自考英語(yǔ)二教材下

大學(xué)英語(yǔ)自學(xué)教程（下）

Ol-A.WhatIsaDecision?2

01-B.SecretsofSuccessatanInterview4

02-A.BlackHoles7

02-B.WorldswithinWorlds9

03-A.Euthanasia:ForandAgainst11

03-B.AdvantageUnfair13

04-A.SlaveryonOurDoorstep16

04-B.ReturnofTheChainGang18

05-A.TheNewMusic20

05-B.DifferentTypesofComposers21

06-A.ImprovingIndustrialEfficiencythroughRobotics23

06-B.PredictingEarthquakes25

07-A.LeisureandLeadership??

07-B.TheTimeMessage29

08-A.JetLag:PreventionandCure32

08-B.CoetrollingYourConcentration34

09-A.AginginEuropeanCountries37

09-B.Children'sSelf-esteem39

10-A.TheCampaignforElection42

10-B.TheAmericanTwo-partySystem44

11-A.SacrificedtoScience?46

11-B.Let'sStopKeepingPets49

12-A.LetYourMindWander51

12-B.ToSleep,PerchancetoDream55

13-A.Work,Labor,andPlay59

13-B.TheWorkman'sCompensation61

14-A.TheTeacher'sLastShockinglesson64

14-B.TheSeedsofWrath66

15-A.TheComputerandThePoet69

15-B.ChangestoComeinU.S.Education71

01-A.WhatIsaDecision?

Adecisionisachoicemadefromamongalternativecoursesofactionthatareavailable.Thepurposeofmakingadecision

istoestablishandachieveorganizationalgoalsandobjectives.Thereasonformakingadecisionisthataproblemexists,

goalsorobjectivesarewrong,orsomethingisstandinginthewayofaccomplishingthem.

Thusthedecision-makingprocessisfundamentaltomanagement.Almosteverythingamanagerdoesinvolvesdecisions,

indeed,somesuggestthatthemanagementprocessisdecisionmaking.Althoughmanagerscannotpredictthefuture,many

oftheirdecisionsrequirethattheyconsiderpossiblefutureevents.Oftenmanagersmustmakeabestguessatwhatthe

futurewillbeandtrytoleaveaslittleaspossibletochance,hutsinceuncertaintyisalwaysthere,riskaccompanies

decisions.Sometimestheconsequencesofapoordecisionareslight;atothertimestheyareserious.

Choiceistheopportunitytoselectamongalternatives.Ifthereisnochoice,thereisnodecisiontobemade.Decision

makingistheprocessofchoosing,andmanydecisionshaveabroadrangeofchoice.Forexample,astudentmaybeableto

chooseamonganumberofdifferentcoursesinordertoimplementthedecisiontoobtainacollegedegree.Formanagers,

everydecisionhasconstraintsbasedonpolicies,procedures,laws,precedents,andthelike.Theseconstraintsexistatall

levelsoftheorganization.

Alternativesarethepossiblecoursesofactionfromwhichchoicescanbemade.Iftherearenoalternatives,thereisno

choiceand,therefore,nodecision.Ifnoalternativesareseen,oftenitmeansthatathoroughjobofexaminingtheproblems

hasnotbeendone.Forexample,managerssometimestreatproblemsinaneither/orfashion;thisistheirwayofsimplifying

complexproblems.Butthetendencytosimplifyblindsthemtootheralternatives.

Atthemanageriallevel,decisionmakingincludeslimitingalternativesaswellasidentifyingthem,andtherangeisfrom

highlylimitedtopracticallyunlimited.

Decisionmakersmusthavesomewayofdeterminingwhichofseveralalternativesisbest-thatis,whichcontributesthe

mosttotheachievementoforganizationalgoals.Anorganizationalgoalisanendorastateofaffairstheorganizationseeks

toreach.Becauseindividuals(andorganizations)frequentlyhavedifferentideasabouthowtoattainthegoals,thebest

choicemaydependonwhomakesthedecision.Frequently,departmentsorunitswithinanorganizationmakedecisionsthat

aregoodforthemindividuallybutthatarelessthanoptimalforthelargerorganization.Calledsuboptimization,thisisa

trade-offthatincreasestheadvantagestooneunitorfunctionbutdecreasestheadvantagestoanotherunitorfunction.For

example,themarketingmanagermayargueeffectivelyforanincreasedadvertisingbudget.Inthelargerschemeofthings,

however,increasedfundingforresearchtoimprovetheproductsmightbemorebeneficialtotheorganization.

