What is freedom? It seems like such a simple question. Freedom is being able to
题型：不详难度：来源：
What is freedom? It seems like such a simple question. Freedom is being able to do what you want to do. Allow me to explain it.
I’m tired of working for a living. I’d rather collect taxes. So that’s what I’m going to do: collect a kind of tax. You are ordered to estimate your income from the past 12 months, and write me a check for 1%. I have provided a mailing address for this purpose on my contact page …
What? You have a problem with my plan? Oh, I see. If you have to send me a check for the tax, then I have hurt your freedom to spend that money as you see fit. We have a conflict! And our basic problem is: we cannot enjoy freedom at the same time; we must settle for a limit. But what limit?
Libertarians (自由论者) believe freedom should be based on self-control. They describe freedom as being able to do what you want to do as long as it doesn’t influence the equal right of others to do what they want to do. That is, freedom is being able to do what you like as long as you do not harm another person’s life, liberty or property.
You can build a set of legal and ethical (道德的) rules on the principle of self-control, and libertarians do. Their request for self-control often becomes more important than common sense, or even freedom itself.
The definition rules out the freedom to steal, murder, and so on. Otherwise, you can do whatever you want. There is no problem until you realize that taxation is theft, that war is murder, and that national service is a form of slavery. Since only the government has a legal right to use force, libertarians focus on making the government smaller, or even going without it. The libertarians’ definition of freedom is thus freedom from the government. Isn’t it ridiculous?
小题1:According to the first three paragraphs, the author’s idea of collecting taxes is _________.| A．reasonable | B．responsible | C．unacceptable | D．understandable |
小题2:The author takes tax-collecting as an example in the passage to prove that freedom is _________.| A．unreal | B．unbelievable | C．achievable | D．limited |
小题3:In the opinion of libertarians, freedom is realized mainly by _________.| A．the law | B．self-control | C．ethical rules | D．common sense |
小题4:Which of the following statements is supported by libertarians according to the passage?| A．National service should be canceled. | | B．People can do whatever they want. | | C．The government should have more power. | | D．They should be governed by the government. |
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答案
小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:B
小题4:A |
解析
每个人都渴望自由，有些人希望得到无限制的自由，但是这种自由可取么？
小题1:根据文中的信息作出判断推理。依据文章前三段内容可知，随意对别人征税被认为侵犯了别人的自由，当然是不被接受的。
小题2:根据文中的信息作出判断推理。本文用征税为例，目的是为了说明自由是有限制的，故答案为D。
小题3:理解文中具体信息。根据第四段Libertarians believe freedom should be based on self-control可知，答案为B。
小题4:理解文中具体信息。根据最后一段 … and that national service is a form of slavery可知，根据自由论者所谓的自由，国家的公共服务就成了奴役行为，因此应该废除。 |
举一反三
The key to a good interpersonal relationship is simple once you understand the role that needs play in making a relationship weak, moderate, average, or strong.
A person who fails in a relationship is someone who neglects the needs of his or her partner. So the first step to establish a successful relationship is to find out what needs the other person has. It is also very important to understand your own needs so that you can help the other person in the relationship to meet your needs.
Unfortunately, not only do many people fail to see or to understand their partner’s needs, but they do not understand their own. Children have wonderful relationships with their parents as long as their needs are being satisfied. When the needs are not satisfied, the relationship changes and problems arise. As a child grows, needs change; it is necessary that parents recognize these changes. As it is with the child to the parents, it is also with the parents to the child.
The way to recognize the needs of other people is by their responses to you. When you do or say something and you get a positive response, you are well on the way to being recognized. The same goes for you. What is it that you respond to in a positive manner? What do you feel good about getting and about doing? What are you totally guiltless about? What can you do with complete confidence and fearlessness? What emotional scene can you control without fear or guilt? Look in these areas for your needs and you will in all probability find your answers.
As stated, our own needs are often hidden. The techniques covered in the power of self-mind control will allow you to discover your needs and show you who you are in regard to interpersonal relationships. Your effectiveness in influencing and dealing with people will greatly increase the power of self-mind control.
