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Text 2 An English schoolboy would only ask his friend:"Wassa time, then"To his teacher he would...
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In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.2
ThemakingofweathervanesdevicesfixedonthetopofbuildingstoshowdirectionsofthewindisanancientskillgoingbacktoearlyEgyptiantimes.TodaythecraftisstillverymuchaliveintheworkshopthatGrahamSmithhassetup.Heisoneofthefewpeopleinthecountrywhomakehand-cutweathervanes.Graham’sdesignsareindividuallycreatedandtailoredtothespecificrequirementsofhiscustomers."ThatwayIcanproduceauniquepersonalizeditem"heexplains"Alotofmycustomersarewomenbuyingpresentsfortheirhusbands.Theywantadistinctivegiftthatrepresentstheman’sbusinessorleisureinterests." It’sallafarcryfromthetraditionalcockthemostcommondesignforweathervanes. ItwasnotacockbutawitchonabroomstickthatfeaturedonthefirstweathervaneGrahamevermade.Friendsadmiredhissurprisepresentforhiswifeandbeganaskinghimtomakevanesforthem."Irealizedthatwhenitcametosubjectsthatcouldbemadeintothemthepossibilitieswerelimitless"hesays. 41___________________ Thatwasfiveyearsagoandhehasnoregretsabouthisnewdirection."Mypreviousworkdidn’thaveanartisticelementtoitwhereasthisisexcitingandcreative"hesays"Ireallyenjoythedesignside." 42___________________ Grahamalsokeepsplentyoftraditionaldesignsinstocksincetheyproveaspopularastheone-offs."Itseemsthatpeopleareattractedtohandcrafting’Grahamsays"Theywelcometheopportunitytoacquiresomethingalittlebitdifferent." 43___________________ "Ihavefoundmyplaceinthemarket.PeoplelovetheindividualityandIgetalotofsatisfactionfromseeinganondescriptshapeturnintosomethingalmostlifelike’hesays. 44 "Andnowadayswithmoreandmorepeoplemovingtothecountryindividualswanttoputanexclusivefinishingtouchtotheirproperties.Ithasbeanaboosttocraftslikemines" 45___________________ AmericanandDanishhuyersinparticularareshowinginterest."Pricing"heexplains"dependsontheintricacyofthedesign."Hismostrecentrequestwasforacurly-coateddog.WhatevertheoccasionGrahamcancreateagiftwithadifference. [A]Grahamhasbecomeincreasinglybusysupplyingflat-packedweathervanestoclientsworldwide. [B]Grahamdecidedtoconcentratehiseffortsonaweathervanebusiness.Hehadservedanapprenticeshipasaprecisionengineerandhadworkedinthattradefor15yearswhenheandhiswifeLizagreedtoswaprole--shewentouttoworkasanarchitecturalassistantandhestayedathometolookafterthechildrenandbuildupthebusiness. [C]Lastmonthalocalschoolwasopenedwithhisgalleonshipweathervanehoistedaboveit. [D]"Forcenturiesweathervaneshavekeptcommunitiesintouchwiththeelementssignalingthoseshiftsinwinddirectionsthatbringaboutchangesintheweather"heexplains. [E]Grahamhasnoplansforexpansionashewantstokeepthebusinessasaruralcraft. [F]Grahamhasnowperfectedover100originaldesigns.Heworkstoveryfinedetailalwaysseekingapprovalforthedesignofthesilhouettefromthecustomerbeforeproceedingwiththehand-cutting. 44
InthelasttenyearstheInternethasopenedupincredibleamountsofinformationtoordinarycitizens.ButusingtheInternetcanhelikewalkingintoalibrarywherethebooksarealllyingonthefloorinpiles.WhiletoolslikeGoogleallowsomestructuredsearchmuchofthedatafromsuchsearchesisoutdatedorofquestionablevalue.SomewebenthusiastshavetakenupthetaskoforganizinginformationthroughademocraticmeansthatonlytheInternetallows:anencyclopediaofthepeoplebythepeopleandcompletelyfreetocopyanddistribute.This‘people’sencyclopedia’oftheWeb—afreesitecalledWikipedia—hasprovidedauniquesolutionbyinvitingindividualstoparticipateintheprocessofrationalizingandupdatingwebcontent.Attheheartofthismovementarewikiswebsitesthatallowuserstodirectlyeditanywebpagewithoneclickofthemouse.Wikipedia—thelargestexampleofthesecollaborativeefforts—isafunctioninguser-contributedonlineencyclopediathathasbecomeapopularandhighlyregardedreferenceinjustthreeyearsofexistence.ThegoalofWikipediawastocreateanencyclopediathatcouldhesharedandcopiedfreelywhileencouragingpeopletochangeandimprovethecontent.EachandeveryarticlehasanEditthispagebuttonallowinganyoneevenanonymouspassersbytoaddordeleteanycontentonthepage.Itseemslikearecipefordisasterandchaosbutithasproducedsurprisinglycrediblecontentthathasbeenevaluatedandrevisedbythethousandsofinternationalvisitorstothesite.FormanyitfinallyrealizestheoriginalconceptofWorldWideWebcreatorTimBerners-Lee—anonlineenvironmentwherepeoplenotonlybrowsecontentbutfreelyandactivelyexchangeinformation.TheWikipediaprojectwasstartedbyJimmyWalesheadofInternetstartupBomis.comafterhisoriginalprojectforavolunteerhutstrictlycontrolledfreeencyclopediaranoutofmoneyandresourcesaftertwoyears.EditorswithPhDdegreeswereatthehelmoftheprojectthenbutitproducedonlyafewhundredarticles.NotwantingthecontenttolanguishWalesplacedthepagesonawikiwebsiteinJanuary2001andinvitedanyInternetvisitorstoeditoraddtothecollection.Thesitebecamearunawaysuccessinthefirstyearandgainedaloyalfollowinggeneratingover20000articlesandspawningoveradozenlanguagetranslations.Aftertwoyearsithad100000articlesandinApril2004itexceeded250000articlesinEnglishand600000articlesin50otherlanguages.Over2000newarticlesareaddedeachdayacrossallthevariouslanguages.AndaccordingtowebsiterankingsatAlexa.comithasbecomemorepopularthantraditionalonlineencyclopediassuchasBritannica.comandisoneofthetop600mostheavilyvisitedwebsitesontheinternet.AccordingtothetextJimmyWalesinitiatedWikipediaprojectinorderto
Directions: Lookatthefollowingpictureandwriteanarticleonadvertisement.Yourarticleshouldcoverthepointsbelow 1Theomnipresence无所在不普遍ofadvertisements 2Theiradvantages 3Theirdisadvantages Youshouldwriteabout200wordsonANSWERSHEET2.
