The idea of “law” exists in every culture. All societies have some kind of law

  The idea of “law” exists in every culture. All societies have some kind of law

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  The idea of “law” exists in every culture. All societies have some kind of law to keep order and to control the interactions of people with those around them. The laws of any culture tell people three things: what they can do (their right), what they must do (their duties), and what they may not do. In addition, there are usually specific types of punishment for those who break the law.
Although all societies have laws, not all have the same idea of justice—which is “right” and “wrong” and how “wrong” should be punished. In most Western cultures, it is thought that punishing criminals will prevent them from committing other crimes. Also, it is hoped that the fear of punishment will act as a deterrent(威慑) that prevents other people from committing similar crimes; in other words, people who are considering a life of crime will decide against it because of fear of punishment. In most non-Western cultures, by contrast, punishment is not seen as a deterrent. Instead, great importance is placed on restoring balance in the situation. A thief, for example, may be ordered to return the things he has stolen instead of, as in Western societies, spending time in prison.
Another difference in the concept of justice lies in various societies’ ideas of what laws are. In the West, people consider “laws” quite different from “customs”. There is also a great contrast between “sins” (breaking religious laws) and “crimes” (breaking laws of the government). In many non-Western cultures, on the other hand, there is little separation of customs, laws, and religious beliefs; in other cultures, these three may be quite separate from one another, but still very much different from those in the West. For these reasons, an action may be considered a crime in one country, but be socially acceptable in others. For instance, although a thief is viewed as a criminal in much of the world, in a small village where there is considerable communal(公共的) living and sharing of objects, the word thief may have little meaning. Someone who has taken something without asking is simply considered an impolite person.
Most countries have two kinds of law: criminal and civil. People who have been accused of acts such as murder or theft are heard in the criminal justice system, while civil justice deals with people who are believed to have violated others’ rights. The use of the civil system reflects the values of the society in which it exists. In the United States where personal, individual justice is considered very important, civil law has become “big business.” There are over 600,000 lawyers in the United States, and many of them keep busy with civil lawsuits; that is, they work for people who want to sue others. If a man falls over a torn rug in a hotel and breaks his arm, for instance, he might decide to sue the hotel owners so that they will pay his medical costs. In a country like Japan, by contrast, there is very little use of the civil justice system. Lawsuits are not very popular in Japan, where social harmony is even more important than individual rights, and where people would rather reach agreement outside court.
小题1: The main point of paragraph 1 is that____.
A.all societies, Western or non-Western, have some kind of law to keep order.
B.most countries in the world have two kinds of law “criminal and civil ”
C.there are usually specific types of punishment for those who break the law.
D.the laws of any culture dictate people’s rights, duties and what they are not supposed to do
小题2: Which is TRUE in most Western cultures?
A.Punishment has double functions.
B.A thief may be referred to as an impolite person.
C.Punishment is not regarded as a deterrent.
D.There is lots of communal living and sharing of objects.
小题3:Which statement is NOT true according to the article?
A.In the West, people think laws and customs are rather different.
B.In the West, there is little difference between “sins” and “crimes”.
C.An action that is considered a crime in one country may be socially acceptable in another.
D.There is far less use of the civil justice system in Japan than in the United States.
小题4:Which of the following cases are not heard in the criminal justice system?
A.Robbing a pedestrian.B.Kidnapping people for ransom.
C.Breaking into a bank.D.Failing to pay back the money.

