考研長難句閱讀能力提高part2

長難句閱讀能力提高課程

——考研篇新浪微博：@管衛(wèi)東GWD管衛(wèi)東微信：guanweidong_1970管衛(wèi)東簡介：第一代新東方名師應(yīng)試類培訓(xùn)專家新東方高級學(xué)術(shù)顧問英文是活的語言，現(xiàn)代通用的語言。凡是學(xué)習(xí)英文的人務(wù)必認(rèn)定這個目標(biāo)，學(xué)習(xí)現(xiàn)代通行活用的英語。這個目標(biāo)認(rèn)定，方法才不會錯誤。若把英文看作死的，固定的語言，將來對于文法，讀物，發(fā)音都要偏重于迂腐的語匯，拘泥的文法，呆板的讀音，結(jié)果就所學(xué)非用了?！终Z堂（國學(xué)大師）新浪微博：@管衛(wèi)東GWD管衛(wèi)東微信：guanweidong_1970第二部分：精選文章閱讀示例1

OfallthechangesthathavetakenplaceinEnglish-languagenewspapersduringthepastquarter-century,perhapsthemostfar-reachinghasbeentheinexorabledeclineinthescopeandseriousnessoftheirartscoverage.

Itisdifficulttothepointofimpossibilityfortheaveragereaderundertheageoffortytoimagineatimewhenhigh-qualityartscriticismcouldbefoundinmostbig-citynewspapers.Yetaconsiderablenumberofthemostsignificantcollectionsofcriticismpublishedinthe20thcenturyconsistedinlargepartofnewspaperreviews.Toreadsuchbookstodayistomarvelatthefactthattheirlearnedcontentswereoncedeemedsuitableforpublicationingeneral-circulationdailies.

WeareevenfartherremovedfromtheunfocusednewspaperreviewspublishedinEnglandbetweentheturnofthe20thcenturyandtheeveofWorldWarⅡ,atatimewhennewsprintwasdirt-cheapandstylishartscriticismwasconsideredanornamenttothepublicationsinwhichitappeared.Inthosefar-offdays,itwastakenforgrantedthatthecriticsofmajorpaperswouldwriteindetailandatlengthabouttheeventstheycovered.Theirswasaseriousbusiness,andeventhosereviewerswhoworetheirlearninglightly,likeGeorgeBernardShawandErnestNewman,couldbetrustedtoknowwhattheywereabout.Thesemenbelievedin

ournalismasacalling,andwereproudtobepublishedinthedailypress."Sofewauthorshavebrainsenoughorliterarygiftenoughtokeeptheirownendupinjournalism,"Newmanwrote,"thatIamtemptedtodefine

'journalism'as'atermofcontemptappliedbywriterswhoarenotreadtowriterswhoare'."Unfortunately,thesecriticsarevirtuallyforgotten.NevilleCardus,whowrotefortheManchesterGuardianfrom1917untilshortlybeforehisdeathin1975,isnowknownsolelyasawriterofessaysonthegameofcricket.Duringhislifetime,though,hewasalsooneofEngland'sforemostclassical-musiccritics,andastylistsowidelyadmiredthathisAutobiograp--hy(1947)becameabest-seller.Hewasknightedin1967,thefirstmusiccritictobesohonored.Yetonlyoneofhisbooksisnowinprint,andhisvastbodyofwritingsonmusicisunknownsavetospecialists.IsthereanychancethatCardus'scriticismwillenjoyarevival?Theprospectseemsremote.Journalistictasteshadchangedlongbeforehisdeath,andpostmodernreadershavelittleusefortherichlyupholsteredVicwardianproseinwhichhespecialized.Moreover,theamateurtraditioninmusiccriticismhasbeeninheadlongretreat.示例2Overthepastdecade,thousandsofpatentshavebeengrantedforwhatarecalledbusinessmethods.receivedoneforits"one-click"onlinepaymentsystem.MerrillLynchgotlegalprotectionforanassetallocationstrategy.Oneinventorpatentedatechniqueforliftingabox.Nowthenation'stoppatentcourtappearscompletelyreadytoscalebackonbusiness-methodpatents,whichhavebeencontroversialeversincetheywerefirstauthorized10yearsago.Inamovethathasintellectual-propertylawyersabuzz,theU.S.CourtofAppealsfortheFederalCircuitsaiditwoulduseaparticularcasetoconductabroadreviewofbusiness-methodpatents.InreBilski,asthecaseisknown,is"averybigdeal,"saysDennisD.CrouchoftheUniversityofMissouriSchoolofLaw.It"hasthepotentialtoeliminateanentireclassofpatents."

