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Text 4 It is hard to box against a southpaw, as Apollo Creed found out when he fought Rocky Bal...
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根据句意用括号内所给词的适当形式填空1.MymothergoestoBeijing_________
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根据短文内容及首字母提示补全单词Onceamanandhiswifeworkedforabusine
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Text4 TheentertainmentindustryandtechnologycompanieshavebeenwarringforyearsoverthedazzlingabilityofcomputersandtheInternettocopyandtransmitmusicandmovies. AcrucialbattleendedthisweekwitharulingbyAmerica’sSupremeCourtinfavourofcopyrightholderandagainsttwocompaniesthatdistributepeer-to-peerP2Psoftwarewhichletsuserssharefilesonlinewithothers.Thecourt’sdecisionthoughostensiblyavictoryforcontentprovidersis.neverthelessunlikelytostampoutfilesharing—muchofwhichwillcontinuefromoutsideAmerica—orstopthetechnologicalinnovationthatisthreateningthecurrentbusinessmodelsofmediafirms. ThecourtwasaskedtodecidewhethertwofirmsGroksterandStreamCastwereliableforcopyrightinfringementbytheircustomers.Twolowercourtshadsaidthatthefirmswerenotliablecitinga1984rulinginfavourofSony’sBetamaxvideorecorder.Thisheldthatatechnologyfirmisimmunefromliabilitysolongasthedeviceconcernedis"capableofsubstantialnoninfringinguses".Thecourtdidnotreinterpretthe1984decisioninlightoftheInternet.Insteadthejusticesruledthatthecaseraisedafarnarrowerissue:whetherGroksterandStreamCastinduceduserstoviolatecopyrightsandchosenottotakethesimpiestepsavailabletopreventit.SuchbehaviourwouldmakethefirmsclearlyliableforcopyrightinfringementandendtheirimmunityevenundertheBetamaxstandard.Thecourtreasonedthatthereweresufficientgroundstobelievethatinducementoccurredandsentthecasebacktolowercourtsfortrial. AlthoughtheGroksterdecisionwillprobablynotsquelchinnovationasmuchasmanytechfirmsfearitshouldcertainlymakeITandelectronicsfirmsmorecautiousabouthowtheymarkettheirproducts—andquiterighttoo.ButtheSupremeCourt’snarrowrulingmakesthisunlikely—indeedthejusticesnotedthetechnology’swidespreadlegitimateuse.Yettheirdecisionwillsurelyemboldentheentertainmentindustrytopursueincourtanyfirmsthattheycanclaimknowinglyallowinfringement;Thiscouldkilloffsomesmallinnovativestart-ups.Ontheotherhandtherulingcouldalsoprovidelegalcoverfortechfirmswiththewittoplastertheirproductswithwarningsnottoviolatethelaw. Butjudgedfromalong-termperspectivethisweek’svictoryforcopyrightholdersseemslikelytoproveaPyrrhicone.TheInternetandfilesharingaredisruptivetechnologiesthatgiveconsumersvastlymoreabilitytouseallsortsofmediacontentcopyrightedornot.Surelyentertainmentfirmsmustdevisewaystousethistechnologytoselltheirwaresthatwillalsoallowcopyrighttobeprotected. Solongastechnologycontinuestoevolveinwaysthatenablelegitimatecontentsharingpiracywillalsoprobablycontinuetosomedegree.Happilyinthiscasethepiracyseemstohavepromptedcontentfirmstocompetebyofferingbetterfee-basedservices.Thechallengeforcontentprovidersistousenewtechnologytocreatevalueforcustomersandtomakethosewhousecontentillegallyfeelbadaboutit. Thebesttitleforthepassagemightbe
Text3 SearchengineGooglewasaimingtofloatonWallStreetthisweekvaluedatupto$36billion.ButtheInternetcompany’sadvisersaremeetingthisweekendtodiscusspossiblydelayingthepubliclistingafterasharpfallinsharepricesinNewYorkonFriday.Aninsidersaidlastnight:"Thefloatisteeteringonthebrink—itreallyis50/50atthisstagealthoughmanyofusareoptimistic."TheinitialpublicofferingIPOofsharesinGooglewhichcouldraisenearly$4bnwillamounttooneofthebiggestIPOsforyears.Butmany:USfirmshaveshelvedtheirIPOsamidvolatilemarketconditionsandinvestorsappearunwillingtosubscribetonewequity.AWallStreetanalystsaidthattheGoogleIPO"wouldbeaseminaleventfortheAmericanstockmarket"asitsrealsignificancewasthatitwouldtestwhetherornottherecoveryinequitypricessincetheendoftheIraqwarhadtakenhold."Ifthisfloatworksalotofothercompanieswillbeencouragedandcometothemarketlaterintheyear"theinsideradded."ButitwillbebadnewsiftheIPOispulledorthesharesfallsharplyafterthecompanyislisted.IfthathappensitcouldkillofftheIPOmarketinAmericaandelsewhereforatleast12months." SeveralfundmanagershavealreadyexpressedreservationsaboutCoogleinparticularitshighvaluationandthecomplexwaythesharesarebeingsold.MoreovertheGoogleflotationistakingplaceatatimewhentechnologycompaniesintheUShavebeenshunned.OnThursdaytheIPOhitatechnicalhitchoverthefailureofthecompanytomeetitslegalobligationsconcerningitsemployees’stockoptionplans.ButthecompanydidnotthinkthatthedisclosurewouldmeanadelaytotheIPOwhichisdueonTuesdayAtthetopofthesuggestedpricerangeGooglewouldbevaluednotfarshortofitsrivalInternetfirmYahoo!—andthishasraisedeyebrowswithintheindustry.TheauctionisbeingconductedovertheInternetandpotentialbuyerswillhavetoregisterbysigningontoaGooglewebsite.Butonlyinvestorswhohavebrokerageaccountswithoneofthe28USbanksandbrokersunderwritingthestocksalewillbeableto-apply.Googlesufferedasetbacklastmonthafteritreportedanunexpectedslowdowninitshugegrowthrate.ButsourcesclosetoGoogle’sfoundersLarryPageandSergeyBrinsaidthatthetailing-offofgrowthwasduetoseasonalfactorsandwouldnotaffecttheIPO. IfGoogleIPOworks
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 8
