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In the span of 18 months, Isaac Newton invented calculus, constructed a theory of optics, explain...
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[A]In1849goldwasdiscoveredinCaliforniainthemountainsnearSanFrancisco.SostartedthefamousGoldRushofthe49ersacrossthevastunexploredwildernessthatlaywestoftheMississippi.Wholefamiliesperished.Onesmallgroupof49erslookingforashortcutacrosstheSierraNevadaMountainshappenedtoentertheinfamousDeathValley.ItwasluckyforthemitwaswinterforinsummerDeathValleyisaboutthehottestandmostdesolateplaceonearth.Asitwasoneofthegroupdiedofthirstanditwasthe49erswhogavethevalleyitsgrimname. [B]ThecompletionoftherailroadnotonlyjoinedthecitiesoftheeastwithCaliforniaitalsobroughtprosperitytotheisolatedfarmersoftheplainsandtotherancherswhowerenowabletosendtheircattletotheslaughterhousesinfreightears.Infactthenewrailroadbecameanessentiallife-lineforanationwhichnowstretched3000milesfromtheAtlantictothePacificOceans. [C]Aslateasthe1880samanintheFarwestcouldbehangedforstealingahorseyetgetnomorethanfiveyearsinjailforrobbingabank.Eversincethepioneerswentwestintotheunknowntheydependedabsolutelyontheirhorsesandtheirguns.IfamanlosthishorseorhisguninthedesertsmountainsorforestsofNevadaArizonaandeasternCaliforniahestoodnochance.HungerthirstagrizzlybearamountainlionorhostileIndianswouldfinishhimoffsoonerorlater.Afrontiersmanhadtobetoughbraveandresourcefulinthosedays. [D]ThecolonizationoftheWestwasgivenatremendousimpetusbythebuildingoftheTranscontinentalrailroadoneofthegreatengineeringfeatsofalltime.CongressdecidedthatthelayingofthetracksshouldbeginfromtheEastandtheWestatthesametime.Sothebuildingofthisrailroadlinedwithpolesforthefirsteast-westtelegraphsystemdevelopedintoarace.TheEasternersmovingacrosstheplainsprogressedfasterfortheydidnothavetotunnelthroughgiantmountainsorbridgegapingcanyons.ThetworailroadslinkedupinUtahonJuly10th1867.Therewasgreatexcitementandaspecialceremonytomarktheoccasion. [E]DesertsmountainsandforestsarestillthefrontierbetweenteemingCaliforniancitiesandthesparselypopulatedwildernessofNevadaandeasternCalifornia.EventodayNevadahashardlymorethan500thousandinhabitantsmostofwhomliveinthecitiesofLasVegasandReno. [F]Laterin1865aftertheCivilWardisillusionedsoldiersunabletofrndworkfollowedinthefootstepsofthe49ers.Theydidnotfindmuchgoldbuttheyfoundrichpasturesforcattle.ItwastheywhofoundedtheUSA’sgreatfoodindustryandtheyworkedwiththevigorandcourageoftheearlypioneersandwithafaithfortifiedbytheBible.[ G]SomeAmericansfeelthatthefrontierspiritnolongerexistsintheUSA.Butitexpresseditselfinanumberofways.AmericansdonotlikebeingwithoutworkandtheywilltravelhundredsofmilesinsearchofajobshowingacourageandanenterprisewhichisunusualinmostoftheolderEuropeancountries.Thenthereistheexplorationofouterspace.PresidentJohnKennedyinaspeechtothenationspokeofthis"NewFrontier."Thefrontierspiritcertainlyplayedapartinputtingthefirstmenonthenoonthemostrecentofallfrontierstobecrossed. 43
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.15
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.19
[A]Productivitygrowthjudderedtoahaltin2000astheeconomyturnedsharplydown.Therecessionin2001wasthemildestonrecordbuttheslowdownwassuddenandsharpaftertherapideconomicexpansionofthelate1990s.WhathasgotMr.Greenspanandhiscolleaguesscratchingtheirheadsistherapidpickupinproductivityinthelast12months. [B]Tryingtounderstandwhythenumbersaresobigcouldhelpdeterminewhetherproductivitywillcontinuetogrowatthispace.WillthemiraclebesustainedOrisitamirageinwhichthegainswillbereversed [C]AstheFedchairmanpointedoutthismightnotbeallthatunexpectediftheeconomyhadbeenrecoveringrapidly.Economiesoftengrowquitequicklyafterrecessionsandoutputperhouralsogrowsrapidly.ButafterabriefspurtinthefirstquarterofthisyearAmerica’seconomyhasbeenexpandingsluggishly--sosluggishlythatsomeeconomistsstillworryaboutadouble-diprecession. [D]TheargumentwillnotbesettleduntilasMr.Greenspanputit"thebooksareclosed".ItisSimplytoosoontobesurewhichgainswererealandsustainableandwhichweretransitoryorillusory.Thegovernmentfiguresforproductivityinthelate1990shavealreadybeenreviseddown.TheynowlooklessimpressivethantheydidatfirstbuttheystillshowaclearimprovementcomparedwithearlierAmericanproductivitygrowthrates--morethan2.5%ayearsince1995comparedwithabout1.5%inthepreceding20years. [E]Mr.Greenspanasmosteconomistsknowhasmorethananacademicinterestintheanswer.Inrecentyearshehasstakedagooddealofhisreputationontheexistenceoftheproductivitymiraclewhichappearedtoaccompanythehigh-techboomofthelate1990s.Theprickingofthedotcombubbleinearly2000ledmanytoconcludethattheimpressiveproductivitygainsintheAmericaneconomyfrom1995wouldturnouttobetemporaryevenifthefiguresweren’tsubsequentlyreviseddownwards.AsaconsequenceMr.Greenspan’scredibilitywouldbetarnished.Somesayitalreadyis:thatheisjustanothereconomistwhobelievedallthehype. [F]SowhyisproductivitygrowingsofastThereareseveralpossibleexplanationsnoneofthemmutuallyexclusive.Oneissimplythedrivetocutcostsascompaniesstruggletomakeaprofit;gettingridofthe"fat"acquiredduringtheboomyearswillalsocontributetothat.Someoftheimprovementmightbeare-allocationofresourcesintheeconomy.Somebusinesseshavebeenbuyingupcomputersandotherhigh-techequipmentfromfaileddotcomcompanieswhoprobablydidn’tusesuchresourcesveryefficiently.Thentoohard-pressedbusinessestrytodomorewiththesamestaffratherthantakingonextraworkers.Andalowinflationenvironmentmakesitmoredifficultforcompaniestoputuppricesandmoreimportantforthemtoimproveproductivityasfarastheycan. [G]ItisnotoftenthatAlanGreenspanadmitstobeingpuzzledbyeconomicdata.YetonOctober23rdMr.GreenspanconfessedthatheandtheFedwerestrugglingtoaccountfortherecentsurgeinAmericanproductivity.Hewastalkingaboutthespectaculargrowthinproductivity-outputperhourworked-overthepastyear.Itwaslikelyhesaidtobeoneofthebiggestincreasesinthepast30years. Order: 45
EventhoughshewasblindanddeafHelenKellerwasawomanwithanextraordinarysocialvision.46Whenmostwomen’srightsactivistswereworkingfortherighttovoteHelenKelleradvocatedactionthatwasmoredirectandmoreimmediatethanthevote.In1911speakinginEnglandwherewomenhadtherighttovoteshesaid:"Ourdemocracyisbutaname.WevoteWhatdoesthatmeanItmeansthatwechoosebetweentwobodiesofrealthoughnotavowedautocrats.-..Youaskforvotesforwomen.47Whatgoodcanvotesdowhenten-eleventhsofthelandofGreatBritainbelongsto200000menandonlyone-eleventhtotherestofthe40000000 Haveyourmenwiththeirmillionsofvotesfreedthemselvesfromthisinjustice"48WhenshebecameactiveandopenlysocialistaNewYorkcitynewspapertheBrooklynEaglewhichhadpreviouslytreatedherasaheroinecriticizedthathermisguidedsocialismhadsomehowdevelopedfromherblindanddeafcondition.SherepliedthatwhenonceshemettheeditoroftheBrooklynEaglehehadcomplimentedherlavishly:"ButnowthatIhavecomeoutforsocialismheremindsmeandthepublicthatIamblindanddeafandespeciallyliabletoerror." Sheadded:"OhridiculousBrooklynEagle!Whatanungallantbirditis!49Sociallyblindanddeafitdefendsanintolerablesystemasystemthatisthecauseofmuchofthephysicalblindnessanddeafnesswhichwearetryingtoprevent.TheEagleandIareatwar.Ihatethesystemwhichitrepresents---Whenitfightsbackletitfightfair...ItisnotfairfightingorgoodargumenttoremindmeandothersthatIcannotseeorhear.Icanread.IcanreadallthesocialistbooksIhavetimeforinEnglishGermanandFrench.IftheeditoroftheBrooklynEagleshouldreadsomeofthemhemightbeawisermanandmakeabetternewspaper.50IfIevercontributetothesocialistmovementthebookIsometimesdreamof;IknowwhatIshallnameit:IndustrialBlindnessandSocialDeafness." Sociallyblindanddeafitdefendsanintolerablesystemasystemthatisthecauseofmuchofthephysicalblindnessanddeafnesswhichwearetryingtoprevent.
