大学英语周记范文30篇

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大学英语周记范文30篇

Passage1

TheRoadtoHappiness

Thereareagreatmanypeoplewhohaveallthematerialconditionsofhappiness,i.e.healthandasufficientincome,andwho,nevertheless,areprofoundlyunhappy.Insuchcasesitwouldseemasifthefaultmustliewithawrongtheoryastohowtolive.Inonesense,wemaysaythatanytheoryastohowtoliveiswrong.Weimagineourselvesmoredifferentfromtheanimalsthanweare.Animalsliveonimpulse,andarehappyaslongasexternalconditionsarefavorable.Ifyouhaveacat,itwillenjoylifeifithasfoodandwarmthandopportunitiesforanoccasionalnightonthetiles.Yourneedsaremorecomplexthanthoseofyourcat,buttheystillhavetheirbasisoninstinct.Incivilizedsocieties,especiallyinEnglish-speakingsocieties,thisistooapttobeforgotten.Peopleproposetothemselvessomeoneparamountobjective,andrestrainallimpulsesthatdonotministertoit.

Abusinessmanmaybesoanxioustogrowrichthattothisendhesacrificeshealthandprivateaffections.Whenatlasthehasbecomerich,nopleasureremainstohimexceptharryingotherpeoplebyexhortationstoimitatehisnobleexample.Manyrichladies,althoughnaturehasnotendowedthemwithanyspontaneouspleasureinliteratureorart,decidetobethoughtcultured,andspendboringhourslearningtherightthingtosayaboutfashionablenewbooksthatarewrittentogivedelight,nottoaffordopportunitiesfordustysnobbism.

Passage2

LoveIsDifficult

Itisgoodtolove,butloveisdifficult.Foronehumanbeingtoloveanotherhumanbeingisperhapsthemostdifficulttaskthathasbeenentrustedtous—theultimatetask,thefinaltestandproof,theworkforwhichallotherworkismerelypreparation.Thatiswhyyoungpeople,whoarebeginnersineverything,arenotyetcapableoflove:itissomethingtheymustlearn.Withtheirwholebeing,withalltheirforces,gatheredaroundtheirsolitary,anxious,upward-beatingheart,theymustlearntolove.Butlearningtimeisalwaysalong,secludedtimeaheadandfaronintolife,andissolitude,aheightenedanddeepenedkindofalonenessforthepersonwholoves.Lovingdoesnotatfirstmeanmerging,surrenderingorunitingwithanotherperson;itisahighinducementfortheindividualtoripen,tobecomesomethinginhimself,tobecomeworldinhimselfforthesakeofanotherperson;itisagreat,demandingclaimonhim,somethingthatchooseshimandcallshimtovastdistances.Onlyinthissense,asthetaskofworkingonthemselves,mayyoungpeopleusethelovethatisgiventothem.Mergingandsurrenderingandeverykindofcommunionisnotforthem,whomuststill,foralong,longtime,saveandgatherthemselves;itistheultimate,itisperhapsthatforwhichhumanlivesareasyetbarelylargeenough.

Passage3

BusinessofInsuranceCompanies

Insurancecompaniesdotwotypesofbusiness.Oneisgeneralinsuranceagainstvariousformsofrisk,andtheotherislong-terminsurancewhichismainlylifeinsurance.

Generalinsurerswillagreetopayapersonorcompanyasumofmoneyintheeventofsomethinghappeningornothappening.It’sabigbusinesstoday.Iftheprojectsucceeds,shareholdersinyourcompanywillexpecttobepaidadividend.Ifyouaskaninsurertounderwriteyourproject,thenhewillrequireapaymentinadvance,apremium.Iftheprojectsucceeds,hekeepsthepremium,butyoudon’tpayhimanythingelse.Payingapremiumtoaninsurerorunderwriterisoftencheaperthanpayingadividendtoshareholders.Iffewerdividendsarepaidtoshareholders,thenmoremoneycanbekeptasretentiontofinancethecompany’snextproject.

