myice

36. “Businesses and other organizations have overemphasized the importance of working as a team. Clearly, in any human group, it is the strong individual, the person with the most commitment and energy, who gets things done.”
“企业和其他组织过分强调了团队工作的重要性。很明显，在任何人类团体里，都是最强的个人，那个具有最多义务和能量的人，把事情完成的。”
The author's assert brings in the controversail and complex question that is being discussed a lot now : teamwork or individual energy and commitment, which one is more important to a company or other types of organizaitons? The author claims that teamwork has been overemphasized. To the contrary, I believe that is the author who makes an overemphasis by saying "It is the strong individual, the person with the most commitment and engergy, who gets things done.
1.        每个个人都是组织的一个组成成员。每个人都各司其职。尤其是在科学技术如此进步的今天很少有人能象作者所说的那样独立完成一项任务。事实上每个人都是完成了工作的一个部分一个方面，而合在一起才有了团队的成功。
2.        一个公司一个组织并不是所有成员的简单加总.如果是这样的话,那么也就没有必要形成一个团队了每个人独立完成就好了.事实上一个团队可以把个体有机的组织在一起,使整体的运做更有效率更有成效,这才识组织存在的原因.
3.        诚然集体的每个任务都是许多个别员工的努力组成的.但是这其中的每个人都不是完全独立的.没有设计人员,生产人员无法生产,而没有生产人员,销售人员亦无法销售.
regimentation团队精神 each does his or her own duty technology organic organically

View1: efficiency comes from work divisions. In today’s business world, it is unpractical for one person to accomplish an entire program. Actually, only every competent person finishes one part of the mission, entirely whole program get done.
View2: An organization is not simply put competent people together but combine them to form a organic integrity, thus induce higher efficiency an productivity.

The relationship between teamwork and individual strength, energy, and commitment is complex; whether they operate in a complementary or antagonistic manner depends on: (1) the goals toward which the traits are directed, (2) the degree of emphasis on teamwork, and (3) the job of the individual within an organization.
A person’s ability to work effectively in a team is not in consistent per se with personal strength, energy, and commitment. If exercised in a self-serving manner—for example, through pilfering or back stabbing—these traits can operate against the organization. Conversely, if directed toward the firm’s goals, these traits can motivate other team members, thereby advancing common goals. World War II generals Patton and Rommel understood this point and knew how to bring out the best individual qualities in their troops, while at the same time instilling a strong sense of team and common purpose.
Nevertheless, over-emphasizing teamwork can be counterproductive for an organization. A successful team requires both natural leaders and natural followers; otherwise, a team will accomplish little. Undue emphasis on teamwork may quell initiative among natural leaders, thereby thwarting team goals. Also, teamwork can be overemphasized with a commissioned sales force of highly competitive and autonomic individuals. Overemphasis on teamwork here might stifle healthy competition, thereby defeating a firm’s objectives. In other organizational areas, however, teamwork is critical. For example, a product-development team must progress in lock-step fashion toward common goals, such as meeting a rollout deadline.
In sum, individual strength, commitment, and energy can complement a strong team approach; as long as individual autonomy is not undermined, all can operate in a synergistic manner to achieve an organization’s goals.

myice

34. “All citizens should be required to perform a specified amount of public service. Such service would benefit not only the country as a whole but also the individual participants.”
“所有的市民都应该被要求完成一定量的公共服务。这样的服务将不但从整体上给国家带来好处，也能给个人的参与者带来好处。”
1.        比起专业的公共服务组织，所有的公民都完成一定的公共服务显得比较低效率。因为我们是在一个高度专业化分工十分明晰的社会，放弃专业的公共服务组织而采取强制性的公民义务形式的服务会使得效率十分低下，而且也会让大多数 人不满，毕竟每个人都有自己的职业和爱好。
2.        管理成本的高昂也是该计划难以贯彻的一个原因。这项决定潜在上要求了要有人监督每个公民是否履行了自己的义务，也要有人给每个公民分配任务.
3.        诚然就象作者所说的那样确实会从整体上给国家带来一定的好处，同时给每个参与的人提供和更多人交流等机会，但是在权衡利弊之后尤其是在和专业化组织对比之后还是得不偿失的be not worth the candle mandatory compulsory ...be weighed against ...
individual compliance enforcement nullify stifle incompetence competent tantamount to 等价 insofar as...

1.        对于国家和社会的好处：首先，强制性mandatory social work可以增加人力资源——因为social work的wage比较低，所以在非强制的情况下，只有少数人愿意参加，这样导致了人员的不足；广泛的参与extensive participation可以引起大家的重视——激发人们更加爱护公共设施,从而降低整个expense on the maintaining. 因为公共设施becomes a aggregation of the hard work of all the citizens. 人们不付出努力,就不会珍惜

2.        对参与者的好处: The principal thing in this world is to keep one’s soul aloft.  Flaubert（the great novelist）公共服务可以使人们更加意识到自己的社会责任感duty, 也同时有益于平时的工作; 可以增加人与人的交流, 在完全没有压力的环境下, 心灵得到放松.

