XX考研英语二新题型排序题预测模拟押题

XX考研英语二新题型排序题预测模拟押题以下《xx考研英语二新题型排序题预测模拟押题》由出guo考研英语频道为您独家提供，欢迎大家参考。排序题Passage1Directions:Forquestion1—5,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA—Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphsAandDhavebeencorrectlyplaced.[A]Subscriptionhasprovedbyfarthebestwayofpayingforhighqualitytelevision.Advertisingveersupanddownwiththeeconomiccycle,andcanbeskippedbyusingdigitalvideorecorders.Andanyoutfitthatdependsonadvertisingisliabletoworrymoreaboutoffendingadvertisersthanaboutpleasingviewers.Voluntarysubscriptionisalsopreferabletothepulsory,universalvarietythatpaysfortheBBCandotherEuropeanpublicbroadcasters.Abroadcastersupportedbyataxoneveryonemusttrytopleaseeveryone.Andagovernmentcanstarvepublicbroadcastersofmoney,too—astheBBCispainfullylearning.[B]Whatbeganasaninterestingexperimenthasbeethestandardwayofsupportinghighqualityprogramming.MostofthegreattelevisiondramasthatarewatchedinAmericaandaroundtheworldappearfirstonpayTVchannels.Havingshownothershowtomakegangsterdramaswith“TheSopranos”,HBOislayingdownthestandardforfantasywith“GameofThrones”.OtherpayTVchannelshavedelvedinto1960sadvertising(“MadMen”),drugdealing(“BreakingBad”)andRenaissancecourtsociety(“TheBorgias”).PayTVfirmsoutsideAmerica,likeBritainsBSkyB,arebeginningtopourmoneyintooriginalseries.Talentisdriftingtopaytelevision,inpartbecausetherearefewerappealingrolesinfilm.Meanwhile,broadcastworkshaveretreatedintoasafezoneofsits,policeproceduralsandsingingpetitions.[C]Butpaytelevisionisnowunderthreat,especiallyinAmerica.Priceshavebeendrivensohighatatimeofeconomicmalaisethatmanypeoplesimplycannotaffordit.Disruptive,deeppocketedfirmslikeAmazonandNetflixlurk,whisperingpromisesofinterdeliveredfilmsandtelevisionshowsforlittleornomoney.Whetherthelureofsuchalternativesorpovertyiswhatiscausingpeopletocanceltheirsubscriptionsisnotclear.ButtheproportionofAmericanswhopayforTVisfalling.Othercountriesmayfollow.[D]PayTVexecutivesarguethatpeoplewillalwaysfindwaysofpayingfortheirwares,perhapsbycuttingbackoncinematicketsorbottledwater.Thatnotionseemsincreasinglyhopeful.EverymonthitappearsmorelikelythatthepayTVsystemwillbreakdown.Theeraofevergrowingchannelchoiceisingtoanend;cableandsatellitedistributorswillbegintoprunetheleastpopularones.Theymaypush“bestofbasic”packages,offeringthemostdesirablechannels—andperhapsleavingoutsport.Inthemostdisruptivescenario,nolongerunimaginable,payTVwouldbeeafreeforall,withchannelshawkingthemselvesdirectlytoconsumers,perhapssendingtheircontentovertheinter.Howcanmediafirmssurviveinsuchaworld?[E]Fifteenyearsagonearlyallthetelevisionshowsthatexcitedcriticsandwonawardsappearedonfreebroadcastchannels.Paytelevision(or,asmanyAmericanscallit,“cable”)wasthedomainofrepeats,musicvideosandtelevangelists.ThenHBO,asubscriptionoutfitmostlyknownforboxingandfilms,decidedtotryitshandathourlongdramas.[F]Buttelevisionasawholeshouldemergestronger.Ifpeoplebuyindividualchannelsratherthanahugebundle,theywillhavetothinkaboutwhattheyreallyvalue—themoresobecauseeachchannelwillcostmorethanitdoesatpresent.Mediafirmswillimprovetheirgameinresponse.TheactivitythatdivertstheaverageAmericanforsomefourandahalfhourseachdayshouldbeemoregripping,notless.