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.17
Ifyousmokeyou’dbetterhurry.FromJuly1stpubsalloverEnglandwillbylawbeno-smokingareas.Sowillrestaurantsofficesandevencompanycarsifmorethanonepersonusesthem.England’ssmokersarefollowingawell-troddenpath.TheotherthreebitsoftheUnitedKingdomhavealreadybannedsmokinginalmostallenclosedpublicspacesandthereareanti-smokinglawsofvaryingstrictnessovermostofWesternEurope.Thesmoker’sjourneyfromglamourthroughtolerationtosuspicionisfinallyreachingitsendinpariahstatus.Butbehindthispublic-healthsuccessstoryliesadarkertale.Poorerpeoplearemuchmorelikelytosmokethanricherones—achangefromthe1950swhenprofessionalsandlaborerswereequallykeen.Todayonly15%ofmeninthehighestprofessionalclassessmokebut42%ofunskinedworkersdo.Despitepunitivetaxation—20cigarettescostaround￡5.00$10.00three-quartersofwhichistax—55%ofsinglemothersonbenefitssmoke.Thefigureforhomelessmenisevenhigher;forhard-drugusersitispractically100%.Themessagethatsmokingkillshasbeenhearditseemsbutnotbyall.Havingdefeatedthebigkillersofthepast—wantexposurepoorsanitation—governmentsalloverthedevelopedworldareturningtheirattentiontodiseasesthatstemmostlyfromhowindividualschoosetolivetheirlives.Butthesamedeafnessafflictsthesamepeoplewhentheyarestronglyencouragedtogiveupothersortsofunhealthybehavior.Thelowerdowntheyareonpracticallyanypeckingorder--jobprestigeincomeeducationbackground-themorelikelypeoplearetobefatandunfitandtodrinktoomuch.ThattemptsgovernmentstoshouteverlouderinanattempttogetthepublictolistenandnowheredotheydosomoreaggressivelythaninBritain.Onereasonisthatpeckingordersmattermorethaninmostotherrichcountries:incomedistributionisveryunequalandtheunemployeddisaffectedill-educatedrumpiscomparativelylarge.Anotherreasonisthefrustrationofagovernmentaddictedtotargetswhichoftenaimnotonlytoimprovesomethingbuttolesseninequalityintheprocess.AthirdisthattheNationalHealthServiceisfreetopatientsandpayingforthosewhohavearguablybroughttheirill-healthonthemselvesgrowsalarminglycostly.Britain’saggressivenesshowevermaybepointlessevencounter-productive.Thereisnoreasontobelievethatthosewhoignoremeasuredvoiceswilllistentoshouting.Itirritatesthemajoritywhoarealreadybehavingresponsiblyanditmayalsoundermineallgovernmentpronouncementsonhealthbyconvincingpeoplethattheyhaveanultra-cautiousmarginoferrorbuiltin.Suchhectoringmayalsobemissingtherootcauseoftheproblem.AccordingtoMr.MarmotwhocitesresearchongroupsasdiverseasbaboonsincaptivityBritishcivilservantsandOscarnomineesthehigherratesofiiihealthamongthoseinmoremodestwalksoflifecanbeattributedtowhathecallsthestatussyndrome.Peopleinprivilegedpositionsthinktheyareworththeeffortofbehavinghealthilyandfindthewill-powertodoso.Theimplicationisthatitiseasiertoimproveaperson’shealthbyweakeningtheconnectionbetweensocialpositionandhealththanbytargetingbehaviordirectly.Samepublic-healthexpertsspeakofsocialcohesionsupportforfamiliesandbettereducationforall.Thesearebiggerundertakingsthanabossycampaign;butmoreeffectiveandquieter.Theauthorseemstobesuspiciousofthepublic-healthsuccessbecause
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.8
Directions:Writealettertoacompanyforapositionasancomputerengineer.Yourlettershouldinclude:1whyyouchoosethecompany;2whydoyouthinkthatyouarecapablefortheposition.Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonAnswersheet2.Donotsignyournameattheendoftheletter.UseLiHua’instead.Youdonotneedtowritetheaddress.
[A]In1849goldwasdiscoveredinCaliforniainthemountainsnearSanFrancisco.SostartedthefamousGoldRushofthe49ersacrossthevastunexploredwildernessthatlaywestoftheMississippi.Wholefamiliesperished.Onesmallgroupof49erslookingforashortcutacrosstheSierraNevadaMountainshappenedtoentertheinfamousDeathValley.ItwasluckyforthemitwaswinterforinsummerDeathValleyisaboutthehottestandmostdesolateplaceonearth.Asitwasoneofthegroupdiedofthirstanditwasthe49erswhogavethevalleyitsgrimname. [B]ThecompletionoftherailroadnotonlyjoinedthecitiesoftheeastwithCaliforniaitalsobroughtprosperitytotheisolatedfarmersoftheplainsandtotherancherswhowerenowabletosendtheircattletotheslaughterhousesinfreightears.Infactthenewrailroadbecameanessentiallife-lineforanationwhichnowstretched3000milesfromtheAtlantictothePacificOceans. [C]Aslateasthe1880samanintheFarwestcouldbehangedforstealingahorseyetgetnomorethanfiveyearsinjailforrobbingabank.Eversincethepioneerswentwestintotheunknowntheydependedabsolutelyontheirhorsesandtheirguns.IfamanlosthishorseorhisguninthedesertsmountainsorforestsofNevadaArizonaandeasternCaliforniahestoodnochance.HungerthirstagrizzlybearamountainlionorhostileIndianswouldfinishhimoffsoonerorlater.Afrontiersmanhadtobetoughbraveandresourcefulinthosedays. [D]ThecolonizationoftheWestwasgivenatremendousimpetusbythebuildingoftheTranscontinentalrailroadoneofthegreatengineeringfeatsofalltime.CongressdecidedthatthelayingofthetracksshouldbeginfromtheEastandtheWestatthesametime.Sothebuildingofthisrailroadlinedwithpolesforthefirsteast-westtelegraphsystemdevelopedintoarace.TheEasternersmovingacrosstheplainsprogressedfasterfortheydidnothavetotunnelthroughgiantmountainsorbridgegapingcanyons.ThetworailroadslinkedupinUtahonJuly10th1867.Therewasgreatexcitementandaspecialceremonytomarktheoccasion. [E]DesertsmountainsandforestsarestillthefrontierbetweenteemingCaliforniancitiesandthesparselypopulatedwildernessofNevadaandeasternCalifornia.EventodayNevadahashardlymorethan500thousandinhabitantsmostofwhomliveinthecitiesofLasVegasandReno. [F]Laterin1865aftertheCivilWardisillusionedsoldiersunabletofrndworkfollowedinthefootstepsofthe49ers.Theydidnotfindmuchgoldbuttheyfoundrichpasturesforcattle.ItwastheywhofoundedtheUSA’sgreatfoodindustryandtheyworkedwiththevigorandcourageoftheearlypioneersandwithafaithfortifiedbytheBible.[ G]SomeAmericansfeelthatthefrontierspiritnolongerexistsintheUSA.Butitexpresseditselfinanumberofways.AmericansdonotlikebeingwithoutworkandtheywilltravelhundredsofmilesinsearchofajobshowingacourageandanenterprisewhichisunusualinmostoftheolderEuropeancountries.Thenthereistheexplorationofouterspace.PresidentJohnKennedyinaspeechtothenationspokeofthis"NewFrontier."Thefrontierspiritcertainlyplayedapartinputtingthefirstmenonthenoonthemostrecentofallfrontierstobecrossed. 41