Curbsonbusiness-methodclaimswouldbeadramaticabout-face,becauseitwastheFederalCircuititselfthatintroducedsuchpatentswithits1998decisionintheso-calledStateStreetBankcase,approvingapatentonawayofpoolingmutual-fundassets.Thatrulingproducedanexplosioninbusiness-methodpatentfilings,initiallybyemergingInternetcompaniestryingtostakeoutexclusivefightstospecifictypesofonlinetransactions.Later,moreestablishedcompaniesracedtoaddsuchpatentstotheirfiles,ifonlyasadefensivemoveagainstrivalsthatmightbeatthemtothepunch.In2005,IBMnotedinacourtfilingthatithadbeenissuedmorethan300business-methodpatents,despitethefactthatitquestionedthelegalbasisforgrantingthem.Similarly,someWallStreetinvestmentfarmsarmedthemselveswithpatentsforfinancialproducts,evenastheytookpositionsincourtcasesopposingthepractice.TheBilskicaseinvolvesaclaimedpatentonamethodforhedgingriskintheenergymarket.TheFederalCircuitissuedanunusualorderstatingthatthecasewouldbeheardbyall12ofthecourt'sjudges,ratherthanatypicalpanelofthree,andthatoneissueitwantstoevaluateiswhetheritshould"reconsider"itsStateStreetBankruling.TheFederalCircuit'sactioncomesinthewakeofaseriesofrecentdecisionsbytheSupremeCourtthathasnarrowedthescopeofprotectionsforpatentholders.LastApril,forexample,thejusticessignaledthattoomanypatentswerebeingupheldfor"inventions"thatareobvious.ThejudgesontheFederalCircuitare"reactingtotheanti-patenttrendattheSupremeCourt,"saysHaroldC.Wegner,apatentattorneyandprofessoratGeorgeWashingtonUniversityLawSchool.示例3

InhisbookTheTippingPoint,MalcolmGladwellarguesthat"socialepidemics"aredriveninlargepartbytheactionsofatinyminorityofspecialindividuals,oftencalledinfluentials,whoareunusuallyinformed,persuasive,orwellconnected.TheideaisintuitivelyCompelling,butitdoesn'texplainhowideasactuallyspread.Thesupposedimportanceofinfluentialsderivesfromaplausible-soundingbutlargelyuntestedtheorycalledthe"tw0-stepflowofcommunication":Informationflowsfromthemediatotheinfluentialsandfromthemtoeveryoneelse.Marketershaveembracedthetwo-stepflowbecauseitsuggeststhatiftheycanjustfindandinfluencetheinfluentials,thoseselectpeoplewilldomostoftheworkforthem.Thetheoryalsoseemstoexplainthesuddenandunexpectedpopularityofcertainlooks,brands,orneighborhoods.Inmanysuchcases,acursorysearchforcausesfindsthatsomesmallgroupofpeoplewaswearing,promoting,ordevelopingwhateveritisbeforeanyoneelsepaidattention.Anecdotalevidenceofthiskindfitsnicelywiththeideathatonlycertainspecialpeoplecandrivetrends.Intheirrecentwork,however,someresearchershavecomeupwiththefindingthatinfluentialshavefarlessimpactonsocialepidemicsthanisgenerallysupposed.Infact,theydon'tseemtoberequiredatall.Theresearchers'argumentstemsfromasimpleobservationaboutsocialinfluence:WiththeexceptionofafewcelebritieslikeOprahWinfrey-whoseoutsizepresenceisprimarilyafunctionofmedia,notinterpersonal,influence-eventhemostinfluentialmembersofapopulationsimplydon'tinteractwiththatmanyothers.Yetitispreciselythesenon-celebrityinfluentialswho,accordingtothetwo-step-flowtheory,aresupposedtodrivesocialepidemics,byinfluencingtheirfriendsandcolleaguesdirectly.Forasocialepidemictooccur,however,eachpersonsoaffectedmusttheninfluencehisorherownacquaintances,whomustinturninfluencetheirs,andsoon;andjusthowmanyotherspayattentiontoeachofthesepeoplehaslittletodowiththeinitialinfluential.Ifpeopleinthenetworkjusttwodegreesremovedfromtheinitialinfluentialproveresistant,forexample,thecascadeofchangewon'tpropagateveryfaroraffectmanypeople.

