阅读理解
Passage Two
Martha Stewart was charged, tried and convicted of a crime in 2004. As she neared the end of her prison sentence, a well-known columnist wrote that she was "paying her dues," and that "there is simply no reason for anyone to attempt to deny her right to start anew."
Surely, the American ideal of second chances should not be reserved only for the rich and powerful. Unfortunately, many federal and state laws impose post-conviction restrictions on a shockingly large number of Americans, who are prevented from ever fully paying their debt to society.
At least 65 million people in the United States have a criminal record. This can result in severe penalties that continue long after punishment is completed.
Many of these penalties are imposed regardless of the seriousness of the offense or the person"s individual circumstances. Laws can restrict or ban voting, access to public housing, and professional and business licensing. They can affect a person"s ability to get a job and qualification for benefits.
In all, more than 45000 laws and rules serve to exclude vast numbers of people from fully participating in American life.
Some laws make sense. No one advocates letting someone convicted of pedophilia (恋童癖) work in a school. But too often collateral (附随的) consequences bear no relation to public safety. Should a woman who possessed a small amount of drugs years ago be permanently unable to be licensed as a nurse?
These laws are also counterproductive, since they make it harder for people with criminal records to find housing or land a job, two key factors that reduce backsliding.
A recent report makes several recommendations, including the abolition of most post-conviction penalties, except for those specifically needed to protect public safety. Where the penalties are not a must, they should be imposed only if the facts of a case support it.
The point is not to excuse or forget the crime. Rather, it is to recognize that in America"s vast criminal justice system, second chances are crucial. It is in no one"s interest to keep a large segment of the population on the margins of society.
单选题
What does the well-known columnist"s remark about Martha Stewart suggest"?
单选题
What do we learn from the second paragraph about many criminals in America?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 由题干中的the second paragraph定位到第二段，再由many criminals in America进一步定位到第二句。
推理判断题。第二句指出，很多联邦法律和州立法对很大一部分美国人强制实施定罪后限制。使他们不能够再次充分地回报社会。由此可见，一些服刑人员即使刑满释放，也会受到法规的限制，难以完全融入社会，开始新的人生，故答案为B。
单选题
What are the consequences for many Americans with a criminal record?
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 由题干中的consequences和many Americans with a criminal record定位到第三、四段。
推理判断题。第三段提到，这些有犯罪记录的人在刑期结束后还要接受更长时间的严重惩罚。第四段中接着举例进行解释，这些限制惩罚可以是限制他们享有选举权，没有权利申请公租房，不能取得职业资格证以及商业经营证等，也就是说，他们享受不到正常公民所拥有的权益，被社会边缘化，故答案为C。
单选题
What does the author think of the post-conviction laws and rules?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 由题干中的the author和post-conviction laws and rules定位到第六、七段。
观点态度题。第六段提到，有一些法律是合理的。第七段则指出，这些法律同样会产生适得其反的效果，因为它们加大了有犯罪前科的人找房就业的难度。而这两个方面正是阻止他们走回头路的关键因素。由此可见，作者对于一些法律并不赞同，认为是对有犯罪前科的人的不公平对待，这使得他们无法改过自新，故而危及社会。故答案为D。
单选题
What is the author"s main purpose in writing the passage?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] 由题干中的the author’s main purpose定位到全文。
主旨大意题。纵观全文，作者都在探讨美国法律对犯罪分子服刑后仍有种种限制，不利于他们融入社会。文章最后一段提到，让那么一大部分群体游走在社会的边缘对任何人都没有好处。由此可见，作者是想通过对这一问题的探讨，希望能对刑法体系中一些不合理的地方进行变革，故答案为B。