Fewinsectshaveinspiredasmuchfearandhatredasthediminutivefireantslessthanhalfaninchlongbutlivingincoloniesofmorethan250000others.EveryoneinthesouthernUnitedStatesgetstoknowfireantssoonerorlaterbypainfulexperience.Fireantsliveinlargeearthenmoundsandaretruesocialinsects--thatmeanstheyhaveacastesystemdivisionoflaborwithaspecializedcastethatlayseggsqueenandaworkercasteofsterilefemales.Thereareseveralreasonsthattheyareconsideredpests.About60%ofpeoplelivinginareaswherefireantsoccurarestungeveryyear.Oftheseabout1%havesomedegreeofallergicreactioncalledanaphylaxistothesting.Theirlargemoundsareunsightlyandcandamagemowingequipment.Fireantssometimesenterelectricalandmechanicalequipmentandcanshortoutswitchesorchewthroughinsulation.Finally.asfireantsmoveintonewareastheyreducediversityofnativeantsandpreyonlargeranimalssuchasground-nestingbirdsandturtles.Eventhoughfireantsarepestsinmanycircumstancestheycanactuallybebeneficialinothers.Thereisevidencethattheirpredatoryactivitiescanreducethenumbersofsomeotherimportantpests.Incottonforexampletheypreyonimportantpeststhateatcottonplantssuchasbollwormsandbudworms.InLouisianasugarcaneaninsectcalledthesugarcaneborerusedtobeaveryimportantpestbeforefireantsarrivedandbeganpreyingonit.Fireantsalsopreyonticksandfleas.Whetherfireantsareconsideredpestornotdependonwheretheyarefoundbutonethingissure—wehadbestgetusedtolivingwiththem.Eradicationattemptsinthe1960sand1970sfailedforanumberofreasonsandscientistsgenerallyagreethatcompleteeliminationoffireantsfromtheUnitedStatesisnotpossible.Anewlong-termapproachtoreducingfireantpopulationsInvolvesclassicalbiologicalcontrol.WhenfireantswereaccidentallybroughttotheUnitedStatesmostoftheirparasitesanddiseaseswerenot.ClassicalbiologicalcontrolinvolvesidentifyingparasitesanddiseasesspecifictofireantsinSouthAmericatestingthemtobesurethattheydon’tattackorinfectnativeplantsoranimalsandestablishingthemintheIntroducedfireantpopulationIntheUnitedStates.Sincefireantsareabout5to7timesmoreabundantherethaninSouthAmericascientistshopetoreducetheirnumbersusingthisapproach.Theauthor’stoneintalkingaboutfireantsintheUSseemstobe
Averyimportantworldproblemifnotthemostseriousofallthegreatworldproblemswhichaffectusatthemomentistheincreasingnumberofpeoplewhoactuallyinhabitthisplanet.Thelimitedamountoflandandlandresourceswillsoonbeunabletosupportthehugepopulationifitcontinuestogrowatitspresentrate.Inanearlysurveyconductedin1888abillionandahalfpeopleinhabitedtheearth.Nowthepopulationexceedsfivebillionandisgrowingfast—bythestaggeringfigureof90millionin1988alone.ThismeansthattheworldmustaccommodateanewpopulationroughlyequaltothatoftheUnitedStatesandCanadaeverythreeyears!Eventhoughtherateofgrowthhasbeguntoslowdownmostexpertsbelievethepopulationsizewillstillpasseightbillionduringthenext50years.SowhyisthishugeIncreaseinpopulationtakingplaceItisreallyduetothespreadoftheknowledgeandpracticeofwhatisbecomingknownasDeathControl.YouhavenodoubtheardofthetermBirthControl—DeathControlissomethingratherdifferent.Itrecognizestheworkofthedoctorsandscientistswhonowkeepalivepeoplewhonotverylongagowouldhavediedofavarietyofthenincurablediseases.Throughawidevarietyoftechnologicalinnovationsthatincludefarmingmethodsandsanitationaswellasthecontrolofthesedeadlydiseaseswehavefoundwaystoreducetherateatwhichwedie—creatingapopulationexplosion.Weusedtothinkthatreachingseventyyearsoldwasaremarkableachievementbutnoweightyorevenninetyisbecomingrecognizedasthenormallife-spanforhumans.Inasensethisrepresentsatremendousachievementforourspecies.Biologicallythisistheverydefinitionofsuccessandwehaveundoubtedlybecomethedominantanimalontheplanet.HoweverthisSuccessistheverycauseofthegreatestthreattomankind.Manisconstantlydestroyingtheveryresourceswhichkeephimalive.Heisdestroyingthebalanceofnaturewhichregulatesclimateandtheatmosphereproducesandmaintainshealthysoilsprovidesfoodfromtheseasetc.Inshortbyonlyconsideringourneedsoftodayweareensuringtherewillbenotomorrow.Anunderstandingofman’seffectonthebalanceofnatureiscrucialtobeabletofindtheappropriateremedialaction.Itisaverycommonbeliefthattheproblemsofthepopulationexplosionarecausedmainlybypoorpeoplelivinginpoorcountrieswhodonotknowenoughtolimittheirreproduction.Thisisnottrue.Theactualnumberofpeopleinanareaisnotasimportantastheeffecttheyhaveonnature.Developingcountriesdohaveaneffectontheirenvironmentbutitisthepopulationsofrichercountriesthathaveafargreaterimpactontheearthasawhole.ThebirthofababyinforexampleJapanimposesmorethanahundredtimestheamountofstressontheworld’sresourcesasababyinIndia.MostpeopleinIndiadonotgrowupto.owncarsorair-conditioners—nordotheyeatthehugeamountofmeatandfishthattheJapanesechilddoes.Theirlife-stylesdonotrequirevastquantitiesofmineralsandenergy.Alsotheyareawareoftherequirementsofthelandaroundthemandtrytoputsomethingbackintonaturetoreplacewhattheytakeout.Forexampletropicalforestsareknowntobeessentialtothebalanceofnatureyetwearedestroyingthematanincrediblerate.Theyarebeingclearednottobenefitthenativesofthatcountrybuttosatisfytheneedsofrichercountries.CentralAmericanforestsarebeingdestroyedforpasturelandtomakepetfoodintheUnitedStatescheaper;inPapuaNewGuineaforestsaredestroyedtosupplycheapercardboardpackagingforJapaneseelectronicproducts;inBurmaandThailandforestshavebeendestroyedtoproducemoreattractivefurnitureinSingaporeandJapan.Thereforearichpersonlivingthousandsofmilesawaymaycausemoretropicalforestdestructionthanapoorpersonlivingintheforestitself.Inshortthenitiseverybody’sdutytosafeguardthefutureofmankind—notonlythroughpopulationcontrolbutbybeingmoreawareoftheeffecthisactionshaveonnature.Natureisbothfragileandpowerful.Itisveryeasilydestroyed;ontheotherhanditcansoeasilydestroyitsmostaggressiveenemy—man.Whichofthefollowingrecommendationsmightbemadebytheauthor
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.5
Directions: Youaretheorganizerofatourandyoushouldgiveanoticetotellthetouristssomethingaboutit.Itshouldinclude: 1Whereisthedestinationofthetour 2Whatshouldthetouristspayattentionto Youshouldwriteabout100wordsonANSWERSHEETⅡ.