[G]Itwontbeeasy.Theywillhavetostartmarketingheavily:atpresentthepayTVdistributorsdothatforthem.Theymustproducemuchmoreoftheirownprogramming.Repeatsandoldfilmslosetheirappealinaworldinwhichconsumerscaninstantlycallupvastarchives.Iftheyaretoselldirectlytotheaudiencetheywillhavetobeetechnologyfirms,buildingappsandmuchslickerwebsitesthantheyhavenow,whichanticipatewhatcustomersmightwanttowatch.1→2→A→3→D→4→5Passage2Directions:Forquestion1—5,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA—Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphsDandEhavebeencorrectlyplaced.[A]Forpublishers,though,itisadangeroustime.Bookpublishingresemblesthenewspaperbusinessinthelate1990s,ormusicintheearly2000s.Althoughrevenuesarefairlystable,andthetraditionalrouteisstilltheonlywaytolaunchablockbuster,theclimateischanging.Someofthepublishersfunctions—packagingbooksandpromotingthemtoshops—arebeingobsolete.Algorithmsandonlineremendationsthreatentoreplacethemasarbitersofquality.Thetideofselfpublishedbooksthreatenstoswamptheirproducts.Asbookshopsclose,theyloseacrucialshowcase.Andtheyface,astherecordpaniesdid,anearmonopolycontrollingdigitaldistribution:Amazon’sgripovertheebookmarketismuchlikeApple’scontrolofmusicdownloads.[B]Theyalsoneedtobeemoreefficient.Digitalbookscanbedistributedglobally,butpublisherspersistindividingtheworldintoterritorieswithseparateeditorialstaffs.Inthedigitalageitisdafttotakemonthsorevenyearstogetabooktomarket.Andiftheyaretodistinguishtheirwaresfromselfpublisheddross,theymustgetbetteratchoosingbooks,honingideasandpolishingcopy.Ifpublishersaretoholdreaders’attentiontheymusttellabetterstory—andeditoutallthespellingmistakesaswell.[C]Forreaders,thisissplendid.JustasAmazoncollapseddistancebybringingahugerangeofbookstooutofthewayplaces,itisnowcollapsingtime,byenablingreaderstodownloadbooksinstantly.Moreover,anybodycannowpublishabook,throughAmazonandanumberofotherservices.[D]Duringthenextfewweekspublisherswillreleaseacrushofbooks,pilethemontodeliverylorriesandfighttogetthemonthedisplaytablesatthefrontofbookshopsintherunuptoChristmas.Itisanimpressivedisplayofpetitivemercialactivity.Itisalsoincreasinglypointless.[E]Yettherearestilltwoimportantjobsforpublishers.Theyactastheventurecapitalistsofthewordsbusiness,advancingmoneytoauthorsofworthwhilebooksthatmightnotbewrittenotherwise.Andtheyareeditors,pickinggoodbooksandimprovingthem.Soitwouldbegood,notjustfortheirshareholdersbutalsoforintellectuallife,iftheysurvived.[F]Morequicklythanalmostanyonepredicted,ebooksareemergingasaseriousalternativetothepaperkind.Amazon,fortablythebiggestebookretailer,hasloweredthepriceofitsKindleereaderstothepointwherepeopledonotfeartotakethemtothebeach.InAmerica,themostadvancedmarket,aboutonefifthofthelargestpublisherssalesareofebooks.Newlyreleasedblockbustersmaysellasmanydigitalcopiesaspaperones.Theproportionisgrowingquickly,notleastbecausemanybookshopsareclosing.