答案

小题1:D
小题1:A
小题1:B
小题1:D
解析

举一反三
When you think of the tremendous technological progress we have made, it’s amazing how little we have developed in other respects. We may speak scornfully of the poor old Romans because they enjoyed the seemingly excited killing that went on in their arenas(竞技场). We may despise them because they mistook these goings on for entertainment. We may forgive them because they lived 2000 years ago and obviously knew no better. But are our feelings of superiority(优越)really justified? Are we any less blood-thirsty? Why do boxing matches, for instance, attract such universal interest? Don’t the audience who attend them hope they will see some violence? Human beings remain as bloodthirsty as ever they were. The only difference between ourselves and the Romans is that while they were honest enough to admit that they enjoyed watching hungry lions tearing people apart and eating them alive, we find all sorts of arguments to defend sports which should have been banned long ago.
  It really is incredible that in this day and age we should still allow hunting or bull-fighting, that we should be prepared to sit back and watch two men punch each other in a boxing ring, that we should be relatively unmoved by the sight of one or a number of racing cars crashing and bursting into flames. Any talk of ‘the sporting spirit’ is merely hypocrisy(虚伪). People take part in violent sports because of the high rewards they bring. Audience are willing to pay vast sums of money to see violence. A world heavyweight championship match, for instance, is front page news. Millions of people are disappointed if a big fight is over in two rounds instead of fifteen. They feel disappointment because they haven’t experienced the exquisite pleasure of witnessing continuous violence.
  Why should we ban violent sports if people enjoy them so much? You may well ask. The answer is simple: they are uncivilized. For centuries man has been trying to improve himself spiritually and emotionally—though with little success. But at least we no longer tolerate the sight madmen imprisoned in cages, or public punishment of any of the countless other barbarous (野蛮的) practices which were common in the past. Prisons are no longer the harsh forbidding places they used to be. Social welfare systems are in operation in many parts of the world. Big efforts are being made to distribute wealth fairly. These changes have come about not because human beings have suddenly improved, but because positive steps were taken to change the law. The law is the biggest instrument of social change that we have and it may exert great civilizing influence. If we banned dangerous and violent sports, we would be moving one step further to improving mankind. We would recognize that violence is unworthy of human beings.
小题1:It can be inferred from the passage that the author’s opinion of nowadays’ human beings is ________________
A.not very high.B.high.C.scornful.D.neutral
小题2:Why does the author mention the old Romans in this article?
A.To reveal that the old Romans first started violent sports.
B.To prove that the old Romans were not civilized.
C.To show human beings in the past knew nothing better.
D.To indicate human beings today are as bloodthirsty as the old Romans.
小题3:How many dangerous sports does the author mention in this passage?
A.Three.B.Four.C.Five.D.Six.
小题4:     What does the author want to illustrate in this article?
A. By banning the violent sports, we human beings can improve ourselves.
B. By banning the dangerous sports, we can improve the law.
C. We must take positive steps to improve social welfare system.
D. Law is the main instrument of social change.

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      Imagine, one day,getting out of bed in Beijing and being at your office in Shanghai in only a couple of hours,and then,after a full day of work,going back home to Beijing and having dinner there.
Sounds unusual,doesn"t it? But it"s not that unrealistic,with the development of China’s high-speed railway system.And that’s not all.China has an even greater high-speed railway plan — to connect the country with Southeast Asia,and eventually Eastern Europe.
China is negotiating to extend its own high-speed railway network to up to 17 countries in 10 to 15 years,eventually reaching London and Singapore.
China has proposed three such projects.The first would possibly connect Kunming with Singapore via Vietnam and Malaysia.Another could start in Urumqi and go through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,and possibly to Germany.The third would start in the northeast and go north through Russia and then into Western Europe.
If China’s plan for the high-speed railway goes forward,people could zip over from London to Beijing in under two days.
The new system would still follow China’s high-speed railway standard.And the trains would be able to go 346 kilometers an hour,almost as fast as some airplanes.
China’s bullet train(高速客车),the one connecting Wuhan to Guangzhou,already has the World’s fastest average speed.It covers 1,069 kilometers in about three hours.
Of course,there are some technical challenges to overcome.There are so many issues that need to be settled,such as safety,rail gauge(轨距),maintenance of railway tracks.So,it’s important to pay attention to every detail.
But the key issue is really money.China is already spending hundreds of billions of yuan on domestic railway expansion.
China prefers that the other countries pay in natural resources rather than with capital investment.Resources from those countries could stream into China to sustain development.
It’ll be a win-win project.For other countries,the railway network will definitely create more opportunities for business,tourism and so on,not to mention the better communication among those countries.
For China,such a project would not only connect it with the rest of Asia and bring some much-needed resources,but would also help develop China’s far west.We foresee that in the coming decades,millions of people will migrate to the western regions,where the land is empty and resources unused.With high-speed trains,people will set up factories and business centers in the west once and for all.And they’ll trade with Central Asian and Eastern European countries.
小题1:China’s new high-speed railway plan will be a win-win project because ________.
A.China will get much-needed resources and develop its western regions
B.China and the countries involved will benefit from the project in various ways
C.China will develop its railway system and communication with other countries
D.the foreign countries involved will develop their railway transportation, business and tourism
小题2:According to the passage,the greatest challenge to the new high-speed railway plan is ________.
A.technical issuesB.safety of the system
C.financial problemsD.maintenance of railway tracks
小题3:Which of the following words best describes the author’s attitude towards China’s high-speed railway plan?
A.Critical.B.Reserved.C.Doubtful.D.Positive.
小题4:Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.New Railway Standards.B.Big Railway Dreams.
C.High-speed Bullet Trains. D.International Railway Network

