科目《问答集》真题及答案
点击查看
你可能感兴趣的试题
Directions: Readthefollowingtextcarefullyandt
Mostofthetraditionalriddlesineveryculturehave
one-word answer
word-one answer
one-word answers
answer one-word
Directions: Readthefollowingtextcarefullyandt
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
Asthebasicbuildingmaterialsofcommunicationwordscom
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
-Ithinkwinterisabeautifulseason_______whenitsnows.
specially
especially
proba bly
properly
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
Whichwordhasthedifferentstressedsyllablefromtheoth
Directions: Readthefollowingtextcarefullyandt
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
46Cultureinabroadsensemeansthetotalwayoflifeofa
热门试题
更多
Scholarsofhumanmigrationspeakoftwomainfactorsthatinfluenceanindividual’sdecisiontomovefromoneplacetoanother-pushandpullfactors.Pushfactorsareassociatedwiththeplaceoforigin.ApushfactorcanbeassimpleandmildamatterasdifficultyinfindingasuitablejoborastraumaticasreligiouspersecutionwarorseverefamineObviouslyrefugeeswholeavetheirhomeswithgunspointedattheirheadsorwithhate-filledmobsattheirheelsaremotivatedalmostentirelybypushfactorsalthoughpullfactorsdoinfluencetheirchoiceofdestination.Pullfactorsarethoseassociatedwiththeplaceofdestination.Mostoftheseareeconomicsuchasbetterjobopportunitiesortheavailabilityofgoodlandtofarm.ThelatterwasanimportantfactorinattractingsettlerstotheUnitedStatesduringthenineteenthcentury.Ingeneralpullfactorsadduptoanapparentlybetterchanceforagoodlifeandmaterialwell-beingthanisofferedbytheplaceoforigin.Besidespushandpullfactorstherearewhatthesociologistscallinterveningobstacles.Evenifpushand/orpullfactorsareverystrongtheystillmaybeoutweighedbyinterveningobstaclessuchasthedistanceofthemovethetroubleandcostofmovingthedifficultyofenteringthenewcountryandtheproblemslikelytobeencounteredonarrival.Thedecisiontomoveisalsoinfluencedbypersonalfactorsofthepotentialmigrant.Thesamepush-pullfactorsandobstaclesoperatedifferentlyondifferentpeoplesometimesbecausetheyareatdifferentstagesoftheirlivesorjustbecauseoftheirvariedabilitiesandpersonalities.Theprospectofpullingupstakesandmovingtoanewandperhapsverystrangeenvironmentmayappearinterestingandchallengingtoayoungfootloosemanandappallinglydifficulttoaslightlyoldermanwithawifeandyoungchildren.Similarlytheneedtolearnanewlanguageandcustomsmayintrigueonepersonandfrightenanother.Regardlessofwhypeoplemovemigrationoflargenumbersofpeoplecausesfriction.TheUnitedStatesandotherreceivingcountriesthetermusedforcountriesthatwelcomelargenumbersofmigrantshaveexperiencedadjustmentproblemswitheachnewwaveofimmigrants.Thenewestarrivalsareusuallygiventhelowest-payingjobsandareresentedbynativeswhomayhavetocompetewiththemforthosejobs.Ithasusuallytakenseveraldecadesforeachgrouptogainacceptanceinthemainstreamofsocietyinthereceivingcountry.Theauthorimpliesthatpersonalfactors______.
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 19
Here’sataleoftwocompanies.Bothareforeignownedandbothareembroiledinscandalsinvolvingallegationsofsexualharassment.CompanyAisconfrontedwiththeproblemandpunishestopexecs.CompanyBstonewallsandmountsanaggressivecampaigntodiscredititsaccusersandportrayitselfasavictimofslander. 41Forbusinessschoolslookingforafewgoodcasestudiesindamagecontrollastweekwasaboutasgoodasitgets.OnewasSwedishpharmaceuticalscompanyAstraUSAamakerofasthmamedicationsandthepopularanestheticXylocaine.FacingsimilarchargesMitsubishiMotormanufacturingofAmericaoptedforin-your-facedenial.WhodiditrightIt’stoosoontoknowforsure.Astra’sstrategymayseemsmarter.FinanciallyspeakingatleastonecanseewhyMitsubishiisreluctanttoissueapublicmeaculpa.Fessingupcouldexposeittoasmuchas$200millionindamages. Suchcontroversiesarenoraritythesedays.TheEqualEmploymentOpportunitycommissionalonereceivedmorethan15000complaintsofsexualharassmentlastyearmorethantwiceasmanyasin1991.ItssuitagainstMitsubishifiledlastmonthmayturnouttobebyfarthebiggestever—andcouldeventuallyinvolveasmanyastwothirdsofthecompany’s900femaleworkers. 42Mitsubishi’sresponsewasclearfromthebeginning.WhentheEEOCannounceditscaseagainsttheIllinoisautomakerthecompanydispatchedbusloadsofworkerstopickettheagency’sChicagooffices.AttorneysforMitsubishiwillnodoubtprobetheprivatelivesofthewomenlodgingcomplaintsandmayevenaccusethemof"Japanbashing."Mitsubishi’sbrassinTokyoseemedabittakenabackbytheferocityofthecounteroffensivetothepointofsuggestingthatmaybethecasecouldbequietlysettled. 43CouldsuchtacticsbeeffectiveIfaggressivePRmakespeopledoubttheallegationsagainstthecompanyorencouragesfederalinvestigatorstosettleonmorefavorabletermsthenthestrategywillhavesucceeded.ButtherearerisksespeciallyforconsumercompanieslikeMitsubishi. 44That’snosmallthreatconsideringthatMitsubishiisstrugglingtoturnaprofitinthiscountry. 45Astra’sstrategyseemssavvier.Itsopennessandpromptresponsemighthelpitevadepunitivedamagesshouldanyofthecomplaintsgotoajury.Infactthatmaybeachiefreasonthecompanyactedevenbeforeitcompleteditsowninvestigation.ThatsaidAstraisinthesouptobeginwithbecauseithadnoadequatemechanismsforreportingincidentsandbecauseitfailedtodealwithitsproblemsbeforetheybecamepublic.Womenhavecomplainedofharassmentatthecompanyformorethanadecade.BusinessWeekreportsincidentsrangingfromgropingsatcompanyretreatstosuggestionsthatfemalesalesrepscouldadvancetheircareersbyputtingoutsexuallyfortheirbosses—includingtheheadofthecompanyLarsBildman.Hislawyerdeniestheallegationsasdotheotherexecutives.SofarAstraitselfhasofferednoevidencesuggestinganyofthethreeareguilty. Bothcompaniesnowpromisetodobetter.Astraisoverhaulingitscorporatepersonnelpoliciesandplanstotrainmanagersonhowtohandleissuesofsexualdiscrimination.SoisMitsubishi.Saystheautomaker’sgeneralcounselGaryShultz:"Wearegoingtobecomethemodelinhandlingsexual-harassmentand-discriminationcases."Thatremainstobeseen.Ifthesesortsofscandalsforcecompaniestosetuprulesthatactuallyworkthatmaybethebestcasestudyofall. [A]That’spreciselywhatthecompanydidinresponsetoapriorsexual-harassmentsuitfiledby29womenin1994. [B]"Agreatdealofattentionshouldbepaidtotheseaffairs"saysMitsubishis’sspokesman. [C]But"we’retakingtheseallegationsveryseriously"saysAstraspokesmanBenjaminKincannon. [D]Outragedbytheautomaker’sseemingdisregardofitsproblemsperennialpresidentialhopefulJesseJacksonandtheNationalOrganizationforWomencalledoncarbuyerstoboycottthecompany. [E]WhenBusinessWeekpublishedtalesofwide-rangingabuseatAstra’sAmericansubsidiaryoutsideBostonthecompanyquicklyfaceduptotheproblemandsuspendeditsU.S.chiefexecutivealongwithtwotoplieutenants. [F]Prof.MartinStolleracrisis-managementexpertatNorthwesternUniversitythinksso."Theaimofcrisismanagementistostoptheattackers"hesays. [G]AstraandMitsubishihavejoinedhandwitheachothertosolvetheproblemofsexualharassment. 43
