还剩11页未读,继续阅读
本资源只提供10页预览,全部文档请下载后查看!喜欢就下载吧,查找使用更方便
文本内容:
SectionBinterviewinthissectionyouwillheareverythingonceonly.Listencarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.Marktheconectanswertoeachquestiononyourcoloredanswersheet.Questions1to5arebasedonaninterview.Attheendoftheinterviewyouwillbegiven10secondstoanswereachofthefollowingfivequestions.Nowlistentothefollowingfivequestions.Nowlistenlotheinterview
1.AccordingtoNigelmostproblemsofairtravelarecausedbyUnfavorableweatherconditions.Airportshandlingcapacity.Inadequateticketingservice.D.Overbooking.WhichofthefollowingisnotmentionedascompensationforvolunteersforthenextfightoutA.Freeticket.BFreephonecallC.CashrewardD.ScatreservationWhydoesNigelsuggestthatbusinesstravelersavoidbigairportsABecauseallflightsinandoutoftherearefull.Becausethevolumeoftrafficisheavy.Becausetherearemorepopularflights.Becausetherearemoredelaysandcancellations.AccordingtoNigelinexperiencetravelersarelikelytomakethefollowingmistakesexcept.ABookingonlesspopularflights.buyingticketsatfullprice.carryingexcessiveluggage.planninglongbusinesstrips.
5.WhichofthefollowingstatementsisINCORRECTThepossibilityofdiscountsdependsonatravelagentsvolumeofbusiness.Longerflightstothesamedestinationmaybecheaper.Itisadvisabletoplaneverydetailofatripinadvance.arrangingforstopoverscanavoidovernighttravel.SECTIONCNEWSBROACASTInthissectionyouwillheareverythingonceonly.Listencarefullyandthenanswerthequestionsthatfollow.Markthecorrectanswertoeachquestiononyourcolouredanswersheet.Question6isbasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitemyouwillbepeoplesoutlookonlift.peopleslifestyles.peopleslivingstandardpeoplessocialvalues.Changesinpensionschemeswerealsopartofthecorporatelay-offs.thegovernmentcutsinwelfarespending.theeconomicrestructuring.thewarningpoweroflaborsunions.ThousandsofemployeeschoseEnronastheirsoleinvestmentoptionmainlybecauseThe401kmadethemresponsiblefortheirownfuture.Enronofferedtoaddcompanystocktotheirinvestment.theiremployersintendedtocutbackonpensionspending.Enronsofferwassimilartoadefined-benefitplan.WhichisNOTseenasalessondrawnfromtheEnrondisaster401kassetsshouldbeplacedinmorethanoneinvestmentoption.Employeeshavetotakeupresponsibilitiesforthemselves.Sucheventscouldhappenagainasitisnoteasytochangepeoplesmind.Economicsecuritywontbetakenforgrantedbyfutureyoungworkers.PARTHIGENERALKNOWLEDGE1MINThemajorityofthecurrentpopulationintheUKaredecedentsofallthefollowingtribesrespectivelyEXCEPTtheAnglostheCeltstheJutestheSaxonsTheHeadofStateofCanadaisrepresentedbytheMonarchthePresidentthePrimeMinistertheGovernor-generalTheDeclarationofIndependencewaswrittenbyThomasJeffersonGeorgeWashingtonAlexanderHamiltonJamesMadisonTheoriginalinhabitantsofAustraliaweretheRedIndianstheEskimostheAboriginestheMaorisWhichofthefollowingnovelswaswrittenbyEmilyBronteOliverTwistMiddlemarchJaneEyreWutheringHeightsWilliamButlerYeatswasanpoetandplaywright.AmericanCanadianIrishAustralianDeathofaSalesmanwaswrittenbyArthurMillerErnestHemingwayRalphEllisonJamesBaldwin
