2014考研英語(yǔ)二閱讀基礎(chǔ)講義

PAGEPAGE32010考研英語(yǔ)一閱讀理TextOfallthechangesthathavetakenceinEnglish-languagenewspapersduringthepastquarter-century,perhapsthemostfar-reachinghasbeentheinexorabledeclineinthescopeandseriousnessoftheirartscoverage.Itisdifficulttothepointofimpossibilityfortheaveragereaderundertheageoffortytoimagineatimewhenhigh-qualityartscriticismcouldbefoundinmostbig-citynewspapers.Yetaconsiderablenumberofthemostsignificantcollectionsofcriticismpublishedinthe20thcenturyconsistedinlargepartofnewspaperreviews.Toreadsuchbookstodayistomarvelatthefactthattheirlearnedcontentswereoncedeemedsuitableforpublicationingeneral-circulationdailies.WeareevenfartherremovedfromtheunfocusednewspaperreviewsinEnglandbetweentheturnofthe20thcenturyandtheeveofWorldWarⅡ,atimewhennewsprintwasdirt-cheapandstylishartscriticismwasconsideredanornamenttothepublicationsinwhichitappeared.Inthosefar-offdays,itwastakenforgrantedthatthecriticsofmajorpaperswouldwriteindetailandatlengthabouttheeventstheycovered.Theirswasaseriousbusiness,andeventhosereviewerswhoworetheirlearninglightly,likeGeorgeBernandShawandErnest ,couldbetrustedtoknowwhattheywereabout.Thesemenbelievedinjournalismasacalling,andwereproudtobepublishedinthedailypress.―Sofewauthorshavebrainsenoughorlirygiftenoughtokeeptheirownendupinjournalism,‖ wrote,―thatIamtemptedtodefine?journalism‘a(chǎn)s?atermofcontemptappliedbywriterswhoarenotreadtowriterswhoare‘.‖Unfortunay,thesecriticsarevirtuallyforgotten.NevilleCardus,whowrotefortheManchesterGuardianfrom1917untilshortlybeforehisdeathin1975,isnowknownsolelyasawriterofessaysonthegameofcricket.Duringhislifetime,though,hewasalsooneofEngland'sforemostclassical-musiccritics,andastylistsowidelyAutobiography1947becamethefirstmusiccritictobesohonored.Yetonlyoneofhisbooksisnowinprint,andhisvastbodyofwritingsonmusicisunknownsavetospecialists.IsthereanychancethatCardus‘scriticismwillenjoyarevival?Theprospectseemsremote.Journalistictasteshadchangedlongbeforehisdeath,andpostmodernreadershavelittleusefortherichlyupholsteredVicwardianproseinwhichhespecialized.Moreover,theamateurtraditioninmusiccriticismhasbeeninheadlongItisindicatedinParagraphs1and2artscriticismhasdisappearedfrombig-cityEnglish-languagenewspapersusedtocarrymoreartshigh-qualitynewspapersretainalargebodyofyoungreadersdoubtthesuitabilityofcriticismonNewspaperreviewsinEnglandbeforeworldwarⅡwerecharacterizedcasualelaborateradicalWhichofthefollowingwouldShaw mostprobablyagreeItiswriters‘dutytofulfilljournalisticItiscontemptibleforwriterstobeWritersarelikelytobetemptedintoNotallwritersarecapableofjournalisticWhatcanbelearnedaboutCardusaccordingtothelasttwoHismusiccriticismmaynotappealtoreadersHisreputationasamusiccritichaslongbeenindispute.[C]Hisstylecaterslargelytomodernspecialists.[D]HiswritingsfailtofollowtheamateurTextOverthepastdecade,thousandsofpatentshavebeengrantedforwhatarecalledbusinessmethods. receivedoneforits―one-click‖onlinepaymentsystem.MerrillLynchgotlegalprotectionforanassetallocationstrategy.Oneinventorpatentedatechniqueforliftingabox.Nowthenation‘stoppatentcourtappearscompleyreadytoscalebackonbusiness-methodpatents,whichhavebeencontroversialeversincetheywerefirstauthorized10yearsago.Inamovethathasinlectual-propertylawyersabuzztheU.S.courtofAppealsforthefederalcircuitsaiditwoulduseaparticularcasetoconductabroadreviewofbusiness-methodpatents.InreBilski,asthecaseisknown,is―averybigdeal‖,saysDennis‘D.CrouchoftheUniversityofMissouriSchooloflaw.It―hasthepotentialtoeliminateanentireclassofpatents.