The Vatican condemned the technology as ______.

Of all the catastrophes that could befall America in coming years, a big terrorist attack, perhaps even bigger than those on September 11th 2001, may be more likely than others. Who would pay for the millions in property damage, business losses and other claims from such an attack? This is the question with which America's Congress is currently wrestling. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) was passed as a temporary measure after September 11th to provide a government back-stop for the insurance industry in the event of a catastrophic attack. It now says government can step in when insured losses from a terrorist event top $ 5m. TRIA has helped to stabilize the market, and enabled insurers to continue offering terrorism-risk cover even after swallowing the big losses imposed by September 11th. But unless Congress acts fast, TRIA will expire at the end of the year. One likely result is the loss of terrorism-risk cover for thousands of firms and property owners. This, in turn, could disrupt businesses and make some commercial activity impossible. With modifications, TRIA should be extended. The Bush administration has been opposed to extension. It has always seen TRIA as a shortterm measure, and has argued that the private sector should assume sole responsibility for terrorism insurance. This is the right goal. A purely private solution would be best, lifting any future burdenfrom the taxpayer and relying on the industry to price and spread risks more accurately than any government can do. But relying entirely on the private sector immediately does not look feasible. With TRIA's expiration looming, insurers and reinsurers have not, as the administration expected, rushed to write new contracts for next year offering to fall gaps in terrorism cover. Why the hesitation? Unlike other risks, the threat of terrorism cannot be forecast in time or scope, making a mockery of insurers' underwriting models. A big chemical, biological or nuclear attack is a prospect few can price, or afford to cover. Insurers are already being threatened with downgrades by rating agencies for the terrorism cover they have sold. One reason is that insurance, far from being a free market, is already one of the most heavily regulated of industries. Operating in a highly distorted marketplace, with 50 state regulators, the insurance industry seems to be having trouble pricing the largest of terrorism risks in a way that is credible and can still offer insurers a profit. Letting TRIA expire, and abruptly withdrawing the government role in insuring the largest losses, would just exacerbate this problem. Any renewal of TRIA should, once again, be limited to two years, say. Its extension must also shift more of the burden, and the business, to the private sector. If an extension is agreed and TRIA's threshold for government intervention is raised substantially, work should begin now to find better longer-term solutions. One place to look is abroad, where governments have dealt with terrorism risk for years. In Britain, for instance, insurers have created a pool of capital that is backed by the government and, over time, shifts a greater share of risk on to the private sector. Other options to consider include tax changes that reduce the cost of holding capital by insurers and reinsurers, and facilitating the use of catastrophe bonds. With fewer regulatory distortions of insurance markets, a solely private solution may be attainable in the long run. In the current environment, though, the same government that regularly warns of terrorist threats must still have a role to play in a solution that safeguards America's financial security. It would be better to plan ahead than wait for a rushed, Katrina-style bail-out after a big attack. Amid all the uncertainties, one thing seems clear: any such bail-out would be more costly and lead to even greater market distortions without an extension of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act today.

The symphony's second movement—slow, mournful, and ______—is based on a funeral march.

The ______ company has an excellent reputation-which is understandable, since it's been in business for twenty years and has thousands of satisfied customers.

Gulf officials say an affluent lifestyle is bleeding the region's heavily ______ water supplies.

The man went to prison, but the two boys ______ with a warning.

Financial institutions will spend huge sums, rolling our nationwide networks in Britain, France, Spain and perhaps in Germany. But the seeds for the most ______ growth will be sown in America, where most banks have been slow to experiment with digital dollars until now.

Data concerning the effects on an small population of high concentrations of a potentially hazardous chemical are frequently used to ______ the effects on a large population of lower amounts of the same chemical.

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Although adolescent maturational and development states occur in an orderly sequence, their timing ______ with regard to onset and duration.

He would have paid ______ for his fridge had the salesman insisted because he really needed it.

I know he failed his last test, but really he's ______ stupid.

They ______ so tired if they ______ for a whole day.

They believed that the merchants had conspired to undermine the nation's economic independence.

海洋科学研究所

A full-sized tripod is far too ______ to carry around. I find this pocket-sized one is much handier.

阅读理解Passage 4 When Columbus reached the New World, corn was the most widely grown plant in the Americas

阅读理解Passage FourHenry Ford, the famous U. S. inventor and car manufacture, once said, The business of America is business. By this he meant that the U. S. way of life is based on the values of the business world.Few would argue with Fords statement. A brief glimpse at a daily newspaper vividly shows how much people in the United States think about business. For example, nearly every newspaper has a business section, in which the deals and projects, finances and management, stock prices and labor problems of corporations are reported daily. In addition, business news can appear in every other section. Most national news has an important financial aspect to it. Welfare, foreign aid, the federal budget, and the policies of the Federal Reserve Bank are all heavily affected by business. Moreover, business news appears in some of the unlikeliest places. The world of arts and entertainment is often referred to as 4tthe entertainment industry or show businessThe positive side of Henry Fords statement can be seen in the prosperity that business has brought to U. S. life. One of the most important reasons so many people from all over the world come to live in the United States is the dream of a better job. Jobs are produced in abundance （大量地）because the U. S.economic system is driven by competition. People believe that this system creates more wealth, more jobs, and a materially better way of life.The negative side of Henry Fords statement, however, can be seen when the word business is taken to mean big business. And the tom big business referring to the biggest companies, is seen in opposition to labor. Throughout U. S. history working people have had to fight hard for higher wages, better working conditions, and the righl to form unions. Today, many of the old labor disputes arc over, but there is still some employee anxiety. Downsizing—the laying off of thousands of workers to keep expenses low and profits high—creates feelings of insecurity for many.

阅读理解Passage 3 The blues was born on the Mississippi River Delta in the early 1900s

阅读理解Passage A Which is saferstaying at home, traveling to work on public transport, or working in the office? Surprisingly, each of these carries the same risk, which is very low