38.referstothestudyoftheinternalstructureofwordsandtherulesofwordformation.PhonologyMorphologySemanticsSociolinguisticsThedistinctivefeaturesofaspeechvarietymaybeallthefollowingEXCEPTlexicalsyntacticphonologicalpsycholinguisticThewordtailoncereferredto“thetailofahorse”butnowitisusedtomean“thetailofanyanimal.Thisisanexampleofwideningofmeaningnarrowingofmeaningmeaningshiftlossofmeaning英译中Scientificandtechnologicaladvancesareenablingustocomprehendthefurthestreachesofthecosmosthemostbasicconstituentsofmatterandthemiracleoflife.Atthesamelimetodaytheactionsandinactionofhumanbeingsimperilnotonlylifeontheplanetbuttheverylifeoftheplanet.Globalizationismakingtheworldsmallerfasterandricher.Still9/11avianfluandIranremindusthatasmallerfasterworldisnotnecessarilyasaferworld.Ourworldisburstingwithknowledge-butdesperatelyinneedofwisdom.Nowwhensoundbitesaregettingshorterwheninstantmessagescrowdoutessaysandwhenindividuallivesgrowmorefrenziedcollegegraduatescapableofdeepreflectionarewhatourworldneeds.ForallthesereasonsIbelieved-andIbelieveevenmorestronglytoday-intheuniqueandirreplaceablemissionofuniversities.科技进步正在使我们能够探索宇宙的边陲、物质最根本的成分及生命的奇迹.与此同时,今天,人类所做的及没能做到的事情,不仅危害到这个星球上的生命,也危害到该星球的寿命全球化正在使地球变得愈来愈小、愈来愈快和愈来愈富有尽管如此,9/
11、禽流感及伊朗提醒我们,更小更快的世界决不意味着其更平安我们正处于一个知识爆炸的世界之中,不过,迫切需要智慧现在,在新闻采访的原声摘要播出变得愈来愈短,即时信息淘汰了杂记文,个人生活变得如痴如狂之际,这个世界还是需要能够深思的大学生考虑到这些理由,我过去信仰,而今天甚至更加强烈地信仰大学独特的、无可取代的使命改错题Fromwhathasbeensaiditmustbeclearthatnoonecanmakeverypositivestatementsabouthowlanguageoriginated.Thereisnomaterialinanylanguagetodayandintheearliest1and—orrecordsofancientlanguagesshowuslanguageinanewand2show一showingemergingstate.Itisoftensaidofcoursethatthelanguage3theoriginatedincriesofangerfearpainandpleasureandthe4and一butnecessaryevidenceisentirelylacking:therearcnoremotetribesnoancientrecordsprovidingevidenceofalanguagewithalargeproportionofsuchcries5large—*largerthanwefindinEnglishitistruethattheabsenceofsuchevidencedoesnotdisprovethetheorybutin⑹in—onothergroundstoothetheoryisnotveryattractive.Peopleofallracesandlanguagesmakerathersimilarnoisesinreturntopainorpleasure.Thefactthat7return—rcsponscsuchnoisesaresimilaronthelipsofFrenchmenandMalaysianswhoselanguagesarcutterlydifferentservestoemphasizeonthefundamentaldifference8onbetweenthesenoisesandlanguageproper.WemaysaythatthecriesofpainorchortlesofamusementarelargelyreflexactionsinstinctivetoAlargeextent9Aawhereaslanguageproperdoesnotconsistofsignsbutofthesethathavetobelearntandthatare10these—thoseSECTIONACHINESETOENGLISHTranslatetheunderlinedpartofthefollowingtextintoEnglish.WriteyourtranslationonANSWERSHEETTHREE.