16.Conventional wisdom is a major barrier to innovation(创新) that threatens the survival of companies everywhere.It's based on the assumption that old ideas will always work,so they shouldn't be challenged.While this may be a valid assumption in situations that don't change,it's unlikely to hold true in a changing situation.In today's rapid changing global environment,old methods often don't work,and stubbornly using them can lead to major problems.
Most people seem to agree with conventional wisdom because it gives one a false sense of security.If everyone else believes it,then it must be true.Individuals who use conventional wisdom are certain that they are right,and being right is good.They want to continue using old ideas rather than take risks with changes that might not work.In 1977,Ken Olsen,co-founder and CEO of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC),stated"There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home."Despite being a dominant leader in the computer industry,DEC no longer exists.
People seem to forget that since innovation is a change,there can be no innovation without change.Unfortunately,conventional wisdom prevents leaders,followers and companies from changing and therefore innovating.If companies don't innovate,but their competitors do,the future is likely to be problematic.Breaking from conventional wisdom has led to many of the most innovative companies and products in history across many industries,so it has a powerful effect on business success.
Ted Turner (founder of CNN) knew little,if anything,about the news business,but he knew it was inconvenient to watch news only at the dinner hour,as was common before CNN.Turner's solution was to create a cable channel dedicated to news 24hours a day.The news establishment reflected conventional wisdom at the time,and predicted his idea would fail because no one wanted to watch the news all day.However,it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that viewers don't have to watch the news all day for the CNN to work
.Viewers just have to watch when they want to get information.Due to conventional thinking,the critics failed to recognize the opportunity that was clear to Ted.They assumed that only what was familiar to them could work in the future.
Conventional wisdom prevents creativity,flexibility and risk-taking,so unconventional leaders enthusiastically break from it.To survive,thrive (茁壮成长) and maintain competitive advantage,companies must be flexible when reacting to change.
32.DEC has disappeared probably becauseC.
A.the consumers didn't like its products
B.the leaders lacked the sense of security
C.the CEO stuck to the conventional ideas
D.the employees took many risks with changes
33.The founding of CNN is used as an example to proveB.
A.missing opportunities could lead to failure
B.changing could contribute to business success
C.watching news at the dinner hour is convenient
D.conventional wisdom influences business success
34.What does the underlined part probably mean?D
A.Rocket scientists can ensure the CNN works properly.
B.Most of the viewers don't like to watch the news at work.
C.It's necessary to understand when people watch the news.
D.It's easy to know people needn't watch the news all the time.
35.The passage is mainly written to tell us thatC.
A.old methods are changing with time
B.opportunities lead to business success
C.conventional wisdom limits innovation
D.successful companies need wise leaders.
分析 本文是政治经济类阅读,主要讲了传统的思维是创新的一大障碍,威胁到公司的生存,并以DEC由于它的领导墨守成规,不接受新的事物致使其消失为例,阐明了创新的重要性.
解答 32.C 细节理解题.根据文章第二段中的They want to continue using old ideas ratherthan take risks with changes that might not work,可知他们想继续使用旧的想法,而不是冒险去改变那些可能不起作用的观点,所以DEC消失是由于它的领导墨守成规,不接受新的事物,故选C.
33.B 推理判断题.根据文章第四段中的The news establishment reflected conventionalwisdom at the time,andpredicted his idea would fail because no one wanted to watch the news all day,可知新闻机构反映了当时的传统思维,并预测他的想法会失败,因为没有人想一整天都看新闻,CNN的例子是用来证明改革是可以促进一个企业的发展与成功的.故选B.
34.D 推理判断题.分析句意并结合常识,可知道正常的人也不会每天时时刻刻开着收音机听新闻,结合此句的语境,可知很容易知道人们不必一直看新闻.故选D.
35.C 主旨大意题.纵观全文,根据文章的首句Conventional wisdom is a major barrier toinnovation that threatens the survival of companies everywhere可知,传统的思维是创新的一大障碍,威胁到公司的生存,所以这篇文章主要告诉人们常规常态的思维妨碍与限制了创新,故选C.
点评 本文是政治经济类阅读,考查学生对细节的理解把握和推理判断能力,做题时一定要找到文章中的原句,和题干进行比较,再做出正确选择.在做推理判断题时不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实,要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断.