Intellectuals at peace with their era found a justification for great wealth and even dubious business ethics in a series of books, essays, and lectures by the British philosopher Herbert Spencer. Because Spencer seemed to apply Charles Darwin's celebrated theory of biological evolution to human society, his philosophy is known as social Darwinism. According to Spencer, as in the world of animals
and plants, where species compete and those best adapted survive, the fittest people rise to the top in the social competition for riches. Eventually, in the dog-eat-dog world, they alone survive. "If they are sufficiently complete to live," Spencer wrote, "they do live, and it is well that they should live. If they are not sufficiently complete to live, they die and it is best that they should die." The tough-mindedness of social Darwinism made Spencer immensely popular among American businessmen who were as proud of their practicality as of their success. An Englishman, Spencer was never as celebrated in his own country as he was in the United States. Although a vain man, he was mortified by the adulation heaped on him at banquets sponsored by American academics and rich businessmen. Social Darwinism accounted for brutal business practices and underhanded methods with a shrug, justifying them as "natural," the law of the jungle. The language of social Darwinism crept into the vocabulary of businessmen and politicians who represented business interests. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. described the growth of a large business as "the survival of the fittest." But neither he nor many other American millionaires were true social Darwinists. The very ruthlessness of the theory—"Nature, red in tooth and claw"—made it unpalatable to men and women like the Rockefellers, who, in their personal lives, were deeply committed to traditional religious values. Moreover, businessmen are rarely intellectuals, and Spencer's philosophy and writing style were as murky as crude oil. Understanding him demanded careful study, for which businessmen rarely had time. Spencer's explanation of the new society was most influential among intellectuals who wanted to snuggle up to the rich. According to the passage, American businessmen were
a. practical.
b. vain.
c. intellectual.
d. religious.
a
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Las finanzas personales. Joaquín does not know how to manage his money.Help him by answering the following questions. ¿Para qué se usa un cajero automático? ? __________________________________________________________________________
What will be an ideal response?
El uso reflexivo para eventos inesperados. Completa el párrafo con las formas correctas de los verbos entre paréntesis en el pretérito. No olvides incluir el pronombre se para indicar sucesos no planeados. La semana pasada fue una semana terrible para mi familia. A mí (1) _________________________ (perder) las llaves y (2) _____________________ (acabar) la gasolina cuando iba a la universidad. A mi hermano (3) _______________________ (caer) la laptop al suelo. A mi hermana (4) _________________________ (olvidar) la tarea. A mi papá (5) ____________________ (perder) la billetera y (6) ____________________ (romper) los anteojos (glasses). A mis abuelos (7) _________________________ (descomponer) el coche. Y finalmente, a mi mamá y a mí (8) ________________________ (romper) cinco
platos.(4) Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Identifique si los pronombres personales directos e indirectos en negrilla se refieren a él, ella, ellos, ellas, usted o ustedes.
1. Le dije a Martín que le devolviera el dinero a Laura, pero al final lo guardó para sí. ________ 2. Siempre deberías decirles la verdad a tus padres. ________ 3. Debo recordarles que aquí no se puede fumar. Por favor, apaguen sus cigarrillos. ________ 4. A tus hermanas les hace más falta la ayuda que a tus amigos. ________ 5. Me alegro mucho de verla, doña Esperanza. Gracias por su visita. ________
What is the tone of this cartoon?
a. humorous b. political c. fiscal