考研英语阅读词汇：经济学人（The Economist）2023年3月4日

考研英语阅读词汇经济学人TheEconomist2023年3月4日Passage1EatinjectrepeatNewdrugscouldspellanendtotheworldsobesityepidemicAnewtypeofdrugisgeneratingexcitementamongtherichandthebeautiful.Justajabaweekandtheweightfallsoff.ElonMuskswearsbyit;influencerssingitspraisesonTikTok;suddenlyslimmerHollywoodstarletsdenytheyhavetakenit.Butthelatestweight-lossdrugsarenomerecosmeticenhancements.TheirbiggestbeneficiarieswillbenotcelebritiesinLosAngelesorMiamibutbillionsofordinarypeoplearoundtheworldwhoseweighthasmadethemunhealthy.Treatmentsforweightlosshavelongrangedfromthewell-meaningandineffectivetothedownrightdodgy.Thenewclassofdrugscalledglp-ireceptoragonistsseemsactuallytowork.SemaglutidcdevelopedbyNovoNordiskaDanishpharmaceuticalfirmhasbeenshowninclinicaltrialstoleadtoweightlossofabout15%.ItisalreadybeingsoldunderthebrandnameWe-govyinAmericaDenmarkandNorwayandwillsoonbeavailableinothercountries;Ozempicalower-doseversionisadiabetesdrugthatisalsobeingusedofflabelforweightloss.Arivalglp-idrugmadebyEliLillyanAmericanfirmisduetocomeonsalelaterthisyearandismoreeffectivestill.Analyststhinkthemarketforglp-idrugscouldreach$isobnby2031notfaroffthemarketforcancerdrugstoday.Somethinktheycouldbecomeascommonasbetablockersorstatins.Thedrugscouldnothavearrivedatabettertime.In2020two-fifthsoftheworldspopulationwereoverweightorobese.By2035saystheWorldObesityFederationanngothatfigurecouldswelltomorethanhalfwithastaggering4bnpeopleoverweightorobese.Peopleeverywherearcgettingfatter.ThepopulationsputtingonpoundsthefastestarenotintherichWestbutincountrieslikeEgyptMexicoandSaudiArabia.Thesetrendsarealarmingbecauseobesitycausesahostofhealthproblemsincludingdiabetesheartdiseaseandhighbloodpressureaswellasdozensofillnessessuchasstrokegoutandvariouscancers.Carryingextraweightmadepeoplemorelikelytodieofcovid-

19.Andthenthereisthemiserythatcomesfromthestigmaassociatedwithbeingfatwhichaffectschildreninschoolsandplaygroundsmostcruellyofall.Theconsequencesofobesityforthepublicpurseandthewidereconomyarelarge.Accordingtomodellingbyacademicstheannualcosttotheworldeconomyofexcessweightcouldreach$4trnby

