聚焦考研英語(yǔ)預(yù)測(cè)一

Text3TheearlyretirementofexperiencedworkersisseriouslyharmingtheU.S.economy,accordingtoanewreportfromtheHudsonInstitute,apublicpolicyresearchorganization.Currently,manyolderexperiencedworkersretireatanearlyage.Accordingtotherecentlyissuedstatistics,79percentofqualifiedworkersbegincollectingretirementbenefitsatage62;ifthattrendcontinues,therewillbealaborshortagethatwillhindertheeconomicgrowthinthetwenty-firstcentury.OlderAmericansconstituteanincreasingproportionofthepopulation,accordingtotheU.S.CensusBureau,andthepopulationofthoseoverage65willgrowby60%between2001and2020.Duringthesameperiod,thegroupaged18to44willincreasebyonly4%.Keepingolderskilledworkersemployed,evenparttime,wouldincreaseU.S.economicoutputandstrengthenthetaxbase;butwithoutsignificantpolicyreforms,massiveearlyretirementamongbabyboomersseemsmorelikely.Retirementatage62isaneconomicallyrationaldecisiontoday.SocialSecurityandMedicaidearningslimitsandtaxpenaltiessubjectourmostexperiencedworkerstomarginaltaxratesashighas67%.SocialSecurityformulasencourageearlyretirement.Althoughincomesusuallyrisewithadditionalyearsofwork,anypayincreasesafterthe35-yearmarkresultinhighersocialSecuritytaxesbutonlysmallincreasesinbenefits.HudsonInstituteresearchersbelievethatfederaltaxandbenefitpoliciesareatfaultandreformsareurgentlyneeded,buttheydisagreewiththepopularproposalthatmucholderAmericanswillhavetoworkbecauseSocialSecuritywillnotsupportthemandthatbabyboomersarenotsavingenoughforretirement.Accordingtotheincreasein401(k)andKeoghretirementplans,theongoingstockmarketonWallStreet,andthelikelihoodoflargeinheritances,thereisevidencethatbabyboomerswillreachage65withgreaterfinancialassetsthanpreviousgenerations.TheHudsoninstituteadvocatesreforminggovernmentpoliciesthatnowdiscourageworkandsavings,especiallyforolderworker.Amongthereporfsrecommendations:TaxhalfofallSocialSecuritybenefits,regardlessofotherincome;provide8%largerbenefitsforeachyearbeyond65;andpermitworkersnearingretirementtonegotiatecompensationpackagesthatmayincludealowersalarybutwithgreaterhealthcarebenefits.However,itmaytakerealandfruitfulplanningtofindtherightsolutiontotheearlyretirementofolderexperiencedworkers;anymeasurestakenmustbeallowedtoprolongtheserviceabilityofolderexperiencedworkers..AccordingtoHudsonInstituteresearchers,theeffectoftheearlyretirementofqualifiedworkersintheU.S.economyis[A]constructive.[B]significant.[C]inconclusive.[D]detrimental..TheolderexperiencedworkersinAmericatendtoretireearlybecausetheirprolongedservicemay[A]doharmtoyoungergenerations.[B]endupwithfewornobenefits.[C]giveplaytotheirpotentials.[D]shedlightonsocialtrends..Thesecondparagraphiswrittenchieflytoshowthattherewillbeanacutelaborshortageinthenearfuture.baby-boomerscontributemuchtotheUSeconomicernmentpoliciesconcerningolderpeopleareout-dated.olderworkersareenthusiasticaboutcollectingsocialbenefits..Whenmentioning“theongoingstockmarketonWallStreet"，thewriteriscallingattentiontotheprivilegestowhichbaby-boomersareentitled.iscallingforthegovernmenttotakecountermeasuresagainstlaborshortage.isrefutinganotionaboutexperiencedworkers'earlyretirement.isjustifyingtheineffectivenessoffederaltaxandbenefitpolicies..Towardstheissue,whatthewriterismostconcernedaboutwillbetoadvocateradicallyreforminggovernmentpolicies.totakeintoaccountthebenefitsuponretirement.toputinpracticewhatHudsonresearchersbelievein.toprolongthepracticabilityofolderexperiencedemployees.Text4ThehistoryofresponsestotheworkoftheartistSandroBotticelli(1444—1510)suggeststhatwidespreadappreciationbycriticsisarelativelyrecentphenomenon.Writingin1550,VasariexpressedanuneasewithBotticelli'swork,admittingthattheartistfittedawkwardlyintohisevolutionaryschemeofthehistoryofart.Overthenexttwocenturies,academicarthistoriansdefamedBotticelliinfavorofhisfellowsFlorentine,Michelangelo.Evenwhenantiacademicarthistoriansoftheearlynineteenthcenturyrejectedmanyofthestandardsofevaluationadoptedbytheirpredecessors,Botticelli'sworkremainedoutsideofacceptedtaste,pleasingneitheramateurobserversnorconnoisseurs.(Manyofhisbestpaintings,however,remainedhiddenawayinobscurechurchesandprivatehomes.)TheprimaryreasonforBotticelli'sunpopularityisnotdifficulttounderstand:mostobservers,upuntilthemid-nineteenthcentury,didnotconsiderhimtobenoteworthy,becausehiswork,forthemostpart,didnotseemtotheseobserverstoexhibitthetraditionalcharacteristicsoffifteenth-centuryFlorentineart.Forexample,Botticellirarelyemployedthetechniqueofstrictperspectiveand,unlikeMichelangelo,neverusedchiaroscuro.AnotherreasonforBotticelli'sunpopularitymayhavebeenthathisattitudetowardthestyleofclassicalartwasverydifferentfromthatofhiscontemporaries.Althoughhewasthoroughlyexposedtoclassicalart,heshowedlittleinterestinborrowingfromtheclassicalstyle.Indeed,itisparadoxicalthatapainteroflarge-scaleclassicalsubjectsadoptedastylethatwasonlyslightlysimilartothatofclassicalart.Inanycase,whenviewersbegantoexaminemorecloselytherelationshipofBotticelli'sworktothetraditionoffifteenthcenturyFlorentineart,hisreputationbegantogrow.AnalysesandassessmentsofBotticellimadebetween1850and1870bytheartistsofthePre-Raphaelitemovement,aswellasbythewriterPater(althoughhe,unfortunately,basedhisassessmentonanincorrectanalysisofBotticelli^personality),inspiredanewappreciationofBotticellithroughouttheEnglish-speakingworld.YetBotticelli'swork,especiallytheSistinefrescoes,didnotgenerateworldwideattentionuntilitwasfinallysubjectedtoacomprehensiveandscrupulousanalysisbyHomein1908.Homerightlydemonstratedthatthefrescoessharedimportantfeatureswithpaintingsbyotherfifteenth-centuryFlorentines-featuressuchasskillfulrepresentationofanatomicalproportions,andofthehumanfigureinmotion.However,HomearguedthatBotticellididnottreatthesequalitiesasendsinthemselves—rather,thatheemphasizedcleardepletionofastory,auniqueachievementandonethatmadethetraditionalFlorentinequalitieslesscentral.BecauseofHome'semphasiscrucialtoanystudyofart,thetwentiethcenturyhascometoappreciateBotticelli'sachievements..Whichofthefollowingwouldbethebesttitleforthetext?TheRoleofStandardArtAnalysesandAppraisals.SandroBotticelli:FromRejectiontoAppreciation.TheHistoryofCritics'ResponsestoArtWorks.BotticelliandFlorentine:AComparativeStudy..Wecanlearnfromthetextthatartcriticshaveahistoryof[A]suppressingpainters1artinitiatives.[B]favoringaBotticelli'sbestpaintings.[C]rejectingtraditionalartcharacteristics.[D]undervaluingBotticelli'sachievements..TheviewsofVasariandHomeonBotticelli'sproductsare[A]identical.[B]complementary.[C]opposite.