暮色中,河湾里落满云霞,与天际的颜色混合一起,分不清哪是流云哪是水湾也就在这一幅绚烂的图画旁边,在河湾之畔,一群羊正在低头觅食它们几乎没有一个顾得上抬起头来,看一眼这美丽的黄件也许它们要抓紧时间,在即将回家的最后一刻再次咀嚼这是黄河滩上的一幕牧羊人不见了,他不知在何处歇息只有这些美生灵自由自在地享受着这个黄昏这儿水草肥美,让它们长得肥滚滚的,像些胖娃娃如果走近了,会发现它们那可爱的神情,洁白的牙齿,那丰富而单纯的表情如果稍稍长久一点打量这张张面庞,还会生出无限的怜悯参考译文Besidethispicturewithprofusionsofcolorsagroupofsheeparelowingtheirheadseatingbytheriverbank.Hardlynoneofthemwouldsparesometimetoraisetheireyestohaveaglanceatthebeautifuldusk.Theyareperhapstakinguseofeveryminutetoenjoytheirlastchewbeforebeingdrivenhome.ThisisapictureoftheYellowRiverbankinwhichtheshepherddisappearsandnooneknowswhereheisrestinghimself.Onlythesheephoweverasfreecreaturesarejoyfullyappreciatingthedusk.Theexuberantwaterplantshavenourishedthesheepmakingthemgrowasfatasballs.Whenapproachingnearyouwouldfindtheirlily-whiteteethandavarietyofinnocentfacialimpressions.选择题答案BCBDCDCACCCADBABACCDDDDBADABBDCDACDCABDAgiven10secondstoanswerthequestions.Nowlistentothenews.6whathappenedonMondayAtraincrashoccurredcausingminorinjuries.Investigatorfoundoutthecauseoftheaccident.CCrewsrescuedmorepassengersfromthesite.DAcommutertraincrashedintoabuilding.Question7and8arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitemyouwillbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestions.WhichofthefollowingwasnotontheagendaoftheG20meetingIraqdebtsWTOtalksFinancialdisastersPossiblesanctionsTheG20isanorganization.A.InternationalBEuropeanCRegionalDAsianQuestion9and1arebasedonthefollowingnews.Attheendofthenewsitemyouwillbegiven20secondstoanswerthequestionsThcUNCharterwentintoeffectafterAItwassignedbythe50originalmembercountries.BItwasapprovedbythefoundersandothermembercountries.CItwasapprovedbythefoundingmembersDItwassignedbythefoundingmembers.WhichofthefollowingbestdescribetheroleofthecharterA.theCharteronlydescribespowersoftheUNbodies.BtheChartermainlyaimstopromoteworldeconomy.CThecharterisatreatyaboveallothertreaties.DThecharterauthorizesreformsinUNbodies.Part2ReadingComprehension30minInthissectiontherearefourreadingpassagesfollowedbyatotalof20multiple-choicequestions.Readthepassagesandthenmarkyouranswersonyourcolouredanswersheet.TextATheWelshlanguagehasalwaysbeentheultimatemarkerofWelshidentitybutagenerationagoitlookedasifWelshwouldgothewayofManx.OncewidelyspokenontheIsleofManbutnowextinct.Governmentsfinancingandcentralplanning.howeverhavehelpedreversethedeclineofWelsh.RoadsignsandofficialpublicdocumentsarewritteninbothWelshandEnglishandschoolchildrenarerequiredtolearnbothlanguages.WelshisnowoneofthemostsuccessfulofEuropesregionallanguagesspokenbymorethanahalf-millionofthecountrysthreemillionpeople.Therevivalofthelanguageparticularlyamongyoungpeopleispartofaresurgenceofnationalidentitysweepingthroughthissmallproudnation.LastmonthWalesmarkedthesecondanniversaryoftheopeningoftheNationalAssemblythefirstparliamenttobeconvenedheresince
1404.TheideabehinddevolutionwastorestorethebalancewithintheunionofnationsmakinguptheUnitedKingdom.WithmostofthepeopleandwealthEnglandhasalwayshadbraggingrights.ThepartialtransferoflegislativepowersfromWestminsterimplementedbyTonyBlairwasdesignedtogivetheothermembersoftheclub-ScotlandNorthernIrelandandWales-abiggersayandtocountercentrifugalforcesthatseemedtothreatentheveryideaoftheunion.TheWelshshowedlittleenthusiasmfordevolution.WhereastheScotsvotedoverwhelminglyforaparliamentthevoteforaWelshassemblyscrapedthroughbylessthanonepercentonaturnoutoflessthan25percent.Itspowerswereproportionatelylimited.TheAssemblycandecidehowmoneyfromWestminsterortheEuropeanUnionisspent.ItcannotunlikeitscounterpartinEdinburghenactlaws.ButnowthatitisheretheWelsharcgrowingtoliketheirAssembly.Manypeoplewouldlikeittohavemorepowers.Itsimportanceasfigureheadwillgrowwiththeopeningin2003ofanewdebatingchamberoneofmanynewbuildingsthataretransformingCardifffromadecayingseaportintoaBaltimore-stylewaterfrontcity.MeanwhileagrantofnearlyIwomilliondollarsfromtheEuropeanUnionwilltacklepoverty.WalesisoneofthepoorestregionsinWesternEurope-onlySpainPortugalandGreecehavealowerstandardofliving.NewspapersandmagazinesarcfilledwithstoriesaboutgreatWelshmenandwomenboostingself-esteem.TofamiliarfacessuchasDylanThomasandRichardBurtonhavebeenaddednewiconssuchasCatherineZeta-JonesthemoviestarandBrynTerfeltheoperasinger.Indigenousfoodslikesaltmarshlambareinvogue.AndWalesnowboastsanationalairline.AwyrCymru.Cymruwhichmeans“landofcompatriots/istheWelshnamefbrWales.ThereddragonthenationssymbolsincethetimeofKingArthuriseverywhere-onT-shirtsrugbyjerseysandevencellphonecovers.“UntilveryrecenttimesmostWelshpeoplehadthisfeelingofbeingsecond-classcitizens/saidDyfanJonesan18-year-oldstudent.ItwasawarmsummernightandIwassittingonthegrasswithagroupofyoungpeopleinLlanellianindustrialtowninthesouthoutsidetherockmusicvenueoftheNationalEisteddfodWalessannualculturalfestival.ThedisusedfactoryinfrontofusechoedtothesoundsofnewWelshbands.“TherewasalmostagenetictendencyfbrlackofconfidenceMDyfancontinued.EquallycomfortableinhisWelshnessasinhismembershipintheEnglish-speakingglobalyouthcultureandthenewfederalEuropeDyfanliketherestofhisgenerationisgrowingupwithasenseofpossibilityunimaginabletenyearsago.uWeusedtothink.WecantdoanythingwereonlyWelsh.NowIthinkthatschanging.z/Accordingtothepassagedevolutionwasmainlymeanttomaintainthepresentstatusamongthenations.reducelegislativepowersofEngland.createabetterstateofequalityamongthenations.grantmoresaytoallthenationsintheunion.Theword“centrifugalinthesecondparagraphmeansseparatist.conventional.feudal.politicalWalesisdifferentfromScotlandinallthefollowingaspectsEXCEPTpeoplesdesirefordevolution.localsturnoutforthevoting.powersofthelegislativebody.statusofthenationallanguage.WhichofthefollowingisNOTcitedasanexampleoftheresurgenceofWelshnationalidentityWelshhaswitnessedarevivalasanationallanguage.Poverty-relieffundshavecomefromtheEuropeanUnion.AWelshnationalairlineiscurrentlyinoperation.Thenationalsymbolhasbecomeafamiliarsight.AccordingtoDyfanJoneswhathaschangedispeoplesmentality.popculture.townsappearance.possibilitiesforthepeople.TextBGettingtotheheartofKuwaitidemocracyseemshilariouslyeasy.Armedonlywithadog-earedNEWSWEEKIDIambledthroughthegatesoftheNationalAssemblylastweek.Unscannedunsearchcdmysatchelcouldeasilyhaveheldtheoddgrenadeorananthrax-stuffedlunchbox.Theonlypersonwhostoppedmewasaguardwhogrinnedandinvitedmetotakeaswigoforangejuicefromhisplasticbottle.WereIaKuwaitiwomanwieldingaballotIwouldhavebeenaclearerandmorepresentdanger.ThatveryclayParliamentblockedabillgivingwomenthevote;29M.P.Svotedinfavorand29againstwithtwoabstentions.Unabletodecidewhetherthebillhadpassedornotthegovernmentscheduledanothervoteintwoweeks-toolateforwomentoregisterfbrJunesmunicipalelections.Thenextsuchelectionsarentuntil