20352.9%ofglobalgdpupfrom

2.2%in

2019.Thatincludesbothspendingonhealthcareandworkingtimelosttoillnessandprematuredeathstiedtoobesity.Theworldsexpandingwaistlinesarenotasignofthemoralfailureofthebillionswhoareoverweightbuttheresultofbiology.Thegenesthatwerevitaltohelpinghumanssurvivewintersandfaminestillhelpthebodyclingontoitsweighttoday.Thesuperabundanceofhard-to-resistprocessedfoodsinrecentdecadeshasbroughtgreaterconvenienceandlowercostsbutalsotriggeredovereatingjustaslifestylesbecamemoresedentary.Oncethefatisonthebodyfightsanyattempttodietawaymorethanalittleofitstotalweight.Despitethe$25obnthatconsumersaroundrheworldspentondietingandweightlosslastyearthebattletogetslimwaslargelybeinglost.Thenewobesitydrugsarrivedbyserendipityaftertreatmentsmeantfordiabeticswereobservedtocauseweightloss.SemaglutidemimicsthereleaseofhormonesthatstimulateafeelingoffullnessandreducetheappetiteseeBriefing.Theyalsoswitchoffthepowerfulurgetoeatthatlurksinsidethebrainwaitingtoambusheventhekeenestdieter.Withthejabsalreadyinhighdemandinvestorsarcnearlyasgiddyasnewlyslimusers.ThemarketcapitalisationofNovoNordiskthefirmatthefrontofthegoldrushhasdoubledintwoyearsto$26bnmakingitthesecond-most-valuablelisteddrugmakerintheworldseeSchumpeter.AnalystsexpecthalfofobeseAmericanswhoseekhelptobeonglp-idrugsbytheturnofthedecade.Butaswithanynewmedicinethatholdssomuchpromiseforsomanythereareuncertainties.Twobigoneswillbesafetyandaffordability.Considersafetyfirst.Thenewnessofthesedrugsmeansthattheirlong-termconsequencesarcnotyetknown.Forthelower-doseformsprescribedfordiabetestheside-effectssuchasvomitinganddiarrhoeahavebeenmild.Butotherscouldcropupasthedrugsareusedmorewidelyandathigherdoses.Animalstudieshaveshownahigherincidenceofthyroidcancerandsemaglutideisassociatedwithararepancreatitis.Littleisknownabouttheeffectsofusingthemduringorjustbeforepregnancy.Allthiswillrequirecarefulanalysisthroughcontrolledlongitudinalstudies.Understandingtheseriskswillbeimportantbecausemanypatientswhotakethedrugsmayneedthemfortherestoftheirlives.Aswithditchingadietstoppingahighdoseofsemaglutideisassociatedwithmuchofthelostweightpilingbackon.Somepeopleevengainmoreweightthantheylostinthefirstplace.Anotherpreoccupationforpolicymakersiscost.InAmericathebillforWcgovyrunsataround$1300amonth;forOzcmpicabout$

900.Judgedbysuchpriceslifelongprescriptionslookforbiddinglyexpensive.Thelongerviewhoweverismoreencouraging.Intimecompaniesmaystrikedealswithgovernmentsandhealthproviderstocoverthewholepopulationensuringhighvolumesinreturnforlowprices.Theprospectofprofitsisalreadyluringcompetitionandspurringinnovation.AmgenAstraZenecaandPfizerareallworkingonrivaldrugs;NovoNordiskhasafullpipelineoffollow-ondrugs.Furtheraheadstillpatentswillexpireenablingthedevelopmentoflower-pricedgenerics.TheshapeofthingstocomeWhattodointhemeantimeGovernmentsmustensurethatthosewhomostneedthedrugsgetthemleavingthosetakingthemforcosmeticpurposestopayoutoftheirownpockets.Thelong-termeffectsmustbecarefullystudied.Statesshouldkeeppressingotheranti-obesitymeasuressuchasexercisehealthyeatingandbetterfoodlabellingwhichmayhelppreventpeoplefromgettingfatinthefirstplace.Butspareamomenttocelebratetoo.Thesenewdrugsmeanthattheworldsfightagainstflabmayeventuallybewon.■Passage2BacktoitsrootsAslumpisencouragingventurecapitaltorediscoveroldwaysUntillastyearventurecapitalvchadbeenridinghigh.Withinterestratesclosetozeroandlittleyieldtobefoundelsewherelargecompanieshedgefundsandsovereign-wealthinvestorsbeganploughingcashintostartupssendingvaluationsupwards.In2021alonetheamountofmoneyflowingtostartupsdoubledtonearly$64obn.Thensoaringinflationandsurginginterestratesbroughtthemarketcrashingdown.Lastyeartheinvestmentsmadeinstartupsworldwidesankbyathird.Betweenthefinalquarterof2021andthesameperiodin2022thevaluationsofprivatestartupstumbledby56%.Thedownturninevitablydrawscomparisonstothedotcomcrashof2000-01whendeepwintersetinandvcinvestmentsfroze.Luckilyforbothfoundersandtheirbackersconditionsarenotsofrostytoday.Startups*balance-sheetsarestrongerthantheywere20yearsago;valuationsarenotquitesodetachedfromrevenues.InAmericaaloneventurecapitalistshaveabout$3oobnindrypowder.NonethelesstheindustrythatisemergingfromthetechslumpandintoaneraofdearermoneylooksdifferentfromtheonethatwentintoitseeBusinesssection.Inmanyrespectsvcisreturningtothewaysofdecadespast.Onechangeisafocusonsmallprofitablefirms.Thisisahabitventureinvestingsometimesforgotintheboomyearswhenrapidgrowthandthehopeofbigprofitstomorrowwereprizedoverprofitstoday.Manybackerswhowereinsearchofaquickreturnpiledintoolderlate-stageMstartupswhichwouldprobablygopublicsoonandseemedassuredofheadyvaluations.Todayhoweverstockmarketsarevolatilemakingithardforventureinvestorstogaugethevalueoflate-stagestartups.Asinterestrateshaverisenlossmakershavefallenoutoffavoui•:accordingtoanindexcompiledbyGoldmanSachsthestockpricesofunprofitabletechcompanieshavefallenbytwo-thirdssinceNovember