‖Curbsonbusiness-methodclaimswouldbeadramaticabout-face,becauseitwasthefederalcircuititselfthatintroducedsuchpatentswithis1998decisionintheso-calledstateStreetBankcase,approvingapatentonawayofpoolingmutual-fundassets.Thatrulingproducedanexplosioninbusiness-methodpatentfilings,initiallybyemerginginternetcompaniestryingtostakeoutexclusiverightstospecifictypesofonlinetransactions.Later,moveestablishedcompaniesracedtoaddsuchpatentstotheirfiles,ifonlyasadefensivemoveagainstrivalsthatmightbeatthemtotheIn2005,IBMnotedinacourtfilingthatithadbeenissuedmorethanbusiness-methodpatentsdespitethefactthatitquestionedthelegalbasisforgrantingthem.Similarly,someWallStreetinvestmentfiarmedthemselveswithpatentsforfinancialproducts,evenastheytookpositionsincourtcasesopposingthepractice.TheFederalCircuit‘sactioncomesinthewakeofaseriesofrecentdecisionsbythesupremeCountthathasnarrowedthescopeofprotectionsforpatentholders.LastApril,forexamplethejusticessignaledthattoomanypatentswerebeingupheldfor―iventonthatareobvious.ThejudgesontheFederalcircuitare―rtigtotheanti_patenttrendatthesupremecourt‖,saysHaroldC.Wegner,apatentattorneyandprofessoratGeorgeWashingtonUniversityLawSchool.theirlimitedvaluetotheirconnectionwithassetthepossiblerestrictionontheirthecontroversyoverWhichofthefollowingistrueoftheBilskiItsrulingcomplieswiththecourtItinvolvesaverybigbusinessIthasbeendismissedbytheFederalItmaychangethelegalpracticesintheThewordabotface‖(Line1,Paro3)mostprobablylossofgoodincreaseofchangeofenhancementofWelearnfromthelasttwoparagraphsthatbusiness-methodareimmunetolegalareoftenunnecessarilylowertheesteemforpatentTextInhisbookTheTipPoint,MalcolmGladwellarguesthatsocialepidemicsaredriveninlargepartbytheactingofatinyminorityofspecialindividuals,oftencalledinfluentials,whoareunusuallyinformed,persuasive,orwell-connected.Theideaisintuitivelycompelling,butitdoesn‘texinhowideasactuallyspread.Thesupposedimportanceofinfluentialsderivesfromausiblesoundingbutlargelyuntestedtheorycalledthe―twostepflowofcommunication‖:Informationflowsfromthemediatotheinfluentialsandfromthemtoeveryoneelse.Marketershaveembracedthetwo-stepflowbecauseitsuggeststhatiftheycanjustfindandinfluencetheinfluentials,thoseselectedpeoplewilldomostoftheworkforthem.Thetheoryalsoseemstoexinthesuddenandunexpectedpopularityofcertainlooks,brands,orneighborhoods.Inmanysuchcases,acursorysearchforcausesfindsthatsomesmallgroupofpeoplewaswearing,promoting,ordevelowhateveritisbeforeanyoneelsepaidattention.Anecdotalevidenceofthiskindfitsnicelywiththeideathatonlycertainspecialpeoplecandrivetrends.Intheirrecentwork,however,someresearchershavecomeupwiththefindingthatinfluentialshavefarlessimpactonsocialepidemicsthanisgenerallysupposed.Infact,theydon‘tseemtoberequiredofall.Theresearchers‘a(chǎn)rgumentstemsfromasimpleobservingaboutsocialinfluence,withtheexceptionofafewcelebritieslikeOprahWinfrey-whoseoutsizepresenceisprimarilyafunctionofmedia,notinter al,influence-eventhemostinfluentialmembersofapopulationsimplydon‘tin ctwiththatmanyothers.Yetitispreciselythesenon-celebrityinfluentialswho,accordingtothetwo-step-flowtheory,examplethecascadeofchangewon‘tpropagateveryfaroraffectmanyBuildingonthebasictruthaboutinter