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When you visit America, you will see the word Motel on signs and notice boards. It is made up of “motor” and “hotel” and it is really a hotel for people who arrive by car (how-ever, you don’t need a car to stay at one). You have to pay when you arrive for your room, which usually has a bath. Meals are not provided, but there will certainly be a cafeteria (自助餐馆). Americans eat a lot of salads and sandwiches. Along the main roads there are a lot of motels. Each tries to offer more than next. Some provide television in every bedroom; others have swimming pools; and so on. Motels are especially useful when you are in the country, far from a town or city. You will also find them in the big National Parks.
In these great National Parks, you may meet guests you don’t expect to see. An American friend told me a little story. In the middle of a moonless night she heard strange noises outside her motel window in the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Thinking it might be a thief, she jumped out of bed, opened the door and crept towards a dark shadow. As she got close, she saw the thief. She was dreadfully frightened: it wasn’t a human thief — it was a big black bear. The bear was turning over some empty tins with its paw, looking for tasty bits of food. My friend decided to leave that particular thief alone!
There are also, of course, places called “rooming houses”,  where they receive lodgers (房客). You will see such signs as Tourists or Rooms Rent, and you could try one of these. A word of warning — looking for a room in New York during the tourist season is like looking for gold on the moon! 
小题1:Which of the following is TRUE about motels?
A.You can only find motels in the big National Parks.
B.They are free for people who arrive by car.
C.If you want to stay at a motel, you must have a car.
D.The word “motel” is formed by two words.
小题2:Which of the following is NOT provided by motels?
A.Baths.B.Swimming pools.
C.TV.D.Meals.
小题3:The underlined word “crept” in the second paragraph probably means “______”.
A.moved slowlyB.rushed out
C.threw awayD.ran fast
小题4:The second paragraph mainly tells us ______.
A.an interesting story
B.the experience of the author’s friend
C.we may meet animals in the National Parks
D.bears usually look for food at night
小题5:From the last paragraph, we can learn that in New York during the tourist season ______.
A.tourists can find gold there
B.tourists can have a sweet dream there
C.it is difficult to find a room there
D.there is warning for tourists to New York