2021.vestooaretellingtheirportfoliofirmstotightentheirbeltsandgeneratecash.Increasinglytheirnewbetsareonyoungerfirmsandthosewhicharecuttingcostssharplyandlikelytoturnaprofitsooner.Asecondshiftisarenewedemphasisonstrategicfirms.Inanechoofvcsearliestdayswheninvestorsoftenbackedsemiconductor-makersthatviedtowinhugepubliccontractsmanytodayareeyeingupfirmsinareasthatstandtogainfromgovernments*newfondnessforindustrialpolicy.AdministrationsinbothAmericaandEuropeforinstanceplantospendhundredsofbillionsofdollarssupportingchipfirmsandcleantech.Venturecapitalistsunderstandablyknowhowtospotanopportunity.AndreessenHorowitzastalwartofSiliconValleyin-hvestinghaslaunchedanAmericanDynamismfundthatpartlyinvestsinfirmswhichtapsupportfromUncleSam.OtherventureinvestorsincludingTemasekaSingaporeansovereignwealthfundsaytheyincreasinglyexpecttheirinvestmentstoalignwithstates*strategicaims.Afinalshiftinvcsapproachisanemphasisonbettergovernance.Intheboomyearstoomuchventuremoneychasedtoofewgoodinvestments.Themismatchgavefounderstheupperhandinnegotiationshelpingthemkeepoversightrelativelylight.Afterthespectacularblowuplastyearofftxaventure-backedcryptoexchangeitbecameclearthatnoneofftxsbigventure-andsovereign-fundinvestorshadtakenseatsonthestartupsboardleavingSamBankman-Friedthefounderandhiscolleaguesentirelytotheirowndevices.Nowventurefinanceishardertocomeby.TigerGlobalandotherfundsthatwerepreviouslyhands-offhavestartedtore-Passage3treat.Otherinvestorssaytheyintendtotakeuptheirboardseats.Thatreducesthepoweroffounderstodictatetermsandshouldimprovegovernance.AlackofventuredollarsmayalsoencouragestartupstogopublicsoonerasmighttrustbustersgreaterscrutinyofbigtechacquisitionsseeFreeexchange.Theknowledgethattheymightsoonfacescrutinyinthepublicmarketscouldalsodisciplinefounders.PlantingtheseedThisnewsobrietywillnotlastforever.Venturecapitalistsarebynatureexcitable:lookatthebuzzovergenerativeartificialintelligence.Somehedgefundshaveleftventureinvestingafterpreviousdownturnsonlytoreturnwhenvaluationsadjusted.Intimethecyclewillsurelyturnoncemoresendingvcinvestmentstodizzyingheights.Forthemomentthoughtheoldwaysareback-andthatmarksawelcomechange.■TakethedealBoththeToriesandtheDemocraticUnionistPartyshouldsupportRishiSunaksdealBrexitwasboundtobedifficultforNorthernIrelandsinceithastheuksonlylandborderwiththeeu.Allsidesagreedthatahardnorth-southborderwithcustomscontrolsriskedupsettingthepeaceprocessthatculminatedintheGoodFridayAgreementof