alinfluence,theresearchersstudiedthedynamicsofpopulationsmanipulatinganumberofvariablesrelatingofpopulations,manipulatinganumberofvariablesrelatingtopeople‘sabilitytoinfluenceothersandtheirtendencytobeinfluenced.Ourworkshowsthattheprincipalrequirementforwhatwecalllobcascades‖-thewidespreadpropagationofinfluencethroughnetworks-isthepresencenotofafewinfluentialsbut,rather,ofacriticalmassofeasilyinfluencedpeople,eachofwhomadopts,say,alookorabrandafterbeingexposedtoasingleadoptingneighbor.Regardlessofhowinfluentialanindividualislocally,heorshecanexertglobalinfluenceonlyifthiscriticalmassisavailabletopropagateachainreaction.BycitingthebookTheTipPoint,theauthorintends[A]yzetheconsequencesofsocialdiscussinfluentials‘functioninspreadingexemplifypeople‘sintuitiveresponsetosocialepidemics[D]describetheessentialcharacteristicsofinfluentials.Theauthorsuggeststhatthe―two-step-flowtheory‖[A]servesasasolutiontomarketingproblems[B]hashelpedexincertainprevalenttrends[C]haswonsupportfrominfluentials[D]requiressolidevidenceforitsvalidityWhattheresearchershaveobservedrecentlyshowsthepowerofinfluencegoeswithsocial havelittlecontactwiththesourceofareinfluencedandtheninfluenceareinfluencedbytheinitialWhatistheessentialelementinthedynamicsofsocialinfluence?[A]Theeagernesstobeaccepted[B]Theimpulsetoinfluenceothers[C]Thereadinesstobeinfluenced[D]TheinclinationtorelyonothersTextBankershavebeenblamingthemselvesfortheirtroublesinpublic.Behindthescenes,theyhavebeentakingaimatsomeoneelse:theaccountingstandard-setters.Theirrules,moanthebanks,have dthemtoreportenormouslosses,andit‘sjustnotfair.Theserulessaytheymustvaluesomeassetsatthepriceathirdpartywouldpay,notthepricemanagersandregulatorswouldlikethemtofetch. y,banks‘lobbyingnowseemstobeworking.Thedetailsmaybeunknowable,buttheindependenceofstandard-setters,essentialtotheproperfunctioningofcapitalmarkets,isbeingcompromised.And,unlessbankscarrytoxicassetsatpricesthatattractbuyers,revivingthebankingsystemwillbedifficult.AfterabruisingencounterwithCongress,America‘sFinancialAccountingStandardsBoard(FASB)rushedthroughrulechanges.Thesegavebanksmoredomtousemodelstovalueilliquidassetsandmoreflexibilityinrecognizinglossesonlong-termassetsintheir estatement.BobHerz,theFASB‘schairman,criedoutagainstthosewho―tinourmotives.‖YetbanksharesroseandtheIASBthatitdid―notliveinapoliticalvacuum‖but―intherealword‖andthatEuropecouldyetdevelopdifferentrules.Itwasbanksthatwereonthewrongnet,withaccountsthatvastlyovervaluedassets.Todaytheyarguethatmarketpricesoverstatelosses,becausetheylargelyreflectthetemporaryilliquidityofmarkets,notthelikelyextentofbaddebts.Thetruthwillnotbeknownforyears.Butbank‘ssharestradebelowtheirbookvalue,suggestingthatinvestorsareskeptical.Anddeadmarketspartlyreflecttheparalysisofbankswhichwillnotsellassetsforfearofbookinglosses,yetarereluctanttobuyallthosesupposedbargains.Togetthesystemworkingagain,lossesmustberecognizedanddealtAmerica‘snewntobuyuptoxicassetswillnotworkunlessbanksmarkassetstolevelswhichbuyersfindattractive.Successfulmarketsrequireindependentandevencombativestandard-setters.TheFASBandIASBhavebeenexactlythat,cleaninguprulesonstockoptionsandpensions,forexample,againsthostilityformspecialinterests.ButbygivingintocriticsnowtheyareinvitingpressuretomakemoreBankerscominedthatthey d[A]followunfavorableassetevaluationrules[B]collectpaymentsfromthirdparties[C]cooperatewiththepricemanagers[D]reevaluatesomeoftheirassets.Accordingtotheauthor,therulechangesoftheFASBmayresultin[A]thediminishingroleofmanagement[B]therevivalofthebanking[D]takegradualmeasuresinTheauthorthinksthebankswere―onthewrongnet‖inthatmisinterpretedmarketpriceexaggeratedtherealvalueoftheirneglectedthelikelyexistenceofbaddeniedbookinglossesintheirsaleofTheauthor‘sattitudetowardsstandard-settersisoneof2011考研英語(yǔ)一閱TextThedecisionoftheNewYorkPhilharmonictohireAlanGilbertasitsnextmusicdirectorhasbeenthetalkoftheclassical-musicworldeversincethesuddenannouncementofhisappointmentin2009.Forthemostpart,theresponsehasbeenfavorable,tosaytheleast.oraAtlast!