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Text 1 India has about a billion people and a dozen major languages of its own. One language, a...
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NEWDELHIIndiaAP___Indiaisfastbecomingatopdestinati
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C.【2011·河南省示范性高中五校联考】What'sblackandorangeandgrowin
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ShortofmoneyNeedaninstantloanSincetheearly1990syourbestbethasbeentogotothelow-rentendoftownandfindanappointedloan-shop.Thereyoucanborrowmoneyinsmallamountsgenerallynotmuchmorethan$500againstyourpost-datedpay-cheque.Youwillbechargedaround$15interestforevery$100youborrow--andthatispermonth.Formanypeoplethereisnoalternative.Banksrefusetomakesmallloansbecausethereisnomoneyinitandcompletelyunregulatedlendingviatheinternetorloansharksistooalarming.AccordingtotheCommunityFinancialServicesAssociationanadvocacygroupfortheindustrymostborrowersareresponsibleandpayofftheirloansinatimelymanner.Butsomedon’t.TheCentreforResponsibleLendingaconsumergroupsaysthatmanyborrowersroutinelyrollovertheirloans.Thisquicklybringsthemintodebttraps.Atypicalborrowermayenduppaying$793fora$325loan.ThecentreestimatesthatpaydayloanscostAmericans$4.2billionayearininterestandfees.Theindustrythrivesinlargepartbecauseitoperatesmostlyoutsidestateusurylawsthatprohibitexcessiveinterestrates.Itsspokesmensaylendersneedsuchexemptionstomakeaprofitontheirbasicservicesmallloans.Lenderssaythattheirreturnswouldamounttopenniesonthedollarifinterestrateswerecapped.Infacttheysaysuchrestrictionswouldputthemoutofbusiness.Andthatisexactlywhatmanyoftheiropponentswouldliketosee--particularlywhenitcomestoloansmadetothefamiliesofsoldiers.InoneofthelastactsoftheRepublicanCongresspaydaylenderswererestrictedtointerestratesof36%onloanstomilitarypersonnelandtheirspouses.ThePentagonisworriedthatuniformedpersonnelespeciallythoseservinginIraqhavebeenlosingtheirsecurityclearancesbecauseofexcessivedebtathome.Thisamongotherthingswasleadingtothecostlyreassignmentofhighlytrainedtroopssuchascommunicationsexpertstoordinarylow-skilljobs.RobertFrankaneconomistatCornellUniversitywroterecentlyintheNewYorkTimesthattheindustry--notunlikethesub-primemortgagesector--isabeneficiaryofthesweepingderegulationofthefinancial-servicesindustrythathasmadecreditmoreaccessible.Itsadverseconsequenceshesayswerecompletelypredictable.Oncepoorpeoplegetinovertheirheadstheywillborrowthemselvesintobankruptcyifthelawpermits;andifweareunhappyaboutthattheonlysolutionistochangetherules./Whichofthefollowingcircumstancesismostunlikelytoberealized
It’seasytogetthesensethesedaysthatyou’vestumbledintoapartywithsomepowerfuldrugthatdramaticallyaltersidentity.Thefacesarefamiliarbutthewordscomingoutofthemaren’t.Somethinghashappenedtoalotofpeopleyouusedtothinkyouknew.They’vechangedintosomethingliketheirownopposite.There’sBillGateswhothesedaysisspendinglesstimeearningmoneythangivingitaway--andpullingotherbillionairesintothedeependofglobalphilanthropy慈善事业withhim.There’shistorianFrancisFukuyamaleadingawholegangofdisaffectedfellowtravelersawayfromneoconservatism.Toflip-flopishuman.Itcanstillsometimesbeapoliticalliabilityevidenceofaflakydispositionorrankopportunism.Buttherearecircumstancesinwhichnottoreversecourseseemsalmostpathological病态的.He’samodelofconsistencyStephenColbertsaidlastyearofGeorgeW.Bush:HebelievesthesamethingWednesdaythathebelievedonMonday--nomatterwhathappenedonTuesday.OverthepastthreeyearsIfoundpeoplewhohadpulledabigU-turnintheirlives.Oftentheinsightcameinaforehead-smitingmomentinthemiddleofthenight:I’vegotitallwrong.Itlookedatfirstlikeasprinklingofoutliersbeyondthecurveofnormalhumanexperience.Butwhenyousteppedbackapatternemerged.Whatthesepersonalturnshadincommonwastheapprehensionthatwe’reallconnected.Everythingleansonsomethingisbothdependentanddependedon.ThedifferencebetweenyouandmeavisitingChinesestudenttoldUniversityofMichiganpsychologistRichardNisbettnotlongagoisthatIthinktheworldisacircleandyouthinkit’saline.TheremarkpromptedtheprofessortowriteabookTheGeographyofThoughtaboutthedifferencesbetweentheWesternandtheAsianmind.ToWesternthinkingtheworldislinear;youcanchopitupandanalyzeitandwecanallworkonourlittlepartoftheprojectindependentlyuntilit’ssolved.TheclassicallyEasternmindaccordingtoNisbettseesthingsdifferently:theworldisn’talengthofropebutavastclosedchainincomprehensiblycomplexandeverchanging.Whenyoulookatlifefromthissecondperspectivesomeunlikelyconnectionsrevealthemselves.IrealizedthiswaswhatalmostalltheU-turnshadincommon:peoplehadswungaroundtofaceEast.Theyhadstoppedthinkinginalineandstartedthinkinginacircle.Moralitywaslookinglesslikeasetofrulesandmorelikeastoryoneinwhichtheywerepartofanensemblecastnolongerthestar.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthistext
Ithasoftenbeenremarkedthatthesaddestthingaboutyouthisthatitiswastedontheyoung.ReadingarecentnewspaperreportonasurveyconductedamongcollegefreshmenIrecalledtheregret "IfonlyIknewthenwhatIknownow." ThesurveydisclosedwhatIhadalreadysuspectedfrominformalpollsofstudents.Accordingtothesurveywhichwasbasedontheresponsesofover188000studentstoday’straditional-agecollegefreshmenare"morematerialisticandlessaltruistic". 41.______.Itfollowsthenthattodaythemostpopularcourseisnotliteratureorhistorybutaccounting.Interestinteachingsocialserviceandthe"altruistic"fieldsisatalowalongwithethnicandwomen’sstudies.Ontheotherhandenrollmentinbusinessprogramsengineeringandcomputerscienceiswayup. 42.______. FranklyI’mproudoftheyoungladynotherattitudebuthersuccess.Butwhycan’twehaveitbothwaysCan’tweeducatepeopleforlifeaswellasforacareerIbelievewecan.Ifwe’renotthenthatisafaultofoureducationalsystem--elementarysecondaryandhigher.Inatimeofincreasingspecializationatimewhen90percentofallthescientistswhohaveeverlivedarecurrentlyalivemorethaneverweneedtoknowwhatistrulyimportantinlife. 43.______. Mostofusfinallycometorealizethatqualityoflifeisnotentirelydeterminedbyhowmuchweearn.Sureeveryonewantstobefinanciallycomfortablebutwealsowanttofeelthatwehaveaperspectiveontheworldbeyondtheconfinesofouroccupation;wewanttobeabletorenderservicetoourfellowmanandtotheworld. 