资源描述:
《1996-2009考研英语阅读原文原文答案》由会员上传分享,免费在线阅读,更多相关内容在教育资源-天天文库。
1、阅读(1996-2011)1999Passage1 It'saroughworldoutthere.Stepoutsideandyoucouldbreakalegslippingonyourdoormat.Lightupthestoveandyoucouldburndownthehouse.Luckily,ifthedoormatorstovefailedtowarnofcomingdisaster,asuccessfullawsuitmightcompensateyouforyourtroubles.Orsothe
2、thinkinghasgonesincetheearly1980s,whenjuriesbeganholdingmorecompaniesliablefortheircustomers'misfortunes. Feelingthreatened,companiesrespondedbywritingever-longerwarninglabels,tryingtoanticipateeverypossibleaccident.Today,stepladderscarrylabelsseveralincheslong
3、thatwarn,amongotherthings,thatyoumight—surprised!—falloff.Thelabelonachild'sBatmancapecautionsthatthetoy"doesnotenableusertofly."Whilewarningsareoftenappropriateandnecessary—thedangersofdruginteractions,forexample—andmanyarerequiredbystateorfederalregulations,it
4、isn'tclearthattheyactuallyprotectthemanufacturersandsellersfromliabilityifacustomerisinjured.About50percentofthecompanieslosewheninjuredcustomerstakethemtocourt. Nowthetideappearstobeturning.Aspersonalinjuryclaimscontinueasbefore,somecourtsarebeginningtosidewit
5、hdefendants,especiallyincaseswhereawarninglabelprobablywouldn'thavechangedanything.InMay,JulieNimmons,presidentofSchuttSportsinIllinois,successfullyfoughtalawsuitinvolvingafootballplayerwhowasparalyzedinagamewhilewearingaSchutthelmet."We'rereallysorryhehasbecome
6、paralyzed,buthelmetsaren'tdesignedtopreventthosekindsofinjuries,"saysNimmons.Thejuryagreedthatthenatureofthegame,notthehelmet,wasthereasonfortheathlete'sinjury.Atthesametime,theAmericanLawInstitute—agroupofjudges,lawyers,andacademicswhoserecommendationscarrysubs
7、tantialweight—issuednewguidelinesfortortlawstatingthatcompaniesneednotwarncustomersofobviousdangersorbombardthemwithalengthylistofpossibleones."Importantinformationcangetburiedinaseaoftrivialities,"saysalawprofessoratCornellLawSchoolwhohelpeddraftthenewguideline
8、s.Ifthemoderateendofthelegalcommunityhasitsway,theinformationonproductsmightactuallybeprovidedforthebenefitofcustomersandnotasprotectionagainstlegalliability.51.Whatw