《报刊阅读》作业学习资料

PAGE1第1页共1页在您完成作业过程中，如有疑难，请登录学院网站“辅导答疑”栏目，与老师进行交流讨论！《报刊阅读》作业I.TranslatethefollowingwordsintoChinese1.InternationalHeraldTribune2.SecretaryofState3.JusticeDepartment4.Cult5.CatholicChurch6.Bosnia7.TheNetherlands8.EU9.FBI10.UNESCO11.TheCommonwealth12.Speaker13.constitutionalmonarchy14.royalfamily15.electoralvote16.TheCapitol17.spokesman18.TheHouseofRepresentatives19.jointventure20.ChristianChurch21.Stealthaircraft22.IvyLeaguers23.NewYorkTimes24.congress25.Sinopec26.botel27.newscast28.debunk29.ecosphere30.con31.Reader’sDigest32.Senate33.WhiteHouseOffice34.MinistersintheCabinet35.Wal-MartStores36.Ameriasian37.memocon38.filmdom39.anti-inflation40.ecocrisisII.ReadthefollowingpassagesandthenchoosetherightanswertoeachquestionBehrend,45,obtainedadoctoraldegreeinclinicalpsychologylastspringfromWaldenUniversity,arespectedvirtualinstitution.Shesaysthediscussionsbetweenstudentandprofessor,andamongpeers,weremorerigorousthanthosesheexperiencedinthetwoon-campusmaster’sprogramsshepreviouslyattended.“Weneededtocitereferencesforeverythingwesaid[inE-mailpostings],”explainsBehrend.“Itwasn’tliketheusualchattingintheclassroom.”1.BehrendA.criticizesdistant-degreeprogramsB.praisesdistant-degreeprogramsC.praiseson-campuseducationD.thinkshighlyofface-to-faceinstructionAttherootoftheproblemismoney.Asapoornation,Chinahasfewresourcesleftoverforculturalconservationafterstrugglingtooverhaulitscommandeconomy,dampenrisingunemployment,takecareofanagingpopulation,putininfrastructureandmodernizeitsmassivemilitary.Atthesametime,preciselybecausethenationissopoor,localofficialshaveincreasinglyturnedtotourismasacashcow,oftenexploitingculturalandnaturalsitestotheirlimitandthreateningsitesofinestimablevalue.2.Whatdothewords“resources”and“cashcow”underlinedmean?A.land,minerals,ornaturalenergy/ananimalthatproducesmilkB.money/abusinessthatprovidesasteadyincomeorprofitC.money/resourcesD.property/moneyThewordswerepureOprah,buttheyprovedprophetic.Inamatterofweeks,theyoungestmanintherooma26-year-oldformernationalmathchampionnamedShaoYiboscribbleddownabusinessproposal,soldhisbelongingsandleftforShanghai,wherehelaunchedaChineseversionoftheInternetauctiongiant,eBay.Ontheway,hestoppedoffforadayinSiliconValleyandpersuadedinvestorstogivehim$400,000.WeekslaterclassmateTanHaiyingreturnedtoShanghaitovisitfriendsbeforestartinganinvestment-bankingjobinNewYork.SheneverusedherreturntickettotheUnitedStates:Shaopersuadedhertojoinhisfirmaschiefoperatingofficer.WithinayearthreeothermembersofthecliqueHuanYiming,ReneeChenandHerbertWangalsoreturnedtolaunchstart-upcompanies.AndZhang?Shelandedabusiness-developmentjobatRupertMurdoch’sNewsCorp.inBeijing.ShealsoworksovertimepursuingherOprahdream.OnceaweekshehostsapopulartalkshowonBeijingTVthattakesonsuchdaringtopicsasAIDS,drugabuseandyesInternetdating.3.ThesentenceunderlinedmeansthatsheworkshardinordertobeA.atalk-showhost.B.anartist.C.arichbusinesspersonD.amoviestar.ForsomeoftheHarvardgrads,Chinaisstilltoounderdeveloped,especiallyinthefinancialsector,tolurethemback.