1998.YetifBritainlefttheeussinglemarketandcustomsunionaborderhadtogosomewhere.BorisJohnsonoptedtotakeGreatBritainoutofthesinglemarketandcustomsunionbuttoleaveNorthernIrelandineffectinboth.Thatnecessitatedaneast-westborderintheIrishSeaevenifMrJohnsonpretendedotherwise.Whencontrolsweredulyimposedhewascharacteristicallyquicktodisavowhisdeal.Helaterbroughtinaparliamentarybilltoletthegovernmenttearuppartsoftheprotocolthatcreatedtheborder.IthasfallentoMrJohnsonssuccessor-but-oneRishiSunaktoclearupthismess.Heandtheeuhavebeensensiblypragmatic.TheWindsorframeworkhehasagreeduponwithUrsulavonderLeyentheEuropeanCommissionspresidenthugelysimplifiesthecustomscontrolsstillneeded.Asystemofgreenlanesfortrustedtraderswillminimisechecksongoodsnotintendedtomoveintotheeusinglemark^helpedbygrantingeuofficialsaccesstoreal-timetradedata.Andanew“Stormontbrakecreatesanemergencyguardagainstunwantedsingle-marketrulechangesinNorthernIrelandevenifitwillbehardtouseseeBritainsection.Becausethedealeliminatesmanyunnecessarychecksitwillbewelcomedbymanybusinessesandordinaryvotersintheprovince.YetBrexitideologuesintheConservativePartyalongwithmanyintheDemocraticUnionistPartydupareunhappybecauseMrSunakhasnotsecuredsignificantchangestothetreatytextandhasconcededthattheEuropeanCourtofJusticetheultimatearbiterofsingle-marketruleswillstillhavesomejurisdictioninNorthernIreland.HeisalsodroppingMrJohnsonsbilltoripuptheprotocol.Bothgroupsofopponentsshouldreconsider.HardlineTorympswhodislikeMrSunaksdealhavenotofferedaseriousalternative.Stickingwiththestatusquodisruptstradeandcouldtriggerrenewedlitigation.Persistingwiththebilltoallowunilateralrepudiationoftheprotocolwouldbreakinternationallawandenvenomalreadypoisonousrelationswiththeeu.ItishardertosatisfythedupwhichcomplainsaccuratelythattheprotocolputsbarriersbetweenNorthernIrelandandtherestoftheuk.Thatgavetheduptheexcusetoboycotttheprovince^power-sharingexecutive.YetitshouldberememberedthatBrexitwhichthedupbackedwasrejectedbyamajorityofNorthernIrishvoters.Mostsupportabetter-functioningprotocolthatgivesNorthernIrelandunfetteredaccesstotheeuandukmarkets.MrSunak*sdealdoesnotgivethedupallitwanted.Itcouldstillbeimprovedbyaveterinaryagreementwiththeeuthatwouldfurtherreducechecksonfood.Butifthepartyrejectsthedealitwillnotgetabetterone.Itshouldacceptthisasthebestavailable.Andthatshouldclearthewayforitsreturntothepower-sharingexecutive.MoreoverthedealisgoodforBritainasawhole.Armedwithhisprotocol-bustingbillMrJohnsonbelievedthathecouldtwisteuarms.InfactthepatientcollaborationbetweenMrSunakandthecommissionhasimproveduk-eurelationsmorebroadly.ThatwillallowBritaintobecomeanassociatememberoftheeusHorizonresearchprogramme.Itshouldbolstersecurityandforeign-policyco-operationsomethingthatmattersmoresinceVladimirPutinsinvasionofUkraineseeCharlemagne.BetterrelationswithFrancecouldevenboostbilateralco-operationtodetermigrantsfromcrossingthechannelinsmallboats.AndthedealwoulddomuchtorepairBritainsrelationswithAmericawhosepresidentcaresdeeplyaboutpeaceinNorthernIreland.WhenmpscometovoteonMrSunaksframeworktheyshouldwholeheartedlysupportit.■Passage4CashforclimateservicesPayinglocalstoconserverainforestsisessentialandpossibleProfitsfromchoppingdownrainforestsaresurprisinglymeagre.Thelandisnotparticularlyfertile.AfreshlyclearedhectareoftheAmazonfetchesanaveragepriceofonlyaround$

1200.Bycontrastthesocialcostsofclearingitareimmense.Some500tonnesofcarbondioxidearepumpedintotheatmosphere.Byaconservativeestimatethatdoes$25000ofharmbyacceleratingclimatechange.Yetstilltheworldstreesaredisappearing.Theareacoveredbyprimaryrainforesthasdwindledby

