97~04年考研英語(yǔ)閱讀理解部分真題(打印版).doc.doc

1997年全真試題Passage1Itwas3:45inthemorningwhenthevotewasfinallytaken.Aftersixmonthsofarguingandfinal16hoursofhotparliamentarydebates,AustraliasNorthernTerritorybecamethefirstlegalauthorityintheworldtoallowdoctorstotakethelivesofincurablyillpatientswhowishtodie.Themeasurepassedbytheconvincingvoteof15to10.AlmostimmediatelywordflashedontheInternetandwaspickedup,halfaworldaway,byJohnHofsess,executivedirectoroftheRighttoDieSocietyofCanada.Hesentitonviathegroupson-lineservice,DeathNET.SaysHofsess:“Wepostedbulletinsalldaylong,becauseofcoursethisisntjustsomethingthathappenedinAustralia.Itsworldhistory.”awhasleftphysiciansandcitizensaliketryingtodealwithitsmoralandpracticalimplications.SomehavebreathedsigThefullimportmaytakeawhiletosinkin.TheNTRightsoftheTerminallyIlllhsofrelief,others,includingchurches,right-to-lifegroupsandtheAustralianMedicalAssociation,bitterlyattackedthebillandthehasteofitspassage.Butthetideisunlikelytoturnback.InAustraliawhereanagingpopulation,life-extendingtechnologyandchangingcommunityattitudeshaveallplayedtheirpartotherstatesaregoingtoconsidermakingasimilarlawtodealwitheuthanasia.IntheUSandCanada,wheretheright-to-diemovementisgatheringstrength,observersarewaitingforthedominoestostartfalling.UnderthenewNorthernTerritorylaw,anadultpatientcanrequestdeathprobablybyadeadlyinjectionorpilltoputanendtosuffering.Thepatientmustbediagnosedasterminallyillbytwodoctors.Aftera“coolingoff”periodofsevendays,thepatientcansignacertificateofrequest.After48hoursthewishfordeathcanbemet.ForLloydNickson,a54-year-oldDarwinresidentsufferingfromlungcancer,theNTRightsofTerminallyIlllawmeanshecangetonwithlivingwithoutthehauntingfearofhissuffering:aterrifyingdeathfromhisbreathingcondition.“Imnotafraidofdyingfromaspiritualpointofview,butwhatIwasafraidofwashowIdgo,becauseIvewatchedpeopledieinthehospitalfightingforoxygenandclawingattheirmasks,”hesays.Passage2AreportconsistentlybroughtbackbyvisitorstotheUSishowfriendly,courteous,andhelpfulmostAmericansweretothem.Tobefair,thisobservationisalsofrequentlymadeofCanadaandCanadians,andshouldbestbeconsideredNorthAmerican.Thereare,ofcourse,exceptions.Small-mindedofficials,rudewaiters,andill-manneredtaxidriversarehardlyunknownintheUS.Yetitisanobservationmadesofrequentlythatitdeservescomment.Foralongperiodoftimeandinmanypartsofthecountry,atravelerwasawelcomebreakinanotherwisedullexistence.Dullnessandlonelinesswerecommonproblemsofthefamilieswhogenerallyliveddistantfromoneanother.Strangersandtravelerswerewelcomesourcesofdiversion,andbroughtnewsoftheoutsideworld.Theharshrealitiesofthefrontieralsoshapedthistraditionofhospitality.Someonetravelingalone,ifhungry,injured,orill,oftenhadnowheretoturnexcepttothenearestcabinorsettlement.Itwasnotamatterofchoiceforthetravelerormerelyacharitableimpulseonthepartofthesettlers.Itreflectedtheharshnessofdailylife:ifyoudidnttakeinthestrangerandtakecareofhim,therewasnooneelsewhowould.Andsomeday,remember,youmightbeinthesamesituation.Todaytherearemanycharitableorganizationswhichspecializeinhelpingthewearytraveler.Yet,theoldtraditionofhospitalitytostrangersisstillverystrongintheUS,especiallyinthesmallercitiesandtownsawayfromthebusytouristtrails.