44.______. Itisequallytruethatinstudyingthediversewisdomofotherswelearnhowtothink.Moreimportantperhapseducationteachesustoseetheconnectionsbetweenthingsaswellastoseebeyondourimmediateneeds. 45.______. Inthelongrunthat’swhateducationreallyoughttobeabout.AndIthinkitcanbe.That’sthewayitshouldbe.OscarWildehaditrightwhenhesaidthatweoughttogiveourabilitytoourworkbutourgeniustoourlives.Let’shopeoureducatorsanswerthestudentscriesforcareereducationbutatthesametimelet’sensurethatthestudentsarepreparedforthedaywhentheyrealizetheirfolly.There’salotmoretolifethanajob. [A]Academicemphasisoncompetitionrationalityandexternalsacknowledgesonlyonekindofknowing.Itmakesstudentsdevaluetheirinnerselvesorlargersocialpurposes. [B]Notsurprisinginthesehardtimesthestudent’smajorobjective"istobefinanciallywelloff."Lessimportantthaneverisdevelopingameaningfulphilosophyoflife. [C]Educationmustmeettheneedsofthehumanspirit.Itmustassiststudentstodevelopasatisfactorypersonalphilosophyandsenseofvalues;tocultivatetastesforliteraturemusicandthearts;togrowinabilitytoanalyzeproblemsandarriveatthoughtfulconclusions. [D]That’snosurpriseeither.Afriendofmineasalesrepresentativeforachemicalcompanywasmakingtwicethesalaryofhercollegeinstructorsduringherfirstyearonthejob.Andthatwasfouryearsago;Shemustbeearningmuchmorenow. [E]Mostpeoplesomewherebetweentheagesof30and50finallyarriveattheinevitableconclusionthattheycoulddomorethanservingacorporationagovernmentagencyorwhatever. [F]Butthemostimportantargumentforabroadeducationisthatinstudyingtheaccumulatedwisdomoftheagesweimproveourmoralsense. [G]Whileit’struethatweallneedacareerpreferablyaprofitableoneitisequallytruethatourcivilizationhasaccumulatedanincredibleamountofknowledge--beitscientificorartistic. 45
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 5
It’seasytogetthesensethesedaysthatyou’vestumbledintoapartywithsomepowerfuldrugthatdramaticallyaltersidentity.Thefacesarefamiliarbutthewordscomingoutofthemaren’t.Somethinghashappenedtoalotofpeopleyouusedtothinkyouknew.They’vechangedintosomethingliketheirownopposite.There’sBillGateswhothesedaysisspendinglesstimeearningmoneythangivingitaway--andpullingotherbillionairesintothedeependofglobalphilanthropy慈善事业withhim.There’shistorianFrancisFukuyamaleadingawholegangofdisaffectedfellowtravelersawayfromneoconservatism.Toflip-flopishuman.Itcanstillsometimesbeapoliticalliabilityevidenceofaflakydispositionorrankopportunism.Buttherearecircumstancesinwhichnottoreversecourseseemsalmostpathological病态的.He’samodelofconsistencyStephenColbertsaidlastyearofGeorgeW.Bush:HebelievesthesamethingWednesdaythathebelievedonMonday--nomatterwhathappenedonTuesday.OverthepastthreeyearsIfoundpeoplewhohadpulledabigU-turnintheirlives.Oftentheinsightcameinaforehead-smitingmomentinthemiddleofthenight:I’vegotitallwrong.Itlookedatfirstlikeasprinklingofoutliersbeyondthecurveofnormalhumanexperience.Butwhenyousteppedbackapatternemerged.Whatthesepersonalturnshadincommonwastheapprehensionthatwe’reallconnected.Everythingleansonsomethingisbothdependentanddependedon.ThedifferencebetweenyouandmeavisitingChinesestudenttoldUniversityofMichiganpsychologistRichardNisbettnotlongagoisthatIthinktheworldisacircleandyouthinkit’saline.TheremarkpromptedtheprofessortowriteabookTheGeographyofThoughtaboutthedifferencesbetweentheWesternandtheAsianmind.ToWesternthinkingtheworldislinear;youcanchopitupandanalyzeitandwecanallworkonourlittlepartoftheprojectindependentlyuntilit’ssolved.TheclassicallyEasternmindaccordingtoNisbettseesthingsdifferently:theworldisn’talengthofropebutavastclosedchainincomprehensiblycomplexandeverchanging.Whenyoulookatlifefromthissecondperspectivesomeunlikelyconnectionsrevealthemselves.IrealizedthiswaswhatalmostalltheU-turnshadincommon:peoplehadswungaroundtofaceEast.Theyhadstoppedthinkinginalineandstartedthinkinginacircle.Moralitywaslookinglesslikeasetofrulesandmorelikeastoryoneinwhichtheywerepartofanensemblecastnolongerthestar.Whatcanweinferfromfirsttwoparagraphs
Onethingthatdistinguishestheonlineworldfromtherealoneisthatitisveryeasytofindthings.TofindacopyofTheEconomistinprintonehastogotoanewsstandwhichmayormaynotcarryit.Findingitonlinethoughisadifferentproposition.JustgotoGoogletypeitin"economist"andyouwillbeinstantlydirectedtoeconomist.com.46IndeeduntilGooglenowtheworld’smostpopularsearchenginecameontothesceneinSeptember1998searchingonlinewasahit-or-missaffair. Googlewasvastlybetterthananythingthathadcomebefore:somuchbetterinfactthatitchangedthewaymanypeopleusetheweb.47Almostovernightitmadethewebfarmoreusefulparticularlyfornon-specialistusersmanyofwhomregardGoogleastheInternet’sfrontdoor.It’snowaworldwidephenomenon.NotonlyhasitmadetheInternetintoanextremelyfastandvaluableresearchtoolit’sbecomeacommonwordandhasevencreatedanewverb"togoogle."48TherecentfussoverGoogle’sstockmarketflotationobscuresitsfarwidersocialsignificance:fewtechnologiesafterallaresoinfluentialthattheirnameshavebecomeahouseholdverbsuchasthecloningtechnologycreatestheverb"toclone". Googlebeganin1998asanacademicresearchprojectbySergeyBrinandLawrencePagewhowerethengraduatestudentsatStanfordUniversityinPaloAltoCalifornia.Itwasnotthefirstsearchengineofcourse.49Existingsearchengineswereabletoscanalargeportionofthewebbuildanindexandthenfindpagesthatmatchedparticularwordsbutwerelessgoodatpresentingthosepageswhichmightnumberinthehundredsofthousandsinausefulway. Mr.Brin’sandMr.Page’saccomplishmentwastodeviseawaytosorttheresultsbydeterminingwhichpageswerelikelytobemostrelevant.TheydidsobyusingamathematicalprogramcalledPageRank.50ThisprogramisattheheartofGoogle’ssuccessdistinguishingitfromallsearchenginesandaccountingforitsapparentlymagicalabilitytofindthemostusefulwebpages.Withthispowerfulability.Googledistinguisheditselffromamongallthesearchenginesandbecameanestablishedstandingresearchtoolintheonlineworld. Existingsearchengineswereabletoscanalargeportionofthewebbuildanindexandthenfindpagesthatmatchedparticularwordsbutwerelessgoodatpresentingthosepageswhichmightnumberinthehundredsofthousandsinausefulway.
