历年考研英语真题及答案(2020年英语考研必备)

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2020年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题SectionISectionIISectionISectionIIReadingComprehensionPartADirections:Readthefollowingfourtexts.Answerthequestionsbeloweachtextbychoosing[A],[B],[C]or[D].MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.(40points)Text1OfallthechangesthathavetakenplaceinEnglish-languagenewspapersduringthepastquarter-century,perhapsthemostfar-reachinghasbeentheinexorabledeclineinthescopeandseriousnessoftheirartscoverage.Itisdifficulttothepointofimpossibilityfortheaveragereaderundertheageoffortytoimagineatimewhenhigh-qualityartscriticismcouldbefoundinmostbig-citynewspapers.Yetaconsiderablenumberofthemostsignificantcollectionsofcriticismpublishedinthe20thcenturyconsistedinlargepartofnewspaperreviews.Toreadsuchbookstodayistomarvelatthefactthattheirlearnedcontentswereoncedeemedsuitableforpublicationingeneral-circulationdailies.WeareevenfartherremovedfromtheunfocusednewspaperreviewspublishedinEnglandbetweentheturnofthe20thcenturyandtheeveofWorldWarII,atatimewhennewsprintwasdirt-cheapandstylishartscriticismwasconsideredanornamenttothepublicationsinwhichitappeared.Inthosefar-offdays,itwastakenforgrantedthatthecriticsofmajorpaperswouldwriteindetailandatlengthabouttheeventstheycovered.Theirswasaseriousbusiness,andeventhosereviewerswhoworetheirlearninglightly,likeGeorgeBernardShawandErnestNewman,couldbetrustedtoknowwhattheywereabout.Thesemenbelievedinjournalismasacalling,andwereproudtobepublishedinthedailypress.“Sofewauthorshavebrainsenoughorliterarygiftenoughtokeeptheirownendupinjournalism,”Newmanwrote,“thatIamtemptedtodefine‘journalism'as‘atermofcontemptappliedbywriterswhoarenotreadtowriterswhoare.'”Unfortunately,thesecriticsarevirtuallyforgotten.NevilleCardus,whowrotefortheManchesterGuardianfrom1917untilshortlybeforehisdeathin1975,isnowknownsolelyasawriterofessaysonthegameofcricket.Duringhislifetime,though,hewasalsooneofEngland'sforemostclassical-musiccritics,astylistsowidelyadmiredthathisAutobiography(1947)becameabest-seller.Hewasknightedin1967,thefirstmusiccritictobesohonored.Yetonlyoneofhisbooksisnowinprint,andhisvastbodyofwritingsonmusicisunknownsavetospecialists.IsthereanychancethatCardus'scriticismwillenjoyarevival?Theprospectseemsremote.Journalistictasteshadchangedlongbeforehisdeath,andpostmodernreadershavelittleusefortherichlyupholsteredVicwardianproseinwhichhespecialized.Moreover,theamateurtraditioninmusiccriticismhasbeeninheadlongretreat.ItisindicatedinParagraphs1and2thatartscriticismhasdisappearedfrombig-citynewspapers.English-languagenewspapersusedtocarrymoreartsreviews.high-qualitynewspapersretainalargebodyofreaders.youngreadersdoubtthesuitabilityofcriticismondailies.NewspaperreviewsinEnglandbeforeWorldWarIIwerecharacterizedbyfreethemes.casualstyle.elaboratelayout.radicalviewpoints.WhichofthefollowingwouldShawandNewmanmostprobablyagreeon?Itiswriters'dutytofulfilljournalisticgoals.Itiscontemptibleforwriterstobejournalists.Writersarelikelytobetemptedintojournalism.Notallwritersarecapableofjournalisticwriting.WhatcanbelearnedaboutCardusaccordingtothelasttwoparagraphs?Hismusiccriticismmaynotappealtoreaderstoday