14.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 tree.Individuals who use conventional wisdom are certain that they are right,and being fight 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(成问题的).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 (有线的)channel devoted 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,boom and maintain competitive advantage,companies must be flexible when reacting to change.
28.DEC has disappeared probably becauseA.
A.the CEO stuck to the conventional ideas
B.the consumers didn't like its products
C.the leaders lacked the sense of security
D.the employees took many risks with changes
29.The founding of CNN is used as an example to proveC.
A.missing opportunities could lead to failure
B.watching news at the dinner hour is convenient
C.changing could contribute to business success
D.conventional wisdom influences business success
30.What does the underlined part probably mean?B
A.Rocket scientists can ensure the CNN works properly.
B.It's easy to know people needn't watch the news all the time.
C.It's necessary to understand when people watch the news.
D.Most of the viewers don't like to watch the news at work.
31.The passage is mainly written to tell us thatD.
A.old methods are changing with time
B.opportunities lead to business success
C.successful companies need wise leaders
D.conventional wisdom limits innovation.
分析 本文是一篇科教类阅读.文章主要说明了常规常态的思维妨碍与限制了创新.作者通过CNN的例子证明了改革是可以促进一个企业的发展与成功的.
解答 28.A细节理解题.根据第二段They want to continue using old ideas rather than take risks with changes that might not work.可知DEC消失是因为它的领导者墨守成规,不接受新的事物.故选A.
29.C推理判断题.根据第四段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.可知CNN的例子是用于证明改革是可以促进一个企业的发展与成功的.故选C.
30.B推理判断题.根据第四段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.可知正常的人也不会每天时时刻刻开着收音机听新闻.由此推知,很容易知道人们不必时刻看新闻.故选B.
31.D主旨大意题.根据第一段Conventional wisdom is a major barrier to innovation that threatens the survival of companies everywhere.可知本文主要说明了常规常态的思维妨碍与限制了创新.故选D.
点评 本文考察学生的理解推断能力以及细心程度,只要抓住文章的关键词,采用寻读的方法查找细节,就能找到正确答案.