“There’salotofthunder,butnotmuchrain,”saysPeterChen,adebtspecialistwithGECapitalinTokyo.Butforothers,itissimplythatfamilycomesfirst.HuangJingsheng,whoat43istheoldestofthegroup,isworriedaboutsubjectinghiswifeandtwoyoungboystoBeijing’spollution.Forthetimebeing,Huangislivinginclear-airedSacramento,California,whereheworksasaventurecapitalistforIntelCapital,handlingoccasionalChinadeals.“TherearedifferentwaysofhelpingChina,”hesays.“Myclassmateshavefoundoneway.I’mstillfiguringouthowtodothesamethingandmakingtherightchoiceformyfamily.”4.“Adebtspecialist”isA.anexpertinmoney-making.B.anexpertthatfallsintodebt.C.apersonwhospecializesindebt.D.apersonthatspecializesinrepayhisdebt.Evenadvocatesacknowledgethatdistanceeducationisn’tforeveryonethatittakesindependence,self-discipline,andalotofmotivationtosucceed.Further,thequalityofdistance-degreeprogramsisuneven.“Amajorityofuniversitieshaveenteredthedistance-learningmarketrapidlyandarenotwellprepared,”saysVickyPhilips,coauthorofTheBestDistanceLearningGraduateSchools(PrincetonReviewPublishing,1999,$20).“Studentsruntheriskofbeingguineapigs”Thus,it’simportanttoconsideranarrayoffactorsbeforechoosingaschool:accreditation,programhistory,cost,academicfield,residency,andtechnology.5.Whatdo“guineapigs”heremean?A.PigsraisedinGuinea.B.PigsraisedbyGuineans.C.Personsusedasasubjectforexperiment.D.PersonsusedbyGuineansasasubjectforexperiment.Unlesswespendmoneytospotandpreventasteroids(小行星)now,onemightcrashintoEarthanddestroylifeasweknowit,saysomescientists.Asteroidsarebiggerversionsofthemeteoroids(流星)thatraceacrossthenightsky.MostorbitthesunfarfromEarthanddon’tthreatenus.ButtherearealsothousandsofasteroidsthoseorbitsputthemonacollisioncoursewithEarth.BuyUS$50millionworthofnewtelescopesrightnow.ThenspendUS$10millionayearforthenext25yearstolocatemostofthespacerocks.Bythetimewespotafatalone,thescientistssay,we’llhaveawaytochangeitscourse.Somescientistsfavorpushingasteroidsoffcoursewithnuclearweapons.Butthecostwouldn’tbecheap.Isitworthit?Twothingsexpertsconsiderwhenjudginganyriskare:1)Howlikelytheeventis;and2)Howbadtheconsequencesiftheeventoccurs.ExpertsthinkanasteroidbigenoughtodestroylotsoflifemightstrikeEarthonceevery500,000years.Soundsprettyrarebutifonedidfall,itwouldbetheendoftheworld.“Ifwedon’ttakecareofthesebigasteroids,they’lltakecareofus,”saysonescientist.“It’sthatsimple.”Thecure,though,mightbeworsethanthedisease.DowereallywantfleetsofnuclearweaponssittingaroundonEarth?“Theworldhaslesstofearfromdoomsday(毁灭性的)rocksthanfromagreatnuclearfleetsetagainstthem,”saidaNewYorkTimesarticle.6.Whatdoesthepassagesayaboutasteroidsandmeteoroids?A.Theyareheavenlybodiesdifferentincomposition.B.Theyareheavenlybodiessimilarinnature.C.Therearemoreasteroidsthanmeteoroids.D.Asteroidsaremoremysteriousthanmeteoroids.7.WhatdoscientistssayaboutthecollisionofanasteroidwithEarth?A.tisveryunlikelybutthedangerexists.B.Suchacollisionmightoccuronceevery25years.C.CollisionsofsmallerasteroidswithEarthoccurmoreoftenthanexpected.D.It’sstilltoearlytosaywhethersuchacollisionmightoccur.8.Whatdopeoplethinkofthesuggestionofusingnuclearweaponstoalterthecourseofasteroids?A.Itsoundspracticalbutitmaynotsolvetheproblem.B.Itmaycreatemoreproblemsthanitmightsolve.C.ItisawasteofmoneybecauseacollisionofasteroidswithEarthisveryunlikely.D.Furtherresearchshouldbedonebeforeitisprovedapplicable.9.Wecanconcludefromthepassagethat______.A.whilepushingasteroidsoffcoursenuclearweaponswoulddestroytheworldB.asteroidsracingacrossthenightskyarelikelytohitEarthinthenearfutureC.theworryaboutasteroidscanbelefttofuturegenerationssinceitisunlikelytohappeninourlifetimeD.workablesolutionsstillhavetobefoundtopreventacollisionofasteroidswithEarth10.