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Text 4 In an Internet era, whether globalization means democracy and development or hindrance t...
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MultipurposeInternetMailExtensionMIMEisa1docume
color
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目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络是Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中lInter
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目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络是Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中 1Int
1 和 2
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1,2 和 3
1,2,3 和 4
目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Intern
1和2
3和4
1,2和3
1,2,3和4
小肝癌是指肿块长径小于等于
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目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Interne
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Computersarehelpfulbecausetheyofferawiderangeoffun
目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Intern
1和2
3和4
1,2和3
1,2,3和4
CuiJianisthoughttobeamusicinChinawhoopenedtheera时
目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络是Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Inter
1和2
3和4
1,2和3
1,2,3和4
目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Intern
1和2
3和4
1,2和3
1,2,3和4
ZhongNanshanandLiLanjuanhavebecomethenationalhero
目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Intern
1和2
3和4
1,2和3
1,2,3和4
Computersarehelpfulbecausetheyofferawiderangeoffun
目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Interne
1和2
3和4
1,2和3
1,2,3和4
Computersarehelpfulbecausetheyofferawiderangeoffun
TheInternethasvariouspositiveeffectsonourlives.Fi
Text3 Inthe90’speoplewentcrazyaboutwireless.E
we are always online and always connected.
the wireless technology will be popularized as the Internet.
the Internet will be wireless soon.
the wireless technology will become a monopoly.
目前世界上规模最大用户最多的计算机网络是Internet下面关于Internet的叙述中1Inter
1和2
3和4
1,2和3
1,2,3和4
2分AsweallknowChinahasenteredanewera时代.保持句意基本不变It's
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Directions:Studythefollowingphotoscarefullyandwriteanessayinwhichyoushould 1describethephotosbriefly 2interpretthesocialphenomenonreflectedbythemand 3giveyourpointofview Youshouldwrite160-200wordsneatlyonANSWERSHEET2.20points
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.18
Germany’schimneysweeps—hallowedasbringersofgoodluckwiththeirblacktophatsandcoiled-wirebrushes—areunderattack.LastweektheEuropeanCommission’sdirectoratefortheinternalmarketrevivedproceedingsagainstanantiquatedGermanlawthatprotectssweepsagainstcompetition.Thecountry’schimneysweepsenjoyanear-perfectmonopoly.Germanyisdividedintoaround8000districtseachruledbyitsownmastersweepwhousuallyemploystwomoresweeps.Althoughthisisaprivateenterprisethemaintenanceandinspectionserviceprovidediscompulsoryandpricesaresetbythelocalauthority:sweepscannotstrayoutsidetheirdistrictnorcanhouseholderschangetheirsweepeveniftheyloathehim.Thisrulecutsbothways.TherearesomecustomersIcan’tstandeithersaysoneFrankfurtsweep.Therationaleissimple:chimney-sweepingandrelatedgasandheatingmaintenanceinGermanyaretreatedasamatterofpublicsafety.Annualorsemi-annualvisitsareprescribedkeepingthesweepsbusyallyearround.Forcenturieschimney-sweepsinEuropewereawanderingbreed.Butin1937thechimney-sweeplawwasrevisedbyHeinrichHimmlerthentheactinginteriorminister.HisrolestiedchimneysweepstotheirdistrictsanddecreedthattheyshouldbeGermantoenablehimtousesweepsaslocalspies.Thelawwasupdatedin1969leavingthelocalmonopoliesinplacebutopeninguptheprofessionintheoryatleasttonon-Germans.Butinpracticefewapply.FouryearsagoabravePolequalifiedasamasterinKaiserslauternaccordingtoafellowstudentandthisyearanItaliandidsointheRhinelandPalatinate.ButhelikemostnewlyqualifiedGermanmasterswillspendyearsonawaitinglistbeforehegetshisowndistrict.TheEuropeanCommissionwouldliketoseeacompetitivemarketinwhichpeoplecanchoosetheirownsweepsjustastheychoosebuildersorplumbers.Itfirstopenedinfringementproceedingsin2003andtheGermangovernmentofthetimepromisedtochangethelawbutfailedtodoso.AnddespitethehuffingandpuffingfromBrusselstilegovernmentisstillreluctanttodismantleitsantiquatedsystemonsafetygrounds.Thenumberofdeathsfromcarbon-monoxidepoisoninginGermanyisaroundone-tenththatinFranceorBelgiumclaimstheFrankfurtsweep.SoGermansarelikelytobestockwiththeirneighbourhoodSchornsteinfegers—whethertheycanstandeachotherornot—forsometimetocome.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleofthepassage
Apairofdicerolledagainandagainwilleventuallyproducetwosixes.Similarlythevirusthatcausesinfluenzaisconstantlychangingatrandomandonedaywillmutateinawaythatwillenableittoinfectbillionsofpeopleandtokillmillions.Manyexpertsnowbelieveaglobaloutbreakofpandemicfluisoverdueandthatthenextonecouldbeasbadastheonein1918whichkilledsomewherebetween25mand50mpeo-pie.Todayhoweveradvancesinmedicineofferrealhopethatanothersuchoutbreakcanbecontained—ifgovernmentsstartpreparingnow.Newresearchpublishedthisweeksuggeststhatarelativelysmallstockpileofananti-viraldrug—aslittleas3mdoses—couldbeenoughtolimitsharplyaflupandemicifthedrugsweredeployedquicklytopeopleintheareasurroundingtheinitialoutbreak.Thedrug’smanufacturerRocheistalkingtotheWorldHealthOrganisationaboutdonatingsuchastockpile.Thisisgoodnews.ButmuchmoreneedstobedoneespeciallywithanastystrainofavianfluspreadinginAsiawhichcouldmutateintoathreattohumans.SincetheSARSoutbreakin2003afewcountrieshavedevelopedplansinpreparationforsimilarepisodes.Butprogresshasbeenshamefullypatchyandthereisstillfartoolittleinternationalco-ordination.Aglobalstockpileofdrugsalonewouldnotbemuchusewithoutanadequatesystemofsurveillancetoidentifyearlycasesandawayofdeliveringtreatmentquickly.Ifanout-breakoccurredinaborderregionforexampleaswiftresponsewouldmostlikelydependonprioragreementsbetweendifferentcountriesaboutquarantineandcontainment.Reachingsuchagreementsisrarelyeasybutthatmakesthetaskallthemoreurgent.Richcountriestendtobebetterpreparedthanpooronesbutthisshouldbenoconsolationtothem.Fludoesnotrespectborders.Itisineveryone’sinteresttomakesurethatdevelopingcountriesespeciallyinAsiaarealsowellprepared.Manymaybridleatinterferencefromoutside.Butifrichernation’swerewillingtodonateanti-viraldrugsandguaranteeasupplyofanyvaccinethatbecomesavailablepoorernationsmightbewillingtoreachagreementsoversurveillanceandpreparedness.Simplysortingoutafewdetailsnowwillhavelivesandrecriminationslater.WilltherebeenoughventilatorsmakesanddrugsWherewillpeoplebetreatedifthehospitalsoverflow7WillfoodbedeliveredasnormalToomanycountrieshavenoanswerstothesequestions.Accordingtothetextwhichofthefollowingsisnotreadilymade______.