Text2 TeachersgrumbleoverpayeverywherebutinWestVirginiaWesleyanCollegetheangerisacute.Salariesherehavebarelymovedsince2000andtheaverageassistantprofessor’spayhasfallenbelowthatatSouthernWestVirginiaCommunityandTechnicalCollege.Onacampuswithjust86full-timefacultyasociologyprofessorsaidafewhundredthousanddollarsmorespentonteachingcouldmakearealdifference. WesleyanPresidentWilliamHadensaysthecollegeplanstoraisefacultypay.ButhesaysWesleyanisnothingwithoutstudents—"theyvotewiththeirfeet"—andthecollegehasnochoicebuttoaddresstheirwantsandneeds.Hesaystechnologyhasbeenabigpartofthatandsomerecentgraduatesagreethatit’svaluable—thoughmaybenotessential.DanielSimmonsa1999graduateandalsoamiddle-schoolteacherpraisedthetechnologyprogram."IfIhadgonetoanotherschoolitwouldn’thavebeenavailabletome"hesaid."Itwasveryconvenientanditwastopoftheline." ButaswiththefacultythequalityofhumaninstructorsisabigconcernamongWesleyanalumni."Alittlebitmoremoneyshouldhavebeenputintokeepingpeople"saidEvanKeelinga2002graduatenowpursuingadoctorateattheUniversityofVirginia.HefoundthequalityintheclassroomunevenandnotablyneitherhenortheDanielSimmonscametoWesleyanbecauseoftechnology.Theprogramwasabonusnottheprimarydraw.Skinnerthedirectorofadmissionandfinancialplanningacknowledgedthatseemswidelytrue.Prospectivestudentspaymoreattentiontomoretangiblesignsofgrowth."ItdidopensomedoorsforusbutwouldIhavelikedtohavehadanewresidencehallorrecreationalfacilityIprobablywouldhavepreferredthat"Skinnersaid.Hisdailystruggleremainsfillingthefreshmanclasswhichmaybedown50peopleormorethisyearduetochangesingovernmentfinancialaidprogramsandtheshutteringofthenursingprogram.Thecollegestillacceptsabout80percentofitsapplicantsandnolongerrequiresonlineapplications. Hadenacknowledgesthatwiththebenefitofhindsighthemighthavehandleddetailsofhowtheprogramwasfinanceddifferently.ButhemakesnoapologiesfortakingboldstepswhichhesayshaveindeedsetWesleyanapart."Weneededtomakeastatementaboutourcommitmenttotechnologyandourbeliefthatitwouldenhancethequalityofeducationandthepreparationofourstudents"hesaid.’"AndI’mstillbelievingthat." FacultiesinWesleyanhavelowersalariesmainlybecausethecollege
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 20
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 4
Text3 SearchengineGooglewasaimingtofloatonWallStreetthisweekvaluedatupto$36billion.ButtheInternetcompany’sadvisersaremeetingthisweekendtodiscusspossiblydelayingthepubliclistingafterasharpfallinsharepricesinNewYorkonFriday.Aninsidersaidlastnight:"Thefloatisteeteringonthebrink—itreallyis50/50atthisstagealthoughmanyofusareoptimistic."TheinitialpublicofferingIPOofsharesinGooglewhichcouldraisenearly$4bnwillamounttooneofthebiggestIPOsforyears.Butmany:USfirmshaveshelvedtheirIPOsamidvolatilemarketconditionsandinvestorsappearunwillingtosubscribetonewequity.AWallStreetanalystsaidthattheGoogleIPO"wouldbeaseminaleventfortheAmericanstockmarket"asitsrealsignificancewasthatitwouldtestwhetherornottherecoveryinequitypricessincetheendoftheIraqwarhadtakenhold."Ifthisfloatworksalotofothercompanieswillbeencouragedandcometothemarketlaterintheyear"theinsideradded."ButitwillbebadnewsiftheIPOispulledorthesharesfallsharplyafterthecompanyislisted.IfthathappensitcouldkillofftheIPOmarketinAmericaandelsewhereforatleast12months." SeveralfundmanagershavealreadyexpressedreservationsaboutCoogleinparticularitshighvaluationandthecomplexwaythesharesarebeingsold.MoreovertheGoogleflotationistakingplaceatatimewhentechnologycompaniesintheUShavebeenshunned.OnThursdaytheIPOhitatechnicalhitchoverthefailureofthecompanytomeetitslegalobligationsconcerningitsemployees’stockoptionplans.ButthecompanydidnotthinkthatthedisclosurewouldmeanadelaytotheIPOwhichisdueonTuesdayAtthetopofthesuggestedpricerangeGooglewouldbevaluednotfarshortofitsrivalInternetfirmYahoo!—andthishasraisedeyebrowswithintheindustry.TheauctionisbeingconductedovertheInternetandpotentialbuyerswillhavetoregisterbysigningontoaGooglewebsite.Butonlyinvestorswhohavebrokerageaccountswithoneofthe28USbanksandbrokersunderwritingthestocksalewillbeableto-apply.Googlesufferedasetbacklastmonthafteritreportedanunexpectedslowdowninitshugegrowthrate.ButsourcesclosetoGoogle’sfoundersLarryPageandSergeyBrinsaidthatthetailing-offofgrowthwasduetoseasonalfactorsandwouldnotaffecttheIPO. AccordingtothepassageGoogle'sIPOistosharemarketrecoveryas
[A]Thegoldenwedding-ringwasputonherfinger [B]Theforeigngroomandthelocalbride [C]Angelschildrenescortingthebride [D]Weddinghall [E]Templeandatheisticgroom [F]Townhallahappybrideandgroom Ornamentingthetwofingersisonlythefirststepofthe"longmarch".Angelwasneverasoverloadedastodayrunningfromheretotherebusyorderinginvitationcardsandweddingclothesbookingchurchandrestaurantcheckingavailabilityofthephotographerthepastorandtheofficialinthetownhalllookingforanewhome.Shewashappyandexcited.Howeverthislongweddingpreparationprocessloadeddownwithtrivialdetailsgavemeabigheadache.InFrancemoreandmoreFrenchcohabitinsteadofmarrying.Howeverwhentheydecidetomarrytheystilltaketheirweddingceremonyseriouslyandusuallyfollowtheneverchangingthreetraditionalchapters. 41.__________ Thethirdchapteristheweddingbreakfastfollowedbyadance.Thefirstandthesecondchapterarethecivilweddingandthechurchwedding.Afterthechurchweddingthenewly-wedsnormallyinvitetheirparentsandfriendstotakepartinasumptuousmealanddanceintheevening.Afterchampagneflutesareraisedallaroundthedancingstarts.Thenewly-wedstaketheleaddancinglightlyandfinishtheeveningbytiredlytrippingintotheirbridalchamberandthusterminatethelastchapteroftheFrenchmarriage. 42.__________ Igrewupinthelastseventiesandearlyeightiesthe"simplewedding"advocatedbytheChinesegovernmenthadbeeningrainedinmymind.OnedayfinallyIcouldnothelprevealingmywishforasimplewedding:"Darlingyourweddingplansarefartoolongandover-elaborate.Let’ssimplifythemandreducethreechapterstoonlyone.It’senoughtogetmarriedinthetownhall!""No!Marriageisthemostimportanteventinmylife.Iwanttomakeitgrandandunforgettable."Angelrefusedtoconcede.HoweverIreallywantedtoescapethechurchwedding."HoneyIwasn’tbaptizedandbeinganatheistIamnotallowedtogotochurch.Achurchweddingisaburdenforanatheistlikemeandthechurchweddingforanatheistisalsoagainstchurchrules!"IpresentedmyviewsvehementlybelievingIhadthebestexcuseintheworld."Mydearmarriageisasacredaffair;wemustgotothechurch.Youareonlyawareofoneaspectofathingbutignorantofanother.IamaProtestant;therearenostrictcanonsandmumbo-jumbosinProtestantism.IfoneofthetwoisProtestanttheyarestillallowedtomarryinaProtestantchurch."Iwasrenderedspeechless. 43.