Today,thecomputerhastakenupappliancestatusinmorethan42percentofhouseholdsacrosstheUnitedStates.AndthesecomputersareincreasinglybeingwiredtotheInternet.Onlineaccesswasupmorethan50percentinjustthepastyear.Now,morethanonequarterofallU.S.householdscansurfincyberspace.Mostly,thisexplosivegrowthhasoccurreddemocratically.Theonlinepenetrationandcomputerownershipincreasesextendacrossallthedemographiclevels－byrace,geography, e,andWeviewthesetrendsasfavorablewithouttheslightestquestionbecauseweclearlyseecomputertechnologyasempowering.Infact,algrowthandaprosperousU.S.economyareconsideredtobethelong-rangerewardsofindividualandcollectivetechnologicalpower.Nowforthenot-so-goodnews:Theernment’sysisspellsoutso-calleddigitaldivide.Thatis,thedigitalexplosionisnotboomingatthesamepaceforeveryone.Yes,itistruethatweareallpluggedintoamuchgreaterdegreethananyofushavebeeninthepast.Butsomeofusaremorepluggedinthanothersandaregettingpluggedinfarmorerapidly.Andthisgapiswideningevenasthepaceoftheinformationageacceleratesthroughsociety.ComputerownershipandInternetaccessarehighlyclassifiedalonglinesofwealth,race,education,andgeography.Thedataindicatesthatcomputerownershipandonlineaccessaregrowingmorerapidlyamongthemostprosperousandwelleducated:essentially,wealthywhitepeoplewithhighschoolandcollegediplomasandwhoarepartofstable,two-parenthouseholds.Thehighest ebrackethouseholds,thoseearningmorethan$75,000annually,are20timesaslikelytohaveaccesstotheInternetashouseholdsatthelowest elevels,under$10,000annually.Thecomputerpenetrationrateatthe elevelisanamazing76.56percent,comparedwith8percentatthebottomendofthescale.Technologyaccessdifferswidelybyeducationallevel.Collegegraduatesare16timesaslikelytobeInternetsurfersathomeasarethosewithonlyelementary-schooleducation.Ifyoulookatthedifferencesbetweenthesegroupsinruralareas,thegapwidenstoatwenty-six-foldadvantageforthecollege-educated.andlowest egroups,andby25percentbetweenthehighestandlowesteducationlevels.Inthelongrun,participationintheinformationagemaynotbeazerosumgame,whereifsomegroupswin,othersmustlose.Eventually,asthetechnologymatureswearelikelytoseepenetrationlevelsapproachallgroupsequally.Thiswastrueforephoneaccessandevisionownership,buteventuallycanbecoldcomfortinanerawhentomorrowisrapidlydifferentfromtodayandunrecognizablecomparedwithyesterday.Morethan25By29Morethan42Morethan50Accordingtothetext,thecomputerusebythe elevelis thatbythelowest elevels.8percentmorenearly10timesasmanyabout20timesasmanyAccordingtotheauthor,whichofthefollowingpreventspeoplefromgainingaccesstotheePooreducation e ThedividebetweenthepoorandtheThepaceoftheinformationThegapbetweenpeople’saccesstotheRuthSimmonsjoinedGoldmanSachs’sboardasanoutsidedirectorinJanuary2000;ayearlatershebecameofBrownUniversity.Fortherestofthedecadesheapparentlymanagedbothroleswithoutattractingmuchcriticism.Butbytheendof2009Ms.SimmonswasunderfireforhavingsatonGoldman’scompensationcommittee;howcouldshehaveletthoseenormousbonuspayoutspassunremarked?ByFebruarythenextyearMs.Simmonshadlefttheboard.Thepositionwasjusttakinguptoomuchtime,sheOutsidedirectorsaresupposedtoserveashelpful,yetlessbiasedadvisersonafirm’sboard.Havingmadetheirwealthandtheirreputationselsewhere,theypresumablyhaveenoughindependencetodisagreewiththechiefexecutive’sproposals.Ifthesky,andtheshareprice,isfalling,outsidedirectorsshouldbeabletogiveadvicebasedonhavingweatheredtheirowncrises.TheresearchersfromOhioUniversityusedadatabasethatcoveredmorethan10,000firmsandmorethan64,000differentdirectorsbetween1989and2004.Thentheysimplycheckedwhichwasage,sotheresearchersconcentratedonthose“surprise”disappearancesbydirectorsundertheageof70.Theyfoundthatafterasurprisedeparture,theprobabilitythatthewillsubsequentlyhavetorestateearningsincreasesbynearly20%.Thelikelihoodofbeingnamedinafederalclass-actionlawsuitalsoincreases,andthestockislikelytoperformworse.theeffecttendedtobelargerforlargerfirms.Althoughacorrelationbetweenthemleavingandsubsequentbadperformanceatthefirmissuggestive,itdoesnotmeanthatsuchdirectorsarealwaysjumoffasinkingship.Oftenthey“tradeup”，leavingriskier,smallerfirmsforlargerandmorestableButtheresearchersbelievethatoutsidedirectorshaveaneasiertimeofavoidingablowtotheirreputationsiftheyleaveafirmbeforebadnewsbreaks,evenifareviewofhistoryshowstheywereontheboardatthetimeanywrongngoccurred.Firmswhowanttokeeptheiroutsidedirectorsthroughtoughtimesmayhavetocreateincentives.OtherwiseoutsidedirectorswillfollowtheexampleofMs.Simmons,onceagainverypopularoncampus.AccordingtoParagraph1,MsSimmonswascriticizedforfailingtofulfillherleavingtheboardintoughWelearnfromParagraph2thatoutsidedirectorsaresupposedtobe [B]unbiased[C]shareprice AccordingtotheresearchersfromOhioUniversity,afteranoutsidedirector'ssurprisedeparture,thefirmislikelyto emore [B]reportincreased[C]dolesswellinthestock [D]performworseinhaveoftenhadrecordsofwrongngsintheareaccustomedtostress-workinthewilldeclineincentivesfromthe [B] [C] [D]Mosthumanbeingsactual1ydecidebeforetheythink.Whenanyhumanbeing－executive,specializedexpert,or inthestreet－encountersacomplexissueandformsanopinion,oftenwithinamatterofseconds,howthoroughlyhasheorsheexploredtheimplicationsofthevariouscoursesofaction?Answer:notverythoroughly.Veryfewpeople,nomatterhowinte1ligentorexperienced,cantakeinventoryofthemanybranchingpossibilities,possiblees,sideeffects,andundesiredconsequencesofaoracourseofactioninamatterofseconds.Yet,thosewhopridethemse1vesonbeingdecisiveoftentrytodojustthat.Andoncetheirbrainslockontoanopinion,mostoftheirthinkingthereafterconsistsoffindingsupportforAveryserioussideeffectofargumentativedecisionmakingcanbealackofsupportforthechosencourseofactiononthepartofthe“l(fā)osing”faction.Whenonefactionwinsthemeetingandtheothersseethemselvesaslosing,thebattleoftendoesn’tendwhenthemeetingends.Anger,resentment,andlousymayleadthemtosabotagethedecisionlater,ortoreopenthedebateatlatermeetings.Thereisabetterway.AsphilosopherAldousHuxleysaid,“Itisn’twhoisright,butwhatisright,thatcounts.”Thestructured-inquirymethodoffersabetteralternativetoargumentativedecisionmakingbydebate.WiththehelpoftheInternetandwirelesscomputertechnologythegapbetweenexpertsandexecutivesisnowbeingdramaticallyclosed.Byactuallyputtingthebrakesonthethinkingprocess,slowingitdown,andorganizingtheflowoflogic,it’spossibletocreatealevelofclaritythatsheerargumentationcannevermatch.Thestructured-inquiryprocessintroducesalevelofconceptualclaritybyorganizingthecontributionsoftheexperts,thenbringstheexpertsandthedecisionmakersclosertogether.Althoughitisn’tpossibleornecessaryforaorprimeministertolisteninoneveryinligenceysismeeting,it’spossibletoorganizetheexperts’informationtogivethedecisionmakermuchgreaterinsightastoitsmeaning.Thisprocessmaysomewhatresembleamarketingfocusgroup;it’sasimple,remarkablycleverwaytobringdecisionmakersclosertothesourceoftheexpertinformationandopinionsonwhichtheymustbasetheirdecisions.Fromthefirstparagraphwecanlearn