3.        当然, 完全强制有可能引起stimulate抵触emotion of repellence, 也要注意方法,同时不要影响正常的工作.

View1: public service, a main approach to show social responsibilities, benefits both the county and the participants.
View2: When becomes a burden and stress to the participants, public service harm not only individual performers but also entire society. Cost of enforcement, reduction of efficiency , increase of abhorrence.

The potential benefits of mandatory public service must be weighed against administrative problems and concerns about individual liberty. On balance, the costs to a nation and to the participants would probably exceed the benefits.
Admittedly, a colorable argument can be made for mandatory public service. It would help alleviate “free-rider” problems, where those who do not contribute benefit from the efforts of those who do. It would mitigate pressing social problems—with education, public health and safety, and the environment. It might instill in participants a sense of civic duty, community, and individual responsibility. Finally, it has worked on a smaller scale, particularly in urban areas, where renewal projects succeed in making communities safer, healthier, and more prosperous.
Far more compelling, however, are the arguments against mandatory public service. First, who would make assignments and decide what projects are worthwhile, and how would compliance be assured? Resolving enforcement issues would require government control, in turn requiring increased taxes and/or cuts in other social programs, thereby nullifying the benefits of mandatory public service. Second, a mandatory system would open the floodgates to incompetence and inexperience. Finally, the whole notion seems tantamount to Communism insofar as each citizen must contribute, according to his or her ability, to a strong state. Modern history informs us that such systems do not work. One could argue that mandatory public service is simply a tax in the form of labor rather than dollars. However, compulsory labor smacks of involuntary servitude, whereas financial taxes do not.
In conclusion, logistical and philosophical barriers to mandating public service outweigh its potential benefits for the nation as well as for participants.

myice

33. “People are likely to accept as a leader only someone who has demonstrated an ability to perform the same tasks that he or she expects others to perform.”
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
“人们只愿意接受这样的领导：他能完成他要求其他人完成的任务。”
1.        人们不会尊重一个不能完成他要求别人完成的任务自己却不能完成的领导。这是人之常情，人们通常都只会欣赏和尊敬比自己优秀的人，而不喜欢被一个不能完成任务却命令自己去做的人心存敬意。例如克林顿总统当commander-in-chief 的时候，由于众所周知他曾经逃避兵役，很自然的下级军官和士兵都不是很尊重他。
2.        人们不信任一个自己完不成任务却要求别人去完成的人。仍然举克林顿总统的例子。由于他逃兵役被视为没有能力，下级都对他的决策心存怀疑，这也就潜在的导致了执行上的不尽心不尽力。
3.        诚然是否能完成自己交给别人的任务并不是衡量一个leader重要指标。可能领导能力、,组织能力、运筹能力更为重要，但是我们不能忽视人们心理上的看法，尽管它可能并不合理但它确实是存在的。
normal human feelings admire adore respect superior to evade escape military service subordinate soldier be doubtful of be suspicious of execution implement admittedly true potentially evaluate index leadership psychological psychology psychologic psychologist exist subsist ...in ... serves as a fitting and public example

1.        诚然，如果在其领导的领域内几乎一窍不通，一个领导很难得到下属的信任和支持，会被看作layperson. 比如，人们无法想象一个不具备任何电脑知识的人，该如何领导一个庞大的IT企业，比如MICROSOFT在激烈的市场中竞争。
2.        但是，这是否意味着作为领导，必须要有能力完成每一项他要求下属做的事呢？这个问题，与领导和员工的真正作用有很大关系！首先，领导的职责是制定长期的发展方针，并且保证这个方针的贯彻执行，adhere to their strategic plans不被偏离。组织员工共同合作完成任务。on the other hand, 员工的作用是各司其职，更加具体的specific task.
3.        从以上两种职责不难看出，领导与员工起到significantly different functions，让领导完成每一个subordinate要做的工作，unfair的。比如，不能blame a CEO for lacking the skills of typing。要对下属做的事有很好的了解，但不一定都要做。否则，领导就失去了意义，成为了一个全能的工人。omnipotent worker with all kinds of skills.

View1: It is human nature to admire then follow someone who is more competent than themselves.
View2: But a feature of a good leader is to organize people with different specialities together and let them perform as a whole. It is too ideal to expect the leaders to have all the specialities of his subordinates.