InagamethemovesaresetUpbeforehand.Inanon-gamesituationthemovesaresupposedtoariseoutofeventsasthesedevelop.Agirlwantstoencourageherboyfriendsoshepretendstobebusywhenhephonesherorshepretendsthatsomeoneelseiscourtingher.46Ayoungchildwhoisreluctanttogotobeddeliberatelyspillsmilkfromacupontothecarpetsothattheensuingfussandscoldingtheimmediacyofhisbedtimewillbeforgotten.Diplomatsataconferencemakeagreatfussovertheshapeofthetableastheyplaytheproceduralgame.47Anagentsellingthefilmrightsinafirstnovelcasuallymentionsotherpartieswhohaveshownaninterestinbuyingtherights.Ahostessdeliberatelyplacesaseductiveladynexttoahusbandwithajealouswife.Unionnegotiatorsgothrougharitualofcomplainsbeforesettingdowntodiscussthecurrentissue. Thecharacteristicofagameisthatasequenceofmovesarerecognizableaspartofthegame.Thegamemaybeplayedveryseriously;itmayalsobeplayedforapurposeratherthanasanendinitself.Neverthelesseachmoveinthesequenceisdeterminedbytherequirementsofthegameratherthantherealitiesofthesituationitself.48Someonewhoisawarethatagameisbeingplayedsitsbackandwaitsforthegametobeplayedout.Someonewhoisnotawarethatitisagamegetsinvolvedandmanipulatedbythegamesplayerwhoknowsthemovesofthegamebetter.Itisthisexpertiseinthemovesofthegamewhichmakesitworthplaying.Iftheplayerknowsfromlongexperiencethemovesreactionsandcounter-movesthenheonlyhastoenticetheotherpersontoplaythegametoachievesuccess.Ifthesituationworksitoutnaturallyneithersidehasanadvantage.Butifonesidesetsupagamewithwhichonlyheisfamiliarthenthatsideimmediatelyacquirestheadvantageofskillandfore-knowledge. Agoodgamesplayernotonlyknowshowtomakethenextmovehecanthinkonetwoorthreemovesahead.Thisisextremelydifficultforaninexperiencedplayer.49Thustheplayerwhosetsupafamiliargamecanlaytrapsseveralmovesaheadwithverylittlechanceoftheopponentnoticingwhatisbeingdone. 50Justasaphilosopherwillalwaystrytorunanargumentaccordingtohisowndefinitionssoagamesplayerwillalwaystrytomakeanopponentplayhisspecialgame. Someonewhoisawarethatagameisbeingplayedsitsbackandwaitsforthegametobeplayedout
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.8
Companieshaveembarkedonwhatlookslikethebeginningsofare-runofthemergersandacquisitionsM&Awavethatdefinedthesecondbubblyhalfofthe1990s.Thatperiodreadersmightrecallwascharacterizedbyacollectivesplurgethatsawthecreationofsomeofthemostindebtedcompaniesinhistorymanyofwhichlaterwentbankruptorwerethemselvesbrokenup.Wildbiddingforteleeomsinternetandmediaas-setsnottomentionthemadnessthatwasDaimler’s$40billionmotoringtakeoverin1998—1999ofChryslerortheTime-Warner/AOLmegs-mergerin2000helpedtogivemergersathoroughlybadname.AconsensusemergedthatM&Awasagreatwayforin-vestmentbankstoreaprichfeesandasurewayforambitiousmanagerstobetrayinvestorsbytrashingthevalueoftheirshares.NowM&Aisback.ItsreturnisaglobalphenomenonbutitisperhapsmoststrikinginEuropewheresofarthisyeartherehasbeenastreamofdealsworthmorethan$600billionintotalaround40%higherthaninthesameperiodof2004.ThelatesteffortcamethisweekwhenFrance’sSaint-Gobainabuilding-materialsfirmunveiledthede-tailsofits3.6billion$6.5billionhostilebidforBPBaBritishrival.Inthefirsthalfoftheyearcross-borderactivitywasupthreefoldoverthesameperiodlastyear.EvenFranceTelecomwhichwasleftalmostbankruptattheendofthelastmergerwaverecentlyboughtAmenaaSpanishmobileoperator.Shareholder’sapprovalofallthesedealsraisesaninterestingquestionforcompanieseverywhere:areinvestorsrighttothinkthatthesemergersaremorelikelytosucceedthanearlierones.’Therearetwoanswers.Thefirstisthatpastmergersmayhavebeenjudgedtooharshly.ThesecondisthatthepresentrashofEuropeandealsdoeslookmoreration-albut—andthecaveatiscrucial—onlysofar.Thepatternmaynothold.M&A’spoorreputationstemsnotonlyfromthestringofspectacularfailuresinthe1990sbutalsofromstudiesthatshowedvaluedestructionforacquiringshareholdersin8.0%ofdeals.Butmorerecentstudiesbyeconomistshaveintroducedanoteofcaution.Investorsshouldlookatthenumberofdealsthatsucceedorfailtypicallymeasuredbytheimpactonthesharepriceratherthanasyoumightthinkweighingthembysize.ForexamplenoonedoubtsthattheDaimler-Chryslermergerdestroyedvalue.Thecom-binedmarketvalueofthetwofirmsisstillbelowthatofDaimleralonebeforethedeal.ThissingledealaccountedforhalfofallGermanM&Aactivitybyvaluein1998and1999andprobablydominatedpeople’sthinkingaboutmergerstothesamedegree.Throwinafewothersuchmonstersanditisnowonderthatbroadstudieshavetendedtofindthatmergersareabadidea.Thetruepictureismorecomplicated.ThecaseofDaimler-Chryslerisemployedinthetextas______.
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.14
InagamethemovesaresetUpbeforehand.Inanon-gamesituationthemovesaresupposedtoariseoutofeventsasthesedevelop.Agirlwantstoencourageherboyfriendsoshepretendstobebusywhenhephonesherorshepretendsthatsomeoneelseiscourtingher.46Ayoungchildwhoisreluctanttogotobeddeliberatelyspillsmilkfromacupontothecarpetsothattheensuingfussandscoldingtheimmediacyofhisbedtimewillbeforgotten.Diplomatsataconferencemakeagreatfussovertheshapeofthetableastheyplaytheproceduralgame.47Anagentsellingthefilmrightsinafirstnovelcasuallymentionsotherpartieswhohaveshownaninterestinbuyingtherights.Ahostessdeliberatelyplacesaseductiveladynexttoahusbandwithajealouswife.Unionnegotiatorsgothrougharitualofcomplainsbeforesettingdowntodiscussthecurrentissue. Thecharacteristicofagameisthatasequenceofmovesarerecognizableaspartofthegame.Thegamemaybeplayedveryseriously;itmayalsobeplayedforapurposeratherthanasanendinitself.Neverthelesseachmoveinthesequenceisdeterminedbytherequirementsofthegameratherthantherealitiesofthesituationitself.48Someonewhoisawarethatagameisbeingplayedsitsbackandwaitsforthegametobeplayedout.Someonewhoisnotawarethatitisagamegetsinvolvedandmanipulatedbythegamesplayerwhoknowsthemovesofthegamebetter.Itisthisexpertiseinthemovesofthegamewhichmakesitworthplaying.Iftheplayerknowsfromlongexperiencethemovesreactionsandcounter-movesthenheonlyhastoenticetheotherpersontoplaythegametoachievesuccess.Ifthesituationworksitoutnaturallyneithersidehasanadvantage.Butifonesidesetsupagamewithwhichonlyheisfamiliarthenthatsideimmediatelyacquirestheadvantageofskillandfore-knowledge. Agoodgamesplayernotonlyknowshowtomakethenextmovehecanthinkonetwoorthreemovesahead.Thisisextremelydifficultforaninexperiencedplayer.49Thustheplayerwhosetsupafamiliargamecanlaytrapsseveralmovesaheadwithverylittlechanceoftheopponentnoticingwhatisbeingdone. 50Justasaphilosopherwillalwaystrytorunanargumentaccordingtohisowndefinitionssoagamesplayerwillalwaystrytomakeanopponentplayhisspecialgame. Justasaphilosopherwillalwaystrytorunanargumentaccordingtohisowndefinitionssoagamesplayerwillalwaystrytomakeanopponentplayhisspecialgame.