AtatimewhenWallStreetfirmsarebeingpunishedformisleadinginvestorsaboutdot-comstocksduringthebubbleit’salltooeasytoconfusefinancialexcitementwithtechnologicalreality.Manypeoplearequicktodismissanytalkofan"Internetrevolution"assosuch’90schatter.47ThereisaworldofdifferencebetweencrazyevaluationsandserioustechnologybetweenInternetstocksandtheNetitself.WhileinvestorshavebeencomplainingabouttheirfatechiefexecutiveshavebeenbusyembracingtheNet.It’stimetogetoverthebubbletalkandgetrealabouttechnology’spromise. Orriskfallingbehind.Thestrongupturninprofitslastquarterduringaperiodofweakeconomicgrowthisprooftotheproductivity—enhancingpoweroftheNet.Throughboombustandrecoveryannualproductivitygrowthhaspoweredalongataround2.5%.Withoutitcompanieswouldhavebeenforcedtocutpayrollsevenfurtherduringtheworstdaysofthedecline.Withitcompaniesaregeneratinghigherprofitswithoutbiggainsinrevenues.Astheeconomypicksupsteamproductivitywilllikelyboostprofitsevenfurther. Despiteusualwisdomelectronicbusinesshasexceededeventhedreamyprojectionsof1999.Business-to-businesscommerceconductedonlinewillreach$2.6trillionin2003.Andmanysurvivingdot-comcompaniesaredoingsurprisinglywell.48Some40%ofpubliclyheldNetcompaniesincludingAmazon.comInc.wereprofitableinthefourthquarterof2002andhalfareexpectedtobeprofitablebytheendofthisyear.Truetherehasbeenviciousdisasterinthefield.Venturecapitalistspoured$100billionintomorethan6000Netstartupsoverthepastdecadeand2000disappeared.Manyideassomecrazyandsomenotfailed.ButeBayAmazon.comYahoo!GoogleExpediaandothersaremakingmoneythankstoarecoveryinonlineadvertisingandtheyarechangingthefaceofbusiness. JustastheformerIBMChiefExecutiveLouisV.GerstnerandotherspredictedmainstreamCorporateAmericaisturningouttobethechiefbeneficiaryoftheInternet.Usingitcompaniesarestreamliningproductioninventoryandsales;cuttingcosts;andtrackingtheircustomers.Itapparentlytakesfourtosixyearsafterfirstinstallingnewsystemsbeforeproductivitygainsaremaximized.49Mostcompaniesareintheirthirdorfourthyearwhichmayexplainwhyproductivitygrowthhasbeenrisingconsistentlyduringthedownturninsteadofdroppingasitusuallydoesinafall.Itmayalsomeanthatproductivityandprofitsmaybestrongerthanexpectedinthesecondhalfof2003andin2004. TheUSeconomyhashadbadluckforthreeyears.ThebubbleterrorismcorporatefraudwarandnowSARS.Yetithasweatheredthesemostlyunexpectedshocksratherwell.Smartfinancialandeconomicpolicyhashelped.50ButtherealkeyhasbeenInternettechnologywhichprovidedtheflexibilityandproductivitytoadjustquicklywithoutdrasticcuts.ThinkwhattheNetwilldofortheeconomywhenwegetbacktonormal. Mostcompaniesareintheirthirdorfourthyearwhichmayexplainwhyproductivitygrowthhasbeenrisingconsistentlyduringthedownturninsteadofdroppingasitusuallydoesinafall
Ifyousmokeyou’dbetterhurry.FromJuly1stpubsalloverEnglandwillbylawbeno-smokingareas.Sowillrestaurantsofficesandevencompanycarsifmorethanonepersonusesthem.England’ssmokersarefollowingawell-troddenpath.TheotherthreebitsoftheUnitedKingdomhavealreadybannedsmokinginalmostallenclosedpublicspacesandthereareanti-smokinglawsofvaryingstrictnessovermostofWesternEurope.Thesmoker’sjourneyfromglamourthroughtolerationtosuspicionisfinallyreachingitsendinpariahstatus.Butbehindthispublic-healthsuccessstoryliesadarkertale.Poorerpeoplearemuchmorelikelytosmokethanricherones—achangefromthe1950swhenprofessionalsandlaborerswereequallykeen.Todayonly15%ofmeninthehighestprofessionalclassessmokebut42%ofunskinedworkersdo.Despitepunitivetaxation—20cigarettescostaround￡5.00$10.00three-quartersofwhichistax—55%ofsinglemothersonbenefitssmoke.Thefigureforhomelessmenisevenhigher;forhard-drugusersitispractically100%.Themessagethatsmokingkillshasbeenhearditseemsbutnotbyall.Havingdefeatedthebigkillersofthepast—wantexposurepoorsanitation—governmentsalloverthedevelopedworldareturningtheirattentiontodiseasesthatstemmostlyfromhowindividualschoosetolivetheirlives.Butthesamedeafnessafflictsthesamepeoplewhentheyarestronglyencouragedtogiveupothersortsofunhealthybehavior.Thelowerdowntheyareonpracticallyanypeckingorder--jobprestigeincomeeducationbackground-themorelikelypeoplearetobefatandunfitandtodrinktoomuch.ThattemptsgovernmentstoshouteverlouderinanattempttogetthepublictolistenandnowheredotheydosomoreaggressivelythaninBritain.Onereasonisthatpeckingordersmattermorethaninmostotherrichcountries:incomedistributionisveryunequalandtheunemployeddisaffectedill-educatedrumpiscomparativelylarge.Anotherreasonisthefrustrationofagovernmentaddictedtotargetswhichoftenaimnotonlytoimprovesomethingbuttolesseninequalityintheprocess.AthirdisthattheNationalHealthServiceisfreetopatientsandpayingforthosewhohavearguablybroughttheirill-healthonthemselvesgrowsalarminglycostly.Britain’saggressivenesshowevermaybepointlessevencounter-productive.Thereisnoreasontobelievethatthosewhoignoremeasuredvoiceswilllistentoshouting.Itirritatesthemajoritywhoarealreadybehavingresponsiblyanditmayalsoundermineallgovernmentpronouncementsonhealthbyconvincingpeoplethattheyhaveanultra-cautiousmarginoferrorbuiltin.Suchhectoringmayalsobemissingtherootcauseoftheproblem.AccordingtoMr.MarmotwhocitesresearchongroupsasdiverseasbaboonsincaptivityBritishcivilservantsandOscarnomineesthehigherratesofiiihealthamongthoseinmoremodestwalksoflifecanbeattributedtowhathecallsthestatussyndrome.Peopleinprivilegedpositionsthinktheyareworththeeffortofbehavinghealthilyandfindthewill-powertodoso.Theimplicationisthatitiseasiertoimproveaperson’shealthbyweakeningtheconnectionbetweensocialpositionandhealththanbytargetingbehaviordirectly.Samepublic-healthexpertsspeakofsocialcohesionsupportforfamiliesandbettereducationforall.Thesearebiggerundertakingsthanabossycampaign;butmoreeffectiveandquieter.WhichofthefollowingisNOTareasonforBritain’saggressivenessinthepublic-healthcampaign