Ithasoftenbeenremarkedthatthesaddestthingaboutyouthisthatitiswastedontheyoung.ReadingarecentnewspaperreportonasurveyconductedamongcollegefreshmenIrecalledtheregret "IfonlyIknewthenwhatIknownow." ThesurveydisclosedwhatIhadalreadysuspectedfrominformalpollsofstudents.Accordingtothesurveywhichwasbasedontheresponsesofover188000studentstoday’straditional-agecollegefreshmenare"morematerialisticandlessaltruistic". 41.______.Itfollowsthenthattodaythemostpopularcourseisnotliteratureorhistorybutaccounting.Interestinteachingsocialserviceandthe"altruistic"fieldsisatalowalongwithethnicandwomen’sstudies.Ontheotherhandenrollmentinbusinessprogramsengineeringandcomputerscienceiswayup. 42.______. FranklyI’mproudoftheyoungladynotherattitudebuthersuccess.Butwhycan’twehaveitbothwaysCan’tweeducatepeopleforlifeaswellasforacareerIbelievewecan.Ifwe’renotthenthatisafaultofoureducationalsystem--elementarysecondaryandhigher.Inatimeofincreasingspecializationatimewhen90percentofallthescientistswhohaveeverlivedarecurrentlyalivemorethaneverweneedtoknowwhatistrulyimportantinlife. 43.______. Mostofusfinallycometorealizethatqualityoflifeisnotentirelydeterminedbyhowmuchweearn.Sureeveryonewantstobefinanciallycomfortablebutwealsowanttofeelthatwehaveaperspectiveontheworldbeyondtheconfinesofouroccupation;wewanttobeabletorenderservicetoourfellowmanandtotheworld. 44.______. Itisequallytruethatinstudyingthediversewisdomofotherswelearnhowtothink.Moreimportantperhapseducationteachesustoseetheconnectionsbetweenthingsaswellastoseebeyondourimmediateneeds. 45.______. Inthelongrunthat’swhateducationreallyoughttobeabout.AndIthinkitcanbe.That’sthewayitshouldbe.OscarWildehaditrightwhenhesaidthatweoughttogiveourabilitytoourworkbutourgeniustoourlives.Let’shopeoureducatorsanswerthestudentscriesforcareereducationbutatthesametimelet’sensurethatthestudentsarepreparedforthedaywhentheyrealizetheirfolly.There’salotmoretolifethanajob. [A]Academicemphasisoncompetitionrationalityandexternalsacknowledgesonlyonekindofknowing.Itmakesstudentsdevaluetheirinnerselvesorlargersocialpurposes. [B]Notsurprisinginthesehardtimesthestudent’smajorobjective"istobefinanciallywelloff."Lessimportantthaneverisdevelopingameaningfulphilosophyoflife. [C]Educationmustmeettheneedsofthehumanspirit.Itmustassiststudentstodevelopasatisfactorypersonalphilosophyandsenseofvalues;tocultivatetastesforliteraturemusicandthearts;togrowinabilitytoanalyzeproblemsandarriveatthoughtfulconclusions. [D]That’snosurpriseeither.Afriendofmineasalesrepresentativeforachemicalcompanywasmakingtwicethesalaryofhercollegeinstructorsduringherfirstyearonthejob.Andthatwasfouryearsago;Shemustbeearningmuchmorenow. [E]Mostpeoplesomewherebetweentheagesof30and50finallyarriveattheinevitableconclusionthattheycoulddomorethanservingacorporationagovernmentagencyorwhatever. [F]Butthemostimportantargumentforabroadeducationisthatinstudyingtheaccumulatedwisdomoftheagesweimproveourmoralsense. [G]Whileit’struethatweallneedacareerpreferablyaprofitableoneitisequallytruethatourcivilizationhasaccumulatedanincredibleamountofknowledge--beitscientificorartistic. 41
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 3
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 7
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 11
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 9
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 1
InrecentyearsMicrosofthasfocusedonthreebigtasks:buildingrobustsecurityintoitssoftwareresolvingnumerousantitrustcomplaintsagainstitandupgradingitsWindowsoperatingsystem.Thesethreetasksarenowstartingtocollide.OnAugust27ththefirmsaidthatthesuccessortoitsWindowsXPoperatingsystemcode-namedLonghornwillgoonsalein2007withoutoneofitsmostimpressivefeaturesatechniquetointegrateelaboratesearchcapabilitiesintonearlyalldesktopapplications.OnthebrightsideLonghornwillcontainadvancesinrenderingimagesandenablingdifferentcomputingplatformstoexchangedatadirectlybetweenapplications.ItisabigsetbackforMicrosoftwhichconsiderssearchtechnologyapillarofitsfuturegrowth-notleastasitcompetesagainstGoogle.Thefirm’sfocusonsecuritychampionedbyBillGateshimself--tookresourcesawayfromLonghornadmitsGregSullivanaleadproductmanagerintheWindowsclientdivision.ProgrammershavebeenfixingWindowsXPratherthanworkingonLonghorn.Inmid-AugustMicrosoftreleasedServicePack2ahugesetoffreesoftwarepatchesandenhancementstomakeWindowsXPmoresecure.Thoughsomeofthefixesturnedouttohavevulnerabilitiesoftheirownthepatcheshavemostlybeenwelcomed.Microsoft’sdecisiontoforgonewfeaturesinreturnforbettersecurityisonethatmostcomputeruserswillprobablyapplaud.YetironicallyasMicrosoftslowlyimprovesthesecurityofitsproducts---byforinstanceincorporatingfirewalltechnologyanti-virussystemsandspamfiltersitsactionsincreasinglystarttoresemblethosethatinthepasthavegotthefirmintotroublewithregulators.IssecuritysoftwareanadjacentsoftwaremarketinwhichcaseMicrosoftmaybeleveragingitsdominanceoftheoperatingsystemintoitIntegratingsecurityproductsintoWindowsmightbeconsideredbundlingwhichwithregardtowebbrowsingsoexcitedAmerica’strustbustersinthe1990s.AndbuildingsecuritydirectlyintotheoperatingsystemseemsalotlikecomminglingsoftwarecodeonwhichbasistheEuropeanCommissionruledearlierthisyearthatMicrosoftabuseditsmarketpowerthroughtheWindowsMediaPlayer.MicrosoftisappealingagainstthatdecisionandonSeptember30thitwillargueforasuspensionofthecommission’sremediessuchastherequirementthatitlicenseitscodetorivals.JustlastmonththeEuropeanUnion’scompetitiondirectoratebegananinvestigationintoMicrosoftandTimeWarneralargemediafirmonthegroundsthattheirproposedjointacquisitionofContentGuardasoftwarefirmwhoseproductsprotectdigitalmediafilesmightprovideMicrosoftwithunduemarketpoweroverdigitalmediastandards.ThecommissionwillrulebyJanuary2005.Microsoftitseemsinsecurityaselsewhereisgoingtohavetogetusedtobeingpunishedforitssuccess.ItsWindowsmonopolyletsitenjoyexcessiveprofitsbuttheresultingmonoculturemakesitanobvioustargetforvirusesandregulatorsalike.Itisimpliedinthethirdparagraphthat______.