[G]Theyaredoingsomethingsright.HavingwatchedtherecordpaniesimpotenceafterApplewrestedcontrolofmusicpricingfromthem,thepublishershavemanagedtoretaintheirabilitytosetprices.Buttheyaremissingsometricks.Themusicandfilmindustrieshavestartedtobundleelectronicwithphysicalversionsoftheirproducts—by,forinstance,providingthosewhobuyaDVDofamoviewithacodetodownloaditfromtheinter.Publishers,similarly,shouldbundleebookswithpaperbooks.D→1→2→3→E→4→5Passage3Directions:Forquestion1—5,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA—Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphsCandFhavebeencorrectlyplaced.[A]FifteenyearsagoVincentBolloré,aFrenchindustrialist,decidedtogetintothebusinessofelectricitystorage.HestartedaprojecttoproducerechargeablebatteriesintwosmallroomsofhisfamilymansioninBrittany.“Iaskedhim,‘whatareyoudoing?andItoldhimtostop,thatitwouldntgoanywhere,”saysAlainMinc,abusinessconsultantinPariswhohasadvisedMrBolloréformanyyears.Fortunately,hesays,MrBollorécontinued.[B]TherealaimforMrBolloré,however,istoshowcasehisbatterytechnology.Hisgrouphasdevelopedatypeofrechargeablecell,calledalithiummetalpolymer(LMP)battery.Thisisdifferentfromthelithiumionbatteriesusedbymostofthecarindustry.MrBollorébelievesferventlythathisbatteriesaresuperior,mainlybecausetheyaresafer.Lithiumionbatteriescanexplodeiftheyoverheat—whichinthepasthappenedinsomelaptops.Carmakersincorporatesafetyfeaturestopreventthebatteryscellsfromoverheating.[C]ThecityofPariswillcovermostofthecostofthestations,butMrBolloréwillpayanestimated105mtosupplyhisdesignof“Bluecar”vehiclesandtheirbatteries.Hewillbearafurther80mayearinrunningcosts.Thecitysestimatesforhowpopularthenewservicewillbearehighlyoptimistic,saidarecentstudybythegovernment.Autolibcouldmake33mayearforMrBolloré,aordingtothestudy,butitcouldeasilyjustbreakevenorloseasmuchas60mannually.Autolibwillalsobethefirsttimethegrouphasoperatedinabigconsumerfacingbusinesswhereitwillbehelddirectlyresponsibleforproblemssuchasvandalismorbreakdowns.[D]Goingupagainsttherestofthecarindustrymayseemquixotic.BeforehewonAutolib,MrBollorésays,peoplemaywellhavethoughtheandhisteamweremadtoventureintosuchanewarea.Buttheyunderestimatedhisgroupsknowledgeofelectricitystorage,hemaintains.Andifthegrowingnumberofelectriccarsontheroaddoesleadtosafetyconcernsoverbatteries,thenMrBollorésLMPtechnologycouldmovefromthemargintothemainstream—provided,ofcourse,theypasstheirtestonthestreetsofParis.[E]“Beingafamilypanymeanswecaninvestforthelongterm,”saysMrBolloré,whohasspent1.5billiononbatterydevelopmentsince1996.Mostofhisgroupsmoneyesfromtransportandlogistics,withastrongpositioninAfrica,andfrompetroldistributioninFrance.MrBolloréhasalsomadebillionsfromfinancialinvestmentssuchasinRueImperiale,aholdingpany.Autolibwillbekeenlywatchedthroughoutthecarindustry.Itisthefirstlargescalecitycarsharingservicetouseonlyelectricvehiclesfromtheoutset;aschemeinUlminGermany,bycontrast,startedwithdieselvehicles.RunningAutolibcouldmeanshoulderingsubstantiallossesfortheBolloréGroup.MrBolloréwasnotexpectedtowinthecontract,butdidsomainlybecauseheofferedlowrentalchargesfordrivers.[F]MrBollorésLMPbatteriesaresaidtobemorestablewhenbeingchargedanddischarged,whichiswhenbatterieseundermoststrain.JusttwoEuropeancarmakershaveseenthebatteries,whicharemadeonlybytheBolloréGroup.OnecarindustryexecutivesaysthatthoughtheLMPtechnologyisattractivefromasafetypointofview,thebatterieshavetobeheateduptofunction—whichtakespowerandmakesthemlessconvenienttouse.