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.14
I’venevermetahumanworthcloningsayscloningexpertMarkWesthusinfromthecrampedconfinesofhislabatTexasA&MUniversity.It’sastupidendeavor.’That’saninterestingchoiceofadjectivecomingfromamanwhohasspentmillionsofdollarstryingtoclonea13-year-olddognamedMissy.Sofarheandhisteamhavenotsucceededthoughtheyhaveclonedtwocalvesandexpecttocloneacatsoon.TheyjustmightsucceedincloningMissylaterthisyear--orperhapsnotforanotherfiveyears.Itseemsthereproductivesystemofman’sbestfriendisoneofthemysteriesofmodemscience.Westhusin’sexperiencewithcloninganimalsleaveshimvexedbyallthistalkofhumancloning.InthreeyearsofworkontheMissyplicityprojectusinghundredsuponhundredsofcanineeggstheA&MteamhasproducedonlyadozenorsoembryoscarryingMissy’sDNA.Nonehavesurvivedthetransfertoasurrogatemother.Thewastageofeggsandthemanyspontaneouslyabortedfetusesmaybeacceptablewhenyou’redealingwithcatsorbullshearguesbutnotwithhumans.Cloningisincrediblyinefficientandalsodangeroushesays.Evensodogcloningisacommercialopportunitywithaniceresearchpayoff.EversinceDollythesheepwasclonedin1997Westhusin’sphoneatA&MCollegeofVeterinaryMedicinehasbeenringingbusily.CostisnoobstacleforcustomerslikeMissy’smysteriousownerwhowisheshimremainunknowntoprotecthisprivacy.He’sploppeddown$3.7millionsofartofundtheresearchbecausehewantsatwintocarryonMissy’sfinequalitiesaftershedies.Butheknowsherclonemaynothavehertemperament.InastatementofpurposeMissy’sownerandtheA&MteamsaytheyarebothlookingforwardtostudyingthewaysthatherclonediffersfromMissy.ThefateofthedogsampleswilldependonWesthusin’swork.Heknowsthatevenifhegetsadogviablypregnanttheoffspringshouldtheysurvivewillfacetheproblemsshownatbirthbyotherclonedanimals:abnormalitieslikeimmaturelungsandheartandweightproblems.WhywouldyoueverwanttoclonehumansWesthusinaskswhenwe’renotevenclosetogettingitworkedoutinanimalsyet/Wecaninferfromthethirdparagraphthat
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.20
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.10
Thevaluewhichsocietyplacesonworkhastraditionallybeencloselyassociatedwiththevalueofindividualismandasaresultithashadnegativeeffectsonthedevelopmentofsocialsecurity.46Ithasmeantthatinthefirstplacetheamountofbenefitsmustbesmalllestpeople’swillingnesstoworkandsupportthemselvessuffers.Eventodaywithflatrateandearnings-relatedbenefitsthetotalamountofthebenefitmustalwaysbesmallerthantheperson’swagesforfearofmalingering"Thepurposeofsocialsecurity"saidHuntfordreferringtoSweden’scomparativelygenerousbenefits"istodispelneedwithoutcrossingthethresholdofprosperity."47SecondsocialsecuritybenefitsaregrantedunderconditionsdesignedtoreducethelikelihoodofeventheboldestofspiritsattemptingtoliveontheStateratherthanwork.Manyoftherulessurroundingthepaymentofunemploymentorsupplementarybenefitareforthispurpose.Thirdthevalueplacedonworkismanifestedinamorepositivewayasinthecaseofdisability.Peoplesufferingfromaccidentsincurredatworkorfromoccupationaldiseasesreceivepreferentialtreatmentbythesocialsecurityservicecomparedwiththosesufferingfromcivilaccidentsandordinaryillnesses. Yetthestrangleholdwhichworkhasbadonthesocialsecurityservicehasbeenincreasinglyloosenedovertheyears.Theprovisionoffamilyallowancesfamilyincomesupplementstheslightliberalizationofthewagesstoparesomeofthemanifestationsofthistrend.48Similarlythepreferentialtreatmentgiventooccupationaldisabilitybythesocialsecurityservicehasbeenincreasinglyquestionedwiththedemandsfortheupgradingofbenefitsfortheothertypesofdisability.Itisfeltthatincontemporaryindustrialsocietiesthedistinctionbetweenoccupationalandnon-occupationaldisabilityisartificialformanynon-occupationalformsofdisabilityhaveanindustrialorigineveniftheydonotoccurdirectlyintheworkplace.49Thereisalsotheadditionalreasonwhichwementionedintheargumentforonebenefitforallone-parentfamiliesthatamodernsocialsecurityservicemustconcentrateonmeetingneedsirrespectiveofthecausesbehindsuchneeds. Therelationshipbetweensocialsecurityandworkisnotallaone-wayaffair.50Itistruethatuntilveryrecentlythegeneralviewwasthatsocialsecurity"representedatypeofluxuryandwasessentiallyantieconomic".Itwasseenasmerelygovernmentexpenditurefortheneedy.Aswesawhoweverredundancypaymentsandearnings-relatedunemploymentbenefitshavebeenusedwithsomesuccessbyemployersandthegovernmenttoreduceworkers’oppositiontowardslossoftheirjobs. Ithasmeantthatinthefirstplacetheamountofbenefitsmustbesmalllestpeople’swillingnesstoworkandsupportthemselvessuffers.