[D]similar..Theword“connoisseurs”(Paragraph1)mostprobablymeansrepresentativesinthePre-RaphaeliteMovement.peoplewhoareinfavorofFlorentine.criticswhoarelikelytomakeassessments.conservativesclingingtoclassicalart.4O.WhatdoestheauthorthinkofBotticelli'srepresentationskills?[A]Theyaretobefullyappreciated.[B]Theyevolvefromanuncertainsource.[C]Theyunderliehispersonality.[D]Theyconformtotheclassicalstyle.PartCDirections:ReadthefollowingtextcarefullyandthentranslatetheunderlinedsegmentsintoChinese.YourtranslationshouldbewrittenclearlyonANSWERSHEET2.(10points)AllU.S.nuclearweaponsproductionfacilitiesarepresentlycloseddown,andifthevariousagreementsareadheredto,thosefacilitieswillneverberequiredexceptforonecriticalcapability.Allmodernnuclearweaponsuseuranium(鈾),plutonium(缽)，andtritium(M).Uraniumandplutoniumhaveverylonghalf-lives,andthereislargesurplusofthesematerials.Tritium,however,hasarelativelyshorthalf-lifeofabout12.6years,soabout5percentoftheamountonhandmustbereplacedeachyeartomaintainthecurrentinventory.(46)BecauseofthelargeretirementofnuclearweaponsbytheUnitedStatesincompliancewithearlyagreementsandnationalpolicy,tritiumfromretiredweaponshasbeenusedtomakeupthatlostthroughnaturaldecay.(47)However,inabout10to15years,dependingonfuturenegotiations,theUnitedStateswillneedaguaranteedsupplyoftritiumtomaintainitsstockpileatwhateverlevelisagreedon.Inanticipationofthisfutureneedtoproducetritium,DefenseOfficeExecutiveispursuingtwotechnologies.Oneusesanuclearreactorthatcouldalsoproduceelectricitywhosesalewouldrecovernotonlythecapitalcostofthereactorbutalsoitsannualoperationalcost.(48)Unfortunately,thepresentAdministrationhasadefinitebiasagainstnuclearpower,soanalternativemethodisalsobeingpursuedeventhoughitisagreedthatitwillcosttwiceasmuchasareactoranduseasmuchelectricityasareactorwouldproduce.Thistechnologyusesanacceleratortoproducehigh-energyprotonsthatinturnproduceneutrons.Themainargumentfortheacceleratoristhatitproducesnoconventionalnuclearwastes.(49)Proponentsreadilyadmitthatitwillproduceradioactivematerials,butwitharelativelyshorthalflifecomparedwiththatofwastesfromspentnuclearfuel.Thefactthattheacceleratorwillrequiretheequivalentofanuclearpowerplanttosupplyitselectricityisignored.(50)Proponentsalsoneglecttomentionthatabout22percentofallelectricalenergygeneratedintheUnitedStatescomesfromnuclearpowerplants,sothat22percentofthepowerusedbytheacceleratorwillgenerateconventionalnuclearwastes,inadditiontothosetheacceleratorproduces.Thereisanalternativetoeitherthereactorortheaccelerator,whichissimplytobuytherequiredtritiumfromCanadaorRussia.SectionHIWritingPartADirection:Youhaveboughtabrand-newcomputerinastore.Butmuchtoyourdisappointment,itcouldnotbeproperlyoperatedwhenyougotitback.Writealettertothemanager,givingcomplaints,describingtheproblems,andaskingforsomecompensations.PartBDirection:AcryforNatureConservationStudythefollowingcartooncarefullyandwriteanessayinnolessthan200words.YouressaymustbewrittenclearlyonANSWERSHEET2.Youressayshouldmeettherequirementsbelow:describethecartooninterpretthemessageconveyedinthepictureandgiveyoursuggestionstoremedythesituationPartB(—)SampleOneManyofthephilosopherswehavebeenreadinginclassseemtometobehopelesslydated.Ofcourse,ifseasytobecometrappedinwritingonlyfortheperiodapersonlivesin,andaphilosophyisnecessarilydependentonthehistoricalsituationandtheextentofman'sknowledge.