executive,specializedexpert,arenomorecleverthaninthethosewhopridethemselvesonbeingdecisiveoftenfailtodoJudgingfromthecontext,whatdoestheword“them”(line4,paragraph2)referThe“l(fā)osing”O(jiān)therthereisasubtledifferencebetweenrightandwecannotlwhoisrightandwhatiswhatisrightismoreimportantthanwhoiswhatisrightaccountsforthequestionwhois tomakedecisionbytoapplytheInternetandwirelesscomputertobrakeonthethinkingprocess,slowingittocreatealevelofconceptual theexperts’Officejobsareamongthepositionshardesthitbycompumation(計(jì)算機(jī)自動(dòng)化).processorsandtypistswillloseabout93,000jobsoverthenextfewyears,while57,000secretarialjobswillvanish.BlamethePC:Today,manyexecutivestypetheirownmemosandcarrytheir“secretaries”inthepaoftheirhands.Timeisalsohardforstockclerks,whoseranksareexpectedtodecreaseby68,000.Andemployeesinmanufacturingfirmsandwholesalersarebeingrecedwithcomputerizedsystems.Butnoteveryonewholosesajobwillendupintheunemploymentline.Manywillshifttogrowingpositionswithintheirowncompanies.Whennewshookupthe business,ephoneoperatorJudyDoughertypursuedretraining.Sheisnowacommunicationstechnician,earningabout$64,000peryear.Ofcourse,ifyou’vebeenatollboothcollectorforthepast30years,andyoufindyourselfrecedbyanE-ZPassmachine,itmaybeoflittleconsolation(安慰)toknowthatthe mfieldisbooming.Inthesecondparagraphtheauthormentionsthetollboothcollector meanhewillgetbenefitsfrom mshowheistoooldtoshifttoanewconsolehimonhavingbeenrecedbyablamethePCforhisTheapartmentsintheeleganttowersMiesbuiltonChicago'sLakeShoreDrive,forexample,weresmaller–two–bedroomunitsunder1,000squarefeet-thanthoseintheirolderneighborsalongthecity'sGoldCoast.Buttheywerepopularbecauseoftheirairyglasswalls,theviewstheyaffordedandtheeleganceofthebuildings’detailsandproportions,thearchitecturalequivalentofthe artsopopularatthetime.WhatistrueabouttheapartmentsMiesbuiltonChicago'sLakeShoreTheywerebuiltwithmaterialspopularatthat ManyAmericansregardthejurysystemasaconcreteexpressionofcrucialdemocraticvalues,includingtheprinciplesthatallcitizenswhomeetminimalqualificationsofageandlicyareequallycompetenttoserveonjuries;thatjurorsshouldbeselectedrandomlyfromarepresentativecrosssectionofthecommunity;thatnocitizenshouldbedeniedtherighttobytheirpeers;andthatverdictsshouldrepresenttheconscienceofthecommunityandnotjusttheletterofthelaw.Thejuryisalsosaidtobethebestsurvivingexampleofdirectratherthanrepresentativedemocracy.Inadirectdemocracy,citizenstaketurnserningthemselves,ratherthanelectingrepresentativestoernforthem..FromtheprinciplesoftheUSjurysystem，welearn bothliteandillitepeoplecanseverondefendantsareimmunefromtrialbytheirpeersimmuneentitlednoagelimitshouldbeimposedforjuryjudgmentshouldconsidertheopinionoftheAsfurtherevidenceoftheerosionofcorporatefaithinspecializeddegree,MichiganState’sasnewhires,theyoftenseekoutgeneralistsformiddleandupper-levelmanagement.Thestructured-inquirymethodoffersabetteralternativetoargumentativedecisionmakingbydebate.WiththehelpoftheInternetandwirelesscomputertechnology，thegapbetweenexpertsandexecutivesisnowbeingdramaticallyclosed.Byactuallyputtingthebrakesonthethinkingprocess,slowingitdown,andorganizingtheflowoflogic,it’spossibletocreatealevelofclaritythatsheerargumentationcannevermatch. tomakedecisionbytoapplytheInternetandwirelesscomputertobrakeonthethinkingprocess,slowingittocreatealevelofconceptualAstheindustryadvances,however,othersuitsmayhaveanevengreaterimpact.CompaniesareunlikelytofilemanymorepatentsforhumanDNAmolecule-mostarealreadypatentedorinthepublic.Firmsarenowstudyinghowgenesin