Anothertypeofinsurancebusinessisthelifeinsurance.Itdiffersbasicallyfromgeneralinsuranceinthatitisbasednotonriskbutoncertainty—thecertaintythateachofuswillonedaydie.Lifeinsuranceisthebasisofpensionfundswhichprovideforretirementandguardagainstothercontingenciessuchasill-health,butisbestseenbythefinancialeconomistasameansofcollectingmanysmallsavingstoputtogetherintolargeinvestments,inshort,asaformofintermediation.

Passage4

SeasonalAffectiveDisorder

Somepeoplefeelsadordepressedduringthewintermonthsinnorthernareasoftheworld.Theymayhavetroubleeatingorsleeping.TheysufferfromaconditionknownasSeasonalAffectiveDisorder,orS-A-D.

VictimsofS-A-Dsufferitseffectsduringtheshort,darkdaysofwinter.Theproblemsaremostsevereinthemonthswhentherearefewerhoursofdaylight.Whenspringarrives,thesesignsdisappearandS-A-Dvictimsfeelwellagain.

TheNationalMentalHealthAssociationreportsthatS-A-Dcanaffectanyone.Thegroupsaysyoungpeopleandwomenareatthehighestriskforthedisorder.Itsaysthatanestimated25percentoftheAmericanpopulationsuffersfromsomeformofS-A-D.About5percentsufferfromasevereformofthedisorder.Manypeopleinotherpartsoftheworldalsohavethecondition.

Theideaofhealthproblemslinkedtoalackoflightisnotnew.Scientistshavediscussedtheissuesincethebeginningofmedicine.Morethantwo-thousandyearsago,theGreekdoctorHippocratesnotedthattheseasonsaffecthumanemotions.

Today,expertsdonotfullyunderstandS-A-D,andyettheyagreethatitisaveryrealdisorder.

Totreatthedisorder,victimsofS-A-Ddonotneedtowaituntilspring.Expertsknowthatplacingaffectedindividualsinbrightlighteachdayeasesthecondition.Thereareotherthingspeoplecandotoeasetheproblem.Theycanincreasethesunlightintheirhomesandworkplacesandspendmoretimeoutdoorsinthefreshairduringtheday.

Onestudyfoundthatwalkingforanhourinwintersunlightwasaseffectiveasspendingtwo-and-one-halfhoursunderbrightlightindoors.

Passage5

SuccessIsaChoice

Allofusoughttobeabletobraceourselvesforthepredictablechallengesandsetbacksthatcropupeveryday.Ifweexpectthatlifewon’tbeperfect,we’llbeabletoavoidthatimpulsetoquit.Butevenifyouarestrongenoughtopersisttheobstaclecourseoflifeandwork,sometimesyouwillencounteranadverseeventthatwillcompletelyknockyouonyourback.

Whetherit’safinancialloss,thelossofrespectofyourpeersorlovedones,orsomeothertraumaticeventsinyourlife,thesemajorsetbacksleaveyoudoubtingyourselfandwonderingifthingscaneverchangeforthebetteragain.

Adversityhappenstoallofus,andithappensallthetime.Someformofmajoradversityiseithergoingtobethereorit’slyinginwaitjustaroundthecorner.Toignoreadversityistosuccumbtotheultimateselfdelusion.

Butyoumustrecognizethathistoryisfullofexamplesofmenandwomenwhoachievedgreatnessdespitefacinghurdlessosteepthateasilycouldhavecrashedtheirspiritandleftthemlyinginthedust.Moseswasastutterer,yethewascalledontobethevoiceofGod.AbrahamLincolnovercamealldifficultiesduringtheCivilWartobecomeourarguablegreatestpresidentever.HelenKellermadeanimpactontheworlddespitebeingdeaf,dumb,andblindfromanearlyage.FranklinRoosevelthadpolio.

Thereareendlessexamples.Thesewerepeoplewhonotonlylookedadversityinthefacebutlearnedvaluablelessonsaboutovercomingdifficultcircumstancesandwereabletomoveahead.

Passage6

IsTelevisionaBlessingoraCurse?

Itisuniversallyacceptedthattelevisionisplayinganimportantpartinpeople’slives.But,thereisanongoingheateddiscussionastowhethertelevisionisablessingoracurse.