Onethingthatdistinguishestheonlineworldfromtherealoneisthatitisveryeasytofindthings.TofindacopyofTheEconomistinprintonehastogotoanewsstandwhichmayormaynotcarryit.Findingitonlinethoughisadifferentproposition.JustgotoGoogletypeitin"economist"andyouwillbeinstantlydirectedtoeconomist.com.46IndeeduntilGooglenowtheworld’smostpopularsearchenginecameontothesceneinSeptember1998searchingonlinewasahit-or-missaffair. Googlewasvastlybetterthananythingthathadcomebefore:somuchbetterinfactthatitchangedthewaymanypeopleusetheweb.47Almostovernightitmadethewebfarmoreusefulparticularlyfornon-specialistusersmanyofwhomregardGoogleastheInternet’sfrontdoor.It’snowaworldwidephenomenon.NotonlyhasitmadetheInternetintoanextremelyfastandvaluableresearchtoolit’sbecomeacommonwordandhasevencreatedanewverb"togoogle."48TherecentfussoverGoogle’sstockmarketflotationobscuresitsfarwidersocialsignificance:fewtechnologiesafterallaresoinfluentialthattheirnameshavebecomeahouseholdverbsuchasthecloningtechnologycreatestheverb"toclone". Googlebeganin1998asanacademicresearchprojectbySergeyBrinandLawrencePagewhowerethengraduatestudentsatStanfordUniversityinPaloAltoCalifornia.Itwasnotthefirstsearchengineofcourse.49Existingsearchengineswereabletoscanalargeportionofthewebbuildanindexandthenfindpagesthatmatchedparticularwordsbutwerelessgoodatpresentingthosepageswhichmightnumberinthehundredsofthousandsinausefulway. Mr.Brin’sandMr.Page’saccomplishmentwastodeviseawaytosorttheresultsbydeterminingwhichpageswerelikelytobemostrelevant.TheydidsobyusingamathematicalprogramcalledPageRank.50ThisprogramisattheheartofGoogle’ssuccessdistinguishingitfromallsearchenginesandaccountingforitsapparentlymagicalabilitytofindthemostusefulwebpages.Withthispowerfulability.Googledistinguisheditselffromamongallthesearchenginesandbecameanestablishedstandingresearchtoolintheonlineworld. Almostovernightitmadethewebfarmoreusefulparticularlyfornon-specialistusersmanyofwhomregardGoogleastheInternet’sfrontdoor.
Ithasoftenbeenremarkedthatthesaddestthingaboutyouthisthatitiswastedontheyoung.ReadingarecentnewspaperreportonasurveyconductedamongcollegefreshmenIrecalledtheregret "IfonlyIknewthenwhatIknownow." ThesurveydisclosedwhatIhadalreadysuspectedfrominformalpollsofstudents.Accordingtothesurveywhichwasbasedontheresponsesofover188000studentstoday’straditional-agecollegefreshmenare"morematerialisticandlessaltruistic". 41.______.Itfollowsthenthattodaythemostpopularcourseisnotliteratureorhistorybutaccounting.Interestinteachingsocialserviceandthe"altruistic"fieldsisatalowalongwithethnicandwomen’sstudies.Ontheotherhandenrollmentinbusinessprogramsengineeringandcomputerscienceiswayup. 42.______. FranklyI’mproudoftheyoungladynotherattitudebuthersuccess.Butwhycan’twehaveitbothwaysCan’tweeducatepeopleforlifeaswellasforacareerIbelievewecan.Ifwe’renotthenthatisafaultofoureducationalsystem--elementarysecondaryandhigher.Inatimeofincreasingspecializationatimewhen90percentofallthescientistswhohaveeverlivedarecurrentlyalivemorethaneverweneedtoknowwhatistrulyimportantinlife. 43.______. Mostofusfinallycometorealizethatqualityoflifeisnotentirelydeterminedbyhowmuchweearn.Sureeveryonewantstobefinanciallycomfortablebutwealsowanttofeelthatwehaveaperspectiveontheworldbeyondtheconfinesofouroccupation;wewanttobeabletorenderservicetoourfellowmanandtotheworld. 44.______. Itisequallytruethatinstudyingthediversewisdomofotherswelearnhowtothink.Moreimportantperhapseducationteachesustoseetheconnectionsbetweenthingsaswellastoseebeyondourimmediateneeds. 45.______. Inthelongrunthat’swhateducationreallyoughttobeabout.AndIthinkitcanbe.That’sthewayitshouldbe.OscarWildehaditrightwhenhesaidthatweoughttogiveourabilitytoourworkbutourgeniustoourlives.Let’shopeoureducatorsanswerthestudentscriesforcareereducationbutatthesametimelet’sensurethatthestudentsarepreparedforthedaywhentheyrealizetheirfolly.There’salotmoretolifethanajob. [A]Academicemphasisoncompetitionrationalityandexternalsacknowledgesonlyonekindofknowing.Itmakesstudentsdevaluetheirinnerselvesorlargersocialpurposes. [B]Notsurprisinginthesehardtimesthestudent’smajorobjective"istobefinanciallywelloff."Lessimportantthaneverisdevelopingameaningfulphilosophyoflife. [C]Educationmustmeettheneedsofthehumanspirit.Itmustassiststudentstodevelopasatisfactorypersonalphilosophyandsenseofvalues;tocultivatetastesforliteraturemusicandthearts;togrowinabilitytoanalyzeproblemsandarriveatthoughtfulconclusions. [D]That’snosurpriseeither.Afriendofmineasalesrepresentativeforachemicalcompanywasmakingtwicethesalaryofhercollegeinstructorsduringherfirstyearonthejob.Andthatwasfouryearsago;Shemustbeearningmuchmorenow. [E]Mostpeoplesomewherebetweentheagesof30and50finallyarriveattheinevitableconclusionthattheycoulddomorethanservingacorporationagovernmentagencyorwhatever. [F]Butthemostimportantargumentforabroadeducationisthatinstudyingtheaccumulatedwisdomoftheagesweimproveourmoralsense. [G]Whileit’struethatweallneedacareerpreferablyaprofitableoneitisequallytruethatourcivilizationhasaccumulatedanincredibleamountofknowledge--beitscientificorartistic. 43