ct,lookingforcorrelationsthatmightbe drug’sefficiency:CompaniesareeagertowinpatentsforAccordingtoHansSauer,companiesareeagertowinpatents identifyinghumanThecontextofleadershipischanging,theyobserve,andthehistoricalemphasisonhardpowerisingoutdated.Inmodemcompaniesanddemocracies,powerisincreasinglydiffusedtraditionalhierarchies(等級(jí)制arebeingundermined,makingsoftpowerevermoreButthatdoesnotmeancoercionshouldnowtakeabackseattopersuasion.Mr.Nyeargues.Instead,headvocatesasynthesisofthesetwoviews.TheconclusionofThePowerstoLead,hissurveyofthetheoryofleadership,isthatacombinationofhardandsoftpower,whichhecalls”smartpower,isthebestapproach.CoercionisMoralityisPowerisnolongerThis,ofcourse,iswhatcapitalismisallabout.ButmoreandmoreofthesewillbeintheWest.EconomistsinthedevelopedworldusedtolovequotingJosephSchumpeter,whosaidthat“creativedestruction”wasanessentialpartofcapitalistgrowth.Buttheyalwaysassumedthatdestructionwouldhappenoverthere.WhenWesternworkersbeganlosingjobs,suddenlytheirleadersbegantolosefaithintheirprinciples.Thingshaveyettoreversecompley.Butthere’sclearlyanegativetrendinWesterntheoryandpractice.TheWesterneconomistsusedtoliketheideaof“creativedestruction”becauseitwasanessentialpartofcapitalistwasmeanttobethedestructionofdevelo生Ahaveitsroots/Origins/sourcesin create/produce/generate/bringabout 長(zhǎng)平滅eradicateAmerica’shealthsystemisunlikeanyother.TheUniteStatesspends16%ofitsGDPonhealth,aroundtwicetherich-countryaverage,equivalentto$6,280foreveryAmericaneachyear.Yetitistheonlyrichcountrythatdoesnotguaranteeuniversalhealthcoverage.Thankstoanaccidentofhistory,mostAmericansreceivehealthinsurancethroughtheiremployer,withtheernmentpickingupthebillforthepoorandtheelderly.Thiscurioushybrid（混合物）certainlyhasitsstrengths.Americanshavemorechoicethananybodyelse,andtheirhealth-caresystemismuchmoreinnovative.Europeans’billscouldbeDevelopmetforthem.Buttherearealsohugeweaknesses.Theonemostoftencited—especiallyforeigners—isthearmyofuninsured.Some46millionAmericansdonothavecover.Inmanycasesthatisoutofchoiceand,iftheyfallseriouslyill,hospitalshavetotreatthem.Butitisstilldeeplyunequal.Andtherearealsoshockinginefficiencies:bysomemeasures,30%ofAmericanhealthspendingiswasted.Itisimpliedinthepassage theUSernmentpaysmedicalbillsforthepoorandthesome46millionAmericansdonothavemedicalBesttitle標(biāo)題題，取最好的標(biāo)題題干找1：Fromthefirstparagraphwecaninferthatallofthefollowing sareeasilythrownintounemploymentEXCEPT Inthesecondparagraphtheauthormentionsthetollboothcollector meanhewillgetbenefitsfrom mshowheistoooldtoshifttoanewconsolehimonhavingbeenrecedbyablamethePCforhisBysaying“…compumationcoulddriveanevendeeperwedgebetweentherichandpoor”(Line5,Para4)theauthormeanspeoplearegettingricherandtherewillbeasmallgapbetweenrichandthegapbetweenrichandpoorisgettinglargerandit’stimetocloseupthegapbetweentherichandWhathappenedinNewark,NewJerseyonAugustFouryoungpeoplewerekilledinaschoolThenewmayorofNewarktookFourcollegestudentsfellvictimtoＷelearnfromthepassagethatNewarkhasallthefollowingproblemsEXCEPTA.B.C.D. Thebesttitleforpassagemay AMissiontoRevitalizetheTheauthormentionsthecaseofDonaldTrumpinorder