专属基础阅读课程主讲

1997-11999-12002-3 1997-11999-12002-3 1996-11997-32001-52002-4 1996-41997-21999-42001-1 1993-31995-42000-2 课程介绍一、考研英语课程介绍一、考研英语概“听说读写译考研英语试卷构SectionI英语知识使2010SectionII阅读理PartA42040PartPart1010SectionIII2篇作文，30与四六级阅读的区考研阅读大纲要考研阅读文章题材和（考研阅读文章的体语言难点和复习对词汇考察特Eg.1995-MoneyspentonadvertisingismoneyspentaswellasanyIknowof.Itservesdirectlytoassistarapiddistributionofgoodsatreasonableprice,therebyestablishingafirmhomemarketandsomakingitpossibletoprovideforexportatcompetitiveprices.Bydrawingattentiontonewideasithelpsenormouslytoraisestandardsofliving.Byhelpingtoincreasedemanditensuresanincreasedneedforlabour,andisthereforeaneffectivewaytofightunemployment.Itlowersthecostsofmanyservices:withoutadvertisementsyourdailynewspaperwouldcostfourtimesasmuch,thepriceofyourtelevisionlicensewouldneedtobedoubled,andtravelbybusortubewouldcost20percent2002-JustthreeweeksbeforetheCourt’srulingonphysician-assistedsuicide,theNationalAcademyofScience(NAS)releasedatwo-volumereport,ApproachingDeath:ImprovingCareattheEndofLife.Itidentifiestheundertreatmentofpainandtheaggressiveuseof“ineffectualandforcedmedicalproceduresthatmayprolongandevendishonortheperiodofdying”asthetwinproblemsofend-of-lifecare.1998-Hedismissesa1998-Hedismissesalotoftheworkofre-engineeringconsultantsasmererubbish--“theworstsortofambulanceErrToerrishuman,toforgiveimprisonone’s对句法层面特对二、阅读考点和命题原1.二、阅读考点和命题原1.首末段和段落首末首段：Leadinginice主题句：topicsentencepilotsentence)：Everyparagraphisbuiltaroundasingleidea,whichcanbeexpressedinoneconclusion/summaryallinall,inshort,toconclude,inconsequenceinsummary,inaword,asaresult,2.first,second,third…firstly,secondly,thirdly,…finally;firstofall,then,inaddition,further,furthermore,forexample,forinstance,take…asanexample,as,suchas,3.4.因果关because,becauseof,for,since,as,resultfrom,originatefrom,attributeto,deriveso,thus,consequentlyleadto,giveriseto,resultin,asa5.but,however,onthecontrary,yet,asamatteroffact,infact,Incontrast,inomparison,compared6.Only,sole,solely,mere,merely,sheer,simply,entirely,absolutely,always,forever,never,none,must,all,7.数字年8.专有词7.数字年8.专有词9.基础阶段阅读学习方课堂文章练2002-Ifyouintendusinghumorinyourtalktomakepeoplesmile,youmustknowhowtoidentifysharedexperiencesandproblems.Yourhumormustberelevanttotheaudienceandshouldhelptoshowthemthatyouareoneofthemorthatyouunderstandtheirsituationandareinsympathywiththeirpointofview.Dependingonwhomyouareaddressing,theproblemswillbedifferent.Ifyouaretalkingtoagroupofmanagers,youmayrefertothedisorganizedmethodsoftheirsecretaries;alternativelyifyouareaddressingsecretaries,youmaywanttocommentontheirdisorganizedHereisanexample,whichIheardatanurses’convention,ofastorywhichworkswellbecausetheaudienceallsharedthesameviewofdoctors.AmanarrivesinheavenandisbeingshownaroundbySt.Peter.Heseeswonderfulaccommodations,beautifulgardens,sunnyweather,andsoon.Everyoneisverypeaceful,politeandfriendlyuntil,waitinginalineforlunch,thenewarrivalissuddenlypushedasidebyamaninawhitecoat,whorushestotheheadoftheline,grabshisfoodandstompsovertoatablebyhimself.“Whoisthat?”thenewarrivalaskedSt.Peter.