unit2-2

Unit 2

Reading Comprehensio

A

The loudest outcry about poverty seemed to come in the wealthiest country — by far — in the world. According to most calculations, through most of the 1945 — 1970 period the United States had a standard of living well above Europe's and many times above the world average. Yet protests about grinding poverty, hunger, and dreadful need proceed more from the United States than from countries with one-fortieth of their living standard. An annual per capita income of eight dollars is typical of much of Africa and Asia and not a little of South America. It would seem strange to these people (were they only aware of the fact) that American radicals demand a retreat from an American commitment to the far corners of the globe so that the money thus saved can be spent raising the standard of living of underprivileged Americans.

What this last point suggests is not so much that human wants are never to be satisfied though this is doubtlessly true, and the American living in the suburbs deprived of his second car and his color TV suffers just as acutely as an African farmer in need of a second cow and a screen door. Rather, it suggests the extent of contemporary breach of social norms — the emancipation of the individual self. People have learned that their wants are sacred and rights ought to be satisfied. They have learned to consider any obstacle to personal fulfillment an intolerable insult. They have greatly expanded the circle of self awareness. They no longer accept sharp limitations on individual desires in the name of the group. The amount of potential human discontent has always been infinite — misery, failure, misfitting, bitterness, hatred, envy beyond telling. It has usually failed of utterance, and in the past it was accepted passively as being beyond help.

21.The real cause for the most fortunate people to protest about poverty lies in ___________.

A.their consciousness of self

B.their economic status

C.limitations of human nature

D.conflict in class interests

22.In order to improve the standard of living of poor Americans, the extremists in the States demand ___________.

A.a full tax relief on citizens living overseas

B.a stop to arms race against nations far away

C.a cut in financial assistance to poor countries

D.a favorable balance of trade with foreign countries

23.From the last few sentences, it can be safely inferred that the outcry about poverty in

effect involves people's ___________.

A.ability to tolerate a hard life

B.understanding of their rights

C.political attitude toward the government

D.outlook on different life-styles

24.According to the passage, most complaints

over poor living standards were made by those who came from ___________.

A.the United States

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,n countries

C.the European Community

D.the Commonwealth of Nations

25.The average income of an American a year

during the 60's was most likely in the neighborhood of ___________.

A.1,120 dollars

B.40 dollars

C.320 dollars

D.80 dollars

B

Washington, Aug 28, 1963 — National civil rights leaders today demanded a fast end to racial discrimination, pledging themselves and their followers to a fight to the finish to wipe out all forms of segregation and to achieve equality and integration.

Their demands were voiced in solemn, uncompromising terms at an unprecedented national civil rights demonstration attended by tens of thousands of blacks and white persons. Participants poured into the nation's capital from many parts of the country. Some arrived yesterday, but the bulk came overnight, arriving by train, plane, bus, private automobile and even on foot.

Sponsors of the one-day March in Washington for Jobs and Freedom had estimated that more than 100,000 persons would participate. Washington Police Chief Robert V. Murray estimated that there were more than 200,000 marchers. The ratio of blacks to whites was about 15 to 1. Hundreds fainted and had to be lifted over the crowd to be taken to first aid tents. Many of the thousands were unable to get within seeing distance of the Lincoln Memorial where the major speeches of the day were made.

The District of Columbia had 2934 policemen on duty, assisted by 303 police reserves, 355 firemen and 1735 national guardsmen put on police duty.

Demonstrators assembled under bright, sunny skies with the temperature in the mid-eighties. They gathered on the grounds of the Washington Monument, then began the mile-long march to the Lincoln Memorial. After the march they massed in the area surrounding the memorial to the great Civil War President to hear a report from 10 leaders of the movement.

The march from the Washington Monument began shortly after 11:10 am; it had been scheduled to start at 11:30. The march leaders, who were to have led the procession, but were absent at the moment, finally fell in behind a drum and bugle corps, with hundreds of marchers ahead of them.

26.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A.The majority of the marchers arrived overnight.

B.The District of Columbia was short of policemen on duty that day.

C.The march leaders led the procession.

D.The march from the Washington Monument began 20 minutes earlier than scheduled.

27.How many white people actually joined in the march, according to Washington Police Chief's estimation?

A.About 10,000.

B.About 10,000.

C.About 12,500.

D.About 6,250.

28.How did the marchers arrive at the nation's capital?

A.By public transportation.

B.By private cars.

C.On foot.

D.All of the above.

29.What is the possible source of this passage?

A.A newspaper report.

B.A history book.

C.A biography of a civil rights leader.

D.A textbook.