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribestheauthor’stoneinthispassage?A.OptimisticB.CriticalC.ObjectiveD.ArbitrarySomefirms,suchasoneheadedbyNancyReynolds,afriendoftheReagans,andAnneWexler,aformerkeyaideintheCarterWhiteHouse,specializeincoalitionbuildingandgrassrootslobbying.MountingadrivetogetvoterstoworkonmembersofCongressthroughletters,telephonecallsandpersonalvisitscanhaveenormousimpact.CharlsWalker,aleadingtaxlobbyist,notes:“First,lastandalwaysit’sthepeopleathomethatarenearestanddearesttotheheartsofcongressmen.”Example:In1983,banksandsavingsinstitutionstouchedoffafloodof13millionpostcardsandlettersthathelpedpersuadelegislatorstorepealalawwithholdingtaxesoninterestpayments.Whilethemaneuverwassuccessful,itangeredsomemembers,includingSenateMajorityLeaderBobDoleofKansas,whohasareputationforhavingalongmemory.“Foreverywinnerinthisbusiness,rememberthere’saloser,”saysoneinfluentiallobbyist.“Youjusthearalotmoreaboutthewinners.”No9-to-5job.Lobbyingisatwo-waystreet.Whentheyarenotbusytryingtoswaytheviewsofpoliticians,thelobbyistsareengagedinraisingcampaignmoneyforthosesamepoliticians.ItisararenightinWashingtonthatdoesnotseeseveralfund-raisingcocktailpartiesandothereventswherelobbyistsmakeupabigshareofthedonorstoincumbentsinCongress,Clients,ofcourse,paymostofthetab.Lobbyists,likemembersofmostprofessions,havetheirintramuralquarrels.MauriceRosenblatt,whohaslobbiedcausesfornearlyfourdecades,complains:“Theprofessionallobbyistisbeingpushedasidebythelawyers.”Wherelobbyistsusedtoavoidnotorietyandpreferredtoworkbehindthescenes,manytodayseekpublicityasausefultool.FredWertheimer,presidentofCommonCauseandaregisteredlobbyist,saystheWatergateera“putastoptoalltheundergroundgamesbeingplayed,sotheycameoutofthecloset.”Whethertheyworkoffstageorinthespotlight,lobbyistspromisetocontinueexertingapowerfulinfluenceaslongasthere’saWashington.11.“Workon”heremeansA.pushon.B.harass.C.influence.D.touchoff.12.Whatdoes“repealalaw”mean?A.Draftalaw.B.Enactalaw.C.Putanofficialendtoalaw.D.Gotolaw.13.Whatdoyouthinkismeantby“No9-to-5job”?A.Itisaregularworking-hourjob.B.Itisaneasyjob.C.Onedoesn’thavetoworkovertime.D.Onehastoworkovertime.14.Whatdoes“atwo-waystreet”heremean?A.Mutualloss.B.Mutualbenefit.C.Abroadstreet.D.Abusystreet.15.“Offstage”issynonymouswithA.Behindthescene.B.Behindthescenes.C.Outofshadow.D.Outofthecloset.Thefactthatthegeneralliteratureoninterviewingdoesnotdealwiththejournalisticinterviewseemstobesurprisingfortworeasons.First,itseemslikelythatmostpeopleinmodernWesternsocietiesaremorefamiliar,atleastinapositivemanner,withjournalisticinterviewingthanwithanyotherformofinterviewing.Mostofusareprobablysomewhatfamiliarwiththeclinicalinterview,suchasthatconductedbyphysiciansandpsychologists.Itthesesituationstheprofessionalpersonorinterviewerisinterestedingettinginformationnecessaryforthediagnosisandtreatmentofthepersonseekinghelp.Anotherfamiliarsituationisthejobinterview.16.Whoistheintervieweeinaclinicalinterview?A.Thepatient.B.Thephysician.C.Thejournalist.D.Thepsychologist.Asoneprofessorobserved,“Teachingisimportant,wearetold,andyetfacultyknowthatresearchandpublicationmattermost.”Notsurprisingly,overthelasttwentyyearscollegesanduniversitieshavefailedtograduatehalfoftheirfour-yeardegreecandidates.Facultymemberswhodedicatedthemselvestoteachingsoondiscoverthattheywillnotbegrantedtenure,promotion,orsubstantialsalaryincreases.Yet4percentofallfacultiessaytheirinterestsliemoreinteachingthaninresearch.Additionally,afrequentcomplaintamongyoungscholarsisthat“Thereispressuretopublish,althoughthereisvirtuallynointerestamongadministratorsorcolleaguesinthecontentofthepublications.”17.Americancollegesanduniversitiesfailedtograduatehalfoftheirfour-yeardegreecandidatesbecause_______.A.mostofthemlackhigh-qualityfacultiesB.theinterestsofmostfacultymemberslieinresearchC.therearenotenoughincentivesforstudentstostudyhardD.theyattachgreaterimportancetoresearchandpublicationthantoteachingCardiologists(心脏病学家)dividedusintotwotypes,accordingtohowourpersonalityaffectsourheart.TypeAindividualsarehighlycompetitive,innatelyhostile,fasteatingandrapidtalking,whilstBtypedrowninthemilkofhumankindnessandaresublimelyindifferenttotheoftime.ItisanuncomfortablefactthatA’sdietwiceasfrequentlyfromheartdiseaseasB’s,evenwhentherisksofcigarettes,alcoholandcreambunsaretakenintoaccount.Obviously,itisneitherpracticalnordesirablethatallA-youngsterschangeintoB’s.TheworldneedsA-types,andschoolshaveanimportantdutytotrytofitachild’spersonalitytohispossiblefutureemployment.Itistopmanagement.18.Accordingtothepassage,A-typeindividualsareusually_______.A.impatientB.considerateC.aggressiveD.agreeableAneducationthataimsatgettingastudentacertainkindofjobisatechnicaleducationjustifiedforreasonsradicallydifferentfromwhyeducationisuniversallyrequiredbylaw.Itisnotsimplytoraiseeveryone’sjobprospectsthatallchildrenarelegallyrequiredtoattendschoolintotheirteens.Rather,wehaveacertainconceptionoftheAmericancitizen,acharacterwhoisincompleteifhecannotcompetentlyassesshowhislivelihoodandhappinessareaffectedbythingsoutsideofhimself.Butthiswasnotalwaysthecase;beforeitwaslegallyrequiredforallchildrentoattendschooluntilacertainage,itwaswidelyacceptedthatsomewerejustnotequippedbynaturetopursuethiskindofeducation.Withoptimismcharacteristicofallindustrializedcountries,wecametoacceptthateveryoneisfittobeeducated.Computereducationadvocatesforsakethisoptimisticnotionforapessimismthatbetraystheirotherwisecheeryoutlook.Bankingontheconfusionbetweeneducationalandvocationalreasonsforbringingcomputersintoschools,computeredadvocatesoftenemphasizethejobprospectsofgraduatesovertheireducationalachievement.19.Thebeliefthateducationisindispensabletoallchildren_______.A.isindicativeofapessimismindisguiseB.cameintobeingalongwiththearrivalofcomputersC.isdeeplyrootedinthemindsofcomputeredadvocatesD.originatedfromtheoptimisticattitudeofindustrializedcountriesDespitethedefeatoftheNazisandtheiralliesandthesettingupoftheUnitedNationsOrganizationin1945,racismcontinuestohaunttheworldtoday.Menaredeniedemployment,housingandeducationalopportunitiesbecauseoftheirskincolor;somerichcountriesstillhaveracialimmigrationlawstokeepoutimmigrantsfrompoorerandhungrierlands;politicalleadersareimprisonedforlifefordemandingthatallracesshouldhavethesamepoliticalrights;andeveninthecitiesoftheaffluentWesternworldtheNegroghettoesburn,signalingtotheworldtheblankdespairoftheirinhabitants.20.Thepassagestatesthatvictimsofracisminclude_______.A.immigrantsfromotherlandsB.NaziandtheiralliesC.inhabitantsintheaffluentWesternworldD.urbanpeopleintheNegroghettoesTheEnglishteatradefloodedChinawithopium.DoestheBritishlibrarygetthestoryright?Thehistoryofmoderndrugaddictionmightbesaidtostart,innocuouslyenough,withacupoftea.LondondiaristSamuelPegysrecordedhisfirsttasteof“tee(aChinaDrink)”in1660;bytheearly1700s,ascheapsugartosweetenthebrewpouredinfromtheWestIndies,theentirenationwasonitswaytobecominghooked.SomeEnglishmenweresoonknockingback50cupsaday.TheEnglishEastIndiaCompany,whichheldthemonopolyonallEasternimports,sawitsteasalesgrowfrom97,000kgin1713to14.5millionin1813,makingteaitscashcow.Thegovernment,too,cametorelyonBritain’snewthirst.Atonepoint,athirdofthemembersofParliamentownedsharesintheEastIndiaCompany,andtaxesonitsteaproducedupto10%oftheTreasury’srevenues.Clearly,itwouldbeworthdoingalmostanythingtokeepsuchabusinessgrowing.WhattheEastIndiaCompanydidwastobecomeaglobalnarcoticscartel.TogetthesilverthatpaidfortheChinesecaffeinefix,thecompanyturnedtodealingafarmoresinisterdrugopium.CompanyshipsneverbroughtopiumintoChina,butitsrichBengalplantationsfedthedemand.MillionsofChinesewouldultimatelydieasaresultofaddiction,andthetradesetthestagefortheOpiumWarsinwhichChinalostHongKong.Thisnastybitofhistorysrecountedneartheveryendof“TradingPlaces:TheEastIndiaCompanyandAsia,”atantalizing,ifslightlyfrustrating,newexhibitionattheBritishLibraryinLondon.Theshowacollectionofartifactsandimagesof234yearsofEasterntradehasraisedhacklesamongBritishChineseactivists.Asmallbutwell-aimedcampaignevenconvincedthelibrarytotweaktheexhibit’spaneltexttobetterreflectthedarksideoftheCompany’sactivitiesinChina.“TheOpiumWarsmarkedaturningpointinhistory,”sayscampaignorganizerSteveLau,whorunstheWebsitewww.britishbornchinese.co.uk.“Chineserefertothenextcenturyasthe‘hundredyearsofshame.’”Thelibraryseemsblindsidedbythecontroversy:ithadn’tactuallyignoredtheEastIndiaCompany’sopiumtrade,andthecompanywasallbutdeadbythetimetheOpiumWarsbegan.Andwhowouldhaveguessedeconomichistorycouldarousesuchpassions?Consideringthatthe“HonorableCompany”virtuallycreatedBritishIndiaandtheEmpire,what’sreallysurprisingisthatonlytheChinesehavechimedin.Inthemid-1700sthecompanyalsoranarobusttradeinIndiantextiles,withaprivatearmytodefenditsbases.“AllthishappenedwithAsianpermissionandAsianpartnership,”sayscuratorAnthonyFarrington.