People are more likely to accept the leadership of those who have shown they can perform the same tasks they require of others. My reasons for this view involve the notions of respect and trust.
It is difficult for people to fully respect a leader who cannot, or will not, do what he or she asks of others. President Clinton’s difficulty in his role as Commander-in-Chief serves as a fitting and very public example. When Clinton assumed this leadership position, it was well known that he had evaded military service during the Vietnam conflict. Military leaders and lower-level personnel alike made it clear that they did not respect his leadership as a result. Contrast the Clinton case with that of a business leader such as John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems, who by way of his training and experience as a computer engineer earned the respect of his employees.
It is likewise difficult to trust leaders who do not have experience in the areas under their leadership. The Clinton example illustrates this point as well. Because President Clinton lacked military experience, people in the armed forces found it difficult to trust that his policies would reflect any understanding of their interests or needs. And when put to the test, he undermined their trust to an even greater extent with his naive and largely bungled attempt to solve the problem of gays in the military. In stark contrast, President Dwight Eisenhower inspired nearly devotional trust as well as respect because of his role as a military hero in World War II.
In conclusion, it will always be difficult for people to accept leaders who lack demonstrated ability in the areas under their leadership. Initially, such leaders will be regarded as outsiders, and treated accordingly. Moreover, some may never achieve the insider status that inspires respect and trust from those they hope to lead.

myice

32. “You can tell the ideas of a nation by its advertisements.”
“你可以从一个国家的广告辨别出它的思想。”
1.        广告有没有反映idea？首先我们来看一下idea的定义a formulated thought or opinion 但是广告所展现给我们的通常是一个产品一项服务或者是公益广告中的一项倡议都不能称为是idea a mere picture of a product, service, outlook, or fashion is not an "idea".
2.        由上面的论述可以得出广告并不能传递idea，事实上更谈不到传递一个国家的idea。因为大部分的广告都是商业广告，都是某个企业为了推销一种商品或者服务而产生的。它只能代表一个企业的营销理念而和一个国家的idea没有任何一点关系。
3.        诚然，有一些公益广告是可以反映社会某个部分的成员的idea的。例如:环保组织.然而这些广告只在所有的广告中占据了可以忽略的一个部分，而且它也不能代表一个国家的idea
definition reflect reflection mirror exhibit public-interest advertisement appeal petition judging from the preceeding analysis advertisements can not convey an idea, not to mention 更不要提showing the idea of a nation.commercial advertisement promotion strategy admittedly environmental conservation negligible true

1.        广告确实可以反映一个国家的偏好preference，比如，在东亚eastern Asia的很多国家，电视上proliferation of cosmetic which can impede suntan and make skin appear white，表现了这些国家对白色皮肤的偏好。而同时，另一些western国家中，很多运动用品的广告，体现了对户外运动的喜好。但是这些，并不是一个国家的思想，只是一些时尚流行。。。
2.        广告只能反映superficial的现象，而不是一个国家真正的思想，文化等深层次的东西。因为广告，毕竟只是商家为了推销产品而使用的手段，它的主要只能是persuade the consumers to buy。而不能承担展示精神的作用。有人会说，public-interest advertisements can reflect the concern of specific groups. for example, the environmental… 但这些广告少之又少。despite a few variance, many advertisements in different countries appear to be very much similar. 而我们不能说这些国家拥有一样的思想。只能说商家拥有相似的销售理念。

View1: the most important factor of the evaluation of a AD is its persuasive power. To become more convincing, the designers of the AD always turn to emotional touch by evoking respondence on mass opinions.
View2:ADs, whose nature is business promotions, are often dominate by beneficial concerns not national ideas.

In order to determine whether advertisements reflect a nation’s ideas, it is necessary to determine whether advertisements present real ideas at all, and, if so, whose ideas they actually reflect. On both counts, it appears that advertisements fail to accurately mirror a nation’s ideas.
Indisputably, advertisements inform us as to a nation’s values, attitudes, and priorities—what activities are worthwhile, what the future holds, and what is fashionable and attractive. For instance, a proliferation of ads for sport-utility vehicles reflects a societal concern more for safety and machismo than for energy conservation and frugality, while a plethora of ads for inexpensive on-line brokerage services reflects an optimistic and perhaps irrationally exuberant economic outlook. However, a mere picture of a social more, outlook, or fashion is not an “idea”—it does not answer questions such as “why” and “how”?
Admittedly, public-interest advertisements do present ideas held by particular segments of society—for example, those of environmental and other public-health interest groups. However, these ads constitute a negligible percentage of all advertisements, and they do not necessarily reflect the majority’s view. Consequently, to assert that advertisements reflect a nation’s ideas distorts reality. In truth, they mirror only the business and product ideas of companies whose goods and services are advertised and the creative ideas of advertising firms. Moreover, advertisements look very much the same in all countries. Western and Eastern alike. Does this suggest that all nations have essentially identical ideas? Certainly not.
In sum, the few true ideas we might see in advertisements are those of only a few business concerns and interest groups; they tell us little about the ideas of a nation as a whole.