[G]MrBolloréstechnologyisabouttohittheroad.InxxhisgroupwonacontracttorunAutolib,acarsharingschemedesignedbyBertrandDelane,themayorofParis,whichwillput3,000electricvehiclesonthecitysstreetsalongwith1,120stationsforparkingandrecharging.Constructionofthestationsstartedinthesummer,andMrBolloréwillbegintestingtheserviceonOctober1stbeforeopeningittothepublicinDecember.Rechargeablebatteriesarenowanimportanttechnologyfortheglobalcarindustryasitstartstomakeevermoreelectricandhybridvehicles.Renault,aFrenchmanufacturer,isaloneinvesting4billion($5.6billion)inarangeofelectricmodelswhichitwillstartsellingthisautumn.ManyproducerswillunveilnewelectricvehiclesnextweekwhentheFrankfurtMotorShowopens.1→2→3→C→4→F→5Passage4Directions:Forquestion1—5,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA—Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphsAandDhavebeencorrectlyplaced.[A]Thecontesthasbeenheldinanticipationofaneweraofpylonbuilding.By2020,aquarterofthecountryscurrentgeneratingcapacitywillneedreplacing;thegovernmenthopesthenewsupplywillefromrenewablesourcessuchasonshoreandoffshorewindfarms.Todaysoffshorecapacityisjust7%ofministerstargetsfortheendofthedecade—andallofthenewgenerationouttoseawillneedtolandtransmissioncablesashore.Theexistingelectricitygridisinthewrongplaceformanyofthesenewsourcesofpower.Thatcreatesaparadox:tryingtosavetheworldbycuttingcarbonemissionsmeansscarringparticularbitsofitbydraggingnewpowerlinesthroughsceniccountryside.[B]Thisisanoldproblem.ThelaunchofBritainsnationalelectricitygridin1933wasdecriedfordesecratingthelandscape.Morerecently,thelocationofwindfarmshaspromptedsimilardebates.Thedifficultywithpylonsisthattheygoeverywhere.Scotlandhashadnearlyfiveyearsofdisputesovertheplanned600pylonupgradeofatransmissionlinerunningfromBeaulyintheHighlandstothecentralbeltwheremoreelectricityisused.ThesameclasheswillnowplayoutinEnglandandWales.Anewplanningmissionwassetupinxxtospeeduptheglacialpaceofinfrastructuredecisionmaking.Butweighingeconomicdemandsagainstbeautyremainsathornyandpotentiallytime-consumingjob.[C]Opponentsoftoweringpylonssaytheansweristoburypowerlines:atpresentonly950kmofBritains13,000kmofhighvoltagecablerunsunderground,mostofitinurbanareas.Butsinkingwires,whichmeansclearingacorridor17mto40mwideandcannotbedoneinallterrains,carriesanenvironmentaltolltoo.“Youareeffectivelysterilisinglanduseinthearea,”saysRichardSmithofNationalGrid;noplanting,diggingorbuildingisallowed.Thatmakesinstallingsubsurfacecables12to17timesaspriceyasoverheadlines,aordingtoNationalGrid(theyalsoneedreplacingsooner).Sinceconsumerspayforthisthroughtheirelectricitybills,everyonewouldhavetoforkouttoprotecttheviewsandhousepricesofafewpeople.[D]Sofindinganewshapeforpylonsmaybeonlyoneaspectoftheingpowerrows.Butitwillbeatrickyone.Typicallythebestdesignsbineelegancewithutility.Yetratherthanbeingafeatureinitself,theoptimalpylonblendsinwithnature.Thatsatoughtaskfor20tonsofsteel,howeverimpressivelyshaped.[E]Theskeletal,latticedesignofBritainselectricitypylonshaschangedlittlesincethefirstonewasraisedin1928.Manycountrieshavecopiedthese“stridingsteelsentries”,asthepoetStephenSpendercalledthem;morethan88,000nowmarchacrossthecountrysintermittentlygreenandpleasantland.