Untilrecentlythemainvillainsofthepiecehadseemedtobetheteachers’unionswhohaveopposedanysortofreformoraccountability.Nowtheyfacecompetitionfromanunexpectedlydestructiveforce:thecourt.FiftyyearsagoitwasthejudgeswhoforcedtheschoolstodesegregatethroughBrownv.BoardofEducation1954.Nowthecourtshavemovedfrombroadprinciplestomicromanagementtellingschoolshowmuchmoneytospendandwhere-rightdowntothecorrectcomputerortextbook.TwentyfourstatesarecurrentlyStuckinvariouscourtcasestodowithfinancingschoolsystemsandanother21haveonlyrecentlysettledvarioussuits.Mostwillstartagainsoon.Onlyfivestateshaveavoidedlitigationentirely.Nothingexemplifiesthepowerofthecourtsbetterthanan11-year-oldcasethatisduetobesettledsortofinNewYorkCitythehomeofAmerica’sbiggestschoolsystemwith1.lmstudentsandabudgetnearing$13billion.AttheendofthismonththreeelderlymembersoftheNewYorkbarservingasjudicialrefereesareduetoruleinacasebroughtBytheCampaignforFiscalEquityaleftishadvocacygroupagainstthestateofNewYork:theywilldecidehowmuchmoremustBespenttoprovideeveryNewYorkCitypupilwithasoundbasiceducation.Rareisthepoliticianwillingtoarguethatmoremoneyforschoolsisabadthing.ButarethecourtsdoinganygoodTwosuspicionsarise.Firstjudgesaremakingalazyassumptionthatmoremoneymeansbetterschools.Astheinternationalresultsshowthelinkbetweeninputsandoutputsisvague--somethingwelldocumentedbyamongothersthelateSenatorDanielPatrickMoynihanofNewYork.Secondthecourtsaremuddlinganalreadymuddledsystem.Overtimetheyhavegenerallymadeithardertogetridofdisruptivepupilsandbadteachers.Thecurrentcasecouldbeevenworse.Thecourtshavealreadysaidthatinordertodeterminethenecessaryspendingtheymayconsidereverythingfromclasssizetotheavailabilityofcomputerstextbooksandevenpencils.Thisdegreeofinterventionisallthemorescandalousbecausethecourtshaveweirdlydecidedtoignoreanothersetofinputs--thearchaicworkpracticesofschoolteachersandjanitors.DavidSchoenbrodandRossSandierofNewYorkLawSchoolreckonthedemandsofthecourtwillsimplyunderminereformandtransformanexpensivefailureintoamoreexpensiveone.Andofcoursethelitigationneverends.Kentuckyforexampleisstillincourt16yearsafterthefirstdecision.AlawsuitfirstfiledagainstNewJerseyforitsfundingofschoolsin1981wasdecidedfouryearslater--butithasreturnedtothecourtninetimessinceincludingearlythisyearwitheachdecisionpushingthecourtdeeperintothemanagementofthestate’sschools.Badiudgesareevenhardertobootoutofschoolthanbadpupils.WhatdoesthelawsuitfiledagainstNewJerseyindicate
ShortofmoneyNeedaninstantloanSincetheearly1990syourbestbethasbeentogotothelow-rentendoftownandfindanappointedloan-shop.Thereyoucanborrowmoneyinsmallamountsgenerallynotmuchmorethan$500againstyourpost-datedpay-cheque.Youwillbechargedaround$15interestforevery$100youborrow--andthatispermonth.Formanypeoplethereisnoalternative.Banksrefusetomakesmallloansbecausethereisnomoneyinitandcompletelyunregulatedlendingviatheinternetorloansharksistooalarming.AccordingtotheCommunityFinancialServicesAssociationanadvocacygroupfortheindustrymostborrowersareresponsibleandpayofftheirloansinatimelymanner.Butsomedon’t.TheCentreforResponsibleLendingaconsumergroupsaysthatmanyborrowersroutinelyrollovertheirloans.Thisquicklybringsthemintodebttraps.Atypicalborrowermayenduppaying$793fora$325loan.ThecentreestimatesthatpaydayloanscostAmericans$4.2billionayearininterestandfees.Theindustrythrivesinlargepartbecauseitoperatesmostlyoutsidestateusurylawsthatprohibitexcessiveinterestrates.Itsspokesmensaylendersneedsuchexemptionstomakeaprofitontheirbasicservicesmallloans.Lenderssaythattheirreturnswouldamounttopenniesonthedollarifinterestrateswerecapped.Infacttheysaysuchrestrictionswouldputthemoutofbusiness.Andthatisexactlywhatmanyoftheiropponentswouldliketosee--particularlywhenitcomestoloansmadetothefamiliesofsoldiers.InoneofthelastactsoftheRepublicanCongresspaydaylenderswererestrictedtointerestratesof36%onloanstomilitarypersonnelandtheirspouses.ThePentagonisworriedthatuniformedpersonnelespeciallythoseservinginIraqhavebeenlosingtheirsecurityclearancesbecauseofexcessivedebtathome.Thisamongotherthingswasleadingtothecostlyreassignmentofhighlytrainedtroopssuchascommunicationsexpertstoordinarylow-skilljobs.RobertFrankaneconomistatCornellUniversitywroterecentlyintheNewYorkTimesthattheindustry--notunlikethesub-primemortgagesector--isabeneficiaryofthesweepingderegulationofthefinancial-servicesindustrythathasmadecreditmoreaccessible.Itsadverseconsequenceshesayswerecompletelypredictable.Oncepoorpeoplegetinovertheirheadstheywillborrowthemselvesintobankruptcyifthelawpermits;andifweareunhappyaboutthattheonlysolutionistochangetherules./Thesmall-loanindustryisabletoavoidlawprohibitionsbecause______.
It’seasytogetthesensethesedaysthatyou’vestumbledintoapartywithsomepowerfuldrugthatdramaticallyaltersidentity.Thefacesarefamiliarbutthewordscomingoutofthemaren’t.Somethinghashappenedtoalotofpeopleyouusedtothinkyouknew.They’vechangedintosomethingliketheirownopposite.There’sBillGateswhothesedaysisspendinglesstimeearningmoneythangivingitaway--andpullingotherbillionairesintothedeependofglobalphilanthropy慈善事业withhim.There’shistorianFrancisFukuyamaleadingawholegangofdisaffectedfellowtravelersawayfromneoconservatism.Toflip-flopishuman.Itcanstillsometimesbeapoliticalliabilityevidenceofaflakydispositionorrankopportunism.Buttherearecircumstancesinwhichnottoreversecourseseemsalmostpathological病态的.He’samodelofconsistencyStephenColbertsaidlastyearofGeorgeW.Bush:HebelievesthesamethingWednesdaythathebelievedonMonday--nomatterwhathappenedonTuesday.OverthepastthreeyearsIfoundpeoplewhohadpulledabigU-turnintheirlives.Oftentheinsightcameinaforehead-smitingmomentinthemiddleofthenight:I’vegotitallwrong.Itlookedatfirstlikeasprinklingofoutliersbeyondthecurveofnormalhumanexperience.Butwhenyousteppedbackapatternemerged.Whatthesepersonalturnshadincommonwastheapprehensionthatwe’reallconnected.Everythingleansonsomethingisbothdependentanddependedon.ThedifferencebetweenyouandmeavisitingChinesestudenttoldUniversityofMichiganpsychologistRichardNisbettnotlongagoisthatIthinktheworldisacircleandyouthinkit’saline.TheremarkpromptedtheprofessortowriteabookTheGeographyofThoughtaboutthedifferencesbetweentheWesternandtheAsianmind.ToWesternthinkingtheworldislinear;youcanchopitupandanalyzeitandwecanallworkonourlittlepartoftheprojectindependentlyuntilit’ssolved.TheclassicallyEasternmindaccordingtoNisbettseesthingsdifferently:theworldisn’talengthofropebutavastclosedchainincomprehensiblycomplexandeverchanging.Whenyoulookatlifefromthissecondperspectivesomeunlikelyconnectionsrevealthemselves.IrealizedthiswaswhatalmostalltheU-turnshadincommon:peoplehadswungaroundtofaceEast.Theyhadstoppedthinkinginalineandstartedthinkinginacircle.Moralitywaslookinglesslikeasetofrulesandmorelikeastoryoneinwhichtheywerepartofanensemblecastnolongerthestar.AccordingtothetextonedifferencebetweenWesternandEasternmindswasthat______.