.Hisreputationasamusiccritichaslongbeenindispute.Hisstylecaterslargelytomodernspecialists.Hiswritingsfailtofollowtheamateurtradition.Whatwouldbethebesttitleforthetext?NewspapersoftheGoodOldDaysTheLostHorizoninNewspapersMournfulDeclineofJournalismProminentCriticsinMemoryText2Overthepastdecade,thousandsofpatentshavebeengrantedforwhatarecalledbusinessmethods.Areceivedoneforits"one-click"onlinepaymentsystem.MerrillLynchgotlegalprotectionforanassetallocationstrategy.Oneinventorpatentedatechniqueforliftingabox.Nowthenation'stoppatentcourtappearscompletelyreadytoscalebackonbusiness-methodpatents,whichhavebeencontroversialeversincetheywerefirstauthorized10yearsago.Inamovethathasintellectual-propertylawyersabuzztheU.S.courtofAppealsforthefederalcircuitsaiditwoulduseaparticularcasetoconductabroadreviewofbusiness-methodpatents.InreBilski,asthecaseisknown,is"averybigdeal",saysDennisD.CrouchoftheUniversityofMissouriSchooloflaw.It"hasthepotentialtoeliminateanentireclassofpatents."Curbsonbusiness-methodclaimswouldbeadramaticabout-face,becauseitwasthefederalcircuititselfthatintroducedsuchpatentswithis1998decisionintheso-calledstateStreetBankcase,approvingapatentonawayofpoolingmutual-fundassets.Thatrulingproducedanexplosioninbusiness-methodpatentfilings,initiallybyemerginginternetcompaniestryingtostakeoutexclusiverightstospecifictypesofonlinetransactions.Later,moveestablishedcompaniesracedtoaddsuchpatentstotheirfiles,ifonlyasadefensivemoveagainstrivalsthatmightbeatthemtothepunch.In2005,IBMnotedinacourtfilingthatithadbeenissuedmorethan300business-methodpatentsdespitethefactthatitquestionedthelegalbasisforgrantingthem.Similarly,someWallStreetinvestmentfilmsarmedthemselveswithpatentsforfinancialproducts,evenastheytookpositionsincourtcasesopposingthepractice.TheBilskicaseinvolvesaclaimedpatentonamethodforhedgingriskintheenergymarket.TheFederalcircuitissuedanunusualorderstatingthatthecasewouldbeheardbyall12ofthecourt'sjudges,ratherthanatypicalpanelofthree,andthatoneissueitwantstoevaluateiswhetheritshould"reconsider"itsstatestreetBankruling.TheFederalCircuit'sactioncomesinthewakeofaseriesofrecentdecisionsbythesupremeCourtthathasnarrowedthescopeofprotectionsforpatentholders.LastApril,forexamplethejusticessignaledthattoomanypatentswerebeingupheldfor"inventions"thatareobvious.ThejudgesontheFederalcircuitare"reactingtotheanti-patenttrendattheSupremeCourt",saysHaroldC.Wegner,apatentattorneyandprofessoratGeorgeWashingtonUniversityLawSchool.Business-methodpatentshaverecentlyarousedconcernbecauseoftheirlimitedvaluetobusinesstheirconnectionwithassetallocationthepossiblerestrictionontheirgrantingthecontroversyoverauthorizationWhichofthefollowingistrueoftheBilskicase?ItsrulingcomplieswiththecourtdecisionsItinvolvesaverybigbusinesstransactionIthasbeendismissedbytheFederalCircuitItmaychangethelegalpracticesintheU.S.Theword"about-face"(Line1,Para3)mostprobablymeanslossofgoodwillincreaseofhostilitychangeofattitudeenhancementofdignityWelearnfromthelasttwoparagraphsthatbusiness-methodpatentsareimmunetolegalchallengesareoftenunnecessarilyissuedlowertheesteemforpatentholdersincreasetheincidenceofrisksWhichofthefollowingwouldbethesubjectofthetext?Aloomingthreattobusiness-methodpatentsProtectionforbusiness-methodpatentholdersAlegalcaseregardingbusiness-methodpatentsAprevailingtrendagainstbusiness-methodpatentsText3InhisbookTheTippingPoint,MalcolmGladwellarguesthatsocialepidemicsaredriveninlargepartbytheactingofatinyminorityofspecialindividuals,oftencalledinfluentials,whoareunusuallyinformed,persuasive,orwell-connected.Theideaisintuitivelycompelling,butitdoesn'texplainhowideasactuallyspread.Thesupposedimportanceofinfluentialsderivesfromaplausiblesoundingbutlargelyuntestedtheorycalledthe"twostepflowofcommunication":Informationflowsfromthemediatotheinfluentialsandfromthemtoeveryoneelse.Marketershaveembracedthetwo-stepflowbecauseitsuggeststhatiftheycanjustfindandinfluencetheinfluentials,thoseselectedpeoplewilldomostoftheworkforthem.Thetheoryalsoseemstoexplainthesuddenandunexpectedpopularityofcertainlooks,brands,orneighborhoods.Inmanysuchcases,acursorysearchforcausesfindsthatsomesmallgroupofpeoplewaswearing,promoting,ordevelopingwhateveritisbeforeanyoneelsepaidattention.AnecdotalevidenceofthiskindfitsnicelywiththeideathatonlycertainspecialpeoplecandrivetrendsIntheirrecentwork,however,someresearchershavecomeupwiththefindingthatinfluentialshavefarlessimpactonsocialepidemicsthanisgenerallysupposed.Infact,theydon'tseemtoberequiredofall.Theresearchers'argumentstemsfromasimpleobservingaboutsocialinfluence,withtheexceptionofafewcelebritieslikeOprahWinfrey—whoseoutsizepresenceisprimarilyafunctionofmedia,notinterpersonal,influence—eventhemostinfluentialmembersofapopulationsimplydon'tinteractwiththatmanyothers.Yetitispreciselythesenon-celebrityinfluentialswho,accordingtothetwo-step-flowtheory,aresupposedtodrivesocialepidemicsbyinfluencingtheirfriendsandcolleaguesdirectly.Forasocialepidemictooccur,however,eachpersonsoaffected,musttheninfluencehisorherownacquaintances,whomustinturninfluencetheirs,andsoon;andjusthowmanyotherspayattentiontoeachofthesepeoplehaslittletodowiththeinitialinfluential.Ifpeopleinthenetworkjusttwodegreesremovedfromtheinitialinfluentialproveresistant,forexamplefromtheinitialinfluentialproveresistant,forexamplethecascadeofchangewon'tpropagateveryfaroraffectmanypeople.Buildingonthebasictruthaboutinterpersonalinfluence,theresearchersstudiedthedynamicsofpopulationsmanipulatinganumberofvariablesrelatingofpopulations,manipulatinganumberofvariablesrelatingtopeople'sabilitytoinfluenceothersandtheirtendencytobeinfluenced・Ourworkshowsthattheprincipalrequirementforwhatwecall"globalcascades""-thewidespreadpropagationofinfluencethroughnetworks-isthepresencenotofafewinfluentialsbut,rather,ofacriticalmassofeasilyinfluencedpeople,eachofwhomadopts,say,alookorabrandafterbeingexposedtoasingleadoptingneighbor.Regardlessofhowinfluentialanindividualislocally,heorshecanexertglobalinfluenceonlyifthiscriticalmassisavailabletopropagateachainreaction.BycitingthebookTheTippingPoint,theauthorintendstoanalyzetheconsequencesofsocialepidemicsdiscussinfluentials'functioninspreadingideasexemplifypeople'sintuitiveresponsetosocialepidemicsdescribetheessentialcharacteristicsofinfluentials.Theauthorsuggeststhatthe"two-step-flowtheory"servesasasolutiontomarketingproblemshashelpedexplaincertainprevalenttrendshaswonsupportfrominfluentialsrequiressolidevidenceforitsvalidityWhattheresearchershaveobservedrecentlyshowsthatthepowerofinfluencegoeswithsocialinteractionsinterpersonallinkscanbeenhancedthroughthemediainfluentialshavemorechannelstoreachthepublicmostcelebritiesenjoywidemediaattentionTheunderlinedphrase"thesepeople"inparagraph4referstotheoneswhostayoutsidethenetworkofsocialinfluencehavelittlecontactwiththesourceofinfluenceareinfluencedandtheninfluenceothersareinfluencedbytheinitialinfluentialwhatistheessentialelementinthedynamicsofsocialinfluence?TheeagernesstobeacceptedTheimpulsetoinfluenceothersThereadinesstobeinfluencedTheinclinationtorelyonothersText4Bankershavebeenblamingthemselvesfortheirtroublesinpublic.Behindthescenes,theyhavebeentakingaimatsomeoneelse:theaccountingstandard-setters.Theirrules,moanthebanks,haveforcedthemtoreportenormouslosses,andit'sjustnotfair.Theserulessaytheymustvaluesomeassetsatthepriceathirdpartywouldpay,notthepricemanagersandregulatorswouldlikethemtofetch.Unfortunately,banks'lobbyingnowseemstobeworking.Thedetailsmaybeunknowable,buttheindependenceofstandard-setters,essentialtotheproperfunctioningofcapitalmarkets,isbeingcompromised.And,unlessbankscarrytoxicassetsatpricesthatattractbuyers,revivingthebankingsystemwillbedifficult.AfterabruisingencounterwithCongress,America'sFinancialAccountingStandardsBoard(FASB)rushedthroughrulechanges.Thesegavebanksmorefreedomtousemodelstovalueilliquidassetsandmoreflexibilityinrecognizinglossesonlong-termassetsintheirincomestatement.BobHerz,theFASB'schairman,criedoutagainstthosewho"questionourmotives."Yetbanksharesroseandthechangesenhancewhatonelobbygrouppolitelycalls"theuseofjudgmentbymanagement."EuropeanministersinstantlydemandedthattheInternationalAccountingStandardsBoard(IASB)dolikewise.TheIASBsaysitdoesnotwanttoactwithoutoverallplanning,butthepressuretofoldwhenitcompletesitreconstructionofruleslaterthisyearisstrong.CharlieMcCreevy,aEuropeancommissioner,warnedtheIASBthatitdid"notliveinapoliticalvacuum"but"intherealword"andthatEuropecouldyetdevelopdifferentrules.Itwasbanksthatwereonthewrongplanet,withaccountsthatvastlyovervaluedassets.Todaytheyarguethatmarketpricesoverstatelosses,becausetheylargelyreflectthetemporaryilliquidityofmarkets,notthelikelyextentofbaddebts.Thetruthwillnotbeknownforyears.Butbank'ssharestradebelowtheirbookvalue,suggestingthatinvestorsareskeptical.Anddeadmarketspartlyreflecttheparalysisofbankswhichwillnotsellassetsforfearofbookinglosses,yetarereluctanttobuyallthosesupposedbargains.Togetthesystemworkingagain,lossesmustberecognizedanddealtwith.America'snewplantobuyuptoxicassetswillnotworkunlessbanksmarkassetstolevelswhichbuyersfindattractive.Successfulmarketsrequireindependentandevencombativestandard-setters.TheFASBandIASBhavebeenexactlythat,cleaninguprulesonstockoptionsandpensions,forexample,againsthostilityfromspecialinterests.Butbygivingintocriticsnowtheyareinvitingpressuretomakemoreconcessions.Bankerscomplainedthattheywereforcedtofollowunfavorableassetevaluationrulescollectpaymentsfromthirdpartiescooperatewiththepricemanagersreevaluatesomeoftheirassets.Accordingtotheauthor,therulechangesoftheFASBmayresultinthediminishingroleofmanagementtherevivalofthebankingsystemthebanks'long