‖wroteAnthonyTommasini,aOneofthereasonswhytheappointmentcameassuchasurprise,however,isthatGilbertiscomparativelylittleknown.EvenTommasini,whohadadvocatedGilbert‘sappointmentintheTimes,callshim―anunpretentiousmusicianwithnoairoftheformidableconductorabouthim.‖AsadescriptionofthenextmusicdirectorcomputeranddownloadstillmorerecordedmusicfromDevotedconcertgoerswhoreplythatrecordingsarenosubstituteforliveperformancearemissingthepoint.Forthetime,attention,andmoneyoftheart-lovingpublic,classicalinstrumentalistsmustcompetenotonlywithoperahouses,dancetroupes,theatercompanies,andmuseums,butalsowiththerecordedperformancesofthegreatclassicalmusiciansofthe20thcentury.Thererecordingsarecheap,availableeverywhere,andveryoftenmuchhigherinicqualitythantoday‘sliveperformances;moreover,theycanbenmatatimeandceofthelistener‘schoosing.Thewidespreadavailabilityofsuchrecordingshasthusbroughtaboutacrisisintheinstitutionofthetraditionalclassicalconcert.Onepossibleresponseisforclassicalperformerstoprogramattractivenewmusicthatisnotyetavailableonrecord.Gilbert‘sowninterestinnewmusichasbeenwidelynoted:AlexRoss,aclassical-musiccritic,hasdescribedhimasamanwhoiscapableofturningthePhilharmonicinto―amarkedlydifferent,morevibrantorganization.‖Butwhatwillbethenatureofthatdifference?Merelyexpandingtheorchestra‘srepertoirewillnotbeenough.IfGilbertandthePhilharmonicaretosucceed,theymustfirstchangetherelationshipbetweenAmerica‘soldestorchestraandthenewaudienceithopestoattract.WelearnfromPara.1thatGilbert‘sappointment[B]raisedsuspicion.[C]receivedacclaim.[D]arousedcuriosity.TommasiniregardsGilbertasanwho[B]rejectmostkindsofrecordedperformances.[C]exaggeratethevarietyofliveperformances.[D]overestimatethevalueofliveperformances.Accordingtothetext,whichofthefollowingistrueofrecordings?[A]Theyareofteninferiortoliveconcertsinquality.[B]Theyareeasilyaccessibletothegeneralpublic.[C]Theyhelpimprovethequalityofmusic.[D]Theyhaveonlycoveredmasterpieces.RegardingGilbert‘sroleinrevitalizingthePhilharmonic,theauthorfeelsTextWhenLiamMcGeedepartedasofBankofAmericainAugust,hisexnationwassurprisinglystraightup.Ratherthancloakinghisexitintheusualvagueexcuses,hecamerightoutandsaidhewasleaving―topursuemygoalofrunninga.‖Broadcastinghisambitionwas―verymuchmydecision,‖McGeesays.Withintwoweeks,hewastalkingforthefirsttimewiththeboardofHartfordFinancialServicesGroup,whichnamedhimCEOandchairmanonSeptember29.McGeesaysleavingwithoutapositionlinedupgavehimtimetoreflectonwhatkindof hewantedtorun.ItalsosentaclearmessagetotheoutsideworldAsthefirstsignsofrecoverybegintotakehold,deputychiefsmaybemorewillingtomakethejumpwithoutanet.Inthethirdquarter,CEOturnoverwasdown23%fromayearagoasnervousboardsstuckwiththeleaderstheyhad,accordingtoLiberumResearch.Astheeconomypicksup,opportunitieswillaboundforaspiringThedecisiontoquitaseniorpositiontolookforabetteroneisunconventional.ForyearsexecutivesandheadhuntershaveadheredtotherulethatthemostattractiveCEOcandidatesaretheoneswhomustbepoached.SaysKorn/FerryseniorpartnerDennisCarey:‖Ican‘tthinkofasinglesearchI‘vedonewhereaboardhasnotinstructedmetolookatsittingCEOsfirst.