Televisionkeepsonebetterinformedaboutcurrentaffairs,allowsonetofollowthelatestdevelopmentsinpoliticsandscience,andoffersagreatvarietyofprogramswhicharebothinstructiveandstimulating.Themostdistantcountries,thestrangestcustomsandthemostattractivescenesofnaturearebroughtrightintoone’sroomorhousehold.

However,somepeopleinsistthattelevisionisacurseratherthanablessing.Theyarguethatithasbroughtaboutmanyseriousproblems.Themajoroneisitseffectsonyoungpeople.Childrenarenowsousedtogettingtheirinformationandentertainmentfromtelevisionthattheirliteracyaswellasphysicalabilityhasbeengreatlyweakened.Evenworsethanthat,vulgarcommercialsandindecentprogramsmaycultivatetheirbadtastes,distorttheirview-pointstowardshumanlifetosuchadegreethattheirmindsmightbecorrupted.

Tosumup,televisionhasbothadvantagesanddisadvantages.Whatevereffectsithas,onepointiscertain,televisioninitselfisneithergoodnorbad.Itistheusetowhichitisputthatdeterminesitsvaluetosociety.

Passage7

FewUSWorkersWhoCouldTelecommuteDoSo

One-quarteroftheU.S.workforcecouldbedoingtheirjobsfromhomeifallthoseabletotelecommutechosetodoso,andallthosepeopleworkingfromhomecouldtranslateintoannualgasolinesavingsof$3.9billion,accordingtotheNationalTechnologyReadinessSurvey.However,manystillselecttoworkattheoffice.Thestudyfoundthat2percentofU.S.workerstelecommutefull-timeandanother9percentdosopart-time.Butanother14percentofworkershavetheoptionoftelecommuting,orhavejobsconductivetothepracticebutchoosenotto."Thenumberssuggestthatmanypeoplewouldratherworkattheofficeeveniftheirjoballowedtelecommuting,"saidProfessorP.K.Kannan,oftheRobertH.SmithSchoolofBusinessattheUniversityofMaryland."Thatseemstosuggestthatevenifemployersweretosaytomorrowthateverybodyhadtheoptionoftelecommutingandyouwouldsavealotofgas,that’snotgoingtohappen.Anhypothesiscouldbethatpeoplestillneedthe‘facetime’withtheirbosses.Anotherthingispeoplemissthesocialinteraction,justbeingathome."Andwithamedianone-waycommuteof10milesandamedianone-waycommutetimeof20minutes,thedailytripformanyworkersisnotthatbad,headded.Ofthosewhocanalreadytelecommute,mostdosoonlyone,twoorthreedaysperweek,thestudyfound.

Passage8

TheWholenessofLife

Thereisawholenessaboutthepersonwhohascometotermswithhislimitations,whohasbeenbraveenoughtoletgoofhisunrealisticdreamsandnotfeellikeafailurefordoingso.Thereisawholenessaboutthemanorwomanwhohaslearnedthatheorsheisstrongenoughtogothroughatragedyandsurvive,shecanlosesomeoneandstillfeellikeacompleteperson.

LifeisnotatrapsetforusbyGodsothathecancondemnusforfailing.Lifeisnotaspellingbee,wherenomatterhowmanywordsyouhavegottenright,youaredisqualifiedifyoumakeonemistake.Lifeismorelikeabaseballseason,whereeventhebestteamlosesonethirdofitsgamesandeventheworstteamhasitsdaysofbrilliance.Ourgoalistowinmoregamesthanwelose.Whenweacceptthatimperfectionispartofbeinghuman,andwhenwecancontinuerollingthroughlifeandappreciateit,wewillhaveachievedawholenessthatotherscanonlyaspireto.That,Ibelieve,iswhatGodasksofus—not"Beperfect",but"Bewhole".

Ifwearebraveenoughtolove,strongenoughtoforgive,generousenoughtorejoiceinanother’shappiness,andwiseenoughtoknowthereisenoughlovetogoaroundforusall,thenwecanachieveafulfillmentthatnootherlivingcreaturewilleverknow.