(41).However,VictorHugosaidthatifhewerewritingforhisowntimeonly,hewouldhavetobreakhispenandthrowitaway.(42).Anditseemstomethatthemostfrequentobjectionstomodernandpremodernphilosopherscomefromtheincompatibilityoftheirphilosophieswithwhatisconsideredtobeestablishedscientificfact.Forinstance,Plato'stheoryofformsdoesnot,tome,seemtojibewithmodernphysicsandcosmology.AndalthoughIcanonlyvaguelyglimpsethepsychologywhichunderliesKant,itseemstobehighlyquestionable...Historyis,ofcourse,necessarytoanyunderstandingofaphilosophy:howitcameabout,whatpeopledidwithit,etc.Sartre,althoughhedevelopedsomeofhisideasfromNietzscheandKierkegaard,probablycouldnothaveexpoundedthosesameideasofexistentialismintheirtimes;Nietzsche,whopopularizedtheideathat“Godisdead"，couldnothavewritteninthetimeofDescartes;andDescartescouldnothaveexpressedhisradicallyindividualistideasduringthetimeofPlato.Isupposethatmypoint,whichIambeingexceedinglylongwindedabout,isthatphilosophydoesnot(andshouldnot,andmustnot)standapartfromtherestofthesciences.(45).Althoughtheothersciencescanprovideuswithdata,observations,andtheories,onlyphilosophycanintegratethoseintoacoherentwhole,telluswhattodowiththem,orprovideameaningfulcontextforusingthesefactsinourdailylives.Inmyview,applicationofKanfsepistemologyandmetaphysicscouldneverproduceanartificialintelligencecapableofpassingaTuringtest.Rather,philosophyshouldbeintegratedwiththerestofthesciencesthroughamethodofrationaljudgment.Ratherthansailingbehind,ornexttobutawayfrom,therestofthesciences,Philosophyshouldbetheflagshipofthegroup.Andmanyofthephilosopherswhohaveexistedoverthecourseofthecenturieshavenecessarilyhadtoworryaboutgovernmental,church,orsocietaldisapproval,censorship,orpunishment.Afterall,physicscangiveusinsightsintometaphysics,sincebothseekdifferentwaystodothesamething;psychology,sociology,anthropology,andarcheologycangiveusinsightsintoepistemology;various“soft”sciencesdealingwithcomparativeculturescanprovidefoodforthoughtinethnics,andsoon.Althoughsomephilosophicalpeoplearenotnecessarilyconsideredasphilosopherstoday*whoseworkwasinfluentialandinstrumentalindevelopingoneofthesocialsciences(psychology,sociology,politicalscience,education)orinadvancingtheoreticalscience(whatisnowcalledphilosophyofscience).Andso,itseemstome,thebestwaythataphilosophercankeepfrombeingdatedistobeawareofscientificknowledge,andintegrateitintophilosophy.Ofcourse,thisnecessitatesanindependentevaluationofthemeritsanddrawbacksofagivenscientificidea,whichnecessitates,inturn,athoroughknowledgeofthattheory.Andso,itseemstomethat,inorderforaphilosophertoberelevantforthefutureaswellasthepresent,hemusttakeintoaccountalloftheobjectionstohisphilosophywhichcanbeanticipatedatthepresenttime.SampleTwoDirections:Thefollowingparagraphsaregiveninawrongorder.ForQuestions41-45,youarerequiredtoreorganizetheseparagraphsintoacoherentarticlebychoosingfromthelistA-Gtofillineachnumberedbox.ThefirstandthelastparagraphshavebeenplacedforyouinBoxes.