myice

31. “Financial gain should be the most important factor in choosing a career.”
“经济收入应该是找工作时最重要的因素。”
1.        把收入作为选择职业的首要考虑因素会使人忽视了生命中更应该追求的其他东西。事实上有许多人为了追求更为重要的目标而放弃了使自己获得最大收入的职业。象是特蕾莎修女，她以助人为快乐。尽管在物质上是清贫的但是却在别人快乐的同时自己也得到了幸福的回报。mother Teresa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize,dedicated the majority of her life to helping the poorest of the poor in India. Although she was not rich all through her life, she was happier than most of her contemporaries because she gained happiness when she helped the poor.bliss blessedness  还有一些人为了做全职家长更好的照顾孩子更是完全牺牲了得到钱的职业。在他们看来和家人在一起生活照顾他们的起居饮食是自己最开心的事情。
2.        诚然经济基础是一切其他活动的前提，但追求钱以外更重要的目标并不一定意味着就会得不到物质回报或者是一定会过得潦倒。事实上两者是可以相互促进的。一个追求智力上或者是创造力上的成就的人象是作家艺术家或者是音乐家当他们的作品问世时候他们同时也得到了物质的回报。othes choose to pursue intellectual or creative fulfillment-as wirters, artists, or musicians. 而这些钱反过来又会为他们的创作提供更好的条件和环境.
ignore overlook neglect pursue go in for in pursuit of aspire after be down and out mutually come out be published priority primarily appreciate notion profession lucrative有利的 stem from subordinate ... to ...
recreation physical health psychological making money is not an end in the end of itself. acknowledge strike a balance overriding高于一切的 factor   

1.        Admittedly, 人们都不是生活在童话里fairy tale，人们需要面对日常生活中的各种花费，而金钱是保障这一切，从而保障人们生命的基础。financial gain does be an important factor in choosing a career.
2.        但是，这不代表说，所有人都应该把它regard it as the most important…因为after all, 金钱只是满足我们生活的手段，还有更多更家重要的东西，金钱无法满足。比如精神生活：首先，很多人选择很多工作，造福社会，但它们pay less than others，比如social work, nursing. 人们认为精神世界更重要，帮助别人。。。；另外，良好的工作环境，同事关系，使人们精神好。
3.        因为首先：不同人有不同的需要，又比如说，有的妈妈为了照顾孩子，选择地点离家比较近的工作，even though this job can provide her less money than those far from her home.。。再比如说，有的人为了事业上更大的成就，会选择能提供更多机会promotion，或者培训之类的。如果全部考虑金钱，则很可能丧失更多进步的机会。

View1: Financial gain is an important factor in choosing a career.
View2: However, there are more factors play important roles in making job decisions. chance for promotion, training, work environment, corporate culture and reputation, welfare other than financial form
Evidence: Vincent Van Gogh .If he transfer to other career for monetary consideration, there will be no such beautiful scenes as starry night and sunflowers shining forever in our art history.
View3: In my opinion, the best career is the combination of special interests and financial benefits.

Financial gain is certainly one factor to consider when selecting a career. But many people do not, and should not, focus on this factor as the main one. The role that money plays in career choice should depend on the priorities, goals and values of the particular person making the choice.
The main problem with selecting a career primarily on the basis of money is that for many people to do so would be to ignore one’s personal values, needs, and larger life goals. Indeed, many people appreciate this notion when they choose their career. For example, some people join one of the helping professions, such as nursing, teaching or social work, well aware that their career will not be financially lucrative. Their choice properly stems from an overriding altruistic desire, not from an interest in financial gain. Others choose to pursue intellectual or creative fulfillment—as writers, artists, or musicians—knowing that they are trading off dollars for non-tangible rewards. Still others forego economic gain to work as full-time parents; for these people, family and children are of paramount importance in life. Finally, many people subordinate economic prospects to their desire to live in a particular location; these people may place a high value on recreation, their physical health, or being near a circle of friends.
Another problem with focusing primarily on money when selecting a career is that it ignores the notion that making money is not an end in the end of itself, but rather a means of obtaining material goods and services and of attaining important goals—such as providing security for oneself and one’s family, lifelong learning, or freedom to travel or to pursue hobbies. Acknowledging the distinction, one may nevertheless select a career on the basis of money—since more money can buy more goods and services as well as the security, freedom, and time to enjoy them. Even so, one must strike a balance, for if these things that money is supposed to provide are sacrificed in the pursuit of money itself, the point of having money—and of one’s career selection—has been lost.
In conclusion, economic gain should not be the overriding factor in selecting a career. While for a few people the single-minded pursuit of wealth may be fulfillment enough, most people should, and indeed do, temper the pursuit of wealth against other values, goals, and priorities. Moreover, they recognize that money is merely a means to more important objectives, and that the pursuit itself may undermine the achievement of these objectives.

