In Crises, People Tend to Live, or Die, Together
Shankar Vedantam
1
How the disaster starts does not matter: It could be
a plane crashing into the World Trade Center, it could be
the sea receding rapidly ahead of an advancing tsunami,
it could be smoke billowing through a nightclub. Human
beings in New York, Sri Lanka and Rhode Island all do
the same thing in such situations. They turn to each
other. They talk. They hang around, trying to arrive at a
shared understanding of what is happening.
2
When we look back on such events with the benefit
of hindsight, this apparent inactivity can be horrifying.
“Get out now!” we want to scream at those people in the
upper stories of the South Tower of the World Trade
Center, as they huddle around trying to understand what
caused an explosion in the North Tower at 8:46 on a
Tuesday morning in September. “You only have 16
minutes before your exit will be cut off,” we want to tell
them. “Don’t try to understand what is happening. Just
go.”
3
Experts who study disasters are slowly coming to
realize that rather than try to change human behavior to
adapt to building codes and workplace rules, it may be
necessary to adapt technology and rules to human
behavior.
4
For all the disaster preparations put in place since
the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the behavior of people
confronted with ambiguous new information remains one
of the most serious challenges for disaster planners.
5
Computer models assume that people will flow out of
a building like water, emptying through every possible
exit. But the reality is far different. People talk. They
confer. They go back to their desk. They change their
mind. They try to exit the building the way they came in,
rather than through the nearest door.
6
Building engineers at the World Trade Center had
estimated that escaping people would move at a rate of
more than three feet per second. On Sept. 11, 2001,
said Jason Averill, an engineer at the National Institute
for Standards and Technology who studies human
behavior during evacuations, people escaped at only onefifth that speed. Although the towers were only one-third
to one-half full, the stairwells were at capacity, he said.
Had the buildings been full, Averill said, about 14,000
people would probably have died.
7
That is because the larger the group, the greater the
effort and time needed to build a common understanding
of the event and a consensus about a course of action,
said sociologist Benigno E. Aguirre of the University of
Delaware. If a single person in a group does not want to
take an alarm seriously, he or she can impede the escape
of the entire group.
8
The picture of what happened on Sept. 11 is very
different from conventional assumptions about crowd
behavior, in which it is assumed that people would push
each other out of the way to save their own lives. In
actuality, human beings in crisis behave more nobly —
and this could also be their undoing. People reach out
not only to build a shared understanding of the event but
also to help one another. In so doing, they may delay
their own escape.
9
This may be why groups often perish
or survive together — people are unwilling to escape if
someone they know and care about is left behind.
This may be why in fire disasters, Aguirre said, entire
families often perish. “The most important factor for
human beings is our affinitive behavior,” he said. “You
love your child and wife and parents; that is what makes
you human. In conditions of great danger, many people
continue to do that. . . . People will go back into the fire
to try to rescue loved ones.”
adapted from the Washington Post
Monday, September 11, 2006; Page A02
11 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
The main purpose of this text is to:
(A) present some safe ways of escaping catastrophic events.
(B) justify why human beings make fast decisions when they
face crises.
(C) report on people’s behavior when confronted with
disastrous situations.
(D) criticize computer models that cannot predict human
attitudes under stress.
(E) reveal that many people die in disasters because they
cannot find the right way out.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICO - MAIN PURPOSE IN THE TEXT :
• O principal objetivo deste texto é:
(A) present some safe ways of escaping catastrophic events.
• apresentar algumas maneiras seguras de escapar de eventos catastróficos.
(B) justify why human beings make fast decisions when they face crises.
• justificar por que os seres humanos tomam decisões rápidas quando enfrentam crises.
(C) report on people’s behavior when confronted with disastrous situations.
• relatar o comportamento das pessoas quando confrontadas com situações desastrosas.
(D) criticize computer models that cannot predict human attitudes under stress.
• criticar os modelos de computador que não podem prever as atitudes humanas sob estresse.