6.7%since

2000.Thesenselessdestructioncontinuesbecauseforthemenwieldingthechainsawsitisnotsenselessatall.Theyreceivetheprofits;thecostsaredispersedacrossall8bnpeopleontheplanet.Plainlyiftheownersoftherainforestwerepaidnottodestroyiteveryonewouldbebetteroff.TheworldwouldnodoubtalreadyhavefundedsuchadealwererainforestsinplaceswithclearpropertyrightsandafirmruleoflawseeInternationalsection.Alastheyarenot.Rulesagainstdeforestationareusuallystrictbutseldomenforced.ConsiderBrazil.UntilJanuaryithadapresidentJairBolsonarowhosidedwithillegalloggersandranchers.Hetorchedtheenvironmentministrysbudgetstoppedfiningforestcriminalsandtoldillegalminersonindigenousreserveshewouldlegalisetheirplunder.Onhiswatchthepaceofdeforestationroseby60%.VotershavereplacedMrBolsonarowithLuizInacioLuladaSilvaseeAmericassectionwhoispursuingeco-crimin-als.Butcatchingthemishard.Localofficialsareofteninleaguewiththeloggersandmaybeloggersthemselves.Localcommunitiesoftenresisttheforcesoflawandordersincetheyseemorebenefitfromdeforestationthanconservation.Theforestsremotenessmakesithardforpolicetopenetrate.Andlandtitlingisamess—inpartsoftheAmazonoverlappingclaimsadduptofiveorsixtimesthedisputedarea.Whenitisunclearwhoownsapieceoflanditisunclearwhomtopaytoconserveitorwhomtofinefordespoilingit.Similarobstaclesimpedeconservationelsewhere.ForestsintheCongobasinhavelongbeenprotectedbytheregionsdirepoverty.Unabletoaffordchainsawslocalfarmerschoptreesdownslowlyandlaboriouslybyhand.Butdeforestationisacceleratingandifitismechanisedbeforelocalgovernmentscanregulateitcalamitywillfollow.TheprospectsareespeciallygrimintheDemocraticRepublicofCongowherevasttractsofrainforestareoverrunbymilitiasandarealmostwhollylawless.ThepresidentsofBrazilIndonesiaandCongothethreecountrieswiththebiggestrainforestsareurgingrichcountriestobankrollconservation.FrancespresidentEmmanuelMacronco-hostingaforestsummitinGabonthisweekpromisedtodohisbit.Activistsandconsumerscanhelp:afteraconcertedcampaignfour-fifthsofIndonesianpalm-oil-refiningcapacityisnowforest-friendly.Butmoreeffortisurgentlyrequired.Leadershipmatters.LittleprogressispossiblewhencountrieswithrainforestsarerunbythelikesofMrBolsonaro.Yetevenunderbetterleaderssuchplaceswillstruggletoenforcetheirownlawsunlessthepeoplewholiveintheforestsseebenefitsinconservingthem.Thatwillrequireabigreliableflowofcashtomakerainforestsmorevaluableintactthanflattened.Thisshouldcomefromrich-countrygovernmentsandfromprivatefirmsbuyingcarboncreditstooffsettheirownemissions.Inthepastsuchflowshavebeentoosmallandill-designed.Ratherthanfinancinglotsofsmallprojectswhicharehardtomonitormoremoneyshouldgotopoliticalentitieslargeenoughtomakeadifferencesuchasstateorprovincialgovernments.Such“jurisdictionalcarboncreditscouldbeusedtoacceleratethetransitiontoagreenerlocaleconomytocleanuplocallandregistriesandtopoliceinfractions.Ifthereisenoughcashconditionallydisbursedlocalswillhavemoreincentivetoprotecttreesandlessinclinationtoelectenvironmentalrenegades.ByoneestimateSzobnayearwouldslowdeforestationsignificantly.Topreservesuchahugecarbonsink—nevermindthebiodiversityitcontains—thiswouldbeabargain.■考试大纲词汇和值得补充学习的考纲外词汇都已标出，大家打印阅读，复习词汇即可。