30.The civil rights leaders and their followers join in the March in Washington in order to ____________.

A.fight against the rich people

B.call on people to eliminate racial discrimination and to achieve equality and integration

C.celebrate the centennial anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,memorate the great Civil War President

Vocabulary and Structure

31.Mrs. Carter is known chiefly for her __________ to severe punishment for the worldwide drug smuggling.

A.intelligence

B.discrimination

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,mitment

D.legacy

32.Slavery is closely associated with __________ prejudice and, it is believed, still exists in some remote areas.

A.religious

B.regional

C.regular

D.racial

33.__________, this time, it was the weak who had saved the strong.

A.Ironically

B.Interestingly

C.Doubtfully

D.Painfully

34.Many investors have suffered great losses as the stock market has been __________ for six months on end.

A.exposing

B.detecting

C.generating

D.declining

35.The chief of the terrorists fled the country and has not been __________ yet.

A.captured

B.grabbed

C.snatched

D.grasped

36.At that point, it seemed almost impossible to negotiate a peaceful __________ of the conflict.

A.segment

B.settlement

C.salvation

D.starvation

37.You are __________ to draw a draft on our bank against this credit for the amount of the invoice.

A.attributed

B.authorized

C.dominated

D.disguised

38.When his brother died, he volunteered to take on the __________ to raise his nephew and niece.

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,mission

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,mitment

C.assignment

D.conviction

39.Working day and night, Jane seems __________ accomplishing the task ahead of time.

A.intended on

B.inclined to

C.intent on

D.attended to

40.After several rounds of talks, the two parties agreed to __________ further economic co-operation.

A.explore

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,pel

C.exploit

D.forge

41.If you don't compensate us for our loss, we are prepared to __________ for our right.

A.set up

B.get up

C.stand up

D.rise up

42.The arrogant young man was accused of __________ against women and fined 5,000 dollars.

A.disregarding

B.dominating

C.distinguishing

D.discriminating

43.As for the runaways, they were transported to safer places, __________ as a funeral procession.

A.disguised

B.concealed

C.hidden

D.faked

44.Leaving for something urgent, she __________ her partner to sign the contract on her behalf.

A.assigned

B.authorized

C.appointed

D.entitled

45.Lost in the forest without any food, they were __________ to starve until rescue came.

A.controlled

B.imposed

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,pelled

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,posed

46.The general's words at the press conference __________ a signal that his troops would launch another campaign in the following spring.

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,posed

B.consulted

C.conveyed

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,pelled

47.Ambulances, fire engines and police cars all __________ on the scene of the explosion in Madrid.

A.starved

B.imposed

https://www.wendangku.net/doc/a712379308.html,pelled

D.converged 48.After negotiating with the government for half a year, the company finally won the project to __________ the oil under the sea.

A.employ

B.explore

C.examine

D.exploit

49.The company has agreed to __________ the ＄30 million bank loan for its branch in Paris.

A.transfer

B.corporate

C.guarantee

D.erase

50.Faced with the serious situation, some people took additional jobs __________ to support their families.

A.by the side

B.in the side

C.of the side

D.on the side

51.Financial aids are needed for the preservation of the __________ building and monuments in Xi'an.

A.intentional

B.virgin

C.historic

D.serial

52.He went on with the adventure without a guide against all the __________ and reached the destination alone.

A.ideas

B.suggestions

C.odds

D.objections

53.It isn't always easy for the management to __________ the company's regulations, as some of the terms are not agreed upon by the labor.

A.enforce

B.remedy

C.assault

D.dismiss

54.A monument will be built in honor of those who have made __________ exploits in the development of the city.

A.considerable

B.remarkable

C.accountable

D.replaceable

55.While slavery was abolished long time ago, __________ discrimination against the blacks in the US still exists.

A.racial

B.radical

C.national

D.personal

56.Smoking is so harmful to people's health

that it kills people each year __________ than automobile accidents.

A.seven more times

B.seven times more

C.over seven times

D.seven times

57.The problem __________ over-population in big cities deserves serious consideration.

A.resulting in

B.resulted in

C.resulting from

D.resulted from

58.In the remote mountainous areas, the local government laid great emphasis on education, with children __________ to go to school.

A.to be encouraged

B.be encouraged

C.having been encouraged

D.being encouraged

59.Mr. Smith has made it known that 90 percent of his properties __________ to the society.

A.are to be left

B.are to leave

C.have left

D.would leave

60.It's easy to blame the lack of communication on the pace of modern life and on the vague changes __________ place in our ever-changing world.

A.taking

B.to take

C.take

D.taken