Buildingonthebasictruthaboutinterpersonalinfluence,theresearchersstudiedthedynamicsofsocialinfluencebyconductingthousandsofcomputersimulationsofpopulations,manipulatinganumberofvariablesrelatingtopeople'sabilitytoinfluenceothersandtheirtendencytobeinfluenced.Theyfoundthattheprincipalrequirementforwhatiscalled"globalcascades"-thewidespreadpropagationofinfluencethroughnetworks-isthepresencenotofafewinfluentialsbut,rather,ofacriticalmassofeasilyinfluencedpeople.示例4

Bankershavebeenblamingthemselvesfortheirtroublesinpublic.Behindthescenes,theyhavebeentakingaimatsomeoneelse:theaccountingstandard-setters.Theirrules,moanthebanks,haveforcedthemtoreportenormouslosses,andit'sjustnotfair.Theserulessaytheymustvaluesomeassetsatthepriceathirdpartywouldpay,notthepricemanagersandregulatorswouldlikethemtofetch.Unfortunately,banks'lobbyingnowseemstobeworking.Thedetailsmaybeunknowable,buttheindependenceofstandard-setters,essentialtotheproperfunctioningofcapitaImarkets,isbeingcompromised.And,unlessbankscarrytoxicassetsatpricesthatattractbuyers,revivingthebankingsystemwillbedifficult.AfterabruisingencounterwithCongress,America'sFinancialAccountingStandardsBoard(FASB)rushedthroughrulechanges.Thesegavebanksmorefreedomtousemodelstovalueilliquidassetsandmoreflexibilityinrecognizinglossesonlong-termassetsintheirestatements.BobHerz,theFASB'schairman,criedoutagainstthosewho"questionourmotives."Yetbanksharesroseandthechangesenhancewhatonelobbyinggrouppolitelycalls"theuseofjudgmentbymanagement."EuropeanministersinstantlydemandedthattheInternationalAccountingStandardsBoard(IASB)dolikewise.TheIASBsaysitdoesnotwanttoactwithoutoverallplanning,butthepressuretofoldwhenpletesitsreconstructionofruleslaterthisyearisstrong.CharlieMcCreevy,aEuropeancommissioner,warnedtheIASBthatitdid"notliveinapoliticalvacuum"but"intherealworld"andthatEuropecouldyetdevelopdifferentrules.Itwasbanksthatwereonthewrongplanet,withaccountsthatvastlyovervaluedassets.Todaytheyarguethatmarketpricesoverstatelosses,becausetheylargelyreflectthetemporaryilliquidityofmarkets,notthelikelyextentofbaddebts.Thetruthwillnotbeknownforyears.Butbanks'sharestradebelowtheirbookvalue,suggestingthatinvestorsareskeptical.Anddeadmarketspartlyreflecttheparalysisofbankswhichwillnotsellassetsforfearofbookinglosses,yetarereluctanttobuyallthosesupposedbargains.Togetthesystemworkingagain,lossesmustberecognizedanddealtwith.America'snewplantobuyuptoxicassetswillnotworkunlessbanksmarkassetstolevelswhichbuyersfindattractive.Successfulmarketsrequireindependentandevencombativestandard-setters.TheFASBandIASBhavebeenexactlythat,cleaninguprulesonstockoptionsandpensions,forexample,againsthostilityfromspecialinterests.Butbygivingintocriticsnowtheyareinvitingpressuretomakemoreconcessions.示例5