[A]Modernmarketingisthereforeacoordinatedsystemofmanybusinessactivities.Butbasicallyitinvolvesfourthings:sellingthecorrectproductattheproperplacesellingitatapricedeterminedbydemandsatisfyingacustomer’sneedandwantsandproducingaprofitforthecompany. [B]Becauseproductsareoftenmarketedinternationallydistributionhasincreasedinimportance.Goodsmustbeattheplacewherethecustomerneedthemorboughtthere.Thisisknownasplaceutility:itaddsvaluetoaproduct.Howevermanymarketsareseparatedfromtheplaceofproductionwhichmeansthatoftenbothrawmaterialsandfinishedproductsmustbetransportedtothepointswheretheyareneeded. [C]Thetermsmarketandmarketingcanhaveseveralmeaningsdependinguponhowtheyareused.Thetermstockmarketreferstothebuyingandsellingofsharesincorporationsaswellasotheractivitiesrelatedtostocktradingandpricing.TheimportantworldstockmarketsareinLondonGenevaNewYorkTokyoandSingapore.Anothertypeofmarketisagrocerymarketwhichisaplacewherepeoplepurchasefood.Wheneconomistsusethewordmarkettheymeanasetofforcesorconditionsthatdeterminethepriceofaproductsuchasthesupplyavailableforsaleandthedemandforitbyconsumers.Thetermmarketinginbusinessincludesallthesemeaningsandmore. [D]Inthepasttheconceptofmarketingemphasizedsales.Theproducerormanufacturermadeaproducthewantedtosell.Marketingwasthetaskoffiguringouthowtoselltheproduct.Basicallysellingtheproductwouldbeaccomplishedbysalespromotionwhichincludedadvertisingandpersonalselling.Inadditiontosalespromotionmarketingalsoinvolvedthephysicaldistributionoftheproducttotheplaceswhereitwasactuallysold.Distributionconsistedoftransportationstorageandrelatedservicessuchasfinancingstandardizationandgradingandtherelatedrisks. [E]Marketingnowinvolvesfirstdecidingwhatthecustomerwantsanddesigningandproducingaproductthatsatisfiesthesewantsataprofittothecompany.Insteadofconcentratingsolelyonproductthecompanymustconsiderthedesiresoftheconsumer.Andthisismuchmoredifficultsinceitinvolveshumanbehavior.Productionontheotherhandismostlyanengineeringproblem.Thusdemandandmarketforcesarestillanimportantaspectofmodernmarketingbuttheyareconsideredpriortotheproductionprocess. [F]Themodernmarketingconceptencompassesalloftheactivitiesmentionedbutitisbasedonadifferentsetofprinciples.Itsubscribestothenotionthatproductioncanbeeconomicallyjustifiedonlybyconsumption.Inotherwordsgoodsshouldbeproducedonlyiftheycanbesold.Thereforetheproducershouldconsiderwhoisgoingtobuytheproductorwhatthemarketfortheproductisbeforeproductionbegins.Thisisverydifferentfrommakingaproductandthenthinkingabouthowtosellit. [G]Rawmaterialsrequiringlittleorspecialtreatmentcanbetransportedbyrailshipofbargeatlowcost.Largequantitiesofrawmaterialstravelsasbulkfreightbutfinishedproductsthatoftenrequirespecialtreatmentsuchasrefrigerationorcarefulhandlingareusuallytransportedbytruckthismerchandisefreightisusuallysmallerinvolumeandrequiredquickerdelivery.Merchandisefreightisatermforthetransportationofmanufacturedgood.Alongallpointsofthedistributionchannelvariousamountsofstoragearerequired.Thetimeandmannerofsuchstoragedependsuponthetypeofproduct.Inventoriesofthisstoredmerchandiseoftenneedtobefinanced. Order: 41.______→D→42.______→43.______→44.______→45.______→A 45
Here’sataleoftwocompanies.Bothareforeignownedandbothareembroiledinscandalsinvolvingallegationsofsexualharassment.CompanyAisconfrontedwiththeproblemandpunishestopexecs.CompanyBstonewallsandmountsanaggressivecampaigntodiscredititsaccusersandportrayitselfasavictimofslander. 41Forbusinessschoolslookingforafewgoodcasestudiesindamagecontrollastweekwasaboutasgoodasitgets.OnewasSwedishpharmaceuticalscompanyAstraUSAamakerofasthmamedicationsandthepopularanestheticXylocaine.FacingsimilarchargesMitsubishiMotormanufacturingofAmericaoptedforin-your-facedenial.WhodiditrightIt’stoosoontoknowforsure.Astra’sstrategymayseemsmarter.FinanciallyspeakingatleastonecanseewhyMitsubishiisreluctanttoissueapublicmeaculpa.Fessingupcouldexposeittoasmuchas$200millionindamages. Suchcontroversiesarenoraritythesedays.TheEqualEmploymentOpportunitycommissionalonereceivedmorethan15000complaintsofsexualharassmentlastyearmorethantwiceasmanyasin1991.ItssuitagainstMitsubishifiledlastmonthmayturnouttobebyfarthebiggestever—andcouldeventuallyinvolveasmanyastwothirdsofthecompany’s900femaleworkers. 42Mitsubishi’sresponsewasclearfromthebeginning.WhentheEEOCannounceditscaseagainsttheIllinoisautomakerthecompanydispatchedbusloadsofworkerstopickettheagency’sChicagooffices.AttorneysforMitsubishiwillnodoubtprobetheprivatelivesofthewomenlodgingcomplaintsandmayevenaccusethemof"Japanbashing."Mitsubishi’sbrassinTokyoseemedabittakenabackbytheferocityofthecounteroffensivetothepointofsuggestingthatmaybethecasecouldbequietlysettled. 43CouldsuchtacticsbeeffectiveIfaggressivePRmakespeopledoubttheallegationsagainstthecompanyorencouragesfederalinvestigatorstosettleonmorefavorabletermsthenthestrategywillhavesucceeded.ButtherearerisksespeciallyforconsumercompanieslikeMitsubishi. 44That’snosmallthreatconsideringthatMitsubishiisstrugglingtoturnaprofitinthiscountry. 