WhenaShanghaiadconsultantwasrecentlyaskedtorecommendyounglocaldesignerstoaninternationalagencyhesentthreecandidateswithyearsofworkexperience.Butthecompanydecidedtheyweren’tgoodenoughandhadtoimportdesignersfromtheWest.It’sacommonproblemthatChinesevocationalgradssimplyhaven’thadgoodenoughteaching.Mostofthelecturersdon’thaveanyrealworkexperiencesotheycan’tteachusefulthings.Whengraduatesdogethiredtheybasicallyhavetobere-educated.China’srapideconomicexpansionhasexposedmanyfrailtiesinitseducationsystemespeciallyonthevocationalside.Thecountrycan’tproduceenoughskilledworkers.Inpartthat’sbecauseitinvestsfarmoreinacademicthanvocationalprograms.Fundinghasfallensignificantlysincethe1990s.Partlyasaresulttodayonly38percentorsoofChina’shigh-school-agestudentsattendvocationalschoolswellbelowtheofficialtargetof50percent.ToaddressthisdeficitlastyearBeijingpledgedtospendalmost$2billionon100newvocationalcollegesand1000highschools.Andthisyearitstartedofferingannualsubsidiestovocationalstudents.ButChina’strainingistooabstractwhat’surgentlyrequiredaretechnicianswhocancomeupwithagoodideaandturnitintoamarketableproduct.Partsofthecountryarealreadyadapting;inShenzhenlocalinstitutesoffermadetoordertrainingforparticularbusinesses.Andsomevocationalcollegeshaveintroducedpracticalresearchprojects.Butvocationaleducationfacesadeeperproblem:itsimage.China’smiddleclassiseagertoforgetitsexperiencewithphysicallaborandfewallowtheirchildrentobecometechnicalworkers.Everyonethinksthesearethingsthatlow-classpeopledo.ThusChinanowproducesrecordnumbersofcollegegrads--whostruggletofindworkbecausetheylacktheskillsformanufacturingwheredemandisgreatest.Onefixwouldbetore-brandvocationalsubjectsasprofessionalnotmanualskills.AttheotherendofthespectrumareChina’s100million-plusruralmigrantworkersmanyofwhomhavelittleschooling.Theyhaveneverlearnedhowtoworkwithotherstoliveinthecitysavemoneyorchoosetherightjob.Thustheyfindithardtolearnfromtheirjobsorplantheircareers.Thisresultsinextremelyhighlaborturnover.Teachingandtraininglifeskillstocomplementvocationalprogramswouldhelp.YettheurgencyofChina’sskilled-laborshortfallwillforcearethink.FornowChinaisrelyingoncheaplow-skilledlabor-intensiveproductionbutit’snotsustainableinthelongtermWemustraiseourskillslevelandit’simpossibleforstate-runcollegestodoallthetraining.IndeedwiththedemandforskilledworkersgrowingallthetimeChinawillneedallthehelpitcanget.WhyareChinesevocationalgradsinferiortotheirWesterncounterparts
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 17
Untilrecentlythemainvillainsofthepiecehadseemedtobetheteachers’unionswhohaveopposedanysortofreformoraccountability.Nowtheyfacecompetitionfromanunexpectedlydestructiveforce:thecourt.FiftyyearsagoitwasthejudgeswhoforcedtheschoolstodesegregatethroughBrownv.BoardofEducation1954.Nowthecourtshavemovedfrombroadprinciplestomicromanagementtellingschoolshowmuchmoneytospendandwhere-rightdowntothecorrectcomputerortextbook.TwentyfourstatesarecurrentlyStuckinvariouscourtcasestodowithfinancingschoolsystemsandanother21haveonlyrecentlysettledvarioussuits.Mostwillstartagainsoon.Onlyfivestateshaveavoidedlitigationentirely.Nothingexemplifiesthepowerofthecourtsbetterthanan11-year-oldcasethatisduetobesettledsortofinNewYorkCitythehomeofAmerica’sbiggestschoolsystemwith1.lmstudentsandabudgetnearing$13billion.AttheendofthismonththreeelderlymembersoftheNewYorkbarservingasjudicialrefereesareduetoruleinacasebroughtBytheCampaignforFiscalEquityaleftishadvocacygroupagainstthestateofNewYork:theywilldecidehowmuchmoremustBespenttoprovideeveryNewYorkCitypupilwithasoundbasiceducation.Rareisthepoliticianwillingtoarguethatmoremoneyforschoolsisabadthing.ButarethecourtsdoinganygoodTwosuspicionsarise.Firstjudgesaremakingalazyassumptionthatmoremoneymeansbetterschools.Astheinternationalresultsshowthelinkbetweeninputsandoutputsisvague--somethingwelldocumentedbyamongothersthelateSenatorDanielPatrickMoynihanofNewYork.Secondthecourtsaremuddlinganalreadymuddledsystem.Overtimetheyhavegenerallymadeithardertogetridofdisruptivepupilsandbadteachers.Thecurrentcasecouldbeevenworse.Thecourtshavealreadysaidthatinordertodeterminethenecessaryspendingtheymayconsidereverythingfromclasssizetotheavailabilityofcomputerstextbooksandevenpencils.Thisdegreeofinterventionisallthemorescandalousbecausethecourtshaveweirdlydecidedtoignoreanothersetofinputs--thearchaicworkpracticesofschoolteachersandjanitors.DavidSchoenbrodandRossSandierofNewYorkLawSchoolreckonthedemandsofthecourtwillsimplyunderminereformandtransformanexpensivefailureintoamoreexpensiveone.Andofcoursethelitigationneverends.Kentuckyforexampleisstillincourt16yearsafterthefirstdecision.AlawsuitfirstfiledagainstNewJerseyforitsfundingofschoolsin1981wasdecidedfouryearslater--butithasreturnedtothecourtninetimessinceincludingearlythisyearwitheachdecisionpushingthecourtdeeperintothemanagementofthestate’sschools.Badiudgesareevenhardertobootoutofschoolthanbadpupils.SenatorD.P.Moynihanwouldprobablyagreethat______.
WhenaShanghaiadconsultantwasrecentlyaskedtorecommendyounglocaldesignerstoaninternationalagencyhesentthreecandidateswithyearsofworkexperience.Butthecompanydecidedtheyweren’tgoodenoughandhadtoimportdesignersfromtheWest.It’sacommonproblemthatChinesevocationalgradssimplyhaven’thadgoodenoughteaching.Mostofthelecturersdon’thaveanyrealworkexperiencesotheycan’tteachusefulthings.Whengraduatesdogethiredtheybasicallyhavetobere-educated.China’srapideconomicexpansionhasexposedmanyfrailtiesinitseducationsystemespeciallyonthevocationalside.Thecountrycan’tproduceenoughskilledworkers.Inpartthat’sbecauseitinvestsfarmoreinacademicthanvocationalprograms.Fundinghasfallensignificantlysincethe1990s.Partlyasaresulttodayonly38percentorsoofChina’shigh-school-agestudentsattendvocationalschoolswellbelowtheofficialtargetof50percent.ToaddressthisdeficitlastyearBeijingpledgedtospendalmost$2billionon100newvocationalcollegesand1000highschools.Andthisyearitstartedofferingannualsubsidiestovocationalstudents.ButChina’strainingistooabstractwhat’surgentlyrequiredaretechnicianswhocancomeupwithagoodideaandturnitintoamarketableproduct.Partsofthecountryarealreadyadapting;inShenzhenlocalinstitutesoffermadetoordertrainingforparticularbusinesses.Andsomevocationalcollegeshaveintroducedpracticalresearchprojects.Butvocationaleducationfacesadeeperproblem:itsimage.China’smiddleclassiseagertoforgetitsexperiencewithphysicallaborandfewallowtheirchildrentobecometechnicalworkers.Everyonethinksthesearethingsthatlow-classpeopledo.ThusChinanowproducesrecordnumbersofcollegegrads--whostruggletofindworkbecausetheylacktheskillsformanufacturingwheredemandisgreatest.Onefixwouldbetore-brandvocationalsubjectsasprofessionalnotmanualskills.AttheotherendofthespectrumareChina’s100million-plusruralmigrantworkersmanyofwhomhavelittleschooling.Theyhaveneverlearnedhowtoworkwithotherstoliveinthecitysavemoneyorchoosetherightjob.Thustheyfindithardtolearnfromtheirjobsorplantheircareers.Thisresultsinextremelyhighlaborturnover.Teachingandtraininglifeskillstocomplementvocationalprogramswouldhelp.YettheurgencyofChina’sskilled-laborshortfallwillforcearethink.FornowChinaisrelyingoncheaplow-skilledlabor-intensiveproductionbutit’snotsustainableinthelongtermWemustraiseourskillslevelandit’simpossibleforstate-runcollegestodoallthetraining.IndeedwiththedemandforskilledworkersgrowingallthetimeChinawillneedallthehelpitcanget.Intheauthor’sopinionthebestwaytosolveamoreseriousproblemofChinesevocationaleducationis______.