exinthenewlypasseddepictDonaldTrump'sdilemmaatsupportDonald’snewaboutButtheyalwaysassumedthatdestructionwouldhappenoverthere.WhenWesternworkersbeganlosingjobs,suddenlytheirleadersbegantolosefaithintheirprinciples.Thingshaveyettoreversecompley.Butthere’sclearlyanegativetrendinWesterntheoryandpractice.Alittlehypocrisy（虛偽）isnotinitselfaseriousproblemTherealproblemisthatWesternernmentscontinuetoinsistthattheyretaincontrolofthekeyglobaleconomicandinstitutionswhiledriftingawayfromgloballiberalization.Lookatwhat’shappeningattheIMF(InternationalMonetaryFund).TheEuropeanshavedemandedthatkeepthepostofmanagingdirector,butalltoooften,westernofficialsputtheirowninterestsaboveeveryoneelse’swhenTheauthoruses“IMF”asanexampletoillustratethepoint EuropeanleadersarereluctanttoadmittheyareglobalinstitutionsarenotbeingledbytrueglobalizationThelargerquestionweneedtoaskourselvesis:canwereachagreaterpotentialthanwehaveeverimagined?Infact,ifyoustopandthinkaboutit–whatcouldyoudo?Imean…asapsychotheIwasalwaysinterestedinthestoriesthatpeopletoldaboutthemselves.JoeyBoring,astockbroker,wasanaverageperformeruntilshesprainedherkneeprettybadlyafterworkingoutinaninappropriateway.Anotherfriendofminementionedaboutthegreatpainsshegotaftershehadanintensivetrainingatthelocalgym.WhatdoestheauthormeanbygivingthetwoToprovepotentialisfarbiggerthanpeoplecanToadvisepeopletotakeexercisesinasaferwayin Theauthor’sattitudetowardreversingthehigh-speedtrend Generallyspeaking,theauthor’sattitudetowardgenepatentingisTheEuropeUnionisnowconsideringlegislationtocompelcorporateboardstomaintainacertainproportionofwomen-upto60percent.Thisproposedmandatewasbornoffrustration.Lastyear,EuropeCommissionViceVivianeRedingissuedacalltovoluntaryaction.Redinginvitedcorporationstosignupforgenderbalancegoalof40percentfemaleboardmembership.Butherappealwasconsideredafailure:only24companiestookitup.Theauthor’sattitudetowardReding’sappealisone RegardingthefutureoftheEU,theauthorseemsto ①負(fù)向－懷疑類(lèi)不鮮 ⑤正向類(lèi)⑥中性類(lèi) WhichofthefollowingdemonstratesthatworkingatnonstandardtimesistakingitstollonAmericanfamilies？StressonfamilialItsSingleItisimpliedthattheconsequencesofnonstandardworkschedules RegardingthefutureoftheEU,theauthorseemsto Intheauthor’sopinion,America’shealthsystem Theauthoruses“IMF”asanexampletoillustratethepointthat.Thepracticeofselectingso-calledelitejurorspriorto1968showedBeaverCollegeturneditselfintoArcadiaUniversityin2001forseveralreasons:tobreaktheconnectionwithitspastasawomen’scollege,topromoteitsgrowthintoafull-fledged(完全成universityandofficialsacknowledgedtoeliminatesomejokesaboutthecollege’soldnameonlate-nightevisionand“morningzoo”radioManycollegeofficialssaidchanginganameandimagecouldproducesubstantialresults.AtArcadia,inadditiontotheriseinapplications,theaveragestudent’stestscorehasincreasedby60points,JuliRoebeck,anArcadiaspokeswoman,said.Accordingtothespokeswoman,thenamechangeofBeaver turnsoutveryfailstoattainitshaseliminatedsomehastransformeditsWearebeingasked,and,infact,thepublicisdemandingthatwetakepositiveaction.Itisourresponsibilityasprofessionalsinenvironmentalhealthtomakethedifference.Yes,theecologists,theenvironmentalactivistsandtheconservationistsservetocommunicate,stimulatethinkingandpromotebehavioralchange.However,itisthoseofuswhoarepaidtomakethedecisionstodevelop,improveandenenvironmentalstandards,Isubmit,whomustleadthecharge.Themaintasknowfacingecologists,environmentalactivistsandconservationistsistotakeradicalmeasurestocontrolenvironmentalpollutionradicalmeasure/Wearebeingasked,and,infact,thepublicisdemandingthatwetakepositiveaction.Itisourresponsibilityasprofessionalsinenvironmentalhealthtomakethedifference.Yes,theecologists,theenvironmentalactivistsandtheconservationistsservetocommunicate,stimulatethinkingandpromotebehavioralchange.However,itisthoseofuswhoarepaidtomakethedecisionstodevelop,improveandenenvironmentalstandards,Isubmit,whomustleadthecharge. totakeradicalmeasurestocontrolenvironmentalpollutionradicalmeasure/Inpoorsocieties,peoplehavechildrentoimprovetheireconomicwell-beingbyincreasingthenumberoffamilyworkersandprovidingsupportsforparentsintheiroldage.Inwealthysocieties,thelogicoftenreverses.ernmentnowsupportstheelderly,diminishingtheneedforchildren.Bysomestudies,thesafetynetsforretireeshavereducedfertilityratesby0.5childrenintheUnitedStatesandalmost1.0inWesternEurope,reportseconomistRobertSteininthejournalNationalAffairs.Similarly,somecouplesdon’thavechildrenbecausetheydon’twanttosacrificetheirownlifestylestothetimeandexpenseofafamily.TheycannotaffordthetimeandexpensesofhavingaTheydon’trelyontheirchildrentosupporttheminoldIhadnotrealizedhowprofoundlymarketingtrendsdictatedourperceptionofwhatisnaturaltokids,includingourcorebeliefsabouttheirpsychologicaldevelopment.Takethetoddler.Iassumedthatphasewassomethingexpertsdevelopedafteryearsofresearchintochildren’sbehavior:wrong.Turnsout,accordingtoDanielCook,ahistorianofchildhoodconsumerism,itwaspopularizedasamarketingtrickbyclothingmanufacturersinthe1930s.Theauthorsuggeststhatourperceptionofchildren’spsychologicaldevelopmentwasinfluencedIfappropriatepublicpolicieswereincetohelpallwomen–whetherortheircaregivers-andallfamilies,Sandbergwouldbenomorenewworthythananyotherhighlycapablelivinginamorejustsociety.Womenenteringtopmanagement eheadlinesduetothelackof [A]moresocialjustice[C]suitablepublicpolicies[D]greater“softpressure”Ifappropriatepublicpolicieswereincetohelpallwomen–whetherortheirchildren’scaregivers-andallfamilies,Sandbergwouldbenomorenewworthythananyotherhighlycapablelivinginamorejustsociety.Womenenteringtopmanagement eheadlinesduetothelackof [A]moresocialjustice[C]suitablepublicpolicies[D]greater“softpressure”WilltheEuropeanUnionmakeit?Thequestionwouldhavesoundedstrangenotlongago.Noweventheproject'sgreatestcheerleaderstalkofacontinentfacinga“Bermudatriangle”ofdebt,populationdeclineandlowergrowth.Aswellasthosechronicproblems,theEUfacesanacutecrisisinitseconomiccore,the16countriesthatusethesinglecurrency.Marketshavelostfaiththattheeurozone'seconomies,weakerorstronger,willonedayconvergethankstothedisciplineofsharingasinglecurrency,whichdenies petitivemembersthequickfixofdevaluation.TheEUisfacedwithsomanyproblems ithasmoreorlesslostfaithinevenitssupportersbegintofeelsomeofitsmembercountriesntoabandonitintendstodenythepossibilityofWilltheEuropeanUnionmakeit?Thequestionwouldhavesoundedstrangenotlongago.Noweventheproject'sgreatestcheerleaderstalkofacontinentfacinga“Bermudatriangle”ofdebt,populationdeclineandlowergrowth.Aswellasthosechronicproblems,theEUfacesanacutecrisisinitseconomiccore,the16countriesthatusethesinglecurrency.Marketshavelostfaiththattheeurozone'seconomies,weakerorstronger,willonedayconvergethankstothedisciplineofsharingasinglecurrency,whichdenies petitivemembersthequickfixofdevaluation.TheEUisfacedwithsomanyproblems ithasmoreorlesslostfaithinevenitssupportersbegintofeelsomeofitsmembercountriesntoabandonItintendstodenythepossibilityofThestructured-inquirymethodoffersabetteralternativetoargumentativedecisionmakingbydebate.WiththehelpoftheInternetandwirelesscomputertechnologythegapbetweenexpertsandexecutivesisnowbeingdramaticallyclosed.Byactuallyputtingthebrakesonthethinkingprocess,slowingitdown,andorganizingtheflowoflogic,it’spossibletocreatealevelofclaritythatsheerargumentationcannevermatch. tomakedecisionbytoapplytheInternetandwirelesscomputertobrakeonthethinkingprocess,slowingittocreatealevelofconceptualButascompaniescontinuetheirattemptsat