2023.InsidetheelegantmarbledParliamentitselfaseaofmustachioedmeninwhiterobessatingreenseatsdebatingfuriously.Therulingemirhaspushedfbrwomenspoliticalrightsforyears.Ironicallythedemocraticallyelectedlegislaturehasthwartedhim.Traditionalistsandtriballeadersareopposed.LiberalsfrettoothatIslamistswilllettheirmultiplewivesvoteswellingconservativeranks.WhenIcametoParliamenttodaypeoplewhovotedyesdidntevenshakehandswithme“saidoneShiaclcrc.t€WhycantwcrespecteachotherandworktogetherWhynotindeedByGulfstandardsKuwaitisademocraticsuperstar.ItscitizensenjoyfreespeechaslongastheydontinsulttheiremirnaturallyandboastaParliamentthatcanactuallypasslaws.UnliketheirSaudisistersKuwaitiwomendriveworkandtravelfreely.Theyrunmultibillion-dollarbusinessesandserveasambassadors.Theiracademicsuccessissuchthatcollegeshaveactuallyloweredthegradesrequiredformakestudentstogetintomedicalandengineeringcourses.Eventhen70percentofuniversitystudentsarcfemales.InKuwaittheWesternobsessionwiththehigabfindsitsequivalent.AtafancypartyfbrNEWSWEEKsArabiceditionsomeKuwaitiwomenworethem.Othersoptedfbrtightspangledsheerlittlenumbersinpeacockblueorparrotorange.ForthepartysentertainmentNancyAjramtheArabworldsanswertoBritneySpearssangpassionatesongsofloveinawhitemini-dress.ShecouldntdancefbrusalassinceshakingonesbodyonstageisillegalinKuwait.Thatdidntstopwholetablesofmenfromraisingtheircamcra-cnablcdmobilephonesandclickingherpicture.YoudthinknotbeingabletovoteordanceinpublicwouldangerKuwaitsyoungergenerationofwomen.TofindoutIheadedtothemalls-Kuwaitsarchipelagoofcivicfreedom.Eagertoduckstrictparentsandthesocialtaboosofdatinginpublic.YoungKuwaitishavetakentocafesbeamingflirtatiousinfrarede-mailstooneanotherontheircellphotos.AtStarbucksintheglitteringAlSharqMallIfoundonlytablesofmenpuffingcigarettesandgrumblingabouttheservice.AtPizzaHutIthoughtIdgotananswerafterencounteringayoungwomanwholookedeveryinchthemodernsuffragette-drainpipejeansstrappysliverhigh-heeledsandalsandahigabstuddedwithpurplerhinestones.ButnoMiriamAl-Enizi20studyingbusinessadministrationatKuwaitUniversitydoesntthinkwomenneedthevote.Menarebetteratpoliticsthanwomen“sheexplainedaddingthatwomeninKuwaitalreadyhaveeverythingtheyneed.WelcometodemocracyKuwaitstyle.AccordingtothepassagewhichofthefollowinggroupsofpeoplemightbeviewedasbeingdangerousbytheguardsForeigntourists.Womenprotestors.Foreignjournalists.MembersoftheNationalAssembly.ThebillgivingwomenthevotedidnotmanagetopassbecauseDifferentinterestgroupshelddifferentconcerns.Liberalsdidnotreachconsensusamongthemselves.Parliamentwascontrolledbytraditionalists.