‖Thosewhojumpedwithoutajobhaven‘talwayslandedintoppositionsquickly.EllenMarramquitaschiefofTropicanaadecadeage,sayingshewantedtobeaCEO.ItwasayearbeforeshebecameheadofatinyInternet-basedcommoditiesexchange.RobertWillumstadleftin2005withambitionstobeaCEO.Hefinallytookthatpostatamajorfinancialinstitutionthreeyearslater.Manyrecruiterssaytheolddisgraceisfadingfortopperformers.Thefinancialcrisishasmadeitmoreacceptabletobebetweenjobsortoleaveabadone.―Thetraditionalrulewasit‘ssafertostaywhereyouare,butthat‘sbeenfundamentallyinverted,‖saysoneheadhunter.―Thepeoplewho‘vebeenhurttheworstarethosewho‘vestayedtoolong.‖WhenMcGeeannouncedhisdeparture,hismannercanbestbedescribedasbeingself-Theword―e(Paragraph4)mostprobablymeans[A]approvedof.[B]attendedto.[C]huntedfor.Itcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraphthat[A]topperformersusedtoclingtotheirposts.[B]loyaltyoftopperformersisgettingout-dated.[C]topperformerscaremoreaboutreputations.[D]it‘ssafertosticktothetraditionalrules.Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthetext?[A]CEOs:WheretoGo?[B]CEOs:AlltheWay[C]TopManagersJumpwithoutaNet[D]TheOnlyWayOutforTopPerformersTextTheroughguidetomarketingsuccessusedtobethatyougotwhatyoupaidNolonger.Whiletraditional―dmedia—suchasevisioncommercialsprintadvertisements—stillyamajorrole,companiestodaycanexploitmanyalternativeformsofmedia.Consumerspassionateaboutaproductmaycreate―eremediabywillinglypromotingittofriends,anda mayleverage―emediabysendinge-mailalertsaboutproductsandsalestocustomersregisteredwithitsWebsite.Thewayconsumersnowapproachtheprocessofmakinginstance,whenan merceretailersellsadspaceonitsWebsite.Wedefinesuchsoldmediaasownedmediawhosetrafficissostrongthatotherorganizationscetheircontentor merceengineswithinthatenvironment.Thistrend,whichwebelieveisstillinitsinfancy,effectivelybeganwithretailersandtravelproviderssuchasairlinesandho sandwillnodoubtgofurther.Johnson&Johnson,forexample,hascreatedBabyCenter,astand-alonemediapropertythatpromotescomplementaryandevencompetitiveproducts.Besidesgenerating e,thepresenceofothermarketersmakesthesiteseemobjective,givescompaniesopportunitiestolearnvaluableinformationabouttheappealofothercompanies‘marketing,andmayhelpexpandusertrafficforallcompaniesconcerned.Thesamedramatictechnologicalchangesthathaveprovidedmarketerswithmore(andmorediverse)communicationschoiceshavealsoincreasedtheriskthatpassionateconsumerswillvoicetheiropinionsinquicker,morevisible,andmuchmoredamagingways.Suchhijackedmediaaretheoppositeofearnedmedia:anassetorn eshostagetoconsumers,otherstakeholders,oractivistswhomakenegativeallegationsaboutabrandorproduct.Membersofsocialnetworks,forinstance,arelearningthattheycanhijackmediatoapplypressureonthebusinessesthatoriginallycreatedthem.Ifthathappens,passionateconsumerswouldtrytopersuadeotherstoboycottproducts,puttingthereputationofthetarget atrisk.Insuchacase,the‘sresponsemaynotbesufficientlyquickorthoughtful,andthelearningcurvehasbeensteep.ToyotaMotor,forexample,alleviatedsomeofthedamagefromitsrecallcrisisearlierthisyearwitharelativelyquickandwell-orchestratedsocial-mediaresponsen,whichincludedeffortstoengagewithdirectlyonsitessuch andthesocial-newssiteAccordingtoParagraph2,soldmediaasafebusinessrandomstronguserflexibilityinTheauthorindicatesinParagraph3thatearnedinvite swithpassionatecanbeusedtoproducenegativeeffectsinmayberesponsibleforfiercerdeserveallthenegativecommentsaboutToyotaMotor‘sexperienceiscitedasanexamplerespondingeffectivelytohijackedpersuadingcustomersintoboycottingcooperatingwithsupportivetakingadvantageofhijackedWhichofthefollowingisthetextmainlyAlternativestoconventionalpaidbetweenhijackedandearnedmedia.DominanceofhijackedPopularityofownedTextIt‘snosurprisethatJenniferSenior‘sinsightful,provocativemagazinecoverstory,―IloveMyChildren,IHateMyLife,‖isarousingmuchchatter—nothinggetsthingsthatinthemomentdampenourmoodscanlaterbesourcesofintensegratificationanddelight.