“Iwasjusttravelingthrough,gottalkingwiththisAmerican,andprettysoonheinvitedmehomefordinneramazing.”SuchobservationsreportedbyvisitorstotheUSarenotuncommon,butarenotalwaysunderstoodproperly.ThecasualfriendlinessofmanyAmericansshouldbeinterpretedneitherassuperficialnorasartificial,butastheresultofahistoricallydevelopedculturaltradition.Asistrueofanydevelopedsociety,inAmericaacomplexsetofculturalsignals,assumptions,andconventionsunderliesallsocialinterrelationships.And,ofcourse,speakingalanguagedoesnotnecessarilymeanthatsomeoneunderstandssocialandculturalpatterns.Visitorswhofailto“translate”culturalmeaningsproperlyoftendrawwrongconclusions.Forexample,whenanAmericanusestheword“friend”,theculturalimplicationsofthewordmaybequitedifferentfromthoseithasinthevisitorslanguageandculture.Ittakesmorethanabriefencounteronabustodistinguishbetweencourteousconventionandindividualinterest.Yet,beingfriendlyisavirtuethatmanyAmericansvaluehighlyandexpectfrombothneighborsandstrangers.Passage3Technically,anysubstanceotherthanfoodthataltersourbodilyormentalfunctioningisadrug.Manypeoplemistakenlybelievethetermdrugrefersonlytosomesortofmedicineoranillegalchemicaltakenbydrugaddicts.Theydontrealizethatfamiliarsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccoarealsodrugs.Thisiswhythemoreneutraltermsubstanceisnowusedbymanyphysiciansandpsychologists.Thephrase“substanceabuse”isoftenusedinsteadof“drugabuse”tomakeclearthatsubstancessuchasalcoholandtobaccocanbejustasharmfullymisusedasheroinandcocaine.Weliveinasocietyinwhichthemedicalandsocialuseofsubstances(drugs)ispervasive:anaspirintoquietaheadache,somewinetobesociable,coffeetogetgoinginthemorning,acigaretteforthenerves.Whendothesesociallyacceptableandapparentlyconstructiveusesofasubstancebecomemisuses?Firstofall,mostsubstancestakeninexcesswillproducenegativeeffectssuchaspoisoningorintenseperceptualdistortions.Repeateduseofasubstancecanalsoleadtophysicaladdictionorsubstancedependence.Dependenceismarkedfirstbyanincreasedtolerance,withmoreandmoreofthesubstancerequiredtoproducethedesiredeffect,andthenbytheappearanceofunpleasantwithdrawalsymptomswhenthesubstanceisdiscontinued.Drugs(substances)thataffectthecentralnervoussystemandalterperception,mood,andbehaviorareknownaspsychoactivesubstances.Psychoactivesubstancesarecommonlygroupedaccordingtowhethertheyarestimulants,depressants,orhallucinogens.Stimulantsinitiallyspeeduporactivatethecentralnervoussystem,whereasdepressantsslowitdown.Hallucinogenshavetheirprimaryeffectonperception,distortingandalteringitinavarietyofwaysincludingproducinghallucinations.Thesearethesubstancesoftencalledpsychedelic(fromtheGreekwordmeaning“mind-manifestation”)becausetheyseemedtoradicallyalteronesstateofconsciousness.Passage4Nocompanylikestobetolditiscontributingtothemoraldeclineofanation.“Isthiswhatyouintendedtoaccomplishwithyourcareers?”SenatorRobertDoleaskedTimeWarnerexecutiveslastweek.