__________ Thesacredmomentarrived.Theforeigngroomandthelocalbridesurroundedbyherfamilymembersarrivedatthemarriagehall."Doyoutakethiswomanasyourwife""Yes!"Amyriadofthoughtswelledupinmymind:"I’dquitmyhighlycovetedjobinChinaandgonethroughinnumerabletrialsandtribulationstocometoEuropetojoinmyChineseloverbutIwasjilted.NowI’dfoundanoasisoflovebutfarfrommyhomelandThegirlwithmetodaythoughfromadifferentculturalbackgroundwithadifferentwayofthinkingandbehavingissimplepureandkind-heartedlikeanangel.I’dsufferedfromthewanderinglifeinEurope.Butaftersufferingcomeshappiness.Inafewminutesshewillproclaimtheendofmywanderingandhomelesslife."FullofdeepfeelingIgazedatthiswesternbeautyshiningwithdazzlingsplendorandheldherhandtightinmine. 44.__________ "Doyoutakethismanasyourhusband"BrimmingwithtearschokingwithsobsAngelnoddedherapproval.BeingatraditionalFrenchgirlshe’dneverexpectedthatshewouldhavefallenintothetemptationofthe"goodbutcheapChinesemerchandise"beforeherandwouldhavecrossedthefrontierbetweenChineseandFrenchculturestomarryamanwithanexoticaccentandaflatnose! 45.__________ ThechurchwasresoundingwiththeweddingsonataangelandIwalkeduptothepastortotheheatofthemusic.Handinhandheartwithheartfulloftenderaffectionwegavealltherightanswerstohisquestions.Thegoldenweddingringonherleftfingerandpairedupwithherengagementringontherightringfingerbothcomplementingeachother’s’radianceandbeauty.Angelnowwithtworingsbecameareal"valuable"bride.Sheslippedmyfingerwithasimpleringontomyfingerandatthesametimecapturingmywanderingheart. ThateveningItheforeigngroomwithmyErrutwo-stringedChineseviolintogetherwithAngelthelocalbridewithherviolinsuccessfullyperformedthemostbeautifulconcertoofcross-bordermarriage."Thatspringiscomingtheearthissmiling..."thehallwasresoundingtothestrainsofStrauss’joyfulwaltzwhileweweretrippingawayinadance.Attheclimaxofthemusicweswirledsoquicklythatbothofusfeltourselvesswoonintheglamourofourcrossbordermarriage. 42
Text2 TeachersgrumbleoverpayeverywherebutinWestVirginiaWesleyanCollegetheangerisacute.Salariesherehavebarelymovedsince2000andtheaverageassistantprofessor’spayhasfallenbelowthatatSouthernWestVirginiaCommunityandTechnicalCollege.Onacampuswithjust86full-timefacultyasociologyprofessorsaidafewhundredthousanddollarsmorespentonteachingcouldmakearealdifference. WesleyanPresidentWilliamHadensaysthecollegeplanstoraisefacultypay.ButhesaysWesleyanisnothingwithoutstudents—"theyvotewiththeirfeet"—andthecollegehasnochoicebuttoaddresstheirwantsandneeds.Hesaystechnologyhasbeenabigpartofthatandsomerecentgraduatesagreethatit’svaluable—thoughmaybenotessential.DanielSimmonsa1999graduateandalsoamiddle-schoolteacherpraisedthetechnologyprogram."IfIhadgonetoanotherschoolitwouldn’thavebeenavailabletome"hesaid."Itwasveryconvenientanditwastopoftheline." ButaswiththefacultythequalityofhumaninstructorsisabigconcernamongWesleyanalumni."Alittlebitmoremoneyshouldhavebeenputintokeepingpeople"saidEvanKeelinga2002graduatenowpursuingadoctorateattheUniversityofVirginia.HefoundthequalityintheclassroomunevenandnotablyneitherhenortheDanielSimmonscametoWesleyanbecauseoftechnology.Theprogramwasabonusnottheprimarydraw.Skinnerthedirectorofadmissionandfinancialplanningacknowledgedthatseemswidelytrue.Prospectivestudentspaymoreattentiontomoretangiblesignsofgrowth."ItdidopensomedoorsforusbutwouldIhavelikedtohavehadanewresidencehallorrecreationalfacilityIprobablywouldhavepreferredthat"Skinnersaid.Hisdailystruggleremainsfillingthefreshmanclasswhichmaybedown50peopleormorethisyearduetochangesingovernmentfinancialaidprogramsandtheshutteringofthenursingprogram.Thecollegestillacceptsabout80percentofitsapplicantsandnolongerrequiresonlineapplications. Hadenacknowledgesthatwiththebenefitofhindsighthemighthavehandleddetailsofhowtheprogramwasfinanceddifferently.ButhemakesnoapologiesfortakingboldstepswhichhesayshaveindeedsetWesleyanapart."Weneededtomakeastatementaboutourcommitmenttotechnologyandourbeliefthatitwouldenhancethequalityofeducationandthepreparationofourstudents"hesaid.’"AndI’mstillbelievingthat." Accordingtothepassagewhichofthefollowingistrue
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 6
Allobjectsofhumanreasonorinquirymaynaturallybedividedintotwokindstowitrelationsofideasandmattersoffact.46Ofthefirstkindarethesciencesofgeometryalgebraandarithmetic;andinshorteveryaffirmationwhichiseitherintuitivelyordemonstrativelycertain.Thatthesquareofthehypothenuseisequaltothesquaresofthetwosidesisapropositionwhichexpressesarelationbetweenthesefigures.47Propositionsofthiskindarediscoverablebythemereoperationofthoughtwithoutdependenceonwhatisanywhereexistentintheuniverse.ThoughthereneverwereacircleortriangleinnaturethetruthsdemonstratedbyEuclidwouldforeverretaintheircertaintyandevidence. Mattersoffactwhicharethesecondobjectsofhumanreasonarenotascertainedinthesamemanner;norisourevidenceoftheirtruthhowevergreatofalikenaturewiththeforegoing.Thecontraryofeverymatteroffactisstillpossible;becauseitcanneverimplyacontradictionandisconceivedbythemindwiththesamefacilityanddistinctnessasifeversoconformabletoreality.48Thatthesunwillnotrisetomorrowisnolessintelligibleapropositionandimpliesnomorecontradictionthantheaffirmationthatitwillrise.Weshouldinvainthereforeattempttodemonstrateitsfalsehood.Wereitdemonstrativelyfalseitwouldimplyacontradictionandcouldneverhedistinctlyconceivedbythemind. Itmaythereforebeasubjectworthyofcuriositytoinquirewhatisthenatureofthatevidencewhichassuresusofanyrealexistenceadmatteroffactbeyondthepresenttestimonyofoursensesortherecordsofourmemory.49Thispartofphilosophyitisobservablehasbeenlittlecultivatedeitherbytheancientsormoderns;andthereforeourdoubtsanderrorsintheprosecutionofsoimportantaninquirymaybethemoreexcusable;whilewemarchthroughsuchdifficultpathswithoutanyguideordirection.50TheymayevenproveusefulByexcitingcuriosityanddestroyingthatimplicitfaithandsecuritywhichisthepoisonofallreasoningandfreeinquiry.ThediscoveryofdefectsinthecommonphilosophyifanysuchtherebewillnotIpresumebeadiscouragementbutratheranincitementasisusualtoattemptsomethingmorefullandsatisfactorythanhasyetbeenproposedtothepublic. Thatthesunwillnotrisetomorrowisnolessintelligibleapropositionandimpliesnomorecontradictionthantheaffirmationthatitwillrise.
Text4 TheentertainmentindustryandtechnologycompanieshavebeenwarringforyearsoverthedazzlingabilityofcomputersandtheInternettocopyandtransmitmusicandmovies. AcrucialbattleendedthisweekwitharulingbyAmerica’sSupremeCourtinfavourofcopyrightholderandagainsttwocompaniesthatdistributepeer-to-peerP2Psoftwarewhichletsuserssharefilesonlinewithothers.Thecourt’sdecisionthoughostensiblyavictoryforcontentprovidersis.neverthelessunlikelytostampoutfilesharing—muchofwhichwillcontinuefromoutsideAmerica—orstopthetechnologicalinnovationthatisthreateningthecurrentbusinessmodelsofmediafirms. ThecourtwasaskedtodecidewhethertwofirmsGroksterandStreamCastwereliableforcopyrightinfringementbytheircustomers.Twolowercourtshadsaidthatthefirmswerenotliablecitinga1984rulinginfavourofSony’sBetamaxvideorecorder.Thisheldthatatechnologyfirmisimmunefromliabilitysolongasthedeviceconcernedis"capableofsubstantialnoninfringinguses".Thecourtdidnotreinterpretthe1984decisioninlightoftheInternet.Insteadthejusticesruledthatthecaseraisedafarnarrowerissue:whetherGroksterandStreamCastinduceduserstoviolatecopyrightsandchosenottotakethesimpiestepsavailabletopreventit.SuchbehaviourwouldmakethefirmsclearlyliableforcopyrightinfringementandendtheirimmunityevenundertheBetamaxstandard.Thecourtreasonedthatthereweresufficientgroundstobelievethatinducementoccurredandsentthecasebacktolowercourtsfortrial. AlthoughtheGroksterdecisionwillprobablynotsquelchinnovationasmuchasmanytechfirmsfearitshouldcertainlymakeITandelectronicsfirmsmorecautiousabouthowtheymarkettheirproducts—andquiterighttoo.ButtheSupremeCourt’snarrowrulingmakesthisunlikely—indeedthejusticesnotedthetechnology’swidespreadlegitimateuse.Yettheirdecisionwillsurelyemboldentheentertainmentindustrytopursueincourtanyfirmsthattheycanclaimknowinglyallowinfringement;Thiscouldkilloffsomesmallinnovativestart-ups.Ontheotherhandtherulingcouldalsoprovidelegalcoverfortechfirmswiththewittoplastertheirproductswithwarningsnottoviolatethelaw. Butjudgedfromalong-termperspectivethisweek’svictoryforcopyrightholdersseemslikelytoproveaPyrrhicone.TheInternetandfilesharingaredisruptivetechnologiesthatgiveconsumersvastlymoreabilitytouseallsortsofmediacontentcopyrightedornot.Surelyentertainmentfirmsmustdevisewaystousethistechnologytoselltheirwaresthatwillalsoallowcopyrighttobeprotected. Solongastechnologycontinuestoevolveinwaysthatenablelegitimatecontentsharingpiracywillalsoprobablycontinuetosomedegree.Happilyinthiscasethepiracyseemstohavepromptedcontentfirmstocompetebyofferingbetterfee-basedservices.Thechallengeforcontentprovidersistousenewtechnologytocreatevalueforcustomersandtomakethosewhousecontentillegallyfeelbadaboutit. Inthelastparagraphtheauthorsuggestedthat
Text1 TheJapanesegovernmentwantswomenlikeTaekoMizuguchitogetmarriedandstartdoingsomethingaboutthenation’splungingbirthrate.Butshe’snotinterested.AtleastnotifherprospectivehusbandisJapanese. AgrowingnumberofJapanesewomenaregivingupontheirmalecounterpartsandtakingagamblethatlookingabroadforlovewillbringthemthequalitiesinapartnerthatseemrareathome."Theytreatyoulikeequalsandtheydon’thesitatetoexpressmutualfeelingsofrespect—IthinkWesternmenaremoreadeptatsuchthingsthanJapanesemen"saysthe36-year-oldMs.Mizuguchiwhoworksatatoptradingfirm."Theydon’tactlikewomenaremaids—Ithinktheyviewwomenasindividuals." UnderscoringthatJapanesewomenarelosinghopewiththelocalboysdatingagenciestohelpsnagaWesternhusbandhavesprungupinTokyosomewithbranchesintheUSandEurope.Suchcompaniesrigorouslyvettheirclientsscreeningforeducationfamilybackgroundoccupationandlifegoals.Thekindofwomenwhosignupforsuchservicesincludedoctorslawyersandotherprofessionals—womenwhohavedelayedmarriagetoconcentrateoncareersandwhoaren’tkeentogiveuphardwongainstobecomeahousewifeasmanyJapanesemenexpect.Agenerationofwomenwhoarenowenteringtheir30sdon’twanttogiveupsinglelifeunlessprospectivepartnersarewillingtobreakfromtraditionalgenderroles. Governmentpollsconductedtofindoutwhywomenhaveputoffmarriageuntilwellafter25yearsofage—knownasawoman’s"’bestbefore’date"—showthateconomicindependenceiskeytothechange.AsmostJapanesewomenhavetheirownincomemarriageisnolongerafinancialnecessityandwomenwanttofindcompanionshipinahusband.Havingruledoutanold-fashionedJapanesehusbandmanywomenherethinkthesolutionisaWesternman.Indeedsomeseemsoenthralledwiththeideathattheyarewillingtospend’thousandsofdollarstoinspectthewarespersonally. TobefairnotalltheblameforfemaleangstherecanbelaidonJapanesemenThegovernmenthasbeenslowtoenforceequalopportunitylawsandbothpayandtheglassceilingin’mostJapanesecorporationsremainlowforwomen.Recessionhashamperedlongermaternityleaveandotherfamilyfriendlypolicies.AsJapan’sfertilityratedropstonewlowsthegovernmentisanxiouslydrawingupplanstomakeiteasierforyoungcouplestoraisechildrenthroughsuchmeasuresastheprovisionofcheappublichoming. Wecaninferfromthethirdparagraphthatthedatingagency
Text4 TheentertainmentindustryandtechnologycompanieshavebeenwarringforyearsoverthedazzlingabilityofcomputersandtheInternettocopyandtransmitmusicandmovies. AcrucialbattleendedthisweekwitharulingbyAmerica’sSupremeCourtinfavourofcopyrightholderandagainsttwocompaniesthatdistributepeer-to-peerP2Psoftwarewhichletsuserssharefilesonlinewithothers.Thecourt’sdecisionthoughostensiblyavictoryforcontentprovidersis.neverthelessunlikelytostampoutfilesharing—muchofwhichwillcontinuefromoutsideAmerica—orstopthetechnologicalinnovationthatisthreateningthecurrentbusinessmodelsofmediafirms. ThecourtwasaskedtodecidewhethertwofirmsGroksterandStreamCastwereliableforcopyrightinfringementbytheircustomers.Twolowercourtshadsaidthatthefirmswerenotliablecitinga1984rulinginfavourofSony’sBetamaxvideorecorder.Thisheldthatatechnologyfirmisimmunefromliabilitysolongasthedeviceconcernedis"capableofsubstantialnoninfringinguses".Thecourtdidnotreinterpretthe1984decisioninlightoftheInternet.Insteadthejusticesruledthatthecaseraisedafarnarrowerissue:whetherGroksterandStreamCastinduceduserstoviolatecopyrightsandchosenottotakethesimpiestepsavailabletopreventit.SuchbehaviourwouldmakethefirmsclearlyliableforcopyrightinfringementandendtheirimmunityevenundertheBetamaxstandard.Thecourtreasonedthatthereweresufficientgroundstobelievethatinducementoccurredandsentthecasebacktolowercourtsfortrial. AlthoughtheGroksterdecisionwillprobablynotsquelchinnovationasmuchasmanytechfirmsfearitshouldcertainlymakeITandelectronicsfirmsmorecautiousabouthowtheymarkettheirproducts—andquiterighttoo.ButtheSupremeCourt’snarrowrulingmakesthisunlikely—indeedthejusticesnotedthetechnology’swidespreadlegitimateuse.Yettheirdecisionwillsurelyemboldentheentertainmentindustrytopursueincourtanyfirmsthattheycanclaimknowinglyallowinfringement;Thiscouldkilloffsomesmallinnovativestart-ups.Ontheotherhandtherulingcouldalsoprovidelegalcoverfortechfirmswiththewittoplastertheirproductswithwarningsnottoviolatethelaw. Butjudgedfromalong-termperspectivethisweek’svictoryforcopyrightholdersseemslikelytoproveaPyrrhicone.TheInternetandfilesharingaredisruptivetechnologiesthatgiveconsumersvastlymoreabilitytouseallsortsofmediacontentcopyrightedornot.Surelyentertainmentfirmsmustdevisewaystousethistechnologytoselltheirwaresthatwillalsoallowcopyrighttobeprotected. Solongastechnologycontinuestoevolveinwaysthatenablelegitimatecontentsharingpiracywillalsoprobablycontinuetosomedegree.Happilyinthiscasethepiracyseemstohavepromptedcontentfirmstocompetebyofferingbetterfee-basedservices.Thechallengeforcontentprovidersistousenewtechnologytocreatevalueforcustomersandtomakethosewhousecontentillegallyfeelbadaboutit. TheGroksterdecisionwasbasedontheevidencethatGrokster
Allobjectsofhumanreasonorinquirymaynaturallybedividedintotwokindstowitrelationsofideasandmattersoffact.46Ofthefirstkindarethesciencesofgeometryalgebraandarithmetic;andinshorteveryaffirmationwhichiseitherintuitivelyordemonstrativelycertain.Thatthesquareofthehypothenuseisequaltothesquaresofthetwosidesisapropositionwhichexpressesarelationbetweenthesefigures.47Propositionsofthiskindarediscoverablebythemereoperationofthoughtwithoutdependenceonwhatisanywhereexistentintheuniverse.ThoughthereneverwereacircleortriangleinnaturethetruthsdemonstratedbyEuclidwouldforeverretaintheircertaintyandevidence. Mattersoffactwhicharethesecondobjectsofhumanreasonarenotascertainedinthesamemanner;norisourevidenceoftheirtruthhowevergreatofalikenaturewiththeforegoing.Thecontraryofeverymatteroffactisstillpossible;becauseitcanneverimplyacontradictionandisconceivedbythemindwiththesamefacilityanddistinctnessasifeversoconformabletoreality.48Thatthesunwillnotrisetomorrowisnolessintelligibleapropositionandimpliesnomorecontradictionthantheaffirmationthatitwillrise.Weshouldinvainthereforeattempttodemonstrateitsfalsehood.Wereitdemonstrativelyfalseitwouldimplyacontradictionandcouldneverhedistinctlyconceivedbythemind. Itmaythereforebeasubjectworthyofcuriositytoinquirewhatisthenatureofthatevidencewhichassuresusofanyrealexistenceadmatteroffactbeyondthepresenttestimonyofoursensesortherecordsofourmemory.49Thispartofphilosophyitisobservablehasbeenlittlecultivatedeitherbytheancientsormoderns;andthereforeourdoubtsanderrorsintheprosecutionofsoimportantaninquirymaybethemoreexcusable;whilewemarchthroughsuchdifficultpathswithoutanyguideordirection.50TheymayevenproveusefulByexcitingcuriosityanddestroyingthatimplicitfaithandsecuritywhichisthepoisonofallreasoningandfreeinquiry.ThediscoveryofdefectsinthecommonphilosophyifanysuchtherebewillnotIpresumebeadiscouragementbutratheranincitementasisusualtoattemptsomethingmorefullandsatisfactorythanhasyetbeenproposedtothepublic. TheymayevenproveusefulByexcitingcuriosityanddestroyingthatimplicitfaithandsecuritywhichisthepoisonofallreasoningandfreeinquiry.
[A]Thegoldenwedding-ringwasputonherfinger [B]Theforeigngroomandthelocalbride [C]Angelschildrenescortingthebride [D]Weddinghall [E]Templeandatheisticgroom [F]Townhallahappybrideandgroom Ornamentingthetwofingersisonlythefirststepofthe"longmarch".Angelwasneverasoverloadedastodayrunningfromheretotherebusyorderinginvitationcardsandweddingclothesbookingchurchandrestaurantcheckingavailabilityofthephotographerthepastorandtheofficialinthetownhalllookingforanewhome.Shewashappyandexcited.Howeverthislongweddingpreparationprocessloadeddownwithtrivialdetailsgavemeabigheadache.InFrancemoreandmoreFrenchcohabitinsteadofmarrying.Howeverwhentheydecidetomarrytheystilltaketheirweddingceremonyseriouslyandusuallyfollowtheneverchangingthreetraditionalchapters. 41.__________ Thethirdchapteristheweddingbreakfastfollowedbyadance.Thefirstandthesecondchapterarethecivilweddingandthechurchwedding.Afterthechurchweddingthenewly-wedsnormallyinvitetheirparentsandfriendstotakepartinasumptuousmealanddanceintheevening.Afterchampagneflutesareraisedallaroundthedancingstarts.Thenewly-wedstaketheleaddancinglightlyandfinishtheeveningbytiredlytrippingintotheirbridalchamberandthusterminatethelastchapteroftheFrenchmarriage. 42.__________ Igrewupinthelastseventiesandearlyeightiesthe"simplewedding"advocatedbytheChinesegovernmenthadbeeningrainedinmymind.OnedayfinallyIcouldnothelprevealingmywishforasimplewedding:"Darlingyourweddingplansarefartoolongandover-elaborate.Let’ssimplifythemandreducethreechapterstoonlyone.It’senoughtogetmarriedinthetownhall!""No!Marriageisthemostimportanteventinmylife.Iwanttomakeitgrandandunforgettable."Angelrefusedtoconcede.HoweverIreallywantedtoescapethechurchwedding."HoneyIwasn’tbaptizedandbeinganatheistIamnotallowedtogotochurch.Achurchweddingisaburdenforanatheistlikemeandthechurchweddingforanatheistisalsoagainstchurchrules!"IpresentedmyviewsvehementlybelievingIhadthebestexcuseintheworld."Mydearmarriageisasacredaffair;wemustgotothechurch.Youareonlyawareofoneaspectofathingbutignorantofanother.IamaProtestant;therearenostrictcanonsandmumbo-jumbosinProtestantism.IfoneofthetwoisProtestanttheyarestillallowedtomarryinaProtestantchurch."Iwasrenderedspeechless. 43.