Thesetrade-offsoccurbecausetherearemanyobjectivesthatorganizationswishtoattainsimultaneously.Someofthese

objectivesaremoreimportantthanothers,buttheorderanddegreeofimportanceoftenvaryfrompersontopersonand

fromdepartmenttodepartment.Differentmanagersdefinethesameproblemindifferentterms.Whenpresentedwitha

commoncase,salesmanagerstendtoseesalesproblems,productionmanagersseeproductionproblems,andsoon.

Theorderingandimportanceofmultipleobjectivesisalsobased,inpart,onthevaluesofthedecisionmaker.Suchvalues

arepersonal;theyarehardtounderstand,evenbytheindividual,becausetheyaresodynamicandcomplex.Inmany

businesssituationsdifferentpeople'svaluesaboutacceptabledegreesofriskandprofitabilitycausedisagreementaboutthe

correctnessofdecisions.

Peopleoftenassumethatadecisionisanisolatedphenomenon.Butfromasystemspointofview,problemshavemultiple

causes,anddecisionshaveintendedandunintendedconsequences.Anorganizationisanongoingentity,andadecision

madetodaymayhaveconsequencesfarintothefuture.Thustheskilledmanagerlookstowardthefutureconsequencesof

currentdecisions.

01-B.SecretsofSuccessatanInterview

Thesubjectoftoday'stalkisinterviews.

Thekeywordsherearepreparationandconfidence,whichwillcarryyoufar.

Doyourhomeworkfirst.

Findoutallyoucanaboutthejobyouareapplyingforandtheorganizationyouhopetoworkfor.

ManyoftheemployersIinterviewedmadethesamecriticismofcandidates."Theyhavenoideawhatthedaytodaywork

ofthejobbringsabout.Theyhavevaguenotionsof"furtheringthecompany'sprospects5orof'servingthecommunity',but

havenevertakenthetroubletofindouttheactualtaskstheywillberequiredtodo.”

Donotletthisbesaidofyou.Itshowsanunattractiveindifferencetoyouremployerandtoyourjob.

Takethetimetoputyourselfintotheinterviewer'splace.Hewantssomebodywhoishard-workingwithapleasant

personalityandarealinterestinthejob.

Anythingthatyoufindoutabouttheprospectiveemployercanbeusedtoyouradvantageduringtheinterviewtoshowthat

youhavebotheredtomastersomefactsaboutthepeoplewhoyouhopetoworkfor.

Writedown(andremember)thequestionsyouwanttoasktheinterviewer(s)sothatyouarenotspeechlesswhentheyinvite

yourquestions.Makesurethatholidaysandpayarenotthefirstthingsyouaskabout.Ifallyourquestionshavebeen

answeredduringtheinterview,reply:"Infact,Ididhaveseveralquestions,butyouhavealreadyansweredthemall.^^

Donotbeafraidtoaskforclarificationofsomethingthathasbeensaidduringtheinterviewifyouwanttobesurewhatwas

implied,butdobepolite.

Justbeforeyougototheinterview,lookagainattheoriginaladvertisementthatyouanswered,anycorrespondencefrom

yourprospectiveemployer,photocopiesofyourletterofapplicationorapplicationformandyourresume.

Thenyouwillrememberwhatyousaidandwhattheywant.Thisisveryimportantifyouhaveappliedformanyjobsina

shorttimeasitiseasytobecomeconfusedandgiveanimpressionofinefficiency.

Makesureyouknowwhereandwhenyouhavetoreportfortheinterview.Gotothebuilding(butnotinsidetheoffice)a

dayortwobefore,ifnecessary,tofindouthowlongthejourneytakesandwhereexactlytheplaceis.