[F]Nowsixnewmodelsarevyingtoreplacethesefamiliarsteeltowers.Thefinalistsinagovernmentsponsoredpetitiontodesignanewpylonincludeasingleshardspikingintotheskyandanarced,openbow.AfterawinnerispickedinOctober,NationalGrid,whichrunstheelectricitytransmissionwork,willdecidewhethertoconstructit.[G]Butthepriceofdespoilingprettysceneryishardtocalculate.Theriskisthatthecostofdamagingthelandscapeisignoredbecauseitisnotascribedamoaryvalue,saysSteveAlbon,coauthorofagovernmentmissionedreportonhowmuchthenaturalenvironmentcontributestoBritainseconomy.Asyet,though,noonehasfoundaneasyoraeptedmeasureofthisworthtohelpmakedecisions.1→2→A→3→4→5→DPassage5Directions:Forquestion1—5,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA—Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphsCandEhavebeencorrectlyplaced.[A]NorcanitbuypaniesasfreelyaspostalservicesinEurope,CanadaorAsiahavebeendoingforthepastdecade.ManyEuropeancountries,aswellasNewZealandandJapan,havealreadyprivatisedorliberalisedtheirpostalservices.Combined,foreignpostsnowgetmostoftheirrevenuefromnewbusinessessuchasretailingorbankingforconsumers,orwarehousingandlogisticsforpanies.[B]THEUSPostalServicehasanunofficialcreedthatharksbacktoHerodotus,whowasadmiringthePersianEmpiresstalwartmessengers.Itsownhistoryisimpressivetoo,datingtoaroyallicensebyWilliamandMaryin1692,andincludingBenjaminFranklinasanotablepostmaster,bothforthecrownandthenforthenewlyindependentcountry.Eversince,theposthasexisted“tobindtheNationtogether”.[C]Quasiindependentsince1970,thepostgetsnopublicmoney.Andyetitisobliged(asFedExandUPSarenot)tovisiteverymailbox,nomatterhowremote,sixdaysaweek.Thishasdriventheaveragecostofeachpieceofmailupfrom34centsinxxto41cents.Yetthepostisnotallowedtoraiseprices(ofstampsandsuch)willynilly;axxlawsetformulasforthat.Soineffect,thepostcannotcontroleitheritscostsoritsrevenues.[D]SoAmericaspostislookingforothersolutions.Itisplanningtoclosepostoffices;upto3,653,outofabout32,000.Thismonthitannouncedplanstolayoffanother120,000workersbyxx,havingalreadybiddenadieutosome110,000overthepastfouryears(foratotalofabout560,000now).Italsowantstofiddlewithitsworkerspensionsandhealthcare.[E]Ultimately,saysMrDonahoe,thepostwillhavetostopdeliveringmailonSaturdays.Thenperhapsonotherdaystoo.Theposthassurvivednewtechnologiesbefore,hepointsout.“In1910,weownedthemosthorses,by1920weownedthemostvehicles.”Buttheinterjustmightsenditthewayoftheponyexpress.[F]ButasevermoreAmericansgoonlineinsteadofsendingpaper,thevolumeofmailhasbeenplummeting.Thedeclineissteeperthanevenpessimistsexpectedadecadeago,saysPatrickDonahoe,thecurrentpostmastergeneral.Worse,becausethepostmustdelivertoeveryaddressinthecountry—about150m,withsome1.4madditionseveryyear—costsaresimultaneouslygoingup.Asaresult,theposthaslost$20billioninthelastfouryearsandexpectstoloseanother$8billionthisfiscalyear.[G]Andalthoughtherecessionmadeeverythingworse,theinteristhemainculprit.AsChristmascardshavegoneonline(and“green”),sohavebills.In2000,5%ofAmericanspaidutilitiesonline.Lastyear55%did,andeventuallyeverybodywill,saysMrDonahoe.PhotosnowgoonFacebook,magazineseoniPads.Already,atleastforAmericansunderacertainage,thepostdeliversonlybadnewsornuisances,fromjurysummonsestojunkmail.PleasantdeliveriesprobablyarrivebyaparcelservicesuchasUPSorFedEx.1→2→3→C→4→5→EPassage6Directions:Forquestion1—5,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA—Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphsAandBhavebeencorrectlyplaced.[A]Amongnationalnewspapers,paywallsarestillrare,thoughtheNewYorkTimesandtheTimesofLondonbothhavethem.Mostwallbuildingisbeingdonebysmalllocaloutfits.“Localnewspapersaremorevitaltotheirmunities,andtheyhavelesspetition,”explainsKenDoctor,theauthorof“Newsonomics”[B]Thepaywallbuilderstendtoreportadropinonlinetraffic.Butnotusuallyasteepdrop,andnotalwaysanenduringone.OklahomasTulsaWorld,whichstarteddemandingsubscriptionsfromheavyonlinereadersinApril,reportsthattrafficinAugustofthisyearwashigherthanayearearlier.Onepossibleexplanation,oddasitmaysound,isthatreadersarestilldiscoveringitswebsite.“Wehavepapersubscriberswhowantnothingtodowiththeinter,”explainsRobertLorton,theTulsaWorldspublisher.Fewerthanhalfofthenewspapersprintsubscribershavesofarsignedupforunrestrictedfreeaesstothewebsite.Othernewspapersreportsimilarproportions.[C]Thatsuggeststhegameisnotover.Theearlyadoptingyoungabandonedprintnewspaperslongago.Butmanynewspapershaveasurprisinglylarge,ifdwindling,herdofpayingcustomers.Theywillmilkthemashardastheycan.[D]OnOctober10ththeBaltimoreSunwilljoinafastgrowingclub.Thenewspaperwillstarttrackingthenumberoftimespeoplereaditsstoriesonline;whentheyreachalimitof15amonth,theywillbeaskedtopay.Localbloggersmaysquawkaboutcontentwantingtobefree.Butperhapsnotasmuchastheywouldhavedoneafewmonthsago.Thereisasenseofinevitabilityaboutpaywalls.InAprilxxPaidContent,anonlinepublication,found26Americanlocalandmetropolitannewspaperschargingforonlineaess.Severaltimesthatnumbernowdoso.Morethan100newspapersareusingPress+,anonlinepaymentsystemdevelopedinpartbyaformerpublisheroftheWallStreetJournal.MediaNews,anewspapergroup,putuptwopaywallsinxx;ithaserected23sofarthisyear.[E]Whytherush?Onereasonisthatbuildingpaywallshasbeeeasier:Press+andGooglesOnePasswillcollectonlinesubscriptionsonbehalfofnewspapers,skimmingalittleoffthetop.ThepopularityofApplesiPadisanotherexplanation.Manynewspapershavecreatedpaidforapps.Thereislittlepointdoingthatifatabletusercansimplyreadthenewsforfreeonawebbrowser.Butthebigpushesfromadvertising—orthelackofit.[F]ThemostambitiousarchitectsareinEurope.SinceMaySlovakiahashadavirtualnationalpaywall—asinglepaymentsystemthatenpassesnineofthecountrysbiggestpublications.Slovakswhowanttoreadnewsonlinepay2.90($3.90)amonth,whichissplitbetweenthenewspapersaordingtoaformulathataountsforwherepeoplesignedupandhowheavilytheyuseeachpublicationswebsite.PianoMedia,whichbuiltthesystem,planstolaunchanothernationalpaywallinEuropeearlynextyear.[G]JimMoroney,publisheroftheDallasMorningNews,saysAmericannewspapersusedtoabidebyan“8020”rule.Thatis,80%oftheirrevenuescamefromadvertisingand20%camefromsubscriptions.Thosedaysareover.Newspaperadvertising,printandonlinebined,hascrashedfrom$9.6billioninthesecondquarterofxxto$6billioninthesecondquarterofxx,aordingtotheNewspaperAssociationofAmerica.Fewbelieveitwilleverfullyrecover.Sotheraceisontobuildasubscriptionbusiness,bothinprint(coverpricesaregoingup)andonline.1→A→2→3→4→B→5Passage7Directions:Forquestion1—5,choosethemostsuitableparagraphsfromthelistA—Gandfillthemintothenumberedboxestoformacoherenttext.ParagraphsAandGhavebeencorrectlyplaced.