(E) reveal that many people die in disasters because they cannot find the right way out.
• revelar que muitas pessoas morrem em desastres porque não conseguem encontrar a saída certa.
12 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
According to the text, when a disaster takes place, human
beings:
(A) move fast, running at more than 3 feet per second.
(B) immediately try to find the nearest door to leave the
building.
(C) avoid talking to each other and making sense of what is
going on.
(D) go back to what they were doing and change their mind
about life.
(E) attempt to find their way out by leaving the site through
the same door they walked in.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito E
TÓPICO - IDEIA CONTEXTUAL ou INFORMAÇÃO DO TEXTO:
• De acordo com o texto, quando ocorre um desastre, OS SERES HUMANOS:
(A) move fast, running at more than 3 feet per second.
• movem-se rapidamente, correndo a mais de 3 pés por segundo.
(B) immediately try to find the nearest door to leave the building.
• imediatamente tentam encontrar a porta mais próxima para sair do prédio.
(C) avoid talking to each other and making sense of what is going on.
• os seres humanos evitam falar uns com os outros e entender o que está acontecendo.
(D) go back to what they were doing and change their mind about life.
• voltam ao que estavam fazendo e mudam de ideia sobre a vida.
(E) attempt to find their way out by leaving the site through the same door they walked in.
• os seres humanos tentam encontrar o caminho de saída saindo do local pela mesma porta por onde entraram.
13 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
In “It could be a plane crashing into the World Trade Center”
(lines 1-2), “could” can be correctly substituted by:
(A) might.
(B) must.
(C) had to.
(D) shall.
(E) ought to.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito A
TÓPICO - ESTRUTURA MODAL - "IT COULD BE":
• Em “It could be a plane crashing into the World Trade Center” (Podia ser um avião caindo no World Trade Center), “could” pode ser substituído corretamente por:
(A) might.
• No trecho dado, o modal “could” transmite ideia de possibilidade.
• “could” e "might" são intercambiáveis visto que ambos expressam ideia de possibilidade.
(B) must.
• "must" transmite ideia de obrigação.
(C) had to.
• "had to" transmite ideia de obrigação.
(D) shall.
• "shall" transmite ideia de intenção.
(E) ought to.
• "ought to" transmite ideia de sugestão, aconselhamento.
14 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
Mark the alternative that has a similar meaning to “rather
than” as in the sentence
“Experts … are slowly coming to
realize that rather than try to change human behavior to adapt
to building codes …” (lines 19-21 ).
(A) because of.
(B) instead of.
(C) even though.
(D) otherwise.
(E) despite.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito B
TÓPICO - PHRASE - "RATHER THAN":
• Marque a alternativa que tem um significado semelhante a “rather than” como na sentença “Experts … are slowly coming to realize that rather than try to change human behavior to adapt to building codes …” (Os especialistas ... estão lentamente percebendo que, em vez de tentar mudar o comportamento humano para se adaptar aos códigos de construção ).
(A) because of. (transmite ideia de explicação.)
(B) instead of.
• "instead of" (ao invés de) e "rather than" são phrases intercambiáveis porque ambas transmitem a ideia de PREFERÊNCIA (ao invés de, no lugar de, em vez de).
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
dictionary/english/rather-than?q=RATHER+THAN
(C) even though. (apesar de, embora - transmite ideia de concessão.)
(D) otherwise. (de outra forma, caso contrário - transmite ideia de contraste.)
(E) despite. (apesar de, embora - transmite ideia de concessão.)
15 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
“Had the buildings been full, … about 14,000 people would
probably have died.” (lines 42-43) means the same as:
(A) The buildings had been full of 14,000 dead people.
(B) Fourteen thousand people died because the buildings
were full.
(C) Though the buildings were full, about 14,000 people didn’t die.
(D) Had the buildings been filled with 14,000 people, no one
would have died.