Manycountrieshaveatraditionofinvitingforeignerstorulethem.TheEnglishcalledinWilliamofOrangein1688anddependingonyourinterpretationofhistoryWilliamofNormandyin1066.Bothdidratheragoodjob.ReturningthecomplimentAlbaniaaskedawell-bredEnglishmancalledAubgreyHerberttobetheirkinginthe1920s.Herefused—andtheyendedupwithseveralcovescalledZog.Americathecountryofimmigrantshasnotruckwithimportedforeigntalent.Articletwooftheconstitutionsaysthatnopersonexceptanatural-borncitizen..shallbeeligibletotheofficeofthepresident.Thisisnowbeingchallengedbyaparticularlyirresistibleimmigrant:ArnoldSchwarzcnegger.BarelyayearhaspassedsincetheerstwhilecyborgswepttovictoryinCalifornia’srecallelectionyetthereisalreadyanAmend-for-ArnoldcampaigncollectingsignaturestolettheAustrian-borngovernorhaveagoattheWhiteHouse.GeorgeBushseniorhasweighedinonhisbehalf.ThereareseveralArnoldamendmentsinCongress:oneal-lowsforeignerswhohavebeennaturalizedcitizensfor20yearstobecomepresident.TheAustrianbecameAmericanin1983.Itiseasytodismissthehooplaasanotherregrettableexampleofloopycelebritypolitics.Mr.Schwarzeneggerhasmadeadecentstartasgovernorbuthebasdonelittleasyettochangethestructureofhisdysfunctionalstate.IndeedevenifthelawwerechangedhecouldwellbeelbowedasidebyanotherincomerthistimefromCanada:theDemocraticgovernorofMichiganJenniferGranholmwhoappearstohavefewerskeletonsinherclosetthanthehedonisticactor.MoreoverchangingtheAmericanconstitutionisnododdle.Ithashappenedonly17timessince1791whenthefirsttenamendmentswerecodifiedasthebillofrights.Tochangetheconstitutionanamendmenthastobeapprovedbytwo-thirdsofbothhousesofCongressandthentoberatifiedbythree-quartersofthe50states.TheArnoldamendmentishardlyinthesamecategoryasabolishingslaveryorgivingwomenthevote.AndassomewagspointoutAustrianimportshaveaprettydodgyrecordofrunningmil-itarysuperpowers.ComparedwithJenniferGranholmMr.Schwarzeneggerisatdisadvantagedueto______.
Germany’schimneysweeps—hallowedasbringersofgoodluckwiththeirblacktophatsandcoiled-wirebrushes—areunderattack.LastweektheEuropeanCommission’sdirectoratefortheinternalmarketrevivedproceedingsagainstanantiquatedGermanlawthatprotectssweepsagainstcompetition.Thecountry’schimneysweepsenjoyanear-perfectmonopoly.Germanyisdividedintoaround8000districtseachruledbyitsownmastersweepwhousuallyemploystwomoresweeps.Althoughthisisaprivateenterprisethemaintenanceandinspectionserviceprovidediscompulsoryandpricesaresetbythelocalauthority:sweepscannotstrayoutsidetheirdistrictnorcanhouseholderschangetheirsweepeveniftheyloathehim.Thisrulecutsbothways.TherearesomecustomersIcan’tstandeithersaysoneFrankfurtsweep.Therationaleissimple:chimney-sweepingandrelatedgasandheatingmaintenanceinGermanyaretreatedasamatterofpublicsafety.Annualorsemi-annualvisitsareprescribedkeepingthesweepsbusyallyearround.Forcenturieschimney-sweepsinEuropewereawanderingbreed.Butin1937thechimney-sweeplawwasrevisedbyHeinrichHimmlerthentheactinginteriorminister.HisrolestiedchimneysweepstotheirdistrictsanddecreedthattheyshouldbeGermantoenablehimtousesweepsaslocalspies.Thelawwasupdatedin1969leavingthelocalmonopoliesinplacebutopeninguptheprofessionintheoryatleasttonon-Germans.Butinpracticefewapply.FouryearsagoabravePolequalifiedasamasterinKaiserslauternaccordingtoafellowstudentandthisyearanItaliandidsointheRhinelandPalatinate.ButhelikemostnewlyqualifiedGermanmasterswillspendyearsonawaitinglistbeforehegetshisowndistrict.TheEuropeanCommissionwouldliketoseeacompetitivemarketinwhichpeoplecanchoosetheirownsweepsjustastheychoosebuildersorplumbers.Itfirstopenedinfringementproceedingsin2003andtheGermangovernmentofthetimepromisedtochangethelawbutfailedtodoso.AnddespitethehuffingandpuffingfromBrusselstilegovernmentisstillreluctanttodismantleitsantiquatedsystemonsafetygrounds.Thenumberofdeathsfromcarbon-monoxidepoisoninginGermanyisaroundone-tenththatinFranceorBelgiumclaimstheFrankfurtsweep.SoGermansarelikelytobestockwiththeirneighbourhoodSchornsteinfegers—whethertheycanstandeachotherornot—forsometimetocome.WhichofthefollowingistrueaccordingtoParagraph2
[A]SowhatdotheAmericansthinkoftheforeignvisitorswhoarriveforthetorridheatjustwhenlocalsfromtheUnitedStatestendtoavoidDeathValleySaysparkrangerBrendaHenson"TheforeignerswanttoexperiencetheheatinDeathValley.Theythinkthisisneat.Ithinkit’scrazy." [B]Theplacethatthetourists—mainlyfromEurope—aredrawntoisanactuallyseriesofsaltflats225kmlongand6kmto26kmwide.Thesearingheatofthesunisreflectedupfromthisdryandwaterlessterrainandtheonlynoisethatbreaksthesilenceinthisvastvalleyisthecrunchofvisitors’shoesonthefinesaltcrystalsleftbyevaporation.Birdsandanimalsarelargelyabsentandonlythehardiestplantshaveanychanceofexistenceinthisunforgivinglandscape [C]Accordingtoparkrangersanaverageof1.3millionvisitorsentertheparkeachyear.FromJunethroughAugust90percentofthemareforeignerstheretoexperiencetheblisteringheatthatgivesDeathValleyitsname.ArtHortonmeteorologistfromtheNationalWeatherServicesaystheaveragehighinJulyis46.2degCandthelow30degC.ForAugusttheaveragehighis45.2degCandthelow29.4degC. [D]Allaroundmountainstowerabovethesaltflats.AcrosstheflatsvisitorscanseeTelescopePeakthehighestpointintheparkatmorethan3350m.Normallysnowcoveredinwinterthemountainrangeisbareinsummerbutattheedgesofthe