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In some countries where racial prejudice is acute, violence has so come to be taken for granted as a means of solving differences, that it is not even questioned. There are countries where the white man imposes his rule by brute force; there are countries where the black man protests by setting fire to
cities and by looting and pillaging. Important people on both sides, who would in other respects appear to be reasonable men, get up and calmly argue in favor of violence – as if it were a legitimate solution, like any other. What is really frightening, what really fills you with despair, is the realization that
when it comes to the crunch, we have made no actual progress at all. We may wear
collars and ties instead of war-paint, but our instincts remain basically
unchanged. The whole of the recorded history of the human race, that tedious
documentation of violence, has taught us absolutely nothing. We have still not
learnt that violence never solves a problem but makes it more acute. The sheer
horror, the bloodshed, the suffering mean nothing. No solution ever comes to
light the morning after when we dismally contemplate the smoking ruins and
wonder what hit us. The truly reasonable men who know where the solutions lie
are finding it harder and herder to get a hearing. They are despised, mistrusted
and even persecuted by their own kind because they advocate such apparently
outrageous things as law enforcement. If half the energy that goes into violent
acts were put to good use, if our efforts were directed at cleaning up the slums
and ghettos, at improving living-standards and providing education and
employment for all, we would have gone a long way to arriving at a solution. Our
strength is sapped by having to mop up the mess that violence leaves in its
wake. In a well-directed effort, it would not be impossible to fulfill the
ideals of a stable social programme. The benefits that can be derived from
constructive solutions are everywhere apparent in the world around us. Genuine
and lasting solutions are always possible, providing we work within the
framework of the law. Before we can even begin to contemplate peaceful
co-existence between the races, we must appreciate each other's problems. And to
do this, we must learn about them: it is a simple exercise in communication, in
exchanging information. "Talk, talk, talk," the advocates of violence say, "all
you ever do is talk, and we are none the wiser." It's rather like the story of
the famous barrister who painstakingly explained his case to the judge. After
listening to a lengthy argument the judge complained that after all this talk,
he was none the wiser. "Possible, my lord," the barrister replied, "none the
wiser, but surely far better informed." Knowledge is the necessary prerequisite
to wisdom: the knowledge that violence creates the evils it pretends to
solve.
1. What is the best title for this passage?
[A] Advocating Violence.
[B] Violence Can Do Nothing to Diminish Race Prejudice.
[C] Important People on Both Sides See Violence As a Legitimate Solution.
[D] The Instincts of Human Race Are Thirsty for Violence.
2. Recorded history has taught us
[A] violence never solves anything. [B] nothing. [C] the bloodshed means
nothing. [D]everything.
3. It can be inferred that truly reasonable men
[A] can't get a hearing.
[B] are looked down upon.
[C] are persecuted.
[D] Have difficulty in
advocating law enforcement.
4. "He was none the wiser" means
[A] he was not at all wise in listening.
[B] He was not at all wiser than nothing before.
[C] He gains nothing after listening.
[D] He makes no sense of the argument.
5. According the author the best way to solve race prejudice is
[A] law enforcement. [B] knowledge. [C] nonviolence. [D] Mopping up the
violent mess.
Passage 2
Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage:
When aluminum was first produced about a hundred and fifty years ago, it was
so difficult to separate form the ores in which it was found that its price was
higher than that of gold. The price remained high until a new process was
discovered for refining the metal with the aid of electricity approximately
three quarters of a century later. The new method was so much cheaper that
aluminum because practical for many purposes, one of which was making pots and
pans.
Aluminum is lightweight, rustproof and easily shaped into different forms. By
mixing it with other metals, scientists have been able to produce a variety of
alloys, some of which have the strength of steel but weigh only one third as
much.
Today, the uses of aluminum are innumerable. Perhaps its most important use
is in transportation. Aluminum is found in the engine of automobiles, in the
hulls of boats. It is also used in many parts of airplanes. In fact, the huge
“airbus” planes would probably never have been produced if aluminum did not
exist. By making vehicles lighter in weight aluminum has greatly reduced the
amount of fuel needed to move them, Aluminum is also being used extensively in
the building industry in some countries.
Since aluminum is such a versatile (多用的) metal, it is fortunate that bauxite
(铝土矿), which is one of its chief sources, is also one of the earth’s most
plentiful substances. As the source of aluminum is almost inexhaustible, we can
expect that more and more uses will be found for this versatile metal.
6. The price of aluminum was sharply reduced when people discovered a new
refining process with the aid of .
A. wind B. solar energy C. hydraulic power D. electricity
7. Aluminum is .
A. lightweight, rustproof but not easily shaped into different forms
B. heavyweight, rustproof and easily shaped into different forms
C. lightweight, rustproof and easily shaped into different forms
D. lightweight and easily shaped into different forms but it is easy to
become rusty
8. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Aluminum is widely used in transportation.
B. Aluminum is also used in many parts of airplanes.
C. Aluminum is being used extensively in the building industry.
D. Aluminum is not used in its pure form.
9. Aluminum is found on earth mostly in the form of .
A. pure metal B. bauxite C. gold D. liquid
10. What is the passage talking about?
A. The features of aluminum and its functions. B. The process of
aluminum.
C. The discovery of aluminum. D. The promising future of aluminum.
