考研英語真題閱讀理解

2011^Text1ThedecisionoftheNewYorkPhilharmonictohireAlanGilbertasitsnextmusicdirectorhasbeenthetalkoftheclassical-musicworldeversincethesuddenannouncementofhisappointmentin2009.Forthemostpart,theresponsehasbeenfavorable,tosaytheleast.''Hooray!Atlast!”wroteAnthonyTommasini,asober-sidedclassical-musiccritic.Oneofthereasonswhytheappointmentcameassuchasurprise,however,isthatGilbertiscomparativelylittleknown.EvenTommasini,whohadadvocatedGilbert'sappointmentintheTimes,callshim"anunpretentiousmusicianwithnoairoftheformidableconductorabouthim/*AsadescriptionofthenextmusicdirectorofanorchestrathathashithertobeenledbymusicianslikeGustavMahlerandPierreBoulez,thatseemslikelytohavestruckatleastsomeTimesreadersasfaintpraise.Formypart,IhavenoideawhetherGilbertisagreatconductororevenagoodone.Tobesure,heperformsanimpressivevarietyofinterestingcompositions,butitisnotnecessaryformetovisitAveryFisherHall,oranywhereelse,tohearinterestingorchestralmusic.AllIhavetodoistogotomyCDshelf,orbootupmycomputeranddownloadstillmorerecordedmusicfromiTunes.Devotedconcertgoerswhoreplythatrecordingsarenosubstituteforliveperformancearemissingthepoint.Forthetime,attention,andmoneyoftheart-lovingpublic,classicalinstrumentalistsmustcompetenotonlywithoperahouses,dancetroupes,theatercompanies,andmuseums,butalsowiththerecordedperformancesofthegreatclassicalmusiciansofthe20thcentury.Thererecordingsarecheap,availableeverywhere,andveryoftenmuchhigherinartisticqualitythantoday'sliveperformances;moreover,theycanbe"consumed“atatimeandplaceofthelistener'schoosing.Thewidespreadavailabilityofsuchrecordingshasthusbroughtaboutacrisisintheinstitutionofthetraditionalclassicalconcert.Onepossibleresponseisforclassicalperformerstoprogramattractivenewmusicthatisnotyetavailableonrecord.Gilbert'sowninterestinnewmusichasbeenwidelynoted:AlexRoss,aclassical-musiccritic,hasdescribedhimasamanwhoiscapableofturningthePhilharmonicinto"amarkedlydifferent,morevibrantorganization."Butwhatwillbethenatureofthatdifference?Merelyexpandingtheorchestra'srepertoirewillnotbeenough.IfGilbertandthePhilharmonicaretosucceed,theymustfirstchangetherelationshipbetweenAmerica'soldestorchestraandthenewaudienceithopstoattractText2WhenLiamMcGeedepartedaspresidentofBankofAmericainAugust,hisexplanationwassurprisinglystraightup.Ratherthancloakinghisexitintheusualvagueexcuses,hecamerightoutandsaidhewasleaving"topursuemygoalofrunningacompany.r,Broadcastinghisambitionwas''verymuchmydecision,McGeesays.Withintwoweeks,hewastalkingforthefirsttimewiththeboardofHartfordFinancialServicesGroup,whichnamedhimCEOandchairmanonSeptember29.McGeesaysleavingwithoutapositionlinedupgavehimtimetoreflectonwhatkindofcompanyhewantedtorun.Italsosentaclearmessagetotheoutsideworldabouthisaspirations.AndMcGeeisn'talone.InrecentweekstheNo.2executivesatAvonandAmericanExpressquitwiththeexplanationthattheywerelookingforaCEOpost.Asboardsscrutinizesuccessionplansinresponsetoshareholderpressure,executiveswhodon'tgetthenodalsomaywishtomoveon.Aturbulentbusinessenvironmentalsohasseniormanagerscautiousoflettingvaguepronouncementscloudtheirreputations.Asthefirstsignsofrecoverybegintotakehold,deputychiefsmaybemorewillingtomakethejumpwithoutanet.Inthethirdquarter,CEOturnoverwasdown23%fromayearagoasnervousboardsstuckwiththeleaderstheyhad,accordingtoLiberumResearch.Astheeconomypicksup,opportunitieswillaboundforaspiringleaders.Thedecisiontoquitaseniorpositiontolookforabetteroneisunconventional.ForyearsexecutivesandheadhuntershaveadheredtotherulethatthemostattractiveCEOcandidatesaretheoneswhomustbepoached.SaysKorn/FerryseniorpartnerDennisCarey:r/Ican'tthinkofasinglesearchI'vedonewhereaboardhasnotinstructedmetolookatsittingCEOsfirst/rThosewhojumpedwithoutajobhaven'talwayslandedintoppositionsquickly.EllenMarramquitaschiefofTropicanaadecadeage,sayingshewantedtobeaCEO.ItwasayearbeforeshebecameheadofatinyInternet-basedcommoditiesexchange.RobertWillumstadleftCitigroupin2005withambitionstobeaCEO.Hefinallytookthatpostatamajorfinancialinstitutionthreeyearslater.Manyrecruiterssaytheolddisgraceisfadingfortopperformers.Thefinancialcrisishasmadeitmoreacceptabletobebetweenjobsortoleaveabadone."Thetraditionalrulewasit'ssafertostaywhereyouare,butthat'sbeenfundamentallyinverted/*saysoneheadhunter.''Thepeoplewhorvebeenhurttheworstarethosewho'vestayedtoolong.”Text3Theroughguidetomarketingsuccessusedtobethatyougotwhatyoupaidfor.Nolonger.Whiletraditional'tpaid,,media-suchastelevisioncommercialsandprintadvertisements-stillplayamajorrole,companiestodaycanexploitmanyalternativeformsofmedia.Consumerspassionateaboutaproductmaycreate"owned“mediabysendinge-mailalertsaboutproductsandsalestocustomersregisteredwithitsWebsite.Thewayconsumersnowapproachthebroadrangeoffactorsbeyondconventionalpaidmedia.Paidandownedmediaarecontrolledbymarketerspromotingtheirownproducts.Forearnedmedia,suchmarketersactastheinitiatorforusers'responses.Butinsomecases,onemarketer'sownedmediabecomeanothermarketer'spaidmedia-forinstance,whenane-commerceretailersellsadspaceonitsWebsite.Wedefinesuchsoldmediaasownedmediawhosetrafficissostrongthatotherorganizationsplacetheircontentore-commerceengineswithinthatenvironment.Thistrend,whichwebelieveisstillinitsinfancy,effectivelybeganwithretailersandtravelproviderssuchasairlinesandhotelsandwillnodoubtgofurther.Johnson&Johnson,forexample,hascreatedBabyCenter,astand-alonemediapropertythatpromotescomplementaryandevencompetitiveproducts.Besidesgeneratingincome,thepresenceofothermarketersmakesthesiteseemobjective,givescompaniesopportunitiestolearnvaluableinformationabouttheappealofothercompanies,marketing,andmayhelpexpandusertrafficforallcompaniesconcerned.Thesamedramatictechnologicalchangesthathaveprovidedmarketerswithmore(andmorediverse)communicationschoiceshavealsoincreasedtheriskthatpassionateconsumerswillvoicetheiropinionsinquicker,morevisible,andmuchmoredamagingways.Suchhijackedmediaaretheoppositeofearnedmedia:anassetorcampaignbecomeshostagetoconsumers,otherstakeholders,oractivistswhomakenegativeallegationsaboutabrandorproduct.Membersofsocialnetworks,forinstance,arelearningthattheycanhijackmediatoapplypressureonthebusinessesthatoriginallycreatedthem.Ifthathappens,passionateconsumerswouldtrytopersuadeotherstoboycottproducts,puttingthereputationofthetargetcompanyatrisk.Insuchacase,thecompany'sresponsemaynotbesufficientlyquickorthoughtful,andthelearningcurvehasbeensteep.ToyotaMotor,forexample,alleviatedsomeofthedamagefromitsrecallcrisisearlierthisyearwitharelativelyquickandwell-orchestratedsocial-mediaresponsecampaign,