Valleyofferssomeshadefromtheblisteringsun. [E]EvenDeathValley’shotnewsweathercanhaveextremesabovethat.ThehottdayseverrecordedwereonJune301994andJuly141972whentemperatulhit53.3degC.AndinwinterDeathValleycontinuestoliveuptoitsnamepducingcoldnessattheotherendofthescalethatcanbelife-threateningtoanyocaughtexposedinit.ThecoldestdayrecordedinDeathValleywasonJanuary31988whenitwas18degCbelowzero. [F]OnetouristfromParissumsuptheattractionverysimply:"Wecomeherebecatwecantellallourfriendsandfamilythatwe’vebeentothehottestplaceintworld"hesays. [G]DeathValleyisthelowesthottestdriestareainNorthAmerica.TheclimatethisCaliforniaNationalParkhaslessthanScmofrainfallayearandtemperaturesto53degCinsummer.That’senoughtokeepsensibleAmericansawayduringlhottestmonthsfromJunetoAugust.Butit’sthenthatthesizzlingtemperaturesastiflingheatdrawtheirmostavidfanstheforeigntourists.Fromallovertheglobtheydescendtothevalleyfloorinrentalcarscarryingmapsandwaterbottlesavigorouslyfanningthemselveswithnewspaperstokeepcool. Order: 42
Manycountrieshaveatraditionofinvitingforeignerstorulethem.TheEnglishcalledinWilliamofOrangein1688anddependingonyourinterpretationofhistoryWilliamofNormandyin1066.Bothdidratheragoodjob.ReturningthecomplimentAlbaniaaskedawell-bredEnglishmancalledAubgreyHerberttobetheirkinginthe1920s.Herefused—andtheyendedupwithseveralcovescalledZog.Americathecountryofimmigrantshasnotruckwithimportedforeigntalent.Articletwooftheconstitutionsaysthatnopersonexceptanatural-borncitizen..shallbeeligibletotheofficeofthepresident.Thisisnowbeingchallengedbyaparticularlyirresistibleimmigrant:ArnoldSchwarzcnegger.BarelyayearhaspassedsincetheerstwhilecyborgswepttovictoryinCalifornia’srecallelectionyetthereisalreadyanAmend-for-ArnoldcampaigncollectingsignaturestolettheAustrian-borngovernorhaveagoattheWhiteHouse.GeorgeBushseniorhasweighedinonhisbehalf.ThereareseveralArnoldamendmentsinCongress:oneal-lowsforeignerswhohavebeennaturalizedcitizensfor20yearstobecomepresident.TheAustrianbecameAmericanin1983.Itiseasytodismissthehooplaasanotherregrettableexampleofloopycelebritypolitics.Mr.Schwarzeneggerhasmadeadecentstartasgovernorbuthebasdonelittleasyettochangethestructureofhisdysfunctionalstate.IndeedevenifthelawwerechangedhecouldwellbeelbowedasidebyanotherincomerthistimefromCanada:theDemocraticgovernorofMichiganJenniferGranholmwhoappearstohavefewerskeletonsinherclosetthanthehedonisticactor.MoreoverchangingtheAmericanconstitutionisnododdle.Ithashappenedonly17timessince1791whenthefirsttenamendmentswerecodifiedasthebillofrights.Tochangetheconstitutionanamendmenthastobeapprovedbytwo-thirdsofbothhousesofCongressandthentoberatifiedbythree-quartersofthe50states.TheArnoldamendmentishardlyinthesamecategoryasabolishingslaveryorgivingwomenthevote.AndassomewagspointoutAustrianimportshaveaprettydodgyrecordofrunningmil-itarysuperpowers.Itcanbeinferredfromtheconcludingparagraphthat______.
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.10
Manycountrieshaveatraditionofinvitingforeignerstorulethem.TheEnglishcalledinWilliamofOrangein1688anddependingonyourinterpretationofhistoryWilliamofNormandyin1066.Bothdidratheragoodjob.ReturningthecomplimentAlbaniaaskedawell-bredEnglishmancalledAubgreyHerberttobetheirkinginthe1920s.Herefused—andtheyendedupwithseveralcovescalledZog.Americathecountryofimmigrantshasnotruckwithimportedforeigntalent.Articletwooftheconstitutionsaysthatnopersonexceptanatural-borncitizen..shallbeeligibletotheofficeofthepresident.Thisisnowbeingchallengedbyaparticularlyirresistibleimmigrant:ArnoldSchwarzcnegger.BarelyayearhaspassedsincetheerstwhilecyborgswepttovictoryinCalifornia’srecallelectionyetthereisalreadyanAmend-for-ArnoldcampaigncollectingsignaturestolettheAustrian-borngovernorhaveagoattheWhiteHouse.GeorgeBushseniorhasweighedinonhisbehalf.ThereareseveralArnoldamendmentsinCongress:oneal-lowsforeignerswhohavebeennaturalizedcitizensfor20yearstobecomepresident.TheAustrianbecameAmericanin1983.Itiseasytodismissthehooplaasanotherregrettableexampleofloopycelebritypolitics.Mr.Schwarzeneggerhasmadeadecentstartasgovernorbuthebasdonelittleasyettochangethestructureofhisdysfunctionalstate.IndeedevenifthelawwerechangedhecouldwellbeelbowedasidebyanotherincomerthistimefromCanada:theDemocraticgovernorofMichiganJenniferGranholmwhoappearstohavefewerskeletonsinherclosetthanthehedonisticactor.MoreoverchangingtheAmericanconstitutionisnododdle.Ithashappenedonly17timessince1791whenthefirsttenamendmentswerecodifiedasthebillofrights.Tochangetheconstitutionanamendmenthastobeapprovedbytwo-thirdsofbothhousesofCongressandthentoberatifiedbythree-quartersofthe50states.TheArnoldamendmentishardlyinthesamecategoryasabolishingslaveryorgivingwomenthevote.AndassomewagspointoutAustrianimportshaveaprettydodgyrecordofrunningmil-itarysuperpowers.Theauthorofthetextmakesacontrastin______.