(E) About fourteen thousand people could have been killed if
the buildings had been full.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito E
TÓPICO - OMISSÃO DE "IF" NA INVERSÃO:
• Vamos ao trecho do texto:
• "[...] Although the towers were only one-third to one-half full, the stairwells were at capacity, he said. Had the buildings been full, Averill said, about 14,000 people would probably have died."
• Embora as torres estivessem com apenas um terço a metade da capacidade, as escadarias estavam cheias, disse ele. Se os edifícios estivessem cheios, disse Averill, provavelmente cerca de 14.000 pessoas teriam morrido.
(A) The buildings had been full of 14,000 dead people.
• Os prédios estavam cheios de 14.000 mortos.
• Afirmativa (A) incorreta porque foi dito que se os edifícios estivessem cheios, provavelmente cerca de 14.000 pessoas teriam morrido.
(B) Fourteen thousand people died because the buildings were full.
• Quatorze mil pessoas morreram porque os prédios estavam lotados.
• Afirmativa (B) incorreta porque foi dito que se os edifícios estivessem cheios, provavelmente cerca de 14.000 pessoas teriam morrido.
(C) Though the buildings were full, about 14,000 people didn’t die.
• Embora os edifícios estivessem lotados, cerca de 14.000 pessoas não morreram.
(D) Had the buildings been filled with 14,000 people, no one would have died.
• Se os prédios estivessem ocupados com 14.000 pessoas, ninguém teria morrido.
(E) About fourteen thousand people could have been killed if the buildings had been full.
• Cerca de quatorze mil pessoas poderiam ter morrido se os prédios estivessem lotados.
• NOTA IMPORTANTE:
1) Em inglês, a omissão de IF por Inversão é feita eliminando o IF e colocando os auxiliares were, had ou should antes do sujeito.
16 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
Mark the only alternative that includes a comment that the
sociologist Benigno E. Aguirro did NOT make.
(A) One single person can stop everyone else from escaping
a disaster.
(B) In the case of a critical event, large groups will take more
time to decide what to do to escape the situation.
(C) It takes a lot of effort and time for a group to react together
in a crisis.
(D) Thousands of people were reported to run away without
looking back or helping others during the September 11
attack.
(E) People’s reaction during the September 11 attack
contradicted what one would normally believe would
happen in such events.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito D
TÓPICO - INFORMAÇÃO DO TEXTO:
• Marque a única alternativa que inclui um comentário que o sociólogo Benigno E. Aguirro NÃO fez.
(A) One single person can stop everyone else from escaping a disaster.
• Uma única pessoa pode impedir que todas as outras escapem de um desastre.
(B) In the case of a critical event, large groups will take more time to decide what to do to escape the situation.
• No caso de um evento crítico, grandes grupos levarão mais tempo para decidir o que fazer para escapar da situação.
(C) It takes a lot of effort and time for a group to react together in a crisis.
• É preciso muito esforço e tempo para um grupo reagir junto em uma crise.
(D) Thousands of people were reported to run away without looking back or helping others during the September 11 attack.
• Milhares de pessoas fugiram sem olhar para trás ou ajudar outras pessoas durante o ataque de 11 de setembro.
(E) People’s reaction during the September 11 attack contradicted what one would normally believe would happen in such events.
• A reação das pessoas durante o ataque de 11 de setembro contradiz o que normalmente se acreditaria que aconteceria em tais eventos.
17 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
The text arguments that “human beings in crisis behave more
nobly” (line 55) since:
(A) groups often perish together.
(B) they do everything wrong.
(C) people care about others in the same situation.
(D) they are willing to escape the scene immediately.
(E) some people choose to abandon the relatives they cannot
save.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICO - INFORMAÇÃO DO TEXTO:
• O texto argumenta que “human beings in crisis behave more nobly”(os seres humanos em crise se comportam de maneira mais nobre), uma vez que:(A) groups often perish together.
• grupos muitas vezes morrem juntos.