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)IsthatwhattheAmericanviewingpublicisgetting?Perhaps10%ofprimetimenetworkprogrammingisahappycombinationofentertainmentandenrichment.Thereusedtobetelevisionmoviesrichinhumanvalues,buttheyhavenowbecomeanendangeredspecies.Ifindtelevisiontoomuchconcernedwithwhatpeoplehaveandtoolittleconcernedwithwhotheyare,veryconcernedwithtakingcareofNo.1andnotatallconcernedwithsharingthemselveswithotherpeople.Alltoooftenittellsusthehalftruthwewanttohearratherthanthewholetruthweneedtohear.Whyistelevisionnotmorefullyrealizingitshumanizingpotential?Isthecreativecommunityatfault?Partially.Butnotprimarily.Ihavelivedandworkedinthatcommunityfor32years,asbothpriestandproducer.Asagroup,thesepeoplehavevalues.Infact,inHollywoodinrecentmonths,audienceenrichmenthasbecometheinthing.AcoalitionofmediacompanieshasendowedtheHumanitasPrizesothatitcanrecognizeandcelebratethosewhoaccomplishit.Everygoodstorywillnotonlycaptivateitsviewersbutalsogivethemsomeinsightintowhatitmeanstobeahumanbeing.Bysodoing,itcanhelpthemgrowintothedeeplycentered,sovereignlyfree,joyouslylovinghumanbeingGodmadethemtobe.Meaning,freedomandlovethesupremehumanvalues.AndthisisthekindofhumanenrichmenttheAmericanviewingpublichasarighttoexpectfromthosewhomakeitsentertainment.TheproblemwithAmericanTVisnotthelackofstorytellersofconsciencebutthecommercialsystemwithinwhichtheyhavetooperate.TelevisionintheU.S.isabusiness.Inthepast,thebusinesssidehasbeenbalancedbyacommitmenttopublicservice.Butinrecentyearsthefragmentationofthemassaudience,hugeinterestpaymentsandskyrocketingproductioncostshavecombinedwiththeFCC'sabdicationofitsresponsibilitytoprotectthecommongoodtoproduceanalmosttotalpreoccupationwiththebottomline.Thenetworksarestrugglingtosurvive.Andthat,thestatisticsseemtoindicate,ismindless,heartless,escapistfare.Ifwearedissatisfiedwiththemoralcontentofwhatweareinvitedtowatch,Ithinkweshouldbeginbyexaminingourownconsciences.Whenwetunein,arewereadytoplungeintoreality,soastoextractitsmeaning,orarewehopingtoescapeintoasedatedworldofillusion?Andifchurchleaderswanttoelevatethequalityofthecountry'sentertainment,theyshouldforgetaboutboycotts,productioncodesandcensorship.Theyshouldworkateducatingtheirpeopleinmedialiteracyandatmobilizingthemtosupportqualityshowsinhugenumbers.Itisnotaquestionofentertainmentorenrichment.Thesearecomplementaryconcernsandpresupposeeachother.Thestorythatentertainswithoutenrichingissuperficialandescapist.Thestorythatenricheswithoutentertainingissimplydull.Thestorythatdoesbothisadelight.ThatistheonlysurewaytoimprovethemoralcontentofAmerica'sentertainmentDespitequestionsofthemotivationbehindthem,theattacksbythePresidentandtheVicePresidentonthemoralcontentoftelevisionentertainmenthavefoundanechointhechambersoftheAmericansoul.Manywhorejectthemessengersstillacceptthemessage.TheydonotlikethemoraltoneofAmericanTV.Inoursocietyonlythehumanfamilysurpassestelevisioninitscapacitytocommunicatevalues,providerolemodels,formconsciencesandmotivatehumanbehavior.Feweducator,churchleadersorpoliticianspossessthemoralinfluenceofthosewhocreatethenation'sentertainment.Order:G4142434445FSampleThreeDirection:YouaregoingtoreadatextaboutNewRulesforLandingaJob,followedbyalistofexamples.ChoosethebestexamplefromthelistA-Fforeachnumberedsubheading(41-45).Thereisoneextraexamplewhichyoudonotneedtouse.