InthelasttenyearstheInternethasopenedupincredibleamountsofinformationtoordinarycitizens.ButusingtheInternetcanhelikewalkingintoalibrarywherethebooksarealllyingonthefloorinpiles.WhiletoolslikeGoogleallowsomestructuredsearchmuchofthedatafromsuchsearchesisoutdatedorofquestionablevalue.SomewebenthusiastshavetakenupthetaskoforganizinginformationthroughademocraticmeansthatonlytheInternetallows:anencyclopediaofthepeoplebythepeopleandcompletelyfreetocopyanddistribute.This‘people’sencyclopedia’oftheWeb—afreesitecalledWikipedia—hasprovidedauniquesolutionbyinvitingindividualstoparticipateintheprocessofrationalizingandupdatingwebcontent.Attheheartofthismovementarewikiswebsitesthatallowuserstodirectlyeditanywebpagewithoneclickofthemouse.Wikipedia—thelargestexampleofthesecollaborativeefforts—isafunctioninguser-contributedonlineencyclopediathathasbecomeapopularandhighlyregardedreferenceinjustthreeyearsofexistence.ThegoalofWikipediawastocreateanencyclopediathatcouldhesharedandcopiedfreelywhileencouragingpeopletochangeandimprovethecontent.EachandeveryarticlehasanEditthispagebuttonallowinganyoneevenanonymouspassersbytoaddordeleteanycontentonthepage.Itseemslikearecipefordisasterandchaosbutithasproducedsurprisinglycrediblecontentthathasbeenevaluatedandrevisedbythethousandsofinternationalvisitorstothesite.FormanyitfinallyrealizestheoriginalconceptofWorldWideWebcreatorTimBerners-Lee—anonlineenvironmentwherepeoplenotonlybrowsecontentbutfreelyandactivelyexchangeinformation.TheWikipediaprojectwasstartedbyJimmyWalesheadofInternetstartupBomis.comafterhisoriginalprojectforavolunteerhutstrictlycontrolledfreeencyclopediaranoutofmoneyandresourcesaftertwoyears.EditorswithPhDdegreeswereatthehelmoftheprojectthenbutitproducedonlyafewhundredarticles.NotwantingthecontenttolanguishWalesplacedthepagesonawikiwebsiteinJanuary2001andinvitedanyInternetvisitorstoeditoraddtothecollection.Thesitebecamearunawaysuccessinthefirstyearandgainedaloyalfollowinggeneratingover20000articlesandspawningoveradozenlanguagetranslations.Aftertwoyearsithad100000articlesandinApril2004itexceeded250000articlesinEnglishand600000articlesin50otherlanguages.Over2000newarticlesareaddedeachdayacrossallthevariouslanguages.AndaccordingtowebsiterankingsatAlexa.comithasbecomemorepopularthantraditionalonlineencyclopediassuchasBritannica.comandisoneofthetop600mostheavilyvisitedwebsitesontheinternet.What’sthegoalofWikipediaaccordingtothepassage
TimothyBerners-LeemightbegivingBillGatesarunforthemoneybuthepasseduphisshotatfabulouswealth--intentionally--in1990.That’swhenhedecidednottopatentthetechnologyusedtocreatethemostimportantsoftwareinnovationinthefinaldecadeofthe20thcentury:theWorldWideWeb.Berners-Leewantedtomaketheworldaricherplacenotamasspersonalwealth.Sohegavehisbrainchildtousall.Berners-Leeregardstoday’sWebasarebelliousadolescentthatcanneverfulfillhisoriginalexpectations.By2005hehopestobeginreplacingitwiththeSemanticWeb--asmartnetworkthatwillfinallyunderstandhumanlanguagesandmakecomputersvirtuallyaseasytoworkwithasotherhumans.AsenvisionedbyBerners-LeethenewWebwouldunderstandnotonlythemeaningofwordsandconceptsbutalsotheologicalrelationshipsamongthem.Thathasawesomepotential.Mostknowledgeisbuiltontwopillars:semanticandmathematics.Innumber-crunchingcomputersalreadyoutclasspeople.Machinesthatareequallyadmitatdealingwithlanguageandreasonwon’tjusthelppeopleuncovernewinsights;theycouldblazenewtrailsontheirown.EvenwithafairlycrudeversionofthisfutureWebminingonlinerepositoriesfornuggetsofknowledgewouldnolongerforcepeopletowadethroughscreenafterscreenofextraneousdata.InsteadcomputerswoulddispatchintelligentagentsorsoftwaremessengerstoexploreWebsitesbythethousandsandlogicallysiftoutjustwhat’srelevant.Thatalonewouldprovideamajorboostinproductivityatworkandathome.Butthere’sfarmore.Softwareagentscouldalsotakeonmanyroutinebusinesschoressuchashelpingmanufacturersfindandnegotiatewithlowest-costpartssuppliersandhandlinghelp-deskquestions.TheSemanticWebwouldalsobeabottomlesstroveofeurekainsights.Mostinventionsandscientificbreakthronghsincludingtoday’sWebspringfromnovelcombinationsofexistingknowledge.TheSemanticWebwouldmakeitpossibletoevaluatemorecombinationsovernightthanapersoncouldjuggleinalifetime.SurescientistsandotherpeoplecanpostideasontheWebtodayforotherstoread.ButwithmachinesdoingthereadingandtranslatingtechnicaltermsrelatedideasfrommillionsofWebpagescouldbedistilledandsummarized.Thatwilllifttheabilitytoassessandintegrateinformationtonewheights.TheSemanticWebBerners-Leepredictswillhelpmorepeoplebecomemoreintuitiveaswellasmoreanalytical.Itwillfosterglobalcollaborationsamongpeoplewithdiverseculturalperspectivessowehaveabetterchanceoffindingtherightsolutionstothereallybigissues--liketheenvironmentandclimatewarming./Tosearchforanyinformationneededontomorrow’sWeboneonlyhasto
With22yearsonthejobJackieBraceycouldbeconsideredacareeremployeeoftheInternalRevenueService.Butshedefiesanystereotypeofanover-eageragentrunningdownareluctanttaxpayer.Insteadshespendshertimedefendingpeoplewhoowethegovernmentmoney.Ms.BraceybasedinGreensboroN.C.isataxpayeradvocateacreatedbyCongressin1998aspartofthekindergentlerthemeadoptedbythetaxcollectionagency.Braceyandadvocatesat73Otherofficesnationwidebackedby2100fieldworkersandstaffgotobatfortaxpayerswhoareinfinancialstraitsbecauseofsomethingtheagencyhasdoneorisabouttodo.ThoughitmayseemcontrarytotheIRStheadvocateservicenotonlyhelpstaxpayersbutidentifiesproceduralproblems.ThemaingoalthoughisfortheombudsmantostepintoadisputeataxpayerishavingwiththeIRSwhenitappearsthatsomethingtheIRSisdoingorplanningwouldcreateanunduehardshiponthetaxpayer.ThiscanrangefromspeedingupresolutionofadisputethathasdraggedontoolongtodemandingthattheIRShaltacollectionactionthatthetaxpayercanshowheorsheissufferingorisabouttosufferasignificanthardship.Taxpayerombudsmenhavebeenaroundinoneformoranothersince1979saysNinaOlsonthenationaltaxpayeradvocate.Buttheyweregivenmuchmorepowerin1998whenCongressdecidedthattheworkerswouldnolongerreporttoregionaldirectorsbuttoheroffice.Whilethisgavethemagreatdealmoreauthorityoutsidewatchdogssaymorecanbedone.ThereisalongwaytogotogetanagencythatfeelsindependentandemboldenedtoworkfortaxpayerssaysJoeSeepavicepresidentoftheWashington-basedtax-advocacygroup.ThetaxpayersunionalsohascomplainedthatCongressandtheBushadministrationdon’tseemtobetakingtheadvocatesseriouslyenough.EachyeartheIRSgroupreportstoCongressonthetopproblemsthatadvocatessee.ManyofthesearesystemicproblemsthatcangumuptheworksforbothtaxpayerandcollectorsuchasaDecembernoticefromMs.OlsonthattheIRSshouldhavejustonedefinitionofadependentchildratherthanthethreedefinitionscurrentlyused.Whiletaxpayeradvocatescanhelpsmooththingsoutinmanycasestheycannotignorelaws.Iftaxpayershaven’tmadelegitimateclaimsforcreditsthere’snothingtheadvocatecandotoreversethatcourse.AndOlsonsaysthatwhiletaxpayersarefreetouseherservicetheyshouldkeepinmindthatitdoesnotreplacethenormalappealsprocessandshouldbethelastplaceacitizencallsuponforhelpnotthefirst.We’rereallytherefor.whentheprocessesfalldownshesays.Everystatehasatleastonetaxpayer-advocateserviceoffice.Accordingtothetextthemaintaskoftaxadvocatesis