whichincludedeffortstoengagewithconsumersdirectlyonsitessuchasTwitterandthesocial-newssiteDigg.Text4It'snosurprisethatJenniferSenior'sinsightful,provocativemagazinecoverstory,"IloveMyChildren,IHateMyLife,“isarousingmuchchatter-nothinggetspeopletalkinglikethesuggestionthatchildrearingisanythinglessthanacompletelyfulfilling,life-enrichingexperience.Ratherthanconcludingthatchildrenmakeparentseitherhappyormiserable,Seniorsuggestsweneedtoredefinehappiness:insteadofthinkingofitassomethingthatcanbemeasuredbymoment-to-momentjoy,weshouldconsiderbeinghappyasapast-tensecondition.Eventhoughtheday-to-dayexperienceofraisingkidscanbesoul-crushinglyhard,Seniorwritesthat''theverythingsthatinthemomentdampenourmoodscanlaterbesourcesofintensegratificationanddelight.”ThemagazinecovershowinganattractivemotherholdingacutebabyishardlytheonlyMadonna-and-childimageonnewsstandsthisweek.Therearealsostoriesaboutnewlyadoptive-andnewlysingle-momSandraBullock,aswellastheusual^JenniferAnistonispregnant"news.Practicallyeveryweekfeaturesatleastonecelebritymom,ormom-to-be,smilingonthenewsstands.Inasocietythatsopersistentlycelebratesprocreation,isitanywonderthatadmittingyouregrethavingchildrenisequivalenttoadmittingyousupportkitten-killing?Itdoesn'tseemquitefair,then,tocomparetheregretsofparentstotheregretsofthechildren.Unhappyparentsrarelyareprovokedtowonderiftheyshouldn'thavehadkids,butunhappychildlessfolksarebotheredwiththemessagethatchildrenarethesinglemostimportantthingintheworld:obviouslytheirmiserymustbeadirectresultofthegapingbaby-sizeholesintheirlives.Ofcourse,theimageofparenthoodthatcelebritymagazineslikeUsWeeklyandPeoplepresentishugelyunrealistic,especiallywhentheparentsaresinglemotherslikeBullock.Accordingtoseveralstudiesconcludingthatparentsarelesshappythanchildlesscouples,singleparentsaretheleasthappyofall.Noshockthere,consideringhowmuchworkitistoraiseakidwithoutapartnertoleanon;yettohearSandraandBritneytellit,raisingakidontheir"own"(read:withround-the-clockhelp)isapieceofcake.It'shardtoimaginethatmanypeoplearedumbenoughtowantchildrenjustbecauseReeseandAngelinamakeitlooksoglamorous:mostadultsunderstandthatababyisnotahaircut.Butit'sinterestingtowonderiftheimagesweseeeveryweekofstress-free,happiness-enhancingparenthoodaren'tinsomesmall,subconsciouswaycontributingtoourowndissatisfactionswiththeactualexperience,inthesamewaythatasmallpartofushopedgettingtheRachel“mightmakeuslookjustalittlebitlikeJenniferAniston.2010年Text2Overthepastdecade,thousandsofpatentshavebeengrantedforwhatarecalledbusinessmethods.Areceivedoneforits"one-click“onlinepaymentsystem.MerrillLynchgotlegalprotectionforanassetallocationstrategy.Oneinventorpatentedatechniqueforliftingabox.Nowthenation'stoppatentcourtappearscompletelyreadytoscalebackonbusiness-methodpatents,whichhavebeencontroversialeversincetheywerefirstauthorized10yearsago.Inamovethathasintellectual-propertylawyersabuzztheU.S.courtofAppealsforthefederalcircuitsaiditwoulduseaparticularcasetoconductabroadreviewofbusiness-methodpatents.InBilski,asthecaseisknown,is"averybigdeal”,saysDennis'D.CrouchoftheUniversityofMissouriSchooloflaw.It''hasthepotentialtoeliminateanentireclassofpatents.”Curbsonbusiness-methodclaimswouldbeadramaticabout-face;becauseitwasthefederalcircuititselfthatintroducedsuchpatentswithits1998decisionintheso-calledstateStreetBankcase,approvingapatentonawayofpoolingmutual-fundassets.Thatrulingproducedanexplosioninbusiness-methodpatentfilings,initiallybyemerginginternetcompaniestryingtostakeoutexclusivepinhtstospecifictypesofonlinetransactions.Later,moveestablishedcompaniesracedtoaddsuchpatentstotheirfiles,ifonlyasadefensivemoveagainstrivalsthatmightbentthemtothepunch.In2005,IBMnotedinacourtfilingthatithadbeenissuedmorethan300business-methodpatentsdespitethefactthatitquestionedthelegalbasisforgrantingthem.Similarly,someWallStreetinvestmentfilmsarmedthemselveswithpatentsforfinancialproducts,evenastheytookpositionsincourtcasesopposingthepractice.TheBilskicaseinvolvesaclaimedpatentonamethodforhedgingriskintheenergymarket.TheFederalcircuitissuedanunusualorderstatingthatthecasewouldbeheardbyall12ofthecourt'sjudges,ratherthanatypicalpanelofthree,andthatoneissueitwantstoevaluateiswhetheritshould“reconsider“itsstatestreetBankruling.TheFederalCircuit'sactioncomesinthewakeofaseriesofrecentdecisionsbytheSupremeCourtthathasnarrowedthescopeofprotectionsforpatentholders.LastApril,forexamplethejusticessignaledthattoomanypatentswerebeingupheldfor“inventions“thatareobvious.ThejudgesontheFederalcircuitare"reactingtotheanti-patienttrendatthesupremecourt”,saysHaroleC.wegner,apatentattorneyandprofessoratJorgeWashingtonUniversityLawSchool.Text3InhisbookTheTippingPoint,MalcolmAladuellarguesthatsocialepidemicsaredriveninlargepartbytheactingofatinyminorityofspecialindividuals,oftencalledinfluentials,whoareunusuallyinformed,persuasive,orwell-connected.Theideaisintuitivelycompelling,butitdoesn'texplainhowideasactuallyspread.Thesupposedimportanceofinfluentialsderivesfromaplausiblesoundingbutlargelyuntestedtheorycalledthe"twostepflowofcommunication,,:Informationflowsfromthemediatotheinfluentialsandfromthemtoeveryoneelse.Marketershaveembracedthetwo-stepflowbecauseitsuggeststhatiftheycanjustfindandinfluencetheinfluentials,thoseselectedpeoplewilldomostoftheworkforthem.Thetheoryalsoseemstoexplainthesuddenandunexpectedpopularityofpeoplewaswearing,promotingordevelopingwhateveritisbeforeanyoneelsepaidattention.Anecdotalevidenceofthiskindfitsnicelywiththeideathatonlycertainspecialpeoplecandrivetrends.Intheirrecentwork,however,someresearchershavecomeupwiththefindingthatinfluentialshavefarlessimpactonsocialepidemicsthanisgenerallysupposed.Infact,theydon'tseemtoberequiredofall.Theresearchers'argumentstemsfromasimpleobservationaboutsocialinfluence,withtheexceptionofafewcelebritieslikeOprahWinfrey-whoseoutsizepresenceisprimarilyafunctionofmedia,notinterpersonal,influence-eventhemostinfluentialmembersofapopulationsimplydon'tinteractwiththatmanyothers.Yetitispreciselythesenon-celebringinfluentialswho,accordingtothetwo-step-flowtheory,aresupposedtodrivesocialepidemicsbyinfluencingtheirfriendsandcolleaguesdirectly.Forasocialepidemictooccur,however,eachpersonsoaffected,musttheninfluencehisorherownacquaintances,whomustinturninfluencetheirs,andsoon;andjusthowmanyotherspayattentiontoeachofthesepeoplehaslittletodowiththeinitialinfluential.Ifpeopleinthenetworkjusttwodegreesremovedfromtheinitialinfluentialproveresistant,forexamplethecascadeofchangewon'tpropagateveryfaroraffectmanypeople.Buildingonthebasictruthaboutinterpersonalinfluence,theresearchersstudiedthedynamicsofpopulationsmanipulatinganumberofvariablesrelatingofpopulations,manipulatinganumberofvariablesrelatingtopeople'sabilitytoinfluenceothersandtheirtendencytobe.Text4Bankershavebeenblamingthemselvesfortheirtroublesinpublic.Behindthescenes,theyhavebeentakingaimatsomeoneelse:theaccountingstandard-setters.Theirrules,moanthebanks,haveforcedthemtoreportenormouslosses,andit'sjustnotfair.Theserulessaytheymustvaluesomeassetsatthepriceathirdpartywouldpay,notthepricemanagersandregulatorswouldlikethemtofetch.Unfortunately,banks'lobbyingnowseemstobeworking.Thedetailsmaybeunknowable,buttheindependenceofstandard-setters,essentialtotheproperfunctioningofcapitalmarkets,isbeingcompromised.And,unlessbankscarrytoxicassetsatpricesthatattractbuyers,revivingthebankingsystemwillbedifficult.AfterabruisingencounterwithCongress,America'sFinancialAccountingStandardsBoard(FASB)rushedthroughrulechanges.Thesegavebanksmorefreedomtousemodelstovalueilliquidassetsandmoreflexibilityinrecognizinglossesonlong-termassetsintheirincomestatement.BobHerz,theFASB'schairman,criedoutagainstthosewhorquestionourmotives/*Yetbanksharesroseandthechangesenhancewhatonelobbygrouppolitelycalls"theuseofjudgmentbymanagement.,,EuropeanministersinstantlydemandedthattheInternationalAccountingStandardsBoard(IASB)dolikewise.TheIASBsaysitdoesnotwanttoactwithoutoverallplanning,butthepressuretofoldwhenitcompletesitsreconstructionofruleslaterthisyearisstrong.CharlieMcCreevy,aEuropeancommissioner,warnedtheIASBthatitdid"notliveinapoliticalvacuum,,but''intherealworld“andthatEuropecouldyetdevelopdifferentrules.Itwasbanksthatwereonthewrongplanet,withaccountsthatvastlyovervaluedassets.Todaytheyarguethatmarketpricesoverstatelosses,becausetheylargelyreflectthetemporaryilliquidityofmarkets,notthelikelyextentofbaddebts.Thetruthwillnotbeknownforyears.Butbank'ssharestradebelowtheirbookvalue,suggestingthatinvestorsareskeptical.Anddeadmarketspartlyreflecttheparalysisofbankswhichwillnotsellassetsforfearofbookinglosses,yetarereluctanttobuyallthosesupposedbargains.Togetthesystemworkingagain,lossesmustberecognizedanddealtwith.America'snewplantobuyuptoxicassetswillnotworkunlessbanksmarkassetstolevelswhichbuyersfindattractive.Successfulmarketsrequireindependentandevencombativestandard-setters.TheFASBandIASBhavebeenexactlythat,cleaninguprulesonstockoptionsandpensions,forexample,againsthostilityfromspecialinterests.Butbygivingintocriticsnowtheyareinvitingpressuretomakemoreconcessions.2009年TextlHabitsareafunnything.Wereachforthemmindlessly,settingourbrainsonauto-pilotandrelaxingintotheunconsciouscomfortoffamiliarroutine."Notchoice,buthabitrulestheunreflectingherd,“WilliamWordsworthsaidinthe19thcentury.Intheever-changing21stcentury,eventheword“habit”carriesanegativeconnotation.Soitseemsantitheticaltotalkabouthabitsinthesamecontextascreativityandinnovation.Butbrainresearchershavediscoveredthatwhenweconsciouslydevelopnewhabits,wecreateparallelsynapticpaths,andevenentirelynewbraincells,thatcanjumpourtrainsofthoughtontonew,innovativetracks.Butdon'tbothertryingtokilloffoldhabits;oncethoserutsofprocedurearewornintothehippocampus,they,retheretostay.Instead,thenewhabitswedeliberatelyingrainintoourselvescreateparallelpathwaysthatcanbypassthoseoldroads.