1)

　　Helicoptersareveryconvenientfordroppingfreightbyparachute,butthissystemhasitsproblems.Somehowthelandingimpacthastobecushionedtogiveafoftlanding.Themovementtobeabsorbeddependsontheweightandthespeedsystemsbouncetheloadasitlands,sometimesturningitover.Toavoidthis,Bertin,developerofaerotrain,hascomeupwithanair-cushionsystemwhichassuresasafeandsoftlanding.

　　2)

　　Everyoneagreesthatwaterpollutionisaseriousproblemtoday.Oceans,lakes,andriversalloverthewordarebecomingpollutedwithgarbageanddangerouschemicals,Factoriescontributetotheproblembecausetheyrelyontheriversfordisposingofwastes.Oilandotherchemicalscankillfishandpeoplemakewaterbadfordrinking.Pollutedwaterishazardtoeveryone.Sincepeoplearedependentonwater,theyshouldbeinvolvedinfindingasolutiontothisproblem.

　　3)

　　Thethreatofimpendingfinancialdisasterconcentratespoliticalmindswonderfully.OnThursdayagroupofCongressionalleadersheardHankPaulson,theTreasurysecretary,andBenBernanke,theFederalReservechairman,paintadireeconomicscenarioiftheydidnotapproveamoresweepingremedyforthefinancialcrisis.Studentandcarloans,notjustmortgages,wouldallbehardertoget.Theeconomywouldsinkintoasevererecession.

　　Forthisreason,adhocresponseswillstillbecritical,suchlastweek’sfederalguaranteesformoney-marketfunds,Fedloanstobankstopurchaseasset-backedcommercialpaperand,onSunday,approvaloftheremainingtwobigindependentinvestmentbanks,MorganStanleyandGoldmanSachs,tobecomeFed-regulatedbankholdingcompanieswhoseinvestmentbankunitscannowborrowfromtheFedonthesametermsasotherbanks.

　　ItcouldbesometimebeforetheTreasuryisabletopurchasemortgagesenmasse,andlongerstillbeforethatstartstoaffectthebroaderfinancialsystemandeconomy.Inthemeantime,thecrisiscouldclaimothervictims.