myice

29. “Too many people think only about getting results. The key to success, however, is to focus on the specific task at hand and not to worry about results.”
“太多的人只想到得到结果。成功的关键是注意手边的特定事情而不担心结果。”
你怎么看这句建议的意思，总的来说，你认为它值得遵守吗？从你自身的经验，观察和阅读给出相关的原因and/or例子来支持你的观点。
1.        只想到结果的人而不注意手边的事情的人往往因为太迫切的期待结果而不屑于把手边看似琐碎的小事做好.事实上每一个目标的达成都是需要无数这样的事情集合在一起才可以达成的.
2.        同样的只注意手边的事情也是不可取的.因为一直这样就缺少了高屋建瓴的技能往往会过分注意细节而忽略了从整体上的把握.每一件事情就都变成是在孤立的完成而不是在为一个核心pivotal的目标而服务这样会忽略了重点降低效率.
at hand anxious anxiety specific specialized certain  result outcome eventuality consequence sequence think it scorn to trivial petty accomplish accomplishment attainment keystone advisable可取的inadvisable to operate from a strategically advantageous position strategical strategy advantageous advantage disadvantage focus on the details solely ignore efficiency keystone endproduct proceed process precedent preceding merit admittedly daunting overwhleming
Admittedly, this advice has some merit, by focusing on the details at hand one is less likely to become discouraged by the daunting and overwhleming tasks ahead in an ambitous project.
without reference to virtually The central problem with this advice is that focusing attention completely on the task at hand without reference to how that task is related to the end product would be virtually impossible to do.
random diligent likelihood minimal

View1: without achievements of specific tasks there will be no base for final results.
View2: however, without a specific ideal destination, efforts will find no way to go.

This advice means fundamentally that if we focus our attention on the details of a project rather than on the end product, the result will be better than if we proceed the other way around. Admittedly, this advice has some merit; by focusing on the details at hand one is less likely to become discouraged by the daunting or overwhelming tasks ahead in an ambitious project. Otherwise, however, I think this advice is poor,
The central problem with this advice is that focusing attention completely on the task at hand without reference to how that task is related to the end product would be virtually impossible to do. The reason for this is simple. Without some reference to a goal or a result we would have no idea of what task to perform in the first place. As a result, the various tasks we engage in would be somewhat random and, in turn, no matter how diligent and careful we were in performing them the likelihood of producing worthwhile or successful end products would be minimal.
To ensure good results, one should instead take a balanced approach to the task at hand. By a balanced approach I mean paying attention to both the desired result and the specific tasks that are required to achieve it. House building provides a good example of this approach. The house plan not only contains a rendering of the finished product but also contains detailed drawings and descriptions of each of the specific components required to ensure a successful result. Moreover, the order of the tasks is determined with reference to this result. In my estimation, virtually all successful projects proceed in the fashion illustrated in this example.
In sum, I don’t think that the advice offered in the statement is worth following. In my view, following this advice is more likely to produce unsuccessful results than successful ones.

myice

 

26. “Location has traditionally been one of the most important determinants of a business’s success. The importance of location is not likely to change, no matter how advanced the development of computer communications and others kinds of technology becomes.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

“从传统上讲地址是一家企业成功的最重要决定因素。不论计算机通讯和其他技术发展的如果先进，地址的重要性将不会改变。”

1.       事实上现在的趋势是：由于网络电话电子通讯交通越来越便利，地点对与一个企业来说正在变得越来越不重要。无形的商品可以通过网络、电话进行购买，和使用的地点不是很重要了。例如:保险、电子期刊等。有形商品由于售货方式的改变，地址的重要性也在淡化。很多厂家通过在互联网上展示自己产品的照片和电话直销的形式销售商品。其中比较突出的例子就是AMWAY、DELL

2.       当然有很多的需要体验和身体力行的产品供应商的地址还是很重要的，象是餐饮业健身房等。
trend tendency net telecommunication transportation location position site important significant determinant factor reason tangible intangible palpable tactile touchable insurance electronic periodic periodical production goods commodity manufacturer producer essentiality significance importance strengthen reinforce weaken demonstrate show exhibit display conveient 

 

1.    location的重要性体现在：首先，在交通便利的地方，比如沿海地区，near the sea or the river，有利于运输transportation of the cargo…，这也是为什么沿海地区经济通常发达的原因。第二，经济发达的地区，人们的购买能力比较强purchasing power。the demand of various goods may be relatively greater. 有利于the sale.

2.    Admittedly, the burgeoning technologies have changed the way of purchasing and selling. However, the extent, to which such technologies will threaten the pivotal role played by location in business, depends on the types of such business. 首先，对于很多retail business, 需要面对面地persuade the consumers to buy，比如化妆品cosmetics. 再比如，try on the clothes and compare the different types and textures…地点仍然是十分重要的。dinner out…

3.      Things may be different when it comes to other kinds of companies, for example, those who used to produce large-scale goods make sale depends on the contract signed with other companies. 现在的网络，以及先进的运输，都改变了这些操作模式，他们不再需要面对面接触彼此，也不必过多考虑运输的费用，因为一切都很简单，所以地点变得不那么重要。

View1. To many traditional businesses location still plan an fatal role on its success.

Evidence: restaurants transportation services

View2. as commuter technology and electronic communication become more and more convenient, the intangible locations on the internet have replaced the location in the real world in some business areas.   