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.20
Companieshaveembarkedonwhatlookslikethebeginningsofare-runofthemergersandacquisitionsM&Awavethatdefinedthesecondbubblyhalfofthe1990s.Thatperiodreadersmightrecallwascharacterizedbyacollectivesplurgethatsawthecreationofsomeofthemostindebtedcompaniesinhistorymanyofwhichlaterwentbankruptorwerethemselvesbrokenup.Wildbiddingforteleeomsinternetandmediaas-setsnottomentionthemadnessthatwasDaimler’s$40billionmotoringtakeoverin1998—1999ofChryslerortheTime-Warner/AOLmegs-mergerin2000helpedtogivemergersathoroughlybadname.AconsensusemergedthatM&Awasagreatwayforin-vestmentbankstoreaprichfeesandasurewayforambitiousmanagerstobetrayinvestorsbytrashingthevalueoftheirshares.NowM&Aisback.ItsreturnisaglobalphenomenonbutitisperhapsmoststrikinginEuropewheresofarthisyeartherehasbeenastreamofdealsworthmorethan$600billionintotalaround40%higherthaninthesameperiodof2004.ThelatesteffortcamethisweekwhenFrance’sSaint-Gobainabuilding-materialsfirmunveiledthede-tailsofits3.6billion$6.5billionhostilebidforBPBaBritishrival.Inthefirsthalfoftheyearcross-borderactivitywasupthreefoldoverthesameperiodlastyear.EvenFranceTelecomwhichwasleftalmostbankruptattheendofthelastmergerwaverecentlyboughtAmenaaSpanishmobileoperator.Shareholder’sapprovalofallthesedealsraisesaninterestingquestionforcompanieseverywhere:areinvestorsrighttothinkthatthesemergersaremorelikelytosucceedthanearlierones.’Therearetwoanswers.Thefirstisthatpastmergersmayhavebeenjudgedtooharshly.ThesecondisthatthepresentrashofEuropeandealsdoeslookmoreration-albut—andthecaveatiscrucial—onlysofar.Thepatternmaynothold.M&A’spoorreputationstemsnotonlyfromthestringofspectacularfailuresinthe1990sbutalsofromstudiesthatshowedvaluedestructionforacquiringshareholdersin8.0%ofdeals.Butmorerecentstudiesbyeconomistshaveintroducedanoteofcaution.Investorsshouldlookatthenumberofdealsthatsucceedorfailtypicallymeasuredbytheimpactonthesharepriceratherthanasyoumightthinkweighingthembysize.ForexamplenoonedoubtsthattheDaimler-Chryslermergerdestroyedvalue.Thecom-binedmarketvalueofthetwofirmsisstillbelowthatofDaimleralonebeforethedeal.ThissingledealaccountedforhalfofallGermanM&Aactivitybyvaluein1998and1999andprobablydominatedpeople’sthinkingaboutmergerstothesamedegree.Throwinafewothersuchmonstersanditisnowonderthatbroadstudieshavetendedtofindthatmergersareabadidea.Thetruepictureismorecomplicated.Accordingtothetexttheauthorwouldagreethat______.
In1929JohnD.Rockefellerdecideditwastimetosellshareswhenevenashoeshineboyofferedhimasharetip.DuringthepastweekTheEconomist’seconomicseditorhasbeenadvisedbyataxidriveraplumberandahairdresserthatyoucan’tgowronginvestinginhousing—themoreyouownthebetter.Isthisasignthatitistimetogetout.Attheveryleastashousepricesaroundtheworldclimbtoeverloftierheightsandmoreandmorepeoplejumpontothebuy-to-letladderitistimetoexposesomeofthefallaciesregularlytrottedoutbysomanyself-appointedhousingexperts.Onecommonerroristhathousepricesmustcontinuetorisebecauseofalimitedsupplyofland.ForinstanceitisarguedthathousepriceswillalwaysriseinLondonbecauselotsofpeoplewanttolivehere.Butthisconfusesthelevelofpriceswiththeirrateofchange.Homepricesareboundtobehigherinbigcitiesbecauseoflandscarcitybutthisdoesnotguaranteethaturbanhousepriceswillkeeprisingindefinitely—justlookatTokyo’shugeprice-dropssince1990.Andthoughitistruethatafixedsupplyofhomesmaypushuphousepricesifthepopulationisrisingthiswouldimplyasteadyriseinpricesnotthe20%annualjumpsofrecentyears.Asecondflawedargumentisthatlowinterestratesmakebuyingahomecheaperandsopushupdemandandprices.Lowerinterestratesmayhaveallowedsomepeoplewhootherwisecouldnothaveaffordedamortgagetobuyahome.Butmanyborrowerswhothinkmortgagesarecheaperaresufferingfrommoneyillusion.Interestratesarenotverylowinrealinflation-adjustedterms.Initialinterestpaymentsmayseemlowinrelationtoincomebutbecauseinflationisalsolowitwillnoterodetherealburdenofdebtasswiftlyasitoncedid.Soinlateryearsmortgagepaymentswillbemuchlargerinrealterms.Toarguethatlownominalinterestratesmakebuyingahomecheaperislikearguingthatacarloanpaidoffoverfouryearsischeaperthanonerepaidovertwoyears.FallacynumberthreeisafavouriteclaimofAlanGreenspanchairmanofAmerica’sFederalReserve.Thisisthatpricebubblesarelesslikelyinhousingthaninthestock-marketbecausehighertransactioncostsdiscouragespeculation.Infactseveralstudieshaveshownthatbothintheoryandinpracticebubblesaremorelikelyinhousingthaninshares.AstudybytheIMFfindsthatasharpriseinhousepricesisfarmorelikelytobefollowedbyabustthanashare-priceboom.Whatistherelationshipbetweentheopeningparagraphandtherestofthetext
Apairofdicerolledagainandagainwilleventuallyproducetwosixes.Similarlythevirusthatcausesinfluenzaisconstantlychangingatrandomandonedaywillmutateinawaythatwillenableittoinfectbillionsofpeopleandtokillmillions.Manyexpertsnowbelieveaglobaloutbreakofpandemicfluisoverdueandthatthenextonecouldbeasbadastheonein1918whichkilledsomewherebetween25mand50mpeo-pie.Todayhoweveradvancesinmedicineofferrealhopethatanothersuchoutbreakcanbecontained—ifgovernmentsstartpreparingnow.Newresearchpublishedthisweeksuggeststhatarelativelysmallstockpileofananti-viraldrug—aslittleas3mdoses—couldbeenoughtolimitsharplyaflupandemicifthedrugsweredeployedquicklytopeopleintheareasurroundingtheinitialoutbreak.Thedrug’smanufacturerRocheistalkingtotheWorldHealthOrganisationaboutdonatingsuchastockpile.Thisisgoodnews.ButmuchmoreneedstobedoneespeciallywithanastystrainofavianfluspreadinginAsiawhichcouldmutateintoathreattohumans.SincetheSARSoutbreakin2003afewcountrieshavedevelopedplansinpreparationforsimilarepisodes.Butprogresshasbeenshamefullypatchyandthereisstillfartoolittleinternationalco-ordination.Aglobalstockpileofdrugsalonewouldnotbemuchusewithoutanadequatesystemofsurveillancetoidentifyearlycasesandawayofdeliveringtreatmentquickly.Ifanout-breakoccurredinaborderregionforexampleaswiftresponsewouldmostlikelydependonprioragreementsbetweendifferentcountriesaboutquarantineandcontainment.Reachingsuchagreementsisrarelyeasybutthatmakesthetaskallthemoreurgent.Richcountriestendtobebetterpreparedthanpooronesbutthisshouldbenoconsolationtothem.Fludoesnotrespectborders.Itisineveryone’sinteresttomakesurethatdevelopingcountriesespeciallyinAsiaarealsowellprepared.Manymaybridleatinterferencefromoutside.Butifrichernation’swerewillingtodonateanti-viraldrugsandguaranteeasupplyofanyvaccinethatbecomesavailablepoorernationsmightbewillingtoreachagreementsoversurveillanceandpreparedness.Simplysortingoutafewdetailsnowwillhavelivesandrecriminationslater.WilltherebeenoughventilatorsmakesanddrugsWherewillpeoplebetreatedifthehospitalsoverflow7WillfoodbedeliveredasnormalToomanycountrieshavenoanswerstothesequestions.Accordingtothetextitisupsettingthat______.