ThedecisionoftheNewYorkPhilharmonictohireAlanGilbertasitsnextmusicdirectorhasbeenthetalkoftheclassical-musicworldeversincethesuddenannouncementofhisappointment,in2009.Forthemostpart,theresponsehasbeenfavorable,tosaytheleast."Hooray!Atlast!"wroteAnthonyTommasini,asober-sidedclassical-musiccritic.Oneofthereasonswhytheappointmentcameassuchasurprise,however,isthatGilbertiscomparativelylittleknown.EvenTommasini,whohadadvocatedGilbert'sappointmentintheTimes,callshim"anunpretentiousmusicianwithnoairoftheformidableconductorabouthim."AsadescriptionofthenextmusicdirectorofanorchestrathathashithertobeenledbymusicianslikeGustavMahlerandPierreBoulez,thatseemslikelytohavestruckatleastsomeTimesreadersasfaintpraise.Formypart,IhavenoideawhetherGilbertisagreatconductororevenagoodone.Tobesure,heperformsanimpressivevarietyofinterestingcompositions,butitisnotnecessaryformetovisitAveryFisherHall,oranywhereelse,tohearinterestingorchestralmusic.AllIhavetodoistogotomyCDshelf,orbootupmycomputeranddownloadstillmorerecordedmusicfromiTunes.Devotedconcertgoerswhoreplythatrecordingsarenosubstituteforliveperformancearemissingthepoint.Forthetime,attention,andmoneyoftheart-lovingpublic,classicalinstrumentalistsmustCompetenotonlywithoperahouses,dancetroupes,theatercompanies,andmuseums,butalsowiththerecordedperformancesofthegreatclassicalmusiciansofthe20thcentury.Theserecordingsarecheap,availableeverywhere,andveryoftenmuchhigherinartisticqualitythantoday'sliveperformance;moreover,theycanbe"consumed"atatimeandplaceofthelistener'schoosing.Thewidespreadavailabilityofsuchrecordingshasthusbroughtaboutacrisisintheinstitutionofthetraditionalclassicalconcert.Onepossibleresponseisforclassicalperformerstoprogramattractivenewmusicthatisnotyetavailableonrecord.Gilbert'sowninterestinnewmusichasbeenwidelynoted:AlexRoss,aclassical-musiccritic,hasdescribedhimasamanwhoiscapableofturningthePhilharmonicinto"amarkedlydifferent,morevibrantorganization."Butwhatwillbethenatureofthatdifference?Merelyexpandingtheorchestra'srepertoirewillnotbeenough.IfGilbertandthePhilharmonicaretosucceed,theymustfirstchangetherelationshipbetweenAmerica'soldestorchestraandthenewaudienceithopestoattract.示例6

WhenLiamMcGeedepartedaspresidentofBankofAmericainAugust,hisexplanationwassurprisinglystraightup.Ratherthancloakinghisexitintheusualvagueexcuses,hecamerightoutandsaidhewasleaving"topursuemygoalofrunningacompany."Broadcastinghisambitionwas"verymuchmydecision,"McGeesays.Withintwoweeks,hewastalkingforthefirsttimewiththeboardofHartfordFinancialServicesGroup,whichnamedhimCEOandchairmanonSeptember29.McGeesaysleavingwithoutapositionlinedupgavehimtimetoreflectonwhatkindofcompanyhewantedtorun.Italsosentaclearmessagetotheoutsideworldabouthisaspirations.AndMcGeeisn'talone.InrecentweekstheNo.2executivesatAvonandAmericanExpressquitwiththeexplanationthattheywerelookingforaCEOpost.Asboardsscrutinizesuccessionplansinresponsetoshareholderpressure,executiveswhodon'tgetthenodalsomaywishtomoveon.Aturbulentbusinessenvironmentalsohasseniormanagerscautiousoflettingvaguepronouncementscloudtheirreputations.Asthefirstsignsofrecoverybegintotakehold,deputychiefsmaybemorewillingtomakethejumpwithoutanet.Inthethirdquarter,CEOturnoverwasdown23%fromayearagoasnervousboardsstuckwiththeleaderstheyhad,accordingtoLiberumResearch.Astheeconomypicksup,opportunitieswillaboundforaspiringleaders.Thedecisiontoquitaseniorpositiontolookforabetteroneisunconventional.ForyearsexecutivesandheadhuntershaveadheredtotherulethatthemostattractiveCEOcandidatesaretheoneswhomustbepoached.SaysKorn/FerryseniorpartnerDennisCarey:"Ican'tthinkofasinglesearchI'vedonewhereaboardhasnotinstructedmetolookatsittingCEOsfirst."Thosewhojumpedwithoutajobhaven’talwayslandedintoppositionsquickly.EllenMarramquitaschiefofTropicanaadecadeago,sayingshewantedtobeaCEO.ItwasayearbeforeshebecameheadofatinyInternet-basedcommoditiesexchange.RobertWillumstadleftCitigroupin2005withambitionstobeaCEO.Hefinallytookthatpostatamajorfinancialinstitutionthreeyearslater.Manyrecruiterssaytheolddisgraceisfadingfortopperformers.Thefinancialcrisishasmadeitmoreacceptabletobebetweenjobsortoleaveabadone."Thetraditionalrulewasit'ssafertostaywhereyouare,butthat'sbeenfundamentallyinverted,"saysoneheadhunter."Thepeoplewho'vebeenhurttheworstarethosewho'vestayedtoolong."示例7