__________ Thesacredmomentarrived.Theforeigngroomandthelocalbridesurroundedbyherfamilymembersarrivedatthemarriagehall."Doyoutakethiswomanasyourwife""Yes!"Amyriadofthoughtswelledupinmymind:"I’dquitmyhighlycovetedjobinChinaandgonethroughinnumerabletrialsandtribulationstocometoEuropetojoinmyChineseloverbutIwasjilted.NowI’dfoundanoasisoflovebutfarfrommyhomelandThegirlwithmetodaythoughfromadifferentculturalbackgroundwithadifferentwayofthinkingandbehavingissimplepureandkind-heartedlikeanangel.I’dsufferedfromthewanderinglifeinEurope.Butaftersufferingcomeshappiness.Inafewminutesshewillproclaimtheendofmywanderingandhomelesslife."FullofdeepfeelingIgazedatthiswesternbeautyshiningwithdazzlingsplendorandheldherhandtightinmine. 44.__________ "Doyoutakethismanasyourhusband"BrimmingwithtearschokingwithsobsAngelnoddedherapproval.BeingatraditionalFrenchgirlshe’dneverexpectedthatshewouldhavefallenintothetemptationofthe"goodbutcheapChinesemerchandise"beforeherandwouldhavecrossedthefrontierbetweenChineseandFrenchculturestomarryamanwithanexoticaccentandaflatnose! 45.__________ ThechurchwasresoundingwiththeweddingsonataangelandIwalkeduptothepastortotheheatofthemusic.Handinhandheartwithheartfulloftenderaffectionwegavealltherightanswerstohisquestions.Thegoldenweddingringonherleftfingerandpairedupwithherengagementringontherightringfingerbothcomplementingeachother’s’radianceandbeauty.Angelnowwithtworingsbecameareal"valuable"bride.Sheslippedmyfingerwithasimpleringontomyfingerandatthesametimecapturingmywanderingheart. ThateveningItheforeigngroomwithmyErrutwo-stringedChineseviolintogetherwithAngelthelocalbridewithherviolinsuccessfullyperformedthemostbeautifulconcertoofcross-bordermarriage."Thatspringiscomingtheearthissmiling..."thehallwasresoundingtothestrainsofStrauss’joyfulwaltzwhileweweretrippingawayinadance.Attheclimaxofthemusicweswirledsoquicklythatbothofusfeltourselvesswoonintheglamourofourcrossbordermarriage. 44
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 10
Text4 America’scentralbanksentaclearmessagethisweek.ForthesecondconsecutivemeetingtheFederalOpenMarketCommitteethecentralbank’spolicy-makingcommitteeleftshort-terminterestratesunchangedat1.75%.Butitsaidthattherisksfacingtheeconomyhadshiftedfromeconomicweaknesstoabalancebetweenweaknessandexcessivegrowth.Thisshiftsurprisednoone.Butithasconvincedmanypeoplethatinterestratesaresettoriseagain--andsoon. Judgingbypricesinfuturesmarketsinvestorsarebettingthatshort-terminterestratescouldstartrisingasearlyasMayandwillbe1.25percentagepointshigherbytheendoftheyear.Thatmaybeexcessive.EconomistsatGoldmanSachswholongarguedthatthecentralbankwoulddonothingthisyearnowexpectshort-termratestogouponly0.75%thisyearstartinginJune.ButvirtuallyeveryonereckonssomeFedtighteningisinthefuture. ThereasonAfteranunprecedented11rate-cutsin2001short-terminterestratesareabnormallylow.AsthesignsofrobustrecoverymultiplyanalystsexpecttheFedtotakebacksomeoftherate-cutsitusedasan"insurancepolicy"aftertheSeptember11thterroristattack.Buthigherratescouldstillbefurtheroffparticularlyiftherecoveryproveslessrobustthanmanyhope.Themanufacturingsectorisgrowingafter18monthsofdecline.ThemostoptimisticWallStreetersnowexpectGDPtohaveexpandedbybetween5%and6%onanannualbasisinthefirstquarter. Butonestrongquarterdoesnotimplyasustainablerecovery.Intheshorttermthebounce-backisbeingdrivenbyadramaticrestockingofinventories.Butitcanbesustainedonlyifcorporateinvestmentrecoversandconsumerspendingstaysbuoyant.Andsinceconsumerspendingheldupsowellduringthe"recession"itisunlikelytojumpnow. Theseuncertaintiesalonesuggestthecentralbankwillbecautiousaboutraisinginterestrates.Thatcautionisallthemorenecessarygiventhelackofinflationarypressure.AlthoughAmerica’sconsumerpriceshavestoppedfallingonamonthlybasisthelatestfiguresshowfewsignsofnascentpricepressure.IndeedgiventhehugepressureoncorporateprofitstheFederalReservemightbehappytoseeconsumerpricesriseslightly.InshortwhileWallStreetfretsaboutwhenandhowmuchinterestrateswillgoup.Theanswermaywellbenotsoonandnotmuch. TheAmericancentralbankwasreluctanttoraiseinterestratesbecause
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 12
Text4 America’scentralbanksentaclearmessagethisweek.ForthesecondconsecutivemeetingtheFederalOpenMarketCommitteethecentralbank’spolicy-makingcommitteeleftshort-terminterestratesunchangedat1.75%.Butitsaidthattherisksfacingtheeconomyhadshiftedfromeconomicweaknesstoabalancebetweenweaknessandexcessivegrowth.Thisshiftsurprisednoone.Butithasconvincedmanypeoplethatinterestratesaresettoriseagain--andsoon. Judgingbypricesinfuturesmarketsinvestorsarebettingthatshort-terminterestratescouldstartrisingasearlyasMayandwillbe1.25percentagepointshigherbytheendoftheyear.Thatmaybeexcessive.EconomistsatGoldmanSachswholongarguedthatthecentralbankwoulddonothingthisyearnowexpectshort-termratestogouponly0.75%thisyearstartinginJune.ButvirtuallyeveryonereckonssomeFedtighteningisinthefuture. ThereasonAfteranunprecedented11rate-cutsin2001short-terminterestratesareabnormallylow.AsthesignsofrobustrecoverymultiplyanalystsexpecttheFedtotakebacksomeoftherate-cutsitusedasan"insurancepolicy"aftertheSeptember11thterroristattack.Buthigherratescouldstillbefurtheroffparticularlyiftherecoveryproveslessrobustthanmanyhope.Themanufacturingsectorisgrowingafter18monthsofdecline.ThemostoptimisticWallStreetersnowexpectGDPtohaveexpandedbybetween5%and6%onanannualbasisinthefirstquarter. Butonestrongquarterdoesnotimplyasustainablerecovery.Intheshorttermthebounce-backisbeingdrivenbyadramaticrestockingofinventories.Butitcanbesustainedonlyifcorporateinvestmentrecoversandconsumerspendingstaysbuoyant.Andsinceconsumerspendingheldupsowellduringthe"recession"itisunlikelytojumpnow. Theseuncertaintiesalonesuggestthecentralbankwillbecautiousaboutraisinginterestrates.Thatcautionisallthemorenecessarygiventhelackofinflationarypressure.AlthoughAmerica’sconsumerpriceshavestoppedfallingonamonthlybasisthelatestfiguresshowfewsignsofnascentpricepressure.IndeedgiventhehugepressureoncorporateprofitstheFederalReservemightbehappytoseeconsumerpricesriseslightly.InshortwhileWallStreetfretsaboutwhenandhowmuchinterestrateswillgoup.Theanswermaywellbenotsoonandnotmuch. Thepurposeoftheauthorinwritingthetextisto
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 14