Backin1979afatunhealthypropertydeveloperMelZuckermanandhisexercise-fanaticwifeEnidopenedCanyonRanch"America’sfirsttotalvacation/fitnessresort"onanoldduderanchinTucsonArizona.Atthetimetheiroutdoorsynewage-ishventureseemedhighlyeccentric.TodayCanyonRanchisarguablythepremiumhealth-spabrandofchoiceforthesuper-rich.ItisgrowingfastandnowoperatesinseveralplacesincludingtheQueenMary2.41. "Thereisanewmarketcategorycalledwellnesslifestyleandinawholerangeofindustriesifyouarenotaddressingthatcategoryyouaregoingtofinditincreasinglyhardtostayinbusiness"enthusesKevinKellyCanyonRanch’spresident.ThisbroadnewcategoryMr.Kellygoeson"consolidatesalotofsub-categories"includingspastraditionalmedicineandalternativemedicinebehaviouraltherapyspiritualityfitnessnutritionandbeauty.42."Youcannolongersatisfytheconsumerwithjustfitnessjustmedicaljustspa"saysMr.Kelly. CanyonRanch’sstrategyreflectsthisbelief.43.ThisyearinMiamiBeachitwillopenthefirstofwhatitexpectstobemanyupmarkethousingestatesbuiltaroundaspacalledCanyonRanchLiving.TogetherwiththeClevelandCliniconeoftheworld’sleadingprivateprovidersoftraditionalmedicineitislaunchingan"executivehealth"productwhichcombinesdiagnosistreatmentandaboveallprevention.Italsohasplanstoproducefoodandskin-careproductsarangeofclothesandhealthy-livingeducationalmaterials. 44.Mr.Casereckonsthatoneoftherootsoftoday’shealth-carecrisisespeciallyinAmericaisthatpreventionandcarearenotsuitablyjoinedup.Agrowingnumberofemployersnowpromotewellnessatworkbothtocutcostsandtoreducestressandhealth-relatedabsenteeismsaysJonDenorisofCatalystHealthagymbusinessinLondon.HehasbeenhelpingtheBritisharmofHarleyDavidsonamotorbike-makertodevelopawellnessprogrammeforitsworkers. Thedesiretoreducehealth-carecostsisoneforcebehindtheriseofthewellnessindustry;theotheristhegrowingdemandfromconsumersforthingsthatmakethemfeelhealthier.SurveysfindthatthreeoutoffouradultAmericansnowfeelthattheirlivesare"outofbalance"saysMr.Kelly.Sothereisahugeopportunitytoofferthemproductsandservicesthatmakethemfeelmore"balanced."ThisrepresentsabigchangeinconsumerpsychologyclaimsMr.Kellyandonethatislikelytodeepenovertime:marketresearchsuggeststhat35-year-oldshaveamuchstrongerdesiretoleadhealthylifestylesthan65-year-olds. 45.Anotherwillbetomaintaincredibilityinandforanindustrythatcombinesserioussciencewithsnakeoil.Oneproblem—orisitanopportunity—insellingwellnessproductstoconsumersisthatsomeofthethingstheydemandmaybefaddishornonsensical.Easyfixessuchasnew-agetherapiesmayappealtothemmorethanharderbutprovenwaystoimprovehealth. OneofCanyonRanch’sanswerstothisproblemhasbeentohireRichardCarmonawhowasAmerica’ssurgeon-generaluntillastsummer.Inthatrolehemovedpreventionandwellnessnearertothecentreofpublic-healthpolicy.Thelasttimeasurgeon-generalventuredintobusinessitendeddisastrously:duringtheinternetbubbleEverettKooplaunchedDrKoop.comamedical-informationsitethatwentbustshortlyaftergoingpublicandachievingamarketcapitalisationofover$1billion.Thistimearoundthewellnessboomseemsunlikelytosuffersuchanastyturnfortheworse. [A]Itisexpandingabrandbuilton$I000-a-nightretreatsfortherichandfamousinseveraldifferentdirections. [B]Mr.Zuckermannowatrimandsprightly78-year-oldremainschairmanofthefirm. [C]Thereisgrowingevidencethatfocusingholisticallyonwellnesscanreducehealth-carecostsbyemphasizingpreventionovertreatment. [D]Onedifficultyforwellnessfirmswillbeacquiringtheexpertisetooperateinseveraldifferentareasofthemarket. [E]Itisalsooneoftheleadinglightsin"wellness"anincreasinglymainstream—andprofitable—business. [F]Asmorecustomersdemandaholisticapproachtofeelingwellfirmsthathavehithertospecialisedinonlyoneortwoofthoseareasarenowfacinggrowingmarketpressuretobroadentheirbusiness. [G]Andthereismuchdebateaboutthehealthbenefitsofvitaminsupplementsorganicfoodandalternativemedicinesletalonedifferentformsofspirituality. 42
Germany’schimneysweeps—hallowedasbringersofgoodluckwiththeirblacktophatsandcoiled-wirebrushes—areunderattack.LastweektheEuropeanCommission’sdirectoratefortheinternalmarketrevivedproceedingsagainstanantiquatedGermanlawthatprotectssweepsagainstcompetition.Thecountry’schimneysweepsenjoyanear-perfectmonopoly.Germanyisdividedintoaround8000districtseachruledbyitsownmastersweepwhousuallyemploystwomoresweeps.Althoughthisisaprivateenterprisethemaintenanceandinspectionserviceprovidediscompulsoryandpricesaresetbythelocalauthority:sweepscannotstrayoutsidetheirdistrictnorcanhouseholderschangetheirsweepeveniftheyloathehim.Thisrulecutsbothways.TherearesomecustomersIcan’tstandeithersaysoneFrankfurtsweep.Therationaleissimple:chimney-sweepingandrelatedgasandheatingmaintenanceinGermanyaretreatedasamatterofpublicsafety.Annualorsemi-annualvisitsareprescribedkeepingthesweepsbusyallyearround.Forcenturieschimney-sweepsinEuropewereawanderingbreed.Butin1937thechimney-sweeplawwasrevisedbyHeinrichHimmlerthentheactinginteriorminister.HisrolestiedchimneysweepstotheirdistrictsanddecreedthattheyshouldbeGermantoenablehimtousesweepsaslocalspies.Thelawwasupdatedin1969leavingthelocalmonopoliesinplacebutopeninguptheprofessionintheoryatleasttonon-Germans.Butinpracticefewapply.FouryearsagoabravePolequalifiedasamasterinKaiserslauternaccordingtoafellowstudentandthisyearanItaliandidsointheRhinelandPalatinate.ButhelikemostnewlyqualifiedGermanmasterswillspendyearsonawaitinglistbeforehegetshisowndistrict.TheEuropeanCommissionwouldliketoseeacompetitivemarketinwhichpeoplecanchoosetheirownsweepsjustastheychoosebuildersorplumbers.Itfirstopenedinfringementproceedingsin2003andtheGermangovernmentofthetimepromisedtochangethelawbutfailedtodoso.AnddespitethehuffingandpuffingfromBrusselstilegovernmentisstillreluctanttodismantleitsantiquatedsystemonsafetygrounds.Thenumberofdeathsfromcarbon-monoxidepoisoninginGermanyisaroundone-tenththatinFranceorBelgiumclaimstheFrankfurtsweep.SoGermansarelikelytobestockwiththeirneighbourhoodSchornsteinfegers—whethertheycanstandeachotherornot—forsometimetocome.What’sthereasonthatGermany’schimneysweepsareunderattack
