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?
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.
W: I'll as usual, sir.
What does the man mean?
A. He will not pay in cash.
B. He will put down three cases.
C. He will take three cases home.
D. He will count up m three cases.
Humans are unique in the extent to which they can reflect on themselves and others. Humans are able to 【C1】______ , to think in abstract terms, to reflect on the future. A meaningless, 【C2】______ world is an insecure world. We do not like extensive insecurity. When it 【C3】______ to human behavior. we infer meaning and 【C4】______ to make the behavior. understandable. 【C5】______ all this means is that people develop "quasi theories" of human behavior, that is, theories that are not developed in a/an 【C6】______ scientific manner. When doing so, people believe they know 【C7】______ humans do the things they do.
Let's consider an example. In the United States people have been 【C8】______ with tile increasing a mount of crime for several years. The extent of crime bothers us; we ourselves could be victims. But it 【C9】______ bothers us that people behave in such ways. Why can such things happen? We develop quasi theories. We 【C10】______ concerned about the high crime rate, but we now believe we 【C11】______ it: our criminal justice system is 【C12】______ ; people have grown selfish and inconsiderate as our moral values weaken 【C13】______ the influence of liberal ideas; too many people are 【C14】______ drugs. These explanations suggest possible solutions. 【C15】______ the courts; out more people in jails as examples to other lawbreaker. There is now hope that the problem of crime can be solved if only we 【C16】______ these solutions. Again, tile world is no longer meaningless nor 【C17】______ so threatening.
These quasi theories 【C18】______ serve a very important function for us. But how accurate are they? How 【C19】______ will the suggested solutions be? These questions must be answered with 【C20】______ to how people normally go about developing or attaining their quasi theories of human behavior.
【C1】
A. reason
B. mediate
C. consider
D. rationalize
In many African tribes the natives【C3】______the ground over which a chief has walked. Kissing the hand and foot has been a mark of respect from the【C4】______times.
The early Romans kissed the mouth or eyes【C5】______a form. of dignified greeting. One Roman emperor allowed his important nobles to kiss his lips, but the【C6】______important ones had to kiss his hands, and the【C7】______. important ones were【C8】______allowed to kiss his feet! It is quite probable that kiss as a form. of affection can be traced back to primitive times when a mother【C9】______fondle(爱抚)her child, just as a mother【C10】______today. It only remained for society to【C11】______this as a custom for expressing affection between adults.
We have evidence that this was already the【C12】______by the time of the sixth century, but we can only assume it was【C13】______long before that. The first【C14】______where the kiss became accepted in courtship and love was in France. When dancing became' popular, almost every dance figure ended【C15】______a kiss.
From France the kiss spread rapidly all over Europe. Russia, which loved to【C16】______the customs of France, adopted the kiss and it spread there through all the upper【C17】______A kiss from the Tsar became【C18】______of the highest forms of recognition from the Crown.
In time, the kiss became a part of courtship.【C19】______marriage customs developed, the kiss became a part of the wedding ceremony. Today, of course, we regard the kiss as an expression of love and tenderness. But there are still many places in the world where the kiss is【C20】______of formal ceremonies and is intended to convey respect.
【C1】
A. it
B. one
C. this
D. itself