Evidence: Electronic publications, on line banks, internet retail stores, DELL

In retail, or “storefront (n. 店头, 店面),” business, location is still a key ingredient of business success. The extent to which this will continue to be true, given the inexorable growth of Internet commerce, will vary among industries.

In more traditional retail sectors, such as clothing, cosmetics, and home improvement, an in-person (adv. 亲自, 外貌上) visit to a retail store is often necessary—to try on (v. 试穿, 试验) clothes for fit, compare fragrances, or browse among a full selection of textures, colors, and styles. Also, activities such as shopping and dining out are for many consumers enjoyable experiences in themselves, as well as excuses to get out of the house and mingle with others in their community. Finally, shipping costs for large items such as appliances and home-improvement items render home shopping impracticable. Thus, burgeoning technologies pose no serious threat to Main Street, and location will continue to play a pivotal role in the fate of many retail businesses.

Nevertheless, technology-related industries are sure to move away from physical storefronts to virtual ones. Products that can be reduced to digital “bits and bites,” such as books and magazines, recordings, and software applications, are more efficiently distributed electronically. Computer hardware will not disappear from Main Street quite so quickly, though, since its physical look and feel enters into the buying decision. Computer superstores should continue to thrive alongside companies such as Dell, which does not distribute through retail stores.

In conclusion, consumer demand for convenient location will continue with respect to certain tangible products, while for other products alternative distribution systems will gradually replace the storefront, rendering location an obsolete issue.

myice

 

27. “A company’s long-term success is primarily dependent on the job satisfaction and the job security felt by the company’s employees.”

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion stated above. Support your views with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

“一家公司的长期成功主要依赖公司员工的工作满意度和工作安全度。”

1.       一个公司最重要的asset就是它的员工。只有有高素质而且尽心尽力为公司服务的员工，才会有高效率的生产。高质量的产品、好的服务让顾客满意从而为企业赚得利润。如果没有好的员工这一切都是不存在的，而如何才能吸引有高素质的员工并且让他们尽心尽力的为公司服务呢?只有通过改善工作环境、提高回报水平使工人对公司满意才能作到这一点.

2.       但是安全感就不是那么的重要了。虽然对有些员工来讲安全感可能会提高他们的效率，但是反过来有些员工会有恃无恐迟到早退，无故旷工或者是没有全心全意。

long-term success primarily dependent job satisfication job security high productivity hign quality high quantity product skillful proficient masterful professional with all one's heart serve efficient efficiency satisfied contented profit entice enticement security secure in the knowledge that one has strog backing factor determine determinant successful factor typical typically vital pivotal ultimate eventual final eventually decidedly substandard subconsciousness subconscious workplace potential excessive nevertheless competitor competition morale

This list hardly exhausts all the factors that can contribute to ..., and none of them is pivotal in any case.

complacency complacent self-satisfied

While ... clearly boosts ...., the same cannot be said for ...

 

View1: employees are one of the most important assets of a company. Job satisfaction of the workers influences a lot on their performance thus overall productivity which play a fatal role in the success of the company.

View2: unlike job satisfaction, job security may not necessarily lead to success.

Evidence: job security induce laziness, lack of motivation 

 

I agree that job satisfaction is an important factor in determining whether a company will be successful in the long term. However, other factors typically play just as vital a role in the ultimate success or failure of a business. At the same time, job security is becoming decidedly unimportant for many employees and, in any event, often leads to substandard job performance.

I agree that business success is more likely when employees feel satisfied with their jobs. Employees who dislike the workplace or their jobs are not likely to reach their potential performance levels; they may tend to arrive late for work, perform their tasks in an unimaginative and sluggish manner, or take excessive sick leaves. Nevertheless, a firm’s long-term success may equally result from other factors such as finding a market niche for products, securing a reputation for quality products and services, or forming a synergistic alliance with a competitor. This list hardly exhausts all the factors that can contribute to a firm’s ultimate success, and no one of them—including job satisfaction—is pivotal in every case.

While job satisfaction clearly boosts employee morale and contributes to the overall success of a company, the same cannot be said for job security. Admittedly an employee worried about how secure his or her job is might be less creative or productive as a result. By the same token, however, too much confidence in the security of one’s job can foster complacency, which, in turn, may diminish employees’ creativity and productivity. Moreover, many employees actually place job security relatively low on the list of what they want in a job. In fact, more and more workers today are positively uninterested in long-term job security; instead, they are joining firms for the sole purpose of accomplishing near-term professional goals, then leaving to face the next challenge.

To sum up, the claim at issue overrates the importance of job satisfaction and security by identifying them as the key factors in a company’s long-term success. Job satisfaction among employees is very important, but it is not clearly more important than many other factors. At the same time, job security is clearly less important, and even unimportant in some cases.

myice

 

22. “Clearly, government has a responsibility to support the arts. However, if that support is going to produce anything of value, government must place no restrictions on the art that is produced.”