Backin1979afatunhealthypropertydeveloperMelZuckermanandhisexercise-fanaticwifeEnidopenedCanyonRanch"America’sfirsttotalvacation/fitnessresort"onanoldduderanchinTucsonArizona.Atthetimetheiroutdoorsynewage-ishventureseemedhighlyeccentric.TodayCanyonRanchisarguablythepremiumhealth-spabrandofchoiceforthesuper-rich.ItisgrowingfastandnowoperatesinseveralplacesincludingtheQueenMary2.41. "Thereisanewmarketcategorycalledwellnesslifestyleandinawholerangeofindustriesifyouarenotaddressingthatcategoryyouaregoingtofinditincreasinglyhardtostayinbusiness"enthusesKevinKellyCanyonRanch’spresident.ThisbroadnewcategoryMr.Kellygoeson"consolidatesalotofsub-categories"includingspastraditionalmedicineandalternativemedicinebehaviouraltherapyspiritualityfitnessnutritionandbeauty.42."Youcannolongersatisfytheconsumerwithjustfitnessjustmedicaljustspa"saysMr.Kelly. CanyonRanch’sstrategyreflectsthisbelief.43.ThisyearinMiamiBeachitwillopenthefirstofwhatitexpectstobemanyupmarkethousingestatesbuiltaroundaspacalledCanyonRanchLiving.TogetherwiththeClevelandCliniconeoftheworld’sleadingprivateprovidersoftraditionalmedicineitislaunchingan"executivehealth"productwhichcombinesdiagnosistreatmentandaboveallprevention.Italsohasplanstoproducefoodandskin-careproductsarangeofclothesandhealthy-livingeducationalmaterials. 44.Mr.Casereckonsthatoneoftherootsoftoday’shealth-carecrisisespeciallyinAmericaisthatpreventionandcarearenotsuitablyjoinedup.Agrowingnumberofemployersnowpromotewellnessatworkbothtocutcostsandtoreducestressandhealth-relatedabsenteeismsaysJonDenorisofCatalystHealthagymbusinessinLondon.HehasbeenhelpingtheBritisharmofHarleyDavidsonamotorbike-makertodevelopawellnessprogrammeforitsworkers. Thedesiretoreducehealth-carecostsisoneforcebehindtheriseofthewellnessindustry;theotheristhegrowingdemandfromconsumersforthingsthatmakethemfeelhealthier.SurveysfindthatthreeoutoffouradultAmericansnowfeelthattheirlivesare"outofbalance"saysMr.Kelly.Sothereisahugeopportunitytoofferthemproductsandservicesthatmakethemfeelmore"balanced."ThisrepresentsabigchangeinconsumerpsychologyclaimsMr.Kellyandonethatislikelytodeepenovertime:marketresearchsuggeststhat35-year-oldshaveamuchstrongerdesiretoleadhealthylifestylesthan65-year-olds. 45.Anotherwillbetomaintaincredibilityinandforanindustrythatcombinesserioussciencewithsnakeoil.Oneproblem—orisitanopportunity—insellingwellnessproductstoconsumersisthatsomeofthethingstheydemandmaybefaddishornonsensical.Easyfixessuchasnew-agetherapiesmayappealtothemmorethanharderbutprovenwaystoimprovehealth. OneofCanyonRanch’sanswerstothisproblemhasbeentohireRichardCarmonawhowasAmerica’ssurgeon-generaluntillastsummer.Inthatrolehemovedpreventionandwellnessnearertothecentreofpublic-healthpolicy.Thelasttimeasurgeon-generalventuredintobusinessitendeddisastrously:duringtheinternetbubbleEverettKooplaunchedDrKoop.comamedical-informationsitethatwentbustshortlyaftergoingpublicandachievingamarketcapitalisationofover$1billion.Thistimearoundthewellnessboomseemsunlikelytosuffersuchanastyturnfortheworse. [A]Itisexpandingabrandbuilton$I000-a-nightretreatsfortherichandfamousinseveraldifferentdirections. [B]Mr.Zuckermannowatrimandsprightly78-year-oldremainschairmanofthefirm. [C]Thereisgrowingevidencethatfocusingholisticallyonwellnesscanreducehealth-carecostsbyemphasizingpreventionovertreatment. [D]Onedifficultyforwellnessfirmswillbeacquiringtheexpertisetooperateinseveraldifferentareasofthemarket. [E]Itisalsooneoftheleadinglightsin"wellness"anincreasinglymainstream—andprofitable—business. [F]Asmorecustomersdemandaholisticapproachtofeelingwellfirmsthathavehithertospecialisedinonlyoneortwoofthoseareasarenowfacinggrowingmarketpressuretobroadentheirbusiness. [G]Andthereismuchdebateaboutthehealthbenefitsofvitaminsupplementsorganicfoodandalternativemedicinesletalonedifferentformsofspirituality. 44
Companieshaveembarkedonwhatlookslikethebeginningsofare-runofthemergersandacquisitionsM&Awavethatdefinedthesecondbubblyhalfofthe1990s.Thatperiodreadersmightrecallwascharacterizedbyacollectivesplurgethatsawthecreationofsomeofthemostindebtedcompaniesinhistorymanyofwhichlaterwentbankruptorwerethemselvesbrokenup.Wildbiddingforteleeomsinternetandmediaas-setsnottomentionthemadnessthatwasDaimler’s$40billionmotoringtakeoverin1998—1999ofChryslerortheTime-Warner/AOLmegs-mergerin2000helpedtogivemergersathoroughlybadname.AconsensusemergedthatM&Awasagreatwayforin-vestmentbankstoreaprichfeesandasurewayforambitiousmanagerstobetrayinvestorsbytrashingthevalueoftheirshares.NowM&Aisback.ItsreturnisaglobalphenomenonbutitisperhapsmoststrikinginEuropewheresofarthisyeartherehasbeenastreamofdealsworthmorethan$600billionintotalaround40%higherthaninthesameperiodof2004.ThelatesteffortcamethisweekwhenFrance’sSaint-Gobainabuilding-materialsfirmunveiledthede-tailsofits3.6billion$6.5billionhostilebidforBPBaBritishrival.Inthefirsthalfoftheyearcross-borderactivitywasupthreefoldoverthesameperiodlastyear.EvenFranceTelecomwhichwasleftalmostbankruptattheendofthelastmergerwaverecentlyboughtAmenaaSpanishmobileoperator.Shareholder’sapprovalofallthesedealsraisesaninterestingquestionforcompanieseverywhere:areinvestorsrighttothinkthatthesemergersaremorelikelytosucceedthanearlierones.’Therearetwoanswers.Thefirstisthatpastmergersmayhavebeenjudgedtooharshly.ThesecondisthatthepresentrashofEuropeandealsdoeslookmoreration-albut—andthecaveatiscrucial—onlysofar.Thepatternmaynothold.M&A’spoorreputationstemsnotonlyfromthestringofspectacularfailuresinthe1990sbutalsofromstudiesthatshowedvaluedestructionforacquiringshareholdersin8.0%ofdeals.Butmorerecentstudiesbyeconomistshaveintroducedanoteofcaution.Investorsshouldlookatthenumberofdealsthatsucceedorfailtypicallymeasuredbytheimpactonthesharepriceratherthanasyoumightthinkweighingthembysize.ForexamplenoonedoubtsthattheDaimler-Chryslermergerdestroyedvalue.Thecom-binedmarketvalueofthetwofirmsisstillbelowthatofDaimleralonebeforethedeal.ThissingledealaccountedforhalfofallGermanM&Aactivitybyvaluein1998and1999andprobablydominatedpeople’sthinkingaboutmergerstothesamedegree.Throwinafewothersuchmonstersanditisnowonderthatbroadstudieshavetendedtofindthatmergersareabadidea.Thetruepictureismorecomplicated.Accordingtothetextacollectiveopiniononthemergersandacquisitionsalsoconcentrateson______.