小题1:From the passage we learn that ________.| A．it is hard to make good interpersonal relationships | | B．there are several levels of relationships among people | | C．the success of different interpersonal relationships can be measured by needs | | D．the first step to establish a successful relationship is to know your own needs |
小题2:According to Paragraph 2, the most important factor in dealing with people is to ________.| A．be kind to them and help them | | B．only think of their needs | | C．find out both your needs and theirs | | D．learn some interpersonal techniques |
小题3:Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage? | A．A child’s needs change with his growth. | | B．A child should also know his parents’ needs. | | C．It’s easier to find your own needs than to find others’. | | D．You can learn what others need by their responses to you. |
小题4:The last two paragraphs are written mainly to tell us ________.| A．why some people fail in a relationship | | B．how to increase the power of self-mind control | | C．why our needs are often hidden | | D．how to recognize others’ needs and yours |
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Insurance companies provide a service to the community by protecting it against expected and unexpected disasters. Before an insurance company will agree to insure anything, it collects accurate figures about the risk. It knows, for example, that the risk of a man being killed in a plane accident is less than the risk he takes in crossing a busy road. This enables it to quote(报价) low figures for travel insurance. Sometimes the risk may be high, as in motor-racing or mountaineering. Then the company charges a much higher price. If too many climbers have accidents, the price rises further. If the majority of climbers fall off mountains, the company will refuse to insure them.
An ordinary householder may wish to protect his home against fire or his property against burglary(入室行窃). A shopkeeper may wish to insure against theft. In normal cases, the company will check its statistics and quote a premium(保险费). If it is suspicious(可疑的), it may refuse to quote. If it insures a shop and then receives a suspicious claim, it will investigate the claim as a means of protecting itself against false claims. It is not unknown for a businessman in debt to burn down his own premises so that he can claim much money from his insurance company. He can be sure that the fire will be investigated most carefully. Insurance companies also accept insurance against shipwreck or disaster in the air. Planes and ships are very expensive, so a large premium is charged, but a reduction is given to companies with an accident-free record.
Every week, insurance companies receive premium payments from customers. These payments can form a very large total running into millions of dollars. The company does not leave the money in the bank. It invests (投资) in property, shares (股票) ,farms and even paintings and stamps. Its aim is to obtain the best possible return on its investment. This is not as greedy as it may seem since this is one way by which it can keep its premiums down and continue to make a profit while being of service to the community.
小题1: The main idea of the first paragraph is that .| A．insurance companies protect the community against disasters | | B．insurance companies often collect accurate figures about the risk | | C．insurance companies base their decisions on the risk involved | | D．insurance companies charge different prices in the same cases |
小题2:The insurance company will usually investigate a suspicious claim to .| A．refuse to quote the insurance fee | B．make sure that the claim is reasonable | | C．decide how much the company should pay | D．find out when the accident happened |
小题3:The underlined word "premises" in Paragraph 2 most probably means" "| A．land and buildings | B．insurance contract | | C．debt papers | D．financial papers |
小题4:The author’s attitude towards customers’ premium payments being used by insurance companies is __| A．critical | B．doubtful | C．neutral | D．positive |
小题5:The purpose of this passage is to __| A．explain how insurance companies operate | | B．encourage people to invest in insurance companies | | C．persuade people to insure against unexpected disasters | | D．advise people how to insure their life and property |
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In some remote Turkish village of Kuskoy, whistling is as important as talking．In fact, whistling is talking because the villagers speak and sing by whistling．Kuskoy parents begin to teach their boys and girls the language of whistling about the time the children learn to talk．It is considered so important that the village school includes it as one of the subjects taught along with the Turkish language.
This art of communication has taken centuries to develop．The village of Kuskoy spreads out across two hillsides that are separated by a deep valley．The villagers had to find an easy way to communicate where their voices couldn’t carry．They developed a high-pitched (高音的) whistle language that could be transmitted as far as five miles through air．As a result, Kuskoy, which means “bird village” in Turkish, has come to be known as a whistler’s paradise (乐园).
Whistling is so much part of everyday life in Kuskoy that men and women speak, argue, and court (求爱) in whistles．The story was recently told of a young couple who ran away secretly．The news was sent over the “mountain telephone” by whistling．The lover’s adventure was quickly known to all the villagers.
It is little wonder, then, that the children of Kuskoy study whistling in school．Wouldn’t it be fun to start the school day with a song—whistled of course!