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.4
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.8
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.6
With22yearsonthejobJackieBraceycouldbeconsideredacareeremployeeoftheInternalRevenueService.Butshedefiesanystereotypeofanover-eageragentrunningdownareluctanttaxpayer.Insteadshespendshertimedefendingpeoplewhoowethegovernmentmoney.Ms.BraceybasedinGreensboroN.C.isataxpayeradvocateacreatedbyCongressin1998aspartofthekindergentlerthemeadoptedbythetaxcollectionagency.Braceyandadvocatesat73Otherofficesnationwidebackedby2100fieldworkersandstaffgotobatfortaxpayerswhoareinfinancialstraitsbecauseofsomethingtheagencyhasdoneorisabouttodo.ThoughitmayseemcontrarytotheIRStheadvocateservicenotonlyhelpstaxpayersbutidentifiesproceduralproblems.ThemaingoalthoughisfortheombudsmantostepintoadisputeataxpayerishavingwiththeIRSwhenitappearsthatsomethingtheIRSisdoingorplanningwouldcreateanunduehardshiponthetaxpayer.ThiscanrangefromspeedingupresolutionofadisputethathasdraggedontoolongtodemandingthattheIRShaltacollectionactionthatthetaxpayercanshowheorsheissufferingorisabouttosufferasignificanthardship.Taxpayerombudsmenhavebeenaroundinoneformoranothersince1979saysNinaOlsonthenationaltaxpayeradvocate.Buttheyweregivenmuchmorepowerin1998whenCongressdecidedthattheworkerswouldnolongerreporttoregionaldirectorsbuttoheroffice.Whilethisgavethemagreatdealmoreauthorityoutsidewatchdogssaymorecanbedone.ThereisalongwaytogotogetanagencythatfeelsindependentandemboldenedtoworkfortaxpayerssaysJoeSeepavicepresidentoftheWashington-basedtax-advocacygroup.ThetaxpayersunionalsohascomplainedthatCongressandtheBushadministrationdon’tseemtobetakingtheadvocatesseriouslyenough.EachyeartheIRSgroupreportstoCongressonthetopproblemsthatadvocatessee.ManyofthesearesystemicproblemsthatcangumuptheworksforbothtaxpayerandcollectorsuchasaDecembernoticefromMs.OlsonthattheIRSshouldhavejustonedefinitionofadependentchildratherthanthethreedefinitionscurrentlyused.Whiletaxpayeradvocatescanhelpsmooththingsoutinmanycasestheycannotignorelaws.Iftaxpayershaven’tmadelegitimateclaimsforcreditsthere’snothingtheadvocatecandotoreversethatcourse.AndOlsonsaysthatwhiletaxpayersarefreetouseherservicetheyshouldkeepinmindthatitdoesnotreplacethenormalappealsprocessandshouldbethelastplaceacitizencallsuponforhelpnotthefirst.We’rereallytherefor.whentheprocessesfalldownshesays.Everystatehasatleastonetaxpayer-advocateserviceoffice.AccordingtoParagraph3whichofthefollowingiscorrect
PositivesurprisesfromgovernmentreportsonretailsalesindustrialproductionandhousinginthepastfewmonthsareleadingeconomiststorevisetheirrealgrossdomesticproductforecastsupwardsupportingthenotionthattherecessionendedinDecemberorJanuary.Bearinmind:Thisrecoverywon’thavethevitalitynormallyassociatedwithanupturn.EconomistsnowexpectrealGDPgrowthofabout1.5%inthefirstquarter.That’sbetterthanthe0.4%theconsensusprojectedinDecemberbutmuchoftheadditionalgrowthwillcomefromaslowerpaceofinventorydrawdownsnotfromsurgingdemand.Moreovertheeconomywon’tgrowfastenoughtohelpthelabormarketsmuch.TheonlygoodnewsthereisthatjoblessclaimshavefallenbackfromtheirspikeafterSeptember11andthattheircurrentlevelsuggeststhepaceoflayoffsiseasing.TherecoveryalsodoesnotmeantheFederalReservewillraiseinterestratessoon.TheJanuarypriceindexesshowthatinflationremainstame.ConsequentlytheFedcantakeitstimeshiftingmonetarypolicyfromextremeaccommodationtorelativeneutrality.PerhapsthebestnewsfromthelatesteconomicreportswastheJanuarydataonindustrialproduction.Totaloutputfellonly0.1%itsbestshowingsinceJuly.Factoryoutputwasflatalsothebestperformanceinsixmonths.Thosenumbersmaynotsoundencouragingbutmanufacturershavebeeninrecessionsincelate2000Thedatasuggestthatthefactorysectorisfindingabottomfromwhichtostartitsrecovery.Productionofconsumergoodsforinstanceisalmostbackuptowhereitwasayearago.That’sbecauseconsumerdemandformotorvehiclesandothergoodsandthehousingindustryremainedhealthyduringtherecessionandtheyarestillgrowinginearly2002.Besidesboththemonthlyhomebuildingstartsnumberandthehousingmarketindexforthepasttwomonthsarerunningabovetheiraveragesforallof2001suggestingthathomebuildingisofftoagoodstartandprobablywon’tbeabigdragonGDPgrowththisyear.Equallyimportanttotheoutlookishowthesolidhousingmarketwillhelpdemandforhome-relatedgoodsandservices.Traditionallyconsumersbuythebulkoftheirfurnitureelectronicsandtextileswithinayearofpurchasingtheirhomes.Thusspendingonsuchitemswilldowellthisyearevenascarsalesslipnowthatincentivesarelessattractive.Lookfortheoutputofconsumergoodstotopyear-agolevelsincomingmonths.Eventhebusinessequipmentsectorseemstohavebottomedout.Itsoutputrose0.4%inJanuaryledbya0.6%jumpcomputergear.Apickupinordersforcapitalgoodsinthefourthquartersuggeststhatproductionwillkeepincreasing--althoughatarelaxedpace--incomingmonths.Inspiteofthegoodnewstheauthorsoundsrelativelymorereservedabout
PositivesurprisesfromgovernmentreportsonretailsalesindustrialproductionandhousinginthepastfewmonthsareleadingeconomiststorevisetheirrealgrossdomesticproductforecastsupwardsupportingthenotionthattherecessionendedinDecemberorJanuary.Bearinmind:Thisrecoverywon’thavethevitalitynormallyassociatedwithanupturn.EconomistsnowexpectrealGDPgrowthofabout1.5%inthefirstquarter.That’sbetterthanthe0.4%theconsensusprojectedinDecemberbutmuchoftheadditionalgrowthwillcomefromaslowerpaceofinventorydrawdownsnotfromsurgingdemand.Moreovertheeconomywon’tgrowfastenoughtohelpthelabormarketsmuch.TheonlygoodnewsthereisthatjoblessclaimshavefallenbackfromtheirspikeafterSeptember11andthattheircurrentlevelsuggeststhepaceoflayoffsiseasing.TherecoveryalsodoesnotmeantheFederalReservewillraiseinterestratessoon.TheJanuarypriceindexesshowthatinflationremainstame.ConsequentlytheFedcantakeitstimeshiftingmonetarypolicyfromextremeaccommodationtorelativeneutrality.PerhapsthebestnewsfromthelatesteconomicreportswastheJanuarydataonindustrialproduction.Totaloutputfellonly0.1%itsbestshowingsinceJuly.Factoryoutputwasflatalsothebestperformanceinsixmonths.Thosenumbersmaynotsoundencouragingbutmanufacturershavebeeninrecessionsincelate2000Thedatasuggestthatthefactorysectorisfindingabottomfromwhichtostartitsrecovery.Productionofconsumergoodsforinstanceisalmostbackuptowhereitwasayearago.That’sbecauseconsumerdemandformotorvehiclesandothergoodsandthehousingindustryremainedhealthyduringtherecessionandtheyarestillgrowinginearly2002.Besidesboththemonthlyhomebuildingstartsnumberandthehousingmarketindexforthepasttwomonthsarerunningabovetheiraveragesforallof2001suggestingthathomebuildingisofftoagoodstartandprobablywon’tbeabigdragonGDPgrowththisyear.Equallyimportanttotheoutlookishowthesolidhousingmarketwillhelpdemandforhome-relatedgoodsandservices.Traditionallyconsumersbuythebulkoftheirfurnitureelectronicsandtextileswithinayearofpurchasingtheirhomes.Thusspendingonsuchitemswilldowellthisyearevenascarsalesslipnowthatincentivesarelessattractive.Lookfortheoutputofconsumergoodstotopyear-agolevelsincomingmonths.Eventhebusinessequipmentsectorseemstohavebottomedout.Itsoutputrose0.4%inJanuaryledbya0.6%jumpcomputergear.Apickupinordersforcapitalgoodsinthefourthquartersuggeststhatproductionwillkeepincreasing--althoughatarelaxedpace--incomingmonths.ThemostencouragingfactabouttheUSeconomyisthat
With22yearsonthejobJackieBraceycouldbeconsideredacareeremployeeoftheInternalRevenueService.Butshedefiesanystereotypeofanover-eageragentrunningdownareluctanttaxpayer.Insteadshespendshertimedefendingpeoplewhoowethegovernmentmoney.Ms.BraceybasedinGreensboroN.C.isataxpayeradvocateacreatedbyCongressin1998aspartofthekindergentlerthemeadoptedbythetaxcollectionagency.Braceyandadvocatesat73Otherofficesnationwidebackedby2100fieldworkersandstaffgotobatfortaxpayerswhoareinfinancialstraitsbecauseofsomethingtheagencyhasdoneorisabouttodo.ThoughitmayseemcontrarytotheIRStheadvocateservicenotonlyhelpstaxpayersbutidentifiesproceduralproblems.ThemaingoalthoughisfortheombudsmantostepintoadisputeataxpayerishavingwiththeIRSwhenitappearsthatsomethingtheIRSisdoingorplanningwouldcreateanunduehardshiponthetaxpayer.ThiscanrangefromspeedingupresolutionofadisputethathasdraggedontoolongtodemandingthattheIRShaltacollectionactionthatthetaxpayercanshowheorsheissufferingorisabouttosufferasignificanthardship.Taxpayerombudsmenhavebeenaroundinoneformoranothersince1979saysNinaOlsonthenationaltaxpayeradvocate.Buttheyweregivenmuchmorepowerin1998whenCongressdecidedthattheworkerswouldnolongerreporttoregionaldirectorsbuttoheroffice.Whilethisgavethemagreatdealmoreauthorityoutsidewatchdogssaymorecanbedone.ThereisalongwaytogotogetanagencythatfeelsindependentandemboldenedtoworkfortaxpayerssaysJoeSeepavicepresidentoftheWashington-basedtax-advocacygroup.ThetaxpayersunionalsohascomplainedthatCongressandtheBushadministrationdon’tseemtobetakingtheadvocatesseriouslyenough.EachyeartheIRSgroupreportstoCongressonthetopproblemsthatadvocatessee.ManyofthesearesystemicproblemsthatcangumuptheworksforbothtaxpayerandcollectorsuchasaDecembernoticefromMs.OlsonthattheIRSshouldhavejustonedefinitionofadependentchildratherthanthethreedefinitionscurrentlyused.Whiletaxpayeradvocatescanhelpsmooththingsoutinmanycasestheycannotignorelaws.Iftaxpayershaven’tmadelegitimateclaimsforcreditsthere’snothingtheadvocatecandotoreversethatcourse.AndOlsonsaysthatwhiletaxpayersarefreetouseherservicetheyshouldkeepinmindthatitdoesnotreplacethenormalappealsprocessandshouldbethelastplaceacitizencallsuponforhelpnotthefirst.We’rereallytherefor.whentheprocessesfalldownshesays.Everystatehasatleastonetaxpayer-advocateserviceoffice.WhenOlsonsayWe’rereallythereforwhentheprocessesfalldownLine4Para.5shemeansthat
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.12
FormorethantwodecadesU.S.courtshavebeenlimitingaffirmative-actionprogramsinuniversitiesandotherareas.Thelegalrationaleisthatracialpreferencesareunconstitutionaleventhoseintendedtocompensateforracismorintolerance.Formanycollegesthismeansstudentscanbeadmittedonlyonmeritnotontheirraceorethnicity.IthasbeenadivisiveissueacrosstheU.S.aseducatorsblametheprolongedreactiontoaffirmative-actionfordeclinesinminorityadmissions.MeanwhileactivistscontinuetobattleracepreferencesincourtsfromMichigantoNorthCarolina.Nowchiefexecutivesofabouttwodozencompanieshavedecidedtoplungeheadfirstintothispoliticallyunsettleddebate.Theytogetherwith36universitiesand7non-profitableorganizationsformedaforumthatsetforthanactionplanessentiallydesignedtohelpcollegescircumventcourt-imposedrestrictionsonaffirmativeaction.TheCEOs’motive:OuraudienceisgrowingmorediversesothecommunitiesweservebenefitifouremployeesareraciallyandethnicallydiverseaswellsaysoneCEOofacompanythatownsninetelevisionstations.Amongthestepstheformispushing:findingcreativeyetlegalwaystoboostminorityenrollmentthroughnewadmissionspolicies;promotingadmissionsdecisionsthatlookatmorethantestscores;andencouraginguniversitiestostepuptheirminorityoutreachandfinancialaid.Andtocounteraccusationsbycriticstochallengethesetacticsincourtthegroupsaysitwillgivelegalassistancetocollegessuedfortryingthem.Diversitydiminishedbythecourtmustbemadeupforinotherlegitimatelegalwayssaysaforummember.Oneofthemorecontroversialmethodsadvocatedistheso-called10%rule.Theideaisforpublicuniversities--whicheducatethree-quartersofallU.S.undergraduates--toadmitstudentsWhoareinthetop10%oftheirhighschoolgraduatingclass.Doingsoallowscollegestotakeminoritieswhoexcelinaverageurbanschoolseveniftheywouldn’thavemadethecutunderthecurrentstatewiderankingmanyuniversitiesuse.U.S.courtrestrictionsonaffirmative-actionsignifythat
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.18