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)WhenNickA.Corcodilosstartedoutintheheadhuntingbusiness20yearsago,hehadakeeneyefortrackingtalent.FromhisbaseinSiliconValleyhewouldsendall-starperformerstoblue-chipcompanieslikeXerox,IBMandGeneralElectric.Butwhilehewouldsucceedinhispartofthehunt,thejob-seekershelocatedwouldoftenfailintheirs.Theywerestrikingoutbefore,duringoraftertheinterview.Soinsteadofsimplyaccountingfortalent,Corcodilosbeganadvisingjobcandidatesaswell.Hehelpedimprovetheirsuccessratiobyteachingthemtopursuefewercompanies,maketherightcontactsanddeliverwhatcompaniesarelookingforinaninterview.Inhismyth-bustingbook,AsktheHeadhunter(Plume,1997),Corcodiloshasreinventedtherulesofthejobsearch,frompreparationtointerviewtechniques.Herearehissixnewprinciplesforsuccessfuljobhunting:Yourresumeismeaningless.Headhuntersknowaresumerarelygetsyouinsideacompany.Allitdoesisoutlineyourpast-largelyirrelevantsinceitdoesn'tdemonstratethatyoucandotheworkthehiringmanagerneedsdone.Don'tgetlostinHR.Headhunterstrytogetaroundthehumanresourcesdepartmentwheneverpossible.Therealmatchmakingtakesplacebeforetheinterview.Aheadhuntersendsacandidateintoaninterviewonlyifheorsheisclearlyqualifiedfortheposition.Inyourownjobhunt,makethesameefforttoensureagoodfit.Knowtheparametersofthejobwhenyouwalkintotheinterview.Researchthecompany,findingoutaboutitsculture,goals,competitors.Remember,theemployerwantstohireyou.“Acompanyholdsinterviewssoitcanfindthebestpersonforthejob,“Corcodilossays.Themanagerwillbeecstaticifthatpersonturnsouttobeyoubecausethenheorshecanstopinterviewingandgetbacktowork.Pretendtheinterviewisyourfirstdayatwork.Mostpeopletreataninterviewasifitwereaninterrogation.Theemployerasksquestions,andthecandidategivesanswers.Headhuntersgooutoftheirwaytoavoidthatscenario.Gotanoffer?Interviewthecompany.Whenanemployermakesanoffer,hedoesmorethandeliveratitleandacompensationpackagehealsocedespartofhiscontroloverthehiringprocess.Onceyougetthatoffer,<4Youhavethepower,MsaysCorcodilos,todecidewhether,andonwhatterms,youwanttohirethatcompany.ConsiderhowCorcodiloscoachedGerryZagorskiofEdison,N.J.,whowaspursuinganopeningatAT&T.Zagorskiwalkedovertothevicepresident'smarkerboardandoutlinedthecompany'schallengesandthestepshewouldtaketoincreaseitsprofits.Fifteenminuteslater,asZagorskiwrotedownhisestimateofwhathewouldaddtothebottomline,helookedupathisinterviewer.Oneofthebestwaystolearnaboutacompanyistotalktopeoplewhoworkthere.KentonGreenofAnnArbor,Mich.,usedthistechniquewhilecompletingadoctoralprograminelectricalengineeringandopticsattheUniversityofRochester:“IwouldfindanarticlepublishedbysomeoneinmyfieldwhoworkedatacompanyIwasinterestedin.ThenI'dcallthatpersonandasktotalk,mentionmyemployabilityanddiscussthecompany'sneeds.Oneoftwothingshappened:I'deithergetanintervieworlearnweweren*tagoodmatchafterall”"MostHRdepartmentscreateaninfrastructurethatprimarilyinvolvesprocessingpaper,MCorcodilossays."Theypackage,organize,fileandsortyou.Then,ifyouhaven'tgottenlostintheshuffle,theymightpassyouontoamanagerwhoactuallyknowswhattheworkisallabout.WhilethetypicalcandidateiswaitingtobeinterviewedbyHR,theheadhunterisonthephone,usingabackchanneltogettothehiringmanager.”"Attheoutsetoftheinterview,theemployercontrolstheofferandthepowerthatcomeswithit,“Corcodilossays.uButuponmakinganoffer,hetransfersthatpowertothecandidate.Thisisapowerfewpeopleinthatsituationrealizetheyhave.It'sthetimeforyoutoexplorechangingtheoffertosuityourgoalsandfullyinterviewthecompany.