Aimtoarrivefiveortenminutesearlyfortheactualinterview,thenyouwillhavealittletimeinhandandyouwillnot

panicifyouaredelayed.Youstartatadisadvantageifyouarriveworriedandtenminuteslate.

Dressinclean,neat,conservativeclothes.NowisNOTthetimetoexperimentwiththepunklookor(girls)towearlow-cut

dresseswithminiskirts.Makesurethatyourshoes,handsandhair(andteeth)arecleanandneat.

Havetheletterinvitingyouforaninterviewreadytoshowincasethereisanydifficultyincommunication.

Youmayfindyourselffacingoneinterviewerorapanel.Thelatterisfarmoreintimidating,butdonotletitworryyoutoo

much.Theinterviewerwillprobablyhaveatableinfrontofhim/her.Donotputyourthingsorarmsonit.

Ifyouhaveabagoracase,putitonthefloorbesideyourchair.Donotclutchitnervouslyor,worsestill,dropit,spilling

everything.

Shakehandsiftheintervieweroffershishandfirst.Thereislittlelikelihoodthatapaneloffivewantstogothoughthe

processofallshakinghandswithyouinturn.Soyoudonotbeupsetifnooneoffers.

Shakehandsfirmly—aweakhandsuggestsaweakpersonality,andacrushinggripisobviouslypainful.Donotdropthe

handassoonasyourshastoucheditasthiswillseemtoshowyoudonotliketheotherperson.

Speakpolitelyandnaturallyevenifyouarefeelingshy.Thinkbeforeyouansweranyquestions.

Ifyoucannotunderstand,ask:"Wouldyoumindrephrasingthequestion,please?"Thequestionwillthenberepeatedin

differentwords.

Ifyouarenotdefinitelyacceptedorturneddownonthespot,ask:"WhenmayIexpecttoheartheresultsofthisinterview?"

Ifyoudoreceivealetterofferingyouthejob,youmustreplybyletter(keepaphotocopy)assoonaspossible.

Goodluck!

02-A.BlackHoles

Whatisablackhole?Well,it'sdifficulttoanswerthisquestion,sincethetermswewouldnormallyusetodescribea

scientificphenomenonareinadequatehere.Astronomersandscientiststhinkthatablackholeisaregionofspace(nota

thing)intowhichmatterhasfallenandfromwhichnothingcanescape?notevenlight.Sowecan'tseeablackhole.A

blackholeexertsastronggravitationalpullandyetithasnomatter.Itisonlyspace—orsowethink.Howcanthishappen?

Thetheoryisthatsomestarsexplodewhentheirdensityincreasestoaparticularpoint;theycollapseandsometimesa

supernovaoccurs.Fromearth,asupernovalookslikeaverybrightlightintheskywhichshineseveninthedaytime.

Supernovaewerereportedbyastronomersintheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies.SomepeoplethinkthattheStarof

Bethlehemcouldhavebeenasupernova.ThecollapseofastarmayproduceaWhiteDwarforaneutronstar—astar,

whosematterissodensethatitcontinuallyshrinksbytheforceofitsowngravity.Butifthestarisverylarge(muchbigger

thanoursun)thisprocessofshrinkingmaybesointensethatablackholeresults.Imaginetheearthreducedtothesizeofa

marble,butstillhavingthesamemassandastrongergravitationalpull,andyouhavesomeideaoftheforceofablackhole.

Anymatterneartheblackholeissuckedin.Itisimpossibletosaywhathappensinsideablackhole.Scientistshavecalled

theboundaryareaaroundtheholethe"eventhorizon."Weknownothingabouteventswhichhappenonceobjectspassthis

boundary.Butintheory,mattermustbehaveverydifferentlyinsidethehole.

Forexample,ifamanfellintoablackhole,hewouldthinkthathereachedthecenterofitveryquickly.Howeveran

observerattheeventhorizonwouldthinkthatthemanneverreachedthecenteratall.Ourspaceandtimelawsdon'tseem

toapplytoobjectsintheareaofablackhole.Einstein'srelativitytheoryistheonlyonewhichcanexplainsuchphenomena.