In1999thepriceofoilhoveredaround$16abarrel.By2008ithad1the$100abarrelmark.Thereasonsforthesurge2fromthedramaticgrowthoftheeconomiesofChinaandIndiatowidespread3inoil-producingregionsincludingIraqandNigeria’sdeltaregion.Triple-digitoilpriceshave4theeconomicandpoliticalmapoftheworld5someoldnotionsofpower.Oil-richnationsareenjoyinghistoricgainsandopportunities6majorimporters—includingChinaandIndiahometoathirdoftheworld’spopulation—7risingeconomicandsocialcosts. Managingthisneworderisfastbecomingacentral8ofglobalpolitics.Countriesthatneedoilareclawingateachotherto9scarcesuppliesandarewillingtodealwithanygovernment10howunpleasanttodoit. Inmanypoornationswithoiltheprofitsarebeinglosttocorruption11thesecountriesoftheirbesthopefordevelopment.Andoilisfuelingenormousinvestmentfundsrunbyforeigngovernments12someinthewestseeasanewthreat. CountrieslikeRussiaVenezuelaandIranarewellsuppliedwithrisingoil13achangereflectedinnewlyaggressiveforeignpolicies.Butsomeunexpectedcountriesarereapingbenefits14costsfromhigherprices.ConsiderGermany.15itimportsvirtuallyallitsoilithasprosperedfromextensivetradewithaboomingRussiaandtheMiddleEast.GermanexportstoRussia16128percentfrom2001to2006. IntheUnitedStatesasalreadyhighgaspricesrose17higherinthespringof2008theissuecroppedupinthepresidentialcampaignwithSenatorsMcCainandObama18forafederalgastaxholidayduringthepeaksummerdrivingmonths.Anddrivinghabitsbeganto19assalesofsmallcarsjumpedandmasstransportsystems20thecountryreportedasharpincreaseinriders. ReadthefollowingtextChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmark[A][B][C]or[D]onANSWERSHEET1.16
Thevaluewhichsocietyplacesonworkhastraditionallybeencloselyassociatedwiththevalueofindividualismandasaresultithashadnegativeeffectsonthedevelopmentofsocialsecurity.46Ithasmeantthatinthefirstplacetheamountofbenefitsmustbesmalllestpeople’swillingnesstoworkandsupportthemselvessuffers.Eventodaywithflatrateandearnings-relatedbenefitsthetotalamountofthebenefitmustalwaysbesmallerthantheperson’swagesforfearofmalingering"Thepurposeofsocialsecurity"saidHuntfordreferringtoSweden’scomparativelygenerousbenefits"istodispelneedwithoutcrossingthethresholdofprosperity."47SecondsocialsecuritybenefitsaregrantedunderconditionsdesignedtoreducethelikelihoodofeventheboldestofspiritsattemptingtoliveontheStateratherthanwork.Manyoftherulessurroundingthepaymentofunemploymentorsupplementarybenefitareforthispurpose.Thirdthevalueplacedonworkismanifestedinamorepositivewayasinthecaseofdisability.Peoplesufferingfromaccidentsincurredatworkorfromoccupationaldiseasesreceivepreferentialtreatmentbythesocialsecurityservicecomparedwiththosesufferingfromcivilaccidentsandordinaryillnesses. Yetthestrangleholdwhichworkhasbadonthesocialsecurityservicehasbeenincreasinglyloosenedovertheyears.Theprovisionoffamilyallowancesfamilyincomesupplementstheslightliberalizationofthewagesstoparesomeofthemanifestationsofthistrend.48Similarlythepreferentialtreatmentgiventooccupationaldisabilitybythesocialsecurityservicehasbeenincreasinglyquestionedwiththedemandsfortheupgradingofbenefitsfortheothertypesofdisability.Itisfeltthatincontemporaryindustrialsocietiesthedistinctionbetweenoccupationalandnon-occupationaldisabilityisartificialformanynon-occupationalformsofdisabilityhaveanindustrialorigineveniftheydonotoccurdirectlyintheworkplace.49Thereisalsotheadditionalreasonwhichwementionedintheargumentforonebenefitforallone-parentfamiliesthatamodernsocialsecurityservicemustconcentrateonmeetingneedsirrespectiveofthecausesbehindsuchneeds. Therelationshipbetweensocialsecurityandworkisnotallaone-wayaffair.50Itistruethatuntilveryrecentlythegeneralviewwasthatsocialsecurity"representedatypeofluxuryandwasessentiallyantieconomic".Itwasseenasmerelygovernmentexpenditurefortheneedy.Aswesawhoweverredundancypaymentsandearnings-relatedunemploymentbenefitshavebeenusedwithsomesuccessbyemployersandthegovernmenttoreduceworkers’oppositiontowardslossoftheirjobs. Similarlythepreferentialtreatmentgiventooccupationaldisabilitybythesocialsecurityservicehasbeenincreasinglyquestionedwiththedemandsfortheupgradingofbenefitsfortheothertypesofdisability.
Thevaluewhichsocietyplacesonworkhastraditionallybeencloselyassociatedwiththevalueofindividualismandasaresultithashadnegativeeffectsonthedevelopmentofsocialsecurity.46Ithasmeantthatinthefirstplacetheamountofbenefitsmustbesmalllestpeople’swillingnesstoworkandsupportthemselvessuffers.Eventodaywithflatrateandearnings-relatedbenefitsthetotalamountofthebenefitmustalwaysbesmallerthantheperson’swagesforfearofmalingering"Thepurposeofsocialsecurity"saidHuntfordreferringtoSweden’scomparativelygenerousbenefits"istodispelneedwithoutcrossingthethresholdofprosperity."47SecondsocialsecuritybenefitsaregrantedunderconditionsdesignedtoreducethelikelihoodofeventheboldestofspiritsattemptingtoliveontheStateratherthanwork.Manyoftherulessurroundingthepaymentofunemploymentorsupplementarybenefitareforthispurpose.Thirdthevalueplacedonworkismanifestedinamorepositivewayasinthecaseofdisability.Peoplesufferingfromaccidentsincurredatworkorfromoccupationaldiseasesreceivepreferentialtreatmentbythesocialsecurityservicecomparedwiththosesufferingfromcivilaccidentsandordinaryillnesses. Yetthestrangleholdwhichworkhasbadonthesocialsecurityservicehasbeenincreasinglyloosenedovertheyears.Theprovisionoffamilyallowancesfamilyincomesupplementstheslightliberalizationofthewagesstoparesomeofthemanifestationsofthistrend.48Similarlythepreferentialtreatmentgiventooccupationaldisabilitybythesocialsecurityservicehasbeenincreasinglyquestionedwiththedemandsfortheupgradingofbenefitsfortheothertypesofdisability.Itisfeltthatincontemporaryindustrialsocietiesthedistinctionbetweenoccupationalandnon-occupationaldisabilityisartificialformanynon-occupationalformsofdisabilityhaveanindustrialorigineveniftheydonotoccurdirectlyintheworkplace.49Thereisalsotheadditionalreasonwhichwementionedintheargumentforonebenefitforallone-parentfamiliesthatamodernsocialsecurityservicemustconcentrateonmeetingneedsirrespectiveofthecausesbehindsuchneeds. Therelationshipbetweensocialsecurityandworkisnotallaone-wayaffair.50Itistruethatuntilveryrecentlythegeneralviewwasthatsocialsecurity"representedatypeofluxuryandwasessentiallyantieconomic".Itwasseenasmerelygovernmentexpenditurefortheneedy.Aswesawhoweverredundancypaymentsandearnings-relatedunemploymentbenefitshavebeenusedwithsomesuccessbyemployersandthegovernmenttoreduceworkers’oppositiontowardslossoftheirjobs. Itistruethatuntilveryrecentlythegeneralviewwasthatsocialsecurityrepresentedatypeofluxuryandwasessentiallyantieconomic.Itwasseenasmerelygovernmentexpenditurefortheneedy.