0.Parliamentmemberswereallconservatives.Whatistheroleofthe4thand5lhparagraphsinthedevelopmentofthetopicA.ToshowhowKuwaitiwomenenjoythemselves.TodescribehowwomenworkandstudyinKuwait.Toprovideacontrasttotheprecedingparagraphs.Toprovideacontrasttotheprecedingparagraphs.WhichofthefollowingisNOTtrueaboutyoungKuwaitiwomenTheyseemtobequitecontented.TheygoinforWesternfashions.Theydesiremorethanmodernnecessities.Theyfavourtheuseofhi-techproducts.TextCRichardKingofEnglandfrom1189to1199withallhischaracteristicvirtuesandfaultscastinaheroicmouldisoneofthemostfascinatingmedievalfigures.HehasbeendescribedasthecreatureandembodimentoftheageofchivalryInthosedaysthelionwasmuchadmiredinheraldryandmorethanonekingsoughttolinkhimselfwithitsrepute.WhenRichardscontemporariescalledhimCoeurdeLionnTheLionhearttheypaidalastingcomplimenttothekingofbeasts.LittledidtheEnglishpeopleowehimforhisservicesandheavilydidtheypayforhisadventures.HewasinEnglandonlytwiceforafewshortmonthsinhistenyears*reign;yethismemoryhasalwaysEnglishheartsandseemstopresentthroughoutthecenturiesthepatternofthefightingman.InalldeedsofprowessaswellasinlargeschemesofwarRichardshone.Hewastallanddelicatelyshapedstronginnerveandsinewandmostdexterousinarms.HereioicedinpersonalcombatandregardedhisopponentswithoutmaliceasncccssaryagentsinhisfameHelovedwarnotsomuchforthesakeofgloryorpoliticalendsbutasothermenlovescienceorpoetryfortheexcitementofthestruggleandtheglowofvictory.Bythishiswholetemperamentwastoned;andunitedwiththehighestqualitiesofthemilitarycommanderloveofwarcalledforthallthepowersofhismindandbody.AlthoughamanofbloodandviolenceRichardwastooimpetuoustobeeithertreacherousonhabituallycruel.Hewasasreadytoforgiveashewashastytooffend;hewasopen-handedandmunificenttoprofusion;inwarcircumspectindesignandskilfulinexecution;inpoliticalachildlackinginsubtletyandexperience.Hispoliticalallianceswereformeduponhislikesanddislikes;hispoliticalschemeshadneitherunitynorclearnessofpurpose.Theadvantagesgainedforhimbymilitarygeoidswereflungawaythroughdiplomaticineptitude.WhenonthejourneytotheEastMessinainSicilywaswonbyhisarmshewaseasilypersuadedtosharewithhispolishedfaithlessallyPhilipAugustusfruitsofavictorywhichmorewiselyusedmighthavefoiledtheFrenchKingsartfulschemes.TherichandtenableacquisitionofCypruswascastawayevenmoreeasilythanitwaswon.Hislifewasonemagnificentparadewhichwhenendedleftonlyanemptyplain.In1199whenthedifficultiesofraisingrevenuefortheendlesswarwereattheirheightgoodnewswasbroughttoKingRichard.ItwassaidtherehadbeendugupnearthecastleofChaluzonthelandsofoneofhisFrenchvassalsatreasureofwonderfulquality;agroupofgoldenimagesofanemperorhiswifesonsanddaughtersseatedroundatablealsoofgoldhadbeenunearthed.TheKingclaimedthistreasureaslordparamount.ThelordofChaluzresistedthedemandandtheKinglaidsiegetohissmallweakcastle.Onthethirddayasherodedaringlynearthewall.Confidentinhishard-triedluckaboltfromacrossbowstruckhimintheleftshoulderbytheneck.Thewoundalreadydeepwasaggravatedbythenecessarycuttingoutofthearrow-head.GangrenesetinandCoeurdeLionknewthathemustpayasoldiersdebt.Hepreparedfordeathwithfortitudeandcalmandinaccordancewiththeprincipleshehadfollowed.Hearrangedhisaffairshedividedhispersonalbelongingsamonghisfriendsorbequeathedthemtocharity.HedeclaredJohntobehisheirandmadeallpresentswearfealtytohim.Heorderedthearcherwhohadshotthefatalboltandwhowasnowaprisonertobebroughtbeforehim.Hepardonedhimandmadehimagiftofmoney.ForsevenyearshehadnotconfessedforfearofbeingcompelledtobereconciledtoPhilipbutnowhereceivedtheofficesoftheChurchwithsincereandexemplarypietyanddiedintheforty-secondyearofhisageonApril61199worthybytheconsentofallmentositwithKingArthurandRolandanotherheroesofmartialromanceatsomeEternalroundTablewhichwetrusttheCreatoroftheUniverseinHiscomprehensionwillnothaveforgottentoprovide.Thearcherwasflayedalive.20littledidtheEnglishpeopleownhimforhisservice7paragraphonemeansthattheEnglishA.paidfewtaxestohim.Bgavehimlittlerespect.Creceivedlittleprotectionfromhim.Dhadnorealcausetofeelgratefultohim.TosaythathiswifewasaumagnificentparadeXparagraphTwoimpliesthatitwastosomeextent.A.spentchieflyatwar.Bimpressiveandadmirable.ClivedtoopompouslyD.anemptyshow.Richardsbehaviourasdeathapproachedshowed.\braveryandself-control.WisdomandcorrectnessDevotionandromanceChivalryandcharityThepointofthelastshortparagraphisthatRichardwasA.cheatedbyhisownsuccessorsdeterminedtotakerevengeonhisenemies.moregeneroustohisenemiesthanhisseccesors.Dunabletoinfluencethebehaviorofhissuccessors.WhichofthefollowingphrasebestdescribesRichardasseenbytheauthorAnaggressivekingtoofondofwar.Abravekingwithminorfaults.CAcompetentbutcunningsoldier.DAkindwithgreatpoliticalskills.Therelationshipbetweenthefirstandsecondparagraphsisthateachpresentsonesideofthepicture.thefirstgeneralizesthesecondgivesexamples.thesecondisthelogicalresultofthefirst.bothpresentRichardsvirtuesandfaults.TEXTDThemiserablefateofEnron5semployeeswillbealandmarkinbusinesshistoryoneofthoseawfuleventsthateveryoneagreesmustneverbeallowedtohappenagain.Thisurgeisunderstandableandnoble:thousandshavelostvirtuallyalltheirretirementsavingswiththedemiseofEnronstock.ButmakingsureitneverhappensagainmaynotbepossiblebecausethesuddenimpoverishmentofthoseEnronworkersrepresentssomethingevenlargerthanitseems.Itsthelatestturnintheunwindingofoneofthemostaudaciouspromiseofthe20thcentury.Thepromisewasassuredeconomicsecurity-evencomfort-foressentiallyeveryoneinthedevelopedworld.Withtheexplosionofwealththatbeganinthe19thcenturyitbecamepossibletothinkaboutapossibilitynoonehaddaredtodreambefore.Thefearatthecenterofdailylivingsincecavemandays-lackoffoodwarmthshelter-wouldatlastloseitspowertoterrify.Thatremarkablepromisebecamerealityinmanyways.GovernmentscreatedwelfaresystemsforanyoneinneedandseparateprogrammesfortheelderlySocialSecurityintheU.S..Labourunionspromisednotonlybetterpayforworkersbutalsopensionsforretirees.Giantcorporationscameintobeingandofferedthepossibility-insomecasesthepromise-oflifetimeemploymentplusguaranteedpensions.Thecumulativeeffectwasafundamentalchangeinhowmillionsofpeopleapproachedlifeitselfareversalofattitudethatmostrankasoneofthelargestinhumanhistory.Formillenniatheaveragepersonsstancetowardprovidingfbrhimselfhadbeen