“Oh,that’sGod,”camethereply,“butsometimeshethinkshe’saIfyouarepartofthegroupwhichyouareaddressing,youwillbeinapositiontoknowtheexperiencesandproblemswhicharecommontoallofyouandit’llbeappropriateforyoutomakeapassingremarkabouttheinediblecanteenfoodorthechairman’snotoriousbadtasteinties.Withotheraudiencesyoumustn’tattempttocutinwithhumorastheywillresentanoutsidermakingdisparagingremarksabouttheircanteenortheirchairman.YouwillbeonsafergroundifyousticktoscapegoatslikethePostOfficeorthetelephoneIfyoufeelawkwardbeinghumorous,youmustpracticesothatitbecomesmorenatural.Includeafewcasualandapparentlyoff-the-cuffremarkswhichyoucandeliverinarelaxedandunforcedmanner.Oftenit’sthedeliverywhichcausestheaudiencetosmile,sospeakslowlyandrememberthataraisedeyebroworanunbelievinglookmayhelptoshowthatyouaremakingalight-heartedLookforthehumor.Itoftencomesfromtheunexpected.Atwistonafamiliarquote“Ifatfirstyoudon’tsucceed,giveup”oraplayonwordsoronasituation.Searchforexaggerationandunderstatements.LookatyourtalkandpickoutafewwordsorLookforthehumor.Itoftencomesfromtheunexpected.Atwistonafamiliarquote“Ifatfirstyoudon’tsucceed,giveup”oraplayonwordsoronasituation.Searchforexaggerationandunderstatements.Lookatyourtalkandpickoutafewwordsorsentenceswhichyoucanturnaboutandinjectwith41.Tomakeyourhumorwork,youshould takeadvantageofdifferentkindsofmakefunofthedisorganizedaddressdifferentproblemstodifferentshowsympathyforyour42.Thejokeaboutdoctorsimpliesthat,intheeyesofnurses,theyare impolitetonewveryconsciousoftheirgodlikeentitledtosomeverybusyevenduringlunch43.Itcanbeinferredfromthetextthatpublicservices havebenefitedmanyarethefocusofpublicareaninappropriatesubjectforhaveoftenbeenthelaughing44.Toachievethedesiredresult,humorousstoriesshouldbedelivered inwell-wordedasawkwardlyasascasuallyas45.Thebesttitleforthetextmaybe UseHumorVariousKindsofAddHumorto基本解题思2002-2002-Sincethedawnofhumaningenuity,peoplehavedevisedevermorecunningtoolstocopewithworkthatisdangerous,boring,burdensome,orjustplainnasty.Thatcompulsionhasresultedinrobotics--thescienceofconferringvarioushumancapabilitiesonmachines.Andifscientistshaveyettocreatethemechanicalversionofsciencefiction,theyhavebeguntocomeAsaresult,themodernworldisincreasinglypopulatedbyintelligentgizmoswhosepresencewebarelynoticebutwhoseuniversalexistencehasremovedmuchhumanlabor.Ourfactorieshumtotherhythmofrobotassemblyarms.Ourbankingisdoneatautomatedtellerterminalsthatthankuswithmechanicalpolitenessforthetransaction.Oursubwaytrainsarecontrolledbytirelessrobot-drivers.Andthankstothecontinualminiaturizationofelectronicsandmicro-mechanics,therearealreadyrobotsystemsthatcanperformsomekindsofbrainandbonesurgerywithsubmillimeteraccuracy--fargreaterprecisionthanhighlyskilledphysicianscanachievewiththeirhandsButifrobotsaretoreachthenextstageoflaborsavingutility,theywillhavetooperatewithlesshumansupervisionandbeabletomakeatleastafewdecisionsforthemselves--goalsthatposearealchallenge.