WhenaShanghaiadconsultantwasrecentlyaskedtorecommendyounglocaldesignerstoaninternationalagencyhesentthreecandidateswithyearsofworkexperience.Butthecompanydecidedtheyweren’tgoodenoughandhadtoimportdesignersfromtheWest.It’sacommonproblemthatChinesevocationalgradssimplyhaven’thadgoodenoughteaching.Mostofthelecturersdon’thaveanyrealworkexperiencesotheycan’tteachusefulthings.Whengraduatesdogethiredtheybasicallyhavetobere-educated.China’srapideconomicexpansionhasexposedmanyfrailtiesinitseducationsystemespeciallyonthevocationalside.Thecountrycan’tproduceenoughskilledworkers.Inpartthat’sbecauseitinvestsfarmoreinacademicthanvocationalprograms.Fundinghasfallensignificantlysincethe1990s.Partlyasaresulttodayonly38percentorsoofChina’shigh-school-agestudentsattendvocationalschoolswellbelowtheofficialtargetof50percent.ToaddressthisdeficitlastyearBeijingpledgedtospendalmost$2billionon100newvocationalcollegesand1000highschools.Andthisyearitstartedofferingannualsubsidiestovocationalstudents.ButChina’strainingistooabstractwhat’surgentlyrequiredaretechnicianswhocancomeupwithagoodideaandturnitintoamarketableproduct.Partsofthecountryarealreadyadapting;inShenzhenlocalinstitutesoffermadetoordertrainingforparticularbusinesses.Andsomevocationalcollegeshaveintroducedpracticalresearchprojects.Butvocationaleducationfacesadeeperproblem:itsimage.China’smiddleclassiseagertoforgetitsexperiencewithphysicallaborandfewallowtheirchildrentobecometechnicalworkers.Everyonethinksthesearethingsthatlow-classpeopledo.ThusChinanowproducesrecordnumbersofcollegegrads--whostruggletofindworkbecausetheylacktheskillsformanufacturingwheredemandisgreatest.Onefixwouldbetore-brandvocationalsubjectsasprofessionalnotmanualskills.AttheotherendofthespectrumareChina’s100million-plusruralmigrantworkersmanyofwhomhavelittleschooling.Theyhaveneverlearnedhowtoworkwithotherstoliveinthecitysavemoneyorchoosetherightjob.Thustheyfindithardtolearnfromtheirjobsorplantheircareers.Thisresultsinextremelyhighlaborturnover.Teachingandtraininglifeskillstocomplementvocationalprogramswouldhelp.YettheurgencyofChina’sskilled-laborshortfallwillforcearethink.FornowChinaisrelyingoncheaplow-skilledlabor-intensiveproductionbutit’snotsustainableinthelongtermWemustraiseourskillslevelandit’simpossibleforstate-runcollegestodoallthetraining.IndeedwiththedemandforskilledworkersgrowingallthetimeChinawillneedallthehelpitcanget.Whatistheauthor’sattitudetowardsvocationaleducationinChina
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 13
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 19
Untilrecentlythemainvillainsofthepiecehadseemedtobetheteachers’unionswhohaveopposedanysortofreformoraccountability.Nowtheyfacecompetitionfromanunexpectedlydestructiveforce:thecourt.FiftyyearsagoitwasthejudgeswhoforcedtheschoolstodesegregatethroughBrownv.BoardofEducation1954.Nowthecourtshavemovedfrombroadprinciplestomicromanagementtellingschoolshowmuchmoneytospendandwhere-rightdowntothecorrectcomputerortextbook.TwentyfourstatesarecurrentlyStuckinvariouscourtcasestodowithfinancingschoolsystemsandanother21haveonlyrecentlysettledvarioussuits.Mostwillstartagainsoon.Onlyfivestateshaveavoidedlitigationentirely.Nothingexemplifiesthepowerofthecourtsbetterthanan11-year-oldcasethatisduetobesettledsortofinNewYorkCitythehomeofAmerica’sbiggestschoolsystemwith1.lmstudentsandabudgetnearing$13billion.AttheendofthismonththreeelderlymembersoftheNewYorkbarservingasjudicialrefereesareduetoruleinacasebroughtBytheCampaignforFiscalEquityaleftishadvocacygroupagainstthestateofNewYork:theywilldecidehowmuchmoremustBespenttoprovideeveryNewYorkCitypupilwithasoundbasiceducation.Rareisthepoliticianwillingtoarguethatmoremoneyforschoolsisabadthing.ButarethecourtsdoinganygoodTwosuspicionsarise.Firstjudgesaremakingalazyassumptionthatmoremoneymeansbetterschools.Astheinternationalresultsshowthelinkbetweeninputsandoutputsisvague--somethingwelldocumentedbyamongothersthelateSenatorDanielPatrickMoynihanofNewYork.Secondthecourtsaremuddlinganalreadymuddledsystem.Overtimetheyhavegenerallymadeithardertogetridofdisruptivepupilsandbadteachers.Thecurrentcasecouldbeevenworse.Thecourtshavealreadysaidthatinordertodeterminethenecessaryspendingtheymayconsidereverythingfromclasssizetotheavailabilityofcomputerstextbooksandevenpencils.Thisdegreeofinterventionisallthemorescandalousbecausethecourtshaveweirdlydecidedtoignoreanothersetofinputs--thearchaicworkpracticesofschoolteachersandjanitors.DavidSchoenbrodandRossSandierofNewYorkLawSchoolreckonthedemandsofthecourtwillsimplyunderminereformandtransformanexpensivefailureintoamoreexpensiveone.Andofcoursethelitigationneverends.Kentuckyforexampleisstillincourt16yearsafterthefirstdecision.AlawsuitfirstfiledagainstNewJerseyforitsfundingofschoolsin1981wasdecidedfouryearslater--butithasreturnedtothecourtninetimessinceincludingearlythisyearwitheachdecisionpushingthecourtdeeperintothemanagementofthestate’sschools.Badiudgesareevenhardertobootoutofschoolthanbadpupils.Theauthorseemstobelievethat______.