“AndAsiancomplicityinthebusinessofmakingmoney.”ButthebalanceofpowertiltedafterthemilitaryexploitsofCompanymanRobertClivetransformedthefirmintoaterritorialpower.Fromprivatetradingrightsand“presents”fromthelocals,CompanyemployeesbecamerichwhilebleedingtheBengaleconomy.ButthecostofexpansionalsonearlyputtheCompanyoutofbusiness,drawingtheBritishgovernmentintoIndia.Youcouldmisssomeofthisifyouwalktoobrisklythrough“TradingPlaces”,whichgoeseasyonthegeopoliticsandfocusesinsteadonthetradeitselfandhowitshapedBritishandAsiantasteandculture.PortraitsofCompanymencomfortablysetupintheirneweasternhomesoneposeswithhisIndianloverandtheirchildrenandtheexoticchintz,porcelain,andteasetssnappedupbyfashionableBritsalltestifytothediscomfortinglinkbetweenwarm-and-fuzzymulticulturalismandhungryglobalcapital.Thetroubleis,theCompanycanoccasionallycomeoffasnothingmorethreateningorawe-inspiringthananinternationalplatecollectors’club.What’smissingfrom“TradingPlaces”isn’tamedicinaldoseofpoliticalcorrectness,butthefulldramaofearlycapitalismandconquest.21.Accordingtothepassage,wegottoknowboththeBritishgovernmentandparliamentmemberscametorelymuchmoreontheEastIndiaCompanybecauseoftheincreasingtaxesonitsteasaleanditssharesownedbyParliamentmembers,so______.A.theEastIndiaCompanyhadthemonopolyonalleasternimportsexceptforthetextilesB.theEastIndiaCompanycoulddoalmostanything,eventhedealofdrug-opium,tokeepitsbusinessgrowingC.theEastIndiaCompanysatisfactorilymetthestronggrowingdesireoftheBritishpeopleforChineseteaD.theEastIndiaCompanymadeanadequateprofitonlyfromtheteatrade22.Togetmoreprofit,theEastIndiaCompanychangeditsbusinessfromteatradetodrugdealingandbecameaglobaldrugdealingcompanycartelby_______.A.sendingitsshipsloadedwithcaffeinefromBritainintoChinaB.plantingopiuminBritainandthenbringingitintoChinabyitsshipsC.plantingopiuminBengalandthensendingitdirectlyintoChinabyitsshipsD.collectingopiumfromtherichBengalplantationsandthenfeedingthedemandoftheBengalese23.Theauthorthoughtitwasbecauseofthedirtydrug-opiumdealingthatmillionsofChinesediedandthattheOpiumWarbrokeoutinwhichChinalostHongKong,but________.A.theBritishLibraryignoredthisnastybitofhistoryatallintheexhibitionB.theBritishLibrarygaveadetailedaccountofthispartofhistoryinitsexhibitionC.theBritishLibraryonlyrecountedthenastybitofhistoryattheendingpart“TradingPlaces:TheEastIndiaCompanyandChina”D.noonecouldignorethisnastybitofhistorytheOpiumWar24.DidtheBritishlibraryaccepttheadvicegivenbyasmallbutwell-aimedgroupofpeople?A.Yes,itacceptedtheiradviceandtrieditsbesttoshowthetruehistoricalevents.B.No,itpaidlittleattentiontotheadvicebysayingthecompany’sopiumtradewasmentioned,butthecompanywasdeadwhentheWarbegan.C.Yes,itwelcomedthesuggestionsandadvicesofallthevisitorsinordertoreflectbetterhistoricalevents.D.No,itrefusedtoacceptanysuggestionsfromallthevisitors.25.TheheadoftheBritishLibrarysaid,inhistorywhathadhappenedwasallwiththepermissionsofAsiancountries,andAsiancountriesweretheEastIndiaCompany’spartners.Butthefactisthat_______.A.thecompanyfinallytunedintoapowerwithterritoryambitionsandtheeconomyofAsiancountrieswasgreatlydamagedB.theBritishgovernmentgotalotofbenefitsfromtheEastIndiaCompany’stradeinAsiaC.theBritishgovernmentwasnearlydrawnintoIndiabecauseofitsexpansionD.thecompanyfinallyhadtopaythecostofitsexpansionandmilitaryexploitsIII.ReadthefollowingarticleandthenanswerthequestionsABeijingDreamsof2008AFinalist,CityIsRunningHardforOlympicsByElisabethRosenthalNewYorkTimesServiceBEIJINGItseemsrecentlythatallofBeijingisflushedwithOlympicfever,busymakingpreparations.ThepostersareupatBeijingInternationalAirport.Commemorativestampshavebeenissued.TaxidriversarelearningEnglishtopreparefortheinfluxofforeignguests.Thelogoiscroppinguponkeychainsandbumperstickers.Sydney?Ohno,notthatOlympics.NottheonethatbeginsSept,15inAustralia.We’retalkingtheSummerOlympiad2008,thegamestowhichBeijingdesperately,desperatelywantstoplayhostalthoughtheInternationalOlympicCommitteewillnotchooseasiteforaboutanotheryear.