Passage9

WorkplaceFriendships

Astudyintoworkplacerelationshipshasfoundhavingaclosefriendatworkcanbeamajordistraction.

Respondentscitedexcessivechatting,havingtoomuchfunandaninabilitytoseparateworkfromplayascontributingtoalackoffocus.

"Whenfacedwithawork-relatedproblemmanypeoplewillprioritizetheirfriendshipovertheirresponsibilitiestotheirorganization,whichbusinessesmayfindconcerning,"saidpsychologistandAucklandUniversityofTechnologylecturer,Dr.RachelMorrison."Workplacefriendshipsarelikeadouble-edgedsword.Thebenefitsofafriendlyworkplacecanbereallypositive,butorganizationsshouldbeawareofthepotentialdifficultiesandhowtomanagefriendshipsatwork."

Accordingtothestudy,manypeoplewereconcernedaboutgoing"softer"withtheirfriendsandbeingexpectedtotreatthemwithspecialprivileges.

"Peoplenaturallywanttomaketheirfriendsfeelspecial,butthisconflictswithorganizationalpracticesornormsthataresetuparoundfairnessandequality.Difficultyinmanagingtheseexpectationscancreatetensionintherelationship."

Respondentsalsoexperiencedagreatdealofanxietyaboutspeakingtoclosefriendsaboutsubstandardwork.Abasicruleoffriendshipisbeingnon-judgmentalandacceptingyourfriendsweaknesses,butgivingcriticalperformancefeedbackconflictswiththis.

"Wealsofoundissuesrelatedtoconfidentialitypractices,whichcouldmeanfriendshavetorefrainfromsharinginformation.Thiscanbereallychallengingforclosefriendshipsthathavenormsofopennessanddisclosure,"Dr.Morrisonsaid.

Dr.Morrisonsaidorganizationsshouldtrytoprovidefriendlyenvironmentsandencourageworkplacefriendships,buthavepoliciesinplacetomanagepotentialdifficulties.

Passage10

LoveYourLife

Howevermeanyourlifeis,meetitandliveit;donotshunitorcallithardnames.Itisnotsobadasyouare.Itlookspoorestwhenyouarerichest.Thefault-finderwillfindfaultseveninparadise.Loveyourlife,poorasitis.Youmayperhapshavesomepleasant,thrilling,glorioushours,eveninapoorhouse.Thesettingsunisreflectedfromthewindowofthealms-houseasbrightlyasfromtherichman’sabode;thesnowmeltsbeforeitsdoorasearlyinthespring.Idonotseebutaquietmindmayliveascontentedlythere,andhaveascheeringthoughts,asinapalace.Thetown’spoorseemtomeoftentolivethemostindependentlivesofany.Maybetheyaresimplygreatenoughtoreceivewithoutmisgivings.Mostthinkthattheyareabovebeingsupportedbythetown;butitoftenhappensthattheyarenotabovesupportingthemselvesbydishonestmeans,whichshouldbemoredisreputable.Cultivatepovertylikeagardenherb,likesage.Donottroubleyourselfmuchtogetnewthings,whetherclothesorfriends.Turntotheold,turntothem.Thingsdonotchange;wechange.Sellyourclothesandkeepyourthoughts.

Passage11

ManIsHerefortheSakeofOtherMen

Strangeisoursituationhereuponearth.Eachofuscomesforashortvisit,notknowingwhy,andyetsometimesseemingtodivineapurpose.

Fromthestandpointofdailylife,however,thereisonethingwedoknowthatmanishereforthesakeofothermen—aboveallforthecountlessunknownsoulswithwhosefateweareconnectedbyabondofsympathy.ManytimesadayIrealizehowmuchmyownouterandinnerlifeisbuiltuponthelaborsofmyfellowmen,bothlivinganddead,andhowearnestlyImustexertmyselfinordertogiveinreturnasmuchasIhavereceived.MypeaceofmindisoftentroubledbythedepressingsensethatIhaveborrowedtooheavilyfromtheworkofothermen.

