单选题 "Opinion" is a word that is used carelessly today. It is used to refer to matters of taste, belief, and judgment. This casual use would probably cause little confusion if people didn"t attach too much importance to opinion. Unfortunately, most do attach great importance to it. "I have as much right to my opinion as you to yours," and "Everyone"s entitled to his opinion," are common expressions. In fact, anyone who would challenge another"s opinion is likely to be branded intolerant. Is that label accurate? Is it intolerant to challenge another"s opinion? It depends on what definition of opinion you have in mind. For example, you may ask a friend "What do you think of the new Ford cars?" And he may reply, "In my opinion, they"re ugly. " In this case, it would not only be intolerant to challenge his statement, but foolish. For it"s obvious that by opinion he means his personal preference, a matter of taste. And as the old saying goes, "It"s pointless to argue about matters of taste. " But consider this very different use of the term, a newspaper reports that the Supreme Court has delivered its opinion in a controversial case. Obviously the justices did not share their personal preferences, their mere likes and dislikes; they stated their considered judgment, painstakingly arrived at after thorough inquiry and deliberation. Most of what is referred to as opinion falls somewhere between these two extremes. It is not an expression of taste. Nor is it careful judgment. Yet it may contain elements of both. It is a view or belief more or less casually arrived at, with or without examining the evidence. Is everyone entitled to his opinion? Of course, this is not only permitted, but guaranteed. We are free to act on our opinions only so long as, in doing so, we do not harm others. (311 words)
单选题 Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the author?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:本题属于判断题。最后一段说到,每人都有权发表自己的看法,这不仅被允许,而且被保证,对应选项为A。
单选题 According to the author, who of the following would be labeled as intolerant?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:本题属于细节题。从第二段的举例说明可以看出,有时反驳别人的意见非但不可忍受,而且愚蠢,对应选项为B。
单选题 The new Ford cars are cited as an example to show that______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:本题属于细节题。本题与上题一脉相承,第二段后半段谈到有时反驳别人的意见是愚蠢的,因为别人仅仅是在表达纯粹的个人喜好,是品味问题,所以不值得反驳。对应选项为C。
单选题 Considered judgment is different from personal preference in that______.
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:本题属于细节题。第三段应用最高法庭的事例说明,判决与个人喜好不同,原因在于其来自于调查研究之后得出的判断。对应选项为D。A“它是法庭上做出的宣判”、B“它反映公众的好恶”和c“它是争议的结果”均不符合文意。
单选题 As indicated in the passage, being free to act on one"s opinion______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:本题属于细节推断题。根据最后一段可知,一个人可以按自己的看法行事,条件是不要伤害别人。对应选项为C。