Einsteinclaimedthatmatterandenergyareinterchangeable,sothatthereisno"absolute"timeandspace.Thereareno

constantsatall,andmeasurementsoftimeandspacedependonthepositionoftheobserver.Theyarerelative.Wedonot

yetfullyunderstandtheimplicationsoftherelativitytheory;butitisinterestingthatEinstein'stheoryprovidedabasisfor

theideaofblackholesbeforeastronomersstartedtofindsomeevidencefortheirexistence.Itisonlyrecentlythat

astronomershavebegunspecificresearchintoblackholes.InAugust1977,asatellitewaslaunchedtogatherdataaboutthe

10millionblackholeswhicharethoughttobeintheMilkyWay.Andastronomersareplanninganewobservatorytostudy

theindividualexplodingstarsbelievedtobeblackholes,

Themostconvincingevidenceofblackholescomesfrownresearchintobinarystarsystems.Binarystars,astheirname

suggests,aretwinstarswhosepositioninspaceaffectseachother.Insomebinarysystems,astronomershaveshownthat

thereisaninvisiblecompanionstar,a"partner"totheonewhichwecanseeinthesky.Matterfromtheonewhichwecan

seeisbeingpulledtowardsthecompanionstar.Couldthisinvisiblestar,whichexertssuchagreatforce,beablackhole?

Astronomershaveevidenceofafewotherstarstoo,whichmighthaveblackholesascompanions.

Thestoryofblackholesisjustbeginning.Speculationsaboutthem,areendless.Theremightbeamassiveblackholeatthe

centerofourgalaxyswallowingupstarsataveryrapidrate.Mankindmayonedaymeetthisfate.Ontheotherhand,

scientistshavesuggestedthatveryadvancedtechnologycouldonedaymakeuseoftheenergyofblackholesformankind.

Thesespeculationssoundlikesciencefiction.Butthetheoryofblackholesinspaceisacceptedbymanyseriousscientists

andastronomers.Theyshowusaworldwhichoperatesinatotallydifferentwayfromourownandtheyquestionourmost

basicexperienceofspaceandtime.

02-B.WorldswithinWorlds

Firstofallletusconsidertheearth(thatistosay,theworld)asaplanetrevolvingroundthesun.Theearthisoneofnine

planetswhichmoveinorbitroundthesun.Thesenineplanets,togetherwiththesun,makeupwhatiscalledoursolar

system.Howthiswonderfulsystemstartedandwhatkeptitworkingwithsuchwonderfulaccuracyislargelyamysterybut

astronomerstellusthatitisonlyoneofmillionsofsimilarsystemsinspace,andoneofthesmallest.

Thestarswhichweseeglitteringintheskyonadarkandcloudlessnightarealmostcertainlythesunsofothersolar

systemsmoreorlesslikeourown,buttheyaresofarawayinspacethatitisunlikelythatweshallevergettoknowvery

muchaboutthem.Aboutourownsolarsystem,however,wearelearningmoreeveryday.

BeforetheAmericanandRussianastronautsmadetheirthrillingjourneysintoouterspaceitwasdifficultforustorealise

whatourearthlookedlikefromhundredsofthousandsofmilesaway,butthephotographswhichtheastronautswereableto

takeshowustheearthinspacelookingnotverydifferentfromwhatthemoonlookslikewhenwelookatitfromtheearth.

Theearthis,however,verydifferentfromthemoon,whichtheAmericanastronautshavefoundtobewithoutlifeor

vegetation,whereasourearthisverymuchaliveineveryrespect.Themoon,bytheway,iscalledasatellitebecauseitgoes

roundourearthaswellasroundthesun.Inotherwords,itgoesroundthesunwithourearth.