45Astra’sstrategyseemssavvier.Itsopennessandpromptresponsemighthelpitevadepunitivedamagesshouldanyofthecomplaintsgotoajury.Infactthatmaybeachiefreasonthecompanyactedevenbeforeitcompleteditsowninvestigation.ThatsaidAstraisinthesouptobeginwithbecauseithadnoadequatemechanismsforreportingincidentsandbecauseitfailedtodealwithitsproblemsbeforetheybecamepublic.Womenhavecomplainedofharassmentatthecompanyformorethanadecade.BusinessWeekreportsincidentsrangingfromgropingsatcompanyretreatstosuggestionsthatfemalesalesrepscouldadvancetheircareersbyputtingoutsexuallyfortheirbosses—includingtheheadofthecompanyLarsBildman.Hislawyerdeniestheallegationsasdotheotherexecutives.SofarAstraitselfhasofferednoevidencesuggestinganyofthethreeareguilty. Bothcompaniesnowpromisetodobetter.Astraisoverhaulingitscorporatepersonnelpoliciesandplanstotrainmanagersonhowtohandleissuesofsexualdiscrimination.SoisMitsubishi.Saystheautomaker’sgeneralcounselGaryShultz:"Wearegoingtobecomethemodelinhandlingsexual-harassmentand-discriminationcases."Thatremainstobeseen.Ifthesesortsofscandalsforcecompaniestosetuprulesthatactuallyworkthatmaybethebestcasestudyofall. [A]That’spreciselywhatthecompanydidinresponsetoapriorsexual-harassmentsuitfiledby29womenin1994. [B]"Agreatdealofattentionshouldbepaidtotheseaffairs"saysMitsubishis’sspokesman. [C]But"we’retakingtheseallegationsveryseriously"saysAstraspokesmanBenjaminKincannon. [D]Outragedbytheautomaker’sseemingdisregardofitsproblemsperennialpresidentialhopefulJesseJacksonandtheNationalOrganizationforWomencalledoncarbuyerstoboycottthecompany. [E]WhenBusinessWeekpublishedtalesofwide-rangingabuseatAstra’sAmericansubsidiaryoutsideBostonthecompanyquicklyfaceduptotheproblemandsuspendeditsU.S.chiefexecutivealongwithtwotoplieutenants. [F]Prof.MartinStolleracrisis-managementexpertatNorthwesternUniversitythinksso."Theaimofcrisismanagementistostoptheattackers"hesays. [G]AstraandMitsubishihavejoinedhandwitheachothertosolvetheproblemofsexualharassment. 41
Earlierthisyear13-year-oldShannonSullivanwassocializinginthesamewayasdozensofherclassmates.Shemaintainedapersonalizedpageonawebsitethatcontainedherphotographanddetailsaboutwhatmakesherunique.Butthenhermotherfoundout.Andnowhersiteandthoseofherfriends—oncelovinglyadornedwitheverythingfromsoundbitestovideoclips—arefastdisappearingattheinsistenceoftheirsafety-mindedparents.They’renotawarehoweasilysomethingpredatorycanhappenovertheInternetsaysShannon’smotherMargaretMaybewhenthey’reolderincollegeorsomethingbutit’sjustnotsafebeforethat.Internetstalkershavekilledatleastfourminorsinthepastthreeyearsandlawenforcementauthoritiescountabout5000reportsofattemptedsexualpredationovertheInternetinthepastyearaccordingtoParryArabexecutivedirectorofanInternetsafetyorganization.Givensuchstatisticsparentsneedtogetoverthefeelingthatthey’reinvadingtheirchildren’sprivacybyreadingtheirblogsMs.Aftabsays.Shebelievesthatparentsmustbringtheirjudgmenttobearonthecontentofwhat’sposted.Othersfearhoweverthatcertainprecautionscouldamounttoswattingaflywithasledgehammerandcouldtakeaheftytollonfamilylife.ThelikelihoodoftragedyisfargreaterwheneverachildridesinacarorgoesswimmingthanwhenheorshepostshisorhernamephotographandotherpersonalinformationontheInternetsaysLaurenceSteinberganexpertinadolescentpsychologyatTempleUniversity.Thedownsideofprohibitingitisworsethanthedownsideofallowingithesays.Agoodparent-childrelationshipisbasedontrust.IthinkpeopledogetespeciallyworkedupforsomereasonovertheInternet.ButsnoopingonwhatyourchilddoesontheInternettomeinsomewaysisnodifferentfromreadingyourchild’sdiary.Thoughthevalueofpursuingareasonablelevelofsafetygoesundisputedinthisdiscussionadultsdifferonthevalueofincreasingachild’sfreedomandprivacyovertimeespeciallyincyberspace.Aftabsupportsadolescentprivacywithpen-and-paperdiariesforinstancebecausethecontentthereisbetweenthechildandthepagewhereaswebsitecontentisforthewholeworldtosee.PostingprivateWebcontentbeforeage16onlyinvitestroubleshesaysyetmanyteensdoitinahighlypublicbidforattentionrecognitionandaffection.StillSteinbergsayswhileparentsneedtomonitorWebusagebyteenstheyalsoshouldacceptthattheywon’talwaysknoweverythingaboutachild’slifeespeciallyaschildrenbecomeolderteens.TherearegoingtobelotsofthingsthatIdon’tknowaboutinmychild’slifeandthat’sOKSteinbergsays.It’spartofthedevelopmentprocess./AccordingtoShannon’smother______.
46U.S.farmersareplantingmoreacresofcropsusingsoilbuildingandpollutionfightingfarmingsystemsthantraditionalmethodsthatrelyontheploworintensivetillageaccordingtoareportduetobereleasedearlynextmonth.Thereporttitled"NationalCropResidueManagementSurvey"showsa6millionacregainforenvironmentallyfriendlyfarmingsystemsthisyear. 47Italsoshowstraditionalfarmingmethodswhichresultingreatersoilerosionandrunofffromfieldsdeclinedby4millionacres.48TheSurveyconductedonacounty-by-countybasisbyUSDANaturalResourcesConservationServiceNRCSindicatesthatfarmersinIowaIllinoisSouthDakotaKansasandIndianacontributedthemosttotheincreaseillacresgrownwithenvironmentallyfriendlyfarmingsystemsknownasconservationtillagesystems. Thesestatesaccountedfor5millionofthe6millionacreincreaseinconservationtillagethisyear.Allconservationtillagesystemssuchasno-tillmulch-tillridge-tillstrip-tillandzone-tillrelyonlesstillageorlesssoildisturbancetoplantandmanagecrops.Farmerswhousethesesystemsleaveplantmaterials-stemsstalksandleaves-onthesurfaceoffieldsafterharvest. Theplantmaterialsalsocalledcropresiduesserveasablankettoprotectthesoilfromerosion.Thecropresiduesslowlydecomposetoaddorganicmattertothesoilmuchlikemulchingorcompostingaddsorganicmattertoagarden.Thesurveyresultsfor1997indicatethatconservationtillagesystemsnowaccountfor109.8millionacresorfully37percentofthe294.6millionannuallyplantedcroplandacresintheUnitedStates.Inthemeantimetraditionalsystemsthatrelyontheploworintensivetillagefellto107.6millionacresthisyear.Theremainingacresareinanintermediatefarmingsystemknownasreducedtill.49Theheadofthenonprofitcenterthatcompilesandpublishestheannualsurveyiscallingonconsumersandfarmersaliketofocusincreasedattentiononconservationtillagesystems."50Independentresearchandpracticalapplicationacrossthecountryshowthatthesesystemsnotonlyreplenishandbuildorganicmatterinthesoilforimprovedfuturefoodproductivitybuttheywillalsoprotectwaterqualityandenhancewildlifeandtheenvironmentforfuturegenerations"saysJohnHebblethwaiteexecutivedirectoroftheConservationTechnologyInformationCenter."Thereisalsogrowingevidencethatthesesystemscanevenhelpuscombatthepotentialforglobalwarming"headds 49
