阅读 篇章1 当前题号：第1-10题，总题数：50题
Line Low wages, chronic unemployment and underemployment lead to low income,
lack of property ownership, absence of savings, absence of food reserves in the home, and a chronic shortage of cash. These conditions reduce the possibility of effective participation in the larger economic system. And as a response to these conditions we find in the 5
culture of poverty a high incidence of pawning personal goods, borrowing from local money-lenders at higher rates of interest, spontaneous informal credit devices organized by neighbors, the use of secondhand clothing and furniture, and the pattern of frequent buying of small quantities of food
10 many times a day as the need arises.
People with a culture of poverty produce very little wealth and receive very little in return. They have a low level of literacy and education, usually do not belong to labor unions, are not members of political parties, generally do not participate in the national welfare agencies, and make very little use of banks, hospitals, department stores, museums or art 15
galleries. They have a critical attitude toward some or the basic institutions of the dominant classes, hatred of the police, mistrust of government, and a cynicism that extends even to the church. This gives the culture of poverty a high potential for protest and for
20 Being used in political movements aimed against the existing social
order.
People with a culture of poverty are aware of middle-class values, talk about them and even claim some of them as their own, but on the whole they do not live by them. Thus it is important to distinguish
25 betweenwhat they say and what they do. For example, many will tell
you that marriage by law, by the church, or by both is the ideal form of marriage, but few will marry. To men who have no steady jobs or other sources of income, who do not own property and have no wealth to pass on to their children, who are present-time oriented and who want to
30 avoid the expense and legal difficulties involved in formal marriage and divorce, free unions or consensual marriages make a lot of sense. Women will often turn down offers of marriage because they feel it ties them down to men. Women feel that consensual union gives them a better break; it gives them some of the freedom and flexibility that men 35 have. By not giving the fathers of their children legal status as husbands,
the women have a stronger claim on their children if they decide to leave their men. It also gives women exclusive rights to a house or any other property they may own.
1. According to the passage, a defining characteristic of poverty is that poor people __________.
A. are isolated from the mainstream of society B. lack the skills to find decent jobs C. are responsible for their own poverty
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
D. are constantly in a state of crisis
The author of the passage uses the phrase “culture of poverty” (Line 6) to suggest that __________.
A. there are several classifications of poor people B. poor people often take pride in their poverty C. poor people share a common ethnicity
D. poverty has become a prevailing way of life for some people
The word “incidence” in Line 6 is closest in meaning to __________. A. inflation B. introduction C. accident D. occurrence
The word “literacy” in Line 12 refers to the ability to __________. A. go to school B. read and write C. understand math D. receive an education
By asserting that the culture of poverty can be used by political movements (Line 19), the author is __________.
A. cautioning against an uprising by the poor B. showing how poverty may threaten social stability C. calling upon the middle class to fight against the poor D. justifying the motives of politicians Which of the following best describes people with a culture of poverty? A. They work hard but receive little in return B. They’re cynical to all but the church
C. They usually ignore the national welfare agencies D. They are economically active According to the last paragraph, consensual union can provide poor women who refuse to get married legally with all of the following EXCEPT __________. A. a free church wedding or civil ceremony B. some of the freedom and flexibility that men have C. a stronger claim on their children when they want to leave their men D. rights to a house or any other property A conclusion can be drawn from the last paragraph that men and women in the culture of poverty __________.
A. consider themselves unworthy of legal marriage B. prefer not to be in relationship
C. avoid legalized marriages for practical and economic reasons D. do not trust each other to be faithful husbands and wives
In the discussion of poverty, the author is most likely to agree that poverty __________.
A. is more widespread than most people think B. cannot be eliminated
C. weakens the fabric of society D. means more than lack of money
10. The word “it” in Line 37 refers to __________. A. a better break B. legal status
C. consensual union D. illegal marriage
篇章2 当前题号：第11-20题，总题数：50题；
Line Cars account for half the oil consumed in the U.S., about half the urban pollution and one-fourth of the greenhouse gases. They take a
similar toll of resources in other industrial nations and in the cities of the developing world. As vehicle use continues to increase in the coming decade, the U.S. and other countries will have to deal with these issues 5
or else face unacceptable economic, health-related and political costs. It is unlikely that oil prices will remain at their current low level or that other nations will accept a large and growing U.S. contribution to global climate change.
10 Policymakers and industry have four options: reduce vehicle use,
increase the efficiency and reduce the emissions of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, switch to less harmful fuels, or find less polluting driving systems. The last of these — in particular the introduction of vehicles powered by electricity — is ultimately the only
15 sustainable option. The other alternatives are attractive in theory but in
practice are either impractical or offer only marginal improvements. For example, reduced vehicle use could solve traffic problems and a host of social and environmental problems, but evidence from around the world suggests that it is difficult to make people give up their cars to any
20 significant extent. In the U.S., mass-transit ridership and carpooling
have declined since World War II. Even in Western Europe, with fuel prices averaging more than＄1 a liter (about ＄4 a gallon) and with easily accessible mass transit and dense populations, cars still account for 80 percent of all passenger travel. 25 Improved energy efficiency is also appealing, but automotive fuel economy has barely made any progress in 10 years. Alternative fuels such as natural gas, burned in internal-combustion engines, could be introduced at relatively low cost, but they would lead to only marginal reductions in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (especially because oil companies are already spending billions of dollars every year to develop less polluting types of gasoline).
11. It can be learned from the passage that the increased use of cars will __________. A. consume half of the oil produced in the world
B. have serious consequences on the well-being of all nations C. impose an economic burden on residents of large cities
D. widen the gap between the developed and developing countries
12. America has to solve the problems arising from vehicle use because __________. A. few Americans are reluctant to switch to public transportation B. the present level of oil prices is considered unacceptable C. it should take the lead in conserving natural resources
D. other countries are unsatisfied about its large greenhouse emissions 13. According to the author, America’s contribution to global climate change is __________. A. increasing B. decreasing C. fluctuating D. stabilizing
14. Which of the following is the best solution to the problems mentioned in the passage?
A. The designing of highly efficient car engines B. A reduction of vehicle use in cities C. The use of less polluting fuels D. The development of electric cars 15. What does “host” in Line 17 mean? A. Person who serves people as guests B. Anchor of a television program, etc. C. Large number of something D. Caretaker of an inn
16. What is the meaning of “carpooling” in Line 20? A. People riding together in one car B. A number of cars used by a company’s salesmen C. A person who owns many cars D. Cars owned by an organization for the use of its members 17. According to the passage, after World War II many people in the U.S. __________. A. only used railways B. preferred their own cars for travel C. always used public transportation D. insist on carpooling 18. Which of the following is practical but only makes a small contribution to solving the problem of greenhouse emissions? A. Slowing down fuel economy
B. The use of fuels other than gasoline C. Reducing car use by carpooling
D. The introduction of less polluting driving systems
19. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The decline of public transportation accounts for increased car use in Western Europe
B. Cars are popular in Western Europe even though fuel prices are fairly high
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