Toponderinterminablyoverthereasonforone’sownexistenceorthemeaningoflifeingeneralseemstome,fromanobjectivepointofview,tobesheerfolly.Andyeteveryoneholdscertainidealsbywhichheguideshisaspirationandhisjudgment.Theidealswhichhavealwaysshonebeforemeandfilledmewiththejoyoflivingaregoodness,beauty,andtruth.Tomakeagoalofcomfortandhappinesshasneverappealedtome;asystemofethicsbuiltonthisbasiswouldbesufficientonlyforaherdofcattle.

Passage12

TheWaystoDuckoutofWork

WanttowatchtheWorldCupinpeacewithoutthebossoveryourshoulder?Simple,conhim.ABritishInternetsiteofferedfansaningeniousrangeofwaystoduckoutofworksotheycanwatchgamesincomfort.Thetimingsofthegames,intheearlymorningoratmidday,haveposedadilemmatomillionsofsoccer-madBritonsusedtowatchinggamesintheeveningsoratweekendsanddesperatetofollowEnglandandIreland’sWorldCupprogresslive.TheBritishgovernmenthasalreadyurgedemployerstobowtotheinevitableandtakeaflexibleattitudetoworkinghoursorsetupTVscreens."Thelastthingwewantistheentireworkforcetakinganannouncedsickieonthedayofabigmatch,"TradeandIndustrySecretaryPatriciaHewittsaid.ButBritishsportscompanyUmbrowasurgingfanstotakethematterintotheirownhands.ItsWebsitewww.wasofferingaconvincing-lookingfalsesicknotesignedbyafictitiousdoctor,F.Albright,tobeprintedoffandtakentoworkinadvance.Alternatively,its"TopTenBunkOffIdeas"includedsuchimprobableexcusesas:"IwillbelateforworktodaybecauseIhavetopickmyuncleupfromthetrainstation.Hehastwobagsbutonlyonearm."Foranothergame,afanmightclaim:"Mydogatemycarkeys.We’regoingtohitchhiketothevet."

Passage13<91>

TheFirstCalendar

Futurehistorianswillbeinauniquepositionwhentheycometorecordthehistoryofourowntimes.Theywillhardlyknowwhichfactstoselectfromthegreatmassofevidencethatsteadilyaccumulates.Whatismore,theywillnothavetorelysolelyonthewrittenword.Films,videos,CDsandCD-ROMsarejustsomeofthebewilderingamountofinformationtheywillhave.Theywillbeable,asitwere,toseeandhearusinaction.Butthehistorianattemptingtoreconstructthedistantpastisalwaysfacedwithadifficulttask.Hehastodeducewhathecanfromthefewscantycluesavailable.

Uptonow,historianshaveassumedthatcalendarscameintobeingwiththeadventofagriculture,forthenmanwasfacedwitharealneedtounderstandsomethingabouttheseasons.Recentscientificevidenceseemstoindicatethatthisassumptionisincorrect.

Historianshavelongbeenpuzzledbydots,linesandsymbolswhichhavebeenengravedonwalls,bones,andtheivorytusksofmammoths.ThenomadswhomadethesemarkingslivedbyhuntingandfishingduringthelastIceAgewhichbeganabout35,000B.C.andendedabout10,000B.C.Bycorrelatingmarkingsmadeinvariouspartsoftheworld,historianshavebeenabletoreadthisdifficultcode.Theyhavefoundthatitisconnectedwiththepassageofdaysandthephasesofthemoon.Itis,infact,aprimitivetypeofcalendar.Itseemsthatmanwasmakingarealefforttounderstandtheseasons20,000yearsearlierthanhasbeensupposed.

Passage14

HowtoAskforaRaise

Oneofthemostintimidatingthingstodointhebusinessworldistoaskforaraiseatyourcurrentjob.Sometimes,thebossjustdoesnotpayyouenoughmoney.Sowhatdoyoudoaboutit?Thereisawaytorequestaraise,butyouhadbetterbecarefulwhendoingthat.

Thebestwaytomakemoremoneywithinacompanyistobeinthedirectflowofthecash.Companieswillwanttokeepyouaroundifyouhavesomeleverage.Beingadirectcauseoftheirprofitsisagreatwaytogainsomeleverage.