Themoonappearstowarpthemindsofsomemen.Despiteputtingmenonthemoonin1969Americaseemsdeterminedonre-enactingthespaceracethistimepittingitseffortsagainstthoseoftheChinese.NowaRussiancompanyclaimsitcoulddevelopasystemtoexploitthemoon’snaturalresourcesandpotentiallyrelocateharmfulindustriesthere.Thisislunacy.Russiacertainlyhasgreatprowessinspace.InitsformerguiseasthecentreofpowerintheSovietUnionitlaunchedthefirstman-madesatellitein1957.InaspectacularfollowupYuriGagarinbecamethefirstpersoninspacein1961.Anothertriumphcamein1968whentheRussianssentaspaceshiptoorbitthemoonwithturtlesaboardreturningitanditslivingcargosafelytoEarth.AnunmannedRussianspacecraftalsolandedonthemoonaheadofthefirstmannedlandingbytheAmericans.EvenafterNeilArmstrongtookhisonesmallstepRussiahasproveditssuperiorityinkeepingpeopleinspacestationsorbitingtheEarth.TheRussianSoyuzrocketisamainstayofsatellitelaunchesandwouldbeusedtorescueastronautsshouldanyaccidentbefalltheInternationalSpaceStation.HeadofthespacecraftmanufacturerthathelpedachievetheseRussiansuccessesthisweekboastedthathisrocketscouldbeusedtoindustrialisethemoon.SowhywerehisremarksgreetedwithsuchscepticismOnereasonforthecynicismisthattheideaisabsurd.AUnitedNationstreatypassedin1967banspotentiallyharmfulinterferencewiththeEarth’soriginalsatelliteandrequiresinternationalconsultationbeforeproceedingwithanyactivitythatcoulddisruptthepeacefulexplorationofspaceincludingthemoon.AsecondproblemisthatlandingonthemoonhasprovedbeyondthebudgetofanystateotherthanAmericaandofanyprivatecompanytodate.Infactoneofthebesthopesforinvestmentcomesfromspacetourism.OnSaturdayApril7ththefifthsuchholidaymakerenteredspaceaboardaRussianSoyuzrocket.CharlesSimonyianAmericansoftwaredeveloperpaid$25mforhisten-daystayattheInternationalSpaceStation.Thenextholidaydestinationisthemoon.Thetouroperatorthatorganisedthefirstfivepackagesisofferingtwoticketstoorbitthemoonfor$100meach.LaunchwouldbeaboardaSoyuzspacecraft.ButtheSoyuzsystemwasdesignedinthe1960sandhasbeenonthevergeofretirementformanyyears.UnfortunatelytheRussianauthoritieshavepostponedindefinitelythedevelopmentofasuccessor.Thustheclaimoftheindustrialisationofthemoonisunlikelytosucceed.WhichofthefollowingisnotRussianachievementinspaceexploration
Themoonappearstowarpthemindsofsomemen.Despiteputtingmenonthemoonin1969Americaseemsdeterminedonre-enactingthespaceracethistimepittingitseffortsagainstthoseoftheChinese.NowaRussiancompanyclaimsitcoulddevelopasystemtoexploitthemoon’snaturalresourcesandpotentiallyrelocateharmfulindustriesthere.Thisislunacy.Russiacertainlyhasgreatprowessinspace.InitsformerguiseasthecentreofpowerintheSovietUnionitlaunchedthefirstman-madesatellitein1957.InaspectacularfollowupYuriGagarinbecamethefirstpersoninspacein1961.Anothertriumphcamein1968whentheRussianssentaspaceshiptoorbitthemoonwithturtlesaboardreturningitanditslivingcargosafelytoEarth.AnunmannedRussianspacecraftalsolandedonthemoonaheadofthefirstmannedlandingbytheAmericans.EvenafterNeilArmstrongtookhisonesmallstepRussiahasproveditssuperiorityinkeepingpeopleinspacestationsorbitingtheEarth.TheRussianSoyuzrocketisamainstayofsatellitelaunchesandwouldbeusedtorescueastronautsshouldanyaccidentbefalltheInternationalSpaceStation.HeadofthespacecraftmanufacturerthathelpedachievetheseRussiansuccessesthisweekboastedthathisrocketscouldbeusedtoindustrialisethemoon.SowhywerehisremarksgreetedwithsuchscepticismOnereasonforthecynicismisthattheideaisabsurd.AUnitedNationstreatypassedin1967banspotentiallyharmfulinterferencewiththeEarth’soriginalsatelliteandrequiresinternationalconsultationbeforeproceedingwithanyactivitythatcoulddisruptthepeacefulexplorationofspaceincludingthemoon.AsecondproblemisthatlandingonthemoonhasprovedbeyondthebudgetofanystateotherthanAmericaandofanyprivatecompanytodate.Infactoneofthebesthopesforinvestmentcomesfromspacetourism.OnSaturdayApril7ththefifthsuchholidaymakerenteredspaceaboardaRussianSoyuzrocket.CharlesSimonyianAmericansoftwaredeveloperpaid$25mforhisten-daystayattheInternationalSpaceStation.Thenextholidaydestinationisthemoon.Thetouroperatorthatorganisedthefirstfivepackagesisofferingtwoticketstoorbitthemoonfor$100meach.LaunchwouldbeaboardaSoyuzspacecraft.ButtheSoyuzsystemwasdesignedinthe1960sandhasbeenonthevergeofretirementformanyyears.UnfortunatelytheRussianauthoritieshavepostponedindefinitelythedevelopmentofasuccessor.Thustheclaimoftheindustrialisationofthemoonisunlikelytosucceed.Accordingtothetextwhichisthemostprobableresultofthedevelopmentofspacetourism
Directions:YouandyourfriendjustarrivedhomefromatriparrangedbyatravelagencynamedHappyTours.YouaremostunsatisfiedwiththeserviceandarrangementofthetravelagencyandyoudecidetowritealetterofcomplainttotheManagerofHappyTours.Imaginesomedetailsofthistrip.Writeyourletterinnolessthan100words.WriteitneatlyonANSWERSHEET2.Donotsignyourownnameattheendoftheletter;useLiMinginstead.Donotwritetheaddress.
"WewantSingaporetohavetheX-factorthatbuzzthatyougetinLondonParisorNewYork."ThatishowLeeHsienLoongSingapore’sprimeminister1hisgovernment’sdecisionto2gamblinginthecountry3twolargeVegas-stylecasinos.WhetherthecasinoswillindeedhelptotransformSingapore’sstaidimageremainstobeseen.Butthedecisionbasalready4anuncharacteristicbuzzamongthecountry’snormally5citizens. Thegovernmenthascontemplatedandrejected6casinosseveraltimesinthepast.Onereasonwas7Singapore’seconomicgrowthwassorapidthatcasinosseemedlikeanunnecessaryevil.BuddhismandIslamtwoofthecountry’smainreligions8ongambling.Thegovernmentitselfhastraditionallyhadstrongandoften9ideasabouthowitscitizensshouldbehave.Untilrecentlyforexampleitrefusedto10homosexualstothecivilservice.Italsousedto11chewinggumwhichitconsidersapublicnuisance. Nowadays12Singapore’selectronicsindustrythemainstayoftheeconomyisstrugglingtocopewithcheapcompetitionfromplaceslikeChina.Inthefirstquarterofthisyearoutput13by5.8%atanannualrate.Sothegovernmentwantslopromotetourismandotherservicesto14forvanishingjobsinmanufacturing. MerrillLynchaninvestmentbank15thetwoproposedcasinoscould16inasmuchas$4billionintheinitialinvestmentalone.17itsestimatestheywouldhaveannualrevenuesof18$3.6billionandpayatleast$600millionintaxesandfees.Thegovernmentforitspartthinkstheintegrated19asitcoylycallsthecasinoswould20asmanyas35000jobs. 15
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