Theroughguidetomarketingsuccessusedtobethatyougotwhatyoupaidfor.Nolonger.Whiletraditional"paid"media-suchastelevisioncommercialsandprintadvertisements-stillplayamajorrole,companiestodaycanexploitmanyalternativeformsofmedia.Consumerspassionateaboutaproductmaycreate"earned"mediabywillinglypromotingittofriends,andacompanymayleverage"owned"mediabysendinge-mailalertsaboutproductsandsalestocustomersregisteredwithitsWebsite.Thewayconsumersnowapproachtheprocessofmakingpurchasedecisionsmeansthatmarketing'simpactstemsfromabroadrangeoffactorsbeyondconventionalpaidmedia.Paidandownedmediaarecontrolledbymarketerspromotingtheirownproducts.Forearnedmedia,suchmarketersactastheinitiatorforusers'responsesButinsomecases,onemarketer'sownedmediaeanothermarketer'spaidmedia-forinstance,whenanmerceretailersellsadspaceOnitsWebsite.Wedefinesuchsoldmediaasownedmediawhosetrafficissostrongthatotherorganizationsplacetheircontentormerceengineswithinthatenvironment.Thistrend,whichwebelieveisstillinitsinfancy,effectivelybeganwithretailersandtravelproviderssuchasairlinesandhotelsandwillnodoubtgofurther.Johnson&Johnson,forexample,hascreatedBabyCenter,astand-alonemediapropertythatpromotescomplementaryandevencompetitiveproducts.Besidesgeneratinge,thepresenceofothermarketersmakesthesiteseemobjective,givescompaniesopportunitiestolearnvaluableinformationabouttheappealofothercompanies'marketing,andmayhelpexpandusertrafficforallcompaniesconcerned.Thesamedramatictechnologicalchangesthathaveprovidedmarketerswithmore(andmorediverse)communicationschoiceshavealsoincreasedtheriskthatpassionateconsumerswillvoicetheiropinionsinquicker,morevisible,andmuchmoredamagingways.Suchhijackedmediaaretheoppositeofearnedmedia:anassetorcampaigneshostagetoconsumers,otherstakeholders,oractivistswhomakenegativeallegationsaboutabrandorproduct.Membersofsocialnetworks,forinstance,arelearningthattheycanhijackmediatoapplypressureonthebusinessesthatoriginallycreatedthem.Ifthathappens,passionateconsumerswouldtrytopersuadeotherstoboycottproducts,puttingthereputationofthetargetcompanyatrisk.Insuchacase,thecompany'sresponsemaynotbesufficientlyquickorthoughtful,andthelearningcurvehasbeensteep.ToyotaMotor,forexample,alleviatedsomeofthedamagefromitsrecallcrisisearlierthisyearwitharelativelyquickandwell-orchestratedsocial-mediaresponsecampaign,whichincludedeffortstoengagewithconsumersdirectlyonsitessuchasTwitterandthesocial-newssiteDigg.示例8