(B) they do everything wrong.
• eles fazem tudo errado.
(C) people care about others in the same situation.
• as pessoas se preocupam com outras na mesma situação.
(D) they are willing to escape the scene immediately.
• eles estão dispostos a escapar da cena imediatamente.
(E) some people choose to abandon the relatives they cannot save.
• algumas pessoas optam por abandonar os parentes que não podem salvar.
18 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
Check the only option that indicates the appropriate
reference.
(A) “It” (line 2) refers to “tsunami”.
(B) “They” (line 13 ) refers to “upper stories”.
(C) “Which” (line 53) refers to “assumptions”.
(D) “This” (line 56 ) refers to “crisis”.
(E) “That” (line 65 ) refers to “perish”.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito C
TÓPICO - REFERÊNCIA PRONOMINAL:
• Marque a única opção que indica a referência apropriada.
(A) “It” (line 2) refers to “tsunami”.
(B) “They” (line 13 ) refers to “upper stories”.
(C) “Which” (line 53) refers to “assumptions”.
(D) “This” (line 56 ) refers to “crisis”.
(E) “That” (line 65 ) refers to “perish”.
19 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
Mark the only correct statement, according to the meaning
of the words in the text.
(A) “Shared” (line 8) and “detailed” are synonyms.
(B) “Huddle” (line 13) could be substituted by “gather”.
(C) “Assume” (line 28) and “doubt” have the same meaning.
(D) “Impede” (line 49) and “block” are antonyms.
(E) “Conventional” (line 52) and “traditional” have opposite
meanings.
👍 Comentários e Gabarito B
TÓPICO - VOCABULARY:
• Marque a única afirmação correta, de acordo com o significado das palavras no texto.
(A) “Shared” (line 8) and “detailed” are synonyms.
(B) “Huddle” (line 13) could be substituted by “gather”.
(C) “Assume” (line 28) and “doubt” have the same meaning.
(D) “Impede” (line 49) and “block” are antonyms.
(E) “Conventional” (line 52) and “traditional” have opposite meanings.
20 – (PUC/Rio-2007-VESTIBULAR-GRUPOS 1, 3 e 4)
Check the only item in which the phrasal verb in bold type
has the same meaning as the verb in italics.
(A) “They hang around, trying to arrive at a shared
understanding of what is happening” (lines 7-8) – escape.
(B) “When we look back on such events …, this apparent
inactivity can be horrifying”. (lines 9-10) – admire.
(C) “You only have 16 minutes before your exit will be cut
off” (lines 15-16 ) – opened.
(D) “Computer models assume that people will flow out of a
building like water …” (lines 28-29 ) – invade.
(E) “People reach out not only to build a shared
understanding of the event but also to help one another.”
(lines 56-58) – communicate
👍 Comentários e Gabarito E
TÓPICO - PHRASAL VERBS:
• Marque o único item em que o verbo frasal em negrito tem o mesmo significado do verbo em itálico.
(A) “They hang around, trying to arrive at a shared understanding of what is happening” (lines 7-8) – escape.
• "to hang around"(perambular, andar por aí) e "to escape"(escapar, fugir) expressam significados diferentes.
• They hang around, trying to arrive at a shared understanding of what is happening.
• Eles ficam perambulando, tentando chegar a um entendimento comum do que está acontecendo.
(B) “When we look back on such events …, this apparent inactivity can be horrifying”. (lines 9-10) – admire.
(C) “You only have 16 minutes before your exit will be cut off” (lines 15-16 ) – opened.
(D) “Computer models assume that people will flow out of a building like water …” (lines 28-29 ) – invade.
(E) “People reach out not only to build a shared understanding of the event but also to help one another.” (lines 56-58) – communicate
• People reach out not only to build a shared understanding of the event but also to help one another.
• As pessoas comunicam não apenas para construir uma compreensão compartilhada do evento, mas também para ajudar umas às outras.