“Whileweknowhowtotellarobottohandleaspecificerror,”saysDaveLavery,managerofaroboticsprogramatNASA,“wecan’tyetgivearobotenough‘commonsense’toreliablyinteractwithadynamicIndeedthequestfortrueartificialintelligencehasproducedverymixedresults.Despiteaspellofinitialoptimisminthe1960sand1970swhenitappearedthattransistorcircuitsandmicroprocessorsmightbeabletocopytheactionofhumanbrainbytheyear2010,researcherslatelyhavebeguntoextendthatforecastbydecadesifnotWhattheyfound,inattemptingtomodelthought,isthatthehumanbrain’sroughlyonehundredbillionnervecellsaremuchmoretalented--andhumanperceptionfarmorecomplicated–thanpreviouslyimagined.Theyhavebuiltrobotsthatcanrecognizetheerrorofamachinepanelbyafractionofamillimeterinacontrolledfactoryenvironment.Butthehumanmindcanglimpsearapidlychangingsceneandimmediatelydisregardthe98percentthatisirrelevant,instantaneouslyfocusingonthemonkeyatthesideofawindingforestroadorthesinglesuspiciousfaceinabigcrowd.ThemostadvancedcomputersystemsonEarthcan’tapproachthatkindofability,andneuroscientistsstilldon’tknowquitehowwedo46.Humaningenuitywasinitiallydemonstratedin theuseofmachinestoproducesciencethewideuseofmachinesinmanufacturingtheinventionoftoolsfordifficultanddangeroustheelite’scunningtacklingofdangerousandboring47.Theword“gizmos”(line1,paragraph2)mostprobablymeans 48.Accordingtothetext,whatisbeyondman’sability48.Accordingtothetext,whatisbeyondman’sabilitynowistodesignarobotthat fulfilldelicatetaskslikeperformingbraininteractwithhumanbeingshavealittlecommonrespondindependentlytoachanging49.Besidesreducinghumanlabor,robotscanalso makeafewdecisionsfordealwithsomeerrorswithhumanimprovefactorycultivatehuman50.Theauthorusestheexampleofamonkeytoarguethatrobotsare expectedtocopyhumanbrainininternalabletoperceiveabnormalitiesfarlessablethanhumanbraininfocusingonrelevantbestusedinacontrolled形式肯定但意义否（一）morethancan…ThebeautyoftheparkismorethanwordscanTheboyhasbecomeveryinsolentanditismorethanhisparentscanbear.Don’ttellhimmorethanyoucanhelp.Sheneverdoesmoreworkthanshecan（二）anythingbut…结构HeisanythingbutaThewoodbridgeisanythingbutIhaveyettohearthestory.Ihaveyettolearnthenew（四）maymight)aswell…Itisstillraininghardoutside;wemayaswellstayhereovertheYoumightaswellburnthebookYoumightaswellburnthebookthangivethemto三、主旨题考察目提问方Fromthepassagewelearnthat…(1997)Thepassageismainlyabout…(1998)Thepassageismainly…Whatisthepassagemainlyabout…(2001,1994)Fromthefirstthreeparagraphswelearnthat…(2002)Wecandrawaconclusionfromthetextthat…(2003)Towhichofthefollowingistheauthorlikelytoagree?Wecanlearnfromthelastparagraphthattheauthorbelieves…(2006)Thetextintendstotellusthat…(2008)Whichofthefollowingbestsummarizesthetext?(2008)Whichofthefollowingwouldbethesubjectofthetext?(2010)Whichofthefollowingisthetextmainlyabout?Thebesttitleforthispassagecouldbe…(1997-出题位解题方1994-TheAmericaneconomicsystemisorganizedaroundabasicallyprivate-enterprise,market-orientedeconomyinwhichconsumerslargelydeterminewhatshallbeproducedbyspendingtheirmoneyinthemarketplaceforthosegoodsandservicesthattheywantmost.Privatebusinessmen,strivingtomakeprofits,producethesegoodsandservicesincompetitionwithother1994-TheAmericaneconomicsystemisorganizedaroundabasicallyprivate-enterprise,market-orientedeconomyinwhichconsumerslargelydeterminewhatshallbeproducedbyspendingtheirmoneyinthemarketplaceforthosegoodsandservicesthattheywantmost.Privatebusinessmen,strivingtomakeprofits,producethesegoodsandservicesincompetitionwithotherbusinessmen;andtheprofitmotive,operatingundercompetitivepressures,largelydetermineshowthesegoodsandservicesareproduced.Thus,intheAmericaneconomicsystemitisthedemandofindividualconsumers,coupledwiththedesireofbusinessmentomaximizeprofitsandthedesireofindividualstomaximizetheirincomes,thattogetherdeterminewhatshallbeproducedandhowresourcesareusedtoproduceAnimportantfactorinamarket-orientedeconomyisthemechanismbywhichconsumerdemandscanbeexpressedandrespondedtobyproducers.IntheAmericaneconomy,thismechanismisprovidedbyapricesystem,aprocessinwhichpricesriseandfallinresponsetorelativedemandsofconsumersandsuppliesofferedbyseller-producers.Iftheproductisinshortsupplyrelativetothedemand,thepricewillbebidupandsomeconsumerswillbeeliminatedfromthemarket.If,ontheotherhand,producingmoreofacommodityresultsinreducingitscost,thiswilltendtoincreasethesupplyofferedbyseller-producers,whichinturnwilllowerthepriceandpermitmoreconsumerstobuytheproduct.Thus,priceistheregulatingmechanismintheAmericaneconomicTheimportantfactorinaprivate-enterpriseeconomyisthatindividualsareallowedtoownproductiveresources(privateproperty),andtheyarepermittedtohirelabor,gaincontrolovernaturalresources,andproducegoodsandservicesforsaleataprofit.IntheAmericaneconomy,theconceptofprivatepropertyembracesnotonlytheownershipofproductiveresourcesbutalsocertainrights,includingtherighttodeterminethepriceofaproductortomakeafreecontractwithanotherprivate51.InLine11,Paragraph1,“thedesireofindividualstomaximizetheirincomes” AmericansareneversatisfiedwiththeirAmericanstendtooverstatetheirAmericanswanttohavetheirincomesAmericanswanttoincreasethepurchasingpoweroftheir52.Thefirsttwosentencesinthesecondparagraphtellusthat producerscansatisfytheconsumersbymechanizedconsumerscanexpresstheirdemandsthroughproducersdecidethepricesofsupplyanddemandregulate53.Accordingtothepassage,aprivate-enterpriseeconomyischaracterizedby privatepropertyandrightsownershipofproductivefreecontractsand54.Thepassageismainlyabout how54.Thepassageismainlyabout howAmericangoodsarehowAmericaneconomicsystemhowAmericanbusinessmenmaketheir正确选干扰选2001-WhydosomanyAmericansdistrustwhattheyreadintheirnewspapers?TheAmericanSocietyofNewspaperEditorsistryingtoanswerthispainfulquestion.Theorganizationisdeepintoalongself-analysisknownasthejournalismSadtosay,thisprojecthasturnedouttobemostlylow-levelfindingsaboutfactualerrorsandspellingandmistakes,combinedwithlotsofhead-scratchingpuzzlementaboutwhatintheworldthosereadersreallyButthesourcesofdistrustgowaydeeper.Mostjournalistslearntoseetheworldthroughasetofstandardtemplates(patterns)intowhichtheyplugeachday’sevents.Inotherwords,thereisaconventionalstorylineinthenewsroomculturethatprovidesabackboneandaready-madenarrativestructureforotherwiseconfusingThereexistsasocialandculturaldisconnectbetweenjournalistsandtheirreaders,whichhelpsexplainwhythe“standardtemplates”ofthenewsroomseemalientomanyreaders.Inarecentsurvey,questionnairesweresenttoreportersinfivemiddle-sizecitiesaroundthecountry,plusonelargemetropolitanarea.ThenresidentsinthesecommunitieswerephonedatrandomandaskedthesameRepliesshowthatcomparedwithotherAmericans,journalistsaremorelikelytoliveinupscaleneighborhoods,havemaids,ownMercedeses,andtradestocks,andthey’relesslikelytogotochurch,dovolunteerwork,orputdownrootsaReporterstendtobepartofabroadlydefinedsocialandculturalelite,sotheirworktendstoreflectthevaluesofthiselite.Theastonishingdistrustofthenewsmediaisn’trootedininaccuracyorpoorreportorialskillsbutinthedailyclashofworldviewsbetweenreportersandtheirreaders.Thisisanexplosivesituationforanyindustry,particularlyadecliningone.Hereisatroubledbusinessthatkeepshiringemployeeswhoseattitudesvastlyannoythecustomers.Thenitsponsorslotsofsymposiumsandacredibilityprojectdedicatedtowonderingwhycustomersareannoyedandfleeinginlargenumbers.Butitneverseemstogetaroundtonoticingtheculturalandclassbiasesthatsomanyformerbuyersarecomplainingabout.Ifitdid,itwouldopenupitsdiversityprogram,nowfocusednarrowlyonThisisanexplosivesituationforanyindustry,particularlyadecliningone.Hereisatroubledbusinessthatkeepshiringemployeeswhoseattitudesvastlyannoythecustomers.Thenitsponsorslotsofsymposiumsandacredibilityprojectdedicatedtowonderingwhycustomersareannoyedandfleeinginlargenumbers.Butitneverseemstogetaroundtonoticingtheculturalandclassbiasesthatsomanyformerbuyersarecomplainingabout.Ifitdid,itwouldopenupitsdiversityprogram,nowfocusednarrowlyonraceandgender,andlookforreporterswhodifferbroadlybyoutlook,values,education,and59.Whatisthepassagemainlyneedsofthereadersalloverthecausesofthepublicdisappointmentaboutoriginsofthedecliningnewspaperaimsofajournalismcredibility60.Theresultsofthejournalismcredibilityprojectturnedouttobe quitesomewhatveryrather61.Thebasicproblemofjournalistsaspointedoutbythewriterliesintheir workingconventionalworldeducational62.Despiteitsefforts,thenewspaperindustrystillcannotsatisfythereadersowingto failuretorealizeitsrealtendencytohireannoyinglikelinesstodoinaccurateprejudiceinmattersofraceand2000-Whenanewmovementinartattainsacertainfashion,itisadvisabletofindoutwhatitsadvocatesareaimingat,for,howeverfarfetchedandunreasonabletheirprinciplesmayseemtoday,itispossiblethatinyearstocometheymayberegardedasnormal.WithregardtoFuturistpoetry,however,thecaseisratherdifficult,forwhateverFuturistpoetrymaybe--evenadmittingthatthetheoryonwhichitisbasedmayberight--itcanhardlybeclassedasThis,inbrief,iswhattheFuturistsays:foracentury,pastconditionsoflifehavebeenconditionallyspeedingup,tillnowweliveinaworldofnoiseandviolenceandspeed.Consequently,ourfeelings,thoughtsandemotionshaveundergoneacorrespondingchange.Thisspeedingupoflife,saystheFuturist,requiresanewformofexpression.Wemustspeedupourliteraturetoo,ifwewanttointerpretmodernstress.Wemustpouroutalargestreamofessentialwords,bystops,orqualifyingadjectives,orfinitebystops,orqualifyingadjectives,orfiniteverbs.Insteadofdescribingsoundswemustmakeupwordsthatimitatewemustusemanysizesoftypeanddifferentcoloredinksonthesamepage,andshortenorlengthenwordsatCertainlytheirdescriptionsofbattlesareconfused.ButitisalittleupsettingtoreadintheexplanatorynotesthatacertainlinedescribesafightbetweenaTurkishandaBulgarianofficeronabridgeoffwhichtheybothfallintotheriver--andthentofindthatthelineconsistsofthenoiseoftheirfallingandtheweightsoftheofficers:“Pluff!Pluff!hundredandeighty-fiveThis,thoughitfulfillsthelawsandrequirementsofFuturistpoetry,canhardlybeclassedasLiterature.Allthesame,nothinkingmancanrefusetoaccepttheirfirstproposition:thatagreatchangeinouremotionallifecallsforachangeexpression.Thewholequestionisreallythis:haveweessentially59.Thispassageismainly asurveyofnewapproachestoareviewofFuturistaboutmeritsoftheFuturistaboutlawsandrequirementsof60.Whenanovelliteraryideaappears,peopleshouldtryto determineitsignoreitsfollowthenewacceptthe61.Futuristsclaimthatwemust increasetheproductionofusepoetrytorelievemoderndevelopnewmodesofavoidusingadjectivesand62.TheauthorbelievesthatFuturistpoetryis basedonreasonablenewandacceptabletoordinaryindicativeofbasicchangeinhumanmoreofatransientphenomenonthan四、情感态度考察目提问方Theauthor’sattitudetowardseuthanasiaseemsto提问方Theauthor’sattitudetowardseuthanasiaseemstobethatof…(1997)Theauthor’sattitudetowardstheissueseemstobe…(1999)FromthetextwecanseethatthewriterWhatismanycaptiveshippers’attitudetowardstheconsolidationintherailindustry?(2003)Fromthetextwecanconcludethattheauthor…(2006)Whatistheauthor'sattitudetowardsIQRegardingGilbert’sroleinrevitalizingthePhilharmonic,theauthor出题位解题方正确选干扰选1997-Itwas3:45inthemorningwhenthevotewasfinallytaken.Aftersixmonthsofarguingandfinal16hoursofparliamentarydebates,Australia’sNorthernTerritorybecameparliamentarydebates,Australia’sNorthernTerritorybecamethefirstlegalauthorityintheworldtoallowdoctorstotakethelivesofincurablyillpatientswhowishtodie.Themeasurepassedbytheconvincingvoteof15to10.AlmostimmediatelywordflashedontheInternetandwaspickedup,halfaworldaway,byJohnHofsess,executivedirectoroftheRighttoDieSocietyofCanada.Hesentitonviathegroup’son-lineservice,DeathNET.SaysHofsess:“Wepostedbulletinsalldaylong,becauseofcoursethisisn’tjustsomethingthathappenedinAustralia.It’sworldThefullimportmaytakeawhiletosinkin.TheNTRightsoftheTerminallyIIIlawhasleftphysiciansandcitizensaliketryingtodealwithitsmoralandpracticalimplications.Somehavebreathedsighsofrelief,others,includingchurches,righttolifegroupsandtheAustralianMedicalAssociation,bitterlyattackedthebillandthehasteofitspassage.Butthetideisunlikelytoturnback.InAustralia--whereanagingpopulation,lifeextendingtechnologyandchangingcommunityattitudeshaveallplayedtheirpart--otherstatesaregoingtoconsidermakingasimilarlawtodealwitheuthanasia.IntheUSandCanada,wheretherighttodiemovementisgatheringstrength,observersarewaitingforthedominoestostartUnderthenewNorthernTerritorylaw,anadultpatientcanrequestdeath--probablybyadeadlyinjectionorpill--toputanendtosuffering.Thepatientmustbediagnosedasterminallyillbytwodoctors.Aftera“coolingoff”periodofsevendays,thepatientcansignacertificateofrequest.After48hoursthewishfordeathcanbemet.ForLloydNickson,a54yearoldDarwinresidentsufferingfromlungcancer,theNTRightsofTerminallyIIIlawmeanshecangetonwithlivingwithoutthehauntingfearofhissuffering:aterrifyingdeathfromhisbreathingcondition.