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the opinion expressed above? Develop your position by giving specific reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

“很明显，政府对支持艺术富有责任。但是，如果需要这个支持产生任何价值，政府必须对产生的艺术不加限制。”

1.       政府对艺术富有责任这一论断是毫无根据的。事实上政府应该把更多的精力投入到公共产品以及具有外部性的产品的生产与建设上。因为由经济学的理论我们知道这些产品是非竞争非排他的，因此无法由私人部门提供。这也正是需要政府存在的理由。而艺术显然是可以在私人部门解决的。私人收藏和私人装饰都为艺术品提供了广阔的市场，艺术品显然不是公共产品。但是由于艺术品可能具有的外部性，如个人收藏可以让拥有者以外的人赏心悦目，所以政府对艺术进行适当的扶植是应当的。但说政府对艺术负有责任，这显然是言过其实。

2.       对于需要政府加以扶植的艺术例如公益性质的艺术展览等，政府是需要对其加以限制的。政府的只能就是使社会的总收益最大。如果加以限制可以使其扶持的艺术行为为社会带来更大的收益限制就是必要的。有人可能会反驳说这会对艺术的自由创作带来负面的影响，但事实上绝对的自由是不存在的，适当的限制是对自由的保障。例如有些裸体行为艺术，就应由政府出面限制观看的人群年龄，实际上这并不会影响艺术创作。

unwarranted baseless groudless bottomless foundationless gratuitous groundless 私人产品private goods 公共产品public goods  外部性externality 非竞争non-rivalry 非排他non-excludability 竞争rivalry 排他excludability 理论 私人部门private sector 公共部门public sector收藏collection

扶植prop up 扶持support uphold 言过其实paint the devil blacker than he is  为公益的commonweal-oriented  限制constrain confine 负面影响negative impact 正面影响positive impact  绝对的absolute

保障guarantee safeguard  裸体naked

 

1，         艺术的巨大作用毋庸置疑：强调the perpetua永久的l virtue, such as bravery, affection, responsibility, honesty and so forth. The Lord of the rings; 同时，remind people of the intrinsic demerits stemmed from the dark side of humanity, such as aggression and greed. Shakespeare’s Macbeth instruct people that the insatiable贪得无厌 ambition is pernicious. 艺术应该受到支持，以便蓬勃发展。

2，         但是不能说政府应该扮演这个角色。首先，艺术需要自由的表达，而政府的资助一定在某种程度上限制这种自由。比如The government of Soviet Union, forced all the arts it subsidized to follow the “party line” and squashed those artists who resisted such control. 即使在democratic countries, such control is hidden and indirect, but still exist.

3，         其次，政府有更多的职责，需要有限的资源去处理。比如很多社会问题非常严重，environment, criminality, education, starvation… it is not a wise decision for the government to allocate the limited resources on arts while ignoring the more urgent demand cited above.

4，         鉴于以上两点，应该把艺术的扶持工作交给大众。事实上，现在的很多公益机构charitarian are doing an excellent job in supporting the prosperity of arts.

Optional words:

Government/ the authorities

Art/artist

Support/finance/ patronize/  loan/ sustain/ pledge

Thesis sentence:

The inevitable representation of human civilization, art must be count in the responsibilities that government carries. But support without restrictions will probably lead to fruitless.

View1: government should support art

Evidence: because arts have very important functions in our civilization. for example:

Paintings arouse imagination

Music heal broken heart and purify dirty minds

View2: unselected supporting of arts will probably lead to fruitless

Evidence: Some radical forms of arts go beyond the acceptance of the masses and contradict our social moral. for example: posters features blood and violence

The speaker here argues that government must support the arts but at the same time impose no control over what art is produced. The implicit rationale for government intervention in the arts is that, without it, cultural decline and erosion of our social fabric will result. However, I find no empirical evidence to support this argument, which in any event is unconvincing in light of more persuasive arguments that government should play no part in either supporting or restricting the arts.

First, subsidizing the arts is neither a proper nor a necessary job for government. Although public health is generally viewed as critical to a society’s very survival and therefore an appropriate concern of government, this concern should not extend tenuously to our cultural “health” or well being. A lack of private funding might justify an exception; in my observation, however, philanthropy is alive and well today, especially among the new technology and media moguls.

Second, government cannot possibly play an evenhanded role as arts patron. Inadequate resources call for restrictions, priorities, and choices. It is unconscionable (无节制的；过度的) to relegate normative (conforming to or based on norms *normative behavior* *normative judgments*) decisions as to which art has “value” to a few legislators and jurists (法学家；法理学家: one having a thorough knowledge of law; especially: JUDGE), who may be unenlightened in their notions about art. Also, legislators are all too likely to make choices in favor of the cultural agendas of those lobbyists with the most money and influence.

Third, restricting artistic expression may in some cases encroach upon the constitutional right of free expression. In any case, governmental restriction may chill creativity, thereby defeating the very purpose of subsidizing the arts.

