单选题 Fingerprints, one of the great deciders of innocence or guilt in criminal charges, are now being placed in doubt. This is because of a growing number of claims from defendants(被告) that their "prints" have been "lifted" and planted at scenes of crimes. And these allegations(断言) are being taken seriously by lawyers, judges, and policemen because it is possible to move a finger print from one spot and place it elsewhere. A committee of lawyers is making an investigation into fingerprinting. They are not aiming to establish if these allegations are true or not, but they are questioning current fingerprinting methods as part of a general inquiry into scientific evidence.
How can a fingerprint be transferred? A fingermark left on a greasy(油腻的) glass or some other smooth surface can be "lifted" with a strip of adhesive(胶粘剂). It can then be deposited on another, perhaps incriminating(与罪牵连) object. Before 1973, fingerprints at the scene of a crime used to be photographed for identification purposes and the objects carrying the prints were shown in court as well. However, this is no longer necessary. Since 1973, a new method of taking prints has been used. Police experts can now use a strip of adhesive tape to "lift" a print which is then produced in court as evidence. As a result, criminals are accusing the police of lifting their prints and planting them at the scene of a crime. And lawyers are worried about this increasing number of claims.
According to the ex-chief of Scotland Yard's fingerprint department, Mr Harold Squires, more than 55 % of the cases he now gets are making these claims. But so far he has not seen any fingerprint evidence that proves the allegations to be true. Lifting a mark and putting it on another object requires great skill and trouble. It's almost impossible but it can be done. It can usually be easily detected by experts, but there is a chance that even experts may not be able to tell. So he would like the old method of photographing prints and producing them together with the objects to be generally used again.

单选题 The purpose of the investigation being made by a committee of lawyers is ______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】本文主要介绍了指纹，这一在刑事审判中具有决定被告是否有罪的证据，它的科学性受到了怀疑b因为指纹是可以转移的，被告可以宣称他的指纹是被转移到了犯罪现场。虽然专家很容易辨别真伪，但律师们仍希望采取措施，以确保其准确性。
这是一个句子释义题。文章原句是第一段最后一句。它的译文是“律师委员会的目的不是要确定这些断言的真伪，而是对目前获取指纹的方式提出质疑，该方式是一般科学证据调查的一部分”。故D项的解释是正确的。

单选题 Since 1973 ______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】作者这样描述了警方采集指纹方式的变化：“在1973年之前，在犯罪现场取证指纹相对复杂，需对指纹进行拍照以便识别，并要在法庭上出示携有指纹的物体。从1973年开始采用新的方式采集指纹。警方专家用一种胶粘剂胶带采集指纹并呈交法庭作为证据”。B项对此做的概括是“自1973年，警方采集指纹的方式已简化了”。故B项的概括最确切。这一题考查考生对语篇的理解。

单选题 From the passage we can conclude that ______.

单选题 Mr Squires seems most concemed about ______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】这是一道语篇分析题。作者在篇末描述了Mr Squires的忧虑：“这(指转移指纹)几乎是不可能的，但也能够做到。专家们通常很容易察觉是否进行了指纹转移，但也有可能出现甚至连专家也无法判断的情况。”因此Mr Squires建议新旧方式 (请参见62题注释)一起使用。可见Mr Squires似乎最担心的是“无法查出指纹转移的可能性”，即C项内容。