“Thefirstthingneededforinnovationisafascinationwithwonder,99saysDawnaMarkova,authorof“TheOpenMind“andanexecutivechangeconsultantforProfessionalThinkingPartners."Butwearetaughtinsteadtodecide,9justasourpresidentcallshimself'theDecider.’"Sheadds,however,that“todecideistokilloffallpossibilitiesbutone.Agoodinnovationalthinkerisalwaysexploringthemanyotherpossibilities.”Allofusworkthroughproblemsinwaysofwhichwe'reunaware,shesays.Researchersinthelate1960coveredthathumansarebornwiththecapacitytoapproachchallengesinfourprimaryways:analytically,procedurally,relationally(orcollaboratively)andinnovatively.Atpuberty,however,thebrainshutsdownhalfofthatcapacity,preservingonlythosemodesofthoughtthathaveseemedmostvaluableduringthefirstdecadeorsooflife.Thecurrentemphasisonstandardizedtestinghighlightsanalysisandprocedure,meaningthatfewofusinherentlyuseourinnovativeandcollaborativemodesofthought."ThisbreaksthemajorruleintheAmericanbeliefsystem-thatanyonecandoanything,“explainsM.J.Ryan,authorofthe2006book“ThisYearIWill...”andMs.Markova9sbusinesspartner."That'saliethatwehaveperpetuated,anditfosterscommonness.Knowingwhatyou'regoodatanddoingevenmoreofitcreatesexcellence.nThisiswheredevelopingnewhabitscomesin.Text2Itisawisefatherthatknowshisownchild,buttodayamancanboosthispaternal(fatherly)wisdom-oratleastconfirmthathe'sthekid'sdad.Allheneedstodoisshellour$30forpaternitytestingkit(PTK)athislocaldrugstore-andanother$120togettheresults.Morethan60,000peoplehavepurchasedthePTKssincetheyfirstbecomeavailablewithoutprescriptionslastyears,accordingtoDougFog,chiefoperatingofficerofIdentigene,whichmakestheover-the-counterkits.MorethantwodozencompaniessellDNAtestsDirectlytothepublic,ranginginpricefromafewhundreddollarstomorethan$2500.Amongthemostpopular:paternityandkinshiptesting,whichadoptedchildrencanusetofindtheirbiologicalrelativesandlatestrageamanypassionategenealogists-andsupportsbusinessesthatoffertosearchforafamily'sgeographicroots.Mosttestsrequirecollectingcellsbywebbingsalivainthemouthandsendingittothecompanyfortesting.AlltestsrequireapotentialcandidatewithwhomtocompareDNA.Butsomeobserversareskeptical,uThereisakindoffalseprecisionbeinghawkedbypeopleclaimingtheyaredoingancestrytesting,“saysTreyDuster,aNewYorkUniversitysociologist.Henotesthateachindividualhasmanyancestors-numberinginthehundredsjustafewcenturiesback.Yetmostancestrytestingonlyconsidersasinglelineage,eithertheYchromosomeinheritedthroughmeninafatheryslineormitochondrialDNA,whichapasseddownonlyfrommothers.ThisDNAcanrevealgeneticinformationaboutonlyoneortwoancestors,eventhough,forexample,justthreegenerationsbackpeoplealsohavesixothergreat-grandparentsor,fourgenerationsback,14othergreat-great-grandparents.Criticsalsoarguethatcommercialgenetictestingisonlyasgoodasthereferencecollectionstowhichasampleiscompared.Databasesusedbysomecompaniesdon9trelyondatacollectedsystematicallybutratherlumptogetherinformationfromdifferentresearchprojects.ThismeansthataDNAdatabasemaydifferdependingonthecompanythatprocessestheresults.Inaddition,thecomputerprogramsacompanyusestoestimaterelationshipsmaybepatentedandnotsubjecttopeerrevieworoutsideevaluation.Text3Therelationshipbetweenformaleducationandeconomicgrowthinpoorcountriesiswidelymisunderstoodbyeconomistsandpoliticiansalikeprogressinbothareaisundoubtedlynecessaryforthesocial,politicalandintellectualdevelopmentoftheseandallothersocieties;however,theconventionalviewthateducationshouldbeoneoftheveryhighestprioritiesforpromotingrapideconomicdevelopmentinpoorcountriesiswrong.Wearefortunatethatisit,becauseneweducationalsystemsthereandputtingenoughpeoplethroughthemtoimproveeconomicperformancewouldrequiretwoorthreegenerations.Thefindingsofaresearchinstitutionhaveconsistentlyshownthatworkersinallcountriescanbetrainedonthejobtoachieveradicalhigherproductivityand,asaresult,radicallyhigherstandardsofliving.Ironically,thefirstevidenceforthisideaappearedintheUnitedStates.Notlongago,withthecountryenteringarecessingandJapanatitspre-bubblepeak.TheU.S.workforcewasderidedaspoorlyeducatedandoneofprimarycauseofthepoorU.S.economicperformance.Japanwas,andremains,thegloballeaderinautomotive-assemblyproductivity.YettheresearchrevealedthattheU.S.factoriesofHondaNissan,andToyotaachievedabout95percentoftheproductivityoftheirJapanesecounterepantsaresultofthetrainingthatU.S.workersreceivedonthejob.Morerecently,whileexaminghousingconstruction,theresearchersdiscoveredthatilliterate,non-English-speakingMexicanworkersinHouston,Texas,consistentlymetbest-practicelaborproductivitystandardsdespitethecomplexityofthebuildingindustry*swork.Whatistherealrelationshipbetweeneducationandeconomicdevelopment?Wehavetosuspectthatcontinuingeconomicgrowthpromotesthedevelopmentofeducationevenwhengovernmentsdon,tforceit.Afterall,that'showeducationgotstarted.Whenourancestorswerehuntersandgatherers10,000yearsago,theydidn'thavetimetowondermuchaboutanythingbesidesfindingfood.Onlywhenhumanitybegantogetitsfoodinamoreproductivewaywastheretimeforotherthings.Aseducationimproved,humanityfsproductivitypotential,theycouldinturnaffordmoreeducation.Thisincreasinglyhighlevelofeducationisprobablyanecessary,butnotasufficient,conditionforthecomplexpoliticalsystemsrequiredbyadvancedeconomicperformance.Thuspoorcountriesmightnotbeabletoescapetheirpovertytrapswithoutpoliticalchangesthatmaybepossibleonlywithbroaderformaleducation.Alackofformaleducation,however,doesn,tconstraintheabilityofthedevelopingworldJsworkforcetosubstantiallyimproveproductivityfortheforestedfuture.Onthecontrary,constraintsonimprovingproductivityexplainwhyeducationisn,tdevelopingmorequicklytherethanitis.Text4Themostthoroughlystudiedinthehistoryofthenewworldaretheministersandpoliticalleadersofseventeenth-centuryNewEngland.AccordingtothestandardhistoryofAmericanphilosophy,nowhereelseincolonialAmericawas“Somuchimportantattachedtointellectualpursuits“Accordingtomanybooksandarticles,NewEngland*sleadersestablishedthebasicthemesandpreoccupationsofanunfolding,dominantPuritantraditioninAmericanintellectuallife.TotakethisapproachtotheNewEnglandersnormallymeantostartwiththePuritans'theologicalinnovationsandtheirdistinctiveideasaboutthechurch-importantsubjectsthatwemaynotneglect.Butinkeepingwithourexaminationofsouthernintellectuallife,wemayconsidertheoriginalPuritansascarriersofEuropeancultureadjustingtoNewworldcircumstances.TheNewEnglandcolonieswerethescenesofimportantepisodesinthepursuitofwidelyunderstoodidealsofcivilityandvirtuosity.TheearlysettlersofMassachusettsBayincludedmenofimpressiveed