Onemistakethatpeoplealwaysseemtomakeisthattheyareneversureexactlyhowmuchmoneytoaskfor.Ifyouaregoingtoaskforaraise,thenyoushouldhavesomefigureinmindofhowmuchmoreyouwant.Ifyouaresuccessfulinmeetingwithyourbossandmakingyourcase,thenitwilllookawfulifyousittherewithablankstareasheasksyouhowmuchyouwant.Considerarealisticpercentage,butbewillingtonegotiateindiscuss.Dosomeresearchandfigureoutexactlyhowmuchfolksmakeinyourprofessionthathavehadsimilarexperienceandsuccess.

Donotaskforaraisebasedsolelyuponyourpersonalneeds.Instead,concentratesolelyonyourachievements,merits,andworthconcerningthecompany.Bydoingthis,youwillcreateaprofessionalenvironmentinwhichyouwillestablishsomeleverage.

Passage15

PoliceandCommunities

Fewinstitutionsaremoreimportanttoanurbancommunitythanitspolice,yettherearefewsubjectshistoriansknowsolittleabout.Mostoftheearlyacademicinterestsdevelopedamongpoliticalscientistsandsociologists,whousuallyexaminedtheirowncontemporaryproblemswithonlyanodtowardthepast.Eventhepublicseemedconcernedonlyduringcrimewaves,periodsofblatantcorruption,orafteraparticularlygrislyepisode.Partyregularsandreformersgenerallyviewedtheinstitutionfromapoliticalperspective;newspapersandmagazines—thenineteenthcentury’smedia—emphasizedthevividandspectacular.

Yeturbansocietyhasalwaysvestedawide,indeedawesome,responsibilityinitspolice.Notonlyweretheytomaintainorder,preventcrime,andprotectlifeandproperty,buthistoricallytheywerealsotofightfires,suppressvice,assistinhealthservices,superviseelections,directtraffic,inspectbuildings,andlocatetruantsandrunaways.Inaddition,itwasassumedthatthepolicewerethespecialguardiansofthecitizens’libertiesandthecommunity’stranquility.Ofcourse,theperformancenevermatchedexpectations.Therecordcontainssomesuccess,butmostlyfailure;someeffectiveleadership,butlargelyofficialincompetenceandbetrayal.ThenotionofaprofessionalpoliceforceinAmericaisacreationofthetwentiethcentury;notuntilourowntimehavecitiesbeguntotakethestepsnecessarytoproducemoderndepartments.

Passage16

NewYorkMayNeverWinItsWaronRats

VideoofratsscamperingacrossaNewYorkCityrestaurantfloormayhavedisturbedviewersworldwidebutsomeexpertssaytherodentsarelessdangerousthanothercreaturesdrawntorestaurants—humans.

ThevideobroadcastontelevisionaweekagoshowedratsrunningwildataKFC/TacoBellrestaurantjustonedayaftertheoutlethadpassedacityHealthDepartmentinspection.

IttookabiteoutofthesharepriceofparentcompanyYumBrandsInc.andforcedacityHealthDepartmentshake-upthatremovedtheinspectorwhoconductedthereviewfromdutyandledto13morerestaurantclosuresonThursday.

TheowneroftheKFC/TacoBellfranchise,ADFCompanies,hasclosed10ofitsrestaurantsuntiltheypassinspections,andthecityclosedthreeotherrestaurantsbecauseofunsanitaryconditionsormice,theHealthDepartmentsaid.

YumBrandsonFridayhiredanurbanpestcontrolexperttoreviewstandardsatitsNewYorkCityrestaurants.

TheHealthDepartmentwarnedthatgreaterthreatstopublichealthincluderestaurantemployeeswhofailtowashtheirhandsorfoodstoredatimpropertemperatures.Oneepidemiologistagreed.Still,theincidentreinforcesNewYork’sreputationofhavingamoresevereratproblemthanotherbigcities.

NewYork’scrowdedquartersforcerestaurantstostoretrashindoorsuntilitcanbecollected,providingratswithanindoorfoodsource.Inaddition,NewYork’srealestateboommeansconstructionispervasive,scatteringratstoawidergeographicarea.