In the final analysis, government cannot philosophically or economically justify its involvement in the arts, either by subsidy or sanction. Responsibility lies with individuals to determine what art has value and to support that art.

myice

 

24. “A powerful business leader has far more opportunity to influence the course of a community or a nation than does any government official.”

“一个有力的企业领导比一个政府官员有更多的机会影响一个社团或国家的方针。”

1.       每一个政府官员都很难自己做出决策。每一个政令的颁布表面上仿佛是由一个人宣布的，其实背后的程序过程都是十分繁杂的。seperation of the three powers(the legislative, executive and judicial powers) In this work he argued that the three powers a state has are the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial and that for a state to remain democratic, these powers must be separated and there must be checks and balances to prevent a single group from acquiring control over two or more of them.
任何一个政府官员做出决定都可能受到上司甚至是同事的限制，即使是总统，其实也仅仅是他的领导班子共同商议做出结论，更何况三权分立在保护了民主的同时本身也限制了每个个人甚至是每个group的决策权利以及对国家和社区的影响。

2.       而企业领导往往会有更大的决策权，而他们的决策也更容易被贯彻。在一个经济为中心的国家相应的他们的对社区和国家的影响力也就更大。

3.       诚然在一个以政治为中心的国家里，企业领导对社区和国家产生影响的机会会较少，但经济是政治的基础，离开经济政治是毫无影响力可言的。此外由于上面所说过的原因政府官员对社区和国家的影响同样不会很大。

goverment order procedure process complex complicated intricate higher-up subordinate superior

restict restriction confine constrain curb administration collective the seperation of the three powers: the legislative the executive and the judicial decision-making carry out implement perform politics-centered economy-centered influence effect impact historical influential abound

on balance=with all things considered admittedly opportunity commerce commercial check-and-balance system 制约平衡制度 scandal illuminate illumination luminous lumination technic technical technology technician technological entity equity seems to pale next to...

Yet the impact seems to pale next to those of our modern captains of industry.

by virture of for the sake of on the account of

 

1.       Admittedly, 领导人的作用有时不象企业家一样apparent. 因为国家的发展，人们的生活，与企业closely related. 比如GATES，领导了信息产业革命；Rockefeller，控制国家的石油命脉took control of  American oil supply。企业家通过影响企业的行为，从而直观上影响人course of a community.

2.    但是，企业的一切影响is based on its existence, which is permitted by the government. 政府制定各种policy来允许企业的存在，企业家的一切行为需要被政府允许才能产生作用。

3.       Moreover, 影响一个国家，需要强大的power, which can be only generated from absolutely authority. 这样的绝对权力是企业不具备的。Yet even a cursory review of the history reveals substantial evidence that it is the government leader rather than the business leader that can make the pivotal decision when the nation is in crisis. 比如，在经济recession，企业的力量无法使经济好转，revive the economy of the whole nation, 只有政府运用行政措施，制定positive policy to stimulate the companies and thus the economy of the whole nation. 比如Roosevelt. Bill Clinton.  financial policy

View 1: Unlike business leader, government power is likely to subject to many more restraints.  Our check-and-balance system, the legislation influence and the voting power are all factors that temper the power of government official to the course of a community or a nation. Moreover, powerful business leaders all too often seem to hold the actual legislative and judicial power by their financial supporting of official activities such as governmental elections.

View2: While take more thorough consideration, the government official is likely to have more direct and broad influence on a community and a nation.

Evidence: various approach to influence other than financial approach

In addition the governmental official have the abilities to regulate commerce,  

Historical examples of both influential public officials and influential business leaders abound. However, the power of the modern-era business leader is quite different from that of the government official. On balance, the CEO seems to be better positioned to influence the course of community and of nations.

Admittedly the opportunities for the legislator to regulate commerce or of the jurist to dictate rules of equity are official and immediate. No private individual can hold that brand of influence. Yet official power is tempered by our check-and-balance system (制约平衡制度) of government and, in the case of legislators, by the voting power of the electorate. Our business leaders are not so constrained, so, their opportunities far exceed those of any public official. Moreover, powerful business leaders all too often seem to hold de facto legislative and judicial power by way of their direct influence over public officials, as the Clinton Administration’s fund-raising scandal of 1997 illuminated all too well.

The industrial and technological eras have bred such moguls of capitalism as Pullman, Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Gates, who by the nature of their industries and their business savvy, not by force of law, have transformed our economy, the nature of work, and our very day-to-day (adj. 日常的, 逐日的) existence. Of course, many modern-day public servants have made the most of their opportunities—for example, the crime-busting (bust: to break or smash especially with force;) mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the new-dealing President Franklin Roosevelt. Yet their impact seems to pale next to those of our modern captains of industry.

In sum, modem business leaders by virtue of the far-reaching impact of their industries and of their freedom from external constraints, have supplanted lawmakers as the great opportunists of the world and prime movers of society.