“Youhavesoldyoursouls,butmustyoucorruptournationandthreatenourchildrenaswell?”AtTimeWarner,however,suchquestionsaresimplythelatestmanifestationofthesoul-searchingthathasinvolvedthecompanyeversincethecompanywasbornin1990.Itsaself-examinationthathas,atvarioustimes,involvedissuesofresponsibility,creativefreedomandthecorporatebottomline.AtthecoreofthisdebateischairmanGeraldLevin,56,whotookoverforthelateSteveRossin1992.Onthefinancialfront,Levinisunderpressuretoraisethestockpriceandreducethecompanysmountainousdebt,whichwillincreaseto$17.3billionaftertwonewcabledealsclose.Hehaspromisedtoselloffsomeofthepropertyandrestructurethecompany,butinvestorsarewaitingimpatiently.Theflapoverrapisnotmakinglifeanyeasierforhim.Levinhasconsistentlydefendedthecompanysrapmusiconthegroundsofexpression.In1992,whenTimeWarnerwasunderfireforreleasingIce-TsviolentrapsongCopKiller,Levindescribedrapasalawfulexpressionofstreetculture,whichdeservesanoutlet.“Thetestofanydemocraticsociety,”hewroteinaWallStreetJournalcolumn,“l(fā)iesnotinhowwellitcancontrolexpressionbutinwhetheritgivesfreedomofthoughtandexpressionthewidestpossiblelatitude,howeverdisputableorirritatingtheresultsmaysometimesbe.Wewontretreatinthefaceofanythreats.”Levinwouldnotcommentonthedebatelastweek,butthereweresignsthatthechairmanwasbackingoffhishard-linestand,atleasttosomeextent.Duringthediscussionofrocksingingversesatlastmonthsstockholdersmeeting,Levinassertedthat“musicisnotthecauseofsocietysills”andevencitedhisson,ateacherintheBronx,NewYork,whousesraptocommunicatewithstudents.Buthetalkedaswellaboutthe“balancedstruggle”betweencreativefreedomandsocialresponsibility,andheannouncedthatthecompanywouldlaunchadrivetodevelopstandardsfordistributionandlabelingofpotentiallyobjectionablemusic.The15-memberTimeWarnerboardisgenerallysupportiveofLevinandhiscorporatestrategy.Butinsiderssayseveralofthemhaveshowntheirconcernsinthismatter.“Someofushaveknownformany,manyyearsthatthefreedomsundertheFirstAmendmentarenottotallyunlimited,”saysLuce.“Ithinkitisperhapsthecasethatsomepeopleassociatedwiththecompanyhaveonlyrecentlycometorealizethis.”P(pán)assage5Muchofthelanguageusedtodescribemonetarypolicy,suchas“steeringtheeconomytoasoftlanding”or“atouchonthebrakes”,makesitsoundlikeaprecisescience.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.Thelinkbetweeninterestratesandinflationisuncertain.Andtherearelong,variablelagsbeforepolicychangeshaveanyeffectontheeconomy.Hencetheanalogythatlikenstheconductofmonetarypolicytodrivingacarwithablackenedwindscreen,acrackedrear-viewmirrorandafaultysteeringwheel.Givenallthesedisadvantages,centralbankersseemtohavehadmuchtoboastaboutoflate.Averageinflationinthebigsevenindustrialeconomiesfelltoamere2.3%lastyear,closetoitslowestlevelin30years,beforerisingslightlyto2.5%thisJuly.Thisisalongwaybelowthedouble-digitrateswhichmanycountriesexperiencedinthe1970sandearly1980s.Itisalsolessthanmostforecastershadpredicted.Inlate1994thepanelofeconomistswhichTheEconomistpollseachmonthsaidthatAmericasinflationratewouldaverage3.5%in1995.Infact,itfellto2.6%inAugust,andisexpectedtoaverageonlyabout3%fortheyearasawhole.InBritainandJapaninflationisrunninghalfapercentagepointbelowtheratepredictedattheendoflastyear.Thisisnoflashinthepan；overthepastcoupleofyears,inflationhasbeenconsistentlylowerthanexpectedinBritainandAmerica.EconomistshavebeenparticularlysurprisedbyfavourableinflationfiguresinBritainandtheUnitedStates,sinceconventionalmeasuressuggestthatbotheconomies,andespeciallyAmericas,havelittleproductiveslack.Americascapacityutilisation,forexample,hithistoricallyhighlevelsearlierthisyear,anditsjoblessrate(5.6%inAugust)hasfallenbelowmostestimatesofthenaturalrateofunemploymenttheratebelowwhichinflationhastakenoffinthepast.Whyhasinflationprovedsomild?Themostthrillingexplanationis,unfortunately,alittledefective.Someeconomistsarguethatpowerfulstructuralchangesintheworldhaveup-endedtheoldeconomicmodelsthatwerebaseduponthehistoricallinkbetweengrowthandinflation.1998Text1Fewcreationsofbigtechnologycapturetheimaginationlikegiantdams.Perhapsitishumankindslongsufferingatthemercyoffloodanddroughtthatmakestheideaofforcingthewaterstodoourbiddingsofascinating.Buttobefascinatedisalso,sometimes,tobeblind.Severalgiantdamprojectsthreatentodomoreharmthangood.Thelessonfromdamsisthatbigisnotalwaysbeautiful.Itdoesnthelpthatbuildingabig,powerfuldamhasbecomeasymbolofachievementfornationsandpeoplestrivingtoassertthemselves.EgyptsleadershipintheArabworldwascementedbytheAswanHighDam.TurkeysbidforFirstWorldstatusincludesthegiantAtaturkDam.Butbigdamstendnottoworkasintended.TheAswanDam,forexample,stoppedtheNilefloodingbutdeprivedEgyptofthefertilesiltthatfloodsleft-allinreturnforagiantreservoirofdiseasewhichisnowsofullofsiltthatitbarelygenerateselectricity.Andyet,themythofcontrollingthewaterspersists.Thisweek,intheheartofcivilizedEurope,SlovaksandHungariansstoppedjustshortofsendinginthetroopsintheircontentionoveradamontheDanube.Thehugecomplexwillprobablyhavealltheusualproblemsofbigdams.ButSlovakiaisbiddingforindependencefromtheCzechs,andnowneedsadamtoproveitself.Meanwhile,inIndia,theWorldBankhasgiventhego-aheadtotheevenmorewrong-headedNarmadaDam.Andthebankhasdonethiseventhoughitsadvisorssaythedamwillcausehardshipforthepowerlessandenvironmentaldestruction.Thebenefitsareforthepowerful,buttheyarefarfromguaranteed.Proper,scientificstudyoftheimpactsofdamsandofthecostandbenefitsofcontrollingwatercanhelptoresolvetheseconflicts.Hydroelectricpowerandfloodcontrolandirrigationarepossiblewithoutbuildingmonsterdams.Butwhenyouaredealingwithmyths,itishardtobeeitherproper,orscientific.ItistimethattheworldlearnedthelessonsofAswan.Youdontneedadamtobesaved.Text2Well,nogainwithoutpain,theysay.Butwhataboutpainwithoutgain?EverywhereyougoinAmerica,youheartalesofcorporaterevival.Whatishardertoestablishiswhethertheproductivitrevolutionthatbusinessmenassumetheyarepresidingoverisforreal.Theofficialstatisticsaremildlydiscouraging.Theyshowthat,ifyoulumpmanufacturingandservicestogether,productivityhasgrownonaverageby1.2%since1987.Thatissomewhatfasterthantheaverageduringthepreviousdecade.Andsince1991,productivityhasincreasedbyabout2%ayear,whichismorethantwicethe1978-87average.Thetroubleisthatpartoftherecentaccelerationisduetotheusualreboundthatoccursatthispointinabusinesscycle,andsoisnotconclusiveevidenceofarevivalintheunderlyingtrend.Thereis,asRobertRubin,thetreasurysecretary,says,a“disjunction”betweenthemassofbusinessanecdotethatpointstoaleapinproductivityandthepicturereflectedbythestatistics.Someofthiscanbeeasilyexplained.Newwaysoforganizingtheworkplace-allthatre-engineeringanddownsizing-areonlyonecontributiontotheoverallproductivityofaneconomy,whichisdrivenbymanyotherfactorssuchasjointinvestmentinequipmentandmachinery,newtechnology,andinvestmentineducationandtraining.Moreover,mostofthechangesthatcompaniesmakeareintendedtokeepthemprofitable,andthisneednotalwaysmeanincreasingproductivity:switchingtonewmarketsorimprovingqualitycanmatterjustasmuch.Twootherexplanationsaremorespeculative.First,someofthebusinessrestructuringofrecentyearsmayhavebeenineptlydone.Second,evenifitwaswelldone,itmayhavespreadmuchlesswidelythanpeoplesuppose.LeonardSchlesinger,aHarvardacademicandformerchiefexecutiveofAuBongPain,arapidlygrowingchainofbakerycafes,saysthatmuch“re-engineering”hasbeencrude.Inmanycases,hebelieves,thelossofrevenuehasbeengreaterthanthereductionsincost.Hiscolleague,MichaelBeer,saysthatfartoomanycompanieshaveappliedre-engineeringinamechanisticfashion,choppingoutcostswithoutgivingsufficientthoughttolong-termprofitability.BBDOsAlRosenshineisblunter.Hedismissesalotoftheworkofre-engineeringconsultantsasmererubbish-“theworstsortofambulancechasing.”Sciencehaslonghadanuneasyrelationshipwithotheraspectsofculture.ThinkofGallileos17th-centurytrialforhisrebellingbeliefbeforetheCatholicChurchorpoetWilliamBlakesharshremarksagainstthemechanisticworldviewofIsaacNewton.Theschismbetweenscienceandthehumanitieshas,ifanything,deepenedinthiscentury.Untilrecently,thescientificcommunitywassopowerfulthatitcouldaffordtoignoreitscritics-butnolonger.Asfundingforsciencehasdeclined,scientistshaveattacked“anti-science”inseveralbooks,notablyHigherSuperstition,byPaulR.Gross,abiologistattheUniversityofVirginia,andNormanLevitt,amathematicianatRutgersUniversity；andTheDemon-HauntedWorld,byCarlSaganofCornellUniversity.Defendersofsciencehavealsovoicedtheirconcernsatmeetingssuchas“TheFlightfromScienceandReason,”heldinNewYorkCityin1995,and“ScienceintheAgeof(Mis)information,”whichassembledlastJunenearBuffalo.Anti-scienceclearlymeansdifferentthingstodifferentpeople.GrossandLevittfindfaultprimarilywithsociologists,philosophersandotheracademicswhohavequestionedsciencesobjectivity.Saganismoreconcernedwiththosewhobelieveinghosts,creationismandotherphenomenathatcontradictthescientificworldview.Asurveyofnewsstoriesin1996revealsthattheanti-sciencetaghasbeenattachedtomanyothergroupsaswell,fromauthoritieswhoadvocatedtheeliminationofthelastremainingstocksofsmallpoxvirustoRepublicanswhoadvocateddecreasedfundingforbasicresearch.FewwoulddisputethatthetermappliestotheUnabomber,whosemanifesto,publishedin1995,scornsscienceandlongsforreturntoapre-technologicalutopia.Butsurelythatdoesnotmeanenvironmentalistsconcernedaboutuncontrolledindustrialgrowthareanti-science,asanessayinUSNews&WorldReportlastMayseemedtosuggest.Theenvironmentalists,inevitably,respondtosuchcritics.Thetrueenemiesofscience,arguesPaulEhrlichofStanfordUniversity,apioneerofenvironmentalstudies,arethosewhoquestiontheevidencesupportingglobalwarming,thedepletionoftheozonelayerandotherconsequencesofindustrialgrowth.Indeed,someobserversfearthattheanti-scienceepithetisindangerofbecomingmeaningless.