.UltimatelyImonmyown.NowitbecameultimatelyIllbetakencareof.Theearlyhintsthatthispromisemightbebrokenonalargescalecameinthe1980s.U.S.businesshadbecomeuncompetitivegloballyandbeganrestructuringmassivelywithhugeLayoffs.Thetrendacceleratedinthe1990sasthebastionsofcorporatewelfarefacedreality.IBMendeditsno-layoffpolicy.ATTfiredthousandsmanyofwhomfoundsuchathingsimplyincomprehensibleandafewofwhomkilledthemselves.Theothersupposedguarantorsofoureconomicsecuritywerealsoindecline.Labour-unionmembershipandpowerfelltotheirlowestlevelsindecades.PresidentClintonsignedahistoricbillscalingbackwelfare.AmericansrealizedthatSocialSecuritywontprovidesocialsecurityforanyofus.Alessvisiblebutequallysignificanttrendaaffectedpensions.Tomakecostseasiertocontrolcompaniesmovedawayfromdefinedbenefitpensionplanswhichobligatethemtopayoutspecifiedamountsyearsinthefuturetodefinecontributionplanswhichspecifyonlyhowmuchgoesintotheplaytoday.Themostcommontypeofdefined-contributionplanisthe401k.thesignificanceofthe401kisthatitputsmostoftheresponsibilityfbrapersonseconomicfatebackontheemployee.Withinlimitstheemployeemustdecidehowmuchgoesintotheplaneachyearandhowitgetsinvested-thetwofactorsthatwilldetenninehowmuchitsworthwhentheemployeeretires.WhichbringsusbacktoEnronThosebillionsofdollarsinvaporizedretirementsavingswentinemployees401kaccounts.Thatistheemployeeschosehowmuchmoneytoputintothoseaccountsandthenchosehowtoinvestit.Enronmatchedacertainproportionofeachemployees401kcontributionwithcompanystocksoeveryonewasgoingtoendupwithsomeEnroninhisorherportfolio;butthatcouldberegardedasafreebiesincenothingcompelsacompanytomatchemployeecontributionsatall.AtleasttwospecialfeaturescomplicatetheEnroncase.Firstsomeshareholderschargetopmanagementwithillegallycoveringupthecompanysproblemspromptinginvestorstohangonwhentheyshouldhavesold.SecondEnrons401kaccountswerelockedwhilethecompanychangedplanadministratorsinOctoberwhenthestockwasfallingsoemployeescouldnothaveclosedtheiraccountsiftheywantedto.ButbyfarthelargestcauseofthishumantragedyisthatthousandsofemployeeswereheavilyoverweighedinEnronstock.Manyhadplaced100%oftheir401kassetsinthestockratherthaninthe18otherinvestmentoptionstheywereoffered.Ofcoursethatwasntprudentbutitswhatsomeofthemdid.TheEnronemployeesretirementdisasterispartofthelargertrendawayfromguaranteedeconomicsecurity.Thatswhypreventingsuchathingfromeverhappeningagainmaybeimpossible.Thehugeattitudinalshifttoril-be-taken-care-oftookatleastageneration.Theshiftbackmaytakejustaslong.Itwontbecompleteuntilanewgenerationofemployeesseeassuredeconomiccomfortasa20th-centuryquirkandunderstandnotjustintellectuallybutintheirbonesthatlikemostpeopleinmosttimesandplacestheyreontheirownWhydoestheauthorsayatthebeginning“ThemiserablefateofEnronsemployeeswillbealandmarkinbusinesshistory…〃Becausethecompanyhasgonebankrupt.Becausesucheventswouldneverhappenagain.BecausemanyEnronworkerslosttheirretirementsavings.Becauseitsignifiesaturningpointineconomicsecurity.Accordingtothepassagethecombinedeffortsbygovernmentslayoutunionsandbigcorporationstoguaranteeeconomiccomforthaveledtoasignificantchangein。