小题1:The children of Kuskoy learn to whistle because __ _．| A．it is fun | B．it is an important way to communicate | | C．it helps them learn to sing | D．it is like the Turkish language |
小题2:In Kuskoy, whistling as a way of talking started __ _．| A．recently | B．hundreds of years ago | | C．fifty years ago | D．ten years ago |
小题3:Which one of the following statements is true according to the passage?| A．The high-pitched whistle can be heard at a distance of 5 km. | | B．The parents were too ready to allow the young couple to marry each other. | | C．The villagers found an easy way to communicate where they could be heard. | | D．The villagers of Kuskoy are often informed of news by whistling. |
小题4:Which of the following do you think is the best title for this story? | A．To Learn Whistle Is Very Important | B．Whistling Is Fun | | C．Whistling—The Mountain Telephone | D．The Strange Turkish Language |
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For many years, I was convinced that my suffering was due to my size. I believed that when the weight disappeared, it would take old wounds, hurts, and rejections with it.
Many weight－conscious people also mistakenly believe that changing our bodies will fix everything. Perhaps our worst mistake is believing that being thin equals being loved being special, and being cherished. We fantasize about what it will be like when we reach the long－awaited goal. We work very hard to realize this dream. Then, at last, we find ourselves there.
But we often gain back what we have lost. Even so, we continue to believe that next time it will be different. Next time, we will keep it off. Next time, being thin will finally fulfill its promise of everlasting happiness, self－worth, and, of course, love.
It took me a long while to realize that there was something more for me to learn about beauty. Beauty standards vary with culture. In Samoa a woman is not considered attractive unless she weighs more than 200 pounds. More importantly, if it’s happiness that we want, why not put our energy there rather than on the size of our body? Why not look inside? Many of us strive hard to change our body, but in vain. We have to find a way to live comfortably inside our body and make friends with and cherish ourselves. When we change our attitudes toward ourselves, the whole world changes.
小题1:The passage tries to highlight the importance of _________.| A．body size | B．attitudes toward life | | C．culture difference | D．different beauty standards |
小题2:What does the word “everything” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．All the problems. | B．All the properties. | | C．The whole world. | D．The absolute truth. |
小题3:What can be inferred about the author?| A．The author is a Samoan. | | B．The author succeeded in losing weight. | | C．The author has been troubled by her/ his weight. | | D．The author probably got wounded in wars or accidents. |
小题4:According to the author, what is the common view of those who have lost some weight first and gained it back later?| A．They feel angry about the regained weight. | | B．They are indifferent to the regained weight. | | C．They feel optimistic about future plans on weight control. | | D．They think they should give up their future plans on weight control. |
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Twelve years age I flew from my home in Minnesota to spend Father’s Day with my father in California. This wasn’t a typical Father’s Day visit, but to say goodbye to my father as his cancer rapidly advanced. We hadn’t had much of a relationship up to that day and never did much talking. He wasn’t verbal (善用言词辞的) or demonstrative (易流露感情的) nor was I. I knew he loved me simply because fathers love their children. He never told me he loved me and I never told him. That’s the way we did things in our house.
My father told me a bit about his career growth from a poor boy to a very successful businessman. He had got a lot through his hard work. He had reasons to be proud of what he had done and I had the benefit of his success. “Maybe I didn’t do things right. I never really knew you or your brothers. I did what I thought was right.” This visit didn’t change our ways. We shook hands and said goodbye as I left. Our relationship ended as we lived it.
As a father for more than 14 years I look back and understand why I am staying at home full-time with my children. I tell my children I love them every day, I hug them and I talk with them and let them know how important they are to me. However, as much as we would like to believe that we are all ideal fathers but we are not. We all made mistakes and hopefully we learned from them, just as I learned from my father.
56.Why did the author visit his father?
A. He wanted to wish his father a happy Father’s Day.
B. He planned to look after his sick father.
C. He wanted to express his love to his father.
D. He came to see his father for the last time.
57. What did the author think of his father?
A. He didn’t talk much but was a good father. B. He didn’t do anything right.
C. He just did what a father should do. D. He didn’t like his children at all.
58. Which of the following statements about the author’s father is TRUE?
A. His father had been away from their home for a long time.
B. His father gained great success through hard work.
C. His father quite understand his children.
D. His father was sorry for his mistake.
59. The author believes that fathers should________.
A. set good example to their children through actions
B. stay at home with their children all the time
C. tell their children what is right
D. express their love to their children |
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