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 5
Scholarsofhumanmigrationspeakoftwomainfactorsthatinfluenceanindividual’sdecisiontomovefromoneplacetoanother-pushandpullfactors.Pushfactorsareassociatedwiththeplaceoforigin.ApushfactorcanbeassimpleandmildamatterasdifficultyinfindingasuitablejoborastraumaticasreligiouspersecutionwarorseverefamineObviouslyrefugeeswholeavetheirhomeswithgunspointedattheirheadsorwithhate-filledmobsattheirheelsaremotivatedalmostentirelybypushfactorsalthoughpullfactorsdoinfluencetheirchoiceofdestination.Pullfactorsarethoseassociatedwiththeplaceofdestination.Mostoftheseareeconomicsuchasbetterjobopportunitiesortheavailabilityofgoodlandtofarm.ThelatterwasanimportantfactorinattractingsettlerstotheUnitedStatesduringthenineteenthcentury.Ingeneralpullfactorsadduptoanapparentlybetterchanceforagoodlifeandmaterialwell-beingthanisofferedbytheplaceoforigin.Besidespushandpullfactorstherearewhatthesociologistscallinterveningobstacles.Evenifpushand/orpullfactorsareverystrongtheystillmaybeoutweighedbyinterveningobstaclessuchasthedistanceofthemovethetroubleandcostofmovingthedifficultyofenteringthenewcountryandtheproblemslikelytobeencounteredonarrival.Thedecisiontomoveisalsoinfluencedbypersonalfactorsofthepotentialmigrant.Thesamepush-pullfactorsandobstaclesoperatedifferentlyondifferentpeoplesometimesbecausetheyareatdifferentstagesoftheirlivesorjustbecauseoftheirvariedabilitiesandpersonalities.Theprospectofpullingupstakesandmovingtoanewandperhapsverystrangeenvironmentmayappearinterestingandchallengingtoayoungfootloosemanandappallinglydifficulttoaslightlyoldermanwithawifeandyoungchildren.Similarlytheneedtolearnanewlanguageandcustomsmayintrigueonepersonandfrightenanother.Regardlessofwhypeoplemovemigrationoflargenumbersofpeoplecausesfriction.TheUnitedStatesandotherreceivingcountriesthetermusedforcountriesthatwelcomelargenumbersofmigrantshaveexperiencedadjustmentproblemswitheachnewwaveofimmigrants.Thenewestarrivalsareusuallygiventhelowest-payingjobsandareresentedbynativeswhomayhavetocompetewiththemforthosejobs.Ithasusuallytakenseveraldecadesforeachgrouptogainacceptanceinthemainstreamofsocietyinthereceivingcountry.Whichofthefollowingmigrationismostlikelytobecausedbypullfactors
Earlierthisyear13-year-oldShannonSullivanwassocializinginthesamewayasdozensofherclassmates.Shemaintainedapersonalizedpageonawebsitethatcontainedherphotographanddetailsaboutwhatmakesherunique.Butthenhermotherfoundout.Andnowhersiteandthoseofherfriends—oncelovinglyadornedwitheverythingfromsoundbitestovideoclips—arefastdisappearingattheinsistenceoftheirsafety-mindedparents.They’renotawarehoweasilysomethingpredatorycanhappenovertheInternetsaysShannon’smotherMargaretMaybewhenthey’reolderincollegeorsomethingbutit’sjustnotsafebeforethat.Internetstalkershavekilledatleastfourminorsinthepastthreeyearsandlawenforcementauthoritiescountabout5000reportsofattemptedsexualpredationovertheInternetinthepastyearaccordingtoParryArabexecutivedirectorofanInternetsafetyorganization.Givensuchstatisticsparentsneedtogetoverthefeelingthatthey’reinvadingtheirchildren’sprivacybyreadingtheirblogsMs.Aftabsays.Shebelievesthatparentsmustbringtheirjudgmenttobearonthecontentofwhat’sposted.Othersfearhoweverthatcertainprecautionscouldamounttoswattingaflywithasledgehammerandcouldtakeaheftytollonfamilylife.ThelikelihoodoftragedyisfargreaterwheneverachildridesinacarorgoesswimmingthanwhenheorshepostshisorhernamephotographandotherpersonalinformationontheInternetsaysLaurenceSteinberganexpertinadolescentpsychologyatTempleUniversity.Thedownsideofprohibitingitisworsethanthedownsideofallowingithesays.Agoodparent-childrelationshipisbasedontrust.IthinkpeopledogetespeciallyworkedupforsomereasonovertheInternet.ButsnoopingonwhatyourchilddoesontheInternettomeinsomewaysisnodifferentfromreadingyourchild’sdiary.Thoughthevalueofpursuingareasonablelevelofsafetygoesundisputedinthisdiscussionadultsdifferonthevalueofincreasingachild’sfreedomandprivacyovertimeespeciallyincyberspace.Aftabsupportsadolescentprivacywithpen-and-paperdiariesforinstancebecausethecontentthereisbetweenthechildandthepagewhereaswebsitecontentisforthewholeworldtosee.PostingprivateWebcontentbeforeage16onlyinvitestroubleshesaysyetmanyteensdoitinahighlypublicbidforattentionrecognitionandaffection.StillSteinbergsayswhileparentsneedtomonitorWebusagebyteenstheyalsoshouldacceptthattheywon’talwaysknoweverythingaboutachild’slifeespeciallyaschildrenbecomeolderteens.TherearegoingtobelotsofthingsthatIdon’tknowaboutinmychild’slifeandthat’sOKSteinbergsays.It’spartofthedevelopmentprocess./Blogsdifferfromdiariesmostlybytheir______.
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 1
46U.S.farmersareplantingmoreacresofcropsusingsoilbuildingandpollutionfightingfarmingsystemsthantraditionalmethodsthatrelyontheploworintensivetillageaccordingtoareportduetobereleasedearlynextmonth.Thereporttitled"NationalCropResidueManagementSurvey"showsa6millionacregainforenvironmentallyfriendlyfarmingsystemsthisyear. 