Human beings in all times and places think about t...

Human beings in all times and places think about their world and wonder at their place in it. Humans are thoughtful and creative, possessed of insatiable curiosity. Furthermore, humans have the ability to modify the environment in which they live thus subjecting all other life forms to their own peculiar ideas and fancies. Therefore, it is important to study humans in all their richness and diversity in a calm and systematic manner, With the hope that the knowledge resulting from such studies can lead humans to a more harmonious way of living with themselves and with all other life forms on this planet Earth.

"Anthropology" derives from the Greek words anthropos, meaning "human", and logos, meaning "study of". By its very name, anthropology encompasses the study of all humankind.

The process by means of which human beings can arbitrarily make certain things stand for other things may be called the symbolic process.【31】we turn, we see the symbolic process【32】work. For example, stripes on the sleeve can be made to stand for military rank; crossed sticks can stand for a【33】of religious beliefs. There are【34】things that have not a symbolic value.

Almost all fashionable clothes are【35】symbolic. And we select our furniture to【36】as visible symbols of our taste, wealth, and social position. We often choose our houses on the【37】of a feeling that it "looks well" to have a "good address". We trade in perfectly good cars for【38】models not always to get better transportation,【39】to give evidence to the community that we can【40】it.

I once had an eight-year-old car in good running condition. A repairman, who knew the condition of the car, kept【41】me to trade it【42】a new model. "But why?" I asked, "The old car's in【43】still." The repairman answered scornfully, "Yeah, but all you've got is transportation."

Such complicated and apparently【44】behavior. leads philosophers to【48】over "Why can't human beings live simply and naturally?"【46】the complexity of human life makes us look enviously at the relative simplicity of such lives as dogs and cats lead.

Simply, the fact that symbolic process makes complexity possible is no【47】for wanting to【48】to a cat existence. A better【49】is to understand the symbolic process【50】instead of being its victims we become, to some degree at least, its masters.

(31)

A．Whichever

B．Whatever

C．Everywhere

D．However

During times of great crisis, human beings typically turn to one of two strategies: fight or flight. There is, however, a third strategy: learning and deep change. It is based on the principle that all events, especially the most tragic, are ripe with opportunities for learning.

The September 11 terrorists demonstrated expertise (专门技术) in systems theory. They knew that complex systems always have two sides. One is creative and allows for great Speed and efficiency (for example, civil aviation aircraft and high-rise office towers). The other is potentially destructive and can generate major catastrophes( using civil aviation against the high-rise target).

All of our current complex systems, including information systems, biotechnology, air travel, nuclear power, and the mail system, have these two major characteristics. All are susceptible (易受影响的) to organizational error (the Challenger tragedy) , human error (Chernobyl) , and terrorism (Oklahoma City). Yet terrorism is the darkest and most dangerous side of our complexity.

In the case of the World Trade Center, terrorists deliberately exploited the "destructive side" of aircraft and highly populated office towers. If one simply joins hijacking with car bombing, and magnifies their effects, then September 11 is the result.

The lesson we must learn from September 11 is that our management practices, private and public, are one-dimensional. Whether it is with regard to civil aviation safety or real estate, our world is dominated by concerns about profitability. These constrain us from implementing needed and proven safety procedures in aviation and high-rise office design. The focus on profitability also pushes our systems to grow unreasonably large, rendering them more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Approximately 76% of the criteria used to measure organizational efficiency are financial. Only 24% consider nonfinancial indicators such as health, safety, or the global impact that organizations have on communities and the world in general. Devoting more of our attention to nonfinancial indicators can help us develop new strategies to match the complexity of fighting terrorism. The fields of risk and crisis management already use some of these strategies.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A．All events are full of opportunities for learning.

B．We can enhance our future security by learning more about our society's complexities.

C．The September 11 terrorist attack is the most destructive disaster of all.

D．Terrorism poses a formidable threat to international security.

The process by【46】______of which human beings arbitrarily make certain things stand for other things may be called the symbolic process.

Everywhere we turn, we see the symbolic process at work. There are few things men do or want to do, possess or want to possess, that have not a symbolic value.

Almost all fashionable clothes are【47】______(high) symbolic, so is food. We【48】s______our furniture to serve as visible symbols of our taste, wealth, and social position. We often choose our houses on the【49】______of a feeling that it "looks well" to have a "good address. " We trade perfectly good cars in for【50】______(late) models not always to get better transportation, but to give evidence to the community that we can【51】______it.

Such complicated and apparently【52】______(use) behavior. leads philosophers to ask over and over again, ''why can't human beings live simply and naturally. " Often the complexity of human life makes us look enviously at the relative【53】sim______of such live as dogs and cats. Simply, the fact that symbolic process makes complexity possible is no reason for wanting to【54】______to a cat-and-dog existence. A better solution is to understand the symbolic process so that instead of being its slaves we become, to some degree at least, its【55】______ .

(36)

One reason human beings can thrive in all kinds of climates is that they can control the qualities of the air in the enclosed spaces in which they live. Air conditioning is the use of mechanical systems to 【C1】______ that control in such places 【C2】______ homes, offices, theaters, institutions, factories, airplanes, and automobiles. The most familiar type of air conditioning is summertime cooling., Although important, this is 【C3】______ one of several aspects of air conditioning. Other applications 【C4】______ the control of the humidity (or air moisture), cleanliness, circulation of the air, and heating.

Tests have 【C5】______ that people generally feel best 【C6】______ certain temperature, humidity, and air velocity conditions. Temperatures can 【C7】______ from 21.5°C with 70 percent relative humidity to 28°C with 30 percent relative humidity. Relative humidity is the 【C8】______ of moisture in the air 【C9】______ a specific temperature compared 【C10】______ the amount it could hold at that temperature. 【C11】______ air velocities range from 4.5 to 10.5 meters per minute. It is also desirable that an air conditioner 【C12】______ dust, pollen, smoke, and odors from the air.

In many industrial environments, air conditioning is essential. Most print shops, for example, 【C13】______ . constant humidity in order to control paper shrinkage and 【C14】______ the 【C15】______ operation in some processes. Libraries, especially ones With rare books, require air control to 【C16】______ the physical quality of their collections. Bakeries and the tobacco and cotton industries require high humidity 【C17】______ their products, and perishables such as fruits must be stored in cool, dry rooms. Some electronic components, drugs, and chemicals must be manufactured 【C18】______ the air is as free as possible 【C19】______ dust and other particles. Air conditioning is 【C20】______ in hospitals, especially in operating rooms.

【C1】

A．achieve

B．avail

C．amount to

D．assign