TimothyBerners-LeemightbegivingBillGatesarunforthemoneybuthepasseduphisshotatfabulouswealth--intentionally--in1990.That’swhenhedecidednottopatentthetechnologyusedtocreatethemostimportantsoftwareinnovationinthefinaldecadeofthe20thcentury:theWorldWideWeb.Berners-Leewantedtomaketheworldaricherplacenotamasspersonalwealth.Sohegavehisbrainchildtousall.Berners-Leeregardstoday’sWebasarebelliousadolescentthatcanneverfulfillhisoriginalexpectations.By2005hehopestobeginreplacingitwiththeSemanticWeb--asmartnetworkthatwillfinallyunderstandhumanlanguagesandmakecomputersvirtuallyaseasytoworkwithasotherhumans.AsenvisionedbyBerners-LeethenewWebwouldunderstandnotonlythemeaningofwordsandconceptsbutalsotheologicalrelationshipsamongthem.Thathasawesomepotential.Mostknowledgeisbuiltontwopillars:semanticandmathematics.Innumber-crunchingcomputersalreadyoutclasspeople.Machinesthatareequallyadmitatdealingwithlanguageandreasonwon’tjusthelppeopleuncovernewinsights;theycouldblazenewtrailsontheirown.EvenwithafairlycrudeversionofthisfutureWebminingonlinerepositoriesfornuggetsofknowledgewouldnolongerforcepeopletowadethroughscreenafterscreenofextraneousdata.InsteadcomputerswoulddispatchintelligentagentsorsoftwaremessengerstoexploreWebsitesbythethousandsandlogicallysiftoutjustwhat’srelevant.Thatalonewouldprovideamajorboostinproductivityatworkandathome.Butthere’sfarmore.Softwareagentscouldalsotakeonmanyroutinebusinesschoressuchashelpingmanufacturersfindandnegotiatewithlowest-costpartssuppliersandhandlinghelp-deskquestions.TheSemanticWebwouldalsobeabottomlesstroveofeurekainsights.Mostinventionsandscientificbreakthronghsincludingtoday’sWebspringfromnovelcombinationsofexistingknowledge.TheSemanticWebwouldmakeitpossibletoevaluatemorecombinationsovernightthanapersoncouldjuggleinalifetime.SurescientistsandotherpeoplecanpostideasontheWebtodayforotherstoread.ButwithmachinesdoingthereadingandtranslatingtechnicaltermsrelatedideasfrommillionsofWebpagescouldbedistilledandsummarized.Thatwilllifttheabilitytoassessandintegrateinformationtonewheights.TheSemanticWebBerners-Leepredictswillhelpmorepeoplebecomemoreintuitiveaswellasmoreanalytical.Itwillfosterglobalcollaborationsamongpeoplewithdiverseculturalperspectivessowehaveabetterchanceoffindingtherightsolutionstothereallybigissues--liketheenvironmentandclimatewarming./Themostappropriatetitleforthistextis
TimothyBerners-LeemightbegivingBillGatesarunforthemoneybuthepasseduphisshotatfabulouswealth--intentionally--in1990.That’swhenhedecidednottopatentthetechnologyusedtocreatethemostimportantsoftwareinnovationinthefinaldecadeofthe20thcentury:theWorldWideWeb.Berners-Leewantedtomaketheworldaricherplacenotamasspersonalwealth.Sohegavehisbrainchildtousall.Berners-Leeregardstoday’sWebasarebelliousadolescentthatcanneverfulfillhisoriginalexpectations.By2005hehopestobeginreplacingitwiththeSemanticWeb--asmartnetworkthatwillfinallyunderstandhumanlanguagesandmakecomputersvirtuallyaseasytoworkwithasotherhumans.AsenvisionedbyBerners-LeethenewWebwouldunderstandnotonlythemeaningofwordsandconceptsbutalsotheologicalrelationshipsamongthem.Thathasawesomepotential.Mostknowledgeisbuiltontwopillars:semanticandmathematics.Innumber-crunchingcomputersalreadyoutclasspeople.Machinesthatareequallyadmitatdealingwithlanguageandreasonwon’tjusthelppeopleuncovernewinsights;theycouldblazenewtrailsontheirown.EvenwithafairlycrudeversionofthisfutureWebminingonlinerepositoriesfornuggetsofknowledgewouldnolongerforcepeopletowadethroughscreenafterscreenofextraneousdata.InsteadcomputerswoulddispatchintelligentagentsorsoftwaremessengerstoexploreWebsitesbythethousandsandlogicallysiftoutjustwhat’srelevant.Thatalonewouldprovideamajorboostinproductivityatworkandathome.Butthere’sfarmore.Softwareagentscouldalsotakeonmanyroutinebusinesschoressuchashelpingmanufacturersfindandnegotiatewithlowest-costpartssuppliersandhandlinghelp-deskquestions.TheSemanticWebwouldalsobeabottomlesstroveofeurekainsights.Mostinventionsandscientificbreakthronghsincludingtoday’sWebspringfromnovelcombinationsofexistingknowledge.TheSemanticWebwouldmakeitpossibletoevaluatemorecombinationsovernightthanapersoncouldjuggleinalifetime.SurescientistsandotherpeoplecanpostideasontheWebtodayforotherstoread.ButwithmachinesdoingthereadingandtranslatingtechnicaltermsrelatedideasfrommillionsofWebpagescouldbedistilledandsummarized.Thatwilllifttheabilitytoassessandintegrateinformationtonewheights.TheSemanticWebBerners-Leepredictswillhelpmorepeoplebecomemoreintuitiveaswellasmoreanalytical.Itwillfosterglobalcollaborationsamongpeoplewithdiverseculturalperspectivessowehaveabetterchanceoffindingtherightsolutionstothereallybigissues--liketheenvironmentandclimatewarming./HadhelikedBerners-Leecouldhave
FormorethantwodecadesU.S.courtshavebeenlimitingaffirmative-actionprogramsinuniversitiesandotherareas.Thelegalrationaleisthatracialpreferencesareunconstitutionaleventhoseintendedtocompensateforracismorintolerance.Formanycollegesthismeansstudentscanbeadmittedonlyonmeritnotontheirraceorethnicity.IthasbeenadivisiveissueacrosstheU.S.aseducatorsblametheprolongedreactiontoaffirmative-actionfordeclinesinminorityadmissions.MeanwhileactivistscontinuetobattleracepreferencesincourtsfromMichigantoNorthCarolina.Nowchiefexecutivesofabouttwodozencompanieshavedecidedtoplungeheadfirstintothispoliticallyunsettleddebate.Theytogetherwith36universitiesand7non-profitableorganizationsformedaforumthatsetforthanactionplanessentiallydesignedtohelpcollegescircumventcourt-imposedrestrictionsonaffirmativeaction.TheCEOs’motive:OuraudienceisgrowingmorediversesothecommunitiesweservebenefitifouremployeesareraciallyandethnicallydiverseaswellsaysoneCEOofacompanythatownsninetelevisionstations.Amongthestepstheformispushing:findingcreativeyetlegalwaystoboostminorityenrollmentthroughnewadmissionspolicies;promotingadmissionsdecisionsthatlookatmorethantestscores;andencouraginguniversitiestostepuptheirminorityoutreachandfinancialaid.Andtocounteraccusationsbycriticstochallengethesetacticsincourtthegroupsaysitwillgivelegalassistancetocollegessuedfortryingthem.Diversitydiminishedbythecourtmustbemadeupforinotherlegitimatelegalwayssaysaforummember.Oneofthemorecontroversialmethodsadvocatedistheso-called10%rule.Theideaisforpublicuniversities--whicheducatethree-quartersofallU.S.undergraduates--toadmitstudentsWhoareinthetop10%oftheirhighschoolgraduatingclass.Doingsoallowscollegestotakeminoritieswhoexcelinaverageurbanschoolseveniftheywouldn’thavemadethecutunderthecurrentstatewiderankingmanyuniversitiesuse.CEOsofbigcompaniesdecidedtohelpcollegesenrollmoreminoritystudentsbecausethey
FormorethantwodecadesU.S.courtshavebeenlimitingaffirmative-actionprogramsinuniversitiesandotherareas.Thelegalrationaleisthatracialpreferencesareunconstitutionaleventhoseintendedtocompensateforracismorintolerance.Formanycollegesthismeansstudentscanbeadmittedonlyonmeritnotontheirraceorethnicity.IthasbeenadivisiveissueacrosstheU.S.aseducatorsblametheprolongedreactiontoaffirmative-actionfordeclinesinminorityadmissions.MeanwhileactivistscontinuetobattleracepreferencesincourtsfromMichigantoNorthCarolina.Nowchiefexecutivesofabouttwodozencompanieshavedecidedtoplungeheadfirstintothispoliticallyunsettleddebate.Theytogetherwith36universitiesand7non-profitableorganizationsformedaforumthatsetforthanactionplanessentiallydesignedtohelpcollegescircumventcourt-imposedrestrictionsonaffirmativeaction.TheCEOs’motive:OuraudienceisgrowingmorediversesothecommunitiesweservebenefitifouremployeesareraciallyandethnicallydiverseaswellsaysoneCEOofacompanythatownsninetelevisionstations.Amongthestepstheformispushing:findingcreativeyetlegalwaystoboostminorityenrollmentthroughnewadmissionspolicies;promotingadmissionsdecisionsthatlookatmorethantestscores;andencouraginguniversitiestostepuptheirminorityoutreachandfinancialaid.Andtocounteraccusationsbycriticstochallengethesetacticsincourtthegroupsaysitwillgivelegalassistancetocollegessuedfortryingthem.Diversitydiminishedbythecourtmustbemadeupforinotherlegitimatelegalwayssaysaforummember.Oneofthemorecontroversialmethodsadvocatedistheso-called10%rule.Theideaisforpublicuniversities--whicheducatethree-quartersofallU.S.undergraduates--toadmitstudentsWhoareinthetop10%oftheirhighschoolgraduatingclass.Doingsoallowscollegestotakeminoritieswhoexcelinaverageurbanschoolseveniftheywouldn’thavemadethecutunderthecurrentstatewiderankingmanyuniversitiesuse.Ifthe10%ruleisapplied
ThemakingofweathervanesdevicesfixedonthetopofbuildingstoshowdirectionsofthewindisanancientskillgoingbacktoearlyEgyptiantimes.TodaythecraftisstillverymuchaliveintheworkshopthatGrahamSmithhassetup.Heisoneofthefewpeopleinthecountrywhomakehand-cutweathervanes.Graham’sdesignsareindividuallycreatedandtailoredtothespecificrequirementsofhiscustomers."ThatwayIcanproduceauniquepersonalizeditem"heexplains"Alotofmycustomersarewomenbuyingpresentsfortheirhusbands.Theywantadistinctivegiftthatrepresentstheman’sbusinessorleisureinterests." It’sallafarcryfromthetraditionalcockthemostcommondesignforweathervanes. ItwasnotacockbutawitchonabroomstickthatfeaturedonthefirstweathervaneGrahamevermade.Friendsadmiredhissurprisepresentforhiswifeandbeganaskinghimtomakevanesforthem."Irealizedthatwhenitcametosubjectsthatcouldbemadeintothemthepossibilitieswerelimitless"hesays. 41___________________ Thatwasfiveyearsagoandhehasnoregretsabouthisnewdirection."Mypreviousworkdidn’thaveanartisticelementtoitwhereasthisisexcitingandcreative"hesays"Ireallyenjoythedesignside." 42___________________ Grahamalsokeepsplentyoftraditionaldesignsinstocksincetheyproveaspopularastheone-offs."Itseemsthatpeopleareattractedtohandcrafting’Grahamsays"Theywelcometheopportunitytoacquiresomethingalittlebitdifferent." 43___________________ "Ihavefoundmyplaceinthemarket.PeoplelovetheindividualityandIgetalotofsatisfactionfromseeinganondescriptshapeturnintosomethingalmostlifelike’hesays. 44 "Andnowadayswithmoreandmorepeoplemovingtothecountryindividualswanttoputanexclusivefinishingtouchtotheirproperties.Ithasbeanaboosttocraftslikemines" 45___________________ AmericanandDanishhuyersinparticularareshowinginterest."Pricing"heexplains"dependsontheintricacyofthedesign."Hismostrecentrequestwasforacurly-coateddog.WhatevertheoccasionGrahamcancreateagiftwithadifference. [A]Grahamhasbecomeincreasinglybusysupplyingflat-packedweathervanestoclientsworldwide. [B]Grahamdecidedtoconcentratehiseffortsonaweathervanebusiness.Hehadservedanapprenticeshipasaprecisionengineerandhadworkedinthattradefor15yearswhenheandhiswifeLizagreedtoswaprole--shewentouttoworkasanarchitecturalassistantandhestayedathometolookafterthechildrenandbuildupthebusiness. [C]Lastmonthalocalschoolwasopenedwithhisgalleonshipweathervanehoistedaboveit. [D]"Forcenturiesweathervaneshavekeptcommunitiesintouchwiththeelementssignalingthoseshiftsinwinddirectionsthatbringaboutchangesintheweather"heexplains. [E]Grahamhasnoplansforexpansionashewantstokeepthebusinessasaruralcraft. [F]Grahamhasnowperfectedover100originaldesigns.Heworkstoveryfinedetailalwaysseekingapprovalforthedesignofthesilhouettefromthecustomerbeforeproceedingwiththehand-cutting. 42
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