“Thetermanti-sciencecanlumptogethertoomany,quitedifferentthings,”notesHarvardUniversityphilosopherGeraldHoltoninhis1993workScienceandAnti-Science.“Theyhaveincommononlyonethingthattheytendtoannoyorthreatenthosewhoregardthemselvesasmoreenlightened.”Text4Emergingfromthe1980censusisthepictureofanationdevelopingmoreandmoreregionalcompetition,aspopulationgrowthintheNortheastandMidwestreachesanearstandstill.Thisdevelopment-anditsstrongimplicationsforUSpoliticsandeconomyinyearsahead-hasenthronedtheSouthasAmericasmostdenselypopulatedregionforthefirsttimeinthehistoryofthenationsheadcounting.Altogether,theUSpopulationroseinthe1970sby23.2millionpeople-numericallythethird-largestgrowtheverrecordedinasingledecade.Evenso,thatgainaddsuptoonly11.4percent,lowestinAmericanannualrecordsexceptfortheDepressionyears.AmericanshavebeenmigratingsouthandwestinlargernumberssinceWorldWarII,andthepatternstillprevails.Threesun-beltstates-Florida,TexasandCalifornia-togetherhadnearly10millionmorepeoplein1980thanadecadeearlier.Amonglargecities,SanDiegomovedfrom14thto8thandSanAntoniofrom15thto10th-withClevelandandWashington.D.C.,droppingoutofthetop10.Notallthatshiftcanbeattributedtothemovementoutofthesnowbelt,censusofficialssay.Nonstopwavesofimmigrantsplayedarole,too-andsodidbiggercropsofbabiesasyesterdays“babyboom”generationreacheditschildbearingyears.Moreover,demographersseethecontinuingshiftsouthandwestasjoinedbyarelatedbutnewerphenomenon:Moreandmore,Americansapparentlyarelookingnotjustforplaceswithmorejobsbutwithfewerpeople,too.SomeinstancesRegionally,theRockyMountainstatesreportedthemostrapidgrowthrate-37.1percentsince1970inavastareawithonly5percentoftheUSpopulation.Amongstates,NevadaandArizonagrewfastestofall:63.5and53.1percentrespectively.ExceptforFloridaandTexas,thetop10inrateofgrowthiscomposedofWesternstateswith7.5millionpeople-about9persquaremile.Theflightfromovercrowdednessaffectsthemigrationfromsnowbelttomorebearableclimates.Nowheredo1980censusstatisticsdramatizemoretheAmericansearchforspaciouslivingthanintheFarWest.There,Californiaadded3.7milliontoitspopulationinthe1970s,morethananyotherstate.Inthatdecade,however,largenumbersalsomigratedfromCalifornia,mostlytootherpartsoftheWest.Oftentheychose-andstillarechoosing-somewhatcolderclimatessuchasOregon,IdahoandAlaskainordertoescapesmog,crimeandotherplaguesofurbanizationintheGoldenState.Asaresult,Californiasgrowthratedroppedduringthe1970s,to18.5percent-littlemorethantwothirdsthe1960sgrowthfigureandconsiderablybelowthatofotherWesternstates.Text5Scatteredaroundtheglobearemorethan100smallregionsofisolatedvolcanicactivityknowntogeologistsashotspots.Unlikemostoftheworldsvolcanoes,theyarenotalwaysfoundattheboundariesofthegreatdriftingplatesthatmakeuptheearthssurface；onthecontrary,manyofthemliedeepintheinteriorofaplate.Mostofthehotspotsmoveonlyslowly,andinsomecasesthemovementoftheplatespastthemhaslefttrailsofdeadvolcanoes.Thehotspotsandtheirvolcanictrailsaremilestonesthatmarkthepassageoftheplates.Thattheplatesaremovingisnowbeyonddispute.AfricaandSouthAmerica,forexample,aremovingawayfromeachotherasnewmaterialisinjectedintotheseafloorbetweenthem.Thecomplementarycoastlinesandcertaingeologicalfeaturesthatseemtospantheoceanareremindersofwherethetwocontinentswereoncejoined.Therelativemotionoftheplatescarryingthesecontinentshasbeenconstructedindetail,butthemotionofoneplatewithrespecttoanothercannotreadilybetranslatedintomotionwithrespecttotheearthsinterior.Itisnotpossibletodeterminewhetherbothcontinentsaremovinginoppositedirectionsorwhetheronecontinentisstationaryandtheotherisdriftingawayfromit.Hotspots,anchoredinthedeeperlayersoftheearth,providethemeasuringinstrumentsneededtoresolvethequestion.Fromananalysisofthehot-spotpopulationitappearsthattheAfricanplateisstationaryandthatithasnotmovedduringthepast30millionyears.Thesignificanceofhotspotsisnotconfinedtotheirroleasaframeofreference.Itnowappearsthattheyalsohaveanimportantinfluenceonthegeophysicalprocessesthatpropeltheplatesacrosstheglobe.Whenacontinentalplatecometorestoverahotspot,thematerialrisingfromdeeperlayerscreatesabroaddome.Asthedomegrows,itdevelopsdeepfissures(cracks)；inatleastafewcasesthecontinentmaybreakentirelyalongsomeofthesefissures,sothatthehotspotinitiatestheformationofanewocean.Thusjustasearliertheorieshaveexplainedthemobilityofthecontinents,sohotspotsmayexplaintheirmutability(inconstancy).1999年年全真試題Passage1Itsaroughworldoutthere.Stepoutsideandyoucouldbreakalegslippingonyourdoormat.Lightupthestoveandyoucouldburndownthehouse.Luckily,ifthedoormatorstovefailedtowarnofcomingdisaster,asuccessfullawsuitmightcompensateyouforyourtroubles.Orsothethinkinghasgonesincetheearly1980s,whenjuriesbeganholdingmorecompaniesliablefortheircustomersmisfortunes.Feelingthreatened,companiesrespondedbywritingeverlongerwarninglabels,tryingtoanticipateeverypossibleaccident.Today,stepladderscarrylabelsseveralincheslongthatwarn,amongotherthings,thatyoumightsurprise!falloff.ThelabelonachildsBatmancapecautionsthatthetoy“doesnotenableusertofly”.Whilewarningsareoftenappropriateandnecessarythedangersofdruginteractions,forexampleandmanyarerequiredbystateorfederalregulations,itisntclearthattheyactuallyprotectthemanufacturersandsellersfromliabilityifacustomerisinjured.About50percentofthecompanieslosewheninjuredcustomerstakethemtocourt.Nowthetideappearstobeturning.Aspersonalinjuryclaimscontinueasbefore,somecourtsarebeginningtosidewithdefendants,especiallyincaseswhereawarninglabelprobablywouldnthavechangedanything.InMay,JulieNimmons,presidentofSchuttSportsinIllinois,successfullyfoughtalawsuitinvolvingafootballplayerwhowasparalyzedinagamewhilewearingaSchutthelmet.“Werereallysorryhehasbecomeparalyzed,buthelmetsarentdesignedtopreventthosekindsofinjuries,”saysNimmons.Thejuryagreedthatthenatureofthegame,notthehelmet,wasthereasonfortheathletesinjury.Atthesametime,theAmericanLawInstituteagroupofjudges,lawyers,andacademicswhoserecommendationscarrysubstantialweightissuednewguidelinesfortortlawstatingthatcompaniesneednotwarncustomersofobviousdangersorbombardthemwithalengthylistofpossibleones.