‖ThemagazinecovershowinganattractivemotherholdingacutebabyishardlytheonlyMadonna-and-childimageonnewsstandsthisweek.Therearealsostoriesaboutnewlyadoptive—andnewlysingle—momSandraBullock,aswellastheusual―nifrAnistonispregnant‖news.Practicallyeveryweekfeaturesatleastonecelebritymom,ormom-to-be,smilingonthenewsstands.Inasocietythatsopersistentlycelebratesprocreation,isitanywonderthatadmittingyouregrethavingchildrenisequivalenttoadmittingyousupportkitten-killing?Itdoesn‘tseemquitefair,then,tocomparetheregretsofparentstotheregretsofthechildren.Unhappyparentsrarelyareprovokedtowonderiftheyshouldn‘thavehadkids,butunhappychildlessfolksarebotheredwiththemessagethatchildrenarethesinglemostimportantthingintheworld:obviouslytheirmiserymustbeadirectresultofthegababy-sizeholesintheirlives.Ofcourse,theimageofparenthoodthatcelebritymagazineslikeUsWeeklyandPeoplepresentishugelyunrealistic,especiallywhentheparentsaresinglemotherslikeBullock.Accordingtoseveralstudiesconcludingthatparentsarelesshappythanchildlesscouples,singleparentsaretheleasthappyofall.Noshockthere,consideringhowmuchworkitistoraiseakidwithoutapartnertoleanon;yettohearSandraandBritneylit,raisingakidontheir―on(read:withround-the-clockhelp)isapieceofcake.It‘shardtoimaginethatmanypeoplearedumbenoughtowantchildrenjustbecauseReeseandAngelinamakeitlooksoglamorous:mostadultsunderstandthatababyisnotahaircut.Butit‘sinterestingtowonderiftheimagesweseeeveryweekofstress-,happiness-enhancingparenthoodaren‘tinsomesmall,subconsciouswaycontributingtoourowndissatisfactionswiththeactualexperience,inthesamewaythatasmallpartofushopedgetting―theRachel‖mightmakeuslookjustalittlebitlikeJenniferJenniferSeniorsuggestsinherarticlethatraisingachildcanbring[A]temporarydelight[B]enjoymentinprogress[D]lastingrewardWelearnfromParagraph2celebritymomsareapermanentsourceforgossip.[B]singlemotherswithbabiesdeservegreaterattention.[C]newsaboutpregnantcelebritiesisentertaining.[D]havingchildrenishighlyvaluedbythepublic.ItissuggestedinParagraph3thatchildlessfolks[A]areconstantlyexposedtocriticism.[B]arelargelyignoredbythemedia.[C]failtofulfilltheirsocialresponsibilities.[D]arelesslikelytobesatisfiedwiththeirAccordingtoParagraph4,themessageconveyedbycelebritymagazinesis Whichofthefollowingcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraph?[A]Havingchildrencontributeslittletotheglamourofcelebritymoms.[B]Celebritymomshaveinfluencedourattitudetowardschildrearing.[C]Havingchildrenintensifiesourdissatisfactionwithlife.[D]Wesometimesneglectthehappinessfromchild2009MBA閱讀HenricIbsen,authoroftheyADoll’sHouse,inwhichapretty,helplesshousewifeabandons.Herhusbandandchildrentoseekamoreseriouslife,wouldsurelyhaveapproved.FromJanuary1st,2008,allpubliccompaniesinNorwayareobligedtoensurethatatleast40%oftheirboarddirectorsarewomen.Mostfirmshaveobeyedthelaw,whichwaspassedin2003.Butabout75outofthe480companiesitaffectsarestilltoomalefortheernment‘sliking.TheywillshortlyreceivealetterinformingthemthattheyhaveuntiltheendofFebruarytoact,orfacethelegalconsequences—whichcouldincludebeingdissolved.Beforethelawwasproposed,about7%ofboardmembersinNorwaywerefemale,accordingtotheCentreforCorporateDiversity.Thenumberhassincejumpedto36%.Thatisfarhigherthantheaverageof9%forbigcompaniesacrossEuropeorAmerica‘s15%fortheFortune500.Norway‘sstockexchangeanditsmainbusinesslobbyopposethelaw,asdomanybusinessmen."Iamagainstquotasforwomenormenasamatterofprinciple,"saysSverreMunck,headofinternationaloperationsatamediafirm."Boardmembersofpubliccompaniesshouldbechosensolelyonthebasisofmeritandexperience,"hesays.Severalfirmshaveevengivenuptheirpublicstatusinordertoescapethenewlaw.Companieshavehadtorecruitabout1,000womeninfouryears.Manycominthatithasbeendifficulttofindexperiencedcandidates.Becauseofthis,someofthebestwomenhavecollectedasmanyas25-35directorshipseach,andareknowninNorwegianbusinesscirclesasthe"goldenskirts".OnereasonforthescarcityisthattherearefairlyfewwomeninmanagementinNorwegiancompanies—theyoccupyaround15%ofseniorpositions.Ithasbeenparticularlyhardforfirmsintheoil,technologyandfinancialindustriestofindwomenwithaenoughexperience.Somepeopleworrythattheirrelativelackofexperiencemaykeepwomenonboards,andthatinturncouldmeanthatboardsmight elessabletoholdmanagerstoaccount.RecenthistoryinNorway,however,suggeststhattherightwomencanmakestrongdirectors.―omefeelmorecompelledthanmentodotheir,‖saysMsRekstenSkaugen,whowasvotedNorway‘schairmanoftheyearfor2007,"andwecanaffordtoaskthehardquestions,becausewomenarenotalwaysexpectedtoknowtheanswers."TheauthormentionsIbsen‘syinthefirstparagraphinorder depictwomen‘sdilemmaatexinthenewlypassedsupportNorwegianintroducethetopicunderA thatfailstoobeythenewlawcould dpayaheavyclosedownitschangetoaprivatesign promisingtoTowhichofthefollowingisSverreMunckmostlikelytoAsetratioofwomeninaboardisAreasonablequotaforwomenatworkneedstobeAcommonprincipleshouldbefollowedbyallAninexperiencedbusinessmanisnotsubjecttothenewTheauthorattributesthephenomenonof"goldenskirts" thesmallnumberofqualifiedfemalesintheover-recruitmentoffemalemanagersinpublictheadvantagewomenenjoywhencompetingforseniorthediscriminationtowardwomeninNorwegianbusinessThemainideaofthepassagemight femalepowerandliberationinthesignificanceofHenricIbsen‘swomen‘sstatusinNorwegianWhilethere'sneveragoodagetogetcancer,peopleintheir20sand30scanfeelparticularlyisolated.Theaverageageofacancerpatientatdiagnosisis67.Childrenwithcanceroftenaretreatedatpediatric(小兒科的)cancercenters,butyoungadultshaveatoughtimefindingpeers,oftensittingside-by-sideduringtreatmentswithpeoplewhocouldbetheirgrandparents.InhernewbookCrazyyCancerTips,writerKrisCarrlooksatcancerfromtheofayoungadultwhoconfrontsdeathjustasshe'sdiscoveringlife.Ms.Carrwas31whenshewasdiagnosedwitharareformofcancerthathadgeneratedtumorsonherliverandlungs.Ms.Carrreactedwiththenormalfeelingsofshockandsadness.Shecalledherparentsandstockeduponorganicfood,determinedto ea"full-timehealingaddict."Thenshepickedupthephoneandcalledeveryoneinheraddressbook,askingiftheyknewotheryoungwomenwithcancer.Theresultwasherown "cancerposse":arockconcerttourmanager,amodel,afashionmagazineeditor,acartoonistandaMTVcelebrity,tonameafew.Thisclubof"cancerbabes"offeredsupport,adviceandfashiontips,amongotherthings.Ms.CarrputhercancerexperienceinarecentLearningChannel andshehaswrittenapracticalguideabouthowshecoped.Cancerisn'tfunny,butMs.Carroftenis.Sheswears,shemakesupnamesforthepeoplewhotreather(Dr.FabulousandDr.Guru),andsheevenmakessecondsoundfun("cancerroadtrips,"shecallsthem).Sheleavesthemedicaladvicetodoctors,insteadofferinginsightfulandpracticaltipsthatreflecttheworldviewofayoungadult."Irefusedtoletcancerruinmyparty