“I’mnotafraidofdyingfromaspiritualpointofview,butwhatIwasafraidofwashowI’dgo,becauseI’vewatchedpeopledieinthehospitalfightingforoxygenandclawingattheirmasks,”he51.Fromthesecondparagraphwelearnthat theobjectiontoeuthanasiaisslowtocomeinotherphysiciansandcitizenssharethesameviewonchangingtechnologyischieflyresponsibleforthehastypassageoftheittakestimetorealizethesignificanceofthelaw’s52.Whentheauthorsaysthatobserversarewaitingforthedominoestostartfalling,he observersaretakingawaitandseeattitudetowardsthefutureofsimilarbillsarelikelytobepassedintheUS,Canadaandotherobserversarewaitingtoseetheresultofthegameoftheeffect-takingprocessofthepassedbillmayfinallycometoa53.WhenLloydNicksondies,hewill facehisdeathwithcalmcharacteristicofexperiencethesufferingofalungcancerhaveanintensefearofterribleundergoacoolingoffperiodofseven54.Theauthor’sattitudetowardseuthanasiaseemstobethatof [D]1999-It’saroughworld[D]1999-It’saroughworldoutthere.Stepoutsideandyoucouldbreakalegslippingonyourdoormat.Lightupthestoveandyoucouldburndownthehouse.Luckily,ifthedoormatorstovefailedtowarnofcomingdisaster,asuccessfullawsuitmightcompensateyouforyourtroubles.Orsothethinkinghasgonesincetheearly1980s,whenjuriesbeganholdingmorecompaniesliablefortheircustomers’Feelingthreatened,companiesrespondedbywritingever-longerwarninglabels,tryingtoanticipateeverypossibleaccident.Today,stepladderscarrylabelsseveralincheslongthatwarn,amongotherthings,thatyoumight--surprise!--falloff.Thelabelonachild’sBatmancapecautionsthatthetoy“doesnotenableusertoWhilewarningsareoftenappropriateandnecessary--thedangersofdruginteractions,forexample--andmanyarerequiredbystateorfederalregulations,itisn’tclearthattheyactuallyprotectthemanufacturersandsellersfromliabilityifacustomerisinjured.About50percentofthecompanieslosewheninjuredcustomerstakethemtoNowthetideappearstobeturning.Aspersonalinjuryclaimscontinueasbefore,somecourtsarebeginningtosidewithdefendants,especiallyincaseswhereawarninglabelprobablywouldn’thavechangedanything.InMay,JulieNimmons,presidentofSchuttSportsinIllinois,successfullyfoughtalawsuitinvolvingafootballplayerwhowasparalyzedinagamewhilewearingaSchutthelmet.“We’rereallysorryhehasbecomeparalyzed,buthelmetsaren’tdesignedtopreventthosekindsofinjuries,”saysNimmons.Thejuryagreedthatthenatureofthegame,notthehelmet,wasthereasonfortheathlete’sinjury.Atthesametime,theAmericanLawInstitute--agroupofjudges,lawyers,andacademicswhoserecommendationscarrysubstantialweight--issuednewguidelinesfortortlawstatingthatcompaniesneednotwarncustomersofobviousdangersorbombardthemwithalengthylistofpossibleones.“Importantinformationcangetburiedinaseaoftrivialities,”saysalawprofessoratCornelllawSchoolwhohelpeddraftthenewguidelines.Ifthemoderateendofthelegalcommunityhasitsway,theinformationonproductsmightactuallybeprovidedforthebenefitofcustomersandnotasprotectionagainstlegal51.Whatwerethingslikein1980swhenaccidentsCustomersmightberelievedoftheirdisastersthroughCompanieswouldavoidbeingsuedbyprovidingnewJuriestendedtofindfaultwiththecompensationscompanies52.Manufacturersasmentionedinthepassagetendto