AtatimewhenWallStreetfirmsarebeingpunishedformisleadinginvestorsaboutdot-comstocksduringthebubbleit’salltooeasytoconfusefinancialexcitementwithtechnologicalreality.Manypeoplearequicktodismissanytalkofan"Internetrevolution"assosuch’90schatter.47ThereisaworldofdifferencebetweencrazyevaluationsandserioustechnologybetweenInternetstocksandtheNetitself.WhileinvestorshavebeencomplainingabouttheirfatechiefexecutiveshavebeenbusyembracingtheNet.It’stimetogetoverthebubbletalkandgetrealabouttechnology’spromise. Orriskfallingbehind.Thestrongupturninprofitslastquarterduringaperiodofweakeconomicgrowthisprooftotheproductivity—enhancingpoweroftheNet.Throughboombustandrecoveryannualproductivitygrowthhaspoweredalongataround2.5%.Withoutitcompanieswouldhavebeenforcedtocutpayrollsevenfurtherduringtheworstdaysofthedecline.Withitcompaniesaregeneratinghigherprofitswithoutbiggainsinrevenues.Astheeconomypicksupsteamproductivitywilllikelyboostprofitsevenfurther. Despiteusualwisdomelectronicbusinesshasexceededeventhedreamyprojectionsof1999.Business-to-businesscommerceconductedonlinewillreach$2.6trillionin2003.Andmanysurvivingdot-comcompaniesaredoingsurprisinglywell.48Some40%ofpubliclyheldNetcompaniesincludingAmazon.comInc.wereprofitableinthefourthquarterof2002andhalfareexpectedtobeprofitablebytheendofthisyear.Truetherehasbeenviciousdisasterinthefield.Venturecapitalistspoured$100billionintomorethan6000Netstartupsoverthepastdecadeand2000disappeared.Manyideassomecrazyandsomenotfailed.ButeBayAmazon.comYahoo!GoogleExpediaandothersaremakingmoneythankstoarecoveryinonlineadvertisingandtheyarechangingthefaceofbusiness. JustastheformerIBMChiefExecutiveLouisV.GerstnerandotherspredictedmainstreamCorporateAmericaisturningouttobethechiefbeneficiaryoftheInternet.Usingitcompaniesarestreamliningproductioninventoryandsales;cuttingcosts;andtrackingtheircustomers.Itapparentlytakesfourtosixyearsafterfirstinstallingnewsystemsbeforeproductivitygainsaremaximized.49Mostcompaniesareintheirthirdorfourthyearwhichmayexplainwhyproductivitygrowthhasbeenrisingconsistentlyduringthedownturninsteadofdroppingasitusuallydoesinafall.Itmayalsomeanthatproductivityandprofitsmaybestrongerthanexpectedinthesecondhalfof2003andin2004. TheUSeconomyhashadbadluckforthreeyears.ThebubbleterrorismcorporatefraudwarandnowSARS.Yetithasweatheredthesemostlyunexpectedshocksratherwell.Smartfinancialandeconomicpolicyhashelped.50ButtherealkeyhasbeenInternettechnologywhichprovidedtheflexibilityandproductivitytoadjustquicklywithoutdrasticcuts.ThinkwhattheNetwilldofortheeconomywhenwegetbacktonormal. ThereisaworldofdifferencebetweencrazyevaluationsandserioustechnologybetweenInternetstocksandtheNetitself.
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.13
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.11
Averyimportantworldproblemifnotthemostseriousofallthegreatworldproblemswhichaffectusatthemomentistheincreasingnumberofpeoplewhoactuallyinhabitthisplanet.Thelimitedamountoflandandlandresourceswillsoonbeunabletosupportthehugepopulationifitcontinuestogrowatitspresentrate.Inanearlysurveyconductedin1888abillionandahalfpeopleinhabitedtheearth.Nowthepopulationexceedsfivebillionandisgrowingfast—bythestaggeringfigureof90millionin1988alone.ThismeansthattheworldmustaccommodateanewpopulationroughlyequaltothatoftheUnitedStatesandCanadaeverythreeyears!Eventhoughtherateofgrowthhasbeguntoslowdownmostexpertsbelievethepopulationsizewillstillpasseightbillionduringthenext50years.SowhyisthishugeIncreaseinpopulationtakingplaceItisreallyduetothespreadoftheknowledgeandpracticeofwhatisbecomingknownasDeathControl.YouhavenodoubtheardofthetermBirthControl—DeathControlissomethingratherdifferent.Itrecognizestheworkofthedoctorsandscientistswhonowkeepalivepeoplewhonotverylongagowouldhavediedofavarietyofthenincurablediseases.Throughawidevarietyoftechnologicalinnovationsthatincludefarmingmethodsandsanitationaswellasthecontrolofthesedeadlydiseaseswehavefoundwaystoreducetherateatwhichwedie—creatingapopulationexplosion.Weusedtothinkthatreachingseventyyearsoldwasaremarkableachievementbutnoweightyorevenninetyisbecomingrecognizedasthenormallife-spanforhumans.Inasensethisrepresentsatremendousachievementforourspecies.Biologicallythisistheverydefinitionofsuccessandwehaveundoubtedlybecomethedominantanimalontheplanet.HoweverthisSuccessistheverycauseofthegreatestthreattomankind.Manisconstantlydestroyingtheveryresourceswhichkeephimalive.Heisdestroyingthebalanceofnaturewhichregulatesclimateandtheatmosphereproducesandmaintainshealthysoilsprovidesfoodfromtheseasetc.Inshortbyonlyconsideringourneedsoftodayweareensuringtherewillbenotomorrow.Anunderstandingofman’seffectonthebalanceofnatureiscrucialtobeabletofindtheappropriateremedialaction.Itisaverycommonbeliefthattheproblemsofthepopulationexplosionarecausedmainlybypoorpeoplelivinginpoorcountrieswhodonotknowenoughtolimittheirreproduction.Thisisnottrue.Theactualnumberofpeopleinanareaisnotasimportantastheeffecttheyhaveonnature.Developingcountriesdohaveaneffectontheirenvironmentbutitisthepopulationsofrichercountriesthathaveafargreaterimpactontheearthasawhole.ThebirthofababyinforexampleJapanimposesmorethanahundredtimestheamountofstressontheworld’sresourcesasababyinIndia.MostpeopleinIndiadonotgrowupto.owncarsorair-conditioners—nordotheyeatthehugeamountofmeatandfishthattheJapanesechilddoes.Theirlife-stylesdonotrequirevastquantitiesofmineralsandenergy.Alsotheyareawareoftherequirementsofthelandaroundthemandtrytoputsomethingbackintonaturetoreplacewhattheytakeout.Forexampletropicalforestsareknowntobeessentialtothebalanceofnatureyetwearedestroyingthematanincrediblerate.Theyarebeingclearednottobenefitthenativesofthatcountrybuttosatisfytheneedsofrichercountries.CentralAmericanforestsarebeingdestroyedforpasturelandtomakepetfoodintheUnitedStatescheaper;inPapuaNewGuineaforestsaredestroyedtosupplycheapercardboardpackagingforJapaneseelectronicproducts;inBurmaandThailandforestshavebeendestroyedtoproducemoreattractivefurnitureinSingaporeandJapan.Thereforearichpersonlivingthousandsofmilesawaymaycausemoretropicalforestdestructionthanapoorpersonlivingintheforestitself.Inshortthenitiseverybody’sdutytosafeguardthefutureofmankind—notonlythroughpopulationcontrolbutbybeingmoreawareoftheeffecthisactionshaveonnature.Natureisbothfragileandpowerful.Itisveryeasilydestroyed;ontheotherhanditcansoeasilydestroyitsmostaggressiveenemy—man.Paragraph2iswritteninthepassage