47Italsoshowstraditionalfarmingmethodswhichresultingreatersoilerosionandrunofffromfieldsdeclinedby4millionacres.48TheSurveyconductedonacounty-by-countybasisbyUSDANaturalResourcesConservationServiceNRCSindicatesthatfarmersinIowaIllinoisSouthDakotaKansasandIndianacontributedthemosttotheincreaseillacresgrownwithenvironmentallyfriendlyfarmingsystemsknownasconservationtillagesystems. Thesestatesaccountedfor5millionofthe6millionacreincreaseinconservationtillagethisyear.Allconservationtillagesystemssuchasno-tillmulch-tillridge-tillstrip-tillandzone-tillrelyonlesstillageorlesssoildisturbancetoplantandmanagecrops.Farmerswhousethesesystemsleaveplantmaterials-stemsstalksandleaves-onthesurfaceoffieldsafterharvest. Theplantmaterialsalsocalledcropresiduesserveasablankettoprotectthesoilfromerosion.Thecropresiduesslowlydecomposetoaddorganicmattertothesoilmuchlikemulchingorcompostingaddsorganicmattertoagarden.Thesurveyresultsfor1997indicatethatconservationtillagesystemsnowaccountfor109.8millionacresorfully37percentofthe294.6millionannuallyplantedcroplandacresintheUnitedStates.Inthemeantimetraditionalsystemsthatrelyontheploworintensivetillagefellto107.6millionacresthisyear.Theremainingacresareinanintermediatefarmingsystemknownasreducedtill.49Theheadofthenonprofitcenterthatcompilesandpublishestheannualsurveyiscallingonconsumersandfarmersaliketofocusincreasedattentiononconservationtillagesystems."50Independentresearchandpracticalapplicationacrossthecountryshowthatthesesystemsnotonlyreplenishandbuildorganicmatterinthesoilforimprovedfuturefoodproductivitybuttheywillalsoprotectwaterqualityandenhancewildlifeandtheenvironmentforfuturegenerations"saysJohnHebblethwaiteexecutivedirectoroftheConservationTechnologyInformationCenter."Thereisalsogrowingevidencethatthesesystemscanevenhelpuscombatthepotentialforglobalwarming"headds 47
Mathematicalabilityandmusicalabilitymaynotseemonthesurfacetobeconnectedbutpeoplewhohaveresearchedthesubject—andstudiedthebrain—saythattheyare.ResearchformybookLate—TalkingChildrendrovehomethepointtome.Threequartersofthebrightbutspeech-delayedchildreninthegroupIstudiedhadacloserelativewhowasanengineermathematicianorscientist—andfour—fifthshadacloserelativewhoplayedamusicalinstrument.Thechildrenthemselvesusuallytookreadilytomathandotheranalyticalsubjects—andtomusic.BlackwhiteandAsianchildreninthisgroupshowedthesamepatterns.HoweverlookingatthelargerworldaroundusitisclearthatblackshavebeengreatlyoverrepresentedinthedevelopmentofAmericanpopularmusicandgreatlyunderrepresentedinsuchfieldsasmathematicsscienceandengineering.IftheabilitiesrequiredinanalyticalfieldsandinmusicaresocloselyrelatedhowcantherebethisgreatdiscrepancyOnereasonisthatthedevelopmentofmathematicalandothersuchabilitiesrequiresyearsofformalschoolingwhilecertainmusicaltalentscanbedevelopedwithlittleornoformaltrainingashashappenedwithanumberofwell-knownblackmusicians.Itispreciselyinthosekindsofmusicwhereonecanacquiregreatskillwithoutformaltrainingthatblackshaveexcelled—popularmusicratherthanclassicalmusicpianoratherthanviolinbluesratherthanopera.ThisisreadilyunderstandablegiventhatmostblacksformostofAmericanhistoryhavenothadeitherthemoneyortheleisureforlongyearsofformalstudyinmusic.BlackshavenotmerelyheldtheirowninAmericanpopularmusic.Theyhaveplayedadisproportionatelylargeroleinthedevelopmentofjazzbothtraditionalandmodem.Alongstringofnamescomestomind—DukeEllingtonScottJoplinW.C.HandyLouisArmstrongCharlieParkerandsoon.Noneofthispresupposesanyspecialinnateabilityofblacksinmusic.Onthecontraryitisperfectlyconsistentwithblackshavingnomoresuchinbornabilitythananyoneelsebutbeinglimitedtobeingabletoexpresssuchabilityinnarrowerchannelsthanotherswhohavehadthemoneythetimeandtheformaleducationtospreadoutoverawiderrangeofmusicaswellasintomathematicsscienceandengineering.Whatcanbeinferredaboutopera
Directions:WritealettertoinviteafriendAnnatotravelabroadwithyou.Intheletter·tellherwhyyouintendtotravel.·what’syourplanforthetravel.·explainwhyyouinviteher.Writeyourletterinnolessthan100words.WriteitneatlyonANSWERSHEET2.Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter;useLiMinginstead.Donotwritetheaddress.
46Theclimaticphenomenonthatisbeingblamedforfloodshurricanesandearlysnowstormsalsodeservescreditforencouragingplantgrowthandhelpingtocontrolthepollutantlinkedtoglobalwarminganewstudyshows. E1Nino—theperiodicwarmingofeasternPacificOceanwaters—causesaburstofplantgrowththroughouttheworldandthisremovescarbondioxidefromtheatmosphereresearchershavefound. 47ThenewstudyshowsthatnaturalweathereventssuchasthebriefwarmingcausedbyE1Ninohaveamuchmoredramaticeffectthanpreviouslybelievedonhowmuchcarbondioxideisabsorbedbyplantsandhowmuchofthegasisexpelledbythesoil. AtmosphericcarbondioxideorCO2hasbeenincreasingsteadilyfordecades.Thisisthoughttobecausedbyanexpandeduseoffossilfuelsandbytopplingoftropicalforests.ScientistshavelinkedtheCO2risetoglobalwarmingaphenomenonknownasthegreenhouseeffect.48Alarmednationsoftheworldnowaredrawingupnewconservationpoliciestoreducefossilfuelburninginhopesofreducinggreenhousegasesintheatmosphere. ButDavidSchimeloftheNationalCenterforAtmosphericResearchaco-authorofthenewstudysaysthatbeforedetermininghowmuchtoreducefossilfuelburningweshouldconsidertheeffectsofnaturalclimatevariationsontheabilityofplantstoabsorbCO2. SchimelsaidsatellitemeasurementsofCO2plantgrowthandtemperatureshowthatnaturalwarmingeventssuchasE1NinoatfirstcausemoreCO2tobereleasedintotheatmosphereprobablyastheresultofaccelerateddecayofdeadplantmatterinthesoil.Butlaterwithintwoyearsthereisanexplosionofgrowthinforestsandgrasslandswhichmeansplantssuckmorecarbondioxideoutoftheatmosphere. "WethinkthatthereisadelayedresponseinvegetationandsoiltothewarmingeffectsofsuchphenomenaasE1Ninoandthisleadstoincreasedplantgrowth"saidSchimel. 49HoweverhesaiditisnotclearwhetherthewarmingbyE1NinocausesanetdecreaseinthebuildupofCO2overthelonghaul."Wedon’treallyknowthatyet"saidSchimel.WhatthestudydoesshowhoweveristhattheriseandfallofCO2intheatmosphereisstronglyinfluencedbynaturalchangesinglobaltemperaturesaidB.H.BraswelloftheUniversityofNewHampshireanotherco-authorofthestudy. Braswellsaidthatinyearswhentheglobalweatheriscoolerthannormalthereisadecreaseinboththedecayofdeadplantsandinnewplantgrowth.ThiscausesaneffectthatistheoppositeofE1Ninowarming:CO2atmospherelevelsfirstdeclineandlaterincrease. 50"Ithinkwehavedemonstratedthattheecosystemhasalotmoretodowithclimatechangethanwaspreviouslybelieved"saidBraswell"Focusingontheroleofhumanactivityinclimatechangeisimportantbutmanmadefactorsarenottheonlyfactors./ 47
Directions:Yourecentlyboughtanitemofclothinginanothertownbutfoundsomeproblemswithitafteryoureturnedhome.Writealettertothemanagerandsay·whathappened·whattheproblemsare·whatyouwouldlikethemtodo.Writeyourletterinnolessthan100words.WriteitneatlyonANSWERSHEET2.Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter;useLiMinginstead.Donotwritetheaddress.