satisfycustomersbywritinglongwarningsonbecomehonestindescribingtheinadequaciesoftheirmakethebestuseoflabelstoavoidlegalfeelobligedtoviewcustomers’safetyastheirfirst53.ThecaseofSchutthelmetdemonstratedthat [A]someinjuryclaimswerenolongersupportedbyhelmetswerenotdesignedtopreventhelmetswerenotdesignedtopreventproductlabelswouldeventuallybesomesportsgamesmightlosepopularitywith54.Theauthor’sattitudetowardstheissueseemstobe 2002-Couldthebadolddaysofeconomicdeclinebeabouttoreturn?SinceOPECagreedtosupply-cutsinMarch,thepriceofcrudeoilhasjumpedtoalmost$26abarrel,upfromlessthan$10lastDecember.Thisnear-triplingofoilpricescallsupscarymemoriesofthe1973oilshock,whenpricesquadrupled,and1979-80,whentheyalsoalmosttripled.Bothpreviousshocksresultedindouble-digitinflationandglobaleconomicdecline.SowherearetheheadlineswarningofgloomanddoomthisTheoilpricewasgivenanotherpushupthisweekwhenIraqsuspendedoilexports.Strengtheningeconomicgrowth,thesametimeaswintergripsthenorthernhemisphere,couldpushthepricehigherstillintheshortYettherearegoodreasonstoexpecttheeconomicconsequencesnowtobelessseverethaninthe1970s.Inmostcountriesthecostofcrudeoilnowaccountsforasmallershareofthepriceofpetrolthanitdidinthe1970s.InEurope,taxesaccountforuptofour-fifthsoftheretailprice,soevenquitebigchangesinthepriceofcrudehaveamoremutedeffectonpumppricesthanintheRicheconomiesarealsolessdependentonoilthantheywere,andsolesssensitivetoswingsintheoilprice.Energyconservation,ashifttootherfuelsandadeclineintheimportanceofheavy,energy-intensiveindustrieshavereducedoilconsumption.Software,consultancyandmobiletelephonesusefarlessoilthansteelorcarproduction.ForeachdollarofGDP(inconstantprices)richeconomiesnowusenearly50%lessoilthanin1973.TheOECDestimatesinitslatestEconomicOutlookthat,ifoilpricesaveraged$22abarrelforafullyear,comparedwith$13in1998,thiswouldincreasetheoilimportbillinricheconomiesbyonly0.25-0.5%ofGDP.Thatislessthanone-quarteroftheincomelossin1974or1980.Ontheotherhand,oil-importingemergingeconomies--towhichheavyindustryhasshifted--havebecomemoreenergy-intensive,andsocouldbemoreseriouslyOnemorereasonnottolosesleepovertheriseinoilpricesisthat,unliketherisesinthe1970s,ithasnotoccurredagainstthebackgroundofgeneralcommodity-priceinflationandglobalexcessdemand.Asizableportionoftheworldisonlyjustemergingfromeconomicdecline.TheEconomist’scommoditypriceindexisbroadlyunchangingfromayearago.In1973commoditypricesjumpedby70%,andin1979byalmost51.Themainreasonforthelatestriseofoilpriceis globalreductioninfastgrowthin[D]Iraq’ssuspensionof52.Itcanbeinferred[D]Iraq’ssuspensionof52.Itcanbeinferredfromthetextthattheretailpriceofpetrolwillgoupdramatically priceofcrudecommoditypricesoiltaxes53.TheestimatesinEconomicOutlookshowthatinrichcountries heavyindustrybecomesmoreenergy-incomelossmainlyresultsfromfluctuatingcrudeoilmanufacturingindustryhasbeenseriouslyoilpricechangeshavenosignificantimpacton54.Wecandrawaconclusionfromthetextthat oil-priceshocksarelessshockinginflationseemsirrelevanttooil-priceenergyconservationcankeepdowntheoilthepriceriseofcrudeleadstotheshrinkingofheavy