“HoldingtheOlympicsin2008isthecommonwishofallChinese,”saidBeijing’sdeputymayor,LiuJingmin,whoischiefofthebidcommittee.“Weareconfidentandfullofhopethattheywillbeheldthere.”Lastweek,thebideffortgotabigpushwhentheInternationalOlympicCommitteeannouncedthatBeijingwasoneoffivefinalistsfor2008,alongwithParis,Toronto,IstanbulandOsaka,Japan.Mr.Liu,speakingatthespace-agecommandcenterthathasbeenconstructedtomastermindthebidanentirefloorofahotelwalkswithdeterminationpastOlympicstatuesdeckedwithBeijing’snewlydesignedOlympiclogoandhugepicturesofstadiums,realandyettobebuilt.TeamsofengineersporeoverdesignsfrominternationalarchitectsforanewOlympicvillageinnorthernBeijing.Buttounderstandwhythisteemingcitywithsomanyday-to-dayproblemsisinvestingsomuchinpursuitofadistantdream,rewindhistoryabit:sevenyearsago,BeijinglosttoSydneybytheslimmestofmarginsinanefforttoholdtheOlympicsthisyear.(In2004,thesitewillbeAthens.)TotheChineseitwasahugelossofface,thebigfishthatgotaway.AndwatchingAustraliabaskinginOlympicgloryhasnodoubtleftthemitchingwithdesire,determinedthatnopriceistoohightogettheGamesthistime,noflawtoosmalltoexpungeinordertowin.“Lasttimeweonlylostbytwovotesandtherewasreallynoloser,wewerejustunlucky,”Mr.Liusaid.“ButourwishofholdinganOlympicsneverfaded.Andcomparedto1993,Beijingismuchmorecompetitivenow.”AsMr.Liupointsout,Beijinghasenjoyedstrongeconomicgrowthandvastamountsofpublicconstructionsince1993,andChinahasbecomefarmoreengagedinternationally,movingfromapariahstatetoagrowingeconomicpowerhousethatisabouttoentertheWorldTradeOrganization.AndtogettheOlympics,Beijinghasalreadyessentiallypromisedtospeedupremodelingofthecity,buildingthreenewsubwaylinesandanewhighwaytoeasethecity’shorribletraffic.Itwillalsoturn495hectares(1,235acres)ofbareearthintogreenspaceandshoofactoriesoutofthecitytoimproveitsnowmostlygrayenvironmentandcleanupitsfoulair.TheBidCommittee’sWebsite()listsreasonsofchoosingBeijing,amongthem:●China,whichhasone-fifthoftheworld’spopulation,hasneverheldtheevent.●ChinarankedfourthandthirdingoldmedalsatthepasttwoSummerOlympics.●Stablepoliticsandalowcrimerate.●Independentsurveysshowthat94.6percentofBeijing’sresidentswanttheOlympicsthere.●“OfcourseIsupportthebid,”saidLinXuezhu,36,acabdriverwaitingforacustomeroutsidealuxuryhotel.“Theroadswillbeimproved,itwillmakeBeijingmorefamousandformeitmeansmorecustomersthere’snothingbad.”Lastmonth,theBeijingcitygovernmentbegananEnglish-speakingcampaignwhosegoalistoteachhalfofallBeijngers100EnglishphrasestopreparefortheOlympics.Withthecitygovernment’sOlympicobsessionmounting,everythingisnowevaluatedintermsofhowitwillaffectthebid.Radiotalkshowsadvisepeopleonwhattheycandotosupporttheeffort:Driversmustnotovercharge,byevenapenny.Indus