-termassetlossestheweakeningofitsindependenceAccordingtoParagraph4,McCreevyobjectstotheIASB'sattempttokeepawayfrompoliticalinfluences.evadethepressurefromtheirpeers.actontheirowninrule-setting.takegradualmeasuresinreform.Theauthorthinksthebankswere"onthewrongplanet"inthattheymisinterpretedmarketpriceindicatorsexaggeratedtherealvalueoftheirassetsneglectedthelikelyexistenceofbaddebts.deniedbookinglossesintheirsaleofassets.Theauthor'sattitudetowardsstandard-settersisoneofsatisfaction.skepticism.objectivenesssympathyPartBDirections:ForQuestions41-45,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA-Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphEhasbeencorrectlyplaced.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinwiththetext.MarkyouranswersoAnNSWERSHEET1.(10points)Thefirstandmoreimportantistheconsumer'sgrowingpreferenceforeatingout;theconsumptionoffoodanddrinkinplacesotherthanhomeshasrisenfromabout32percentoftotalconsumptionin1995to35percentin2000andisexpectedtoapproach38percentby2005.Thisdevelopmentisboostingwholesaledemandfromthefoodservicesegmentby4to5percentayearacrossEurope,comparedwithgrowthinretaildemandof1to2percent.Meanwhile,astherecessionisloominglarge,peoplearegettinganxious.Theytendtokeepatighterholdontheirpurseandconsidereatingathomearealisticalternative.RetailsalesoffoodanddrinkinEurope'slargestmarketsareatastandstill,leavingEuropeangroceryretailershungryforopportunitiestogrow.Mostleadingretailershavealreadytriede-commerce,withlimitedsuccess,andexpansionabroad.Butalmostallhaveignoredthebig,profitableopportunityintheirownbackyard:thewholesalefoodanddrinktrade,whichappearstobejustthekindofmarketretailersneed.Willsuchvariationsbringaboutachangeintheoverallstructureofthefoodanddrinkmarket?Definitelynot.Thefunctioningofthemarketisbasedonflexibletrendsdominatedbypotentialbuyers.Inotherwords,itisuptothebuyer,ratherthantheseller,todecidewhattobuy.Atanyrate,thischangewillultimatelybeacclaimedbyanever-growingnumberofbothdomesticandinternationalconsumers,regardlessofhowlongthecurrentconsumerpatternwilltakehold.Allinall,thisclearlyseemstobeamarketinwhichbigretailerscouldprofitablyapplytheirscale,existinginfrastructureandprovenskillsinthemanagementofproductranges,logistics,andmarketingintelligence.RetailersthatmastertheintricaciesofwholesalinginEuropemaywellexpecttorakeinsubstantialprofitsthereby.Atleast,thatishowitlooksasawhole.Closerinspectionrevealsimportantdifferencesamongthebiggestnationalmarkets,especiallyintheircustomersegmentsandwholesalestructures,aswellasthecompetitivedynamicsofindividualfoodanddrinkcategories.BigretailersmustunderstandthesedifferencesbeforetheycanidentifythesegmentsofEuropeanwholesalinginwhichtheirparticularabilitiesmightunseatsmallerbutentrenchedcompetitors.Newskillsandunfamiliarbusinessmodelsareneededtoo.Despitevariationsindetail,wholesalemarketsinthecountriesthathavebeencloselyexamined—France,Germany,Italy,andSpain—aremadeoutofthesamebuildingblocks.Demandcomesmainlyfromtwosources:independentmom-and-popgrocerystoreswhich,unlikelargeretailchains,aretwosmalltobuystraightfromproducers,andfoodserviceoperatorsthatcatertoconsumerswhentheydon'teatathome.Suchfoodserviceoperatorsrangefromsnackmachinestolargeinstitutionalcateringventures,butmostofthesebusinessesareknowninthetradeas"horeca":hotels,restaurants,andcafes.Overall,Europe'swholesalemarketforfoodanddrinkisgrowingatthesamesluggishpaceastheretailmarket,butthefigures,whenaddedtogether,masktwoopposingtrends.Forexample,wholesalefoodanddrinksalescometo$268billioninFrance,Germany,Italy,Spain,andtheUnitedKingdomin2000—morethan40percentofretailsales.Moreover,averageoverallmarginsarehigherinwholesalethaninretail;wholesaledemandfromthefoodservicesectorisgrowingquicklyasmoreEuropeanseatoutmoreoften;andchangesinthecompetitivedynamicsofthisfragmentedindustryareatlastmakingitfeasibleforwholesalerstoconsolidate.However,noneoftheserequirementsshoulddeterlargeretailers(andevensomelargegoodproducersandexistingwholesalers)fromtryingtheirhand,forthosethatmastertheintricaciesofwholesalinginEuropestandtoreapconsiderablegains・4H42^43t£|tet452009年全国硕士研究生入学统一考试英语试题Text1Habitsareafunnything.Wereachforthemmindlessly,settingourbrainsonauto-pilotandrelaxingintotheunconsciouscomfortoffamiliarroutine."Notchoice,buthabitrulestheunreflectingherd,"WilliamWordsworthsaidinthe19thcentury.Intheever-changing21stcentury,eventheword"habit"carriesanegativeconnotation.Soitseemsantitheticaltotalkabouthabitsinthesamecontextascreativityandinnovation.Butbrainresearchershavediscoveredthatwhenweconsciouslydevelopnewhabits,wecreateparallelsynapticpaths,andevenentirelynewbraincells,thatcanjumpourtrainsofthoughtontonew,innovativetracks.Butdon'tbothertryingtokilloffoldhabits；oncethoserutsofprocedurearewornintothehippocampus,they'retheretostay.Instead,thenewhabitswedeliberatelyingrainintoourselvescreateparallelpathwaysthatcanbypassthoseoldroads."Thefirstthingneededforinnovationisafascinationwithwonder,"saysDawnaMarkova,authorof"TheOpenMind"andanexecutivechangeconsultantforProfessionalThinkingPartners."Butwearetaughtinsteadto'decide,'justasourpresidentcallshimself'theDecider.'"Sheadds,however,that"todecideistokilloffallpossibilitiesbutone.Agoodinnovationalthinkerisalwaysexploringthemanyotherpossibilities."Allofusworkthroughproblemsinwaysofwhichwe'reunaware,shesays.Researchersinthelate1960coveredthathumansarebornwiththecapacitytoapproachchallengesinfourprimaryways:analytically,procedurally,relationally(orcollaboratively)andinnovatively.Atpuberty,however,thebrainshutsdownhalfofthatcapacity,preservingonlythosemodesofthoughtthathaveseemedmostvaluableduringthefirstdecadeorsooflife.Thecurrentemphasisonstandardizedtestinghighlightsanalysisandprocedure,meaningthatfewofusinherentlyuseourinnovativeandcollaborativemodesofthought."ThisbreaksthemajorruleintheAmericanbeliefsystem—thatanyonecandoanything,"explainsM.J.Ryan,authorofthe2006book"ThisYearIWill..."andMs.Markova'sbusinesspartner."That'saliethatwehaveperpetuated,anditfosterscommonness.Knowingwhatyou'regoodatanddoingevenmoreofitcreatesexcellence."Thisiswheredevelopingnewhabitscomesin.TheviewofWordsworthhabitisclaimedbybeing.casualB.familiarC.mechanicalD.changeableTheresearchershavediscoveredthattheformationofhabitcanbeA.predictedB.regulatedC.tracedD.guided23."ruts"(inlineone,paragraph3)hasclosestmeaningtoA.tracksB.seriesC.characteristicsD.connectionsMs.Markova'scommentssuggestthatthepracticeofstandardtesting?preventsnewhabitsformbeingformednolongeremphasizescommonnessmaintainstheinherentAmericanthinkingmodelcomplieswiththeAmericanbeliefsystemRyanmostprobablyagreethatA.ideasarebornofarelaxingmindinnovativenesscouldbetaughtdecisivenessderivesfromfantasticideascuriosityactivatescreativemindsText2Itisawisefatherthatknowshisownchild,buttodayamancanboosthispaternal(fatherly)wisdom-oratleastconfirmthathe'sthekid'sdad・Allheneedstodoisshellour$30forpaternitytestingkit(PTK)athislocaldrugstore-andanother$120togettheresults.Morethan60,000peoplehavepurchasedthePTKssincetheyfirstbecomeavailablewithoutprescriptionslastyears,accordingtoDougFog,chiefoperatingofficerofIdentigene,whichmakestheover-the-counterkits.MorethantwodozencompaniessellDNAtestsDirectlytothepublic,ranginginpricefromafewhundreddollarstomorethan$2500.Amongthemostpopular:paternityandkinshiptesting,whichadoptedchildrencanusetofindtheirbiologicalrelativesandlatestrageamanypassionategenealogists-andsupportsbusinessesthatoffertosearchforafamily'sgeographicroots.Mosttestsrequirecollectingcellsbywebbingsalivainthemouthandsendingittothecompanyfortesting.AlltestsrequireapotentialcandidatewithwhomtocompareDNA.Butsomeobserversareskeptical,"Thereisakindoffalseprecisionbeinghawkedbypeopleclaimingtheyaredoingancestrytesting,"saysTreyDuster,aNewYorkUniversitysociologist.Henotesthateachindividualhasmanyancestors-numberinginthehundredsjustafewcenturiesback.Yetmostancestrytestingonlyconsidersasinglelineage,eithertheYchromosomeinheritedthroughmeninafather'slineormitochondrialDNA,whichapasseddownonlyfrommothers.ThisDNAcanrevealgeneticinformationaboutonlyoneortwoancestors,eventhough,forexample,justthreegenerationsbackpeoplealsohavesixothergreat-grandparentsor,fourgenerationsback,14othergreat-great-grandparents.Criticsalsoarguethatcommercialgenetictestingisonlyasgoodasthereferencecollectionstowhichasampleiscompared.Databasesusedbysomecompaniesdon'trelyondatacollectedsystematicallybutratherlumptogetherinformationfromdifferentresearchprojects.ThismeansthataDNAdatabasemaydifferdependingonthecompanythatprocessestheresults.Inaddition,thecomputerprogramsacompanyusestoestimaterelationshipsmaybepatentedandnotsubjecttopeerrevieworoutsideevaluation.Inparagraphs1and2,thetextshowsPTK's.easyavailabilityflexibilityinpricingsuccessfulpromotionpopularitywithhouseholdsPTKisusedto.locateone'sbirthplacepromotegeneticresearchidentifyparent-childkinshipchoosechildrenforadoptionSkepticalobserversbelievethatancestrytestingfailsto.tracedistantancestorsrebuildreliablebloodlinesfullyusegeneticinformationachievetheclaimedaccuracyInthelastparagraph,aproblemcommercialgenetictestingfacesis.disorganizeddatacollectionoverlappingdatabasebuildingexcessivesamplecomparisonlackofpatentevaluationAnappropriatetitleforthetextismostlikelytobe.ForsandAgainstsofDNAtestingDNAtestingandIt'sproblemsDNAtestingoutsidethelabliesbehindDNAtestingText3Therelationshipbetweenformaleducationandeconomicgrowthinpoorcountriesiswidelymisunderstoodbyeconomistsandpoliticiansalikeprogressinbothareaisundoubtedlynecessaryforthesocial,politicalandintellectualdevelopmentoftheseandallothersocieties;however,theconventionalviewthateducationshouldbeoneoftheveryhighestprioritiesforpromotingrapideconomicdevelopmentinpoorcountriesiswrong.Wearefortunatethatisit,becauseneweducationalsystemsthereandputtingenoughpeoplethroughthemtoimproveeconomicperformancewouldrequiretwoorthreegenerations.Thefindingsofaresearchinstitutionhaveconsistentlyshownthatworkersinallcountriescanbetrainedonthejobtoachieveradicalhigherproductivityand,asaresult,radicallyhigherstandardsofliving.Ironically,thefirstevidenceforthisideaappearedintheUnitedStates.Notlongago,withthecountryenteringarecessingandJapanatitspre-bubblepeak.TheU.S.workforcewasderidedaspoorlyeducatedandoneofprimarycauseofthepoorU.S.economicperformance.Japanwas,andremains,thegloballeaderinautomotive-assemblyproductivity.YettheresearchrevealedthattheU.S.factoriesofHondaNissan,andToyotaachievedabout95percentoftheproductivityoftheirJapanesecounterparts--aresultofthetrainingthatU.S.workersreceivedonthejob.Morerecently,whileexamininghousingconstruction,theresearchersdiscoveredthatilliterate,non-English-speakingMexicanworkersinHouston,Texas,consistentlymetbest-practicelaborproductivitystandardsdespitethecomplexityofthebuildingindustry'swork.Whatistherealrelationshipbetweeneducationandeconomicdevelopment?Wehavetosuspectthatcontinuingeconomicgrowthpromotesthedevelopmentofeducationevenwhengovernmentsdon'tforceit.Afterall,that'showeducationgotstarted.Whenourancestorswerehuntersandgatherers10,000yearsago,theydidn'thavetimetowondermuchaboutanythingbesidesfindingfood.Onlywhenhumanitybegantogetitsfoodinamoreproductivewaywastheretimeforotherthings.Aseducationimproved,humanity'sproductivitypotential,theycouldinturnaffordmoreeducation.Thisincreasinglyhighlevelofeducationisprobablyanecessary,butnotasufficient,conditionforthecomplexpoliticalsystemsrequiredbyadvancedeconomicperformance.Thuspoorcountriesmightnotbeabletoescapetheirpovertytrapswithoutpoliticalchangesthatmaybepossibleonlywithbroaderformaleducation.Alackofformaleducation,however,doesn'tconstraintheabilityofthedevelopingworld'sworkforcetosubstantiallyimproveproductivityfortheforestedfuture.Onthecontrary,constraintsonimprovingproductivityexplainwhyeducationisn'tdevelopingmorequicklytherethanitis.Theauthorholdsinparagraph1thattheimportantofeducationinpoorcountriesissubjectgroundlessdoubtshasfallenvictimofbiasisconventionaldowngradedhasbeenoverestimatedItisstatedinparagraph1thatconstructionofaneweducationsystemchallengeseconomistsandpoliticianstakeseffortsofgenerationsdemandspriorityfromthegovernmentrequiressufficientlaborforceAmajordifferencebetweentheJapaneseandU.Sworkforcesisthat.theJapaneseworkforceisbetterdisciplinedtheJapaneseworkforceismoreproductivetheU.SworkforcehasabettereducationtheU.SworkforceismoreorganizeTheauthorquotestheexampleofourancestorstoshowthateducationemerged.whenpeoplehadenoughtimepriortobetterwaysoffindingfoodwhenpeopleonlongerwenthungasaresultofpressureongovernmentAccordingtothelastparagraph,developmentofeducation.resultsdirectlyfromcompetitiveenvironmentsdoesnotdependoneconomicperformancefollowsimprovedproductivitycannotaffordpoliticalchangesText4Themostthoroughlystudiedinthehistoryofthenewworldaretheministersandpoliticalleadersofseventeenth-centuryNewEngland.Accordingtothest