**"Theguy'sjawwasonthefloor,Corcodilossays.MHetoldZagorskithatfinishingtheinterviewwouldn'tbenecessary.Instead,theVPbroughtintherestofhisteam,andthemeetinglastedfortwohours.”"Aresumeleavesituptoemployerstofigureouthowyoucanhelptheirorganization/1Corcodilossays."That'snowaytosellyourself.^^SampleFourDirections:YouaregoingtoreadalistofheadingsandatextaboutBacklogsofHistory.ChoosethemostsuitableheadingfromthelistA-Fforeachnumberedparagraph(41-45).Thefirstandlastparagraphsofthetextarenotnumbered.Thereisoneextraheadingwhichyoudonotneedtouse.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(10points)Passionforpersonalandfamilialarchivalcollection.Receptionofahospitaldeliverybill.Overabundanceoftrivialpersonaldocuments.Explosionofpublicdocuments.Itisimperativetoputarchivalpoliciesintoperspective.Whattacticsshouldbeadoptedindocument-saving?OnemorningafewyearsagoanenvelopearrivedfrommyparentscontainingthebillfromNewRochelleHospitalformydelivery,in1952.Thecontentsofabasementoratticwerebeingculled,andthebillhadturnedupinoneofthemanycardboardreliquariesthathavelonglentakindofballasttomychildhoodhome.Thehospitalstotalchargeforafive-daystayincludingdrugsandphonecalls,cameto$187.86.1wasamazedatthecost,tobesure.ButIwasalsostruckbysomethingelse:thatamongallthosedecades'worthoffamilydocumentsmyparentshadlookedthrough,thedeliverybillwastheonlythingtheythoughtofsufficientinteresttopassalong.41Atsomepointmostofusrealizethathavingapersonalarchivalstrategyisaninescapableaspectofmodernlife:onehastodrawthelinesomewhere.Whatshouldthepolicybetowardchildren'sdrawingsandreportcards?Towardpersonallettersandmagazineclippings?Peopleworkoutanswerstosuchquestions,usuallyerring,Isuspect,onthesideofoveraccrualofrubbishdocuments.Almosteveryoneseemstosave—orUcurate,nasarchaeologistsays-issuesofNationalGeographic.Thatiswhyingarbagelandfillscopiesofthatmagazinearerarelyfoundinisolation;rather,theyarefoundinherds,whenanentirecollectionhasbeendiscardedafteranownerhasdiedormoved.42Ihappentobeanadmirerofthearchivingimpulseandaninveteratearchivistatthehouseholdlevel.Thoughnotquiteoneofthosepeoplewhompublic-healthauthoritiesseemtorunacrosseveryfewyears,withahouseinwhichneatlybundledstacksofnewspaperoccupyallbutnarrowaisles,Idotendtosavealmosteverythingthatispersonalandfamilial,andeventosupplementthisprivatehoardwithodditiesofamorepublicnature-acallingcardofThomasNast's,forinstance,andKimPhilbycopyoftheJoyofCooking.43Icannothelpwondering,though,whetherasanationwearecompilingarchivesataratethatwillexceedanyone'sabilityevertomakesenseofthem.Anumberofobservershavecitedtheproblemofuinformationoverload^^asifitwerearecentdevelopment,largelytheconsequenceofcomputers.Intruth,thearchivebackloghasbeenaproblemformillennia.Historiansobviouslyhaveproblemswheninformationisscarce,butit'snothardtoseeaverydifferentproblememergingassourcematerialbecomesspectacularlyoverabundant.44Leaveasidethetaskofassessinganentireepochandconsiderwhatisrequiredinpurelyphysicaltermstopreserveevenasingleprominentperson'slifetimedocumentaryoutput.BenjaminDisraeli'scorrespondencesurviveddowntothelevelofwhattodaywouldbeanEmailmessage:"Mydarling,Ishallbehomefordinnerat1/2pt7.Inhaste,Your,Dis."WoodrowWilsonleftsomuchbehindthatthehistorianArthurS.LinkspenthisentirecareeratPrincetonUniversityannotatingandpublishingWilson'sperson