Thesurfaceofourearthiscoveredbymassesoflandandlargerareasofwater.Letusconsiderthewaterareasfirst.The

totalwaterareaisaboutthreetimesaslargeasthelandarea.Theverylargeseparateareasofwaterarecalled"oceans^^and

thelesserareasarecalled"seas.^^

Inmostoftheoceansandseassomeofthewaterisfoundtobeflowinginaparticulardirection-thatistosay,fromone

parttowardsanotherpartoftheoceanorseaconcerned.Thewaterwhichisflowinginthismannerissaidtobemovingasa

"current."Therearemanythousandsofcurrentsinthewatersoftheoceansandseas,butonlycertainofthestrongerand

bettermarkedcurrentsarespeciallynamedandofgreatimportance.Thesecurrentsareimportantbecausetheyaffectthe

climateofthelandareasclosetowheretheyflowandalsobecausetheycarrylargequantitiesofmicroscopicanimaland

vegetablelifewhichformsalargepartofthefoodforfishes.

Thenatureandcharacteristicsofthesurfaceofthelandareasoftheearthvaryagreatdealfromareatoareaandfromplace

toplace.Thesurfaceofsomeareasconsistslargelyofhighmountainsanddeepvalleyswhilst,inotherareas,mostofthe

surfaceconsistsofplains.IfonemadeajourneyovertheContinentsonewouldfindeverykindofsurfaceincluding

mountainranges,plains,plateaux,deserts,tropicalforestlandsandemptyareascoveredpermanentlybyiceandsnow.

Whenthinkingandlearningabouttheworldweshouldnotforgetthatourworldisthehomeofaverygreatmanydifferent

people—peopleswithdifferentcolouredskins,livingverydifferentlivesandhavingverydifferentideasaboutagreat

manyimportantthingssuchasreligion,government,educationandsocialbehaviour.

Thecircumstancesunderwhichdifferentpeoplelivemakeagreatdifferencebetweenthewayinwhichtheyliveandthe

wayinwhichwelive,anditoughttobeourbusinesstotrytounderstandthosedifferentcircumstancessothatwecanbetter

understandpeopleofotherlands.Aboveall,weshouldavoiddecidingwhatwethinkaboutpeopledifferentfromourselves

withoutfirsthavinglearnedagreatdealaboutthemandthekindoflivestheyhavetolive.Itistruetosaythatthemorewe

learnaboutotherpeople,thebetterweunderstandtheirideasand,asarule,thebetterwelikethosepeoplethemselves.

03-A.Euthanasia:ForandAgainst

"Wemustn'tdelayanylonger...swallowingisdifficult...andbreathing,that'salsodifficult.Thosemusclesareweakening

too...wemustn'tdelayanylonger."

ThesewerethewordsofDutchmanCeesvanWendeldeJoodeaskinghisdoctortohelphimdie.Affectedwithaserious

disease,vanWendelwasnolongerabletospeakclearlyandheknewtherewasnohopeofrecoveryandthathiscondition

wasrapidlydeteriorating.

VanWendel'slastthreemonthsoflifebeforebeinggivenafinal,lethalinjectionbyhisdoctorwerefilmedandfirstshown

ontelevisionlastyearintheNetherlands.Theprogrammehassincebeenboughtby20countriesandeachtimeitisshown,

itstartsanationwidedebateonthesubject.

TheNetherlandsistheonlycountryinEuropewhichpermitseuthanasia,althoughitisnottechnicallylegalthere.However,

doctorswhocarryouteuthanasiaunderstrictguidelinesintroducedbytheDutchParliamenttwoyearsagoareusuallynot

prosecuted.Theguidelinesdemandthatthepatientisexperiencingextremesuffering,thatthereisnochanceofacure,and

thatthepatienthasmaderepeatedrequestsforeuthanasia.Inadditiontothis,aseconddoctormustconfirmthatthese

criteriahavebeenmetandthedeathmustbereportedtothepolicedepartment.

Shoulddoctorsbeallowedtotakethelivesofothers?Dr.WilfredvanOijen,CeesvanWendel'sdoctor,explainshowhe

looksatthequestion:

"Well,it'snotasifI'mplanningtomurderacrowdofpeoplewithamachinegun.Inthatcase,killingistheworstthingI

canimagine.Butthat'sentirelydifferentfrommyworkasadoctor.IcareforpeopleandItrytoensurethattheydon'tsuffer

toomuch.That'saverydifferentthing.^^

Manypeople,though,aretotallyagainstthepracticeofeuthanasia.Dr.AndrewFerguson,Chairmanoftheorganisation

HealthcareOpposedtoEuthanasia,saysthat"inthevastmajorityofeuthanasiacases,whatthepatientisactuallyaskingfor

issomethingelse.Theymaywantahealthprofessionaltoopenupcommunicationforthemwiththeirlovedonesorfamily

"there'snearlyalwaysanotherquestionbehindthequestion.M

Britainalsohasastrongtraditionofhospices-specialhospitalswhichcareonlyforthedyingandtheirspecialneeds.

