Passage Four
It is curious how much one despises and condemns the vices which one does not happen to possess. I am indeed not a severe man, nor would I permit myself to become intolerant of those failings which I share with others. But, having no particular temptation to be untruthful, I find myself believing that when one comes to think of it, truth is the major virtue and lying the most blameworthy of all the vices.I should like, therefore, to get my mind a little clearer on the truth question. I flatter myself, as I have said, that I am a truthful man: a man who, when he tells a lie, is careful not to forget that he has done so, and who takes infinite precautions to prevent his being found out. This, in the end, is the only test by which you can distinguish the liar from the man of truth. The latter which is bothered by untruthfulness, is worried and anxious. The real liar, however, is merely amused: he doesn't mind in the least even if he is subsequently exposed: he regards the truthful man as somewhat of a fool.
But this surely is one of the many false statements with which the real liar will try hard to idealize his failing. It may be inevitabe and even just to tell lies, but it cannot seriously be argued that such habits are intelligent. A lie is always an act of mental cowardice, whereas intelligence is brave. And yet there was Bismarck, and yet there was Napoleon-surely intelligent man, and surely liars. The problem, therefore, is not so simple as it seems. It was simple enough, in those old days, to define with approximate accuracy when a given statement ceased to be the truth and became a lie. The essential test was whether the maker of a false statement knew that he was saying something false, and consciously wished his audience to accept, and to remain under, this false impression. Life in civilized communities is a process of adjusting the personal to the social, of conforming the individual impression to the joint impressions of the common people. This process of adjustment leads inevitably and rightly to a certain unconscious deception. Absolute truth, whether unconscious or even conscious, is thus impossible. It is to relative truth only that we can hope to aspire.
The author suggests that it is usual that ________.
细节推理判断题。根据原文第一句：It is curious how much one despises and condemns the vices which one does not happen to possess. 可知本题正确答案为C。A，B，D选项意思明显与原文意思不符，故均为错误答案。
【内容概要】
这是一篇议论文。论述了作者对谎言的态度：最应受到谴责的恶习；而诚实是主要美德。并解说了诚实的人和说假话的人对待说谎的不同态度和反应。以及文明社会里绝对不说谎是不可能的，不管有意的还是无意的；人们只能希望达到相对真实。
The author claims that ________.
细节推理判断题。根据原文第一段最后一句： But, having no particular temptation to be untruthful, I find myself believing that when one comes to think of it, truth is the major virtue and lying the most blameworthy of all the vices. 可知本题正确答案为D。A：他不会容忍人们共有的恶习。B：他并不觉得特别鄙视不诚实。C：人想到说谎时就可能诱使说谎。都与原文信息不符，故均为错误答案。
The essential distinction between a truthful person and a liar lies in the fact that ___.
细节判断题。根据原文第二段后两句：The latter with is bothered by untruthfulness, is worried and anxious. The real liar, however, is merely amused: he doesn't mind in the least even if he is subsequently exposed: he regards the truthful man as somewhat of a fool. 可知A为正确答 案。B：说谎的人很小心防止他的谎言被揭露。C：诚实的人很乐意承认他的假话当他说谎的时候。D：说谎的人只有在他的谎言被揭穿后才感到震惊。都与原文信 息不符，故均为错误答 案。
It is true, according to the text, real liars will ________.
细节判断题。根据原文第三段第一句话：But this surely is one of the many false statements with which the real liar will try to idealize his failing. 可知A为正确答案。B：他们认为人人都无法避免撒谎，并且撒谎有理。C：他们辩解说他们的撒谎习惯是聪明的而不是愚蠢的。D：他们被误解为要么是胆小鬼要么是勇士。都与 原文不符，故均为错误答 案。
In the author's opinion, ________.
观点题。根据原文最后一段最后两句：This process of adjustment leads inevitably and rightly to a certain unconscious deception. Absolute truth, whether unconscious or even conscious, is thus impossible. It is to relative truth only that we can hope to aspire. 可知B为正确答 案。A：俾斯麦和拿破仑都是既聪明又诚实的人。C：不诚实的人怕被发现而担忧。D：文明社会生活使得有意撒谎成为不可能， 都与原文信息不符，故均为错误 答 案。