[A]AGOODunitofmeasurement,writesRobertCrease,mustsatisfythreeconditions.Ithastobeeasytorelateto,matchthethingsitismeanttomeasureinscale(nopointusinginchestodescribegeographicaldistances)andbestable.Inhisnewbook,“WorldintheBalance”,MrCrease,whoteachesphilosophyatStonyBrookUniversityonLongIslandandwritesacolumnforthemagazinePhysicsWorld,describesmansquestforthatmetrologicalholygrail.Intheprocess,heshowsthatthestoryofmetrology,notobviousmaterialforapageturner,canintherighthandsmakeforarivetingread.[B]Inresponsethemetre,fromtheGreekmetron,meaning“measure”,wasusheredin,helpedalongbyFrenchrevolutionaries,eagertoreplacetheBourbontoise(justundertwometres)withanallnew,universalunit.ThemetrewastobedefinedasafractionoftheParismeridianwhoseprecisemeasurementwasunderway.Togetherwiththekilogram,initiallythemassofadecaliterofdistilledwater,itformedthebasisofthemetricsystem.[C]SuessfulFrenchmetrologicaldiplomacymeantthatintheensuingdecadesthemetricsystemsupplantedahotchpotchofregionalunitsinallbarahandfulofnations.EvenBritain,longweddedtoitsimperialmeasures,cavedin.(Americansaretakinglongertopersuade.)In1875Nature,aBritishmagazine,hailedthemetricsystemas“oneofthegreatesttriumphsofmoderncivilisation”.Paradoxically,MrCreaseargues,itthrivedinpartasaconsequenceofBritishimperialism,whichallbutwipedoutinnumerableindigenousmeasurementsystems,creatingavacuumthatthenewframeworkwasabletofill.[D]Forallitsdiplomaticsuess,though,themetrefailedtoliveuptoitsoriginalpromise.Tyingittothemeridian,oranyothernaturalbenchmark,provedintractable.Asaresult,theunitcontinuedtobedefinedinexplicitreferencetoauniqueplatinumiridiumingotuntil1960.Onlythenwasitrecastinlessfleetingterms:asamultipleofthewavelengthofaparticulartypeoflight.Finally,in1983,itwastiedtoafundamentalphysicalconstant,thespeedoflight,beingthedistancelighttravelsin1/299,792,458ofasecond.(Thesecondhadbythenitselfgotametrologicalmakeover:nolongera60thofa60thofa24thoftheperiodoftheEarthsrotation,itiscurrentlythedurationof9,192,631,770periodsofaphenomenoncalledmicrowavetransitioninanatomofcaesium133.)[E]TheearliestknownunitsmetthefirsttwoofMrCreasesrequirementswell.Mostweredrawnfromthingstohand:thehumanbody(thefootorthemile,whichderivesfromtheLatinmiliapassuum,or1,000paces)andtools(barrels,cups).Othersweremoreabstract.Thejournal(fromjour,Frenchfor“day”),usedinmedievalFrance,wasequivalenttotheareaamancouldploughinadaywithasingleox,aswastheacreinBritainorthemorgeninnorthGermanyandHolland.[F]Butnotwofeet,barrelsorworkdaysarequitethesame.Whatwasneededwas“afoot,notyoursormine”.Callsforafirmstandardthatwasnotsubjecttofluctuationsorthewhimoffeudallords,grewlouderinthelate17thcentury.Theywereaconsequenceofthebeginningsofinternationaltradeandmodernscience.Bothrequiredgreaterprecisiontoadvance.[G]Nowthekilogram,thelastartefactbasedunit,awaitsitsturn.Addingurgencyisthefactthe“real”kilogram,storedinasafeintheInternationalBureauofWeightsandMeasuresinSèvres,nearParis,seemstobesheddingweightrelativetoits