CicelySaunders,PresidentoftheNationalHospiceCouncilandafoundermemberofthehospicemovement,arguesthat

euthanasiadoesn'ttakeintoaccountthattherearewaysofcaringforthedying.Sheisalsoconcernedthatallowing

euthanasiawouldunderminetheneedforcareandconsiderationofawiderangeofpeople:"It'sveryeasyinsocietynow

fortheelderly,thedisabledandthedependenttofeelthattheyareburdens,andthereforethattheyoughttooptout.Ithink

thatanythingthatlegallyallowstheshorteningoflifedoesmakethosepeoplemorevulnerable.^^

Manyfindthisprohibitionofanindividual'srighttodiepaternalistic.Althoughtheyagreethatlifeisimportantandshould

berespected,theyfeelthatthequalityoflifeshouldnotbeignored.Dr.vanOijenbelievesthatpeoplehavethefundamental

righttochooseforthemselvesiftheywanttodie:"Whatthosepeoplewhoopposeeuthanasiaaretellingmeisthatdying

peoplehaven'ttheright.Andthatwhenpeopleareveryill,weareallafraidoftheirdeath.Buttherearesituationswhere

deathisafriend.Andinthosecases,whynot?

But"whynot?"isaquestionwhichmightcausestrongemotion.ThefilmshowingCeesvanWendel'sdeathwasboth

movingandsensitive.Hisdoctorwasclearlyafamilyfriend;hiswifehadonlyherhusband'sinterestsatheart.Some,

however,wouldarguethatitwouldbedangeroustousethisparticularexampletosupportthecaseforeuthanasia.Notall

patientswouldreceivesuchahighlevelofindividualcareandattention.

03-B.AdvantageUnfair

AccordingtothewriterWalterEllis,authorofabookcalledtheOxbridgeConspiracy,Britainisstilldominatedbythe

old-boynetwork:itisn'twhatyouknowthatmatters,butwhoyouknow.HeclaimsthatatOxfordandCambridge

Universities(Oxbridgeforshort)afewselectpeoplestartonanescalatorridewhich,overtheyears,carriesthemtothetops

ofBritishprivilegeandpower.Hisresearchrevealedthatthetopprofessionsallcontinuetobedominated,ifnot90percent,

then60or65percent,byOxbridgegraduates.

Andyet,saysEllis,Oxbridgegraduatesmakeuponlytwopercentofthetotalnumberofstudentswhograduatefrom

Britain'suniversities.OtherresearchesalsoseemtosupporthisbeliefthatOxbridgegraduatesstartwithanunfairadvantage

intheemploymentmarket.Inthelaw,arecentlypublishedreportshowedthatoutof26seniorjudgesappointedtotheHigh

Courtlastyear,allofthemwenttoprivateschoolsand21ofthemwenttoOxbridge.

Butcanthisbesaidtoamounttoaconspiracy?NotaccordingtoDr.JohnRae,aformerheadmasterofoneofBritain's

leadingprivateschools,Westminster:

"IwouldacceptthattherewasabiasinsomekeyareasofBritishlife,butthatbiashasnowgone.Sometimeago—inthe

60sandbefore?entrytoOxfordandCambridgewasnotentirelyonmerit.Now,there'sabsolutelynoquestioninany

objectiveobserver'smindthat,entrytoOxfordandCambridgeisfiercelycompetitive."

However,manywoulddisagreewiththis.For,althoughoverthree-quartersofBritishpupilsareeducatedinstateschools,

overhalfthestudentsthatgotoOxbridgehavebeentoprivate,or"public"schools.IsthisbecausepupilsfromBritain's

privateschoolsaremoreintelligentthanthosefromstateschools,oraretheysimplybetterprepared?