Sincethe1930stheideathatcreaturesmightadvertisetheirfitnessasmatesthroughsymmetryhasbeenaround.Itrestsonthenotionthatfactorsrangingfrombadgenestocomingoffworseintoomanyfightswillleadtoasymmetriesotherscansee.Andoverthepastfewyearsexperimentswithanimalsandhumansseemedtosupporttheideathatsymmetryinfeaturessuchasplumageandfacialcharacteristicsinfluencesmateselection.Butnoonehadactuallycheckedthattheanimalsintheseexperimentscanactuallyseethesubtledifferencesinsymmetrytypicallyofbetween1and2percent.Nowthefirstsuchexperimenthasbeencarriedout.Theresultsareworryingforadvocatesofsymmetrydetectionasapowerfulfactorinmateselection.JohnSwaddleanethnologistattheUniversityofBristolperformedtheexperimentusingwildstarlingswhichhaveexcellenteyesight.Hetrainedthemtohitkeysmarkedwithbarpatternswithvaryinglevelsofasymmetryinordertoreceivefoodrewards.Thisshowedthestarlingscouldeasilydetectasymmetriesofbetween5and10percent.Butatbetween1and2percenttheirperformanceplummetedtonobetterthanrandomguessing.ThissuggeststhatthelevelsofasymmetrythatbirdsencounterinnaturewilloftenbejusttoosmalltobedetectedsaysSwaddle.Hesaysexperimentsthatlinkedsmallasymmetriestofitnessmayhaveproducedmisleadingcorrelationsandsaystheonlydirectevidencethatbirdsuseasymmetryasacuetomatefitnessinvolveslevelsofasymmetryofatleast10percent.Ithinksignalingbyasymmetrywillprobablyonlyoccurwhenspeciesshowsuchverylargeasymmetries—andthisdoesn’toccurthatoften.Thisraisesquestionsaboutresearchsuggestingthathumansareinfluencedbyvisualasymmetryintheirchoiceofpartner.MichaelButtofthePerceptionLaboratoryattheUniversityofSt.Andrewswhohascarriedoutsuchexperimentsconcedesthatnoonehasevercheckedifhumanshaveathresholdtoasymmetrydetection.Hethinksaconclusivetestofthiswouldprobablyinvolvemanipulatingcomplexthree-dimensionalimages:ItwouldbeaverydifficultexperimenttodoBurtaddsthattheabilitiesofanimalstodetectasymmetryinbarpatternsmaynotreflecttheirtalentforspottingasymmetriesinbodyshape.Thevisibilityofanasymmetrymaywelldependonitstypehesays.Swaddleagreesandisplanningfurtherexperiments.ButIsuspectthatasymmetryisusedasavisualcuelessoftenthanmostpeopleappeartopresumehewarns.JohnSwaddle’sexperimentsuggeststhat______.
Mathematicalabilityandmusicalabilitymaynotseemonthesurfacetobeconnectedbutpeoplewhohaveresearchedthesubject—andstudiedthebrain—saythattheyare.ResearchformybookLate—TalkingChildrendrovehomethepointtome.Threequartersofthebrightbutspeech-delayedchildreninthegroupIstudiedhadacloserelativewhowasanengineermathematicianorscientist—andfour—fifthshadacloserelativewhoplayedamusicalinstrument.Thechildrenthemselvesusuallytookreadilytomathandotheranalyticalsubjects—andtomusic.BlackwhiteandAsianchildreninthisgroupshowedthesamepatterns.HoweverlookingatthelargerworldaroundusitisclearthatblackshavebeengreatlyoverrepresentedinthedevelopmentofAmericanpopularmusicandgreatlyunderrepresentedinsuchfieldsasmathematicsscienceandengineering.IftheabilitiesrequiredinanalyticalfieldsandinmusicaresocloselyrelatedhowcantherebethisgreatdiscrepancyOnereasonisthatthedevelopmentofmathematicalandothersuchabilitiesrequiresyearsofformalschoolingwhilecertainmusicaltalentscanbedevelopedwithlittleornoformaltrainingashashappenedwithanumberofwell-knownblackmusicians.Itispreciselyinthosekindsofmusicwhereonecanacquiregreatskillwithoutformaltrainingthatblackshaveexcelled—popularmusicratherthanclassicalmusicpianoratherthanviolinbluesratherthanopera.ThisisreadilyunderstandablegiventhatmostblacksformostofAmericanhistoryhavenothadeitherthemoneyortheleisureforlongyearsofformalstudyinmusic.BlackshavenotmerelyheldtheirowninAmericanpopularmusic.Theyhaveplayedadisproportionatelylargeroleinthedevelopmentofjazzbothtraditionalandmodem.Alongstringofnamescomestomind—DukeEllingtonScottJoplinW.C.HandyLouisArmstrongCharlieParkerandsoon.Noneofthispresupposesanyspecialinnateabilityofblacksinmusic.Onthecontraryitisperfectlyconsistentwithblackshavingnomoresuchinbornabilitythananyoneelsebutbeinglimitedtobeingabletoexpresssuchabilityinnarrowerchannelsthanotherswhohavehadthemoneythetimeandtheformaleducationtospreadoutoverawiderrangeofmusicaswellasintomathematicsscienceandengineering.Whatisthemainideaofthefirstparagraph
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 7
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 13
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 15
Sincethe1930stheideathatcreaturesmightadvertisetheirfitnessasmatesthroughsymmetryhasbeenaround.Itrestsonthenotionthatfactorsrangingfrombadgenestocomingoffworseintoomanyfightswillleadtoasymmetriesotherscansee.Andoverthepastfewyearsexperimentswithanimalsandhumansseemedtosupporttheideathatsymmetryinfeaturessuchasplumageandfacialcharacteristicsinfluencesmateselection.Butnoonehadactuallycheckedthattheanimalsintheseexperimentscanactuallyseethesubtledifferencesinsymmetrytypicallyofbetween1and2percent.Nowthefirstsuchexperimenthasbeencarriedout.Theresultsareworryingforadvocatesofsymmetrydetectionasapowerfulfactorinmateselection.JohnSwaddleanethnologistattheUniversityofBristolperformedtheexperimentusingwildstarlingswhichhaveexcellenteyesight.Hetrainedthemtohitkeysmarkedwithbarpatternswithvaryinglevelsofasymmetryinordertoreceivefoodrewards.Thisshowedthestarlingscouldeasilydetectasymmetriesofbetween5and10percent.Butatbetween1and2percenttheirperformanceplummetedtonobetterthanrandomguessing.ThissuggeststhatthelevelsofasymmetrythatbirdsencounterinnaturewilloftenbejusttoosmalltobedetectedsaysSwaddle.Hesaysexperimentsthatlinkedsmallasymmetriestofitnessmayhaveproducedmisleadingcorrelationsandsaystheonlydirectevidencethatbirdsuseasymmetryasacuetomatefitnessinvolveslevelsofasymmetryofatleast10percent.Ithinksignalingbyasymmetrywillprobablyonlyoccurwhenspeciesshowsuchverylargeasymmetries—andthisdoesn’toccurthatoften.Thisraisesquestionsaboutresearchsuggestingthathumansareinfluencedbyvisualasymmetryintheirchoiceofpartner.MichaelButtofthePerceptionLaboratoryattheUniversityofSt.Andrewswhohascarriedoutsuchexperimentsconcedesthatnoonehasevercheckedifhumanshaveathresholdtoasymmetrydetection.Hethinksaconclusivetestofthiswouldprobablyinvolvemanipulatingcomplexthree-dimensionalimages:ItwouldbeaverydifficultexperimenttodoBurtaddsthattheabilitiesofanimalstodetectasymmetryinbarpatternsmaynotreflecttheirtalentforspottingasymmetriesinbodyshape.Thevisibilityofanasymmetrymaywelldependonitstypehesays.Swaddleagreesandisplanningfurtherexperiments.ButIsuspectthatasymmetryisusedasavisualcuelessoftenthanmostpeopleappeartopresumehewarns.ThevisibilityofanasymmetryasMichaelButtthinksdependson______.
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 3
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 9
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 17
46Theclimaticphenomenonthatisbeingblamedforfloodshurricanesandearlysnowstormsalsodeservescreditforencouragingplantgrowthandhelpingtocontrolthepollutantlinkedtoglobalwarminganewstudyshows. E1Nino—theperiodicwarmingofeasternPacificOceanwaters—causesaburstofplantgrowththroughouttheworldandthisremovescarbondioxidefromtheatmosphereresearchershavefound. 47ThenewstudyshowsthatnaturalweathereventssuchasthebriefwarmingcausedbyE1Ninohaveamuchmoredramaticeffectthanpreviouslybelievedonhowmuchcarbondioxideisabsorbedbyplantsandhowmuchofthegasisexpelledbythesoil. AtmosphericcarbondioxideorCO2hasbeenincreasingsteadilyfordecades.Thisisthoughttobecausedbyanexpandeduseoffossilfuelsandbytopplingoftropicalforests.ScientistshavelinkedtheCO2risetoglobalwarmingaphenomenonknownasthegreenhouseeffect.48Alarmednationsoftheworldnowaredrawingupnewconservationpoliciestoreducefossilfuelburninginhopesofreducinggreenhousegasesintheatmosphere. ButDavidSchimeloftheNationalCenterforAtmosphericResearchaco-authorofthenewstudysaysthatbeforedetermininghowmuchtoreducefossilfuelburningweshouldconsidertheeffectsofnaturalclimatevariationsontheabilityofplantstoabsorbCO2. SchimelsaidsatellitemeasurementsofCO2plantgrowthandtemperatureshowthatnaturalwarmingeventssuchasE1NinoatfirstcausemoreCO2tobereleasedintotheatmosphereprobablyastheresultofaccelerateddecayofdeadplantmatterinthesoil.Butlaterwithintwoyearsthereisanexplosionofgrowthinforestsandgrasslandswhichmeansplantssuckmorecarbondioxideoutoftheatmosphere. "WethinkthatthereisadelayedresponseinvegetationandsoiltothewarmingeffectsofsuchphenomenaasE1Ninoandthisleadstoincreasedplantgrowth"saidSchimel. 49HoweverhesaiditisnotclearwhetherthewarmingbyE1NinocausesanetdecreaseinthebuildupofCO2overthelonghaul."Wedon’treallyknowthatyet"saidSchimel.WhatthestudydoesshowhoweveristhattheriseandfallofCO2intheatmosphereisstronglyinfluencedbynaturalchangesinglobaltemperaturesaidB.H.BraswelloftheUniversityofNewHampshireanotherco-authorofthestudy. Braswellsaidthatinyearswhentheglobalweatheriscoolerthannormalthereisadecreaseinboththedecayofdeadplantsandinnewplantgrowth.ThiscausesaneffectthatistheoppositeofE1Ninowarming:CO2atmospherelevelsfirstdeclineandlaterincrease. 50"Ithinkwehavedemonstratedthattheecosystemhasalotmoretodowithclimatechangethanwaspreviouslybelieved"saidBraswell"Focusingontheroleofhumanactivityinclimatechangeisimportantbutmanmadefactorsarenottheonlyfactors./ 49
Mathematicalabilityandmusicalabilitymaynotseemonthesurfacetobeconnectedbutpeoplewhohaveresearchedthesubject—andstudiedthebrain—saythattheyare.ResearchformybookLate—TalkingChildrendrovehomethepointtome.Threequartersofthebrightbutspeech-delayedchildreninthegroupIstudiedhadacloserelativewhowasanengineermathematicianorscientist—andfour—fifthshadacloserelativewhoplayedamusicalinstrument.Thechildrenthemselvesusuallytookreadilytomathandotheranalyticalsubjects—andtomusic.BlackwhiteandAsianchildreninthisgroupshowedthesamepatterns.HoweverlookingatthelargerworldaroundusitisclearthatblackshavebeengreatlyoverrepresentedinthedevelopmentofAmericanpopularmusicandgreatlyunderrepresentedinsuchfieldsasmathematicsscienceandengineering.IftheabilitiesrequiredinanalyticalfieldsandinmusicaresocloselyrelatedhowcantherebethisgreatdiscrepancyOnereasonisthatthedevelopmentofmathematicalandothersuchabilitiesrequiresyearsofformalschoolingwhilecertainmusicaltalentscanbedevelopedwithlittleornoformaltrainingashashappenedwithanumberofwell-knownblackmusicians.Itispreciselyinthosekindsofmusicwhereonecanacquiregreatskillwithoutformaltrainingthatblackshaveexcelled—popularmusicratherthanclassicalmusicpianoratherthanviolinbluesratherthanopera.ThisisreadilyunderstandablegiventhatmostblacksformostofAmericanhistoryhavenothadeitherthemoneyortheleisureforlongyearsofformalstudyinmusic.BlackshavenotmerelyheldtheirowninAmericanpopularmusic.Theyhaveplayedadisproportionatelylargeroleinthedevelopmentofjazzbothtraditionalandmodem.Alongstringofnamescomestomind—DukeEllingtonScottJoplinW.C.HandyLouisArmstrongCharlieParkerandsoon.Noneofthispresupposesanyspecialinnateabilityofblacksinmusic.Onthecontraryitisperfectlyconsistentwithblackshavingnomoresuchinbornabilitythananyoneelsebutbeinglimitedtobeingabletoexpresssuchabilityinnarrowerchannelsthanotherswhohavehadthemoneythetimeandtheformaleducationtospreadoutoverawiderrangeofmusicaswellasintomathematicsscienceandengineering.Whichofthefollowingdoestheauthormostprobablyagreewith
TheChinaboomisbynowawell-documentedphenomenon.Whohasn’t1theMiddleKingdom’sastoundingeconomicgrowth8percentannuallyitsmesmerizing2market1.2billionpeopletheinvestmentardorofforeignsuitors$40billioninforeigndirectinvestmentlastyear3Chinaisaneconomicjuggernaut.4NicholasLardyoftheBrookingsInstitutionaWashingtonD.C.-basedthinktank "Nocountryhas5itsforeigntradeasfastasChinaoverthelast20years.Japan6itsforeigntradeovera20-yearperiod;China’sforeigntradeasquintupled.They’vebecomethepre-eminentproduceroflabor-intensive7goodsintheworld".Butthere’sbeen8fromthedazzlingChinagrowthstory—namelytheChinesemultinational.NomajorChinesecompanieshave9establishedthemselvesortheirbrands10theglobalstage.ButasHaiershowsthatisstartingtochange.11100yearsofpovertyandchaosofbeingovershadowedbyforeigncountriesandmultinationalsChineseindustrialcompaniesarestartingto12ontheworld. Anewgenerationoflargeandcrediblefirmshas13inChinaintheelectronicsapplianceandevenhigh-techsectors.Somehavereachedcriticalmassonthemainlandandarenow14newoutletsfortheirproduction—throughexportsandbybuildingChinesefactoriesabroadchieflyinSoutheastAsia.Oneexample:China’sinvestmentinMalaysia15from$8millionin2000to$766millioninthefirsthalfofthisyear.16China’sexportprowessitwillbeyears17ChinesefirmsachievethemanagerialandoperationalexpertiseofWesternandJapanesemultinationals.Foronethingmanyofitsbestcompaniesarestillatleastpartiallystate-owned.18Chinahasashortageofmanagerialtalentandlittlenotionofmarketingandbrand-building.Itscompaniesarealso19bythecountry’slongtraditionofcentralplanninginefficientuseofcapitalandantiquateddistributionsystem20makesbuildingnationalcompaniesachallenge. 11
