单选题
For reasons yet to be fully understood, one out of ten human beings in the world is left-handed, and from one generation to the next, this ratio is roughly preserved. As we know, left-handedness cuts across socioeconomic, ethnic, and gender lines. Yet throughout history prominent figures in science—to say nothing of religion—have identified in left-handedness signs of viciousness or worse. In 1903, Italian physician Cesare Lombroso identified left-handedness as one of the degeneracy signs of the born criminals. Three years later, Dr. Wilhelm Fliess suggested that left-handedness was a reliable identification of homosexuality. And in 1937 British psychologist Cyril Burt declared left-handedness to be a mark of an ill-organized nervous system. As demonstrated by all the "therapeutic" coercion that left-handed children were subjected to during the first half of the 20th century, these biases had more than just a theoretical impact. Yet even when this gauche predilection was being discouraged, handism was certainly never taken as seriously as racism or sexism now is. Perhaps it's the arbitrary nature of the trait that has militated against meaningful discrimination. After all, even when both parents are right-handed, there is still a 10 percent chance that they will bring a left-handed baby into the world. Moreover, a white baby born in Scaresdale is just as likely to be left-handed as a black baby in Harlem. Hence when the left-handed George Bush became President of the United States, it was hardly interpreted as a blow against prejudice. Nor was much attention paid to the fact that Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford were also southpaws.
单选题
Left-handedness is ______. A. a thing that is cultivated B. a thing that occurs by pure chance C. a thing of genetic inheritance D. a thing that occurs more in prominent figures
单选题
According to the passage, left-handedness ______. A. is discouraged but not discriminated against B. has caused discrimination as serious as sexism and racism C. is a subject that has drawn more and more attention D. is an advantage in running for public office
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】由第2段"Yet even when this gauche predilection...against meaningful discrimination."可知,左撇子没有受到歧视,只是生活中有些气馁,所以选A。B和C明显不对,而D文中未提及。
单选题
The word "handism" in Line 3 Paragraph 2 most probably means ______. A. being skillful with one's hands B. quality of being convenient C. discrimination against left-handed people D. encouragement to use both hands instead of one
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】由handism was certainly never taken as seriously as racism or sexism可知它是与racism和sexism类似的构词法,由上下文可知应选C,handism意思是对自己的手的熟练使用。
单选题
The word "southpaws" at the end of the passage means ______. A. a boxer from the south B. a politician from a southern state C. a person with extraordinarily large hands D. a left-handed person
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】文中最后说George Bush是left-handed,然后提到Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford were also southpaws,由此推测southpaws的意思也是惯用左手之人。
单选题
Judging from the context, Scarsdale is a place inhabited by ______. A. white people B. black people C. mixed races D. rich people
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】由第2段"a white baby born in Scaresdale is just as likely to be left-handed as a black baby in Harlem"可知Scaresdale是白人居住的地方,而Harlem是黑人居住的地方。