“Importantinformationcangetburiedinaseaoftrivialities,”saysalawprofessoratCornellLawSchoolwhohelpeddraftthenewguidelines.Ifthemoderateendofthelegalcommunityhasitsway,theinformationonproductsmightactuallybeprovidedforthebenefitofcustomersandnotasprotectionagainstlegalliability.Passage2InthefirstyearorsoofWebbusiness,mostoftheactionhasrevolvedaroundeffortstotaptheconsumermarket.Morerecently,astheWebprovedtobemorethanafashion,companieshavestartedtobuyandsellproductsandserviceswithoneanother.Suchbusinesstobusinesssalesmakesensebecausebusinesspeopletypicallyknowwhatproducttheyrelookingfor.Nonetheless,manycompaniesstillhesitatetousetheWebbecauseofdoubtsaboutitsreliability.“Businessesneedtofeeltheycantrustthepathwaybetweenthemandthesupplier,”sayssenioranalystBlaneErwinofForresterResearch.Somecompaniesarelimitingtheriskbyconductingonlinetransactionsonlywithestablishedbusinesspartnerswhoaregivenaccesstothecompanysprivateintranet.AnothermajorshiftinthemodelforInternetcommerceconcernsthetechnologyavailableformarketing.Untilrecently,Internetmarketingactivitieshavefocusedonstrategiesto“pull”customersintosites.Inthepastyear,however,softwarecompanieshavedevelopedtoolsthatallowcompaniesto“push”informationdirectlyouttoconsumers,transmittingmarketingmessagesdirectlytotargetedcustomers.Mostnotably,thePointcastNetworkusesascreensavertodeliveracontinuallyupdatedstreamofnewsandadvertisementstosubscriberscomputermonitors.SubscriberscancustomizetheinformationtheywanttoreceiveandproceeddirectlytoacompanysWebsite.CompaniessuchasVirtualVineyardsarealreadystartingtousesimilartechnologiestopushmessagestocustomersaboutspecialsales,productofferings,orotherevents.ButpushtechnologyhasearnedthecontemptofmanyWebusers.Onlineculturethinkshighlyofthenotionthattheinformationflowingontothescreencomestherebyspecificrequest.Oncecommercialpromotionbeginstofillthescreenuninvited,thedistinctionbetweentheWebandtelevisionfades.ThatsaprospectthathorrifiesNetpurists.ButitishardlyinevitablethatcompaniesontheWebwillneedtoresorttopushstrategiestomakemoney.TheexamplesofVirtualVineyards,A,andotherpioneersshowthataWebsitesellingtherightkindofproductswiththerightmixofinteractivity,hospitality,andsecuritywillattractonlinecustomers.Andthecostofcomputingpowercontinuestofreefall,whichisagoodsignforanyenterprisesettingupshopinsilicon.Peoplelookingback5or10yearsfromnowmaywellwonderwhysofewcompaniestooktheonlineplunge.Passage3Aninvisibleborderdividesthosearguingforcomputersintheclassroomonthebehalfofstudentscareerprospectsandthosearguingforcomputersintheclassroomforbroaderreasonsofradicaleducationalreform.Veryfewwritersonthesubjecthaveexploredthisdistinctionindeed,contradictionwhichgoestotheheartofwhatiswrongwiththecampaigntoputcomputersintheclassroom.Aneducationthataimsatgettingastudentacertainkindofjobisatechnicaleducation,justifiedforreasonsradicallydifferentfromwhyeducationisuniversallyrequiredbylaw.Itisnotsimplytoraiseeveryonesjobprospectsthatallchildrenarelegallyrequiredtoattendschoolintotheirteens.Rather,wehaveacertainconceptionoftheAmericancitizen,acharacterwhoisincompleteifhecannotcompetentlyassesshowhislivelihoodandhappinessareaffectedbythingsoutsideofhimself.Butthiswasnotalwaysthecase；beforeitwaslegallyrequiredforallchildrentoattendschooluntilacertainage,itwaswidelyacceptedthatsomewerejustnotequippedbynaturetopursuethiskindofeducation.Withoptimismcharacteristico