Here’sataleoftwocompanies.Bothareforeignownedandbothareembroiledinscandalsinvolvingallegationsofsexualharassment.CompanyAisconfrontedwiththeproblemandpunishestopexecs.CompanyBstonewallsandmountsanaggressivecampaigntodiscredititsaccusersandportrayitselfasavictimofslander. 41Forbusinessschoolslookingforafewgoodcasestudiesindamagecontrollastweekwasaboutasgoodasitgets.OnewasSwedishpharmaceuticalscompanyAstraUSAamakerofasthmamedicationsandthepopularanestheticXylocaine.FacingsimilarchargesMitsubishiMotormanufacturingofAmericaoptedforin-your-facedenial.WhodiditrightIt’stoosoontoknowforsure.Astra’sstrategymayseemsmarter.FinanciallyspeakingatleastonecanseewhyMitsubishiisreluctanttoissueapublicmeaculpa.Fessingupcouldexposeittoasmuchas$200millionindamages. Suchcontroversiesarenoraritythesedays.TheEqualEmploymentOpportunitycommissionalonereceivedmorethan15000complaintsofsexualharassmentlastyearmorethantwiceasmanyasin1991.ItssuitagainstMitsubishifiledlastmonthmayturnouttobebyfarthebiggestever—andcouldeventuallyinvolveasmanyastwothirdsofthecompany’s900femaleworkers. 42Mitsubishi’sresponsewasclearfromthebeginning.WhentheEEOCannounceditscaseagainsttheIllinoisautomakerthecompanydispatchedbusloadsofworkerstopickettheagency’sChicagooffices.AttorneysforMitsubishiwillnodoubtprobetheprivatelivesofthewomenlodgingcomplaintsandmayevenaccusethemof"Japanbashing."Mitsubishi’sbrassinTokyoseemedabittakenabackbytheferocityofthecounteroffensivetothepointofsuggestingthatmaybethecasecouldbequietlysettled. 43CouldsuchtacticsbeeffectiveIfaggressivePRmakespeopledoubttheallegationsagainstthecompanyorencouragesfederalinvestigatorstosettleonmorefavorabletermsthenthestrategywillhavesucceeded.ButtherearerisksespeciallyforconsumercompanieslikeMitsubishi. 44That’snosmallthreatconsideringthatMitsubishiisstrugglingtoturnaprofitinthiscountry. 45Astra’sstrategyseemssavvier.Itsopennessandpromptresponsemighthelpitevadepunitivedamagesshouldanyofthecomplaintsgotoajury.Infactthatmaybeachiefreasonthecompanyactedevenbeforeitcompleteditsowninvestigation.ThatsaidAstraisinthesouptobeginwithbecauseithadnoadequatemechanismsforreportingincidentsandbecauseitfailedtodealwithitsproblemsbeforetheybecamepublic.Womenhavecomplainedofharassmentatthecompanyformorethanadecade.BusinessWeekreportsincidentsrangingfromgropingsatcompanyretreatstosuggestionsthatfemalesalesrepscouldadvancetheircareersbyputtingoutsexuallyfortheirbosses—includingtheheadofthecompanyLarsBildman.Hislawyerdeniestheallegationsasdotheotherexecutives.SofarAstraitselfhasofferednoevidencesuggestinganyofthethreeareguilty. Bothcompaniesnowpromisetodobetter.Astraisoverhaulingitscorporatepersonnelpoliciesandplanstotrainmanagersonhowtohandleissuesofsexualdiscrimination.SoisMitsubishi.Saystheautomaker’sgeneralcounselGaryShultz:"Wearegoingtobecomethemodelinhandlingsexual-harassmentand-discriminationcases."Thatremainstobeseen.Ifthesesortsofscandalsforcecompaniestosetuprulesthatactuallyworkthatmaybethebestcasestudyofall. [A]That’spreciselywhatthecompanydidinresponsetoapriorsexual-harassmentsuitfiledby29womenin1994. [B]"Agreatdealofattentionshouldbepaidtotheseaffairs"saysMitsubishis’sspokesman. [C]But"we’retakingtheseallegationsveryseriously"saysAstraspokesmanBenjaminKincannon. [D]Outragedbytheautomaker’sseemingdisregardofitsproblemsperennialpresidentialhopefulJesseJacksonandtheNationalOrganizationforWomencalledoncarbuyerstoboycottthecompany. [E]WhenBusinessWeekpublishedtalesofwide-rangingabuseatAstra’sAmericansubsidiaryoutsideBostonthecompanyquicklyfaceduptotheproblemandsuspendeditsU.S.chiefexecutivealongwithtwotoplieutenants. [F]Prof.MartinStolleracrisis-managementexpertatNorthwesternUniversitythinksso."Theaimofcrisismanagementistostoptheattackers"hesays. [G]AstraandMitsubishihavejoinedhandwitheachothertosolvetheproblemofsexualharassment. 45
Sincethe1930stheideathatcreaturesmightadvertisetheirfitnessasmatesthroughsymmetryhasbeenaround.Itrestsonthenotionthatfactorsrangingfrombadgenestocomingoffworseintoomanyfightswillleadtoasymmetriesotherscansee.Andoverthepastfewyearsexperimentswithanimalsandhumansseemedtosupporttheideathatsymmetryinfeaturessuchasplumageandfacialcharacteristicsinfluencesmateselection.Butnoonehadactuallycheckedthattheanimalsintheseexperimentscanactuallyseethesubtledifferencesinsymmetrytypicallyofbetween1and2percent.Nowthefirstsuchexperimenthasbeencarriedout.Theresultsareworryingforadvocatesofsymmetrydetectionasapowerfulfactorinmateselection.JohnSwaddleanethnologistattheUniversityofBristolperformedtheexperimentusingwildstarlingswhichhaveexcellenteyesight.Hetrainedthemtohitkeysmarkedwithbarpatternswithvaryinglevelsofasymmetryinordertoreceivefoodrewards.Thisshowedthestarlingscouldeasilydetectasymmetriesofbetween5and10percent.Butatbetween1and2percenttheirperformanceplummetedtonobetterthanrandomguessing.ThissuggeststhatthelevelsofasymmetrythatbirdsencounterinnaturewilloftenbejusttoosmalltobedetectedsaysSwaddle.Hesaysexperimentsthatlinkedsmallasymmetriestofitnessmayhaveproducedmisleadingcorrelationsandsaystheonlydirectevidencethatbirdsuseasymmetryasacuetomatefitnessinvolveslevelsofasymmetryofatleast10percent.Ithinksignalingbyasymmetrywillprobablyonlyoccurwhenspeciesshowsuchverylargeasymmetries—andthisdoesn’toccurthatoften.Thisraisesquestionsaboutresearchsuggestingthathumansareinfluencedbyvisualasymmetryintheirchoiceofpartner.MichaelButtofthePerceptionLaboratoryattheUniversityofSt.Andrewswhohascarriedoutsuchexperimentsconcedesthatnoonehasevercheckedifhumanshaveathresholdtoasymmetrydetection.Hethinksaconclusivetestofthiswouldprobablyinvolvemanipulatingcomplexthree-dimensionalimages:ItwouldbeaverydifficultexperimenttodoBurtaddsthattheabilitiesofanimalstodetectasymmetryinbarpatternsmaynotreflecttheirtalentforspottingasymmetriesinbodyshape.Thevisibilityofanasymmetrymaywelldependonitstypehesays.Swaddleagreesandisplanningfurtherexperiments.ButIsuspectthatasymmetryisusedasavisualcuelessoftenthanmostpeopleappeartopresumehewarns.Mostpeopleoftenpresumethatinmateselectionscreaturesappealto______.
热门题库
更多
高考政治
高考历史
国家统考科目
香港法概论
反间谍法
__学
合同法
证据学
民事诉讼法学
民法学
刑法学
消费者权益保护法
法理学
竞争法
国际公法
国际经济法
湘公网安备 43130202000226号