It'snosurprisethatJenniferSenior'sinsightful,provocativemagazinecoverstory,"ILoveMyChildren,IHateMyLife,"isarousingmuchChatternothinggetspeopletalkinglikethesuggestionthatchildrearingisanythinglessthanaCompletelyfulfilling,life-enrichingexperience.Ratherthanconcludingthatchildrenmakeparentseitherhappyormiserable,Seniorsuggests"weneedtoredefinehappiness:insteadofthinkingofitassomethingthatcanbemeasuredbymoment-to-momentjoy,weshouldconsiderbeinghappyasapast-tenseconditionEventhoughtheday-to-dayexperienceofraisingkidscanbeSoul-crushinglyhard,Seniorwritesthat"theverythingsthatinthemomentdampenourmoodscanlaterbesourcesofintensegratificationanddelight."ThemagazinecovershowinganattractivemotherholdingacutebabyishardlytheonlyMadonna-and-childimageonnewsstandsthisweek.Therearealsostoriesaboutnewlyadoptive-andnewlysingle-mornSandraBullock,aswellastheusual"JenniferAnistonispregnant"news,Practicallyeveryweekfeaturesatleastonecelebritymorn,ormorn-to-be,smilingonthenewsstands.Inasocietythatsopersistentlycelebratesprocreation,isitanywonderthatadmittingyouregrethavingchildrenisequivalenttoadmittingyousupportkitten-killing?Itdoesn'tseemquitefair,then,tocomparetheregretsofparentstotheregretsofthechildless.Unhappyparentsrarelyareprovokedtowonderiftheyshouldn'thavehadkids,butunhappychildlessfolksarebotheredwiththemessagethatchildrenarethesinglemostimportantthingintheworld:obviouslytheirmiserymustbeadirectresultofthegapingbaby-sizeholesintheirlives.Ofcourse,theimageofparenthoodthatcelebritymagazineslikeUsWeeklyandPeoplepresentishugelyunrealistic,especiallywhentheparentsaresinglemotherslikeBullock.Accordingtoseveralstudiesconcludingthatparentsarelesshappythanchildlesscouples,singleparentsaretheleasthappyofall.Noshockthere,consideringhowmuchworkitistoraiseakidwithoutapartnertoleanon;yettohearSandraandBritneytellit,raisingakidontheir"own"(read:withround-the-clockhelp)isapieceofcake.It'shardtoimaginethatmanypeoplearedumbenoughtowantchildrenjustbecauseReeseandAngelinamakeitlooksoglamorous:mostadultsunderstandthatababyisnotahaircut.Butit'sinterestingtowonderiftheimagesweseeeveryweekofstress-free,happiness-enhancingparenthoodaren'tinsomesmall,subconsciouswaycontributingtoourowndissatisfactionswiththeactualexperience,inthesamewaythatasmallpartofushopedgetting"theRachel"mightmakeuslookjustalittlebitlikeJenniferAniston.示例9Homeworkhasneverbeenterriblypopularwithstudentsandevenmanyparents,butinrecentlyyearsithasbeenparticularlyscorned.Schooldistrictsacrossthecountry,mostrecentlyLosAngelesUnified,arerevisingtheirthinkingonthiseducationalritual.Unfortunately,L.A.Unifiedhasproducedaninflexiblepolicywhichmandatesthatwiththeexceptionofsomeadvancedcourses,homeworkmaynolongercountformorethan10%ofastudent’sacademicgrade.Thisruleismeanttoaddressthedifficultythatstudentsfromimpoverishedorchaotichomesmighthaveincompletingtheirhomework.Butthepolicyisunclearandcontradictory.Certainly,nohomeworkshouldbeassignedthatstudentscannotcompleteonontheirownorthattheycannotdowithoutexpensiveequipment.Butifthedistrictisessentiallygivingapasstostudentswhodonotdotheirhomeworkbecauseofcomplicatedfamilylives,itisgoingriskilyclosetotheimplicationthatstandardsneedtobeloweredforpoorchildren.Districtadministratorssaythathomeworkwillstillbeapartofschooling;teachersareallowedtoassignasmuchofitastheywant.Butwithhomeworkcountingfornomorethan10%oftheirgrades,studentscaneasilyskiphalftheirhomeworkandseeverylittledifferenceontheirreportcards.Somestudentsmightdowellonstatetestswithoutcompletingtheirhomework,butwhataboutthestudentswhoperformedwellonthetestsanddidtheirhomework?Itisquitepossiblethatthehomeworkhelped.Yetratherthanempoweringteacherstofindwhatworksbestfortheirstudents,thepolicyimposesaflat,across-the-boardrule.Atthesametime,thepolicyaddressesnoneofthetrulythornyquestionsabouthomework.Ifthedistrictfindshomeworktobeunimportanttoitsstudents’academicachievement,itshouldmovetoreduceoreliminatetheassignments,notmakethemcountforalmostnothing.Conversely,ifshouldaccountforasignificantportionofthegrade.Meanwhile,thispolicydoesnothingtoensurethatthehomeworkstudentsreceiveismeaningfulorappropriatetotheirageandthesubject,orthatteachersarenotassigningmorethantheyarewillingtoreviewandcorrect.Thehomeworkrulesshouldbeputonholdwhiletheshoolboard,whichisresponsibleforsettingeducationalpolicy,looksintothematterandconductspublichearings.ItisnottoolateforL.A.Unifiedtodohomeworkright.示例10Prettyinpink:adultwomendonotrememberbeingsoobsessedwiththecolour,yetitispervasiveinouryounggirls’lives.Itisnotthatpinkisintrinsicallybad,butitissuchatinysliceoftherainbowand,thoughitmaycelebrategirlhoodinoneway,italsorepeatedlyandfirmlyfusesgirls’identitytoappearance.Thenitpresentsthatconnection,evenamongtwo-year-olds,betweengirlsasnotonlyinnocentbutasevidenceofinnocence.Lookingaround,Idespairedatthesingularlackofimaginationaboutgirls’livesandinterests.Girls’attractiontopinkmayseemunavoidable,somehowencodedintheirDNA,butaccordingtoJoPaoletti,anassociateprofessorofAmericanStudies,itisnot.Childrenwerenotcolour-codedatalluntiltheearly20thcentury,intheerabeforedomesticwashingmachinesallbabiesworewhiteasapracticalmatter,sincetheonlywayofgettingclothescleanwastoboilthem.What’smore,bothboysandgirlsworewhatwerethoughtofasgender-neutraldresses.Whennurserycolourswereintroduced,pinkwasactuallyconsideredthemoremasculinecolour,apastelversionofred,whichwasassociatedwithstrength.Blue,withitsintimationsoftheVirginMary,constancyandfaithfulness,symbolizedfemininity.Itwasnotuntilthemid-1980s,whenamplifyingageandsexdifferencesbecameadominantchildren’smarketingstrategy,thatpinkfullycameintoitsown,whenitbegantoseeminherentlyattractivetogirls,partofwhatdefinedthemasfemale,atleastforthefirstfewcriticalyears.Ihadnotrealizedhowprofoundlymarketingtrendsdictatedourperceptionofwhatisnaturaltokids,includingourcorebeliefsabouttheirpsychologicaldevelopment.Takethetoddler.Iassumedthatphasewassomethingexpertsdevelopedafteryearsofresearchintochildren’sbehavior:wrong.Turnsout,accordingtoDanielCook,ahistorianofchildhoodconsumerism,itwaspopularizedasamarketingtrickbyclothingmanufacturersinthe1930s.Tradepublicationscounseleddepartmentstoresthat,inordertoincreasesales,theyshouldcreatea“thirdsteppingstone”betweeninfantwearandolderkids’clothes.Itwasonlyafter“toddler”becameacommonshoppers’termthatitevolvedintoabroadlyaccepteddevelopmentalstage.Splittingkids,oradults,intoever-tiniercategorieshasprovedasure-firewaytoboostprofits.Andoneoftheeasiestways