[A]In1849goldwasdiscoveredinCaliforniainthemountainsnearSanFrancisco.SostartedthefamousGoldRushofthe49ersacrossthevastunexploredwildernessthatlaywestoftheMississippi.Wholefamiliesperished.Onesmallgroupof49erslookingforashortcutacrosstheSierraNevadaMountainshappenedtoentertheinfamousDeathValley.ItwasluckyforthemitwaswinterforinsummerDeathValleyisaboutthehottestandmostdesolateplaceonearth.Asitwasoneofthegroupdiedofthirstanditwasthe49erswhogavethevalleyitsgrimname. [B]ThecompletionoftherailroadnotonlyjoinedthecitiesoftheeastwithCaliforniaitalsobroughtprosperitytotheisolatedfarmersoftheplainsandtotherancherswhowerenowabletosendtheircattletotheslaughterhousesinfreightears.Infactthenewrailroadbecameanessentiallife-lineforanationwhichnowstretched3000milesfromtheAtlantictothePacificOceans. [C]Aslateasthe1880samanintheFarwestcouldbehangedforstealingahorseyetgetnomorethanfiveyearsinjailforrobbingabank.Eversincethepioneerswentwestintotheunknowntheydependedabsolutelyontheirhorsesandtheirguns.IfamanlosthishorseorhisguninthedesertsmountainsorforestsofNevadaArizonaandeasternCaliforniahestoodnochance.HungerthirstagrizzlybearamountainlionorhostileIndianswouldfinishhimoffsoonerorlater.Afrontiersmanhadtobetoughbraveandresourcefulinthosedays. [D]ThecolonizationoftheWestwasgivenatremendousimpetusbythebuildingoftheTranscontinentalrailroadoneofthegreatengineeringfeatsofalltime.CongressdecidedthatthelayingofthetracksshouldbeginfromtheEastandtheWestatthesametime.Sothebuildingofthisrailroadlinedwithpolesforthefirsteast-westtelegraphsystemdevelopedintoarace.TheEasternersmovingacrosstheplainsprogressedfasterfortheydidnothavetotunnelthroughgiantmountainsorbridgegapingcanyons.ThetworailroadslinkedupinUtahonJuly10th1867.Therewasgreatexcitementandaspecialceremonytomarktheoccasion. [E]DesertsmountainsandforestsarestillthefrontierbetweenteemingCaliforniancitiesandthesparselypopulatedwildernessofNevadaandeasternCalifornia.EventodayNevadahashardlymorethan500thousandinhabitantsmostofwhomliveinthecitiesofLasVegasandReno. [F]Laterin1865aftertheCivilWardisillusionedsoldiersunabletofrndworkfollowedinthefootstepsofthe49ers.Theydidnotfindmuchgoldbuttheyfoundrichpasturesforcattle.ItwastheywhofoundedtheUSA’sgreatfoodindustryandtheyworkedwiththevigorandcourageoftheearlypioneersandwithafaithfortifiedbytheBible.[ G]SomeAmericansfeelthatthefrontierspiritnolongerexistsintheUSA.Butitexpresseditselfinanumberofways.AmericansdonotlikebeingwithoutworkandtheywilltravelhundredsofmilesinsearchofajobshowingacourageandanenterprisewhichisunusualinmostoftheolderEuropeancountries.Thenthereistheexplorationofouterspace.PresidentJohnKennedyinaspeechtothenationspokeofthis"NewFrontier."Thefrontierspiritcertainlyplayedapartinputtingthefirstmenonthenoonthemostrecentofallfrontierstobecrossed. 45
ItishardtoboxagainstasouthpawasApolloCreedfoundoutwhenhefoughtRockyBalboainthefirstofaninterminableseriesofmovies.WhileRockyisfictionthestrategicadvantageofbeingleft-handedinafightisveryrealsimplybecausemostright-handedpeoplehavelittleexperienceoffightingleft-handersbutnotviceversa.Andthesamecompetitiveadvantageisenjoyedbyleft-handersinothersportssuchastennisandcricket.Theorthodoxviewofhumanhandednessisthatitisconnectedtothebilateralspecializationofthebrainthathasconcentratedlanguage-processingfunctionsontheleftsideofthatorgan.Becauselongagointheevolutionarypastanancestorofhumansandallothervertebrateanimalsunderwentacontortionthattwisteditsheadaround180~relativetoitsbodytheleftsideofthebraincontrolstherightsideofthebodyandviceversa.Inhumanstheleftbrainandthustherightbodyisusuallydominant.Andonaveragelefthandersaresmallerandlighterthanright-handers.Thatshouldputthematanevolutionarydisadvantage.Sportingadvantagenotwithstandingthereforetheexistenceofleft-handednessposesaproblemforbiologists.ButCharlotteFaurieandMichelRaymondoftheUniversityofMontpellierⅡinFrancethinktheyknowtheanswer.AstheyreportintheProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietythereisaclueintheadvantageseeninboxing.Asanyschoolboycouldtellyouwinningfightsenhancesyourstatus.Ifinprehistorythistranslatedintoincreasedreproductivesuccessitmighthavebeenenoughtomaintainacertainproportionofleft-handersinthepopulationbybalancingthecostsofbeingleft-handedwiththeadvantagesgainedinfighting.Ifthatistruethentherewillbeahigherproportionofleft-handersinsocietieswithhigherlevelsofviolencesincetheadvantagesofbeingleft-handedwillbeenhancedinsuchsocieties.DrFaurieandDrRaymondsetouttotestthishypothesis.Fightinginmodemsocietiesofteninvolvestheuseoftechnologynotablyfirearmsthatisunlikelytogiveanyadvantagetoleft-handers.SoDrFaurieandDrRaymonddecidedtoconfinetheirinvestigationtotheproportionofleft-handersandthelevelofviolencebynumberofhomicidesintraditionalsocieties.Bytrawlingtheliteraturecheckingwithpolicedepartmentsandevengoingoutintothefieldandaskingpeoplethetworesearchersfoundthattheproportionofleft-handersinatraditionalsocietyisindeedcorrelatedwithitshomiciderate.Oneofthehighestproportionsofleft-handersforexamplewasfoundamongtheYanomamoofSouthAmerica.RaidingandwarfarearecentraltoYanomamoculture.Themurderrateis4per1000inhabitantsperyearcomparedwithforexample0.068inNewYork.AndaccordingtoDrFaurieandDrRaymond22.6%ofYanomamoareleft-handed.IncontrastDioula-speakingpeopleofBurkinaFasoinWestAfricaarevirtualpacifists.Thereareonly0.013murdersper1000inhabitantsamongthemandonly3.4%ofthepopulationisleft-handed.Whilethereisnosuggestionthatleft-handedpeoplearemoreviolentthantheright-handeditlooksasthoughtheyaremoresuccessfullyviolent.Perhapsthathelpstoexplainthedoublemeaningofthewordsinister.Thetwodoctorsmightsupportwhichofthefollowingstatements
ItishardtoboxagainstasouthpawasApolloCreedfoundoutwhenhefoughtRockyBalboainthefirstofaninterminableseriesofmovies.WhileRockyisfictionthestrategicadvantageofbeingleft-handedinafightisveryrealsimplybecausemostright-handedpeoplehavelittleexperienceoffightingleft-handersbutnotviceversa.Andthesamecompetitiveadvantageisenjoyedbyleft-handersinothersportssuchastennisandcricket.Theorthodoxviewofhumanhandednessisthatitisconnectedtothebilateralspecializationofthebrainthathasconcentratedlanguage-processingfunctionsontheleftsideofthatorgan.Becauselongagointheevolutionarypastanancestorofhumansandallothervertebrateanimalsunderwentacontortionthattwisteditsheadaround180~relativetoitsbodytheleftsideofthebraincontrolstherightsideofthebodyandviceversa.Inhumanstheleftbrainandthustherightbodyisusuallydominant.Andonaveragelefthandersaresmallerandlighterthanright-handers.Thatshouldputthematanevolutionarydisadvantage.Sportingadvantagenotwithstandingthereforetheexistenceofleft-handednessposesaproblemforbiologists.ButCharlotteFaurieandMichelRaymondoftheUniversityofMontpellierⅡinFrancethinktheyknowtheanswer.AstheyreportintheProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietythereisaclueintheadvantageseeninboxing.Asanyschoolboycouldtellyouwinningfightsenhancesyourstatus.Ifinprehistorythistranslatedintoincreasedreproductivesuccessitmighthavebeenenoughtomaintainacertainproportionofleft-handersinthepopulationbybalancingthecostsofbeingleft-handedwiththeadvantagesgainedinfighting.Ifthatistruethentherewillbeahigherproportionofleft-handersinsocietieswithhigherlevelsofviolencesincetheadvantagesofbeingleft-handedwillbeenhancedinsuchsocieties.DrFaurieandDrRaymondsetouttotestthishypothesis.Fightinginmodemsocietiesofteninvolvestheuseoftechnologynotablyfirearmsthatisunlikelytogiveanyadvantagetoleft-handers.SoDrFaurieandDrRaymonddecidedtoconfinetheirinvestigationtotheproportionofleft-handersandthelevelofviolencebynumberofhomicidesintraditionalsocieties.Bytrawlingtheliteraturecheckingwithpolicedepartmentsandevengoingoutintothefieldandaskingpeoplethetworesearchersfoundthattheproportionofleft-handersinatraditionalsocietyisindeedcorrelatedwithitshomiciderate.Oneofthehighestproportionsofleft-handersforexamplewasfoundamongtheYanomamoofSouthAmerica.RaidingandwarfarearecentraltoYanomamoculture.Themurderrateis4per1000inhabitantsperyearcomparedwithforexample0.068inNewYork.AndaccordingtoDrFaurieandDrRaymond22.6%ofYanomamoareleft-handed.IncontrastDioula-speakingpeopleofBurkinaFasoinWestAfricaarevirtualpacifists.Thereareonly0.013murdersper1000inhabitantsamongthemandonly3.4%ofthepopulationisleft-handed.Whilethereisnosuggestionthatleft-handedpeoplearemoreviolentthantheright-handeditlooksasthoughtheyaremoresuccessfullyviolent.Perhapsthathelpstoexplainthedoublemeaningofthewordsinister.Traditionalbiologistsmightbelievethefollowingexcept
Fewinsectshaveinspiredasmuchfearandhatredasthediminutivefireantslessthanhalfaninchlongbutlivingincoloniesofmorethan250000others.EveryoneinthesouthernUnitedStatesgetstoknowfireantssoonerorlaterbypainfulexperience.Fireantsliveinlargeearthenmoundsandaretruesocialinsects--thatmeanstheyhaveacastesystemdivisionoflaborwithaspecializedcastethatlayseggsqueenandaworkercasteofsterilefemales.Thereareseveralreasonsthattheyareconsideredpests.About60%ofpeoplelivinginareaswherefireantsoccurarestungeveryyear.Oftheseabout1%havesomedegreeofallergicreactioncalledanaphylaxistothesting.Theirlargemoundsareunsightlyandcandamagemowingequipment.Fireantssometimesenterelectricalandmechanicalequipmentandcanshortoutswitchesorchewthroughinsulation.Finally.asfireantsmoveintonewareastheyreducediversityofnativeantsandpreyonlargeranimalssuchasground-nestingbirdsandturtles.Eventhoughfireantsarepestsinmanycircumstancestheycanactuallybebeneficialinothers.Thereisevidencethattheirpredatoryactivitiescanreducethenumbersofsomeotherimportantpests.Incottonforexampletheypreyonimportantpeststhateatcottonplantssuchasbollwormsandbudworms.InLouisianasugarcaneaninsectcalledthesugarcaneborerusedtobeaveryimportantpestbeforefireantsarrivedandbeganpreyingonit.Fireantsalsopreyonticksandfleas.Whetherfireantsareconsideredpestornotdependonwheretheyarefoundbutonethingissure—wehadbestgetusedtolivingwiththem.Eradicationattemptsinthe1960sand1970sfailedforanumberofreasonsandscientistsgenerallyagreethatcompleteeliminationoffireantsfromtheUnitedStatesisnotpossible.Anewlong-termapproachtoreducingfireantpopulationsInvolvesclassicalbiologicalcontrol.WhenfireantswereaccidentallybroughttotheUnitedStatesmostoftheirparasitesanddiseaseswerenot.ClassicalbiologicalcontrolinvolvesidentifyingparasitesanddiseasesspecifictofireantsinSouthAmericatestingthemtobesurethattheydon’tattackorinfectnativeplantsoranimalsandestablishingthemintheIntroducedfireantpopulationIntheUnitedStates.Sincefireantsareabout5to7timesmoreabundantherethaninSouthAmericascientistshopetoreducetheirnumbersusingthisapproach.Thatfireantspreyonbollwormsandbudwormsismentionedtoshowthat
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.9
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.3
EventhoughshewasblindanddeafHelenKellerwasawomanwithanextraordinarysocialvision.46Whenmostwomen’srightsactivistswereworkingfortherighttovoteHelenKelleradvocatedactionthatwasmoredirectandmoreimmediatethanthevote.In1911speakinginEnglandwherewomenhadtherighttovoteshesaid:"Ourdemocracyisbutaname.WevoteWhatdoesthatmeanItmeansthatwechoosebetweentwobodiesofrealthoughnotavowedautocrats.-..Youaskforvotesforwomen.47Whatgoodcanvotesdowhenten-eleventhsofthelandofGreatBritainbelongsto200000menandonlyone-eleventhtotherestofthe40000000 Haveyourmenwiththeirmillionsofvotesfreedthemselvesfromthisinjustice"48WhenshebecameactiveandopenlysocialistaNewYorkcitynewspapertheBrooklynEaglewhichhadpreviouslytreatedherasaheroinecriticizedthathermisguidedsocialismhadsomehowdevelopedfromherblindanddeafcondition.SherepliedthatwhenonceshemettheeditoroftheBrooklynEaglehehadcomplimentedherlavishly:"ButnowthatIhavecomeoutforsocialismheremindsmeandthepublicthatIamblindanddeafandespeciallyliabletoerror." Sheadded:"OhridiculousBrooklynEagle!Whatanungallantbirditis!49Sociallyblindanddeafitdefendsanintolerablesystemasystemthatisthecauseofmuchofthephysicalblindnessanddeafnesswhichwearetryingtoprevent.TheEagleandIareatwar.Ihatethesystemwhichitrepresents---Whenitfightsbackletitfightfair...ItisnotfairfightingorgoodargumenttoremindmeandothersthatIcannotseeorhear.Icanread.IcanreadallthesocialistbooksIhavetimeforinEnglishGermanandFrench.IftheeditoroftheBrooklynEagleshouldreadsomeofthemhemightbeawisermanandmakeabetternewspaper.50IfIevercontributetothesocialistmovementthebookIsometimesdreamof;IknowwhatIshallnameit:IndustrialBlindnessandSocialDeafness." Whatgoodcanvotesdowhenten-eleventhsofthelandofGreatBritainbelongsto200000menandonlyone-eleventhtotherestofthe40000000
Averyimportantworldproblemifnotthemostseriousofallthegreatworldproblemswhichaffectusatthemomentistheincreasingnumberofpeoplewhoactuallyinhabitthisplanet.Thelimitedamountoflandandlandresourceswillsoonbeunabletosupportthehugepopulationifitcontinuestogrowatitspresentrate.Inanearlysurveyconductedin1888abillionandahalfpeopleinhabitedtheearth.Nowthepopulationexceedsfivebillionandisgrowingfast—bythestaggeringfigureof90millionin1988alone.ThismeansthattheworldmustaccommodateanewpopulationroughlyequaltothatoftheUnitedStatesandCanadaeverythreeyears!Eventhoughtherateofgrowthhasbeguntoslowdownmostexpertsbelievethepopulationsizewillstillpasseightbillionduringthenext50years.SowhyisthishugeIncreaseinpopulationtakingplaceItisreallyduetothespreadoftheknowledgeandpracticeofwhatisbecomingknownasDeathControl.YouhavenodoubtheardofthetermBirthControl—DeathControlissomethingratherdifferent.Itrecognizestheworkofthedoctorsandscientistswhonowkeepalivepeoplewhonotverylongagowouldhavediedofavarietyofthenincurablediseases.Throughawidevarietyoftechnologicalinnovationsthatincludefarmingmethodsandsanitationaswellasthecontrolofthesedeadlydiseaseswehavefoundwaystoreducetherateatwhichwedie—creatingapopulationexplosion.Weusedtothinkthatreachingseventyyearsoldwasaremarkableachievementbutnoweightyorevenninetyisbecomingrecognizedasthenormallife-spanforhumans.Inasensethisrepresentsatremendousachievementforourspecies.Biologicallythisistheverydefinitionofsuccessandwehaveundoubtedlybecomethedominantanimalontheplanet.HoweverthisSuccessistheverycauseofthegreatestthreattomankind.Manisconstantlydestroyingtheveryresourceswhichkeephimalive.Heisdestroyingthebalanceofnaturewhichregulatesclimateandtheatmosphereproducesandmaintainshealthysoilsprovidesfoodfromtheseasetc.Inshortbyonlyconsideringourneedsoftodayweareensuringtherewillbenotomorrow.Anunderstandingofman’seffectonthebalanceofnatureiscrucialtobeabletofindtheappropriateremedialaction.Itisaverycommonbeliefthattheproblemsofthepopulationexplosionarecausedmainlybypoorpeoplelivinginpoorcountrieswhodonotknowenoughtolimittheirreproduction.Thisisnottrue.Theactualnumberofpeopleinanareaisnotasimportantastheeffecttheyhaveonnature.Developingcountriesdohaveaneffectontheirenvironmentbutitisthepopulationsofrichercountriesthathaveafargreaterimpactontheearthasawhole.ThebirthofababyinforexampleJapanimposesmorethanahundredtimestheamountofstressontheworld’sresourcesasababyinIndia.MostpeopleinIndiadonotgrowupto.owncarsorair-conditioners—nordotheyeatthehugeamountofmeatandfishthattheJapanesechilddoes.Theirlife-stylesdonotrequirevastquantitiesofmineralsandenergy.Alsotheyareawareoftherequirementsofthelandaroundthemandtrytoputsomethingbackintonaturetoreplacewhattheytakeout.Forexampletropicalforestsareknowntobeessentialtothebalanceofnatureyetwearedestroyingthematanincrediblerate.Theyarebeingclearednottobenefitthenativesofthatcountrybuttosatisfytheneedsofrichercountries.CentralAmericanforestsarebeingdestroyedforpasturelandtomakepetfoodintheUnitedStatescheaper;inPapuaNewGuineaforestsaredestroyedtosupplycheapercardboardpackagingforJapaneseelectronicproducts;inBurmaandThailandforestshavebeendestroyedtoproducemoreattractivefurnitureinSingaporeandJapan.Thereforearichpersonlivingthousandsofmilesawaymaycausemoretropicalforestdestructionthanapoorpersonlivingintheforestitself.Inshortthenitiseverybody’sdutytosafeguardthefutureofmankind—notonlythroughpopulationcontrolbutbybeingmoreawareoftheeffecthisactionshaveonnature.Natureisbothfragileandpowerful.Itisveryeasilydestroyed;ontheotherhanditcansoeasilydestroyitsmostaggressiveenemy—man.Inparagraph3whichofthefollowingisNOTgivenasareasonforareductionindeathrates
Fewinsectshaveinspiredasmuchfearandhatredasthediminutivefireantslessthanhalfaninchlongbutlivingincoloniesofmorethan250000others.EveryoneinthesouthernUnitedStatesgetstoknowfireantssoonerorlaterbypainfulexperience.Fireantsliveinlargeearthenmoundsandaretruesocialinsects--thatmeanstheyhaveacastesystemdivisionoflaborwithaspecializedcastethatlayseggsqueenandaworkercasteofsterilefemales.Thereareseveralreasonsthattheyareconsideredpests.About60%ofpeoplelivinginareaswherefireantsoccurarestungeveryyear.Oftheseabout1%havesomedegreeofallergicreactioncalledanaphylaxistothesting.Theirlargemoundsareunsightlyandcandamagemowingequipment.Fireantssometimesenterelectricalandmechanicalequipmentandcanshortoutswitchesorchewthroughinsulation.Finally.asfireantsmoveintonewareastheyreducediversityofnativeantsandpreyonlargeranimalssuchasground-nestingbirdsandturtles.Eventhoughfireantsarepestsinmanycircumstancestheycanactuallybebeneficialinothers.Thereisevidencethattheirpredatoryactivitiescanreducethenumbersofsomeotherimportantpests.Incottonforexampletheypreyonimportantpeststhateatcottonplantssuchasbollwormsandbudworms.InLouisianasugarcaneaninsectcalledthesugarcaneborerusedtobeaveryimportantpestbeforefireantsarrivedandbeganpreyingonit.Fireantsalsopreyonticksandfleas.Whetherfireantsareconsideredpestornotdependonwheretheyarefoundbutonethingissure—wehadbestgetusedtolivingwiththem.Eradicationattemptsinthe1960sand1970sfailedforanumberofreasonsandscientistsgenerallyagreethatcompleteeliminationoffireantsfromtheUnitedStatesisnotpossible.Anewlong-termapproachtoreducingfireantpopulationsInvolvesclassicalbiologicalcontrol.WhenfireantswereaccidentallybroughttotheUnitedStatesmostoftheirparasitesanddiseaseswerenot.ClassicalbiologicalcontrolinvolvesidentifyingparasitesanddiseasesspecifictofireantsinSouthAmericatestingthemtobesurethattheydon’tattackorinfectnativeplantsoranimalsandestablishingthemintheIntroducedfireantpopulationIntheUnitedStates.Sincefireantsareabout5to7timesmoreabundantherethaninSouthAmericascientistshopetoreducetheirnumbersusingthisapproach.Thewordcasteline4paragraph1mostprobablymeans
Thecommunicationsexplosionisonthescaleoftherailautomobileortelephonerevolution.Verysoonyou’llbeabletorecordyourentirelife1—anythingamicrophoneoracameracansenseyou’Ilbeableto2.Inparticularthenumberofimagesapersoncapturesinalifetimeissettoriseexponentially.Thethousand3ayearItakeofmychildrenonadigitalcameraareallprecioustome.4ageneration’stimemychildren’schildrenwillhavetotalimagedocumentationoftheirentirelives—a5logoftremendouspersonalvalue. Bythenwe’llbewrestlingwithanotherquestion:howwecontrolalltheelectronic6connectedtotheinternet:trillionsofPCslaptopscellphonesandothergadgets.InCambridgewe’realreadyworking7millimetre-squarecomputingandsensingdevicesthatcanbelinkedtotheinternetthroughtheradionetwork.Thissortof8willexpanddramatically9microscopiccommunicationsdevicesbecomedirt-cheapandmultiply.Justimagine10thepaintonthewallcoulddoifithadthissortofcommunicationsdustinit:changecolourplaymusicshowmoviesorevenspeaktoyou. 11costsraiseotherpossibilitiestoo.12launchingspacevehiclesisabouttobecomeverymuchcheaperthenumberofsatellitesislikelytogoupexponentially.There’slotsof13uptheresowecouldhavemillionsofthem.Andifyouhavemillionsofloworbitsatellitesyoucanestablisha14communicationsnetworkthatcompletelydoesawaywithtowersandmasts.Ifthesatellitesworkedonthecellularprinciplesoyougotspatialreuseoffrequenciessystem15wouldbeamazing.Speechisso16thatIexpectvoicecommunicationtobecomealmostfreeeventually:you’11payjustamonthlyfixed17andbeabletomakeasmanycallsasyouwant.Bythenpeoplewillalsohavefixedlinkswithbusiness18friendsandrelatives.OnedayI19beingabletokeepintouchwithmyfamilyinPolandonafibreopticaudio-video20;we’llbeabletohavealittleceremonyatsupper-timeopenthecurtainsandsitdown"together"toeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.1
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