Onaverage,about$5,000ayearisspentoneachprivateschoolpupil,morethantwicetheamountspentonstateschool

pupils.Sohowcanthestateschoolsbeexpectedtocompetewiththeprivateschoolswhentheyhavefarfewerresources?

AndhowcantheypreparetheirpupilsforthespecialentranceexamtoOxfordUniversity,whichrequiresextrapreparation,

andforwhichmanypublicschoolpupilstraditionallystayatschoolanddoanadditionalterm?

Untilrecently,manyblamedOxfordforthisbiasbecauseoftheuniversity'sspecialentranceexam(Cambridgeabolishedits

entranceexamin1986).ButlastFebruary,OxfordUniversitydecidedtoabolishtheexamtoencouragemorestateschool

applicants.Fromautumn1996,OxfordUniversityapplicants,likeapplicantstootheruniversities,willbejudgedonlyon

theirAlevelresultsandontheirperformanceatinterviews,althoughsomedepartmentsmightstillsetspecialtests.

However,somearguethatthere'snothingwronginhavingeliteplacesoflearning,andthatbytheirverynature,theseplaces

shouldnotbeeasilyaccessible.Mostcountriesarerunbyaneliteandhavecentresofacademicexcellencefromwhichthe

elitearerecruited.WalterEllisacceptsthatthisistrue:

"ButinFrance,forexample,therearesomethinglike40equivalentsofuniversity,whichprovidethiselitethroughamuch

broaderbase.InAmericayou'vegottheIvyLeague,centredonHarvardandYale,withPrincetonandStanfordandothers.

Butagain,thoseuniversitiestogether—theeliteuniversities—areabouttenorfifteeninnumber,andarebeingpushed

alongfrombehindbyothergreatuniversitieslike,forexample,ChicagoandBerkeley.Soyoudon'thavejustthisnarrow

concentrationoftwouniversitiesprovidingaconstantlyreplicatingelite.^^

WhenitcomestoOxfordandCambridgebeingelitistbecauseofthenumberofprivateschoolpupilstheyaccept,Professor

StoneofOxfordUniversityarguesthatthereisasimplefoctheandhisassociatescannotignore:

"Ifcertainschoolsdobetterthanothersthenwejusthavetoacceptit.Wecannotbeaplaceforremedialeducation.It'snot

whatOxfordistheretodo.”

However,sinceacademicexcellencedoesappeartoberelatedtotheamountofmoneyspentperpupil,thisdoesseemto

implythatPrimeMinisterJohnMajor'svisionofBritainasaclasslesssocietyisstillalongwayoff.Anditmaybeworth

rememberingthatwhileJohnMajordidn'thimselfgotoOxbridge,mostofhisministersdid.

04-A.SlaveryonOurDoorstep

Thereareestimatedtobemorethan20,000overseasdomesticservantsworkinginBritain(theexactfigureisnotknown

becausetheHomeOffice,theGovernmentdepartmentthatdealswiththis,doesnotkeepstatistics).Usually,theyhavebeen

broughtoverbyforeignbusinessmen,diplomatsorBritonsreturningfromabroad.Ofthese20,000,justunder2,000are

beingexploitedandabusedbytheiremployers,accordingtoaLondon-basedcampaigninggroupwhichhelpsoverseas

servantsworkinginBritain.

Theabusecantakeseveralforms.Oftenthedomesticsarenotallowedtogoout,andtheydonotreceiveanypayment.They

canbephysically,sexuallyandpsychologicallyabused.Andtheycanhavetheirpassportsremoved,makingleavingor

"escaping"virtuallyimpossible.

Thesadconditionofwomenworkingasdomesticsaroundtheworldreceivedmuchmediaattentionearlierthisyearin

severalhighlypublicisedcases.Inoneofthem,aFilipinomaidwasexecutedinSingaporeafterbeingconvictedofmurder,

despiteprotestsfromvariousquartersthatherguilthadnotbeenadequatelyestablished.GroupslikeAnti-Slavery

Internationalsayother,lessdramatic,casesareequallydeservingofattention,suchas