alizedmedicine,thecourtswillremainratherbusy.TheMyriadcaseitselfisprobablynotover.Criticsmakethreemainargumentsagainstgenepatents:ageneisaproductofnature,soitmaynotbepatented;genepatentssuppressinnovationratherthanrewardit;andpatents’monopoliesrestrictaccesstogenetictestssuchasMyriad’s.Agrowingnumberseemtoagree.Lastyearafederaltask-urgedreformforpatentsrelatedtogenetictests.InOctobertheDepartmentofJusticefiledabriefintheMyriadcase,arguingthatanisolatedDNAmolecule“isnolessaproductofnature…thanarecottonfibresthathavebeenseparatedfromcottonseeds.”Thosewhoareagainstgenepatentsbelieve genetictestsarenotonlyman-madeproductsarepatentsongenesdependmuchonAmerica'shealthsystemisunlikeanyother.TheUniteStatesspends16%ofitsGDPonhealth,aroundtwicetherich-countryaverage,equivalentto86,280foreveryAmericaneachyear,Yetitistheonlyrichcountrythatdoesnotguaranteeuniversalhealthcoverage.Thankstoanaccidentofhistory,mostAmericansreceivehealthinsurancethroughtheiremployers,withtheernmentpickingupthebillforthepoorandtheelderly.Intheauthor’sopinion,America’shealthsystem Intheinternetage,itisparticularlyeasytoseetheresentmentthathasalwaysbeenhiddenwithinAmericansociety.Moredifficult,inthemoment,isdiscerningpreciselyhowtheseleantimesareaffectingsociety’scharacter.Inmanyrespects,theU.S.wasmoresociallytolerantenteringthisrecessionthanatanytimeinitshistory,andavarietyofnationalpollsonsocialsincethenhaveshownmixedresults.Wewillhavetowaitandseeexactlyhowthesehardtimeswillreshapeoursocialfabric.Buttheycertainlywill,andallthemoresothelongertheyextend.Theauthorthinksthattheinfluenceofhardtimesonsocietyis 2008年MBA聯(lián)考閱讀理解題textLastweekendKyleMacDonaldinMontrealthrewapartytocelebratethefactthathegothisnewhomeinexchangeforaredpaperclip.Startingayearago,MacDonaldbarteredtheclipforincreasinglyvaluablestuff,includingacampstoveandrentinaPhoenixflat.Havingannouncedhisaimthehouse)inadvance,MacDonaldlikelygotaboostfromtechieseagertoseetheInternetpassthisdaringtestofitsnetworkingpower.“Mywholemotto(座右銘)was‘Startsmall,thinkbig,andhavefun’,”saysMacDonald,26,“Ireallykeptmyeffortonthecreativesideratherthanthebusinessside.”YetasoddastheMacDonaldexchangewas,barterisnowbigbusinessontheNet.Thisyearmorethan400,000companiesworldwidewillexchangesome$10billionworthofgoodsandservicesonagrowingnumberofbartersites.TheseWebsitesallowcompaniestotradeproductsforavirtualcurrency,whichtheycanusetobuygoodsfromothermembers.InIceland,garment-makerKapusalansellsathirdofitsoutputontheboomingVidskiptanetidexchange,earningvirtualmoneythatitusestobuymachineryandpaypartofemployeesalaries.TheTroc-servicesexchangeinFranceoffersmorethan4,600services,frommathlessonstoironing.Thisisnotaprimitivebartersystem.Bycreatingcurrencies,theInternetremovesamajorbarrier—whatBobMeyer,publisherofBarterNews,calls“thedoublecoincidenceofwants.”ThatNow,theycanpricethedealinvirtualcurrency.Barteralsohelpsfirmsmakeuseofidlecapacity.Forexample,advertisingis“hugelybartered”becausemanymedia,particularlyontheWebcansupplynewadspaceatlittlecost.Moreover,Internetadsdon’tregisterinindustry-growthstatistics,becausemanyexchangesarearrangedoutsidetheformalexchanges.LikeeBay,mostbartersitesallowmembersto“grade”tradingpartnersforhonestyqualityandsoon..Barterexchangescanallowfirmsincountrieswithhyperinflationornontradablecurrenciestoenterglobaltrades.Nextyear,anonprofitexchangecalledQuick