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.2
InagamethemovesaresetUpbeforehand.Inanon-gamesituationthemovesaresupposedtoariseoutofeventsasthesedevelop.Agirlwantstoencourageherboyfriendsoshepretendstobebusywhenhephonesherorshepretendsthatsomeoneelseiscourtingher.46Ayoungchildwhoisreluctanttogotobeddeliberatelyspillsmilkfromacupontothecarpetsothattheensuingfussandscoldingtheimmediacyofhisbedtimewillbeforgotten.Diplomatsataconferencemakeagreatfussovertheshapeofthetableastheyplaytheproceduralgame.47Anagentsellingthefilmrightsinafirstnovelcasuallymentionsotherpartieswhohaveshownaninterestinbuyingtherights.Ahostessdeliberatelyplacesaseductiveladynexttoahusbandwithajealouswife.Unionnegotiatorsgothrougharitualofcomplainsbeforesettingdowntodiscussthecurrentissue. Thecharacteristicofagameisthatasequenceofmovesarerecognizableaspartofthegame.Thegamemaybeplayedveryseriously;itmayalsobeplayedforapurposeratherthanasanendinitself.Neverthelesseachmoveinthesequenceisdeterminedbytherequirementsofthegameratherthantherealitiesofthesituationitself.48Someonewhoisawarethatagameisbeingplayedsitsbackandwaitsforthegametobeplayedout.Someonewhoisnotawarethatitisagamegetsinvolvedandmanipulatedbythegamesplayerwhoknowsthemovesofthegamebetter.Itisthisexpertiseinthemovesofthegamewhichmakesitworthplaying.Iftheplayerknowsfromlongexperiencethemovesreactionsandcounter-movesthenheonlyhastoenticetheotherpersontoplaythegametoachievesuccess.Ifthesituationworksitoutnaturallyneithersidehasanadvantage.Butifonesidesetsupagamewithwhichonlyheisfamiliarthenthatsideimmediatelyacquirestheadvantageofskillandfore-knowledge. Agoodgamesplayernotonlyknowshowtomakethenextmovehecanthinkonetwoorthreemovesahead.Thisisextremelydifficultforaninexperiencedplayer.49Thustheplayerwhosetsupafamiliargamecanlaytrapsseveralmovesaheadwithverylittlechanceoftheopponentnoticingwhatisbeingdone. 50Justasaphilosopherwillalwaystrytorunanargumentaccordingtohisowndefinitionssoagamesplayerwillalwaystrytomakeanopponentplayhisspecialgame. Ayoungchildwhoisreluctanttogotobeddeliberatelyspillsmilkfromacupontothecarpetsothattheensuingfussandscoldingtheimmediacyofhisbedtimewillbeforgotten
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.6
In1929JohnD.Rockefellerdecideditwastimetosellshareswhenevenashoeshineboyofferedhimasharetip.DuringthepastweekTheEconomist’seconomicseditorhasbeenadvisedbyataxidriveraplumberandahairdresserthatyoucan’tgowronginvestinginhousing—themoreyouownthebetter.Isthisasignthatitistimetogetout.Attheveryleastashousepricesaroundtheworldclimbtoeverloftierheightsandmoreandmorepeoplejumpontothebuy-to-letladderitistimetoexposesomeofthefallaciesregularlytrottedoutbysomanyself-appointedhousingexperts.Onecommonerroristhathousepricesmustcontinuetorisebecauseofalimitedsupplyofland.ForinstanceitisarguedthathousepriceswillalwaysriseinLondonbecauselotsofpeoplewanttolivehere.Butthisconfusesthelevelofpriceswiththeirrateofchange.Homepricesareboundtobehigherinbigcitiesbecauseoflandscarcitybutthisdoesnotguaranteethaturbanhousepriceswillkeeprisingindefinitely—justlookatTokyo’shugeprice-dropssince1990.Andthoughitistruethatafixedsupplyofhomesmaypushuphousepricesifthepopulationisrisingthiswouldimplyasteadyriseinpricesnotthe20%annualjumpsofrecentyears.Asecondflawedargumentisthatlowinterestratesmakebuyingahomecheaperandsopushupdemandandprices.Lowerinterestratesmayhaveallowedsomepeoplewhootherwisecouldnothaveaffordedamortgagetobuyahome.Butmanyborrowerswhothinkmortgagesarecheaperaresufferingfrommoneyillusion.Interestratesarenotverylowinrealinflation-adjustedterms.Initialinterestpaymentsmayseemlowinrelationtoincomebutbecauseinflationisalsolowitwillnoterodetherealburdenofdebtasswiftlyasitoncedid.Soinlateryearsmortgagepaymentswillbemuchlargerinrealterms.Toarguethatlownominalinterestratesmakebuyingahomecheaperislikearguingthatacarloanpaidoffoverfouryearsischeaperthanonerepaidovertwoyears.FallacynumberthreeisafavouriteclaimofAlanGreenspanchairmanofAmerica’sFederalReserve.Thisisthatpricebubblesarelesslikelyinhousingthaninthestock-marketbecausehighertransactioncostsdiscouragespeculation.Infactseveralstudieshaveshownthatbothintheoryandinpracticebubblesaremorelikelyinhousingthaninshares.AstudybytheIMFfindsthatasharpriseinhousepricesisfarmorelikelytobefollowedbyabustthanashare-priceboom.TheviewsofAlanGreenspanandtheauthorofthetextonpricebubblesare
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.12
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.4
CurrentlytheAmericanarmedforcesarethelargestprofessionalmilitaryontheplanet.Other1haveprofessionalsoldiers2notasmanyastheUnitedStates.Forthousandsofyearsitwas3thatprofessionalsoldiersweresuperiorto4timers.But5mostofhistoryfewnationscould6anarmyofprofessionalsatleastnotonapermanentbasis.Itwasht7thelate20thcenturythatcountriesbeganto8largepermanentall-volunteerarmedforcesthatwerecarefully9andtrainedforcombat.Britainwasthefirstwhenitphasedoutconscriptionin1962.In1975theUnitedStatesfollowed10.Foroveracenturyconscriptionhasbeenseen11thewaytoremain12strongwithoutbreakingthebank.Buttheconscriptsdidnotstayinuniformlongenoughtogetreallygoodatfighting.BritainandAmericanwerethefirsttwonationstorealizethatconscriptionwasso13thatthevoterswouldpayextrato14aprofessionalforce.Withinadecadeanarmyofprofessionalsbeginstopay15.Theprofessionalsarenotonlymore16onthebattlefieldbutarealsoifcarefully17foreducationandaptitudemorelikelytoconstantlydevelopbetterwaysto18Thisproducesatremendousbattlefield19Itdoesn’tmakeyou20butitdoesmakeyouverydifficulttodefeat. Readthefollowingtext.ChoosethebestwordsforeachnumberedblankandmarkABCorDonANSWERSHEET1.16
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