Passage17

BeautyIndustry

Withabitof"physicalpreparation"—artificialbreastimplants,anosejobandalittletrimmingoffatfromthehips—youtoocanaspiretobeMissWorld.SosaysVenezuela’slatestcandidatefortheworldbeautycontest.AndreinaPrietoadmittedthatwereitnotforthehelpofcosmeticsurgery,sheprobablywouldnothavemadetheline-up.Theraven-haired19-year-oldwaschosenfromamong40othercontestantstorepresenttheSouthAmericancountryattheMissWorldcompetitioninSouthAfrica.Prieto,wearingabluebikini,toldreportersthatpriortoenteringthecompetition,shehadthreeseparateoperations:onetoimprovetheshapeofhernose,aliposuctiontoremovefatfromherhipsandbreastimplants."Ifitwasn’tforthat,Iprobablywouldn’tbehere,"shesaid.Shedisplayedabrilliantsmile,butdidnotsayifthattoowastheresultofsurgery.Oil-richVenezuelatakesthebeautyindustryveryseriouslyandhasgainedareputationasa"factory"ofinternationalbeautycontestwinners.VenezuelanwomenhavewonfiveMissWorldtitlesandfourMissUniversecrowns.Aprivatecompany,theMissVenezuelaOrganization,specializesinpreparingcandidatesfortheMissWorldandMissUniversecontests,andspendsaround$72,000oneachcontender,inclothes,dietsand,ofcourse,cosmeticsurgery.

Passage18

PopulationGrowth

Thegrowthofpopulationduringthepastfewcenturiesisnoproofthatpopulationwillcontinuetogrowstraightupwardtowardinfinityanddoom.Onthecontrary,demographichistoryoffersevidencethatpopulationgrowthhasnotbeenatallconstant.AccordingtopaleoecologistEdwardDeevey,thepastmillionyearsshowthreemomentouschanges.Thefirst,arapidincreaseinpopulationaroundonemillionB.C.,followedtheinnovationsoftool-makingandtool-using.Butwhenthenewpowerfromtheuseoftoolshasbeenexploited,therateofworldpopulationgrowthfellandbecamealmoststable.

Thenextrapidjumpinpopulationstartedperhaps10,000yearsago,whenmankindbegantokeepherds,plowandplanttheearth.Onceagainwheninitialproductivitygainshadbeenabsorbed,therateofpopulationgrowthabated.

Thesetwoepisodessuggestthatthethirdgreatchange,thepresentrapidgrowth,whichbeganintheWestbetween250and350yearsago,mayalsoslowdownwhen,orif,technologybeginstoyieldfewerinnovations.Ofcourse,thecurrentknowledgerevolutionmaycontinuewithoutforeseeableend.Eitherway—contrarytopopularbeliefinconstantgeometricgrowth—populationcanbeexpectedinthelongruntoadjusttoproductivity.Andwhenonetakesthisview,populationgrowthisseentorepresenteconomicprogressandhumantriumphratherthansocialfailure.

Passage19

FoodandHealth

Thefoodweeatseemstohaveaprofoundimpactonourhealth.Althoughsciencehasmadeenormousstepsinmakingfoodmorefittoeat,ithas,atthesametime,mademanyfoodsunfittoeat.Someresearchhasshownthatperhapseightypercentofallhumanillnessesarerelatedtodietandfortypercentofcancerisrelatedtothedietaswell,especiallycancerofthecolon.Differentculturesaremorepronetocontractcertainillnessesbecauseofthefoodthatischaracteristicinthesecultures.Thatfoodisrelatedtoillnessisnotanewdiscovery.In1945,governmentresearchersrealizedthatnitratesandnitrites,commonlyusedtopreservecolorinmeats,andotherfoodadditives,causedcancer.Yet,thesecarcinogenicadditivesremaininourfood,anditbecomesmoredifficultallthetimetoknowwhichthingsinthepackaginglabelsofprocessedfoodarehelpfulorharmful.Theadditiveswhichweeat