Text1 TheJapanesegovernmentwantswomenlikeTaekoMizuguchitogetmarriedandstartdoingsomethingaboutthenation’splungingbirthrate.Butshe’snotinterested.AtleastnotifherprospectivehusbandisJapanese. AgrowingnumberofJapanesewomenaregivingupontheirmalecounterpartsandtakingagamblethatlookingabroadforlovewillbringthemthequalitiesinapartnerthatseemrareathome."Theytreatyoulikeequalsandtheydon’thesitatetoexpressmutualfeelingsofrespect—IthinkWesternmenaremoreadeptatsuchthingsthanJapanesemen"saysthe36-year-oldMs.Mizuguchiwhoworksatatoptradingfirm."Theydon’tactlikewomenaremaids—Ithinktheyviewwomenasindividuals." UnderscoringthatJapanesewomenarelosinghopewiththelocalboysdatingagenciestohelpsnagaWesternhusbandhavesprungupinTokyosomewithbranchesintheUSandEurope.Suchcompaniesrigorouslyvettheirclientsscreeningforeducationfamilybackgroundoccupationandlifegoals.Thekindofwomenwhosignupforsuchservicesincludedoctorslawyersandotherprofessionals—womenwhohavedelayedmarriagetoconcentrateoncareersandwhoaren’tkeentogiveuphardwongainstobecomeahousewifeasmanyJapanesemenexpect.Agenerationofwomenwhoarenowenteringtheir30sdon’twanttogiveupsinglelifeunlessprospectivepartnersarewillingtobreakfromtraditionalgenderroles. Governmentpollsconductedtofindoutwhywomenhaveputoffmarriageuntilwellafter25yearsofage—knownasawoman’s"’bestbefore’date"—showthateconomicindependenceiskeytothechange.AsmostJapanesewomenhavetheirownincomemarriageisnolongerafinancialnecessityandwomenwanttofindcompanionshipinahusband.Havingruledoutanold-fashionedJapanesehusbandmanywomenherethinkthesolutionisaWesternman.Indeedsomeseemsoenthralledwiththeideathattheyarewillingtospend’thousandsofdollarstoinspectthewarespersonally. TobefairnotalltheblameforfemaleangstherecanbelaidonJapanesemenThegovernmenthasbeenslowtoenforceequalopportunitylawsandbothpayandtheglassceilingin’mostJapanesecorporationsremainlowforwomen.Recessionhashamperedlongermaternityleaveandotherfamilyfriendlypolicies.AsJapan’sfertilityratedropstonewlowsthegovernmentisanxiouslydrawingupplanstomakeiteasierforyoungcouplestoraisechildrenthroughsuchmeasuresastheprovisionofcheappublichoming. ThemajorfactorthatleadsJapanesewomentopostponetheirmarriageis
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 18
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 2
Text4 America’scentralbanksentaclearmessagethisweek.ForthesecondconsecutivemeetingtheFederalOpenMarketCommitteethecentralbank’spolicy-makingcommitteeleftshort-terminterestratesunchangedat1.75%.Butitsaidthattherisksfacingtheeconomyhadshiftedfromeconomicweaknesstoabalancebetweenweaknessandexcessivegrowth.Thisshiftsurprisednoone.Butithasconvincedmanypeoplethatinterestratesaresettoriseagain--andsoon. Judgingbypricesinfuturesmarketsinvestorsarebettingthatshort-terminterestratescouldstartrisingasearlyasMayandwillbe1.25percentagepointshigherbytheendoftheyear.Thatmaybeexcessive.EconomistsatGoldmanSachswholongarguedthatthecentralbankwoulddonothingthisyearnowexpectshort-termratestogouponly0.75%thisyearstartinginJune.ButvirtuallyeveryonereckonssomeFedtighteningisinthefuture. ThereasonAfteranunprecedented11rate-cutsin2001short-terminterestratesareabnormallylow.AsthesignsofrobustrecoverymultiplyanalystsexpecttheFedtotakebacksomeoftherate-cutsitusedasan"insurancepolicy"aftertheSeptember11thterroristattack.Buthigherratescouldstillbefurtheroffparticularlyiftherecoveryproveslessrobustthanmanyhope.Themanufacturingsectorisgrowingafter18monthsofdecline.ThemostoptimisticWallStreetersnowexpectGDPtohaveexpandedbybetween5%and6%onanannualbasisinthefirstquarter. Butonestrongquarterdoesnotimplyasustainablerecovery.Intheshorttermthebounce-backisbeingdrivenbyadramaticrestockingofinventories.Butitcanbesustainedonlyifcorporateinvestmentrecoversandconsumerspendingstaysbuoyant.Andsinceconsumerspendingheldupsowellduringthe"recession"itisunlikelytojumpnow. Theseuncertaintiesalonesuggestthecentralbankwillbecautiousaboutraisinginterestrates.Thatcautionisallthemorenecessarygiventhelackofinflationarypressure.AlthoughAmerica’sconsumerpriceshavestoppedfallingonamonthlybasisthelatestfiguresshowfewsignsofnascentpricepressure.IndeedgiventhehugepressureoncorporateprofitstheFederalReservemightbehappytoseeconsumerpricesriseslightly.InshortwhileWallStreetfretsaboutwhenandhowmuchinterestrateswillgoup.Theanswermaywellbenotsoonandnotmuch. WecanlearnfromthetextthattheAmerica'scentralbank
Allobjectsofhumanreasonorinquirymaynaturallybedividedintotwokindstowitrelationsofideasandmattersoffact.46Ofthefirstkindarethesciencesofgeometryalgebraandarithmetic;andinshorteveryaffirmationwhichiseitherintuitivelyordemonstrativelycertain.Thatthesquareofthehypothenuseisequaltothesquaresofthetwosidesisapropositionwhichexpressesarelationbetweenthesefigures.47Propositionsofthiskindarediscoverablebythemereoperationofthoughtwithoutdependenceonwhatisanywhereexistentintheuniverse.ThoughthereneverwereacircleortriangleinnaturethetruthsdemonstratedbyEuclidwouldforeverretaintheircertaintyandevidence. Mattersoffactwhicharethesecondobjectsofhumanreasonarenotascertainedinthesamemanner;norisourevidenceoftheirtruthhowevergreatofalikenaturewiththeforegoing.Thecontraryofeverymatteroffactisstillpossible;becauseitcanneverimplyacontradictionandisconceivedbythemindwiththesamefacilityanddistinctnessasifeversoconformabletoreality.48Thatthesunwillnotrisetomorrowisnolessintelligibleapropositionandimpliesnomorecontradictionthantheaffirmationthatitwillrise.Weshouldinvainthereforeattempttodemonstrateitsfalsehood.Wereitdemonstrativelyfalseitwouldimplyacontradictionandcouldneverhedistinctlyconceivedbythemind. Itmaythereforebeasubjectworthyofcuriositytoinquirewhatisthenatureofthatevidencewhichassuresusofanyrealexistenceadmatteroffactbeyondthepresenttestimonyofoursensesortherecordsofourmemory.49Thispartofphilosophyitisobservablehasbeenlittlecultivatedeitherbytheancientsormoderns;andthereforeourdoubtsanderrorsintheprosecutionofsoimportantaninquirymaybethemoreexcusable;whilewemarchthroughsuchdifficultpathswithoutanyguideordirection.50TheymayevenproveusefulByexcitingcuriosityanddestroyingthatimplicitfaithandsecuritywhichisthepoisonofallreasoningandfreeinquiry.ThediscoveryofdefectsinthecommonphilosophyifanysuchtherebewillnotIpresumebeadiscouragementbutratheranincitementasisusualtoattemptsomethingmorefullandsatisfactorythanhasyetbeenproposedtothepublic. Ofthefirstkindarethesciencesofgeometryalgebraandarithmetic;andinshorteveryaffirmationwhichiseitherintuitivelyordemonstrativelycertain
Text3 WhenitcomestosuingdoctorsPhiladelphiaishardlythecityofbrotherlylove.AcombinationofsprightlylawyersandsympatheticjurieshasmadePhiladelphiaahotspotformedical-malpracticelawsuits.Since1995Pennsylvaniastatecourtshaveawardedanaverageof$2minsuchcasesaccordingtoJuryVerdictResearchasurveyfirm.Somemedicalspecialistshaveseentheirmalpracticeinsurancepremiumsnearlydoubleoverthepastyear.Obstetriciansarenowpayingupto$104000ayeartoprotectthemselves. Theinsuranceindustryislargelytoblame.CarolGolintheMonitor’seditorarguesthatinthe1990sinsurerstriedtograbmarketsharebyofferingartificiallylowratesbettingthatanylosseswouldbecoveredbygainsontheirinvestments.Thestock-marketcorrectioncoupledwiththelargelegalawardshaserodedtheinsurers’reserves.ThreeinPennsylvaniaalonehavegonebust. Afewdoctors--particularlyolderoneswillquit.Therestareadapting.Someareabandoninglitigation-proneproceduressuchasdeliveringbabies.Othersaremovingpartsoftheirpracticetoneighboringstateswhereinsuranceratesarelower.SomefromPennsylvaniahaveopenedofficesinNewJersey.Newdoctorsmayalsobedeterredfromsettingupshopinlitigationhavenshoweverprestigious. DespiteaRepublicanpresidenttortreformhasgotnowhereatthefederallevel.IndeeddoctorscouldgetclobberedindirectlybyaPatients’BillofRightswhichwouldfurtherexposemanagedcarecompaniestolawsuits.ThisprospecthasfuelledinterestamongdoctorsinPennsylvania’snewmedicalmalpracticereformbillwhichwassignedintolawonMarch20th.Itwillamongotherthingsgivedoctors$40mofstatefundstooffsettheirinsurancepremiumsspreadthepaymentofawardsoutovertimeandprohibitindividualsfromdoubledippingthatissuingadoctorfordamagesthathavealreadybeenpaidbytheirhealthinsurer. ButwillitreallyhelpRandallBovbjergahealthpolicyexpertattheUrbanInstitutearguesthattheonlyproperwaytoslowdownthelitigationmachinewouldbetolimitthecompensationforpainandsufferingso-called"non-monetarydamages".Needlesstosayafixedcaponsuchawardsisresistedbymosttriallawyers.ButMr.Bovbjergreckonsamorenuancedapproachwithaslidingscaleofpaymentsbasedonwell-definedmeasuresofinjuryisabetterwayforward.Inthemeantimedoctorsandinsurersarebracingthemselvesforacouplemoreroughyearsbeforetheinsurancecycleturns. Nobodydisputesthathospitalstaffmakemistakes:a1999InstituteofMedicinereportclaimedthaterrorskillatleast44000patientsayear.Butthereislittleevidencethatmalpracticelawsuitsontheirownwillsolvetheproblem. WecanlearnfromthetextthatanewlawinPennsylvanian
Oneofthemostimportantresultsofresearchintoageinghasbeentopinpointthesignificanceofshort-termmemory.Thisfacultyiseasily1asageingadvances.Whatseemsto2isthatinformationisreceivedbythebrain3scansitformeaninginordertodecodeitatsomefuturetime.Itlooksasiftheactual4oftheshort-termmemoryitselfmaynotchangetoomuch5age.Ayoungmanandamaninhislatefiftiesmay6beabletorememberandrepeatan7ofeightnumbersrecitedtothem.Butwhat8changeisthatwhentheoldermanisaskedtorememberanything9betweenthetimeheisfirstgiventhenumberstomemoriseandthetimeheisaskedto10themhewillbemuchlesslikelytorememberthe11numbersthantheyoungman.Thisisbecausethescanningstageismoreeasily12byotheractivitiesin13people. In14livingoneexperiencesthisasafairlyminor15—atelephonenumberforgottenwhileonelooks16anareacodeorthefirstpartof17streetdirectionsconfusedwiththefastbecausethelast’turnlefts’and’turnrights’haveinterfered18rememberingthefirstdirections.Inmoreformallearninghoweverthe19ofshort-termmemoryismorethanjustamildsocialembarrassment.Itcanbeaseriousbartofurther20orindeedtoanyprogressatall. 16
Text2 TeachersgrumbleoverpayeverywherebutinWestVirginiaWesleyanCollegetheangerisacute.Salariesherehavebarelymovedsince2000andtheaverageassistantprofessor’spayhasfallenbelowthatatSouthernWestVirginiaCommunityandTechnicalCollege.Onacampuswithjust86full-timefacultyasociologyprofessorsaidafewhundredthousanddollarsmorespentonteachingcouldmakearealdifference. WesleyanPresidentWilliamHadensaysthecollegeplanstoraisefacultypay.ButhesaysWesleyanisnothingwithoutstudents—"theyvotewiththeirfeet"—andthecollegehasnochoicebuttoaddresstheirwantsandneeds.Hesaystechnologyhasbeenabigpartofthatandsomerecentgraduatesagreethatit’svaluable—thoughmaybenotessential.DanielSimmonsa1999graduateandalsoamiddle-schoolteacherpraisedthetechnologyprogram."IfIhadgonetoanotherschoolitwouldn’thavebeenavailabletome"hesaid."Itwasveryconvenientanditwastopoftheline." ButaswiththefacultythequalityofhumaninstructorsisabigconcernamongWesleyanalumni."Alittlebitmoremoneyshouldhavebeenputintokeepingpeople"saidEvanKeelinga2002graduatenowpursuingadoctorateattheUniversityofVirginia.HefoundthequalityintheclassroomunevenandnotablyneitherhenortheDanielSimmonscametoWesleyanbecauseoftechnology.Theprogramwasabonusnottheprimarydraw.Skinnerthedirectorofadmissionandfinancialplanningacknowledgedthatseemswidelytrue.Prospectivestudentspaymoreattentiontomoretangiblesignsofgrowth."ItdidopensomedoorsforusbutwouldIhavelikedtohavehadanewresidencehallorrecreationalfacilityIprobablywouldhavepreferredthat"Skinnersaid.Hisdailystruggleremainsfillingthefreshmanclasswhichmaybedown50peopleormorethisyearduetochangesingovernmentfinancialaidprogramsandtheshutteringofthenursingprogram.Thecollegestillacceptsabout80percentofitsapplicantsandnolongerrequiresonlineapplications. Hadenacknowledgesthatwiththebenefitofhindsighthemighthavehandleddetailsofhowtheprogramwasfinanceddifferently.ButhemakesnoapologiesfortakingboldstepswhichhesayshaveindeedsetWesleyanapart."Weneededtomakeastatementaboutourcommitmenttotechnologyandourbeliefthatitwouldenhancethequalityofeducationandthepreparationofourstudents"hesaid.’"AndI’mstillbelievingthat." ThequotationofSkinner'swordsLines7—8Paragraph3isusedtoshowthat
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