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According to legend, the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy, which connects the Palazzo Ducale to an ancient prison, got its name because the walk across it gave prisoners on their way to jail a final chance to appreciate the beauty of the city.
The view from the bridge today, however, is more likely to be of a giant billboard selling Bulgari or Coca – cola. Beyond the billboards, monuments are being restored. The money comes from advertising profits.
But when the Coke billboards went up this summer on buildings near the Piazza San Marco, which is at the historic heart of Venice, there was a public debate.
“We can’t commercialize everything,” said Alessandra Mottola Molfino, a Venetian. “The lesson that goes out is that a price is for everything.”
“We couldn’t stay quiet,” said Maria Camilla Bianchini d’Alberigo, president of a heritage protection association. “Too much is too much.”
There needed to be rules, she added, rules that prevent the advertising billboards clashing (冲突) with the monuments of the city.
City of officials, however, argue that without these ads, the city could not afford to maintain its heritage. Many have been damaged by centuries of wear and are even a threat to public safety.
“I can’t turn down the image of bottle when there are pieces of the Palazzo Ducale falling to the ground,” said Renata Codello, a Cultrue Ministry official.
The Culture Minister has a budget of about $ 47 million (315 million yuan) for restoration of monuments, but Italy has a rich architectural heritage, and funds are always tight.Of that amount,
$ 1.8 million was given to the entire Vector region,  which includes Venice.
Two years ago, the city signed an agreement with the Dotter Group, a company responsible for the restoration of the Bridge of Sighs and the Palazzo Ducale.It allows it to sell ad space.
But there is a condition in the agreement: The ads should not offend public taste,
In August, Venice banned US actress Julianne Moore"s Bulgrari ad from a billboard in the Piazza San Marco.
The photo shows a naked Moore covered with lion cubs, handbags and jewelry, Mayor Giorgio Orsoni called the image too racy (猥亵) and unsuitable for the Piazza San Marco.
"I take account of the fact that Venice is part of the real world… but we cannot accept these Hollywood-style images.There arc intelligent sponsors, and we need to come up with advertising that suits Venice, not Times Square," he said in a speech.
小题1:The article is mainly about        in Venice
A.restoration of cultural heritage
B.widespread commercialization
C.the conflict between ads and cultural heritage
D.the difficulty of restoring monuments
小题2:In the first paragraph, the beautiful view from the Bridge of Sighs is mentioned to      .
A.introduce other monuments of the ancient city
B.show how much many ancient structures need restoring
C.indicate that the view is blocked by huge ads
D.create interest in the famous city
小题3:From the article we can conclude that Rcnata Codello        the advertising.
A.is in favor ofB.is worried about
C.objects to D.doesn"t mind
小题4:Why do many Venetians complain about the ads?
A.They are intolerant of commercialization.
B.They feel the ads are damaging the city.
C.The ads are usually racy and in an American style.
D.The ads don"t present a traditional view of Venice,
小题5:It can be inferred from the passage that
A.Hollywood stars" ads cannot go up in Venice
B.the mayor of Venice is expecting new advertising
C.the Dotter Group may stop its restoration work for lack of funds
D.people can buy Bulgaria or Coca-cola on the Bridge of Sighs

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阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从1—15各题所给的A、B、C和D项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In every cultivated language there are two greet classes of words which, taken together, comprise the whole vocabulary. First, there are those words  1  which we become acquainted in daily conversation, which we   2  ,that is to say, from the    3  of our own family and from our familiar associates, and   4  we should know and use we could not read or write. They    5  the common things of life, and are the stock in trade of all who    6  the language. Such words may be called “popular”, since they belong to the people    7   and are not the exclusive of a limited class. On the other hand, our language   9   a multitude of words which are comparatively used in ordinary conversation. Their meanings are known to every educated person, but there is little    10   to use them at home or in the market-place. Our    11   acquaintance with them comes not from our mother"s or from the talk of our school-mates, from books that we read, lectures that we    12   ,or the more    13   conversation of highly educated speakers who are discussing some particular    14  in a style appropriately elevated above the habitual of everyday life. Such words are called “learned”, and the    15   between them and the “popular” words is of great importance to a right understanding of linguistic process.
小题1:
A.atB.withC.byD.through
小题2:
A.study B.imitateC.stimulateD.learn
小题3:
A.matesB.relativesC.membersD.fellows
小题4:
A.whichB.thatC.thoseD.ones
小题5:
A.mind B.concernC.careD.involve
小题6:
A.hireB.apply C.adopt D.use
小题7:
A.in publicB.at mostC.at largeD.at best
小题8:
A.consistsB.comprisesC.constitutesD.composes
小题9:
A.seldomB.much C.never D.often
小题10:
A.prospectB.wayC.reasonD.necessity
小题11:
A.primaryB.firstC.principalD.prior
小题12:
A.hear ofB.attendC.hear fromD.listen
小题13:
A.formerB.formulaC.formalD.formative
小题14:
A.themeB.topic C.ideaD.point
小题15:
A.diversionB.distinctionC.diversityD.similarity

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